Leave your name on my heart - Ch3

Rating: E

Relationships: Catra/Adora

Tags: Alternate Universe - No Powers, Magicat Catra, Tattoo Artist Catra, mutual pining, fluff, hurt/comfort, Pov Catra, Pov Adora, Catra is bad at feelings, Adora is in Love with Catra (She-Ra), Catra is in Love with Adora (She-Ra), Etheria, Dom Catra, Switch Catra, Switch Adora, BDSM, Modern Etheria (She-Ra)

Summary: Adora gets tattooed by the hottest woman she has ever seen. She tried so hard to be good and completely missed all the signs that this woman was very interested. Adora tries to stay away, but she can't deny the attraction for long.

--

Adora checked her phone for the fifth time in the last few minutes. Glimmer had agreed to study with Adora to help her focus but she wasn’t focused at all. Adora felt like she was wasting Glimmer’s time because Adora’s concentration was completely gone. She couldn’t help it, she just couldn’t think about her studies right now when Catra could text her any second.

Adora knew she was crushing hard but she couldn’t help it. Catra was so pretty and so nice and she had amazing fashion and cool tattoos. She was way too cool for Adora, a nerdy business major obsessed with history but a girl could dream.

Adora had seen Catra only three days ago but it already felt like too long. Adora needed to chill, she knew she could be intense when she liked someone and she really, really liked Catra. She didn’t want to be overeager and scare her away before she even knew if Catra was interested in her.

“Why do you keep checking your phone?” Glimmer asked curiously and Adora jumped. She wasn’t judging her, yet, but Adora felt called out. Glimmer closed her book and picked up her coffee cup to take a sip as she waited. She didn’t seem concerned at all that their study session was over.

“No reason, I’m just waiting for a text,” Adora said and felt her cheeks warm as she checked her phone again absentmindedly. Glimmer’s cup clinked on the saucer as she put it down too hard.

“Oh yeah? From who?” Glimmer asked, suddenly full of interest. The look on Glimmer’s face told Adora she was reading too much into Adora’s distraction. She needed to shut this line of questioning down quickly before Glimmer got out of hand with her schemes to get Adora dating.

“Oh, uh, you remember I told you I’m getting another tattoo? Catra said she would let me know when the designs are available to look at,” Adora said scratching the back of her neck as she closed her own textbook. She tried not to look at Glimmer lest her face say too much about her excitement to see Catra again.

“Yess, and I’ve been thinking. You finally doing things for yourself made me decide to finally get my wings!” Glimmer said with excitement and Adora smiled.

“That’s great Glim,” Adora said as she picked up her coffee to sip.

“Yeah, I booked with Catra, she comes highly recommended after all,” Glimmer said with a wink, and Adora tried to stop herself from choking on her coffee. She cleared her throat to hide the cough and nodded her head.

“Great,” Adora wheezes, her voice sounding strained as she feels her cheeks warm.

“Yeah, wanna come with me? I’m a little nervous and Bow can’t make the appointment,” Glimmer asked, putting her hands together in a begging motion. Adora really didn’t want Glimmer to see the full force of her crush, but she didn’t want Glimmer to do it alone if she needed support.

“Of course,” Adora said, butterflies erupting in her stomach at the thought of seeing Catra again soon.

“Awesome, she's booked up till next week, so I hope she has time to get your design done soon,” Glimmer said finishing her coffee.

“Oh, yeah, she might be able to squeeze me in,” Adora said as her phone chimed and she couldn’t help the smile that grew on her face as Catra’s name flashed on her screen.

Catra: Hey Adora, your new designs await, when can you come in?

Adora bit her lip as she thought of her class timetable and shot back a quick response offering a time. Adora heard a gasp and her head shot up to look at Glimmer with startled eyes.

“Adora, do you have a crush on your tattoo artist?!” Glimmer stage whispered and Adora shushed her quickly.

“Not so loud!” Adora whispered back and Glimmer grinned widely.

“So you don’t deny it?” Glimmer asked and Adora felt herself blush. Glimmer cackled in response and Adora glanced around at the people in the cafe before she glared at Glimmer.

“Omg, how hot is she?” Glimmer asked and Adora shook her head. She was not having this conversation in the middle of a cafe. “You have to tell me, come on, let's study at home,” Glimmer said, quickly packing her things. Adora knew she couldn’t fight it so she packed her belongings and finished her coffee before she was dragged back to their shared apartment.

Glimmer demanded details but there were some very personal details she did not disclose to her bestie. She was not ready to admit to anyone that she liked the feeling of her tattoo a bit too much or how much she thought of Catra in her moments alone. That would be mortifying.

[...]

The hard “thunk” of the arrow as it hit the target was a satisfying sound to Catra’s ears. She would usually preen at her skill since she was often a decent shot. The fact that she managed to get the arrow in the target for the first time today was not lost on her companion.

“Heyyy, you got it!” Bow said with a wide grin as he leaned carefully on his longbow.

“Don’t say it like that. I’ve barely hit anything today,” Catra said with a sigh as her ears flicked back against her ponytail. She hated to lose, but more importantly she hated when her brain was scrambled like it had been lately. She didn’t like to feel out of control but it was hard to call it anything else.

“What's going on? It's not like you to miss the target,” Bow commented casually as he stepped up to his own line to take a shot.

“Just a lot on my mind I guess,” Catra said, checking her compound bow casually like it was the issue and not her. The ‘lot on her mind’ just so happened to be a blonde woman with amazing arms. Some Catra wanted to impress with her tattoo designs but she was struggling to think of any designs because of said distraction.

“How's work been?” Bow asked, landing his shot perfectly and smiling as he turned to Catra.

"Ugh, don't ask. Huntara’s got me working for free practically, on this big back piece," Catra said as she rolled her eyes.

"For free? How did that happen?" Bow asked with surprise as he notched another arrow. Catra groaned, unwilling to explain the truth of her crush to someone Adora knew.

"She just did me a solid so now I'm working for nothing" Catra shrugged her shoulders and took aim again. Bow chuckled.

"Did she have to rough someone up for you?" Bow asked and Catra hit the center of her target with a satisfying thump. She trilled softly at her victory and Bow cooed at the sound.

"Something like that. Don't make me send her after you too" Catra threatened but Bow just grinned. "Otherwise just doing some designs and stuff" Catra said as her mind wandered back to Adora and her brow pinched.

"Oh yeah, Adora mentioned you are designing her new tattoo," Bow said, letting another arrow fly. Catra watched it hit his target like every other arrow today.

"Yeah, it's going. I have a few designs done and she's going to come see them at the end of the week," Catra said with a shrug. She did not want Bow to know how much she is looking forward to her Friday afternoon appointment.

"Your designs are great, I'm sure she'll love them" Bow said and Catra nodded her head as she pursed her lips. She really hoped these designs would impress Adora.

[...]

Catra arrived home to her apartment. Despite the hot weather of the day it felt almost cold in her hallway as she put her keys and bag on the table inside the door. She kicked off her heels and sighed as she sunk down on the pads of her feet. She enjoyed the carpet underfoot for a moment before heading to the kitchen.

She opened her fridge and looked inside. There were slim pickings, some take-away from who knew when and a whole head of broccoli she had planned to turn into a meal at some point. 

Catra briefly considered if she could be bothered cooking before she grabbed the leftovers to check what they were. It was a bad sign that she didn’t remember buying the pasta inside the container so she dumped it into the trash.

She glanced at the broccoli again before she closed the fridge and walked into the living room. She sat on her couch and looked through her delivery apps before she settled on something appropriate for dinner. 

She picked up all the cushions that had fallen off the couch and arranged them as a pile that could lean on.

She settled into her makeshift body pillow and turned on the tv. A fashion show was on and Catra settled in to watch the latest runway disaster as she waited for her food to be delivered.

It was nights like this that she missed living with Entrapa. Her eccentric bestie had moved home to Dryl with her lab partner and from the research papers she was pumping out, she was having the time of her life. Catra had briefly considered getting a housemate again since she didn’t like to live alone but she was very particular and she didn’t want to deal with a stranger in her space. Her other friends were all in relationships and lived with their partners so Catra just dealt with the little inklings of loneliness when they came.

Catra pulled a cushion closer to her chest to bury her nose in her pillow and glanced at the tracking on her phone. She wondered what Adora and her friends were doing tonight. Maybe Adora would like to chat if she was free.

Catra sat up, resolved to send a text and try her luck. She just had to think of something to say that was witty and fun. Should she be flirty? Adora didn’t really react much last time and Catra didn’t want to come on too strong.

Catra: What can you even make with Broccoli? Catra only regretted her choice of opener for a moment before a response came through. Adora had proven to be a prompt texter and Catra appreciated it.

Adora: It's best to not trust me with culinary advice. I’m sure Bow could provide some recipes.

Catra: You’re telling me you’re not a chef?

Adora: Unfortunately not, I caught soup on fire once.

Catra: That’s pretty impressive honestly. How did you manage that? Catra settled into her pillows, propping her hand up on a cushion as she waited for a reply. It was kind of nice to have someone to talk to.

[...]

Adora’s fingers raced across her screen to try to explain to Catra how she set her soup on fire. Glimmer sighed loudly from her side of the couch where she was laying on Bow. The three of them had been watching a movie and Glimmer was not so subtly annoyed that Adora was on her phone.

“You’re missing the movie! That actor is in lots of movies, I think she was the girl cat in Puss in Boots,” Glimmer explained, rightly thinking Adora was looking up the actor in the movie that she recognised from somewhere. Adora had been doing that before Catra had texted and now she was focused on responding to Catra as quickly as possible.

Adora paused to consider this information. “I don’t think that’s what I was thinking of but I think you’re right,” Adora agreed and returned to typing.

“Yess, now put your phone away and watch the movie. It's funny but you have to be looking at it,”

“I will in just a sec,” Adora lied, she didn’t want to stop texting Catra since she started the conversation and Adora had been too worried about texting her first.

“What are you doing? Getting to IMDB doesn’t take this long,” Glimmer said, sitting up to try to see Adora’s screen. Adora moved her phone against her chest instinctually and Glimmer gasped. “Adora! Are you texting a girl?” Glimmer asked, clutching her pearls dramatically. Adora rolled her eyes and huffed.

“Technically yes, Catra texted me,” Adora tried to say calmly, but even in the dark of their living room she could feel herself blushing. Glimmer was grinning, it was kinda creepy with half her face lit with the light from the movie.

“Why is Catra texting you so late? Didn’t you already work out what time you are going to see the tattoos?” Glimmer asked.

“Yeah, she was messaging me about broccoli,” Adora said and Glimmer tipped her head slightly.

“Is this lesbian code?” Glimmer asked,

“No!” Adora responded readily but paused. She wasn’t certain of that. Wasn’t there a thing with Broccoli and lesbians? Adora picked up her phone to google it and Glimmer laughed.

“Is this a booty text?” Glimmer said, laughing as Adora squawked a “No!” and blushed.

“Glim, now you’re missing the movie,” Bow said gently and pulled Glimmer back down against his side. Glimmer huffed but went willingly before snuggling against Bow.

“This isn’t over,” Glimmer warned and Adora went back to her texting in peace.

Adora: I misread the instructions and when it said three minutes I put it in the microwave for three hours.

Catra: That is truly amazing, I’m pleased to report I am slightly better at cooking than that.

Adora: I’m sure you are. I am terrible.

Catra: Do you like sweets? Maybe I can make you something to show off my skills.

Adora: I’ll eat anything, but you don’t have to do that. I believe you.

Catra: I find baking really relaxing, so you’d be giving me an excuse to relax.

Adora: That does sound like a good thing. I will allow you to make me snacks.

Catra: Any dietary requirements? No allergies?

Adora: Nope, anything is fine. I’m not very picky when it comes to food.

Catra: We are not the same, I have a lot of dietary requirements. I’m high maintenance.

Adora: That must be hard, what kind of things can’t you have?

Catra: Mostly grain and milk, but other random ones that are just a little uncomfy.

Adora: I’ll keep that in mind if I ever want to bring you food.

Catra: I am happy to be bribed, especially with caffeine.

Adora: Coffee is my lifeblood.

Catra: There is a new cafe that just opened near the shop I’ve been wanting to try. If you’re trying to bribe me.

Adora: I’ll keep that in mind. If you don’t drink milk, what do you get at a cafe?

Catra: Mostly long blacks, but iced for the summer. Strong and bitter, like me.

Adora: Are you sure there isn’t sugar in your coffee? You seem pretty sweet to me.

Catra: That was pretty smooth, usually I’d need you to buy a girl a drink first. Adora blushed as she looked at the text. She hadn’t meant her comment to seem flirty but Catra didn’t seem upset by it. Maybe it was ok? Friends can flirt, right?

[...]

Adora sat at her desk, just like she had been for the past four hours studying for her upcoming test. She glanced at the paper she had just got back from her professor today after being graded and it made her stomach sink. The red pen was ominous enough, but the 78 was a glaring reminder that she didn’t know what she was doing.

She should ask her dad for help, surely this stuff was in his expertise but something about asking always made Adora feel like she wasn’t good enough. She wanted to succeed or fail on her own merits and if she accepted help she didn’t achieve it on her own so she wouldn't deserve the recognition.

That's what her dad had always preached when she was a kid. He was all about making something of himself with his own two hands. Now he had a successful business and was making a boat in his free time. He was fine…probably. So why did Adora feel so off kilter?

Adora glanced at her phone as she absentmindedly clicking into her messages with Catra. She had a photo of a sketch Catra had been working on that she wanted to show Adora. It wasn’t for Adora’s tattoo but Adora still liked it. Catra’s art was so unique. It was interesting and sometimes racy. She had shown Adora a tattoo she was putting on another client and to say that Catra knew her way around the female form was an huge understatement.

Adora had spent a lot of time thinking about Catra and even more time trying not to think about Catra. It was unfair how such a small woman could take up so much space in her head. 

Between work, study, rugby and her social commitments, she really shouldn’t have time to think of anything but sleep. But that didn’t stop Adora as she seemed to find the least convenient times of the day and night to think about the brunette. Adora only had to wait one more day to see Catra and hopefully she would be feeling that delightful needle on her skin soon.

[...]

“I know, Mama, she is insane for wearing that out in public, who does she think she is Clawdeen Fisher? HA” Catra said walking around the mall as she looked at clothing. Her aunts were at her mum's house and they had decided to facetime to talk about the latest headlines.

“She’s certainly much braver than I am! Did you see the shoes? I would hurt myself in something like that,”

“C'yra’s right, but also, what was that colour?” Lulu said, making a gag face into the camera.

“I kinda liked her bag though,” Saba said with consideration and Lulu laughed.

“You would like it, it's your colour, poo-rple” Lulu said, tackling her twin into a playfight. Catra laughed as her mum grabbed the phone before it could end up on the ground.

Catra’s family was a little unconventional, her mum had Catra when she was only twenty but her grandmother had twins shortly after Catra was born. So her aunts were eight months younger than her. It was a fun family dynamic to explain to people.

“How are you doing? Anyone new in your life?” C’yra asked and Catra rolled her eyes as she picked up a cute top.

“No, no one new,” She said, looking at the top instead of her mother's curious face, which was far too close to the camera.

“Are you sure petal?” her mother prodded and Catra looked back at her.

“Mama, if I was seeing anyone worth mentioning, you would be the first to know, now what do you think of this top?” Catra asked her mum, holding it to her chest to distract the woman from this line of questioning.

“What top?! How are you meant to pay for fabric that's not even there?” C’yra huffed in disgust and Catra laughed.

“What about that contestant from Brightmoons next top model, last night? There was barely a scrap of fabric on the poor girl,” Catra said in a scandalous whisper.

“Right!?” C’yra said and Catra laughed as her mother went on her usual spiel about clothing is meant to accentuate the figure, not just show it all.

Catra made sure her mum was distracted before she purchased the top. Maybe Adora might like it.

[...]

"That's it for today, we'll need one more session to finish the shading," Catra said, wiping down the expanse of Huntara's ripped back before putting cream to seal it. Huntara sat up, using her shirt to cover her tits as she went to the mirror to look at her work.

Huntara was a woman of few compliments but many complaints so when she nodded her head silently it was like she was screaming her love for the emerging art on her skin.

Catra glanced down at her watch and tried to hold in her excitement that her appointment with Adora was coming up as she grinned. She quickly helped Huntara cover the tattoo and book her next appointment before she heard the jingle of the door bells. Huntara looked over at the door the same moment Adora stepped into the room. She wore small red and white bike shorts and a crop top which left little to the imagination.

Catra was counting her blessings until Huntara opened her big mouth.

"Hello again Blondie, hot outside?" Huntara asked and Adora smiled.

"Yeah, it's really hot. I didn't get your name last time, I'm Adora" Adora offered her hand and Huntara took it and they shook.

"Huntara, you'll be seeing plenty of me if you're a regular of Catra's,” Huntara said and Adora looked at Huntara's tattoos on her arms with interest.

"I'd like to be," Adora said softly before her cheeks coloured. Catra smirked as Huntara gave her a look before she grabbed her helmet.

"See you next week Kitty" Huntara said and Catra huffed. Huntara’s nickname only embarrassed Catra because of the current witness. "See ya blondie," Huntara said and Adora smiled.

"Nice meeting you," Adora offered politely, and Catra stuck her tongue out at Huntara while Adora’s back was turned to her.

"Kitty" Adora said softly as she looked back at Catra and Catra leered at her. Adora blushed.

"Hi Catra,"

"Hey Adora, need a drink?" Catra asked as she admired the light layer of perspiration on Adora's skin which made her look like she was glowing in the sunlight.

"That would be great, do you have water?" Adora asked as she followed Catra into the back of the shop.

"Yeah, I'll get you a glass " she said, popping over to the fridge before she filled a glass and joined Adora in her cubicle.

Adora was looking around the room and they were alone.

"Just you this afternoon?" Adora asked, accepting the water and drinking deeply from the glass.

Adora was overeager and some water dripped from her mouth down her jaw to her neck. Catra watched it with interest as it disappeared under her crop top into the valley for her chest.

Adora finished the glass and took a deep breath before she offered the glass back to Catra. Catra took the glass while she tried to stop from smiling. There was something so cute about this absolute bombshell acting like a sexy dork. Catra put the glass on one of her benches and grabbed her sketchbook from the desk before she joined Adora on the couch.

She purposely sat close to Adora so she could show her the drawings easily but she also intended to flirt a little. Their texts had been pretty professional with a little flirting here and there and Catra was keen to change that to a lot more flirting.

[...]

Adora was nervous. She was normal up until she realised Catra and her were now alone in the parlour and something about that knowledge set her heart racing.

Catra sat close to Adora on the couch which was also incredibly distracting. Catra pulled her curls over her other shoulder and Adora had to swallow the sound that wanted to escape her chest. She could see the elegant lines of Catra's long neck and she was just so gay. She had never felt so attracted to someone before. She thought it was a once off but every time she saw Catra she just couldn't help it.

"So, I went with your love of rugby for this one," Catra explained as she flicked through the sketchbook to stop on a page with a few sketches.

Adora focused her attention. She put her arm along the back of the couch as she readjusted to see Catra's sketchbook as it was proper up in her crossed thighs.

Catra wearing shorts again today was just so unfair. She looked so cute, not to mention her ass looked amazing. It was very distracting to Adora once she noticed were kind of matching too. Catra was wearing a crop top today just like Adora. But they were pulling very different vibes. Catra looked effortless and sexy but Adora felt like a sweaty mess after walking so long in the heat.

Adora noticed Catra glanced at her in the corner of her eye and refocused on the task at hand. The designs were nice but they didn't really speak to her. She liked the idea of getting a tattoo for her rugby with another Razz quote but seeing the designs come to life made her feel one dimensional. Was it boring or basic for her to get something tattooed on her skin like a sports achievement?

Adora chewed her lips as she looked at the designs. She could feel Catra's gaze now and Adora turned her face towards her.

Oh stars, she's so close.

Adora blushed as she looked down at Catra, she was a lot closer than she had originally thought. Catra looked at Adora critically and Adora felt completely bare under her scrutiny.

"You don't like them," Catra said. It wasn't a question, just a statement of fact. Adora nodded her agreement. "Which bit? The designs, the subject? The execution?" Catra asked and looked up at her again. Adora noticed for the first time that she practically had her arm around Catra. Well it was on the back of the chair, so not really but almost. "I can try again if you aren't digging the designs but still want the subject" Catra said looking at the sketches. Catra leaned back in the chair and her hair brushed Adoras bare arm making her shiver.

"Maybe we could do another subject. I don't think I like the rugby idea so much anymore," Adora rushed to say as she adjusted so her arm was no longer along the couch.

"Great, let's talk about other ideas," Catra said, moving down the couch so she could sit facing Adora with her legs up in front of her to rest her sketchbook. "You told me about your commitments but what do you like to do in your free time?" Catra asked, ready to write the answer in her book.

Adora made a face that made Catra smile.

"I don't really have free time…" Adora mumbled and Catra grinned.

"Ok but if you had endless free time, what would you do with it?"

"I uh…would probably learn about history?" Adora mumbled, feeling embarrassed and her own inflection made it sound like a question.

"That's super interesting, what parts of history do you like?" Catra said without skipping a beat, Adora felt almost giddy with the chance to tell someone about her very niche interest.

"I really like learning about old texts and writing, like “First Ones” script. Even just reading a shopping list is much more interesting in First Ones writing" Adora explained and Catra grinned at her. Adora felt herself blushing, a little embarrassed to be so invested in something so nerdy infront if a pretty girl.

"I've never seen that before, can you show me some?" Catra asked and Adora lit up.

[...]

It was incredible the difference between Adora talking about rugby, which she liked and her talking about history which she clearly loved.

She was like a completely different person, confident and excited as she told Catra all about these lines and symbols. Catra made some notes in her sketchbook for ideas but she was mostly just enthralled by Adora.

Catra had planned to play her A game and flirt with Adora so their texts might get a bit spicier but when Adora left the parlour Catra had done very little on her quest and only found herself even more enchanted by the blonde.