(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 212

Chapter 212: Bringing the light back to their eyes Chapter 212: Bringing the light back to their eyes “What on earth?” Rhys muttered as he pushed the trolly into the room, confusion on his face.

Kellen closed his eyes, his cheeks pink.  “This…seems to be working to calm Mom down.” She was smiling as she met Rhys’ gaze.

“If you want, you can take a seat first, and then Kellen can sit in your lap.

I’m strong enough.” She said with a cheeky grin, and Rhys shook his head, a smile on his lips.  “I feel I will only take you up on that when we are drinking, Eleanor.

Kellen, are you comfy?” Rhys asked deceptively easily, but Kellen felt the alarm bells screaming in the back of his mind.

He tensed in his Mother’s lap and she chuckled.  “Uh, should I not be?

She’s my Mom.” Kellen muttered, and Brent suppressed a snort.

Rhys slid his gaze towards Kellen’s confused face, before his expression relaxed and he sighed.  “Hmm, fair enough.

I’ll let it pass for now.” He said calmly, and Kellen glanced at Brent who was bent at the waist, his shoulder’s shaking.

Kellen’s Mom pressed her lips against his ear.  “You should go hug him.

He’s sulking.” Rhys, who had been unpacking the trolly, froze as he heard Kellen’s Mom whisper.

Kellen’s shoulders shook at the way Rhys looked at her.

Such pure betrayal in his gaze.  “I am not sulking.” He said calmly, but Kellen noticed how his eyes shook.

He did his best to contain his laughter as he looked over the man in his Captain uniform.

Kellen couldn’t describe the feeling that welled inside of him, but it was clear he was showing it on his face as the Captain’s face turned red.  “Come here Rhys.” Kellen said, and as if he moved as if he was being pulled towards Kellen.

“Pick me up.” Kellen said, and Rhys glanced at Kellen’s Mom, before scoping Kellen out of his Mom’s lap.

Kellen wrapped his arms around Rhys’ shoulders, placing his head against his shoulder with a sigh.

He was more than happy to comfort his Mom, it was not a burden, but being able to get comfort from the Captain?

Kellen had never even dreamed he’d be in the situation he was in currently.

Having the Captain all for his own?

Kellen was sure he was going to have to share the Captain for the rest of his life.

He’d have to hide his feelings for- Kellen blinked, stunned at the sudden realisation that somewhere, deep within himself, he had known what these feelings had been.

He’d just buried them.  ‘Kellen?

You suddenly stiffened.

Is everything alright?

I’m not hurting your wound?” Rhys asked, concern clearly in his voice and Kellen relaxed.

He hadn’t even realised he’d gone stiff in his arms.  “Oh, no.

That’s fine.

I just realised that I liked you a lot when I was younger, Captain.” Kellen smiled up at him cheekily, and watched as Rhys’ jaw dropped and his face went red.  “W-What made you think about that right this moment?” Rhys asked, his lips trembling as Kellen pressed his face against his neck.

Kellen inhaled his scent, and sighed.  “I just had a thought that I never expected that we’d be like this.

And when I thought that, I realised that I thought I was going to have to share you forever.

So, the only logical conclusion I could come to was that I had liked you for a very long time, and a lot.” Kellen said.

He didn’t care if the other three in the room heard him.

They were family, and Brent was as good as.  “Uh, um, oh fuck.” Rhys whispered, and Kellen felt him gulp.

Kellen laughed.  “Are you alright?” Kellen asked softly, and felt Rhys’ grip tighten on his thighs.

Kellen did his best not to wince.  “I am so fucking happy right now.” Rhys admitted.

“And I feel guilty for that.”  “Don’t feel guilty.” Kellen’s Mom spoke up from behind Kellen.

“His Dad will feel bad for missing this, but that’s okay.

We’ve missed quite a bit of your relationship developments.

I think that will change moving into the future.” Her voice was laughing, full of happiness, and it soothed something in everyone in the room.

“So, Kellen, when did you two decide to make it official?

And how come we didn’t receive a message?” Kellen froze, and Brent’s laughter filled the air.  “Uh, in my defense, I was in the middle of telling Dad when the attack happened.” Kellen said, beginning to sweat.

“And it’s only been a few days.” Kellen admitted.  “A few days?

And you’ve made this progress?

So?

Tell the truth.

How long have you liked the Captain?

I did find it suspicious how quickly you decided to jump into a pair contract with him, high compatibility or otherwise.” Kellen should have known that all the attention would have gone to him.  But he had just been so happy to have the Captain in his life that he had to open his damn mouth.  “Kellen told me that he’s liked me since he was a teen.” The Captain said proudly.

Kellen now was hiding his face in the Captain’s neck.

His Dad had made the connections, he was worried his Mom would do the same thing.

“It was…quite cute to hear that.

I had…some inclination that Kellen liked me a little bit on the front lines, but nothing concrete.

He kept running away after he would hit on me.”  “You hit on him?” Gwen burst out, before she sat back in her chair, covering her mouth as her face flushed.

She had been there since she set up the kettle.

Quiet.

Out of the way.

Hoping no one would notice her.

“Sorry, that was really loud.” She muttered, while Brent’s shoulders shook with his laughter.

So did his Mom’s shoulders.  “Running away?

Kellen, I taught you better.” She teased easily, her eyes slowly gaining their light back the more they talked about Kellen’s love life.

It was a small sacrifice if it meant that she wasn’t haunted by what happened today for a little bit.  “I…he’s five years older than me.” Kellen muttered.

“And I was fresh faced, new to being a Field Guide, and he’s a fucking Captain.

I know when to pick my battles.” Kellen muttered.

“And they weren’t even good.” Rhys laughed softly, giving Kellen a gentle squeeze before he moved towards the trolly again.

He slowly pushed it further into the room with his foot before nodding, and sitting down with Kellen in his lap.  Kellen could tell he was gloating that he’d ended up with Kellen in his lap instead of his Mom.

Kellen did his best not to laugh at him.

Getting jealous of his Mom?

That was adorable.  “He was pretty bad at it.” Rhys said, and Kellen immediately regretted not laughing at him.

Loudly.

Basically causing a scene.

“He always would say something along the lines of ‘would you like to come view the contract alone?’ Or, ‘Captain, I need some work on my form, would you come help me?’ As far as flirting went, it was so bad it was pretty fucking cute.” Rhys’ voice held a hint of amusement, and affection.

Kellen refused to look up at him, knowing damn well that Rhys would be grinning down at him foolishly.

Kellen felt he was the colour of a tomato.  Brent’s whole body was shaking with laughter.  “Kellen!

I thought I taught you better than that!” Kellen wished that there was something nearby that he could throw at him.  “You weren’t on the front lines by then, Brent!

This was before you!” Kellen protested, and Brent shook his head.  “Did his attempts get better after I arrived?” Brent asked, curious, and Rhys took a moment to think.  “Hmm.

There was one time after you arrived that he…Did you intentionally spill water on yourself?” The Captain asked, and Kellen shook as both Gwen and Brent laughed.

Kellen pushed his head up, flushed, embarrassed, and wanting to move away from this awkward interaction.  “I-It was not intentional!” Rhys stared down at Kellen, his eyes narrow.  “Hmm, then I can’t give you credit for that one.

It was a good one too.

Your clothes normally cling to you like a second skin, but it was…it was good.

I would have given you an A+ ranking on that if it had been a true seduction.” Rhys sighed wistfully, almost sounding disappointed in Kellen.

Brent snorted.  “We’ll have to work on it then.” He suggested, and the Captain held up his hand.  “Oh no, he’s fine now.

I promise.

If he gets any better, I’m going to be in trouble.” Rhys said, and Brent blinked.  “Wait, has Kellen been seducing you since?” He asked, and Kellen’s lips firmed into a straight line as Rhys’ grin grew a little wicked.  “Oh Brent, he hasn’t said anything?” Rhys asked, and Brent gasped, covering his mouth.  “You little bitch!

Have you been keeping things from me?” Brent demanded, and Kellen felt like he had lost.

What?

He wasn’t sure, but he had lost it.  “I, well, a fucking coffee shop isn’t the best place to discuss things.

And you two ambushed me!” Kellen protested, and Rhys’ shoulders shook.  “Ambushed?

Ah, was it Brent and…Hill?” He suggested and Kellen nodded.  “Yeah.

You two got me in trouble with Taylor.” Kellen added, and Brent’s eyes widened.  “Why would you be in trouble with Taylor?

She’s your best friend.” Kellen opened his mouth to say that Taylor was his best friend, but Brent already beat him to it.

Flushing, he closed his mouth and wasn’t sure what to say next.

Everyone laughed.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Just a little bit of happiness in all of this sadness.