Awakening (a kotlc story)

Part 21: Keefe takes a ride on an emotional rollercoaster

Keefe stormed into the Healing Center, Sophie trying to follow him.
"Keefe, I'm sorry!"
"I just-"
"I am so so sorry!"
"You weren't supposed to find out like this!" Keefe whirled around, about to yell at Sophie. How could she? But then he saw the despair on her face and felt the guilt practically radiating off of her. He softened, and his anger melted away. He knew she genuinely was sorry. She regretted not telling him. It still hurt. But he wasn't angry.
"How could you not tell me?" he asked.
"I just- you- you became so angry at yourself after you found out she was evil. Before I mean."
"But she's my mom. I deserved to know."
"Yes, but...you always seemed to blame yourself for not knowing she was so...evil, and after that, you started blaming yourself for everything involving her. I wanted you to be happy. But this was definitely the wrong way. I should have-" her voice cracked, and she bit her lip. "I'm a horrible friend."
"No. You're not." Keefe sighed. Her reasons made sense. It was messed up...he understood why she had done it. He knew she was being honest. Even now, questions were racing through his head about his mom. Had he known she was evil? How evil was she? Would he be evil? What if- what if he used his new power badly by accident? Controlling people could not be good. "I understand why you did it. It still hurts but...can you just answer this question for me?" She nodded. "Do you think my mom has any good in her? So she could maybe have a good reason for doing the things she did?" Sophie hesitated.
"I think so. Maybe?" she said.
"Ok. Thanks. I- I need some alone time," he said, his voice cracking.
"Ok," Sophie said, hesitating, and left. Keefe slumped down into a chair.
Her answer was a lie.

Keefe sat there for a long time. He felt empty inside. Sophie didn't think his mom had any good in her. Not one bit. He could feel how opposed she was to lying about it. And so far, Sophie seemed like a pretty forgiving person. His mom must be really horrible. Abruptly, the door slammed open. Zyfira walked in.
"Hi!" she said. "Are...you okay?" She walked over and sat in the chair next to him.
"Yeah... it's just...I- um- didn't know Lady Gisela was my mom? So finding that out was kinda...surprising? I don't know, it's just, kinda difficult to find out that everyone has been hiding the fact that a supervillain is my mother from me."
"You didn't know? That must have been shocking."
"You think?"
"I know exactly how you feel. Discovering someone...close to you is bad? It is not fun." She was telling the truth. Keefe was about to ask what she was talking about when he noticed her bloodshot eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She smiled.
"I'm fine. I talked with Fitz...you know? About Alvar?" Keefe's eyes widened. That was not what he had been expecting. He felt like a horrible friend for not checking on Fitz. "And the fact that I am going to be...living with the Vackers?"
"Living with the Vackers?" he repeated in disbelief.
"Anyway," she continued, avoiding the question. "It brought up some...past stuff for me. I might have cried a little. We both did," she admitted. She got up and grabbed something off her bed. It was...a stuffed boobrie? It had very long eyelashes, a bright yellow mohawk, and a pink polka dot scarf.
"What is that?" Keefe asked, biting his lip to hold in laughter. Zyfira glared at him.
"Elwin gave it to me. You can't say anything, Mr. Stuffed Gulon!"
"First of all, do not insult Miss Stinkbottom. And also that's different! At least it isn't a-" he snorted. Oh, to think of all the jokes he could make about this.
"Her name is Mademoiselle Fancypants!"
"You are SO gonna regret letting me know about this!" Keefe grabbed his Imparter and hailed Fitz. If there was one thing he knew, it was that humor could make people feel better. At the cost of other people's pride and dignity, but it was worth it.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" Zyfira fumed.
"Hello, Fitz. I thought you might want to know about this." He turned the Imparter on Zyfira. Her hands were empty.
"What?!" Keefe exclaimed. "Where is it?" Zyfira smirked at him.
"Huh?" Fitz said. "Keefe, why did you hail me?"
"You have to believe me! It was right there. She was holding it!"
"Show him Mademoiselle Fancypants,"  Keefe said. A strange look came over Zyfira's face, and suddenly Mademoiselle Fancypants dropped into her arms.
"Is that...a STUFFED BOOBRIE?" Fitz yelled. "HAHAHAHA! WHO HAS A STUFFED BOOBRIE? AND ITS NAME IS- IS- MADEMOISELLE FANCYPANTS?" HAHAHAHA," Zyfira fumed.
"You cheater!" she jokingly said to Keefe. "You used your power on me!"
"I- I did?" Keefe asked, laughter forgotten. How could he not have realized?
"Yeah. And gave Fitz a bunch of ammunition." Zyfira playfully shook her head. Keefe could hear Fitz still laughing in the background. The Imparter, however, just showed the ceiling. Fitz was laughing so hard, he had fallen to the ground. Keefe stopped hailing him. It was clear he wouldn't be getting up for a while.
"I- I'm sorry," Keefe said.
"You should be! The payback you will get," she gleefully began rubbing her hands together. "I'm thinking something involving...imp farts? No, not strong enough. Gulon poop?" Keefe gulped. He was going to have to watch out. Between Zyfira and Ro, he would probably be covered in ogre created microbes and some sort of awful smell for the rest of his life.
"You're not mad at me?" Keefe asked. A look of realization came over Zyfira's face.
"I'm not actually mad. You obviously didn't mean to, and besides, it's not like anyone got hurt." She smiled at him. "Other than Mademoiselle Fancypant's sense of pride." Keefe smiled. He hadn't hurt anyone. Zyfira suddenly smiled.
"Keefe? Were you talking to Sophie earlier?"
"Yeah..."
"Did you forgive her?"
"Yes..."
Zyfira breathed a sigh of...relief and muttered something that sounded like,
"Ship in good shape," That was weird.
"Why? Did Sophie say something to you?" he asked anxiously. Uh oh. Zyfira smirked.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Keefe lied.
"Mmhhmmmm," Zyfira raised her eyebrows. "Or maybe someone has an eensy-weensy crush on Sophie?" She smirked. Keefe turned tomato-red.
"No!" he protested.
"Are you sure? Cause I have only been here for a little bit, and there have been loads of amount of mooning glances and deep conversations between you two."
"Maybe just a little?" Keefe admitted. Zyfira grinned.
"Can I name your child? Or at least be a bridesmaid at your wedding?" Keefe glared at her.
"No," he said.
"Please?"
"No!"
"Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
"Zyfira!"
"I SHIP IT!"