Chapter 166: Everyone needs a little tea time

Rhys wanted to go with him. Kellen could tell. His expression was scrunched up with displeasure that he had other things on his plate so he couldn’t easily go see the others. However, his job was just as important, if not more, with the funeral coming up, the plans for their departure, and how that might have to be delayed with the new development with Casper.

Prior to this development, Kellen felt comfortable leaving everything in Hill, Taylor’s, Miro’s and his parent’s hands. Jax and Jules were…well, they’d made a bad impression from the start, so Kellen would have to reevaluate his opinions on them. Either way, Kellen had felt okay moving forward.

However, if someone important to not just the Guild, but to the people who ran it was hurting themselves, that pushed things in a different direction. Kellen would have to consider what was best for the Guild, not just what he wanted to do.

Besides, Brent was in his Aunt’s hands. His Aunt’s capable, if not overprotective, hands. A few more days couldn’t hurt, and hell, he could even suggest Sergei go ahead of them. He hadn’t yet, but he was considering it.

So, Kellen was going to visit Casper after he had a talk with his Dad, get his opinion on those that they had interviewed, and then he was going to talk to Gunther. He wasn’t going to reveal what was going on with Casper. Rhys had made him promise that. Rhys thought that it would be best to hear it from both Pamela and Rhys, which Kellen made sure that conversation was happening later that day.

Kellen was just going to do his rounds, check in with everyone, and maybe do something normal and fun with Casper. Like baking.

He had no idea if Casper was a good baker, but doing something outside of looking at a computer screen, reading reports, and making schedules would probably be a boon right now. In fairness, it wasn’t like Casper had been doing much of that in recent days, but that didn’t mean that he hadn’t felt guilt over neglecting his duties. In fact, Kellen wasn’t even sure what he felt. He hadn’t asked him, and Kellen hoped that he would be able to get the answer out of him if he spent some time with Casper.

So, Kellen and Rhys headed out, not holding hands since Kellen had his only good hand full of a bag of baking goods. He wasn’t sure if Casper would have anything in his kitchen right now, especially not things to make cookies or brownies or cupcakes, so Kellen brought his own stuff. As well as some good, calming tea.

They could get liquor brought up by any of the Espers around them, but good tea? That was harder to get.

“What time are you meeting with Pamela and Gunther?” Kellen asked and watched as Rhys twitched slightly. He was still of the opinion that he didn’t want to tell Gunther, but Kellen’s point had really stuck home. Rhys knew he was in the wrong in this, but that didn’t make it easier for him. He was stubborn, set in his ways, but Kellen wasn’t about to back down either. Rhys was lucky that Kellen was so forgiving, and Kellen did not want Rhys to have to worry how Gunther would react.

“It’s going to be at 7.” Rhys muttered, looking like he wanted the ground to swallow him up. “Gunther is coming up to my office and Pamela is going to sit in. Well, more like she’s going to explain things from her view.” Rhys admitted. The elevator arrived and they both stepped in, silence taking over for a moment.

“Well, make sure you have some snacks or something. Or tissues. You’ll need something to help soften the conversation. Hopefully Casper won’t have kicked me out so I should be baking with him around that time.” Kellen told him and Rhys sighed.

“The funeral is soon. How am I going to explain that Casper isn’t there?” Rhys asked and Kellen gave him a confused look.

“Why wouldn’t Casper be there? He has every right to be. Just because he’s benched doesn’t mean he can’t be at important moments. Attending the funeral of those who died in the line of duty is not overworking, it’s important. Do you want me to speak to Casper about that when I’m visiting him?” Kellen asked while Rhys gave him a sideways look.

“I would have thought you wouldn’t have wanted him there for rest purposes.” Rhys said carefully and Kellen gave the man a strange look.

“Of course not. These are Casper’s people before they are mine. He’s known them longer. I would never, ever suggest that he shouldn’t be there. Ever. Anyone who thinks that I would do such a thing is delusional. I’m not here to replace Casper. That was never my intention. We do two very different things inside of the Guild, and I came in partially as your partner, and also as a trainer for Field Guides. Casper doesn’t have that kind of experience, and he was raised in a completely different field then I was. We may both be Guides, but that does not make us the same.” Kellen knew he was ranting a bit at Rhys, but he was a little upset that the man would even consider that Kellen wouldn’t want him there.

“Kellen, I wasn’t saying that you didn’t want him there because you had benched him, nor was I implying that. I meant more that it could be dangerous. It’s still dangerous. We don’t know if the plot to hurt your parents was thwarted, not until the funeral happens. With Casper being as he is right now, he might also be an easy target. That was what I was worried about.” Rhys said, and Kellen narrowed his eye at him. He stared at Rhys, examining him, making sure that was the case. Then, Kellen shrugged.

“Well, is Gunther not going to the funeral?” Kellen asked and Rhys froze. “He’s going, right? Even though we haven’t cleared up the grand show that you two put on in front of the city? So, honestly, I’m more worried that he’s going to be in danger versus Casper. While he is a Guide in a high position, I do not think for a second that Pamela is going to let anything happen to him. Or Gunther.” Kellen told him. “Besides, I’ll be there too, and I’ll be armed and dangerous. I’m not about to let anyone hurt my people, especially when I was the one who saw the vision in the first place.” Kellen meant every word, and he watched as Rhys stared at him, his yellow eyes bright.

Then, Rhys turned, dropping his head and sighed.

“You’ll also be in danger, Kellen.” Rhys reminded him softly and Kellen gave a shrug.

“I dare them to try. I have an S Class boyfriend and a Mom who can turn invisible. And an itchy trigger finger. They aren’t making it out of hurting me without losing a few pints of blood themselves.” Kellen said confidently and Rhys’ expression contorted into one of resignation.

“How can I even argue with you when you make points like that? I feel like I keep getting reminded that I have no idea how I did this without you by my side, and you haven’t even been with me for a while.” Rhys said, shaking his head as the elevator door opened. Kellen blinked, surprised.

“You did well without me for a while.” Kellen told him as he stepped out of the elevator. Rhys gave him a look that seemed to be full of pity, and Kellen didn’t know why.

“Well, I’m glad you think that even as we find ourselves in the situation that we do.” Rhys told him.

They passed the A Class Gym, a training lesson going on inside. A few of them were Gwen’s friends, and they waved at Kellen as they spotted him. Even the instructor waved, and Kellen raised his hand, giving them an acknowledgement. Rhys waved too.

“It’s good to see them still moving and going on like life is okay.” Kellen said to Rhys softly. Rhys nodded.

“I did worry that they wouldn’t be okay. I made sure that Hill kept an eye out for them, put them all in more therapy or at least, offered it up. I’m learning from your example.” Rhys told him and Kellen reached his hand out and patted his shoulder, the bag swinging between them.

“Glad to be of help.”

~

When Kellen arrived at the Guiding Division, it was to find that there were several Guides milling about, and even more Espers. The Guides were trying to help the Espers, but it seemed that something wasn’t quite right.

Kellen, who was unable to sense the fluctuation of powers, couldn’t tell the state of the Espers in the Guiding Division, but he could tell that a few of the Guides could. Things were not looking well.

Kellen’s Dad was there, and he was trying to help, but it was clear that everyone was happy to see Kellen. Even the Espers. Kellen, after asking a few questions and putting his bag of goodies down on a desk nearby, found out the issue.

Despite the obvious lack of everything else that had been going on, Casper had been keeping his Guiding schedule. These Espers were some of the ones who received guiding from Casper, but now they were down a Guide.

The other Guides were already busy, and unable to take on more Espers at the moment, or not at such short notice. Kellen’s Dad couldn’t guide others, and truthfully, Kellen hadn’t been cleared to Guide anyone, not just Espers who weren’t Rhys.

But, there was one solution that came to Kellen’s mind thanks to the information he had been gathering for Charlie, and also himself.

He proposed that the Espers come sit in Casper’s office with him and have some tea. They might feel better after a few minutes while they relax, take a few deep breaths, and just chat to Kellen about what was going on in their lives, what they were doing in the Guild, general conversation.

Kellen was curious about what others were doing in the Guild. This would be a perfect time to help with that.

At first, they protested, but Kellen wasn’t really going to take no for an answer. He forced about four of them into a room with him, his Dad brewing some of the tea that Kellen had brought and had tucked into his bag, and the secretary brought it in.

About 20 minutes later, the Espers were feeling a lot better. A lot calmer, and when one of them allowed Kellen to check their levels, they were in a lot better condition. Kellen almost didn’t even need to do the retest. This was an answer in and of itself. However, he understood the importance of having actual, factual information, he was just annoyed that he had to do it again.

Despite his own feelings, he was happy to be helpful, and they did this as a few more Espers trickled in, worried about their sessions with Casper. What ended up happening is that they would spend some time with Kellen, and then once the 20 minutes was up, they would go outside and get scheduled into the other Guide’s roster. They weren’t being neglected, just shifted.

Classic good Guide behaviour, all done with a smile, and it only took about an hour for all of the craziness to calm down. Kellen could tell that the Guides had a lot of questions that they wanted to ask, along with the Espers, but they kept it to themselves. Even amongst them, it would be absurd that Kellen jumped Classes again. They wouldn’t consider it, so Kellen knew he was safe for the moment.

So, he went about his regular scheduled plans, just slightly delayed. Kellen and his Dad had a very serious conversation about the best fits, and how the second conversations went. They were so heated that Kellen had to start moving during their conversation to make it in time to speak to Casper.

So much so that his Dad just decided that he was going to come. It wouldn’t hurt to add another body, and he liked Casper. Kellen wasn’t sure if that was the right decision, but his Dad didn’t really leave room for debate. He was coming with Kellen, whether he liked it or not.

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