SOKEEFE
(A/N-This is a Sokeefe One-shot, apologies to any Sophitz, Dexphie, or any other shippers out there. Will do requests for different fanfics of ships. Contains spoilers for up through Nightfall-#6 of series. This is my first fanfic, please give feedback! SORRY FOR LONG STORY!)
Sophie untangled her long blonde hair, the snarls catching between her fingers. She looked in the mirror, away from Vertina's nagging voice. The Foxfire school dance was tonight, and afterward Biana and Fitz had invited everyone to a sleepover. Grady and Edaline had agreed, having to leave for some mission the Council put on them for the weekend. Alden and Della were off checking on Alvar, as he had recently awoken from the soporodine. So the elves were basically with themselves for the rest of the day.
"SOOOPPHHHIIIEEE!" Biana yelled from downstairs, running upstairs. Sophie sighed as Biana walked in, her face appalled by the sight.
"Oh no, no, no. Sophie, you absolutely cannot attend your first ball like this!" Biana rushed over and started fixing up her hair instantly, muttering about what important makeup MUST be applied. After twenty minutes of AACK, OUCH, THAT TICKLES, and WATCH THAT STICK's, Sophie was ready.
"Wow, honey, you look… beautiful!" Biana breathed, admiring her handiwork. Sophie turned to Vertina, who couldn't even say anything.
Sophie couldn't tell what it was, the eyeliner, the mascara, the curling iron elf-look-alike, but it made her pop. And of course her gorgeous blue gown blended perfectly with her hair, the glittery surface shining.
"Thanks-" she started to say when Biana cut her off.
"Come on, we'll be late, Ms. Procrastinater!" Biana rushed her out the door as they arrived to Foxfire.
Sophie looked at all the dazzling lights, the glorious moonlight, and the elvin-ness, her eyes stretched in awe. She walked towards the door, feeling confident. Biana and her pushed open the doors, and time appeared to freeze. Sophie's heart fluttered as she saw him.
Right as they entered the door, they saw Keefe and Fitz by the table with food. Keefe looked over and smiled his gorgeous smile, and Sophie felt her heart flutter right then.
"Foster, it's about time you showed up," Keefe jokingly commented as they joined their friends. Sophie smiled, hoping her blush would save her tonight from her actual blushing. For a brief moment they caught each other's eyes, looking deep within. Sophie's heart flew, and Keefe seemed to glow in amazingness. His perfect hair tossed in the wind from the Gusters nearby, and his ice-blue eyes almost looked like a sea.
"Woah, Sophie, you look amazing!" Fitz complimented her, and Sophie felt that tingle again, coming back to reality. Ever since that moment under the Panakes tree, Sophie had felt different. She had liked Fitz for a while now, and convinced herself that it wasn't a crush, but she couldn't deny it.
When Keefe caught them, there was a glint in his ice-blue eyes, other than humor and his usual troublemaking tone.
Jealousy.
And Sophie suddenly wasn't completely oblivious, no matter how she tried. Every time she looked at Keefe, she felt something different.
"No Sophie," she told herself, stepping away. "You like Fitz and that's how it will only be."
"Foster!" Keefe called her back over. She shyly walked back, slowly regaining her usual stature. She smiled and came over, her blue gown twirling. For a second she could have sworn she saw something in his eye, but it was replaced with humor quickly.
Tam and Linh had joined the group by then, looking beautiful and handsome as well. The group started discussing plans, while waiting for the dance time, and for some reason Sophie found herself continually glancing towards Keefe.
"OKAY, EVERYONE!" Magnate Leto yelled from the stage, the light shining on him. "It's time that all the votes for the Elvin cutest couple are accounted for!" Sophie didn't realize they had traditions like humans, but knew the human tradition probably descended from their traditions.
"Oooh, who do you think it'll be?" Biana whispered, her eyes shining in the light. Sophie was about to respond when she noticed Tam looking over at Biana, a longing in his eyes. Sophie smiled.
"I don't know!" She whispered back.
"I don't know about you guys, but I personally think it'll be the Fitzter and Foster!" Keefe butted in, his perfect hair running in Sophie's face. She breathed in the scent, dreamily picturing herself with Keefe, eyes looking into the other's..
Sophie shook her head, clearing the image. No, Sophie, she told herself. That's when she noticed she was staring at Keefe's handsome face. She blushed and turned away, preventing herself from looking back.
"No way!" Biana argued, noticing Sophie's dilemma. "If anything, it'd be you and her!" She elbowed Keefe, who laughed an obviously forced laugh and walked off, chatting with Fitz.
Magnate Leto pulled a paper out of an envelope, throwing the envelope into the crowd and watching it dissolve beautifully.
"AND OUR WINNERS ARE…" he paused. Sophie held her breath, ready to cheer for any of her friends.
"SOPHIE FOSTER AND FITZROY VACKER!" He yelled. The crowd went wild, cheering and jabbing at them. The spotlight focused on Sophie and Fitz, who were both blushing madly. Biana pushed Sophie towards Fitz with a laugh and Keefe pushed Fitz. Sophie nearly tumbled in her heels, falling forward, expecting the impact of the floor, only to be caught by none other than Fitz.
Fitz smiled, pulling her up and close. His cologne was beautifully scented, and Sophie drew in a long breath. He took her hand in his, and wrapped their other arms in the appropriate places. "Hey," he whispered. Sophie smiled back, trying not to think of Keefe as she danced with Fitz.
Left, left, right, right, they danced, the spotlight on them. Girls seemed to glare in jealousy, and the boys seemed to suddenly be more aware of Sophie now. She smiled and looked back up at Fitz, their eyes locking as they moved elegantly. She thought of it, their perfect dance, the amazing light, and the moment. She had wished, but never thought he might actually like her. She studied his perfect face, even though it was already burned into her mind. His teal eyes, his gorgeous hair, the plumped lips, the perfect nose… almost too perfect, she realized. She felt that awe and admiration wash away quickly as she longed to see Keefe's gorgeous face, not so perfect, and how they didn't just go together like how her and Fitz did. They were both different, and that's why they worked, she realized.
That's when she realized she loved Keefe.
The perfectness of Fitz had worn off, and everything after had been forced. She saw his flaws, the face that was too good to be true, and his legacy that extended him, and how he wasn't just perfect no matter what. He had essentially dismissed Sophie forever after Alden's mind break, and hated her then.
Keefe had never done anything to her.
He had been there for her, through his pain and misery, through his grief, through his sucky life, and had risked his life so many times just for her.
Sophie suddenly felt guilty, dancing with Fitz, leading him on, when here she was thinking about Keefe. Dreaming of kissing him and telling herself she was still crushing on Fitz.
By now, other couples had started dancing too, and no one was still watching them alone. Fitz was still smiling, and she smiled a forced smile.
"Hey," he started saying. Sophie stopped looking off and looked back into his teal eyes. "We never got to talk about that moment under Calla's tree," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Oh?" Sophie said before he leaned in and his soft lips hit hers. A few weeks ago, she would had absolutely embraced this kiss, but now, all she felt was wrong. They fit too perfectly together. The movement of his lips, the gentle flick of his tongue against hers, the feeling of perfection… it was all wrong. Then she saw Keefe in the background, staring, his usually confident eyes fading as he waved goodbye to Biana who also watched Sophie and Fitz.
She broke off the kiss, pulling her arms away from his. He looked at her, eyes full of confusion and hurt.
"Sophie?" He whispered painfully. "What's wrong?"
Sophie felt the guilt and the sadness flood over her. "Oh Fitz, a few weeks ago I would've loved that… but now… I didn't. I'm sorry for leading you on… but I need to go." She gave him a hug and looked into his hurt eyes once again before walking away.
"Wait!" Fitz whispered. She turned back. "Can we still be friends?" He asked, desperation in his voice.
Sophie smiled considerately, not wanting to break their Cognate bond. "I'd like that," she whispered. She ran to Biana, desperate to find Keefe before he left.
"Where'd he go?" She asked breathlessly. Biana pointed towards the door but stopped Sophie as she tried to move.
"What happened?" Biana asked, worry in her eyes. Sophie smiled sadly.
"It's Keefe," She whispered, her mind traveling. "It's always been Keefe…." she whispered as Biana let go and watched her intently as Sophie disappeared.
Sophie tried to transmit to Keefe, her mind traveling to find him. KEEFE, WAIT!
She felt Keefe's mind jolt in surprise. Foster? He thought.
Where are you? She transmitted, trying to find him.
By the door outside. Why? He asked, but Sophie never responded. She ran towards the door and was pulled aside by Keefe.
"Keefe!" She said breathlessly, looking into his ice-blue eyes, seeing the hurt, confused, scared boy beneath.
"Hello, Foster." He replied, trying to make his voice sound strong, but failing. "What happened to the Fitzter?" He asked blatantly, looking around for somewhere else.
Sophie shook her head, her gold hair flying in the wind. "Oh, Keefe, it's you." She whispered, his eyes looking back at her, confused.
"Um, what?" He asked, confused, the tiniest shred of hope in his eyes again.
Sophie laughed delicately. "I realized as he kissed me that he wasn't the one I wanted." She pulled Keefe's head lower so she looked directly into his perfect eyes. "You are." She whispered as she turned her head and locked lips with his. His eyes widened in surprise but gave in, deepening the kiss. She ran her hands through his now-messy-hair and explored every crevice of his mouth. His tongue fought hers, eventually winning and earning him the right to explore her mouth.
They came up for air, breathing heavily and looking into each other's eyes.
"I love you Keefe," Sophie whispered, their foreheads laying against the other's.
He smiled, showing his perfect white teeth. "I love you too." He whispered as they dove back in.
That was when Sophie knew it, that forever, from now on, that they were perfect for each other. They may not be the perfect couple, the one everyone knew and shipped, but it was their flaws that perfected the other for them. Keefe kept Sophie in balance, and she kept him. They both protected each other, and Sophie smiled against his lips, knowing that no matter the struggles they may face, Keefe would be there with her.
