[catch all for adora]

[supercatty]

Comments

[superjock]

[This is very safe.

You'd think Adora would've learned by now but she hasn't. She doesn't look up as she leaves.]

[supercatty]

[oh, adora. you naive, silly fool]







[anyway catra immediately drops on top of her from above with a loud, delighted shout of HIIIIII-YAH!!!]

[superjock]

[and Adora immediately squawks and tumbles forward with Catra like a wounded bird.

prey, acquired.]

[supercatty]

[CACKLING MADLY as she sits on top of Adora's stomach like a cat who just caught a mouse]

[heh]

Hey, Adora.

[superjock]

[ghhhhkhh.]

Catra... can't you say hi like a normal person?

[supercatty]

Aaaw, but you know I'm anything but normal.

[rolling off Adora and popping to her feet, extending a hand to help her up]

[superjock]

[Softly, under her breath:] Well, that's definitely true.

Anyway. [She takes that hand!] Is everything okay?

[supercatty]

[hoists Adora to her feet, perhaps lingering in that hand-holding for a moment longer than necessary before her fingers fall away]

Yeah? Why wouldn't it be? I just need your help with something.

[superjock]

Oh! [Brightens... as she does now... every time Catra seems to need her.]

Sure, what's up?

[supercatty]

[why is she looking at her like that please stop it makes Catra's face feel red aNYWAY, SHE LOOKS AWAY, all casual-like]

Nothing big. Just one of those dumb tasks. Not that I care about them or anything, but I want more vouchers.

So-- let's talk about how far you'd go to reach a goal.

[there that's a safe topic of discussion!!]

[superjock]

[Oh right the tasks.]

How far... that's kind of a tough one. I guess... if it was something important like protecting my friends and Etheria, I'd do everything I possibly could.

... I wonder if that's enough of an answer.

[supercatty]

[at that. . . Catra stills, her ears dropping slightly]

[. . .]

It is kind of vague. What does "everything you possibly could" mean?

[superjock]

Well... it's vague because the scenario is vague. I don't know what sort of fight it would be, but... I guess just all of my strength? Everything I can do? And... maybe She-ra would show up too, to help out.

... That's... all I've got.

[supercatty]

[folds her arms, ears going flatter. unsure how she feels about this!!]

. . .

[but with such a vague response to a vague question she isn't sure she can argue, or complain. she is, after all, the one who asked]

[superjock]

[Adora does not like that expression on Catra's face!

She just nudges her playfully with her shoulder.]

Well? What about you? How far would you go?

[supercatty]

[a little huff, but her gaze flicks away]

You know how far I'd go.

[. . .]

Have gone.

[. . . very quietly]

Would have gone.

[superjock]

[... Ah. Okay. That attempt to lighten the mood failed spectacularly. Adora pauses, because she does know better than anyone--and then she clears her throat and shakes her head.]

... That's not the one I'd pick anyway. For the task board, I mean. The one I'd pick... says that I should talk about the people who are most important to me.

... You know Glimmer and Bow now. They're amazing, right? They're always so kind and open-hearted and welcoming. They do everything they can, with all of their hearts. Without people like them... Etheria never would've stood a chance.

[She is Building up to Something.]

[supercatty]

[she is, but Catra is possibly too dumb to see it. nevertheless, that gets her to smile, because it is such an Adora response]

What, your dweeb friends?

[but it's said like. fondly, and with one of her patented giggle snorts]

. . . they're okay.

[far nicer to her than she deserves]

[superjock]

Yeah. They are, aren't they?

[Adora just smiles fondly at that, because really... she knows that in Catra-speak, that's basically a ringing endorsement.

And then, quietly... she reaches out to rest a hand on Catra's shoulder.]

And... I don't think I ever really got the chance to say this like I should've, but... I'm really, really glad you're back. I didn't--I couldn't--

[She bites her lip for a moment and shakes her head, and then more firmly:]

I just want you to know how important you are to me. Since... I didn't get the chance to say it before. [Since she almost lost her chance to say it.]

[supercatty]

[ah]

[and suddenly Catra freezes, tail stilling at her back and ears perking up again. she blinks at Adora with wide eyes, expression a little slack and very, very bemused]

[WHAT DO?? WHAT DO!!! WHAT DO!!!!! she's like a little bunny petrified on the spot, her heart hammering a billion miles in her chest, the weight of Adora's hand on her shoulder prominent and. . . warm]

. . . oh. . .

[superjock]

[... Well. Anyway!!

Ha ha embarrassing.

Adora clears her throat and looks away and:]

So... yeah. I'm glad to at least have gotten that off my chest. That's all.

Now we've both done the task thing, right?

1/2

[supercatty]

[super embarrassing!! why does her face feel so hot! she can't just let Adora say something like that without a response]

[a response. . . the words are on the top of her tongue, threatening to tumble out without her permission]

Adora—

[supercatty]

[. . . in the end, they don't come. but that's okay]

[Catra pitches forward and yanks Adora into a tight hug, face buried against her shoulder, clawed fingers clinging to the back of her shirt]

[1/2]

[superjock]

[Oh! Oh. Oh?? Oh!!!]

[2/2]

[superjock]

[GET IT TOGETHER, ADORA.

Anyway, obviously after that moment of stunned surprise, she hugs back.

It's still kind of a surprise, though, so she can't help but ask tentatively:]

... Catra?