(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Don’t worry, the world will catch up soon Chapter 213: Don’t worry, the world will catch up soon The evening passed quickly after everyone had had their fill of laughing at Kellen.

Kellen was flustered, but when he noticed that his Mom wasn’t staring at the room his Dad was lying still in, he quickly shut up and dealt with it.  Gwen was as awkward as ever, and quiet as well.

It was odd for her, and even Brent, who was not that familiar with her, noticed.

He didn’t point it out, but he looked at Kellen before glancing at Gwen.

Kellen shrugged.  There was nothing he could do if she kept avoiding him.  Eventually, while still in the Captain’s lap, Kellen felt drowsiness overtake him.

When he yawned, it was like everyone panicked.  “Are you tired?

Are you okay?

Anything we can do?” Brent asked, and Kellen’s eyes widened at the sudden switch.

Kellen’s Mom wasn’t any better.  “Do I need to call Taylor?

Is this normal?” His Mom’s eyes were vibrating, she was so anxious.

The Captain wasn’t helping the situation.  “I’ll call her right now.

Did your wound open up?” He pulled out his phone and Kellen was the one who slammed his hand down on his phone screen, covering it completely.

The Captain stared at the man in his arms, almost offended that he’d covered his phone.

Kellen, however, was upset that the three of them had gone off the deep end.

“I’m just naturally tired, everyone.

I lost a lot of blood, I’m recovering from a gunshot.

It’s normal behaviour.

No one needs to panic.

Maybe we should call Taylor, but just because I want to make sure that I’m okay to go back to my apartment.” Kellen said calmly, soothingly, trying to bring the energy down in the room.  Gwen was the only one who hadn’t overreacted.

At least, he had thought so.  “I messaged Taylor.

She’s on her way.” She said, and Kellen turned to stare at her.

She had been avoiding him all night, but now she was going to step in?

Gwen avoided his gaze, as if she knew how upset he was that she’d messaged Taylor.

Their Mom sighed, her hand resting over her heart.  “Thank goodness.

I just won’t feel better about this until Taylor comes and checks on him.” She said, and Brent nodded.

He sat with his arms crossed a chair down from Kellen and the Captain, closer to Kellen’s Mom.

Gwen sat closer to the door, a chair away from Kellen and the Captain on the other side.

Brent glanced towards Gwen again, before shaking his head with a sigh.  “It’s been hours since she’s checked on you.

I know she’s busy given everything that’s been going on since you were shot, but she should have checked on you sooner.” All of the others in the room agreed with Brent’s words, and Kellen groaned.  “If she’s so busy, she probably trusted that you lot would call her if something happened.

She’s not an idiot, and one of you is a Field Guide with field medic training, one of you is a ‘retired’ Esper, the other is a new recruit into the Guild, and the last one is the freaking Captain of said Guild that she works for.

If you couldn’t figure something out before calling her, I think she’d be more upset.” Kellen chastised them, clearly angry at them for trying to gang up on Taylor when she wasn’t even here.

And when she was busy.  There was a soft chuckle from the doorway as the door was pushed open and Taylor entered.

She looked exhausted, and her hair which was normally in a ponytail was actually in a bun.

She had deep circles under her eyes, and Kellen immediately gasped.  “Taylor, my god, are you alright?” Kellen went to push himself out of the Captain’s arms, but the Captain wouldn’t let him.  “You are in no state to be guiding anyone.

Neither are you, Guide Jameson.” The Captain’s voice was firm, harsh, and had both of the Field Guides backing down.

Taylor chuckled even more.

She shook her head, her blue eyes tried, but she made her way towards Kellen.

She must have picked up the clipboard from his room on the way since she had it in her hand.  “Thank you for stopping them, Captain Thatcher.

I was afraid I was going to have a Casper situation on my hands.” Kellen winced.

He’d just lectured Casper about treating his body carefully, and here he was.  My, how the tables had turned.  “Casper wasn’t taking care of himself.

I was shot.

Those are different things.” Kellen muttered, slightly annoyed and Taylor snorted.  “Hmm, I’m not sure?

Are they?

Casper nearly rushed over here when he heard you’d been injured, but I had to use my Esper voice on him to keep him at his apartment.

You should send him a text before you head to bed just to make him feel better.

He’d like to hear from it you.” Kellen nodded, feeling bad for him.

He’d sentenced Casper to his apartment without knowing this was going to happen.  Hell, he wasn’t sure who could have predicted this happening.  “I uh, forgot to ask, but how is everything looking outside of the Guild right now?” Kellen asked, and the room fell silent.

Brent gave Kellen a look he couldn’t interpret, and so did Taylor.

The slight squeeze from the Captain had Kellen glancing back at him.  “We can discuss that when I take you to your apartment, alright?

You’re already tired, and I’d rather you be tucked into bed before we speak about it.

It’s…long and boring.” The Captain said, but Kellen got the sneaking suspicion that wasn’t the case.

Kellen glanced at his Mom, looked around the room, and then narrowed his eyes at the Captain.  “Did Mom kill someone?” He asked, and his Mom started coughing.  “W-Why is that what you assumed?” She demanded, and Kellen crossed his arms.  “Well, he offered you his apartment, you’re here, kinda like you’re hiding, and you were apologising a lot earlier.

It was unusual for you, so I’m just making what I consider the next logical jump.

Obviously it would be in revenge, which has some interesting legal ramifications, but you’re also an Esper, and Rene would likely want to defend you.

I was just tossing it out there to see how you reacted.” Kellen shrugged again, and both Brent and Taylor burst into laughter, while Kellen’s Mom gave him an almost wounded look.  “You see me as a murderer?” Kellen stared at his Mom, before glancing at the man who held him in his arms.  “Mom, I’d do the same thing.

We’re family.

I’m not going to say that I didn’t get it from Dad, but…” Gwen snorted, and covered her mouth.  “Uh, I second that.” She said and his Mom sighed, shaking her head.  “I’ve raised two monsters.” She muttered, but even though she said the words, her facial expression was relaxed.

Calm.

Like she was proud that either one of them would try to defend their partners.

“No, Kellen, I didn’t kill anyone.” That didn’t sound like no one killed someone.

Kellen already knew the fucker killed themselves, but was someone else injured?

“Well, everything seems to be okay from my side.

Are you experiencing any pain?” Taylor’s voice cut through Kellen’s thoughts, and he turned his attention back to her.  “Just some slight pain, but nothing that isn’t manageable.

Am I alright to go back to my apartment?

Or do you want me to stay on this level still?” He asked carefully, making sure his gaze didn’t go to his Mom.

Taylor gave a soft, tired smile.

“It’s alright Kellen.

Go get some rest.

You probably have a big day tomorrow, what with being shot but still having to do all of your duties.

Get a good rest, and I mean it Captain Thatcher.

Do not keep him up late.” She warned, her gaze flashing green.

“Or I will punish you.” She warned, and Kellen swore he felt the Captain shiver.  “Warning has been heard and understood, Green.

You should take yourself up on your own advice.” He replied, and Taylor sighed.

She tucked the clipboard against her side, shifting on her feet until she was resting on her hip.  Kellen felt bad for calling her for such a simple check up.

She looked tired to her bones.

Worse than he’d ever seen her look before.  “Soon.

Soon I can take a rest and sleep for 20 hours.

But not yet.

I feel like coffee is my blood right now.

It’s actually nice to take a break and just talk to people instead of putting out fires.

Speaking of,” she turned to Gwen and pointed a finger at her.

“Gunther was looking for you earlier.

Did you punch another Esper in the face hard enough that I needed to be called?” Gwen went white, while the rest of them in the room stared at her, shocked.  Gwen turned her gaze away from Taylor, her expression grim.  “I…No comment.” Taylor groaned.  “Gwen!

Why on earth would you do that?

That wasn’t something I expected you to ever do.” Kellen, too, was surprised.

Gwen normally got along with everyone.

She was that kind of person.

She could make friends with the enemy.

She got it from their Dad.  Gwen’s expression darkened, and Kellen watched as she tightened her grip until her knuckles were white.  “I don’t want to talk about it.

I’m still angry.” Taylor took in her expression, and her physical reaction, before closing her eyes and sighing, shaking her head.  “Alright.

If you say so.

Gunther was just worried that something was wrong.

Go check in with him before he bothers me again.” She told the younger woman, and Gwen nodded.

Clearly, she was embarrassed that it had been brought up in front of everyone.

But what else was there to do?  It was clear to Kellen that she’d fully entered her rebellious phase.

Kellen was almost proud.

She hid it from them for a few hours?

This was a first.

Normally she got caught and reported on right away.

His little sister was growing up.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Thank you for reading!