(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Tucked away out of everyone’s sight Chapter 196: Tucked away out of everyone’s sight There were several people in line ahead of him, and Kellen wasn’t one to bud in line.

So, he waited.

And waited.

As the receptionists stuttered and stumbled over their words, their gazes darted to where Kellen stood waiting his turn.

What could have been a few minutes turned into several, and Kellen wondered if that was the plan.

Make Kellen feel like he was wasting his time.  Eventually, he got to the front, and he smiled at the sweating, anxious receptionist who had to be a lower level Guide who had been eyeing him up the whole time.

Their hands were shaking as they placed them onto the keyboard in front of them.

Their eyes darted from the screen in front of their face, to Kellen’s, and back.  “W-What can I help you with?” They asked, and Kellen fought the chuckle wanting to escape.

He had several ideas as to why the Guide was shaking, but couldn’t hazard a guess to which one it was.

Shifting on his feet, Kellen leaned forward, leaning against the counter.  “Is your manager in?” He asked with a Guide smile, and watched as the receptionist swallowed.  “U-Uh, I think so.

Let me give them a call.” Fumbling with the phone, the receptionist raised it to their ear, shaking as they pressed a few buttons on the screen before them.

Kellen just waited, glancing around the large space as he did so.

He knew that this was going to be a hard one, especially since they had said no outright.  Finding a camera in the corner, Kellen smiled and gave it a wave.

He was sure that the manager, another A Class Guide, was watching him from there.

Especially after the receptionist typed in the panic code.  Kellen wasn’t an idiot, and he could see the reflection of the screen in the receptionist’s glasses.

It was a good thing that all Guiding Centers had the same code.

Uniformity could help in certain circumstances.  The receptionist hung up, looking even more nervous until the elevators to the left of them opened.

Out stepped a woman dressed in normal clothes, with only a small pin over her heart that dictated that she was someone who worked here.

She had long, blonde hair pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck, stylish, but classic jewelry on, and walked like a soldier.  Kellen could see he had found his escort.  “Guide Woods.

The manager is currently in a meeting, but if you’ll follow me I’ll take you to one of our visitor rooms to wait in until they are available.” Ah, so this was the angle they were going for.

Kellen checked his phone with a chuckle.

Well, he had some time to burn.

Let’s see what they were about.

Nodding, he turned towards his escort with a smile.  “How kind of you to offer me a place to wait outside of prying eyes.

I wouldn’t have minded waiting in the lobby like the others.” He offered, and watched as her mouth tensed.

If they left him waiting in the main lobby it would be clear that they were ignoring him.

If they took him to a separate room they could keep him for as long as they needed.

They might even have a guard on the door if they really wanted to fuck with him.  But Kellen hoped it wasn’t that kind of a situation.

He really did want to work with them.

A small game of wasting time wasn’t a big deal to him in the grand scheme of things.

Sure, he was tight on it, but it wasn’t as if they couldn’t work together in the future if this didn’t pan out.

Kellen would just have to do more research for the next time.  “We couldn’t let such a high Class Guide wait alone.

Did you not bring an escort?” She asked, and Kellen smiled.  “How flattering of you to say so, but I was barely a C Class Guide a month ago.

And I should be able to take care of myself just fine.” Kellen told her, and she nodded.

Her jaw was tense, and her movements were sharp.

She probably wasn’t used to doing this kind of job, and instead was used to kicking out unruly Espers who stepped out of line.

Most Guiding Centers had a few Espers around for such a job.

They were usually on loan from the D.E.C.  She, however, did not appear to be.

Kellen had a feeling he would recognise most Espers from the D.E.C.

in some capacity, but maybe he was being too generous with himself.

There were, after all, way more Espers than there were Guides in the world.

That and he had been away from the front lines for at least 6 months.  But, she was too well trained for his liking.

His theory?

She was from a different country and was probably the pair of one of the Guides working here.

Her hostility towards him could only allow for so much guessing.

An Esper wouldn’t normally care that much about another Guide, not the same way she was glaring at him whenever she got the chance.  “Well then, if you are agreeable, will you follow me, Guide Woods?” Kellen was sure he didn’t like her tone, but who was he to argue with her?

He’d play this game for as long as he could muster before he needed to head over to the Peach Guild.  Chuckling to himself, he followed her towards the elevators, aware that most eyes were on them.

He could feel the less the kind glares directed his way now that he had his back turned.

What on earth had happened for them to hate him so much?

~ She didn’t say anything as she escorted him to the fourth floor and into a corner unit.

It was clear that even though they had made some modifications, the guiding room layout was relatively the same.

The only difference?

Kellen had a feeling all rooms had a large, intimidating bed in them.

It didn’t bother Kellen, he wasn’t a prude in that sense, and he in fact sat on the bed as soon as he entered.  That only seemed to make his escort frown as he sat, smiling, with his arms crossed.  “So?

How long am I supposed to wait for?” He asked warmly, watching as now that she was only around him she didn’t control her contempt for him.  “Whenever the manager finishes their meeting.” She answered through gritted teeth, and Kellen chuckled.  “Alright.

Do you have a rough estimate?” He asked and watched as she clenched and unclenched her fists.  “No.”  “Oh?

Then would it be alright if I asked for some tea and snacks?” Kellen could tell his words were driving her insane, and it was amusing how much he enjoyed bothering her.  “There is tea and snacks in the room.

You are welcome to help yourself.

If you need anything, call the front desk.” She spun on her heel and stormed out.

Kellen waved to her.  “Thanks for bringing me here!” He called after her, and heard her loud noise of anger as the door closed.

He chuckled to himself.

Well, he hadn’t planned for this, but this might be a nice break.

He could work on some of the plans he had for the training of the Field Guides, answer some emails he had taken over for Casper and other Guild business.  He also messaged Rhys about what kind of treatment he had received when he arrived at the Guiding Center.  Almost immediately his phone began to ring.

Laughing, he answered.  “Hello?” “Do you want me to come get you?” Rhys’ voice was tense, and Kellen could tell he was angry from here.

He shook his head, smiling.  “No no.

It’s just some posturing.

Just some cute things between Guides and Guiding Centers.

I’m sure nothing bad will come of it.

I promise.

I’ll probably just be here for a few hours, I’ll get some work done, and then I’ll leave for the Peach Guild for a quick visit, and then pop over to Guiding Center D around noon.

That’s when they’re expecting me.” Kellen told him cheerfully, and Rhys sighed on the other end.  “I don’t like this.” Rhys muttered.

“But I trust your judgment.

Call me or text me if you need anything.

I’ll be there in a heartbeat.” Rhys promised, and Kellen laughed.  “Alright.

Have a good day at work.

I’ll see you when I get back.” Kellen told him before he heard the Captain’s lips against the phone.

His cheeks flamed.  “I miss you already.” Rhys said mournfully, before he hung up.

Kellen turned the phone so that he could stare at it, wondering if he had indeed heard what he thought he had.

No.

The Captain wasn’t…that cheesy, was he?  Flushed, and now a little hot, Kellen got to his feet in the room and took off his jacket, draping it on the bed next to him.

He then took a second to take in his surroundings.  It was about the same size as his previous office, which made sense.

They were a Guiding Center.

Kellen was just surprised by how much they were able to fit in here.

Each guiding room had to have a window for escape reasons, or calling for help if the situation arose.  Inside of the small space, where the door to enter the room was on the right hand side of the room upon entering, they had made a small hallway so that they could fit a bathroom into the room for privacy reasons.

There was also the large bed Kellen was sitting on, and across from it a dresser and a t.v.

A small desk was pressed against the window with a rolling chair and several notepads and other assorted papers and things that one would normally find in an office.  Kellen had a feeling if he opened any of the drawers he’d find the same kind of stuff the Captain had scolded him for carrying around.  Kellen sighed, glancing around the room.

Kellen didn’t want to admit it, but this was basically a love hotel.

It was exactly as some of the Esper’s he had guided on the front lines had described it as.

That didn’t demean it in his eyes, but it was a hard image to erase.

If they wanted to erase it.  It did make him slightly uncomfortable, but being a Guide was an uncomfortable thing.

There were many regular civilians who viewed Guides as basically prostitutes.

Kellen couldn’t fault them for it either.

Just because he hadn’t had anything more intimate than skin on skin contact with anyone but the Captain didn’t mean that he couldn’t have done more.  It just wasn’t efficient to do so.  Plus, who was he to judge how others did their jobs?

As long as no one got hurt, and everyone was consenting, he was going to keep his mouth shut.

It wasn’t his way, but that was fine.  Tapping his foot, Kellen pulled out his phone and set to work.

He also set a timer for an hour, and decided that if they hadn’t seen him then, or even checked on him by then, he might stir the pot slightly.

Nothing crazy, just enough to annoy them.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Rhys was ready to fly into a rage.