In which Kim can't not hide her secrets at all
Written for @se-rarepair-day
Feb 2019
Prompt: Waiting/Worth the Wait
Kim grumbled as the yarn twisted between her fingers and snagged on her nails. She pulled abruptly to gather more yarn from the bundle, but the loop slipped from the needles and quickly unraveled her row before she could save it. For every step forward, she felt catapulted backwards.
From outside of her room, she jumped at the sound of the front door swinging open and messily threw her mess under the blanket before swiping a pre-opened magazine. Just in time, she was ready for Jackie to peak in.
“Kim,” she began. “Can I get some help?”
If she got up, then the swatch would fall from her lap. “Can't you do it yourself?”
Jackie frowned, stepping through the entryway to get a better look at her partner, which only made the latter more nervous. “I could, but I'd prefer--”
“Then off you go,” Kim said, waving her hand and looking deeper into pages she’d never read. The shadow of her friend and love casted over her, and she was forced to arch her head back up. “You need something else?”
“I just- I don't understand,” Jackie managed. “Have I done something you don't like? Are you angry at me? You don't sit in the living room with me or stay after lunch with me anymore.” She moved to sit down on the bed, but Kim moved her leg to block her. “Kim,” she started again, but didn't get much further.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just want some alone time.”
She paused, unsure of whether to accept the answer, but left anyway. “I see,” Jackie said curtly. “As long as we’re ok, right?”
It was only then when their eyes met. “Yeah, we are. I promise,” Kim assured, but still making no motion to get up.
Once there was no one else around, she breathed out a sigh she didn't know she was holding. She threw the tangled mess into her closet and went back to her laptop where she rewatched the knitting videos she had on incognito.
Jackie came out of her room at 3 in the morning. Blinking bearily, she spied light coming from underneath Kim’s door. She thought it was rare for her to be up past 10pm during any night, though she couldn’t judge; Jackie was usually in bed by 9:30.
After tripping on the way to the bathroom and back, she knocked softly to Kim and fiddled with the knob just enough to realize that it was locked. She tapped louder, barely registering the frantic shuffling coming from the other side. By the time Kim came to open up, Jackie was crossing her arms, wide awake.
“What are you doing up?” Her voice struggled to not sound accusatory, but from the way Kim responded, Jackie didn’t succeed.
“What’s it to you?”
She pushed into the room, knocking the other aside. “Answer me,” Jackie demanded, before noticing just how tired Kim was. Dark circles were forming under her eyes and exhaustion was etched on her face. All new-forming anger left as quickly as it came. “Your fingers… they’re pink.” No wonder it was so easy to come in.
“I just couldn’t sleep.” Kim started to turn away, but it was clear that she was suppressing a yawn.
“Are you sure?” she insisted. “Is that really all?”
“Yes, yes. I’m fine, I promise.”
“And,” Jackie tried one last time, “we’re fine, too, right?”
Kim looked confused. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we be?”
As much as she could, Jackie smiled softly, kissing Kim’s cheek and wishing her good night. Though not verbally, she got the answer she needed. Kim could hardly keep secrets, at least from her, so if she was that sure that there was nothing wrong, then there was nothing.
Jackie clicked the door shut to leave her at peace.
“There you are,” Jackie called out, patting the sofa cushion beside her.
Kim held onto the gift bag behind her back carefully, not knowing how to face her partner after nearly a week of isolation. Gritting her teeth, she sat where she was directed and handed over the bag unceremoniously.
As awkwardly as she felt, she said a bit too loudly, “Happy 500th Day.”
Jackie took it, though not without question. “Happy what?”
“500th Day. It’s our 500th day of dating. Today.”
Jackie bursted out with laughter, unable to hold back her amusement. “This is what you were hiding this whole time? Kim, I can’t believe you! You had me worried sick for the past two weeks.”
“It was a surprise!” she stammered, finally collapsing onto Jackie’s lap while the other swiftly moved the present from harm’s way. “Do have any idea how nosey you are?”
Scoffing, she said, “Imagine having a crazy S.O. like you to deal with everyday. You’re just lucky I like you well enough to tolerate it.”
“Like?” Kim peered. “Just like?”
“You don’t earn the ‘love’ word until I see what you’ve been doing.”
Kim pushed off her legs to give her room to open the bag. From the depths, Jackie pulled out a long, thick scarf. Its ombre red stitches caught her attention immediately, if not the color, then the nature of how it was made. The loops were clearly unpracticed from one end, and as her eyes trailed downwards, the holes became less apparent and the tension more even. The final few inches of rows were nothing less than perfection.
Jackie wrapped it around her neck and inhaled deeply.
She hid her blush under the scarf and said, “It smells like your sweat.”
Kim screeched and reached to pull it back, but Jackie assured her that it was worth the wait.
An unfortunate side effect of Jackie's weapon abilities is that she tends to set things on fire when she's drunk, so Kim has to keep her away from anything flammable. But since Jackie is an adorable, giggly drunk, Kim thinks that it's worth the effort.
