Chapter 89: A secret that can’t be kept for long

They fleshed out a few more details, before Sergei eventually sighed and got to his feet. He pulled on his clothes and Kellen realised that he’d been naked from the top up this whole time. Sergei’s lieutenant stood with him, coming to stand next to him.

Sergei looked tired, really tired, and Kellen felt bad for him for a moment.

“Are you going now?” Kellen asked and Sergei nodded carefully.

“Yeah. I should get back now. Thank you for your help, Charlie. It was greatly appreciated.” Charlie lit up at the thank you, his expression open and vulnerable.

“Y-You’re welcome! If you need more help, just let Kellen know! I’m not really guiding anyone else at the moment because I am learning about who I am.” Charlie told him honestly. Kellen didn’t step in and stop him since Sergei wasn’t a bad person, but he was going to have to have a conversation about who he should tell and who he shouldn’t.

Sergei’s gaze slid to Kellen, then to Rhys, before a soft smile touched his lips.

“I’ll have to make sure that your ’dads’ are okay with that. If you’re still learning about who you are, then you do understand that no one can know that you’re here, right?” Sergei asked and Charlie twitched, the smile slowly fading from his face. Charlie’s shoulders dropped slightly and he let out a soft sigh.

“I-I understand that now.” Charlie spoke softly, like he was being scolded. Sergei’s expression shifted slightly, as if he looked pained to be rude to the S Class Guide.

“Charlie, I’m not getting mad at you, and I don’t think your Dads are going to be mad at you either. If Kellen is teaching you, I’m sure you’ll get a thorough education. I just wanted to warn you. Don’t trust people. I want to tell you that you can trust me, but even then, I’m not so sure. If things get worse for me…” Sergei took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. “I could become the very monster that everyone wants S Class Espers to be. So, be careful, Be cautious. Don’t hide that you’re a Guide, but don’t tell others your Class. You’re from the Saturn Guild, you don’t have to answer to anyone. Not even the D.E.C., alright?” Sergei moved closer to Charlie, hesitated, and then put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder.

Charlie looked up, his eyes slightly watery and Sergei flinched. It was clear he didn’t know how to deal with someone like Charlie. Young, delicate, and powerful, but had no knowledge of how to use it.

“Okay.” Charlie sounded completely deflated and Kellen reached out, squeezing Charlie’s other shoulder.

“Sergei is just trying to be practical. If we don’t get Brent back soon, the man might lose his mind.” Kellen told him softly. Charlie glanced back at Kellen, his eyes big.

“I know that S Classes are different, but lose his mind?” Charlie repeated. Sergei nodded, his expression kind.

“Yes. You’ve seen Espers on the verge of surging before, right?” Kellen spoke gently, not sure if that was true, but given the kind of Espers that Kellen was sure that he’d been given to deal with? Charlie probably knew a lot about surged Espers whether he liked it or not.

Kellen’s suspicions were confirmed when Charlie’s expression darkened, the normally smiley, happy man looking somber, upset. He clenched his fist, his eyes filled with something that Kellen couldn’t see. He was clearly recalling moments that Kellen wasn’t sure he wanted to remember.

“I have.” Charlie admitted, his voice hollow. Sergei twitched, as did Rhys and Kellen could tell that the men wanted to step in and do something. Protect him. Kellen knew that they couldn’t protect Charlie from himself. They could just continue protecting him from those who had put him in that position before them.

“Well, do you remember when we all disappeared just before I went into the gate? How Rhys disappeared as well but didn’t come with me?” Charlie nodded, still looking unwell. “Rhys disappeared because it is catastrophic if an S Class Esper surges.” Kellen explained. He knew that Charlie probably knew this, but then again, there were lots of the basic things that Charlie didn’t know. “So, if an S Class, like a Captain or someone similar, is ever in a situation where they catch that they are going to be unstable, they opt for something else. They put themselves to sleep for a period of time.” Kellen explained.

Charlie listened, his expression tight, but thoughtful.

“With drugs?” He asked and Kellen nodded, squeezing his arm.

“Yes, with drugs. But it’s not perfect. It has side effects. Things that can go wrong. One of those things is that they could wake up and surge. It’s not a common thing, and can often be fixed by putting them back under right away, but…” Kellen trailed off. Charlie looked horrified.

He glanced between Rhys and Sergei, his eyes watering.

“You could have hurt yourselves?” He asked, his heart breaking for both men. Rhys’ smile reached his eyes as he looked down at the smaller Guide. His hand reached out and covered Kellen’s on Charlie’s shoulder. Kellen was a little surprised by his action, but not upset. He liked the feeling of Rhys’ hand on top of his own.

Sergei looked surprised that Charlie was upset for them. For both Rhys and Sergei. The two S Class Espers, the two Captains that held the city together. No one really worried for them. Kellen did, of course, but his attention was mostly on Rhys. Sergei just had his people worried for him.

Charlie was…unique in that way. Kellen could see the wheels turning in Sergei’s head and Kellen’s jaw tightened. When Sergei felt Kellen glaring at him, he raised his eyes to his and Kellen gave a sharp head shake.

He was not getting Charlie. He was never getting Charlie. Charlie belonged to them.

Sergei’s smile was slow, touching not just his lips but his eyes.

“Charlie, what was the other option? Watching Kellen walk into that gate without me by his side? That wasn’t going to happen, and for Sergei…” Rhys trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh. “We had no idea what had happened to Brent. I didn’t blame him in the moment, and I don’t blame him after. It was the right judgement call for the situation, and I would have done the same if I had been put in his shoes. Don’t feel bad for us, we view this as a blessing. We, of all people, do not want to hurt the city we’ve protected for so long.” Charlie gulped, nodding slowly at Rhys’ soft spoken, but meaningful words.

“I…I understand. Both what you and Kellen are saying. I just…I hate the idea of anyone having to suffer like that.” It was heartwarming that he thought that way. Kellen could tell that Rhys, Hill, Sergei and Lieutenant Turner felt the same way. Charlie just had that effect on others.

“It’s the best outcome for when something terrible happens. No surging S Classes, just…silence. That’s also why they have the fail safe of the slow waking up process.” Kellen explained and Charlie nodded, even if he still didn’t seem happy.

“It doesn’t hurt to go under?” Charlie asked, turning his gaze towards the two S Class Espers. Charlie’s gaze seemed to get to both of them and Sergei let out a soft laugh.

“Going to sleep doesn’t hurt.” Sergei told him. Charlie frowned but Rhys answered before he could speak.

“It really doesn’t. You don’t even dream either. It’s just…quiet.” Rhys told him. Sergei nodded.

“It’s nice.” Sergei added. “The silence? The peace? You almost forget why you were put under in the first place.” Sergei joked, but his eyes…they weren’t joking. They honestly looked like nothing was reflecting back in them.

They were devoid of emotion, and Kellen’s chest ached for the other man. He was joking for Charlie’s sake, but going under was a last ditch attempt to keep a hold on yourself. A way to get control when you didn’t feel like you had it.

Kellen knew what that feeling was like, and as he looked towards Rhys, he saw that the same look was in his eyes as well.

“Well, the good news is that everyone woke up without any issues, and we’re dealing with it. Sergei won’t surge or need to go under any time soon because of your help, Charlie, and Sergei, if you do need help, you’ll tell us, right?” Kellen’s voice was chilling as he smiled at the other S Class.

Sergei looked towards Kellen, clearly about to protest until he met Kellen’s eye. The man flinched, actually flinched and Kellen was almost too surprised by his action before Rhys squeezed Kellen tightly, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“He knows better than to cross you, Kellen. He’s worked with you before, remember? Now, Sergei has his own things to do, like make his statement to the public that he’s even doing a press conference. You can ask Pamela if you need some help, since you don’t have a person in charge of that.” It was a dig but Sergei didn’t react.

Instead, he was staring at Kellen, something strange in his eyes. He looked…like he was staring at something impossible. He glanced towards Hill, Charlie, and then landed on Rhys. His gaze almost looked accusatory and Rhys’ grip on Kellen tightened.

“Rhys…” Sergei said, his voice trailing off. Rhys gave a soft chuckle that sounded anything but kind.

“It’s none of your damn business, Sergei.” Rhys warned and Sergei’s eyes narrowed as he glared at the other Esper.

“None of my damn business? You’re making it my business, Rhys, especially if I-” He cut off as he caught the strange, confused look on Kellen’s face.

“What’s going on?” Kellen asked, glancing between the two men. Sergei held his tongue, looking increasingly more upset.

“Captain Sergei, please. Wait just a little bit longer. We’re…waiting to confirm.” It was Taylor who spoke. Soft and quiet, pleading with the other Captain. Sergei’s gaze turned towards her, his anger making the air in the room hard to breathe.

“You better confirm it, because I don’t need to and I’m not around them every day.” Sergei was pissed, and Kellen had no idea why. What…What were they talking about? Sergei caught the confusion on Kellen’s face and huffed, shaking his head. “I better leave before I get more angry than this. You owe me an explanation, Rhys.” Sergei growled, sweeping out of the room but pausing at the door. “Thank you, Charlie, Kellen, for your help. This will not be forgotten.” Sergei promised. Kellen just watched the man go.

That was…strange. Did everyone else think the same?

Kellen turned his gaze to the others and found that only Charlie was feeling the same as him. Everyone else looked grim, which only made Kellen’s stomach turn. That made him think that Sergei was right to be angry with them. None of them looked angry. Maybe upset, but it wasn’t the kind of upset that Kellen knew from when someone was falsely accused.

Taylor turned, heading towards the panel where Rhys had been in control in her absence.

“I better get to work.” She muttered to herself and Kellen blinked. Well, forcing them wasn’t going to get an answer. He’d like one, but he could tell that no one was going to bend. Least of all Taylor. She’d also had a hard day and Kellen wanted to let her have a moment to feel better.

“Okay. See you later, Taylor.”

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