(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Past the boiling point Chapter 144: Past the boiling point “Captain, I’m fine.

You don’t need to do this.” Kellen told him.

“Plus, we are still supposed to have our guiding session with Taylor later today.” Kellen watched as the Captain’s jaw tightened, and so did his grip on Kellen.

It was bruising, and Kellen was sure he was going to have five fingers bruised into his thighs.  “Don’t worry about that.

Missing one day isn’t going to be the end of the world.” He said that, but Kellen thought differently.

They were steadily working towards a safer guiding level for them.

One day could be the difference there.

Even in this situation, Kellen felt his duty override his own personal feelings.

He did not want to put the hard work they had done into jeopardy.  “No.

I don’t want to miss a day.

It’s important to me to keep things consistent.

If we’re going to leave the photo shoot, fifteen minutes isn’t going to hurt us.” Kellen felt the Captain’s chest rumble, and he swore he heard a soft, feral growl coming from him.

The Captain’s strides became longer as they moved.  “Fine.

We’ll go to our guiding session.

Then you can’t complain after, alright?” Kellen was surprised by how genuinely upset he was, all because Kellen insisted on them doing their guiding session.

He worried that the Captain wasn’t stable at all, and wanted to check his levels, but knew he wouldn’t take to that too kindly.  “O-Okay.” He agreed.

“Brent, make sure that the rest of his things end up in his office.

He can grab them tomorrow.” Captain ordered over his shoulder as they swiftly left the room, and Kellen heard Brent confirm over his shoulder.

The two of them moved down the hallway towards the elevators.  “Captain, is everything alright?” Kellen asked, confused since this whole reaction stemmed from his tears, but the Captain seemed to be taking it personally.

Kellen knew that today had been a rollercoaster for himself emotionally, but he didn’t know how the Captain was holding up.  The Captain came to a stop once they were at the elevators.

After pressing the button, Kellen was still in his arms, he stood waiting, impatient.

Kellen could tell from the way his jaw was clenched.  “I’ve never been better, Mr.

Woods.

Why are you asking?” Kellen couldn’t believe him.

He wasn’t looking down at him, and instead was staring straight ahead when he responded.

He was even tapping his foot.

Kellen had never seen him like this before, even when he’d been angry at Hill for compromising a mission on the front lines.

The one that ended with her getting the shit beat out of her.

“Well, you seem to be in a foul mood, and you won’t put me down.” The Captain’s lips turned down in a frown, but he didn’t drop his gaze to Kellen.

Now flustered, Kellen wasn’t sure where to put his hands.

It felt dangerous to touch him, but also dangerous to not touch him.  So, making a decision, he kept his hands tucked towards his chest.

He covered his nipples, since he was still in the leather straps without a top getup.

The crew had really seemed to like that look for him.

He had no idea why he was getting shy now, since just moments before he had been pressed up against the Captain like a, like a…Kellen swallowed.  Well, it didn’t matter now, since he was clearly upset.

The sigh that escaped his lips did so without his knowledge, and he felt the Captain tense.  “I’m not in a foul mood, I just…I’m thinking about a lot of things.

Granted, I usually do, but I clearly need to change the way I’ve been doing it.” He finally looked down at Kellen, and he realised it wasn’t just anger.

The Captain had a terribly sad look on his face, in his eyes.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone else in my life, Mr.

Woods, and I fear in all of the chaos of the last three weeks that I have done something I shouldn’t have.

I don’t even feel like I have the right to ask you for forgiveness, because I’m not even sure you know what I’ve done wrong or even understand why it is wrong.” He snorted, and looked up as the elevator doors opened.  Strolling towards them, Kellen tried to wrap his head around what he had just said.

The Captain had wronged him?

How?

He’d said that before too.

It had to be something to do with a pair, but Kellen wasn’t sure what it was.

The elevator doors closed after the Captain had selected the Medical Bay.  “I’m not an idiot, Captain.” Kellen wasn’t sure why, but he did feel insulted slightly by the Captain’s words.

He chuckled.  “Oh, I know you aren’t, and I’m sorry if you felt that I was implying that you were.

It’s more accurate to say that you are inexperienced, and I’m the idiot for forgetting that because of my own hang ups.” Everything he said only made Kellen more confused, and also concerned.

His tone was self deprecating, and it really concerned him.  “I’m fine, Captain, please.

You’re only making me worried with the way you are speaking right now.” He blinked, before looking down at Kellen with a smile.  “Ah, sorry for worrying you then.” He didn’t say anything else as the elevator continued to move.

Even as they got out at the Medical Bay, the Captain held his tongue.

It seemed he really didn’t want to worry Kellen anymore, so he just remained quiet.  Taylor was surprised, when after a knock, the two of them entered her office.

She had been busy typing away, a few piles of documents piled up around her.  “Oh, I didn’t expect to see you two, at least not so soon.

I heard Pamela was planning to continue this shoot late into the evening.” Captain gave her a tense smile.  “Mr.

Woods was insistent we keep up consistency.” He told her, and Taylor glanced between Kellen, who was being held in the Captain’s arms with a death grip, and the Captain, who seemed on edge.

She stood up, getting out from behind her desk and stretched.  “Alright, well, there isn’t any reason why I shouldn’t help you do the session, so let’s go.” Taylor led them to the guiding room and the Captain was kind enough to put Kellen down first.

He already didn’t have a shirt on from the shoot, so he just slapped the monitoring pads on.

The Captain was doing the same since he was wearing a torn version of the Esper uniform, not even the Captain uniform.  When everyone was ready, the Captain offered his hand, and after a countdown from Taylor, Kellen began guiding.  Kellen had some idea about what he was about to get into, but no one was ready to be thrown into a drowning situation.

Kellen felt the waves and water violently take him down, fast, hard, until he was worried he was going to be swallowed up and smashed against the rocks.

Desperately pouring the guiding rocks into the water, he prayed that it would work.

Thrashing, fighting, scrapping, Kellen was desperate as rocks came closer and closer.  Snapping his eyes open, he yanked his hand out of the Captain’s grip, surprising both the Captain and Taylor.  Eyes cold, and his heart thudding in his chest, he turned to the Captain.  “Captain, why are you pushing me away?” He asked, and the Captain flinched.  “I’m not-” Kellen’s gaze must have stopped him in his tracks, since his words dried up.

He closed his mouth, and darted his eyes away.

“You wanted to guide me, so here we are.” He muttered, and Kellen felt his heart squeeze.

He hadn’t wanted to force him!

“If you were uncomfortable, you should have said something.

I never want to force myself on you, and I’m sure you feel the same way.” A deep, painful ache filled Kellen’s chest, and he wondered if that was a side effect from being rejected while guiding.

He sighed, pushing his hair out of his face and glancing at the door.

“We should stop here for today.

You don’t want to be guided, and I don’t want to guide you either now.” Panic crossed his features.  “Mr.

Woods, I-” The door burst open and Hill was on the other side.

She too, had a panicked look on her face.  “Captain, I know I’m not supposed to interrupt, but-” The Captain’s glare held such vitriol that she stopped moving.  “What is so urgent that you would need to interrupt me?” It felt like he was spitting poison at Hill, and she flinched.

Kellen was shocked, having never seen the Captain like this.

Hill swallowed and kept pushing forward.  “T-The gate…it’s mutated.

It hasn’t fluctuated, but the foliage around the gate changed within 30 seconds.

People were in the vicinity and they have been injured.

Captain Sakura is on her way to join Captain Sergei on the front lines.

The Captains are on call and need you to be there to help.” Hill told him, and the energy in the room changed.

The Captain was furious, and Kellen didn’t know what he should do.  “I was supposed to have the evening off after this, Hill.” She swallowed.  “I know, but this is-” “Are the rest of you incompetent?

Can’t you handle this much?” It was too harsh, and Kellen knew that the Captain knew that, but he didn’t retract his words.

Hill looked like a beaten puppy.  “W-We aren’t, but it’s your level of clearance.

None of us have the same level, except maybe Kellen.” He flinched.

Angrily, he got to his feet, pulling the pads off of his chest.  “Fuck.” He glanced at Kellen, and his eyes narrowed.

“This isn’t over.

We’re going to talk when I get back.” Kellen nodded, unsure of what they were even supposed to talk about.

Hill gave Kellen a nervous look, and he gave her a thumbs up in return.

She was doing great.  They left, the Captain still in his torn and tattered Esper uniform, with anger etched into every part of his features.

Taylor and Kellen sat in stunned silence before they met each other’s gaze.  “Did you…want to go grab a tea or something?” She asked him, and he nodded.  “Yeah, let’s do that.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB The Captain being a little snippy.

I wonder why…