Cognates - A Sofitz Story **CONTAINS HEAVY FLUFF**

Chapter 2: You Idiot

Fitz looked dazed, almost confused, and for an eternally long second, Sophie was worried. Worried that she'd just shattered everything they had by telling him that. Those three words she'd shoved out of her mind. Then Fitz started laughing, and Sophie felt the tension crumble, only to be replaced with the crushing realization that he thought she was kidding. Or worse.

Sensing where her thoughts were going (or perhaps just reading them himself), Fitz stopped laughing and drew Sophie into his arms.

"No, no, no" he whispered into her hair as one of her tears fell. "I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing because that wasn't what I was expecting you to say. I thought you were going to tell me Linh was starting her own rebel group, or that Silveny was actually a unicorn with fake wings or something," he said with the hint of a smile.

Well that made Sophie feel a little better, but he still wasn't actually addressing what she'd said.

And just for the record, I really like you too. I just didn't think you felt the same. You've always seemed like you had too much on your mind to even consider boys, much less me.

Wait... you like me too? 

Yes. I just-

Didn't know I liked you?

Yeah, pretty much.

You do realize you are possibly the biggest idiot in the world, right?

"Hey, that's not true!" Fitz protested, and Sophie couldn't hold back her giggle at the pouty face he was making.

"Yes! It totally is. I mean, who wouldn't like you? You practically have girls flinging themselves at you in school!" Sophie's face flushed slightly when she realized she'd practically just called him irresistible.

"Ok, maybe you're right, but have I ever paid them any attention? One of the things I liked most about you was the fact that you didn't throw yourself at my feet when you met me. Of course, I never realized I was staring at my future cognate when I first met you, but-"

"Hold on," Sophie stopped him, "We're not cognates yet. Are we?" She connected her mind to his and held up her hands so their rings snapped together.

"I mean, those were really the only big secrets we had. Right? I think there's a ceremony and stuff like that, but that doesn't mean we're not cognates yet. At least, I'm pretty sure."

His uncertainty reminded Sophie that Fitz was no more experienced in this field than she was. "We'll ask Tiergan next time we see him," she decided. "Or maybe your dad would know."

"In the meantime," Fitz said, holding up their still intertwined hands, "How are we going to act on what we've just told each other?"