Chapter 115: Two Guides who can manage their Espers

When Brent came back out of the bathroom, he found that Esper Parker had food delivered to the kitchen. Mr. Caulder was sitting at the island, eating in a rather elegant way that reminded Brent of his grandfather. His suit jacket hung on the back of the stool, his back straight as he cut into the food while Esper Parker stood a few feet away, a phone raised to his ear.

Both men glanced at him when he came back, Mr. Caulder nodded to Brent carefully while Esper Parker gave him a smile and gestured to the kitchen. Brent took the hint and made a bee-line for the kitchen. He only hesitated for a second when he realised that the food was all cut up into bite-size pieces for him.

It was a small detail, a caring one that had been haunting him ever since he arrived at the Phoenix Guild. Brent wondered, briefly, if the Espers fought over who got to cut up the one armed Guides food downstairs? It wouldn’t surprise him.

Brent sighed, picking up the plate and going around the island to join Mr. Caulder at the island. Mr. Caulder slid over some cutlery for him, smiling at Brent as Brent hopped onto the stool.

Brent noted that the blinds were down, casting the room in more shadows and Brent wondered if that meant that Esper Parker’s powers were stronger? Did he get stronger at night? Did he need shadows to work?

He was curious about the man that he knew nothing about. Brent normally got this kind of information from Espers after he had bedded him, but Brent did not go after married men. Or even dating men. Or women.

Brent did not and would not be the reason a couple broke up. That had happened once before, and it had scarred him forever. He already felt like the reason his family fell apart, he didn’t need more guilt.

Brent ate in silence, mulling over his previous thoughts after he pushed away how Esper Parker’s powers worked. He glanced at Mr. Caulder, his careful motions, and when Mr. Caulder caught Brent watching, the older man smiled.

“You were taught by your grandfather, weren’t you?” Mr. Caulder commented and Brent nodded, swallowing his bite.

“Yeah, but it’s been years since I’ve used table manners.” Brent told him. Mr. Caulder watched him and chuckled, shaking his head.

“You haven’t completely lost them, I’d say.” Mr. Caulder said carefully before he let out a sigh. “I must say, I am rather surprised at the quality of food at this Guild. I never thought that they would have such good food here.” It should have sounded like a snub, but Brent just felt his lips curl up warmly.

“It’s one of the few pleasures that everyone can enjoy in a Guild. Guides tend to forget the taste of things over time since we eat so much, but that doesn’t mean Espers should. They put their lives on the line for the common people, so they should have the best chefs around.” Brent grinned at Mr. Caulder.

The older man had a thoughtful expression on his face.

“So are you saying that you can’t really taste the food that you are eating right now?” He asked and Brent turned his attention back to the food before him. He could taste it, he knew it was tasty, but he also knew that his body needed fuel. He’d need to guide a few of the Espers that came back, and it was scary how his mind was able to calculate that this wasn’t going to be enough to sustain him.

“I can taste it, but after you eat as much as I have in a day…well, you learn to tune it out. If I’m eating something for enjoyment I like it to have lots of flavour, but if I’m eating something for the energy I try to eat something more plain.” Brent told him honestly. Mr. Caulder listened carefully, curiously, and Brent realised that Mr. Caulder was treating Brent the same way that he wanted to treat Esper Parker, without the sex.

It was an interesting realisation, one that made Brent chuckled.

“Actually, Mr. Caulder, while I have your attention without the others here, could I pick your mind on a few things?” Brent started.

That led into the hour long conversation between Brent and Mr. Caulder about Brent’s plans and which were good and which needed to wait some time. Mr. Caulder never said that any of Brent’s plans were bad, but he did say that some of them would need to wait.

However, he did approve of Brent using a large sum of money to buy a member of the government. He even had a list that Brent could choose from. Brent was surprised that the man had brought so much with him, but then again, he had brought a briefcase with him, and in that briefcase was a laptop that had everything Mr. Caulder would ever need, backed up onto a hard drive that the man carried around with him.

He was prepared for anything and everything, and Brent was surprised that the man was so cautious, and also impressed that he was like that. Talking to him had really put things into perspective so by the time that Aunt Dina and the rest of the team had come back, Brent had a clear plan laid out for the next steps forward.

Aunt Dina, when she came into her apartment, flanked by Esper Gardner and Esper Tracer, Brent and Mr. Caulder had taken over the kitchen island with their plans. Both men had their heads huddled together, clearly mid plot, when Aunt Dina huffed loudly.

Both men turned, and Brent realised that her power was dangerously low. His eyes went wide, his jaw dropping as he also realised that some of her uniform was a little burnt.

“What the hell did you get up to while I was gone?” Brent demanded, leaving Mr. Caulder’s side to move towards her. He didn’t flinch when she took a step back from her, he wasn’t scared of S Classes, and he grabbed her. He didn’t give her time to resist his guiding, even as she growled and glared at him.

“Let go of me.” Aunt Dina warned and Brent snarled back.

“Absolutely not. You need guiding, and I’ll be damned if I let you damage yourself on my watch.” Brent shot back, not backing down. Mr. Caulder, who was just a civilian, had to sit down as the two had a battle of wills, which Brent won.

Aunt Dina wouldn’t hurt a Guide, even one who pushed her like this. Especially one who pushed her like this.

“Damn it, does that damn city create all Guides like you?” She grumbled, but let Brent continue to guide her. The edge left her tone, the twitching muscle between her brows slowing until it smoothed.

“Blame Kellen. I was made in his image.” Brent told her and Aunt Dina groaned.

“Which means I really just have Henry to blame.” She muttered. Brent felt his lips twitch. Yeah, he couldn’t really argue that.

“How did the clean up go?” Brent asked, sliding his gaze towards the other Fire Esper, Esper Gardner, and the Wind Esper, Esper Tracer.

Both women looked away, avoiding Brent’s gaze. Brent felt his body stiffen.

“You did clean up, right?” Brent prompted, and he felt Aunt Dina tense under his forceful hand. Esper Parker cleared his throat.

“Here we function a little differently, Brent,-” Brent’s harsh laughter cut off Esper Parker’s defense of his Captain. Aunt Dina looked at Brent, worried, as the man continued to laugh. Oh, he owed the government a lot of fucking money, didn’t he? Fuck.

Well, at least Aunt Dina made it easier for him to bribe someone.

~

Unsurprisingly, Aunt Dina was completely against Brent putting himself in danger in the slightest. She hated the idea of Brent going out amongst the public again. She even used today as a clear example that Brent leaving the Phoenix Guild was dangerous not just for him, but for everyone. Civilians included.

It wasn’t like Brent didn’t agree with her, but he had to do this. Danger wasn’t something he wasn’t used to, plus, he was already a Guide. This city already had it out for him. What were a few more targets?

Aunt Dina didn’t like that either, so that was when Brent let Mr. Caulder step in. Aunt Dina’s reaction was all a part of Brent’s plan. He would say the most reckless way to get what he wanted, and then Mr. Caulder would come in with the plan that they had come up with together.

There was no way that Aunt Dina wouldn’t agree with what he said because when compared to the ridiculous plan that Brent had presented, Mr. Caulder’s looked like a cake walk.

Esper Parker, who had overheard their plotting, just shook his head as he watched it happen, and then gave a snort of disbelief when it worked. If there was one thing Brent knew, it was Espers. He hadn’t used the time he’d spent at the Phoenix Guild for nothing. He’d spent his time observing the Espers around him, seeing how they worked.

They were allies, but they were also Espers. He would have them eating out of the palm of his hand until someone stepped in and stopped him. Unfortunate for them that the person was supposed to be Esper Parker or Mr. Caulder but both men were on Brent’s side.

So, Aunt Dina found herself backed into a corner and she wasn’t even aware of it until it was too late and she had agreed with Brent’s original plan. Brent was all smiles as she agreed, that was, until her cell phone rang.

With great annoyance, she pulled the phone out, looking pissed off until she saw the caller i.d. Once she did, she paused, then glanced at Brent with a curious expression.

Brent felt his spine stiffen, wondering who was on the other end of the phone call. Was it his brother? How did he get her number? Brent felt his hair stand on end, swallowing thickly as he worried about what was going on.

Then, Aunt Dina raised the phone to her ear after answering the call.

“Hello Henry. Isn’t it rather early in the morning for you over there?” Brent felt his heart jerk in his chest. Henry? Was that…Kellen’s Dad, Henry?

Brent felt his mouth dry up as Aunt Dina got to her feet, her gaze glancing towards Brent as she moved.

“Oh? Is that so? Well, that’s good news. That’s not just good news, that’s great news. How are things on my end?” Aunt Dina’s eyes curled up as she smiled, her red gaze flickering as she stared at Brent. “Well, I might have gotten into a bit of trouble today.” She said, humour tainting her words. “Just a little bit.” She let out a laugh. “Ah, you know the police can’t touch me.”

Brent listened to her speak, his hand clenching on his pant leg. He had a strong desire to rip the phone from her hand and demand to know if Kellen was alright, if he could speak to him. Instead, he stayed where he was, practically glued to the spot. He watched Aunt Dina move around the room, chatting to her old friend casually. He knew that she could feel his gaze.

Then, she paused, turning to Brent and holding out the phone.

“Henry wants to speak with you.” She said. Brent felt his hand begin to sweat. Him?

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