Chapter 80: Sergei has what now?

Kellen made sure to stop by the Guiding Division again to speak with Charlie about the plan. He had messaged Rhys in the elevator on the way down to ask him to let him know when their meeting was over. That way he could head back up, or meet them somewhere else with Charlie.

Rhys had responded back right away, letting Kellen know that was easy, and he would gladly do so. He suggested going to the Medical Bay like they had done with Rhys. It would make Rhys feel better, and he was sure that Sergei would also appreciate that as well.

Kellen thought that was a great idea, and messaged Taylor to ask about availability on her part. She easily agreed, and even tentatively asked if Kellen could see if another Guide could come as well.

Kellen was delighted to do the check and even more so to find that the Guide she was the most compatible with was available. He would bring all the Guides that his friends needed, especially since the Guides were also eager to help. The Guide, a lovely lady at a B Class level, was happy to help. She even looked relieved that Taylor was asking for her, not that she was being told that Taylor needed guiding.

When Kellen spoke to Charlie, he looked relieved that the Captain agreed. Even Kellen’s Dad looked happy that Sergei had agreed, but he was curious how Kellen had convinced him. Kellen explained that he’d used how Brent belonged to the Saturn Guild through the contract he had signed and how Kellen wasn’t exactly eager to hand him over to the Nemesis Guild without a fight.

Kellen’s Dad was surprised, but he laughed at Kellen’s words. He reached out, hugging Kellen warmly.

“That’s my son.” He said, his eyes warm as he pulled back, smiling at Kellen. Kellen knew that his Dad would have his back, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make him feel better to know that he had his support. Charlie was watching the two interact, his eyes bright with something that Kellen didn’t know the name of, but had seen in other people’s eyes before. However, Charlie didn’t sour like those he had seen with the same look had done before.

He instead reached out and wrapped his arms around both of their shoulders, smiling.

“Should we go get some tea while we wait for Captain Rhys to message Kellen?” He asked, and Kellen smiled at the other man. Even his Dad relaxed. Kellen wondered if it was always this easy to be an S Class Guide? Charlie, because of his overflowing, happy personality was able to turn anyone’s foul mood towards something more pleasant. He had the ability to brighten a room, fill it with a warmth that honestly? Kellen was pretty envious of.

The part of him that had been that bitter, angry man child over the hand he had been dealt and had rushed to make a name for himself on the front lines was a little annoyed at how easy Charlie had it. But he was far past that man, and knew that Charlie had clawed that happy-go-lucky personality from the depths with his own hands. The kid, because that’s what he was, had been raised in some kind of fucked up awakening farm and had come out on the other side still intact.

Charlie had every right to be a bitter, angry young man, and he wasn’t. The fact that he was able to make others feel better just by being around him? That was a perk, and had probably led to him being kept alive long enough for Kellen to find him. That was probably what had brought him to that terrible Guiding Center before this. How the others, who had managed to create an S Class Guide, had let him go.

Kellen might envy what Charlie’s abilities were right now, but it had clearly come with a cost. These small pockets of doubt and anger were…okay. It was okay that Kellen felt these feelings. Rhys had said that he was allowed to feel things, but there was no way that Kellen would ever act on them or voice them. Charlie didn’t deserve to be hurt like that, and they were fleeting thoughts that Kellen before now would have ignored.

For some reason they just held more weight right now.

Kellen was enjoying his time with Charlie and his Dad, and showing off the new weapon that he had picked up, when Rhys messaged him letting him know that the meeting was over. Kellen had thought that it was relatively quickly, thinking that it had only been an hour or two, but when he checked the time, hours had passed. He had been having such a good time with his family that he had lost track.

Kellen messaged Taylor, letting her know that the meeting had ended, and also messaged the Guide who was around, waiting for the message from Kellen as well. He was pleased that the timing was around what he had suggested to both of them, while also a little surprised.

Kellen knew that prior to this, when they had originally been fighting over the rights for the now terrible poison gate, that Sergei and Rhys hadn’t given an inch when dealing with each other. It had truly been two S Class Espers going against each other, fighting for their honour and their rights as S Classes. There was a reason that Uncle Tom had had to be a middle man, and why Sakura tended to back down.

She didn’t want to get into a dick fighting contest with the others. She wasn’t a man anymore, and probably saw it as a stupid fight. She was happy with running a very profitable Guild and protecting her people. The boys could go ’macho men’ and she’d sweep everything else up once the dust had settled.

So it was quite surprising that they hadn’t gone over time. It worked out, anyways, since the coffee shop was closing for the day and Kellen, Charlie and his Dad made their way towards the Medical Bay.

His Dad wasn’t going to join them and instead was meeting up with Kellen’s Mom to go visit Gwen. Kellen had offered that they could join them, it wasn’t like they were doing anything particularly interesting, but Kellen’s Dad turned him down. He was looking forward to their dinner on the weekend, and his Dad wanted to spend more time with his wife and his daughter. He had a lot to tell her, and he didn’t want to infringe on the younger generation. Kellen didn’t take it negatively.

His Dad was just trying to be kind and let them have time to themselves. Kellen knew that the group was probably going to talk about what they were going to do with Gunther, the funerals, and what could potentially happen at the funerals. His Dad was just trying to be thoughtful.

Kellen and Charlie said goodnight to him where the hallways divided once they got to the Medical Bay, as Kellen and Charlie had to go one way, and his Dad had to go the other. Kellen couldn’t see his Mom, but he just assumed she was either already in the room with Gwen, or she was on her way.

Charlie was asking questions about the Captains as they were walking down the hallway and Kellen was doing his best to give him an impartial description and they moved down the hall. Charlie was very excited, bubbly as they made their way towards the guiding room that Kellen had used so many times before, and Charlie had used once before.

However, when Kellen and Charlie opened the door, Kellen could tell that the mood wasn’t as upbeat as Kellen and Charlie were. Kellen could tell that the mood wasn’t related to anything that anyone had said. It was just the remaining tension from the conversation that had happened up in the conference room.

Lieutenant Fisher wasn’t with the group, which didn’t surprise Kellen. The man had to have been up to his ears in paperwork. The fact that he came in person to the meeting was probably a big deal. In the room was Taylor, working away at the machine as always, her expression drawn. The Guide hadn’t arrived yet, and Kellen could tell that her jaw was a little extra tight, her eyes a little tighter.

Sergei was there, sitting in the same chairs that Kellen and Rhys had sat in before, topless, his piercings flashing in the light. Kellen should have been more surprised, but the fact that Sergei had his nipples pierced didn’t surprise him in the slightest. The rest of his piercings caught the warm light, and were a sharp contrast to the tone of his skin.

Near him was one of the few Lieutenants that Kellen knew from the Nemesis Guild. Evie Turner, a rather quiet woman who liked to keep to herself. It was rather like Sergei to have serious people working for him who were no nonsense. She had a rather drawn expression, sitting next to Hill against the back wall. Out of the way, but still watching everything that was happening.

Rhys was standing just to the side of Sergei, with direct line of sight of the door and in front of Taylor. It was a protective stance, making it clear that Sergei was a guest in his Guild and thus, he would be protected. Sergei’s slight curl of a smile made sense then. He probably hadn’t been treated like this in a long, long time.

Most S Classes weren’t treated like that. It was why Rhys was so surprised when Kellen treated him that way.

“Kellen.” Rhys said, his voice warm. His expression was still hard, but it softened slightly at the sight of his partner. Charlie, able to sense the powers in the room, stopped smiling.

“My god, what happened? Did you fight monsters in the meeting?” Charlie asked, confused and Kellen felt his smile grow wider. Kellen turned, his back facing Rhys for a moment so he could reach out and ruffle Charlie’s hair with a grin.

“Mm, I’d say it was probably something like that.” He told the younger man, smiling at the roots that were still coming through. It was almost time for him to get a haircut. Get rid of the mask that the others had given him.

Kellen turned back to face Sergei, and he could tell that Sergei recognised the man in some ways. One S Class could recognise another.

“What surprise have you brought me?” Sergei asked, more curious than possessive. Rhys glared at him.

“Don’t cheat on Brent when he can’t defend himself.” Rhys warned and Sergei scowled at the other man. Charlie gasped, covering his mouth.

“Is this man Brent’s partner?” He asked, glancing between Rhys, Taylor, Kellen and Hill. Hill let out a slow chuckle while Sergei sat up in his chair a little taller.

“I like him.” Sergei said quietly and Kellen snorted.

“He’s working on becoming Brent’s partner.” Kellen told Charlie and that only made Charlie light up more. Charlie was a true sucker for romance.

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