(BL) Taming the Field Guide

His parents wouldn’t let them have this conversation in the sterile interior of a conference room. They could tell that Kellen had something big to say, and they didn’t want him to feel unsupported. So, they insisted that they head back up to Aunt Dina’s apartment and have the conversation there.

Rhys agreed for Kellen, since he knew that Kellen wouldn’t really care where they had this conversation as long it was somewhere secure. The group gathered, taking the elevator together, before ending at Aunt Dina’s apartment. Kellen’s Dad wanted a cup of tea before everything started, which turned into everyone getting something warm to drink before they settled around the couch and Kellen himself.

Kellen had his own cup of tea, his Mom and Dad did, Brent did, but Sergei had opted to go down to the bottom floor and grab a few coffees for those who wanted them, and that was what Sergei, Rhys, and Uncle Parker did. Lots of the other Lieutenants had taken a step back, sans Uncle Vance, because like most Healers, he could tell that it was something important to him as well.

Kellen wasn’t sure how he knew, and he wasn’t going to ask. Healers were a little different from the other Espers, and that was okay. He just...didn’t ask certain questions because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He was sure Healers would be happy to talk about it, but...Kellen felt a shiver run down his spine. He could feel Taylor staring at him from across the ocean.

Either way, everyone was comfortable now that they were upstairs, and his Dad had also already ordered dinner for everyone. Kellen didn’t even question that, knowing that the conversation was going to run late.

He started simple, going over the meeting from his perspective and what he’d done, who’d he talked to, and his interaction with the other S Classes. His parents were appalled that he’d done something so dangerous as guide other Espers in a room full of them, and his Mom even started to scold Rhys. Sergei stepped in before Kellen could.

"It was the right thing to do in the moment, even if it did put Kellen at risk." He said. "While I don’t think guiding S Classes at any time is a smart idea, those fools wouldn’t have understood how special Kellen is as a Guide without that knowledge. He also has every right to show off his powers, and Guiding is that for him, regardless of what other powers he’s awoken." Kellen was a bit surprised at his words, but Brent beamed next to him.

He leaned over, kissing Sergei on the cheek.

"What a sweet man I have." Brent murmured and Kellen watched in fascination as Sergei turned bright red. He coughed, but didn’t deny it, and that seemed to take some of the tension out of the room.

While his Mom didn’t fully back down from her stance, Sergei’s words had taken some of the bite out of her words. She did question him further, asking for more context behind the situation, and of course, it brought up the woman that Kellen had guided who had then tried to kidnap him.

Kellen couldn’t feel powers in the air like his Dad and Brent, but he could tell that the others were not too keen to speak of her.

"She’s barely conscious." His Mom said. Her eyes were flashing purple, her nostrils flared. Her whole body next to his Dad was tight, and Kellen worried she was going to break the mug she was holding.

"I’m not upset about that, Mom." Kellen told her gently.

"But you’re upset about something. I can sense it." She said, and Kellen could tell she was on edge. Why wouldn’t she be? She was worried for her son, and while Kellen understood that was something he could never fully relieve her from, she shouldn’t worry as much as she was. Rhys and Sergei had kept him safe, as had Elder Ellis. Did he fully trust the others like he did Rhys and Sergei?

Not even Kellen was that stupid, but they had stood up for him. The whole group had turned against her after she had attacked, so Kellen knew that they didn’t condone her actions.

Or maybe they didn’t condone that she got caught, but that was just simply splitting hairs.

"I am, but I need to explain more before I can get to that detail." Kellen told her, not dismissing her concern. He watched as her jaw tightened and she nodded. His Dad patted her arm, but Kellen could tell that both of them were holding themselves tightly. They were worried that something else had happened when he was there, and Sergei seemed surprised that something else had.

After all, he hadn’t really been there when it had happened, and they hadn’t had a chance to discuss it.

Kellen took a shaky breath in, meeting his Aunt’s gaze for a second, before he turned it towards the night sky and sighed. He then continued.

When he got to the portion where the S Class who had imprinted on the S Class Guide arrived, every Esper in the room tensed. He swore he heard someone growl, but he couldn’t pinpoint who it was. Brent shuddered, his eyes flickering closed for a second and Kellen wondered if he was okay, but Sergei was at his side. He would have taken him out if he wasn’t.

Kellen trusted that, and continued.

He continued as he explained that he had somehow guided the imprinted Esper, not only from a distance, but enough that it had meant his Guide didn’t have to touch him further. His Aunt gasped, her eyes going fire-red and her hand covering her mouth. His Dad put down his tea, taking his Mom’s from her too as they both shook and Kellen swallowed.

"I never told you this, Mom, but...I’ve always been able to guide you to some degree." He said. "I never paid it much mind because I just thought it was because we were genetically the same, or shared similarities. I never considered that it could be used outside of my family." Kellen told her and she stared at him. His Dad stood up, reaching for Kellen and Kellen let him take his hand. His Dad squeezed it tightly.

"Kellen, did you guide her when I was injured?" He asked and Kellen gave a quick nod in response. His Dad’s eyes watered, overflowing as his Mom pieced together things that Kellen had never told her. He was sure that she saw some of the moments during their childhood when Kellen had been awakened and had just helped his Mom out. He hadn’t even realised he’d been doing it when he was younger, but he’d lose a lot of his weight really quickly and complain about it to Taylor at school the next day.

She’d also never thought anything of it, hence why it had never been brought up. When you grow up with some things, you don’t think they’re strange until...something or someone points it out.

Being able to guide your imprinted parent might be one thing, but being able to guide someone else who is imprinted? That’s...That’s something else entirely.

"No one speaks of this outside of this room." Aunt Dina said sternly.

"No, of course not." Sergei agreed, nodding. Kellen swallowed.

"Rhys and I talked about it, but...is this a bad thing?" Kellen asked and his Dad who was still holding his hand shook his head.

"No, it makes you more in danger, Kellen. The target on your back just got bigger. Fuck, this is..." Kellen felt his eyes go wide, as did several other people in the room. His Dad never swore. Kellen was pretty sure he’d never heard it. His Mom got up, wrapping her arm around her Dad’s shoulder and hugging him close.

"It’ll be alright, Henry." She whispered comfortingly and his Dad shook his head.

"No, it’s not! Our boy is too talented and our city is too small! Someone could try and take him and harm him. They’re already after his life, if they find out that he can guide anyone, it could be a disaster!" His Dad wailed and Kellen felt his throat tighten. His body tensed, and it was Rhys’ warmth next to him that helped him remain calm.

"That won’t happen, Mr. and Mrs. Woods." Rhys said solemnly. They both jerked towards the man, Kellen’s Dad clearly ready to protest until he saw the look in Rhys’ eyes. Rhys was calm, collected, which was a surprise since he should be the one freaking out the most. "Kellen’s body has already accounted for a way to protect him, and that was honestly why Kellen wanted to speak to everyone today. He didn’t think being able to guide others who are imprinted was a big deal." Rhys told them.

That had everyone tensing.

"What do you mean? What else happened?" Brent asked and Kellen flinched.

"Well, I shot someone who was invisible." Kellen said. "You are all aware that I shot her, since she’s here and under lock and key, but...I wasn’t aware I was moving." Kellen felt that sickness in his stomach all over again. "I wasn’t myself, I had no clue I was doing it until my gun was out and I registered the gunshot at the same time as everyone else." Kellen told them. He felt sick even saying the words out loud.

Everyone else seemed rather confused by Kellen’s words. It was clear that he hadn’t explained himself well enough to everyone but Brent and Rhys. Brent’s eyes widened as he registered what Kellen was trying to say and he gasped, his hand flying from Sergei’s arm to his mouth.

"That’s rather dangerous, isn’t it?" Brent asked and Rhys sighed in response.

"I don’t think it is, but I won’t deny that Kellen has some right to be concerned. I think it’s his body acting in self preservation, not that he has the ability to harm others while unaware." Those words are what made everything click for the others.

"Is this related to your Esper powers?" His Mom asked, horrified, and Kellen nodded. His throat felt tight, the panic he’d been feeling and Rhys talked him down from choking him into silence again.

"However, as his senior in Time powers, I don’t think Kellen would ever use his powers to harm others. Or himself. He’s too protective of himself to do something like that, and his powers haven’t manifested in a way that would go against his nature." Rhys spoke firmly, with authority. "All of his powers and visions have been a strain on his body, we can’t argue that, but anyone suddenly awakening higher-level powers is going to have some strain. We were able to calculate for his shift in powers when he jumped Classes because those were understandable. It just so happens that there aren’t a lot of Time Espers around, but we can manage it." Rhys said, then sighed. "All of that is to say that Kellen’s powers have never intentionally harmed him, or others who he has been close to. In fact, it’s been the exact opposite." Rhys said with a slightly bitter smile. "Kellen has been able to help everyone that he’s cared about if he’s seen a vision."

Kellen looked over at his future husband and squeezed the hand he wasn’t holding his Dad’s hands with. Rhys smiled at him in response, but Kellen could see the strain around his eyes. He was worried too, but it was more important to convince everyone else that Kellen was okay, including Kellen.

"That’s what Rhys says, and while I am very concerned about my behaviour, I want to trust the only expert we have in this field." Kellen said to the room of people concerned about him. "I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew what was going on going into Brent’s press conference. I don’t want there to be any secrets or confusion about how I might act differently suddenly, like how I jumped Classes again." Kellen said and Rhys winced.

"Yes, we don’t want a repeat of...that." He muttered.