Turning, Kellen stared behind him to find the Captain. He had casual clothes on and his eyes were a muted yellow. He carried a tray in one hand, while with his other he poked Kellen on the tip of his nose.
"You have a habit of making friends everywhere you go Mr. Woods. I'm worried that if someone was ever foolish enough to kidnap you, you would be released before I could come and rescue you because you'd made friends with them." His smile was soft and teasing.
"I just wouldn't get kidnaped in the first place, but I appreciate that you would come to save me." Kellen told the other man. Captain's eyes curled with his smile as he took the free spot next to Kellen. The tray he put down in front of him was quite bare, and Kellen tossed his gaze between the Captain's tray and his face. The Captain's smile widened.
"Worried? I had a meeting outside where we ate. This is just to tide me over until the morning." Casually, and without much thought, the Esper wrapped his arm around Kellen's waist, pulling the Guide closer to him. Stunned that he would do that with so many people around, Kellen wasn't sure how to respond. When no one around them, especially those at the table began to tease them, Kellen slowly felt his muscles relax. He began eating again, if a little slower as the other three chatted amongst themselves. Everyone kept stealing glances at them, while Kellen began stealing glances at the Captain. After the day they had, he was worried about the Esper. Especially since his eyes were a muted yellow.
Quietly, and without drawing attention, Kellen moved his hand so that he was gently touching the Captain's thigh. No one noticed the Captain's slight stiffening, not even Kellen. Kellen, checking the Captain's levels, was pleased to find that between when he'd last saw him he hadn't changed too much, meaning he'd been using his powers sparingly. Hoping that was because he had seen what that had done to Kellen, Kellen felt a soft smile cross his face and went to pull his hand away. The Captain's hand covered his, halting him, and Kellen turned wide, stunned eyes upwards to find the grinning expression of the Captain staring down at him.
"Am I up to snuff, Mr. Woods?" His teasing voice filled Kellen's ears, which quickly turned red as the other three at the table looked at them. Hill and Gunther gave them a confused look, while a look of understanding washed Casper's face. Kellen tugged at his hand, trying to get it away again but the Captain only tightened his grip. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? You rarely touch me on your own, and I can feel when you probe me with your powers, Mr. Woods. The fact that you thought you could hide it from me is very cute." Kellen opened his mouth to protest, but the Captain released his waist just to cover his mouth. "I won't hear any of your excuses, even if I find it cute when you use your mouth." His eyes crinkled as he stared down at the Guide who was slowly turning redder and redder. Kellen could not believe the man had said those words with so many people around. It was clear what they would hear from his words, no matter if Kellen protested now or later. The man loved that he had cornered Kellen. Kellen was kicking himself that he hadn't realised what kind of plan this S Class had for him before it was too late.
"Uh, Captain, there is prob-" The Captain continued speaking, ignoring Casper who had valiantly tried to come to Kellen's rescue. Kellen shot the man an appreciative look, even as the Captain's words washed over him.
"You don't need an excuse to touch me, Mr. Woods. I've already given you permission to kiss me whenever you want. If you wanted to get a feel for the goods, I would never protest." His lips quirked up and Kellen swallowed. He had a feeling he was going to die from embarrassment. "After all, I didn't complain when you guided me today, did I? Oh, I was surprised when you climbed into my lap, but I loved every second of it." Hill's soft gasp punctuated the Captain's words, and Kellen, who had only viewed earlier as guiding, flushed deeply. The Captain was loving every moment of Kellen's internal screaming, and it showed easily and clearly on his smug fucking face. Kellen grabbed the hand covering his mouth, yanking it away so he could breathe easier before responding.
"That was just guiding, especially since you let yourself get so low. Did you forget what that cost me?" Kellen demanded harshly, and the fire dimmed from the Captain's eyes slightly, clearly remembering how skinny the Guide had been. Kellen, not one to back down from a challenge, continued, his ears hot. "Y-You also only gave me permission to kiss you, not touch you, so how was I supposed to know that without you telling me? Aren't my actions justified since I didn't know before you said so?" Kellen had caught the Captain by surprise. He had been prepared for the younger man to outright deny everything, while forgetting that Kellen hated breaking his word. His eyes widened, before he grinned wickedly. With only mischief in mind, he wrapped his arm around the younger man's waist again, pulling their bodies close. He took hold of Kellen's other hand, raising it from his thigh to Kellen's chest, intertwining their hands. He bent forward until there were only centimeters between their lips.
"Mr. Woods, it appears that you are correct. I have messed up. Should I make it clear, here, that you can do whatever you want to me? It would be quite embarrassing as the Captain of the Saturn Guild, but as a man I feel like they will understand. I cannot have my intentions questioned when it comes to my pair, can I? After all, I've made it very clear that I'm in your thrall." Kellen felt his breathing hitch as the Captain gave Kellen a squeeze. "Any time you open those pretty little lips of yours and call my name, I'm hooked all over again." Kellen sucked in. He'd forgotten, for a moment, how deeply the Captain's words effected him whenever they spoke like this. He was surprised he had. After all, it was this Captain before him that had talked him into kissing on the couch that first time, and he had no doubt that when he found out how much pull he had on Kellen like this, there would be more abuses of power.
"C-Captain Thatcher, whatever you are thinking, there are too many-" The soft chuckle made Kellen hold his tongue. What in the world was this lunatic going to say?
"I think you enjoy being watched, Mr. Woods. You turn this lovely pink shade." He murmured, his lips gently brushing Kellen's. Kellen sucked in, the action rubbing their lips together more. Kellen felt them turn up slightly before the Captain truly pressed their lips together. Kellen forgot where they were, gripping onto the hand that held his own as he skillfully kissed away his concerns. He even forgot to guide him as he usually did. The Captain enjoyed the contact, but enjoyed more the fact that Kellen was so absorbed in his kiss that he forgot his own embarrassment. He knew that was on a timer, and as if to prove it, Kellen jerked as he swallowed a moan. Halting in realisation, the man froze in his arms. Kellen, awash with shame, pushed the Captain away. The Captain, feeling merciful now that he'd had a small taste, let him.
"Captain Thatcher, could you please mind the time and place? This is not the first time you've done this." He glowered up at the Esper, genuinely angry that he'd tricked him while said Esper just laughed. He bent forward and kissed his nose, much to the anger of the Guide.
"You're so cute when you're this angry." He told him, grinning. Kellen felt like getting actually angry, but resisted. He didn't want to do anything else that would give the Captain a reason to tease him, and overreacting to the Captain kissing him in public, again, would do that. Kellen turned his head away from him, and the others. He didn't want to see Hill's excited, happy face with all of this blackmail material, and he also didn't want to see Casper's sympathetic gaze. "Mr. Woods, please stop being upset with me. I just wanted to tease you." The Captain's lips grazed Kellen's ear and it only made the man frown. Kellen forced him to release his hold on his hand, and with his two free hands, he pushed on the Captain's chest. Pouting, the Captain released him.
"Then let me go. I can feel my face burning with embarrassment." The Captain pretended to thoughtfully look over Kellen, which only made the man angrier. It was his eyes that gave him away. They were full of laughter and mirth.
"True. You are quite red. Should we ask Green if this is normal?" Kellen gave the man a harsh glare, causing the Captain to laugh, and back off. "Alright, alright, I'll let you go. I feel like I'll be in danger if I tease you anymore." The Captain went back to his position from before, glancing at Kellen as he still shook in embarrassment. It took him a little longer, but he eventually settled down. But instead of finishing his meal, he instead grabbed his almost finished tray and stood up.
"Where are you going Kellen?" Casper beat the others to the punch, even as they all watched him, surprised. Gunther had been quiet throughout the whole interaction, while Hill had been listening with her big Esper ears. She even finished her food and had another goddamn lollipop in her mouth. Kellen had a feeling there was a recording of what the Captain had done to him on her phone. He just hoped it never saw the light of day. Casper was looking at him with only concern, which didn't make him feel better.
"I was thinking it was time I headed back to my room. I'm tired, it's been a long day and I should probably call my parents to let them know I've settled in." Casper got to his feet, grabbing his tray as well as Kellen looked over the three Espers. "Thanks for inviting me to dinner. I'll see you tomorrow." He made it a pointed thank you to the two Espers, which only made the Captain smirk, but say nothing. He turned and Casper had to trot to keep up with the Field Guide.
"Are you that upset with what the Captain did, Kellen? I know he shouldn't have done that, but-" Kellen's deep sigh cut off the other Guide, who held his tongue as Kellen began to put away his tray.
"I am upset with what he did, but I'm more embarrassed than anything else." Kellen bit his lip, grumpy, before he continued in a quiet tone. "I talked a big game, yet here I am. Letting him do whatever he wants." Casper stared at him, blinked, before a silly grin cross his face. He put his tray away before he responded to the other Guide's words.
"Kellen, I don't know if this will comfort you, but he isn't like other Espers. He's worse." Casper's tone was filled with humour as Kellen shot him a concerned look. Casper's face was split with a wide smile. "Honestly, I think you've been doing a great job keeping him in line. Other Guides would have let the man get away with anything. You're still holding your own against him. Don't doubt yourself now, or else he'll eat you up and you won't have a chance to escape." He reached out and gave Kellen's shoulder a squeeze. "Come talk to me if you need a confidence boost again. After all, only Guide's can understand this struggle." Relief flooded Kellen's system at Casper's words. He had been worried that he was letting the Captain get what he wanted too easily. It wasn't in a 'I want to keep the Captain's attention' kind of way. It was more about his own self-preservation kind of way. Kellen didn't view most of the Espers like they were monster, no, he viewed them like apex predators. The Captain would be one of the worst ones, just by Class alone. Like all predators, they had short attention spans, but unlike most Guides, Kellen didn't care about keeping attention on him. He'd been a C Class Guide before this, no one really paid attention to him so it wasn't even on his radar to try and keep the Captain's attention.
No, his biggest concern was appearing weak in front of a bunch of predators. Didn't matter that he was the Captain's pair, some idiots could be into that, and he was worried about becoming a weakness for the Captain. He was an anomaly. He'd been a C Class before now, and now he'd jumped Class and became an A Class. He knew that people would view him as weaker because of that difference, and from the press conference alone, he also knew that people had no idea what a Field Guide did either. Sure, he liked to work out, but he still didn't hold a candle against a determined B Class or A Class Esper. He needed to put more work into his body, into knowing his limits before this unease would leave him alone.
Besides, with the way the man was watching him right now, he didn't feel like he'd even have to consider the Captain becoming disinterested for a while.
Relieved, with help from Casper, Kellen waved to the others as he headed for the elevators, the scalding gaze of the Captain following him. Kellen worried that the Captain was going to follow him up to his apartment, but when the elevator closed without the Captain in sight, he released his held breath. He was crazy, but he wasn't that crazy, was he?