Chapter 158: These Damn Espers

Kellen, Taylor and his Dad were done chatting and Kellen was typing several websites into his phone with the help of Taylor as they were leaving the second conference room. Kellen’s Dad was grinning from ear to ear, looking so pleased that Kellen was sure he’d done something else to make him happy, but he wasn’t sure.

Even when his Dad leaned in and gave him another kiss on the forehead, another squeeze of the arm, Kellen only found himself mildly confused by this show of affection. Had he done something to deserve it? He wasn’t sure.

He didn’t think so.

Rhys and Sergei had moved into the hallway, still chatting, but far more relaxed. Sergei had his hands in his pockets, and Kellen swore he saw another piercing on the other man’s face. Kellen wasn’t quite sure how, but he didn’t care. As long as the Captain was happy.

The two Captains turned as the trio approached, their expressions softening as they spotted the father-son duo, and the sibling from another family.

“Did you get to discuss what you needed to?” Rhys asked kindly, reaching for Kellen and pulling him against his side as soon as he was close enough. The bag in Kellen’s hand smacked against his stomach, but Rhys didn’t seem to mind. The bag also didn’t have anything with enough weight to it to actually harm him.

Rhys subtly took it from Kellen, much to the grins of everyone around them, including Sergei. Kellen liked how the other man was softening slightly, even if Brent wasn’t here. It looked good on him.

Kellen would have to tell Brent that when he saw him.

“Yup. We had a good chat.” Kellen said, his expression not shifting in the slightest. While he didn’t like to lie, the others had confirmed that this would be a good surprise, unlike the surprise that Rhys had given him recently. Rhys would not punish him for this, they assured him of this.

However, his Dad did warn him that if Rhys began to get suspicious and think that Kellen was keeping something from him, it was better to tell him about his plans then keep it to himself. His Dad made him promise.

His Dad had then muttered something incredibly unkind under his breath about stupid Espers and somehow Kellen’s Mom was included in that. Kellen made sure to tune it out so that he didn’t hear more than he needed to. Sometimes, you needed to do that when it involved your parents.

To keep your sanity.

“Good. I’m all done for the day, so I am at your mercy, Kellen.” Rhys said with a playful smile. “Please be gentle. Or don’t. It’s your right to punish me.” Rhys sounded a little too eager about that. It had Sergei groaning, rolling his eyes at the other Captain’s antics. Sergei glanced at Kellen, making eye contact with him.

“You could also leave him hanging. That is punishment enough. I know exactly what he did and I would never do the same to my Guide.” Sergei said, giving a pointed look towards Rhys. Rhys flipped him off with the hand holding the bag of condoms. Kellen’s Dad and Taylor chuckled.

“Boys.” His Dad said, a warning in his voice. Both Captains paused. “Play nice, and Sergei?” His Dad called. Sergei stiffened immediately.

“Yes sir?” He replied and Kellen watched as his Dad smiled at him. Kellen gulped. His Dad approached him, placing his hand on Sergei’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

“You have no idea if you are better than Rhys until you get Brent into your hands fulltime. Only then will you be able to judge him. I tend to think that all Espers are dogs. Don’t make me suggest a leash to Brent.” His Dad said with a smile as he patted his shoulder, then raised his hand in a wave. “This old man will take his leave now and let the young ones have fun. Remember my warning, Kellen.” His Dad gave a pointed look towards the bag before he turned, humming a tune to himself.

“Your Dad is scary.” Sergei muttered quietly and Kellen and Taylor laughed.

“Yeah. Kellen comes by it naturally.” Taylor said. “Or he would if he wasn’t so serious. We’re lucky that both Gwen and Kellen take after their Mom in some aspects.” Taylor told them. Kellen frowned, but Rhys was nodding.

“Otherwise I’d have a supervillain in my hands.” Rhys agreed. Kellen did get upset about that.

“Hey! I would not be a supervillain. I would still have my morals.” Kellen protested. “I would just…also scheme a little, and it’s not like I don’t scheme now!” Kellen protested. Rhys, Sergei and Taylor all smiled at Kellen warmly. He knew what that look was.

They were making fun of him.

“Love, you don’t scheme, you plan. These are two different things. You make sure that the plans happen, where scheming is more…things don’t have to happen. It’s okay that you aren’t like your Dad like that. I’m sure he’s probably happy about it too.” Rhys said, bending to press a kiss against his cheek. Kellen grumbled while Rhys grinned.

“It really isn’t a bad thing. It saves me many, many headaches. Gods, what if Gwen wakes up and she’s done a personality change to be more like your Dad?” It was something that Kellen hadn’t even considered. Rhys froze.

“Oh god, an Esper Henry? Don’t curse me, Green.” Rhys protested. Kellen was not liking their direction of conversation, so he turned to Sergei. He looked thoughtful, and when he met Kellen’s gaze, his eyes softened.

“Have you spoken to Brent recently?” Sergei asked and Kellen nodded.

“Yeah, we spoke for the first time the other day.” Kellen told him, his excitement evident. Sergei’s expression softened further.

“I heard. I wanted to thank you for that. Since you spoke to him, and your Aunt, Brent has been given his own protected phone and…I got to speak to him last night.” Sergei said. That would explain the softer edge to the other man. He wasn’t going through a full withdrawal. Kellen smiled at him.

“I’m glad. He’s doing okay?” He asked and Sergei’s expression shifted slightly.

“He’s…holding it together. He’s exhausted, I can tell, and I think no one is telling us the truth about the situation on their end. I think, because they E.A.G. doesn’t have any other countries to really rely on around us to hide, they had a harder time getting a foothold in our city. Plus, we work together. From Brent’s description of the cities over there, the Espers are very much alone. The country doesn’t even manage them that well.” Sergei said, frowning.

Kellen also didn’t like that description either.

“No fucking wonder they needed a Guide database then if they were that disorganised.” Kellen muttered. Sergei nodded in agreement. “Ugh. It’s going to be hell when we go over, isn’t it?” Kellen asked and watched as Sergei twitched.

“We?” Sergei asked and Kellen stared at him blankly.

“You aren’t coming?” Kellen asked and watched as the man stared at him for a long moment.

“I…can come?” He asked and Kellen now grew upset for Brent’s sake.

“You weren’t coming originally? Why the hell would we be doing all of this if you weren’t coming to go save Brent?” Kellen demanded and Sergei raised his hands, his eyes wide.

“Well, I just-I didn’t think it would be smart and I-” He shut his mouth, looking a little shocked before a small smile crossed his lips. “I can go get him?” He asked in a quiet voice and Kellen’s anger faded at the voice he was using.

These damn Espers were right.

“If you didn’t, I would be beating you within an inch of your life and then tossing you onto a plane.” Kellen told him. “Without preparation for your Guild.” Kellen warned and Sergei’s smile grew until it was so bright it was hard to look at.

“Understood, Guide Kellen.” Sergei said, his happiness infectious. Taylor made a gagging noise.

“Alright you damn couples. I’m leaving now. Despite how I look, I am a very busy person.” She said, rolling her eyes. Kellen gave her a knowing look even as she complained about the couples and she fled before he could poke fun at her.

“Was she…the kind of person to make fun of couples?” Rhys asked as she fled. Kellen gave a knowing laugh.

“No.” He confirmed, smirking. Sergei gave Kellen a look.

“You know something.” He said. It was a statement and Kellen grinned, before he shook his head.

“As far as you are aware, no, I do not, and I will not be saying a damn thing about my best friend and her potential love life problems. As far as anyone else is aware, Taylor hasn’t dated anyone for a long, long time. She’s been dating her work.” Kellen said proudly.

However, there was a Lieutenant who wanted to change that.

Rhys gave a heavy sigh.

“I’ve earned any secret you proudly parade around me openly.” He muttered, trying to make it sound like he was devastated. Kellen rolled his eyes.

“Don’t act as if you don’t have a hotline into the gossip that happens in this Tower, because I won’t believe you.” Kellen told him, glancing back at his Esper. Rhys was smiling at him, his yellow gaze bright, but slowly shifting to a richer, gold shade.

“That is our cue to leave, Sergei. We’ll chat again in a few days. It seems better to be keep doing these meetings in person for now.” Rhys told him, and Sergei nodded in agreement.

“I won’t lie and say that it doesn’t make me happy that several people are upset about our behaviour.” Sergei said with a grin, the three of them moving towards the elevators. “Have a good night, you two, and follow whatever your Dad said.” Sergei said with a wink. Kellen’s face warmed.

“Don’t agree with him when you don’t even know what he said.” Kellen protested, knowing damn well that if Rhys could hear it, Sergei could as well. It was worth it to see the normally stoic man laugh, his eyes warm.

Brent wasn’t going to stand a chance against him.

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