Chapter 140: What it means to be a best friend

“Taylor, I’m sure Hill would be delighted to hear that from you.” Kellen told her and Taylor suddenly looked a little pale.

“That’s what’s worrying me. She has so much experience. I’m not new to dating but I’m…well, I know I’m intense. That’s why I don’t date often, and I’m weird. I do well to mask it, but you know, right? That I’m weird?” Taylor was looking at Kellen, practically begging him and Kellen felt a warm smile touch his lips.

“You’re a Healer, Taylor. Of course you’re weird. That’s how you lot survive the stress of everything.” Kellen told her and Taylor gave a slightly unhinged laugh.

“Yeah. That’s right. I wouldn’t be good friends with you otherwise.” Taylor said and Kellen felt a little offended by that.

“Hey! That’s rude. I wouldn’t say that about you.” Kellen protested and Taylor shrugged.

“You should. I am weird. I knew that my body composition changed when I became an Esper, and I’m sure you felt how your body changed when you became a Guide. I’m sure you also know about all the stories that are told about Healers. How we all have a quirk. I don’t exactly hide mine.” Taylor flushed. Kellen smirked.

“Ah yes, your love of making shakes for Guides.” Kellen teased, glad that the heaviness of the situation had shifted. As much as he knew that he needed to have serious conversations with everyone, he was allowed to rest and take a moment for humour. He could do that. He was allowed that much.

Taylor scowled at him.

“No! It’s not shakes, it’s what the shakes get me. Money! Money makes me feel better! I have a money pillow, money blankets, money mugs, money socks. I have it everywhere, and in several currencies.” She admitted, and Kellen could tell that at a certain point she was bragging.

They had never spoken like this to each other, so it was rather nice to feel that Taylor felt comfortable, or cornered enough, to talk to Kellen about this. He had a feeling it was more that she was comfortable with him since she wasn’t pale and stuttering and instead proud and flushed.

But suddenly, Taylor did grow pale, the energy draining from her.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be speaking like this. I’m here to apologise for what I did to you, not-not consult you for my own personal life or rant at you.” She looked ill again and this time Kellen frowned at her, shaking his head slowly.

He squeezed her hand and watched as she flinched at the touch. Kellen did not like that reaction.

“Taylor, my god, you’re allowed to confide in me. I’m actually mad at you that you didn’t. If you are my best friend then I am yours too. That means that you are supposed to tell me when things are getting too bad. Plus, as the other half of the Captain pair, I am supposed to know this information too. Fuck Rhys. I have a right to things too. If he wants to go around saying we have joint custody of the Guild, then we have joint custody of the Guild. That includes you too.” Kellen told her firmly. Taylor looked like she had no idea what to say to that.

She hadn’t let go of Kellen’s hand once he had extended it though.

“Is it bad that I can’t think of a better person to become an S Class in recent years? That I’m happy that it’s you? God, if it was anyone else, I would be worried, but because it’s you? I’m worried for those who would turn against you.” Taylor confessed and Kellen stared at her.

“Well, besides the reality that I’m slowly turning into Rhys, I’m sure it would be good. Outside of, you know, the fact that Rhys is terrified that I’m going to go insane.” Kellen admitted. For the first time. For the first time Kellen spoke about Rhys’ fears and how valid that they were.

Taylor’s expression crumpled and she dropped her head again. Her shoulders rose and fell dramatically, like she was gathering herself. It honestly made Kellen rather worried. They were talking about his insanity, but Taylor was giving him a run for his money. She was not well.

“You have to be fine.” Taylor said softly. “Given how strong your powers as an Esper are, my guess is that it’s around A Class. They have to grow too. They have to jump Class too. I can’t lose you to insanity. None of us can. Why would the world do that to you? Why would the powers that be create the Captain, create you, and then split you two up because of what they had done? What they had crafted? Isn’t the world cruel enough already?” For how upset she was, Taylor had a good point. Kellen couldn’t exactly argue with her.

“We…have to test it, don’t we?” Kellen asked carefully and Taylor nodded miserably.

“Yeah. We do. I’m sorry, Kellen. I really didn’t want to have to do this to you again. It was why we put in the order with a city nearby to get some machines. Tragic that they wouldn’t deliver because of the gate activity, but the Captain sent our two roaming S Classes to go pick it up.” Kellen felt his expression twist almost immediately, but Taylor didn’t notice.

She was still bent, her head staring at their joined hands on her lap. She was still wiping at her face, still crying in some capacity. She couldn’t see how the casual mention of those two had made him freeze.

“Right. The machines.” He repeated and she sniffed.

“Um, that reminds me, they arrived today, didn’t they? I got word we received the machines and my team looked them over and tested them before I entered the rescued guides’ room. What did you think of them?” Then Taylor sniffed again. “Wait. I think you spoke to Brent about them, but I was too far away to pick up what you were saying.” Taylor finally raised her head and saw how Kellen’s face was twisted. How annoyed he looked.

How frustrated.

She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.

“I take it you don’t like them?” She asked weakly and Kellen shook his head.

“Especially Jax. I just don’t see a point where either of us will get along with the other.” Kellen told her seriously. Kellen watched as her face fell slightly.

“Oh. That’s…I guess understanding. With your new Class, you probably won’t get along with S Classes from this point on. I forgot that, since most of our S Classes tend to just put up with the other.” Kellen frowned. That was a rude thing to say, but then again, he couldn’t exactly deny it either.

It could be playing into his dislike of the other man, but Kellen thought it was more primal. Rhys was his. No one called him nicknames besides Kellen, and the man had fundamental differences in opinions when it came to what partners were supposed to be and how they treated each other. It was great that he had the kind of relationship that he wanted with Jules, but that was not how Kellen was going to live.

“It would be easy if that was the reason.” Kellen said coolly and Taylor blinked.

“Oh. Um, okay. Uh, sorry.” Taylor apologised easily and Kellen shook his head.

“It’s nothing you said, Taylor. Don’t worry. I just have a fundamental difference that I don’t think can be easily overcome until I put my fist into his face.” Kellen told her calmly, and Taylor, who was unused to Kellen saying violent things, stared at him.

“This S Class thing has really changed you.” She said and Kellen furrowed his brows. “Normally you wouldn’t talk about what you planned to do, you would just do it. No hesitation. Have you gotten more worried as time has gone on?” She asked and Kellen chuckled.

“No, Taylor. I’m injured, and I’m not bringing a gun or a knife to a fight with a member of the Saturn Guild, no matter how big of a bone I have to pick with him. Even if I know he could handle it. Until I am free of this damn eye patch, or hell, I’d take just having my hand free, I have to speak my violence out loud. Otherwise I think I’ll explode.” Kellen sighed. “Anyway, we need to discuss when I can do this damn test to get it the fuck out of the way and then we need to schedule my next transfusion. I don’t want to be a liar to Brent, and with Gunther rescued, we are a step closer to the funeral.” Kellen knew it was a bit of a pivot, but he didn’t want to talk about Jax and Jules more than he needed to.

Taylor seemed to sense his true intentions and chuckled. She didn’t make fun of him or poke him more.

“Alright. Give me a second.” She muttered, pulling out her phone. She began scrolling through something, muttering to herself in what felt like a code but Kellen knew it was probably just medical lingo he didn’t understand. “Well, I have a free space tomorrow so let’s see if we can get your second transfusion done then. After that, we can schedule both tests two days later to give you a recovery day and make sure that things are going as planned.” Kellen blinked.

“Tests? What do you mean by that?” Kellen asked and Taylor raised her eyes to stare at him in confusion.

“Of course, I’m talking about checking your Class. For both your Guide and Esper powers. They might be spotty, but they are still there. I’m sure we can ask Charlie to help. He’s been good with this kind of thing, and I’m sure he’d be happy to help. Especially you. Of course, we’ll use the Captain for your Guide test, but we’ll need a Guide to do your Esper test. Unfortunately the Captain can’t help with that one.” Kellen blinked.

He had heard what was happening, had processed it, but he hadn’t really understood what it meant. Now though? It was hitting him.

He was probably a Guide and an Esper. Not only that, he was probably an S Class Guide, and maybe a C or B Class Esper. Kellen felt a little faint suddenly.

This was beyond his wildest dream. He had never considered that something like this could happen when he finally took the leap with the Captain and become his pair. This felt…strange. A little heavy.

Kellen and Rhys had a 90% compatibility score. Kellen had powers that could slowly grow and with the help of the Captain he had grown into not just an A Class, but now an S Class Guide and now he was developing Esper powers. Granted, his lucky sense had kind of felt like an Esper power, but he never needed guidance to charge his battery.

They also had found two more S Class Guides, and now had several S Class Espers around them as well. They had encountered a new gate type, and had somehow managed to conquer it with, admittedly, even if it hurt, few casualties so far.

The E.A.G. were in their city, but had failed thus far to assassinate someone. Kellen had seen them trying to kill his parents, but now Kellen felt like that plan had failed. Kellen wasn’t normally the kind of man who believed in conspiracies, but it felt like something much larger than him was going on.

He didn’t like it.

“Well, let’s do what you said then. I want to get this ball rolling, now that I know what’s going on and how in danger Brent is in his hometown. We need to get us all moving again, if I have to be the first one to do it, I will.” Kellen said, hardening his resolve. Taylor watched him and he swore he felt pride in her gaze.

“You aren’t going to consult the Captain?” She asked and Kellen gave her a pointed look with his one eye.

“He’ll just have to accept it, like how I accepted what he did easily.”

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