Hey, the writer here. I listened to The One That Got Away acoustic version by Katy Perry and the writing got a little edgy, sorry, these are supposed to be funny.
"Do you ever think about the future?" Catra asked.
The sun had long since gone down over the horizon. Catra and Adora with their hands intertwined were laying on a roof tall enough to see the last shred of light go down. The stars illuminated the area enough to see each other clearly. Catra didn't need the light but she was comforted that Adora could see her.
"Sure, I think about the future all the time." Adora said.
"I do too," Catra said closing her eyes and relaxing, "how do you think the future will be?"
"I'm not sure." Adora paused with a gulp before continuing. "Do you ever think, about leaving the horde?"
"I mean, not really." Catra said lifting Adora's hand to Catra's lips for a kiss. "You're here, why would I want to leave?"
"Aw, thanks."
"Adora?" Catra asked.
"Yes?"
"When I think about the future, and what I want, Shadow Weaver isn't around." Catra said as if confessing something.
"I never considered her, but yeah, her being gone does sound good." Adora agreed. "I've thought about it though."
"What?"
"Leaving the horde. Sometimes I'm not sure we're the good guys." Adora said, causing Catra to sit up.
"Yeah, with a name like the horde I'm not so sure we are all good."
"What?" Adora asked sitting up herself.
"Well, we're called the horde, don't you see something wrong with that name?"
"Oh," Adora started. "I thought we were called the horde because we were named after Hordak."
Catra snorted. "Adora you're cute but dumb."
"So we aren't the good guys?" Adora asked worried.
"Adora, it's not that easy. You know why we're fighting the rebellion, you know it's more complex than being good or bad."
"If we're the good guys why is there even a rebellion?" Adora asked.
"I," Catra couldn't answer nicely, if she said something wrong and Adora said something, or if anyone was listening to them, then Catra would be in trouble. "Listen, I'm sure that you're about to be made force captain. You should be able to think about that yourself."
"You're right." Adora said rubbing her thumb over Catra's knuckles. "Do, you want to leave the horde?" Adora asked.
"I'd go anywhere as long as you take me with you Adora. But even if you did leave the horde where would you go? The rebellion?"
"We might not have to, we could live in the woods, away from the fighting. I," Adora's voice choked. "I don't really like fighting, I don't like worrying about you running into Shadow Weaver, I like these moments I have with you."
"Adora." Catra said softly, Adora being so open shocking Catra. This was just supposed to be a normal date stargazing, they had conversations similar but nothing where Adora actually worried Catra. "Tell you what." Catra said cupping Adora's face in her hands. "If you ever, ever, do leave the horde, promise you'll warn me so we can leave together."
Was Catra supposed to be open with Adora now? Tell her all the things that were wrong? Convince Adora to leave the horde with her tonight? There was always the chance that Adora was just having a bad day and the moment she felt better she would rat out Catra to Shadow Weaver. She wished that she felt safer telling Adora things. Especially now. She told Adora almost everything but she wished she felt safer.
"Really?" Adora asked. Catra merely smiled and nodded in response. "I promise." Adora said beaming and hugging Catra.
Catra wrapped her arms around Adora tightly, lightly brushing Adora's hair. They stayed like that for a while, the sky getting even darker and more stars appearing during their hug. Catra debated the whole time on whether or not to tell Adora. "When, when I think of the future, Shadow Weaver isn't around."
"Like, dead?" Adora asked. Catra nodded against Adora's neck. "I, kind of understand." Catra became hopeful for a moment, that memory she held dear of when Adora stopped Shadow Weaver from hurting her resurfacing. "That time, when we were younger was pretty scary. But I don't think she should die for that one moment."
Adora's words came through her heart like a pin. Catra suddenly having to hold back tears to not worry Adora. "Yeah, that, one time." Catra wasn't feeling so good, Adora's hold on her stiffened when she said that.
"There, were more times, weren't there?" Adora asked, her voice filled with worry.
"There was." Catra pushed Adora back lightly. "But it wasn't that important." Catra lied with a smile. "Anyway, what do you think of the future?"
"Oh-Okay." Adora said looking at Catra in the eyes. Part of her hoped Adora would drop it. But she wanted so desperately for Adora to dig, for her to have her confess everything, how she felt, and how desperately she needed Adora to be there for her. "Um, whenever I think about the future," Adora said laying back down. Catra was so hurt that she had such a great poker face, if she wasn't so good at lying then things could get better for her. "I always imagine you're there, with me. I mean, Kyle is somehow there too, he somehow kept up with us, he might actually make force captain just by being so pathetically lucky."
"I don't know what that kids deal is." Catra said laying back down, her hand blindly searching for Adora's. Catra looked over and saw Adora had her hands on her stomach.
"Yeah." Adora whispered.
Again they opted for silence, staring once again at the sky above.
"Do you ever think about space?" Adora asked.
"Weird question, but yeah, it's so big." Catra answered breathing her words.
"Does space scare you?"
Catra wasn't sure if Adora was now in the state of being so tired she couldn't understand what was happening yet. "No, things like space, don't really scare me."
"They kind of scare me. It's so big, it's like, what even are we?" Adora asked, Catra was about to answer but Adora wasn't done yet. "I'm going to be force captain soon, but what does that even matter?"
"Adora, I think you're too tired." Catra said.
"I think you're right Catra, I haven't slept well the past few nights. I keep dreaming about that picture you drew of me."
"The one on your locker?" Catra asked.
"Yeah, I keep dreaming about that, and it's not a very good dream either."
Wind loudly passed over them making them listen to nothing for a while.
"Oh my goodness!" Adora said normally shocking Catra. "You're a cat!"
"Adora, you are so dumb." Catra said with a sigh, Adora must be really tired.
"No, but your name is Catra, it's just the word cat with a suffix."
"Adora, your name is a prefix." Was she finally going to be able to use it? She had thought of this joke around two weeks ago. This possibility was cheering her up.
"It is?" Adora asked.
Holy crap Catra was so ecstatic to say this. "Yeah, cause you're, Adorable." Nailed it.
"God I love you so much." Adora said with a huge grin on her face.
"I know." Catra said turning back to the sky. "The starts are pretty tonight." Catra said.
"Now that's a lie." Adora shot down.
"What? Now why would I lie to you?" Catra said with her most offended voice.
"You told me before you can barely see the stars cause you can already see in the dark."
"Wow, you know me too well Adora, a little creepy."
"Like you aren't creepily knowledgeable about me too." Adora scoffed.
"Yeah, do you think we should get back to our bed?" Catra asked.
"No, I think we can manage sleeping outside for tonight."
"Okay, if that's the case then I'm gonna be laying on you." Catra mocked.
"What? But if I wake up first then I wont be able to get up."
"It's that or the bed." Catra offered.
"Fine, let's go back inside."
"Catra." Hordak's voice shocked Catra.
Catra had come outside for some fresh air when her memories decided to hit her like a truck.
"Lord Hordak!" Catra instantly got down on her knees showing respect.
"Catra," Hordak slowly began. "you should know that almost nothing happens in the horde that I don't know about." Catra was listening to what he said intently but also couldn't help but question why he was even here. "Matters of my peons isn't something I interfere with lightly. I knew about you and Adora."
"Lord Hordak, Adora is part of the rebellion now, attempting to return her was Shadow Weavers orders!" Catra said afraid that she would be punished for following orders that made her look bad.
"I'm here to congratulate you Catra." Hordak said, shocking Catra. "I knew of you and Adora's relationship. I could hear all your promises. You promised Adora that you would join the rebellion with her and you stayed in the horde."
"Yes, I stayed because I would never,"
"Yes, you would. You've shown that you value the horde above anything else. You lead the largest and most effective attack against the rebellion and you've managed to recruit someone under your wing that is advancing our technology as we speak." Catra couldn't understand what was going on, was Hordak praising her? "You've done far more than Shadow Weaver has done in the short time you've held the title of force captain."
"Lord Hordak? What is this about?"
"A reward, you are deserving of one. Shadow Weaver has betrayed all but directly, and I know how she has treated you."
"Shadow Weaver?" Catra wondered, still on her knees. All of this seemed too good to be true, Lord Hordak was rewarding her. Lord Hordak sought her out.
"The reward I'm offering is a mission. Take out Shadow Weaver, I believe you're motivated enough."
Catra couldn't believe it. She was so happy. She was finally getting the future that she wanted. If only Adora could be there.
