Catra and Adora leaned against the railing of the cargo ship together, facing the salt breeze gusting from the South Pole. The aching cold of the arctic air bit at their skin, but it was a welcome relief from the grueling heat of hefting boxes for hours on end. They were on break from their work now, having agreed to join the cargo crew in exchange for passage to the Southern Water Tribe. They were not yet close enough to spot the snowy outcroppings of the city, but Catra could feel in her growing excitement that they were getting close.

"So I guess we're staying, huh?" she said to Adora over the whistle of the wind.

"Until further notice," her partner agreed. She smoothed back the strands of hair the breeze had pulled free from her ponytail and shrugged. "It will be okay. My mother's family comes from the Water Tribe. They'll welcome us."

Eyebrows shooting up, Catra faced her on the railing. "That explains those pretty blue eyes of yours," she observed with a chuckle of surprise. And the Water Tribe dreamcatcher back at the village. She bumped Adora playfully with her shoulder. "I learn something new about you every day, huh?"

Adora grinned and it was bright as the sun on the ice caps off the bow. "Well, I can't just spill everything at once. That wouldn't be very exciting."

"It has been a pretty exciting ride with you, princess," Catra murmured, sobering as she inched closer to her companion, letting her eyes go half lidded.

As soon as she moved in Adora got the message and closed the rest of the distance between them, but at first she just brushed their noses together sweetly. "Things will calm down soon, Catra," she whispered. "We're almost there." Then she tilted her head, and Catra went up on her toes to meet her in a kiss. It was brief, but her head still spun as they broke away. "You won't miss Republic City too much, will you?" the sun-haired girl asked, and she didn't sound like she was altogether teasing.

"Are you kidding?" Catra scoffed. Even though they'd talked about this before, Adora still had her lingering fears. "I'll be thrilled to knock the dirt of that place off me once and for all," she assured. "The only thing there that doesn't suck is the pro-bending."

Adora laughed lightly and stole another quick kiss. "Well, you met me there, too," she reminded playfully.

Catra hummed her agreement and let her eyes slip closed contentedly as she leaned back against the railing. "Yeah, I guess you don't suck too bad either, Adora."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Really?" Catra opened her eyes again and lifted her brows. Even if Adora meant to be teasing, if she was right (which wasn't that inconceivable), it would truly be a sad fact. Just in case, Catra turned to face her partner again, letting a little smirk curl her lips. "Well, I'd better fix that right away, princess. Come here." She raised her arms and Adora stepped in so she could wrap them around her shoulders and pull her behind a tall cargo cube for more privacy. Once in the shadow of the cube, Catra drew her in for another kiss, this one longer and deeper and more heartfelt than the last. Adora's hands landed on her hips and pulled her closer, and they lost themselves in each other so completely that it was a shock when they had to break apart for air. When they did, Catra slid one hand to the back of Adora's neck and began toying with the wispy gold hairs there, looking fondly into her partner's eyes.

"I love you, Adora."

For all the times that phrase had stuck in her throat and suffocated her and refused to come out, now it left her lips as easily as a breath. She never thought she'd end up like this: free of má, free of her bending but free of the fetters of her emotional prison, too. Adora, as well, was different from the first day they'd met. She had a few more scars, sure, but she'd also gained a surety and an effortless aura of power; of stability, that was a stark contrast to the anxious girl she'd spotted in the noodle shop. It seemed both a surprise and a perfectly natural outcome for them to find themselves here, sailing together into the unknown yet comfortable with figuring it out together; intertwined.

Adora's breath shuddered out of her like Catra's confession was a physical blow. She eased her head down to rest her brow against Catra's and wrapped her arms around her body tight and the grin that split her face was the brightest Catra had ever seen. "I love you, too," she whispered, running her hands over Catra's form reverently as if making sure she was real. "What changed?"

And, Catra knew what she was asking. She knew that Adora had sensed the times she almost acknowledged her feelings in the past and lost her nerve, and she knew that it must have been hurtful as well as frustrating. It was fair for Adora to want to know what was different about this time, but when Catra turned her gaze inward to ask herself the same question, she didn't have a good answer, really. All she could come up with was,

"I did."

And, in a way, that was the only answer that she could give. That was the only explanation for the transformation she had undergone since meeting this mysterious spirit-marked girl. That was her only excuse for the time it had taken for her to finally admit her feelings to Adora, and though it was a simple answer, it was enough.

Adora's smile didn't fade until she leaned down again and caught Catra's lips with her own; tender, profound, and everything Catra had always wanted.

This is perfect, Catra thought through the haze of her absolute contentment in this moment. This is something I'll live for. Adora is something I'll live for.

We'll be okay, together.

And the way her partner broke away to gaze back at her with those shining blue-gray eyes, Catra knew she felt the same.

…

THE END

A/N: that's all, folks. it's meant to be a pretty ambiguous ending, but one you can easily assume to be happy.

thank you to those who have stuck with and supported this fic since the start! I appreciate all of you and I hope you've gotten something out of this.

see you on the next one!