(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Kellen felt his breath stutter. His heart was racing in his ears and any and all other sound was gone. He was barely aware of Rhys at his side, watching him, his body protectively caging Kellen in as he had an emotional moment.

What Rhys had wanted to show Kellen was something so meaningful that Kellen felt his eyes prickle with tears. He raised a trembling hand towards it, sliding his watering gaze towards Rhys.

“Is this real?” Kellen asked around the lump forming in his throat. Rhys’ lips curled up in a soft smile, nodding. He scanned Kellen’s watering gaze, his expression already too soft for Kellen to keep his composure.

Kellen darted his gaze back to what Rhys had shown him, aware that the other Espers and Guides were giving him strange looks. He understood, in the back of his mind, that his behaviour was strange. It was unusual, but seeing this was very overwhelming for him.

Rhys had taken Kellen to an interior part of the tower. To Kellen’s surprise, the windowed floor was one big open area where they held the meetings. Below that was another level. No windows, but that was where they had a kitchen that was used when they occupied the tower, bathrooms, and the protected rooms for the partners of the S Classes while the meetings were happening.

It was on that second level that Rhys had taken him to a small, tucked away place off of the main hallway. It was an alcove of sorts, meant to be tucked away. Inconspicuous. You would have missed it if you weren’t already aware that it was there.

They were names. Dozens of names carved into a part of the wall. With dates. Above the space were the words We Existed in clear, simple font.

Of course Rhys would notice a place like this, and why it was significant to Kellen of all people. These weren’t the names of people who were here at the tower right now. Most of these names were old, ancient. Kellen had a feeling that some of these people had put their names here and then faded into the background after.

Here, now, the newer generation exists. They might not know these names, these people.

Kellen sucked in a shaky breath.

The names that got to him the most were his fallen Aunts and Uncles. The ones who had cared for him in their own way, offering to get rid of school bullies, people who bothered him, or doctors who gave him shots he didn’t like.

Sweet things that were sweet to Espers, not necessarily the general public. Kellen had to bite his lips when he found his Uncle’s names and dates. They were older, not written into the wall near their death date. They were just…there. Tied together, and Kellen nearly laughed at the way even their names were too close for comfort. His Esper Uncle had bled his name into his Guide Uncle’s name, a quick dash down, breaking down from the N in his name. Silly man. They had the same last name. Possessive old fool.

They bled into each other and Kellen nearly crumpled.

Rhys was there for him, holding him, comforting him.

“Oh love, I didn’t want to show you this so you’d cry.” Rhys whispered, pain in his voice. “Are you okay?” He asked and Kellen shook his head. How could he be?

This wall was a plea. A cry. It was only made worse when Kellen noticed Rhys’ own name carved into the wall, and Sergei’s. Kellen could barely hold himself together.

These S Classes were just trying to exist, to live, and it came with a cost. This wall was proof. Proof they lived.

Kellen grabbed Rhys, pulling him close to cry into his uniform as he kept his eyes on the wall, unable to stop witnessing the life that had come before him. He was scanning the wall, his hand still touching his Uncle’s names, when he noticed that some of the wall was a different colour near the bottom.

“What’s wrong with the wall?” Kellen asked, his voice harsh. He winced at the sound, but Rhys didn’t.

“That’s where they brought the wall from the first tower that was built here but collapsed. We added it so that no one would be left out.” Rhys told him carefully, and Kellen cried harder. He knew that some of the Espers were giving him a strange look, hell, probably even some of the Guides too, but what else could he do?

He was sure his parents didn’t even know of this because they weren’t S Classes. They had just provided a place for them to feel normal, safe. God, Kellen was going to have to do something for the others. Something to make them feel like they were alive, respected, loved.

“I’m baking so many cookies when I get home.” Kellen rasped and Rhys hugged him.

“Yeah?” Rhys asked, his arms tender as he held his Guide who was crying for everyone on that wall. Rhys swallowed knowing that he was included in that list.

“Yeah. Dozens. We’re giving them out to everyone.” Kellen warned and Rhys leaned in, pressing a kiss against his forehead.

“Of course. Those chocolate cherry ones?” Rhys asked and Kellen nodded.

“And many others.” Kellen said and Rhys just nodded, holding his Guide. His thoughtful, big-hearted Guide who tried to make it seem like he was heartless, but there was no way he could be. He cared too much, in Rhys’ humble opinion.

~

When Kellen had finally composed himself and was over his fit of tears, Rhys and Kellen set out to find Sergei, and then to introduce Kellen to the oldest member of the S Classes here for this meeting. The oldest was always the de facto leader of the meeting, followed shortly by the Esper who had called the meeting.

Kellen wasn’t as surprised as he should be that it was Rhys who had called the meeting, but Sergei confirmed that he would have if Rhys hadn’t.

Sergei was in the large meeting room speaking to a few of the Espers from other regions that hadn’t been staying in the Phoenix Guild. Like Kellen had assumed, they hadn’t stayed with them because they had partners of their own that they wanted to protect and they were very surprised that Kellen wasn’t dropped off with the other Guides.

Some even said as much, insulting Kellen to his face. Sergei and Rhys got mad, stiffening behind Kellen as the Espers around him watched him like a damn hawk. The eye patch wasn’t helping Kellen’s situation, and he knew that. He could feel the energy in the room shift as soon as he walked in.

They were all questioning why he was here if he was injured, practically scolding Rhys and Kellen with their eyes, but Kellen plastered on his best Guide smile on and laughed.

He didn’t dismiss their concerns, but Kellen made it clear that since he was heavily involved with what they were going to discuss today, he had every right to be here. He also told them plainly that he wasn’t like their Guides. That ruffled some feathers, but Kellen felt it was fair.

They’d ruffled Rhys and Sergei, he could do some ruffling of his own.

Fight fire with fire. Not in a mean way, but to prove that it didn’t feel good from either direction. Thankfully, because Kellen was Kellen, tensions never got too heated because of his new skill of being a Guiding diffuser, but it was a bit frustrating that he could tell if he wasn’t built the way that he was, it would be bad.

Rhys soon dismissed them from the group Sergei had been chatting with, asking if Sergei had spoken to the organiser. Sergei confirmed that he had, so Rhys and Kellen went on their own to greet the oldest S Class here.

They were an Esper, but if they had been a Guide Rhys wasn’t sure if they would have been allowed to organise it. He admitted that much to Kellen, but then laughed.

“You won’t have to ever worry about that, since I’m older than you.” Rhys told him cheerfully, and it was a pang in Kellen’s chest. Yeah, he wouldn’t have to worry about it, ever. Not since he planned to live until they died of Old Age.

“You’re right.” Kellen agreed, before Rhys came to a stop in front of the man who had greeted them when they had arrived. It had been a bit of a blur when they had landed, and Rhys had wanted to show Kellen the wall, so they had broken off from the other Espers and Guides who had arrived. Now that they were circling back, Kellen was glad for it.

The older Esper, the Light Esper, had a rather kind air to them. Soft spoken, polite, he was surrounded by a few other Espers. They seemed to get along fairly well, and Kellen was glad for it. Rhys smiled as he approached and the Light Esper held out his two hands to Rhys. Rhys took them, much to Kellen’s surprise, before he released his hold on one hand and brought Kellen forward.

“Elder Ellis, this is my partner, Kellen Woods.” Rhys greeted warmly and Kellen let Rhys herd him slightly. Kellen hesitantly put his hand in the Esper’s hand and was surprised when the older man squeezed it.

“Are you the son of Eleanor and Henry Woods?” He asked and Kellen gave a firm nod.

“Yes sir.” He answered and the older Esper laughed. His eyes curled up at the corners, his smile warm, his aura warm, and his condition good.

“Yes sir? It’s been a while since someone said that to me. Most just call me Elder Ellis at this point, Guide Woods.” Kellen nodded. “Esper Thatcher, you know that we normally don’t allow partners during the meeting.” Elder Ellis said it warmly, even as Kellen dealt with the whiplash that Rhys was being called by his last name, and not his title.

“Of course I am aware of the rules, but Kellen is a special case. I’m sure some are aware that Kellen jumped Classes, but I’m afraid we weren’t fully honest in the cleanup from the poison gate.” Rhys said and Kellen felt every conversation halt. Elder Ellis raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” He asked and before Rhys could speak, Kellen did.

“I’ve jumped Classes for the second time. I’m no longer the C Class Guide I used to be. I’m now an S Class Guide.” The gasps around the room were a bit therapeutic for Kellen’s soul. It was a shocking situation. Even Elder Ellis looked shocked while he held both Rhys and Kellen’s hand.

“What in the world?” He muttered and Kellen gave a slightly bitter smile.

“It seems that my body was always meant to jump Classes, I just had a little jump start from a particular Esper.” Kellen joked, sliding his one eye towards Rhys. Rhys looked incredibly uncomfortable as the Elder looked between them.

“Are you certain?” He asked and Rhys nodded.

“We made sure to test several times. It’s confirmed. He’s jumped from C Class to S Class in only a couple of months.” Rhys told him and the older S Class looked…horrified. Actually terrified for Kellen. Kellen shifted uncomfortably, wondering why he was so scared. Was that a bad thing? They were all S Classes here, so why did he look at Kellen with fear and pity?