????? ?????~~ -- sokeefe oneshots

As soon as Sophie saw them again, she noticed her. She was way to close to Keefe. She had her arm around his waist as if they shared a history. And her affectionate glances made it clear that she was Keefe's girlfriend.

Sophie's focus was sharp, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she couldn't shake. The battle raged around her, the clash of weapons and magic filling the air, but all she could think about was Lia.

Every time Sophie looked up, Lia was right there—beside Keefe. The way she moved with ease, the way Keefe's attention seemed to stay on her, made Sophie's stomach tighten in a way she didn't want to acknowledge.

Lia was talented, sure—her fighting skills were impressive, and her presence was undeniably powerful. But that wasn't what made Sophie's heart ache. It was the way Keefe's eyes followed Lia's every move, the way their energy seemed to sync so effortlessly.

Sophie's pulse quickened, her movements becoming sharper and more aggressive. She didn't want to admit it, but a surge of jealousy rushed through her.

What's wrong with me?

Why did it feel like Keefe was slipping further away from her with every second? Every glance Lia shared with him seemed to make the distance between Sophie and Keefe feel bigger, colder.

Sophie swung her sword with more force than necessary, barely missing an attacker as her mind raced. Why did I even come back? she thought bitterly. He's moved on, and I'm still stuck in the past.

But the jealousy—dark and thick in her chest—refused to subside. Sophie's eyes found Lia again. She saw how Lia smiled at Keefe, how her laughter seemed to flow so naturally with his.

I shouldn't care, Sophie tried to tell herself. I'm not here for that. I'm not here to fight over him.

But the pang of jealousy was undeniable. It clawed at her, gnawing at her heart like an itch she couldn't reach.

She swung her sword again, this time landing a hit on her opponent, but her focus was on Lia. She couldn't help it.

She's just so... close to him.

Sophie clenched her jaw, feeling a mix of frustration and hurt rise within her.

She had no right to feel this way. She had chosen to leave. She had chosen the Neverseen, and now it was too late to turn back.

But it didn't stop the jealousy from swirling in her chest.

What do I even expect? Sophie's thoughts spiraled. I left him for so long... He deserves someone who didn't abandon him.

Her gaze stayed fixed on Lia, her heart tight as she continued to fight, her movements growing more frantic. I won't let it show, she told herself. I'll prove I can do this without him. Without anyone.

But the feeling didn't disappear. It only grew louder in her chest.

Sophie's focus wavered again as Keefe and Lia exchanged a few quiet words, their smiles subtle but warm, their bodies naturally aligned in a way that made Sophie's heart twist painfully. She tried to ignore it. She had to ignore it. She couldn't let herself feel this way, couldn't let herself show any weakness.

But the jealousy was like a gnawing ache inside her chest, distracting her at the worst possible moments. Every time she glanced toward them, her thoughts clouded. Why did you leave me, Keefe? She cursed herself for even thinking it. No. It was me. I left. I chose the Neverseen over you.

Her sword slashed through an enemy's shield, but it lacked the precision of before. The impact was a little too hard, a little too reckless. Her energy wasn't where it needed to be, and every move felt clumsy.

She could feel the eyes of her allies—Ruy and Alvar among them—shifting towards her. Sophie couldn't afford to let them see the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. She couldn't afford to let anyone see.

Alvar, in particular, was always perceptive, his eyes sharp and calculating, and even though he was supposed to be focused on the battle, she could tell he was watching her. His ability to vanish at will was an advantage, but it also meant he could slip through the chaos and observe without being noticed. He probably noticed her slip in concentration, the frustration twisting her movements.

Focus, Sophie. You're here for a reason. You're here to make things right.

But the words didn't come easily. Her hands tightened around the hilt of her sword, the knuckles going white as she took another swing at an opponent, the clash of metal against metal ringing in her ears. But it wasn't enough to drown out the growing voice in her head.

He's moved on, Sophie.

She could see them again—Keefe and Lia, side by side, taking on opponents with an effortless synchronicity. Every time Lia laughed or flashed a smile, Sophie felt a new pang of jealousy, sharper than before.

She couldn't help but wonder how long it had been like this, how long Keefe had been looking at Lia in that way. He hadn't even spared Sophie a second glance when she returned. It was as if he had already closed that chapter of his life.

The guilt weighed on her, but so did the loneliness. Sophie had always been independent, always proud of her ability to stand on her own, but right now, the silence between her and Keefe felt deafening. And Lia—well, she was everything Sophie wasn't. She was calm, collected, and seemingly perfect for Keefe in ways Sophie couldn't compete with.

Sophie gritted her teeth as she dispatched another enemy, the force behind the blow almost too much. The opponent crumpled to the ground, but Sophie's eyes never left Keefe.

It should've been me, the thought came unbidden. But I wasn't here. I wasn't here when he needed me.

She didn't notice when Dex sidled up to her until he spoke, his voice light, as if trying to lift some of the weight hanging in the air.

"You okay?" he asked, keeping his tone casual, but there was a hint of concern behind his words.

Sophie didn't meet his gaze, keeping her focus on the battlefield. "I'm fine." Her voice was colder than she intended, but she couldn't help it. The jealousy was suffocating, and she didn't want anyone to know how much it hurt to see Keefe with someone else.

"You sure?" Dex's voice dropped slightly, and Sophie could hear the underlying question. "You've been... off."

Sophie finally turned to him, her eyes flashing with a mixture of irritation and frustration. "Well, not really. But I can handle it."

Dex didn't press further, but he didn't look convinced. Instead, he turned his attention back to the battle, though Sophie could feel him lingering near her, like he was watching her every move.

I can't let him see.

She forced herself to take a deep breath, focusing back on the fight. She couldn't let herself spiral. The battle was more important than this petty jealousy. The Neverseen had to be stopped. She had to be stronger than this weakness.

But it was harder than she imagined. Every swing of her sword felt hollow. She couldn't shake the feeling that Keefe had moved on and that she wasn't part of his world anymore. The fight, the battle, it all felt distant, like she was doing it on autopilot.

She couldn't look at him. She wouldn't.

But as the minutes stretched on, Sophie couldn't help herself. She glanced once more toward Keefe and Lia. They were fighting side by side, their movements still perfectly in sync, like they were two halves of a whole. The sight nearly broke Sophie, but she held it together.

I don't care, she told herself again. It's fine. It's fine.

But it wasn't fine. And deep down, Sophie knew it would never be fine until she came to terms with the fact that she had lost Keefe, perhaps forever.