(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 279

Chapter 279: I’ve got old faithful by my side Chapter 279: I’ve got old faithful by my side The two days before the press conference passed by with the blink of an eye.

Kellen’s head swam as he got dressed the morning of, his thigh mostly healed thanks to Taylor’s worry.  His Dad was doing much better than predicted, and Taylor had a bit of relief from the Guides that Guiding Center B sent without Kellen’s permission.  Of course, he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when it was people he’d already worked with.

If they were going to betray him, they should have done it when it would have benefitted them back at the guiding center.

That, and the manager had sent over their background checks from when they had first been hired.  Obviously, things could have changed between now and then, but it was a nice gesture.  It was also nice to see the bubbly, happy face of Gabby, since the last time he’d seen her she’d been unconscious and injured by a surged Esper.

It did surprise him however, to see Guide Howard following after the happy Gabby.

He was still as stern and sour-faced as ever, but Kellen had been genuinely happy to see him.

Along with his companion, Moira, who was all soft smiles and calm energy.  It had honestly felt like forever since he had seen them, and from the way that Gabby and Moira hugged him, they felt the same way.  “Guide Woods!

It is so good to see you!” Gabby had exclaimed, her eyes warm as she looked him over, holding onto his arms as she scanned him.

She frowned when she got to the cane, but quickly wiped it from her face.

“It is also nice to finally be able to thank you for all of your help.

You cannot imagine how grateful I was for what you did.

Thank you so much.” Gabby’s words had been sincere, and Kellen had felt his heart squeeze.  “I did nothing that no one else wouldn’t have done.” Kellen had told her, and it was Guide Howard who had cleared his throat.  “No, Guide Woods, you did not.

It was very brave of you, and we are all very appreciative of what you have done.

I am glad that it turned out well for you, and you were able to find your pair.

Helping out your new home is the least we can do.” Kellen had felt emotional hearing that from Guide Howard of all people, and he’d had a fun time catching up on the little drama that had happened in the Guiding Center while he’d been away.  Apparently a few of the Guides had been caught in one of the empty rooms ‘doing higher level guiding’ with an Esper.

It was a quiet, and honestly, cute scandal compared to the things that Kellen was dealing with.  Especially today.  A set of arms wrapped around him from behind, giving him a squeeze as they pressed a kiss against his exposed neck.  “How is my Guide doing this morning?” Rhys asked softly and Kellen sighed, leaning back against his chest, into his warmth.  “Can I be honest?” Kellen asked and Rhys’ grip tightened slightly.  “Always.” He replied quickly, a little too quickly, and Kellen felt his lips turn up slightly.  “I’m nervous, and angry, and worried that people aren’t going to listen to me.

It feels like there is a brick in the center of my chest just pressing down on everything inside of me.

I am just…so angry.

I kind of want them to shoot at me, just to show everyone that I’m stronger, that I’m better than them.

Is that…weird?” Kellen asked carefully.  They hadn’t spoken about the what ifs.

At least, not to each other.

Kellen knew that he was a touchy subject to Rhys, and didn’t want to agitate him.

He knew that probably wasn’t the best way to go about this, but it was all he knew.

He would rather keep the peace, then disturb it.  At least in his own home.  “Oh sweetheart.” Rhys murmured.

“Of course, I would rather that you don’t get injured.

It’s the whole reason that Green healed your wound a little bit more after all the healing it’s been doing on its own.

But I also understand wanting to put others in their place, Kellen.

It’s not as if I came upon my manifestation in a normal way.” Rhys pressed another kiss against Kellen’s neck, not allowing Kellen to see his face.

“I understand wanting to prove to the others that you’re stronger than you appear.” He sighed.

“I just wish you didn’t have to anymore.”  Kellen placed his hands on top of Rhys’ over his stomach and gave them a squeeze.

Rhys was far more understanding about this than Kellen had assumed.

Although, Rhys also wasn’t letting Kellen look at his face.  “What do you mean?” Kellen asked carefully and Rhys sighed again, He cuddled up against Kellen as they stood in the closet.

Kellen had a lot of parts to put on today, since he was going dressed as a Field Guide.

It made more sense for him to do it in the closet, and he also liked that he had an area that was just for changing.  “Well, I had hoped that once you became my pair you wouldn’t have to worry about the stupid bullshit that most Espers like to enter into.

The pissing contests, the posturing, all of that.

Though, I am learning that you are rather good at it.” Kellen turned his head, grinning cheekily as Rhys stared at him.  “Yeah.

I had to be, but I apparently have a knack for it.

I think it’s my Dad, since both Gwen and I are pretty good at it.” Kellen told him and Rhys pressed his forehead against Kellen’s other shoulder.  “Damn it.

I don’t want to let you go into danger.” Rhys muttered and Kellen felt his heart swell with affection for the man.

He was only saying that he didn’t want to, not that he was going to prevent Kellen from going.  It was a big thing, especially since he was an S Class.

Though Kellen believed that Rhys should let him do what he wanted, as he was his own person, that didn’t mean that Kellen was a monster and wasn’t going to acknowledge that Rhys was taking great steps to let Kellen be who he was.

Rhys wouldn’t have liked him if Kellen was one of those softer Guides like his Dad.  At least, he was pretty sure.  “I’ll have a lot of protection.

Esper Blake is going to be there, along with several other Espers from the Guilds who can create shields as well.

You’re also going to be there, just out of the public’s sight, and I have my old faithful by my side as well.” Kellen reached for the shelf where he kept all of his guns tucked away safely and pulled out his favourite compact gun.

“See?

And she’s well taken care of.

I made sure that there was nothing wrong with her.

If someone fires at me, she’s going to fire back.

Plus, I’m wearing a bulletproof vest, and my normal Field Guide clothes.

Even if someone interferes, unless they aim for my head, I’m not dying.

Not without a damn fight.” Rhys let out a shaky breath.  “I don’t want you to die.

Period.” He muttered sadly and Kellen patted his hands again.  “I have no intention to do that either.

I’m just trying to soothe you, Rhys.

I have a lot of protection.

No one is going to let me die.

You know that because we have Sakura being the face for the other Guilds this time that she’s going to grab me and push me to the ground first, right?” Rhys jerked his head in a nod, his face still buried into Kellen’s shoulder.  ‘I know, I just…I hate that we decided that we couldn’t go up together.

I would feel more comfortable allowing this if I was beside you, able to watch over you.” Rhys muttered and Kellen chuckled.  “Ah.

I had a feeling you were going to be upset about that.

You accepted it too easily.” Kellen told him and Rhys grumbled.  They had decided only the day before that Rhys shouldn’t be with Kellen as he did the press conference.

They wanted the A.E.G.

to think that they had an opening, even if it was a false one.

After all, they had attacked Kellen’s Dad when his Mom hadn’t been around.  They had chosen Sakura to be the S Class representative because she was in town, she was a well known public figure and had grown up with Kellen, and she wasn’t murderous like Captain Sergei was.  Uncle Tom had been pushed off the table by both Sakura and Rhys, and Kellen hadn’t understood why beyond the fact that he was on the front lines.

Sakura had then said that it made the most sense for her to be beside Kellen because she had an announcement to make about the gate.  The suits.

They wanted to soothe the public’s mind by telling them that although they had kept some things from them, they were working towards a safe solution.

Kellen just worried that it might not be enough to soothe them entirely.

The damn idiots had framed their organisation as if they weren’t full of hatred and bigotry.  If Kellen had it his way, he was going to make sure that the whole world knew what kind of monsters the A.E.G.

really were.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Just a sweet moment before the press conference.