KOTLC: Sokeefe Short Stories

Tickle War (Part Two, Keefe)

Keefe was pacing back and forth across his room. There was too much on his mind. It wasn't so much worrying about the Neverseen ever since Sophie had taken them out. And yes, Keefe might've helped a little bit, but she deserved most of the credit. She was just amazing like that. 

Keefe stopped pacing for a moment, and tore his hand through his hair. He was thinking a lot lately about Sophie. He usually did, but it had been even more so ever since the last showdown. Although Keefe sometimes suspected that the Neverseen were just lying low and would pop up again some day. If they did, well Sophie would probably give it to them again. She was so strong and brave, even when she thought otherwise. The only real weak spot she really had was her obliviousness, but Keefe could live with that. The longer she was in oblivion, the longer Keefe could keep her friendship without Sophie rejecting him because of how he felt about her.

Keefe plopped face down on his bed, groaned a bit, and then turned onto his back to stare at the ceiling. He was alone here at the Shores of Solace because Daddio was off in Atlantis doing some assignment. Whether it was from the Council or the Black Swan, he didn't care. As long as he left Keefe alone, they would both be fine. 

Keefe turned his head to see a few elixirs and empty bottles laying on their side on a table near a window. Keefe had awoken in the middle of the night, and that is when he decided to try and mix a pranking elixir or two for his dad on his return. Some kind of bacteria he had gotten from Ro hybridized with gulon gas. Keefe was hoping it would give his dad super stinky farts.  When he wasn't mixing the pranking elixir, he was beating himself up mentally or thinking about Sophie.

Speaking of mental beatings, Keefe had been giving himself quite a few recently. I'm not really worth anything. I mean, pretty much everyone knows that. Ever since the fiasco that was Mommy-Dearest's almost killing her son to give him dangerous abilities, things haven't been the same. I wasn't safe anymore, so I had to flee to the Forbidden Cities to try and be safer, and I had to leave her behind. 

Keefe heaved a mental sigh. When Dex helped to make me safe again, I was so worried that no one would want to see me again, especially.... I thought Sophie would really hate me this time. And I wouldn't have blamed her if she did! I totally deserve it. But...

Keefe's mind replayed his reunion with Sophie and how instead of her inflicting on him, or slapping him across the face. Even just yelling at Keefe for all his stupid actions, along with the grief he had brought upon her by abandoning her when the Neverseen were getting stronger... she had given Keefe probably the biggest hug that he had ever received. And instead of feelings of hatred and disgust, there was joy and relief. Also something deeper. Something that was warm and strong and caring. Something that came straight from the heart. Of course with Sophie not knowing her own emotions half of the time, especially those deep ones, she hadn't registered what she was feeling. 

But Keefe knew what that was, and it shocked him. It astounded him that she would ever, or could even for that matter, ever feel that way about him. Especially after the grief he had just put her through! And sometimes when he felt like just giving up, he would focus on that feeling to carry him through the day. Even a year later, he wasn't exactly sure why Sophie didn't hate him, but yet again, she had always been forgiving. Even to, maybe especially, to those who didn't deserve it. And that was just another reason Keefe was in love with her.

Keefe sat up and rubbed his face. Then he got off the bed and he started pacing again. That is when his room door flung open, and a big ogre came stomping in. "If you don't stop pacing right now, I'm going to tie you down to your bed! Or better yet, give you some bacterial help to keep you in one place. Namely the lavatory. But hey. Who cares about the details?"