(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Kellen didn’t realise how difficult it would be to navigate not revealing his powers to others until it came to the press conference. He knew how his powers worked while the others didn’t. They did, however, know how Rhys’ powers worked so they couldn’t just brush off everything that Kellen saw as what Rhys saw.

It wouldn’t work because they knew how Rhys saw things, and knew that he wouldn’t be able to see anything with Kellen in it. Not without it being something that he clawed to get. Kellen had gotten the vision rather painlessly, and it would look weird if he was the one answering all of the questions that were supposed to be directed towards Rhys.

It was annoying that Kellen couldn’t reveal the new powers he had, even if he understood why he couldn’t. They couldn’t trust everyone in the room. While they might not be working for the E.A.G., the Invisibility Esper who had attacked him was a good example of the other dangers that being in a major city posed.

More Espers, more types of crazy.

So, did it make explaining everything harder? Yes, but it kept Kellen safe. Brent was the designated mouth coverer for Kellen, muffling him before he could even say something that would hint that he knew more than he let on. Rhys didn’t get to him fast enough, while Brent could see the look in his eye.

It was annoying, but Kellen allowed it. It seemed that the S Class Espers liked witnessing it too. They seemed amused by the tag team Field Guides, and were even more intrigued by how the two S Class Espers behind them were behaving.

They were a unit, not two couples competing against each other. It wasn’t something that was found often, or if it was found, it wasn’t common that they would continue to get along as well as they did. The last super successful couple that was able to pull off that kind of bond with others were Kellen’s parents.

Who were beaming proudly of Kellen and Brent like they were their own sons.

Either way, whether they planned it or not, the meeting after the meeting went without a hitch and those who were going to stay with the Phoenix Guild were shown their rooms while those who had homes to stay at in the city left shortly after.

No one offered dinner, even though Kellen wanted to. Rhys was the one to cover Kellen’s mouth that time, his yellow eyes sparkling.

"Kellen, sugar, they probably want to have some alone time with their partners, or call back to their respective Guilds and cities. Give them some time. We can always be extra hospitable at another time." Rhys assured him and Kellen grumbled, but let Rhys soothe him. After all, while it was in his nature to want to be that kind, caring Guide that he was taught to be, he too wanted some assurance and comfort from his Esper. He did also want to hear what kind of reasons the Esper gave for attacking him, but from the safety of his own apartment, maybe wrapped up in the loving arms of his fiancé.

"Fine." Kellen muttered, annoyed, but willing to let it slide. "We’re leaving too then, right?" Kellen asked, surprising Brent and his Dad, but not Kellen’s Mom, Rhys or Sergei. Rhys reached for Kellen’s cheek, cupping his face tenderly in the palm of his hand as he stared down at the sweet man in his lap.

"Of course we can leave if that’s what you want." Rhys murmured, turning his yellow gaze away from Kellen to peer up at his mother. Kellen’s Mom gave Rhys a nod, her own hand sliding to her husband’s waist and pulling him closer to her side.

"Kellen needs some coddling and if he doesn’t want it from his parents, we’ll understand. Get some rest. We’ll see you in the morning, you two." His Mom said with a smile. His Dad nodded, smiling when Kellen turned his head to look at them. Not for approval, but with the blank stare of someone who just needed some alone time.

Brent grumbled, causing Kellen to turn towards him. He was on Kellen’s other side, Sergei sitting beside him. When Kellen looked at Brent, he was puffing out his cheeks, huffing as if he was upset but it was the sparkle in his green gaze that gave away his true feelings.

"You don’t want to spend time with me?" Brent asked, batting his eyelashes. Kellen stared at him for a few too many seconds of silence before he spoke.

"You don’t want to spend time with me." Kellen argued, pushing back. "I’ve seen how you two have been making eyes at each other when you think we aren’t watching you. I know that you want to get your hands on Sergei and have your wicked way with him. At most, I just want a calm bath with Rhys. I’m not the problem here." Kellen told him and watched as Sergei turned his head away, his shoulders shaking as Brent’s face warmed.

Brent’s eyes slid to Kellen’s parents helplessly, then to Aunt Dina and Uncle Parker. Kellen wondered why he was even trying to save face at the current moment. It was just family and friends, he could be honest.

"Why are you being strange? Is it so wrong to want your partner?" Kellen asked and watched as Brent turned an even brighter shade of red. Rhys laughed, watching it all happen with sparkling eyes.

"I never thought I’d see the day when the shoe was on the other foot so soon, but my goodness. You’re such a pretty shade of red, Brent. Don’t you dare propose at our wedding." Rhys warned. Brent sputtered, coughing as Rhys helped Kellen to his feet. Kellen didn’t really need the help, but it said something to the others that Kellen allowed him to do so. It was clear that something had shaken Kellen up, but he didn’t want to speak with them about it.

That, or he’d tell them about it later, when there was less of a chance of prying eyes.

"I second Rhys’ words. No proposals at our wedding." Kellen reinforced and Brent gave both of them a scathing look.

"Do you think I would do something like that? I’m not a monster, and I would especially never do it if we’d hadn’t discussed it beforehand!" Brent defended and Rhys snorted. Brent wasn’t aware of how Sergei was looking at him from behind. He’d turned from laughing to staring at Brent with such a possessive look that Aunt Dina had shifted from finding the moment humourous to almost a defensive stance.

"Brent wouldn’t do something so dishonourable, nor would I." Sergei said, startling Brent. He nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning, his face warmer. Sergei stared down at him, his expression softening the longer he stared at Brent’s flustered expression. Sergei’s eyes were bright when they met Rhys and Kellen’s again. "Besides, we are in no rush. I still have to negotiate his contract away from you." Sergei added.

Kellen laughed lightly, narrowing his eyes.

"You can try." Kellen told him, meaning it, and Sergei gave a smile in return.

"Of course. I am ready and willing to fight for my right to love Brent." Brent was so flustered that Kellen found it cute. No wonder Rhys liked teasing him like this if he gave even half of the response that Brent gave.

"While it is amusing to tease Brent, I would like to go rest. I have a lot on my mind, and the bath calls me." Kellen told them. A chorus of goodbyes and goodnights followed them as they left. Kellen and Rhys didn’t say much to each other as they made the trek back to their rooms.

They remained quiet even as Kellen stripped, Rhys doing the same before they quietly headed for the bath. Rhys had already started it before he went to grab the bubble bath that Kellen had no idea was in the bathroom. Kellen spent his time carefully taking off his glove, mindful of the tender skin of his hand. It wasn’t quite healed enough to go into the bath water so he would have to keep it out.

Kellen got in the tub while it was still filling, leaning back against the edge as the warm water lapped at his skin. It was a soothing feeling, the smell of the bubble bath that Rhys had selected also melting Kellen’s thoughts away.

"Make space for me." Came Rhys’ gruff warning before Kellen found himself jostled this way and that as Rhys pushed him forward to settle behind him. His legs wrapped around Kellen, pushing past his hips and Rhys picked him up and settled Kellen on top of him. It wasn’t the most comfortable position without a full tub, but it would be fine once it was over.

This wasn’t their first time sharing a tub.

They remained quiet, the sound of the water filling the tub the only sound for a long time. When Rhys thought the tub was full, there was no sound. No obvious sound, but Kellen could hear the bubbles slowly popping, the creaking of the building, Rhys’ breathing. He’d had good hearing before, but taking his Class up another level had made everything more heightened.

Kellen hadn’t really taken the time to realise it until after he’d met a large group of S Classes, but if one didn’t maintain the basic level of guiding, they could go insane just from the overstimulation of all of the sounds. Kellen leaned back against Rhys and sighed.

"I was able to guide someone who was imprinted today." Kellen said, dropping the bomb he’d kept inside. Rhys didn’t even flinch.

"I wasn’t certain if that was what I understood had happened or not, but I was waiting for you to tell me about it." Rhys admitted. Kellen stared at the plain white bathroom tiles and decided that he didn’t want his bathroom to be plain white. He’d want colour. Not blue though. He didn’t want to be like his parents.

"I was surprised myself when it happened, but I really didn’t want him to touch her like that." Kellen told him. "Does that make me a bad person? Or a freak?" Kellen asked, being sincere. Rhys let out a slow, measured breath.

"You are never a bad person for preventing something that someone didn’t want, and if you’re a freak, what the hell am I? I can steal people’s powers, take their guiding away from them. You at least provide them a good thing, mine wasn’t a good power until I met you." Rhys told him. Kellen frowned, thoughtful.

"I...I’ve always been capable of guiding my Mom, but I never really thought anything of it. I just thought it was because I was her son, but what if that wasn’t the case? What if she was just the only imprinted pair I knew that I could help?" Kellen asked. Rhys made a thoughtful noise from behind him, the feeling of his chest vibrating lulling Kellen into a sense of calm.

"It’s not a bad thing, Kellen. Truly. It’s a fear that everyone has, and if you’ve developed it then there is a chance that others have as well. My guess? It has to be from you being the child of an imprinted pair. Unconsciously you’re able to support your Mom, and because of your new S Class status that might have expanded. We’ll look into it more, but Kellen?" Rhys called his name and Kellen turned, looking back at his fiancé.

Rhys reached out, stroking his hand down Kellen’s chest. His hand was warm, covered in bubbles and just the weight against his skin felt good.

"I’m proud of you. You did a very good job for your first meeting, and you helped not just one Esper or Guide, but so many. You’ve done a good thing. It’s okay to be confused and need to take some time to gather your thoughts, okay? I’ll be here with you." Rhys promised. Kellen felt the stress melt from his body.

"Thanks for saying that." Kellen muttered, his cheeks warm. Rhys smiled at him lovingly.

"Of course. Any time, sugar."