A/N: So this chapter is kinda weird, half Adora-centric and half Catradora dual POV. Don't get tripped up when it switches. I thought about splitting it up but honestly the Adora stuff on its own would not be a satisfying chapter at all and it would cut off in the middle of the action, so I left it.

That being said, this chapter is pivotal in many ways and I'm suuuuuuper excited for you all to read it.

CONTENT WARNING for emotional child abuse, as well as some pretty unsavory remarks about Magicats (i.e. coded racism). There's a bit of sexist/vaguely homophobic banter as well.

Something many people don't know about Adora is just how easily overwhelmed she is. When there are too many things happening, or too many uncontrollable variables to consider, her whole body starts thrumming with nervous energy and she has a hard time thinking clearly. Usually she can fight through it without showing too much weakness, but if it gets to be too much, one of two things will happen: a) she'll have an outburst of anger and frustration, yelling and throwing things, or b) she'll shut down and stop functioning entirely, either melting into a puddle of tears or exiting reality completely.

It was a problem back in the Horde, when she was a young child. These tantrums and shutdowns would have been considered bad behavior for any cadet, but they were especially problematic given Shadow Weaver's obsession with Adora becoming a high-ranking officer. Adora was never sure why Shadow Weaver chose to focus on her, if it was her natural athleticism or something else, but her athleticism certainly didn't provide her the calm state of mind she needed to make decisions under pressure. While she appreciated Shadow Weaver's faith in her, sometimes she envied the cadets Shadow Weaver had no expectations for. Like Catra.

On the other hand, Adora knew she was foolish to envy them. Shadow Weaver was patient with Adora, by her standards. Instead of hauling off and smacking her for misbehaving, she taught Adora tricks to help her stay calm. She also expressed profound disappointment in Adora's immaturity, but Adora knew guilt trips and shaming were better than getting hit, and she was grateful for that.

"It's nearly time for dinner, Force Captain Adora," Shadow Weaver called playfully from the doorway. "Time to clean up."

Huge blue eyes swept over the massive battle scene. Vehicles and figurines were strewn everywhere, cluttering the floor and her field of view. The mere thought of trying to organize this chaos overwhelmed her senses. Panic began rising in Adora's tiny chest, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't."

"You can, and you must," insisted Shadow Weaver. "Those are the rules. It's your mess, you clean it up."

"I can't!" Adora shouted, throwing the miniature tank she was holding across the room. It hit the metal wall with a loud bang and Shadow Weaver's eyes flashed an even brighter white. "It's too big!"

"Of course you can," snapped Shadow Weaver. "Don't be a baby." The harsh tone combined with Adora's existing distress made her lip quiver, her tears now spilling over. There she was, crying like a baby in the middle of the floor. So much for being a big girl. Adora liked to think she was responsible for a five year-old, but she couldn't even handle her superior's reprimands. Her head hung in shame.

Sighing heavily, Shadow Weaver crouched down in front of Adora. "Let's try something new. Do you think you can tidy up all the tanks?"

Wiping her dribbling nose, Adora sniffled. "Uh huh."

"Then start with that." Once Adora had returned them all to the correct toy boxes, Shadow Weaver gave her an approving nod. "There. Now all the skiffs."

The clean up proceeded in this same fashion. All the bots. All the soldiers. All the princesses. When Adora had returned the last box to the shelf, Shadow Weaver said, "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" When Adora looked away, still sulking a little, Shadow Weaver tipped her chin up to make eye contact, hardening her voice. "Was it?"

Adora gulped. "No, Shadow Weaver."

"Good girl." Shadow Weaver tucked some flyaway strands of blonde behind Adora's ear, looking at her with what appeared to be a thoughtful expression. Finally she asked, "Adora, how do you think Force Captains take charge of huge battles?"

"I dunno," shrugged Adora, averting her eyes as she wiped her nose once more.

"Well it's not by throwing things and crying about it, that's for certain. What they do is break up big jobs into small jobs they can take care of more easily. Then they can give other soldiers they trust those small tasks to take care of, if they want. That's called delegation. So if you were commanding a mission with your squad, you could delegate tasks to Lonnie, for instance. Tell her what to do."

Adora perked up. "Or Catra?"

Shadow Weaver paused, and though Adora couldn't see the frown behind her mask, she sensed it in the way her body tensed. She shrank back a little, intimately familiar with Shadow Weaver's body language and what preceded a physical strike. But Shadow Weaver relaxed, though her voice was still a bit strained as she agreed, "Yes, or Catra. If she's not too busy chasing mice or flashlights to pay attention for more than five seconds."

That made Adora frown, her brow creasing in thought. She'd never seen Catra chase flashlights. And what were mice? It seemed like Shadow Weaver was making fun of Catra, but she wasn't making any sense.

"Now, you also have to think about the order of your tasks," continued Shadow Weaver, distracting Adora from her bewilderment. "Smart Force Captains break their plans down into stages, or phases. It's like with the toys. If they try to think about the whole battle at once, it can be hard to focus on what they need to do right then. So they make a plan of what they will do first, then second, and so on. Once they have those phases outlined, they brainstorm different ways of approaching them. Different tactics, is the word we use."

Adora nodded, eyes wide as she absorbed all of this and tried to remember as much as she could. There were a lot of words she didn't know, but if she could remember them all she could look them up later or ask one of the older cadets. "Thank you, Shadow Weaver," she said, voice full of wonder. "You're so smart."

"So are you, young one," her mentor assured her, giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "You're going to be a great Force Captain one day, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am!" she agreed eagerly.

"Good girl. You go on and get your dinner, now." As Adora scampered toward the door, Shadow Weaver's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Adora. Wash that face first, young lady. Show no weakness."

Adora gave her a proud salute and a smile. "Yes, ma'am."

Shadow Weaver was far from perfect, Adora's known that since before she even left the Fright Zone. But this strategy was one of the most valuable lessons Shadow Weaver ever taught her. After thirteen years of using it successfully, Adora can only hope tonight is not the time it fails her.

Collection and deployment of supplies was Phase One - filling her backpack and stashing it in the Whispering Woods. Simple enough. Phase Two, getting her sword past the guards at the prison's main gate, is bound to be the hardest. She has several tactics at her disposal, most of them dishonest in one way or another. Feigning ignorance, intimidation, lying, manipulation, preying on fears, gaining trust through false camaraderie…

On the contrary, Adora has sworn not to use any dishonest tactics on Catra, no matter what. Getting her to agree to the plan is Phase Three. While Adora predicts it will go smoother than Phase Two, she can never entirely predict how Catra will react to anything, especially these days. Sometimes Adora's drive to succeed will blind her to the cost of her actions, but imposing her will on Catra would be far too high a cost. It would undermine everything she wants to communicate to her. All the ways she wants to do better.

Strolling up to the gate, Adora fights a losing battle to keep her face and shoulders relaxed. Show no weakness. Act naturally, Adora, for fuck's sakes. Unfortunately, it's kind of hard to act naturally when her body language is tense even in her most relaxed state. That's what she gets for being a soldier, and a nervous wreck.

"Hi," she says to the pair of guards monitoring the prison entrance, doing her best to paste on a smile that's pleasant and not maniacal. Addressing the one who looks like she's in charge, Adora continues, "I'm here to visit Force Captain Catra. Queen Angella gave me permission this afternoon to stay with her overnight."

Given Angella never approved that request when Adora first made it this morning, she had to go get it cleared after her nap with Catra. She may have exaggerated Catra's willingness to negotiate with her a little (okay, a lot) when Angella pressed her for details, but she had good reason. Obviously, she wanted an excuse to go back. Additionally, she feared that if she told Angella the truth, Angella wouldn't allow her back into the prison for fear she'd resort to drastic action. That was before Adora decided to take such drastic action, of course, but here she is.

"Yes, we were informed you were coming to continue negotiations," the guard replies. There's a haughty edge to her voice and her expression's as cold as ice. She could really give Frosta a run for her money, snootiness and all.

"Great," says Adora, stepping up to the gate. The hand she feels on her shoulder immediately informs her that feigning ignorance did not work.

"We were also informed that you are not permitted to bring the sword into the prison," the guard continues.

"Really?" Adora blinks up at her bewilderedly. "I was under the impression I just couldn't take it into the cell with me," she lies smoothly, or so she hopes. She's always been a terrible liar, hence this being a backup tactic. "It's not like I can get in there on my own, anyway. I don't have the code."

The guard stands up taller, utilizing every inch of height she has over Adora. "Those are my orders. Is this going to be a problem, She-Ra?"

"Hey, I don't want any problems, but this is stupid. If Force Captain Catra was here on some secret mission for the Horde, she would've been due back sometime today," reasons Adora. "So we can assume they know that we have her, and the Whispering Woods is still in shambles. It would be unwise to delay She-Ra's arrival if they show up to rescue her. They could easily storm the castle by the time I have the chance to transform."

"We have the protection spell," the other guard chimes in, stepping up beside his partner.

"That sure didn't stop Catra," Adora points out. "The barrier only fries their technology. Trust me, most of their foot soldiers are plenty capable in hand-to-hand. We lived and breathed that shit our whole childhoods."

The first guard squints down at her. "Yet you think it's a good idea to sleep with the Force Captain."

"I took a nap earlier today and it was fine," shrugs Adora. "But…" Shifting her eyes about, she steps closer and whispers, "Sometimes she's fine, but others… well, she has these mood swings, you know?"

Adora really didn't want to resort to this tactic, but she's not surprised it came to this. There was one word that showed up on many of her flow charts, one weakness that she knew she had to exploit if need be. Something she observed first in Shadow Weaver, then in the Horde at large, and unfortunately now in Bright Moon. Speciesism.

"I don't know if it's heat cycles or something, but sometimes she just goes off," Adora confides in a soft murmur, rolling her eyes. "Like, we had an argument when I visited this morning and I was barely able to talk her down before she started swiping at me. I want the sword nearby, just in case she goes feral again." Adora throws the guards a little smirk. "It's the best way to tame her, so to speak."

Adora has to strain to keep a smile on her face, her stomach gurgling in protest at those awful words. Catra doesn't even have heat cycles, that's just a dumb stereotype some humans have about certain kinds of hybrids. The same kind of humans who call Adora and Kyle furries. Granted, Catra gets extremely cranky when she's on the rag, but then again so does Adora.

The male guard laughs but the female narrows her eyes, and for a second Adora thinks she's overdone it. It was probably the taming part. That was way too harsh, she's obviously trying too hard to act like a trash human-

"If that's how you feel I'm surprised you two are so… close," the guard finally remarks. Then she shakes her head. "But I guess we all have our particular tastes. Far be it for me to judge." A smirk crawls onto her lips as she tips her head, continuing to eye Adora. "I can see why claws and sharp teeth would be incentive enough for some people to overlook everything else."

Grinning lewdly, Adora gives her side a fraternal little nudge. "You read my mind, sister."

"If she is in heat, you sure you'll be enough?" the guy asks with a provocative smirk. He nods down at Adora's ill-equipped nether regions. "Not like you have much to give her."

"Grant," snaps his partner, elbowing him in the ribs. "Don't be disrespectful." That's hilarious given the shit they were just saying about Catra, but okay.

Smirking up at Grant, Adora retorts, "If you think you need a dick to pleasure a female partner, you're probably not much of a lover."

Grant's mouth falls open in protest and both women share a laugh at his expense. "Sorry, but she's right," says the other guard.

Still chuckling as she turns back to Adora, she seemingly remembers the conversation at hand as her eyes flash to Adora's shoulder. Straightening up, she relents, "I suppose as long as the sword stays outside the cell it won't be a problem. But I'll escort you to make sure you don't cause any trouble along the way," she adds, giving Adora a pointed look that says she still has doubts about her.

"Not a problem, ma'am," Adora says with a salute and a smile. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

Snorting as his partner flips through her keys, Grant remarks, "Only for the Force Captain. That's one way to negotiate, alright."

Adora's blush is genuine, but it helps sell the lie.

The other guard ushers her through the prison hallways, stun gun pointed vaguely in Adora's direction. It's unnerving, and not just because she's on the wrong end of it. She's still not used to seeing those in the hands of rebellion guards. The guards at the checkpoint into the maximum security sector either didn't get the memo or are subordinate to the first guard, because they say nothing about Adora's sword.

When they make it to Catra's cell, the guard posted at the door raises his eyebrows and the first guard explains, "She-Ra is concerned the Horde may come for the prisoner and wants her sword nearby so she can transform quickly if necessary. I allowed it so long as the sword stays outside the cell." Turning to Adora, she pointedly holds out her hand. "Sorry, but you're not using the sacred sword for any funny business. If you need a weapon to tame your pet, you're not much of a master anyway."

"What? That's not what I-" A combination of embarrassment and anger makes Adora flush as red as her jacket. Scowling at the infuriatingly ignorant guard, she hands over the sword. "Fine." It's not like it matters, she has backup plans upon backup plans. Having the sword outside the cell is good enough.

"It will be returned to you only once the door is secured behind you on your way out," says the guard, making eye contact with her subordinate to make sure he understands as well. Eyeing Adora once more, she adds, "You won't be able to break through without setting off an alarm and summoning the whole Royal Guard, so don't get any ideas."

"I don't plan to, but that's good to know," remarks Adora, arching a sassy eyebrow and immediately regretting it. Catra must be rubbing off on her. Shadow Weaver was right about her being a bad influence, in one way or another.

Thankfully, her escort reacts with only a smirk. She thinks she's won, thinks she's covered all her bases. Adora has her right where she wants her.

The door guard punches in the code to access the cell, an extra security measure for the most dangerous criminals. An hour ago it was the source of a lot of hand wringing and hair pulling for Adora. But she's thought her way around that, too. The smile she gives the door guard is genuine, if a tad evil underneath. She has him right where she wants him, too.

Catra is curled up on her bed, watching the door when Adora steps into the cell. She smiles at the sight, and in return Adora gives her a nervous smile that she can only hope passes for casual.

It definitely doesn't. Catra knows Adora too damn well. She watches curiously as Adora approaches the bars. "Hey," says Adora. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure," Catra agrees nonchalantly, sitting up on the edge of the bed. The guard locks himself in the room with them and they follow the same procedure as before. Once he's handed over the remote and left, Catra stands and peers into Adora's eyes. "Are you okay?"

A genuine smile of relief comes over Adora's face. She's here and her sword is just outside the door. She's more than okay. "I'm actually good, yeah."

Catra's eyes narrow suspiciously. "If you're here to try to get me to join the princess brigade again, the answer is still no."

"That's not why I'm here." When Catra raises an eyebrow, Adora eases into her space and continues, "I'm here to prove you wrong. There really is nothing I want more than to make up for everything I put you through." Laying a hand on Catra's shoulder, she tells her, "You don't understand how much I love you. And that's my fault."

Catra's face strains with effort as she concentrates on keeping her ears and tail from twitching. "What ever happened to 'not my fault'?" she jokes.

"This actually is," says Adora. "I was wrong to leave you in Thaymor. I should've gone back with you so you didn't get in trouble, tried to convince you to leave with me later. I should've done so many things." Adora can't help wrapping her arms around herself and looking away. "It's fair for you to doubt how I feel about you."

A massive sigh calls her gaze back, and she finds Catra dragging her palms down her face. "Look…" Her eyes flick up to meet Adora's. There's a certain vulnerability in them, resignation to whatever's coming next. "I know you love me, Adora."

Adora blinks. "Really?"

"Yeah, duh," scoffs Catra, crossing her arms. "You're terrible at hiding your feelings."

Adora's face scrunches up in an adorably indignant way. "Thanks?"

The expression almost makes Catra chuckle, but this is no laughing matter. Closing her eyes to reset herself, she sighs. "The problem isn't how much you love me. The problem is how little you respect me."

"I respect you," Adora counters immediately.

"No, you don't," insists Catra. "You see me as someone to save, someone to take care of. And I appreciate that you care about me, but I need you to understand that I can take care of myself." Lips puckering, she scowls down at the floor. "I can take care of you, too," she mutters.

"Hey." Adora's hand returns to Catra's shoulder, and when she looks up Adora is smiling at her reassuringly. "I know you can. You showed me that this morning." Her lips twitch guiltily. "I should've seen it earlier."

The irony of the situation suddenly dawns on Adora and she laughs nervously, drawing her hand back and shoving both in her pockets. "Uh, this is awkward now."

"What?"

"I'm… here to rescue you?" she says haltingly. "To free you, I mean. I'm letting you go. If you want me to."

Catra feels her ears prick up slightly in a combination of pleasure and surprise, which she can only hope Adora will read as solely surprise. Before she has a chance to respond, though, Adora's barrelling onward. "And look, before you say anything, it's not because I think you're weak or helpless. I'm doing this because I love you."

It's concern as much as doubt that narrows Catra's eyes. "Enough to give up everything that makes you happy?"

"You make me happy," declares Adora.

"No I don't," Catra says simply.

That ugly fact sits there, hanging undeniable in the space between them. For a moment they share a resigned, wistful silence. It's Adora who finally breaks it, her mouth twitching in acknowledgment of this truth.

"But you used to. And knowing you're safe, that's worth it. Besides, I owe you this." A sad smile graces Adora's lips as she reaches out to cup Catra's face. Thumb grazing her cheekbone, she says, "I gave up everything to save a bunch of people I didn't know. You really think I wouldn't give up everything to save the woman I love?"

This time, Catra can't stop her ears from fully perking up and swivelling out. 'Love' is one thing. 'The woman I love' is another entirely. Her lips begin to curl, but she's determined to salvage some pride so she wrangles them into a smirk. Crossing her arms, she cocks a teasing eyebrow. "Then I'm assuming you have a plan? And a Plan B, C, D, and E?"

That makes Adora grin ear to ear, and Catra's heart swells at the sight.

"You know me so well."

***o***

A few hours later, in the absolute dead of night, Adora commences the fourth and final phase of her plan. Lying on the bed in Catra's arms, she peeks over her shoulder at her tentative ally in the dim safety light of the cell.

"You ready?" she whispers.

"To break some rules? Duh." Catra's lips are pressed close to Adora's ear, her warm breath brushing the sensitive skin and making it flush painfully hot. "I should be the one asking you, Goody Two Shoes."

Adora huffs and turns back to face the door, thumb brushing the button on the remote. "I broke lots of rules with you."

"Yeah, always looking over your shoulder, afraid of getting caught." Adora feels Catra swallow against her, her grip loosening slightly. "You sure you want to do this?"

Adora understands. Catra's giving her one final chance to back out. To be a good girl and stay out of trouble, to save her own skin and let Catra suffer alone. Like she always did.

Adora pushes the button.

It takes a few seconds for the guard to enter, stifling a yawn. His eyes flutter blearily as the heavy door swings shut behind him, then narrow when he notices their intimate positioning on the bed. Finally they bulge as he registers the terrified look on Adora's face, the way Catra's claws are pressed right to her jugular.

"Hello, sir," purrs Catra. "How kind of you to join us." His hand moves to the radio on his hip and she tightens her grip on Adora. "Ah ah ah. Call for backup and your Princess of Power here loses her throat."

"Force Captain, please stay calm," he urges her, holding up a placating hand. "No one has to die."

"And no one will, if you both cooperate," replies Catra. Tucking her face against Adora's cheek, she sweetly orders, "Sit up slowly, dear." Adora obeys with a quiet grumble and Catra rises to her knees behind her, always conscious to keep her claws right in the danger zone.

"Now you," she addresses the guard, "slide your spear and radio through the bars." Left little choice, the guard follows orders. Catra nods at the restraints on the wall. "Do me a favor and pass me those manacles, will you?" When he has them in his grip she nods at the floor and directs him, "Through the bars is fine." She can't help grinning as he obediently tosses them into the cage. She could get used to this. "Good boy. Now, fetch me the sword. Her Royal Highness says you have it."

The guard shoots Adora a look she usually only receives from Catra, one that communicates just how much of a dumbass she is. Eyeing Catra warily, he warns her, "Look, there's guards at two more gates before you reach the exit. You'll never make it by them, even with a sword. This won't end well for you."

Catra laughs. "You're an idiot. You think I'm letting go of her for even one second? No, I'm taking She-Ra with me. No one will dare stand in my way, as long as I have her."

"Someone will shoot you. Don't be foolish."

"And risk shooting the savior of Etheria? I dunno about that," Catra muses in that teasing way of hers. Awestruck, Adora turns her head slightly to catch a glimpse of Catra's bold smirk. It's amazing how easily Catra rolls with the punches and thinks on her feet, making things up on the spot. She's so much better at this than Adora. Maybe Shadow Weaver was wrong about good leaders always needing to have such elaborate plans. Maybe they just need good instincts.

Those thoughts are cut short by the sting of Catra's claws digging into her skin. Wincing into the pain, Adora turns to the guard and rasps, "Please." His face pales as she feels blood trickling down her neck into the hollow of her throat, seeping into her shirt.

The display of fear on the part of the guard only widens Catra's grin. As he starts to back towards the door, she chirps, "Remember, you call for help and she bleeds out right here. Trust me, I'll hear you if you do," she assures him, flicking one of her ears.

As soon as he disappears, Catra pushes Adora up onto her feet and stands behind her. "You okay?" she whispers, giving her shoulder a little nuzzle. The smell of Adora's blood is making her heart race, and not in a good way.

"I'm good. You're doing amazing," Adora murmurs in assurance. "You're amazing."

Blood rushes to Catra's face and she's suddenly extremely grateful that she's behind Adora and out of her view. The guard reenters at that same instant, saving her from having to respond. When he moves to toss the sword through the bars, Catra tells him, "Bring it in yourself, please." He eyes Adora's throat warily and obeys, unlocking the gate and stepping inside. "Lock it behind you."

Following that latest order, he holds out the sword expectantly. Smiling sweetly, Catra asks, "Adora, darling, do you mind? My hands are full."

Adora growls at her but extends a hand. As soon as the hilt is in her grasp, Catra releases her and she points the sword at the guard's throat. "Kneel."

His eyebrows knit in confusion for a mere second before his mouth falls open, eyes bouncing between her and Catra. They narrow into a withering glare as he kneels before Adora. Scowling up at her, he grumbles, "Traitor."

Before Adora can react, Catra steps up and slaps him across the face. "Did I say you could talk?" Knocking off his helmet, she grabs his hair and cocks a fist.

"Catra, stop!" Adora grabs her arm before she can land another blow. Catra catches her eye and she insists, "No one gets hurt, remember?"

A faint growl rises up in Catra's throat, but she settles for giving the guard a stern warning. "Don't talk to her like that ever again." Adora can't help snorting at the blatant hypocrisy and Catra shoots her a look over her shoulder before turning back to the guard. "Hands behind your back."

Catra proceeds to push him down onto his stomach, wedging a knee into his back as she secures his hands. It's a totally unnecessary power move that makes Adora roll her eyes. "Catra, don't waste time being an asshole. We have like fifteen minutes until the next radio check in."

"He was rude to you," grunts Catra, yanking him back up onto his knees.

"I don't care," snaps Adora. "All I care about is getting you out of here safely."

Catra rolls her eyes in response but chains the guard to the bed frame without further incident. Once he's secured, Adora crouches down and pulls a wad of cloth from her pocket. Stuffing it in his mouth, she ties a band of fabric around his head to hold it in. "Sorry," she says sheepishly. The guard glares daggers at her and she cocks her head. "Hey, I could've saved a lot of time by knocking you out. Be grateful. At least this won't leave you with a headache for days."

Getting to her feet, Adora peeks out the window to make sure no one is patrolling down below or nearby. Satisfied that they have a clear escape route, she turns to Catra. "Ready?" Catra nods, and Adora points the sword to the sky. "For the honor of Grayskull," she whispers. Once the transformation is finished, she takes out the window bars with a couple of hard swings. "Hurry," she urges Catra. "Someone might've heard that."

They are several storeys above the ground, but Adora can absorb the impact in She-Ra form without taking damage. In the time it takes her to sheathe the sword and wrangle She-Ra's bulky frame out the window, Catra has scaled at least twenty feet down the wall. She jumps off the building and lands gracefully on her feet just as Adora leaps from the ledge. Adora's landing is much less graceful, and she's pretty sure she hears Catra snicker at the small shockwave the impact sends through the surrounding area.

Groaning from her prone position on the ground, Adora detransforms. Glowing in the dark really wouldn't be helpful right now. Gingerly getting to her feet, she directs Catra towards a particular section of the woods. "This way."

Sprinting for their lives, they quickly clear the castle grounds and leave the treeline in their dust. Well, Adora sprints. Catra jogs, by her standards. It's a couple minutes before Adora pulls her to a stop and bends over, resting her hands on her knees as she struggles to catch her breath. Catra's panting a little too, her heart racing in a combination of fear and excitement. It's been a while since they've had such a good adventure. Not since the skiff…

Squashing that thought before it can spiral and ruin the moment, Catra turns to Adora, who's now caught her breath enough to straighten up. Their eyes meet and they simultaneously break out into huge grins.

"I think that might be the best escape we've ever made," chuckles Catra. "Gotta hand it to you, Adora, that was a good plan." She nudges Adora's side. "You know, for a dumbass."

"Shut up," protests Adora, swatting her arm gently through a fit of giggles that prove contagious. Soon they are clinging to each other in an attempt to stay upright, fighting laughter and the fatigue from their mad dash.

As their laughter finally dies down, Adora pushes herself into a standing position, hand braced on Catra's shoulder. She's still smiling, but Catra's expression is uncharacteristically serious. Her eyes bore deep into Adora's, as though she's searching for something. "You think they'll banish you?"

That wipes the smile right off Adora's face. "I'm banishing myself," she says, gesturing to her backpack propped against a nearby tree.

Catra glances at the backpack then back at Adora, concern etched on her features. "Where will you go?"

"The Crystal Castle." She's about to explain further when Catra's brow furrows.

"That's the temple with the creepy time warp shit, right?"

Adora blinks in surprise. "How'd you know that?"

"Sparkles," Catra mutters with a dismissive little wave.

The mention of Glimmer makes Adora's face fall again. "Yeah, well. Light Hope, the AI that lives there, she said I should stay with her and train." Adora shrugs. "I didn't want to, but at least I have somewhere to go now."

Eager to break eye contact, Adora walks over and grabs her bag. As she begins rifling through it, she continues, "I don't have to live in Bright Moon to be She-Ra. I can still protect them and everyone else from the Horde." When she finds what she's looking for, her lips pucker a little. Swallowing that expression, she stands and offers Catra her uniform top. "Speaking of which, I think you'll be needing this."

Catra warily examines the shirt in Adora's outstretched hand. Nothing ever comes free. There's a reason Adora is making a show of this. Catra takes the shirt, but not without throwing Adora heaps of side eye. "Is this the part where you tell me I have a second chance and I should use it for good?"

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do," says Adora. Her tone and expression lack any guilt or disapproval. If there's a hint of anything, it's fondness. Catra's eyebrows shoot up as she stares at Adora. Wait, this is Adora, right?

"That's a first," remarks Catra, but the intended sass doesn't come through in her tone. She shifts on the spot, eyeing Adora uneasily.

"What can I say?" shrugs Adora. "I'm trying something new." Forcing a smile, she squeezes Catra's shoulder. "Good luck, Force Captain. I'm sure you'll do great, whatever you decide to do." Though her smile may be spurious, her words are not. Catra is capable of anything.

Mouth hanging open, Catra stares at Adora mutely. Her lips move a little as she tries to formulate an answer, but she doesn't know what to say. Usually she knows just how to handle Adora, but this isn't a situation she ever anticipated being in.

When Catra fails to answer, Adora gives her another smile, a sad one this time. Ghosting a thumb over the Force Captain's cheek, she says, "Take care of yourself, Catra."

It's not until Adora shoulders the backpack and turns to leave that Catra remembers how to move. "Adora, wait," she calls after her, catching her wrist just before she steps out of range.

Adora's chest flutters with hope as she turns back, hope that's immediately rewarded when Catra cups her jaw with both hands, staring up at her in wonder. Catra's eyes fall shut and she gently kisses Adora, letting her fingertips trail down Adora's neck until her hands are splayed on her collar bones.

Lingering in the kiss for several moments, Catra finally pushes herself back a little to meet Adora's eyes. "Thank you," she says. That's all she really can say, at least until she can wrap her brain around these new developments. But when Adora pulls her in for another kiss, she doesn't object.

Deepening the kiss, Adora wraps her arms around Catra's waist, trapping her just for a moment. She never wants to let go. She wishes they could run away together, not apart. More than anything, she wants Catra to come with her. But she knows she can't ask that of her. Catra has to make that choice on her own.

But maybe… maybe they can have more of these moments. Stolen moments, away from the war and all who would judge them for it. After all the moments they should have had, moments that were stolen from them in their youth, it's only fair to steal some back. Right now, that's all Adora can hope for. The alternative is being eternally and desperately alone.

Tipping her forehead against Catra's, Adora gazes deep into those beautiful mismatched eyes. Holding their owner close, she savors these last moments and all their sensations. The pressure and warmth where their bodies are pressed together, the electric feeling it sends through every inch of her skin. The brush of Catra's breath tickling her lips. Her own heartbeat thundering in her chest and eardrums.

Adora's throat begins to ache and she swallows and blinks hard before she can lose her composure again. Show no weakness.

"I hope the next time I see you isn't on the battlefield," she says. Planting a kiss on Catra's forehead, she gives her a knowing smirk. "You know where to find me." She can only hope that's sufficient motivation to prompt a visit.

Catra stares after Adora as she strolls away, looking back only once. The grin on her face is as much a challenge as her final words. A challenge Catra just might have to take her up on.

Scanning the ground, Catra stoops to pick up her shirt that she dropped in the midst of all that kissing. The Force Captain badge glints in the moonlight, reminding her of all that's at stake, who she is and where she belongs. Scorpia's probably worried sick and driving Entrapta up the wall. Her unexplained absence has surely not gone unnoticed by Hordak, either.

Shrugging off and discarding the tunic, Catra pulls her shirt down over her stomach and smoothes out the rumples. This Adora business can wait until she's finished damage control in the Fright Zone. Her rank is the only thing providing her any sense of safety or control these days, and she's not about to risk that to make out with a traitor. No. First and foremost, she has a job to do.

A/N: Did someone say character development?

Alternate title for this fic: "Shadow Weaver is the Literal Fucking Worst." She can even find ways to twist valid parenting strategies into something horrible.

For the record I'm honestly pretty ambivalent about whether Magicats have human or feline reproductive cycles. I don't think it's gross to have the headcanon about heat cycles when the truth is unestablished in canon, but in a universe where they do in fact have human cycles it would be pretty awful if that stereotype existed. (In Full Hearts I established that heat cycles were a thing. Don't hate on me, bro. *shrug*)

Thanks to Doublepasse for beta reading this chapter for me and giving me some great ideas to shore up the escape plot. If you haven't read her fic For My Sake literally what are you doing with your life? It's easily one of the best Catradora fics on the market, a great mix of character development and a neat plot with some amazing twists. Go read it right now, like seriously.