(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: I knew you were trouble Chapter 157: I knew you were trouble Kellen felt emotions swell up in his chest, and knew for the most part, the fear of crying had left.

That didn’t mean it couldn’t still happen, but for now, he had gotten control of himself enough.  “Ugh, I can’t believe I kicked a rock at you.” He muttered and Rhys laughed.

A full, tilt his head back, shake both of their bodies, laugh.  “I can.

You have a habit of getting yourself into trouble.

And what is more trouble than catching the attention of the S Class Esper Captain of the Saturn Guild?

The one who at the time had been known for causing great trouble for the D.E.C.

Especially when they wouldn’t approve his request for a Guild, so he went about turning back time on certain parts of the city until it was near collapse.” Kellen, who only remembered small bits of the actual history Rhys had with the D.E.C.

was surprised he’d forgotten about something that had caused such an uproar amongst the public.  If he remembered correctly, his Mom had to be called in, not to prevent what he was doing, but to talk Uncle Tom down from trying to hire other S Class Espers to deal with him.

Kellen felt a bubble of laughter come out of him at the thought, and memory of that time.

It had been around when he’d awoken his powers, so he considered it a dark time.

But he remembered laughing at the Esper antics.  “I nearly forgot that you had done that.

Uncle Tom was ready to pull his hair out.” Kellen smiled at Rhys, pressing a kiss against the skin before him without much thought.

“You aren’t crazy, Rhys.

I’ve interacted with a lot of Espers, and honestly, I’m surprised you are able to stay as sane as you are.

Are you using your powers all the time to keep yourself sane?

That would make a weird kind of sense, especially since you use your powers all the time.” He didn’t say anything for a moment, but his muscles tensed.

Kellen worried he’d said something to upset him until he sighed.  “I would be lying to you if I didn’t say I was using my powers in that way sometimes, but not all the time.

Usually, I’m using my powers to predict probabilities.

The best outcomes.

Unfortunately, because I can’t see futures that involve myself, since that would be too overpowered, your future is harder for me to predict now.

Well, not always, but it is harder to predict your next steps compared to others, but I like that little bit of uncertainty.” Stunned, Kellen shifted so he could lean back and stare at the older man’s face.

Scanning his features, he found that he wasn’t lying.

He really was predicting the future at all times.  “Did you…basically just admit to seeing the future?

And let’s not forget that, ‘yeah, I guess I do turn back time to make myself sane’ part either.

What?

Oh my god, that’s crazy.” Kellen was shocked, and Rhys grinned.  “No one has ever phrased it that way, but yes, I guess I did.” He shrugged, as if he hadn’t just dropped a huge bomb into Kellen’s lap.  “Wait.

Wait wait wait.

How often do you have to reset yourself?

And how do you even know how to do that?

How the fuck are you never drained?” Kellen demanded and Rhys chuckled, his grip tightening on the Guide who wasn’t shocked in the normal sense, but worried about him.

Kellen was worried about Rhys.  “I’ve always had a monstrous pool to pull from, even for an S Class, but no one really talks about that once you get over A Class.

The fact that you’re even able to keep up with me when I use my powers in a testament to how compatible we are.

I’d say…when I’m actively using my powers, I reset once every 5-7 days, give or take.

Nothing major, and my passive use barely causes me any issues.

It’s also subconscious.

I have to think about not doing it.” He told Kellen with a smile, and Kellen was once again overwhelmed by this S Class Esper who had so solidly staked a claim on his heart.  “No wonder you’re so good at ordering others around.

You’ve already seen how everything is going to go, and have selected the best method.

Holy crap.” Kellen’s wide eyes, and slightly opened mouth forced Rhys to look away from his face, just so he didn’t smother the man in kisses.

They were having a serious conversation, and he could wait.

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to Kellen’s collarbone.  “Sometimes.

Whenever you or I are involved, my predictions get a little wonky.

I can’t see my own future decisions, and since we are so closely intertwined, that now means I can’t see yours either.

It was a bitch on the front lines, but it was also a clear sign to me that you were someone important to me.” Kellen froze.

What?  “You knew from your powers that I was an important person to you?” Kellen sounded incredulous to his own ears, but he couldn’t help it.

That was a crazy statement to make.

And so casually, at that.  “Crazy, right?

I didn’t know what it meant in the beginning.

It took me about three years to realise that it might mean you were my pair, but it took another year before I finally came around to it.

Of course, not because I didn’t think you were worth it, quite the opposite.

You seemed to enjoy your job so much that I didn’t want to upset your peace.” His smile was slightly bitter for a moment.

Kellen swallowed thickly.

Oh.  “Until I started talking about going back to the city?” Kellen suggested and his grip tightened for a moment, before he relaxed.  “Yes.

You’d be out of my sight there, and I worried someone else was going to catch your attention.

You had been single for a long time on the front lines.

I worried someone in the city would take advantage of your kindness.

I mean, I wasn’t above it given the state I was in, but I didn’t want some other lowlife to do what I was going to do.

I already felt like shit, I didn’t want to be just like them.” Kellen frowned.  “Rhys, you aren’t-” He covered Kellen’s mouth with his hand, his eyes serious.  “Do not defend me.

You have no idea what thoughts were going through my head.

Trust me when I tell you, I was like every other dirty, no good Esper garbage out there when I was worried you were going to leave my sight.

Hill and Gunther ended up extracting my feelings for you from me on threats of tying me down and sedating me.

All the futures beyond telling them the truth told me that they meant it.” Kellen felt his hands go clammy.

If he was that serious about it, he truly did begin to worry about what he had planned.  “I guess I should be grateful that they forced you to admit your feelings then.

I’m curious though, what were their solutions?

Neither one of them approached me trying to change my mind about my decision.” Kellen told him, and Rhys chuckled, his grip loosening at Kellen’s calm acceptance.  “For one, I believe they tried to get closer to you, but that wasn’t too hard.

You’re a very kind man, and you were already friends with Hill.

It was just on Gunther to get closer to you.

Then, they began forming the Field Guide Department.

I believe you’re aware that the position was always meant to be yours, and Gunther made sure it was by the books so that you couldn’t say no on that principle.

He also began visiting Guiding Center B with lots of our Espers, scoping out the place you were planning to work.

He put in a lot of leg work to learn everything he could so that he could tempt you professionally to come to our Guild.” Rhys’ eyes dipped to a brighter, more alarming shade of yellow.

“If I didn’t know Gunther had another in his heart, I would have worried he was after you.” He muttered.

Kellen couldn’t help it, in the face of such blatant jealousy, he laughed.  “Gunther has someone he likes?

I never knew.” Rhys gave him a look that told him that he didn’t believe a word Kellen said.

Kellen grinned at the man, watching as his eyes slowly shifted colour again.  “For some reason, I don’t trust you when you say that, Kellen.” His tone was light, and Kellen shook his head, still smiling.  “Well, I might have noticed something, but I’m not sure so I’m not going to say anything about it.

Besides, people are allowed to have their private life, and secrets.

It’s not like they hurt the Guild.” Rhys’ smile spread slowly, and he chuckled.

He gave Kellen a squeeze.  “You’re right about that.

At least for now.

I don’t know for how much longer it won’t affect the Guild though.

Especially after Gunther’s most recent outburst.” Kellen frowned.  “The one in the cafeteria?” He asked, and Rhys shook his head.  “No, there was one in the conference room a week ago you didn’t witness.

It was between him and another Esper, one Casper was in charge of.

Brent had to take over, and I know how great of a Guide he is, but they are both reaching their limits.

I could turn Casper sideways and blow him away.

That is probably what led to his outburst, but neither will admit it.” He sighed, the soft moment taking a serious tone.

“I’m going to have to call in favours soon, but I also know that the other Guild’s are drained of resources and people.

Especially after today.” Kellen hated seeing him even slightly hopeless.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB It’s great to see them have time to chat and hang out with each other.