doubleduo

[doubleduo]

Writer: Nicole

WC: 1,111

Prompt:

“Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“But, it was so fun.” 

“Hey, Adora.” Catra’s signature sing-song greeting floated through the air and before Adora could see where it was coming from she felt claws against her face and a force pulling her to the ground. “Don’t ever do that to me again!” Adora snapped as the side of her face gushed with blood from two perfectly parallel claw marks. She lifted a hand, wiping some of the blood from her cheek as she staggered back to her feet.

“But, it was so fun,” Catra smirked, lifting her claws to examine them for any remnants of Adora’s blood.

Catra was just fighting Adora one on one now, not a princess in sight and no She-Ra to come to the rescue now that the sword was infected and one-touch would leave Adora helpless and infected as well. She couldn’t picture a more perfect scenario. Nothing could save her old friend now.

“Come on Adora you used to be able to take me on in a fight. Being a princess has made you weak. Sleeping in, gorging on sweets, your lack of training is starting to show.” Her taunts never seemed to end as she stalked towards Adora. In one swift kick, her heel was planted in Adora’s side, forcing the air out of her lungs and pushing the princess back onto the ground.

This was all too satisfying for Catra. Finally seeing Adora, the one who always had to outshine her and be the favorite, on the ground at her mercy. “Nobody is coming to save you, princess.”

“You’re wrong. Glimmer, Bow, and the others are going to come for me. They won’t leave me for dead!” She said the words with such determination as she struggled to push herself off of the ground, her arms shaking at the action. Catra had already given her a good run for her money but this was too much.

The Horde soldier took this as a chance to dig her foot into Adora’s back, forcing her back down onto the ground with a loud ‘oomph’ coming from the blonde beneath her. “You obviously haven’t rubbed off on them yet then.”

The words made Adora even more visibly upset as she writhed under Catra, desperately trying to shake her weight off of her back even though she was already weak. It’s not that she had gone too lax with her training, but how was she supposed to win now? The fight started unfairly with other soldiers tag-teaming against her and after they had already gotten a good piece of her with their stunners then Catra came in to provide her undivided attention. “I didn’t leave you for dead Catra! I told you to come with me. We could’ve been together and have worked together. You’re my best friend-”

“Was. I was your best friend. But I’m glad that you’re gone,” her voice seeped in bitterness. “Now that you’re gone I’m not second best anymore. People can see my potential because Shadow Weaver isn’t there to put you on a pedestal and give you the spotlight all the time. You were the one thing holding me back and now everyone can see you for what you are. You’re nothing but some goody-two-shoes who kisses ass and lies. You break promises and you pretend for others because the real you isn’t loyal.”

Adora’s struggle ceased while Catra went on about her and her flaws, listening to each word that hurt more than the last and made it feel like a thousand lashes. “Catra- I never meant to do any of that. You were never second best.” Scoffing, the feline lifted her foot from Adora’s back, but before the blonde could rise to her feet again Catra pulled the infected sword from her belt and placed the tip below Adora’s chin, forcing her to look up to her for once in her life. “Then why was I the one that lived in a shadow? Your shadow?”

“I never wanted you to feel like that if you had just told me-”

“If I told you then what? What would that possibly do Adora? Would you just hand over your crown as Shadow Weaver’s golden child? Would you make her stop everything she did to me?” Her voice slowly slipped from the calm and collected tone that she typically possessed while battling Adora and slowly devolved into a more emotional and broken tone of voice, like a scared kid.

“I would’ve done something Catra! I would’ve protected you better or I would have told her to stop. I- I would’ve done something!” Scoffing, Catra pulled the sword away from under Adora’s chin and shook her head. “I never needed you to protect me and I never will.” The look in her eyes softened as she skimmed over Adora and turned her back on her opponent, crossing her arms over her chest as she began to walk away. It would be a stupid move if she was fighting anyone else, but this was Adora, the one person who she knew would never truly hate her even after all that she had done.

It took a moment, maybe two, but Adora eventually pressed her bloody palms against the ground and forced herself to her feet. She could hear the battle in the village nearby drawing to a close. There were fewer explosions and laser sounds by the minute, something she didn’t have a moment to pick up on until now as she tried to piece her thoughts together. “That’s not what I meant. Catra please if you would just talk to me for once. It’s not too late for you to come with us, to come with me.” Adora tried pleading with her, but it seemed to be no use as Catra visibly tensed up at the suggestion of joining the rebellion with Adora.

“Just go.” She sighed and took the sword from her hands to drive into the ground beside her. “Catra…”

“Go before I change my mind, Adora!” Her voice sharpened and the hairs began to raise on her back. She did this every single time, but for what reason, she didn’t know. The truth was, maybe Adora was the one person that she could never truly hate.

It wasn’t long before she heard the sword being pulled from the ground behind her and then a pause. The eyes burning holes into her back told her that it was Adora waiting for her to turn around, but she never did.

She heard the blonde begin to run off into the Whispering Woods and took it as her cue to disappear. Next time she’d build up enough in her to finish things. Next time.

[doubleduo]

Writer: Aria

WC: 1,087

Prompt: 

“Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“But, it was so fun.”

"Don't ever do that to me again." "But, it was so fun." "It was anything but fun!" Eira pulled herself up onto the riverbank, much coating the blouse she had so painstakingly picked out for her date with Avery. "Don't be ridiculous. You're not even that wet." The brunette stepped forward, her boots sinking into the bank. She took in Eira's appearance, a feline grin curling around her lips. "That wet? Avery, you shoved me into the river and it pulled me under," she sputtered, turning her head to cough. It had been a joke, seemingly harmless flirting as Avery, shoulder-checked the redhead into the water. The surface had been calm, serene even. Eira had shrieked, her hands flailing and nearly ripping Avery's shirt when her fingers had snagged on the loose fabric. Disorienting bubbles had formed beneath the water, her foot snagging along a root. She'd tugged her ankle for what felt like hours, her lungs screaming for air. It was only when she'd clawed through the river rocks that she'd been able to pry herself up, shoving her feet against the river's bottom before surfacing. She'd gasped and choked on the air, catching her breath long enough to see Avery doubled-over and howling with laughter. How could she be laughing when she'd nearly drowned. With a few strokes, she'd made it to the river's bank where she now laid in the mud. "I am going to murder you," she groaned, grimacing as she looked at her hands that were slick with the grime. A grin curled wickedly along her lips, her eyes flicking towards the brunette who looked mildly concerned but was trying to hide the quiver in her lips that forced down a smile. With her bottom-half still in the water, she lunged forward, managing to snatch Avery's ankle. "Not so funny now, huh?" She let out a giggle as she stood up, fighting against the woman's kicking leg as she clawed at the ground. "Eira, stop! I'm sorry, I didn't mean too!" She shrieked, landing on the ground when she'd stumbled and Eira had yanked her leg out from beneath her. She yelped, landing hard before twisting in the woman's grasp. Her nails scraped against the ground, desperate to find purchase and keep the ginger from dragging her into the cold depths of the river. Eira let out a laugh, letting go of Avery when she realized the woman wouldn't let her drag her into the icy water. She watched as the woman rolled onto her back, breathless with panicked laughter. It was all Eira needed to straddle the woman, grinning with wicked delight as her sopping clothes quickly soaked into Avery's shirt. "You didn't mean too? Kitten, we both know that is a lie if there ever was one," she mused her hands snatching Avery's wrists when the brunette tried to push her off. "Eira, come on, you're getting me all wet." She writhed under the redhead, locking her elbows so the woman couldn't force them against the ground. "Get off me! You stink," she let out a frustrated cry, bucking her hips to dislodge the fiery woman. "Oh am I? Y'know, you should have thought about that before you shoved me into a river full of muck. You know how many times I've seen Deli pee in that water?" She arched her brow, humming her question. Deli was their beloved dox, a pitbull mix who often went on walks with Eira when she was feeling moody and just needed to go out and get her mind off of things. The pup never failed to draw out laughter from Eira and Avery. A grin crossed the redhead's lips at the memory of their dog tackling Avery, making her hit the ground with an audible thud. Eira had the unfortunate privilege of taking care of Avery and rubbing her back to get out the soreness. Eira leaned over, letting the river water that dripped from her hair cascade into the brunette's face, earning a squeal. "Eira! Eira please, I swear if you don't stop right now I'm not brushing your hair for the next two weeks!" She shoved hard against the woman, her hands now shoving against the redhead's shoulders with her leaning over top of her. "Brushing my hair? Darling, you act like I can't brush my own hair," she purred, basking in the woman's cries for her to stop. Admittedly, Eira did love having her hair play with. It was one of the few things that got her to calm down after a night of fitful nightmares. Even so, this moment was too hysterical for her to give up now. The redhead shoved Avery's hands off her shoulders, giving herself just enough space to let go of the woman's hands and land right on top of the brunette. She nuzzled into the brunette, feeling the sharp breath raise Avery's chest. "Come on, I thought you liked it when we cuddled," she giggled, wrapping her arms as best she could around the brunette. "Not like this! Not like this," she gasped, her hands splaying as she tried to avoid touching Eira's soaked clothes but she couldn't ignore the fiery hair that fell into her face and reeked of mud and algae. A pout formed on Eira's lips as she raised up just enough to look at Avery. "Not like this? My dear, this is the best time to cuddle. I'm cold and I'm wet, I thought you liked it when I'm like this," although the was a pout on her lips, the gleam in her eyes was anything but innocent. "Augh, you know that is not what I meant and I definitely do not like you like that. James has got to be filling your head with these ridiculous ideas." Avery pinched Eira's back, making the woman jerk against her. "Ow! I'm sensitive Avery," she whined, letting out an audible huff before slumping against the woman. "Why won't you love me. We've been friends for like five months now and you still refuse to say you love me. Just say it, I know you do." "I love you but not like that, Now. Get. Off." Eira let out a small groan, letting all of her weight fall onto Avery now. "Suddenly I have gotten very tired. I don't think I'll be able to move. I stayed under so long I think I'm passing out." It was safe to say, Avery didn't wiggle out from beneath the redhead for the next two hours. 

[doubleduo]

Writer: Nicole 

WC: 1,072

Prompt: 

“I love you.”

“Lying isn’t a good look for you.”

Background: Eliana is the Queen of Celestia by birthright who has been married to Genna for two years. Genna was previously first in line for the throne of Cruven, but renounced her claim to the throne to marry Eliana. Mari is their one-year-old daughter, Arya is Genna's younger sister who has slowly been losing her mind due to demons haunting her, and Shea is Genna's childhood best friend who she roped into hooking up with her in their teens even though Shea was always in love with her.

“I love you.” The words left Genna’s lips in a flurry, a desperate stab at trying to reel her wife back in. 

“Lying isn’t a good look for you.” 

Genna stared at Eliana helplessly as her eyes searching her wife’s face for some sort of understanding or forgiveness. Everything with Shea… she could explain it, Gods above she had to be able to explain it. “I mean it, I love you Eliana. I love you so much and I- I’m sorry! I didn’t plan for any of this to happen.” The young queen stared at Genna through hazy hazel eyes, scoffing when she said this wasn’t her plan. “Oh, I know you didn’t plan for any of this to happen because I’m sure that you planned on never telling me. I trusted you and I let her,” even mentioning her felt vile, “I let her into my country and into our home for what? For you two to sneak off behind my back and indulge in some secret romance behind closed doors? No. I’m not hearing it.” 

“I made a mistake Eliana! I… I’m sorry.” Her eyes welled with tears that were on the verge of spilling over as she reached out for her wife’s hand. 

After all that Genna had done and even after what she heard and saw she still let Genna take her hand. “Tell me that you don’t love her. Tell me that it was purely physical and you aren’t in love with her.” She looked right into Genna’s eyes, taking in the icy orbs with every last ounce of trust she had in this woman. “Babe, you know that she and I were close when we were younger. She’s my best friend-” “You disgust me Genna.” She yanked her hand away from her wife’s own while her expression twisted into one that encompassed everything she was feeling. The emotions crawling around in her skin made her feel disgusted, betrayed, and most of all, heartbroken. “Pack your things, go home to Cruven where you belong. I don’t want to see you or her ever again.” Eliana turned her back to Genna while sucking in a sharp breath. “And Mari stays here.” Genna couldn’t stop the sob that racked her body and shook her so hard that her knees began to buckle, this wasn’t happening to her. “No! Please, Eliana just look at me and we can talk about this for more than five seconds.”

“Enough! Enough with this Genna. I’m tired. Do you think that I haven’t known about what’s going on? Arya warned me about welcoming that girl into this palace and she told me that she’s already caught you two in a compromising situation.” Her voice dropped into a darker tone towards the tail end of her statement, the atmosphere in the room seeming to dive with it. “Do you want to know what else I know, dear?” Eliana finally forced herself to turn around and face Genna, the woman who tore her heart to shreds even after she laid the world at her feet and gave her heart and soul to her. “I usually don’t participate in any of that run of the mill gossip but I couldn’t help but hear about your relationship with Shea before we met. You know, the funny part is that I thought it was all rumors and I told myself that you would’ve told me. I can see it now though because it’s been there all along in the way you look at her and how you never quite looked at me the same way.

“I know that you two were together back then.” That made Genna freeze up. In some sick, twisted, heartbroken way, it made Eliana force out a breathless chuckle. “You’re fucking repulsive Genna, did you know that? You even had the audacity to look at her with that dopey expression on our fucking wedding day and I told myself that it was just because she was your childhood best friend who you had recently reunited with and you were just ecstatic that she could even come and be a part of everything- but I was wrong.” Genna’s sobs were uncontrollable now. Her eyes swelled with tears and found themselves to be red and puffy as she listened to Eliana expose and berate her. She was suddenly wishing that she hadn’t forced Shea out of the room to let her talk to Eliana alone even though the thought itself made her mentally kick herself. She was a mess and she was stuck between the woman that she married- who she truly did love- and the woman that she had so much history with that even these palace walls couldn’t contain everything that she felt for her because she loved her too. 

“We could’ve worked it out if you had only slept with her, but that’s not where it ends. I stood there, in the fucking doorway,” she raised her voice and pointed towards the closed door behind her, ”and I watched you lean in close with your dress hiked up and your eyes locked on hers and tell her that you love her. You have never, ever, looked at me the way that you look at her.” “Eliana, darling-”

“Don’t. We’re done here Genna. Mari is staying here as the heir to the Celestian throne and you and your friend can head back to Cruven. Expect divorce papers to come with the courier following shortly behind you and a statement saying that our kingdoms are no longer allies.” She turned on her heel when tears began to form in her own eyes as her emotions finally caught up to her and what was happening. “Goodbye, Genna.” The wooden door slammed shut behind the queen, leaving Genna completely and utterly alone on the floor of the study once her knees gave out beneath her. She was losing an entire life because of her complete and utter carelessness with Shea. Her country, her crown, her wife, and worst of all, her daughter. How could Eliana be so cruel as to expect her to leave Mari behind in Celestia? What would Mari think? That she was abandoning her to run off with some woman that she knew as ‘Auntie Shea’. The thoughts consumed her and forced her to sink further to the ground as she leaned over to hold her head in her hands and tugged at her hair.

[doubleduo]

Writer: Aria

WC: 906 Prompt: 

"I love you." "Lying isn't a good look for you." Background: Calypso is the rising CEO of Haik Industries - a company known for making the latest technologies and medicines. She is also known as The Bandit who works for the Night Bloods as an assassin.  Annabelle is a rising millionaire who is also known as The Dragon in her criminal activities. The two criminals have been locked in a battle with seemingly no end until one of them finds out the truth.

Tinkling laughter sounded behind the curtains of the hidden alcove, hushed by the quiet 'sh' that rushed past Calypso's lips. "Annabelle, you're going to get us caught," the words slipped off her tongue in a harsh whisper. The redhead shifted in the muted light that passed through the slit in the curtains. "I would do nothing of the sort," she huffed. Delicate fingers ran through golden locks, twining them through her fingers before tugging softly. A hiss sounded from Calypso, pushing away the girl's hand. "You're such a pain." "Mm, yes, but I'm your pain, no?" Annabelle placed a chaste kiss to her lover's lips, her eyes keen beneath thick lashes. "Something along those lines," she grumbled. Her cheeks were hot from being pulled behind the curtains, she could have sworn her figure had been imprinted against the windowpane from where the redhead had pinned her. "Come on," Annabelle whined, her fingers finding Calypso's chin, trying to direct her gaze. "You know I love you." The woman stilled beneath her lover's gentle caress. "Lying isn't a good look for you, darling," she mused, pulling her head out from the gentle cup of Annabelle's palm. She slid off the windowsill, parting the curtains with a gloved hand as she slipped out. "Lying? Caly," she said, her hand shooting out to grasp at her lover's fleeting figure. Her fingers hooked around Calypso's, snagging the woman as she rose to slip out of the alcove. "You know I'm not lying. We've been together for almost four months, how could you say that?" Hallow eyes glanced at the pale fingers that had wrapped around her's, trailing up the woman's arm until she found blazing red hair and the betrayal of emerald irises. "Four months of lies," she stated, the color of cherry blossoms that had dusted her cheeks began to fade. Annabelle shook her head, dislodging a strand of silken hair that fell across her eyes, quickly brushed away by manicured nails. "Babe, I don't understand." She took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "You do, you just don't want to admit it." An audible sigh passed red-painted lips, her gloved fingers rose up to find the gentle curve of her lover's hips. Grey dull eyes scanned the redhead's, searching for the truth behind the mask. "I know your name isn't really Annabelle, right, Hannah?" The confusion melted with the name, dangerous calm falling over her gentle features. "What gave me away? Actually, how long have you know?" Her manicured brow arched dangerously. She tossed her arms along Calypso's shoulders, twirling the woman's hair between her fingertips as a vicious grin began to curl along glossy lips. "Last week, William told me," her eyes slid shut for a moment, sucking in a steadying breath before she looked back at the woman who quite literally had her wrapped around her finger, "I know you're The Dragon. I know that this whole time you've been playing me." "Mm, I guess you're smarter than I gave you credit for." A pout formed along her lips, taking in the hardened glare that furrowed the blonde's brows. "Don't look at me like that, it isn't my fault you poured your money into my bank account. You fought against me so valiantly, I didn't want to ruin your little fantasy." "I gave you that money because you said that you needed help, not to fund your gang." Her words came out harsh, her fingers tips flexing into the woman's hips before loosening. She schooled her features, refusing to get angry and play Annabelle's games anymore. "Oh, don't point the finger at me." A giggle passed the woman's lips. Her fingers tightened in Calypso's hair, pulling her head back to expose the girl's neck, taking in the bruise already forming. Her lips caressed the warmth of Calypso's skin, right up until her teeth nipped at the girl's ear. The woman's head pulled back from the teeth that snapped at her ear, stopped by the firm hand that held her in place. An ache began to form along her spine, starting with having to crane her neck. Even now, with the betrayal that rested heavy in her chest, quivering breaths still passed her lips with every touch. "It would be a shame if the public found out that their pride and joy was using Haik Industries as a cover for dealing out drugs and weapons. Not to mention your little killing sprees you go on at night." Hannah's grip eased, just enough to give Calypso a moment of reprieve when the woman's fingertips had begun to dig into her dress. "What do you want, Annabelle," the name sounded broken on her lips, airy and hurt. She'd been avoiding this, knowing that deep down, she could never tell her lover no, even when it had all been an act. "I want you wrapped around my finger, at my beck and call. I like you, darling, it would be a shame to put you to waste." Her lips pressed just beneath the glittering silver that hung on Calypso's ear, pulling back to look at the shame that burned along her lover's cheeks. Calypso had been so blind to Hannah's little hoax that she'd stepped right into the woman's trap. The redhead had wrapped the chains of love around her wrists and now had pulled taught. Love was a game and there was more than one way to lose.