Sequel to Comforts and Joys
This is a somewhat sequel to an earlier Holiday based fic Comfort and Joys. I hope that you enjoy. Set in the comicsverse (slight AU). Shan/Kitty forever.
There are some things which shouldn’t be taken on face value. Even if it is the holidays. It had been a year now, and still they lived near each other in Chicago. Shan had moved to another apartment, one with more space for her little brother and sister. Shan’s departure had left Kitty to her own devices, something which she had found both the upside and downside too relatively quickly. Winter had fallen again and snow had begun to fall. It was at this time last year that Kitty had first noticed how available Shan had been for her, and how Shan had been everything Kitty needed the other woman to be. Shan had been the listener when Kitty needed to rant, Shan had been the comforter when Kitty sobbed, Shan had been the warm plate of food when Kitty was too tired to cook.
With Shan not able to be there for Kitty every day, she had forced herself to wake up in the mornings and ingest the herbal tea. Kitty had lost coffee because of the special tea Shan had introduced. Kitty was never able to do it quite the same way Shan had, however Shan had the advantage of living in a culture where such things were learned. Kitty envied the subtle grace which Shan had, something that even with all of Kitty’s training in the Martial Arts she had never managed to have. Shan seemed to move effortlessly, seemed to be able to be graceful under fire, not letting the hardship of the situation effect her movement, her poise, her inner strength.
Kitty moved over to the small electric stove in her apartment and cursed softly. Now she knew how Shan must have felt last year, with so much to prepare for and so little space to do it in. Granted, Kitty was not the cook Shan was, however Kitty knew how to make a few things very well. Kitty had decided to reciprocate the favor of that holiday meal which had brought her so much comfort. She stood in the kitchen ingredients at hand and recipe near by. Shan had prepared a traditional Vietnamese dish. Kitty had responded in kind, except Kitty didn’t want to take the time necessary to do Borscht or any of the other Russian dishes her Babushka had shown her all those years ago. So Kitty had decided on matzos ball soup and Rueben sandwiches.
However, even though she was in the dangerous place of the kitchen, Kitty had donned a nice knee length white skirt, a light pink blouse, and a darker pink woolen sweater. Kitty had even taken time to pull her hair back into a ponytail and braid it. She hadn’t been able to explain to herself why she was doing these things. Shan had seen her wearing worse, and although Kitty was neat, she was rarely this meticulous about her appearance, especially in front of a woman who was fast becoming her best friend.
Kitty sighed gently, she knew, or at least guessed how Shan felt about her. Kitty had been in a similar position once or twice in her life. Crushes were such delicate things, and Kitty felt like she might be leading Shan on by wearing such nice garb. All the while, Kitty’s body went through the motion of preparing the soup and cutting the bread for the sandwiches.
The apartment was dark, partly a result of the snowfall and partly a result of poor design. In one corner sat the Menorah with two candles lit. Hanukah had fallen before Christmas this year. Ironically enough, the last night of Hanukah was to be Christmas Eve. Kitty couldn’t tell if there was any sort of significance in this, but that wasn’t her job. She wasn’t studying to be a theology major.
The preparations went smoothly enough. Kitty had just finished putting the tooth pick in the second Rueben when the buzzer from the front hall let her know she had a visitor. Kitty couldn’t help but smile. She walked over to the com and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. “What’d ya want?” Kitty said, putting on her best “Jewish Mother” voice. Kitty could here Shan chuckle.
“You promised matzos ball soup, don’t you remember?” Shan replied, trying to imitate Kitty’s tone, and failing. However it made Kitty laugh and that was enough for Shan to begin giggling anew. Kitty hit the “door open” button on the com link. Time was of the essence now and Kitty moved as fast as possible, pouring two small bowls of soup, lighting candles, and putting the sandwiches next to the soup plate. Only one thing was missing from the equation. Kitty moved over to her radio and punched the power button. There was the obligatory static as Kitty searched for a channel and then rested on the local station that had become all holiday music. The station had just begun playing “Ave Maria”. Even though she was Jewish, Kitty could appreciate the simple beauty of this song, and the skill required to sing it.
Kitty’s doorbell rang and Kitty threw off her apron. She moved as dignified as she possibly could given the situation. Kitty opened the door to a bit of a shock. Shan had chosen to wear a floor length black skirt, dark blue tank top with rhinestones sown in on the area above the bust, and an old black Denham jacket. Shan’s hair was let down, framing her face. Kitty moved aside and closed the door after her. For a moment there was only the silence. The singer reached for a note with, “Oro pro nobis”. Shan leaned in, and Kitty found herself reciprocating the gesture. Their lips brushed together in a light kiss. Kitty forgot Piotr, Peter, Douglas, Douglock, any man she had ever felt for. This was more pure, more beautiful, and far more real than anything that had come before. Kitty deepened the kiss slightly as the soprano reached for another note.
Outside, snow began to fall, and Shan wrapped her arms around Kitty. There was only the beauty of the song and the snow and the moment.
There are some things which shouldn’t be taken on face value. Even if it is the holidays. It had been a year now, and still they lived near each other in Chicago. Shan had moved to another apartment, one with more space for her little brother and sister. Shan’s departure had left Kitty to her own devices, something which she had found both the upside and downside too relatively quickly. Winter had fallen again and snow had begun to fall. It was at this time last year that Kitty had first noticed how available Shan had been for her, and how Shan had been everything Kitty needed the other woman to be. Shan had been the listener when Kitty needed to rant, Shan had been the comforter when Kitty sobbed, Shan had been the warm plate of food when Kitty was too tired to cook.
With Shan not able to be there for Kitty every day, she had forced herself to wake up in the mornings and ingest the herbal tea. Kitty had lost coffee because of the special tea Shan had introduced. Kitty was never able to do it quite the same way Shan had, however Shan had the advantage of living in a culture where such things were learned. Kitty envied the subtle grace which Shan had, something that even with all of Kitty’s training in the Martial Arts she had never managed to have. Shan seemed to move effortlessly, seemed to be able to be graceful under fire, not letting the hardship of the situation effect her movement, her poise, her inner strength.
Kitty moved over to the small electric stove in her apartment and cursed softly. Now she knew how Shan must have felt last year, with so much to prepare for and so little space to do it in. Granted, Kitty was not the cook Shan was, however Kitty knew how to make a few things very well. Kitty had decided to reciprocate the favor of that holiday meal which had brought her so much comfort. She stood in the kitchen ingredients at hand and recipe near by. Shan had prepared a traditional Vietnamese dish. Kitty had responded in kind, except Kitty didn’t want to take the time necessary to do Borscht or any of the other Russian dishes her Babushka had shown her all those years ago. So Kitty had decided on matzos ball soup and Rueben sandwiches.
However, even though she was in the dangerous place of the kitchen, Kitty had donned a nice knee length white skirt, a light pink blouse, and a darker pink woolen sweater. Kitty had even taken time to pull her hair back into a ponytail and braid it. She hadn’t been able to explain to herself why she was doing these things. Shan had seen her wearing worse, and although Kitty was neat, she was rarely this meticulous about her appearance, especially in front of a woman who was fast becoming her best friend.
Kitty sighed gently, she knew, or at least guessed how Shan felt about her. Kitty had been in a similar position once or twice in her life. Crushes were such delicate things, and Kitty felt like she might be leading Shan on by wearing such nice garb. All the while, Kitty’s body went through the motion of preparing the soup and cutting the bread for the sandwiches.
The apartment was dark, partly a result of the snowfall and partly a result of poor design. In one corner sat the Menorah with two candles lit. Hanukah had fallen before Christmas this year. Ironically enough, the last night of Hanukah was to be Christmas Eve. Kitty couldn’t tell if there was any sort of significance in this, but that wasn’t her job. She wasn’t studying to be a theology major.
The preparations went smoothly enough. Kitty had just finished putting the tooth pick in the second Rueben when the buzzer from the front hall let her know she had a visitor. Kitty couldn’t help but smile. She walked over to the com and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. “What’d ya want?” Kitty said, putting on her best “Jewish Mother” voice. Kitty could here Shan chuckle.
“You promised matzos ball soup, don’t you remember?” Shan replied, trying to imitate Kitty’s tone, and failing. However it made Kitty laugh and that was enough for Shan to begin giggling anew. Kitty hit the “door open” button on the com link. Time was of the essence now and Kitty moved as fast as possible, pouring two small bowls of soup, lighting candles, and putting the sandwiches next to the soup plate. Only one thing was missing from the equation. Kitty moved over to her radio and punched the power button. There was the obligatory static as Kitty searched for a channel and then rested on the local station that had become all holiday music. The station had just begun playing “Ave Maria”. Even though she was Jewish, Kitty could appreciate the simple beauty of this song, and the skill required to sing it.
Kitty’s doorbell rang and Kitty threw off her apron. She moved as dignified as she possibly could given the situation. Kitty opened the door to a bit of a shock. Shan had chosen to wear a floor length black skirt, dark blue tank top with rhinestones sown in on the area above the bust, and an old black Denham jacket. Shan’s hair was let down, framing her face. Kitty moved aside and closed the door after her. For a moment there was only the silence. The singer reached for a note with, “Oro pro nobis”. Shan leaned in, and Kitty found herself reciprocating the gesture. Their lips brushed together in a light kiss. Kitty forgot Piotr, Peter, Douglas, Douglock, any man she had ever felt for. This was more pure, more beautiful, and far more real than anything that had come before. Kitty deepened the kiss slightly as the soprano reached for another note.
Outside, snow began to fall, and Shan wrapped her arms around Kitty. There was only the beauty of the song and the snow and the moment.