Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Extended Edition: Stellarlune 46

A/N: @nowayjose23 requested an alternate ending to this chapter. I chose to call this an extended edition, because it would fit inside the actual book—we know that they spend hours searching for the power source, so I just included some more Sokeefe content within that time frame.

"Can you feel that?" she whispered. "I know your empathy's not cooperating, but--"

"If you mean your overwhelming urge to grab me and kiss me again, I'm definitely picking up on that," Keefe told her.

Sophie groaned. "I thought you were being serious!"

"Sorry--it's just so much more fun to watch you blush!"

Keefe smirked knowingly at her as she felt her cheeks warm. "Besides," he continued, leaning in closer. "I'm not actually wrong, am I? You're totally thinking about kissing me again now, aren't you?"

Well...

Yes.

That moment they'd shared in the clearing had been sweet and romantic and perfect. But it has also been cut way too short, because all of their big important life-and-death stuff just couldn't wait.

So she told him, "we'll have to revisit that idea later, and try to focus right now on finding the power source so we can get ahead in this war—and get you the help you need."

"Okay," Keefe agreed. "And then get back to all the kissing?"

Sophie tried to glare at him, but she was struggling to suppress a smile.

"What?" He asked innocently. "Remember, I can't feel your emotions very well right now so I can't know for sure that I was blowing your mind with that kiss. The only way to make sure is to, you know, try it again." He winked at her and she couldn't hold back the giggle that escaped her lips.

Keefe smirked. "It wouldn't kill you to flirt back, you know," he told her.

"I...don't really even know how to flirt," Sophie admitted. "I'm way more used to trying to draw less attention to myself, not more."

"In the Forbidden Cities, maybe," Keefe conceded. "And then since you've been living in the Lost Cities you've mostly been trying not to die."

And crushing on Fitz, but she'd always struggled to believe he really did like her, so then there was no inclination to flirt.

"But it's not true that you can't flirt," Keefe assured her. "We've always enjoyed teasing each other, being playful. That's all flirting is. But, just to remind you that I am also capable of being serious, I'll be completely honest and tell you that no, I can't feel anything. It's actually really unsettling. And it's making me feel like a pretty worthless search partner."

"You're never worthless," Sophie told him. "Do you think maybe it's your abilities reacting to being so close to the power source?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

Sophie called out for the first check-in, and everyone reported pretty much the same thing: no one was finding anything.

"We'll figure it out, Foster," Keefe whispered, glancing furtively over his shoulder before reaching for her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And if we don't, that's okay too, because we don't need this. No, really," he pressed when she opened her mouth to argue. "Everything is going to be okay."

His tone was serious and sweet and reassuring, his expression so kind and earnest, that Sophie couldn't help but lean in and give him a quick kiss on the cheek.