A Visit

Before she knew it, Adora appeared face-to-face with the entrance to the Horde's headquarters. The guards immediately recognized her, wary about the sword in her hand. Cautiously, they formed a circle around her.

"State your reasons for being here and no one gets hurt." A guard spoke firmly.

The intruder snatched the small earpiece off of the guard, speaking directly and cynically into the device.

"My name is Adora, as you all know." Her tone was pointed. "I received a letter from this place and I must speak to the person who wrote it."

She took out the slightly crumpled letter, the guards taking notice of the legitimate stamp. "Who sent it?" The same guard inquired.

"Catra." The blonde replied, her voice practically dripping off venom.

The guards looked at one another, only to give a slight nod afterwards. They opened the doors for Adora, still keeping a watchful eye on her. She interacted with no one else, the others merely looking at her. After all, Adora knew exactly where to find Catra. That is, if she was even the same person to begin with.

She climbed up the stairs until she reached the Fright Zone. For the first time in her lifetime, the name of said place rang true. She was indeed frightened. The blonde walked along the corridors, which were shrouded by walls made out of cold steel. She then arrived to an iron door, a keypad with a red light bulb turned on being right next to it. Adora typed in the password she's known for so long, practically ingrained into her psyche.

The light bulb glowed a bright green, opening the door to reveal the sleeping figure of the woman she achingly missed. The other was snuggled up on the bottom bunk, just like always.

Adora dared not to speak a single word. She awaited a warning of some sort, or at least an insult thrown at her. But alas, the blonde carefully sneaked towards the bed. A soft and pained sigh flew from her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks once more.

Her wailing began slow and quiet, looking at the room through her foggy vision. The other beds were empty, since there was one hour left before the scheduled time for sleep. Her eyes kept roaming the area before focusing on the wall next to Catra's bed. The drawings they had of each other's faces there were both slashed. This only made Adora cry harder, her tears dropping down on the resting feline without neither of them noticing.

The cycle continued until Adora couldn't bare it any longer. And so she laid next to Catra on the bed, hugging her from behind as tightly as she could. The attempted embrace felt empty. Catra would not comply. It wasn't until Adora's sobs became audible, that the brunette took notice. Her ears twitched and flickered, followed by her stretching. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Not a second passed before Catra became aware of her surroundings, alarmed by the sight of an arm wrapped around her.

She let out a scream, leaping off the bed. Adora's arms drooped down onto the bed, still sobbing.

"Adora?!" Catra's eyes widened as her pupils dilated. Within the darkness of the room, Adora was well-camouflaged. However, her warmth and scent easily gave her away.

"Hey."

The feline began to gently rub her own eyes, opening them to see if she was hallucinating or not. "...What are you doing here?"

Adora glanced over at the tarnished drawings, avoiding eye contact with the other. "You sent me a letter."

"And?"

"It says many things. Many eye-opening things."

Catra smiled at seeing her nemesis cry. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

Adora simply nodded.

"I'm glad."

The blonde sat up along the edge of the bed, looking at her with piercing eyes. "You're glad I'm hurting?"

Catra merely shrugged. "As if you would care if I was on the same boat. In fact, I like your pain. We're both just as rotten." She gave her a fake smile.

The commander pretended to be alright. To be strong. But despite this, her instincts were telling her to run to Adora and hold her, kiss her and wipe her tears away. She frowned slightly, angered by her own thoughts.

Adora dried her cheeks. "You're confusing me, Catra. You're telling me one thing, but writing another. Give it to me straight."

"What else do you want me to say? That letter is as honest as it gets. Signed, sealed and delivered. What do I do now? Write it in stone?"

"You're lying."

Catra hissed, shaking her head profusely before letting out a cackle. "I haven't lied. That letter tells you everything I've never told you in person. And I would've done it ages ago just to see the pathetic look on your face as you'd read it."

The blonde was very nearly about to take out her sword. "Then why do you treat me like garbage?"

A big smile was plastered on Catra's face, satisfied with what she was about to say: "Because that's exactly what you are."

Adora took in a big breath, attempting to ignore the lowly insult. "Catra, your letter tells me otherwise."

"Wow. You really do think you're better than the rest of us, huh? Always expecting everyone to start worshipping you."

"Why aren't you being clear with me? I came all the way over here just to see you." Adora's eyes squinted slightly, looking angrily at Catra.

"To see me?" The feline laughed. "The fact that you're here means nothing to me. You're just a nuisance."

At this, Adora took out her sword and threw it onto the bed. This caught Catra's attention. "Look, I'm tired of your games. You either tell me the truth or I'll march out of here and see you on the battlefield. Stop being a coward."

The offer was a no brainer for Catra. She was willing to do whatever it took to keep Adora far away from her, but memories of She-Ra's image upon seeing the sword made her doubt that thought. Perhaps, she could somehow save Adora and persuade her to leave her ridiculous role as a princess if she spoke clearly. Perhaps, perhaps.

"Look." Adora said calmly, given that Catra's full attention was already on her. "These," she flexed, her muscles being proudly out in the open. "— were a reward after years of punching down every sack I could get my hands on. But these…" She signaled to the markings that adorned the side of her ribcage and waist. "These were gifts from you. Or rather, punishments. Cold, cold punishments. You've turned into a monster."

Catra's gaze was set ablaze, her lips twisted from pure anger. She wanted to say a lot, but everytime she opened her mouth, Adora kept chugging coal onto hellfire. Catra found herself dizzy amongst Adora's newfound, yet aggravating wisdom. She wondered just how someone so empty-headed could sound so self-aware.

"A monster?" Catra repeated, her tone full of indignation. She lost sight of any concentration she had.

"My point is that you're not the same person I knew from back then."

"Adora." Catra's smile slowly returned. "I will never be that foolish girl I once was. Ever since you left, I've discovered a new side of me. One I should've let loose years ago. I deserve to be the best. I don't know how you convinced me to think otherwise."

"It's because you loved me."

Catra's silence lasted longer than the blonde's patience.

Adora sighed. "It was a mistake to come here. You'll never change. You're gonna die alone, Catra. You and your pride are the only things you have left."

The feline let out a broken yell, overwhelmed with emotions. "You think you're so goddamn perfect! I'm sick of you. It's about time I end this."

Without a second thought, Catra grabbed hold of the sword from the bed and pointed the tip just underneath Adora's chin. The shorter woman smiled, the sword's glint mirrored onto her dilated pupils. Her brows very nearly touched from how furrowed they were, her freckles getting lost in the sea of wrinkles that appeared with the more she tensed her face.

"Catra…" Adora whimpered out of fear, her voice coming off shakier than she would've liked. "Don't do anything you're gonna regret."

Catra began to climb the bed, lowering the sword onto it.

"Hey, Adora." Her voice was sinister. "I don't regret anything I do. And trust me, I'll make this a night we'll never forget."

Suddenly, she grabbed the blonde by the waist and pinned her below. Adora felt the base of her sword press against her lower back. Catra then placed both of her thighs on each side of the bed, topping the other woman.

"Catra." Adora said in a hoarse whisper.

"Hmm." The feline murmured. "Foolish girl. What are you gonna do now? One bad slip, and the weapon gets your head." This was followed by a laugh.

Adora whined and stared at the top bunk's springs to avoid the two-colored blazing gaze. She saw how neat and tidy they were, almost as if they were brand new. She compared them to how she thought the bottom bunk's springs would look, given the many years of passionate love-making that would ensue.

Adora didn't move, for she knew that a firm no would suffice and Catra would immediately let her go. But such wasn't the case. Adora missed her far too much.

The brunette took a moment to examine the woman under her, making sure that Adora was agreeing upon doing this. As much as she forced the façade that she hated her, she needed to know if Adora was actually enjoying herself.

"Yes?" Catra asked, trying not to break from her toughened demeanor.

Adora spent a few seconds trying to figure out what that meant, but then quickly moaned out a: "Yes."

With that, Catra spread Adora's legs apart. Their bodies then sculpted comfortably, both women engulfed in each other's warmth. The heat forming between their thighs only intensified the moment.

Adora arched her back, closing her eyes. "Oh, God."

The feline hid her face against Adora's neck, letting out a muffled moan. Little by little, she began pulling her lover's shirt off. Adora helped her, tossing it across the floor. Catra traced her tongue downwards, reaching her chest and the tops of her pale breasts.

"Adora." Catra cooed in a seductive tone. "If you stay with me, there's no reason for this to end."

Biting her lip, the blonde opened her eyes a little. "I can't."

Her words made Catra lift her head. "Adora. You're an idiot." She then grabbed the blonde's hips again, lifting her up and smashing her down, the action putting Adora on the verge to have the edge of the sword scratch her lower back.

"Agh! You monster!"

"But you like it." Catra teased. "You keep coming back for more."

"You're one to talk. You'll never stop wanting me." Using her strength, Adora grabbed hold of Catra's wild hair, turning her around so that she would be on top. She pinned the feline beneath her. "You're obsessed with me."

The feline hissed, grabbing Adora's rear as tightly as she could. The blonde moaned slightly at Catra clawing on her skin.

"You're a bad habit, I admit. But I can live without you. It's what I've been doing all this time. Look at me." Catra raised a brow, the sword practically becoming part of the bed at that point. "I'm better than ever."

"Oh, please." Adora looked her up and down. "Stop being so cold with me!" A small pause passed by, Adora's hand cupping the feline's cheek. "I love you, Catra."

With a deep sigh, Adora stood up. She looked directly into Catra's eyes while taking off her own pants. Catra was left hypnotized by the blonde's snake-like movements.

"If only you lost that ugly pride, you would realize that our relationship is not completely lost," she said in unison to unhooking her bra.

Catra's pupils dilated with intensity, her eyelids heavy. Adora got on top of her again but the brunette did not protest in the absolute slightest. She looked at her anxiously from below. The need to devour her was feverish, just as it always used to be.

"I love touching you," she replied. "That, I do." Pride left her eyes the second she saw Adora's face become a gradient of reds. She wore a shy smile, surprising the other as it kept growing. "...I will admit that I miss you."

This encouraged Adora, confirming that the letter was Catra's rushed attempt at catching her attention before making up.

She decided to make a bold offer to the wicked feline. "Instead of fighting, why don't we make love?"

Catra raised her brows and placed her hands on Adora's hips. She caressed them slowly, sensually, delighted. The feline showed weakness for the first time in months. Her breath got shaky and rough, her chest heavy. She grumbled nonsenses as she positioned herself comfortably under Adora.

Adora smiled, her eyes gleaming. For a moment she put away the hard tension between them. "I love you more than you think," she confessed. "I've known that for some time now. And there's so much more to it. I took quizzes and everything!"

The sudden statement surprised the other, making her laugh. "You took quizzes?"

"Yeah! 'Are you gay?' quizzes. They have these interactive thingamajigs back in Bright Moon where you can search all sorts of stuff."

Catra laughed harder. "What'd you get?"

Adora took her sweet time in replying, laughing a bit. Her laugh was jocky. "Full-on gay."

The reply made Catra blast off laughing. "Well, that's something I can agree with. What do you think I would get?"

Adora suppressed her excitement to see Catra show this fun side of her. Slowly, but surely. Biting her lip and hiding a smile, she answered: "A total angsty lesbian. I looked it up on a dictionary. It's a frustrated and moody woman."

The feline ended up chuckling lightly. "You're so cute," she said, forgetting about all her troubles for just a moment.

There were a couple of silent seconds where all that could be heard was the shuffling of their bodies on the bed. Adora laid down next to Catra, ignoring the pain of the hilt of the sword pressing against her scratched waist.

"... Hey, Adora?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay with me. I want to celebrate the new year with you."

The offer was far too romantic to have come from Catra's lips, but it did. It filled Adora with happiness, reminding her of how they would celebrate it together, no matter what. "Really?" she asked, full of excitement.

"Yes, really. Like old times. Just you and me."

"I would love that." Adora turned her head, seeing Catra's smile widen.

The catwoman cupped the princess' cheeks, kissing her. It was a slow and lustful kiss. And just like inside the First Ones' temple, both women remembered the memories of the good times and their love, right there, became passionate and stronger.

Seconds passed and Catra broke the kiss for just a moment, murmuring:

"...This isn't because I like you or anything."