Author's Notes:

Yay. Finally. Adora confronts Catra on this "big" secret.

I wonder what it is…

Histories and Chemistries

XIV

The second time Catra woke up, things were different.

For one, she didn't feel that much pain anymore, so that was good.

It also looked like a lot of time had passed, which was… not good.

Lastly, Adora was on the phone, having a conversation with… someone. They seemed to be discussing something important.

Wait, wasn't she going somewhere the last time I saw her…?

Catra's eyes widened when she remembered where that 'somewhere' was.

"Shit," she muttered, doing her best to sit up without straining herself too much. She looked down on herself, realizing that the bruises were almost gone and that her bandages had been changed.

Wow… She really took care of me, didn't she?

Catra frowned, looking down.

She knows… She has to. There's no way Shadow Weaver wouldn't tell her. She loves ruining my life too much to let it slip.

"Hey, Catra."

Her heterochromatic eyes blinked before hesitantly looking up. Adora had set her phone down on the counter and was looking up at her with an unreadable gaze that made Catra nervous.

She gave the blonde a lopsided smile. "Isn't that my line?" Adora smiled weakly. But it faded away almost instantly as she looked pointedly anywhere but her. Catra's own smile vanished. "What did Shadow tell you?"

Adora gave a weak shrug. "Everything."

Catra had to close her eyes and take a deep breath.

"... You believe her?" Her voice sounded almost hopeful. She hated it.

Adora slumped into the couch in front of her, massaging her temples. Only now did Catra notice how worn out she looked. She had her hair down, wearing a set of different clothing; white tank top and loose black leggings.

How… How long was I out?

She didn't have time to ponder on that thought as Adora began to speak. "Normally, I wouldn't… But it just… it makes too much sense." Adora met her eyes. Catra looked away and heard a withered sigh.

"Why do you deny it, Cat? Why go to all this trouble?"

She didn't know. Not really.

She used to have an excuse. But after Adora had kissed her… That excuse was thrown out of the window.

"... Catra." Dread formed in the pit of her stomach when she realized that Adora was crying. "I want to hear you say it."

Catra looked up at the ceiling, pondering on… everything, really.

A part of her told her not to say anything, to deny the truth, and to escape from her feelings yet again, but… mostly…

She just wanted Adora to stop crying.

Her mouth moved on its own.

"... I didn't know what it was, at first. Kept glancing at you, kept thinking of how awesome you are…" Kept wanting to touch you. Kept wanting to kiss you. "I couldn't stop." She swallowed. "Then I realize what it was. And I was scared." She chuckled. She wasn't the type to get scared. "So fucking scared. I tried to avoid you, didn't want to hurt you."

"Catra, you-"

"Let me finish, alright?" she said, still refusing to meet Adora's eyes, knowing that if she did, then she wouldn't be able to continue. "When you told me you want to leave The Horde, I was… glad." She heard Adora's breath hitched. "At least that way I won't have to see you every day. I was happy." No matter how fucked up it was. "It made everyone hate me even more, but I can't help myself. But…" Her hands clenched themselves into fists. "But even when we're on the opposite team… I can't help but want to see you. In fact, I think you being away from me just makes me want to see you even more." She shrugged. "I keep finding excuses to meet you, to hang out with you. I don't know why." She slowly shook her head, putting her two hands on her head. "I keep telling myself to stop. But I can't. I…"

And that was when she was able to meet Adora's unsuspecting eyes.

She had to see those blue eyes as she said these words. She had to know what Adora would think. How she would feel.

With a deep breath, and mustering as much emotion and honesty as she could, Catra said, "I'm in love with you, Adora. I have been for quite a while now."

Adora's eyes widened.

Much to her dismay, tears began to pool in those blue eyes.

And that was when Catra realized she shouldn't bother the poor girl anymore. As painful as it was, she stood up and began to walk.

But then she couldn't.

Because a hand latched onto her wrist like a lifeline.

"Adora…" sighed the tired girl.

"What? You're not gonna let me speak?"

She shook her head again, smiling bitterly. "What is there to say?"

"That I'm in love with you too?"

Catra reeled and turned to face the blonde. She looked into those blue eyes again, trying to find any signs of dishonesty, gasping when she couldn't. Adora was smiling despite the tears streaming down her face. Those were tears of joy, she realized. But… But that couldn't be.

"No, no…" She shook her head almost vehemently, choking on her own words. "You can't be, you're just confused, you can't-"

"Then why did I kiss you back then? Why do I want to kiss you now?"

Catra opened and closed her mouth helplessly, frozen.

Adora took one step forward. And then another. And then she was close enough to cup her cheeks lovingly.

"Catra… For the longest of time, I was upset at you." Adora looked down, her brows furrowed. "You… You looked happy when I left The Horde, I couldn't help but feel like you've hated me all this time."

"What?! Adora, no-"

"Shut up," said Adora with a glare. Catra snapped her mouth shut. "Just… shut up." After a sigh, she continued. "You didn't try to convince me that it was the wrong choice. You didn't do anything. And that… angered me," her voice cracked, "more than anything. It feels like I'm not important to you, that I'm never important to you. That it was all just a game to you, in the end."

Catra stood there, her mind racing a million thoughts.

Suddenly, a smile blossomed on Adora's face. Not the polite kind, not the mischievous kind, not even the wide kind…

It was the honest kind of smile.

The smile Catra loved most.

The one that always took her breath away.

"But… you kept on following me, kept on talking to me, even after everything." Adora put a hand over her grinning mouth. "You even went so far as to embarrass yourself in front of The Princesses, all for me." Catra blushed but didn't look away. "You didn't care what others would think of you, how much The Horde would hate you for being with me. You just… You wanted me to be happy. To be safe. and it made me feel something in return. I didn't know what it was." Adora looked at her knowingly. "Not until recently."

A beat passed.

Catra's eyes slowly widened.

Another beat passed.

Adora leaned into her.

Another beat passed.

And the most amazing thing happened. And her dream came true. And the world was suddenly more magical and colorful.

And Adora's lips tasted nice. Really nice.

Another beat passed.

They had to pull away, not because they wanted to, but because they needed air.

Another beat passed.

They were looking into each others' eyes.

"So…" she drawled. "What now?"

Adora smiled like everything would be okay.

It made her believe that everything would be okay.

"It's… I think it's pretty obvious."

To be Continued

Author's Notes:

After this, we've got one more chapter, and then it's all finished.

And, heh, the big secret is out. No, Catra doesn't have cancer… nor is she going to leave the school anytime soon. That's just… I don't know, I guess I could make that as the secret, but that would mean having to write more chapters and strengthen the conflict and figure out a realistic way to end the conflict and… yeah, no.

Sorry if the secret's disappointing, but TBH, it's never intended to be a secret in the first place. It's more like a guilt thing, the whole "holy shit I fell in love with my BFF I cannot live with myself I am a disgrace thing". You know the drill.

Since the beginning, Catra's been in love with Adora. And Adora is too, she just... doesn't realize it.

One fear I have regarding this story is that the characters don't act like themselves, especially the main duo. Though I think I was able to fix that by altering their stories.

See you later~