Bab 36: Gym with the Espers

The Captain and Kellen stopped in briefly to say goodbye to Taylor and Miro, but found neither of them in her office. Not worrying about it, they headed towards the elevators and Kellen half expected the Captain to follow him to his office, but he didn't. He stayed on his side of the elevator and even waved goodbye to Kellen as they got to his floor. Confused, he went about his day without the Captain or anyone else bothering him. Well, except the scientists when they caught sight how how skinny Kellen had become since they had last seen him. Maeve was particularly upset. Kellen had a feeling he had become their pet Guide and now that they had seen him this way, they were going to try to treat him like a delicate flower.

It was only after he'd consumed several of the snacks from the snack pedestal that they let him go, all concerned.

Kellen spent the rest of the afternoon working on the program with only a few interruptions from his parents asking about his well being. He'd asked his Dad about a few things related to Guides since he'd had his attention, but all in all, he thought he had created a good entry-level program which wouldn't interfere with a Guide's regular work schedule.

If they were fit.

If someone wanted something a little more intensive, Kellen could always add to the program, take up more of their time in the day. Add in some personal one on one lessons. Realistically, as much as he had created this program to range from 3-6 months, most Guides would only last a month. Knowing that, he had to make sure that the most important parts could be achieved in the first month, while the other 2-5 months built upon that knowledge. It was a tricky task, simply because they were in the city. They were in a safe zone. No normal person was going to want to continue if their life wasn't actively on the line. Hell, it was the only reason Kellen was as good as he was. He didn't want to die while out on the front lines.

Kellen sent off the rough draft to Casper's Guild email, making sure to note all of the important things they would cover in the first month in bullet point. Then, he sent an expanded bullet point explaining how each point would be built upon over the next 2-5 months. Finally finished, he sent Casper an email explaining that if he needed to reach him to go over the rough draft after hours he was up in the upper gym. Then, he packed up everything, said goodbye to the others in his office, and left for the day.

Heading up to the gym floor, Kellen almost went right to the gym but thought better of it. He didn't want to leave all of his things just lying around, even if this was the Captain's Guild. That and he didn't want to work out in his uniform. So, he only hesitated at the door briefly before turning towards the second set of elevators. Along the way, he noticed several A Class Espers that he'd worked with and were well known in the community. Hill and Gunther were inside chatting to the A Classes, and Kellen smiled to himself as they didn't notice him.

Kellen made his way to the second set of elevators without interruption. He even made it to his apartment without seeing another soul. Once inside his apartment, he headed upstairs and changed into a clean t-shirt and pair of sweatpants. He had to search in his closet for his normal gym bag, finding the headphones he liked to wear when he worked out and slung the corded headphones around his shoulder. They were the kind that were attached to each other, but were still Bluetooth. It meant he didn't lose one if they popped out. He switched out his shoes for a pair of sneakers he used for the gym before making sure he had his key card on his person, then headed back towards the gym.

Heading back towards the door, obviously having changed, Kellen got some curious looks as he scanned himself in. When he opened the door to the gym, clearly not in his Guide uniform, more furrowed their brows in confusion. Hill, noticing something was strange, looked up from where she was curling an absurd amount of weight, and her eyes began to sparkle when she noticed who it was.

"Oh little Guide! What are you doing here again?" She asked, putting down the weight easily, much to Kellen's envy. She bounced over to Kellen, who smiled at the woman. Clearly she was actually working out, even if it looked like nothing. Her clothes stuck to her body, showing her exertion.

"Captain told me that if I was going to work out that I should do it here. Knowing he's an S Class, it might just be his way to keep an eye on me." He laughed at his own words, while Hill smirked.

"Or he just wants to have easy access to see you all sweaty. The walls are glass. Have you thought of that?" She teased and Kellen waved his hand dismissively.

"Please, there are so many other ways he could see me sweaty, and they would all be easier." He told her, and Hill seemed shocked. Hell, everyone around them did as well. Kellen, however, was thinking back to their guiding session earlier, where he'd had to pat himself down with a cloth he'd sweat so much. Hill smacked Kellen's shoulder, causing the man to stumble.

"Woooow. I didn't realise how wild you were Kellen. You always seemed like such a stick in the mud when I knew you on the front lines. I thought the Captain was going to have to fight for his life to get physical affection from you. Sorry for being prejudiced without knowing you." Kellen gave her a confused look, while she wrapped her arm around his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. It was a slightly awkward angle, with her being shorter than him, but it somehow worked. "So? What happened after we left yesterday? Hmm? You seemed, uh, pretty interested in the Captain yesterday? Any juicy moments you want to tell me?" Her eyes sparkled as Kellen's turned red. "Anything like the reference material I gave you?"

"Uh, I-I don't know what you're thinking, but the Captain helped me get ready for bed and cleaned up the kitchen. That's all, Hill. Get your mind out of the gutter." Hill knew the man was lying, hell, anyone would from his obvious reaction. Plus, there was the Captain's suspicious behaviour as well. But, it was also clear that Kellen was a shy man and probably didn't like talking about it in front of so many people. Grinning, she watched the man change colour, amused, before she gave him another squeeze.

"Ah, of course. The Captain is such a reliable man that of course he wouldn't think to lay a hand on our newest Guide. He's the image of a perfect Esper. Very loyal too. Such a strong, loyal, perfect S Class Esper would never think! To take advantage of a man who was aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall over him while drunk. Never the Captain." Someone snorted, covering up their laughter as Kellen shook, he was so shocked by Hill's words. Hill, for her part, was delighted that Kellen clearly hadn't noticed what he'd been like last night. She pulled Kellen's head closer to her lips, a huge smile on her face. "Don't worry, no one's going to say anything here. You're safe. Plus, if the Captain really had taken advantage of you, I would beat his ass from here to sunday, with the help of Gunther." She pulled away with a wink. She stepped away from the Guide, as Kellen swallowed. He took a deep breath in, before exhaling and nodding. Hill's smile curled her eyes as she looked over him with a nod.

"Of course the Captain wouldn't take advantage of someone drunk." He mumbled, and Hill nodded. He only said it because he knew he needed to tell Hill, and the other's listening that he hadn't been taken advantage of last night. Even if...it was probably questionable, Kellen wasn't the kind of man who lay pliant for many people. For some reason...the Captain made that short list. Was it because Kellen thought he was attractive? Because he was his pair? Was that it? Were those the only reasons Kellen had decided that testing out different types of kisses last night was okay?

Struggling internally, Hill's chuckle took Kellen out of his head. She patted his bicep. "I'll leave you to yourself, unless you need a spotter. Don't be afraid to ask me!" She winked, flashed another grin, and went back to her own weights. Kellen nodded, relaxing his shoulders. It wasn't going to help him to think about this too deeply, especially right now. He was here to test where his body was at, especially after months of neglect and the guiding session with the Captain.

Putting in his headphones and getting them paired with his phone, he blasted his old workout playlist in his ears and set to work warming up. He was gentle with his body, given everything he'd gone through over the last few days. He knew everyone was watching him, clearly interested in what he was doing. He was unfortunately used to that, as a Guide who had often used Esper workout spaces on the front lines. Actually, he had normally kept himself, and his partner, in better shape then other freelance Field Guides. His partner, Brent, hadn't cared much, and enjoyed the attention he'd received because he'd been in such good shape, while Kellen just liked the extra advantage being stronger and faster gave him.

Finishing up his warm up, he went through a normal workout he would do. It wasn't focused on just legs, or arms, and instead was what he considered a simple all rounder. He went lower at first with the weights, but found that he was in a much better state then he thought. Deciding he wasn't going to hurt himself, he pushed himself, going up in weights, even past what he had done previously. He wondered if this had anything to do with him jumping up in Class, since it was well known that Espers who were higher Classes were stronger, at a base level, then a lower Class. Since there weren't many Guides who had jumped Classes, and they probably didn't lift weights like Kellen did, he felt he probably had to record this observation.

At one point, when Kellen decided it was time to do some heavier lifting, he did ask Hill for her help. The stares weren't even subtle at this point, and Kellen noted that even Gunther was watching him, clearly impressed. Hill was the only one who didn't let it show on her face. After all, she was the one, outside of the Captain, who Kellen had worked with the most on the front lines. All the other lieutenants usually stayed back in the city, while Hill was in charge of the Espers who were on the front lines. But because they were fighting for the rights of the new gate, and didn't own a gate already, they would have had to retreat from the front lines, halting all movement there. Meaning, Hill was the office lackey, like she said. At least until the rights situation was settled, and then the battle junky could go back to her usual ways.

Finally, after about 2 hours of work, Kellen felt like he had a good enough understanding of where his body was when it came to strength. Hill, who had been helping him for the last half an hour, nodded, impressed.

"I knew you were strong for a Guide, but I had no idea you were that strong, Kellen." The fact that it was Hill, and that she said it with a smile took the sting out of what could have been offensive words. Kellen was busy wiping his face with a towel he'd grabbed when he'd entered.

"Thanks, I think?" He said and she laughed. Unlike Kellen, she just used the bottom of her shirt to wipe her face, flashing the work of art that was her body. Kellen didn't stare at the woman, but the envy filled him. Physical Strength Espers really did have it all, huh? She was like carved marble.

"It's a compliment. I knew you were strong by civilian standards, but you're way above average. Good for you. Must have been a lot of work." Her words weren't just empty praise. Kellen shrugged, trying not to show how much he valued her words. Hill hadn't become one of the strongest in the world without hard work, and Kellen knew that.

"I like working out. It helps clear my mind after work. Moving my body has always been a way to destress." He told her as he moved towards where he saw a mini fridge full of water bottles. Hill followed him, easily taking the one he offered her. Kellen chugged his, exhaling when he finished the bottle.

"Well, I'll make sure that Rhys knows that. Though I'm pretty sure he already knows." Gunther's voice took Hill and I by surprise, given Hill nearly choked on her water. Kellen turned to meet the Esper who approached. He'd tied his hair up again, keeping it out of his face as he worked out. Hill was still coughing as he came to a stop. "Are you making dinner for yourself tonight Kellen?" He asked and Kellen glanced at his phone, checking the time. He shook his head.

"Nah. I was thinking I'd eat at the cafeteria tonight." He told him and Gunther grinned. He wrapped his arm around Hill, who had finally gained her composure again.

"Wanna join us then? We should be done with our workout in another few minutes if you don't mind waiting." Glancing at Hill, Kellen noticed that her eyes were sparkling again. She was practically begging him. He sighed.

"Yeah, sure. I have to go shower and get changed anyways. Meet you at the door?" He asked, and Gunther gave him a thumbs up.

"Sounds good. See ya in a few." Gunther and Hill stood waving at him as Kellen left and headed back upstairs.