(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A weird friend Chapter 46: A weird friend While Kellen sat in a daze, trying to stop his nose from bleeding, the three powerhouses had a rather serious conversation to the side.

Kellen kept an ear out for what they were speaking about, since they weren’t being quiet, and was able to gather quite a bit of information.  Turns out, this was a planned attack.

The group who attacked were an Esper organization that hates Guides.

In fact, they had been aiming for all of the Guiding Centers, with Guiding Center A being their first target.

Their belief was that Guides had too much power now, and Espers had none.

Kellen found that ridiculous.

That was rich, considering in the past Guide’s had been treated like objects.

Some still were.

The crimes committed against Guides were still high, since most Guides were paired with Espers who were known to be stronger, and legitimately prone to insanity without the proper care.

Sometimes even with the proper care.  Either way, Kellen was disgusted with their fucked up beliefs.

So were the three Captains, who all seemed to be quite angry.

The only reason their plan hadn’t gone the way they wanted was because they had a sudden meeting at the D.E.C.

that hadn’t been disclosed to the public.

The group had wanted to attack on a day when the powers weren’t downtown, making everyone think they were weak.

Kellen was sure that had backfired, given the incredible display of powers from the Captain and Captain Sergei.

But, that didn’t solve the problem that they were facing.

This was the first time a group like them had actually attacked their city.

They had heard about it happening elsewhere, but now it was at their front door.

The Captain’s now needed to decide what they were going to do.

Like the Captain had said, there had been casualties, and that was only going to spur on both sides.

The extremists would use it as fodder to feed their crazed doctrine, and the regular folks would use it to try and wipe out the extremists.

It was going to be a headache.  The sound of crunching gravel signified more people approaching.

Kellen looked up and froze.

Oh shit.

The one person he didn’t like seeing when he wasn’t at his full strength.  It was the Captain of the Peach Guild.  The woman was the definition of feminine, often found wearing flowers in her hair.

She was 6’2 without heels, and 6’5 with them.

She had long limbs, dainty features, and long, pink hair.

She hadn’t always had pink hair, and in fact dyed it quite often, but the colour went well with her blue eyes.

Along with the dozens of accessories she wore, she was the perfect image of a woman.

Kellen had known her since they were in high school, long before either of them had awoken their powers.

The only reason Kellen wasn’t comfortable with her was the simple fact that she looked at him like she was a five course meal and she was starving.  No, it wasn’t romantic.

Kellen was certain of that.

Freaked out at one point, he had directly asked and she had seemed appalled that he had thought so low of her.

No, she was after Kellen because of his body.

He knew that she wanted something from him in regards to him physically, but he had never figured out what.

He knew though that she had wanted him to be her exclusive Guide.

Kellen had been glad they had never gotten tested, and he knew from the few times he had guided her in emergency situations that they weren’t as compatible as she wanted them to be.  Kellen watched the group approach as Captain Sakura glanced over the three men with disinterest.

Beside her was her favourite lieutenant, and Hill.

All three women seemed exhausted, but when Captain Sakura’s gaze landed on Kellen, she lit up.

She bounced over the Kellen without a second thought.

Kellen prepared himself.  “Kellen!

My little honey bunch!

What happened to you?

I didn’t think I’d see you around here!” She cried, and before she could even get close enough to touch him, the Captain was there to intercept her.  “Honey bunch?

Please refrain from calling another Espers’ pair like that, Captain Sakura.” Sakura blinked, before giggling, smiling at the Captain and gently slapping his shoulder.  “Oh, you know I didn’t mean anything by it, right Captain Thatcher?

I’ve known Kellen since we were kids, and it’s been such a long time since I last saw him.

I was just excited.

Forgive me?” Kellen would trust her giggling, ditzy act, but he knew her.

She’d made every single mean girl in their high school cry tears, and sent more than one of them to the hospital after her awakening.

Hell, even before her awaking too.

Captain stared at her when she didn’t back down.

“No, I don’t know that.

I don’t care if you two knew each other in the past, Mr.

Woods is my pair and I would like you to treat him with the respect he is owed.

Everyone here is well acquainted with him, yet you are the only one treating him this way.” Sakura pouted, clearly upset that he hadn’t fallen for her tricks.

Kellen was sure it worked on lesser folks.

Even Sakura’s lieutenant had to turn her head to the side to hide her smile.

“Awe, you’re so mean Captain Thatcher.

I just wanted to say hi.” Captain wasn’t budging.  “You can say hi from there.” He told her, and the two of them stared each other down.

Kellen could tell that the both of them were flexing their powers simply from the fact that Sakura’s eyes changed to the light grey of her powers, and the reaction from the others around them.

Kellen coughed, knowing he was going to have to be the one to break this tension.

Having two sets of S Class Espers’ eyes on him made him sweat, and he coughed again.  “Captain, I ran out of shakes.

Could you be a darling and ask Hill if she could grab me a couple more?” Sakura’s eyes widened at the way Kellen spoke.

“And maybe a cloth to clean up the blood?” Her expression froze.  “Blood?

Where are you injured?

Who injured you?” Her voice dropped, and Kellen could feel the wind around them begin to pick up.

Normally, she used her powers to spread flower petals, like her name suggested.

Kellen laughed.  “Oh, it’s nothing like that, Captain Sakura.

I just over exerted myself since there was such a large incident and there were so few Espers around to help.” She stumbled as if Kellen had struck her.

She had grown up with him.

She knew what he wasn’t saying.

“But we can’t blame anyone.

After all, we had the Captain here helping, along with Captain Sergei and Captain Tom.” He smiled and she stared at him, her eyes turning back to their blue shade.  “You know I would have been here if I could have Kellen.

I was busy with my own work.” She was upset by Kellen’s words, but he only smiled at her warmly.  “Oh, I know you work very, very hard Captain Sakura.

That’s why I’m sure no one is going to blame you for what happened here.” She was crumbling quickly, and Hill seemed impressed.

She spun to the other two Captain’s.  “What can I do to help clean up the scene?” She demanded, all business.

Captain cast Kellen a look he couldn’t decipher before turning to join them.

Hill made her way towards where Kellen sat leaning against the empty cooler, a pile of empty shake bottles behind him.

She wasn’t smiling, but she did have a lollipop in her mouth.

She carried a small bag in her hand, and Kellen had a feeling it had the shakes he wanted inside.

She easily handed it over.

The Peach Guild’s lieutenant followed behind her, leaving her Captain to mingle with the others.  Sakura’s favourite lieutenant was a kind lady named Veronica Spencer, with soft brown eyes, strawberry blond hair and plump figure.

She was basically the backbone of the Guild, and often the one Kellen would speak to when they were negotiating contracts.

Usually she had a soft smile on her gentle face.

Today, she was frowning.  “I’m sorry Kellen.” She whispered quietly, and Kellen waved her off.

He opened the bag Hill had given him, pulling out a shake and chugging it with gusto.

Hill sighed.  “I know you said you had enough for half an hour, but I stretched it out longer.

I’m sorry.

I don’t have a cloth with me either, but I can wipe it up with my jacket.

It’s black, so even if it stains no one will notice.” Kellen narrowed his eyes at the Esper, before he shrugged.

Hill narrowed her eyes before she shrugged off her jacket with ease.

Kellen wasn’t sure why she was so upset as she wet one of her sleeves with a water bottle he hadn’t noticed was also in the bag.

She then grabbed Kellen’s chin and began to wipe at his face.

It appeared that more blood had been on his face then he thought.

She frowned, pulling away when she was finished.

“You Guides are so fragile.

How could anyone want to harm you blows my mind.” She muttered and Kellen gave her a slightly goofy grin, shrugging.

“There are plenty who want to harm us Hill.

Some Espers are in pain from guiding since they aren’t compatible.

While some like the power trip they get from reverse guiding, and others take your view of Guides as weak and fragile when compared to Espers and think that means they can Boss us around.

Like slaves.

When Guides didn’t have as many rights and protections back in the day, it was way worse.

Dad sometimes tells me horror stories from his teachers that make my skin crawl.

I’m upset that today happened, but I also know we have more protections in place now, and most Espers won’t agree with the extremists.” Kellen’s smile remained goofy as he looked over the two lieutenants.

Lieutenant Spencer sighed, while Hill reached out and ruffled his hair.  “You’re doing that damn Guide comforting thing that you do sometimes, Kellen.

I don’t need it, but that you.” Kellen leaned into her touch, and Hill felt a shiver run down her spine.

She didn’t have to look over to know that the Captain was watching them.

Removing her hand without causing suspicion to the over exerted Guide, she stared down at him warmly.

“You’re okay now, right?

No dizziness?

You aren’t going to pass out?” Kellen shook his head at her questions.  “Nope!

I’m not a C Class anymore Hill!

This much is nothing.

Plus, I kept drinking shakes the whole time I was guiding the Captain, so I’m in great shape.

Once these extra ones hit my system, I should feel even better.

Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Taylor about the nose bleed when I get back, but I kinda already know why it happened.

I’m not worried.” Hill sighed, before giving him a smile.  “You’re going to be a handful huh?” She chuckled.

“You know who else is going to be a handful?

That new Guide you brought in.

Poor Casper is in over his head dealing with him right now.

I heard that Ian showed up while Casper was showing your friend around the Guiding Division.

No doubt we’ll hear all about it when we get back.” Well, that sounded like an awful thing to happen, but Kellen would worry about that mess later.

He had this mess to clean up first.

The two lieutenants hovered around the Guide while the four Captain’s finished up their impromptu meeting.

Once done, all four of them approached Kellen while he remained on the ground, as per Captain’s orders.  “Guide Kellen, are you really alright?” Captain Sergei was the first to speak up, and Kellen nodded.

Admittedly, Kellen found it quite awkward to be lorded over by the four tall S Class Espers, but he would rather that than get in trouble.  “I’m fine, Captain Sergei.

I’m actually feeling more like myself now.

Thank you for your concern.” Kellen told him, but even Uncle Tom sighed.  “Your parents aren’t going to let me hear the end of this Kellen.

You’ve been in the news too much the last week.

I swear I was going to have a heart attack when I heard you were the C Class that jumped Classes.

Why must you always worry us?” He demanded and Kellen smiled sheepishly.  “Sorry Uncle Tom.

But it’s a good surprise, right?” He asked and the older man shook his head, his face frowning, but his eyes danced with laughter.  “You’re going to be the death of me, Kellen.

That or your mother.” Kellen laughed at his words, while the Captain frowned.  “Why does everyone call you by your first name and not your last name?” He asked, and Kellen blinked.  “Oh.

I don’t know.” Sakura smirked.  “Maybe it’s because we know him better than you do.” She was definitely trying to start something.

Kellen glanced at Hill, who seemed pissed and when he glanced back at the Captain, he noticed that he had shifted his stance slightly.

Oh no.

Not good.  “That isn’t true.

I know you like to follow certain rules and protocols like I do Captain.

I appreciate that you care enough about me to want to show me respect in our everyday lives.” Kellen knew his cheeks were red when he had flashbacks to when the Captain dropped the rules.

He cleared his throat.

“Besides, we’ll get to know each other better as time goes on, so don’t let that bother you.

Please?” He asked sweetly.

Kellen used every last privilege afforded to him as a weakened Guide, sitting on the ground surrounded by S Class Espers.

He held out his hand to the Captain and he took it, pulling him to his feet.

Kellen heard Hill snort behind him, but he ignored her.

If this was what he needed to do to prevent the two S Classes from fighting, he was going to do it.

He was in no state to try and Guide the Captain again.  Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, the Captain pressed Kellen against him, holding him close with one arm.

Kellen blinked, surprised, and looked at the others to find them also surprised.

Especially Uncle Tom, but they all recovered quickly.  “Well, we’ll send word once we find out more, Captain Thatcher.

Thank you for your help once again.

The D.E.C.

will hound the government to send over some supplies.” Uncle Tom added, and the Captain nodded, before looking over at Hill.

She nodded, and Kellen felt his head spin as his legs were swept out from underneath him.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB A little throwback to how Kellen was at the beginning of the story.

A little ditzy, a little more honest.