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Adora fiddled with her suit buttons anxiously, shallowly breathing as her suit's vest clutched around her waist. Her suit jacket rested on her arm as she tapped her foot on the concrete footpath, waiting for Bow and Glimmer to arrive. It was one night that Adora promised to show up for- deciding that they’d go out to a fancy, high end nightclub to (most likely) get wasted- and unsurprisingly, Bow and Glimmer were late. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and a message appeared on the screen.
Glimmer- SORrY ADPRA!! we hsve 2 cancel 😭 bows dads-… unlock phone to continue reading
Adora turned off her phone and shoved it into her pocket. She couldn’t be bothered to read Glimmer’s poorly written text. Sighing in frustration, Adora checked her watch and held her hand out for a taxi. Looking away from the road, Adora laid eyes on the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. Her red silk dress clung to her waist and curves and her long eyelashes curled up, revealing her gorgeous heterochromic eyes. Her tan skin was dotted with 6 freckles on her face. Adora felt her stomach flip and after a few seconds she realised the girl was walking up to her,
“Hey babe,” She said with a stiff smile. Adora’s eyes instantly dropped down to the strangers lips- shiny from lipgloss. The stranger- a magicat- blinked calmly, but her ears pinned back to her head. Adora’s eyes went wide, wondering if she was dreaming. Adora’s breath hitched as she felt hands rest on her waist- the strangers' soft, long hands. Frozen in what felt like a fever dream, Adora’s cheeks went red as the stranger lifted herself to whisper into Adora’s ear. The stranger's long curls swept behind her as her raspy voice filled Adora’s hearing, “I’m being followed, please pretend you know me,” Her voice stung with desperation that made Adora’s stomach drop- eyes flickering over to a tall figure watching from afar. Adora instantly switched her act, smiling and kissing the top of the stranger's head. She smiled, wrapping an arm around the magicat’s waist.
“I have a reservation, just in here. He can’t get in here,” Adora gestured towards the door and after entering, they approached the reception stand, “reservation for Greyskull,” Adora said to the receptionist, who gave a warm smile in return,
“Oh I know you don’t worry! I see you brought Mrs Greyskull?” The receptionist asked expectantly. Adora choked, spluttering for words,
“Not quite Mrs,” The stranger smirked, Adora’s face went red with embarrassment and they continued into the club,
“I think I deserve to know your name at least,” Adora coughed through her dry throat, “y’know, if people are going to think you’re my wife,”
“Catra. Catra Weaver,” Catra nodded, a slight smile on her face. Adora lit up, whispering her name. Truthfully, Catra tried to come up with a fake name, but her fast reflexes clearly weren’t working,
“That’s a really pretty name,” Adora smiled, “Are you ok though? I’m just worried that you’ll struggle to get home. I can call a cab when you need?” Adora offered, already anxious about Catra. Catra’s eyes flickered towards Adora- her gorgeous eyes glowing in the dark,
“I think I’ll be fine, I’m just gonna stay close for a little bit, if thats ok?” Catra asked,
“Sure,” Adora smiled, holding Catra’s hand as they navigated the club.
-
When Catra said she was going to stay close, Adora didn’t think that meant very literally. Catra’s body was flush against Adora’s as they half heartedly danced, practically hugging. Not that she minded. Adora was lightly sweating, looking at Catra’s eyes, which wandered elsewhere. “He’s here,” Catra whispered in a heaving, shaking breath. Adora opened her mouth to talk but cut herself off, eyes following Catra’s. “For fucks sake of course he’s here. I gotta get out of here Adora,” Catra paused for a second, “thanks for tonight, you’ve been goddamn saint," She gave a half smile but Adora couldn’t bare the thought of her leaving,
“I’ll get a private booth, the ones here are like mini restaurants” Adora decided in the moment, a wide grin plastered on her face at her own solution. Catra watched nervously as her ex pushed through people, running out of options. “Please, don’t go,” Adora said weakly. Catra paused for a moment, looking at Adora’s unsure eyes. Reluctantly, Catra nodded- taking Adora’s hand.
-
The booth was quiet and the air was thick and awkward, Catra and Adora both attempting to distract themselves- do anything but talk to each other. The lights were blaring and overwhelmingly bright, glaring in Catra’s vision. Adora gave a half smile and blushed, looking up at Catra,
“Uh how much do I have to pay you?” Catra asked with a blank face. She scratched the back of her neck when Adora tilted her head
“What?” Adora asked, clearly confused, “you don’t owe me anything
“Adora,” Catra scoffed, and Adora would do anything to hear her name said like that again, “this can’t have been cheap, just let me pay my part. You’ve already done enough,” Adora’s eyes widened, before settling down. For the first time since they met, Adora stared at Catra with a (jokingly) cocky look plastered on her face,
“No,” Adora smirked, before relaxing a little, “can it be my treat? We can order something off the menu,”
“Hah, well screw you,” Catra bantered playfully, “I suppose I don’t mind,” She smirked, grabbing a menu from the middle of the table, “this shit certainly isn’t cheap,” Catra murmured with her eyes flickering up to Adora, who just dismissed the comment,
“I only ever go out like once a year, it really doesn't matter. Order what you want,”
“If you say so, but I’m not that hungry,” Catra lied, avoiding eating. Adora nodded, a waitress opening the door to the booth. Adora talked softly to the waitress, who disappeared for a moment then returned with a drink for Adora. Adora nodded thankfully, drowning her tongue in the sweet drink. Catra felt her brain disconnect from her body. Despite her hearing being far superior to any human, she found her ears feeling like they were clogged with water. Everything was faded and muted. Her eyes were unfocused and her expression was blank,
“Catra,” Adora faltered, concern dripping from her words. Catra snapped out of her daze, her shaky gaze barely landing on Adora, “you’re pale,” Adora fretted, pushing her chair out in one swift push and walking over to Catra, “are you ok?”
“I don’t know,” Catra said dryly, crossing her arms around herself protectively,
“I’m sorry, this was a bad idea. I’ll call a cab and you can go home. Do you need anything? I can ask fo-” Adora rambled,
“Adora,” Catra cut her off, part of Adora spiraling from hearing her name said like that, “it’s ok. I just had a bad night before this,” Adora’s baby blue-grey eyes were drowned with worry. Catra couldn’t bear to see it- Adora’s anxiety weighing on Catra’s shoulders like bricks, “why do you even care? We’re practically strangers,” Catra joked. Adora felt her heart throb with a foreign feeling. She didn’t want to be strangers with Catra, she wanted to know every inch of her as though they were incomplete without each other.
“I care about people, it’s like my thing,” Adora replied smoothly, ignoring the racing thoughts in her head.
“If you say so,” Catra smirks slyly and Adora knows Catra caught her bluff. Adora’s face goes red and Catra chuckles. The sound of Catra’s raspy laugh made Adora’s stomach twist and churn. Adora took a long sip of her drink, eyes flitting to Catra. Catra’s cheeks went rosy, “fuck, I need a drink,”
-
“Hey Adora,” Catra smirked, finishing off her drink. She was nowhere near drunk but Catra certainly felt the buzz from the alcohol. Catra never allowed herself to get drunk around others. Being drunk meant making bad decisions. Making bad decisions gave her people like Prime; the man who followed her through the streets earlier,
“Caaaaatra!” Adora smiled the widest grin Catra had ever seen. Adora was clearly tipsy, “there’s something on your mind,”
“Yeah? It’s you,” Catra replied swifty. An instinctual lie to protect herself. Defending herself was all she knew how to do, even if it meant through flirting,
“No,” Adora shook her head. Catra felt her stomach drop like she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Catra felt a wave of uneasiness wash over her, “but we don’t have to talk about it,” Relief pulsed through Catra,
“I think I need to go home,” Catra said quietly, even though she didn’t want to go home. She probably would never want to. Adora felt disappointment trickle into her, but she’d be stupid if she knew this night had to end eventually. The morning was yet to dawn on them but Catra and Adora had spent hours hanging out. There was a pause of silence, where all Adora could do was gaze at Catra and her captivating beauty- the way her jawline was sharp but her face was soft, her hair crisply curled yet effortless like she woke up that gorgeous. Adora’s mind stopped when she looked at Catra’s eyes. Each one was so unique- one deep blue, much more powerful than Adora’s own blue eyes, and one eye a fierce golden yellow. Another thing Adora couldn’t fathom was Catra’s smile. Halfway between a teasing smirk and a sincere smile, Catra’s smile was burned into Adora’s mind. But Adora’s fixation went beyond Catra’s looks. Adora wanted to bask in the sound of Catra’s voice. Adora wanted to get to know Catra for her personality. Because on the outside, Catra was charming but snarky, flirty but defensive, but when Adora looked closely or caught glimpses of Catra’s vulnerable side, Adora saw raw emotion. A person with a throbbing heart that pulsed emotions Adora struggled to read, but would learn to. In the few hours Adora had been with Catra, she dissolved into a puddle of confusion,
“Let me walk you out to the road, I’ll wait for a taxi with you,” Adora said and Catra gave a courteous smile,
“Thanks,” Catra grinned as they both excused themselves from the room. Walking out onto the footpath, Catra felt a breeze whisk the skirt of her dress up. Embarrassed and shivering from the cold winds, Catra hugged herself, before feeling a small weight against her shoulders. Adora’s suit jacket hung on Catra’s shoulders- the magicat looking up at Adora’s wide grin,
“You looked cold,” Adora smiled, her own cheeks and nose rosy from the cold. Catra felt her stomach do somersaults. Adora was so knightly, both in her looks and her nature. Her body was strong, sharp and muscular- it was abundantly clear to Catra the effort Adora put into her own body. Adora’s face too was sharp and angular, but her eyes were soft and glowed despite the street only being lit with dingy street lights. In the time Catra had gotten to know Adora, she’d quickly realised Adora loved to protect and was truly selfless. Catra felt like she’d spent her whole life being selfish to survive. Catra’s constant state of needing to survive meant she’d barely let herself feel- a motto of ignoring her own feelings- but now in a sea of unsureness, Catra let herself feel. Repressed emotions didn’t flood in but rather slowly filled Catra. She let it happen,
“I feel alive. For the first time since…” Catra’s voice trailed off, not wanting to touch the subject of her ex, Prime. Understanding that she isn’t going to finish her sentence, Adora responded,
“Honestly? Me too. I feel alive for the first time since,” Adora’s sentence finished abruptly but purposefully. Adora considered that if the two of them met again, she might discuss why she felt lifeless- her sister the main cause- but the topic was left untouched. Adora’s hand stayed held out whilst she called for a cab,
“This was a nice night,” Catra exhaled, looking up at Adora’s eyes. A cab pulled over to the side of them both and Catra pulled a pen and note from her purse, scribbling her number onto it before slipping into the pocket of Adora’s suit jacket, “See you around Adora,” Catra smiled, handing the suit jacket back, “message me sometime,”
Just like that, Catra was in the cab and was driving away into the distance. Adora watched it until it swerved around the corner, out of sight.