Yearning, Learning - [Catradora Drabbles] [Returns 09/29/23]

8 - Elevator

The longer Catra has to wait for the elevator to arrive, the more nervous she gets. Her fur stands on edge as so does her tail, though she retrieves some calm when facing to her left, seeing who's accompanying her. Adora stands by with a travel bag held up over her arm and a smile pasted to her face. She looks too happy for her to interrupt that moment for her, so Catra chooses to keep quiet and distracts herself with the decor laying around.

She labels that as a bad move the moment she stares through one of the windows, displaying an underwater world barely inches away from her feet. What kept her from touching the water was a thin floor and nothing more, making people wobble slightly whenever there were too many walking around at once. It's even worse when she thinks about the elevator she's about to get into, remembering the pamphlet she'd seen with Adora and how it was a clear tube that led them to the hotel rooms.

Just as the elevator arrives, she feels Adora's hand slip over hers, holding it tight. She doesn't look towards her when Catra decides to face her side, though she can catch her smile from the corner of her eye. She steps in with the brunette and squeezes her hand stronger, reassuring her once more.

When they enter, Catra's not as fearful as she thought she would be. Holding onto the blonde's hand helps, and having her pressed close aids her even more, giving her the opportunity to rest her head on her shoulder and wait while they go down. It's a different experience when it begins to move, though Adora continues to show attentiveness, this time resorting to letting go of her hand and wrapping an arm around her waist, bringing her even closer than before.

Catra's heart finds calm again. More at ease, she lets herself find comfort in the experience and observes as they lower further, up until the elevator stops and announces it with a ding.

"Thank you", she murmurs, locking her arm with Adora's.

Adora smiles, winking at her. She doesn't say anything and instead lets go of her, using both arms to carry her bridal style.

"Let me know if you want me to put you down," she elaborates, giving context to her actions, "But right now, I think it's better if I do this."

To further explain what she means, she points with her chin towards the path laid out before them, displaying a hallway made out of glass and the ocean world under it.

Catra's breath hitches and she finds herself nodding. She grits her teeth, huffs out her tension, and grabs Adora by placing her arms around her shoulders, keeping herself held up by her. "Keep going," she assures her, voice faint. "I'll… I'll tell you when I'm ready."

The blonde nods, taking caution not to let Catra slip from her hold when she begins walking, glass tapping under the soles of her boots.

It's another calmer experience for Catra, not having to touch the floor but being able to see what's under it helping with the first step in battling her fear. She nuzzles her face against Adora's neck and closes her eyes when she's gotten used to it. Then, she lets out a breath, releasing her tension through it.