@Yumyumwei requested a Tam x Marella oneshot. Enjoy! As always, feel free to comment or PM me requests!

HI SO THIS HAS SPOILERS FROM NIGHTFALL. I wanted to stay spoiler-free but there's not really much of a way to do that for this one. I mean, technically I could, but I have a much better idea if I do it like this. It's not the most surprising spoiler; a lot of people actually guessed this before the book came out. Anyway, if you haven't read Nightfall, and you don't want to spoil it, please don't read this. I'll put a little bit of space so you don't read it by accident. Sorry! All my other writing should be spoiler-free for a while... I'm not sure when I'll decide to start putting stuff about Nightfall. Probably in January or February.

Okay, so if you're here, you either have read Nightfall or don't care about spoilers. Enjoy! Sorry this is so short!

Marella had been working on her Pyrokinesis with Linh, since Mr. Forkle  had recommended she work with someone with another nature-based ability. She would come to Alluveterre (A/N Isn't that where Tam and Linh are staying still?) twice a week to work. Just as she was leaving one day, Tam approached her.

"Still not training at Foxfire?"

"I can't. The Council wouldn't allow it."

"Look, I know what it's like–"

"No, you don't," Marella cut him off. "Being a Shade is not that hard. You get shunned. I get arrested, or worse." Her voice cracked.

Tam took a step closer. Marella averted her eyes, her hair falling in front of her face. He reached a hand forward, brushing a few strands away until he could see her eyes. "You're right."

She still wouldn't meet his gaze. His fingers traveled to underneath her chin, lifting her face gently until finally she would look at him. "You're right," he repeated.

"You have it much worse than I do. And I will never know what it's like to have a banned ability. And frankly, I wouldn't be strong enough. Everyone thinks I'm tough because I'm protective of Linh, but really I do it so I won't fall apart. Looking after her is the only way I can ignore my own feelings and pretend I'm not falling apart." He stopped so he wouldn't cry.

Marella's eyes softened. She raised her hand to where he rested his hand on her jaw, curling her fingers around his. They stood, eyes locked, for a few breathless moments before she leaned up and placed the softest of kisses on his cheek. "See you in school."