KOTLC: Sokeefe Short Stories

Tickle War (Part One, Sophie)

Sophie was on her way over to the Shores of Solace to see her friend Keefe. Despite the fact that her and her friends had defeated the Neverseen a little more than a year ago, it it felt just like yesterday, and Sophie was having nightmares again. Keefe was probably the only person who could calm her down enough, probably because they both went through a lot, and therefore they understood each other better than most anyone. Another reason Sophie was headed over there was because she was so wide awake now, and she really wanted to see him in person and feel his heartbeat when he wrapped her in one of his hugs, and his warm, gentle breath in her ear as he whispered how glad he was to see her...

Sophie shook her head at these thoughts, but try as she might to deny them, she knew in the back of her mind that he still made everything better. A voice clearing their throat behind Sophie cleared her mind and drew her back to the present. She turned around to face her bodyguard shadow.

"You needed something?" she asked Sandor, as she lifted up an eyebrow.

He snorted. "Is this really necessary? Couldn't Flori have sung to you? Or Silveny transmit to you like she usually does? How about laying under Calla's Panake tree? Or perhaps, a mix of all three?"

Sophie kinda hated when Sandor made valid points like that. And she didn't want to admit it, and she would definitely never say it out loud, but... she just missed Keefe. The Neverseen showdown had taken a lot out of him, and he was still focusing on getting a better hand on his new abilities. Thankfully though, he had gotten better control of them to the point where it was safe enough for him to use his voice and be around Sophie again.

It had been torturous to have to stay away from Keefe because her emotions were too strong and too overwhelming for him. But Keefe had trained himself while he was hiding in the Forbidden cities, and Dex had made a couple gadgets to make Sophie safe to be around and even touch. So when she had been given the all clear, the first things Sophie had done was give him the biggest hug she could. And when he had whispered the words, "glad to see you again Foster," she had cried. She had forgotten how beautiful his voice was, and to hear it again spoken out loud and not in her head, was probably one of the best moments in her life.

Thing was, Keefe was still recovering. So had everyone else of course, but the Neverseen had focused mostly on Keefe and Sophie. So they had more in common from the last battle than pretty much the rest of their friends. A deeper scar that they both shared. And it was one of the other reasons Sophie wanted to check in on him. She knew he needed her just as much as she needed him.

She then realized that Sandor was waiting for an answer, so she just said, "because there is only one Keefe in this world."

Sandor opened his mouth to reply, but it was cut off by a single round of applause. Sophie turned around, and there on the porch was Ro clapping. "That is so true. Although sometimes it's just as bad of a thing as it is good."

Sophie waved at Ro. The ogre princess had some pretty strong feelings about Keefe leaving everyone, and the first thing she had done when she had saw him again was hug him, and then followed up with a 2 hour lecture that she had brainstormed with Sandor weeks beforehand for when she saw him again. Now she was more protective than ever, and they still got on each others nerves. But there was definitely a change between them, with Ro now being more of a mother figure to Keefe than just a bodyguard.

"Blondie's here!" Ro shouted inside.

Sophie's spirits lifted when she heard a familiar voice call back, "believe me, I know. I can feel her emotions all the way in here."

Sophie's cheeks flared at that. Even though Dex's gadgets for Keefe helped him not be overwhelmed by emotions, especially Sophie's, his empathy was still stronger than ever. Now, he could read everyone's emotions through the air ever since he remanifested, but his range with Sophie's had increased significantly.