Keeper Of The Lost Cities One Shots

Trust (Tam Song)

A request from my friend Anna! Credit to: Kai (on Instagram). Anna and I are HUGE Tam Song fans (I think we're going to start a club just about him) so I thought why not? Don't forget to vote and comment some ideas! I also love feedback! Anyway, read on about my perfect little angel (my child), TAM SONG!!!!!!!!!!
  
   Trust and respect was the hardest things you can get from Tam. And you can't blame him. With his troubled past and having to live on their own for most of their lives, Tam was the typical 'mysterious guy with the mysterious past'. So the look of 'don't mess with me and my sister' was born. Silver tipped bangs, dark clothes, and a mask was all other elves saw.
   Linh on the other hand, was a complete sweetheart. She was the type of person that took all the blame and apologized too often. Her pretty face was very convincing too.
She could never survive on her own without me, Tam thought when she got banned from the Lost Cities. Not with the innocence she has. She doesn't deserve this. She's my sister, we can't be separated.
   And so he went with her. He cut himself off with everyone else except his sister, who, admittedly, had his only friend for a long time. He protected her, and did his best for providing both of their needs. The twins did well, considering they were so young.
   But then one cold night came along and they could barely keep the fire going. Wrapped in the few blankets they had, Linh whispered in the softest tone, "Do you think they ever wanted us? Mom and Dad I mean?"
   Tam stood up from the cloth he was sitting on. "Of course they loved us Linh!" He said, willing his voice not to break. "They... They just care too much about their reputation to realize how hard it is for us. Like how we have to live like this, or go to a school like that. But we don't need them if they don't need us. We can make do without them. We can do it better and have better lives than we ever had with them."
   Linh watched the shadows crawl across his face while he said this. The fire was bright now, burning against the howling wind. Her eyes watered as her heart swelled with compassion.
   "Oh crap, I said that wrong didn't I? I mean-- we'll--it's just they--" Tam stuttered, staring at his hands. He never said the right thing, always slipping up and making her feel worse. "Look I'm sorry--"
   "No! No, no, no! It's not that, Tam. I'm crying because that's exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you, brother," Linh smiled. Her blue eyes were watery but her smile was true.
   Tam blew out a breath, his silver bangs blowing out of his eyes. "I'm happy you're  happy, Linh. Just know whatever happens is not your fault, okay? I'm here too and I chose this, to be here with you."
   He hadn't seen a smile that big in a long time.
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   The Shade. That's what people called him. It wasn't a bad nickname (he'd been called worse), but at least he had a name. Most students didn't even have a name. But his sister and him made quite an impression when they attended.
   Poor Linh hated the exercising with water, because it reminded her of the horrible incident. But the Shade excelled in everything. Hold your breath for long periods of time, regulating body temperature, levitating and etc.
   Though he had never, in all the years he's been to Excillum, seen someone fail at something much as Sophie Foster. Only she, the brown eyed elf, seemed to be the only person Tam was willing to talk to besides his sister.
   'Who is she?' He shadow whispered to his sister.
   'I don't know, but she helped me during the practice today. She's an Inflictor and she inflicted on me during it. She pushed, I don't know, calmness to me? I like her, we should talk to her.'
   'She inflicted on you? And you didn't tell me before? I need to know these things, Linh!'
   'I don't be such a baby. I can handle myself, Tam. She was really nice. She has like 4 abilities though. I've never heard of someone with that many abilities before...'
   'Interesting. But I don't care how nice she is, but she doesn't mess with my sister.'
   Linh rolled her eyes. 'Oh brother.'
   'Doesn't she know her place here? She's even more noticeable than us with those abilities...'
   'Oh so you are interested?'
   'Shut up. It's not like that. She just needs to know the rules around here. After an entrance like that she might as we'll be a celebrity around here.'
   The blonde seemed to panic at the crowd around her disperse into the Mess Hall. She walked in the back of the group, probably confused to where they were going. Her eyes were on the floor, obviously concentrating on something. We'll she was a Telepath, so she could be talking to one of her friends she came in with, against the rules.
   It's not like he was going to tattle on her. He broke the rules all the time.
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   After Linh told Sophie about their past, Tam trusted her. Sophie Foster, the only other person he trusted besides his sister. A good choice, because they had a real home finally.
   "I saw you staring at that dark haired girl today," Linh teased.
   "If you're going to tease me, at least know the girls name. Biana," Tam said. He turned away, pretending to study some trees to hide his growing blush.
   "Ha. That's cute," Linh smiled. "Meeting Sophie was great wasn't it?"
   "I guess..."
   "You guess? It's not like we help saved the elvin race or anything."
   "Fine. Yes it was great. And I'm glad we were of help to Sophie and her friends. Except that one guy what was his name... Keefe. He didn't let me take a reading, so he doesn't have my trust."
   "Whatever."
   "Hmm," Tam hummed. "It's late. Go to sleep, Linh. I'll wake you up tomorrow."
   "You're a great brother, Tam."
   Tam was too flustered to do anything but nod and hum again. "Goodnight."
   "Night, brother."
I like to think that Tam is older by like 7 minutes but pretends its a huge gap since he's so over protective.