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The thing people don't mention about the world almost ending is just how fucking exhausted it leaves you. Catra's been trying to enjoy the party atmosphere – has been enjoying it, really and truly – but by the time evening hits, she feels like she's physically drooping.
Maybe it's the emotional turmoil of the past twenty-four hours, or the past three years, or fuck, her entire life. Maybe it's the fact that she ran away and then ran back, fought a giant monster, was close to what almost became a world-ending explosion, and that's not even the half of it.
Maybe it's that finally, finally, it's safe enough for her to rest, and her body's demanding she take advantage of the fact.
Whatever it is, she's exhausted. She's leaning against a wall in Bright Moon castle, where Sparkles teleported them all once evening hit – something that didn't help Catra feel better – and wondering if she can take a nap standing up without anybody noticing, when Adora comes to find her.
It's been a little while since they talked. Adora's the hero of the hour. Catra is a little, too, but she's better at avoiding attention, mainly because she's not afraid to tell people to get out of her face.
“Hey,” Adora says, and she looks almost... nervous. Catra wonders if she's thinking about them, and what their confession means now that the world isn't ending anymore.
“Hey, Adora.” She grins around the words despite herself, and Adora laughs a little at their familiarity.
“Are you okay? You look...”
“Like a mess?” Catra offers.
“No, you're– you're beautiful,” Adora says, her cheeks flaring with pink. “I– you're always beautiful, Catra. Just... you look tired.”
“Yeah, well, I guess the world almost ending takes it out of some of us, princess.”
Adora leans against the wall next to her, bumps their shoulders together. “Never said I wasn't tired, too. I've been dreaming about going to bed for the past hour at least.”
Catra smirks. “Buy me dinner first.”
As she predicted, Adora blushes hard, starts stumbling over her words. “I– that's not what I– Catra.”
Catra laughs and leans into her a little. “You're easy to tease.”
“And you're insufferable,” Adora says lightly.
“Joke's on you, that's my proudest accomplishment.”
Quiet falls between them for a moment, and then Adora takes her hand gently. Catra tries not to act surprised, curls her fingers around Adora's in return. Her grasp is warm and strong, palms a little rough from fighting.
“Come with me,” Adora says, and leads her out of the room. Catra follows her through the halls, trying not to feel weird about being here, in the place she tried to destroy. The place Adora's made her home now, and Catra's never even been inside before today.
Eventually, Adora opens the door to what Catra might not've guessed was a bedroom if not for the fact that the bed looks like a Horde-issue mattress, only pinker and with fancy blue drapes.
“Uh, why is there a waterfall in here?” she asks, trying not to think about the fact that this has to be Adora's bedroom, because somehow even though they spent the better part of their lives sharing a bunk, that idea still makes her feel things.
Adora laughs. “You know, I'm still not sure.”
“And... why are we in here?” Catra follows up, feeling her ears twitch nervously and hoping Adora won't notice.
“I just... I wanted to talk to you. Without everyone around.” Adora shuffles from foot to foot, her fingers tapping nervously against Catra's where their hands are still clasped. Then she drops Catra's hand and pulls her into a tight hug.
Catra freezes for a moment, still unused to this, then hugs her back tightly, buries her face in Adora's shoulder. It's still hard to believe she's really here, really safe, the war is really over. She holds on so tight she's worried her claws might hurt Adora, but Adora says nothing, just holds fast, breathes her in.
“Thank you,” she says, after a moment, and her voice is teary.
“For what?” Catra mumbles.
“You saved my life.”
Catra tries not to squirm. She doesn't feel right, accepting that credit. “Just returning the favour, princess. And, you know. Trying to make up for all the other times.”
Adora shakes her head, her ponytail rustling against Catra's cheek. “Don't make it sound like nothing. It wasn't nothing. You... you saved me. Not just from dying but... but from... from being willing to let myself die. You– you made me feel like maybe it was okay, for me to choose to live. Like... I don't always have to sacrifice everything. And Catra, you saving me saved the world. You did that.”
“I wasn't being a hero,” Catra whispers, feeling tears well in her eyes. “I need you to know that. I care about the world, I even care about your annoying friends–”
“Your friends too,” Adora says with a soft laugh, and Catra doesn't deny it, because they are.
“–but at the Heart? I just... I couldn't lose you, Adora. Not She-Ra. Not the world. Not the Princesses. You.”
Adora pulls back from the hug and looks at her, lifts a hand to cup her cheek. Her blue-grey eyes are tearful. “You think I didn't do the same thing when I came to Prime's ship? It was dangerous. You told me yourself not to go there. But I just... I couldn't bear to lose you. And I realised something today.”
She sniffs, smiles through the tears, and Catra pretends like she's not crying too.
“What?”
“On Prime's ship, it was how I felt about you that made me find She-Ra again. And today, when you told me how you felt, that made me find her, too. Shadow Weaver–” They both wince at the name, but Adora wipes a tear from Catra's cheek and goes on. “She was wrong, Catra. Me loving you didn't weaken She-Ra. I think She-Ra is made by love. And I've never loved anyone the way I love you.”
“I love you too,” Catra says, low, her cheeks feeling hot. She still can't quite believe this is real. That the girl she's been in love with her whole life is here, in her arms, saying she loves her just as much. “You big sap.”
Adora laughs a little, sniffling. “What I'm saying is... maybe sometimes, saving each other is saving the world.”
Catra nods. “But even when it's not, I'd still save you.”
Adora leans in and kisses her, soft and gentle, and Catra lets her hands slide into Adora's hair, unfastening her ponytail till it falls loose around her shoulders. Adora makes a satisfied hum when she runs her fingers through it, breaking the kiss to lean their foreheads together.
“I'd still save you, too,” she whispers.