(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Taylor’s spidey senses are tingling Chapter 260: Taylor’s spidey senses are tingling Kellen and Brent were a little late getting to their last class, and Brent had to leave part way through for a guiding session, but everything went smoothly.

The last class went off without a hitch, the evening ended well, the last few of Kellen’s guiding sessions went well, and Kellen made his way towards the Medical Bay for his monitored guiding session with the Captain.  Kellen felt a little stronger with his leg today.

The cream had worn off at some point in the late afternoon, but Kellen didn’t mind.

He didn’t feel as unstable, and having to walk to the door to answer it for his Mom had proven that to him.  He wanted to stop in and see if his Mom and Dad were doing okay, and if his Dad had liked his gifts, but he could do that after.

He didn’t want to leave Taylor and the Captain alone for too long.  Not because he was worried that the two of them didn’t get along, but because they were both very busy people.  Kellen knocked and before he could open the door, someone else was opening it.

It was Taylor, who looked exhausted, but still happy.

The deep dark circles under her eyes told him that much, but her eyes were bright.  “I heard from Pamela that you have several temporary Guides in the works?” She asked as she stepped back, letting him enter the room.

Kellen chuckled.  “Yes.

A few, at the very least.

They all agreed to the contracts I sent to their Guiding Centers too, so they are aware that if they do anything like the last Guides we are allowed to take whatever actions we deem appropriate.” Taylor’s gaze widened slightly before she laughed.  “Hmm, why do I feel like that’s in really tiny fine print?” She teased and Kellen laughed.

He glanced over at Rhys, who was already here and topless.

He looked like everything was okay, but Kellen had a feeling that he was going to be messed up inside today.  “Maybe because you know me well?” He replied and Taylor smiled at him, her eyes warm.  “Yes, I do.

Which is why I know it was you who sent your Dad Casper and that other little twig.

Why didn’t you call me when you brought him in?

I had to hear about him from one of my people?” She sounded hurt and Kellen frowned.  “Taylor, you run this place.

Why would I always go to the head honcho for something like a checkup?” She narrowed her gaze, before gesturing around the room.

He flushed.

“T-This is different!

This also relates to the Captain of the Guild’s health, so of course you would be involved!

But for a regular Guide?” He looked away, a little embarrassed.

“Plus, I didn’t want to bother you.

You were probably doing something important, or sleeping, and you need both.” Kellen’s cheeks were warm as he looked over at his friend.  Taylor was frowning at him, her hands on her hips.

Her hair was in a messy bun, she looked like she needed three pots of coffee, and even her frame was slightly thinner than it should be.

She needed her rest, she needed a good meal, and she needed a good guiding session.  Kellen hated that he couldn’t give her two of the three things she needed most urgently.  “Kellen, just because-” “And you saved my Dad.” Kellen said and she shut her mouth, her lips firm.

“So, yeah, I’m going to let you rest if I can.

You’re still in the process of saving my Dad.

Don’t think that you’re free from payment just because the Captain pays you a salary.

You already know that both Dad and I are going to hound you for years to come for this.” Her pale face flushed with colour at Kellen’s words.  They weren’t supposed to be a threat, but maybe they had the energy of one.  “It was my job.” Kellen nodded.  “And you did an exceptional job.” Her lips firmed again.  “Honestly, no, I didn’t.

If I had more time, more access to a Guide, I could have-” She shut her mouth.

“No, I’m not going to say that.

No one is at fault besides those fuckers who betrayed us.

I am not going to make you feel bad.” She muttered, more to herself then to Kellen.

Kellen chuckled.  “I don’t feel bad for disciplining them.

I feel bad for not demanding that I take over getting more Guides into the Guild and instead letting the overworked Casper keep it on his plate.” Taylor seemed relieved at Kellen’s words.  “Oh thank goodness.

I was worried that my words were putting pressure on you.” Kellen shook his head.  “No.

Something like that wouldn’t.” Kellen thought back to his embarrassing moment with the stairs and cleared his throat.

No.

There were other things that would put pressure on him, but Taylor’s words weren’t on that list.

He knew that she didn’t mean them in a way to belittle him.

She also knew how hard it was to recruit others.

She ran her own department.

“Do you need help undressing?” Rhys’ voice piped up from nearby and Kellen froze.

Oh, he was in a hurry.

Shit.  “Oh, uh-” “Yes, Captain.

Help Kellen undress and I’ll get the session started.

Hill already told me that you’re leaving a little early today.” Her eyes narrowed.

“You don’t seem unwell on a physical level…” Her tone held a warning and Rhys, who had been getting up from his chair, froze.  He closed his eyes for a moment before he chuckled.  “Kellen is going to help me with it.” Rhys told her and she made a loud humming noise.

Kellen felt his face warm as Taylor left his side and moved to the monitoring station.  “He can’t fix everything.

I’m also in the group chat that everyone else is in.” Kellen wasn’t in the group chat.

He wasn’t bitter.

“So I am aware you went to go speak to Gunther today.

You said you were going to.

Did you find out what hurt him?

He won’t let a Healer near him to fix it.” Rhys’ expression dipped and he suddenly looked exhausted.  Kellen, who had been a few steps away from him even with his cane, hustled closer just to be near him as he relieved the moment.

He was not okay.

There was no way he could be, given everything going on.  “Hey, focus on me.” Kellen told him quietly, and Rhys raised his yellow gaze up, meeting Kellen’s gaze.

He looked like a wounded animal.  When Rhys didn’t say anything, or wasn’t able to, Kellen took up the reins.

Yes, he knew Gunther, and they had worked together on the front lines, but this wasn’t destroying him from the inside out like it was for Rhys.  “Gunther has…some psychological issues that up until now, were not obvious.

They’ve become a glaring issue now, and Rhys is beating himself up over having not realised it before this moment.” Taylor’s eyes widened.  “Oh.

Oh no.

How bad?” Kellen made a face as he looked up at Rhys.  “Bad, I would say.

Very bad.

Taylor, very very bad.

Childhood, bad.” Taylor pulled air in through her teeth, her face showing off how awful Kellen’s words made her feel.  “Oh no.

I’m so sorry Captain.

Let me know if there is anything I can do.” Rhys chuckled.  “For now, I want to get this guiding session done, visit Kellen’s parents, and then go home and drink.” Taylor gave him a salute, which he gave her a glare for, and she smiled.  “Understood, sir.

Kellen, you heard the man.

Take off your clothes.” Taylor was at least having fun, and her joyful attitude was helping Rhys too.

He let out an annoyed exhale, but when he met Kellen’s gaze again, he seemed a little lighter.  “Green, you told me to help him.

How is he supposed to listen when you give both of us conflicting orders?

Should I put you on bedrest too?” His tone was serious, but Kellen saw the small spark in his eyes.

Taylor’s jaw dropped as Kellen laughed.  “Don’t tease her with your tone like that.

You’re too serious.” Kellen told him and Rhys chuckled, pulling Kellen forward by the leather straps across his chest.  “Who are you to tell me how to treat my Guild members?” He demanded and Kellen felt his eyes widen at the serious way that Rhys looked at him.  “Uh, I’m your pair?” Kellen replied and a bright smile touched Rhys’ lips before he bent forward and pressed a kiss against Kellen’s lips.  “That’s right.” Rhys murmured against Kellen’s lips before pulling away and getting to work undressing him.

Kellen’s head was spinning from the sudden change, and when he glanced over at Taylor, she was flushed.

“So, Kellen, you can tell me off whenever you want, as long as you give me a reward after.” His eyes danced, and Kellen was having mixed feelings about this.  On one hand, he was happy that Rhys, even if he was faking it, was back to a version of himself that felt normal.

On the other hand, this was the Rhys he had the most difficult time managing.

Playful Rhys?  He was a force Kellen had a hard time predicting what he was going to do next.  “Why a reward?

Not everything needs a reward, Captain.” Kellen felt his lips move, the words coming out and watched as Rhys pouted.  “But I like rewards.” Rhys said, and Kellen didn’t know what to say in return.  “Like, candy or star stickers or something?” Kellen offered, and Rhys threw his head back and laughed.

He pulled the straps off of Kellen, his fingers dipping to Kellen’s waist and Kellen flinched when they slid under the edge of his skin tight top.  “Sure, sure.

We can go with star stickers.

If I fill up a whole month of them, do I get to make a demand because I had such good behaviour?” Kellen wanted to yell at Taylor for telling Rhys to undress him because he was frozen with a sweet, seductive Captain running his hands up his body.  “W-Who said you could go a full month with good behaviour?

I don’t think you could last a week.” Kellen told him, and Rhys narrowed his eyes.

He leaned forward until their lips brushed.  “Get those stickers, Kellen, and we’ll see who’s right at the end, hmm?” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Kellen keeps making these damn deals with Rhys without learning his lesson.