A few days later, Noel returns to his cubicle after lunch to find a notification blinking on his tablet.
"Oh yeah, you got a guiding request," Elijah says over the divider. "Did you make plans with someone?"
"No," Noel answers, eyeing the blinking icon curiously. All guides have designated hours in the guiding center (or the "Sanctuary" if you're in earshot of a manager) where espers can walk in for guiding sessions, and the rest of the workday, they're considered "on-call" and can receive requests from specific espers for guidance. Guides below C level don't often get unscheduled requests as their corresponding strength espers aren't likely to need unexpected guiding. But it does happen, especially when an esper prefers a certain guide over others and wants to make sure they get the guide they like. Noel has only ever received unscheduled requests a couple of times, and never from anyone asking for him specifically. This notification doesn't list the requester's name or class, just the location of a private guiding room on one of the Sanctuary's upper floors. "This is probably a mistake."
"Why?"
"It's telling me to go to the fourth floor."
"Maybe all the other rooms are in use."
Noel doubts that, but ultimately it doesn't matter. He can guide anywhere, after all.
"Isn't the fourth floor where the B plus espers get guiding?" Tess pipes up. "Why would they call you there?"
"Beats me." Sighing, Noel hits the confirmation button. "This is scheduled for ten minutes from now, so I better get going."
"Have fun!" Catherine calls as he heads out of the D-suite.
It's not that Halo favors its higher class espers and guides, it's just that every agency does, so the upper level facilities are just nicer in comparison to the rest of the campus. Even then, Halo is successful enough that even the lower-level guiding areas are nice, so it's not a huge shock when Noel gets to the fourth floor. He does feel distinctly out of his element, though.
A few people cast him curious glances as he walks past, no doubt spotting the orange border on his ID card marking him as a D-class guide, but employees are allegedly free to move about the campus however they want, so no one seems too put out by his appearance, and Noel reaches his destination without any trouble. The light above the door is lit, indicating that there's someone already inside. A private guiding room will be a new experience for him; since he only does basic contact guiding, he has never had a need to guide anywhere other than the public guiding floor or the open D-class guiding area. Private rooms are for more intimate forms of guiding, and Noel suddenly fears that whoever requested him will want that. He's within his rights to say no, of course, but he really doesn't want to have to deal with that awkwardness.
Steeling himself, he knocks politely on the door to let whoever's in there know he's coming in before turning the handle and letting himself inside. "Hello, I'm Guide Arden, and I received your guiding request—" he freezes, halfway over the threshold, hand still on the door handle.
Jade Ransom doesn't move from his chair, staring at him from across the room. "Come inside," he orders, brows angled and intense. "And close the door."
Noel obeys automatically, shutting the door behind him and pressing his back to it. "Esper Ransom," he says, working to keep his voice smooth. "Nice to see you again. I believe there's been a mistake—"
"There hasn't." Jade uncrosses his legs. "I requested you."
"But I'm afraid my skills aren't adequate to assist you. If you'd like, I can contact a higher-level guide on your behalf—"
"Sit down."
Noel bristles slightly at the brusque tone but nevertheless complies, crossing to sit on the end of the couch farthest from Jade. "You have to know that I won't be able to guide you," he says.
"Do I know that?"
"I hope so, given the difference in our energy classes."
Jade hums, regarding Noel with icy blue eyes.
"Did you…perhaps need something else?" Noel guesses.
"I do need something from you, Guide Arden," Jade says, pushing himself to his feet with a speed that makes Noel start slightly. "I need you to tell me the truth."
Noel's stomach swoops. "The truth?" he repeats, mind racing. "If this is about our conversation the other day, then I can only repeat—"
"You must think I'm stupid," Jade cuts him off, strolling casually over to stand right in front of Noel, forcing Noel to look straight up to maintain eye contact. "Do you?"
"Not at all—"
"I was guided by someone. You were the only person around. You're a guide." Jade's eyes burn. "It can only be that simple."
"I'm a D-class guide," Noel stresses, tangling his fingers in his lap. "I'm not physically capable of reducing your corruption to the level you described—"
"You're right; a D-class couldn't." Jade leans forward suddenly, planting his hand on the back of the sofa, looming over Noel like a cage. "So why are you lying about your class?"
Noel blinks. "What?"
"You guided me. A D-class guide isn't capable of guiding me. So you're not a D-class guide."
"I didn't guide you," Noel argues, panic fluttering in his stomach. "I swear!"
"Save it."
"And how could I even lie about my class?" Noel continues. "Everyone receives the same test—do you think I tricked the machine?"
"I don't know how you did it, but you did, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."
Noel's heart pounds. This is a nightmare. He can't let Jade look too deeply into him. "I know you really want to find whoever guided you," he says, struggling to hold Jade's gaze. "But you're seriously barking up the wrong tree. Trust me, you're just going to be disappointed if you keep going like this."
"I don't know why you're so determined not to fess up, but I don't care." Straightening up, Jade sits down on the coffee table, right in front of Noel, their knees nearly brushing. He holds out a hand. "Guide me."
Noel chokes. "What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"What exactly is the point of this?" Noel demands. "Is this a joke? Are you mocking me? Did Beckett put you up to this?"
Jade's mouth twitches. "Beckett is utterly insistent that it couldn't have been you who guided me. He seems like he can barely stand thinking about you."
"We don't get along," Noel mumbles.
"This is for my own sake." Without asking, Jade snatches Noel's hand out of his lap. Noel reflexively pulls away but his grip is like iron. "Guide me. Now. And do it properly. I'll be able to tell if you're faking."
The room spins. Noel's eyes dart between his hand, caught in Jade's, and Jade's intent expression. He's not kidding, and he's not going to let this go. Noel won't be able to argue his way out of this. Swallowing, he shifts his hand until they're linked properly, palm to palm, fingers interlocked.
"Okay," he says, heart lodged in his throat. "But don't be angry when it doesn't go well."
Jade raises his eyebrows impatiently.