Chapter 90: An uncomfortable conversation

Kellen didn’t ask any questions, which might have made him look silly given the last interaction, but his mind was already turning to what he was going to say at the press conference, and what gun he was going to bring.

When they were alone, without Charlie and Hill, Rhys apologised for how busy he was going to be for the next three days. He was going to have to spend most of his waking hours making sure every detail was perfect and that there wasn’t a single thing out of place. He would still sleep with Kellen, but their personal time was going to be cut back significantly.

Kellen didn’t mind. Not if it meant doing two of his favourite things. Rescuing others and giving a middle finger to the E.A.G. So, he kissed Rhys on the cheek, wished him well, and curled up in his arms that night, trusting the man intrinsically.

Kellen had no idea the internal conflict that Sergei had sparked inside of Hill, Taylor and Rhys that night, and wouldn’t know until several days later.

~

The next day the announcement hit the city like a bomb. People were whispering about it even in the Guild. Captain Sergei was doing a press conference? Him? The man famous for turning away from the limelight for years had decided he was going to do a press conference? The last one he’d done had been before Kellen had gone on the front lines, when he had been a fresh-faced Guide with a giant chip on his shoulder.

He’d had to do that one because he’d just bought a gate. He wasn’t able to wiggle out of doing that press conference. Since then, he’d left all the press conferences up to Rhys and the D.E.C. This was a big deal, made even bigger when he implied that he was going to have a secret speaker who knew a lot about a certain gate speak there as well.

Kellen was feeling a little jittery. It was a little surprising that Rhys had agreed to let Kellen go out when he’d been so against it before. Even when Kellen didn’t have a giant target on his back because of the E.A.G. He wasn’t going to look the gift horse in the mouth, however.

He had a feeling that Sergei being there played a big role in it, as well as the defensive position that the Nemesis Guild building was in also played a role in it.

Unlike the Saturn Guild which was a tall, uh, looming tower over the city, the Nemesis Guild had gone with a different approach. The building was tall, but it was spread out. The front of the building was an architectural marvel. It was all glass, just like most of the buildings that were meant for Espers since glass was the ’least’ damaging of all items one could build with. The front of the Guild building was hexagonal with a grass garden at the front. A fountain sat in the center of the hexagonal area, beautiful and serene.

Honestly, the front of the Nemesis Guild building was often used as a meeting spot for civilians and Espers and Guides alike. It was a pretty place, and the building design added to the appeal.

Starting from the ground and slowly inclining until it reached the second storey and then flattening out in a straight line, glass panels at a slight angle covered the front of the building. It gave a rather interesting impression, more like arms of a chair than the front entrance of a very important Guild, but Kellen had a feeling that was half the point. The front doors looked rather unassuming, small compared to the intense visual that the entrance gave.

However, the whole area that was under that first glass dome was the lobby of the Nemesis Guild. There was a small cafe, chairs, a greeting spot for his people to meet with outsiders, and plenty of greenery. It was like he’d taken a page out of the Guiding Center’s book and mixed it with a university or something.

And that was only the main building. The Nemesis Guild didn’t keep everything all in one place, which meant that while there were a lot of places for the E.A.G. to hide with all of the buildings around, it would be hard for them to hide since Sergei owned all of them. He also had a rather high percentage of Espers who had similar powers to himself in his Guild, meaning moving secretively would be hard.

His people could just fly using their equipment and detain them or worse. They wouldn’t be able to hide easily.

This wasn’t like speaking in front of the Saturn Guild or the Center. This was going to be completely different, and Kellen had a feeling that was why Rhys was allowing it. Plus, Rhys was also making sure that Kellen had good guards with him. Hill was going, along with a few of the A Class Espers that Kellen knew from his work outs, and that Rhys trusted.

Kellen didn’t argue with them, and didn’t argue again when Hill suggested that he wear some of his Field Guide uniform underneath his Guild uniform when he spoke. For safety, since Rhys wouldn’t be within reach.

She looked ill even mentioning it to him when Kellen was working by himself in the cafe, but she made a reasonable request. Kellen wasn’t upset at her. He wasn’t even upset with Rhys. He was excited to see everything play out, to see what the outcome would be. He had no doubt that his people would come out on top.

He was more worried about what condition Gunther was going to be in when they found him.

Kellen voiced this to Hill at that moment and Hill let out a heavy sigh.

“You don’t need to worry. Casper is going to be on standby in a van nearby. He knows the risks, but won’t let anyone else do this. We tried to reason with him, but he snapped. Said he wasn’t able to do his damn job right with how much he was worrying about Gunther and he owed him. He got into a huge argument with Rhys and by the sounds of it, he’s going to be benched for a while after this but…” Hill let out a heavy sigh, her eyes looking sad. “He got what he wanted.” She muttered and Kellen sat there, stunned.

He had noticed, of course. That something wasn’t right with Casper. Everyone had noticed it. It was in the small details, the little things that Casper was letting slip through his fingers. In how he was avoiding everyone. In how Kellen’s Dad had been picking up the slack, as well as Kellen when he thought he could help without stepping on any toes.

Kellen wasn’t surprised that something with Casper had come to a head, he was just more surprised that Rhys hadn’t said anything to him about it. It became clear why later that night.

Rhys came home, exhausted. He’d been in meeting after meeting all day, and when he finally saw Kellen, Kellen could see the stress drain out of his shoulders. The man didn’t take his jacket off, just going directly to Kellen with his clothes still on and collapsing in Kellen’s arm.

Kellen accepted him, welcoming him warmly, pressing a kiss against his forehead. Rhys sighed, wrapping his arms around Kellen tightly.

“I had a blow out fight with Casper today.” Rhys confessed, and Kellen felt his lips tug up slightly. He was glad that the man still had his face buried in Kellen’s side since he couldn’t see his expression.

“I heard from Hill that he wanted to be there?” Kellen asked softly and Rhys sighed. His whole body moved with the sigh.

“It’s more than that. It’s so much worse than that. He wanted to be with his. He wanted me to carry him around like a damn child so that he could get to Gunther as soon as possible. I had to tell him no, since I wasn’t even allowing you to do something like that. It got bad. We said things we shouldn’t have said. He cried, I wanted to cry. I ended up agreeing that he could come if he sat in an unmarked van and waited. With guards, of course.” Rhys sighed again, pressing his face against Kellen’s stomach. “I hate this.” He muttered.

Kellen put down his book and ran his hand through Rhys’ hair in comfort, then down his back. He repeated the motion. Calm, soothing, taking a moment to think about what he could say.

“Casper’s not been himself since Gunther went away.” Kellen said quietly. “Well, he hasn’t been himself for a while, actually.” Kellen had done some ground work investigation since having his conversation with Hill. He felt bad doing it, but then again…

How would someone like Casper, who was considered diligent in his job, allow for something like what had happened when he first joined the Guild happen? Why had there been a secondary group forming under his leadership that thought they could undermine his authority? That they could hurt Espers?

Rhys flinched.

“I’ve been talking to the other Guides. Nothing serious, just gentle, probing questions. I’ve been asking both my students and my non-students, and also spoke with the few Guides who have come to help us from Guiding Center B as well, just to see what they think of the place.” Kellen kept his voice soft, low. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation for him. For anyone, really.

Rhys’s grip on Kellen’s stomach tightened and Kellen could feel how he exhaled slowly, carefully.

“The ones who have been here the longest say that Casper was a good leader.” Kellen said. The was hung between them. “He was considerate, thoughtful. Caring. He made the Guiding Division feel like home. No one wanted to leave but…a few years ago, something shifted.” He exhaled. “They said it was like he lost all his confidence. Like it left him in one final push. After that? Things got weird. He was still good at his job but…things slipped through his fingers. They said that with my Dad there, it felt more like the support that they used to get from Casper.” Rhys didn’t move. “When I spoke to Gabby, she said the same thing. That Casper was good, but the whole deal package was complete with my Dad working there. It’s surprising, since I know Casper is capable. He’s good at his job.” Rhys nodded slowly.

“He is. That’s why I recruited him.” Rhys murmured and Kellen winced. He didn’t want to bring it up, to push forward when something so important was happening soon, but he needed to. For his sanity, for Rhys’, and most importantly, for Casper’s.

“Did something happen a few years ago, Rhys? Something big enough to shake him? He’s been here as long as Gunther has, hasn’t he?” Kellen asked carefully and Rhys let out a shaky breath.

“Gunther had a guiding partner assigned to him by the D.E.C. for a little bit in our youth. They broke it off, but then he came back for a brief stint a few years back. I thought everything was fine. I was so…it’s not an excuse, but I was focused on you at the time. Everyone could tell, and Casper spent most of his time in the city so I didn’t get to see him as much. Fuck. This is my fault.” Rhys sounded shattered. Broken.

Kellen bent, hugging him with his whole body.

“It’s not just your fault. He didn’t rely on his family, Rhys. Now he needs the love that comes along with family. He’s been avoiding it, and now he can’t anymore. I heard you’re going to bench him. Assign him guards, like you did with Gunther. Force the issue. Make him go to therapy. I’m sure Dad wouldn’t mind holding things down, and I can help with that as well. He’s going to get the support he needs, whether he likes it or not.” Kellen told him and Rhys shuddered.

“What if he leaves?” Rhys asked, his voice weak. Kellen didn’t like the sound of it either, but…

“That’s his choice, Rhys. Whether we like it or not, it’s his choice. I don’t think that’s likely. We have Gunther, we will have Gunther by then and if he’s going this far for the man he tried to run away from…he’s not going anywhere.” It was a bit cruel to say, but it was the truth. Rhys sighed.

“Fuck.” He didn’t say anything else for a long moment, just holding Kellen. “Thank you for your help with this.” He finally said, his words sincere. “I really appreciate your insight on this. I’ve been so angry thinking he was trying to leave that I didn’t consider everything else.” He admitted. Kellen pressed a kiss against his hair.

“Want to get some tea and snuggle up and watch a show before bed? That should help your nerves.” Kellen suggested and Rhys squeezed him.

“I don’t deserve someone as thoughtful as you.” Rhys whispered. Kellen chuckled.

“Then be grateful I’m here. Come snuggle with me after you get changed.” Kellen told him warmly.

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