Stella launched into her report, her voice even and efficient, but Seram barely registered the numbers at first.
His focus kept straying, to Silke's calm profile, the way he handled the delicate teacup, the faint arch of his brow as he sampled one of the pastries he claimed he didn't want.
Seram's lips twitched.
Silke caught him staring and raised a brow, mouthing silently "What?"
Seram just shook his head faintly, a warm amusement flickering through him.
The atmosphere had eased, the heavy tension from earlier now mellowed into something quieter.
He forced himself to focus on Stella's voice, absorbing the details she was relaying. Profits were steady, employee turnover low and expansion plans on track.
It was all good news but somehow, none of it excited him as much as the simple, ridiculous fact that Silke was sitting there, sipping tea like he belonged in every corner of Seram's life.
When Stella finished, Seram gave a few short directives, assigning tasks and making notes for later follow-up.
Finally, he dismissed her, and the door clicked softly shut behind her.
Silence settled over the room again.
Seram exhaled slowly, then walked over to where Silke sat, loosening his tie a little as he moved.
He sat down across from him, leaning forward, elbows braced on his knees.
"I'm glad you're here.." he said simply, voice quieter now, almost rough.
Silke looked at him for a long moment, the edges of his mouth softening.
"I'm not going anywhere.." he replied just as simply.
For a few heartbeats, they just looked at each other, no walls, no pretenses, it was just them.
Then Seram stood again, reaching out a hand.
Silke glanced at it, then up at Seram, faintly amused. "What now?"
Seram's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you."
Without hesitation, Silke set his teacup down and took Seram's hand.
The contact was warm, firm and oddly grounding.
Seram led him toward a smaller door tucked behind one of the massive bookshelves.
It slid open soundlessly, revealing a private balcony and a breathtaking view of the city as the sun began to set, painting the sky in gold and violet.
Silke stepped out, the cool air brushing his skin.
He leaned against the railing, taking it all in.
Seram stood beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
"This is mine," Seram said softly. "All of it. But it feels a little less lonely now."
Silke didn't say anything for a moment, letting the words settle.
Then, without looking at him, he said quietly, "You're not alone anymore, Seram. As your guide, I'll always be by your side."
"...."
"So if I'm no longer an Esper…I lose you?"
Silke smiled, shaking his head. He was an SSS-class guide, he would always be sort out, he was planning to retire this year and get married.
He was at the age where he should be married with a kid by now.
But he wanted to stop being a guide all together but if he wanted Espers to stop seeking him then he had to do something drastic.
"I plan to retire this year, 36 is a big age…I should take my life seriously now, get married, have a kid."
Seram paused his lips "Can guides get pregnant?"
Silke nodded, they were normal human beings.
"Guides that bond with their Espers are capable of reproduction, but only between male and females, male partners…well, the guide's body can change to suit the Esper after bonding but no male partner has been able to reproduce."
"..."
"We're both, SSS class, what's our chances?" Seram asked.
".."
"Why would you want to have a kid with an old man like me?"
Seram chuckled, sure Silke age was on the older side but he still looked very much in his twenties.
"It's just an 8 years gap, I'm not so young myself. Besides, with your genes and my genes. Gosh, we'll produce the prettiest kids ever."
Silke chuckled, he doubted he would get the miraculous reproduction ability after they bonded and that was even if they did.
"But I want to have normal children. No guides or Esper, their lives will be so much better.."
Seram smiled, he wanted to agree with Silke but he couldn't.
Their kids would have their own lives and it was their job to make sure it didn't end up like theirs.
"Guide or Esper, let's love our child
ren first. And teach them humble pride, no one should be able to bully them, step or trample on them, help them cultivate a thick skin, and have inbuilt leadership abilities…make them proud of themselves and who they are so they can stand upright and face society. You never know, our children might want to be a guide or esper."
Silke sighed but didn't say anything, Espers say a lot of things about their future with their partners but in the end.
They leave.
He'd rather have a child that wasn't a guide or an esper, just an ordinary human being.
"We should start heading back to the headquarters. I'm sure your assistant will be able to handle things here."
Seram shook his head, she could handle some things but not everything.
He'll have to contact that annoying little brother of his.
He was the only one, not too busy with life or family to help him run the company.
He was the only one he could trust, he didn't want to use the word control.
He sighed and turned around, Silke walking closely behind him.
Seram said something brief to Stella and then they took the elevator to the garage.
The car ride back was awfully quiet, Silke wondered what was going on in Seram's head.
He wasn't this quiet but then again they had only known each other for less than three days.
There were alot of things he didn't know about Seram.
They got back in record timing, exactly 6:30pm. But the headquarters seemed to be excited about something.
Seram noticed all the stares both he and Silke were getting, he guessed that something had happened.
"I wonder what all the fuss is about." They got their answer, soon enough when they met Kyren and another man Seram had never seen before.