Imagine Book 2

A Moment of Comfort- Keefe Sencen (Keeper of the Lost Cities)

Fem Y/N

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the park's rolling hills, painting the grass in shades of amber and gold. Y/N's feet carried her along the familiar path, her heart guiding her to where she knew she would find him. Sure enough, as she rounded the bend, she spotted Keefe sitting cross-legged beneath their favourite mallowmelt tree – named such because it was where they always shared the sweet treats she would bring him.

His ice-blue eyes were focused intently on the sketchbook in his lap, his usually perfectly swept blonde hair slightly dishevelled as if he'd been running his fingers through it in frustration. Even from a distance, Y/N could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was set just a little too tight. As an Empath, Keefe was usually the one reading others' emotions, but Y/N had learned to read him just as well over their time together.

She approached quietly, careful not to startle him. The small package of mallowmelt felt warm in her hands, still fresh from the bakery where she'd stopped after receiving his message. He hadn't said much – just a simple "At our spot" – but she knew. She always knew when something was wrong.

"Hey, troublemaker," she called softly when she was a few feet away.

Keefe's head snapped up, and for a brief moment, she caught the raw pain in his eyes before he masked it with a smile that didn't quite reach them. "Hey, beautiful." His voice carried its usual playful tone, but it lacked its usual warmth. "Come to check on your favourite delinquent?"

Y/N sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched. She was careful to keep her voice neutral, knowing her Beguiler abilities could sometimes slip through when her emotions ran high. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally influence him when he was already vulnerable. "I brought something that might help."

His eyes lit up slightly as she unwrapped the mallowmelt, the sweet aroma immediately filling the air around them. "You're literally the best girlfriend ever, you know that?"

"So I've been told," she teased gently, breaking off a piece and holding it up to his lips. "But I'll never get tired of hearing it."

Keefe accepted the offering, closing his eyes as he savoured the taste. Some of the tension seemed to seep out of his shoulders, and Y/N took the opportunity to glance at his sketchbook. The page was filled with dark, angry lines – abstract shapes that spoke of frustration and hurt. Her heart ached knowing what must have caused this.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked softly, running her fingers through his hair to fix the mess he'd made of it. The gesture was as much for her comfort as his – she'd learned early in their relationship that physical touch helped ground him, especially after emotional encounters with his father.

Keefe leaned into her touch, letting out a long breath. "Same old story. Lord Cassius being Lord Cassius." He tried to make it sound light, but Y/N could hear the pain beneath the words. "Apparently, I'm still not living up to the great Sencen legacy. Shocking, I know."

Y/N's hand stilled in his hair for a moment as she fought to keep her anger in check. She knew her voice could become particularly persuasive when she was angry, and right now, she wanted nothing more than to march up to Candleshade and give Lord Cassius a piece of her mind. But that wasn't what Keefe needed.

Instead, she gently took the sketchbook from his lap, setting it aside along with his pencil. Before he could protest, she shifted to face him and took his hands in hers. His fingers were stained with graphite, and she could feel slight tremors running through them.

"Look at me, Keefe," she requested, keeping her voice carefully neutral despite the emotion building in her chest. When those ice-blue eyes met hers, she continued, "Your father is wrong. He's been wrong every single time he's tried to make you feel like you're not enough, and he's wrong now."

Keefe tried to look away, but Y/N reached up to cup his cheek, keeping his gaze on her. "I mean it. You are one of the most amazing people I've ever met. You're brilliant and talented and so incredibly strong. Do you know what I see when I look at you?"

A slight smirk tugged at his lips. "Devastatingly handsome features that you just can't resist?"

Y/N couldn't help but smile, even as she rolled her eyes. "Well, yes, but that's not what I meant." She traced her thumb along his cheekbone, watching as his smirk softened into something more vulnerable. "I see someone who makes everyone around him feel lighter just by being there. Someone who uses humour not just as a shield, but as a way to lift others up when they're down. I see an artist who puts his whole heart into every piece he creates, even if he tries to pretend it's not a big deal."

"Y/N..." Keefe's voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion.

"I'm not finished," she said, letting just a hint of her Beguiler talent slip through – not to persuade, but to soothe, like a gentle embrace for his soul. "I see someone who's been hurt but still chooses to be kind. Someone who protects his friends fiercely and loves them deeply, even though he's been taught that love is a weakness. I see you, Keefe Sencen, all of you, and I love every single part."

Tears had begun to gather in Keefe's eyes, and Y/N leaned forward to press her lips to his in a soft, sweet kiss. She poured all her love and conviction into it, hoping he could feel even a fraction of what she felt for him. When they parted, she rested her forehead against his.

"Your father wants you to be someone you're not," she whispered. "But the person you are is already extraordinary. And I'll remind you of that every single day if I have to."

A tear slipped down Keefe's cheek, and Y/N wiped it away gently with her thumb. He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, his eyes closing as he took a shaky breath.

"I don't deserve you," he murmured.

"Too bad," Y/N replied with a small smile. "You're stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere."

Keefe pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck. Y/N held him just as tightly, one hand running soothingly up and down his back while the other carded through his hair. They stayed like that for a long moment, the setting sun painting the sky in brilliant shades of pink and orange above them.

Finally, Keefe pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes red but clearer than before. A genuine smile – small but real – curved his lips. "I love you," he said simply, the words carrying the weight of everything he couldn't express.

Y/N's heart swelled with affection. "I love you too," she replied, then added with a playful grin, "Even when you're being dramatic."

"Me? Dramatic?" Keefe gasped, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I would never!"

Y/N laughed, the sound carrying across the empty park. "Oh really? Should we talk about the time you insisted on wearing all black for a week because you claimed it matched your 'tortured artist soul'?"

"Hey, that was a very serious artistic phase!" Keefe protested, but he was grinning now, the shadows in his eyes replaced by familiar mischief. "Besides, you said I looked hot in black."

"You look hot in everything," Y/N admitted, then immediately blushed when Keefe's grin turned smug. "Oh, shut up and eat your mallowmelt."

"As my lady commands," Keefe said with an exaggerated bow, reaching for another piece of the treat. But before he took a bite, he paused, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Thank you," he said softly. "Not just for the mallowmelt, but for... everything. For being here. For seeing me."

Y/N reached out and squeezed his hand. "Always," she promised. "That's what happens when you steal a Beguiler's heart – you're stuck with us forever."

"Forever, huh?" Keefe's smile turned tender as he laced their fingers together. "I think I can live with that."

They spent the rest of the evening sharing mallowmelt and trading soft kisses as the stars began to appear above them. Y/N drew patterns on Keefe's palm while he sketched her profile in his book, this time with gentle lines and loving detail. And if she occasionally let a bit of her Beguiler talent slip through in her humming – just enough to wrap him in feelings of peace and love – well, Keefe didn't seem to mind.