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“What’s going on? Did you forget something on the bus?” Adora blurted out the first thing that came to mind when the sound of wood against wood and clattering silverware filled the restaurant. It was late, and luckily the few eyes that remained seemed to look on with confusion and not anger.
“What? Oh! No, I just had a really good idea, and if I didn’t act on it right now I, um… follow me?” Catra stood awkwardly now, her chair askew behind her and one hand stretched out between them. Adora quickly cycled through several different facial expressions before landing on one eyebrow lifted with half suspicion, half intrigue. Before she could decide what to say, Catra had already grabbed her hand from the table where it rested and pulled her to stand up.
“Catra! What are you-- we can’t just leave, we need to pay!”
“Bah, what’s the point in you knowing the staff if you can’t come back and pay later? Come on, just trust me. We’re going for a walk.”
A few minutes went by while Adora fruitlessly prodded Catra about this brilliant idea of hers. Two blocks this way, one block that way, and a few seemingly random zig-zags in between side alleys before finally they stopped.
“Please just tell me, I hate not knowing what’s going on!” If not for the obvious goofy grin plastered on her face, Adora was confident the exasperated pleading would have totally worked.
“We’re here! Look.” Catra stood with one hand on the hip cocked to the side, and the other pointing towards the building they were standing in front of. Adora noticed the ever so slight shaking on the outstretched hand but kept that to herself.
“What, a building? I’ve seen a building before Catra, I don’t live in the woods. Well, I do live in the woods sometimes but--”
“I didn’t even need to butt in with that one myself, you’re learning huh? No, what I’m saying is look at the name of the building, dummy.”
“The… no way! You found it! What? How? I didn’t even know this place still existed!”
“I looked it up while you were in the bathroom, I’m actually kinda proud of myself, it took some serious investigating.” The cocky smirk on Catra’s face was replaced with a genuine smile as the wide-eyed blonde in front of her beamed unapologetically at the almost opaque storefront window with the name “Double’s Dumpling Diner, Drive-in, and Dive.”
“I can’t believe you got that off of me saying I couldn’t find that one dumpling place with the long name, I haven’t been here in forever! Ugh, I could kiss you right now!”
“So, what are you waiting for?” And the smirk was back.
“No! I have dumpling breath,” Adora exclaimed with certainty before tapping pointedly down Catra’s arm and grabbing her hand, “and I. Don’t. Want. You. To hate me. Let’s go in, please please please I just wanna see it again!” Catra rolled her eyes fondly at the puppy-dog clutching her hand for dear life.
“Obviously we’re going in. I didn’t bring you here just to brag.” Moments later, the bell rang as Adora dragged Catra in through the front door as eagerly as Catra had dragged her to it.
“Hi, table for two? Or do you wanna sit at the bar? We can totally sit at the bar if you want.”
“How about the drive-in?” Catra laughed to herself before opening her eyes to a very perplexed face staring back.
“Catra, we don’t have a car.”
“No, I know, I was just-- wait a second. This place actually has a drive-in? Where? I thought it was just a reference to that show with the flame shirt, frosted tips dude?”
“Oh no we have a drive-in, kitten.” A silky voice flowed over the counter as a slender, green figure with long blonde hair came into view. “Why don’t you two go get a table and I’ll be right there to take your order in just a moment, hmm?”
“That sounds good, thank you!” Adora said, brimming with enthusiasm.
After sitting down at a surprisingly sturdy table and skimming through the menu, Adora placed hers flat on the table and crossed her arms, looking smugly at Catra.
“What are you having?”
“Well, unlike you, I don’t have the appetite of one of those bears you love to hug, so I’m just gonna have a drink. What’s with the face? What are you having?”
“Oh, I think I know what I’m having.”
Time had flown right by them. Before they knew it they were outside again, walking briskly under the pale streetlights sometimes flickering in and out. A solemn atmosphere covered the town at night. Most places had a baseline level of noise even on weekdays but not here. The fresh night time air was buzzing with the sound of silence as they exited the door.
“So, was it worth it?” Catra was almost completely folded over, trying to restrain herself from laughing.
“No, oh god it hurts. I should not have done that. Why did I take that bet?” Adora was likewise folded over herself, but with her hands covering her belly.
“I-- I honestly don’t know. I’ve never seen anyone order everything on the menu , I thought that only happened in movies!”
“I just had to try it. I really thought I’d never find that place again. Thank you.” Adora was smiling through visible pain. They had started walking back approximately the way they came from.
“Any time, dummy. I figured since I’m gonna stay here, I should get a taste for the local cuisine you were harping on about.”
“Oooh look at you ms. fancy word. Y’know ‘round these here parts we just calls it food.” She said in her best, totally inaccurate cowboy impersonation, tipping the brim of her invisible cowboy hat just as well.
“You are such an idiot.” Catra said with another fond eye roll.
“Yeah,” Adora said with a smirk of her own, “I know. You like it, though.”
“Tragically, yes.”
“Ouch, harsh.” Adora reached for Catra’s hand while staring straight ahead, managing to brush slightly against every part of her arm before finding the fingers.
“Smooth.”
“Okay, no need to rub it in, I’m already on the brink of death here. Cut me some slack, would you?”
“Do you think you have dumpling breath now?” This earned her a raised eyebrow.
“Umm, yeah? I just ate like… oh. Umm, well--”
“I just sat through you devouring a mountain of food, I promise I don’t care. I just really…” Catra squeezed Adora’s hand just enough to get her full attention. “I like you. Don’t ask me why this made me realize it, but I’ve never gone out of my way like this for anyone. Please just kiss me?” She looked away slightly, hating how needy she sounded. It wasn’t long before the pale streetlights seemed to grow just a bit warmer in color - just a shade brighter. She felt the fresh air sizzle and crackle ever so slightly as a thumb rubbed the back of the hand she held between them. Suddenly the night seemed so loud and full of life; a crescendo when those light blue doe-eyes stared directly into her soul, and the distance between their warm bodies became smaller.
And then there was silence. As magical as the first time, she bathed in the warm light just barely registering through her closed eyelids. Everything just felt like it fit into place when their lips locked together. She felt Adora’s hands gently, effortlessly moving up and down, brushing against her arms. A small exhale here and there, just enough to feel it on her upper lip. She didn’t care whether it was real or magic, she was sure that as long as she was in Adora’s arms, everything would feel like this. Like a little bubble she could call home.
They opened their eyes and stood perfectly still. Adora held onto just her fingertips.
“Wow…” The word escaped Catra’s mouth before she could catch it.
“Hah! I knew you’d say that. I agree, though.”
“Ugh. Whatever, dumpling breath. Way to ruin it.” But she didn’t. Neither of them did. Catra kept staring at her, mesmerized. Adora did the same, not bothering to wipe that goofy grin off her face, because it definitely belonged there right now.
“We should probably, like, actually get home now. It’s getting pretty late.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Oh! We need to go back to Frosta’s and pay before I forget.”
“Right, sorry about that. I just--”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you acted on it. Otherwise, you know…”
“Yeah?”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have won that bet.” A big, toothy smile showed itself as Adora swung Catra’s hands between them.
“God, you’re really gonna hold me to that, aren’t you?”
“Yup. Definitely.”
“Come on. I don’t even know where to get you one!”
“Nope. I can’t be the princess of dumplings without a tiara, Catra. It wouldn’t be official.”
“Fine. You win, dummy.”
“I don’t believe that’s the right title to address royalty , is it?” Adora said in her best snooty voice, trying and failing to roll the ‘r’ in ‘royalty.’
“Damn it. Okay, but just this once. You win, princess… ”
“That’s more like it. Okay, hop on, we’re going home!” She waved her arms towards her back, gesticulating wildly as Catra stood in awe.
“I am not letting you give me a piggy-back ride.” She crossed her arms in defiance.
“I have a LOT of energy right now, I need to burn it off before we get home or I am going to sleepwalk and break something.”
“Okay, then. I guess you’re not taking no for an answer,” Catra said as Adora shook her head, “ride, my noble steed!” And with a whinny from the park ranger, the two set off for the restaurant where the night started.
It didn’t take long before the fancy doors of the restaurant swung open, although well after closing time. Luckily, the staff were still around to let them in. The atmosphere was subdued and the lights were halfway dimmed, but music was playing ever so faintly in the kitchen where they were cleaning up. The quiet didn’t last long before a loud knocking was heard on the front door. It was purposeful, urgent. Frosta followed Catra and Adora out to check who was there.
With an unreadable look on his face, Bow stood with Glimmer at his side, fist raised in preparation to knock again. Adora opened the door before they burst in, a stream of words indistinguishable from one another.
“Bow, Glimmer, calm down! What are you doing here?” Adora said with a matter-of-fact tone.
“Adora, Catra, we need your help!”