The Keefe Sencen Protection Program ✧ kotlc¹ [DISCONTINUED]

09 a lecture to top all lectures

"Mister Sencen." Forkle glared from across the room, where he and Squall had glittered into existence.

"What's up, Forklenator?" Keefe said with a nervous attempt at his usual joking manner.

"The stress levels of every single person in the Black Swan," he deadpanned. Keefe cringed.

"At least we know I'm good at keeping you on your toes?" he managed to squeak.

"Mister Sencen, this is not one big joke," Squall spoke up. "By leaving, you placed dozens-possibly even hundreds- of lives at risk. Including those of your friends and family."

"You say that as if I care about my family," Keefe scoffed.

"Maybe you don't, but some of us do." Squall's usually kind front dropped, and Keefe saw who she really was. A scared mother doing everything she could to protect her children from the horrific people in their world. "You know all of my children. You know I would sacrifice anything for them. Yet you so easily endanger the people you love the most. What do you have to say for yourself? What were you thinking?"

Keefe scowled at the ground.

"That's exactly it. Mr. Sencen was not thinking." Forkle pinched the bridge of his nose. "If he had been thinking, he would have thought to himself huh. Doing this could destroy the elven world."

"But-"

"No buts, Keefe." Squall seemed to be trying to stab him with her eyes. "As for now, I have some people who would like to see you."

She opened the door and standing outside was Fitz, Biana, and Ro. Keefe felt a sharp jolt of pain from all of the new emotions.

"Hey," Keefe raised his hand in a halfhearted wave. "Biana, did you cut your hair? You've been growing it out since you were ten!"

"I had a bit of a mental breakdown earlier. I'm good now, though." She rushed into the room and threw her arms around him. Her touch felt odd, as if it wasn't solid. As if he could pass right through her, just like light could.

When Biana pulled away, Keefe turned back to the door, only to be met with an extremely pissed-looking ogre princess inches away from his face.

"You. Are. So. Dead." She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Do you know how angry your father is at me?" She laughed, a deranged sound. "And it wouldn't be a problem, if he hadn't told Bo. Now everytime I see him he won't shut up about how 'I'm an irresponsible bodyguard' and 'maybe I should be the one being protected.' Ugh!" She pushed Keefe away.

"It's actually pretty fun to watch." Fitz smirked at Ro as he made his way over to Keefe. "Hey man," he said, bro-hugging him.

"Pretty boy, if you say that again so help me I will slap you so hard you end up in Eternalia," Ro growled, her sharp teeth flashing menacingly.

"Where are we, exactly?" Biana asked, glancing around with a frown. "Forkle sent coordinates but not really any information."

"Welcome to Bruxvale," Squall said with a sigh. "Which used to be secret but apparently now we just let anyone in."

Keefe scratched the back of his neck. "There's some people here you might wanna see. Sophie. Dex. Glimmer. Sandor."

"Wait, what about Tam?" asked Biana, looking momentarily stressed.

Keefe waved a hand nonchalantly. "Well, yeah, he's here too, but why would you wanna see him?" Biana rolled her eyes and pushed past him. Fitz scraped his heel on the floor, not meeting Keefe's eyes.

"So, uh, I... definitely wasn't treating you that great before you left. I let myself get caught up in myself and my own insecurities and what was going on with Sophie, and I completely ignored everything you were going through." He dared to make eye contact, blowing air out of his cheeks. "Look, I'm really sorry. I know I've been a really cruddy best friend for a long time, and I'm sorry it took you leaving for me to see it, but I wanna try to do better."