Keefe

<Just for fun ^   q;   >                                                

 Keefe followed after Fitz, who was jogging down the road to escape. Keefe tried to chase after his friend, but Fitz was running too far. And eventually, Keefe lost sight of him. 

Great. Keefe thought, sourly. Fitz was gone. Wraith was somewhere. Biana was missing. And the rest of his friends were being held captive. What were they going to do? The group was falling apart, and he had no one left. 

"Dang you, Fitz," Keefe grumbled, kicking a nearby pebble as hard as he could. He had nowhere to go. The Base had been compromised, and he couldn't stay at his friends' houses. He had nowhere. Nowhere except... "No," Keefe said. That was not an option. He'd already promised not to go back. Save Sophie and return to the Forbidden Cities. That was his goal, and he hadn't forgotten. 

It was where he belonged. Sure, he could talk freely now. But that didn't mean he wasn't tempted by his abilities at times. 

"Stupid Mom," he spat, kicking another rock. This time, it flew a good fifteen meters, and Keefe nodded his approval. At least he had his strength. His determination. His bravery. And his sanity-- something none of the Neverseen had. They didn't feel guilt after killing. Always a step ahead. Went to insane lengths just to win. 

"Now what?" Keefe asked himself, looking up to the sky, as if expecting some inspiration or magical idea to make itself known. But no ideas came. And Keefe was left with nothing. What could he do? 

//

Fitz POV

Fitz ran. He didn't know how far or how long, but eventually, Keefe stopped trying to follow. Fitz didn't turn around. He didn't try to go back to his friend. He just needed to run. Away from the Puppeteer and her creepy Kenric-Beast. Away from the past. Away from Alvar. 

He had kidnapped Sophie. Whatever had happened to her was his fault, too. And an image flashed across his mind. Her, beaten and bruised and trapped inside one of the Neverseen's dungeons. Begging for them to let her free. Crying out for help. Help Fitz couldn't deliver. 

He felt useless. Helpless. So. Completely. Helpless. He wasn't the "Golden Child" everyone saw. He'd had such high expectations for himself. He was doing well, too. Everyone had expected great things from him. But how could he lead a fulfilling life when he couldn't even save his friends? Save Sophie?-- the same girl he'd professed his love to and even dated. Fitz settled on the thought. He was determined to get her back. He'd make sure they all lived until they time she would date him again. The time she would say she wanted him back. The time she would say "I love you".

But first, he needed to escape. Clear his mind. Calm himself. 

He was Fitz Vacker-- the boy who was meant to be great. He'd grow to do amazing things. Become a legend. Become someone people looked up to. Someone to inspire children. 

He could do this. He was a Vacker. Vackers solved problems. And so would Fitz. He just needed to clear his mind and let his "Vacker mind" come up with a brilliant solution. 

The entire Black Swan and his friends were held captive in one of the Neverseen's bases. Keefe was somewhere-- why had Fitz run off? Sophie was also a prisoner of the Neverseen's. Wraith was somewhere, as well. And Biana was... Fitz searched his surroundings, spreading his consciousness as far as it would go in search of Biana's mind. But nothing came up, and Fitz's reach wasn't as good as Sophie's. 

Basically, the odds weren't good. It was just Fitz, the Vacker and Telepath. What could he do as a Telepath? Just transmitting, really. And though he tried, Biana was too far to reach. Wraith, too, was unavailable. And Keefe was ignoring him, probably thinking he was helping Fitz cool off. 

But Fitz didn't need to cool off. He needed a plan. But nothing. 

Nothing, nothing, nothing. Fitz was truly helpless. 

So, he decided to turn to the group he knew might help him. The council.

//

Fitz had tried so hard not to go to them, convinced he could do this on his own. Just him, Keefe, Biana, and Wraith. But now, with no one left, Fitz knew he'd made a mistake. He'd risked the rest of his friends' lives by being reckless. No more.

Despite how much he hated to council's slow, planning methods, he knew they were the most logical. And it was better than what Fitz had-- which was nothing. 

He sucked in a nervous breath, swallowing his pride as he knocked on Councillor Oralie's door to the glittering pink tower.

"Fitz?" she asked, opening the door a slight crack. But opened it all the way as she met his eyes. And Fitz was relieved to hear her soft, welcoming voice, "What's going on?" 

"I know we should've told you this in the beginning," he started, "But the Black Swan had insisted they could fix things before it got out of hand."

Oralie frowned, "Maybe you want to come in and sit down?" she asked, and Fitz nodded, grateful to the offer. He did need to sit down. 

"We need your help." Fitz said, settling into a fluffy pink chair. Oralie nodded, her silence urging him to continue. So he did. 

"The Black Swan is gone. Mr. Forkle and his Collective have all been compromised. And Sophie's been kidnapped by the Neverseen, I know we should've told you earlier but we thought we could handle it. Obviously not. And then it was just Wraith, Keefe, Biana, and I. But now, Biana and Wraith are missing and Keefe's somewhere. And--"

"Fitz," Oralie's warm voice cut in, "Calm down. You're safe. Just breathe."

Fitz looked into her soft eyes, but she didn't say more. And then he realized she was actually waiting for him to practice breathing exercises. Again, swallowing his pride and accepting the awkward, he closed his eyes and inhaled a deep, calming breath. Holding it a good while before releasing it, along with all his pent up worry, fear, and confusion. 

"So," he said, his tone calmer, now, "Can you help?" 

Oralie waited a moment, processing his story.

"Sophie's been kidnapped, the Black Swan is helpless, and you and the remaining Black Swan members are scattered...."

"Yes," Fitz confirmed.

"Okay," Oralie finally said after another round of thinking, "I think I know what to do. Or... how I can try and help," she corrected, and Fitz nodded, grateful for any help he could get his hands on. 

"What do I need to do? What do you need?" he asked, leaning closer from his seat. Oralie nodded.

"Calm down. Breathe," And again, Fitz had to do a breathing exercise before she continued. 

"So, what do I do?" he tried again.

"I hope you know I have to tell the rest of the council about this."

"I figured," Fitz shrugged. Oralie nodded. 

"Then we'll get some Emissarys to  look for Biana, Wraith, and Keefe. We'll also send a group to storm the Neverseen's bases until we find the Black Swan. Then, the council will personally send in a rescue for Sophie."

Fitz nodded, "What about me?-- I am not sitting this out," he added before Oralie could speak. She nodded, giving a light chuckle. 

"I know. I would never ask that of you. Do your parents know any of this?"

"No," Fitz mumbled, "Only Grady and Edaline. And Kesler because both Dex and Juline have been taken..." 

"What about the Song twins?" 

Fitz snapped his head up. How could he have forgotten about them!?

"They're with the rest of the Black Swan," he said. Oralie nodded.

"Alright, I'll contact the rest of the council. Meanwhile, you should get some rest. You'll be needing it."

"Thank you," Fitz said, turning to leave. But just before he shut the door behind him, Oralie added, "Fitz, update your parents. I'm sure they're worried sick." 

Fitz nodded his promise before pulling out his pathfinder and heading back to Everglen.

Keefe POV

Keefe let out a groan. After all his promises not to return, he had. 

And he'd already knocked. In just a few seconds the door would open and-- "Keefe?" 

Keefe averted his eyes, focusing on the floor rather than his father's cold stare. 

"What are you doing here? Last I'd heard, you'd left. Foolish decision, by the wa--"

"Whatever," Keefe huffed, "I don't need one of your lectures, right now. I just need--" he stopped. No. He was not going to have a heart to heart with his father. He didn't need to know what Keefe was feeling, even though he could probably already feel them. Either way, they were not going there. Not then, not ever. 

Ever. Keefe repeated.

"Well, I don't think you're here for me..." he left the prompt open, waiting for Keefe to argue. But he didn't. So, Cassius continued, "So, I'm assuming you're here for something else. Information? Something from your room? A place to stay?" 

Keefe tensed, and though he'd wished his father hadn't noticed, he had. 

"This would be the last place you'd stay. So, what happened? Why not stay with your friends? The Black Swan? Unless...." 

Keefe rolled his eyes, pushing past his father to enter the house. 

"Something happened? Something big?" 

Keefe ignored his father, and for that, Cassius knew. He was right. But Keefe didn't care anymore. His father could guess all he wanted. Pretend he was part of the Black Swan and whatnot. But that didn't mean Keefe had to share anything with him. If his father really were a true member, he'd be kidnapped just like the rest of his friends. But he wasn't. And he wouldn't be, no matter how much Keefe wished it. 

He slammed the door hard, before flopping onto his bed and letting the cool covers massage his back. He should draw. Sort things out. Do something useful. But, Keefe was tired. Exhausted. And the bed was so comfortable. And before Keefe could convince himself to get up, he fell asleep.