Moonlight

The Hostage

Kyle didn't remember much. Blurry figments of music and bright lights. Someone kind. Someone who he liked? And then flashes of running in the dark. Of the smell of hay and rotting wood. And a voice talking kindly.

That was all. He sat in the dark, feeling the ground rumble every now and then. He was moving. In a vehicle? He felt a bump below, and was thrown in the air. Definitely in a vehicle on a very broken road.

"You finally awake Kyle?!"

He knew that voice. It was one he hadn't heard in a long time, but one still very familiar.

"Scorpia?" He felt a wave of relief hit him. Scorpia was probably one of the only people who he knew in the Fright Zone that was kind to him, even if she was a superior.

"Yes, it's me. How ya been, bud?"

"I've been great actually! I-"

That'd when it hit him. Whatever toxins that were left in him had finally gone and his head cleared. Memories came rushing back like water bursting from a dam.

Scorpia had stung him when he left to return to the party. Terror rushed through his body. She's taking him back.

"You know, we really missed you Kyle. It really surprised me to hear that you ran off like that. Very bold of you. Unfortunately, it caused a lot of your friends some problems." Her voice lost its cheerful tone, and instead was replaced with something more condescending.

Kyle could see her upfront driving the supply truck. She had a strange expression on her face. This wasn't the Scorpia he used to know. Something was twisted about this one.

"Why? Why are you taking me back? You know what they'll do to me! We can go back! You can come with me! You don't have to let Catra and then push you around anymore, we-"

"THERE IS NO "WE" KYLE." He flinched at her sharp words, like someone had pinned him down with a dagger on his throat. Don't you dare, her face read. Don't you dare mention her.

"Scorpia?" He said softly. Something was very wrong. She was hurt.

She looked back behind her and saw his face. Remembered how he had been there before. How he had smiled kindly at her when everyone else had been afraid of her. And she saw him now, scared out of his mind. Scared of her.

"LOOK OUT!" He screamed. Scorpia turned to see a strange creature crossing in front of them.

She slammed on the breaks, and Kyle flew into the wall, bashing his head on the cold metal.

He rubbed his head, and tried to stand up. Owww.

He suddenly gasped, remembering Scorpia. He rushed over to the small the window. She wasn't there?

Suddenly, the door opened behind him, and she stood there, tears streaming down her face.

"Go Kyle. Just go back."

He hesitated. Was this a trick? An ambush? Kyle looked at Scorpia's face and got an answer.

"No."

She stated at him like he was stupid.

"Kyle. I will drag you out of there if you don't go."

"No. I'm calling your bluff. You're lying. You did that thing with your eyes that you always do when you lie about paperwork. You aren't going to drag me out of here." Kyle said, standing up bold.

She stared at him blankly, and then began to laugh. She sat on the edge of truck, laughing into her class.

"Scorpia?"

She wasn't laughing now, she was crying.

"What happened to you? You're a mess?"

Kyle sat down next to her.

"I-"

She sighed, and wiped her tears away the best she could with her pincers.

"Its Catra. Every since you ran away she's been so stressed out. About you. And it didn't help that Adora ran, so now she's even worse than usual. She's been so... so unfair. To everyone. I'm worried about her, Kyle. She always lashes out, and then hurts everyone around her, including herself."

Kyle felt guilty. He knew that this was partially his fault. But he knew how Catra was too. And he knew how Scorpia looked at her.

"You really care about her, don't you?"

Scorpia looked up at him, a small smile on her face.

"I'm that easy to read aren't I?"

Kyle nodded, and the two laughed a little.

"What am I doing Kyle. I seriously thought that going and getting you back would help. That she would respect me. That she would even like me..."

"Hey it's okay. We all make mistakes." Kyle patted her back, reassuringly. This was kinda awkward for him, as he was never that great with other people, but Scorpia was someone you could always be comfortable with.

"You're right. I'm still sorry I dragged you into this. It's not fair. What I've done."

Kyle looked away. She was right but once again, not entirely her fault.

"We can still go back. There's still time."

She looked at him surprised.

"Are you serious? Why in the world would the princesses want me? I'm a Force Captain? Not a princess! Well actually, kind of a princess, just not a "princess" princess? You know?"

"Scorpia, if they could take in someone like me, I'm sure they will be glad to take someone as awesome as you in."

She smiled.

"Awww, Kyle! C'mere!"

She stood up and grabbed Kyle, almost suffocating him with a very tight hug.

"I see you've secured our prisoner, Force Captain."

Both Kyle and Scorpia stopped dead in their tracks. Scorpia let Kyle go and turned to face the voice behind her.

"Catra." She said, her face blank. She was trying her best to hide Kyle behind her back.

"Grab him." Catra said. Horde soldiers dropped down from the skiff, pulling Kyle from Scorpia.

Scorpia turned back with an accusing glare. "What are you doing here?"

Her words hurt Catra, but she retained her poise.

"You were a day later than you had planned. I figured I'd come to check in on you, in case there had been any accidents. Looks like I was right."

She pointed to the truck the two had been sitting in.

"Well, I think we should be getting back to the Horde. Ill leave you here Scorpia. You can stay with the truck until we send more scouts back to help repair. I just take our little runaway back to receive his punishment."

Scorpia watched as Kyle was dragged on board with Catra.

"Wildcat?" She said, pleading with Catra. Please. Just let him go. Just leave them all. We could stay here together. Just you and me.

She looked back, one last time. Silly girl. I'm far too gone.

And just like that, they drove off, leaving Scorpia behind.