(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 381

Chapter 381: A welcome home party
Taylor eventually was able to check on everyone, and found that most had some overexertion, or some strained muscles, but were healthy physically beyond that. She looked like she was glowing after all of the attention she had received, but she still made sure to remind everyone to visit a therapist to talk over things.

She wasn’t a mind doctor, that’s why they had a good therapy department. When it appeared as if all of them balked at the idea of going to a mind doctor, Taylor had sighed heavily before she glanced at Kellen and Rhys. She then told them that Kellen went to one, and that seemed to take some of the tension out of a few of their shoulders. Kellen didn’t like that because he did it, it made it cool, but whatever worked.

Kellen and the students eventually made plans to meet up in the cafeteria in an hour’s time. Kellen had suggested that they could get take out if they wanted, and hang out in one of the Guide designated rooms in the Guiding Division, but they were all insistent that they eat at the cafeteria. It was only after they left that Kellen found out why.

“It’s a tradition.” Esper Morrison told him, a small grin on his face. “The Espers do it every time they come back from a deployment to the front lines. They eat in the cafeteria and usually cry about the food quality. It would make sense that the Field Guides would want to do the same thing. It’s very cute though. I am sure they will be well taken care of over the next few days. From my brief time speaking to the others on the front lines it appears that they did a remarkable job, Guide Woods.” Kellen could feel his heart warm, knowing that others had probably said more.

He also knew that Brent was making an official report on the first week’s Guides. That it should be posted within the next few days and would be sent to the Saturn Guild soon. For some reason, technology just didn’t always work on the front lines. There was a reason that everyone was using the Nemesis Guild’s equipment. It was incredibly expensive to set up a hub, and there was a chance it wouldn’t work.

Captain Sergei didn’t do it for free. He did get a reimbursement from the government if he allowed others on the front lines to use it, and he also wasn’t the kind of man who would hoard things from himself if it would make society better.

Either way, Kellen was looking forward to hearing from his students, and he was sure that he wasn’t the only one. He had a feeling that the others would show up. Kellen wanted to extend the invitation to Rhys, see if he wanted to come, but Rhys shot him down before the words even left his mouth.

Rhys pulled Kellen in for a hug shortly after Taylor had left, but Esper Morrison remained around.

“I won’t be able to join you. I have a meeting in a few minutes. We’re going over the results of the test Sakura was doing overseas. I’m sure you’ll want to hear the results of that, so I have to be there to listen in. I think I might get beaten up by a few people if I’m not.” Rhys joked, but Kellen felt his chest tightened.

He was right. Kellen would be upset if Rhys wasn’t there, and he was pretty sure his parents would also be upset at their son-in-law. Especially if Kellen was understanding what Rhys wasn’t saying, since Esper Morrison was still around.

“Alright. You should get to that then, since it’s a very important meeting.” Kellen didn’t realise he sounded upset until Esper Morrison laughed. He gave him a confused look until Rhys stood in front of Kellen, blocking Esper Morrison’s view and gripped Kellen’s face in his hands.

“I know you aren’t pouting, but you sound so damn sweet right now that I just can’t help it.” Rhys whispered, before kissing Kellen. Kellen grabbed onto the hands cupping his face as Rhys angled him, kissing him deeper until his toes curled, and then pulled away. Kellen was a little breathless, and unstable on his feet. Rhys grinned. “You’re so freaking cute. Alright. I need to leave before I forget about the meeting entirely.” Rhys turned Kellen’s head down to press his lips against his forehead while Kellen stood, trying to catch his breath.

Rhys pulled away, his eyes a little brighter then they had been before as he sighed. Kellen blinked a few times, staring at him numbly, and Rhys grinned.

“Don’t look at him, Esper Morrison.” Rhys warned and the other man chuckled. Kellen slid his gaze toward him and found that he was already staring at the door, his back to Kellen.

“Wouldn’t dream of dying so young, sir.” Rhys smiled.

“Good. Your intelligence is one of the reasons I like you, Morrison.” The men chuckled as Rhys finally left, and Kellen left shortly after them.

His head was full of thoughts of Rhys, and what he wanted to do to the man when he came home to their apartment. He was still a little distracted when he finally arrived to the cafeteria. Instead of heading inside right away, he went to the coffee shop next door and grabbed a drink, giving himself something to wait for while he composed himself.

He was sure that his students wouldn’t have any issues with him being a little distracted, but he wanted to give them his full attention. They deserved it.

~

The first to arrive was part of the group that had been witness to Kellen disciplining the Guides. They were a little wet, like they had rushed getting a shower and they also looked a little breathless. She glanced around, trying to see if anyone else had arrived and when her gaze landed on Kellen, she smiled, before it wavered.

Kellen waved at her, offering her a smile so that she knew it was okay to approach. Kellen had shoved two tables together and had gotten a few trays of snacks. He was sure that the others were capable of getting drinks for themselves, but he wanted to make sure that he could do some little things for them.

“Guide Woods.” She said, hesitantly, but warmly.

“Welcome. You’re the first to arrive. You didn’t have to rush. You barely dried your hair.” Kellen teased, and she flushed. An Esper who was nearby paused, turning.

“Did you need some help? I can dry it.” He offered, wiggling his fingers as if to imply that was his power. She froze, about to turn them down but Kellen stepped in.

“Would you? That would be kind of you.” Kellen got up, grabbed her arm and had her sit down with Kellen nearby as the Esper approached. They were an older gentleman that Kellen usually saw in the gym. They hadn’t spoken a lot, but they were kind enough. With a gentle smile, they put out enough wind power to gently dry the woman’s hair before they left with a wave, taking a pastry on Kellen’s insistence.

“That wasn’t too scary, was it?” Kellen teased gently, taking in how she had reacted. Testing the waters. She exhaled slowly, nodding, giving Kellen a warbled smile before it crumbled.

“H-Have you heard about the Esper who tried to-” Kellen cut her off, pulling her against him tightly.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to speak about it.” Kellen told her. “I’m sorry I forced that then. Are you alright?” Kellen asked, his heart twisting. She clung to him tightly, sucking in shallow, heavy breaths. Kellen had a feeling that whoever the encounter had happened to would approach him, he just didn’t think it would be this fast.

“I-I thought I would understand. I’ve seen pushy Espers before, but…” She trailed off, swallowing the air into her lungs. Kellen understood. There was a reason he was able to handle ‘hard to deal with’ Espers in the city. For the most part, they were just easier. They weren’t as hard to manage as front line Espers. There was just a special kind of something when it came to the front lines. It’s like the Espers got crazier.

“They aren’t the same.” Kellen finished. “It’s okay. You’re home now, and if you truly hated it, I won’t force you to go back. No one would. It’s okay to take some time to rest. If you wanted to go back, you have three weeks at least to decide.” Kellen told her. There was no one forcing her to go back. Yes, it was highly encouraged, but Kellen was never going to force anyone.

He knew what happened to Field Guides who were forced, and he didn’t want that to happen to any of his people. Even if he knew the statistics. After his talk with Bree, that was a conclusion he had come to. Anything he could do to help them get an upper hand, even if it meant they stopped going to the front lines entirely.