(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 352

Chapter 352: You’re going to be late
When they got back to the Guild, Gunther disappeared. He’d been nervous and fidgety the whole time Kellen had been driving back to the Guild, and he could understand why.

Casper was still in the Guild tower, but he hadn’t left the rooms given to him by Rhys and Pamela. He wasn’t even in his normal rooms for…reasons. Gunther, who knew he didn’t have impulse control, had asked Rhys to make sure that Casper was in different rooms, at least until he left for his mission. Gunther had regained some of his senses, and after speaking to Rhys, had decided that was for the best.

Gunther reaffirmed that he didn’t want to hurt Casper, never had, but also realised slowly that his image of a happy relationship for others was different from what he had assumed a happy relationship for himself. He spoke to Hill a lot, as well as Brent and a few of the other A Class Espers. He was allowed visitors, and that seemed to be a smart thing to do as over the few days since his talk with Rhys, he had become more stable.

He wasn’t the same Gunther he had been before all of this, but he was getting back some parts of himself. He realised that Casper should be kept away from him for the time being, until both of them had sorted out their feelings. Gunther said that he didn’t think his would ever change, and that he didn’t want Casper’s to change either, but he understood that it wasn’t his choice.

Due to this, and the fact that Casper wasn’t stable either right now, Casper was being kept in the dark that Gunther was leaving until after he left. He was being told that Gunther and Rhys were going to have a public falling out, but not when it was happening so that he didn’t go searching for Gunther, or vice versa.

Gunther was trying to speed run this, since he knew he was unstable. Kellen felt that since he’d been given something to do, he was now trying to get that done. Maybe Gunther thought that if he got in good with the terrorists as soon as possible, the faster he could prove to himself, and everyone else that he was good.

He wasn’t a monster.

Or maybe he just wanted to prove that to Casper, Kellen didn’t know.

Kellen was just glad that they were able to go speak to Carlos before everything took off. Pamela was working her little heart out trying to get this set up, and Rhys was doing the same.

Rhys had been leaving the Guild, making it look like something was wrong. He made sure he was getting caught by the media muttering and complaining. Not about Kellen of course, but about things going on internally. Pamela had also leaked some footage of when Rhys and Hill chased after Gunther across the city. It was working, and that alone was somehow scary to Kellen. How easy it was to change the public’s perspective with a few well placed words.

Gunther was going to have to do the same thing that Rhys was doing right now, in fact he was scheduled to do it tomorrow. Then, they were going to have a few confrontations in public as well. Kellen didn’t think either of them would be acting. No one was going to admit it, but Rhys and Gunther had to make it look like it was real.

Kellen didn’t think that it was real, but he was sure that there was…something like that between them. Or Rhys was convinced that this was the only way that Gunther could come out of this alive, so he was doing his best to make it feel real. Kellen didn’t think that Gunther was of the same mind, and was sure that some of any of the animosity he had came from this current situation. He just hoped that this didn’t damage their relationship in the long run. Kellen would feel incredibly guilty if that was the case.

Kellen didn’t ask questions. He parked the car and watched as Gunther tore the seatbelt off of him, slammed the door open, and shot off. Gunther practically raced towards the elevators, tearing off the wig as he moved far faster than Kellen could go. He didn’t even glance back, or offer a goodbye.

He let him do it. Now that some of his regular personality had come back, admittedly a little harsher around the edges than normal, Kellen was sure that they had a little less to worry about in regards to his…Gunther wasn’t going to run away.

Kellen locked up the car, a little pleased that he was driving the same one that Rhys had given him, before he headed towards the elevator. He felt someone behind him and spun, hand out, aiming for the throat, and his other hand going to where he normally carried his gun.

Rhys’ chuckle filled his ears, and he relaxed almost immediately.

“Kellen, babe, it’s me.” Rhys said, hands up as Kellen’s hand rested against his throat. Rhys’ yellow gaze was narrow, a smile on his lips. Kellen realised that he was wearing his full uniform, hat and all, and Kellen took a moment to examine him. Taking him in like a tall glass of water on a hot day, Kelle scanned him fully and Rhys’ grin widened. “Do you like what you see?” Rhys teased and Kellen swallowed, before he dropped his head.

“You should know better than to sneak up on me.” Kellen told him instead of responding to his words. Rhys dropped his hands, taking a step closer.

“Maybe I like it when you threaten me, hmm? I think it’s sexy.” Rhys whispered, and Kellen narrowed his gaze.

“Rhys, I almost pulled a gun on you.” Kellen warned and Rhys chuckled.

“What’s a gun in our relationship, hmm? I can heal quickly.” Rhys teased and Kellen balked at that thought.

“Nope. Never. Don’t even joke about that. I do not want to ever see you with a gunshot wound, especially one I’ve created.” Kellen’s voice was firm, but his hands were shaky. Rhys grabbed one of them quickly, pressing kisses against the top of his hand.

“Sorry. I was just trying to tease you. I didn’t mean it.” Kellen scoffed as the man tried to comfort him.

“I don’t believe that, Rhys. You’re…” Kellen trailed off. He didn’t want to use his S Class status as a reason, but it wasn’t quite untrue. Rhys was the one who showed him more about the…kinkier side of sexual relations, and Kellen hadn’t balked at much. But a gun? Not even going into knife play first? He’d looked it up, not because he was interested but because he had a feeling that someone like Rhys would probably like it.

“I’m what, Kellen?” Rhys asked, his lips against his skin and when he met that yellow gaze, a shiver ran down his spine.

“W-Why aren’t you asking how it went?” Kellen asked, diverting, avoiding answering. Rhys chuckled, pressing another kiss against the top of his hand. Kellen wasn’t even being cornered, but he felt like he was up against a wall.

“Alright. How did it go, Kellen? Did Gunther get some good tips, or not?” Rhys was humouring him, but by doing so, he was giving Kellen some time to gather himself. Kellen sighed, glancing to the side before he met Rhys’ gaze.

“I feel like Gunther got some good things out of it. I’m not sure, but I think so. We also…learned a lot about what Sakura and her Guild are working on.” Kellen swallowed. “They’re testing on plants, which I think is why Miro is so busy.” Rhys nodded.

“I knew that. What did you find out?” Rhys asked and Kellen hesitated.

“They don’t have anything that really works yet. It’s…under 30%.” Rhys frowned, his humour fading from his face.

“What do you mean by that?” Rhys asked. Kellen realised that he hadn’t said that properly, and that it would probably be confusing if he didn’t explain it properly.

“Uh, well, they were throwing out a lot of terms and words and numbers that I didn’t understand. I’m not truly in this type of research, nor am I formally trained, so there are some things I just won’t understand.” Rhys nodded, listening to Kellen speak. “So from my understanding of everything. They are simultaneously working on two potions. One for the exploded D Class gate, and one for ours. They are having some success with the previous gate. They spoke about contamination levels. If something had been contaminated, there was a certain level that the potion would be effective up until, and then it wouldn’t work anymore.” Rhys nodded again, keeping up with what Kellen was saying.

“Okay. So they are working on two at the same time. Isn’t that harder work?” He asked and Kellen shook his head.

“No. It’s probably a decision they made so that they could compare and contrast how they are different. The problem lies in how quickly it’s happening, and what the percentages are right now.” Kellen told him, and he wiped his free hand on his thigh. His palms were a little sweaty, recounting this.

“Ah. 30% you said, yeah?” Kellen nodded, confirming Rhys’ question before Rhys let out a soft sigh. “Well, we’re basically asking for a miracle, so this is actually quite good.” Kellen blinked, turning his gaze towards Rhys who smiled at him. “As far as I know, thanks to you, they are the only Guild with someone who has poison powers, Kellen. It’s a damn miracle that we are able to get this much done, and I would say that this is rather quick. Plus, they are also redesigning hazard suits so that people can be near and work near the gate. They are doing a lot for us, for the city right now. I’m grateful for even 30%.” Rhys said, before reaching out slowly, giving Kellen all the time in the world to move away, before he grabbed his waist and pulled him against him. “Now, are you going to answer my question? Do you like what you see?” He asked, his voice soft and Kellen bit his lip as he scanned him again.

Rhys groaned, his grip shifting as he placed the hand he held in his own against his neck, dropping his hand away to wrap around Kellen.

“Babe. You know better. That’s my job.” Rhys grumbled, his eyes still warm, but slowly shifting to gold. Kellen swallowed.

“Then come over and do it.” Kellen responded, a little breathless and Rhys smirked before he bent his head. His lips brushed against Kellen’s as he spoke.

“You’re going to be late for your class.”