(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 408

Chapter 408: A bath for two
“What was that about Guides and Espers?” Kellen asked after a while.

Rhys was in the bathtub with him. He had left for a while, letting Kellen soak in the water as the tub filled to go clean up the bed and the bedsheets. It didn’t take long, but Rhys did make sure that everything was back in its place.

He did leave the ties attached to the bed. Kellen was right in thinking that now that that line had been crossed, Kellen should expect them to be added to their time together in bed. Kellen hadn’t hated it, and told Rhys as much when the man seemed nervous about it. Kellen was just…he wasn’t sure about having his hands spread like that. He might like it more if they were tied together.

Rhys had nodded enthusiastically about that. He appeared willing to do anything for Kellen if it was to help him like something more, especially sexually. Kellen liked that side of him.

“Ah.” Rhys said, shifting in the water, pulling Kellen tighter against him. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to go on a rant. I just feel very strongly about it. Especially now that I’ve put in some more work to learn about Guides and I see how much you do for me.” Kellen felt his face heat.

“I don’t really do that much.” Kellen muttered, embarrassed. Rhys pressed his lips against his head.

“Hush. You do a lot for me. You are just conditioned to believe it’s not a lot. That it’s your duty. How much do you eat in a day, Kellen?” Kellen sunk a little bit deeper into the water. He could feel where this conversation was going. Rhys laughed at his attempt to escape the conversation. “None of that. It’s just a question, and a point. I feel like we both get indoctrinated, but in different ways. Espers are told that our actions can be ignored because we have a very important job to do, but we have to do that job. No matter the cost. No matter the fear. No matter what kind of toll it will have on us. Guides? Similar, but not quite the same.” Rhys said and Kellen couldn’t find it in himself to disagree with what he said.

It wasn’t as if Kellen hadn’t noticed it. He’d felt the way everyone had stared at him when he said he wanted to be a Field Guide. He’d seen how everyone had looked at him, felt how they treated him when he didn’t fall into the line that they had wanted for him. They had wanted Kellen, the son of Esper and Guide Woods, to go to a center, probably Guiding Center A, and also become a poster child for them.

Kellen had shirked off that mold for what he wanted to do. What he needed to do to find some worth for himself after the belittling he had dealt with from everyone else. From himself, too. He had to find himself, and he wasn’t going to do that in a Guiding Center. At least, not at first.

“I…agree with that. There is a sense of indoctrination. There kind of has to be. A forced sense of togetherness, almost patriotic in nature. If there wasn’t, I think the amount of Guides would be far less. No one would want to come out of hiding.” Kellen told him and Rhys sighed. The water rippled out from their bodies and Kellen watched it as it encountered the bubbles lingering on top of the water.

“It’s unfair. I can’t fight that feeling. Guides shouldn’t be treated the way they are.” Rhys muttered. “I’m not much better. I’ve only changed because of you, but that doesn’t mean I thought my actions were okay either. I just…” Rhys trailed off. “How come you’ve never asked me about when I drained you? Why I drained you?” It felt like Rhys had had that question burning at the tip of his tongue for a long time. Kellen tilted his head back, catching a glimpse of Rhys from where he’d sunk down further in the water.

“I always thought you’d bring it up if you wanted to talk about it. I didn’t want to pry.” Kellen said. Rhys frowned.

“You have every right to ask me questions, Kellen. It’s your right as my pair, my partner, my boyfriend.” Rhys told him and Kellen flushed. He glanced away from him and adjusted his spot, moving back and closer to Kellen. Rhys let out a grunt. “Elbow, Kellen Mind my stomach, would you?” He asked carefully and Kellen felt terrible.

“Sorry! I was just-” Rhys raised Kellen’s hand out of the water, pressing his lips against the red marks there.

“It’s okay. Just be careful, is all. It wouldn’t be good for either one of us if you damaged something else.” Rhys’ gaze held a core of desire while still remaining yellow. Kellen swallowed.

“Well, I could take over if that was the case.” Kellen offered up, and Rhys chuckled. A smile split his face as he stared down at Kellen, both of their hair slick back with water. Kellen wasn’t sure what that smile meant, but he knew that Rhys probably wasn’t for what he suggested.

“Hmm. A possibility for sure. Just be careful, alright?” Rhys said. It was clear he was brushing off what he said, and Kellen just shrugged. He wasn’t really for or against it. He honestly kind of preferred being the one who was on the receiving end.

Kellen didn’t say anything else, just sitting in the silence as Rhys held him. He was enjoying the moment as he could feel Rhys breathing behind him.

“It started shortly after I awakened.” Rhys said into the silence. Kellen turned his head slightly, looking back at Rhys.

“Hmm?” Kellen wasn’t quite keeping up with what Rhys was saying. Rhys cleared his throat, looking a little pale.

“The ability to steal everything from the Guides who guided me. It started…after I admitted that guiding actually hurt to receive.” Kellen felt his heart stop.

“What?” He asked, shocked. It wasn’t an unheard of situation. It happened every once in a while, but he didn’t think it had happened to Rhys. He put on such a brave face about it. Normally it was a big deal and it usually appeared on those who were lower Class.

For someone like Rhys? Who needed more guiding to counteract his powers? Who was constantly using his powers, all the time? Kellen wanted to swear. That sounded horrible. Kellen couldn’t even blame him for his body forcing him to come up with a solution, even if it was awful.

It was either that, or die.

“The first time I did it was to a D.E.C. Guide. It was shortly after that that I was introduced to Casper.” Rhys told him and Kellen felt horror fill him. Rhys was just a kid when he had been forced to join the D.E.C. It happened to every Esper who awakened and was caught. It was a way to make sure that the government had a tag on every Esper in the country.

For Rhys to have had this issue for so long…

“Do I hurt you?” Kellen spun, unable to not look at Rhys’ face as he asked this question. He needed to know.

What he wasn’t expecting was the vulnerable way that Rhys was looking at him. The softness in his expression, his face. Rhys reached for Kellen’s face, holding it.

“No. Of course you don’t. Why do you think I reacted the way that I did? It was shock. Combined with my lack of guiding, it all came to a head and I…” Rhys let out a sigh. “I hurt you.” Kellen went to protest, but Rhys wouldn’t have it. “No. Don’t try to defend me. I did hurt you. I took away your powers Kellen. Even if they did come back stronger, that doesn’t mean you can write off what I did originally. I still owe you for that.” Rhys told him seriously and Kellen scoffed.

“No you don’t. I mean it, Rhys. You don’t owe me. I will be upset if you keep forcing this issue because I don’t view it that way. You…changed my life. You allowed me to see that there was a path where we could be together, even if it took me some time to realise that we had similar feelings for each other.” Kellen said, frowning as Rhys’ hand trembled against his cheek. Rhys’ expression hadn’t shifted either.

“I admit that I did change your life, but I can’t say it’s for the better. Even if I am happy with the outcome, it still doesn’t change the fact that I was the cause. If it wasn’t for your condition…” Rhys shuddered. Kellen’s hand moved through the water, raising to place a hand on Rhys’ chest.

“Do you honestly think that I would have left you alone? Do you think either one of us would have allowed that to happen? Especially with you feeling as much guilt as you’re feeling right now and I’m okay?” Rhys winced at Kellen’s tone, before Kellen shook his head with a sigh. “You’re a damn fool, Rhys Thatcher. But you’re mine now, and I won’t have you belittling what we are.” Kellen’s firm tone left no room for argument.

Even if it was clear that Rhys looked like he wanted to.

“So, I don’t hurt you when I guide you?” Kellen confirmed after a long pause. Rhys shook his head, dropping his gaze from Kellen’s.

“No. You don’t. When you guide me it feels like a breath of fresh air. I feel like I can finally breathe.” Rhys’ description of Kellen’s powers made Kellen flush. He hadn’t heard himself be described like that. Then again, he never asked for the Espers he guided to give him any feedback.

He hadn’t been curious about it before, but now he was kind of kicking himself for not asking. He had nothing to compare Rhys’ words to.

“I see.” Kellen replied, feeling a little bit lame. Rhys chuckled.

“You sound like you don’t see at all. What? Has no one said that to you before? You shouldn’t be surprised. After all, you helped that little Esper at Sakura’s Guild, didn’t you?” Rhys might have made a good point, but that didn’t mean Kellen agreed with him.

“We’ve never discussed that. I’ve also never asked anyone what my guiding felt like. Who cares about the guiding of a C Class?” Kellen could tell that Rhys was upset that Kellen had referred to himself that way, but it was just the truth. Who the hell would care?

C Classes were the average, the norm of Esper and Guide society. No one cared. Kellen didn’t take it personally, not anymore.

“I’m not saying that to diminish myself, Rhys. It’s just the truth. If people liked me, they would request me again. If they didn’t, they went to someone else. I didn’t mind, and I still don’t.” Kellen told him but Rhys still didn’t seem satisfied. “What? Do you want me to Guide and bunch of people now that I’m an A Class and get a rating of what they feel when I Guide them?” Kellen asked and that got a reaction.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Rhys growled, leaning in close and Kellen let out a short burst of laughter.

“That’s what I thought. So stop getting caught up in the past. It’s not helping anyone. I am happy that you told me about your previous situation, and I’m sorry you’ve been in pain for so long. I’m actually pretty upset about that aspect, but I am happy that my guiding doesn’t hurt you.” Kellen told him. He scanned Rhys’ face, taking in the way the man was clearly having issues letting their conversation go. He was so stubborn, just like Kellen.

Kellen smiled.

“Are we done in the bath? Is it time to dry off?” Kellen asked and Rhys jerked. Clearly coming back to the fact that the water was chilling and now they were just two men in a lukewarm bath.

“Did you want me to warm up the bath again? I can turn back time on it.” Rhys offered and Kellen laughed.

“Sweet boy. No. I think it’s time for both of us to get to bed. I can feel myself fading fast.” Kellen admitted. He was aching, his body satiated, but tired now. The warm water had loosened up his limbs just enough that now he was ready to curl up in Rhys’ arms. Safe. Comfortable. “You’re coming with me to bed, right?” Kellen asked and Rhys sighed.

“I had planned to do a little more work, but with that offer, how can I refuse?” Kellen couldn’t tell if he was joking or not, but he didn’t care as Rhys’ smile met his gaze. He bent, pressing his lips against Kellen’s forehead. “Let’s get my boyfriend out of this tub and into bed, hmm?” Rhys said and Kellen couldn’t refuse him.

After their conversation, he was just glad that Rhys was taking care of him, there for him, and didn’t feel pain from Kellen caring for him. It was a relief, and something that Kellen hadn’t even known that he should have been afraid about. Now that he did, he was glad it was quickly resolved, even if how it was resolved bothered Rhys.

He would just have to make sure that he didn’t have enough time to worry about it.