The Neverseen were a never-ending problem. A wound that grew continually and festered.

Yet, to say Keefe was surprised when he heard they'd been spotted mingling in a Forbidden City was a major understatement. Especially so when he heard that they'd be going there to investigate it.

After scrambling feeds and going over a quick list of rules (don't touch this, don't mess with that, report back anything suspicious immediately, and keep in contact at all times, to name a few) they'd light-leaped to the tiny city.

He watched Foster's silhouette disappear around a corner with Dex, before he and Tam started meandering around. Keefe kept observing the street lamps and simple buildings, loving the enamel decorations a few had on the outside. It was so beautifully decorated with cobblestone streets and hand-carved wooden signs outside of shops that Keefe couldn't stop staring. He could paint about this, he decided. There was so much to soak in, that he was sure he'd never be able to do the tiny town justice, though.

Keefe rammed into Tam's back suddenly. The boy had stopped.

"Hey," Keefe called, tapping his shoulder. "Bangs Boy, you goo–"

Tam pointed into a shop that was still open. It was so early in the morning that half the shops were closed or vacant, but there was one on the end with light sifting out through the windows. Keefe followed Tam's finger to it, looking as a shadow passed across the cobblestone street over the light coming from inside the shop.

A formless silhouette. A blob of darkness.

Someone wearing a cloak.

"Let's go," Keefe decided, grabbing Tam's hand before he could protest. He dragged him forward, ignoring his persistent tugging and cursing as he begged Keefe to allow him time to warn the others before they barged in.

They slowed when they reached the shop on the corner, slinking past the windows and melting into the darkness against the oak doors. Breathing heavily, Keefe met Tam's eyes with a lazy smirk.

"Ready?" he whispered.

"You're going to get us killed."

"You say that every time."

His smirk dissolved when they heard shuffling inside. They waited until the sound had faded for Tam to peek his head around the corner and peer into the shop.

His dark eyebrows furrowed and for a moment that had Keefe wincing, expecting the worse, but Tam straightened and returned next to Keefe, shrugging. "No one's in there," he whispered.

"What?"

"I know. I don't see anybody." Silence settled between them until Tam added, "Maybe they're in one of the backrooms."

Keefe looked him up and down leisurely. "Only one way to find out," he suggested, gripping the golden handle. His voice was playful, but his eyes were serious.

Tam nodded, unsure at first, but then with conviction. Determination fizzled in his silver eyes. "Okay."

Keefe blew out a breath, dipping his chin. he hesitated a fraction of a second before whipping the door open, swiftly striding inside with Tam behind. They went to back-to-back on instinct, swirling around, checking to see if there was anyone hiding in the corners.

Their shoulders relaxed. "Where are they?"

Keefe pursed his lips, eyebrows pressing together in confusion. "I don't know." His eyes drifted over to the aisles of shelves stocked with books. Keefe gestured to it subtly with his chin and Tam bobbed his head in agreement, again.

They slunk towards the wooden shelves, and though Keefe knew it was a horrible time, his eyes caught sight of the detailed carvings done into the sides of them. They were elaborate, each one telling a story like a tapestry. Little people dining, fawns frolicking together, children laughing.

Tam peeked his head cautiously into the first aisle, motioning for Keefe to follow when it was empty. They kept going down the line, glancing down the following aisle to ensure that it was empty before proceeding. The further they went, the closer they drew to the end, the more Keefe's chest tightened.

Yet, when they reached the end, there was no sign of anyone. Not even any disturbances.

Tam hummed softly, turning around and looking to the doorway again, where they had started. His sleek, elegant brows had crunched together.

"Where did they go?" His voice was barely a whisper. More of a breath, and it took Keefe a couple of seconds to actually discern what he had said. The blond boy eventually shrugged his shoulders in response.

In an instant, Tam caught sight of a hooded figure rounding a nearby corner in the shop. Another followed in tow, starting to approach fast.

Sure enough, they must have been waiting in the backroom.

He sucked in air between his teeth, grabbing Keefe's shirt in his fists. He harshly tugged him into an aisle, behind the shelves, shoving his back sharply into the wood. Keefe made a sound of dissatisfaction, opening his mouth to chew Tam out for it, when the blond noticed how wide Tam's eyes were. And they were blazing with urgency.

"Kiss me," Tam ordered in a harsh whisper.

"What?"

"Don't act so appalled, just–!" He cursed under his breath, snatching Keefe by the collar. Before Keefe could comprehend what was happening, he was pulled forward and Tam's mouth crashed over his own.

Keefe squeaked at the contact, icy eyes wide and bulging.

Tam moved his mouth against his, sliding his hands down to grab Keefe's waist to ensure their bodies pressed flush against one another. They were plastered together and Keefe knew Tam could probably feel Keefe's erratic heartbeat by the way his mood shifted to some sort of soft surprise.

Tam tilted his head, giving more access and room to the both of them, mouths sliding together better. Keefe's eyes were droopy and he lifted his hands, pulling up Tam's hood to obscure his hair and their faces better. His hands ended up resting on Tam's cheeks - just to block their faces more, he told himself.

Keefe screwed his eyes shut as the Neverseen members came around the corner, not wanting to see how it was going to play out. If he ended up getting shot then and there, so be it. This was the nicest way to go.

He was suddenly very glad that they had worn human clothing, as their elvin clothes would have been an immediate dead-giveaway. Still, he shrunk under the feel of the burning stares, holding Tam close by his face.

They weren't leaving. They were standing there. Staring.

Keefe's heart thumped wildly in his chest as Tam gruffly became aware of that, too, anxiety coursing through him. He shifted quickly, too quickly for Keefe to process, and sunk his teeth into the blond's lower lip. It caused a gasp to erupt from Keefe, followed by him sinking into it and furrowing his eyebrows. A throaty groan escaped, which was swallowed by Tam pressing their lips together again.

Keefe wanted to ask why - not that he hadn't enjoyed it. He had. A lot. - but then he heard someone awkwardly clear their throat before footsteps padded away slowly. That had been all they'd needed, apparently.

When the door slammed shut behind two elves leaving the scene, Tam broke the kiss with a crude pop. Breathing heavily, they locked gazes for a brief moment before Tam stepped back. Keefe was more than dissapointed to feel the boy's warmth seep away from his body.

"Shit," he muttered, voice cracking. It was still hoarse from the intensity of the kiss.

Tam's chest was heaving, eyes darting all over the store as he searched to make sure they were really gone. When he saw that they were definitely alone, he slumped back against the shelf behind him. He brushed the bangs off his forehead briefly, just for them to swish back into place. "Shit is right."

"No," Keefe clarified, reaching up to brush a thumb over his mouth. His lips were still tingling with electricity, buzzing and reeling from the way Tam's mouth had molded with his own. "That kiss."

Tam blinked. His alabaster cheeks painted over with pastel pink. "What about it?"

"That was... Intense," Keefe admitted.

Such a dull word to describe it. He felt like he was spinning.

There were a few beats of silence before Tam asked, "Is that... bad?"

Keefe had the audacity to laugh, running a hand through his hair. Their eyes met again, faces flushing full of heat in sync. "Nah," he said, hushed. "I don't think so."