disclaimer: I do not own kotlc.

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pairings&characters: dating!sokeefe

genre: romance, fluff, angst, humor, au

rating: k+

summary: keefe has a sense of dread. foster makes him spill.

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Keefe entered the dorm room quietly as possible, trying not to make his presence known. His plan was set to sneak up on his unsuspecting girlfriend and he didn't want to ruin it. Her reaction would be grand and he knew it—it always was with her. Especially the way she seemed livid afterwards and turned into some feisty spitfire that couldn't be contained. Her face would sometimes turn a light shade of red that was almost pink when she was angry and she'd try to clench her fists—but they didn't really look clenched. They looked like a kitten's paws curling up. It never failed in making him laugh.

He crept around the house, trying to figure out where she was, until his nose caught wind of an enticing scent, and he headed over to the kitchen curiously. Sophie was standing in front of the stove in the frilly purple apron that he was sure Biana must have gotten her, bobbing her head slightly in time to whatever she was listening to. She was cutting up onions on the chopping board as he walked into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt every few seconds and clearly trying to fight her tears from the stinging pain. There was a box of uncooked pasta on the counter and another covered pot on the stove puffing out steam every few seconds.

Keefe watched Sophie as she swiveled her hips in time to the song and mouthed the lyrics, a small smile growing on his face as she goofed off. There was a splatter of tomato sauce on her cheek and a little on her nose, but she didn't seem to notice it at all. But this was the perfect opportunity. She didn't appear to notice him at all.

Given that even the smallest of small things could startle her, he decided to simply creep up behind her. He wrapped his arms sneakily around her waist, holding her close and nuzzling her hair. She jumped with tiniest frightened yelp and he chuckled, popping an earbud out of her ear, the kissing the earlobe. "Whatcha makin'?"

"Oh my god, Keefe. You gave me a heart attack," she hissed.

"Do I need to hail Elwin? You know I have him on speedial," he teased. She simply rolled her eyes, but she scrunched up her nose and the corners of her mouth twitched when. "Man, babe, you are a sight for sore eyes. . ." he murmured, dropping a soft kiss on her waiting lips.

She hummed in pleasure, smiling against his lips. When he pulled away, her cheekbones faintly flushed in a shade of pink. "Rough day, I presume?"

"You could say that. It was kind of just a normal day for me. I hate job hunting. But at least I'm not in Foxfire anymore—those mentors are hell. I pity you. Did you buy water?"

"Fridge," she replied, sliding the onions into the biggest pot before mixing it. "You'll get a job soon, I'm sure. You've got great credentials and you did good in school, despite that you hated it. Well. . . minus the ditching habit."

"Thanks. And, hey, if I hadn't been ditching that one day, I wouldn't have met you, so I believe we've learned a very powerful lesson here." He let go of Sophie, walking over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. His mind had obviously strung back to the job topic within the few seconds because he said, "I just hope I can get one I like."

"Well. . ." she drew out the word, gesturing to the stove top. "I've got a treat for you that'll make the whole day better."

He rose a brow, glancing at her over his shoulder in amusement. "What, a trip to the Healing Center because you decided to cook?"

"Very funny, Sencen. I found this recipe and—"

"—had Dex come over earlier to make this and pretend like you made it? Where is the technopath hiding?"

Sophie chucked a couple strands of uncooked pasta at him, and Keefe dodged them by ducking behind the refrigerator door, laughing at her irritated response.

"Stop it! I'm serious. This is going to be great."

He straightened as he shut the fridge. "Well I appreciate the effort you're making. I know how much you hate cooking."

"I figured it would be time to start since you're working that temp job and all your hours keep you away from making me food," she said, taking the lid off the frying pan and checking on the steaming contents.

Keefe chuckled, uncapping the water and taking a long swig before walking over to Sophie and peering over her head at what she was making. Steamed broccoli, a pot boiling for water, tomato sauce for the pasta, and all sorts of spices dusted over the surfaces she must have used that she hadn't bothered cleaning up yet. It was messier than whenever he cooked, but this was the real deal. She wasn't just going to make ramen noodles, pop an egg in there and call it a day.

"You know, I'm beginning to feel like the only reason you agreed to be with me is because you wanted someone to cook for you," he finally said.

"This comes as a surprise to you? I thought I warned you when we first started dating," Sophie responded with a smirk. "Food is the only way to my heart."

"You also told me and I quote that you'd never be able to be with me because you couldn't stand healthy food crap. Look where we are now."

"Shush you." She scooped a bit of the red sauce from the large pot with the mixing spoon and held it up to him. "Taste it."

"Is it safe?" he teased, leaning his hip against the counter and tucking a short strand of hair behind her ear. Sophie hated how short her hairdresser had accidentally cut her hair, but Keefe liked the way the short waves fell against her face. "You didn't mix up the sugar and salt again did you?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I can't stand you. It happened one time and now you won't let me live it down. Now taste it before I force this down your throat."

"I will if you feed it to me from your mouth. . ." he said playfully, lifting her chin up with one finger.

She swatted his hand away with a scowl, though he could see the smile pushing on her face. "Keefe."

"Alright, alright." Sophie watched him expectantly as he bent down and put the spoon in his mouth, tasting what she'd made. It had an interesting flavor, a little spicy like he liked it, but not too overpowering that the heat detracted from the taste. "Not bad. What'd you put in it?"

"Nutmeg and garlic and some random thing on sale I found at the grocery store called keema curry spice. And I know you like a kick, so I put cayenne in it too."

"Foster, it's great." He kissed her cheek and a proud, triumphant grin grew on her face. She was so cute. "So what's the occasion? I know you wouldn't cook unless it was for a really good reason or to celebrate something."

Sophie snorted. "This is the occasion. I decently cooked something."

Keefe nodded. "True, true. I remember the one time you managed to burn cereal."

The color on her cheekbones turned to a darker shade. "Don't remind me," she mumbled. "That was disastrous."

"Almost as good as the Great Cape Destruction," he agreed.

"Must I bring up the Great Gulon Incident?" she shot back.

"Must I remind you I am proud of that—but totally had nothing to do with it?"

Her eye roll was dramatic. "Mmhmm." She started sprinkling some umber leaves into the pot and Keefe saw her scoop up a handful of starkflowers and toss them in, as well. She dusted off her hands and turned to face him, leaning against the counter. 'So, why did you come over here?"

"Um. . because you're my girlfriend and this is where you live?"

"But you don't live here."

"Well, ouch. Apparently I get points off my score board for being a caring boyfriend. What else do you want me to drop that apparently does not appeal to Foster—Ruler of The Universe?"

She crossed her arms, pursing her lips to keep from smiling. "I'm serious."

Her face was dead serious.

He shrugged and walked over to her, tenderly wiping the red sauce from off the tip of her nose and on her cheek. Then he licked it off his thumb. "Not sure. Mostly just to scare you." He began taking another sip of his water when she asked, "Mostly?" and he paused, looking down at her. Her eyebrows were up and arched elegantly, her fawn eyes piercing into his soul. He swallowed it nervously and it suddenly felt like acid running down his throat. "I guess," he croaked, then realized that was the wrong answer and he panicked. "I—I mean, no. Maybe. Kinda? Uh. . ."

He expected her to come up to him and grab his chin and make him look at her or to fish out what she wanted from his head on her own— she'd never been one to fully obey the telepath restrictions—but she simply got off from leaning on the counter and came near, studying his eyes. ". . .Something's on your mind."

"Why don't you just read it?"

"You didn't give me permission."

It was silent for a couple seconds.

"Want to tell me what's going on?"

"Not really," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the ruffles on her apron, avoiding eye contact.

"Please?" she whispered. And he looked up, despite knowing better, and he was instantly lost in the honeycomb orbs that penetrated his heart and soul right to the core. 

He blew out a breath and pulled her close, nuzzling her to his chest. She let out a tiny, "Oof" and a giggle and he rested his chin on her head. "I dread the day when you would wake up and suddenly realize that what a perfect girl like you is doing with a messed up boy like me."

Sophie was rendered speechless at his confession. "You. . . what?" she asked, pulling slightly away. "Am I dreaming, or did Keefe Sencen just willingly share his feelings with me?"

A smirk tugged on his lips. "Very funny, Foster." He acted calm on the outside, but on the inside his stomach had dropped somewhere near his knees.

She chewed on her lower lip, eyes glittering with something he couldn't place. "I'll never think that, you know," she replied softly.

"You'll realize," he sighed.

She shook her had. "Idiot," she whispered, standing up on her tiptoes and planting a brief kiss to his lips. "I like you. I. . . I love you."

"But—"

"Hey," she said, "I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. I'm messed up, too. Just like you." She winked at the last part.

And when she grabbed his hands reassuringly, the dread filling his stomach had been replaced with something else; something he had never before. Butterflies.

"Good lord, Foster. What are you doing to me?" he mumbled, smile on his lips, as he pulled her close again.