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Adora heard her own footsteps echoing through the ship's halls as she walked. Today had been an eventful day for the team, well not really day since it's space or- whatever -either way, it had been an eventful set of hours, and almost everyone was asleep now, except Adora. Entrapta had opted to sleep in the ship's main room like always, along with wrong Hordak, and Glimmer and Bow had taken the only real bedroom on the ship. Adora would've joined them, but it was clear they had something going on there, and she wasn't too keen on overhearing them making out while they thought she was asleep.
So, Adora found herself here. Walking to Catra's room, the only other dedicated sleep chamber on the ship, and maybe it was a terrible idea- okay well, she knew it was a terrible idea -but it was the only option she had. Just thinking about it made her remember when they shared a bed back in the Horde.
And how much had changed since then.
Before she knew it Adora was at Catra's door, she took a deep breath, and then knocked twice.
"What is it?" Catra's voice came through the door.
Adora used her palm to hit the door's button, and she swore she saw Catra's face soften.
“Hey, Adora, is everything okay?"
"Yeah... yeah, I just, everyone else is already asleep, and I'd go with Glimmer and Bow, but... well, I don’t know what’s going on with them, so... Would you mind if I stayed here with you?"
Catra let out a small laugh, music to Adora's ears, "What? You wanna have a sleepover, like the good old days?"
Adora shrugged, a smile on her face, in response, Catra sighed with false reluctance, and moved to make room for the blonde, Adora smiled and lay next to her, exhaling with contentment.
It had been a long time since the two of them shared a bed, since the day Adora left the Horde... Since she left Catra.
Even though Adora didn't think of it like that, she never wanted to leave Catra behind, Catra saw it that way, and Adora knew it. She understood why Catra thought of it like that- she really did -but it was something they didn't see eye to eye on, one of the many.
(Or maybe- hopefully -not so many, now that she was back.)
Adora had been so lost in thought, she barely realized she was pretty much staring a hole in Catra's head.
Though, Catra was pretty when she slept. Even back in the Horde, it wasn't often they slept face to face, or even back to back. Catra was always at the foot of the bed, and while Adora didn't mind it, if it made the brunette comfortable, she had to say she much prefered this.
This way she could feel the warmth radiating from Catra's skin, and even count her freckles if Adora wanted to.
"Adora, I can feel you staring at me." She peeked one eye open, then the other, "Something's wrong, what's up with you now?" It was phrased in a hostile way, but Adora knew better, she was concerned.
"I-" Adora started, "I never wanted to leave you behind." She could see the confusion written on the other girl's face, "When I left the Horde, I mean."<
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Her ears went flat, looking away.
"I can tell it's still affecting you, me... leaving... and the Horde mindset," Catra wasn't running, that was a good sign, "We don't have to talk about this right now, but when you got scared- while Entrapta was removing your chip -you said that you could help us, like you were defending yourself." Adora explained, "You don't need to prove your worth to us- to me -I came back because I wanted you, not whatever information you could give." Catra finally looked back to Adora, and her eyes were glassy, "I left the Horde, but I didn't want to leave you, and I hope I can convince you of that eventually."
"Adora..." Her eyes soon overflowed with tears, as she tried not to rack her body with sobs, Adora held her, with as much security as possible.
“You don't need to say anything, Catra," She kept the smaller girl close, "I just think you deserve to hear it," Catra's body started shaking with her weeping, though she still fought it, "You can cry, there's no one here, but me."
She heard a small, choked, "Thank you." and that's all she could ask for right now really.
Adora rubbed soothing circles on Catra's back with her hands, until eventually they calmed, the sobs dissipating on their own. Catra had worn herself out with crying, but Adora still held the sleeping body of her friend.
Eventually, when Adora was absolutely positive her partner was asleep, she pulled back, just enough to kiss Catra's forehead.
"I love you."