"Do you hear me, Addie? Don't you dare die."
The words echoed in He-Man's mind as he surveyed his mostly-rebuilt bedroom, his heart and mind troubled. He and Teela had come so close to death today. It hadn't been the first time. Common sense said it wouldn't be the last.
"Adam, there you are." Adora's voice floated over his shoulder.
"Hello, Adora." Thankfully his voiced didn't belie his tumultuous thoughts. She came up alongside him and he glanced down at her, a genuinely warm smile touching his lips. "I guess I owe you thanks yet again for saving my life."
She shrugged. "Anytime, Brother." She grinned up at him, a twinkle in her eye. "I am beginning to wonder how you've survived this long without me, though."
He-Man chuckled lightly. "I've been lucky, I suppose." His smile faded as he turned back to the room before him. "Skeletor has gotten more dangerous of late," he said softly. "And now we are all in more danger than ever. He knows who I am…and most likely who you are."
"I know," Adora reassured him. "I think it's just as well. I've lived with lies for so long I don't want anything to do with any deceptions ever again."
Adam snorted. "I know the feeling," he agreed.
"Oh? So does that mean you're going to stop deceiving yourself about your feelings for Teela?" Adora asked slyly.
"My…" He-Man stared at her in shock. "Has everyone lost their minds? Why does everyone on Eternia think I'm in love with Teela?"
Adora raised an eyebrow at him. "You can't possibly be serious. Your feelings are as plain as...as Swift Wind's wings!"
He-Man shook his head. "Teela and I have been friends forever. That's all there is to it."
Adora crossed her arms. "Oh really? Who's the first one you want to check on when you get back from fighting Skeletor? Who do you want to share a success or a failure with first?"
"Teela," He-Man admitted, "but that's because she's my best friend."
"A best friend you're so attracted to you can barely stand to touch her anymore," Adora shot back. "Sounds like it should be much more. Even Skeletor knows it. So what's holding you back?"
He-Man stared at Adora, feeling as if a light were starting to go on. "You don't understand," he argued half-heartedly. "She and I—this physical attraction didn't exist when I was Adam. She barely even liked me as Adam. Now I'm suddenly supposed to accept that she's in love with me? It's not right. I wasn't supposed to be He-Man forever, and I certainly wasn't supposed to see Teela as anything but a sister!" As he spoke, his words became more heated. He could feel his face flush with frustration.
"Is that your problem? Well what if you've got it all wrong?" Adora challenged back, sticking her face less than two inches from his own. "What if you were meant to be with her all along, but when you were Adam, the two of you were just blind to that fact? What if being stuck as He-Man has finally let you both get to know each other for real? What if what you have with her is the biggest blessing of your life? Are you going to let it slip away because you think your life should have been different?"
Stunned by what she was suggesting, He-Man took a step back from her, his jaw slack.
Was Adora right? Thinking back, he vaguely recalled that his feelings for Teela had started to change before he claimed the Power Sword, but becoming He-Man had put a stop to that change before it really took hold. He had believed for years that he would be fortunate to keep Teela's friendship as he hid his secret from her and she had become more and more frustrated with him. When he found out she would one day be the Sorceress of Grayskull, he had hoped they would be good friends again, someday. He had convinced himself it couldn't be more because of their circumstances.
Had he convinced himself of it so deeply that he was deceiving himself?
Or was he allowing everyone else's opinion of the matter color what he felt for Teela?
He had to admit that when he thought of Teela, his heart simply swelled and a smile touched his lips. It wasn't because of his memories of their friendship. It was simply because he loved her for who she was. He loved her for how he felt when she was around—now that she was no longer berating him constantly. He loved talking to her, holding her, just being with her.
For the first time, he admitted to himself that his feelings for her had deepened and changed over the last month. In the last month, he had experienced jealousy, worry, and love on a level that was unfamiliar and somewhat frightening at times. And now when he thought of his life ahead of him, thought of having a partner by his side to share those years and raise a family, there was only one woman who came to mind, of the dozens he had held, kissed, and dated over the years.
But even if he did love her, he couldn't have that life.
Adora smirked and crossed her arms, clearly satisfied with herself. "You love her. Admit it."
He-Man's gaze slowly focused on her. "She's just enamored with someone she used to think of as a hero. Not Adam." Somehow that argument didn't seem to carry the weight it had only a few minutes ago.
Adora let out an aggravated breath. "She knows exactly who you are, maybe better than you know yourself. It wasn't He-Man she was begging not to die today, it was you, Adam."
"Do you hear me, Addie? Don't you dare die." The echo of words returned to his mind, and he could no longer deny any of it—not Teela's feelings…and not his own. Adora was right. He did love her, and he knew without a doubt that she loved him. The danger that put her in was terrifying. He felt more shaken now than he had after Adora had healed him a few short hours ago. "I-I need to…to take a walk. Excuse-"
"Brother," Adora interrupted, laying a hand on his arm, "wait a minute." Her vivid blue eyes searched his face. "As Grayskull's guardians…are we forbidden to love?"
"What?" He-Man gaped at her. "No, Adora."
"But you hold yourself back to protect those you love," Adora said slowly. "You've deceived them for years, and now I'm guessing that you don't want to admit your feelings for Teela because you think it will put her at greater risk. Is that right?"
Something about the way she was saying it made it seem like the worst idea on Eternia. "I guess so," Adam replied, drawing the words out as he tried to figure out where she was going.
"So why did you bother 'saving' me?" Adora asked, a challenge back in her voice. Her chin jutted out in determination. "Why bother bringing me here at all if it's as loveless as the Horde?"
"What? It's not," He-Man protested, thoroughly confounded by her logic. "I love you Adora. So do Mother and Father. You're not making sense."
"Neither are you," she informed him archly. "You're deceiving yourself if you think you can hide your feelings for Teela from yourself. And let me tell you Brother, I've lived a life without love. What you could have with Teela—I don't care if it lasts one day. That's better than a lifetime of being half-alive because you don't love. If you hold yourself back from her out of fear, then evil has won, because it has triumphed over love. And shame on you for allowing that to happen."
With that Adora whirled around and marched out of the room, leaving him to his thoughts. He sat in the only chair left in the room, his thoughts swirling through his mind. "I love Teela," he whispered aloud, almost as if testing his own reaction to the spoken admission. A mix of joy and fear burned through him. It was a release as he finally owned up to what others had seen for some time. Slowly, he began to realize he had kept that love under such deep constraints he had nearly smothered it. Now that he had admitted it, it felt as if a fire had been ignited within him.
After an hour of reflection, He-Man looked up and glanced around as if coming out of a trance. This room was evidence of what could happen to those he loved, and who loved him. But Adora and his parents were already in that danger. Perhaps his father and Adora were right. Perhaps it was time for him to act as if love mattered.
Deciding to act on his newly acknowledged feelings would be a lot simpler if he could find her, He-Man reflected as he gripped the rail before him. The guards were training in the arena below, but Teela was nowhere in sight. He let out a frustrated sigh and turned around, his heart stopping and re-starting with a pound as he came nearly nose-to-nose with Fisto, Ram-Man behind him.
He hadn't seen his friend since the truth had come out the day before. In retrospect, he should have tracked down both Mekaneck and Fisto to have a heart-to-heart, but he'd had a lot on his mind. He also was a bit reluctant to begin the round of explanations that was bound to be requested of him as the truth became more widely known.
"Ram-Man is very concerned about Adam," Fisto said without preamble. He shrugged helplessly. "I guess I know where he is, but not what to tell Rammy—or anyone else who asks."
"I placed you in an awkward position, my friend," He-Man admitted. "I'm sorry for that. And I'm sorry for deceiving you for so long." Fisto inclined his head to indicate he accepted the apologies, and He-Man's gaze shifted to Ram-Man. "Rammy, do you remember saying that you had never seen me and Adam together?"
Ram-Man nodded. "Deh, yeah." He frowned. "I think that was the last day I saw Adam, too."
"You're right," He-Man confirmed. He swallowed hard. "I know this may be hard to understand, but the truth is that I am Adam."
Ram-Man crossed his eyes in concentration for a moment, then his face cleared. "Wow, that's a great disguise, Prince Adam. I really thought you were He-Man."
Fisto guffawed as He-Man shook his head, a half-smile on his face. "No, Rammy. I am He-Man. And I'm Adam. We're one and the same person."
"Oh," Ram-Man said as if a light bulb had gone on. His eyes crossed again, then he shook his head. "Nope. I don't get it."
With an internal sigh, He-Man told the two of them the story from the beginning. By the time he was finished, Ram-Man finally understood—or at least he seemed to.
"So what happens now?" Fisto asked.
He-Man pressed his lips together and shook his head slightly. "I'm not sure. Skeletor knowing the truth changes a lot of things. Whether I'm here or not, my family is no longer safe."
"They weren't exactly safe to begin with," Fisto pointed out dryly.
"I know, but Skeletor hates me even more than my father," Adam replied. He crossed his arms. "I'm worried."
"Don't worry, He- ah, I mean, Prince Adam." Ram-Man hesitated, as if unsure of whether he had called He-Man by the right name. When he wasn't reprimanded, he continued, "I'll make sure no one gets near you or your family."
"Count me in," Fisto agreed.
He-Man smiled the first genuine smile that had graced his face since Skeletor had attacked the palace. "Thanks guys. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to find Teela."
"Uh, He-Man," Fisto said uncertainly, grabbing his arm with his metal hand. "About Adora…did you really mean it when you said I could-"
Adam's brotherly instincts kicked in. "No," he interrupted sharply, remembering he'd said Fisto could "have" Adora. Fisto dropped his hand and stepped back, looking mildly surprised and disappointed. "But you do have my blessing to court her," Adam added in a softer tone. "Provided it's all right with my father and Adora, of course."
Fisto grinned. "Thanks, Adam, er, He-Man." He stopped short, looking confused. "What are we supposed to call you, anyway?"
He-Man tilted his head slightly as he considered the question. He didn't really care, but that wasn't the answer that came out of his mouth. "Call me Adam." A grin slowly split his face. "That's who I am."
"He-Man, I'm glad you're here. Can we speak with you a moment?" Duncan requested, motioning to indicate himself and Randor. He-Man had just poked his head into the throne room, where the two had been conversing.
He-Man bit back a sigh. In between countless explanations as word of his identity had spread, he had searched for Teela all day with no success. He was frustrated and hungry, since he had missed lunch, and therefore irritable at the moment. So it was only with an effort he kept his voice light as he walked towards them. "Sure, Duncan. What's up?"
Duncan raised an eyebrow. He knew Adam far too well to be fooled. "Are you okay?"
"I'd be better if I could find Teela," He-Man admitted. At Duncan's alarmed look, he hastily added, "I'm sure she's fine. I've been looking for her since yesterday, but I keep missing her. Everywhere I go, she 'just left' a few minutes before."
"She's avoiding you?" Randor asked in surprise.
"Apparently," He-Man answered in a slightly sarcastic tone. "I haven't seen her since Skeletor…" He shook his head slightly, trying to rid himself of the image of her running over the rocky ground as the missile chased her down. "Anyway, I wish I knew why, but it sure seems that way."
Duncan let out a grunt. "You know Teela. She won't tell you what's going on in her head until she's good and ready."
He-Man chuckled humorlessly. "Or until I badger it out of her, which is probably why she's avoiding me. So what did you want to speak to me about?"
"Well, now that Skeletor knows who you are," Randor said hesitantly, "Duncan and I believe you should announce it to the kingdom. There's no point in hiding the truth any longer."
"I agree," Adam said immediately. The two older men exchanged glances, apparently surprised by his easy acquiescence. He shrugged. "I think I knew this day would come. Perhaps it was meant to be this way."
Duncan crossed his arms, a look of resignation on his face. "Perhaps it was."
Teela stood straight as King Randor and Man-at-Arms read over her request for a one-year leave of absence. Since Skeletor had kidnapped her the day before, she had managed to avoid He-Man. Guilt plagued her, knowing that Skeletor had used her to get to He-Man, just as Adam had feared. And because of it, she and Adam had both almost died. He had been right. They needed some distance, time to get these feelings under control.
Because of that, she had decided to go to Etheria with Adora. She wasn't running away. She was just giving herself some breathing room, giving Adam that space he'd wanted. And she'd be back.
They would sign the request. Teela knew it, because the logic was sound. Etheria needed both her and Adora to help train their rebel warriors, or the Horde was going to destroy them all. Adora couldn't do it on her own. There was no way the rebels would trust her.
"I must say, Captain, that I don't like the idea of losing my top warrior for a year," Randor finally said. "Why so long?"
"There's a lot of work to be done there, Your Majesty," she answered formally. She didn't really want to leave. But if her feelings for Adam were going to put him in danger, she had to. Maybe after a year she'd be able to look at him without her feelings showing on her face.
"You train our own new recruits in three months," Randor countered.
"But it will take time for Adora and I to come up with a training plan that utilizes the limited weaponry available on Etheria," Teela said. "She and I also have different tactics, and we want to make sure we are teaching the right ones to the right people, to best use their strengths. By remaining there a year, I can be sure of training a minimum of three cycles, and return to Eternia knowing the rebels are as well-prepared as I can make them without remaining there through the end of the war." She paused. "I believe Adora might be more willing to return before the end of the war as well, if she knows they are ready to fight."
That was her trump card. Her father frowned at her, knowing exactly what she was doing. Teela met his eyes steadily, hoping he didn't know the real reason for her request.
Randor frowned. "I still don't like it. You're like a daughter to me, Teela. However, there is no one I would rather have watching out for Adora." His pen hovered in the air for a minute, and Teela held her breath. Randor looked up at her. "This is dated starting tomorrow. That's quite sudden."
"As you know, Adora would like to return to Etheria tomorrow afternoon," Teela confirmed. "She is very worried about what Hordak may have done in her absence."
Randor drummed his fingers for a moment. Finally he signed the approval on two copies, the frown on his face still firmly in place. He held out one copy to her, pulling it back slightly when she reached for it. "I expect you to come home to visit regularly, and bring Adora with you," he said sternly. "And if you change your mind, just say the word. You will be reinstated immediately."
"Thank you, Sire," Teela said, accepting the form without affirming his request. Adora would come back, she'd make sure of it. But Teela wasn't planning on coming back herself for at least a year.
Once again, He-Man surveyed the empty training grounds in frustration. He had been trying to catch Teela to talk with her for nearly two days now. The palace was a huge place, but he knew her routines by heart. She just hadn't been keeping to them. Which reinforced the idea that she was avoiding him for some reason.
"He-Man!" Adora called, sounding tense.
He turned to her, a sad smile touching his face. She was leaving in a few hours, he knew. He missed her already. "What is it, Adora?" he asked.
"Father wants to see you right away," she answered, grabbing his hand. "Come on."
He fell into step beside her. "What does Father need?"
"You'd better let him tell you," Adora replied, not meeting his eyes.
He-Man frowned. He didn't like the sound of this at all. When they arrived at the office door, he knocked twice loudly and barely waited for his father's summons to enter.
"You wanted to see me, Sire?" he asked.
Randor nodded solemnly. "Yes, son," he answered. "Adora thought you should know something, but it's not her place to tell you about it." He-Man glanced at his sister curiously.
Adora shrugged. "I was asked not to tell you," she explained quietly. "I promised I wouldn't."
"I, however, was not asked," Randor said simply as he held out a piece of paper.
"The last two times someone handed me a letter to read, it's meant trouble," He-Man reminded the king drolly. Adora blushed, probably remembering her own letter to him. He took the paper and scanned it quickly, his heart dropping into his boots. He read it again, more slowly. He looked up at Randor, stunned. "Teela's taking a leave of absence? For a year?"
Randor nodded, his gaze assessing. "So what are you going to do about it?"
He-Man turned to Adora. "Where is she? I've been trying to find her for two days and she's been avoiding me."
"She's at Grayskull, packing the last of her things," Adora replied, a slow smile growing on her face. "She's expecting me soon. Would you rather I wait here for a bit?"
"Yes." With that simple affirmative, he strode out of the room, yelling for Battle Cat at the top of his lungs.
Nothing was fitting right. Teela paused in her packing, tightened her fists, and drew in a sharp breath. She let it out slowly, then sank on her bed for a moment, trying to keep from screeching in frustration. She glanced around the room she had stayed in much of the time since Adam had revealed his identity, smiling sadly as she recalled thinking Grayskull was dreary and dim. Now she loved this room, loved the castle. Loved the man she was running from.
A few tears fell, and she wiped at them angrily. Rising to her feet, she put the last of her clothes in her sack, then glanced around. Her eyes fell on a small book she had wanted to bring
A knock came at her door. "Come in," Teela said without turning around, expecting Adora. She had deliberately waited to come to Grayskull until He-Man had left. He wouldn't be back yet—or so she thought. The voice that came from behind her proved her wrong.
"Care to explain this?" He-Man asked in a carefully neutral tone.
Gasping, Teela whirled around. He loomed larger than life as he observed her bag, his face dark. But it seemed to be the paper he was holding out to her that he was referring to, not the bag. Teela glanced down at it and swallowed hard.
"I'm taking a leave of absence," she replied unnecessarily. She wanted to sound saucy, but couldn't. She was too surprised by the anger on his face. She turned back and managed to get the latches on her bag closed.
"Where are you going?" The words were bitten off this time. It sounded as if he were having a hard time keeping his temper under control.
"I'm returning to Etheria to help Adora and the resistance," Teela answered, some of the fire coming into her own voice. He could read her destination on the stupid paper; he was just deliberately being obtuse!
"So you were just going to leave without saying good-bye?" he challenged her. "Why?"
"What is this, an inquisition?" she demanded back, whirling to face him once more. How dare he treat her like a child, she fumed inwardly.
Something in He-Man's gaze changed. The anger went out of his eyes, only to be replaced by another fire that put a twist in Teela's stomach.
"You can't leave. I need my bodyguard," he said in with a half-smirk.
Confused by his sudden change in demeanor, Teela sidestepped to put more space between them. "No you don't," she retorted.
He took one step towards her, coming into the room completely, and his presence seemed overwhelming. "Please tell me why you're leaving," he requested more softly, but no less firmly.
"Like my letter says, to help your sister and the rebels," Teela replied. And because you asked me to. But she didn't say that. It seemed hurtful, and she didn't want to part with him that way. She broke eye contact to turn and pick up her bag, slinging it over one shoulder with ease. When she turned back around, he was inches away from her, staring at her with an intensity that made her breath catch.
"Don't leave, Tee." It came out as a half-plea, half-command.
"I have to," she said. Her eyes burned with tears; she blinked rapidly to hold them back. "I'm not safe for you."
"What?"
"It's my fault Skeletor knows you're Adam," Teela confessed in a choked voice. "He was spying with his magic and heard me call you Adam."
"It doesn't matter," He-Man answered gently. His hand came up to stroke her cheek. "Soon everyone will know the truth. And I'm glad. I'm tired of the deception, Teela. I can finally make a life for myself, a real one, and I intend to do that." He paused for a second, as if drinking in every detail of her face. Teela's breath caught. "I was wrong about something, Teela."
She swallowed hard, mesmerized by his gaze. Her hand seemed to rise of its own accord and rest on his bicep, her touch tentative. "You-you were?"
He bent his head towards her, his thumb still caressing her cheek. "Yes. I do love you, Teela, and not as a sister. What I feel for you goes much deeper. It fills my heart in ways I didn't know were possible." His other hand came up and he cupped her face tenderly. "Stay with me. Don't leave." He smiled. "If you do leave, I'm just going to follow you. I know where you're going."
Teela started to shake her head. "But he used me to get to you, and you almost died," she whispered. "I can't let that happen. I-"
"A very wise person told me the other day that when you refuse to allow yourself to love with your whole heart, you let evil win," He-Man countered, the confidence in his voice beginning to soothe her worries. "I'm not going to lie any more, Teela, not to you and not to myself. I love you with everything I am." He kissed her gently, chasing away the disbelief that had sprung to her lips. She put one trembling hand to his face, happiness threatening to overflow in tears. He-Man drew back slightly, searching her eyes, trying to read her response to his declaration.
Teela smiled tremulously, feeling as if her world were perfect and yet spinning out of control at the same time. "I love you too, Adam," she confessed, leaning forward to rest her forehead against his.
He-Man smiled, his eyes glowing with joy. "I had a feeling you might," he teased her.
"Oh yeah?" she challenged saucily.
"Yeah." He kissed her tenderly. "I want to marry you, Teela." It was a statement, not a question.
Teela's eyes widened. Her jaw went slack and she stared at him for a full minute without speaking. Her mind seemed to have gone blank with surprise. Finally she managed to speak. "Can't we date first?" The question came out a bit desperate-sounding, but things were moving too fast for her.
He-Man chuckled, his eyes holding a promise of patience and love. "I don't mean marry me tomorrow, Tee. But I want you to know that now that I've realized how much I love you, I intend to marry you."
Teela returned his smile, feeling cherished all the way through to her toes. She knew the truth in her heart, just as he did. This was right. "Well," she said a bit impishly, "we'll just have to see where this whole thing goes, Addie."
He raised an eyebrow. "I think we both know where it's going," he said with a cocky grin. He shook his head. "I'm just sorry for being so dense, for not realizing it sooner."
Teela sniffed. "Well, I supposed I can forgive you…just this once," she said teasingly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and I suppose you knew all along that I loved you?"
She grinned. "I had a feeling you might."