(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 380

Chapter 380: Made in our image
Kellen waited anxiously at the receiving area. Kellen had no idea until about half an hour prior to this that there even was an area to receive members of the Guild when they were coming back from the front lines.

It wasn’t something he had been shown when he had taken his original tour, but Kellen understood once he actually got there.

It was in a section of the underground parking lot that was very nondescript, and for good reason. If someone wanted to attack the Saturn Guild, returning, exhausted members of the Guild was a good target to go after. So Kellen learned that they usually arrived in two cars that had been enchanted so that they looked like normal cars but were actually vans. Then they would slip into the garage and do the drop off here. There was a secret hallway that connected to a flight of stairs that took them up to the lobby so that they got there safely.

The receiving room was usually where their leaders waited. So Rhys, Hill, Gunther. Those were the normal people who met them.

This time, it was Kellen, Rhys and Taylor. Taylor had insisted on being here so that she could check on the Guides. It was funny. Guides were known for making sure that others were helped, taken care of, all of that, but were notorious for putting others first. Taylor had this look in her eyes when Kellen had asked her why she was here. She had told him, point blank, he couldn’t chase her away to have a romantic moment with Rhys.

That had shut Kellen up.

Kellen slid his gaze to Rhys, who was busy typing away on his phone, but standing close enough to him that they were touching. Kellen knew that even if he was mandated to be here, he was also here to support Kellen. Knowing that made Kellen’s throat feel a little tight.

Taylor was sitting down on some of the seating in the room. Compared to the dark, dingy feeling of the rest of the garage, the receiving room felt like a hospital waiting room in comparison. It was white, clean, with several of the same chairs pressed against the walls. A few benches were also on the floor, taking up space, but also providing a place for people to put things down on them.

A few vending machines were tucked into the corner, but Kellen could tell that no one needed to give money, they just needed to press the buttons. It was stocked with shakes, pop, water, and a few snacks. Anything that someone could want after being on the front lines.

Taylor was also working away on her phone, her face in far worse condition compared to Rhys who was also working tirelessly. Kellen realised, in this moment while he anxiously waited for his Field Guides to arrive, that having a Guide pair was truly beneficial for an Esper. Rhys was receiving even the smallest amounts of guiding whenever Kellen thought he needed it.

His small way of taking care of him. Every little kiss that they took in their own home, every small touch might have a bit of his guiding infused into it. Not enough for Kellen to peer into him, but enough to make sure that he was always at his best.

Taylor didn’t have that. She didn’t have someone checking up on her, making sure she was okay. She didn’t have someone who wanted to make sure she was good, no matter what. Who wanted her to be better for her own sake, not for their own peace of mind.

Kellen hadn’t really come face to face with how much benefit he was giving to Rhys until this moment. He had noticed how hard the other Espers around him had been working, and how exhausted and tired they had always looked, but this was the moment that he realised that there was a real reason why Espers and Guides were paired together.

Why Espers kidnapped and imprinted with Guides against their will.

He had always known the words written on paper, but now he truly understood it.

Kellen also knew that if they were his students, they were going to want to guide her first before they got a check up, and if they had just come from the front lines and weren’t trying to flee, they weren’t going to be taking no for an answer. Especially if they had basically micro-dosed Brent’s ideals for a week.

“They’re here.” Rhys said, putting his phone away into his pocket and wrapping his arm around Kellen’s shoulder. Kellen’s arms were tucked under his pecs, wrapping around himself so Rhys wasn’t able to take his hand. Kellen appreciated the united front they were presenting, and swallowed thickly. He really hoped that they were all okay.

A few minutes passed, the only sound in the room was their own breaths and the nervous footsteps from Taylor’s shoes. Kellen waited with baited breath until the door opened, and in slid the first of his students.

They weren’t looking at him at first, instead talking to someone behind them, but when they finally looked forward, a look of shock crossed their face before a smile split it. Kellen shrugged off Rhys’ arm, moving towards them as the rest trickled in. At first, Kellen had no idea what to do. All of them were smiling, tired, but happy to see him.

It was one of the Guides who had seen him beat the shit out of the others who hugged him first, and it was like the floodgates had opened. Kellen was hugged, over and over, as the Esper who had been sent to drop off and pick up debriefed with Rhys behind them.

Taylor remained where she was as the Guides overflowed, rapidly talking to Kellen about everything they had seen, all that they had witnessed. Kellen felt overwhelmed, but in a good way. He kept hearing about WWKD and how much they had relied on that phrase all throughout their time on the front lines. How beneficial it had been, and how one Guide, a cuter female, had used the momentum trick that Kellen had taught them all to throw off an Esper who had gotten too handsy.

Kellen had felt his whole body darken, while the trainee Field Guides, his students, were so excited to talk about it. How she had been able to surprise him, and in those few seconds Brent had noticed and dealt with the Esper who had gotten a little too forward.

Kellen had to reign in his own emotions. Brent had handled it, and he was sure that Hill had been informed. It was probably one of their own, and Kellen knew Hill would handle it. She wasn’t the kind of Esper who would stand for that kind of behaviour, especially after the whole Casper fiasco when Kellen had first arrived at the Guild.

It took them a while to get all of their excitement out of the way. Kellen didn’t mind, happy to see them happy and excited after coming back from the front lines, but it just proved that he made the right call to move the afternoon class to the morning. He was glad that he was learning all of these things now, so that he would know how to receive them later.

It wasn’t as if they were going to go to the front lines once for training. This was going to have to be a constant thing. Well, it would be a constant thing if Kellen got his way.

Eventually, Taylor had to step in to interfere in the Guides chatting with Kellen. She was a busy woman. She, however, didn’t really realise that Kellen and Brent had been raising a group of Guides to be just like them until she approached and several sets of eyes snapped to her, took in her condition and began to smile. Kellen watched as several of them cajoled her in, just like Brent would do, before they sank their claws in and began a simple hand to hand guiding session.

Kellen watched as Taylor’s eyes widened, clearly caught off guard. She had probably assumed that they were exhausted. They all were, but that was part of the reason why they were sent to the front lines. To learn how to work around being physically tired. To learn that as a Guide, you had two power banks. Your physical power bank, and your ability power bank. Those were barely linked.

It was the reason why the Guides were sitting down while Taylor was being double guided. A Guide on either side of her, while she was absorbed into the circle chatting with Kellen and Kellen watched as her condition lightened for the better.

Rhys chuckled, placing his hand on Kellen’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Letting him know that he was here, and had finished talking with the Esper that had escorted them. They were still in the room, a friend of Esper Blake’s, who gave Kellen a wave and a smile when he looked at him.

“Esper Morrison let me know that they did the same thing to him, too.” Rhys said, and several of the Guides slid their gazes to Rhys, but the ones who could sense the guiding level without having to peer inside smiled and turned their sharp gazes away from him in that regard. Kellen, who hadn’t even been aware that he had tensed, relaxed.

“Of course. As they should.” Kellen told Rhys, and the Guides laughed around him. Taylor looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.

“You’re making an army like you?” She accused, and Kellen smirked, leaning back against Rhys’ body.

“An army? Please, that implies I plan to take over. I have no such desire. Remember, Taylor, the Saturn Guild wanted more like me.” Kellen told her with a grin and Taylor cast her gaze around the tired, but excited Guides around her and sighed.

“I’m never going to be able to rest if they are all like you.” Taylor murmured and Rhys laughed.

“I am sure they aren’t exactly like Kellen, Green. Kellen is special. As every Field Guide is. They will have their own personalities, their own traits. They just aren’t going to let you get away with putting yourself in harm’s way just so that you ‘don’t have to worry anyone’.” Rhys said pointedly, before he sighed. “Just like I used to, and now Kellen makes sure I’m perfectly healthy.” Rhys was proud to say that, spreading out his hand against Kellen’s chest, holding him in place. “With that said, you should finish up your guiding and head on up. Each one of you has a room assigned to you so that you can get some rest, relax, and enjoy as much food as you need to recover. You aren’t jumping into work right away. Take a day, or a few, to relax. Captain’s orders.” Rhys told the group. “Kellen will be around, so if you have any questions you can ask him. He’s already had his class this morning, so he has time. Just don’t eat too much into his evening. He does need to come home to me at some point.”

Rhys’ order had the bite taken out of it with his finishing comment, and Kellen watched as the Guides received it with ease. He was glad. He was sure he would hear more about their time on the front lines over the next few days. Now, they deserved some rest.