sniffles

This is not my work it is a story on archive of  our own  by  what letter are we taking about
This chapter is 18341 word long so enjoy.
🙃

The courtyard of Bright Moon bustled with activity. Packed to the brim with carts, wagons, and carriages, countless guards and castle employees were milling about, loading and organizing supplies and rations for travel. Horses of all colors were hooked up in full traveling tack, filling the air with whinnies of horse conversation, as well as the constant swell of conversation and yelling from all around.

Normally, the sound and activity would’ve made Catra anxious -if she weren’t staring into the lovingly comforting eyes of her girlfriend. Adora’s hand was barely on her shoulder, gentle and careful, but Catra’s own hand held it there. Not quite holding hands…but getting there. 

“I won’t be gone for long.” Adora was saying, gesturing to the crowd around them with her free hand. “Queen Mermista -she’s the water one-requested help to rebuilding Sailneas, and she asked if I could help, because, ya know, She-Ra.”

“What an upgrade.” Catra smiled, “Saving the world, and now you’re a construction worker.”

Adora laughed, rubbing the back of her head. “I honestly prefer it this way. Besides, Sailneas really got damaged -Horde Prime along with that Horde Invasion -and uh, so yeah, fixing it up! It’ll be easy-peasy.” 

The Horde Invasion. The one that Catra had planned, prepared, and executed herself, at the height of her strength in the Horde. The perfect example of the person she was and never wanted to be again, intent on destroying everything until it was as broken and bleeding as she was, as though it could take away everything bad that had ever happened.

Yet, somehow, that very same person was standing in the middle of Bright Moon, even after everything she had done, and everyone she had hurt. 

How could that be? For a moment, she expected Adora’s hand to jerk away, for her to remember there was no forgiveness for people like her –

Her nails were digging into Adora’s hand. With a start, Catra snapped to attention and quickly loosened her grip. She caught Adora’s concerned expression -damn her, she was so perceptive -and nearly hissed, embarrassment flattening her ears into her hair. She was so thrown off by the mere mention of her past! Catra's eyes dropped down to Adora's hand. She could see the marks of her nails on Adora's skin, red and angry against her otherwise pale skin. Guilt fluttered through her. She couldn’t let that happen again: worrying Adora was selfish, especially right before Adora left to fix Catra’s mistakes.

Catra kept her voice even as she answered smilingly. “With She-Ra’s arms? You’ll be done in like a week.” She laughed, wrapping her tail around her leg to prevent its flicking. She watched closely for Adora’s body language to relax, but though Adora returned to a soft smile, her shoulders were still tense and her eyes focused a bit too intently to just be looking.

Carefully, Adora moved her hand from Catra’s shoulder to take Catra’s hand within her own . She laced their fingers together, the movement so tender that it made Catra's breath catch in her throat. Adora's hand should've been rough, but in that moment that Catra would’ve sworn they were made of silk. “You’ll be okay while I’m gone?” she asked, genuinely, frustratingly, concerned.