(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 141

Chapter 141: Foot?

Meet Mouth Chapter 141: Foot?

Meet Mouth Kellen stepped out into the main shoot area with his trench coat over his arm, and scanned the area for Brent, and couldn’t find him immediately.  The reason for that seemed to be that they had taken a break for lunch, and many of the Espers had swarmed around the Guide, offering him food and drink.

Watching Brent laugh and smile with the others, especially after what he had said to Kellen, caused an odd sensation in his chest.  Kellen intentionally didn’t glance around the room, not sure how he would take seeing the Captain at this moment, and was saved by Pamela, who was announcing the order for the next few shoots.  The group around Brent broke up, and Brent waved goodbye to them before moving to stand in the line that Pamela was directing the next three Guild members to stand in.

Gwen was watching everything with an awed expression.

Gwen had remained in the shadowed part of the studio, sitting down in a chair while that had gone down.  It didn’t appear as if Gwen had changed out of her most recent outfit change, and she remained in a torn Esper uniform.

The top is a little more torn then the bottom, with the buttons torn off, with a crisp, leather gun holster on her thigh.

For some reason it was in perfect condition, but this was a photo shoot, and Kellen wasn’t going to ruin the fantasy with logic.

The leather didn’t even look that sturdy.  “Both of you are so good in front of the camera.

I worry I won’t look as good as you two.” Gwen admitted quietly as Kellen came to settle down in the seat next to her.

His name hadn’t been called by Pamela, so he took this chance to talk to his sister.

Kellen cast her a sideways glance.

It was only in the last round of shots that Kellen thought he was halfway decent, and that was out of an emotion mixed with anger.

Her being in awe of Brent?

Very understandable.  “Remember how you were scoffing at me earlier because I don’t think I take good photos?” She made a face, clearly aware of where this was going.  “Uh huh.”  “Well, I think you’re being silly thinking that your photos aren’t going to turn out well.

You looked great when you were posing.

I felt like a cardboard cut out.” She snorted.  “Until you had your arms wrapped around Captain Thatcher.” Kellen felt his face heat, but Gwen didn’t glance at him.

His heart raced in his chest, and after his talk with Brent, he couldn’t really deny it.

Sitting back in his chair, he crossed his arms, and with a grim expression, nodded.  “Apparently so.” He said, looking forward even as he felt her gaze whip to his face.  “Kellen!

Are you admitting-” “I am not admitting to a goddamn thing.” He interrupted her, and she sighed.  “Stubborn to a fault.” The Captain’s chuckle made both of them almost jump out of their skin.

The siblings were so involved in their own conversation that they hadn’t heard anyone approach.  “Well, it isn’t quite a fault yet, is it?

I find it cute too, when he pushes back so hard.” He grinned at the siblings, and Kellen realised that they had touched up his face so he didn’t look as tired.  Wait, had Kellen only realised now that he looked tired?

Was he a bad pair for not noticing sooner?  “Well?

Did you like the photos?” The Captain asked and Kellen found himself shrugging.  “I’m not sure.

We still have quite a few more to take.” The Captain smiled at him, his eyes sparkling as if he knew something Kellen didn’t before taking his hand in his.

Kellen didn’t fight it.  “This is true, we do have to do another set with you in your Field Guide uniform.” He chuckled, staring at Kellen.

Kellen felt he was examining him.

He swallowed nervously.  “What?” Kellen knew his voice was tart and sharp, and he winced internally that he was speaking to him that way.

The Captain didn’t seem to mind, reaching out and wrapping his arm around Kellen’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze.  “Nothing.

Just admiring you.

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to see you like this.” The feel of his arm around his shoulder, the heat of his body against his own was completely different from when they had been shooting.

Kellen felt like he was being soothed, like the Captain was the Guide, and he was the Esper.

His head spun from the contact, and he could feel his muscles tensing, fighting it.

He huffed and opened his mouth.  “We see each other every day for guiding.” The tone alone was enough to peel paint off of a wall, let alone the words.

Kellen wanted to kick himself for even opening his mouth.

That wasn’t what he wanted to say!  The Captain froze, before chuckling and withdrawing his arm.

Kellen wanted to stop him, but he didn’t feel like he had the right to.

Fuck.

He had clearly hurt him, even as he smiled at them and Kellen could feel Gwen glaring at him.  “Well, I guess you are right.

I think I hear Hill calling me.

I’ll see you in a moment, Mr.

Woods.” He strolled casually towards Hill and Kellen bent over his knees immediately, sighing.  It was clear Hill hadn’t called for him.

She was busy chatting up one of the assistants!

Kellen covered his face with his hands as he felt daggers being thrown in his direction by his own sister.  “What the fuck was that for?” She demanded, clearly upset and Kellen didn’t know what to say to her.  “I don’t know.” Kellen muttered quietly, and Gwen’s grip on Kellen’s shoulder was bruising.  “You don’t know!

Do you know how busy the Captain is right now?

You should be comforting him instead of making him feel bad, Kellen!

You are supposed to be his support system!” Her words only made Kellen feel worse.

He couldn’t explain to her exactly what he was thinking, especially with so many Espers around.

He didn’t want others to know his feelings.

Especially when he wasn’t sure what he was feeling.

Instead, he just had to take the verbal beating without defending himself.  “I know.” He muttered and she tsked.  “If you know, you should treat him better.” Her words were so angry, and he knew that from her perspective, he was being a bad Guide.

But the Captain also hadn’t been reaching out to him.

He wasn’t coming by on weekends, and his messages were super short.  Fuck, they only held hands for 15 minutes every day, and he usually had to leave after 16 minutes.

They barely saw each other over the last two weeks.

Kellen guessed…he was feeling neglected too.

He wasn’t a waiting around kind of Guide, but he didn’t feel like he could just approach him and bother him if it was so obvious he was busy.  Kellen felt his eyes water and swore internally.

Fuck.

He wasn’t a crier, and now here he was, eyes watering over the fucking Captain.  He stood up quickly, practically running away from Gwen even as she yelled after him.

“Kellen!” She was outraged, and he waved his hand behind him.  “Bathroom!” He shouted, hoping his voice didn’t give him away.

He wanted somewhere quiet, private.

He just needed a minute where no one was analyzing him.  Kellen made it to the bathroom, and thankfully it was one where he could lock himself in a stall and have a moment to himself.

He sat down on the lid of the toilet and sucked in a shaky breath.  The tears fell quietly, and he wiped them away as soon as they fell.

Fuck.

He’d been fine until he saw him, so now why was he a weepy fucking baby?

And why was he fine?

He behaved as if everything was okay, like we hadn’t been getting closer to each other, and then we hadn’t spoken to each other outside of guiding for two weeks.  He was the Captain that Kellen had always known, so why did that make him so fucking upset?

He couldn’t tell if he was angry or say about it, it just made him feel.  Kellen grabbed some toilet paper and pressed it against his eyes since they hadn’t stopped leaking, and he probably shouldn’t get tears on his outfit.

Especially if he was supposed to go out for the shoot soon.  He tried to calm himself down, and was able to get his eyes to stop leaking, but his hands were shaking.

He stayed in the stall until he heard the bathroom door open.  “Kellen?

Are you feeling alright?” It was Pamela, and he exhaled shakily.

He didn’t know what he would have done if it had been Gwen or the Captain.  “S-Sorry.

Could you grab me a couple of shakes?” Kellen asked her, and he heard the door close without her response.

He took that as a yes.  Shortly after, she came back.

Kellen had left the stall and was leaning against the sink, his hands still shaking.

She frowned.  “You don’t look so good.

Is there something wrong?” She asked as she placed the shakes down on the counter next to him.

Reaching out with a shaking hand, he opened one and raised it to his lips.

Tasting something so familiar calmed him slightly, and he felt like he could finally breathe once he finished it.

He finished another one before he felt his shoulders relax and he sighed.  “I guess I was just a little nervous.

I’m better at dealing with monsters and plants versus cameras.” He told her with a slight grin and she chuckled.

He was sure nothing left her bright pink gaze, but he appreciated how she didn’t probe more.  “And I’m the opposite.

I’d take cameras any day.

Alright, if you’re ready, Brent’s finished his solo photos, so it’s time for your duo photos.” Kellen nodded, picking up the last shake she’d brought and decided to give it to Brent.

He cast one last glance at himself in the mirror before he left.  His face was pale, and the skin around his eyes looked dark.

His eyes themselves looked hollow.

There was clearly something wrong, but he didn’t have time to deal with it.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB While I will always believe that Gwen didn’t mean to hurt her older brother, it still fucking sucks that she did.