A/N: Just a silly idea I had a while ago. I've grown to really ship these two.

Once again, this will be critical of Catra/Catradora and Lonnie and Rogelio - but that's because they're abusive, not because I'm "racist" or whatever. Hate comments will be deleted.

"Hey, um, thank you for this 'picnic'. And for showing me what real food is like. Looking back, those food bars we had at the Horde honestly make me sick now."

"Yeah, sure! No problem."

Kyle almost wants to punch himself for rambling so much but Bow really doesn't seem to mind. After all, Bow is the one who invited him here… just the two of them.

"So, uh, were Adora and Glimmer busy?" Kyle wonders.

"Yeah, you know, one is She-Ra, the other is a princess… they don't always have time for me." Bow sounds… sad when he says that. "Hope it's not weird that I invited you."

"Oh, I-I don't mind!" Kyle blushes. He's always a mess around Bow, it's pretty pathetic. "This is really nice."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Yeah, I mean, back in the Horde, it was all just… machines everywhere. There weren't trees or grass or flowers… it was a pretty dead place." Kyle pauses for a moment, then he realizes the sad look on Bow's face and suddenly changes demeanor. "Oh, sorry, I talk about the Horde too much…"

"Hey, don't worry. You can talk about it whenever you want. I know you and Adora had a rough time there."

"Yeah… it's so messed up when I think back on it. We were taken there when we were just babies. I don't even remember where I came from. All I knew was that I had to fight the princesses and conquer everything in our way. There wasn't any time for 'picnics' or 'parties'… only war."

Kyle gets another sandwich – he's had at least three at this point, but he can't really help it – while he retells his past life. Bow listens to him all the way.

"Well, the rest you already know. No one at the Horde liked me. Not even those I considered my friends all my life. I think Adora was the only one that stood up for me, but she was always around Catra, and… Catra never liked me."

Bow hums. "Adora doesn't usually talk about Catra. I know they were raised together, but that's it. And from what I've seen, Catra is really mean."

Kyle chuckles, "'Mean' is just the surface of it. She was the worst." He immediately gulps, "I-I feel bad talking about them like this."

"They're not here anymore. It's okay."

"Okay," Kyle exhales. "Adora and Catra were… kind of distant from us. I mean, Shadow Weaver was the one that raised them. I didn't always know how to approach them, not with Catra being so glued to Adora the whole time. She hated getting close to other people. One time she even hit Lonnie because she and Adora were joking around… and then she also hurt Adora."

"Oh no."

"It wasn't the first time… nor was it the last." The blond boy pauses. "Lonnie and Catra were usually the ones who were mean, and the others would follow them. Rogelio, he…" something surfaces in his chest. Something complicated. "He was nice, I guess. He never really stood up for me, though. It's too bad, because I… I liked him. I mean, liked liked him." Kyle blushes. "Please don't tell Adora."

"I won't tell her, or anyone else."

"Thanks." Despite that, Kyle can't help frowning. "Sorry, I still don't get it, why did you want to save me?"

"Because you're nice, Kyle. Like, really nice. You wanted to do something right, and you did, you risked your life to help us. I wouldn't have saved you if that weren't true. We're here now because of you."

"You're too nice," Kyle snorts, eating the rest of his sandwich.

"You deserve to be here with us. Believe me."

Maybe he will, one day. It's… really too good to be true, waking up in Bright Moon, where the sun shines, and people are happy and free together. He never thought he'd ever get out of the Horde one day. Not with how worthless he was in combat.

Kyle admits he's been opening up quite too much to Bow, when they've just barely met, but Bow really is the nicest person he's ever known, and he doesn't ignore him or find him annoying. It's nice, being here with him.

Their conversation kind of… stops there, as Kyle has a lot of things in his mind. Bow clears his throat and reaches a hand to his bag of arrows, which was put aside so they could eat. He seems to have picked a small piece of cloth and he begins to clean the arrow. Kyle can't help his curiosity.

"I-I like your arrows," he blurts out before realizing. He almost chokes on his sandwich, so he quickly gets the juice to cover it.

"Oh. Really?"

"Uhh, yeah! I've seen you fight before, and… your arrows are so cool. You have one of each kind, right?"

"Y… Yeah, that's right!" Bow seems enthusiastic. "This one is a net arrow, which can capture anything." He puts a hand behind his own head, nervously. "You, uh, wanna see?"

"O-Of course! Yeah!"

"Alright, let's see…"

He takes his bow and aims for the nearest tree, so the arrow captures one of the bigger branches. It's all very quick, and the branch falls to the ground.

"Whoa, that was awesome!" Kyle exclaims. "What else do they do?"

Bow blushes, taken aback, but he smiles and proceeds to teach Kyle about all the other arrows he's got. There's one with a rope, a sticky, slimy one, so on and so forth. He also shows his new sonic arrow. And of course, there are simpler ones, like the arrow with little notes attached to it. He uses it with Glimmer most of the time.

"You really know your tech," Kyle comments.

"Yeah, arrows aren't my only thing." Bow shows him what seems to be a pad. "I use this to detect First Ones' tech. That's how we found She-Ra's sword."

"Cooool."

"Ah, it's nothing," Bow waves his hand nervously. "I mean, no one really thinks anything of my stuff…" his enthusiasm fades for a moment.

"Well, I think it's awesome." Kyle unintentionally places a hand on Bow's arm, and he almost panics. He crosses his arms and looks away. "I like tech myself, but… I only know some Horde tech and that's it."

Kyle only looks back as he feels he's being stared at. And truly, Bow's eyes are sparkling in awe.

"… uh—"

"I could teach you!" Bow bursts out.

The other boy's eyes widen. "Wha?"

"I mean! If you want to!" Bow laughs nervously. "It's not really hard. After all, I was the one who built my own bow." He gestures at himself with pride.

"Um… o-okay! I just don't know if I'm ever gonna be as good as you."

"Hey, anyone can be a great archer. It's all about practice."

"S-Still, I don't want to let you down."

"Kyle, you could never let me down. You're also amazing."

The blond blushes hard again and plays with his own hands. "You really believe in me, huh…"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Kyle snorts. Bow is too good for him.

"Well, whenever you're ready…"

"Alright!" Bow stands up and Kyle follows his lead. "Now, you just hold it like this, depending on your dominant eye… which one is it?"

"Uhmm, r-right?"

"Okay, then hold the bow with your left hand, and for the arrow you'll use your right."

The white-skinned teen won't lie, he's trying really hard not to freak out at Bow touching his arms, adjusting him carefully. It's… suddenly hot, isn't it?

"Just relax, okay? Keep it steady," Bow instructs him. It's hard to relax when a really attractive guy is touching you like this, Kyle wants to argue, but of course he keeps his mouth shut. "Now, you use your three fingers to hold the arrow. The bow has to remain vertical."

"O-Okay."

"You're doing great," Bow encourages. "Let's find your target. What about… that tree?"

"Yeah, p-perfect target."

"Now just use your instinct, so your target lines up with the arrow."

"Like this?"

"Yes! If you need, you can close your non-dominant eye to make it easier."

"Yeah, that might be good."

"Just pull until the bow is tight. Use your chin as reference."

"Okay… Okay, I think I've got it."

"Alright…"

Kyle is sweating, unsure if he's going to be good at this. He's never been good at anything.

"Just relax," Bow insists, but not impatiently. "You've got this."

The other boy gulps, but takes a deep, deep breath…

"Now!"

Kyle yelps when he shoots, and he falls back, somehow.

Oh, no. He failed.

"… that was great!"

"What?"

Once Bow helps Kyle stand up, the latter sees that his arrow – a normal, pointy one – did hit the tree. Maybe not exactly the target he was going for, but it's not completely absurd or out of the curve.

"See? I told you!" Bow grins.

Kyle's face flushes again. "Y-Yeah… I did it!"

"You did it!"

"W-Whoa!" Kyle is suddenly hugged tight and spun around like he weighs nothing. Bow is laughing in joy the whole time.

He… He did it.

He's not a complete failure, after all.

Whenever they aren't caught up with meetings, they meet up in the woods and train there. Kyle doesn't always get it right, but Bow always encourages him and teaches him better, so he gradually starts doing more rights than wrongs.

It's been a few weeks of training, and Kyle staying out of the more direct battle. Bow usually covers for him while he hacks the Horde machinery. Sometimes Kyle takes the bow himself and shoots right in the targets.

The Rebellion has been very successful taking down the Horde.

And Kyle finally feels like… he belongs.

It's so strange, after being taught his whole life that the princesses were the ones in the wrong. But Kyle is here, with real friends, and true freedom.

After saving another village, they're thrown a small party. Kyle is congratulated by the common people, and he's never felt so good about himself. He's really doing something for the greater good, and it's enough.

Bow in particular is truly proud of him. He makes a toast for Kyle, and everyone else joins it. Kyle can't help the tears of joy that escape.

Sometime after, Bow calls him in and talks to Adora and Glimmer.

"Hey, I'll talk to Kyle for a bit," he tells them, with an arm wrapped around Kyle.

"Alright, try not to be gone for too long," Glimmer teases.

Adora seems to give a thumbs up to Kyle, for some reason. He doesn't have time to question it as Bow takes him out of the shelter. It's a nice sunset outside, and another day of victory.

"Well, I was initially going to wait until we got home, but… you deserve it."

Kyle gasps at Bow's covered object in his hands, wondering what it could be. When he takes out the cloth, it's…

"… a bow? For me?"

"Yeah, you earned it! Now we can be the unstoppable Archer Duo! Or Duet. Or… yeah, I didn't think the name quite through yet."

He hands the bow to Kyle, and his shaky hands catch it. It's so… carefully crafted, it looks like Bow's but it's red instead.

"Here are some arrows I made for you. I'll teach you how to make your own tomorrow."

Kyle can't stop staring at his gift. His hands only shake harder.

"… oh, you're crying."

Kyle weeps like a baby.

"T-This is the b-best day of my life!" He sobs.

Bow smiles, not laughing at him for being so emotional. He lets Kyle cry for the next ten minutes or so.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" The blond hugs him and tries to lift him like Bow did… but he fails spectacularly and loses all his strength. Bow does it for him.

"Like I said, you deserve it."

Kyle laughs and hugs both Bows like they mean the whole world to him. And they do.

When they return to the party, they introduce themselves as the Archer Duo. Everyone claps for them.

Kyle has never felt so happy in his entire life.