(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Kellen then proceeded to, impressively, shove the whole bin into his mouth like a damn vacuum with a broken off switch. Rhys helped him, unwrapping each treat while still contributing to the conversation.

What Kellen’s demonstration of guiding had done, besides making several Espers very interested in him, had shown that some Guides had been born with the ability to cater to those who had a harder time with guiding. That wasn’t what Kellen had meant for them to come to the conclusion about, but Rhys definitely steered the conversation towards that.

Rhys also suggested that maybe they needed to search for these Guides, convince them to work for them, and with their help, turn the tides on the E.A.G. Rhys was honest when he said that he loved his city, had always loved his city, but if he didn’t have the backbone that he did the E.A.G. would have a pull to him.

Several other Espers agreed, including Elder Ellis. Kellen was floored at the revelation, almost pausing his intensive consuming mission. He didn’t think Rhys would have sympathy towards the E.A.G. members, especially given how he had targeted them. Then again, they had been hurting Gunther, his best friend, so maybe that had deterred him from considering their side.

Kellen didn’t even consider that he might be the main reason as to why Rhys didn’t support the E.A.G. He knew that Rhys loved him, that he loved Rhys in turn, but somehow he missed that as he was listening to this group of the most powerful people in the world discuss their issues, their concerns, and their hesitant agreement with the E.A.G.

The conversation which had meant to be about how to help the Espers who were getting pulled into the clutches of the E.A.G., or asking what was pulling them into their clutches, was instead pivoting towards the mission statement of the E.A.G. and why it pulled Espers in.

For lots of the newer Espers, especially those around the circle, they found that guidance as a whole didn’t feel all that great to them. This blew Kellen’s mind to hear.

To them, it felt like someone was sticking their fingers inside of them, pulling at them, plucking at their insides. Forcing them into a mold that they didn’t agree with, didn’t want to do. With only a few Guides did that feel different. Those were the Guides that they were more compatible with, and now, Kellen.

That didn’t apply to everyone, but the three Espers that Kellen had guided had never experienced that sensation before. They didn’t know that guidance could feel that way. Could feel like cool water washing them clean, clearing their bodies of the strain and tension they had known they were carrying but couldn’t quite shake off.

Elder Ellis wondered how many other Guides could make them feel that way, and he understood why some S Classes lost their damn minds when they found a Guide who didn’t feel like needles across their skin. He didn’t agree with their methods, and a few S Classes looked ashamed, but he understood.

Every S Class Esper in the room agreed, and Kellen had the sudden dawning horror that if every Esper in the room agreed that guiding usually felt terrible, but mostly bearable, he was fighting a bigger battle then he thought.

That was when Rhys brought up Kellen’s test that he’d done with the S Class Espers and proposed that it could also be used for Guides as well. Maybe Kellen wasn’t the anomaly but he just caught on faster than others because his father was also a Guide and he had his lived experience to go from? Maybe this wasn’t something that even Guides had considered, or if they had, a lot of weight hadn’t been put to it?

If they considered that compatibility was only a potential if all the stars aligned in the universe, but the secondary test, the one which spoke more to the types of Espers that Guides could work with, that might help this issue. The bigger problem was how did they make a test for that?

They couldn’t just drag Kellen around to talk to everyone, as much as Rhys was sure Kellen would love to try and help everyone. He, however, had his own Guild to run, and Kellen had his own department to manage. So, Rhys proposed that they bring this to the Healing Espers, and the department heads of every Guiding Division.

That seemed to surprise most of the Espers in the room.

Kellen was surprised as well, but in a good way.

He agreed, pausing in his consuming, to say that most Guides might not be aware of it, but they might subconsciously categorize certain Guides to do certain tasks. That wasn’t relative to their Class, but to something deeper, more instinctual. Rhys nodded, a smug smile on his lips.

He elaborated, since he had spoken to his Guiding Division head and his Head Healer about the results that Kellen had found, he felt confident that this would work. They might not get something right away, but maybe everyone could return home and look at the patterns that were forming and they could send them to a board that they selected who would examine the information as a whole and come up with a solution.

They debated this for a while longer before it was finalised, and each S Class was given the task to do just that. Kellen was thrilled by the huge amount of data that was about to come in, but Rhys was the one who dashed his hopes.

He would not be allowed on that board, Rhys wouldn’t let him. He wouldn’t be home, so someone else would have to handle this. Kellen scowled in annoyance at the reminder and Rhys just leaned in and kissed his fiancé on the cheek. He was cute when he was angry, too.

The solution and conclusion of that part of the conversation meant that they could turn back to the first two issues that had been brought up, both concerning the E.A.G. Why Espers were pulled towards the organisation, and how to help those who kept getting pulled in.

With the combined information that the Guides and Healers were about to gather, that might help, but there was the bigger issue. Not all Espers that were getting pulled in had issues with guiding. They seemed to think that Guides were lesser than them, they thought they were better than everyone.

There was a real issue at the core of this, and it was something that the powerful people in the room couldn’t understand. Kellen was the one who pointed it out.

They didn’t feel adequate. They felt neglected by society. Kellen had mentioned it before but it had gotten lost in his guiding test, but the real fact of it all was that C Class Espers and Guides were far more common then S Class. Yet they weren’t valued. Neither were the others that were awakened, but the best job they could get was working at the counter for a Guild. Or a search and rescue team.

Kellen wasn’t trying to be mean, but he was pointing out a blind spot. However, a lot of time had passed and Elder Ellis considered that they take a fifteen minute break so that they could consider the meaning of those words, and take a breather. Murmured agreements, and the conversation was shelved for a bit. Kellen was finished consuming at that point, and he was going to get up.

Rhys grabbed him.

Kellen turned to him, confused, while Rhys smiled at him warmly.

"You are not to wander on your own, Kellen. I love you, but you’ve put yourself in a dangerous position." Rhys told him with a smile and Kellen stared at him.

"What?" Kellen asked, confused. He had planned to just go to the bathroom, but Rhys rose with him, his grip still on his arm.

"It’s different when we’re in the meeting, but outside? You need to stay by my side. We’ll go wherever you want to go, but together." He said and Kellen blinked. Kellen was facing Rhys, his back to most of the room. His good eye wasn’t able to check the room but he trusted Rhys to have his back. He stared at Rhys for a long moment, about to argue, when he felt a presence beside him.

Kellen turned, and was surprised to find that it was Sergei. His expression was grim.

"While I am glad we’re discussing this, I hate the taste it leaves in my mouth. You need to get snacks? I’ll grab you some. Here, I’ll take your bin and restock. That way you can go to the bathroom and maybe go greet the other Guides. One of the imprinted Espers said that they were anxious to speak to you." Sergei said, sharing a look with Rhys. Kellen had no idea what that look meant and Rhys nodded.

"Sounds good. I’m sure Kellen would love to meet them, wouldn’t you? A few are even S Classes. Maybe they can give you some advice?" Rhys suggested, smiling tightly. Kellen didn’t like that smile. It was his professional smile, not his real one. Kellen frowned, wondering what had gotten under his skin.

That was, until he felt a warning run down his spine and Kellen carefully turned his head.

The woman, the Esper who had the same powers as his sister and mother, was staring at Kellen, Rhys and Sergei. She was smiling, and Kellen knew that something was not right. Kellen slid his hand into Rhys’, giving it a squeeze.

"That does sound good. Thank you for doing that, Sergei. Are you going to meet us outside the room?" Kellen asked, turning back slowly like he wasn’t bothered. Sergei met Kellen’s eye and nodded.

"Sure. Sounds good. I should probably get familiar with how other Espers treat their lower level Guides." He said and Kellen chuckled.

"Confident, are you?" Kellen teased and Sergei huffed.

"You’re already on thin ice, Guide Kellen." Sergei grumbled, and Kellen let out a loud laugh. Sergei took the moment to grab the now empty bin that had been left on the couch beside them. Kellen nudged Sergei when he straightened up again, not even moving the man as they turned as a united force and headed for the steps down.

"Oh hush. You know that I’ve been moving to protect you two. I am allowed to have a few jabs. He’s my best friend." Kellen told him and Sergei scowled at him, but it was all for show. His expression returned to the flat expression he normally had.

"I am aware, and grateful that you’ve continued to nudge me in the right direction." Sergei said, before he moved in front of Kellen as they headed down the stairs. Kellen did think that they were being a little ridiculous, but he didn’t tell the men to back down.

Not when the air felt different, and his gut was warning him that they were right. Kellen might think they were foolish, but he listened to his body.

"Well, at some point, you have to trust your gut, Sergei. Has it worked out so far?" He asked and Sergei hesitated for a second.

"Mostly. I am finding that...I need to communicate more, otherwise our differences feel too big. They don’t when we speak to each other." Sergei said and Kellen felt his expression soften.

"I’m glad to hear that." Kellen said, meaning his words. Sergei almost blushed, nodding.

"Me too, Guide Kellen." Rhys’ hand in Kellen’s tugged, pulling Kellen away from Sergei.

"The bathroom and kitchen are in opposite directions. We’ll see you soon, Sergei." Rhys said, nodding to him before he held onto Kellen’s hand tightly. "I’m going into the stall with you when you pee." Rhys whispered and Kellen turned his eye towards him, confused.

"What?" Kellen repeated, just as quiet as Rhys. Rhys didn’t speak again until they got to the bathroom and Kellen just shook his head. Silly man.