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English
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Part 7 of Iorek's Catradora AUs
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Blurb X Art
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Published:
2022-01-27
Words:
509
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1/1
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14
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107
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let me be brave

Summary:

Catra can't focus on his writing. There's something she has to do.

Notes:

Hi all! This is a ficlet written for the SPoP Creative Flex facilitated BlurbXArt Event, in which a selection of authors wrote a blurb or ficlet between 100 and 500 words, were paired with an artist, who then drew that AU. This is mine. I was paired with the incredible Jomathein!!

Catra uses he/him and she/her pronouns interchangeably, because fuck gender.
Adora is non-binary and uses they/them.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Why is it so hard to tell a friend that you’re in love with them? 

 

Fear.

 

Rejection.

 

Losing them.

 

There’s probably more to that list, but Catra stops writing after the first three. Imagining more ways that Adora will laugh in his face does nothing for her but fuel the anxiety that took root in her stomach when he made the decision, stupidly, last night. Stupid because she barely got two hours of sleep and is now running on fumes. But this is it, Catra drew the line in the sand: it’s now or never. 

 

They could have lived together. They should have, really. It would’ve been the smarter thing to do. Instead, Catra gave some shitty excuse and got a place that’s much smaller, but slightly more expensive for him since he’s the sole occupant. What she wouldn’t give to go back and change that, but Adora signed on with some of their other friends so that boat’s officially sailed until the Sparkle Squad’s lease is up. 

 

She’s supposed to be writing but, again ; line in the sand. Being able to focus on anything other than Adora, including unfinished novel manuscripts due in a few days, was a fool’s errand after that. 

 

They should be here soon. 

 

Catra takes a breath, closing the open document (comprised of only a sad question and an even sadder list of answers) without saving, and pushes the laptop across the table as if he’s just finished eating a meal. 

 

She’s nervous. 

 

Checking his phone doesn’t help, either, all that stares back at him is the unread message that Adora sent thirteen minutes earlier:

 

Adora (13:37)

Be there in ten! 

 

Ten. Sure . 

 

Maybe it’s traffic. Or maybe Adora caught on. Maybe someone told them. Who? Catra doesn’t know. She’s pretty sure only two of his friends know about her crush or, well, unrequited love (but that sounds far too dramatic). Maybe they just went somewhere else, left Catra behind. No , Adora’s never done that. Not once. But so many before them have, and Catra can’t shake the thought. 

 

Well, he couldn’t , until the doorbell rang. 

 

Adora (13:52)

Here! 

I saw the cutest dog on the way, too! 

 

Dork. 

 

Catra walks over to the door, phone in hand, and leans his head against the wood. There’s no way he can do this. No way in hell. 

 

Instead of opening the door, Catra opens Adora’s message, goes to their contact, and taps Call. 

 

She hears the ringtone on the other side of the door and smiles at the muffled, confused sound Adora makes. 

 

“Hello? Catra?”

 

“Hey, Adora.”

 

“What’s—“

 

“I just,” Catra takes a breath, “I need to tell you something, and I’m worried that if I can see you I won’t be able to so just– wait there? Please?” 

 

A pause. 

 

“Okay, whatever you need, Catra. ”

 

“Adora, I– I’m–“ he struggles, like he knew he would, and mentally kicks himself for being so stupid. She closes her eyes, places her free hand open-palmed against the door, and whispers, “I’m in love with you.”

 

 

 

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