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

19 - Mutual Support

"C'mon," Adora shouts, looking up to wave at Catra. "Jump," she adds, stretching her arms out. "I'll catch you!"

Catra's ears hide away as she looks down at the pool waiting right below her feet. Only some distance and the diving board are what keep her from touching the water, though when the wind hits, she feels as if there's nothing under her. She stumbles and closes her eyes in sheer instinct as she begins to fall. No scream leaves her mouth and instead, both her fur and tail spike. She expects to hit the water and feel her body sting in response to her ungraceful dive, though she's caught by Adora…

...And then they both fall.

Having stumbled so abruptly, her girlfriend wasn't given the chance to prepare for the sudden drop of weight. Catra, on the other hand, wasn't anticipating such a fall and had frozen in fear for the entire time it lasted. While it was said cats and other felines often stood upright after a fall, she was part human and didn't want to believe those sayings she often heard, not because she refused to accept she was part feline and that some of these were true, but because it was that way that Netossa had found out over one of her sillier weaknesses. 

"Are you okay?" Adora asks, swimming back to her side. Though her hair sticks out every which way and her breaths are still ragged from the event, she's recovered enough to hold Catra and prevent her from sinking further in the pool. "Does it hurt anywhere?" she asks, holding her face in her hands, cheeks being squished as her gaze furrows and looks her up and down in concern. "It... It didn't sting, did it?"

Catra smiles and shakes her head, bursting out a laugh when hearing her voice's muffled up by Adora's hands still squishing her cheeks. "I'm okay," she says, breaking away from her hold. "But what about you? You were the one who broke the fall for me."

"...I'm-"

The brunette raises an eyebrow as she waits for her girlfriend to reply. Knowing how eager she was to teach her how to break free from her fears, Catra was more than certain Adora would try to cover up the damage just so they could spend some more time working on that together. To counter that possibility, she sighs, smiles, and finally, takes her shoulders to bring her close. She inspects her and sees a few reddish marks already beginning to show on the parts her full-body swimsuit doesn't manage to cover up; her legs, mostly. The rest of her seems okay on a first glance, though when she decides to squeeze at her arms covered up by long sleeves, the blonde lets out a sharp hiss and takes a step back, a bit slowed down due to the water.

"You're hurt," Catra points out, frowning at the observation. "Let's take you back."

"I'm fine-"

"No, you're not."

Her frown turns to a glare as she waits to see if Adora will continue to deny it. 

Thankfully, she smiles and lets out what Catra assumes is a sigh in surrender. "I knew you'd figured me out," she says, giving in with a faint smile. Then, she meets with her eyes and laughs, smile changing for a grin. "Thanks." There's a moment of reluctance present in her, one where Catra sees a subtle blush on her cheeks. "Think you could carry me off, then? My legs feel a little shaky."

Barely needing that excuse to agree with her, Catra nods and stands up straight in the water.

The two walk off to dryer land, where she finally takes action, sweeping Adora in her arms and kissing her cheek.

"Let's get you patched up," she says, walking off. "Hold on tight, Adora... And maybe hug me, if you want, too."

Adora giggles and buries her face against her shoulder. "Will do," she replies, arms locking around Catra's neck.