Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Legacy 18-19: part 1 (Fitz POV)

A/N: @InkstheticBookworm requested this scene from Fitz's perspective. It will be told in two chapters.

It was with no shortage of trepidation—or nausea, for that matter—that Fitz leapt to the Shores of Solace.

Lord Cassius really hadn't given him much choice.

He'd hailed Sophie a few times, partly because he just really wanted to check in with her, and partly because he wanted to let her know what he was about to do. But she didn't answer and didn't hail him back.

He'd also tried hailing Keefe, because he really would have preferred to give his best friend some advance notice about this—and to do so in a setting where Keefe couldn't use his empathy on him—but Keefe didn't answer, either.

In retrospect, he should have realized what that meant.

But he didn't.

He was completely surprised to see Sophie sitting outside with Keefe, looking very cozy sitting together on one of the porch swings.

He knew they were friends, but he really didn't like that she was once again avoiding him only to discover that she was hanging out with Keefe. He couldn't help the jealousy that flared up, even though he knew both of them well enough to know that neither of them would betray him by sneaking around behind his back.

Though...they were sitting really close, and Keefe was leaning in, his face mere inches from hers.

But he also knew something was going on, and she didn't seem to trust him enough to turn to him first. Though there must not be anything too bad going on, because Sophie let out a loud laugh at something Keefe had said.

Fitz was trying to figure out the best way to alert them to his presence--honestly, he'd probably just turn back and head straight into the house, but he knew Lord Cassius was behind him and he didn't want to let Cassius know that he hadn't realized his girlfriend was there--when Keefe's eyes suddenly flicked up and focused on him.

Keefe's voice trailed off.

Then Sophie turned and saw him--and she looked really guilty. And not at all happy to see him. She wouldn't even meet his gaze.

"Hey, Fitzy's here!" Keefe said, sounding perfectly cheerful and at ease.

Fitz didn't say anything at first—he was too busy mentally telling himself to control his temper and hope there was a good explanation.

"You need to get in on this, Fitzy," Keefe continued, holding up what looked like a box of human cookies. "Foster and Dizznee proved that they'll do anything I ask them to"—he made a dramatic, evil laugh—"and brought me a bunch of human cookies. They're mostly disappointing, I'm not gonna lie. But! There are still a few we haven't tried, and who knows? They might be the life-changing ones. And you can help me convince Foster to go get us these elf-shaped cookies I'm just now learning about—though I also think she owes us all an apology for not telling us about the elf-shaped cookies sooner, don't you? And I think she needs to use her teleporting way more often. I'm thinking we should give her a weekly Forbidden Cities item to track down for us. Maybe then I'll finally be able to try Ding Dongs. I don't know what they are—but I read something about them in my research, and I mean, they're called 'Ding Dongs,' so I'm here for it. You with me?"

He held up his hand for a high five that Fitz did not return.

Fitz barely noticed as Grizel walked over to talk to Sandor, because Sophie had finally met his eyes.

"Have you tried hailing me today?" she asked him tentatively.

"Three times," he told her bluntly.

Sophie and Keefe both winced.