#rootsoforigin

i WILL be posting something longer to address this eventually. the answer lies in how much blood is present in the post ur referring to XD

https://crackedfishtank.tumblr.com/post/626766226693275648?is_highlighted_post=1

Sometimes there are good days. There are days that end with celebration and parties and lights and four friends stumbling onto a ship and laughing before setting off into the stars.

Today is not one of those days.

Today is a “this planet was abandoned for a reason” day. Today is a “barely escape with our lives” day.

Those are the worst ones.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck-”

“How many times can you swear in a minute?”

“Wanna find out?”

“Guys, come on!” Bow yells from the control room. Glimmer has Catra half slumped against her, arm around her shoulder to keep weight off a probably broken leg; they’re moving as fast they can, trying to limp up the ship ramp, while Adora - She-Ra - stays back to hold off the attacking monster.

They could probably move faster if Catra would stop looking back and wishing she could help.

“I wish I could teleport,” Glimmer huffs as they make it to the top of the ramp.

“Same.” Catra tries to sound flippant, but she’s breathing hard and her face is pale. Of course she’ll never let on about how much pain she’s actually in.

“Adora!” Glimmer calls over her shoulder. “Let’s go!”

Adora backs up, firing off one last energy blast to force the monster back and blind it before she runs.

“Clear, Bow!”

He hits the pad on the console, sending the ship back into space. They all yell in surprise at the force of the launch; Catra and Glimmer yelp in surprise as they topple over.

“Fuck,” Catra mumbles into the floor. Fuck that monster. Fuck today. Fuck all of it.

“You guys okay?”

Adora’s voice is unusually flat. Catra raises her head, eyes seeking her girlfriend out. She’s staring at the floor, tears filling her eyes.

“Hey,” Catra says quietly, dragging herself off the floor. Her leg is screaming in pain, but she’s more focused on Adora’s devastated expression. “Everyone’s okay, c’mere...”

She’s good at working through pain - it’s not the best talent to have, but it serves her well now. Adora’s so wrapped up in her self-blame, she doesn’t notice Catra’s slight limp, and if Catra leans on her a bit more, it’s not like she’ll notice. She’s still eight feet of of muscles, after all. “It’s okay, we all got out of there, it’s okay.”

Adora is shaking as she hugs Catra tight. “It’s okay,” she whispers again, tail wrapping around Adora’s arm. And finally she changes back, shrinking in Catra’s arm. It’s a weird feeling, but Adora fits against her so much better than She-Ra does.

She presses her face into Catra’s neck, finally letting the tears loose, crying quietly. Catra hums, brushing her hand through Adora’s hair, kissing her temple. “It’s not okay,” Adora whispers. “I couldn’t save that planet, you guys got hurt...”

“Adora you do not have to put the fate of every single planet on your shoulders,” Catra says firmly, forcing Adora back to meet her gaze, thumbs brushing under Adora’s eyes. “Some places can’t be saved. There were no people there, and we got away alive, which is more important than bringing magic back. Okay?”

Adora sniffs and nods once. “Yeah. I guess.”

It's a bit of a struggle to get up on her tiptoes and kiss Adora’s forehead, but Catra manages, then hugs her again. “You are not responsible for fixing every single thing wrong with the universe.”

“I know.”

“Say it.”

Adora hides in Catra’s neck for another minute before finally muttering, “I am not responsible for fixing every single wrong with the universe.”

“Thank you.” She knows Adora doesn’t quite believe it, but she also doesn’t immediately follow up with “but”, so Catra will take the win where she can get it. She pulls back again, this time catching Adora’s lips in a kiss. It’s a nice, peaceful moment.

Which is immediately ruined by Catra’s leg buckling. “Fuck,” she hisses, balancing herself on Adora, who looks stunned for a moment before her expression hardens.

“You’re hurt!”

“I’m fine!”

“Not to butt in,” Glimmer speaks up, “but I definitely heard a bone crack.”

“Shut up, Sparkles,” Catra growls over her shoulder, but she’s cut off by Adora scooping her up, mindful of her leg.

“Why are you walking around on a broken leg?”

“I’m not walking around, I was comforting your damaged brain.”

“My brain isn’t-!”

Glimmer and Bow watch, shaking their heads slowly, as the girls disappear down the hall to her room. “Sometimes I think I’m glad we’re not them,” Bow says after a moment.