(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: slippery like snakes Chapter 109: slippery like snakes Hill had gotten the colour back in her face, and she cleared her throat.

Once done, she turned to the two of them, interested.  “You’re going to spar your sister?

Oh right!

You did ask for a sparring partner when you came here to test your new abilities.

Honestly, now that Brent is here I thought he was going to fill the gap.” Kellen chuckled at her attempted nonchalant tone.

He swore he could still see her sweating.

“Brent probably will become my sparring partner, but sometimes he doesn’t like wearing his prosthetic.

Today he’s fine, but every once in a while it bugs him.

Plus, I’ve already run into Gwen, and it would be a good idea to check where she’s at with her training, and how much work Mom put into her for the Esper games.” Gwen seemed frozen by something Kellen had said.

Given what he had just done, it could have been anything.  “Wait, Brent has a prosthetic?

I never would have guessed.” Gwen’s face was slightly flushed, and she seemed…confused?

Kellen had no idea why, but a suspicious feeling was overcoming his body.

“Does it matter that he has one?” He asked her, confused since he had never seen her behave like this.

She was shifting on her feet, her face flushed, and she was behaving like she was nervous.

Honestly, sometimes Kellen worried about what would come out of her mouth.

Gwen sometimes did say off the cuff stuff, but he really hoped she wasn’t about to disparage people who’d lost limbs.

“It doesn’t really matter, I’m just shocked.

It didn’t seem like he had one at all.” Kellen was even more bewildered as he looked over at her.

She was playing with her fingers, and even Hill was staring at her.

Hill’s expression, though, was calculating, while Kellen was just confused.

“He doesn’t make it a big deal, you’re right about that.

He just likes to be treated like a normal human?

Is that a problem, Gwen?” It was the only logical jump Kellen could make.

Gwen had a problem with people who were amputees.  However, Gwen’s face flushed more, and Hill whistled.

She unwrapped a lollipop as she approached them and began to circle them, or more, circling Gwen.

Her eyes were only on Gwen, watching her shift and twitch, and it made Gwen shrink in on herself.  “I don’t think she cares about it in the way you’re worried about, Kellen.” Hill’s smile was all mischief, and her words made Gwen duck her head for a moment before she raised it again, her face determined.  “I’m not against people who have different bodies, Kellen!

That’s so rude to assume.” She was right.

It was rude to assume, but Kellen had dealt with worse in Brent’s place before.

Sometimes, when people found out he was an amputee, they wanted to cancel their contracts.

It was a knee jerk reaction to protect someone he cared about, even from a person he cared about.

He couldn’t help being sensitive about it.  “I just realised we’d never had this kind of conversation before, so I was worried you weren’t going to be a good person about it.

Sorry for assuming you were going to be an asshole about it, but you can see where my concern was coming from, right?

That was a weird reaction to finding out Brent has a prosthetic.” Hill laughed as Kellen’s words made Gwen seethe.

Hill turned sparkling eyes in his direction.

“Kellen, you’re a Guide, what’s the best way to get an Esper’s attention as a Guide?” She asked.

Her question threw Kellen for a loop.

“Uh, depends on the situation and the Esper?” He responded.

It took everything in him to not let his gaze wander to the Captain.

Hill sighed, shaking her head.

She waved a finger at Kellen.  “Kellen, Kellen, Kellen.

There is always a foolproof way to get an Esper’s attention.

That is to be injured, even if you’re faking it, and cute.

You cannot tell me that Brent wouldn’t be attractive to a specific type of Esper.” Kellen blinked, before Hill’s words really washed over him.

Stunned, he turned to look at Gwen and she covered her face with her hands.  “Don’t look at me like that!

I can feel your judgment!” He was shocked.  “Gwen Woods!

Did you just get an Esper hard on for a Guide who has a prosthetic?

In front of your brother?

And the Guide in question also happens to be your brother’s friend?

What fucked up bullshit is this?” She crouched down, covering her head with her arms.  “Don’t hit me!

I can’t help it!

The heart wants what the heart wants!” She was practically begging and Hill snorted.

“Yeah, the heart.” She snorted again, sucking on her lollipop.

The Captain hadn’t moved from where he was standing, and glancing over at him, Kellen realised he was on his phone.

He sighed, running a hand over his face.  “He doesn’t need saving, Gwen.

He’s a big boy, and can take care of himself.” Hill cleared her throat.

I think she might just want to…lend him a hand?

You know, out of the kindness of her heart.” Gwen, unable to handle Hill’s teasing, threw a very cute and panicked look in her direction.  “I wasn’t thinking like that!

I just thought it was super cool that he was doing his best even if others thought less of him!” Hill covered her mouth, a flush on her own cheeks.  “Oh, how cute and kind of you.

Both siblings are sweet like honey, aren’t they?

So pure in their help and assistance.” She was obviously teasing both of them, but Kellen chuckled.

He reached for Gwen, ruffling the hair on the top of her head even as she swatted his hand away.  “I appreciate the compliment, Hill.

Now, where were you on the day of-” She covered his mouth with her hand, her eyes wide.

Laughing, Kellen pulled her hand away from his mouth.

“Now, I think we’ve had enough chatter.

Or are you now afraid to spar me, Gwen?” She uncovered herself and sighed, staring at the ground.  “No, I’m not scared.

At least not of that.

Fuck.

Alright.

Now I have something to work out anyway.” She muttered darkly before getting to her feet.

She turned and headed for the arena.

Kellen followed after her after glancing back at the two Espers.

Neither of them said anything, and after the moment the two of them had, the Captain hadn’t spoken a word to him.  In fact, the Captain wasn’t even looking in their direction.

He had his back slightly turned, and was on the phone.

Something in his chest hurt, and he frowned.  Hill had a strange look on her face as she stared at Gwen, and Kellen ignored it.

He’d already warned the others, and Gwen was her own person.

He had done his job as a big brother, plus, Gwen was capable of taking care of herself.

If not, then he’d step in and make them regret ever messing with her.

Plus, Hill didn’t remind him of someone who would force others, even if she was physically stronger than pretty much everyone else.

Worst case scenario, blackmail apparently worked great.  Gwen paused when she got to the center of the now dry and bot free arena, and he could tell her face was still a little pink.

He chuckled.  “I wouldn’t worry too much about Hill.

She just likes to tease others.” Gwen glanced over to where the two Espers still stood, and Hill gave her a big wave.

Kellen noticed that Gunther was slowly approaching them and he wished him the best.

He had a feeling that the Captain was going to tear a strip off of him, and he hoped that Gunther made it out okay.

Gwen sighed, and he looked over to find her rubbing her neck.  “I’m not worried, I just…it’s fine.

Let’s just drop it.

Did you want to start off slow?

We’ve already stretched.” She said, and he nodded.  “Yeah, let’s start slow.” Gwen and Kellen got into position, and after a few seconds, she attacked him first.  The style that their Mother had taught them came from the same principle.

Survival.

Most of the moves and actions were related to that.

It wasn’t used for dealing damage, more for escaping and being able to get out of touch situations.

At least, the one that both of them were taught was.

Kellen was sure that Gwen had been taught a more aggressive form, but when they sparred together, they always used the shared style.  Gwen’s movements as she came at him were predictable, slow, and easy to block.

That was intentional.

They both went through each position without a word, both of them focused on keeping their forms perfect.  After they finished going through each step, with neither of them fucking up, they picked up speed.

This wasn’t a warm up, but was a way for them to make sure their forms were perfect and that they weren’t going to accidentally hurt each other when they went at each other with no holds barred.  Gwen and Kellen quickly finished the half speed run, before they made eye contact and nodded.

It was all the two needed before they began their full speed run through the positions.

Gwen was stronger than him simply by being as Esper, so it was a test of her strength control while for Kellen it was a test of speed.

He could free the sweat on his body by the time they had finished their full speed run, and Gwen was smiling.

She fanned her shirt, her grin a little on the feral side.  “Goddamn, it’s been a minute since we did that, huh?” She said, and he laughed.  “Well, you were off doing whatever you wanted when I last came into town for a vacation, and then you’ve been tucked away with Mom since I’ve moved back.

So?

Are you ready to go for real?” He asked.

Gwen glanced around, and he realised that the crowd they had lost during the clean up had come back.  Gunther, Hill, and the Captain were a little distance away from where they had last seen them, and seemed to be talking to each other.

Gunther had his back to them, while the other two were facing them.

The rest of the people who made up the crowd were a mix of new recruits, and the regular crowd Kellen normally found in this gym.

You know, people who were considered famous in the Esper world, that Kellen knew by their first names because they were gym bros.  “As long as you’re ready, Kellen.

You remember our safe word?” She asked, serious, and Kellen nodded.

They got back into position after the few minutes break, and this time Kellen was the first to attack.  Kellen didn’t think that the two of them fighting could ever be as fast as Hill and the Captain, but he liked to think that they were still impressive.

As many times as the two had fought each other, neither one of them had gotten seriously injured.

Gwen and Kellen just liked to move their bodies, and Kellen was sure they got that from their Mother.  It was a smart thing that their Mom had taught them this style, since they weren’t aiming to hurt each other, but it still got their energy out.

Especially as kids.

And, in fairness to her, Kellen had used these moves in gates before to save not only his ass, but others as well.  “Focus, Kellen!

Or am I not worthy of your full attention?” Gwen swung for his head and he dodged, hitting the ground and wrapping his hands around her ankles and yanked.

Gwen landed on her hands, turning it into a roll and they both stood up at the same time, matching grins on their faces.  “Were you disappointed I was thinking while fighting you?

It just means you need to move faster.” Gwen, hearing what he was saying, nodded.

It was permission, masked as a challenge, for her to speed up.

Her movements changed, and Kellen felt feral.  Gwen and Kellen slid between each other like snakes, their bodies only coming into brief contact with each other before the other slid out of their hands.

Kellen loved this part.

He enjoyed when they went through the forms as well, but when they got to freestyle?

It was just too much fun.

He couldn’t do this with anyone else since his Mom refused to ever raise her hand against him, even in sparring.  Gwen landed a fairly good hit and she smirked.  “I guess those seven months you took off ready did affect you.

You’ve gotten slower.” She teased, and Kellen stuck his tongue out at her.  “Even with a year off I can still beat your ass.” He responded, and she laughed.  “Who has won more of these sparring sessions?” She asked and Kellen gave her the middle finger while he tried to pin her.

She slithered out of his arms, laughing harder.  “Don’t you have respect for those older than you?” He demanded as she tried a similar pin on him.  “I didn’t realise you needed to be in a care home big bro.

I’ll have to let Mom and Dad know, oh, and the Captain.

We’ll make sure to visit you during visitation hours.

Wouldn’t want you to get lonely.” Slipping between her thighs, he pinched the muscle there and she howled.

“You brat!” She screeched and he grinned.  “Don’t get so full of yourself.

You’re still a baby in the field.” He warned, before sniffing.

“You should be asking me for advice for when you go into your first gate.” She rubbed her sore spot before trying a more complicated maneuver on him, which he slipped out of.

She growled in frustration.  “I’m very cautious!

You just always happen to see me when I’m not.

I’m good at my job, Kellen!” He had no doubt.

She was his sister.

And she took things very seriously.

He just liked to get her riled up.  “Go faster.” He told her instead of responding to her words.

She grumbled before doing as she was told.

Kellen was thriving, loving the moment until he heard Hill call his name behind me.  “Kellen!” She sounded like she was in distress, and unfortunately that gave Gwen a second to try and get him in a hold.

But, Kellen reacted instinctively, and before either of them knew it, Gwen had her face pressed into the dirt, her hands behind her back and he was sitting on her.

They both blinked before he got off of her, laughing.  “You’re a dirty little cheater.” He accused.

Gwen got up, dusting herself off.

He heard Hill swear off in the distance and he looked over at her, before taking two of his fingers, pointing at his eyes, and then motioning towards her.

She turned her back on him, Gwen huffed.

“It wasn’t planned, but I also didn’t expect you to react so quickly.

I should have known better.

We’re sparring, but you have actual field experience like you said.” She sighed, upset.

“Well, I’ll still accept it.

I lost.

Good job Kellen.” She offered her hand and Kellen took it, giving it a shake before she pulled him in for a hug.

“You should go see Captain Thatcher now.

He’s been staring over here for a while now.” She kept her voice low, whispering in his ear, and Kellen glanced over his shoulder at the Captain.

Unlike before, he was staring at them with an intense gaze.

Huh.

“Thanks Gwen for the spar.

We should do it again sometime.” He gave her a squeeze before releasing her and she nodded.

Her eyes smiled as she let him go, turning towards her fellow recruits, while he turned towards the Captain and two of his lieutenants.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Kellen’s mom taught them this so that they would get their energy out and leave their Dad alone so he could do whatever he needed around the house.

Then it went too far, and now they do it for fun.