Chapter 53: Hiding a truth with the Captain

Kellen was finally calmed down enough that he could be left alone once more, but the man looked a little dazed. Especially through the glass that peered into his room from the hallway.

Rhys turned his head slightly, catching the look that Hill and Taylor were giving him as he checked on his Guide for the third time in 30 seconds.

“Where would he go, Rhys? You’re standing outside of the door.” Hill said, laughing, but the voice she was using was tight, worried. Rhys let out a tense breath, aware that his own emotions were still high, his powers still a force around him. However, it wasn’t something he was able to turn down.

Not right now.

Kellen was changing.

Rhys knew that he was changing. Hell, it was obvious to him as soon as he had come out from the gate. Something had shifted, maybe even before he’d even gone into the gate. Rhys…Rhys had felt it before he’d even gone in. Maybe that was why Rhys had felt…not okay with him going into the gate, but a calm reluctance.

Like maybe things would be better because of the condition that Rhys had left Kellen in.

However, he forgot what the cost was, because Rhys was himself. Because Rhys was able to take care of himself. He was panicking now. Panicking because he worried that he had sentenced the man that he cared the most for in the world, the man who held his heartbeat in his hand, might be dealing with what the others who came before him dealt with.

Insanity.

“Captain, stop looking at him like that. He’s going to know something is wrong.” Hill warned and Rhys smiled, but it was a bitter thing.

“He already knows something is wrong, he just doesn’t know how wrong everything is yet. He’s not an idiot, Hill.” Rhys knew he was lashing out at her. She’d done nothing wrong, but here he was, reacting just like Kellen. However, he was more aware of his actions, and Rhys rubbed his hand across his face, annoyed at himself. “Sorry, Hill. I didn’t mean to-” Hill’s hand touched Rhys’ shoulder, the first time in a while she had touched him like this to offer comfort.

“Captain, it’s okay. You don’t need to justify yourself like this. We just watched you go toe to toe with a pissed off Kellen. We can be a little understanding.” Hill said with a small smile and Rhys wondered what he had done to have such a wonderful team.

“I am undeserving of having you two in my Guild. Thank you for putting up with me. With us.” Rhys admitted and Hill gave him a big, bright grin.

“It’s no hardship. Honestly, it’s more fun if the crazier people are around.” Hill said, giving a thumbs up and Rhys let out a dry laugh. Taylor, however, looked a little more concerned.

“The unit for testing has been delayed. It’s stuck in a different country, but they had a gate explosion so of course that has taken priority.” Taylor told him and Rhys clenched his jaw. It was something he had been in the works to get before their own gate issues.

No one had wanted to transport it when things were so up in the air. While that annoyed Rhys, he understood it. Now, however, they needed it more than ever. Rhys needed it as part of Kellen’s health and safety, and he couldn’t trust the D.E.C. anymore.

Not because Lieutenant Fisher wasn’t a good man, but because he hadn’t cleared out all of the moles yet. That, and Rhys would not, could not bring Kellen into a place that caused him so much pain. It had hurt him to bring Kellen with him when Charlie needed to be tested, he would not make Kellen go through that again, not when Kellen’s condition was so beyond the average Guide or Esper experience.

He needed his own machine, but it was taking fucking forever for it to get here.

“Have we been able to contact those two?” Rhys asked and Hill stiffened. It was a sore topic, especially since they had played with Hill’s heart when she was younger and then ditched her for their own adventures, not taking Hill with them.

Not many knew of it, and Rhys only knew because Hill admitted it to him when she’d been drinking. He hadn’t known as her Captain, and technically, he still didn’t. Most people just assumed it was because they were unpredictable, and Rhys and Hill let them think that.

That didn’t mean that Rhys changed her as their point of contact. They tended to listen to her better than anyone else.

“I have.” Hill admitted begrudgingly, looking annoyed. She huffed, her eyes going orange. “They have been as annoying as usual. Asking about what’s new with the Guild without giving a hint as to where they are.” Hill sounded annoyed, and she should be. Rhys would be annoyed if he didn’t have bigger things to worry about. Like the man on the other side of the door.

“Alright, tell them that I’m diverting their return home mission. Now they have to go retrieve the machine and travel back with it from that country. I’m sure it’s close by, and that they would love to help with a gate explosion.” Rhys said and watched as Hill and Green’s eyes went wide.

“You aren’t seriously considering letting them loose on the general public, are you?” Green asked and Rhys shrugged.

That was a little harsh. They weren’t complete monsters, just…slight monsters. They were civil to civilians and interested in everyone else.

“The commonfolk will be fine. Let the country know that they are coming, and we’ll go from there.” Rhys said. He had no doubt that they would do what he said. They were adrenaline junkies on a scale that they couldn’t be compared to anyone else. They would put anyone from the front lines to shame.

“Have you…told Kellen what’s going on yet?” Green asked carefully and Rhys gave her a sharp look. Green, however, didn’t back down. “Captain, you need to tell him. He’s not…he’s smart, but this is so far out of what he could ever consider.” Green was pleading with him. He knew that was what she was doing, but the sharp pain in Rhys’ chest wouldn’t move.

“We don’t know.” Rhys said, falling back on the same excuse he had used when she had first approached him about her concerns. Hill let out a loud scoff, waving a hand dismissively in the air as she turned her back to Green and Rhys. She had made her opinions on this rather obvious already, and Rhys didn’t need to hear it again.

Green was looking up at him with hard, blue eyes, the head healer of his Guild and also the closest, longest standing friend of his partner. His Guide. He knew he should take her words into consideration. He knew that he needed to care for what she was saying to him, however…

“We don’t know.” Rhys repeated firmly and watched as her jaw tightened, her eyes flared and she let out a low, long exhale.

“He’s going to be pissed at you for this, Captain. Again, you’re hiding results from him.” Green told him, hitting him where it hurt.

Rhys knew that Kellen was going to be angry with him about this, but Rhys didn’t want to worry him more than he already was. Fact was, this was all just speculation on their part. No one had jumped from Class to Class to Class like this yet. It might not even be the case.

Kellen could just be succumbing to the insanity that came with Rhys’ powers, and that could not be ruled out. Rhys wanted to be sure, confident in the truth before both Kellen and Rhys knew.

“He thinks he’s going insane, Captain.” Green said softly and Rhys let out a shaky breath. He turned to look at his Guide, alone, sitting in that damn hospital bed again and Rhys’ chest tightened.

They wouldn’t stay overnight again, not this time. Even if the results came back, Rhys would take him back to their apartment. He needed him in his arms, in their bed, safe. Even if he wasn’t sure that he was.

“I can’t say that he isn’t.” Rhys admitted, his chest tight. “What if we’re all wrong and Kellen is just losing his damn mind because of me?” Rhys asked, not looking at the two women who he trusted with his heart. “What if this isn’t because he’s jumped again, but because he’s experiencing an ounce of what my powers are like and it’s driving him insane?” Rhys asked.

Rhys was surprised as someone wrapped their arms around him. When he turned his gaze away from the window, he found Green hugging him tightly.

“You’re both fucking idiots.” She whispered, giving him a squeeze. “Don’t hide that from him. Tell him at least that truth, Rhys. He needs to know. I don’t think you want to be in the dog house when you go to save Brent or stop the assassination of his parents, do you?” Green asked and Rhys flinched.

She was right, of course she was right. He was just…overprotective. He was, he knew that. Just like it was becoming obvious that Kellen was also becoming overprotective.

Honestly, it was a bit surprising that Kellen wasn’t aware of this jump in powers himself. It wasn’t like Hill was being subtle about it either. Rhys watched her as she touched Kellen more, just little things, but enough that she could feed off of his powers.

When Green had told him that he would still be able to Guide Rhys without touching him, Rhys had sweated, worrying that he would catch on. He hadn’t, but it was also a bit of a surprise as well.

Kellen wasn’t stupid, but he did have a lot of worries already on his plate. Jumping Classes again when he’d already ’achieved’ what he thought was the end of the line for him wouldn’t be on his radar. Rhys knew that wasn’t going to last, not after this moment.

He was thinking about his behaviour now. It was only a matter of time.

He hoped those two idiots would be fast about getting the machine and arriving here. He really needed to soothe his mind, Green’s, and Kellen’s.

That, and the sooner they arrived back in the city, the sooner that the city could be brought back under their control. No one messed about when 5 S Classes were in the city. Two who were the former leaders of the Guild that Rhys had stolen the colours of.

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