----Dae----
Despite Dae's numerous protests, he found himself facing Nox with a metal training staff in hand. While Dae didn't fully doubt Nox's skill, it felt unfair to use his abilities against a guide. His years off duty made his combat rusty, but actually using his ability was still as easy as breathing. Especially since his corruption levels were the lowest they'd been in at least five years.
Nox tapped his wooden staff against the training room floor, "Activate simulation, pre romanesque."
The training room lit up with glowing pixels that formed into a throne room. Pillars bracketed the throne behind Nox leading to the 'door' behind Dae. It was very similar to a room shown in the mission brief. Save the suits of possessed armor lining the walls. Dae pursed his lips in displeasure, as per usual he was at a disadvantage.
Nox tapped his staff again and Dae's eyes locked onto him.
"No, I have every advantage here," Dae shook off his anxiety, taking in Nox's slim frame and shorter stature. Dae had around four inches on Nox and a good 60 pounds on him as well.
No matter how you looked at it, the scales were tilted in Dae's favor. Dae wondered how much he needed to hold back to keep from hurting Nox without letting on that he was going easy on the other man.
Before he could get too far into his calculations, Nox had closed the distance between them.
"Don't lose focus on your opponent." Nox said sharply as Dae barley managed to block Nox's staff from making contact with his head. Dae stared at Nox, slack jawed. Clearly, Nox had no intention of holding back. Dae may have been an Esper but a hit that strong would disorient anyone.
Dae used his weight to push Nox back as far as he could. Nox was light on his feet, as to be expected of a slight opponent. He fell backward and one of his feet shot out, striking Dae's shin. Exactly where it was still hurting from Jin-won.
"Fuck!" Dae hissed through his teeth. He clutched his leg while giving Nox a pleading look. Nox just grinned and tapped his staff against Dae's head playfully. Dae realized, belatedly, that he had dropped his staff to clutch at his leg. He picked it up again and glared at Nox.
"That was cheap,"
"We fight to survive, not for honor. If you're looking for a fair fight, join a kendo club."
It didn't erase the ache in Dae's leg, but Nox was right. He straightened up and mirrored Nox's stance.
Again, Nox made the first move. He feigned towards Dae's shoulder then switched to his center, aiming to knock Dae off balance. Muscle memory was slowly returning to Dae and he managed to block again. They both pushed towards each other, locking them into a short stalemate.
"I hurt that leg yesterday, you know." Dae said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, I know."
Dae pulled back, hoping to use Nox's momentum against him but the other man just tucked into roll and kicked Dae's other shin. It wasn't enough to force his staff out of his hands but it hurt a surprising amount to Dae, who's standard was Jin-won.
"What's with you and the kicking?"
"Easy, you weren't expecting it…" Nox's lips tilted into a smirk, "...even the second time."
Dae wanted to argue, but Nox was right. Dae was so focused on engaging as little as possible he kept forgetting basic combat strategy. Nox shot up, knocking Dae's staff out of the way and striking Dae in the sternum with his elbow. Pain echoed through Dae's chest.
Dae's instincts took over and power surged through him. Dae willed his staff to change, reach out and hook on Nox's. Dae wrenched his staff back, expecting to pull Nox's out of his hand, but nothing happened.
The staff was unchanged, it'd never snared Nox's. The mirthful glint in Nox's eyes confirmed Dae's suspicion.
"If it's touching my staff, it's touching me. You might as well be fighting with wood just like me." Nox spread out his hands and did a mock bow, without ever taking his eyes off of Dae.
It finally sunk in that Nox was more capable than Dae when it came to combat. Nox was field certified after all. It made sense that a non-esper would know how to fight. There was no guarantee he would be protected in the field. If the guide's job was to help a downed Esper, who was left to protect them?
Helena, Dae's mother, was a guide but she was never field certified. Her stories were always about clinic work. The most dangerous thing she'd dealt with were the Esper's themself. But Nox had been dealing with Espers, sometimes multiple, while also navigating the harsh environment of the gates. Dae realized how condescending his worry was to someone like Nox who technically had years of field experience on him.
"You're distracted again," Nox quipped while lunging forward and striking the center of Dae's neck. Dae felt like his throat had caved in. He dropped his staff again and clutched at his neck.
That bastard had gone for his windpipe. A move like that could have killed a normal person. Dae glared at Nox and flipped him off.
Nox had the decency to look a little remorseful.
"A guide's job is managing out of control Espers. I know all your weak spots, you're human after all. You bleed, breath, and-" Nox touched the side of Dae's neck and let a small burst of guiding energy bleed between them, "-hurt the same."
Dae straightened up and started coughing. He was trying his best not to let the guiding make him weak in the knees.
"How did you know my shin hurt then?" Dae wheezed, "I understand the throat and sternum, but shins are usually pretty sturdy right?"
"You've been favoring the other leg. You were doing that at the gate too."
Dae stared at Nox in disbelief. He had a faint memory of Jin-won kicking him that day too. It hadn't hindered his performance in the gate. How had Nox noticed it?
As if reading Dae's mind Nox said, "Do you know who does initial health assessments in the field when healing Espers aren't present?"
Comprehension lit up Dae's face. He'd always considered himself fairly conscious of guides. Growing up with a guide for a mother, combined with his first conversation with Nox made him hyper aware of guides' plight, or so he'd thought. It was starting to feel like he was no better than his mother's Esper.
"I wouldn't expect you to know. If you're being assessed by a guide you're out of commission." Nox's nonchalance made Dae feel worse.
The two of them took up their stances for a third time and began to circle each other. Dae was finally realizing that Nox wanted a real fight. Since Dae couldn't return the organ Nox had lost for him, this was the least he could do.
This time, Dae struck first. He shifted his staff into a hook as he lunged forward. When Nox blocked his strike, Dae rotated his own staff and hooked Nox's. Dae was only able to be pleased with himself for a second before Nox's leg made contact with Dae's midriff. It made Dae nauseous and shifted his weight to the side, forcing him to stumble.
Nox used Dae's instability as an opportunity to grab a handful of Dae's hair and yank back. At the same time, he sent a pulse of strong guiding energy through Dae. The final blow forced Dae to his knees. He almost couldn't feel the sting in his scalp through the gentle embrace of Nox's energy.
"Guiding is cheating." Dae breathed.
At some point, Nox had retrieved his staff. He was now holding it at Dae's throat. Dae looked up at Nox with a budding sense of awe, similar to how he'd felt when they first met. But stronger and more carnal.
Instead of giving in and waiting to reset again, Dae grabbed Nox's staff and pulled it forward. Finally, Nox was taken by surprise. His hand dropped from Dae's scalp and hooked an arm around Dae's neck as he fell forward. Nox's weight forced Dae to the ground.
Nox was poised above him. He was panting and his normally pale cheeks were tinged pink. Even shadowed by his hair, Nox's eyes shined. Dae felt overly conscious at how close they were. He could feel Nox's breath fanning out against his lips. He could see beads of sweat on Nox's forehead. Nox's arms bracketed Dae's head making it impossible to turn away, not that he wanted to.
The genuine smile spreading across Nox's face made every ache worth it.
Nox sat upright, shifting his weight onto Dae's lap. Dae could feel every point of contact between them burning. Nox seemed completely composed. He held a hand out to Dae and pulled Dae upright as well. Their faces were painfully close again. Nox moved to close the distance between them and Dae's eyes fluttered closed.
He felt like a complete idiot when Nox's head moved to the side of his as the other man used Dae's shoulders to brace as he stood up. Dae's head dropped down. Embarrassment burned inside him.
Again, Nox offered his hand to Dae, sticking it down and waving it in front of Dae's downturned head. As quickly as he could, Dae composed himself. When he clasped Nox's hand his fingers brushed a scar on Nox's wrist. Familiar half moon slivers lined up in an arch, a bite mark.
"You can kick my ass so why do you let them do that?" Dae spoke before he could stop himself. He expected the same angry look from the meeting room but when he looked up Nox just seemed contemplative. Another familiar expression. Dae could still hear Nox's words from that day.
I guess when I get used up, I'll have served my purpose.
And naturally, present day Nox managed to say something equally heartbreaking,
"It's what they need from me. How can I deny someone something that eases their pain?"
Part of Dae wanted to scream, to rage and argue. Ask who was easing Nox's pain. But he had no right. He was no better than the other Espers. Even if Nox's skin didn't bear his dental record. He was the Esper who used Nox to get S-class status then disappeared without ever thanking him.
"Are you done, Esper Kane?" The gratitude forming on Dae's lips melted away as Nox spoke his formal title, drawing a clear line between them. It was too little, too late.
Dae nodded obediently.
"I think you deserve a better sparring partner, Guide Nox."
Nox ran his fingers through his hair, pushing his unruly bangs out of his face for a moment. Dae's eyes followed the lithe muscles flexing along Nox's forearm and wondered how he thought he could beat this man.
"Esper Jin-Won Song has asked me to ensure you keep to your practice regimen. So if you're truly concerned about 'what I deserve' then turn yourself into someone I deserve. I'll see you tomorrow." Nox looked down at his watch as the simulation dissolved around them. Tessa whistled and clapped. A few other Esper's joined her, looking confused but excited nonetheless.
"I have a guiding session scheduled." Nox made pointed eye contact with Dae, "If you need guiding contact me."
Dae's mood soured as he watched the pyro Esper, Kaspar, eagerly follow Nox into the elevator. Dae's distaste showed on his face to some extent so Nox added, "If you'd accepted the contract, you'd have priority."
Dae looked away from Nox, sulking. Tessa approached him and put a hand on his shoulder, "He kicked your ass."
Dae sighed and ran his fingers over the scar on his neck, an action he instantly regretted as pain bloomed there anew.
"Yeah," he said wistfully.
Tessa gave him a crooked side-eye, "He's got you good."
"Yeah…"
---- Nox ----
Despite Kaspar's eager chatter, updating Nox on his life since they'd last seen each other, Nox's mind couldn't help but drift back to Esper Kane. The awe and hunger flickering behind his eyes as Nox walked away.
"It was a shock running into you here, I assumed you went exclusive after you left the EGC."
"I tried to," Nox laughed bitterly at Kaspar's shocked expression. Kaspar paused for half a second before rushing to catch up with Nox.
"It sounded like you'd met him before…" Kaspar didn't need to specify the "him" in question.
Nox rolled his shoulders as he glanced back towards the elevator, "I guided him before his classification test-- We trained at the same center."
"Holy shit…" Kaspar gulped, stopped, and ran a hand over his face, "I know you're all into professionalism and shit but how come you never mentioned that? You knew I was in his guild."
Nox led Kaspar to the line for the guild's cafe, "Guiding over drinks? I don't have all my paperwork squared away yet so it'll have to be unofficial."
Kaspar nodded while looking for a free table. When he spotted one he darted away from Nox and sat down. He looked up at Nox eagerly, Nox could almost see a tail wagging behind him. Nox smiled softly at him before turning his focus to the woman manning the register.
"I'll have a London Fog and a Strawberries n' cream iced late with extra whip and two straws please."
"Add a cinnamon chai and charge it to this card!"
Nox startled as a freckled hand reached past him, handing over a card. He turned to see Tessa, the woman who seemed close to Kane. Any protests Nox might have voiced died on his tongue at Tessa's tacit offer of conversation. Nox nodded to her in thanks. The two of them stepped aside to wait for their drinks.
"Hello again Esper…"
"Scott! But you can just call me Tessa. I'm D-class so I'm basically a civilian," She laughed brightly. Nox could see the energy swirling around her. It twined itself around every object near her. Nox was willing to bet his first month salary at Titan that she was downplaying her abilities. But he didn't care enough to argue.
"Alright, Tessa, you're friends with Esper Kane, correct?"
Tessa smiled wryly. Her powers reached out towards Nox, they tried to twirl around the bracelets on his left hand. Nox nullified them before they could reveal anything. Tessa's owlish eyes widened behind her large round glasses and her smile grew brighter.
"Oh…I like you."
Nox tilted his head and smiled at her, more genuine and playful than before, "I think we're very compatible."
Tessa scoffed. When the drinks came out she reached out to snag both hers and the strawberry monstrosity meant for Kaspar. Nox didn't protest and let her lead him to Kaspar. Kaspar frowned as she set his drink down in front of him, accurately profiling his palate. Tessa pulled up another chair and sat down.
"Hello again Kaspar!"
"Esper Scott," Kaspar's tone was curt and his thick eyebrows were drawn down in a scowl. Tessa on the other hand was bright and cherry when she returned the greeting. Her eyes sparkled as she sipped her drink.
When she pulled away whipped cream lined her upper lip. Without thinking Nox reached out to brush it away with his thumb. Tessa pinned his hand in place and playfully licked the whipped cream off his thumb.
Nox had to call on every ounce of professionalism in his body to prevent himself from cackling when Kaspar flinched and flushed deep red. Nox couldn't, however, suppress the playful smile he shared with Tessa. His assessment of her in the training room had been spot on: They would get along swimmingly.
"There's no need to tease Esper Smith," Nox wiped his hand off with a paper napkin and reached across the table to take Kaspar's hand. Kaspar pouted between Tessa and Nox as he realized he'd become the butt of Tessa's joke. He relaxed dreamily as Nox began pouring guiding energy into him.
As Kaspar softly sipped his strawberry latte, Nox turned his attention back to Tessa, "I assume you didn't seek me out just to tease your junior."
"As fun as Esper Smith is to tease…You're right." Tessa grinned and took another sip of her drink. This time Nox handed a napkin over so she could manage the mess herself. She pouted playfully but accepted the napkin all the same, "I hear you requested exclusivity with Dae- er, Esper Kane, I mean."
Nox sighed and sought solace in the warmth of his drink. He nodded to Tessa silently. Not trusting himself to speak.
"Don't take it personally. Dae's always been…distant with guides." There was something sad and knowing in Tessa's expression. Nox's eyes widened and he scrambled to snatch the thread Tessa exposed.
"Are you…close to Esper Kane?"
Kaspar scoffed across the table and the other two turned to him curiously. He rolled his eyes and offered the other straw of his drink to Nox. Nox placatingly pretended to take a sip as Kaspar spoke, "No one's close to Esper Kane. He spends all his time cooped up in that workshop. He's basically retired."
Nox turned to Tessa for confirmation and was surprised to find defensiveness pulling her expression tight.
"I wouldn't call his constant innovation and experimentation retirement. And for your information," She turned to Nox with pride and defiance, "Esper Kane and I are quite close. My workspace is near his and I often assist him."
Nox nodded understandingly. It was common for him to be caught between Esper's petty disagreements. Even more so when it came to conflicts between front liners and earth-side tradesmen. Espers deployed in gates tended to undervalue the work put in by non-combat Espers. As such, non-combat Espers held inferiority complexes around their contributions.
"I remember your name listed as a contributor on the partner bands. They've saved me more than once. Thank you."
Kaspar's self righteousness drained out of him and his eyes went wide. Nox brought up the band strategically. It was the device that allowed him to locate Kaspar the last time they'd been deployed together. Back then Kaspar had been on the wrong side of overload.
"Esper Kane's specialty is devices meant to ease the lives of guides." Tessa glared at Kaspar with a painfully strained smile on her lips. He withered under her gaze. Nox's eyebrows went up. He looked away to stop himself laughing.
Tessa took Kaspar's silence as a cue to get back to her original reason for seeking Nox out, "I'm more interested in your relationship with our resident S-class."
The question was open ended and Tessa's tone was light but Nox could feel the tense energy buzzing around her core. It was clear she cared for Kane. Warmth that had nothing to do with Nox's drink filled his chest.
"We met the day of his classification test," Tessa's poker face was abysmal. The moment Nox mentioned the classification test her eyes flashed wide and her tongue wet her lips excitedly, "I guided him in an unofficial capacity. I was less than a year into working at the time."
"You're older than him!" Tessa sounded excited and surprised at that detail. Nox didn't know why it mattered.
"By about a year, yes."
Tessa hummed happily, "That makes us the same age!"
Nox nodded placidly, still unsure of the relevance of this particular detail.
"You're twenty seven? You're almost thirty!" Kaspar was gawking at Nox. Nox couldn't stop himself from chuckling softly.
"How old did you think I was, Esper Smith?"
Kaspar sputtered and babbled incoherently before deciding silence was his best option and turning his attention back to his drink.
"What about me Kasapar? How old did you think I was?" Tessa grinned and leaned forward onto her interlaced fingers.
Kaspar looked up at her over his drink in a deadpan,"I assumed you were an old crone based on the way you're always in everybody's business."
Tessa clicked her tongue and leaned back, crossing her arms, "Disrespectful brat."
"Bitter hag!" Kaspar retorted, sticking his tongue out.
Nox would have stepped in had he not been directly plugged into Kaspar's energy. Warmth and affection thrummed through him as he bickered with his senior. Nox wondered if Tessa reminded Kaspar of his boyfriend. A man who also used teasing as his main form of affection.
"How's Ellis?" Nox asked with genuine curiosity. Only to instantly regret it when Kaspar's face fell and anxious corruption shot up Nox's arm painfully. He gritted his teeth and took a sip of his drink to disguise his discomfort.
"Same as always." Kaspar pulled his hand away from Nox. Nox bit his lip and closed his eyes with belated regret.
Kaspar's boyfriend wasn't an Esper or a guide. Nox knew three things about Kaspar's relationship with Ellis.
Ellis was the reason Kaspar lived outside the guildKaspar was crazy about Ellis Ellis struggled with understanding Kaspar's job as an Esper
Kaspar's response told Nox that they'd fought about guiding again. It was hard for normal people to understand guiding. They would need to understand what corruption felt like. To understand what corruption felt like they'd need to be able to see Espers as human. Since Nox hadn't met Ellis he couldn't say where Ellis stood in regards to understanding.
"Who's Ellis?" Tessa asked innocently. Nox kept his eyes cast down on his cup, resolved to stay out of whatever argument her question might cause.
But Kaspar surprised Nox. He sighed dreamily and began speaking eagerly, "He's the sweetest, sexiest, most lovable man in the entire world."
Tessa made an excited noise and leaned in with interest burning in her eyes.
"We've been dating for two years, three months, twelve days, and three hours. He's the love of my life and I'm going to marry him some day."
"How did you two meet?"
Tessa's sudden interest in Kaspar's life shocked Nox. He remembered something he'd seen in Esper Kane's file. A note on how he enjoyed romance books and moves. Nox wondered if Tessa shared this interest.
"We met when I was studying for my last qualifier before my classification! He's a librarian and he helped me find the book I was looking for. I started going back every day and lying about how fast I was reading things just to spend more time with him."
Tessa laughed, "How'd it go when he found out you were lying?"
Kaspar pursed his lips and averted his gaze, "He was…flattered"
"He told you off didn't he?" Nox finally spoke up. He may not have met Ellis in person but Airi had. Between what she'd said and what Nox heard from Kaspar himself Ellis wasn't the type to sugar coat things or stand for nonsense.
"Yeaaaahhh…" Kaspar hissed and leaned back in his chair, "He told me next time I lied about reading books he'd start assigning me reports. And when I asked how he'd get me to do it he told me I'd have to listen to my boyfriend. The rest is history."
Kaspar's sudden false nonchalance made Nox choke on his tea. Tessa remained composed but Nox could see the smile lines beside her eyes crinkle softly.