(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 349

Chapter 349: A money-making Esper
Lieutenant Spencer led the way for the rest of them, while Sakura chattered away, clearly trying to keep the atmosphere between Gunther and Kellen civil. Kellen didn’t mind.

Gunther, as far as he was concerned, could do with a bit of violence in his life. He did throw a garbage can at Kellen, and he hadn’t gotten him back for that. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a few more reasons to hate Guides. If Kellen gave him enough to hate, they might really believe him. Forget Casper, Kellen wanted to be the reason that his undercover mission was successful.

Truly. If Gunther was cursing his name the whole time, that was only going to benefit everyone, Gunther and Casper specifically.

“Alright, we’re here.” Lieutenant Spencer said, stopping at a door that looked the same amongst all the other doors in this hallway. Sakura came to a stop outside of it, glancing back at Kellen before she nodded.

“Alright, I’ll knock and see-” The door was flung open and a disheveled, messy hair Carlos was on the other side. His eyes weren’t brown, like they normally were, but the eerie sickly purple that they were when he used his powers. Gunther made a quiet noise behind him as Carlos reached for Kellen, yanking him forward by the collar of his uniform, his face awash with anger.

“Are you a fucking idiot? Going toe to toe with them? I can’t believe someone like you saved me!” Carlos yelled. Honestly, it was kind of refreshing to get treated like this after so long. Everyone had been tiptoeing around him ever since he shot up to an A Class, but Carlos? He would never disappoint.

Kellen could tell that all of the other Espers around them tensed, even Gunther, but Kellen just placed his hands on top of the ones that were holding him up, smiling softly.

“Carlos, I-” Carlos’ scar on his neck was bright red, something that Kellen had noticed happened when he was worked up. It was a small detail that he remembered about the man, but it suited him well right now. Carlos was super pissed.

“Don’t you fucking dare! Sakura told me about why you wanted to visit, and I could shake you to death! Don’t mess with them! You have already seen what they did to me, and then they attacked your Dad and you didn’t back down? Are you fucking insane? Did becoming a higher Class knock a few screws loose? You aren’t fucking invincible, Kellen!” There. That was the true concern. Carlos was worried for him.

Kellen laughed, and that was the wrong thing to do. Carlos’ face twisted, anger and rage making him look even harsher. Kellen could tell that his partner, his Guide, was inside the room, but she wasn’t moving to stop him. That told him that Kellen was in really big trouble. She wasn’t even smiling.

“Carlos, you can rim me out inside the room, hmm? What if someone sees you?” Carlos scoffed, but back stepped into the room, still carrying Kellen. Kellen didn’t mind. He’d been treated worse before, and honestly, he liked that Carlos was treating him a little roughly. Rhys had scared everyone away.

Once inside the room, Lieutenant Spencer closed the door behind them, and Gunther stormed forward. He grabbed Carlos’ and Kellen’s hands, his face angry.

“Alright, enough of this. Let him go.” Gunther growled, and Carlos scoffed at him.

“And who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? You damn Esper.” Gunther seemed slightly offended by what Carlos said.

“You…you’re also an Esper.” Gunther replied, a little confused and Carlos shook off his hands, putting Kellen back down on his feet.

“Yeah, I am, but what does it matter to you? You don’t even know me, and yet you think that just because we’re behind closed doors you can talk to me that way?” Gunther glanced at Kellen, then glanced around the room. He seemed to think that anyone in this room would help him, but Kellen was grinning madly.

Gunther had faced crazy and problematic before, but he had never faced someone like Carlos before. He wasn’t an S Class, but he was the breadwinner of the Peach Guild. Gunther had no idea what kind of thin ice he was on, nor why Kellen let him lift him up like that.

“Well he’s-Kellen’s part of my Guild, and-” Carlos crossed his arms, his eyes dimming back to their normal brown shade as he gave Gunther a one over, before reaching out and yanking the wig off of his head. Gunther stared in shock as Carlos let out a bark of laughter.

“You’re the poor sob that that fucking Guide has convinced to go into the A. E. G. huh?” Carlos spat on the ground, not a care. “Do you have a fucking death wish? Didn’t he tell you about the stories I told him? You’re a fucking idiot if you just agreed to it.” Carlos was berating Gunther in such a way that Gunther seemed a little confused. Kellen was delighted that Carlos’ anger had been turned away from him.

He turned to Guide Martinez, greeting her even as her face was tense, and her handshake a little too firm.

“Guide Martinez. I hope you have been well since we last saw each other.” Kellen greeted and she stared at him. She was well put together, a complete opposite of Carlos, but her gaze was just as tired. She was also kind of glaring at him, and Kellen had a feeling that she wasn’t happy with him.

“I could be better.” She replied icily, before she sighed, closing her eyes and releasing Kellen’s hand. “That’s not quite fair of me. I apologise, Guide Woods. As someone who knows more in the Guild than others, I am aware of what you have been up to, even while I am down here. When Carlos heard about what was happening…” She closed her eyes, shaking her head before she met Kellen’s gaze. “He was…unhinged. He has been working himself to the bone, and I really have no one else to blame but you.”

“Don’t blame Kellen. I did it of my own free will.” Carlos rasped, marching over, leaving Gunther standing alone in shock. Kellen would have laughed if he wasn’t aware that he might be a point of tension between these two. Guide Martinez crossed her arms, staring at Carlos. Kellen was about to interject when she began to speak to him in Spanish, and Kellen took a step back.

He had no leg to stand on in this conversation, as he didn’t speak Spanish. He could tell that it was getting rather heated. Kellen turned towards Sakura, who was grinning at him widely. Lieutenant Spencer was beside her, showing her something on her phone, but Sakura wasn’t fully paying attention.

She was living for the chaos of this moment, even as both Gunther, and now Kellen, felt a little awkward.

“Um,” Kellen started, interrupting the couple who seemed to be getting a little too close for comfort. Kellen did want them to kiss and make up, but that wasn’t exactly what appeared to be going on. Guide Martinez, who he knew to be soft and gentle, appeared to be able to whip Carlos into shape. He was happy to hear that, but at the same time, he and Gunther didn’t have a lot of time to be at the Peach Guild. “I realise that I have caused some problems for everyone, but unfortunately, Gunther and I have very limited time to be here, and I’m sure you are also busy.” Kellen said with a Guide smile and Carlos turned, staring at him before he grumbled.

“Damn right I’m busy. We can talk about this more later, Bella.” Carlos’ tone softened when he spoke to his partner, and Guide Martinez sighed.

“Alright, Carlos.” She agreed, stepping back and moving around the room. Gunther watched the exchange and Kellen noticed the hunger in his gaze. He wanted that. What Carlos and Guide Martinez had. Kellen wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible, but he could tell that Carlos took it the wrong way. He was about to get upset, and yell at Gunther for looking at Guide Martinez but Kellen did step in this time.

“It’s not like that, Carlos. I promise.” Kellen whispered, glancing back at Gunther who didn’t seem to notice that Carlos was about to fly into another rage. Carlos stared at Gunther, before something clicked in his head. His expression softened, and he began to look at Gunther with pity.

“Ah. It makes sense then. The only other option was a fool, since he doesn’t exactly strike me as a bigot.” Carlos murmured, before he sighed. “Damn it. They’re going to eat him alive.” Carlos didn’t sound happy, but he wasn’t angry anymore. He glanced at Kellen. “Did he volunteer?” He asked and Kellen shook his head.

“No. I put his name forward.” Carlos narrowed his gaze.

“Even after watching what I went through? What you’ve just gone through?” Kellen hesitated for a second.

“The man who spoke, who made the video…had shittily died white hair, Carlos. I just…it was long, like Gunther’s. I think they want him, maybe, but I can’t understand why. So, why not send him to them? See what they want. It’ll be good for him to be away. He’s only ever been by Rhys’ side, and I think Rhys needs to let them leave for a little bit. Both of them.” Kellen muttered and Carlos watched him.

“So…you want to send him to a terrorist organisation that has no qualms with killing its people if they don’t do what they want them to, for personal growth?” Carlos asked, and Kellen thought about it for a moment, before he nodded. Carlos groaned. “I knew you were heartless, but this is just cruel, Kellen. At least send him with snacks.” Carlos teased, and Gunther, who was now paying attention to what they were saying scoffed.

“Yeah. Rhys at least gave me whiskey when he offered me this.” Kellen frowned.

“I didn’t think that far ahead. I’ll make sure to make you a goodie bag before you have to leave, and I’ll make sure to arrange the Guiding you’ll get, as well as the information drop off location.” Kellen told him and Gunther narrowed his gaze.

“Shouldn’t that be for the D. E. C. to do?” He asked, suspicious and Kellen smiled.

“Of course it should be, but since we’re on a mission to make Uncle Tom look completely incompetent, I decided to message Lieutenant Fisher on my own. Rhys knows, and it’s not like I’ll be alone. I have a few Guiding Centers on my good side.” Kellen said with a smile and Gunther’s expression turned dark.

“Oh great. I’m so excited.” He deadpanned and Sakura laughed.

“Alright, enough of that. Carlos, can you please tell them about your time in the A. E. G., or offer some advice? Kellen was insistent in visiting you.” Sakura said, a little note in her voice that was all overprotective Captain, and not a high school friend. Kellen grinned at her, and she narrowed her gaze. Carlos chuckled.

“What is he going to steal, Sakura? The man can’t do shit with me around. He knows better.” Carlos stood up for Kellen and Sakura backed down quickly.

“Anyone foolish enough to try to go against you is already dead, so I’m not worried.” Sakura said, but it was clear that too much time had passed, and Carlos cleared his throat, coughing a few times when it irritated his scars. Kellen was curious about what they were going to learn from him, or what Gunther was going to learn from him.