Chapter Text
Kevin had been trained for this after leaving high school. He joined the marines after graduation, skipping college and going right into basic training. His hot-headedness and stubborn tendencies were soon trained out of him, being replaced with loyalty and unflinching resolve in a unit that demanded – and expected – personal and physical strength. His first few years were shaped by strict discipline; his superior officers, seeing Kevin’s unique potential, instilled in him that duty was not a choice but a calling. After the success of his first deployment, Kevin was fast-tracked into Special Operatives training. There, he excelled in endurance, combat strategy, and silent operations. Just like his superiors expected, he quickly rose through the ranks. Kevin became one of the youngest men ever to serve as a personal bodyguard to the nation’s most critical figures.
Years of special service hardened him. Kevin learned to read a room in a heartbeat, to anticipate violence before it arrived, and to strike with precision when it did. Kevin never hesitated. Over his almost fifteen-year career in the special forces, his reputation grew – not because of fame, but because of the calm confidence and certainty he carried. Kevin saved lives quietly, without glory, and seamlessly moved on to the next mission.
Unfortunately, the years took their toll on Kevin. He outlasted comrades, saw regimes shift, and faced betrayal from those he once trusted. Now, a few years away from his fortieth birthday, he had moved into the private sector security business, signing on with a small but highly respected agency. Though he was out of the marines, he wanted to continue his service, not because of obligation but because he didn’t know how to live without it. To Kevin, rest felt alien and peace was undeserved. When he wasn’t guarding a client, he trained – perfecting what age threatens to dull. In the quiet hours, Kevin spars with younger recruits, teaching them with the same cold precision his superiors in the Marines once taught him.
At night, in rare solitude, Kevin sometimes allowed himself a single indulgence: a glass of aged scotch. He drinks it slowly, his red hair slowly fading and his bright green eyes staring at nothing. He remembers everything he’s been through. As his eyelids begin to droop, he tells himself he doesn’t need rest, only readiness. To Kevin, the world is always dangerous, and he is always on duty. Even in dreams, his instincts never sleep.
After a weekend of rare solitude, Kevin arrived at a large arena in downtown Chicago. He was quickly escorted to a waiting room where a tall man around Kevin’s age with smooth, black hair sat reading a book. The sounds of an energetic crowd seeped through the walls as Kevin approached the man.
“You must be the one I’m assigned to.” Kevin began, not looking at the folder being placed in his hand. “Don’t worry – while I’m here nothing gets past me. Once you’re done with your speech, we’ll have you on your way. Stay with me, even if things go south, and we’ll both make it out alright.” Kevin stopped a respectful distance from the man and froze at attention. The man looked up at Kevin from his book in surprise, but admiration.
“Nice to meet you,” He began, slowing as he took in Kevin’s features. “I knew the agency would provide capable protection upon my arrival.” The man’s eyes searched Kevin’s face with a note of recognition but soon began scanning Kevin’s hulking frame. The edges of the man’s lips curled up but soon smoothed back to a placid smile. “After my last press conference where an attacker attempted to jump on stage while my previous head of security was being paid off, I’m looking for a new, loyal, and strong security detail.”
Kevin nods curtly, acknowledging the man’s situation. His gaze sweeps the room once more, noting any potential hazards or hiding spots before settling back on the man. Kevin pauses internally as a hint of recognition sprouts up in his mind.
“I’ll make sure you’re well protected, sir” Kevin says gruffly, his voice low and even. The man hummed at this, still studying the red-haired bodyguard.
“Yes,” the man began, “you’re already surpassing my expectations.” He paused, closing his book before standing. “Actually… You seem familiar. What did you say your name was?” Kevin flinched slightly, taken off guard by his new employer’s candidness. A faint crease appeared between Kevin’s brows as he tries to place the man. After a moment, he replies, his tone unchanged.
“Barr. Kevin Barr.” Kevin replies. He waits, expecting the man to either place him or dismiss the notion all together. The man’s eyes blink in surprise, his jaw flops open, and he seems to fall against the chair he’s in. Kevin eyes him curiously waiting for a response.
“Kevin?” The man says in a new tone, almost as if he’s gone back into a memory. Kevin is about to reply when the man repeats himself and Kevin freezes. An old memory dislodges itself from the depths of his mind. Kevin’s expression stays impassive, trying to place the memories from middle school, kids playing around a cul-de-sac. It’s fuzzy and before he can grasp it the man speaks again. “Kevin do you not recognize me?”
“My apologies sir,” Kevin begins, only a tiny hint of surprise in his tone. “I just received your details when I arrived, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to review…” Kevin trails off as he opens the file in his hand and begins to review the man’s details. Eddward Vincent… Kevin thinks to himself studying the photo of the man before him. He reads through the details. Eddward… Peach Creek… Kevin looks up at the man again, slightly bewildered. He looks back at his folder. The memory in his head clearing and he sees him. “Double D?!” Kevin speaks; his voice slightly raised in surprise and recognition.
“I’m as surprised to see you, Kevin, as you are to see me.” Eddward begins, slowly recovering from the shock of reuniting with an old classmate. He pauses, thinking. “I’ll give my thanks to you now, none-the-less. I’ve been told you’re a credit to the marines and one of the best bodyguards in the business.” Edd pauses again here, slowly extending his hand to Kevin. “It seems leaving Peach Creek to join the marines really helped give you purpose, given such a glowing resume. I’m glad to be in the care of someone so capable.” Kevin noticed the slight flinch Edd made as their hands shook. Kevin still spinning from this crazy encounter. He blushed slightly, remembering the bullying he’d rained down on Edd when they were younger.
“It’s my job and I’ve been told I do it well,” Kevin acknowledges. He releases Edd’s hand and snaps back into his protective mode. “Rest assured Mister Vincent, no harm will come to you while under my watch.” Kevin nodded to Edd, hoping to bring some comfort to Edd’s nervousness.
“Yes,” Edd began, straightening his suit as a small shiver rolls through his shoulders. “For once I finally do believe that, coming from someone with your credentials.” Edd continues, hoping to fill Kevin in on his situation. “I’m not sure if you’ve seen me on the news, but it seems my work to help combat climate change has earned me some powerful enemies.” Edd takes a breath and smiles, but Kevin can see sorrow and anxiety swirling in his hazel eyes. Kevin nods in understanding, while one hand subtly moves to rest near the holster at his hip – a silent reminder of the weapon within reach.
“Understood,” Kevin responds shortly, his voice steady. “We’ll prepare for all eventualities.” Edd hums at his bodyguard’s response and continues with only slight hesitance.
“Yes, we shall.” Edd turns, looking up at the clock and then out the window of the arena’s waiting room. “This is my last speech for quite some time, but I’ll be traveling heavily after we’ve returned to my estate and have had a month or so to rest.” Edd, turning back to the burly red head, swiftly changes topic. “Tell me Kevin,” Kevin tries not to show the shiver that runs down his spine as Edd says his name with such confidence and a hint of cheekiness. “What modes of transportation are you familiar with securing?”
“All types,” Kevin answers calmly, scanning the room before his gaze lands back on Eddward. “Ground, air, Water – my skills adapt to the situation as needed. As does my training.” Kevin let the edges of his mouth curl up slightly with a small amount of pride – to himself, he’d seen it all.
“Perfect,” Edd smiles, though that hint of slyness still lingers in his voice. “Then you’re also up to date with our travel plans?” Edd motions to an assistant who comes over with his tablet and a set of note cards for his speech. His hazel eyes turn back to Kevin. “We’ll be off to the train yard after this.” He smiles here, seeing the questioning look in Kevin’s green eyes. “My private cars are being prepared as we speak, but you’ll have the final inspection to complete with the shop foreman when we arrive there.” Kevin nods, accepting the information and processing it rapidly.
“I’ll review the details personally,” he assures, his gaze drifting back to the assistant preparing the notes for the upcoming speech. “Though I have limited experience with it, train travel poses unique challenges in terms of security, so I appreciate the heads-up.”
“I do agree, to an extent.” Edd begins, sizing up Kevin as if testing to see if the bully he used to be is still there, if he’ll fight back. “But” Eddward continues, seeing Kevin’s stoic nature, “If I want to help save the world from climate change, wouldn’t I be a hypocrite if I took a private jet everywhere? They release three times the amount of pollution as a standard commercial flight, which itself is much higher than rail travel” Edd pauses here, considering, a hand coming up to hold his chin in contemplation. Then he sighs, looking back at Kevin. “You see my conundrum then, right?” Edd walks up to Kevin and studies him more closely, with a new air of confidence than before. “I have these private cars under separate, untraceable ownership, and all staff related to them are under a multitude of NDAs.”
“Understood,” Kevin replies, intently listening through his neutral expression. “The complexities around pollutants and climate change may not be my top priority, but I understand they are key details as part of this assignment, Mr. Vincent.” Kevin’s gaze shifts to meet Eddward’s, holding the other man’s hazels with his green ones for a few brief moments.
“Good,” Edd smiles and seems to relax somewhat. “I’m not trying to be a bother; I just wanted to get you up to speed with our current plans.” Edd reaches his hand out but stops himself. In a lost attempt to disguise his actions, he coughs and continues. “You must excuse me, it’s time for my speech. My assistant has all the background checks of our drivers and railcar staff for you. I assumed you would want to review them thoroughly.”
“No bother at all, Mr. Vincent.” Kevin begins, taking an offered folder from Edd’s assistant. “Transparency is key in situations like these.” He nods, opening the folder and scanning through the first few files inside. “I’ll go through these meticulously. Your privacy and security are paramount.” He looks up, seeing Edd paused and looking at him in contemplation.
“Please,” Edd pauses, “I’d prefer if you called me Edd.” At this he turns back to Kevin. “How would you like me to refer to you?”
“Kevin is fine,” Kevin begins, a strange feeling tingling inside him at the thought of Edd’s new confident tone saying his name. “Though some of my past clients clung to them, formal titles hold little importance to me. My job is to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.” Kevin snaps the folder closed as he straightens back into attention. He follows Edd across the room to the stage entrance, positioning himself near the door to keep a watchful eye on the audience and waiting area. Kevin’s two team members page him, already settled at their posts in discrete locations inside the arena.
“Perfect,” Edd smiles, relaxing more as a small amount of tension drains from his demeanor. It seems to be replaced with a light blush across the bridge of his nose. Before it can grow much more, he turns towards the stage. “Let’s get these next two hours over with. I’m ready to go home.” Eddward takes the first few steps towards the podium at the center of the stage. Kevin’s attention shifts fully to securing the perimeter and audience. He surveys the crowd, noting any individuals who appear out of place or overly attentive to Eddward’s position on stage. He pages a few potential threats to his team.
Eddward takes the stage to thunderous applause. As he welcomes them to the event, the crowd settles. He begins to talk about how he got here and what drove him into climate advocacy. The audience was silent, with only a handful of sniffles and sobs as Edd spoke about how tragedy struck during a family vacation many years ago. His parents, traveling doctors with Doctors without Borders, killed in a freak accident where an oil pipeline ruptured and drug them into a massive sink hole. After years of hard work, he finally bought the very fossil fuel company that took away his parents. Edd spoke about how, at first, he was filled with rage and had tried to destroy the company. It wasn’t until he found a note in one of his favorite childhood books that he stopped what he was doing. “The greatest gift of all is helping others” his parents had written on the opening page. He abruptly changes tactics, changing the company to focus on harm-reduction and green energy. They used their money to fund R&D projects around climate change mitigation and innovative fuel replacements – all in the name of his parents. The crowd was captivated and time flew by.
Kevin maintained a vigilant stance near the stage entrance, scanning the crowd continually throughout Eddward’s impassioned speech. Only at a few moments did a hint of a smile ghost his lips – the pride of seeing an old acquaintance grow into such a confident adult slowly welling up inside him. Despite the emotional weight of it all, Kevin remained composed, his focus never wavering from the task at hand. The last part of the speech was a discussion panel. Kevin checked the PA’s and the furniture they moved onto the stage as they passed him. Once the discussion began, Eddward expertly described themes of activism and volunteerism.
“Activism is a great way to get attention,” Edd began after one question. “Volunteering and building your community will put that advocacy work into action.” Eddward continued with an example. “Are you setting up a pride festival in your town? Why not add an event to plant trees in honor of our community members we lost during the AIDs epidemic.” After each response the crowd cheered, they seemed to hang off every word. Kevin observed the audience closely still, watching for any movement outside of the enthusiastic nods and applause. At one point, he found himself nodding along with them, appreciating Edd’s pragmatic approach to build sustainable change at a local level and recognizing the effectiveness of inspiring genuine change beyond mere slogans and hashtags.
“Soon,” Eddward says as he’s finishing the event, “we will tip the scales of climate change to a more manageable affair. But we can’t stop there. We must make sure we stay focused on leaving this planet in a better environmental state than how we inherited it.” Edd pauses and scans the crowd. “If not for our children, then for our great grandchildren and the parents who just want to help others. Thank you.” Eddward stood, bowing and waving as the crowd roars with energy. As the crowd continues to erupt in applause, Kevin steps forward to escort Eddward off stage. As they walk, Kevin’s protective instincts kick into high gear now that the event is winding down. He navigates through the throng of people with ease, his keen training keeping him alert for any signs of danger or unwanted attention directed towards his charge. Edd sighs below him.
“Alright Kevin,” Edd says in an exhausted tone, “to the convoy that will take us to the rail yard. I’m ready to call it a day; these events always take it out of me.” Edd pauses here, his mind thinking ahead to their departure. “And I’m eager for my shining time.” Edd, noticeably tired, allows himself to be escorted through the convention center complex. Sometimes slowing, letting Kevin’s arm brace his shoulders and nudge him along. Kevin notices as Edd relaxes in some ways, but seemingly grows nervous in others. Kevin keeps a supportive arm around Edd’s shoulders, guiding him steadily through the crowds until they reach the designated exit leading to the waiting vehicles.
Once outside, he scans the surroundings carefully, helping Eddward into the black sedan before stepping in and taking his own seat beside Edd. Edd sighs, leaning back ever so slightly into Kevin’s arm that is slung around the back of the seat. A small smirk curls his lips, seeing this seemingly mundane action as a holdover from Kevin’s old cockiness from high school, ever the cool kid.
“Driver, to the Amtrak shops please. You should have been briefed on the procedure.” Eddward speaks kindly, but commandingly. The driver nodded and Edd thanked him before settling back into his seat. As the vehicle begins to move, Kevin turns his attention inward, studying Edd’s relaxed posture and the subtle signs of tension that still linger beneath the surface. He reaches out gently, his professional training screaming at him to NOT touch the client, but he pushes it to the side, seeing as Edd seems to be leaning into his protective arm. Kevin places a reassuring hand on the smaller man’s knee, a small smile moving the red stable around his lips.
“We’re safe now, Eddward,” Kevin speaks low and as comfortingly as possible. Edd blushes and stammers at Kevin’s physical touch but doesn’t shy away entirely.
“Yes, thank you.” Edd begins, sitting up slightly without breaking their contact. “My anxiety has been so bad lately but you’re so… confident.” Edd pauses here, thinking. “It’s not the cocky confidence you had when we were younger either. Its confidence backed up with experience.” Edd looks up at Kevin studying his bright green eyes. “It’s putting me at ease in a way I hadn’t expected.” Eddward moves a hand as if to set it on top of Kevin’s but stops himself. With a little cough, he looks away but continues. “Have you ever ridden on private train cars before?”