Chapter 148: A busy day for a busy man
Rhys escorted Kellen to the Guiding Division because he was worried about his reaction. Kellen couldn’t exactly deny that he had nothing to worry about after his strong reaction.
He did think he was being ridiculous though.
When Kellen got to the Guiding Division, he found that there were only a few people there. He realised that it was a bit early for him to be there. Even Casper’s assistant wasn’t there, nor his Dad.
Kellen felt a little embarrassed as Rhys let Kellen into Casper’s office. Kellen did feel it was a little strange for him to be in there without him, but Rhys waved it off.
Kellen realised as they stepped into the office that Casper truly hadn’t been in there for a while. There was a fine, almost imperceivable layer of dust on his desk. The bookshelves were the same, so was the coffee table.
Kellen frowned, his heart aching as he realised that Casper had been neglecting his duties for a while. There was a chance he was bringing a laptop around and doing his work that way, but Kellen didn’t think that was the case.
“Oh Casper.” Kellen whispered. He was angry, of course he was. He could tell that Rhys was angry too, but that anger was mixed with a heavy sense of sympathy. That didn’t mean that they were going to stop their plan in motion. There had to be consequences for what he was, or wasn’t doing. It just also meant that Rhys and Kellen knew that they had some responsibility in this.
After all, they were in charge of everyone in the Guild.
Rhys waved his hand and the dust was gone. Rhys reached his hand up, gripping the back of his neck and hunching his shoulders for a second, shaking his head. Kellen let him have the moment before Rhys seemed to center himself and turn to Kellen.
He reached for him, pulling him close and hugging Kellen.
“Please text me when you go in for your second transfusion.” He whispered. “Please.” Kellen nodded. He reached out, wrapping his one arm around Rhys and giving him a squeeze.
“Of course.” Kellen promised. Rhys squeezed him tightly.
“Thank you.” They remained hugging for a moment longer before Kellen pushed back, needing to get to work. He turned, propping the door open so that he could use it while Rhys wasn’t here. Kellen didn’t think his access would let him in and out of the office, while Rhys watched him, knowing that he had access to everything.
However, he liked knowing that he would call for his help until the others arrived.
Rhys smiled painfully to himself before he kissed the cheek of Kellen and finally left him alone. Kellen wished him a good morning as he left, Rhys waving to him as he left. Kellen was already pilfering a laptop from an unused desk, taking it into the office so that he could access the plan he’d made with Taylor.
The morning was going to be busy, and the afternoon was going to be full of monitoring. He had to make the most of the time he had right now.
~
Kellen and his Dad had interviewed everyone and asked them their honest opinions on a couple of things, including whether they think they would be a good fit to be the next head of the Division.
There were a few that balked at the idea. They didn’t think that they were the right fit, they were happy with how things were going for them right now, those kinds of things.
Others asked about how Casper was doing and why they were even considering this. While they sounded upset, Kellen could see the concern, and the anger that they felt. Kellen wanted to give them an honest answer, wanted to tell them everything that was going on, but he also knew that wouldn’t help them.
He’d learned the hard way that sometimes, it would only cause more stress if they knew. So, he told them a truth, just not everything. Casper was being benched. He was recovering from something, and so they needed to put people in place so that he could heal properly.
Yes, it did involve Gunther, they had been close friends before everything had happened with the E.A.G. And Casper was a good friend. He was capable of taking care of others, he also just had a hard time taking care of himself.
He felt that was a sufficient answer, since it blamed no one, answered some of their curiousity, and also gave them an answer. It seemed to work for them as well, and even his Dad was happy with his response.
From the looks of the interview, Kellen was going to have to go with the second idea he had for the leadership of the Guiding Division. Splitting it up between two people.
So, Kellen grabbed a few of the Field Guides that had been at the Guild for a long time and interviewed them as well. One Field Guide, one regular Guide. Two sides of the Guild that Kellen and Rhys were building.
By the time that Kellen had to leave for the Medical Bay, Kellen had a short list of four people that he thought would be a good fit. These people hadn’t said no outright, and had shown good qualities that would help them be good leaders, even in a temporary sense. Kellen wasn’t going to make any decisions without talking to Rhys about it first.
Rhys could keep things from him, but Kellen would go out of his way to make sure Rhys knew exactly what was going on with Kellen. Not that he hadn’t done it before, he just knew that Rhys was going to feel it more now.
Kellen chuckled to himself as he rode the elevator to the Medical Bay, alone. He did have his Dad message Rhys on his behalf, since texting with one hand was ridiculous. The phone slid all over the place, and his Dad had taken pity on him and helped him out.
Was Kellen all that surprised to find that Rhys was already there when he arrived? No, but he was surprised at how as soon as Taylor made eye contact with Kellen, she flushed. That was unlike Taylor, and Taylor had to take a second to compose herself.
Then, she was as professional as she possibly could be.
Going through this a second time wasn’t as bad. It did take up a lot of his time, and Kellen did feel rather tired this time after, but that wasn’t seen in a negative light. Instead, Taylor saw that as a good sign.
His body had been fighting against the poison for so long, if he was feeling tired from all of the work that his body had been putting in, it might mean that his body wasn’t coming up against the poison anymore.
Kellen wasn’t sure how this worked, not entirely, so he left this up to the professionals. With that said, even Carlos looked to be happy with the results.
When they sent him to rest, Kellen had a damn hard time keeping himself awake. That was a scary thing for him and Rhys, but the medical staff around them weren’t scared.
Kellen knew it was because they were professionals, but Kellen and Rhys were still heavily in the trauma that they had experienced before. Where Kellen’s sister was unconscious due to the poison in her system, along with other important members of the Guild.
So, Kellen fought against the sleep. Until he couldn’t anymore. Rhys was at his side, his own expression stark as people moved around the room until it was quiet and it was just the two of them. Kellen motionless on the bed once more, Rhys holding onto his hand, silent. A pillar.
Until Kellen opened his eyes again.
Thankfully, Kellen didn’t remain unconscious for long. He woke up only half an hour after he’d fallen asleep. He didn’t feel rested, but he didn’t feel like his body was rejecting the new blood he’d been given either. Taylor’s team was swinging by more than Taylor and Carlos. Kellen only found out why after he had woken up.
Rhys hadn’t asked the question because he had been silent, watchful.
The reason why Taylor had time to do the infusion was because she was doing other infusions all day. They had just taken time out of the regular schedule to slot Kellen in.
She did have a busy day, and if they weren’t worried about Kellen after his second infusion, he had to trust them.
Rhys and Kellen both needed a little soothing after the moment of fear that had consumed both of them. Kellen had a feeling he would always feel his heart race every time he felt himself falling asleep in a hospital bed like this. He was sure it was a side effect of what he had experienced because of the poison gate. He was sure that Rhys was the same.
His hands shook a bit as they held Kellen’s hand in his own and Kellen didn’t shake him off or fault him. He just smiled at Rhys.
“We’re one step closer to your punishment.” Kellen told him, hoping to distract Rhys. Rhys let out a strangled sound, somehow a cross between a laugh and a cough.
“Yeah?” Rhys said, his yellow gaze so bright it was hard to look at. Kellen squeezed his hand.
“Yeah. So, stop looking like that. Aren’t you excited? I’ll be able to kiss you soon.” Kellen told him and watched as Rhys pulled in a deep breath. Rhys held it for a second, closing his eyes before he slowly exhaled. When he opened his eyes, he was smiling, his gaze a little less bright.
“Yeah. I am excited.” He said softly. Kellen grinned, squeezing his hand tighter.
“You better prepare yourself. You did a lot of work on me, Rhys. A lot. I’m-I’m going to wring you dry.” Kellen’s cheeks were pink as he said it, but he got it out. The words finally seemed to have an effect on Rhys, his eyes widening slightly before he let out a disbelieving, but happy laugh.
He leaned in, pressing his forehead against Kellen’s temple.
“Oh Sugar, I’ve never looked forward to something more.” Rhys whispered. Kellen was happy that the air in the room had shifted, becoming something that everyone would be able to breathe in.
It was a good thing, as they had a few visitors after that. By a few, Kellen really only meant one that stuck out in his mind.
A rather hungover Gunther.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep
Chapters
- Chapter 167: Cookies can heal souls if you eat enough of them
- Chapter 166: Everyone needs a little tea time
- Chapter 165: People cry out for help in different ways
- Chapter 164: We all sleep in sometimes
- Chapter 163: It’s so good it makes you philosophical (m)
- Chapter 162: Hungry boys deserve to eat (m)
- Chapter 161: Strawberries and cream never tasted so good (m)
- Chapter 160: Uncontrolled desires (m)
- Chapter 159: An anticipation weeks in the making
- Chapter 158: These Damn Espers
- Chapter 157: Totally not engagement rings. These are just...possessive rings
- Chapter 156: Waiting like a good Guide
- Chapter 155: A true friend will help you run away, even if it hurts
- Chapter 154: The love one holds for their close friends, with the Captain
- Chapter 153: A Captain’s regret, with the Captain
- Chapter 152: What does any of this mean?
- Chapter 151: How did you expect him to be soft?
- Chapter 150: Unable to even help themself
- Chapter 149: No way to avoid this
- Chapter 148: A busy day for a busy man
- Chapter 147: Rumour has it
- Chapter 146: If the shoe fits
- Chapter 145: A woman in over her head
- Chapter 144: What else are you hiding?
- Chapter 143: Two friends making time for each other
- Chapter 142: You can’t be together if you never even tried to get better
- Chapter 141: You belong in my bed
- Chapter 140: What it means to be a best friend
- Chapter 139: Do not use your grief to limit others
- Chapter 138: A good talk with a good friend
- Chapter 137: A phone call weeks in the works
- Chapter 136: Just an innocent Guide
- Chapter 135: Not everyone is a good person when no one is watching
- Chapter 134: Gunther, a man who just wants to feel at home again
- Chapter 133: Gunther, a man behind but getting better
- Chapter 132: A big dumb S Class
- Chapter 131: Rhys is never going to forget what he did
- Chapter 130: Forgiveness does not come easily, but understanding does
- Chapter 129: Truth always finds a way to come out
- Chapter 128: This kind of jealousy could eat you alive
- Chapter 127: Two brothers, created equal, shaped differently
- Chapter 126: What it means to be cared for
- Chapter 125: A man holding his whole heart
- Chapter 124: A treat for a Guide simply doing his best
- Chapter 123: A grandfather’s love for his grandson
- Chapter 122: A cat playing with a mouse
- Chapter 121: To stand there and do nothing
- Chapter 120: This isn’t about you, I need to vent my rage
- Chapter 119: Well, that’s one way to get into a Guild building
- Chapter 118: A Field Guide far away from home
- Chapter 117: Sometimes we all need someone to yell at someone for us
- Chapter 116: A Guide shoulder to lean on
- Chapter 115: Two Guides who can manage their Espers
- Chapter 114: What am I going to do with all this money?
- Chapter 113: A Guide’s duty to guide
- Chapter 112: It’s okay to be a little crazy
- Chapter 111: A step by step plan
- Chapter 110: We do not touch civilians
- Chapter 109: An old man with a grudge
- Chapter 108: Come on, you’re not my Mom
- Chapter 107: Some things just can’t be avoided
- Chapter 106: Trading one confinement for another
- Chapter 105: Medical professionals are human too
- Chapter 104: Sometimes a gentle touch is all someone needs
- Chapter 103: Fueled by rage
- Chapter 102: Do these dots connect?
- Chapter 101: May I offer a joke in these trying times?
- Chapter 100: Don’t mess with my people, with the Captain
- Chapter 99: What the hell was that, with the Captain
- Chapter 98: Breaking out with the Captain
- Chapter 97: A Woods family adoption
- Chapter 96: A man and a paper
- Chapter 95: Sergei hates public speaking
- Chapter 94: A little scatterbrained
- Chapter 93: Lost in a daze
- Chapter 92: Two lovers on different paths
- Chapter 91: Actions have consequences
- Chapter 90: An uncomfortable conversation
- Chapter 89: A secret that can’t be kept for long
- Chapter 88: No one is ever going to blame you
- Chapter 87: Kellen can never stay still
- Chapter 86: My two gay dads
- Chapter 85: Feeling like a failure
- Chapter 84: Presumptuous little Taytay
- Chapter 83: A battle of wills
- Chapter 82: A flustered Healer
- Chapter 81: Everything isn’t quite so green
- Chapter 80: Sergei has what now?
- Chapter 79: Hard negotiations
- Chapter 78: A new, shiny gun
- Chapter 77: A good morning
- Chapter 76: A sweet debrief
- Chapter 75: A little something to take the edge off (suggestive)
- Chapter 74: These aren’t off limits anymore?
- Chapter 73: A kettle about to boil over
- Chapter 72: A badge of honour
- Chapter 71: Just a little snack
- Chapter 70: Put your nose in it
- Chapter 69: Am I not providing enough for you?
- Chapter 68: We all have something we don’t want to do
- Chapter 67: An all communication black out
- Chapter 66: A serious conversation about the James family
- Chapter 65: An S Class and her Lieutenants
- Chapter 64: A shy admittance and a protective Aunt
- Chapter 63: Espers do not do well when Guides are missing limbs
- Chapter 62: Every Captain is different
- Chapter 61: Meet Auntie Dina, in the flesh
- Chapter 60: A captive audience (violence/death warning)
- Chapter 59: I hoped for better, honestly
- Chapter 58: An Esper can be cute too
- Chapter 57: A friendly face at a shitty party
- Chapter 56: Brent in the big city
- Chapter 55: Sergei’s thoughts
- Chapter 54: A shadow of a Brent
- Chapter 53: Hiding a truth with the Captain
- Chapter 52: An emotional Guide?
- Chapter 51: Just one touch
- Chapter 50: What the Captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him
- Chapter 49: Just some gals having a good time
- Chapter 48: We love a little debrief
- Chapter 47: Stirring the pot
- Chapter 46: Cleared for leave, not for play
- Chapter 45: I know crazy runs in the family, but I didn’t come here for a crazy off
- Chapter 44: Two hospital rooms, days apart
- Chapter 43: One last final scare
- Chapter 42: Marking territory
- Chapter 41: Everyone is going to play with Charlie
- Chapter 40: Pain means it’s working
- Chapter 39: This isn’t as fun anymore
- Chapter 38: Everyone likes juice boxes
- Chapter 37: The Guides know best
- Chapter 36: Just be honest with us
- Chapter 35: A towel can help any situation
- Chapter 34: Just a couple of bad boys
- Chapter 33: A tense negotiation
- Chapter 32: I can’t believe we overlooked something so damn simple
- Chapter 31: A complication
- Chapter 30: A sudden jolt of pain
- Chapter 29: Quick to anger, hard to calm down
- Chapter 28: Not dead yet
- Chapter 27: A wandering mind
- Chapter 26: Too inexperienced to know better
- Chapter 25: The weight of an S Class Esper on a Guide
- Chapter 24: Code blue
- Chapter 23: A meeting of like minds
- Chapter 22: Not everything is good news
- Chapter 21: You want me to cheat on you?
- Chapter 20: An Uncle’s worry
- Chapter 19: If you take my arm, I’ll just get cooler
- Chapter 18: A Casper shaped spiral
- Chapter 17: A child’s room full of regret
- Chapter 16: They’re just like us
- Chapter 15: An unhappy S Class
- Chapter 14: I can make this apartment our forever home
- Chapter 13: A hissing, angry burrito
- Chapter 12: The worries of an anxious Field Guide
- Chapter 11: An itch that can’t be scratched
- Chapter 10: A serious dilemma
- Chapter 9: A lazy lion
- Chapter 8: Are you serious right now?
- Chapter 7: If that’s the case, this could have been a damn email!
- Chapter 6: Old type Villain shit
- Chapter 5: A warm family welcome
- Chapter 4: A little bit of sanity is needed
- Chapter 3: A deep wound that will heal
- Chapter 2: The Road back to the City
- Chapter 1: I fucked up