KOTLC Fanfic ~ (Book Nine) Forbidden

XIX - Keefe

Keefe groaned at the sight of the stairs they were in for. Thankfully it wasn't super windy. They levitated a while until they wind picked up again, and then they went over to the staircase, but they were almost halfway up.

"Why would anyone want to live up here?" "Protection." Fitz gave him the average answer, and Keefe pouted. "Hey, the Neverseen could come up here all the same." Fitz smiled. "You haven't even seen the place yet."

Keefe looked up, and in a while they reached a castle-like structure with slightly intimidating towers, and another, much less steep staircase. "Yeah, this place is pretty defended."

Keefe's eyes widened as he walked up to the door and rang the bell. He liked the tune. Linh answered the door. "Oh, hey, Fitz. Keefe." "Hi, Linh. Um... do you know where Tam is?"

"He's in his room. He's dealing with... some, um, unsettling news." Keefe's eyes widened. "Does that news have anything to do with... Biana?" Linh looked down a bit. "Yes, actually. Y-You've heard?"

"Yeah. We were coming to tell you guys... but I'm guessing Tiergan told you. We called Forkle and asked him to tell the Collective." Keefe sighed.

Fitz asked, "How's he doing?" "Oh... he's... I haven't ever seen him like this." Keefe knew how that felt. And so did Sophie. ...like she'd lost all hope.

That happened before. Remember that?

Keefe had this strange feeling in his stomach.

Being an Empath, he could've known what it was if someone else was feeling it... but then he knew what he was feeling.

Empathy. For Bangs Boy.

As well as a smidge of guilt that he tried his best to snuff out. But it was hard.

"Can I go talk to him?"

Linh's eyebrows crinkled. "I don't know - and not to be rude or anything - but I really don't know if you're the person he'd need right now. But if you really think..." Linh trailed off, and Keefe's face was as serious as a face could be.

"Thanks, Linh. Where exactly..." "Down that hall, up the stairs, two doors down on the left. Knock first, please." She smiled. Sort of.

Fitz's eyes widened. "Do you have any idea of what he's doing?" Linh shrugged.

"Not a clue."

—

Keefe traveled up another, smaller set of fairly steep stairs, went down the hall, and knocked on a purpley-blue and gold door. "Linh, I tell you every time, this really isn't something you can help with." His voice sounded strained.

"Um... this isn't your sister. It's me." "Oh, great. It's you." "I kind of wanted to... talk to you. About Biana." Keefe opened the door slowly, seeing a black haired boy facing away from him on a fairly large bed.

Without turning around, Tam asked, "There's no way I can get you to leave, is there?" "I'll leave if you want. But... I know how it feels."

"You know how it feels? Then, oh, how come you joined them and not a single person you care about was in danger? And nobody you really, really care about has gone to the side of the Neverseen. That's just me."

Keefe winced. "I know. But... Tam. I know how it feels to have joined them, and then have someone you care about be... well, heartbroken. And then... for you, it's just in reverse."

Tam turned around, his ultra stupid bangs showing now, but didn't say a word. He looked slightly like he'd been crying earlier. Keefe didn't dare crack a joke about that one.

"And that's why you need to leave. I'm better off on my own - because I can't even bear when someone lets me down. Linh wouldn't do that. She's my sister. But... this is proof I should stick with her, just her. Please. Leave."

Keefe sighed. "Okay. Just... I know that was a mistake now. I... you really can trust me, Tam. I probably won't ever like you. And I'll always make fun of your bangs. But... we're not all that different, you know? Just think about that."

Keefe sighed again and shut the door, going back down the stairs and to the hall.

Linh tried to smile at him. "He take it well? Or at all?" "Eh. Could've been worse. He's just... worried that anyone who could be a friend... or more... will let him down. And this seems... to him, like proof."

Fitz sighed. "I hope he'll be okay." Linh had a small puddle of water that had been drawn to her at her feet. "Me too."

She sighed, and looked at Fitz, then Keefe. "You should probably... probably go." She didn't want to seem rude, but her brother needed her. "See you."

Keefe and Fitz said goodbye and Linh smiled, waved, and shut the door behind them.

"Well, that totally was a waste of time."