For Those We've Lost - [Sequel]

Part 1 - Chapter 17

"How long have you had those abilities?" Tam asked, picking up the tiniest bit of food from his plate onto his fork.
"My mother practically gave me those abilities a few weeks after I joined the group. She just had to set a few things up and...I was willing to do it because I thought it would help." Keefe shrugged, staring at the plate of food and picking at it with his fork. "It took me a lot of practice, but I got a hold of my abilities and...it was hell, trying to control them."

Keefe managed a weak smile as he looked at Tam.
"I never planned on using my abilities, my mother never got me to use them either. She said that when the time was right, she'd make me use them. I never had to use them if I didn't want to until then." Keefe said.
Tam frowned as he looked at Keefe.
"Keefe-" Tam began.
"I'm fine." Keefe shrugged, looking at his food again. "I'm never going to see my mother again, she can't use me as her little toy anymore, and I will never use my abilities again. Never on you, never on anyone. I swear, Tam. I don't...I don't want to hurt you."

A silence overcame them. Keefe stabbed the food on the plate with his fork.
"How did you even find out about my abilities?" Keefe asked, not looking at Tam.
"...Azalea and Ruki seemed to have known about them." Tam answered quietly as he brought some food up to his mouth.
"How the hell-?" Keefe began to scowl. Keefe looked up and saw Tam's expression when his tone became a little more annoyed. "I- they really know everything, huh?"

Tam set down his fork on the plate and he shoved the plate away from him a little, indicating he was done with it. Keefe glanced at the plate, seeing that Tam barely ate anything.
"Not hungry?" Keefe questioned, looking at Tam.
"I feel ill thinking about eating right now." Tam mumbled, bringing a hand to his bangs and tugging at them.

"Mmh, promise me you'll eat later on?" Keefe tilted his head.
Tam tensed up at the word 'promise'. Tam's nose scrunched up as he thought back to when he accepted joining The Order of the Elements, when he had broken the promise he made to Keefe.
"I-I'll try." Tam managed to stutter out.
"That's good enough." Keefe sighed out softly.

"So...did Az and Ruki say anything else to you yesterday?" Keefe asked, looking at Tam curiously as he set his own fork down.
Tam's breath hitched and he cleared his throat.
"Fintan escaped. Or well, the Neverseen broke him out? Or something like that..." Tam mumbled, shaking his head slightly. "I- Linh and Marella got caught up with that, I don't know. I didn't get many details."
Keefe raised his eyebrows. "Shit. Do you know if they're okay at least?"

Tam tried to think back to what Azalea and Ruki told him but there was just something nagging at his brain. Keefe noticed this as he could feel Tam's anxiety in the air. Keefe reached his hand over and held Tam's hand. Keefe interlocked their fingers and Tam felt a little more at ease, having Keefe's warmth in his hand. Tam looked up at Keefe and Keefe gave Tam a small smile.

"I think we may need to ask Az and Ruki if there's something they can give you for anxiety." Keefe said, his thumb running back and forth across Tam's knuckles. "You've been...so much more stressed and panicked recently, and...I don't want you to spiral out of control again."
Tam took a deep breath. "I-I can message them and go myself-"
"Actually, I think it's time I met Erebus and visited wherever you have been wandering off to." Keefe cut Tam off.

Tam blinked and he stared at Keefe blankly. "Huh?"

Keefe shrugged. "I mean, why not? Plus, I don't want to spend a whole nother day not seeing you because you're busy having fun with Az and Ruki and anyone else."
Tam felt himself smile a little.
"Really?" Tam questioned.
Keefe nodded. "Yeah! Look, we can even go see them today and...we can talk more as we make our way over there. If that sounds good to you?"

"I- yeah! Uhm, I'll go grab that phone thingie and message them!" Tam exclaimed, letting go of Keefe's hand and getting up from where he was sitting.
Keefe smiled as Tam seemed to be excited about this. Tam was about to hurry off but Keefe spoke again. "Tam?"
"Mmhm?" Tam hummed, turning around and looking at Keefe.

Keefe got up from where he was sitting and he went over, gently cupping Tam's face.
"...I just wanna remind ya that I really love you." Keefe said softly. "And...I'm sorry that we've been sort of arguing a lot ever since we came here."
Tam blinked and he smiled up at Keefe.
"It's not your fault, Keefe." Tam whispered, reaching up. "And...I really love you too."
Tam pressed his lips against Keefe's. Keefe managed to kiss Tam back for only a second before Tam pulled away and his smile seemed to have grown.

"Mind doing the dishes?"
"...Do I have time to eat some cake?"
"You can have cake later."
"Urghhh, fine, fine!"

Tam seemed to laugh and he turned around, heading towards the bedroom to grab his phone. Keefe bit his lower lip as he watched Tam walk off.

Maybe Keefe would get the chance to talk to Azalea in private for a moment, and ask a couple of questions when he and Tam met up with them.

~~~~

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