(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 296

Chapter 296: Plan B does not stand for Plan Bree Chapter 296: Plan B does not stand for Plan Bree When the door opened to the conference room, both Brent and Rhys reacted.

They’d been leaning against the far wall, watching the door intently.

They straightened as soon as it opened, Bree stepping out first.

Only Esper Blake remained still, her expression unreadable.  Bree turned to face Kellen, her expression still a little confused but her eyes brighter.

It was clear she’d been crying, her grey eyes in sharp contrast to the puffiness around them.

Kellen reached out, ruffling her hair as she looked up at him.  “Thank you, Guide Woods.” She told him, sniffing and Kellen smiled down at her, his gaze warm.  “Don’t hold that in, alright?

I’ll always listen to you.

My door is always open.” She nodded, her expression firming as she nodded.

She glanced at Brent, giving him a shy wave before nodding to the two Espers and racing away.

Kellen leaned against the doorframe, sighing as he did so.  Brent approached first, his expression clouding over.  “What was that about?

Was she crying?” Kellen nodded.

He glanced at the two Espers who had better hearing then either Kellen or Brent.  “Did you two hear?” He asked and Esper Blake shook her head.

Rhys shook his head too.  “I try not to listen in on others.

One of the first things they teach you in Esper school.” Both Brent and Kellen stared at Esper Blake.  “Is that…real?” Kellen asked and Rhys chuckled.  “She’s basically right.

For everyone under S Class, they treat you like a normal civilian at first.

For me?

They just told me to mind my manners.

Don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything.

I thought about other things while you two were talking.

It seemed rather serious.

Is everything alright?

Is she okay?” Rhys asked, genuinely concerned.

Kellen stared down the hallway, where Bree had run off to.  “Well, we have a small problem.” He started and Brent straightened.  “What is it?” He asked, worried.  “She doesn’t want to enter the gate anymore.” Kellen said, his tone serious.

“And I’m not going to force her to.” Brent blinked, and Kellen watched as two of the three seemed shocked.

Esper Blake kept her cool.

She turned out to be actually quite good as a bodyguard, when he hadn’t painted a target on his back.  “She doesn’t…wait, she was supposed to go into the gate?

Like, the new one?

Right away?

After what happened to Carter?” Brent swallowed.

“May he rest in peace.” Kellen nodded.  “She was.

This was before we knew that it was a poison gate of course, but it seems like that idea has not changed.

When she saw the press conference, she freaked out.” Rhys held up his hand.  “Let’s step back into the room to continue this conversation.

There are big ears in this Division.” Rhys told them and Kellen nodded.

Rhys slipped past him, taking Kellen’s hand in his to help him into the room.

No one sat down as Esper Blake closed the door behind them.

Brent went to lean against the table, his legs crossed as he crossed his arms.

Esper Blake remained near the door, her expression somber while Rhys looked…resigned.

Kellen ran his hand over his face.  “Why didn’t you try to convince her?” Brent asked, curious and Kellen scrunched up his face.  “What was I supposed to say?

It’s for the greater good?

She cried saying she didn’t want to die, Brent.

I’m not such a fucking monster that I’m going to ignore a fresh faced newbie crying about their mortality.

We both know what makes good Field Guides.

She’s too fresh.

Hell, all of them have too much fucking light in their eyes to be great Field Guides.” Brent winced, his expression pained as he dropped his head.  Silence hung in the air as everyone grappled with the words Kellen had spoken.  “Fuck.” Brent exclaimed into the calm air.

“So?

What do we do then?” He asked and Kellen sighed.  “We…figure it out.

We’ll need to find another Field Guide, and it can’t be any of the others we’re training.

Bree was the only one I felt comfortable going because she had some, if any, actual gate experience.

The rest are babies.

We’ll need to see if anyone else on the front lines wants to do it.” Kellen narrowed his gaze at Brent.

“And it can’t be me or you.” Brent pouted.  “Fuck.

You ruin all of my fun.” He muttered.

Kellen didn’t believe him because it didn’t reach his eyes.

He was joking, but his expression was too serious.  “Kellen, we don’t really have…other options.” Rhys told him slowly and Kellen sighed.  “Well too bad.

Find some.

I’m not forcing her to put her life on the line when she doesn’t want to.

The first scout team is always voluntary.

Since that’s been shot, we’ll need to up the ante.

Make sure that the reward is worth it.

We also need to up the survivability rate too.

20% is too low, so all I can do is hope and pray that Sakura’s team can get an antidote.” Brent sighed.  “That’s like a fucking pipe dream, Kellen.

Even if he’s a damn wizard, that’s an insane hope.

Even for you.” Brent told him, and Kellen shrugged.

Brent knew who Carlos was, had tried to guide him.

Hadn’t worked, but he’d kept him safe the same way Kellen had.

Rhys was frowning, rubbing the hand he held in his hand.  “It’s…impractical simply because it hasn’t been done before.

If I’m honest…I don’t think we’re going to be able to avoid Guide Matheson going into that gate.

I’ve…already seen it, Kellen.” Rhys warned him and Kellen twitched.  “Well, she’s not going if I have a fucking say in it.

I’ll fight all of the Captains if I need to, and that includes you, Rhys.” Kellen warned, and Brent whistled.

Rhys chuckled, a smile touching his lips as he looked down at his pair.  “Don’t worry.

I’m not going to get in your way.

I know better.

I’m just…I want you to be prepared in case something happens and Guide Matheson doesn’t have a choice, alright?” Kellen’s stomach clenched and Kellen frowned.  “Are you so certain it’s going to happen?” He asked and Rhys sighed.  “Believe me, I don’t want it to happen either.

I just want you to be prepared.

That future…hasn’t changed for a long time.” He told him softly and Kellen closed his eyes.  “Fuck.

Alright.

Brent, hopefully soon the other Guides will be coming in, reducing your commitment to guiding Espers.

Once that happens, make sure that you reach out to people on the front lines.

I might even have you go down and try to recruit people.” Brent snorted.  “Oh, please, I shouldn’t go.

You should.

You should make it a date.

I admit, I wouldn’t like to be left alone with the babies, but people take you way more seriously, especially now that you’re an A Class.

Just thrust your big Captain at everyone and they’ll fall over to help.” Kellen wasn’t so sure.  He had a feeling that the other Field Guides, the ones who had close to the same level of experience as him would know better.

The unfortunate thing is that they did need someone a little less experienced.  Kellen when he’d first arrived on the front lines would have been the first in line to go into the gate.

No one would have been able to convince him not to, even after the first scouting party had ended up the way that they had.  They needed someone gullible.

Young.

And without too many people to miss them.

They needed a whole party like that.  Fuck.

This was so damn hard.

Kellen hated this aspect of everything.

They just needed to be able to survive for 5 minutes, but given what they knew now, the gate wouldn’t spit them out so quickly.  Fuck.  “How have the cameras that got sent in faired?” Kellen asked and Rhys closed his eyes, shaking his head.

Kellen’s gut twisted.

“Honestly, Brent, no one is going to listen to me.

You feel it too, don’t you?

The urge to stay away?” Rhys’ eyes shot open as both Kellen and Brent shared a look.

Brent sighed, running his hand through his hair.  “Yeah…wait, are you suggesting I seduce someone into doing it?

Kellen, I’m not going to do that.

I’m not that good of a lay.” Brent scowled at him and Kellen flushed before he swallowed.  “I’m sure there are people who wouldn’t agree with you, and it isn’t as if I can do it.” Kellen shot back and Brent narrowed his gaze at him.  “Damn, I hate when you’re right, and Captain Thatcher is glaring a hole into my head.

Let’s…not take that step.

We’ll just…post it first, and see if we get any takers.

It isn’t urgent yet.” Brent told everyone in the room and Kellen backed down.

Brent was right.

It wasn’t urgent yet.  Not yet.  They had time to figure this out.

Not a lot, but they did have it.  “I’m just glad she said something.” Kellen muttered and Brent sighed.  “I would have felt awful if she hadn’t.” Brent agreed and Rhys patted Kellen’s shoulder.  “We’ll figure this out.

It’s just one small bump in our plan.

We have other Guilds helping us.

Maybe someone internationally will want to do it?” Kellen couldn’t trust his words.

The Guides internationally were even less likely to risk their lives for them.

He couldn’t exactly explain Guide politics to Rhys right now, but even Brent gave him a pitying look.  “You’re lucky you’re pretty, Captain Thatcher.” Brent told him, and Esper Blake nearly choked while Kellen and Rhys’ eyes widened.  “Brent!” Kellen called and Brent laughed.  “What?

He is, and the other Guides wouldn’t have touched him otherwise.

He’s known internationally for being a pretty man, Kellen, you need to get used to it.” Rhys looked like he was glowing with the compliments while Kellen felt his mood sour even more.  Yeah, he knew that.

He didn’t need Brent to remind him.  “We should get to our guiding session.” Kellen muttered and Brent snorted.  “Alright.

You two leave, Esper Blake, you’re with me.

You need guiding, and I have some free time.

If you say now, I’m going to tell the Captain.” Brent covered his mouth, giving a soft gasp.

“Uh oh.

Whoopsie.

Cats out of the bag.” Esper Blake’s jaw hardened at Brent’s behaviour and Kellen snorted.

Rhys gave her a hard look.  “Blake…” Rhys warned and Blake straightened.  “I was going to once Guide Woods was finished for the day.” She muttered, but no one believed her excuse.

Brent winked at Kellen.  “You head on out hot stuff.

I got this one handled, you go deal with your own personal Esper.

We’ll leave all the big thinking to the others and come back to it tomorrow.” Kellen nodded.  “Do you need any help cleaning up?” Kellen asked and Brent glared at him.  “Get the fuck out before I put you in a wheelchair.” He threatened and Kellen laughed.  “Alright.

Have fun, you two.

Stay safe.” Kellen called as he tugged on Rhys’ hand, heading towards the door.

Rhys whispered to Esper Blake low enough that he couldn’t hear as they passed her, but Esper Blake’s expression stiffened, before she relaxed.

She nodded, and Rhys patted her on the shoulder.  Whatever he had said comforted her somewhat, and the two headed out and down the hall.

Kellen sighed, shaking his head.  “Today was a lot.” He muttered quietly and Rhys nodded, holding onto his hand tightly.  “I agree.

Let’s get through this quickly and then try to grab dinner with your parents.” Kellen blinked, before he jerked his head towards Rhys.  “R-Really?

I thought you would want-” Rhys’ gaze was soft as he looked at Kellen.

They paused at the elevator and Rhys raised their clasp hands to his lips, kissing Kellen’s hand.  “I do want you to myself, but your parents haven’t seen you all day, and they probably watched the news.

They have to want to see you, but also know you’re busy.

I can spare a few hours for the people you love.” He told him and Kellen frowned.

He yanked their clasped hands closer, pressing his own lips against Rhys’ hand.  Rhys’ eyes softened further.  “They care about you too.

I feel soon they’re going to like you more than they like me.” Kellen told him, meaning it and Rhys laughed.  “Really?

I thought they hated me when they first met me.” Kellen shrugged as they stepped into the elevator.

Rhys pressed the button.  “They did, until they saw how you treated me.

Now, you just need to not turn into someone who hurts me when I don’t like it and you should be fine.” Rhys started coughing as Kellen’s face turned red.  “W-What?” Rhys said in between coughs.

Kellen squeezed his hand, refusing to look at him.  “You heard me.” Kellen affirmed and Rhys chuckled, pressing a kiss against his cheek.  “Warn me next time.

I nearly had a heart attack.” Rhys told him, warmth in his words and Kellen glanced at the reflective walls.

Rhys looked so happy, so pleased, and Kellen felt his heart begin to beat in his chest.  “I like seeing your shocked expressions, so maybe not.” Kellen admitted and Rhys grinned.  “I like yours too.” Rhys told him, meeting Kellen’s gaze in the reflective mirror and Kellen felt his face heat more.

He looked too handsome right now, especially as they were going to see Taylor.

He needed to get it together.  No dirty thoughts.