after unlocked: a sokeefe fanfic

Chapter 10-Keefe

"Hi."

Just one word.

One simple word.

From the girl he was hiding from.

From the girl standing in front of him.

Two yards away.

Blonde hair, falling just above her waist.

And those brown eyes, the golden specks dulled.

Hidden in the tears.

Sophie Foster.

It was so unexpected that he couldn't stop himself.

"Foster?"

"You're here," Sophie whispered.

Keefe swallowed, making sure that his words wouldn't come out as a command. "You shouldn't be here."

"Yeah, you shouldn't either." Her gaze traveled over him, and he suddenly became self conscious of his appearance. His hair, though styled, was messier than usual and his tunic was wrinkled. He hadn't changed from his pajamas, only put a shirt on.

He took a step back, holding his hands up, and focusing on his every word. "I'm dangerous, Foster. It's not safe around me."

"I don't care."

"You should," he whispered.

"Well I'm not. I'm not scared of my best friend."

Best friend.

One of her best friends.

He didn't deserve to be in that category.

"Keefe." She started, her voice breaking. "Why couldn't you have just come to me? We could've tried something."

"Nothing works."

Sophie tried a smile. It definitely didn't work. "Look, I hate flaunting it, but I am the Moonlark. I am the definition of 'Nothing works.'"

He didn't smile back. "You were able to be fixed. I'm truly Broken, Sophie. I'm pieces of glass scattered across the floor, and no one can fix me. No one can put glass back together. Not even you."

Sadness washed over him.

He hated that emotion.

Especially when it was because of him.

"Keefe."

"Seriously, Foster, you need to leave." He kept his voice low, almost a whisper.

"You're coming," Sophie said.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you!" He tore a hand through his hair. He tried to calm his voice, the instinct in his head. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Keefe." The anguish in her voice nearly broke him. The panic hitting his gut. "You already hurt me. By leaving."

The guilt came in waves.

Left a writhing black hole.

It sucked in his hope, his secret joy at seeing Sophie, everything.

He froze.

Again.

His eyes met hers.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so, so sorry."

Keefe collapsed, his hands covering his face.

He heard Sophie step closer, but he couldn't think.

He did that.

He caused that pain, that hurt.

That grief.

Her hand lingered on his shoulder, but the emotions didn't overpower him.

They were... comforting.

Just like the owner.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, holding him.

"Look. I've given you so many pep talks. But this one is important." She took a deep breath. "Your mom gave you this power. She is a jerk, but she knows you. As much as I hate it, she is your mother. She knows you. And she wouldn't have given you this if she didn't know you could handle it. And yeah, not very reassuring, since it's, you know, your mom, but I believe that you can handle it. And I know you."

He mumbled a reply, mostly unintelligible.

"Keefe, please. I need you back. I need you to come home."

"How'd you find me?" He mumbled.

"Your letter. It said you'd hide like the Black Swan hid me."

They were silent for a count of seven.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

"Why?"

He didn't answer.

"You're going to do the no talking thing again?"

He didn't answer again. She knew him well enough that he didn't have to.

Sophie sighed. "Please come back." She whispered.

Keefe shook his head.

"Please." When he still didn't answer, she shifted, one of her arms moving away from his shoulders. She slipped something around his neck. "Dex made it. It's an ability restrictor. New prototype."

Keefe swallowed. He took the chance. "Does it work?"

Sophie paused. "Yeah."

"Can you... like, enter my mind?"

She nodded, her chin pressed against his hair.
"Please. It works. Just... trust me?"

"I always do," he answered, with a slight falter in his internal voice. "I just don't know how to trust me."

"Try, please."

She pulled back, still grasping his hand, and stood up.

"Fo—" he stopped, releasing a shuddering breath. "Foster?"

Sophie smiled. "It's fine. Try a command."

"I don't want to." He muttered. "If something goes wrong..."

"Nothing will."

"Give... give me your hand?"

Sophie gave him her hand. Keefe shrank back.

"I did it on my own. Not you." She assured him.

He bit his lip. "It works?"

"You tell me." Sophie tilted her head to the side. "Can you feel my emotions?"

He focused on the room.

The atmosphere.

But he couldn't.

All he felt was a bit of humming joy and hope, both of which were his—probably.

"I don't... think so."

"Good." Sophie wrapped her arms around his waist.

He was nonplussed for a moment, but recovered, his arms circling her.

It felt really good.

A/N: I write way too many of these. Also, does this count as a cliffhanger?
I don't think so...?
This will probably be my last update until after Christmas, so if so, Merry Christmas!
Or if you don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays!

Updated: 12-21-2020