Codependency

Part 5 // Stay.

Adora found a last-resort surge of energy and used it to throw Catra off of her before Catra's claws could come crashing down on her again.
Adora scrambled to her feet, panic still pumping adrenaline through her system. She grabbed the fist that came at her and slipped to one side, using Catra's wreckless force against her to throw her to the floor.
"Stop!" Adora shrieked, feeling her heart pound in her throat, obscuring her breathing.
Catra landed nimbly and righted herself. She sized up to Adora, hardly bothering to assess her opponent.
We grew up together, she knows all of my moves! Adora thought in a frenzy. Could she only protect herself? For how long? Her stamina was nothing like Catra's.
Giggling maniacally, Catra lunged at Adora again. She narrowly missed scratching Adora's eyes as Adora ducked and backed up, until her back thumped against the door. Catra immediately slammed her fists on either side of Adora, making a thunderous clanging sound that rang through Adora's skull. She shut her eyes tight and braced herself.

A warm, fuzzy hand pressed softly against Adora's throat. Slowly, it pressed harder.
"You do not ever disobey me." Catra oozed softly. "I am showing you generous mercy by not leaving you with some more scars."
Adora was now breathing hard, trying not to struggle against the hand that clamped around her neck.
"You are a lowly, injured failure of a cadet." Catra cooed, her voice dripping with sickly sweetness. "I am a great Force Captain, and you are grateful for everything I've done for you."
Adora couldn't help but let out a strangled squeak as it became all but impossible to breathe.
"Ask me- Beg me to let you go." Catra demanded.
Adora used what remained of her air to manage a "Plea-" before Catra squeezed once, then let go.
Adora dropped to the ground, gasping, her energy drained.
Catra looked disdainfully down her nose at Adora before stepping over her to the bed. Adora didnt move or open her eyes or even breathe loudly as she heard Catra change out of her uniform, type data into her little trackpad, and slump down to sleep.
Adora stayed on the floor, having not moved a muscle. Catra did not invite her to share the bed.

"Up uppity!" Adora was jolted awake by a gentle shake to her side. She slowly moved her sore limbs for a moment before the dull ache in her head turned into a sharp throb and she reeled, covering the wound on the side of her head with her shaky hand.
"Agh!" Adora yiped, trying to sit up, and she felt strong arms help her up onto the bed.
Eyes still shut, Adora used her free arm to fumble around for the helpful source of warmth. A soft hand slipped into her grasp, and gently squeezed.
"Shhhh, just let me help." The voice was coming into focus, but Adora still couldn't put a name to it.
Before she knew what was happening, something warm and damp was pressed against her head. Adora tried to keep still as her headwound was washed. As it cleaned, the debilitating dizziness subsided. Adora cracked open one eye, found Catra's face too close for comfort, and yelped again.
"Woah, calm down." Catra soothed, holding up her hands innocently. Adora saw her own dried blood on the washrag that Catra held. "I'm just trying to help." Catra told her, concern in her expression.
Adora flinched back, still wobbly but determined to stay away from Catra.
"Don't- don't touch me!" Adora said as she put up her arms defensively.
"Adora, calm down!" Catra said again, leaning towards her. "That wound isn't going to patch itself."
In shock, Adora sat still as Catra washed and bandaged her head. Was this the same person who had only the night before viciously attacked her?
"The good news is that your other wounds don't need bandaging anymore. They're mostly scarred over." Catra said conversationally, dropping the rag into a bucket beside the bed. "How do you feel?"
Adora didn't answer, feeling her stomach churn with every word her unhinged friend said. Catra seemed to notice this, and she smiled patronizingly. A hand brushed through Adora's hair.
"I don't bite this morning." Catra assured. "You can talk to me."
When Adora didn't respond, Catra went on.
"Hordak doesn't believe in 'days off', but I gave myself today off anyways. We haven't gotten to spend any time together since you got back."
Questioned burned at the edge of Adora's mind, but she dared not ask them. Not to Catra, not now.
"Anyways, look at your scars! A bit raw here and there, but I'd say I did a pretty good job of keeping them from infection."
For the first time, Adora noticed the perfectly circular scars criss-crossing all over her arms and legs. She brushed her throat with her fingers and discovered there were one or two scars there as well.
"What did you do to me?" Adora managed to croak.
Catra's ears twitched. "What I had to do."
"But why?" Adora rasped desperately. "What happened to you?"
Catra kept that sweet smile on her face. "It's about time I tell you the truth, but it might not make much sense to you yet."
Adora waited, feeling gears in her head spinning for answers that were just out of reach.
Catra went on, "you left me. Maybe a year and a half ago, by now... You left me for the Rebellion. Nobody was there for me after that, nobody." A hint of bitterness slithered into Catra's voice. "Those princesses took everything from me when they took you. So I had to do what I had to do to get you back, even if you're utterly useless to the Horde now."
Adora winced as she saw Catra tense from anger. It made her nervous.
"But, I feel like I'm doing all the talking. Feel any better?" Catra asked, her hand still idly petting Adora.
Adora shrugged. "I don't... I don't know what you're talking about. With the princess stuff."
"Man, then that was some strong dark magic. You'd never just forget about your Bow and your Sparkles."
"Bow?" Adora squinted, her headache coming back as she tried to figure out why she knew things but couldn't remember them.
"It doesn't matter." Catra said, standing up. "Listen, I've got to bounce, but I'll be back with some food. Stay here." She said, not giving Adora the chance to argue.
As Catra turned to leave, she looked back, and was no longer smiling.
"And I do mean stay."