KotLC One Shots

"It's Just Us"

WARNING: This chapter contains minor spoilers for Legacy and books before and forgoes mentions of certain things that happened that I wish hadn't happened.

DISCLAIMER:  All characters and locations belong to Shannon Messenger, author of KotLC

    "Hiya Foster," Keefe said, grabbing Sophie's hand and spinning her around.

    Sophie squealed as he moved to peck her cheek.  "Keefe!  Team Valiant will be here any second."

    "So?" Keefe murmured, his lips brushing her ear as petals from the panakes tree fell around them.  He glanced at the pot on the ground, his nose twitching at the scent of starkflower stew in the air.  Then, he gently nudged it aside with his foot as he pulled Sophie closer for a real kiss.

    Sophie turned her head, flushing at the feeling of Keefe's lips against her cheek.  "So, Fitz is coming with them, remember?  Unless you want today to be the day we tell him..."

    Keefe sighed.  "No, it's not the right time yet.  He'd freak."

    "Why do you say that?"  Sophie asked, her forehead creasing. "He's the one that ultimately decided we were over, it doesn't make sense that he would--"

    "Foster, Foster, Foster..."  Keefe whispered, holding their clasped hands in front of his chest.  He leaned down and kissed the top of Sophie's hand.  "Always so adorably oblivious."

    Sophie smiled and pulled back, letting their hands drop.  "I'm not oblivious of anything." she denied.

    Keefe busted out laughing, clutching his sides.  "You... not oblivious... that's a good one."

    "Keefe!"  Sophie stomped her foot and Keefe attempted to stop laughing. 

    After a coughing fit that left him with a wide grin, Keefe sobered up.  "Just how long did it take you to figure out that I was in to you again?"

    "That depends... how long were you in to me?"

    "Since the first day."

    "What?"  Sophie gasped.

    Keefe smirked.  "So, it only took you a few years to realize but you're definitely not oblivious."

    "Why?"

    "Why what?"  Keefe asked, moving to smooth the crease between Sophie's brows.

    "Why were you-- hey Fitz."  Sophie looked around Keefe to find a dashing elf in a red tunic with sparkling teal eyes.

    "Hello Sophie," Fitz said with a crisp accent.  "What's Keefe doing here?  I thought this was a meeting of Team Valiant..."

    "Uh, hate to remind you Fitzy but you're not a Team Valiant member either." Keefe pointed out.  "So I guess the real question is, why is Wonder Boy here?"

    Fitz scowled.  "Wonder Boy?  Really?"

    Keefe shrugged.  "It's accurate and before you go getting too annoyed, remember that I didn't even think of it."

    "Well, it's not like it's an insult."  Dex said, approaching the group from the left.  "What's up?"

    "Don't pretend you ever meant it as a compliment."

    "No, it was meant to be mocking," Dex said matter-of-factly.  "But we're all friends here.  Come on, you knew when you became friends with Keefe that you were in for some teasing.  But just out of curiosity, why'd you call him Wonder Boy, Keefe?"

    "I was just asking why he was at a Team Valiant meeting."  Fitz answered before Keefe could.

    "That's a good question, but if you're gonna ask him that... well, why are you here Fitz?"

    "I'm Sophie's Cognate, obviously."

    "And I'm Sophie's calming serum-- kind of like liquor or morphine in the forbidden cities."  Keefe joked.

    "Seriously, I thought Keefe was on sabbatical."

    "Keefe is here because he wants to be part of the team and so do you."  Sophie told Fitz, placing a hand on his shoulder.  "I thought we should discuss whether you guys could join.  Bronte, Emery, and Alina have agreed to debate it with us, but only if the other members of the team agreed it's the right decision.  There's no point in including more people if it will cause strife," she told Dex, then glanced between Keefe and Fitz.  "No offense."

    Dex nodded.  "I'm all for it, but I don't speak for the rest of the team."

    Sophie smiled at him.  "That's great.  One down, three more to go."

    While they waited for Biana, Stina, and Wylie to arrive, Tam and Lihn showed up with Marella in tow.  "Why am I here?  Isn't this a Team Valiant thing?"  Marella asked grumpily.

    Dex explained to the group what was going on and Marella made a face.  "Okay, so what are we doing here?" she repeated.  Dex looked to Sophie.

    "Well," Sophie started.  "We will potentially initiate two more members-- not Keefe or Fitz necessarily-- so we might be making the case for one of you guys.  I'd like the decision to be made by the entire group, not just Team Valiant but..."

    "So what, one Team Valiant vote counts for two?"  Tam asked.  

    "Something like that."  Sophie agreed.  

    "Well that sounds fun," Stina said, climbing up the hill toward them.  "Let's see which of you guys is going to join the cooler, smarter, council approved task force against the Neverseen."

    "It's not all that," Biana said, materializing beside Fitz.  "Though I do relish the title.  Lady Biana has a certain ring to it, wouldn't you agree brother?"

    "Please, nothing is better than Lord Hunky Hair."  Keefe quipped before Fitz could respond.  He ran his hands through his hair and smirked.

    Sophie smiled at him and he moved to stand next to her, his shoulder brushing hers.  "Are we all here yet?"

    "Yep," Wylie said, coming up behind Lihn who smiled at him. 

    "Good, then we can proceed."  Sophie took a deep breath.  "First things first, who among you would like to join Team Valiant?"

    "I would."  Fitz and Keefe answered together, directly followed by Lihn, then Tam.  Wylie and Marella remained silent, to Sophie's relief.  With Marella's ability and Wylie's father, they were best kept out of the councils sight. 

    "Okay, then I think you should each list your reasons for wishing to join and then we will all vote for the two most applicable for Team Valiant and the team will alone decide through a single challenge who they work best with.  That person will be presented to the council without complaint from anyone, even if they voted them down.  A request will also be made foe the other, but less vehemently.  Understood?"  Sophie looked to each of them in turn, waiting for there nod before moving on.  "All right, applicants.  Follow me."  

    Sophie went to the cliffside and stood at the edge, waiting for the others to form a circle before suggesting that they sit.  "Who would like to go first?"

    "I would!"  Keefe and Fitz said in unison.  Sophie chuckled and gestured to Keefe.  Fitz narrowed his eyes slightly then shook his head, offering a small smile and stepping back.  

    Keefe smirked.  "I would like to start by saying that I think the council is a group of stuffy nobles that have way too much fun sticking their noses where they don't belong while simultaneously ignoring everything important," he took a deep breath and cleared his throat.  "And I don't want to be a part of any group run by them-- but this group is run by Foster... and I have faith in her.  I want to be a part of this team because this is where all the action is gonna be.  This is the place that I'll be able to protect F... friends and help them take down power hungry creeps like the Neverseen," he grinned.  "Including Mommy Dearest, of course.  Let's not forget, even if you don't agree for me to join, I'll get dragged into this anyway.  That aside, I know you have an Empath but, no offense Stina, I can do more than she can.  I can calm panic, get you hyped up for a mission, and even if my abilities were rendered useless, I would run into a fire screaming like a maniac for any one of you.  So... yeah, pick me.  Team Foster-Keefe-and others for the WIN!"

    He stepped back and Sophie beckoned Fitz forward.  "Thank you, Keefe.  Fitz?"

    "I want to be a part of the team because--"

    "Hold up," Dex interrupted.  "If you say, 'because we're cognates' then I vote no, now."

    Fitz's eyebrows scrunched together.  "But we are.  Do you know how incredibly rare--"

    "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Dex waved him off.  "Cognates are rare, bow down to Wonder Boy.  I say, nay.  Let's move on."

    "What?"

    "Come on Dex," Sophie interceded.  "Let him finish.  I'm sure he has other things to offer that benefit the entire team."  Sophie nodded for him to continue.

    "I... I uh..." he cleared his throat.  "Well, I'm a Telepath and I can give a boost of mental energy to anyone, though it's most useful to fellow Telepaths.  I have gotten quite excellent at wielding goblin throwing stars as well as daggers.  Grizel is my body guard and she is highly effective in a fight.  I--"

    "If we're comparing body guards, then Funk Hair definitely wins."  Ro interjected, throwing a knife so close to Fitz's head that it shaved off some off the hair that had grown over his ears.

    He gave her a dirty look and smoothed his hair back.  "I... well, I want to capture Alvar and restore honor to my family so I have incentive.  Oh, and we're cognates, but you all already knew that so... that's all.  Thank you."  Fitz stepped back with another shake of his head.

    Tam stepped forward.  "I want to protect Lihn.  Thank you and good night!" he said before stepping back.

    "Tam..." Lihn said.

    He sighed.  "Okay, so you guys are my friends and I want to protect you too.  I'm not emotionally involved with anyone outside our group which I think is an advantage.  Now, I am not about to list my many attributes like Funky Hair and Wonder Boy, so I'm done here."  Tam shoved Lihn forward and sighed, tugging his bangs over his eyes.

    "You guys are aware of my abilities, so like Tam, I choose not to list all of the reasons I could be helpful in that way, but ask you to remember our missions together and how they impacted them." she brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled at Team Valiant.  "I would fight for any one of you.  You're like family to me-- and Tam, even though he'd never admit it-- and I want to help my family.  Any way I can, behind the scenes or smack dab in the middle of the action."

    She stepped back and Sophie smiled at her.  "Alright.  It's time to vote-- and keep in mind that all must participate and you cannot vote for yourself.  All those in favor of Keefe?"  Keefe looked at Sophie, frowning when she didn't raise her hand.  She mouthed an apology to him as she bowed her head and waited for hands to raise.

    Dex's hand shot up into the air, followed by Biana, Marella, Wylie, and most surprisingly, Stina's.  

    "Okay, now Fitz."  Again Sophie refrained from raising her hand, as again Stina's popped up, followed by Marella, Lihn, Biana, and Keefe's.  

    "Tam," Sophie said, raising her hand in the air.  All members of the group followed suit and Sophie stepped toward him.  "This might be premature, but welcome to Team Valiant."  They shook hands and Biana smiled at him.

    "Lihn."  Again Sophie raised her hand and all except for Marella raised their hands. 

    "Alright, considering the way the voting turned out," Sophie announced after welcoming Lihn to the team.  "I think we should forgo the challenge-- it was really a trust exercise meant to test how well each member of the team would work with our applicants, but considering the turn out of the votes... well, I don't think it's necessary.  Tam won as it was unanimous and Lihn will be presented as well, with the full team in favor of her joining."

    The group disbanded, some leaving the way they arrived-- together, and others going to their own home for the night.  Sophie moved back to the panakes tree and looked up at the sky, surprised when a hand touched her shoulder.  She turned around with a smile, expecting Keefe.

    But it was Fitz frowning at her.

    "Why didn't you vote for me?  Is it because of what happened between us or...?"

    "No, no, of course not, Fitz."  Sophie reassured him.  "It had nothing to do with that.  It's just..." Sophie sighed.  "I'm sorry, Fitz.  But the reasons you gave... they weren't what I wanted to hear."

    "What do you--"

    "Hey Foster, what was up with the... Hey Fitzster, what are you still doing here?"  Keefe grinned at his friend as he slung an arm over Sophie's shoulder.  

    Fitz stared at the arm through narrowed eyes, then looked at Sophie.  "No reason.  See you Later Sophie?"

    "Sometime."  Sophie shrugged.

    When he was gone, Keefe kissed her cheek.

    "Keefe..." Sophie glanced around nervously.

    "Don't worry, Foster." he whispered.  "It's just us."

    He kissed her, on the lips this time, and Sophie leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck.  When Keefe eventually pulled back, it was to say, "I know why you didn't vote for me."

    "Oh?"  Sophie breathed, raising a brow at him and wishing her heart would beat a little less erratically.  But that was what Keefe did to her.  He sent her heart into hummingbird mode.

    "Yeah," Keefe murmured, nuzzling her neck.  "Because you love me."

    Sophie's breath caught for a moment, but then she nodded, unable to deny it.  "And the reason you volunteered..." she started.

    "Was because I love you." he finished.  Sophie beamed at this, and pushed him back against the tree trunk before kissing him passionately.  Keefe chuckled a little bit before pulling her closer to deepen the kiss.  Night fell and eventually Wynn and Luna nudged the two until they broke apart with a laugh.  They settled into each other's arms and fell asleep with the two alicorn's curled up at their feet.

    Hiya people, hope you enjoyed the chappie.  It ran kinda long, but whatever.  Vote and comment please and remember, KEEFOSTER FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Okay, bye.