"Rogelio lounges in his bunk enjoying the small amount of down time allowed to the Cadets. Kyle is watching some video in his own bed, and Lonnie is laid out taking a nap. All of which is in contrast to Catra and Adora who both stagger into the room together grinning like fools, covered in cuts and soaked to the bone. Kyle glances up at them briefly before returning to his video and Rogelio doesn't even raise a brow. Adora and Catra have never been good at down time."


Glimmer and Bow turn down a castle corridor and are knocked to the ground by the force of a blond floral princess slamming into them. Bow is the first to recover, untangling himself from the blond hair and sitting up. He brushes a small flower off his shoulder before recognizing the force that knocked them down. "Perfuma? Why are you running around the castle?"

"Bow! Glimmer! There you two are!" The flower princess sits up and squeezes the two into a hug.

"Uh Perfuma?" Glimmer speaks while trying to see anything through Perfuma's hair. "Not that I'm not happy to see you but why exactly are you here?"

Perfuma finally releases the two of them allowing Glimmer and Bow to get to their feet. "I came because I heard about what happened in Salenias, are you guys ok? Why didn't you call me to help?"

Glimmer scratches her head. "We're fine, honestly. Trust me if we had known we were walking into a battle you would have been the first person we called. We could have used some vegetarian backup."

"Hmph." The Plumerian princess puts her hands on her hips. "What about Adora and Catra where are they?"

Bow points towards a door down the hall. "They are in their room sleeping but you don't-" Before Bow can finish Perfuma is already moving past him towards the door. In a panic he reaches back and grabs her arm. "Hold on! I said that they're asleep!"

Perfuma tugs her arm, "It's fine I just want to make sure that they're ok."

There's a flash of sparkles as Glimmer teleports in front of the princess. "No, you really don't want to go in there. Waking up Catra is a really bad idea. Trust us."

The haunted looks on Glimmer and Bow's faces gives Perfuma pause. "Really?"

Bow nods his head emphatically. "Really. Last time we woke Catra up she came out and her eyes were glowing in the dark, and she was super mad."

Perfuma raises her other hand to point past Bow and Glimmer who turn to see the door cracked a few inches showing Catra silently glaring at them, her eyes glowing in the shadows. "Kind of like that?" Catra slowly raises a finger to her lips and continues to glare at them while closing the door.

Once the door is closed Glimmer whispers to the other two, "Can we have this conversation literally anywhere else?"


Catra sighs turning away from the door and walking towards the large bed she and Adora share. Despite the early afternoon sun the room is dark with thick curtains pulled over the windows allowing only the narrowest streams of light through. Catra retakes her position above the covers snuggling up to Adora who shifts to better accommodate her. "Are they gone yet?"

"They better be." Catra grumbles. "I'm surprised that you want to sleep in. You normally can't sit still this long."

Adora reaches back to adjust her pillow so she can sit up a bit more. "That would be true if my everything didn't hurt."

"You did fight our entire squad. First me, then Lonnie and Rogelio just a few days later."

"Almost our entire squad." The two fall into contemplative silence. Catra notices Adora messing with her hands again like she does whenever in deep thought and gently places Adora's hand on her head. Absentmindedly Adora begins gently rubbing her fingers through Catra's course mane. "Where do you think Kyle was?".

Catra pulls herself more onto Adora's lap to allow Adora's hand better reach. "He could have been on one of those ships..."

They both know that would be the best answer which is why neither of them believe it. "You didn't get a good look at them like I did. Something was wrong with Rogelio and Lonnie. Their voices were off, and their eyes were twitchy. Shadoweaver did something to them.

"We don't know that it was her."

"Then who else could it be?" Silence. "She's probably still doing whatever it is to them, and we're just laying here wastin-"

"Adora, we are recovering." Adora flinches as Catra swats Adora with her tail. "Didn't we just learn how bad it sucks to go into a fight injured?"

Adora sighs sinking back into her pillow. "I know, it's just frustrating."

Catra uses Adora's relaxed posture to secure even more territory on her body. Now laying over Adora's lap with her head on Adora's chest.

Finally noticing Adora narrowed her eyes. "Why are you so touchy today? Aren't you usually sensitive about your personal space?"

Yellow and Blue eyes grin up at her in the shadows. "I need to make sure you don't hurt yourself trying to get up and play hero."

Adora smirks. "And you think you could stop me if I wanted to?"

Catra grins back. "Don't forget who won our last fight."

"Barely! And if I had been She-Ra-"

"She-Ra got beaten by Lonnie and Rogelio. I can handle them. Which means I can handle She-Ra."

Catra freezes as Adora pouts. "That's not fair and you know it."

Deciding she's had enough Catra relaxes herself against Adora's form through the covers. "You're right. Now how about we rest like we we're supposed to."


It's midafternoon when Catra emerges from their chambers in search of food. How Adora isn't also starving is beyond her. Unfortunately, it's at this point that Catra realizes that she's never actually been to the castle dining room, or even knows when they serve food. She's about to turn back when a voice calls her name.

"Catra!" Turning behind her Catra sees Bow waving from down the hall, Perfuma walking by his side. "We were wondering when you would come out. Where's Adora?"

Catra jerks a thumb towards the room. "She's still asleep." She then levels a glare at the two. "Don't wake her."

Perfuma waves her hands in front of her. "Of course not. We were just surprised to see you without her. From what I hear you two are practically inseparable."

Sighing Catra rolls her eyes. "Listen, she's asleep and I'm hungry, are you going to show me where the food is or not?"

Catra's shock at the speed with which Perfuma manages to grab her hands is the only reason she doesn't immediately pull away. "Well this is wonderful! Bow and I were just headed to grab lunch, you should come eat with us!"

Bow smiles and grabs Catra's shoulder invading her personal space and leading her down the hall. "C'mon Glimmer is already there waiting!"

It's as Catra is being dragged through the halls of Brightmoon with a princess holding one hand and an Etherian soldier holding the other that she wonders where she went wrong in life.


The food here is certainly an improvement from the Fright Zone. Sitting next to Glimmer, Catra slowly picks her way through the strange Etherian dishes, occasionally glancing at Glimmer, Bow, or Perfuma to figure out how to eat each entree. The three in question are animatedly talking about some mundane issue that Catra tuned out immediately after sitting down.

Using her claws Catra picks up some sort of breaded morsel and gently tears it open to inspect the meat stuffed inside. She's brought out of her thoughts by an elbow bumping against her arm. Looking up she sees that the other three sitting at the table are staring at her. "...What?"

Glimmer raises her hands in frustration, "See I told you!"

"That isn't an answer though!" Perfuma raises her voice and looks at Catra hopefully. "C'mon Catra we're all friends! You can tell us."

The girl in question slowly places the meat bun thing into her mouth before answering. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"About you and Adora of course!"

Catra raises an eyebrow waiting for Perfuma to finish the question. With only her expectant stare Catra glances to Bow who seems the calmest of the three. "What exactly about Adora and I is such a mystery?"

Bow twirls his fork in one hand while answering. "Well it's just that-, we know that you two are together but are you like, I mean, you know. Together?"

Another incomplete question. She could swear these people weren't this dumb. Still, it looks like she's going to have to pry the question from them. "Alright here's what we're goanna do. I'm going to start the question and one of you is going to finish it ok? Great." Catra points a claw at Glimmer. "Are Adora and Catra…"

"Sleeping together!"

Catra rolls her eyes. "Obviously. Didn't two of you already annoy me over that? Now can I get back to eating in peace?"

"Wait no!" Frustrated Catra looks Perfuma. "I have a more important question."

There's a two second pause as Catra realizes Perfuma is waiting for her prompt. With a sigh Catra begins again. "All right flower princess, are Adora and I-".

"In love?"

Catra furrows her brow at the strange question. At the foreign word. She had of course heard of love, but it wasn't a concept thrown about very often on the Horde. It was something only seen in works of fiction. Upon racking her mind Catra can't recall a single person she knew as ever claiming to be 'in love'. Yet these Etherians are sitting here looking at her like it's the most important question in the world. "What does that mean?"

There's silence at the table as all three of the other occupants look at her in shock. Glimmer is the first to recover. "You can't be serious? You cannot be serious! The Horde doesn't even have love, how evil can you get?"

Perfuma just looks confused. "But you said you were sleeping together?"

Catra looks from the inexplicably upset Glimmer to the confused expression of Perfuma. "Yeah and? Adora and I have always slept in the same bed. Well she sleeps in it at least. I'm warm enough sleeping on top."

There's a flash of sparkles as Glimmer teleports from her seat to beside Bow pointing a finger at him in triumph. "Ha! I knew it!"

The look on Bow's face can best be described as one of utter horror. As if the words Catra said were unthinkable. "Guys hold on. Catra doesn't know what love is! We are having a best friend squad intervention right now!"

Catra pushes back her chair and stands up before she can get dragged into some weird Etherian shenanigans. "Thanks for showing me where to get some food but I'm going to-"

She's cut off as she feels vines from Perfuma's sleeve wrap around her hand, "Oh yay! My first best friend intervention!" the same vines grab Bow's hand as well.

Before Catra can cut at the vines Glimmer puts her hand on Perfuma's shoulder. "Best friend squad!"

All off the knights and workers in the castle look on as the four teenagers disappear in a shower of sparkles.


Yawning Adora stretches her arm up before wincing at feeling of pulling at her injuries. She stares at the lightly scarring skin of her forearm and thinks of the one that gave it to her. Speaking of, there's a noticeable lack of weight on her legs. "Catra?"

No response.

Adora more carefully slides out of bed and moves over to the curtains letting in some of the midafternoon sunlight? "How long was I asleep?"

As if in response her stomach let's out an enraged grumble and Adora clutches it finally acknowledging her empty stomach. Catra probably went to go find food.

Adora rubs her eyes in exasperation realizing that Catra's never been to the mess hall and is probably lost. "First food. Then Catra."


"Why exactly are we here again?" Here being at some weird cafe completely against Catra's will. She would object more if she had anything better to do.

Bow answers as Glimmer makes her way back to their table with drinks for all of them. "Because Catra, cafes like this are where love often strikes first."

Catra looks around with a bland expression while sipping the surprisingly good hot beverage that Glimmer placed in front of her. "All I see is a bunch of people eating."

There's a scraping of chairs as Bow positions himself next to Catra who subtly leans away. "No Catra look!" The boy points towards a couple seated in a corner booth for two. A human man and woman only a little older than themselves. It's too far away to hear what they're saying but it's impossible to miss their grins as they lean in close over the table and talk their two drinks forgotten in between them. "Can't you see the young love growing between them?"

Catra watches them for a moment observing what looks to be completely normal people enjoying a conversation. "No?"

Bow sighs and looks to the rest of the best friend squad. Perfuma gently pats him on the shoulder with a determined expression. "Don't worry Bow, I'll take over."

Resigned to her fate Catra simply grabs her cup and follows the other three out of the cafe across the street. When she sees the flower boutique they're entering she stops dead in her tracks. "Yeah, I'm not going in there."

Perfuma turns pouting, "Come on Catra, remember best friend squad!"

"No." Catra levels a glare at the trio. "Maybe you don't remember but the last time I saw so many flowers it was because you were using them to torture me."

Glimmer winces at the memory. "Isn't torture a strong word for just touching you with flowers?" When Catra's glare doesn't lessen. Glimmer shrugs and looks at Perfuma.

"Um, ok that's fine we don't need to go inside." Perfuma takes a moment to think before her face lights up. "Ok Everyone, I want you to close your eyes and imagine." Catra watches as the three of them close their eyes and considers making a break for it, she can see the castle from here.

Perfuma's voice breaks her train of thought. "Now I want you to imagine a safe and happy place, warm and comfortable. Around you are all the things that you will ever need. I'm eating an apple what do you have to eat?"

This cannot be normal even for Etherians. Before she can voice her objection, Glimmer speaks, "I'm eating one of those delicious moon pies from that festival we first went to with Adora."

Are they serious? "Ooh I'm eating more of that baked squash from the last time we visited your aunt." It's no surprise that Bow goes along with this as well.

After a few seconds Catra realizes that they're waiting for her and that the sooner she answers they'll be able to go. "Uh, some of that meat bun thing from the castle."

Perfuma smiles and continues. "That sounds nice. Now where are you eating it? I'm back in Plumeria sitting in the branches of the Heart blossom."

Glimmer is next, "I think I'm.. oh! I'm in Mystacor looking out at the clouds!"

"And I'm back on Sea Hawk's ship looking out at the ocean."

The easy answer is in the cafeteria with the meat buns but that doesn't seem to go along with the theme the others are going for. After another pause Catra answers, "I guess I'm back in me and Adora's room?"

The answer seems to please the group. "One last question. Who are you enjoying your meal with?"

Being the only one with her eyes open Catra can see the Perfuma smile while subtly turning towards Bow. Interesting. Glimmer hearing the silence decides to answer out of turn, "Oh I'm with my dad. We always loved to eat those together."

Bow answers next, "I think I'm with Glimmer, no one better than my best friend."

Even without opening her eyes Perfuma smiles towards Catra. "and you Catra?"

Catra is about to ask why Perfuma didn't have to answer when Glimmer interrupts. "Yeah Catra tell us!"

Fine, as long as they can get this over with, at least this one is easy. There's only one person Catra chooses to spend time with. "With Adora."

Catra has to cover her ears from the high pitch squeal that comes from Perfuma's mouth and is therefore unprotected when said girl rushes forward and embraces her. "Oh, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! You two are perfect for each other!"

Catra hastily slips out of the Plumerian princesses arms and takes a step back. "I still don't get it. Even if I did love Adora, and I'm still not sure that that exercise proved anything. What does this have to do with us sleeping together?"

The trio fall silent with red blushes creeping up their faces while Catra stares at them in confusion. Bow finally works up the encourage to speak. "Ok so I think there might be some miscommunication. When we say, 'sleep together' what we really mean is." He pauses leaning closer and whispers in her ear. "sex."

Oh. "Oh you thought we were having sex? No Adora and I just sleep in the same bed." That actually only brings up more questions. "How would that even work? Adora and I are both female."

Like in the cafeteria Bow and Glimmer now stare at her in abject horror. Bow clasps his hands together as if praying. "Please tell me that you aren't being serious right now." At her lack of response he hangs his head in defeat. "The Horde really is evil."

Catra just looks at the three in confusion, "You, do know how intercourse works right? You need both pairs of equipment for making babies."

Perfuma answers while Glimmer still looks shell shocked. "People can participate for more reasons that to make babies. It can be a way to show love or even just to have fun."

Fun? As Far as Catra had ever heard sex was only used to create more children, future soldiers for the Horde. She had also never heard anything relating the act to love. However, the three of them look very convinced. "Are you sure? I still don't even know how that would work between two girls."

Finally, Glimmer takes a breath and looks at Catra with a fiery determination, it's similar to the look Adora had on her face before they left the Fright Zone. "Oh, I'm sure alright. Don't worry Catra we're going to help you through this." the purple princess holds out her hand. "Were going back to my room, I have some books that we're going to show Catra."

Perfuma's face turns bright red. "You don't mean?" Glimmer nods her head. "I've never been allowed to read anything like that before!" the flower princess places her hand on top of Glimmer's.

Glimmer's face shifts into a shy grin. "Me neither but teleporting has its upsides." Quickly her face resumes its serious expression. "So, nobody tell my mom."

Bow puts a hand on Catra's shoulder before placing it on the stack. "Don't worry Catra the best friend squad never abandons our own."

She could walk away logic demand she do just that, but curiosity demands otherwise. Against her better judgement Catra places her hand on the pile. "Might as well find out what you're talking about."

And the three of them vanish from the street.


After hours of searching the castle Adora finally decides to give up the hunt for Catra. First, she checked the mess hall, then the training rooms, and finally even Glimmer's room to no avail. It's weird that she couldn't even find Glimmer or Bow. She crossed paths with the queen who hadn't seen any of them all day and that was when Adora began to worry. Mostly because if Catra was with them alone it would only be a matter of time before they annoyed her into attacking them. But as the evening came Adora eventually decided that she was overthinking it and Catra probably wouldn't maim anyone. Probably.

Deciding to make use of her alone time she took a trip to the castle infirmary to check on her injuries and get some of her unneeded bandages removed. She followed that up with a warm bath and finally by eating a relaxing meal on the grass of the castle courtyard.

Now walking back to her room full and relaxed Adora allowed her mind to wander to the subject of Catra again. The question of whether she had done the right thing bringing her here. The Horde is evil, so they had to leave but while there Catra had always seemed so driven and active. Whereas now she seems content to spend most of her days asleep. Was she actually happy here?

As Adora opens the door to her room she's brought out of her thoughts by an unfamiliar smell. Is that incense? She feels something strange underfoot and looks to see that the floor of the room is covered in rose petals. "What the-"

"Hey.. Adora.." The sensual purr comes from her bed where she looks up to see Catra wearing...not much at all. Adora stands absolutely stunned as Catra crawls off the bed and saunters towards her. "I think I love you."

That's not a word used very often in the Horde. Dumbly Adora asks the first question that comes to mind. "What does that mean?" a better question might have been 'why are you dressed like that?' but Adora's brain is working as hard as it can to process all of this.

Catra grins her usual Cheshire grin as she takes Adora's hand in her own. "Why don't I show you?"


Back in Glimmer's room the three other members of the best friend squad sit in awkward silence. Not because of the frankly impressive amounts of adult reading material around them. Those were fun to read together they were even pointing out parts that they thought would be particularly useful for Catra. To the Cat girl's embarrassment which they had all gotten a laugh out of.

No, it's because sitting here they can, through the walls and hallway, hear the results of Catra's 'education'.

Perfuma smiles trying to ease the tension. "Well at least we don't have to wonder how they feel anymore." Another sound reaches their ears despite the thick castle walls. "Well our work here is done I guess it's time I head home."

Bow quickly rises to his feet. "I'll walk you to the gate."

The two quickly flee the situation that Glimmer is going to have to try and sleep through. She takes a pillow from her bed and tries her best to cover her ears. "I've made a terrible mistake."


The next morning Adora, Catra, Bow, and Glimmer all exit the meeting hall. Adora and Catra hand in hand look surprisingly well rested. In stark contrast to Glimmer who looks noticeably less sparkly. Adora turns to regard the princess. "Hey Glimmer, did you sleep ok? You don't look so good."

Through supreme willpower Glimmer manages to bite back her snappy comment. "I'm fine. C'mon were leaving for Dryll. Princess Entrapta will be a huge help to the princess alliance."

Catra smirks, "Another diplomatic mission? You remember how the last one went."

Glimmer's eye twitches. "It's not going to be like that this time. There's no Horde presence near Dryll. Plus, I hear Entrapta has an army of robot guards and servants, even if the Horde did somehow show up, we wouldn't even have to fight."

Catra shrugs. "I'll believe it when I see it."


An: been busy with work so sorry for the delay. I've been working on this chapter bit by bit for the last few weeks.

I'll admit this was a bit of a fluff chapter but I enjoyed writing it. I was really interested in writing some interaction between Catra and the rest of best friend squad without her hiding behind Adora. Which is a little hard as the title of the story is literally Inseparable. Did that one to myself didn't I?

I don't often give myself chances to write stuff like this and I'd love to hear what you think.