Chapter 86: My two gay dads

Back in the guiding room, Kellen was glancing between the rest of the remaining crew, curious. They were still somber, still tense, but that didn’t mean that Kellen couldn’t ask what was going on.

“How did the meeting go?” Kellen asked. Surprisingly, Sergei glanced at Charlie, his expression quizzical.

“Is he allowed to know?” He asked, turning his gaze to Kellen, and then Rhys. Rhys let out a chuckle.

“If Charlie can’t know, then it’s too serious for you to even know who he is.” Rhys said and Sergei seemed to understand what that meant. Sergei mulled over what he was going to say for a moment before glancing towards Kellen.

“We’ve come to several decisions. While Rhys and some of the dedicated members of the Saturn Guild and D.E.C. that everyone trusts go to infiltrate the hideout you found, I will be holding a press conference. In front of the Nemesis Guild Building.” Sergei said. Kellen felt his eyebrows shoot up.

Sergei? Holding a press conference? Had hell frozen over?

“You?” Kellen burst, and then realised that might have sounded too mean. Sergei’s lips curled up as he chuckled. Even his Lieutenant looked uncomfortable.

“I understand your reaction, Kellen, I do. That’s why we’re doing it. It’s too shocking for anyone to think that we’re up to anything. I’ve been away at the front lines, and honestly, I’m going to take this time to tell everyone what happened at the front lines and the gate.” Sergei told him. Kellen felt shocked, but…

He would have liked Sakura to do it, maybe even Rhys or Pamela but it had to be Sergei. He’d seen everything. Been there the whole time. Saw everything and had to deal with the backlash as well. Kellen nodded seriously.

“Understood.” Kellen said and Sergei’s lips curled up more.

“I’m not giving orders, Kellen.” He teased and Kellen winced as he realised how easily he’d fallen into old habits. At least he hadn’t said sir. That would have probably made Rhys a little bit upset.

Kellen glanced towards where Rhys was still behind the panels that Taylor normally managed. He was staring at Kellen, his gaze narrowed. Kellen flinched. Rhys, noticing the slight movement, closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Then he opened his gaze and it seemed softer, not as harsh.

“I’ll let this one go.” Rhys told him, and Kellen felt his eyes widen slightly. Sergei, however, found that hilarious. He leaned back, laughing in his chair.

“How magnanimous of you, Rhys. I appreciate your understanding.” Sergei joked, and Kellen was glad to see the man in this kind of mood. He certainly hadn’t been in the mood to joke before. Kellen looked over at Charlie who seemed thrilled at the change in personality. He was grinning, and damn it, Kellen also liked when he felt that kind of accomplishment when he guided others.

“Thank you, Dad.” Charlie added, his smile reaching his eyes. Rhys paused, everyone else froze. Kellen felt his body go slack, his jaw dropping. Rhys narrowed his gaze, then slid his gaze to Kellen.

“I like the sound of that.” He said and Kellen felt his face go bright red. No hesitation, no wait. Just bright red. Kellen covered his mouth with his free hand, turning his face away. He could smell the danger in the air, feel it running up his spine.

Charlie, the sweet boy, had just signed Kellen’s death warrant. Kellen didn’t know how that was the case, but he just knew it.

“Tragic that Kellen can’t carry children to term.” Sergei drawled, a sparkle in his eye. Kellen flushed.

“Brent won’t be able to either.” Kellen shot back and Sergei grinned.

“I never said I wanted kids outside of all of the obedient children I already have.” Sergei said. Then he shrugged. “If Brent wants some of his own…we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I do think it’s a bit early to be discussing that, don’t you think, Kellen? I think we should be more worried about when you two are going to make it official.” Sergei’s grin was small, but filled with as much mischief as Brent’s.

No wonder these two were dancing around each other. Sergei was just the quiet version of Brent in this aspect.

Charlie turned to look at Kellen, his expression slightly confused.

“Aren’t you two already partners?” Charlie asked, confusion all over his face. Rhys coughed, bringing everyone’s attention to him. He pushed a few more buttons before he stepped away from the panel, coming around and joining Kellen. He wrapped his arm around his shoulder, pulling him in tight.

“We are, Charlie, but we aren’t imprinted or married.” Rhys said. His voice was neutral, calm. Kellen felt a little…uneasy hearing him speak that way. Sergei leaned back in his chair, smirking.

“Still? Wow, Rhys. You really didn’t do anything while I was away, did you?” Sergei said and Kellen felt Rhys tighten his grip on Kellen’s shoulder, and then release. He let out another chuckle, and Kellen didn’t like the sound of it.

“Watch it, Sergei. I could say some very mean things right now, but I’m holding back.” Rhys’ voice had an edge to it, and Kellen twitched.

“Rhys.” He said softly, and Rhys turned. He looked down at Kellen, his smile hard, not reaching his gaze. “We don’t have to talk about this right now.” Kellen told him. “We don’t have to justify anything to anyone.” Kellen was trying to comfort him. Rhys’ expression shifted slightly.

“We don’t.” Rhys agreed. Kellen watched as Rhys slowly calmed down and he heard Charlie let out a soft exhale. Kellen couldn’t feel how dangerous things got, not in the same way, but he knew his Esper.

“Are you guys going to get married?” Charlie asked, then gave a strangled laugh. “Not that I mind being born out of wedlock.” He joked. Rhys’ lips twitched and Kellen felt himself sigh softly.

“We’ve kind of discussed it, but I think it was back when I had no clue what I was doing.” Kellen admitted and Rhys blinked. Kellen reached for Rhys’ hand, giving it a squeeze. “Though I know that Rhys would have married me yesterday if I said so.” Rhys’ cheeks warmed as he nodded enthusiastically. Charlie chuckled.

“Why aren’t you married yet?” Charlie asked and Kellen struggled to find an answer. Why weren’t they? Kellen’s chest squeezed, his mouth opening as he was about to give a less heartfelt response. He halted, mulled over the question for a second and then responded.

“I…want to enjoy this phase a little more.” Kellen admitted softly. “The part where we’re together but not fully bound. Where Rhys is my partner, my boyfriend. Where we share a space but it isn’t really our space yet. Blended, but not quite. I’ve never had this experience before and I’m…enjoying it.” Kellen told Rhys, swallowing thickly. He squeezed the other man’s hand and watched as Rhys’ expression flatlined.

It was clear that he wasn’t expecting Kellen to say that, not at all. He was dumbstruck. His grip on Kellen loose. Kellen chuckled.

“You never said that before.” Rhys whispered. Kellen felt his face warm as he stared into Rhys’ shocked, yellow eyes.

“I didn’t really realise it until now.” Kellen admitted. “I hadn’t thought of it. At first it was just because I wasn’t ready, but now I kind of know why I wasn’t ready.” Kellen’s words were soft. He barely even noticed that the others were still in the room.

Sergei cleared his throat.

“Alright, Dad and uh, Dad. That’s enough. I’m over here, suffering without my potential lover. I will have to politely ask that you keep that” Sergei gestured to all of them, “to a minimum. At least for now.” Sergei raised an eyebrow, and Kellen felt a big, silly smile touch his lips. Instead of listening to Sergei’s words, Kellen turned and pressed a soft kiss to Rhys’ cheek, grinning when Rhys stared at him.

“God I want to kiss you.” Rhys whispered and Kellen beamed.

“Ugh. Get a room.” Sergei grumbled and Kellen chuckled.

“We can’t, or I could kill Rhys.” Kellen said. Sergei paused, Charlie’s humour even faded as Kellen told them that matter-of-factly. “Well, not so much anymore, but I’d rather not make him super ill and have him fall unconscious as well.” Kellen said with a shrug. Sergei looked horrified. “But, Taylor’s working on it.” Kellen was confident in Taylor. “So, now that we’ve discussed my love life, let’s get back to our discussion about the rescue mission.” Kellen had sucked the humour out of the room so quickly that it was leaving the other three with whiplash.

They knew, of course. There wasn’t a way to look at Kellen and not know he was unwell. The sling as well as the eyepatch made it very clear that things weren’t normal. He just was sure that they had forgotten, or didn’t fully grasp the whole situation.

That, or they didn’t want to.

Charlie looked stricken, pale as a ghost. Kellen forced him to sit back down and continue finishing the shakes that Kellen had given him. Charlie didn’t argue while Sergei glanced at Rhys, then Kellen, and then sympathy filled his expression.

“Oh man. You aren’t that much better off than I am.” Sergei muttered and Rhys huffed.

“You get it then, so keep your mouth shut.” Rhys ordered and Sergei looked like he was going to take offense to his words before he paused, sighed, and nodded.

“Yeah, I should.” Sergei muttered. “Alright, do you want me to tell Kellen about what we discussed or should you?” Sergei asked, and Rhys shrugged.

“You go ahead. I’ll interrupt when I think I need to.” Rhys told him. Rhys then pulled a chair in between Charlie and Sergei, sat down, and pulled Kellen into his lap. Kellen gave him a quizzical look. “There’s no reason to remain standing when we don’t have to. Besides, I’m not going to miss a chance to have you in my lap.” Rhys told him. Kellen sighed.

“At least move the chair back so that I can see everyone’s faces.” Kellen muttered. Rhys grinned, shifting back enough that when Kellen looked over his shoulder he could see Sergei’s sour expression.

Perfect.

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