[which is part of the reason Catra is trying to convey this in the first place, honestly. so. . . Adora doesn't feel like she failed her. that she isn't protecting her. that she isn't useful without She-ra]
[-- but there is a moment where she's distracted by those words, that promise, that assertion of her importance to Adora, despite everything that's happened. there's a moment where she lifts her gaze, eyes locking with Adora's, taking in those soft features and the curve of that smile and the brightness of that expression]
[she could let herself get lost in it, if she truly wanted to. that fierce gaze that never, ever loses its fire, no matter how difficult things may seem]
[. . .]
[but. . . not now!! that's not for now. she has a mission!!]
What I'm saying is, you don't have to be She-ra to protect people, okay? So.
[... Ah. And just like that... Adora's expression falters a little, and so does the moment. It's a nice thought, that she doesn't have to be She-ra to protect people. But she knows the truth.
She, Adora, can only do so much. Without She-ra, she's just an ordinary girl who's not very good at a lot of things. She can't piece together the murders. She can't solve anything.
And she can't protect the people who died. But with She-ra? Maybe she could.
Maybe she could've swooped in and protected Catra before she suffered all of those injuries before. Adora hesitates--and looks away.]
[because yeah, she heard that. she heard that, Adora!!!]
[the rest of what Adora says settles her, though. not without a tiny feeling of unease in her stomach, but. . . she can push through that. instead of responding verbally, she finds herself pressing her shoulder against Adora's again in quiet camaraderie]
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[-- but there is a moment where she's distracted by those words, that promise, that assertion of her importance to Adora, despite everything that's happened. there's a moment where she lifts her gaze, eyes locking with Adora's, taking in those soft features and the curve of that smile and the brightness of that expression]
[she could let herself get lost in it, if she truly wanted to. that fierce gaze that never, ever loses its fire, no matter how difficult things may seem]
[. . .]
[but. . . not now!! that's not for now. she has a mission!!]
What I'm saying is, you don't have to be She-ra to protect people, okay? So.
[SO. . .]
no subject
She, Adora, can only do so much. Without She-ra, she's just an ordinary girl who's not very good at a lot of things. She can't piece together the murders. She can't solve anything.
And she can't protect the people who died. But with She-ra? Maybe she could.
Maybe she could've swooped in and protected Catra before she suffered all of those injuries before. Adora hesitates--and looks away.]
... Yeah. I... I'll do my best, anyway.
no subject
I'm serious, Adora. Okay?
You can protect people even without her. You can protect them just by being you.
no subject
... I hope so. [A soft sigh.] Because I don't have her here. So... I have to be able to.
no subject
[. . .]
You take on too much responsibility, you know?
[another tail flick, gaze once again flickering away]
It doesn't always have to be you doing the protecting.
no subject
[That's just said softly, though, almost under her breath, and then Adora sighs.]
... It's okay, Catra. I'm fine. We're both okay... we're both going to make it through this. For now... I think that's enough.
no subject
It doesn't.
[because yeah, she heard that. she heard that, Adora!!!]
[the rest of what Adora says settles her, though. not without a tiny feeling of unease in her stomach, but. . . she can push through that. instead of responding verbally, she finds herself pressing her shoulder against Adora's again in quiet camaraderie]