(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 306

Chapter 306: Espers go first, Guides clean up Chapter 306: Espers go first, Guides clean up “I swear it wasn’t intentional.” Taylor started, her expression full of fear.

Combined with her dark bags, pale and sunken skin, and the contrast of her blue eyes, she looked almost comically upset.  Kellen, who was still being carried by Rhys, snorted.

They were a few steps away from reaching the main floor, and Kellen looked over the crowd of people in his house.

They had shifted their arrangements slightly since he’d been upstairs for the second time.

Gwen had left the couch and had moved to sit at the island with Hill, both overlooking Taylor as she had worked.

Pamela was nearby them as well, but had tucked herself against the corner.  Everyone else had gravitated towards the couch, with Kellen’s parents having remained near the base of the stairs.

Rhys carried Kellen over towards the kitchen, and Kellen wasn’t exactly surprised when the man didn’t place him on the ground right away.

Kellen looked over the few trays of cookies that had made it into the oven while he had been gone and sighed.  Several were fine.

They had even been transferred to a large platter.

It was just the most recent batch that had been damaged.  “Dinner’s ready.” Casper added softly.

Casper, who had dutifully taken on the mantle of making food in his and his Dad’s place.

Taylor cast him a glare, before turning back to Kellen.

Kellen looked over everything before him, the mess, the platter, the fact that Casper had made sure everything was warm and steaming, before he met her gaze.  “You were doing so well on your own.

What was different about this batch?” Gwen snorted, rolling her eyes with a gleam in them.  “She forgot to set the timer.” Like the little sister she was, she ratted Taylor out.

Taylor was clearly panicking, trying to salvage the cookies.

She was scraping them up, placing them on a different plate and had Hill trying to pick off the pieces of burnt dough.  Kellen felt a little conflicted.

On one hand, a large part of himself was pissed that she’d burnt a batch of cookies.

Kellen had wanted to feed everyone he’d invited over.

He had wanted them to eat what he’d made, and in a way, Taylor had ruined that.  He was angry about that.

He wouldn’t lie to himself.

He wasn’t in the best state and he’d taken time to make cookies for everyone.

That was a big deal to him, even if he had done it with her assistance.  But, she clearly felt bad about it as well, and she was one of the people he wanted to feed the cookies to.

He shouldn’t freak out.

He shouldn’t get mad.  “Kellen?” Rhys asked after Kellen held his tongue for a moment too long.  “Can you put me down?” Kellen asked, and Rhys grumbled but did as he was told.

Kellen felt that he was only grumbling for show, and didn’t really mean it.

He was proven correct when he met Rhys’ gaze.

He was smirking and his eyes were a bright, warm yellow.  “There.

On your feet.” Rhys said with a smile and Kellen sighed, shaking his head before he turned to the anxious Taylor.  “It’s alright, Taylor.” Kellen said.

“I honestly shouldn’t have expected anything more from a bunch of Espers.” Kellen said and Casper had to hide his smile as Taylor gasped.

Her jaw dropped as Kellen wobbled his way over to the kitchen.

He picked up one of the burnt cookies and took a bite, before offering the cookie to Rhys who he knew was behind him.  Rhys seemed surprised, but happy by his offer and took a huge bite and silence rang in the apartment as they waited for Kellen’s verdict.  “They’re…edible.

I don’t know if I fucked up the recipe or not, or if it’s the fact that they’re burnt, but they taste a bit…stale already?” Kellen offered and Rhys scoffed.  “They taste fine, if not a bit smokey.

Kellen and his Dad are just perfectionists.” Gwen laughed.  “You’re right about that.

I’m sure they taste fine too.” She said, as if she wasn’t the one who threw Taylor under the bus before she could defend herself.

Brent scoffed from the couch, and Esper Blake was smiling.  “Oh I’m sure.

I can tell a few have already been sampled beyond what Rhys and I have eaten.

Casper, you said dinner was ready?” Kellen turned to the other Guide and he nodded.

He pushed up his glasses, nervous.  Kellen hated seeing him like this, but was also happy that he could see him this way.

Casper was comfortable enough around most of the people in the apartment that he felt okay showing this level of vulnerability.  “Yes.

If anyone wants to start, they can.” Casper said and Kellen’s Dad cleared his throat.  “Let the Espers go first, and then the Guides.

We’ll divide the rest amongst us.” He said and the five Guides in the room shared a look.  “I don’t know if that’s-” Pamela started, but Casper interrupted her.  “I agree.

So then Mrs.

Woods or Captain Thatcher goes first.” He said, and Pamela seemed surprised that Casper cut her off.

Casper gave her an apologetic look.

Pamela may be used to certain levels of regulation when it came to her job, but when it came to feeding time?

Guides were listened to.  Rhys and Kellen’s Mom entered into a staring contest.

Rhys gestured that she should go first.  “Of course, the person with more experience should go first.” Rhys said, and Kellen’s Mom’s eyebrow twitched.  “More experience?

You are a Captain, Rhys.

Who am I but a humble retired Esper?

You should go first.

This is your tower, and your pair’s home.

You should go first.” Kellen watched as his Mom turned on the charm, her smile picture worthy.  She, too, gestured for Rhys to go forward and they continued this back and forth before Kellen got tired of it.  “Taylor, go first.

Those two aren’t going to settle soon.

Pamela, you’re next, followed by Blake, Gwen, Hill and then however is left.” Kellen ordered and Taylor glanced nervously at the two Espers who were surprised by Kellen’s words.  “Babe, you don’t want me to go first?” Rhys demanded and Kellen felt his eyebrows shoot up.

Babe?

Now?  Everyone was watching them, including his parents.

Kellen felt his lips twitch before he sighed.  “Well darling, when you two are having a pissing contest and dinner is getting cold, no, I don’t.” It was clear that Rhys had expected Kellen to get embarrassed, or nervous.

He was expecting Kellen to be a flustered mess.

Kellen had given him every right to believe that was the case in this regard.  However, this was one of the few times Kellen found that he was going to surprise Rhys.  The look on Rhys’ face told him everything he needed to know.

The man was stunned and Kellen found himself grinning.  “What?

Can’t handle it when I call you nicknames?” Kellen asked, staring up into the other man’s face.

Rhys’ eyes were wide, his jaw slack, and he had a slight colour to his face.

He reached up, covering his mouth with his hand.  “I, uh…maybe?” Rhys muttered and Kellen laughed.  “Well, good luck then.

Because I am learning how to give as good as I get when it comes to you.” Kellen warned, feeling slightly devious himself.

Then he ushered everyone else to grab food.  Rhys didn’t recover until most of the others had gotten their food.

Hill helped him, grabbing him a drink and ushering him over to the line.

She winked at Kellen, humour in her eyes.  Brent came over, offering Kellen his cane and shaking his head.  “You nearly broke that man.” He accused and Kellen shrugged.  “He’ll recover.

I’m sure Hill or Gunther told him the same thing when he started down this path.” Kellen said without an ounce of sympathy.

Hill snorted, her plate in her lap as she sat on the couch.  “Oh, we were far more worried about you, Kellen.

Rhys can take a beating, however you’re just a Guide, you know?

Your bones are softer and easier to break, plus I hear you bruise like a peach.” Hill teased and Kellen glared at her.  “I do not bruise like a peach.” He defended himself and Taylor spoke up from where she was sitting at the counter.  “Yes you do.

Your chest says otherwise.” She spoke around a mouthful of food and Kellen huffed.  “I don’t think getting shot point blank into several bullet proof vests and my Field Guide outfit says that I bruise like a peach.

I think it says that the bullet was extreme.” Kellen felt indignant.

No matter what, he was a tough man.

He did not bruise easily, and he had a thick skin.  “Point blank?” His Dad repeated and Kellen flinched.

“You were shot point blank?” He repeated and Kellen laughed nervously.  “You said you watched the press conference.” Kellen deflected.

His Dad had gone white, his grey eyes almost lost in his face.

His Mom didn’t look much better, but she also appeared to look as if she had expected that much.

The resignation in her face told that she probably had a better understanding of what weapons were on the market, or what the D.E.C.

carried.

After all, it was the D.E.C.

he was pretty sure his Mom and Dad went on ‘holidays’ with.  He wondered, briefly, if that would change now that Rhys had told them more about Uncle Tom.

He waved off that thought quickly.  “We did, but that part was blurred from the public seeing as soon as the gunshot was fired.

I believe I heard more than one, Kellen.” Her tone held a warning note to it.

Kellen looked away.  “I’ll be fine.

It’s just tender for now, and Taylor worked on it.

So you know it’s been done well.” Kellen said and his Mom tsked.  “Taylor is stretched thin at the moment.

She’s doing her best with the resources she has, but you and I both know, Kellen, that if she was well enough she would have healed you completely.” His Mom said, before turning to Taylor, apologetic.

“I am very grateful for everything you’ve done so far sweetie, but Kellen sometimes is a bit…he doesn’t like to tell the full truth.” Her look was pointed, and Kellen ducked his head.  He had a feeling he would be getting jabs like that for a long, long while.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Sorry for the late upload!

I was helping a friend move, and thought I had backlogged enough.

Turns out, I hadn’t accounted for the shitty weather, so here we are!

Hopefully, things will go smoother tomorrow