First requested by @SilverBunny27, and continued at request of @WynnAndLuna25,  @Quetzal_37  and @thegrayswan88

Before:

"After school?" Fitz suggested. "The coffee shop across the street? I can meet you at the flagpole if that's okay with you."

This was completely a friendly meet up, of course.

Unfortunately.

But that was plenty, especially since she was finally going to get her answers.

So she nodded, saying, "I'll be there."

And when Fitz's smile turned soft, she knew that it was the best decision she'd ever made.

Sophie hesitated.

Her brain loved to stop her from making decisions, and since she had just made the most impulsive of her entire life, it seemed to be attempting to pull her away from the entrance of the coffee shop.

But Fitz was waiting inside.

She could see him sitting at one of the tables. Glancing around anxiously, as if he actually wanted her to show up. As if he was nervous that she wouldn't.

Maybe she shouldn't have waited a bit longer than usual to leave school so that she wouldn't be the first one there.

Maybe he was just as nervous as she was.

Her mind made up, she pushed open the door, ignoring the tinkling bell that announced her arrival. Concentrating on blocking out the voices flowing through her head, she closed her eyes and opened them quickly. Fitz's head swiveled towards the door as if he wasn't expecting her to actually show up, and the smile he flashed when he saw her was enough to make her sure she made the right choice.

He gestured towards the seat across from him at the two-person table he'd grabbed, and Sophie plunked herself down in the seat, perhaps a bit harder than necessary, almost falling. Sure her face was bright red, she steadied herself and hooked her bag around the back of the chair before turning back to face him.

They sat in silence for a minute, simply studying the other. Sophie scanned Fitz, taking in his carefully styled hair, expensive clothes, and muscled physique that her eyes stayed a little too long on. She got to his eyes to find that Fitz was already staring into hers. His were teal, although more blue than green. More like they were a light blue with shades of green swirled in, and the result utterly transfixed her.

She couldn't tear her eyes away, and Fitz was still staring at hers too, almost as if her boring, drab brown eyes could be anything worth looking at-

"Can I get you anything?" A waiter trilled, his curly hair flipping out of his eyes at the same time as his notepad opened. Sophie jumped in her seat a little, noticing Fitz gave a little twitch that he immediately shook off, sending a brilliant smile in the waiter's direction.

He seemed to know the waiter- Jensi- by name, treating him as he would a friend and ordering easily, as if he had many times before. Maybe Jensi was a family friend or something... after all, why would Fitz come to this small cafe when he was so obviously rich?

Sophie glanced at the menu on the blackboards above the counter, ordering what she usually did.

Jensi nodded, scribbling down their orders and heading back behind the counter.

They sat for a few more seconds in awkward silence, as Sophie searched her mind for something to say.

"So... how long have you been able to read minds?" Fitz outright asked, startling her.

She glanced around on instinct to make sure no one was listening, even though she knew everyone would be focused on themselves, like they always were. "Um, since I was five. I got a concussion when I hit my head on a sidewalk, and I woke up in the hospital reading minds."

Fitz's eyes widened. "Since you were five? Mine started at, like, twelve. I was playing soccer with my friend Keefe when I suddenly heard a voice in my head that wasn't mine."

"What was he thinking?" Sophie asked curiously.

Fitz grinned. "How best to cheat."

Sophie laughed, and Fitz joined her. Jensi returned with their coffees, and they thanked him, sipping from the tall cups.

"How do you manage to block the voices out?" Fitz asked. "I've been able to block some, but the loudest thoughts are hard."

"I'm not sure, to be honest. Sometimes thoughts make it through, and I have to keep up a barrier consciously at all times... I guess I just imagine a wall around my brain, stopping thoughts," Sophie said thoughfully.

"We should come up with a better method. Together," Fitz placed his hand right next to where hers was resting on the table, so close their fingers just brushed. Feeling an abnormal amount of courage, Sophie reached out tentatively and placed her hand over his.

Fitz laced his fingers through hers, and a wave of warmth shot through her.

"Together?" Sophie smiled through the flutters in her stomach. Fitz nodded.

"Together."

...

Fitz's eyebrows pressed together as he concentrated. Sophie watched him carefully, keeping a lookout for any sign of exhaustion or stress beyond what she had learned to expect. Once she was satisfied that he looked fine (better than fine, actually, with his hair ruffled cutely and his- pay attention, Sophie!), she relaxed the barriers that successfully blocked out the voices. No one else was in the house, so she was able to use her full concentration to allow herself to relax.

She imagined all of her protective walls that she kept in place falling, the safety net she'd constructed behind them floating away. Once all of her defenses were gone, she nodded to Fitz, and he nodded back.

Slowly, Sophie stretched out her mind as she'd been practicing, imagining her thoughts floating towards Fitz's in a cloud. His defenses were down too, and she was finally able to carefully work her way past the natural silence his mind presented to make her way in.

Finally, she heard a whisper of thought that wasn't hers.

Is it working? Can you hear me?

Sophie immediately thought all the triumphant thoughts she could, and Fitz gave a little jump of happiness.

"WE DID IT!" He cheered, his smile brighter than ever. "It took months, but we did it!"

Glad it wasn't all a waste. But how could it be?

The thought came involuntarily, and she blushed. 

It couldn't be a waste when I'm with you.

That-

He just-

Fitz smiled at her gently, and Sophie allowed herself to think all the thoughts she'd been holding back.

I'm glad it's you.

His smile brightened, shining, and she smiled in response.

Me too.

...

He turned as she burst through the door.

"Hey," he was about to smile when he noticed the look on her face.

Quickly leading her up to his room, he sat next to her on the bed.

He had a good idea what she was about to say, and he dreaded it.

"She's gone," Sophie choked out, tears streaming down her face. "Jolie's gone. Forever."

Fitz closed his eyes for a beat, tears already welling. "I'm here for you," he whispered. He knew for a fact that sorry's didn't help.

Sophie buried her face in his shoulder, and his arms went around her naturally. "Can I...?"

She nodded without speaking, her nose digging into his arm. His arms tightened around her, and he slipped into her mind, easy as water slipping through his fingers.

My fault it was my fault she's gone I'll never see her again she's gone never again never said goodbye I should've stopped it if she'd stayed she'd be okay but she didn't and she burned and I'm never going to see her again-

Fitz pressed a kiss to her head, and she seemed to relax into his arms. Just a bit.

Tears soaked his shirt, and he transmitted, I'm here, over and over and over again. 

Nothing else he could say would mean anything.

But he was here.

And he always would be.

I'm here, he transmitted again.

Thank you, she managed to think. Thank you.

...

Sophie cuddled further into her boyfriend's chest, popping another piece of popcorn in her mouth.

It was hard to imagine they'd known each other for four years, now.

Three years since they'd first met minds.

Two years since they'd shared their first kiss.

One year exactly since he'd held her while she cried.

Fitz shifted behind her, closing the fluffy blanket more tightly around them as Sophie rested her head against his shoulder.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek, and she turned so he could meet her lips.

Their minds joined, weaving together naturally.

Want to watch the movie? she asked.

You read my mind, he answered, a sad smile curving his lips.

She turned to press her lips against his in a quick peck. 

They started the movie. 

Sophie felt tears well in her eyes, pressing herself against Fitz's side.

Jolie's favorite movie.

They'd watched it the day before the accident, exactly a year ago.

Fitz's arm tightened around her, and Sophie savored the warmth, letting herself cry for the first time all day.

He'd always be there to support her.

They'd face any obstacle, climb any mountain, cross any ocean.

They'd do it together.

Together.

Always.

Okay I may have gotten a little carried away with that-

I just love the idea of comforting relationships through grief and stuff... then I remembered Jolie and I was like... hMmMmm

Anyway, it was pretty sweet

I'll start working on another oneshot soon, after I finish the next chapter of my Sokeefe fanfic.

Hope you liked it!