KOTLC Oneshot War

Quarantine Keepers

Keefe scanned his beachy room in the Shores of Solace, keeping an ear open in case his nosy father came close and heard him. Making sure all his traps were in place for when he would likely come in to check on him, he stealthily crept out the window, making sure his mask was in place. It was far easier to breathe in a mask than it was to breathe in the same house as his father.

Pulling out his imparter, he muttered Fitz's name until his mask-covered face filled the screen.

"I'll be there any moment now," Keefe whispered, careful to keep his voice low.

"Yeah," the ogre princess's loud voice made him jump- honestly, he'd forgotten she was there, "if you'd pick up the pace, we'd be there already!"

"Alright," he shushed her, "let's make it extra clear that my super fun cuddly father knows he has no control over me!" He ended the hail with Fitz and snuck around the house to the leapmaster.

Lord Cassius had been extra strict with the virus protection, disinfecting EVERYTHING and not allowing Keefe anywhere outside the house. Keefe, of course, didn't listen and was now sneaking over to the leapmaster and leaping to Everglen.

When he opened his eyes, he let the sweet scent of Everglen fill his lungs. Even through the mask, it felt like he could finally breathe.

He was done letting his father control him.

"Keefe! You're here!" He spun around to find Fitz and Biana, both wearing masks. More than anything he wanted to run over and give his friends a hug, but he knew better. He settled for swaggering his way over—making sure to keep six feet apart— as he put on his cocky facade.

"Guess this is proof no one can control me, isn't that right Ro?"

"Oh please," she scoffed, "I wanted out of there as much as you did. I was starting to get a SERIOUS urge to smash things."

"How are YOU doing?" Biana asked him, ignoring Ro's comment.

"Oh, you know, it's a cuddlefest! My father and I get along great and we sanitize things together and have a SPLENDID time!"

"That's not what I- you know what, nevermind..." Biana trailed off as if she knew she wouldn't get an open answer.

Not unless it was Sophie asking.

The words were unspoken, but they were there. He could tell even without reading her emotions.

Trying to lighten the mood, he pointed behind them in the direction of the kitchen. "Last one to the kitchen gets tickled by the Keefster!"

Fitz and Biana both ran as fast as they could at that. Keefe laughed, chasing after them with the lightheartedness of a little child, forgetting his worries. He wished things could always be that way.

Keefe shoved his way to Fitz, tickling him on the stomach and making him gasp for air. "NO! KEEFE—PLEASE— STOP!" He choked out between laughs.

"HEY!" The sound of Della's voice snapped Keefe back to reality, and he scurried away from Fitz before she could say "social distancing!"

Fitz took a moment recovering from the tickle attack as Keefe's mind went to darker places, where things weren't so simple.

He hadn't seen Sophie in weeks.

He tried to bury the burden of living with his father alone, but he always wished she would stop by, but Sandor was of course incredibly overprotective of her and only let her hail him on her imparter.

But now wasn't the time to worry about any of that, they had ripplefluffs to bake! So when they had stood back up the three friends made their way to the kitchen as Biana pulled out a recipe book and Fitz started pulling out ingredients. They decided on making mint chocolate ripplefluffs, deciding to bring some over to Sophie later. Both Vackers shared a nervous glance at Keefe as if they knew how messy this was about to get when he was helping.