Follow-up from: Finally, A First Date
“Hurry up, Catra! You look fine!” Catra was tugged at her shirt and regretted that she let Bow dress her.
“Why did I take fashion advice from Bow? Love the guy, but does he ever get cold?”
Adora grabbed Catra’s hand and pulled. Catra looked at their hands together and smiled. This was real and she never got tired of Adora holding her hand like this. She pulled Adora closer to her, slowing her down.
“What, Catra?” In all of her rushing, she hadn’t noticed how amazing Catra looked under the night sky. She stopped and turned facing Catra. “Can you believe we’re here?” A shyness came over Catra.
“At the roller derby?” She joked to hide her vulnerability.
“Here. Together. As an us. I fantasized about this since we were younger but I didn’t think it would happen.” Adora rested her hand on Catra’s face, bringing it closer to hers. Catra, I love --”
“Get a room!” A familiar husky voice cut through the sounds of car engines. It was Huntara.
“Huntara!” Adora’s voice squeaked as she dropped Catra’s hand and began waving. The loss of Adora’s hand in that moment stung! Catra’s ears stood straight up. She began sizing Huntara up. “What are you doing here?” Adora yelled to Huntara.
“My girl plays on the same team as Frosta. You met her before. Remember when we first met?” Huntara was now in front of Adora and Catra. She looked at them, sensing they were on a date. “You know, when you rushed over to my table to meet me. My girl was the waitress. You pushed her out the way and had that starry look in your eyes.” Catra knew that look. Adora looked at her like that. Catra looked at Adora. She was blushing! Catra’s tail started tapping on the ground and she was counting to keep from pouncing. Perfuma had taught her this as a way to manage her anger.
“I just needed your help in the Crimson Waste.” Adora rolled her eyes and laughed.
“And I was glad I could help.” Huntara looked at Catra and smiled. “See you ladies inside.” Adora waved.
“That was sweet and random. We’re going to be late!” Adora grabbed Catra’s hand again and pulled her along as they went into the stadium. Catra was burning with jealousy. She kept trying to push it down and pretend like she was fine. What did Huntara mean by, “Glad I could help?” and “Starry eyes.” Catra never thought about Adora being with anyone else besides her. Why did Adora drop her hand so quickly! She didn’t even tell Huntara they were on a date. They were together. They were an us.
“Catra! Catra!” Adora snapped Catra out of it. “Do you want popcorn or no?” Catra hadn’t realized they were at the concessions stands already.
“Y-yes! Your choice.” Catra sounded more cheerful than usual. She was trying to mask her hurt.
“You ok?” Adora sounded worried.
“Yea, I’m fine. Just order the food.” The mask was wearing thin. Adora could tell Catra had something on her mind but figured they would talk about it later. She didn’t want to ruin their date.
They sat in the stands and cheered as the teams came rolling out. Frosta and the Razor Bladez stormed out, Frosta leading the pack. Adora and Catra cheered wildly. “Oh, I think that’s Huntara’s girlfriend. She’s pretty hot,” Adora said casually.
“Yea, they all are. I mean look at this place. It’s queerer than well...us!” Adora laughed and leaned in to kiss Catra’s cheek. Catra turned away. “Catra --”
“I didn’t know you looked at other girls like that.”
“Like what?” Adora started to feel annoyed at the accusations.
“With those idiot starry eyes.”
“Ugh, why can’t you just enjoy being here? Everything has to be so dramatic and a fight with you. Yes, Catra! Yes, I find other people attractive but I’m here with you.”
“And Huntara.” Adora became angry.
“Are you being serious? Yea, she’s here for her GIRLfriend, Catra. HER GIRLFRIEND! You know, like you’re MY GIRLFRIEND.”
“Don’t do that, Adora. Don’t talk down to me. You sound like--”
Catra spoke under her breath but Adora definitely heard it, “Shadow Weaver.” The moment it came out, Catra regretted it. She looked at Adora. Tears were forming around the corner of her eyes. “Adora.” She wouldn’t look Catra’s way. “Adora.” There was some desperation in Catra’s voice as she reached for Adora’s hand. Adora didn’t move it but didn’t hold Catra’s hand back. She didn’t have the energy to. It took everything for Adora to not storm out. She stared straight ahead. Catra couldn’t believe what she had said. She didn’t know what to do next and she was hurt too. She focused on the game.
They continued to watch the game in silence only making noise to cheer for Frosta. Frosta was a beast in the game. She was her team’s lead jammer and would move with so much skill and precision. She also welcomed the opportunity to bump players. She had gotten one penalty already for punching someone. Both Adora and Catra felt proud of her. The teams were taking a break and Adora asked if Catra wanted anything from concessions. She asked for a drink but said she could get it herself. Adora insisted she could go, so she did.
Adora seemed to be gone for a while. Catra’s worry turned to jealousy. She began scanning the crowd for Huntara. Where had she disappeared to? With so many unknowns, Catra started to fill in the blanks. Adora and Huntara were somewhere together! Catra stood up and swore she would fight Huntara! She went to concessions and didn’t see Adora or Huntara. She circled the stadium, nothing. She turned around to go back to her seat and found Huntara and her girlfriend making out. So where was Adora?
Catra walked outside and saw Adora on the curb, sobbing. She hesitated to approach her. “Adora.” Adora startled at her name. Catra sat next to her. “Everyday I can’t believe you chose me. Me!? No one chooses me.” Adora looked up at her.
“I do and I always have.” Catra knew this was true and couldn’t believe she let her jealousy ruin their first date. She thought about what she should say next. She just wanted to hold Adora but she was still angry.
“Tell me what you need from me to make this better and I’ll do it. I’m sorry I compared you to Shadow Weaver. I was hurt and took it too far.” Catra hesitated to say more but she was never good and just holding things in. “You dropped my hand when you saw Huntara. Did-do you like her?”
“Years ago when I met Huntara I was into her. Nothing came of it, but, yes, I liked her. Not how I like you, though, Catra. Not how I love you. I love you and I don’t know how else to prove it to you.” Adora sniffled. “Before we left Glimmer was freaking out because I hadn’t planned anything ‘BIG’ for us to do. I was excited to just spend time with you. Every moment that I get to love you feels ‘BIG.’”
Tears rolled down Catra’s face. She believed Adora and still there was a part of her, the part that never felt lovable, couldn’t take it in. What she did know was that she loved Adora too. “I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you.” They both looked at each other and started laughing as they wiped tears.
“Are we always going to be this dramatic? We love as hard as we fight.” Adora said and she held Catra’s hand. Looking at their hands together Adora remembered how she hurt Catra earlier. “Let’s go!” Without much explanation Adora marched back into the stadium hand in hand with Catra. “Huntara!” Adora interrupted Huntara and her girlfriend. Her girlfriend rolled her eyes.
“Catra and I are together.”
“I see that,” Huntara grumbled, annoyed by the interruption.
“No, I mean we are dating. We love each other. She’s my girlfriend. We share a bed. We kiss!”
“Oooookaay, last time I checked we were at a roller derby not a confessional.” Huntara laughed. Adora realized how extra she was being but she had already committed to this.
“We are a couple who do couple things. We’ll probably get married. Have kids. We haven’t talked about it, yet.” Adora looked at Catra who was wide-eyed. “We can circle back to that later. All I want to say is-- Catra and I are on a date. I am proud to be with her. I love her. I will choose her in every lifetime we get to spend together.” Adora turned to Catra and kissed her softly. Catra’s ears folded down. She was Adora’s.
“Well we’re going to use this lifetime to get away from you weirdos.” Huntara laughed heartily at her own words. “I’m kidding. I’m glad you two have each other. You’re very cute together.” Catra and Adora both blushed. “Now do you girlfriends want to come and finish watching the game with me.”
Adora looked at Catra. She was beaming. That’s all she really needed.
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