Chapter 72: A badge of honour

“Hey, I was just coming to check on you and heard Kellen was still here.” It was Hill, thank god. “Why are you facing the window, Kellen? Were you two doing something that I need to report to Taylor about this?” Hill sounded like she was half-joking, half serious.

“We weren’t doing anything of the sort.” Rhys told her, his tone muted. Hill gave a snort.

“Uh-huh. I’ll believe you for now, since you look like a damn storm cloud. You wouldn’t look like that if you had been up to no good with our dear little Guide.” Kellen could hear footsteps approach before a hand touched his shoulder. “You good, Kellen?” Hill asked, going above and beyond. She was checking in with him directly instead of asking Rhys how he was doing.

It was a small thing, but Kellen was happy that Hill did that. Showed that even though she knew that Kellen and Rhys were stable, good together, she was making sure that Kellen was safe. The ’weaker’ one in the relationship.

Kellen turned and smiled at her, his face probably still red, but relaxed.

“I’m fine, just flushed. Did you get to speak to Casper?” Kellen asked and Hill’s face fell and she let out a heavy sigh. She shook her head, her grip tightening on his shoulder before she let go.

“No, I didn’t. He was busy. In a guiding session. I’ll try to catch him tomorrow. Also didn’t see Charlie, so passed the materials on to your father. He said that you should come visit him. Maybe go over for dinner tomorrow at his apartment.” Hill suggested and Kellen blinked, before smiling slowly.

That was…a nice idea. He hadn’t really been around his parents all that much, and it would give him a chance to see how Charlie was fairing with the information he had just poured into his lap.

“I’ll text him to let him know I think that’s a great idea.” Kellen said quietly, smiling to himself. Hill nodded, grinning before she turned to Rhys.

“Sounds great, Kellen. Oo! A tray of treats!” She reached over, grabbing something off of the trolley with a cheeky grin. Rhys let out a rumble, but let her do what she wanted. Hill chuckled to herself, dancing over to one of the couches nearby and slammed her body down, munching on the treat. “Oh god, thish ish so fucking good!” Hill moaned, enjoying the treat.

Kellen turned around, chuckling to himself at her response as he slowly made his way over to Rhys’ side. Gently, he placed his hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Rhys glanced at him briefly, before he slipped his hand over and wrapped his arm around Kellen’s waist. It was a possessive hold, but comfortable.

Hill wasn’t watching them at all, her eyes rolled back in her head, enjoying the treat that she had stolen off of the trolley.

“You want to go to dinner with them?” Rhys asked quietly and Kellen nodded.

“You’re coming too, right?” He asked and Rhys hesitated.

“I want to, but I might have a meeting in regard to rescuing Gunther so I don’t want to promise that I’ll be there.” Rhys told him. Kellen could tell that Rhys was worried that Kellen would be upset, but there would never be a chance that Kellen would be upset over him doing something without him.

“It’s fine. If it’s work related, that’s okay. I’m sure my parents will also understand, so don’t sweat it.” Kellen told him, trying to comfort him. Rhys let out a low exhale, like he had been worried that Kellen of all people was going to be upset about it.

Kellen had prioritized work for forever, he wasn’t about to turn into a hypocrite on that topic.

“I…well, I don’t know if your Dad will agree with you, but I hope so.” Rhys said with a small smile. Kellen smiled back at him, feeling his chest squeeze as he stared at Rhys. He forced himself to not glance at his lips, but Rhys didn’t do the same. Hill cleared her throat loudly.

“I could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Tone it down, you two. If I have to cockblock you, I will.” She gave them a pointed look, a fresh treat in her hands that Kellen hadn’t realised she’d grabbed.

Rhys grumbled, glaring at his Lieutenant.

“You don’t have to become a professional cockblock, Hill. We’re doing well enough on our own. It’s just going to get tense no matter what.” Rhys told her. Hill’s grin was of the shit eating kind, her legs over the arm of the couch, swinging as she held herself upright effortlessly. Kellen wouldn’t lie and say that he wasn’t a little bit envious of her being able to do that.

“Sure. Sure. Maybe I should get a badge or something? Do you think Pamela would be cool with helping me with that?” Hill mused. Her eyes were sparkling as she glanced between the two of them. Kellen gave a chuckle.

“I don’t think that she has time for that kind of thing. You could ask some of the other team members? Maybe someone who has an artistic hand? Do you guys have something that can laminate things?” Kellen asked. Rhys groaned, raising a hand and covering his face.

“Don’t help her, Kellen!” He protested, glancing up at Kellen through his fingers. Kellen could tell that he wasn’t actually upset, just whining because he could.

“That’s a great idea, Kellen! Thank you so much!” She laughed, munching on her treat. Kellen shook his head, amused, before he felt the mood shift in the room, and inside of himself as well.

Kellen knew that someone was missing from this conversation, and it felt like Hill and Rhys realised this as well around the same time. Gunther. Kellen had had a vision of him, of where he was kept, and Kellen wouldn’t lie and say that he didn’t feel a little guilty that he was able to have a moment like this with Rhys and Hill while he was still locked up. Contained.

Not having the fun time that everyone thought he was having. Those who doubted Gunther and thought that he was truly working for the other side. Kellen frowned, his brows furrowing as a soft sigh left his lips.

“I should go, so that you can focus on work.” Kellen said into the quiet. Rhys turned towards him, pulling his hand down from his face and scanned Kellen’s face. His eyes weren’t gold anymore, back to the bright yellow of a man used to seeing futures that would tear others apart. A man who constantly reset who he was so that he didn’t go insane.

“Are you going to be okay alone?” He asked. It was a rather serious question, and a valid one. Kellen nodded, not forcing himself to smile. That would probably make him more concerned.

“I will be. Take your time, hash out the details that you need to. I can be patient when it’s things like this.” Kellen told him and Rhys’ expression turned tender. He took Kellen’s hand into his own, raising the back of his hand to his lips. Rhys pressed a soft kiss there, his lips lingering for a moment.

“We will get him, Kellen. I’ll also make sure to reach out to someone and you’ll have your visit within the week.” Rhys told him. Kellen nodded, his jaw tense, his chest tight. He hated that they couldn’t move right away, that he couldn’t move right away. However, he knew why, and he wasn’t going to argue with Rhys about it again.

“Thank you. I’ll see you at home, alright?” Kellen said, hesitating for only a second before he leaned forward and pressed his own kiss against Rhys’ forehead. The man lit up at the smile touch, smiling at Kellen warmly.

He extracted himself from Rhys, worried that if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to take himself away. Kellen turned to Hill, who was still sitting like a damn degenerate and was also clearly showing off, and smiled.

“You don’t have to escort me. It’s only a few levels above here, and you have more important things to discuss with Rhys. Plus, if anyone bothers me at this point? I might just bleed on them as an experiment.” Kellen told her. Hill’s eyes went wide before she snorted, making a mess.

“Oh gross.” Rhys sounded disgusted as he waved a hand and the spot was already cleared up. Hill however was still coughing.

“Jesus, Kellen! What the fuck?” She coughed, and Kellen grinned. He moved, grabbing one of the drinks from the trolley that Rhys nor Kellen had gotten to and moved towards her, offering it up.

“Here. Don’t choke and die, alright? I would feel terrible if I was the reason for that.” He gave her a cheeky smile of his own before he looked over his shoulder at Rhys. He looked rather lonely behind the big desk, but Kellen resisted the urge to go to him again. Instead, after Hill had taken the drink, Kellen raised his hand and gave him a wave. Rhys gave a small wave in return, his expression sad at seeing Kellen go.

He didn’t stop him however, even as Kellen struggled for a moment to open the door on his own. He managed, a little embarrassed but thankful that the two Espers in the room afforded him that small bit of dignity before he left.

The receptionists were all smiles as they saw Kellen pass. Kellen gave them a wave and thanked them for the treats. Kellen continued on his way, going up to the gym level and saw lots of people working out. It was that time of day, he guessed, and several of them waved to him. So much so that Kellen was welcomed into the gym.

No one forced him to work out, and instead he was asked for pointers. It was a way of helping that Kellen hadn’t considered and everyone seemed thrilled to have his help. It put a little pep in his step as he left the gym 30 minutes later.

He had done a few productive things that day. It wasn’t like Kellen to count his accomplishments as much as he was currently doing, but he was down an arm, an eye, and everyone was rather protective of him. He had to take the victories where he could.

When Kellen got back to his apartment, he messaged his Dad, and Pamela. While he hadn’t said anything in the moment, he did think now was the time to tell her that he didn’t really think that some of the photos were…appropriate for someone who was at a Captain level. While he thought the photos were good, it might harm Rhys’ global image. That was something that Kellen would not take.

Pamela didn’t get back to him right away, but when she did, she only sent laughing emojis at first. Then she sent him a few paragraphs.

It seemed that she had come to that conclusion as well. She had mostly been teasing Rhys when she’d shown him the posters. She had also wanted to see what Kellen’s reaction would be as well. She then apologised for how the afternoon had turned out. Kellen wouldn’t let her, but she felt that she needed to.

He didn’t have to worry. While the calendar of just the photos of Kellen and Rhys would be sold, the posters wouldn’t sans one poster. The cover of the calendar, just blown up. The proceeds from the exclusive Captain and his Guide calendar would be going towards Guide violence protection initiatives, on the Captain’s request. That was outside of their usual donations, and Kellen could feel better about that.

She then told Kellen that she would make sure he got the rest of the prototypes, and wouldn’t tell the Captain about it. The winking smiling face that she sent felt like she could see how flushed Kellen had turned in his own home.

He did thank her though, and Pamela had given him a big thumbs up.

It was better that they ended up in his hands anyways.

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