Chapter Text
As the sun’s rays spilled through the cracks of the leaves from the trees, Adora lifted her head to feel the composed tranquility of the morning. The chillness prickled her skin as she made herself a resting spot on the rock, looking through the almost never-ending vastness of the Whispering Woods. In seemed, for once, even the early hours of the day was enough for the mysterious enigmas of this godforsaken forest to slumber.
“Ugh, Catra, where are you…?” Adora mutters underneath her breath, squeezing her elbows, almost trying to make herself smaller. With the time spent apart with the Rebellion forces and Horde, it appears every time Adora snuck away from Bright Moon to her clandestine meeting with Catra, she was on-edge, as if something or someone is watching her from the bushes or between the trees. These times are so strained, and every time Adora decided to leave Bright Moon, her friends Glimmer and Bow would immediately start a search for her. She loves them and the fact they do that, but sometimes, a girl just needs time for herself. Especially when she still visits her best friend, who happens to be an enemy of the Rebellion.
Minutes, what feels like hours, run by Adora. The slight tapping of the foot on the rock keeps her from jumping at any shift in the foliage. Running her fingers through her bangs and lowering her head in thought, something sharp and precise runs along the back of her neck. She jumps from the rock, a hand instantly flying to the grip of the sword on her back.
“Woo-hoah, someone’s jumpy,” Catra chuckles, lithely propping herself onto the rock, twisting a finger through a lock of her mane.
“Catra!” Adora groans, immediately releasing the grip from her sword, placing hands on her hips, “You can’t just scare me like that! I was about to slice you in half,” the blonde sighs, looking around once more, “someone might be—”
“Watching? Let them. Who caaares,” the feline lets her eyes roll, sliding off the rock and an arm around her friend’s shoulder, “I stole some biscuits from the kitchen. I didn’t have time to eat. C’mon, let’s relax for a second.” Catra grabs Adora’s hand as the settle into the soft grass beneath them. Adora sits on her knees while her friends make herself comfortable, hands folded together as she dazedly watches her unfold a small red cloth, setting it out in front of them.
“It’s just… I don’t know, I feel like what we’re doing is wrong,” Adora lowers her head, then switching her gaze to Catra, “ I mean, we’re supposed to be enemies.”
Enemy. Feels like such a dirty word, like a forbiddance. When Catra thinks of Adora, she doesn’t think of enemies, nothing close to that. Well, at first, she did. But with the now empty bed below hers and the missing smile at the beginning of every day, Catra ignores their stances, their alliance. Just for that moment of the day. Just to find some peace. Catra lowers her eyes, the chewing of biscuits slower. The silence in the air between them is heavy, and Adora looks away, teeth digging into her lower lip. She lowers her once-taut sitting position into a closer position to Catra, her hand reaching for the other.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Adora mutters, fingers tracing Catra’s palm, letting her fingers lace between the others.
“Then don’t,” Catra says a little too sharply, jerking her hand away from Adora’s. No. It hurts. Adora flinches for a second, and sighs, looking away. Catra’s eyes flash with an underlying fear and she grabs the blonde’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Her hand fits so perfectly in Adora’s. How could it not? It’s always been there.
“I’m sorry. I guess I feel the same. But it’s okay,” Catra’s ears flatten, “We shouldn’t have to be afraid. We’re knee-deep in this forest and no one can possibly find us. And if they do, I’ll claw their eyes out,” she raises the other hand with a playful clawing motion, chuckling. Her chuckling is contagious. Adora laughs softly.
“Let’s just… stay like this. For a little while longer, while we’re still hidden from the world. No spies, no Shadow Weaver shifty-stuff, just us.” Catra leans her head on Adora’s shoulder, closing her eyes. Adora leans her head atop of Catra’s, and the crickets of the Whispering Woods create an orchestra while they sit in silence.
She feels an emptiness, for some reason. Even though she’s with the only person she loves, at the end of the day, Catra is still sleeping at the end of Adora’s torn up mattress. How longer can they meet like this, while the Rebellion grows stronger with every princess? Every minute is precious with Adora. From the battering of training and the lectures from Shadow Weaver, these moments with Adora is the only thing that brings her back down to Etheria. Adora’s subtle musk of familiarity is the home Catra wants to come back to.
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How does Adora tell her? With every passing day comes a new task for the Rebellion. Glimmer wants to infiltrate a Horde base, or win the backings of a princess, this and that. Every task is just a rope, pulling her away from Catra. She knows they can’t stay like this forever. They must be real enemies eventually. The thought sends a looming darkness of unfamiliarity over her mind, toying with her emotions the inside. How could she leave her? She adores Catra. Her palms sweat at the thought of even approaching the omen. Her eyes open and look down at the resting Catra on her shoulder, a soft purr emitting, a sign of trust and liking. Adora examines her features. The soft freckles on her tan skin, the light brown tuffs of hair that present her wild lion mane, her fluttering eyelashes that flick with rest. How could she leave this?
“Catra,” Adora runs a hand softly on Catra’s cheek, as if waking up a resting kitten. Catra’s eyes flutter open and look at Adora for a moment. Her brilliant, blue and brown eyes, the slits of her pupils. Adora smiles, masking the guilty feeling behind her eyes. “It’s been a while, time’s almost up.” Catra frowns and closes her eyes, nestling into the crevice between Adora’s shoulder and body, trying to find some more warmth from Adora’s body.
“Mmh--five more minutes,” the feline says softly, and Adora rubs her back softly with long strides, evoking a stronger purr from Catra.
“It’s almost morning. Glimmer and Bow are gonna start looking for me, I have to go soon,” Adora whispers, leaning into Catra’s hair and pressing her lips against her head, a small smile cracking. Catra’s fists ball up at the mention of those names. Those people probably don’t even like Adora, they just want her for her power and her fancy new sword she happened to find. Her teeth dig into her lower lip.
“You’re gonna leave me for them.” Catra states flatly, opening her eyes as she stares in the forest from her position, then fixing her to face Adora. “Don’t leave me. Not yet, I barely just—they’re not even—who cares about them!” Catra explains, shifting away from Adora.
“Wait, Catra,” concern washes over herself, grabbing Catra’s hands into hers. “Stop. We’re not going to think about this. And I care about them,” the message emanates a soft growl from Catra, and the feline stubbornly folds her arms together in silent protest. Adora raises up a hand and places it on Catra’s cheek to make her look at Adora. The girls stare at each other for a long moment, and Catra eventually leans her cheek into Adora’s, raising a hand to cup hers. She submits to Adora, at least on this neutral ground. Adora leans over to Catra and wraps her arms around her, pulling her in for an embrace. Catra leans in, putting her hands on Adora’s hips and snaking them around her waist in an attempt of a returned hug. It feels so empty.
Adora leans up and stands, helping Catra to her feet. Adora stretches and goes back in for another hug, pulling her closer this time, rubbing her hand over Catra’s back.
“We’ll meet tomorrow, okay? Same time, same place. I’ll bring some food for you, too. Bright Moon has really good food,” Adora smiles at Catra, and the girl return a weak smile.
Catra nods and smirks. “Yeah. You better.”
The girls begin to separate, their hands not leaving each other until distance forces them apart. The blonde turns and climbs over the rock they sat in front of, turning to Catra as she smiles and waves away. Returning the gesture, Catra begins the same direction she came, the thought of permanently separating from Adora lingering in her mind. She must do everything she can possible to keep Adora at her side, for as long as she can.