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Lugging her shit back from Limphea was a pain in the ass.
She was hot and cranky and all she wanted was a proper shower and fall face down into her bed with the air conditioning blasting.
Her research trip was great, she learned a lot and it was good to see Flora’s parents out in the field, but she had missed Alfea so much. The girls had kept in constant contact and refused to have a floater roommate take her spot during her time away, which had made Terra cry herself to sleep one night - not that she was going to tell anyone that.
Terra had also heard from Kat a lot, even though she was keeping her responses to a minimum. She was trying to do what she thought was best - giving Kat and Fran space to heal their relationship after everything.
Opening the door, she figured all the girls would be at dinner before the back to school party, but instead she was immediately engulfed in a hug.
“Don’t ever leave me with these weirdos again.” Flora mumbled into her hair.
“We heard that.” Aisha replied, before peeling Flora off Terra and going in for her own hug.
“Fucking finally.” Stella remarked, coming over and hugging Terra and Aisha.
“She’s exhausted, give the girl some room.” Musa scooted them out of the way before also hugging the earth fairy.
“Are you guys ok? What’s with all the hugging?”
“Of course you ruin it.” Stella turned and went and sat on the couch.
“It was just a little empty around here without you too .” Musa squeezed her hand before joining Stella.
Terra cringed, realizing that unexpectedly leaving with zero notice might have struck a cord with the girls.
“So no news?” Terra sat down on the couch too.
“Nope.” Aisha huffed.
Terra exhaled loudly. “Great.”
“You talk to Kat?” Stella nudged her with her foot.
“Nope.”
A silence settled over the suite, which was only broken by an unexpected opening of the door.
“Now this is pathetic.” Riven pointed a tequila bottle at all of them.
“Well that’s a new development.” Terra raised her eyebrow at Musa.
“Piss off.” Riven responded, “Really, you girls need to make yourselves look hot before people think I’m hanging out with frumps.” Riven pulled out shot glasses and filled one up for each of the girls.
“Frumps?” Musa scoffed.
“Get your lives together ladies, time to party.” He toasted and took the shot. Everyone followed suit.
“Shit that burns.” Aisha shook her head.
“Alright let’s go. No moping about ex boyfriends or girlfriends, chop chop.” Riven clapped at the girls but that seemed to get everyone moving.
Terra dragged herself and her bag to her room before hitting the shower. “Maybe I should just stay here and sleep.” She said out loud while brushing her wet hair.
“No.” Everyone responded to her, without even looking up from what they were doing.
Well, this was going to suck.
Making their way to the party Terra took several deep breaths and told herself that she could be cool. She could absolutely be cool, calm, and collected when she saw Kat and Fran together. She had thought six weeks would have quelled her feelings, but instead it might have made them even worse. She had missed Kat and that sense of relief she felt around the other girl. The feeling that she could just turn her brain off and be herself and just exist without having to try to fit in.
Luckily the first person she saw at the party was Sky and as her honorary cousin, they were both happy to see each other. Taking a glass of wine she stood and talked to some of the other earth fairies in her year about the research paper she had just turned in.
“Ter?” Kat’s voice came from behind her.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she turned to the older girl.
“Kat.” Terra couldn’t help the smile that made its way on her face. Kat looked beautiful. Her hair was down, she had on a low cut tank top and leather pants that Terra was sure made her ass look great.
How was it that Kat got this much hotter in six weeks?
“You’re back?” It sounded like a question, but Terra knew that Kat knew exactly when she had returned as she had texted her safe travels and that she couldn’t wait to see her tonight.
Terra had thought seeing Fran and Kat together was going to be bad, but maybe this was worse, seeing Kat alone and imagining that the specialist had been looking for her among the crowd because she missed her. It gave her heart a little pang.
“I’m back.” She didn’t know how else to respond.
Kat reached out to Terra’s arm and squeezed before expertly maneuvering them so that Kat stood between Terra and the party.
“Then maybe it’s time to tell me why you left.” Kat trailed her hand down Terra’ arm making her involuntarily shiver at the contact.
“Huh?”
“Terra Harvey, why did you leave for the past 6 weeks?” Kat crossed her arms and planted her feet. Kat looked mad.
Terra was officially confused, “Did Flora not tell you about my research with her parents?”
“Oh no, she told me and Stella too - hell even Musa tried to talk my ear off about it, but what I want is the truth.”
“The truth?” Terra nervously pulled down her shirt and squirmed.
“Yes, not the bullshit research line you and the winx suite are feeding everyone.”
“Research is not bullshit.” She grumbled and Kat sent her a deadpanned look.
“Terra.” Kat pinched the bridge of her nose, “You’re lying to me. Why are you lying to me?” She took a step closer and gently reached out to thread their fingers together.
“I-I’m not lying.”
“Yes, you are. Just tell me, please-” Kat squeezed her hand and looked so distraught that Terra felt her shoulders sag and she looked down at where their hands were connected.
“Where’s Fran? I’m sure she’s looking for you.” Terra tried to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Kat looked confused at Terra’s question since they never actually spoke about Fran when they were together, "Transferred to Red Fountain - they offered her a full scholarship and she couldn’t say no.” Kat shrugged but didn’t let go of Terra’s hand.. “Now, stop trying to deflect. What’s going on? Why have you been distant these past 6 weeks? Why did you have to leave in the first place? And why, for fuck’s sake, do you keep trying to lie about it?” Kat stepped forward so she was fully in Terra’s space.
“Can’t you just believe the lie?” She practically begged. How do you explain to someone that you were trying to do something good for them without making it seem like they had no say in the situation, even though technically they didn’t?
“Afraid not.”
And true to Kat’s word she didn’t give up trying to find the truth. The girls had joined them during the party so the specialist wasn’t able to confront her again about the situation. Terra had thought that things had somewhat settled down since the party, Kat was a normal fixture around the suite due to Stella so it wasn’t weird that she was around, but she happened to be around talking to Terra. No matter the conversation, in person or via text Kat tried to find the truth. It wasn’t in an overbearing way, but it was enough times that Terra knew she wasn’t going to let it go anytime soon.
Then Kat started walking her to her classes and her shifts at the infirmary and Terra’s resolve was wearing thin.
Terra had been at her greenhouse shift for about two hours when Kat wandered in under the guise of delivering tea for Terra.
“For me?” Terra perked up where she was sitting at her desk.
“In exchange for the truth.”
Terra immediately deflated.
“Research.” Terra turned back to the papers she had been reading, avoiding eye contact and the disappointed look she knew was being sent her way.
“Then let me see.” Kat set the tea down.
“Excuse me?” She snapped her head up.
“Your research paper? The one you need to turn in to get a grade for your research excursion? Let me see it.” Kat innocently inspected her nails.
“You want to read my research?” Terra was confused. Kat was a specialist, and yes they took intro classes about the different types of magics that fairies could possess, but they focused mostly on their training and strategy. She didn’t expect Kat to take an interest in her work, she knew she was hyper focused in a way that not many people were, but no one really offered to read her work. Just her dad, because duh, and her professor that had to, otherwise it was just something she did.
“Yes, do you have a copy?” Kat smirked.
“Um, it’s already been uploaded on the peer review database.”
“Perfect.” and with that Kat, walked away.
Once again, Terra should’ve thought twice about what was to come but between her courses and the suite drama - aka Flora’s sudden pining over Sky - she kind of forgot about the fact that Kat was going to at some point read her research.
Some point turned into two days when a disheveled looking Kat slapped down a printed out copy of Terra’s 38 page research paper on the table that she had been studying at in the library. Kat’s hair was sticking out in different places and she was in sweats, a big tshirt, with very obviously, no bra.
“I call bullshit.” She announced.
“Excuse me?” Terra could see Kat had marked up the research with a purple pen, writing little notes and questions in the margins.
“You heard me. Bullshit.”
“Kat-”
“Can you flip to the part of the research that had to happen in Limphea?” Kat pointed down at the paper.
“What?”
“Which part of this research had to happen in Limphea?” Kat repeated while pushing the paper closer to Terra.
“Well there is a very delicate ecosystem that -”
“That also happens to be in Blackbridge. Try again.” Kat cut her off.
“What?”
“The micro-organisms you were studying. They also happened to appear in Blackbridge, which is 20 minutes away from here.”
“Oh, well I needed samples from sites that were untouched by development-”
“Hmm, interesting. You mean like the fact that the Solarian government has dedicated parts of the realm to science, which leaves the ecosystems untouched unless a certain earth fairy spell is done to allow the researchers in.” Kat cut her off again.
“When did you become an expert in micro-organism habitats?” Terra frowned.
“Last night.”
“Well, it is a very complex and delicate data collecting process-” Terra tried again.
“In which multiple samples are taken over the course of multiple days, measuring different levels and how they correspond to the weather, sun position, and moon position.”
Terra sent another questioning look towards Kat.
“I asked Riven.” Kat waved off the look. Well, that explains that, “So don’t even try me. Now, the truth.”
Terra flopped her head down on the table not wanting to look at Kat. Kat had asked Riven of all people to explain Terra’s research and she had actually looked into it, and why was that so hot?
“Can you please just believe me about the research and we move on?” Terra mumbled.
“Absolutely not. Something happened that made you leave and I deserve to know why.”
Kat wasn’t wrong, but Terra also knew that she didn’t want to admit what had really happened. Kat’s hand ran soothingly up and down Terra’s back, “You could just fess up, and make this easier on yourself.”
“Kat, please.” Terra’s head was still down on the table and she’s sure people were wondering what the fuck was going on between the two of them, honestly she was wondering that too, but she was choosing to ignore those questions and the ones she had about Fran’s transfer to Red Fountain because it was easier than getting her hopes up again, to just be crushed.
“Fine, I’ll let you have the lie today, but tomorrow, the truth will be mine.” Kat kissed the back of Terra’s head before walking away.
Terra was almost ready to admit defeat. It was wearing on her, and she knew Stella had wanted to say something to Kat as well, but Terra had begged her not to.
It had been so scary asking Kat on a date that day in the graveyard, but she had chosen to ignore the embarrassment that came with learning about Kat and Fran’s relationship. The kiss before the bloodwitches had given her hope and the date she thought they went on meant more to her than she could express. It was like the pieces were finally clicking together. After spending so much time chasing guys like Riven or Dane because she felt like that was what was expected of her, it was nice to be honest about what and who she wanted.
She didn’t want to have to face that scary feeling again. Kat already seemed pissed about the whole situation and Terra didn’t want Kat to feel bad for her. It had been her choice to leave to Limphea. She could have stayed around campus and simply avoided the older girl, but she was weak and she knew she would gravitate towards her. She didn’t want to see the pity in Kat’s eyes when she told her what Fran had said to her. It was bad enough having Fran look at her with pity because she had read the situation with Kat wrong.
Terra had done something wrong and she was trying her best to make it right, she just hoped Kat could see it that way too.
Luckily, Kat, Riven, and Sky got called for a 48 hour shadowing assignment with the border guards the next day so Terra was able to build back up her defenses for the time being.
Unfortunately, her luck changed when she entered the greenhouse for her evening shift in the middle of a clusterfuck of people who had made a ton of bad decisions. They were always treating specialist wounds, but tonight’s were partially brutal - third degree burns, broken legs and arms, one badly dislocated shoulder that Terra had to set again after a third year did it incorrectly. Now she wasn’t particularly squeamish, but being in a place where multiple people had been screaming in agony for the past 4 hours was enough to set everyone on edge.
She even stayed an hour past when the greenhouse technically “closed” to help get their overnight guests more comfortable or give them a sleeping aid for the pain.
She was once again cranky, sweaty, and ready for bed and maybe her own sleeping aid when she exited the doors to go back to the suite. It took her a second to recognize the figure that had been leaning against the wall opposite of the exit before Kat was approaching her.
“Hey there little liar, miss me?” Kat joked.
Terra couldn’t help the little tears that welled up in her eyes because it had just been such a shit day and Kat shouldn’t have been waiting around for her like she mattered and fuck she was tired.
“Hey, hey-” Kat clocked the tears immediately lifting her hands to try and comfort the earth fairy.
“Don’t.” Terra held up her hand.
“Ter-”
“I don’t have it in me to come up with a good lie right now and I really just want to sleep and forget about the past couple of hours, so please. Don’t.” Terra looked down at her shoes and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Well, one, you’ve never come up with a good lie,” Terra huffed at that, watching as Kat’s combat boots came toe to toe with her own, “and two, let’s get you ready for bed, huh?” Kat placed her hand under Terra’ chin and forced her to look her in the eyes. Kat took her time scanning Terra’s face before moving to look at her body. The thorough inspection should have made her feel uncomfortable, but Kat had done this a few times before, usually after training exercises to make sure that Terra wasn’t hurt.
“I’m ok.” Terra tried to reassure her.
“No, pretty girl, you are not. Come on.” Kat moved and put her arm around Terra, ushering her towards the dorms.
Terra should have said something when she realized they were going to the specialist dorms, she should have said something when they bypassed Sky and Riven’s floor, and she definitely should have said something when Kat unlocked her dorm room and pulled her in.
She didn’t though.
She let Kat lock the door, and turn on the fairy lights that were strung around the room. Then, Kat was helping her take off her backpack and her flannel, her breath hitched when Kat dropped to her knees to undo Terra’s combat boots. Kat then maneuvered her to the bathroom where she turned on the shower, making sure it was a good temperature, set a clean towel on the hook, kissed Terra on the forehead and left.
Getting the message Terra got in the shower and let it wash away her day and all the questions she had about why she was here- questions for both herself and Kat, but she hadn’t been lying. She didn’t have it in her to lie to Kat or herself about their situation anymore.
She cringed thinking about what people would say about her and Kat if they knew she was here, she knew Fran would make some comment about Kat just being a great friend to everyone and that Terra Harvey wasn’t special.
She heard the door open and tensed up, “Just putting some clean clothes here for you.” Kat said before leaving.
And there was another thing, girls like her didn’t get girls like Kat. Gods this whole situation was about to be so much more embarrassing.
Rushing through the rest of her shower, Terra got out, ready to put on her dirty clothes again because there was no chance in hell she was going to fit in Kat’s clothes, when she realized Kat had taken her dirty clothes out of the bathroom. Why had she chosen to wear the least sexy bra and underwear today? Huffing she went over to the t-shirt and flannel pajama pants that were left there and held them up, frowning she checked the sizes.
Getting dressed, she brushed her hair and opened the door back to Kat’s room.
“Hey, feel better?” Kat was in the middle of pushing dirty clothes under her bed.
“Whose clothes are these?” Terra asked.
“Huh?” Kat turned around to look at her.
“These clothes” Terra emphasized her point by pulling on the t-shirt, “Whose are they?”
“Mine?” Kat furrowed her brow.
“No they aren’t, they fit me which means they definitely are not yours.” Terra stated the obvious.
Kat scratched the back of her neck and looked away from Terra for a second, “I mean they are mine - but I bought them for you - you know, in case you - in case we - if you ever came here.”
Terra didn’t think she had ever seen Kat look embarrassed before. Well, that certainly wasn’t the answer she was expecting. Looking down at the clothes again she felt an uncomfortable warmth settle in her belly. In case they, what? She wanted to ask but knew that would be inappropriate so she looked back at Kat hoping she would explain.
“Get in.” Kat motioned towards the bed.
Terra simply nodded, dumbfounded at the whole exchange and got in the bed. Then Kat was gently shoving her towards the wall so that she too could get in the bed. The action woke up her brain from where it had apparently been stunned, “No, wait - what would Fran think?”
Kat froze half way in the bed at that question.
“Huh?”
“Fran, your girlfriend, Kat.”
“Ter? Did you hit your head?” Now Kat was frowning at her and her hand went to the back of Terra’s head to check for bumps.
“No, I didn’t.” She batted the hand away.
“Ter, Fran isn’t my girlfriend, that was over before you even left, you know this.” Kat said like she was talking to a child, scanning Terra’s face Kat continued, “Tell me you know this.”
Terra in fact did not know this.
Terra watched as Kat’s whole demeanor changed in front of her eyes.
“Tell me what she said to you.” The older girl demanded with an edge to her voice.
“See this is why I didn’t want to say anything, you’re angry -”
“Terra. I need you to tell me exactly what she said to you word for word.”
***
“Hey, Terra, can I talk to you real quick?” Fran asked her.
That really should have been Terra’s first sign that everything was about to go to shit. Fran never spoke to Terra - not when they were in the same classes, not if they were paired up in training together, and certainly not if Kat wasn’t around.
But Terra was trying so hard to expand her social circle and show her dad and Uncle Silva that she was mature enough to spearhead her own research and be a peer mentor so she decided this would be fine. She could prove that she could talk to someone she wasn’t particularly fond of in a calm and cool manner - no strangling with a vine in sight.
It wasn’t that Fran was a bad person - she was just a little too perfect for Terra’s liking. The girl was striking, which was enough to make anyone stare, but then she was always peppy and outgoing - something Terra never understood. As much as she wanted to like Fran, Terra felt like the older girl wasn’t genuine. She wasn’t nice to be nice, she was nice to get what or who she wanted.
“Umm - sure.” She answered, rubbing the tips of her fingers together with nervous energy.
“You know I wouldn’t say anything unless it was super important and I know you know that Kat and I got back together…” Fran looked at her expectedly.
Unfortunately, Terra did know that. What a mind fuck that was - especially after Kat had kissed her before the blood witch situation and then Terra had thought they went out on a date, but Kat didn’t make a move. Now it had been a full week of nothing but the normal texting with Kat, and Terra was slowly coming to the realization that she had completely misread the situation.
“Uh huh.” She gulped.
“Well, I just really think - and I know you probably already agree with me because girl to girl, you know we need to have each others back - that it would be for the best if maybe you spent the 6 week rotation term somewhere else, especially because earth fairies have it so easy finding research posts in other realms.”
“Other realms?” Terra furrowed her brow.
“It’s just - and again, I know you know this - “ Fran wiped a tear that Terra wasn’t even sure was real, “- me and Kat need some time and space to work on our relationship. We have something really special you know, and I know neither of us wants to give the other up based on a spur of the moment kiss that didn’t even mean anything.”
Well that was like a throat punch.
“Didn’t even mean anything.” Terra echoed but she knew her face was turning red and she had started to sweat a little bit. Why did she feel like a toddler getting chastised for taking someone else’s toy?
“I just know it would mean so much to Kat if you just gave our relationship room to breathe. We just love each other so much and I know you adore Kat too and only want what is best for her.” Fran cocked her head expectantly at Terra.
“Of-of course.”
Terra did only want what was best for Kat and if life had taught her anything, it was that Terra Harvey had no business trying to make people happy because she usually failed in the end.
***
Kat was seething by the end of the story.
“See it wasn’t that bad, she just asked if I could give you guys some space to work out your relationship…. And then a spot on the Limphea excursion became available and it just seemed like fate-“
“Fate? You think fate wants us separated?
“That’s not -“
“Ter, Fran and I were not together - we had no relationship to work on.”
“You seem angry.”
“I am. My ex girlfriend drove away someone I really care about.” Kat cracked her neck.
“If it makes you feel any better I did learn a lot in Limphea and I liked seeing my aunt and uncle…” Terra trailed off, unhelpfully.
“As much as I know this is your version of trying to make me feel better, it’s not.” Kat was once again pinching the bridge between her nose, frustrated.
“I’m sorry.” Terra squeaked out.
Taking a deep breath, Kat responded, “Look, you’ve had a crappy night and I don’t want to add to it because it’ll make us both feel worse, so what we are going to do is sit here, relax, and think about what you did wrong.” Kat climbed into the bed and gathered Terra in her arms.
“Don’t you mean what we both did wrong?” Terra asked.
“I said what I said.” Kat pulled her in closer and rested her cheek on the top of Terra’s head.
Terra was absolutely not going to ruin the moment but they had been sitting in silence for five minutes when she had to ask, “Um, what exactly did I do wrong?”
Kat buried her face in Terra’s neck and let out a long sigh before untangling them.
“You listened to Fran of all people - we went on a date for fuck’s sake.”
“I didn’t know that was a date!” Terra huffed, “Nothing changed after it, so I figured I misread the situation.”
“Terra, we were already closer than two people not dating had any right to be, I didn’t want to scare you off since this is your first relationship.”
“Yeah, well you should’ve said something.”
“And you could’ve told me about what Fran said.” Kat shrugged as best as she could on a bed.
“I thought I was doing the right thing for you.” Terra tried to explain, but based on the deadpanned look on Kat’s face she knows that argument holds no weight here. “...But I can see now that was wrong of me.”
“And?”
“And?” Terra scrunched her face up confused once again.
“Terra, Fran’s always been an asshole to you, but I’ve seen you take on burned ones and bloodwitches, she should not have intimidated you or made you run scared. Yes, the truth is you listened to Fran because of what she told you, but why, Ter? Why did you think I would let anyone treat you that way or even speak down to you?”
Taking a deep breath Terra thought she better have a good answer to this question - hell it’s the same one she had been asking herself for weeks now - ever since that conversation with Fran.
“I guess I was scared - scared that she was right and I didn’t mean anything to you and you’re this cool girl, who has people pining over her and I’m just Terra Harvey, nerd with a tiny bit of anger issues - and my dad is gone, Sam is gone, Bloom is gone and being left sucks, ok? So maybe I figured I would do the leaving this time, and you wouldn’t miss me and your life would be easier without me in it.”
“Easier for who?” Kat nudged Terra, “Let me make this clear to you; I want you. Be my girlfriend - if that’s too forward then I can take you on more dates and we can go from there. But don’t take out your insecurities on me. I missed you these past couple of weeks. I wondered if I did something wrong, and you held all the answers. You’re scared? Me too, but that doesn’t mean we run away from each other. Hell, run towards me if you’re scared. I’m not going anywhere.”
Terra searched Kat’s face for what, she wasn’t sure, but all she saw was determination. Kat wasn’t one to say sappy things and she took her responsibilities as a specialist seriously. Terra wanted to be able to run to her when her brain wouldn’t stop nagging her, wanted to tell her about her days and her research, and she wanted them to come back to Kat’s dorm and shut the outside world out if it ever got too much.
“I-ok. I’m sorry, for leaving you, for lying to you, but I want this- I want you too - and hopefully I didn’t muck this up too much, and I’ll try to be better, but it might take some time.” Terra bit her lip.
“I’ve got nothing but time for you.” Kat pulled her bottom lip out from between her teeth before placing a featherlight kiss to it.
Terra inhaled sharply. This was different then the kiss before the bloodwitches, that one was desperate and reckless, this one was purposeful and hopefully meant the start of something permanent.
When Kat pulled away, Terra found herself moving forward to place a more forceful kiss on Kat’s mouth, then another until Kat’s hands were tangled in her hair and Terra’s hands were fisted in Kat’s shirt pulling her closer.
Pulling away, Kat pressed one final kiss to Terra’s mouth before settling down on her back and pulling Terra on top of her.
“Now, you need to sleep and I need you close, so we’re going to cuddle dammit.” Kat huffed, making Terra laugh.
“And here I thought doing what others told me to do was a bad thing.” Terra laughed again at the light smack Kat gave her on her ass before pressing in closer to the taller girl.
“Pain in my ass.” Kat mumbled, but Terra could hear the smile in it.
So maybe she had messed up a little bit and she sure as hell would mess up in the future, but that didn’t mean that she and Kat wouldn’t hopefully, find their way back to each other.
Maybe fate had a funny way of showing you where you’re meant to be, as long as you don’t run from it.