“Are you really certain that going on-field will be any better?”

Kyrian grunted in response. He was focused on counting his handstand push-ups rather than on Seok’s voice in his ear.

“I’m going to need more than caveman sound effects from you if you want me to make a decision, Kyrian.” Seok grumbled through the earpiece.

“Ugh. I already,” Kyrian huffed as he pushed himself up, “told you what I thought.”

His arms trembled as he dipped towards the floor again, the plan to push himself as far as possible. He was recovering well from the Guiding session, but felt it wasn’t right to slack on his routines.

Sigh

Seok’s air escaped his mouth, filling Kyrian’s ear with static.

“Kyrian. Focus. I will pull you from this contract, so get your head in the game and pay attention.”

Hearing the serious tone in Seok’s words, Kyrian dropped his feet to the cold floor. He rested his hands on his hips, breathing deeply while he collected his thoughts.

“...”

“I can’t… guarantee that being on-field will change anything, but,” he hurriedly continued, “I think it’s worth trying.”

He wiped the sweat from his face with his t-shirt, and sighed to himself as Seok started to chastise him.

“You’re good, Kyrian, but I don’t even know if you’re that good. Do you get what I’m saying? You’re an S-Class Guide, but even you have limits. What am I supposed to report to the higher ups?”

“...”

“Our top Guide got himself killed in the Other Side during a rift Guiding attempt?”

“Seok…” Kyrian murmured, feeling it his responsibility to soothe the man’s anger. After all, he was fuming on his behalf.

“I know you won’t let it go either way, so I’ll see what I can do.” Seok interjected, his voice clipped and irritated. Obviously, he was holding back his real opinion on the matter.

A smile curled the corners of Kyrian’s lips as he stood in his room alone. “Thanks Seok.. I appreciate it, really. I do.”

A grumble quickly followed, but Seok’s voice took on a gentler tone when he spoke again. “Anyways… I assume you’re still completely out of the loop as far as news goes, right? Per Cerberus’ contract.”

Kyrian leaned his head back with a soft laugh. “Was I ever up to date on news and media anyways?”

“No. Just, be careful alright?” 

“Why, something wrong at Aegis Division?” Kyrian’s amused smile fell, and he began rummaging through his things for a towel and change of clothes.

“See this is why you should show some interest in the political climate Kyrian, things are getting a little hairy out here.”

Kyrian halted in his tracks. “Is Mona okay?”

“The director is doing just fine, for now. It’s just been a little tense around here…” Seok’s voice paused. “You can’t worry about it where you’re at, so we’ll handle things outside. Just focus on taking care of yourself.”

Tch.

“Who’s holding back now?” Kyrian showed his displeasure in being kept in the dark, but he couldn’t argue with his supervisor’s reasoning. It wasn’t like he could do anything to help them anyways.

“Just use your common sense, please. I’ll contact you if I run into any problems getting you approved for Cerberus on-field.”

“... alright.” Kyrian accepted defeat this time. “Thank you.”

Blip.

Seok’s voice turned to static in his ear, signalling the conversation had been cut off from the other end.

He’d tell me if it was something bad… I’m sure.

His thoughts lingered on the Averin family friend and director of Aegis Division, Mona Solsarian. She’d always been a very passionate individual, especially after her university days. Eleven years ago. That had been a turning point for both of them.

Where Kyrian had chosen to abandon his family name and avoid the cutthroat charades of politics, Mona had dedicated her life to founding Aegis Division. While they prioritized rift research and combat, much like the other numerous institutions, the director had another goal.

“Damn it I need to shower…” Kyrian muttered, taking his towel and clothes in hand. There had been a lot of recent incidents that were dredging up old memories for him. Memories he wished would stay in the darkest corners of his mind, he only wanted to live an ordinary life as a Guide.

The communal showers of the floor-3 zone were blissfully empty so early in the morning, something he found he was extra appreciative today. His mood had plummeted over the course of two days, and he did not care to deal with the piercing stares.

He placed his clothes into an empty locker space, and went to stand under the spray of hot water, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep. 

Propping himself against the cold tiled wall, he closed his eyes, basking in the pounding water from the shower head on the base of his neck.

His arms ached like electricity had burned his veins, an irritating sensation that made him scratch his skin for relief. As he brushed his hand across his itching skin, his fingers caught the ridges of scars that remained hidden from people’s sight beneath his usual clothes.

The phantom pain from the scar marring his skin across hip to spine had long faded, but the Guiding fatigue was playing tricks on his mind, and he swore he could feel it again.

Just when the steam began to cloud the shower room, the door to the locker room opened with a click.

“Oh! Mr. Averin!”

Kyrian lifted his head from the cool tile, and turned to see Shion Kurozane was standing in the doorway with a towel draped around his waist. 

The cheerful smile on the doctor’s face faltered as his gaze lowered, and he coughed, embarrassed. 

He’s making it painfully obvious… why did it have to be him?

“I… I didn’t expect to see you today…” He tucked his hair behind his ear, gaze wandering around the shower room as though Kyrian was not present.

A throb behind his eyes made Kyrian’s brow furrow.

“It’s a communal shower, Dr. Kurozane, don’t make it uncomfortable for everyone else.” He said flatly, not in the mood to deal with someone as friendly as this man right now.

“Er… of course.” Shion shuffled to the shower head at the end of the rectangle shaped room, head lowered meekly.

Even as Kyrian closed his eyes once more to soak in the water pouring over his head, he could feel the prick of the young man’s gaze on his exposed body.

What is he, a highschooler? 

Unable to help himself, Kyrian sighed deeply, realizing his shower time was being cut short. Shion’s gaze was starting to wear thin on his patience.

His hand reaching for the faucet froze in place when Shion finally spoke up.

“That’s a very nasty scar you have there, Mr. Averin… Is it from your sister?”