Chapter Text
When Rythian first saw her she was laughing. Punching Lalna in the arm with a bright smile on her face. The look of the flux etched into the skin of her face and bled into the clothes she was wearing. Rythian wondered, why didn't she hid it? Her abmormality? Her... disease.
He tried to stay away from them after that. After all Lalna and him weren't really the best of friends. But there were instances when her voice over the coms became a bit too loud and he'd glance over and the ice around his heart would melt just a little.
And then the Hats caused a scuffle. Something about stealing things from the community chests, hoarding materials, and word had surfaced there would be domination of their world at their hand. That was when Rythian saw the passion. Stripping stood in front of the Hats, flanked by Benji both their chests puffed out like wild animals trying to seem bigger than they were. Sjin and Hannah had hid, not wanting to be a part of the scuffle. Lalna had stood against the wall with his head down wanting to just get the argument over with.
But Kim. She didn't give in. She stomped right up to Strippin head held high sword clutched in hand with a fire in her purple and brown eyes. Strippin threatened her with statements. "You better get out of my face before I bury my cleaver in your head."
Kim hadn't even flinched, "You want to take this to the arena mate? Cause if I have to kill you I will." She said with a coldness that burned the ears of the three Hat boys. Rythian had seen Trott grip Smith's jacket sleeve tighter.
And so they took it to the arena Kim taking a stance with just her sword and Strippin with just his cleaver. Rythian knew from the start Strippin didn't have a chance. Kim was smart, agile, tiny enough for you to misjudge her strength. Strippin relied on brute force, Kim had hoped he would. The fight didn't last more than five minutes and Strippin was thrown down the death hole in the middle, hitting the ground with a crack.
He respawned with a curse and a begrudging respect for the tiny fighter. From the arena while she clutched her sword she glared up at Hat Films with a promise of death in her eyes. Needless to say, after that arena fight stuff stopped dissappearing from the community chests and the Hat boys scheming went down.
And that was when Rythian realized just how much he liked Kim.