ADORA

[princesspower]

●ADORA
Say hi, I guess?
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[princesspower]

Scared...? Scared of what?

[ There's already concern in her voice. Already preparing to go and do something. ]

[heterochrocatic]

It's a long story. Especially because I have this... I have all this stuff I remember happening at home that you don't. We...

[ Yes, "we" because Catra knows now that if either of them had been alone they never could have done it. ]

We stopped Horde Prime. We saved Etheria. You almost died. I'm pretty sure I did die and She-Ra brought me back. You had to take this thing. This magic called the Failsafe and take it to the Heart of Etheria to release the magic and it was killing you and you couldn't change into She-Ra and--

[ Catra feels tears stinging her eyes. Tries to push past them ]

I was scared you were going to sacrifice yourself and I'd lose you and I begged you to stay and you did. I'm still scared though, that you're going to throw yourself away and leave me alone because you think it's what you need to do. I'm scared you might not make the choice to come back to me. I'm scared you don't care enough about yourself not to just... Let yourself be the sacrifice for everyone.

[ Her voice is small and desperate. ]

I don't want to lose you again, Adora.

[princesspower]

[ That is a lot to process. A flood of words that comes out of her comm and leaves Adora feeling uncertain and maybe a little exultant. They won - they win. It's hard to imagine and she feels dizzy. She sits down, staring at the communicator, not quite sure what to say. ]

You won't.

[ She finally says. ]

I'm not going to let that happen.

[ That's what Catra wants to hear, right? That's what she has to say, right? That she'll be there? That she'll survive? ]

[heterochrocatic]

[ There's silence. The sound of a deep, shaking breath. ]

Do you mean that? Or are you saying that because you think it's what I want to hear from you right now?

[princesspower]

I... I mean it.

[ Adora stumbles over the words. ]

I don't want to die, Catra. I love you so much it hurts. [ But. ]

But I can't say - I can't promise that it'll never come down to that. If I have to - if it really is the only way - I can't just turn away from that.

[heterochrocatic]

Why do you feel that way? I... I want to understand.

[princesspower]

Because... it's who I am. I'm She-Ra. I'm Adora. And... protecting people is what I do. I can't run away from that. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I did.

[heterochrocatic]

But... Doesn't what you want for yourself matter, too?

[princesspower]

I-

[ Adora has to pause for a moment. What does she actually want? It's not something she's thought about. She's never allowed herself to. She wants Catra - she knows that much - but she also doesn't know if she can truly say she wouldn't do what she had to do. ]

...I don't think it does. Not when it's the universe on the line.

[heterochrocatic]

It matters to me.

[ Catra chokes back a sob. Tries not to let anger filter into her voice. ]

You matter to me.

[ She remembers Adora speaking those words to her as she lay crumpled on the deck of Prime's ship, wracked by pain and despair. ]

I just--I wish you mattered to yourself.

[princesspower]

I know.

[ Her voice is quiet. ]

I thought I had it figured out. Guess not.

[heterochrocatic]

Trust me. When you think you have it figured out, you probably don't.

[ Catra laughs. The sound is weak. ]

I thought I had it figured out too. All I had to do was rule the world and I'd be safe and happy.

[princesspower]

Catra.

[ There's a long pause. There's her breathing, the slight shift of her weight against something. ]

I don't know if I can be any other way.

[ She doesn't know how. She doesn't know if she can believe in herself like that.

Funny, isn't it? ]

[heterochrocatic]

Please, Adora.

[ Catra sobs the question into the communicator. She wants Adora here next to her more than anything in the world. ]

If not then I'm going with you. I'm not letting you leave me behind ever again. Understand? I'm not--

[ Her voice breaks and she is crying, almost weeping. ]

I'm not going to sit here and tell stories about how brave and noble you were without you. I won't. I can't.

[princesspower]

...okay.

[ Just one word. Quiet and small. ]

I love you, Catra. And I don't want to leave you behind.

[heterochrocatic]

Then please. Stay.

[ Catra won't let herself be left behind. But gods, she just wants Adora to stay. ]

I love you. So please stay.

[princesspower]

I will.

[ Two words. ]

[heterochrocatic]

Come hold me.

[princesspower]

Where are you?

[ Doesn't matter, she's already moving. ]

[heterochrocatic]

My room.

[ She's crying, but it's nice to know that Adora will come to her if she asks. ]

[princesspower]

[ She's there in a matter of minutes, but it feels like way too long. She just comes through the door and where ever Catra is, she wraps her up into a tight hug - and she's crying. She's crying and she doesn't entirely understand why, but it's enough.

Catra is enough. ]