Every Sokeefe Moment Ever (8.5-9+) 💞

Unlocked, Chapter 3 (Sophie)

But the hands holding her wrists pulled her back up and steadied her as a familiar voice echoed in her ears.

"Sophie."

"Sophie!"

"SOPHIE!"

She didn't know how to answer. Even when the calls turned to pleas. Then commands.

"WAKE UP!" "RELAX!"

"UNDO!"

Nothing made any difference.

"Please," the voice begged. "Please don't be numb anymore."

Still no change.

Time slowed to a crawl and Sophie tried to count her breaths. But she kept losing track after three or four.

She'd just started over again when the voice spoke, sounding sharper— darker—as it told her, "FEEL!"

Then it was like being dumped into a pool of hot and cold water.

Too many sensations.

Too many emotions.

All surging and swirling and churning—making her head spin and her heart race and her knees collapse again.

The hands holding on to her wrists came to her rescue once more as thumps and crashes thudded all around her. She tried to follow the sounds, but her brain and eyes weren't ready to focus.

She needed to start smaller.

She concentrated on that small point of contact—the gentle pressure of fingers against her skin, sharing their strength while her own failed her.

She knew those hands.

And she knew the voice they belonged to.

"Keefe?" she whispered as her vision slowly sharpened.

Her eyes traced the line of his arms up past his shoulders, to his pale, terrified face, and he nodded and burst into tears—and seeing his raw, unrestrained emotion unlocked something deep inside Sophie, flooding her with a softer, gentler rush that made her feel like her again.

A sob crawled up her throat, and she didn't try to swallow it down.

She'd never try to bury her emotions again.

They were far too precious.

"Keefe," she repeated, scrambling to grab his hand when he tried to back away. "What happened?"

He shook his head again, pulling free from her grasp.

"Whatever that was, it wasn't your fault," she promised as he sank onto his cot and dragged the covers up over his head.

_ _ _

"Normally I'd give you some 'smooth points' for taking care of your pretty little Blondie and leaving Captain Perfectpants to fend for himself,"

Ro told Keefe as she stood and stretched. "But next time, how about a little help for the person who knows a hundred different ways to kill you?"

_ _ _

"Okay, I'm definitely not an expert on your freaky elf-y abilities," Ro jumped in, "but I don't think it's anything you did, Blondie."

"Of course you don't," Fitz grumbled.

"Uh, because I know how to use my brain," Ro snapped back. "I've watched her and Hunkyhair together more than anyone, and they always have a calming influence on each other."

_ _ _

Ro sighed when Keefe shook his head. "Looks like we need to try a different kind of motivation. So here's the deal. I'm going to give you to the count of five to say something—and if you don't, I'll start talking. And I think we both know which of your secrets I'm going to share first."

_ _ _

"We're not settled," Alina interrupted. "I still have one final requirement." She pointed to Sophie. "It's already been proven that you're capable of triggering a disturbing aspect of Keefe's ability. And I'm not convinced you can fully control your enhancing, either. So until we understand more about what  we're dealing with—and Keefe gains some level of control—you need to stay away. No visits. No hailing each other or sneaking off or whatever else you two do."

_ _ _

He said something else, too. But Sophie wasn't listening. She was too busy studying Keefe's face.

He was the most stubborn, rebellious person she'd ever met. But there was no fight left in his eyes.

He looked only tired and shattered as he turned toward Oralie and nodded that yes, he wanted Sophie to stay away.