Kellen, of course, grabbed something for everyone, and since he was the only Guide of the group, he wasn’t allowed to carry either one of the trays of drinks. Even when he gave Rhys a sad look, the man shielded his eyes from Kellen, making his Aunt Dina laugh.

"Wise to his tricks, huh?" She teased, smiling and Rhys nodded gravely. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"He’s used them on me many, many times." Rhys placed a shaking hand over his heart, looking withered and said. Kellen glared at him.

"Oh like you don’t like it." Kellen muttered and Uncle Parker turned away from them to smile. Rhys laughed, leaning in with his tray of drinks to kiss Kellen’s cheek.

"I am very willing and open to being manipulated by you. You know that, love." Rhys promised, his yellow gaze warm as he stared at Kellen. Kellen muttered something unkind under his breath that had all of the Espers around him letting out soft breaths of laughter. They took the elevators up, chattering and bickering the whole way.

Kellen was unaware of how him simply stepping into the building had brightened it, and he would have just brushed it off even if that wasn’t the case.

Stepping into his Aunt’s apartment, it was clear that his parents hadn’t stayed sleeping in like she thought. They had probably woken up recently to either speak to Brent, or be there when Kellen and the others arrived. Either way, Kellen was greeted by the smiling, open faces of his parents, his Aunt’s Lieutenants, and the stern face of a man he hadn’t seen in a while.

Kellen realised that this was the true reason that Rhys hadn’t let him have anything in his arms. It was so that he had the freedom to run to Brent as soon as he saw him. The two Guides took off, racing towards the other and colliding in the middle, grabbing onto each other fiercely in a hug that looked more like they were wrestling then actually embracing.

Kellen clung to the man with everything he had, squeezing and yanking him while Brent huffed Kellen’s smell. Kellen was sure he didn’t smell particularly good, but they had cleaned up in a stream before arriving into the city so they didn’t stink. They also had Rhys, but that didn’t matter at this moment.

"Kellen." Brent breathed, sounding desperate, relieved. Kellen felt his eyes water.

"Brent." Kellen replied, just as relieved. Kellen and Brent held each other for a long, long time, but men fought tears.

Brent was the one to pull away, holding onto Kellen’s shoulder with one hand as he stared at him, scanning him. He frowned the whole time, his green gaze watery as he scanned him.

"Fuck. You look more beaten up than the last time I saw you. I can’t believe I wasn’t there to go in with you." Brent told him and Kellen’s throat tightened.

"You had no control over that. They took your control away. Don’t feel bad. Everyone who could make it out, made it out." Kellen told him. It was a half answer, but a sincere one. Brent heard what Kellen wasn’t saying, his own throat tight.

"I watched the funeral. It was good." He said and Kellen nodded. It had been good and uneventful. Brent squeezed his shoulder again before letting it go and reaching for the eyepatch. Kellen waited, letting Brent do this. Brent pulled it back and Kellen opened his eye, showing the other man his injury. Brent sucked in as Kellen stared, his eye darting around as it tried to see.

Blurry shapes, surrounded by darkness before Brent put the eyepatch back over his eye. Brent’s face was dark, filled with anger and remorse.

"Fuck. What did this?" He asked and Kellen smirked.

"Poison and a vine. My hand was honestly worse. I was actually more excited that we’d have matching face scars." Kellen said, pointing to the scar that ran along his face around his eye. Brent did not seem to find that funny.

Kellen took in Brent’s physical condition and was glad to see that he looked good. He was built, thick, his blond hair longer. He’d been growing it out since he’d arrived at the Saturn Guild and now he looked truly princely and dangerous. He looked healthy, which he was sure that Brent did not look when he had been with his brother and his shitty family.

"Your hand?" Brent asked, his gaze sliding down and Kellen raised up his gloved hand.

"I’m not taking it out so you can look at it. It’s too early in the day and it looks gross." Kellen told him. Brent frowned, ready to argue, but he snapped his mouth shut. If Kellen was saying it looked gross, it looked gross. Brent raised his gaze back up to Kellen, reaching out to touch his face, touch his shoulders and his sides. Brent sighed.

"You’re different." Brent muttered. "Not bad, just different. I can feel the Esper hum underneath everything." Brent muttered quietly and Kellen blinked. That was surprising, but also comforting. Kellen smiled.

"Oh? How does it feel?" Kellen asked and Brent grunted.

"Weird, but also like it’s always been there. It’s just...louder now." Brent muttered. "Maybe I was subconsciously guiding you in the past without even being aware of it. It kind of feels like it." Brent said and Kellen wasn’t even surprised to hear it. Kellen shrugged.

"Sounds about right for a Field Guide." Kellen said and Brent’s frown finally faded. He smiled, his scars shifting before he pulled Kellen in for another hug.

"God, it’s so good to see you. I’m pissed that you had to come, but I’m also too damn pleased to be angry." Brent muttered. "Sorry you have to help out with my personal stuff. I really didn’t want to bother you with this." Brent admitted, and Kellen reached up, squeezing him tightly. He knew his grip was tighter, but he also knew that Brent could take it.

"Shut the fuck up." Kellen told him, making Brent laugh. "You’re not bothering me, and I told you that it’s no bother either. You’re one of us, and I’m pretty sure my parents would be pissed if you said that to them too. Also, I’m never giving you up without a fight." Kellen told him seriously. He knew that his time with Brent was over since he knew how to share, unlike some Espers in the room.

Kellen gave Brent one last squeeze before he pulled back and stepped back. Brent was surprised, but Kellen had a boyfriend who was an S Class. He knew how patient someone else was being.

"You hear that, Sergei?" Kellen said, turning to look at the S Class Esper who was politely waiting his turn and had been staring at the blond man like he was water and the man had been traveling in a desert for days. Brent sucked in, either having forgotten about Sergei or had been too focused on Kellen to pay attention to him.

Kellen watched as Brent’s eyes went wide like saucers, and his face went slack. His cheeks flushed slightly as he scanned the other man from head to toe, twice. Kellen watched, a warm feeling filling his chest. Was it pride? Happiness? He had never expected to see that look on Brent’s face before, but the man was clearly in over his head but in a good way.

Sergei, for his part, was on his best behaviour. Uncle Parker had taken the tray that Sergei had been carrying away from him so that Sergei could keep his hands at his side, fisted. There was no anger or frustration in his body or his eyes that Kellen had gotten to Brent first. He clearly understood the hierarchy here, and he wasn’t upset.

That was a good mark for Sergei as Brent’s breathing grew a little harsh, raspy. Sergei swallowed, his own eyes scanning Brent from head to toe repeatedly, his eyes stopping on certain parts of Brent that were completely acceptable. Kellen knew he was doing the same kind of scan that Kellen had been doing.

Checking that Brent was okay.

Kellen nudged Brent slightly, and Brent slid big, shocked eyes towards Kellen. Kellen smiled, nodded, and gestured for him to move with his chin. Brent gave a shaky nod before he turned his gaze back towards Sergei. The air was filled with tension as Brent began to move towards Sergei. He stopped a few steps away from him, both men awkward and confused.

"H-Hey." Brent said softly and Sergei stared down at him. Sergei wasn’t that much taller than Brent, but enough. Sergei swallowed thickly.

"Hello, Brent." Sergei said quietly and Brent shivered.

"It’s been...a while." Brent said awkwardly and even Kellen winced. Sergei gave a small smile, his eyes soft as he stared at Brent.

"It has been. We had a promise that we were unable to keep because of your kidnapping." Sergei said softly and Brent sucked in.

"You remembered?" Brent asked carefully and Sergei’s eyes were warm as he hesitantly, carefully raised a hand to grab his shoulder. He gave it a squeeze.

"Of course I would remember something that involved you." Sergei told him seriously. Brent sucked in a shaky breath then glanced back at Kellen. Kellen nodded and Brent reached for Sergei, taking his hand and grabbing him and tugging him away from the others.

"Let’s take this talk somewhere private." Brent muttered, pulling Sergei further into the apartment and to the right. Kellen had no idea where he was going, but was happy that they were taking their time to chat.

Brent was blushing up to his ears while Sergei was letting himself get pulled around by the Guide. He looked like he was exactly where he wanted to be, and Kellen had a distinct, annoying realisation that Rhys probably looked the same when Kellen tugged him around.

Kellen gave them a moment to escape before he turned back to the others. He met his parent’s gaze, who looked a little annoyed that Sergei had gotten ahold of Brent so quickly, but Kellen just smiled.

"I brought tea." Kellen told them and that seemed to soothe them slightly.

"Good. Your Aunt has the worst selection, and it’s all expired." His Dad muttered. Aunt Dina flushed.

"Well if you came to visit more it would be better and not expired." She muttered, annoyed. Kellen laughed. He turned his gaze towards the other Lieutenants in the room and knew that reintroductions were due. That would take time, enough time that Brent and Sergei could have a moment to themselves.

Kellen trusted that Sergei wouldn’t go too far given that there were so many S Classes in the room right now, but he would make sure that was the case. He trusted Sergei, he had less trust in Brent, if he was honest. Brent looked shocked and startled, but who knew. The man might knee jerk attack the man.

Sergei wasn’t in a bad state, but he wasn’t perfect either. Kellen knew that he’d be mad if Rhys came to him at his best. So Brent might get caught in the moment and try to guide him. Kellen knew he was going to have to be the one to go stop them. Anyone else would just...go Esper on them.

Kellen gave a soft sigh, pleased. It was like he was on the front lines all over again.