(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: A bee in the Bonnet Chapter 52: A bee in the Bonnet Casper and Brent joined the table at that point, unaware of what had happened while they were in line.

They were more excited to see Kellen up and about and wanted to check on him.

Casper picked up that something had happened, given that Hill was still wheezing.

Brent, however, set down his tray without a care about the situation and sat down.

“You went off of the radar so I was worried about you.

How are you feeling?

Are you still having side effects Kellen?” Brent was full of concern for his friend, his green eyes watching Kellen’s face for any reaction.

Kellen, in the face of such genuine concern, felt his body relax.

He could be mad at the Captain later.

“Only a little bit, but I’m much better than yesterday.

The Captain was very kind in taking care of me.” He didn’t look at the man and Brent whistled.  “Oh, so Kellen the Celibate finally got down and dirty with someone?

Popped your cherry?

Good for you.

I’m proud.

You’re part of the big boy club now.” Brent didn’t mean it in a teasing way.

He was actually being quite sincere.

Kellen felt his face heat as everyone else at the table stared at him in stunned silence.

It was only broken when the Captain burst into laughter.

Kellen wanted to crawl back up to his apartment to hide.

“No way.” Casper murmured, covering his mouth as he sat down beside Kellen, between him and Brent.

Gunther seemed confused while Hill looked ready to burst.

“Hold on a fucking minute.

Were you a virgin before the Captain?

Before yesterday?” Hill’s voice was very loud in a suddenly quiet room.

Kellen wanted the ground to swallow him whole as the Captain’s shoulders shook beside him.

Only they knew that he was, in fact, still a virgin.

It hadn’t mattered to Kellen up until this point, but when he saw the excitement on Hill’s face, he dreaded the next day’s teasing even more.

“Now, what Guide Woods chooses to do with his body is none of our business, is it?

So what if he was saving himself for the perfect guy of his dreams like a true romantic?

That’s none of our business.” Brent’s voice had taken on a fake dreamy tone.

Kellen reached around Casper to punch Brent’s arm, hard.

Brent rubbed the flesh he’d hit, laughing as Kellen glared at him with flushed cheeks.

“That’s not true!

I just, it was never a big deal to me, and I never had time.” Kellen said lamely and Hill covered her mouth.

This was some of the greatest information she’d ever heard.

No wonder Kellen had never done ‘that’ kind of guiding on the front lines!

“Never had time?

Kellen Woods!

What kind of attitude is that?

You have no idea what you were missing out on!” She exclaimed, dropping her hands from her mouth to grin at the Guide.

Kellen gave her a wary look.

“Obviously I have no idea what I was missing out on.

I also don’t see what the big fuss is about, either.

Why do anything higher when holding hands works just as well?” Hill’s jaw dropped as Kellen sniffed.

“Besides, even if I was attracted to anyone on the front lines, my compatibility with them was so low that it didn’t make sense to even offer higher types of guiding.” The Captain shifted, wrapping his arms around Kellen’s shoulder.

“That isn’t and wasn’t true.

You have great compatibility with me, and you also like me.” His smile was cocky, and Kellen sighed.

He couldn’t outright deny it, especially since they were in public.

“Even if that is the case, I was a C Class Field Guide up until a week ago and you are an S Class Esper.

I was never going to get my hopes up.” Hill, who had been prepared to tease Kellen even after the Captain’s earlier warning, stopped.

How was she supposed to tease him when he said something that sad?

“Enough of that.

You’ve gotten the fairytale ending every Guide has wet dreams about, so you aren’t allowed to be sad when reminiscing.

I hate it.

Makes us perpetual single people feel bad.” Brent shoved a forkful of food into his mouth after he said his piece, munching away.

“Uh, beyond that,” Casper started nervously, “how are you feeling Kellen?

If you were to rate your side effects compared to before, how bad were they?

What was different?” Casper, who spoke softly, also had his phone out and ready to take notes.

Kellen hadn’t been aware that Casper was such a workaholic until this moment.

He chuckled, amused at the new information.

It made sense, especially if he worked often with the chaotic, but organised Hill and the never not using his powers Captain.

Kellen cleared his throat.

“Uh, well, if I’m honest about them.

They were the worst I’ve ever experienced.” The Captain dropped his fork, his face going white.

“You are never doing that ever again.

I would rather die than inconvenience you.” He proclaimed.

Stunned at first, Kellen then burst into laughter, before patting the Captain’s shoulder.

“I’m all better now, aren’t I?” Kellen asked, teasing, but the Captain’s yellow eyes were serious, along with his frown.

“You aren’t going to go back on your word, are you?” Kellen prodded, and the Captain closed his eyes, sighing.

“No, I won’t go back on my word, but you should have told me that was the worst you’ve ever experienced them before.” The Captain added.

Kellen shrugged, turning back to his food.

“I didn’t realise it until it was over.” It was a complete lie but there wasn’t anything Kellen could do about that.

The Captain had just said he would rathwr die than have Kellen crawling all over him for his attention.

“Uh, I know that this is kind of a public space, but how bad Kellen?

On a scale compared to what you previously experienced, where would yesterday rank?” Capser persisted.

Kellen took a moment to seriously ponder the differences.

“Well, just for the record and for you to know, I have the normal side effects.” Casper’s cheeks heated slightly, but he nodded.

“And I would say my previous side effects would rate around 3-4 on the average scale.

Yesterdays…hmm, probably around an 8.” Casper and Brent nodded, Casper tapping away on his screen.

“And you’re still experiencing minor or heavy side effects?” Casper asked.

“On the minor side.” Kellen confirmed.

“Alright.

What would you say your minor syptoms are?” Kellen paused his fork movements before he felt his face heat.

Kellen covered his face with his free hand since the other was on the Captain’s thigh under the table.

“…Separation anxiety.” He muttered.

The Captain’s hand found Kellen’s under the table and gave it a squeeze.

“He finds it especially hard to be away from me for any period of time and has to have some kind of skin on skin contact at all times.

It was worse yesterday.

He was also rather, uh, into my scent as well.” Ground, please, swallow me whole.

Brent put down his fork, and Kellen expected him to tease him.

Instead, he nodded.

“Ah, I would rate those at an 8 as well.

Separation anxiety usually manifests at that level right when guiding someone at A Class or higher for over 30 minutes.

The scent thing usually only manifests after 49 minutes from my experience, and isn’t usually so specific though.” Brent pondered out loud and Kellen glanced between the two A Classes.

Casper was nodding in agreement.

“Yeah.

It is interesting that Kellen’s reaction was so specific to the Captain.

I know that they are a pair, but for only a week so far.

The reaction shouldn’t be so focused yet.” Kellen listened to the two Guides, interested.

It was fun listening in on the two who had more experience than him in regards to being an A Class.

They had more knowledge that he knew, even as Casper gave him more classes and information, that could only be learned through experience.

“Well, it might have something to do with their compatibility rate?

I haven’t had side effects with anyone higher than 55%, so maybe there are some papers on side effects on non imprinted pairs above that?

Maybe Kellen felt that he’d feel more relief with Captain Thatcher compared to other Espers?

Safer?” Brent suggested and Casper seemed in deep thought about it.

The two continued to whisper to each other for a few more minutes while everyone else continued to eat.

Eventually, Gunther spoke up.

“So, are these side effects that common for Guides?” He asked, interrupting the two men speaking.

Brent spoke up for them.

“Not anymore.

We all go through training to brave ourselves for them, but ever since Guides put in the 30 minute rule it rarely happens anymore.

Not that we aren’t all familiar with them.

Part of training in school is to get used to your powers, even at the extreme end.

If you don’t know what could happen to you, you are more likely to put yourself in even more risk.” Brent shrugged.

“Of course, there are always those crazy thrill seekers out there.

Like Field Guides.” He teased, smiling, before turning serious again.

“In all seriousness, even rival Guides share information.

We have a network, and a silent agreement that no matter what, Guides, as an entity, look out for each other.

There have been too many cases where Espers have forgotten to do so.” Gunther and Hill shifted awkwardly at his words.

“But, as a fellow A Class, gods, that’s weird to say now, I’ve gone through what Kellen has.

I don’t have the same reoccurring side effects like Kellen does, but I’ve gone through all of them before.” Brent stared at the Espers around the table, before turning his gaze to Casper.

“You guys don’t have a lot of pairs in this Guild, do you?” Casper’s cheeks heated as he nodded, and Brent’s lips turned down in a frown, making his face go from roguish bad boy to a man you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.

“That’s not good.

Most of the information I have is basic, and usually info Guides get before becoming a pair.

Who’s job is it to give out more information?

Do you have any resources or anyone paired you plan to get information from?” All eyes turned to wards Kellen.

They didn’t even look at the Captain, instead focusing on the man who was now part of a pair and had long standing, openly flirty, Imprinted parents.

“Hey, I should not be your plan for info.

I’m new to this.” Kellen protested.

“You really shouldn’t.

He’s freshly paired and not a good resource.

Honestly, I’m surprised that a Guild as big and famous as yours doesn’t have more pairs, let alone people dating.

This isn’t a good look for you guys.

You need to have more blended families and partners, otherwise you aren’t going to attract long term members to your Guild.

People are going to pair, and move to a different Guild.

You’ll have a high turnover rate.

You might already have it, given the look on Casper’s face.” Brent’s warning wasn’t lost on the Lieutenants around him.

Kellen, however, was surprised by his impassioned words.

How did a man who ran away from pairs and true attraction to others know so much about Guilds and retention?

Kellen wondered if his impression over the last three years had been correct.

He’d thought Brent came from a non related field, but maybe his family was somehow connected to Espers and Guides “Well, you aren’t wrong, Guide Jameson.

Honestly, Pamela opened our eyes to it once news broke about Rhys being spotted with a Guide.

She’s hoping that the news of the Captain of the Saturn Guild being in a pair will prove we aren’t anti relationships.

We never were, but we feel like, at some point, we gave others the wrong impression.” Gunther said, and Kellen watched as he quickly glanced at Casper before looking away.

Casper, for his part, had a tensed jaw and wouldn’t make eye contact with him.

When Kellen glanced around the table, he noticed that no one else had noticed it, or they kept quiet at the exchange.

Huh.

“Well, I hope for that too, Gunther.

I’ve always had a positive view of relationships my whole life, especially in positions of power.

I grew up around them, as I’m sure others would know, and I spent a good amount of my time being babysat by some of the scariest Espers out there as a kid.” Kellen’s smile reached his eyes as he spoke, and Gunther, who had been tense from Casper ignoring him, relaxed.

“I hope, like you and Pamela are hoping, that it gives others courage.

No one should be afraid to be honest with themselves.” He said with a smile.

Hill, Brent, Gunther and the Captain stared at the man who spoke those words.

Out of everyone at the table, they hadn’t expected that declaration from him.

Kellen was honest, of course everyone knew that, but he also wasn’t courageous when it came to relationships.

Anyone who had worked with him on the front lines would know that.

Casper and Miro, who had never, melted at his words.

“I…I hope so too.

I mean, I don’t have anyone in mind, but I would love to see our friends find pairs and grow old together.

Be happy.” His dark eyes sparkled behind the thick frames of his glasses.

“I can provide flowers for the weddings.” He added hopefully, and Hill wrapped her arms around him, hugging Miro against her chest.

“Awe, what a sweetheart you are, Miro.

A truly kind soul.

I agree with Guide Jameson as well.

We have been neglecting our image in that regard for too long, but kow with the highest position being paired off, we should set an example.

As Lieutenants, we should find our own pairs, following in our great Captain’s footsteps.

So, as the most outgoing of us all, I’ll go first.” Hill went to stand up.

“Does anyone volun-” Gunther, who had remained quiet until now, yanked Hill back down into her seat.

It looked quite painful.

“Shut the fuck up Hill.

I know for a fact you have three people on your roster for later today.

No one is going to fall for you shitty attempt at seduction.

Besides, who would believe a serial hook upper like you would ever settle down?” He growled.

Kellen was shocked at the words and the tone from Gunther.

It wasn’t like him, at least not like the Gunther Kellen was used to.

Even Hill seemed shocked.

She was unable to put on her usual, happy expression and even after trying to laugh it off, she still seemed stiff.

Gunther suddenly had a raincloud around him, and Hill, unable to finish her food, left to put her tray away.

Kellen watched her with a concerned gaze.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Thanks so much for reading and enjoying my story!