(BL) Taming the Field Guide

True to his warning, Elder Ellis gave the group of S Class Espers fifteen minutes to gather the things they needed before they began the meeting. It was a bit like he was in charge of a group of children, not men and women who continuously saved and protected the rest of humanity. It was almost sweet, in a twisted way, and also explained why the others called him Elder Ellis. He certainly treated them all like they were children.

Kellen couldn’t remember if Rhys and Sergei had spoken to him about the schedule of this meeting, but given that there were kitchens, bathrooms and other basic necessities in the tower, he assumed that they would break for lunch at some point, but he wasn’t fully certain of that fact.

The main reason for that being that each Esper had grabbed a pile of food in the fifteen allotted minutes they were given. If all of that food was for him, Kellen wasn’t sure how he was going to manage eating all of it while also speaking about the issues he had wanted to participate in the meeting for. Maybe that was the ploy. They didn’t want him to talk, so they brought enough food to put a lesser Guide into a coma. If that was the case, they were fools since Kellen wouldn’t fall to something so ridiculous. He would rise above this challenge.

Kellen felt his body tense, his muscles tightening and a sense of anger and challenge rising in him. As soon as he realised what was going on, he caught himself. He was squeezing Rhys’ hand so tightly that his knuckles were going white but he hadn’t made a comment on it. Rhys was sitting there, letting Kellen squeeze his hand with a smile on his face, not even glancing at the other man to make sure he was okay.

Kellen felt heat rush up from his shoulders to his cheeks. He loosened his grip, whispering a soft apology to Rhys that the other man waved off dismissively. He wasn’t upset at Kellen’s outburst, even if it was quiet.

Kellen, after calming himself down, realised that he was being rather unkind to the Espers. They reminded him a lot of the scientists that he shared his office with, and that should diminish the challenge he was feeling from the other Espers. After all, he already had a huge pile of snacks from the Espers, and if they were wanting to take care of him because he was a Guide, he should be more lenient. He normally was.

The piles could also be for their own Guides and partners when there was a break. If they weren’t, there was one thing that Kellen had faith in that hadn’t changed in the time he’d been away from the front lines. He was very capable as a Field Guide and he had won a few competitions in his life where he had consumed vast amounts of calories in the most efficient time. Why was he panicking if the food was for him? He’d be able to eat it if it was for him and not their partners.

Besides, he could just take it with him to the podium. Who knew? It might even make the Espers listen more to his concerns if he had all of their snacks next to him. He found that it worked with Maeve and the others, it would probably work on Espers who weren’t as well acquainted with Field Guides.

That was also unkind of Kellen. Maybe they knew Field Guides. There were, after all, so many capable Field Guides all over the world. Kellen wasn’t the only one and he shouldn’t assume that he was. It was very foolish, since he’d had teachers and experts to guide him on how to be the best Field Guide, he just had differing opinions and was helping train the newer generation of Field Guides.

Kellen, having now calmed himself down and noticing that the time for the meeting to begin was encroaching, glanced around the room. He realised that for as many Espers that were here, almost all of them had their own couch. There were a few rather large-looking comfy solo chairs mixed in with a few of the couches, and it seemed that some of the Espers were sharing those spaces. Kellen wasn’t sure if it was because they were close friends, lovers, or simply because there wasn’t enough space for everyone, but it appeared that they almost had enough space for everyone.

Kellen did think it was a bit ridiculous that the couches were laid out with all of their backs pressed against the windows. It made the room look like they were circling the podiums and the pillar containing the stairs and that they were ready to worship it.

There was a lot of free space on the cement that wasn’t being used for anything. Someone, probably not an Esper but maybe they could surprise him, had gotten enough carpets to cover the vast area. It looked mismatched, but intentional, and added quite a bit of life to the room. There weren’t any plants inside of the giant room, but the thick forest and other vegetation that could be seen outside of the windows added a lot of green to the room.

Kellen did wonder where they got all of these couches and chairs from, before he remembered the abandoned city below. His stomach dropped as he realised that these had probably come from those homes. Hopefully with the blessings of the families that had to flee, but Kellen wouldn’t hold his breath.

Kellen was a bit disappointed in himself that he hadn’t considered that before, or that he’d not given this room a single glance when Rhys had taken him down the stairs. He had been so focused on what Rhys had wanted to show him, and on also avoiding most Espers around him, that he hadn’t spared this area a second glance.

All of the cold, grey cement hadn’t helped, since his eye hadn’t fully adjusted yet from the bright sunlight to the cool interior of this place. Now, however, he found it had a few charms.

The central pillar that held the only way in and out of the tower was used as a central point in the room and for the meeting. Kellen was a little confused as to why there were two podiums around the pillar, but he didn’t ask Rhys any clarifying questions. Instead, he watched Elder Ellis move around the pillar, his motions practised like he’d done this a few times before, and tried to learn through context clues.

It was clear the man was setting up something electronic, and it took Kellen a few moments, and the projector screens dropping down from the ceiling, for it to click. He was turning on projectors so that everyone could see the speakers on the podium properly. Kellen also had a feeling that there was also a live feed for the partners downstairs as well.

That was...rather smart of them. No notes.

Elder Ellis also had a few chairs set up in between the podiums, as if other speakers would sit there and wait. He was bustling about, getting everything set up on his own before he huffed, raised his eyes, and looked directly at Rhys. He curled a finger at him, beckoning him forward and Rhys rose, chuckling. He turned, pressing a kiss against Kellen’s forehead.

"Forgive me. I’ve been summoned." Rhys seemed amused by it, not upset and Kellen nodded.

"You’re free to help him. Don’t let me stop you." Kellen told him and Rhys chuckled, his yellow eyes bright as he stared at Kellen for a second longer and then headed off. It seemed that Elder Ellis wasn’t as tech-savvy as he had played off. He needed Rhys’ help with the finer details, checking in with a few Espers until he got several thumbs up. They were all glancing at their phones, as if receiving communications from others, and Kellen would bet his good hand that they were speaking to their partners below and confirming the connection was stable.

Then, only five minutes after Elder Ellis had said that the meeting would commence, it did. He kept Rhys up front, tucking him into one of the seats as he took his place behind the podium facing Kellen, his eyes sparkling.

"Welcome everyone to the 10th S Class meeting for discussion and ruminations. I am your Elder, Elder Ellis, but I think we should turn our attention to our deputy, Esper Thatcher. He was the one who reached out to me first, wanting to call this meeting." Elder Ellis turned to smile at Rhys before he turned back to the podium, his face growing severe. "We are in rather dire straits right now. We know, as Espers, as Guides, as S Classes, that the cost of human life has never gone down, it’s just shifted. However, we are normally fighting the higher powers that thrust us into this situation in the first place. Rarely, if ever, has the threat been man-made."

Kellen was impressed by how well-spoken Elder Ellis was and he couldn’t take his eyes off of the older man.

"Esper Thatcher has spoken to me about his concerns. Admittedly, as a retired Esper, I have not been doing my due diligence and I was not aware of how bad the situation with the E.A.G. has gotten. I apologise. As your Elder, I should have a better pulse on what is happening in our world, and amongst our people." He looked sincerely apologetic, and Kellen swallowed. How could he be mad at a man who had probably given so much of himself for others?

Kellen didn’t think there was a soul in here that would disagree with him.

"However, I have had some time, thanks to some of the conditions that needed to be met before we could officially call this meeting, to do some research." He glanced at Kellen, giving him a small smile, before his expression hardened again. "I have learned more of the E.A.G., their desires, their statements, and I have one thing to say." He looked around the room, his gaze falling on the Espers around the edges. He even turned so that he could meet almost every eye. "I know how alluring their statements can be." He started, and Kellen jerked.

That was not what he was expecting to hear. Sympathy? For an organisation that wanted him dead? Had tried to kill him and his Dad? Kellen could feel the people in it, but not the organisation. Kellen pushed down on his own feelings, focusing on Elder Ellis.

"I can understand the pull, the desire. The insanity that eats at us all tells us how powerful we are, how important we are. Even those of us who have reached S Class status but don’t get to reap the benefits that others have might feel so inclined that we are entitled to these things. To these people." His gaze swept the room again. "However, I will make one thing clear. We are nothing without those who support us. We are unable to be the powerful beings the gods, creatures, or what have you that have blessed us with these powers, without the aide of others, and we are not entitled to their help. If you take it by force, if you go further against humanity then we already are, well," Elder Ellis scoffed, "you might as well just walk into the gate closest to you and stay there. You’re no better than them."

He shifted, the sound of fabric shifting loud in the quiet tension of the room.

"We are not here to discuss if the E.A.G. is a terrorist organisation. They are. Anyone who goes out of their way to kill those who have done so much for our world, our fellow companions, or fellow S Classes, are vermin. They cannot be allowed to continue their reign of terror. One thing that will be allowed is to discuss their core beliefs, and how such things can be solved, expanded on, and taken apart from the inside out. If we can discuss how to take them down from the onset, I think that will be the best way to tackle this issue. It is clear that Espers are hurting, so why aren’t we helping them? There is also the concern of new styles of gates opening, and new powers showing up. There are complications, the world is shifting again, and I will not have a mass loss of life on my hands if I can help it." Elder Ellis spoke firmly, passionately, and Kellen released the tense breath he’d held.

He hadn’t really doubted him, but he couldn’t help it. It was such a hard topic to discuss, and Kellen himself wasn’t sure he’d be able to be an adult about it when they discussed it. He was going to have a lot of feelings and emotions about this.

Elder Ellis leveled Kellen would a look, his eyes hard, but not unkind, and Kellen knew that he was going to have to control himself. He was newly an S Class, passionate, and a victim at the hands of the E.A.G. But, who else here wasn’t? He needed to be respectful, and that reminder from Elder Ellis, as soft as it was, was needed.

Kellen took a deep, calming breath, and reached for a snack from his little bin. He’d need it.