#i ship sokeefe but i tagged this so the fitz lovers can vibe

[crymeariveronceagain]

"But We're Cognates"

Okay. I know.

I know. This line is so overused. So watered down. It's what anyone quotes when they want to mention that Fitz is possessive, or rude, or is kinda toxic for Sophie.

Well, the thing is. I say variants of this line in my head all the time. Sure, it's not "but we're cognates."

Instead, it's "but you were my friend first" or "but I want to spend time with just you" or "but I LIKE YOU MORE THAN THEY DO!"

And that's not healthy on my part, I'll readily admit it.

But I know where it comes from. After all, it's a life of building blocks that got me here.

If you have one friend. Maybe two. And that's all you have, you do not want to share. You do not want them to get attached to others. You do not want them to drift away from you, because, inside, you're terrified of losing them.

Because that one friend, right there, they're all you've got. They're everything. You can't lose them. How are you going to function without them?

Fitz's "but we're cognates" line isn't about him trying to control Sophie, or trying to isolate her intentionally, or him trying to be rude or annoying or make Keefe jealous.

All it is is a kid who has one friend left desperately trying to keep that friend, for as long as he can.

Fitz has one friend, when he starts saying this line.

And that friend is Sophie.

He's afraid that if he doesn't hold on tight, doesn't try to insert himself into her life, he'll lose the only friend he's definitely still got.

And just.

Ow.