Scott Pilgrim, Kim/Knives, G
Title: The Start of Something New
Series: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Pairing: Kim Pine/Knives Chau
Rating: G
Summary: Back in Toronto for summer break after her Sophomore year, Knives tries to get everyone together, but when that falls through she ends up hanging out with Kim. Post-series!comicverse.
A/N: Hey, the game made me ship it, don't blame me XD
Knives sighed, poking absently at the now-cold stack of half-eaten nachos on her plate, a mere fragment of the appetizers that occupied the rest of the booth's table. As obnoxiously loud as Sneaky Dee's had been a few years ago, it felt moreso now, and while the bar made her a bit uncomfortable, well... she didn't really know any other places they could've all hung out at. Or at least, that had been the plan...
"Hey, sorry I'm... oh."
Looking up, Knives had hoped to see Stephen, or maybe Scott, even Ramona, certain that they would've come after all. Instead Kim stood right beside the booth, windbreaker half-off and a little more serious (somehow) than before, but it was still someone, and at this point Knives was just glad for that. Without the slightest bit of warning, Knives practically leapt out of the booth and to the redhead's chagrin instantly hugged her tight around the waist.
"Kim! It's so good to see you!"
"Uh... nice to see you too," Kim managed, awkwardly craning her restrained arms just enough to lightly tap the smaller girl's back in an approximation of a hug. When Knives finally released her, she glanced at the empty table full of uneaten food, then back to her. "...Don't tell me I'm the only one who came?"
"I-it's not like that," Knives replied a little defensively, but her downcast expression betrayed her disappointment. "It... was kind of a last-minute thing, and I mean Stephen said he might be busy with Joseph and Wallace had a last-minute date and Scott and Ramona--"
"...off doing whatever-it-is-goes-on in that 'subspace highway' thing," Kim finished, exasperated. She tossed her coat into the corner of the booth, then took a seat opposite Knives. "Geez, you're only here a couple days, right? If I can rearrange my schedule to fit you in I don't see why no one else can."
In spite of herself, Knives smiled. She'd worried that maybe things had changed too much since she'd been home last, but if nothing else the former Sex Bob-Omb drummer was just as blunt as ever. It was kind of reassuring, to be honest.
"Well, I tell you what-- since you've already got all this food..." at that the redhead grabbed a handful of nachos and put them on one of the smaller plates, "...what do you say we do something together?"
Knives felt her eyes widen a bit at the offer-- she'd always thought Kim's status as 'girl drummer' instantly made her cool, but now that she thought about it they'd never really hung out together; it had always been Scott or The Band As A Whole or them Plus Ramona, but never just them. Maybe this was a chance to catch up, one-on-one.
"Yeah, why not? I mean, if it's no big deal..."
"Nah, no problem at all. But first, a couple drinks before dinner."
"Um," Knives began uncertainly, "I-I'm only 20 still, and..."
"Come on, it's not like I haven't seen you wasted before," Kim teased, a rare smile quirking at the edge of her lips. "Call it an extra-late birthday present on me."
---
If there was one thing Knives didn't miss about Toronto, it was that it even in the summer the occasional cold-snap could make it feel like early November. The streetlamps were shining brightly against the inky black sky when she and Kim finally left the arcade, lighthearted postgame trash-talk cut short by bursts of wickedly cold air.
"Damn, it's freezing!" Kim grumbled, clutching her hands under her arms as if to shield herself from the elements. Even with her windbreaker, she was still dressed more warmly than Knives, who herself was busy rubbing her hands together in a vain attempt to ward off frostbite.
"N-no kidding... it w-was so nice out t-t-today, I figured I w-wouldn't need a c-c-coat..."
"Well, shitty weather aside," Kim admitted with a smile, "...This was fun. Even if you did get lucky more than a few times."
"Ahh, 'luck,' of c-c-course," Knives shot back through chattering teeth. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." Kim rolled her eyes overdramatically, and the younger girl couldn't help but grin. To be honest, she hadn't really seen herself hanging out with Kim alone before but... she'd really had fun with her. It was kind of hard to stop smiling, somehow.
They were halfway back to the Chau residence when Knives began to break pace, moving a little faster as the wind picked up, practically shivering in her own skin. She wanted to get home right away, curl up in bed with a nice cup of...
"For... Geez, here. Take it."
Before Knives could process it, Kim's windbreaker was plopped unceremoniously over her shoulders, the redhead looking at her with an expression that plainly said 'I-will-not-take-no-for-an-answer,' and so she awkwardly pulled it a little tighter around herself.
"But what about..."
Don't worry," Kim deadpanned. "I think you need it more than me anyway." She was clearly still freezing her ass off, but the little smirk she gave as if it was all no big deal... Knives turned away, something in her stomach twisting in a not-entirely-unpleasant way, suddenly aware that the coat she now wore was still a little warm.
"So..." Knives began, eager to focus on something else (why was something about this making her... was 'uncomfortable' the right word?), "Y-you said you had to rearrange your schedule for me... was it something really important?" Kim was quiet for a while before answering, her face unreadable as she responded.
"Nothing really... I had a date, that's all, but it can wait." Knives felt a pang of guilt at the thought, but resisted the urge to apologize; Kim would've just shrugged it off.
"Um... is it someone I know? Is there some new guy that--"
"Can we not get into this?" Kim's voice was harsh for a moment, but quickly softened. "...Sorry, it's just... This isn't... really the type of person I've dated before, and it's all... I'm just trying to figure some things out. It's kind of weird for me and I...haven't really told anyone yet. That's all." Knives nodded, understanding even if she didn't quite get it. Maybe this was some really weird guy or something, but it wasn't her place to tell Kim if she knew what she was doing.
"What about you, then?" Kim pondered aloud, turning her gaze back to Knives. "College going okay?"
"Well, I-I guess... Classes aren't too bad, but... I dunno. I mean, I guess my mom and dad had been pressuring me about getting into a good school, getting good grades for so long that... I kind of feel like I'm losing focus." Kim laughed a little at that, but to Knives' surprise the sound lacked any of her usual snarkiness. It was warm, genuine, and the smile that accompanied it made a little beat skip in her chest. (What was wrong with her? Had she drunk too much after all?)
"Knives, don't worry. Everyone feels that way the first two years. And you're a good kid-- I'm sure you're gonna do just fine." Even if she'd heard it a thousand times from teachers and students and her parents, hearing those words from someone she actually considered a friend... it helped far more than she'd expected.
"...Really?"
"Yeah. And know something else?"
"Hmm?"
"You're still way too good for Scott." They both laughed a little at that, and without even thinking about it Knives reached out to hug her.
Or she'd meant to anyway, but then it got cold all of a sudden and then her hands were around Kim's arm, her body huddled close against the meteorological onslaught. Kim seemed to tense up at that moment, and Knives could feel her face burning with embarassment already, but to her own confusion the redhead said nothing, and they stayed like that the rest of the way to Knives' house.
---
"Here we are."
Knives hadn't realized they were already on the front porch until Kim had broken the silence, her voice a little oddly strained and her grip loosening reluctantly as she let go of Kim's arm. Her parents would probably be waiting up on her, she figured.
"Um... I know I'd meant for this to be a group thing and all, but... I had alot of fun tonight, Kim. I'm really glad you came."
"Hey, I told you it was no big deal," Kim shrugged. "I... did too, actually." She expected Kim to leave, to offer a wave-of-the-hand and head off towards the bus that would take her back home, but the older girl just stood there a while, as if waiting to make sure she got inside.
Knives felt keenly aware, somehow, of how close Kim was to her, red bangs twirling in the wind and pale skin punctuated by a smattering of freckles. She hadn't really considered it before, but Kim was... well, she was cute. Really cute, the more she thought about it.
Why was it taking so long to find her keys?
After what felt like an eternity (and Kim's closeness starting to give her that odd sense of discomfort again), she found the house key, awkwardly fumbling for a moment before the door clicked open.
"Well, uh, I'd better get inside, I'm freezing out he--"
Kim was a little closer now, and for whatever reason Knives paused, looking up just a bit to meet her friend's unreadable face. They stood like that for a while, as if waiting on.... well, Knives certainly wasn't sure.
"You still tipsy?"
"...A little," Knives admitted in a mumble, her voice small and heart pounding in her chest like a jackhammer. "...Are you?"
"No. Not at all."
She was close now-- somehow too close-- and despite herself Knives felt something in her chest tighten, anticipating something she wasn't quite sure of...
"...Later."
And then Kim was off without a stop, leaving Knives a little shaken and quietly blaming the drinks for whatever had just gone through her head.
Series: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Pairing: Kim Pine/Knives Chau
Rating: G
Summary: Back in Toronto for summer break after her Sophomore year, Knives tries to get everyone together, but when that falls through she ends up hanging out with Kim. Post-series!comicverse.
A/N: Hey, the game made me ship it, don't blame me XD
Knives sighed, poking absently at the now-cold stack of half-eaten nachos on her plate, a mere fragment of the appetizers that occupied the rest of the booth's table. As obnoxiously loud as Sneaky Dee's had been a few years ago, it felt moreso now, and while the bar made her a bit uncomfortable, well... she didn't really know any other places they could've all hung out at. Or at least, that had been the plan...
"Hey, sorry I'm... oh."
Looking up, Knives had hoped to see Stephen, or maybe Scott, even Ramona, certain that they would've come after all. Instead Kim stood right beside the booth, windbreaker half-off and a little more serious (somehow) than before, but it was still someone, and at this point Knives was just glad for that. Without the slightest bit of warning, Knives practically leapt out of the booth and to the redhead's chagrin instantly hugged her tight around the waist.
"Kim! It's so good to see you!"
"Uh... nice to see you too," Kim managed, awkwardly craning her restrained arms just enough to lightly tap the smaller girl's back in an approximation of a hug. When Knives finally released her, she glanced at the empty table full of uneaten food, then back to her. "...Don't tell me I'm the only one who came?"
"I-it's not like that," Knives replied a little defensively, but her downcast expression betrayed her disappointment. "It... was kind of a last-minute thing, and I mean Stephen said he might be busy with Joseph and Wallace had a last-minute date and Scott and Ramona--"
"...off doing whatever-it-is-goes-on in that 'subspace highway' thing," Kim finished, exasperated. She tossed her coat into the corner of the booth, then took a seat opposite Knives. "Geez, you're only here a couple days, right? If I can rearrange my schedule to fit you in I don't see why no one else can."
In spite of herself, Knives smiled. She'd worried that maybe things had changed too much since she'd been home last, but if nothing else the former Sex Bob-Omb drummer was just as blunt as ever. It was kind of reassuring, to be honest.
"Well, I tell you what-- since you've already got all this food..." at that the redhead grabbed a handful of nachos and put them on one of the smaller plates, "...what do you say we do something together?"
Knives felt her eyes widen a bit at the offer-- she'd always thought Kim's status as 'girl drummer' instantly made her cool, but now that she thought about it they'd never really hung out together; it had always been Scott or The Band As A Whole or them Plus Ramona, but never just them. Maybe this was a chance to catch up, one-on-one.
"Yeah, why not? I mean, if it's no big deal..."
"Nah, no problem at all. But first, a couple drinks before dinner."
"Um," Knives began uncertainly, "I-I'm only 20 still, and..."
"Come on, it's not like I haven't seen you wasted before," Kim teased, a rare smile quirking at the edge of her lips. "Call it an extra-late birthday present on me."
---
If there was one thing Knives didn't miss about Toronto, it was that it even in the summer the occasional cold-snap could make it feel like early November. The streetlamps were shining brightly against the inky black sky when she and Kim finally left the arcade, lighthearted postgame trash-talk cut short by bursts of wickedly cold air.
"Damn, it's freezing!" Kim grumbled, clutching her hands under her arms as if to shield herself from the elements. Even with her windbreaker, she was still dressed more warmly than Knives, who herself was busy rubbing her hands together in a vain attempt to ward off frostbite.
"N-no kidding... it w-was so nice out t-t-today, I figured I w-wouldn't need a c-c-coat..."
"Well, shitty weather aside," Kim admitted with a smile, "...This was fun. Even if you did get lucky more than a few times."
"Ahh, 'luck,' of c-c-course," Knives shot back through chattering teeth. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." Kim rolled her eyes overdramatically, and the younger girl couldn't help but grin. To be honest, she hadn't really seen herself hanging out with Kim alone before but... she'd really had fun with her. It was kind of hard to stop smiling, somehow.
They were halfway back to the Chau residence when Knives began to break pace, moving a little faster as the wind picked up, practically shivering in her own skin. She wanted to get home right away, curl up in bed with a nice cup of...
"For... Geez, here. Take it."
Before Knives could process it, Kim's windbreaker was plopped unceremoniously over her shoulders, the redhead looking at her with an expression that plainly said 'I-will-not-take-no-for-an-answer,' and so she awkwardly pulled it a little tighter around herself.
"But what about..."
Don't worry," Kim deadpanned. "I think you need it more than me anyway." She was clearly still freezing her ass off, but the little smirk she gave as if it was all no big deal... Knives turned away, something in her stomach twisting in a not-entirely-unpleasant way, suddenly aware that the coat she now wore was still a little warm.
"So..." Knives began, eager to focus on something else (why was something about this making her... was 'uncomfortable' the right word?), "Y-you said you had to rearrange your schedule for me... was it something really important?" Kim was quiet for a while before answering, her face unreadable as she responded.
"Nothing really... I had a date, that's all, but it can wait." Knives felt a pang of guilt at the thought, but resisted the urge to apologize; Kim would've just shrugged it off.
"Um... is it someone I know? Is there some new guy that--"
"Can we not get into this?" Kim's voice was harsh for a moment, but quickly softened. "...Sorry, it's just... This isn't... really the type of person I've dated before, and it's all... I'm just trying to figure some things out. It's kind of weird for me and I...haven't really told anyone yet. That's all." Knives nodded, understanding even if she didn't quite get it. Maybe this was some really weird guy or something, but it wasn't her place to tell Kim if she knew what she was doing.
"What about you, then?" Kim pondered aloud, turning her gaze back to Knives. "College going okay?"
"Well, I-I guess... Classes aren't too bad, but... I dunno. I mean, I guess my mom and dad had been pressuring me about getting into a good school, getting good grades for so long that... I kind of feel like I'm losing focus." Kim laughed a little at that, but to Knives' surprise the sound lacked any of her usual snarkiness. It was warm, genuine, and the smile that accompanied it made a little beat skip in her chest. (What was wrong with her? Had she drunk too much after all?)
"Knives, don't worry. Everyone feels that way the first two years. And you're a good kid-- I'm sure you're gonna do just fine." Even if she'd heard it a thousand times from teachers and students and her parents, hearing those words from someone she actually considered a friend... it helped far more than she'd expected.
"...Really?"
"Yeah. And know something else?"
"Hmm?"
"You're still way too good for Scott." They both laughed a little at that, and without even thinking about it Knives reached out to hug her.
Or she'd meant to anyway, but then it got cold all of a sudden and then her hands were around Kim's arm, her body huddled close against the meteorological onslaught. Kim seemed to tense up at that moment, and Knives could feel her face burning with embarassment already, but to her own confusion the redhead said nothing, and they stayed like that the rest of the way to Knives' house.
---
"Here we are."
Knives hadn't realized they were already on the front porch until Kim had broken the silence, her voice a little oddly strained and her grip loosening reluctantly as she let go of Kim's arm. Her parents would probably be waiting up on her, she figured.
"Um... I know I'd meant for this to be a group thing and all, but... I had alot of fun tonight, Kim. I'm really glad you came."
"Hey, I told you it was no big deal," Kim shrugged. "I... did too, actually." She expected Kim to leave, to offer a wave-of-the-hand and head off towards the bus that would take her back home, but the older girl just stood there a while, as if waiting to make sure she got inside.
Knives felt keenly aware, somehow, of how close Kim was to her, red bangs twirling in the wind and pale skin punctuated by a smattering of freckles. She hadn't really considered it before, but Kim was... well, she was cute. Really cute, the more she thought about it.
Why was it taking so long to find her keys?
After what felt like an eternity (and Kim's closeness starting to give her that odd sense of discomfort again), she found the house key, awkwardly fumbling for a moment before the door clicked open.
"Well, uh, I'd better get inside, I'm freezing out he--"
Kim was a little closer now, and for whatever reason Knives paused, looking up just a bit to meet her friend's unreadable face. They stood like that for a while, as if waiting on.... well, Knives certainly wasn't sure.
"You still tipsy?"
"...A little," Knives admitted in a mumble, her voice small and heart pounding in her chest like a jackhammer. "...Are you?"
"No. Not at all."
She was close now-- somehow too close-- and despite herself Knives felt something in her chest tighten, anticipating something she wasn't quite sure of...
"...Later."
And then Kim was off without a stop, leaving Knives a little shaken and quietly blaming the drinks for whatever had just gone through her head.