Irhaboggle Pride (2023) I Saw the Signs and Symbols

Fish and Kits

"Seriously, Adora?" Catra pouted, ears flattening against her head in frustration.

"Yep!" Adora sat hunched over her fishing rod, carefully attaching the bait. As soon as it was secure, she tossed the end of the line casually into the water and sat back down with a peaceful smile on her face. Catra continued to stare with a deadpan expression.

Y'know, when you said we were going on a fishing trip—just the two of us, alone, together, and no one else—I guess I just thought it was, I don't know, going to be a little bit more exciting than this?

Oh, Catra had her fair share of lazy days, sometimes really embracing her cattier side and lazing around in the sun all day, but although she could entertain herself by staring off into space for hours at a time, that didn't mean she wanted to.

I don't know, maybe I was expecting a more active form of fishing? Like hunting! Despite herself, Catra grinned as her tongue swiped across her fangs. That sounded far more enjoyable. Then there was also the fact that, again, it was just her and Adora, alone, together, and no one else. Was there really nothing they could think of to do that was a little more thrilling than watching water?

At last, Catra made her complaints known. "So, how long were you planning on staying out here?"

"I don't know, I want to catch at least one fish first though. Why?" Adora didn't take her eyes off the water.

"Fishing just never seemed like your thing," Catra smirked. She wasn't wrong. Maybe friends would tease them and say that Catra was the more feral and antsy one, but there was a reason Adora was such a renowned warrior. She didn't get that way by lazing around in the sun all day.

"Eh, I just thought it might be nice to kick back and, I don't know, take it slow?" Adora shrugged, leaning back and gazing up at the azure sky with a thoughtful smile. Catra was correct that they were both hotblooded young women, and adventure was in that blood, but they were also trying to learn about the practical use of taking a break every once in a while, and forcing themselves to sit and be still. It was going to rub them the wrong way in the beginning, but that was how everything in life was, even their relationship.

Again, a smirk slipped onto Catra's face. Now that was a tale for the ages, ups and downs galore. She and Adora both rubbed one another the wrong way multiple times, but it seemed that, like the day around them, their relationship had settled into something that could be called peace.

And... I have to admit, it's... not bad. Catra shrugged to herself, but a second later, she reared back with a yowl.

"Hey! I got something!" Adora also reared back suddenly, she being the entire reason Catra was so startled.

"Adora!" Catra complained, but Adora jumped up, rocking the canoe as she pulled her line in. "Adora!" Catra collapsed to the bottom of the canoe, praying that she wouldn't accidentally be thrown out because of Adora. Or that Adora wouldn't accidentally invite a whole bunch of water inside!

Adora towered over her, a confident smile plastered to her face. Here, fishy, fishy! She narrowed her eyes and tried to stay calm as she wrangled in her catch. Back and forth, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, sometimes letting the fish escape just slightly, only to trick it and pull it right back towards the canoe again. Just like a back-and-forth with Catra, give and take, wearing each other down into a false sense of security...

There was a reason she'd used the call "here fishy, fishy", when all she had to switch out for Catra was to say "kitty".

And that was the true name of today's game: Fish and Kits (cats). Beyond simply wanting to spend a quiet day out (ha ha, out) with her girlfriend, Adora wanted to celebrate the extra special fact that it was also Pride Month, and what better way to do that then by doing something gay?

So that's why... I need this fish to... come out of the water! Adora narrowed her eyes again and gave the line one last sharp tug right as Catra finally rose shakily to her feet. The fish came flying out of the water right in Adora's waiting, open palm.

What the—?! Catra's nose crinkled in surprise. So glad that THAT'S what I stood back up to...

At the same time, Adora got down on one knee, taking Catra's place at the bottom of the canoe.

What the—?! Catra again was alarmed, but Adora was still flashing that big, stupid, adorkable grin at her as she held up the fish.

"Would you do me the tremendous honor and Pride of being my girlfriend this month?" she asked, eyes earnest.

"... Adora. You idiot."

"So is that a yes?" Adora asked hopefully. Catra could only facepalm.

Don't tell me she orchestrated this entire fishing trip just for ONE Pride joke? It was a very Adora thing to do, and although Catra would stubbornly deny it, she definitely would've done likewise had she come up with the insufferable, irritating idea first.

"Why fish though?" Catra finally let her paw fall from her face, flattened ears slowly rising again. As far as she knew, that wasn't some sort of queer symbol. Then again, Catra would've been the first to admit that those types of studies were not her forte. She was a jock, not a nerd.

"Awww, come on, Catra, I know you've heard the jokes!" Adora's expression went from pleading to teasing. She even bit her lip and wiggled her eyebrows. How many times had the Best Friend Squad made suggestive jokes at one another's expense? Too many.

That was why it took Catra a moment, but the second she remembered the jokes about fishes and lesbians...

"Adora!" she yowled and slapped her face again while Adora finally collapsed with laughter, setting the fish aside. Catra was correct that fish were not a historical symbol of WLW or MLM, but it was historical humor!

Besides, if we really wanna split hairs, furs, and scales, CATS have a much stronger historical association with unconventional women, Adora thought, smirking up at her embarrassed girlfriend. If that didn't describe both of them, Adora didn't know what would. Not only did their relationship defy obvious norms, there was the fact that they used to be bitter enemies, the opposite sides of a longstanding grudge between two worlds. Now, they were out on a lake, fishing together.

Although, once we're done here, I MIGHT try to take Catra to go pet some cats, Adora thought with a wicked grin. If Catra could read minds, she would've protested and pleaded, but Adora's mind was already made up. There were 30 days of Pride and she was going to milk every single one for all it was worth as she celebrated the entire thing with her favorite catgirl GF!

AN: Snorlax891, I wrote this with your spirit in mind, so that's why it's just a weird, random one-shot that only hints at canon but otherwise ignores it in favor of lesbians and lewd jokes :P