It started with an email, From Entrapta of course, but from the email address of one of the club owners, Light Hope. After some sleuthing, also thanks to Entrapta, it had seemed Double Trouble had made a few errors in the past regarding their choices in bands for The Crimson Waste. The club partners found themselves captivated by Double Trouble and gave them the benefit of the doubt, all except Light Hope, who believed them to be a liar and undeserving of the role. Again, found from Entrapta breaking multiple laws that made even Catra nervous, although not enough to stop her.
So, it was from Light Hope that the email went out. The email that let Double Trouble know that their contract with bar, would be "under review" due to the multiple errors, band disappearances, and drunken escapades of their most recent addition, the Fright Zone. From there, Catra just waited, pacing back and forth in the apartment, waiting for the call that would inevitably come. "Don't seem too eager," Entrapta warned her, captivated by something on her laptop as she clicked away from the couch.
"We're not actually losing our contract, right?" Lonnie asked nervously, watching the pair.
"The email was about Double Trouble's contact, Lonnie, not ours," Catra rolled her eyes, "And it was all from us anyways."
"Right but… isn't Light Hope going to find out? Also… isn't the email kind of accurate?"
Catra ran her fingers through her hair, taming it back. "It'll be fine. As long as we stick to the plan," Catra tapped at her nails, her feet stomping along the wooden floors. The neighbors below slammed what was probably a broom against the ceiling and Catra marched louder.
"Please don't aggravate them," Lonnie continued, "Last time they called the cops."
"Fine," Catra stopped walking, mostly to calm the other. Still, she clicked her fingers one at a time against each other, her eyes falling to her phone over and over again. "Why haven't they called me?"
This had to go right. This had to go well. Double Trouble would call her, the group would go and pretend to calm Double Trouble down but really they would just wind them up, convince them it was the bar's loss, that they should fuck them over. A new contract, a new bar. Aka a breach in Double Trouble's contract. If there was one thing Catra could do, it was rile someone up.
"They will," Entrapta answered, completely unphased. Catra groaned. Her phone went off then and in a shrieked panic, she lunged for the phone at the same time as Entrapta. Entrapta got it first and held it just out of Catra's reach. The buzzing continued.
"Hey!"
"Don't. Seem too eager," Entrapta warned her. Catra nodded in understanding and was handed the phone, where Double Trouble's name lit up the screen.
"What's up?" Catra slinked into an open chair, letting herself relax into it and get into the mindset of someone who had no cares in the world.
"What are you doing?" Double Trouble's calm voice trapsed through the line.
"Oh, you know me. Two shots in, looking for an escape from Lonnie's incessant need to discuss proper behavior," Catra winked at the brunette, who rolled her eyes. Double Trouble clicked their tongue on the other line.
"Well then. Why don't we escape together, Kitten?"
Catra sat forward. "What'd you have in mind?"
"Dinner? We have some things to discuss."
"Sure," Catra shrugged, as Entrapta hit her in the arm, pointing to herself and Lonnie. "Uh yeah, how about we all meet you out? Blow off some steam?" It was an easy offer. Bait that surely they would take.
"Just you, darling. It's been too long since we've had some… quality time."
"Oh?" Catra fumbled, "I thought perhaps we could all.." but she was cut off.
"Just. You," The emphasis came through as clearly as it could. She swallowed.
"Alright. Sure, just us," Catra shook her head at the others Entrapta rubbed a hand down her face. Not a part of the plan, but a new plan. Catra took a breath. This was too be expected, she was the only one Double Trouble wanted anyways. She could do this. "Send me the deets, I'll meet ya in 20."
"Purrrfect. See you then… Kitten."
Catra shuddered but gave a vocal noise of agreement before hanging up. She loathed the way Double Trouble spoke to her now. It made her skin crawl. She wasn't sure when that started, perhaps after Scorpia had left, but every time they spoke to her it wound her up even more.
"Breathe, Catra," Lonnie said with a raise of her eyebrows, her gaze on Catra's balled up fists. Entrapta's eyes lifted from her screen to see what Lonnie was looking at. "You can do this right? You're not going to knock them out, RIGHT?" Catra rolled her eyes. Entrapta giving her advice on how to act.
"If either of you tells me to relax one more time, it'll be you getting knocked out."
"I bet it would feel amazing to be knocked out by you," Entrapta said, leaning back as if daydreaming. Lonnie and Catra cocked their heads at her, their mouths falling open. She shrugged, "What? A girl can dream." There was a pause before Catra burst out laughing, only to be joined by the other two until their lungs burned and tears streamed down their cheeks. None of them wanted to move, all three of them now sprawled on top of each other on the couch, but the plan was in motion and there was no taking it back now. Catra waited a moment longer, enjoying the friendship and calm before the storm. She reminded herself she was doing the right thing.
"What's wrong with you?" Entrapta asked.
"Nothing. Just, uh, mentally preparing for tonight."
"Well get prepared!"
"Yes mother," Catra responded, rolling her eyes, but smiling through it.
20 minutes later, Catra found herself walking into some fancy Italian restaurant that Double Trouble said she would "die for". They were already seated in a classy velvet booth away from the public eye and waved impatiently at her as she arrived. Catra walked over, aware that everyone in there was dressed to the nines while she decked a usual leather jacket and ripped pants. Still, she strutted like she owned the place, and already a few shots in, despite her sobriety. Better to keep them on their toes and better still not to get too messed up. She grimaced at the bottle of wine already on the table and poured into her glass. Double Trouble gazed at their watch. "You're late."
"You're grumpy." She plopped down across from them, extending her arms casually out to the sides and taking in the architecture and design of the room as if it were just another backroom in the Crimson Waste. Not worthy of attention.
They eased a little, smirked even. "I ordered us salads."
"Oh, so we're getting fancy this evening. What's the occasion?" Catra rubbed a finger along the edge of her glass, careful to act as non-cholent as ever. Double Trouble stayed silent, their eyes for once, looking less carefree. They avoided the question, instead choosing to chit chat with her until their salads came and then ordering meals for both of them despite Catra's protest. Double Trouble's gaze kept falling to the filled glass in front of the other, a question in itself. Catra eyed it too, knowing it could not go ignored. She sipped it, a nice pinot noir. Double Trouble's favorite.
"So Bow and Glimmer are enjoying some free time together in New York? How nice."
"mhm," Catra's jaw tightened. She wasn't sure what game they were playing, but Double Trouble hardly cared for Bow, let alone his relationship with Glimmer or what they "got up to". They seemed to be thinking of what to say next so Catra went for it, pushing her thoughts forward.
"So are you going to tell me why we're here? Or are we just going to gab as friends do?" She asked in a mocking tone. Double Trouble was not one for friends, everyone knew that. Even Catra.
They snorted. "I'm getting to it."
"Then get to it," the words held more venom than intended but Catra was sick of sitting here, listening to them spew lies and garbage.
"So impatient. Always so impatient. Late, drunk, angry, what other words could I use? Alone, perhaps," They sipped at their wine, their eyes snapping to the other. Catra's cheeks burned.
"Are we describing you?"
Double Trouble laughed and ate a bite of their food, ravishing the pasta with a content groan. Catra's grip on her fork was growing stronger. They wanted her to make a scene. They were baiting her, and she wasn't going to fall for it. "What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? Oh, nothing is wrong with me Kitten. I'm just having some," They mulled over their word choice, spinning the wine in their hand, "regrets."
"Oh? About anything in particular?" Catra asked innocently. She prepared herself to be shocked by the news, to trash the Crimson Waste. Here was her moment.
"You."
She choked, covering her mouth as red wine leaked over her lips. Not the answer she had been expecting. Although perhaps she should have. Double Trouble rolled their eyes, giving her a look of disgust. "Honestly. Pull yourself together."
Anger knotted in her stomach but she let it curl there, wiped her mouth unladylike against the cloth napkin and tossed it on the table as she leaned back into the booth, her lips tugged into a smirk. The rage in her belly coiled tightly, preparing. "Please go on then. Tell me how I've wronged you."
"You don't even know what I've done for you. The gift I've given you."
Catra's phone buzzed but she ignored it. "I think maybe you've forgotten what a gift I am."
"Ah. See that is where I have made my mistake," Double Trouble leaned forward, resting their chin on curled fingers, "You think you're a god? That you aren't replaceable? I built you and you repay me by letting band members leave, showing up late and drunk, not to mention writing nothing more than shitty love songs to someone who up and left you."
Catra picked up the wine glass, this time tipping it back and chugging the full cup, though it burned in her throat. Double Trouble shook their head but Catra continued, letting the liquid pool over the corners of her lips and down onto the white fancy tablecloth. When she was finished, she slammed it down on the table, releasing a loud burp. Then she reached for the bottle. Double Trouble grabbed it instead. "Enough."
"I think I'll judge that, thank you," Catra pulled it, not unroughly, and filled her glass to the very brim. "I think you should join me, honestly."
"And why is that?"
"Because," Catra paused, preparing the lies that were about to spew from her mouth. Her phone buzzed again but she ignored it. "I got an email from one of the club owners earlier this week." That drew their attention. They looked rather shocked. Catra tried not to smile. "Turns out Light Hope isn't your biggest fan. But you knew that." Silence. "So, I met them. Explained the situation. Turns out my contract has a loophole." That part was true, it did. Entrapta had found it.
"What situation?"
"How you coerced me to drink. Said it would be good for my image. How you forced Scorpia out. She called by the way and backed me up." Lie.
Double Trouble shook their head, "Light Hope is not an idiot. She trusts me far more than some… idiotic musician." But Catra could hear it, the uncertainty. It fed her far more than the drink.
She shrugged, "You called my band mates replaceable did you not?"
"Well.."
"So, I replaced them," Catra cocked her head, as if confused, "Per your orders. See, you may bring the bar bands, but I bring them actual results. Money, attention, girls," Catra raised an eyebrow at them, "Light Hope is a very determined woman. As am I. Turns out we have more in common than you thought. So, she offered me a loophole. To sign with them directly." She sipped and waited.
"You're lying," Double Trouble smiled, but there was a twitch there, concern even. "Besides, why would they want you. There are plenty of people in the world who can bring them success." That was a good point. One Catra hoped she would be able to deal with.
"Oh but it wasn't just me who signed. It was Entrapta as well. In fact, in the end, it was The First One's that won it for us. See they agreed to play once a month, as long as it wasn't for you." Lies, lies, lies. Catra knew this was a balancing act, she hoped she could pull this off. Double Trouble's eyes widened. They looked surprised and maybe hurt. For a moment, Catra wondered if she had pushed too far, but then it sprung from them, like a fire eating at the fuel it had been fed, the anger flooding to their face.
"You stupid girl. How dare you. You think you'll be okay without me? You'll be nothing," They leaned across the table to her, gripping at her hand, the smile of someone ready to rip someone apart. "Tell me, Kitten. Why?"
Catra's face softened, her smile faded. Whatever they read on her face seemed to give them clarity for they released her and leaned back into their seat, shaking their head. "Oh dear. Not revenge, surely," Double Trouble waited, a smile creeping into their cheeks and then a cruel high pitched laugh escaped their lips, taunting her.
"No," Catra said, though it came out small and defensive. Double Trouble continued to laugh.
"Oh darling. You get back at me for what? For pushing away your love? You will forget her soon enough. For pushing out your singer? She was holding you back. I would've made you a star," They shook their head, "And you throw it away and for what? You could've been my equal, Catra, but your emotions make you weak," Double Trouble's jaw tightened, "The only mistake I made was giving a stupid girl like you a chance when you really were what everyone thought. A nobody." There was a pause as the waiter approached. Tension that could be felt in the air and yet the waiter stood there smiling at them.
"Any dessert tonight?"
"No thank you," Catra mumbled, her chest pounding.
"Oh, why not? My friend here has just signed a big contract. We're celebrating actually," Double Trouble smiled. "So let's celebrate." A gleam of chaos flashed from their gaze. It was unnerving. Frightening. Catra hated them.
"Great, I'll give you two a moment!" The waiter smiled, walking cheerfully away. Catra suddenly wished they would come back. Or perhaps that there would be a fire that would let her escape. She had work to do now and she knew what needed to happen. Double Trouble grabbed at her hand again, holding her tightly, that look of chaos still reflected back at her.
"Let me go," Catra threatened.
"Oh but I think you'll want to hear this. Do you remember the contract you signed? Before you decided to screw me over? What I will happily bring up to Light Hope as well, when they ultimately realize the grave mistake they've made."
Catra pulled her hand from them. "I know what I signed. Despite what you think of me, I am more than an "idiotic musician"." And a nobody.
"Then you remember the part that states that you cannot perform any song written or performed by you for the duration of our contract. Broken or intact. Guess what Kitten? That will remain true," Double Trouble raised their eyebrows, a threat in itself. "So good luck performing without a set."
The waiter returned than, as Catra's stomach sank again, hardened, but then a sort of calm took hold. A breate of fresh air as a thought dawned on her. The thought made Catra smile. For it was something Double Trouble had not considered, nor would they. "Have we decided on a dessert?" The waiter asked cheerfully. Catra stood then, ignoring them but staring at her counter part.
"I'll see you tomorrow DT. Thanks for the chat. You've given me a lot to think about," She said with a smile, watching the confusion contort on their face, "But you've forgotten something," She leaned forward, so close she could make out the stress lines peaking at the corners of their lips, "I'm nothing like you." And with that, she grabbed the bottle of wine, taking a large swig and then tucking it below her arm, ignoring the protests of the waiter, and walking out of the restaurant with a burning desire to do something she never thought she would.
The cold air hit her hard, her heart pounding through her chest. She checked her phone for the time, hoping it wasn't too late. She had missed texts from Entrapta as well as missed calls but she didn't have time. There wasn't enough time. As she walked, she called Entrapta.
"Catra thank god. How was the dinner?"
"Entrapta," Catra's tone pulled Entrapta into plan mode.
"What's up what do you need?"
"Light Hope's address."
"Catra…"
"Entrapta. Now. And I need you to meet me there," Catra walked quickly in the direction of the club, fingers crossed that she was going the right direction.
"Okay but Catra…"
"No buts. Send it and meet me there. Oh, and I need you to make a call for me."
"To who?"
"The First One's."