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There are only ever 2 nutrient bars for cadets in the Horde, the grey kind and the brown kind. What do young magicats eat? The Horde didn’t even care to try.
They’d never seen anything like her in all of the eclectic races they’ve collected. The Force captains thought she was feral, placing her in a squad barrack with others her age. She’d sink or swim, just like the rest of them.
She’d hiss and sputter, taking wild swipes at anyone that came near. Puffed tail and darting eyes, a ruse to scare but Adora always could see she was just scared when she’d listen to Catra whine softly at night.
Wide blue eyes met heterochromatic slitted pupils. Adora would scrape her knees to crawl and climb closer, always closer. Hidden under bunks or staircases, sometimes higher to reach windows, Adora would always try to eat with Catra.
In the beginning, Adora would always unwrap the bar for the magicat and lay it between them. Every time Catra would growl or hiss or grumble, and every time she would inch closer to snatch the bar away like the young blonde had laid a trap. Sharp claws would swipe the bar before moving back away.
A week passed before Catra began to willingly take the food, without thanks, but now without fear. Adora would feel that warmth in her chest every time the magicat stayed just a few inches closer.
As the magicat licked her mouth and Adora got her first close glance at those teeth.
Small sharp, triangular razors. A few are missing due to her young age. Just like Adora.
Cadet Octavia warned her that she’d never have her teeth grow back. But Lonnie said she was just trying to scare her and helped her calm down when her two central incisors were knocked loose after a bad fall chasing Kyle. It didn’t hurt anymore. And it wasn’t scary after her new teeth started to poke through the pink gums of her mouth. Now she had a fun gap for her tongue to poke through.
Catra’s eyes strayed to hers as she chewed slowly through her bar, She’d brought her the grey kind, it was way better than the brown kind. Her cheeks burn with the eyes watching her but shakes off whatever held her down and turned to smile wide. Sticking her wriggling tongue through the missing holes.
The Cat’s eyes go wide with momentary confusion at young blonde’s funny face. A moment passes in silence. Adora humming and crossing her eyes in extreme effort to find a twitch of glee in the fuzzier girl.
A shy smile pulls at a dimple before fast high pitched giggles bubble out. It immediately becomes Adora’s favorite sound.
~~~
Light on their feet, chasing each other through the halls, dodging other cadets and jumping railings.
Adora’s breath comes fast as she tries to keep ahead of her best friend, energy pours out of her chest in fits of laughter. Making it even harder to keep her breaths even. She hears the clawed feet catching on the metallic hall, much too close for her liking.
Adora plants her boot hard, pivoting abruptly to her right, trying to slip down a slim corridor towards the barracks. Try as she might, her boots don’t have enough grip.
The momentum too much for the turn to take. Her foot slides out from under her. A brief yell as her arms splay out to catch her hard fall.
Clawed feet catch the floor with a screech as she jumps Adora’s splayed form.
Catra’s cackles ricochet down the hall. But Adora’s up quick, scrambling after the magicat in a sudden burst of competitive spirit.
Fuzzy ears and wild mane duck into their barracks room. Adora’s heavier steps follow, eyes whipping around for where the cat will undoubtedly pounce from.
Hiding just inside the door frame, Catra lunges with a predatory growl as Adora whips around to try and catch her.
In a violent throwing of gangly limbs, they wrestle and roll to pin the other.
Knocking into a floor bunk, knocking the air briefly from the blonde. Catra takes the opportunity to get her hands on Adora’s biceps, sitting on the blonde’s stomach in victory.
Coughing and giggling. Weakly fighting her restraints to no avail. But honestly Adora would let Catra win just this once. The cat was happy so that meant Adora was too. They can both barely breathe through the joy.
Catra's lithe form is deceptively dense as she rocks with her giggles. Her tail swished wildly, her claws pricking into Adora’s skin. Her cheeks forcing her eyes closed in laughter.
Fangs glinting in the light. Sharp little teeth protect perfectly pink gums. Tongue grazing the palate, lips parted wide with joy.
Adora's laughter dies abruptly, air pulled from her lungs. Ripped away by the look on Catra's face. When’d she grow up? When’d she become so beautiful?
Adora's stomach swoops in a way she’s never felt.
Razorfins swim in her chest. Her fingers tingle like she’d gotten too close to Shadow Weaver again. Her stomach flexes under the magicat, moving Catra with her own sway.
Catra’s still laughing lightly, deep breaths pushing her chest in and out. Eyes still closed as she unconsciously moves with Adora. Catra’s so pliable right now, body relaxed. Two-colored eyes finally opened to peer down at her caught prey.
Adora swallows hard, the razor-fins turn into a feeding frenzy.
She feels sweat drip down her temple. Her mouth dry, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Catra’s eyes trail her mouth, unconsciously mimicking the movement. Lower lip wet and shiny.
Adoras feels herself lock up like a reflex in an oncoming fight.
It’s like Shadow Weaver’s red electric ropes wrap around her throat. Tighter.
The many monsters of Beast Island war between her ribs. Tighter.
A deadly lazer of sparkles from a princess’ magic finger tips are aimed between her brows. Tighter.
The coil inside her when looking at Catra feels close to burst. She’s scared of what’s going to come out.
In a sudden burst of strength, fueled by whatever’s eating her from the inside. She plants her feet hard and shoves her hips up. The magicat lets out a surprised yelp as Adora’s hands whip up to find Catra’s shoulders to flip their positions. Rolling forward using the momentum to spring up in a front roll over the magicat to bounce onto her feet.
“Last one to dinner has to do tomorrow’s laundry duty.” Adora chokes out, rubbing chest above her chest. Small fast circles to force the ache away. Unable to meet her best friend’s eyes she begins to sprint out the opposite end of the room. Coward.
“Wah- Hey! What! Cheater!”
~~~
The mellow hum of Darla vibrates through the walls of the ship. A monotone lullaby sung by intergalactic space travel.
It’s night. At least, that’s what her internal clock tells her. Not that there’s really anything to gauge time off of without the sun. Adora’s exhausted. Her anxious hands shake if isn’t actively using them to help out in some way. Her mind swam with fog. Eyes passing over the same closed door again after her 10th pass through the hall today.
Passing tools to Entrapta, cooking with Glimmer, co-piloting with Bow. Anything to keep her mind off checking up on magicat. Who, just a few days ago, had been deadly still in Shera’s arms. Panic and dread swirl slowly in her stomach at the thoughts again. She rubs small, slow circles into her chest.
Last night, arguably, one of the most emotionally charged moments of her life had yet to release it’s tight coil in her chest.
Entrapta had removed Catra’s chip from Horde Prime. The stress of watching her kooky machine obsessed ally basically operate on her…enemy? While Darla was knocked back and forth, swerving asteroids.
Heart palpitations felt like the least of her problems though.
Something more emotionally devastating had occurred
Catra asked her to stay. She asked her to stay.
Adora didn't realize she’d been waiting almost 3 years to hear that.
The heel of her hand grinding just below her throat, trying to bring her raging heart to calm in it’s cage.
She was never really great at denying herself more time with Catra– under any circumstances.
Time after time, she’d pointedly run through battles just to pursue the magicat in hopes it would be their last chase.
Pacing outside Catra’s room. Is she allowed to go inside? Catra hadn’t come out all day, the food left outside the door was eaten, picked-at plates set back out an hour later. Would Catra want her in her space again? Was it just a one off thing?
They’d slept the night prior on the same bed just like when they were little. Except this time when Catra tried to lay at the foot of the bed, Adora had pulled her up til they were facing one another laying down. So many unspoken words passed between them, as Catra curled in on herself slightly, breaths slowing into deep sleep finally. Adora’s hand placed gently over the magicat’s spine, just feeling the passing breaths and soft deep grumbles of her…friend.
Adora doesn’t even want to begin to question what Catra is to her right now. It’s complicated. She turns again to pace back in front of the door.
A startling hiss makes Adora jump back as the door shifts open. A slightly disheveled Catra meets her. Bags under her eyes, newly shortened hair stuck up on the side of her head.
The only movement for a moment was her ears flicking. Lithe body straight-backed and tense.
Adora’s hand reaches up to cup the back of her own neck, a flash of chipped Catra, back ramrod straight walking up to her, removing her hood flashes through her mind, the hand of Horde Prime on her shoulder.
Adora blinks hard trying to shake the memory. It hurts.
“Hey… sorry.”
Catra’s eyes wander over Adora for a moment. Slitted pupils dialte, black eclipsing the blue and yellow. Her tail swaying behind her in a strange manner. Face unreadable, body language barely letting anything escape.
With a shake of her head, the cat’s eyes narrow again at her. “What are you doing?” Growls out a rough voice, before a yawn breaks through the end, as the magicat turns back into her room, leaving the door open.
Adora goes to follow but stops at the chasm before her. The metal door rails line the edge of the doorway. A metaphorical wall. Her chest gives a painful twist. She grips the edge of her sleep pants. Body momentarily held in the position of attention, her upbringing bleeding back into her posture, pulling her shoulders back, head held high.
A half hearted sigh blows out from her lips. “I just wanted to…say good night, I guess.” Shaking her hands out to twiddle with her fingers. Trying to loosen herself.
Catra moves to sit at the edge of the bed. Legs crossed over one another, hands placed delicately behind her leaning form. Eyes pinned to Adora’s boots still just outside the door.
“No, you didn’t.”
Adora sputters for a moment. Eyes widening as her jaw drops slightly.
“Wha-“
“Just say what you’ve been wanting to so I won’t have to listen to your clunky boots wander down the hall again.” Catra leans forward, her elbow posed on her thigh, nestling her chin with a bored look.
Adora deflates slightly as Catra’s spine finally bends in a more relaxed pose. The tightness loosens just slightly.
The sass was like a balm to her soul, hearing her talk like they were familiar again. “Can I come in?”
The magicat hums for a moment, that flippantly bored look stuck like a mask. Though the end of her tail began to flip back and forth. “I won’t stop you. Do what you want.”
“Catra…”
”Fine. Whatever. Come in or leave I don’t care. Just stop standing like I’m your squad Captain.” She snaps.
A breath. Her foot breaches the unspoken barrier. Her body moving through the doorway finally. The metallic hissing of the door sounds as it automatically slides shut behind her.
“Now was that so hard?” Catra teases.
”I just needed confirmation.”
“I won’t bite.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I would never.”
“I’ve got marks that say different.”
”I think you’re just soft.”
Adora blows a frustrated breath. Lips pinched in a thin line, hands falling to her hips.
“I’m literally She-Ra.”
“Only sometimes. Okay well, this has been fun but as you can see I’m perfectly comfortable to sit in this room with nothing but a bed for hours at a time.”
”Mm, yeah in a way the…simplicity…reminds me of the Fright Zone.”
“See you get it.” Catra mumbles as her claws pick at the fuzzy bits of her woolen blanket.
The silence is thick.
”Is it good or bad to you that this room feels close to a cell?”
Catra’s eyes wander around the room, humming thoughtfully. “The cells didn’t have beds.”
”You know we aren’t keeping you here. You’re more than welcome to sleep with the rest of us.” Adora swallows something hard. “You know the first night I had in Bright Moon, I killed the bed, trying to flatten it. I snuck into Glimmer’s room after I couldn’t find the barracks… it was just easier to close my eyes with someone else at my back…”
Catra didn’t say anything. A small dimple was gone just as fast as it appeared.
”I could find you a plant or something? I’m sure if we asked Entrapta would love to make a little thing to—I don’t know, whatever you want.”
”I don’t need to be coddled or swaddled from any of you.”
“Whatever you say. You’re a big tough kitty.”
Catra softly growls, low in her throat. That nickname always made her fur bristle.
“Sorry, low blow. The offers to move rooms is still there though.” Adora mumbles, wiping sweaty palms down the sides of her sleep pants.
“So…what’ve you been up to today?” Adora clears her throat. “We didn’t see you all day. Entrapta wants to fit you for your suit for when we reach the Thulite refuel planet.” A breathy laugh, “I don’t think she knows how to work around the ears.”
Catra’s ears flick and twitch, eyes sharpening to slits momentarily. Trying to peel any hidden meaning in the question. Before she sighed, dramatically
“Nothing really. Tried sleeping but some annoying girl kept walking past my door with these heavy feet. It’s all making sense to why we never were able to sneak up on anyone but Kyle.” Her head turned to face the side wall, unable to keep eye contact with Adora while bringing up anything previous to the Horde-Alliance war.
Chest tight at the mention of pranking Kyle together. Unnamed emotions threaten overwhelm by the realization that Catra didn’t just throw away their whole life from before.
“Well, if that’s all you need to sleep, then I can lea-“
“Shut up. Just take your shoes off, Dummy.” Catra pat the side of the bed with her tail while still facing the wall. Whether intentional or not, Adora took it as an invite.
“Bossy.” Adora mumbled, as she walked over the bed. Perching on the side to remove her shoes. “How’d you like today's lunch? I made it myself, Bow was trying to remember some recipe his dads taught when he was little, but I don’t really think he remembered it all, but I don’t think it was that bad.” Bending to set her shoes underneath the edge of the bed.
“I don’t think a kid who ate only calorie rich nutrient bricks with the texture of clay for 19 years should be in charge of any meal.”
“You’re probably right. I can’t imagine you cooking.” Adora laughs, “The idea of you in Bow’s apron.”
Catra’s head whips around to face the blonde, a glare in her eyes. She hisses, just enough to see her upper lip curl and the edges of fangs peeking out. Adora’s stomach swoops like it hasn’t in years.
“Kidding, I know you’d rip it to shreds. But I’ll make sure to tell Glimmer you love her cooking instead.” Adora joked, hands up in a placative manner, which only seems to make Catra’s tail swish faster.
“I don’t need Sparkles getting a bigger head than she already has. All you princesses already think too highly of yourselves. Most of them had never even run a single platoon drill. I can’t believe we were somehow losing to you guys.” Her ears flattening, claws kneading into the blanket she sat on.
Adora’s chest puffs out her chest, flexing her dominant arm in might.
“The power of friendship. What can I say?”
“The power of an overwhelming militant force with years of combatant battle drills led by disciplined soldiers raised from birth to hunt things that sparkle— unable to crack walls of an alliance of princesses, on wobbling newborn legs.” Catra’s voice slowly rising in pitch as she worked herself up in a tangled mess that was her life’s work for the last few years. Tail thrashing, bumping Adora’s back as they sat side by side, closer than they had in years without physically fighting.
Adora snorts out a laugh. The tension in her shoulders loosening to lean and bump lightly into Catra as she sways with laughter. How did they really make it through all this? To end up here. Adora peers down at Catra’s tired, irritated eyes.
The magicat hisses again, softer this time. Eyes darting all over Adora’s face.
Adora keeps laughing at how ridiculous it all sounds. Her eyes drawn to Catra’s glinting teeth fully bared in a clenched expression. Seeing both rows of sharp uniform points, two large top fangs hang over two more smaller but still sizable lower fangs. The sight causes something in Adora to clench painfully.
This wasn’t a threat. Well, it was. But more like a warning from when they were children. Unlike when Catra would bare her teeth while wearing a malevolent smile in combat.
“Alright, you can shut up now.” Catra’s claws unsheathed but careful to avoid actually pricking Adora as she pushed her head back with a hand over her mouth, muffling the laughing.
The touch sent lightning down Adora’s back at the brief push. “Sorry, it’s just when you put it like that…” a snort breaks out “this is insane.”
“Maybe you really did get brain damage when you hit that tree. I can’t believe it took you this long to realize.”
“Excuse me? When I hit the tree? That was your fault.” Adora deadpanned.
“Um, no it wasn’t. You’re crazy, stupid muscles over worked the tiller so the skiff went all crazy.”
“I only grabbed it because someone got her tail in a twist and was getting all antsy about it being her turn and had never flown before then shoved me off the lever, in the middle of flight.”
“Oh please, that weird supernatural destiny sword probably was had a mental magnetic pull to begin your magical glitter quest. The power of friendship and you drove us straight into a tree.”
“Definitely not how I remember it happening.” Adora lightly shoving Catra.
“Um, yeah, because you have brain damage.” Catra pushed her back.
“Alright, you know what?” False seriousness deepens her voice. She can’t hold it for long. The blonde laughs, something giddy kicking around in her chest back and forth.
“What’re you gonna do about it, Princess?” Catra flashes those top fangs of hers again. A playful flash of teeth. A bet. A threat. A risk.
“That’s it.” Adora’s not sure what takes her over but she grabs Catra’s shoulders pushing her roughly down onto the bed, Legs swinging to pin Catra down.
Adora expects laughter or another playful hiss but a pained sound, rips free from the cat. Loud and clear in distress. Adora’s heart drops out of her chest.
Catra kicks Adora off her, flipping them. The magicats nails digging through her sleep shirt ripping into the collar, clenched in a tight fist. Her hips gripping tight around the blonde’s sides as she leans down to snarl, a wild reflexive noise of intimidation tears from between her teeth. Breath hot on Adora’s face, quick panicked breaths sawing out of the magicat’s chest. An expression of fear and regret ripple across Catra’s eyes so quickly that she’s not entirely sure it was even there.
Adora’s eyes go wide at the display. Jaw and body limp at the display.
She pushed too hard. What is wrong with her? Catra just recently went through the most traumatic experience and she thought play fighting was gonna be a good idea?
She took a few deep breaths. Waiting for Catra to calm slightly. Pleading eyes looking into Catra’s dangerously narrowed slits. The coil tighter than ever in her chest. She could feel bile rise in her throat in shame.
“Catra?” She choked out. “I’m sorry. I—I know better than that. I got ahead of myself. I’ve—” another breath. A pause. Catra slowly looking like she realized what happened, mouth open, eyes flicking over her face. “I’ve just been—“ She grits her teeth in frustration. “I’m just— relieved to see you… and I know you’ve just been through the absolute worst and..and I shouldn’t have put my hands on you like that without asking and I’m sorry.”
The grip on Adora’s shirt loosens. Hands going slack. Catra doesn’t look like she knows what to do. Hurt, shock, regret arc across her features, they stay long enough to stain her features in remorse.
“…Yeah. Ugh” She blows out a cool breath. “Maybe just ask… next time.”
An awkward pause hangs between them. Catra half bent towards Adora, hands laid on the blonde’s chest as they both catch their breath. Adora watches the subtle rise and fall of Catra on her stomach, moving slightly as her lungs greedily fill and contract. Guilt burns in her gut, for pushing Catra but also for something else she can’t really name. Her throat’s so tight.
“Catra?” Adora’s heart, a feral thing beating on her ribcage.
Voice slightly gruff. “Adora?” The magicat’s tail flicks quickly.
“Can I…” she bites the inside of her check hard. So stupid. Eyes dart to the side of the room.
“Just ask already.”
“Can I touch you?” Adora whispers between them. Her soul feels raw. The coil burns hot white like the filament inside one of Entrapta lights, searing her from the inside.
Heterochromatic eyes dart back and forth before they settle on something next to Adora’s face, not actually able to look her in the eyes. A supple, pink tongue parts her lips, licking her teeth in slow, heavy thoughtfulness. An internal struggle wins out, “Only because it’s you.”
Adora’s eyes burn. Her throat aches. Her non dominant hand lays atop the ones on her chest. Callused fingers squeeze slow and light. Eyes staring up at Catra in silent question. Her fingers drag to the tips of her claws, freeing them from the woven fibers. They had managed to rip a few holes into her shirt but Adora couldn’t care in the slightest.
Her dominant hand reaches up to Catra’s face. An unreadable expression flicks across as Adora slides the tips of her fingers into the short sides of Catra’s new hair, brushing around the soft velvety edges of her ear. Choppy ragged cuts sheared off in what Adora can only imagine to be violent memories…if Catra was even aware at the time. She rubs the base of the soft ear with her thumb and forefinger, like she used to when they were little.
A slow blink is all Adora receives. But she needs something more substantial, verbal confirmation.
“Okay?” Whispered into the air between them.
“Okay.” Catra whispers. Her lips parting to speak. The movement pulling Adora in.
Before she can even fully comprehend what she’s doing. Her callused hand slips from Catra’s ear. A fresh cut in along her brow. The slope of her nose. Stopping at her top lip. Her jaw gently caressed along the way, her finger tips spread wide to feel the soft, short fuzz on her face greedily. The edges of her jaw had always had a little bit of extra fluff. That was her favorite to touch when they were younger.
Adora rubs her thumb against the plump flesh, lightly dragging it up to see what has held her interest much longer than necessary. Long, sharp, white points. I wonder how sharp they are.
Adora’s ears and throat burn, both for different reasons. Her eyes flick back to Catra’s widened gaze. “Can I touch your fangs?”
A sort of short choked breath escapes Catra’s lips as she opens her mouth for Adora to see.
Four piercing fangs catch the glow of Darla’s lights.
Adora can hardly contain whatever’s happening inside of her. War waging between her bones and under her skin. Sweat down her back. Her hands slightly shake. Wetness springs to her eyes. Catra, in her hands, letting her touch her like this.
In a way she never thought she’d ever see again. Battlefields and prophecy ripped them apart.
Adora feels so raw at the trust Catra has shown in her and her friends. It peels back the layers of her skin revealing her bloody beating heart.
“You’re so beautiful.”
Catra’s eyes go wide as her mouth falls open just a bit more.
Adora holds her thumb up to Catra’s fang, in awe of the size and shape before finally, finally pressing up into the sharpened point.
Something begins to loosen in her chest. She feels the tears pooling in her eyes, slide down the sides of her temples. Strangled shirt puffs escape her tight throat as Catra’s jaws slowly drift closed, electricity running down her arm and down her spine. Her finger caught delicately between the two fangs.
The prick of sharp pressure addictive in a way she never could have thought.
Caught under Catra’s gaze, her hips, her face, between her teeth. Adora would be okay to never be anywhere else again. Hot, wet lines carve down the sides of her face. As she rotates her thumb to press down on the other smaller tips.
Running her thumb over the edge of her bottom row. A soft noise comes out of Catra. Adora waits patiently for her the pull away. To be done with her. But she doesn’t.
Small puffs of warm breath breeze over her knuckles.
She feels drunk. Her emotions at an all time high. The coil, slinky-ing between her stomach and behind her sternum. Adora spreads her thumb and pointer finger to press between the fangs. She can feel her heart beat in the tips of her fingers. Recklessly driving her to push just a little bit harder, just past the edge of comfort. Her eyelashes clump together with tears.
“Please, I just—“ Adora begs for something she doesn’t even know. Everything’s too tight. Too complicated. Too much. “I just want to feel them.”
Catra whimpers softly as she raises her hand off of Adora’s chest. Though the lost weight of it does nothing for the blonde to breathe steadier. Short, fast puffs blow out from between her parted lips.
Catra grabs her wrist before she huffs slightly, eyes never leaving Adora’s.
The hand is pulled softly from her jaws to the soft fluff, nostalgic inducing intoxication flooding her brain with fog. A cool nose nuzzles her wrist slightly with assurance. Can you miss someone right in front of you?
Catra leans forward just slightly, mouth widening. Teeth coming around the outer meat of her thumb and palm. Razor-sharp pricks push, slowly, hesitantly, until finally.
The skin breaks. Adora’s hand had never been steadier. The lightning racing up and down her body had finally had an escape point. Years of fighting the winding around her heart leaks out in droplets of red from the small puncture wounds.
All tension bled out of her by the same one that helped cause it. Short, tentative licks of Catra’s slightly rough tongue soothe the skin. A balm to her burning skin.
A small amount of blood turning the very edge of her pink tongue darker with burgundy.
A small sob rips loose Adora’s throat.
Hands come down to softly hold Adora’s face as Catra wipes her thumbs through the salty lines. Breaking the tracks with a gentle kindness that Adora didn’t even know she still harbored. How much have they grown apart from one another? Could they ever have something like they used to?
Adora’s not exactly sure why she’s crying but she knows, she has Catra.