"WOAH!" Catra's voice soared above playful splashes of water, running alongside a wave that crashed within a waterpark pool.
A perfect artificial sun hung above the streets of Naya and bathed everything in daylight. For some inhabitants accustomed to the chill of the north, the manufactured warmth was almost too much. Figures in tank tops dotted the landscape, soaking in the heat.
"Why is it so hot? I thought this zone was supposed to be around 70 Fahrenheit today…" Oliver exhaled with a sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"It is supposed to be. I have received reports of a few malfunctions with the city barrier, originating from a small earthquake caused by the Ice Giant," Alf replied.
He playfully tapped his gleaming metallic body.
"Luckily, I do not sweat."
Unlike him, Rod offered no response. He couldn't tear his eyes from the sight in front: Lofo and Catra.
The half-elf boy was wearing formal summer attire while his daughter wore a crop top and jean shorts. The way her cheetah tail swayed and her ears twitched pierced through his guarded composure…
Watching them so openly affectionate gnawed at him with a complex mix of protectiveness, though he couldn't bring himself to snatch away the radiant smile that lit Catra's face.
The morning unfolded and their small group explored the city. They walked from the main park of Naya, with its riot of spring animals and birds, to many unique cafes where elves, vampires, and fairies mingled over drinks and meals.
Their journey eventually led to the heart of Naya's main market, where Lofo abruptly stopped in front of a gift shop and gazed at a display of intricately crafted ice bunny ears.
"Catra! Let's go inside! I wanna see you try something on!"
"W-wait, try what on?" she stammered, but allowed him to drag her inside.
Lofo's enthusiasm was boundless. He pulled her through the crowded aisles until his eyes landed on the prize: A delicate diadem shaped precisely like the ears of an ice bunny. Its plastic surface glowed like translucent ice and it quickly captivated them both.
"Try this on!"
"T-this?" Catra whispered and a deep blush spread across her cheeks.
"Please, please, please, please, please, please-"
"F-fine…"
With a soft sigh, she reluctantly tried on the diadem and glanced at a nearby mirror. The accessory perfectly concealed her natural cheetah ears, creating the convincing illusion that the bunny ears were her own.
"Smile!" Lofo called out.
SNAP!
"H-HEY!" she yelped as Lofo took a picture with his mana-phone.
"You look so CUTE!"
Catra's eyes instinctively moved down and her face burned with embarrassment, yet she didn't scold him. Letting this bubble of shared happiness be ruined was not an option… not after so much time being apart from each other.
"T-thanks…"
"Come on, let's go see what else you can try on!"
Lofo grabbed her hand and eagerly moved around the shop again.
"W-wait! More!?"
A few more hours melted away where the heat continued to rain down on everything inside the spiral. Their walk took them from the gift shop to an ice cream parlor and back onto the sunlit streets.
Catra and Lofo had begun their date with a palpable awkwardness, but as time flowed, they slowly overcame it. They were still a little uncomfortable being so open in front of many eyes. Though, they had promised each other they would stay strong, and thus, they did.
While the artificial sun rode high in the sky, the group made it to one of the city's iconic floating islands. These verdant landmasses were suspended in the Naya sky by invisible magical conduits. They moved in a slow and majestic grace, hovering just above the tallest buildings in the city.
"Wow, this is impressive," Oliver murmured after peering over the edge.
"Yeah," Rod added with quiet respect, "In the south, there aren't many things like these. The closest being the Celestial Lands, though that's with natural air magic."
"Affirmative," Alf responded, utterly unimpressed by the aesthetics, "The Celestial Lands are different. These ones we can control with artificial mana conduits."
Both Alf and Oliver continued their technical conversation when Rod's eyes drifted to his daughter once more.
Lofo and Catra now stood side-by-side and were silhouetted against the urban landscape. Their eyes were fixed on the immense tree trunk that soared from the city's center. From this altitude, every detail of Naya looked impossibly clear, amplifying its beauty to an unbelievable amount.
They both radiated happiness, as if being together simply felt right. It was true love… and Rod knew that.
The two teenagers met each other's gaze some moments later. No words were uttered, but they knew…
An irresistible urge to kiss grew stronger with every passing second. Slowly, their faces drew closer and they both closed their eyes. Just before their lips could touch, a cacophony of hurried footsteps erupted around and forced their eyes to snap open in confusion.
"ROD WINGER! THE GUN HERO IS HERE!" a few eager voices screamed from beside them.
"Oh no…" the cheetah girl sighed, "Not again…"
To no one's surprise, a massive group of people ran forward like a human tide and approached Rod.
"ROD, COULD I GET YOUR AUTOGRAPH?"
"COULD WE TAKE A PICTURE?"
"COULD YOU SIGN MY BABY'S FACE?"
The Gun Hero merely laughed and complied with their demands. Perhaps he should've worn different clothes instead of his famous cowboy outfit…
"I can't believe this… he's making that stupid face again…" the cheetah girl grumbled while Lofo simply laughed.
After finally escaping the floating island and the crowd, the weary group headed back to the hotel.
The two lovers led the way. Their youthful energy slowly returned and their hands intertwined. The half-elf moved closer to Catra and leaned his body against her side, something that made her tail twitch and become a happy drum against his leg.
"Hey, stop that, you're heavy," she chuckled.
"It's one hundred percent pure muscle," Lofo murmured back, "Let this be a lesson for you."
"You want me to enter the gym with you? My dad would kill me."
"It does get pretty lonely without my kitty cat being there."
"I told you not to call me that."
She gently struck his arm and giggled.
"I'm sorry… kitty cat,"
"I'll forgive you this time, mortal… but you'll have to do something for me later…"
"Oh, my precious goddess, you know I would do anything for you," Lofo responded with exaggerated devotion, causing them both to erupt in laughter.
Their scene wasn't easy to ignore, especially to Rod, who walked a few paces behind them alongside Oliver and Alf. The doctor glanced at his face and could tell something was off.
"Alright, you've had that face all morning," Oliver probed, "Does it really bother you that those two are together?"
Rod looked at him and sighed.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't want her to get closer to the government and their problems. Being with Lofo is a one-way trip to work for Alex in the future."
His voice was imbued with the weariness of his own past, entangled in the morally ambiguous affairs of the government.
"Ah, come on, Rod, working for her isn't that bad," Oliver responded, "I practically live under her roof; she's great!"
"I can attest to that," Alf added with paternal pride, "And even still, I am proud to say that Lofo is an efficient young adult. He is coherent in our study sessions; he practices mana control every day to great effect, and always scores good grades. He is a great option for Catra to marry and procreate with."
"That's not the problem…" Rod continued in a serious tone, "I just… want her to do what she really wants, not be sucked into the political aspect of it all, just like I was."
After speaking, the Gun Hero walked farther away from them. The doctor and the machine quietly stared before resuming their own conversation.
"Maybe it's more about how things are run? I do think some of Alex's decisions have come to bite us in the back," Oliver said.
"Well, it is natural for flawed creatures like humans. That's why she has me," Alf stated with self-assurance, "I do most of the work."
"Wait, does that mean it's partially your fault?"
"No. I am to blame for a lot of the good she has done, and only the good."
"Right…"
Rod heard their chatter drift behind him, desperately trying to ignore it. He lifted his hand and looked at his wedding ring again…
The sight of it dragged his mind back to a memory from long ago: A sunset… A vibrant splash of orange and purple, and the familiar slope of a hill where he and Elena shared their first date.
Horrible was the only word he could use for the raw emotion that now consumed him.
He was ripped back to the present with a jarring jolt, and looked up at the empty sky… Even if the sight was beautiful, it forced the man's mind to imagine three words that haunted his dreams.
"I love you."
They echoed in the depths of his soul, trying to escape the oppressive darkness. And the last thing he did was recall one singular phrase he told himself every single day… like a constant reminder of his perceived reality:
"You're a Monster."