(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Kellen swore he heard something, but it was Rhys who kept tugging at his hand, pulling him and his parents in the opposite direction from the sound.

"Didn’t you just hear something?" Kellen asked, his Field Guide senses tingling. Rhys chuckled, pressing a kiss against his cheek.

"I may or may not have heard something, but I suggest, my love, that you turn those Field Guide senses down. It won’t do you any good, I promise." Kellen wasn’t sure why he was so sure, but from the way that both of his parents were smirking and letting Rhys guide them away without so much as a word, Kellen could tell that something was going on that he wasn’t a part of.

"Why do you say that?" Kellen asked, but it was his Mom who answered.

"Sweetheart, trust him, alright? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to embarrass him." Him? Who was him? Kellen couldn’t grasp who they were talking about, not right away at least. Kellen looked around, trying to put the pieces together of a puzzle everyone else could see the picture of. It wasn’t until they came to a standstill fully on the other side of the large hall, that Kellen realised something.

He couldn’t see Brent.

Panic filled him at first, until he realised that Sergei wasn’t in the room either. A sense of relief filled him and he felt his shoulders relax.

"Are you lot talking about Brent?" Kellen asked, watching as all three shared a look while smirking.

"Yes, Kellen. We are talking about Brent." His Mom confirmed and Kellen, a little frustrated at their actions, and how they treated Kellen in this, scoffed.

"Do you really think so little of me? I’ve heard Brent do much worse. I’ve worked with him for years." Kellen reminded them. He turned towards his fiancé, giving him an annoyed look. "Are you serious? You pulled me and my parents away like that because he was getting up to no good with Sergei? They’re dating, and Sergei’s been around a lot of people who he isn’t compatible with. Brent is probably just taking the edge off him." Kellen explained and for a second, Rhys’ smug look flickered.

It was the careful hand on Kellen’s shoulder from his Dad that had both of them backing down.

"Kellen, sweetheart, I know that you’ve worked with Brent for a long time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve some privacy. Plus," his Dad’s eyes sparkled for a moment, "there are some things that have to be conveyed in a more...base fashion. Some Espers truly are just animals." Kellen didn’t know what his Dad was implying, not truly, but he felt like he might have an understanding.

Kellen’s spine stiffened, his eyes narrowing.

"Are you saying that some of the fucking Espers have been bothering my Guide?" Kellen asked, and both of his parents stiffened. Rhys stiffened too, his hand in Kellen’s squeezing it tightly.

"Kellen?" His Mom asked, her voice sounding confused and worried, but Kellen wasn’t taking his gaze away from his Dad. His Dad swallowed, clearly not thinking he’d ever have this moment with his son.

"Kellen, Brent isn’t yours." His Dad said carefully and Kellen huffed angrily.

"He is. He’s mine to protect, he’s my best friend, he’s my Guide. I would never, ever let another Esper treat him poorly, especially Sergei and myself. Have they been doing stupid shit behind my back?" Kellen felt like his skin was on fire, his body so tense he felt like one wrong move would snap him in two.

"My love, if something was going on, he might have had a reason not to tell us." Kellen snarled, not wanting to be soothed by another Esper. He wanted his Dad to tell him the truth.

This change was so sudden and drastic that it was clear that the three around him weren’t quite sure what to do with him. Rhys was clearly upset for a few reasons, but his parents were watching Kellen, his blue eye flash dangerously, his body tense and held still with great force, all while still holding Rhys’ hand.

There was something going on here, and it was clear that Kellen’s newer Esper side was speaking to them. While also still being aware of the fact that his Dad was a Guide and how that would play out in this situation. They were a little confused on how to approach soothing him since no one wanted to bother Brent right now.

He was...busy, so they just needed to convince Kellen not to go storming back towards where they had just left and leave Brent and Sergei alone. The trick was doing so without upsetting Kellen further, and calming him down.

His Dad opened his mouth, glancing at the other two around him while also paying attention to the fact that there were several Espers around with very big ears. They knew something was special about Kellen, but nothing had been confirmed. After all, the only Healer around was with the Phoenix Guild, and he wouldn’t turn on Kellen like that.

However, with his outburst right now, and how loud he was being, it was clear that he was having a moment right now. Kellen’s Dad could feel how the S Classes around them were watching, waiting for more information to be disclosed. He exhaled slowly, carefully, giving himself a moment to collect himself before realising the best way to handle his son. He might be having an emotional moment, but he was still Kellen.

He wasn’t the kind of man who would respond in a calm way if more emotions were brought up.

"Kellen, Brent is his own person. Sure, I can understand wanting to protect him, I do too, but he’s not a child." His Dad’s tone was hard, but not harsh. Kellen winced. He wasn’t aware of it, but his demeanor shifted almost immediately. The harsh look on his face shifted, and the anger disappeared. He grew contemplative, and the trio took a deep breath in, watching, waiting. Hopeful that they had been able to de-escalate the situation before others had caught on why they needed to.

Kellen knew that Brent was a strong person. He knew it in the back of his mind that Brent was capable and strong and able to do lots of things. He just didn’t like the idea of him facing it alone. After Kellen had gotten used to not having to do difficult things alone, he didn’t want Brent to have to do it either.

It was why he had been so insistent that Sergei come with them, and why he was upset when the Esper thought for even a second that he couldn’t come. If Kellen had been in his shoes, good impressions or not, he would not have allowed his Guide to be alone while suffering through everything he was over here.

"I know he’s not a child, but that doesn’t mean that if he is going through a difficult time that he can’t tell us about it. I don’t like seeing him suffer. He’s gone through enough." Their expressions, which had been tense, softened slightly. Kellen had barely registered their expressions before, his sudden anger at the situation and the general confusion having clouded his mind. When Rhys let out a deep sigh, Kellen found himself turning his head to look at him.

He saw him, realising that Kellen, in the few minutes that he had been scowling and angry at them, at Rhys, the man hadn’t let go of his hand and was still supporting him and caring for him. When Rhys realised that Kellen was looking at him, he turned and met his eye.

His yellow gaze had softened until it was like butter. Kellen frowned as Rhys bent, pressing a kiss to his frowning lips. Kellen squeezed his hand, but it wasn’t in affection. It was in surprise, but Rhys didn’t seem to mind. He tugged Kellen closer, smiling down at him affectionately. It was clear he was hoping to melt Kellen’s anger away with love.

"Oh, darling." Rhys breathed. "I promise, whatever Sergei is doing to him, he’s enjoying it." Kellen felt a muscle near his eye twitch as he stared at Rhys.

"Okay, but what does that have to-"

"Sergei is marking his territory." His Mom told him bluntly, and Kellen blinked. His Mom slid her gaze to Rhys, narrowing it slightly. "The same way that Rhys marked his territory when it came to you, Kellen." Kellen fell silent as he processed what his Mom had said. Rhys’ face went bright red at being called out by Kellen’s Mom so openly, while Kellen’s Dad was fighting laughter. His shoulders shook, as did a few of the S Classes around them as Rhys tugged Kellen closer.

Kellen didn’t even seem to notice, the man’s mind elsewhere as he processed what he was being told.

Marking his territory...the same thing that Rhys had done...

"Is that going to protect him?" Kellen asked and his Mom sighed. She ran her hand through her hair, curled and pretty for the party. His Dad scowled, and she rolled her eyes. From their interaction, it was clear that his Dad had made his Mom dress up for this party, might have even done her hair, and he didn’t want her to mess it up yet.

"Oh hush, Honey. It’s okay." She told her husband before answering her son. "It will if he does it properly, which is no doubt why Rhys pulled us away. You might want to protect him, but maybe he also wanted to protect you or even Sergei, Kellen? Did you forget? He’s a Field Guide, just like you are. He’s not some house-trained Guide, Kellen." It was a sharp reminder, and Kellen felt his face warm in embarrassment.

Oh no. He’d done a bad thing, and he couldn’t even apologise to the man he’d done the bad thing to because no one would let him near him right now.

Kellen sighed, hanging his head as his shoulders slumped. Great. Just great. He was as bad as the other Espers in this room.

"I can’t believe I said that." Kellen murmured and Rhys laughed, pulling the other man against him tightly.

"It’s okay, sugar. We forgive you. I mean, it’s not everyday that you snap at me like that, or call someone else yours. I’ll let it slide." Kellen winced, able to tell that Rhys wasn’t going to forget that.

"I didn’t mean it the same way you mean it with me." Kellen mumbled quietly. Rhys chuckled.

"I know, which is why I didn’t fly off the handle. Do you forget, Kellen, that Brent had a crush on you?" Kellen snapped his head back to meet the Esper’s yellow gaze.

"He was just flirting because he was shocked I didn’t bite. He didn’t actually mean it!" Kellen retorted and Rhys just smiled in response. "Rhys Thatcher." Kellen muttered. "He didn’t mean it." He repeated but Rhys just smiled wider.

"Whether he meant it or not, I’m allowed to be cautious. Until Sergei has a ring on his finger, I’m not going to relax." Rhys told him. "Not now, at least. Through no fault of your own. I’m possessive of my people too, but it’s a bit different for you and Brent." Kellen didn’t even want to argue with him, not after he’d just thrown a fit over what felt like nothing.

So he just sighed, letting Rhys hold him, hoping that Brent was okay and that he would tell Kellen the truth when he came out.