(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Rhys continued to feed Kellen, and it was Uncle Parker who was clearing away the empty buckets for Brent and Kellen. The table was slowly clearing of all the fried chicken and sides that Kellen’s Dad had gotten them as they had been chatting.

Kellen felt how the two Captains were watching everything, finally picking up on a few details that they hadn’t been able to because of their own tension, lack of awareness, and probably because Rhys was attempting to intimidate them up until now.

“Um, may we ask who you are?” Captain Mckay asked and Kellen smirked.

“I had thought that I was pretty famous, but maybe I’m wrong?” Kellen asked, turning his gaze to his parents. His Mom’s jaw hardened.

“You should be. It’s a big deal for our city, our region. You’re the first to jump Classes publicly in our city, and two Classes at that.” His Mom declared and something seemed to shift between the two Captains. They shared a look, and Captain Gordson raised a hand to her lips.

“Wait, are your eyes…naturally blue?” She asked and it was a fair question. Kellen felt a grin touch his lips.

“They are.” Kellen confirmed and watched as she paled. Her eyes darted between Kellen, his parents, Rhys and Sergei, and then back to the Captain at her side.

“Oh we’re fucked.” She whispered quietly. Kellen was sure that it was supposed to only be loud enough for S Classes to hear since Kellen’s parents and Brent didn’t react but Kellen felt Rhys shift behind him. Sergei’s eyes narrowed slightly and his Aunt Dina huffed.

“You are.” She agreed without hesitation. “Not only that, you dared to say that about a Guide who is newly engaged.” She pointed out and both Captains looked ill. Kellen rolled his eye.

“Aunt Dina.” He scolded and the two Captains flinched from the corner of his eye. ’Being engaged has nothing to do with.” Kellen wouldn’t deny the Guide part though. That wasn’t something he had any control over, not with how heavy the room felt. “But, Rhys, darling, you need to tone it down. Sergei, you too. Aunt Dina, you as well.” Kellen made sure to address each of them properly, Sergei and Aunt Dina reacting like kittens who’d been sprayed with water.

Not pleased, but knowing that they were doing something that was wrong.

Kellen didn’t look at Rhys, just watched as his hands stilled for a second before an annoyed sigh came from behind him. He didn’t worry that Rhys was mad at him since his lips came down and kissed him on the back of the neck, but he did know that wasn’t a confirmation that he was going to behave himself. He had heard him at the very least.

Kellen then turned his gaze towards the people who he worried truly wouldn’t listen to him. His parents.

He knew, truthfully, that his Mom might look like the person who was outwardly the most angry, that probably wasn’t the truth. His Dad might look chill, might look like he was being polite and kind, but Kellen didn’t trust it.

“Mom. Dad.” Kellen said carefully. “You need to calm yourselves.” Kellen told them and watched as they twitched. His Mom’s face was still hard, her eyes glowing purple. She had her arms crossed, her body tight and tense. His Dad?

An illusion of calm, with a large cardigan over his shoulders, a warm smile that didn’t reach his still grey eyes, and his body held in relaxation. Kellen gave him a pointed look, having to turn his body to do so and his Dad slid his gaze to Kellen’s before sliding away.

“Dad.” Kellen insisted and the older Guide sighed.

“I am allowed to be angry.” He pointed out and Kellen nodded.

“Yes, within reason. You know that Espers tend to lash out when they are weakened.” Kellen pointed out and his Dad’s true anger seeped out for a second, Just a split second of his calm, collected demeanour twisting into something ugly and dangerous. That was the man who had planned a campaign to ruin Brent’s brother’s image. Who had fought against those who wanted him dead from behind the scenes.

Who had quietly supported his Mom over several decades as she worked and raised two kids.

“That does not mean that I have to forgive them, or even tolerate what they have said.” He hissed, and that only made the Espers who had calmed down slightly even more angry. Kellen sighed, watching as his Aunt Dina perked up again. While Sergei was doing a good job of making it seem like he wasn’t affected, Brent’s pointed look told him otherwise.

“We have far bigger issues to deal with then the petty, stupid, idiotic words of a few S Classes, Dad. You know this better than anyone else.” Kellen said pointedly, his eye sliding to his neck. It was a pointed look, a meaningful one, and his Dad’s jaw tightened slightly.

“Kellen Woods, are you threatening me right now?” His Dad hissed, and that alone told Kellen how angry he truly was. Tragically, there wasn’t a way to soothe Guides instantly the same way there was to soothe Espers. It wasn’t a two way street in that regard.

“The fact that you’re even considering that a threat is telling me you need to take five minutes outside of this damn room. Mom? You need a break too.” Kellen slid his gaze to his Aunt, then to her lieutenants. “Uncle Xavier? Can you escort my parents out for a few minutes for them to get a grip on their emotions?” Kellen asked softly.

Uncle Xavier looked a little uncomfortable at getting an order like this, but when he shared a look with Aunt Dina, he just shrugged. He moved towards Kellen’s parents, shaking his head.

“Come on, you two. Let’s go check and see if we’ve heard anything from the other cities and regions. We can take this time to verify their story.” He was giving them an out, and as the person with the most connections in the room, he could do that. Kellen watched as his Dad fought himself for a moment before he finally relented.

He gave Kellen a pointed, ’we’ll talk later’ look but Kellen just smiled. They might, but by then emotions would have cooled and they could have a reasonable conversation. That was something to look forward to. After all, his Dad was a great sleuth.

The trio left, and that left everyone else behind. The Captains were staring at Kellen with wide eyes as Kellen just continued to eat the chicken placed before him.

“Now, let’s continue this conversation, shall we?” Kellen said, smiling. They simply agreed.

~

What Kellen found out from them after that point was more information about what attacked them, when they thought they were attacked, how far out from their city, anything that he thought was important. Why did he ask this?

Well, Kellen had read the files on what had happened in their own city, about the powerful Esper who had been caught working for the E.A.G. as a lieutenant or equivalent, and how it appeared they were able to summon monsters.

They were giant worms, but that didn’t mean anything. If there was one person who had a power, there was a chance that another could be born with it. Kellen would not put it past these assholes to do something like that, or cause something similar with their powers.

Captains, if they were good, usually were very protective of their cities. They would prioritize their safety over arriving to a meeting. A meeting that they had to know was being hosted because Rhys had called it. Rhys famously was with Kellen, and both Kellen and his Dad had been injured because of something that the E.A.G. had done. He was not a fan.

Maybe Kellen was giving them too much credit, but Kellen didn’t think it was wise to underestimate them at this point. They had been acting for a lot longer then Kellen had thought, if someone like Charlie existed and all of those younger Guides as well.

Hell, whether Brent thought it was the case or not, he was probably the reason why the E.A.G. felt they could get away with what they were doing. He was the first genetically created Guide.

The E.A.G. had probably thought they could make Guides like people had genetically modified livestock after the ones they had been consuming before died. That was why they had only found relatively young, but very dangerously powerful Guides at the base that Rhys and the others had raided and rescued Gunther from.

Kellen exhaled, focusing his attention back onto what they were saying. He had to do it several times, that thought kept creeping into the back of his mind. A reminder, an anger starter. Something that Kellen just couldn’t shake.

The feeling of anger at the E.A.G. for seeing children, mere babies as something exploitable for their own comfort. Their own ease. Kellen didn’t, couldn’t think about what happened to those who didn’t live up to their expectations. Now was not the time to mourn them.

The Captains gave Kellen and the others any information that they needed, even handing over personal info so that they could contact their Lieutenants to not only let them know that they had arrived safely, but also to confirm that their regions were safe.

Kellen would have found it strange that they hadn’t been able to keep in contact with them if it wasn’t for the fact that they admitted they had to abandon their camp with all of their things at it because of the monsters. They had their phones on them, but they were unable to charge them safely.

Kellen wasn’t fully certain what that meant, but given that they hadn’t attempted it, it probably wasn’t a good thing. So, they did just that, reaching out to their people who were understandably upset that they had gone radio silent for several days. Hearing that confirmed that what they said was true.

Kellen wasn’t about to just take them at face value, not when Brent had told him this was essentially the breeding grounds of the E.A.G. Or the starting grounds. He was in unknown territory and needed to keep his wits about him. He would not allow his people to be hurt, even by people who had been hurt.

The Lieutenants assured their Captains that the cities were safe, nothing was amiss. There might be some higher than normal activity around the cities, but everything was safe. Manageable.

Kellen suggested that they do some underground radar, a check, since that was something that had happened to them and Rhys and Sergei seconded his opinion. While they weren’t their cities, Kellen was protective. Caring. He wasn’t about to let someone fall because of his own anger.

The Captains were grateful, thankful, and Kellen, for once, felt like he was scheming like his Dad. After all, he could potentially use this moment to help him and Brent, like in the vision. It was a surprising revelation, but at the same time…Kellen didn’t hate it.