(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Pantry Talk Chapter 68: Pantry Talk As the group got into the elevators and made their way towards the upper levels, Kellen was able to tell that Gwen was beginning to get overwhelmed.

He’d noticed she was slightly struggling before, and knew he was going to have to speak to her once they got upstairs.

Once they got to the floor that Kellen and the Captain lived on, the Captain excused himself to go change into something more comfortable, so Kellen led the eager group to his apartment alone.

As he was opening the door, he felt someone blow on his neck.

Confused, and not able to forget when the Captain had done the same thing, he spun, only to find the dancing gaze of his Father.  “Don’t let your Mother see that.” His Father teased, and Kellen’s face went red.

He fumbled, opening the door wider, and stepped inside.

He held the door so his back was to the wall, his hand still on his neck as everyone else poured in.

Once everyone was inside, he grabbed his Dad’s hand and yanked him towards the small pantry.

His Mom frowned at the sight.  “Where are you two off to?” She asked and Kellen didn’t look at her.  “I want to show Dad my pantry.” She smiled, and turned her attention back to Hill, who was busy chatting away to the older Esper.

Kellen took in Gwen’s awkward stance, and knew he needed to deal with that soon, but this was more important.  Dragging the older man a few feet, he could hear him laughing at him as he shoved them both into the tiny pantry and closed the door.

“Dad!

You can’t do that!” Kellen protested, his cheeks pink as he looked at his Dad.

His Father’s gaze only held humour as he looked over his embarrassed, flushed son.  “I can’t point out love bites on my child?” He asked skeptically and Kellen nodded aggressively.

His Father crossed his arms, shifting his weight slightly to look at the younger man who was wearing a slightly too big Guide uniform now that he looked at him, and who hadn’t spent the night in his own apartment.

A knowing smile crossed his face, but he didn’t say anything.  “Not in front of so many people!

Even Taylor didn’t-” Kellen cut off, biting his lip.

His Dad’s smile widened.  “You’ve already been to Taylor and you didn’t get it healed?

That’s a deep bite, Kellen.” Kellen wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.

He never wanted to have this kind of talk with his Father.

No child did.

His Father, however, was finding great joy in it.

Kellen rubbed the back of his neck, the sting from the bite only making him more aware of it.  “That’s not…at the time, it didn’t seem like that was the right thing to do.” Kellen murmured, and his Father laughed.  “Oh, was the Captain right there?

Well, I can understand that.

Getting rid of the mark he made sure to put on you in front of him would make him a little upset.” His Father reached out, giving Kellen’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Don’t take it in a bad way.

It’s only because this is your first time coming back with anything like this.

Your Mother and I have known Gwen has been sexually active for a while, but it’s her first time coming face to face with the fact that you might be.

That’s where I think she’ll get hung up, and why I’m suggesting you hide it.” His gray eyes twinkled as he looked over his son.

“Especially since you’re her little precious Guide son.” His tone was soft, and teasing, but his eyes were clearly making fun of him.

“Now, I didn’t want to discuss it with so many people around, but are you actually okay?

You used a lot of powers yesterday, and there were bound to be side effects.” Kellen was reeling from the whiplash of this conversation for a second, before he sighed, and ran his hand over his face.  “I did experience some side effects from yesterday.” He hesitated for a minute, but decided against lying to his Father.

If anyone would be sympathetic to him, it would be him.

“They were the worst I’d ever experienced.

My skin felt unnatural.

I wanted it off.

I could only calm down by smelling the Captain’s scent and by touching him.

It was the regular type at least, and I’m not like Brent where I get different side effects depending on what kind of Esper I guide, but I never expected it to be like that.

My theory is that because my powers went up, so did the side effects.” His Dad watched his son explain quietly, and quickly, with knowing eyes.

“We managed, since the Captain was very kind and attentive, so today is better.

I’m not sobbing being away from him right now, so I think they’re fading now.” His Father’s smile faded.  “They continued into today?

What kind were they?” He asked and Kellen frowned more, embarrassed to admit it.  “Well, the remaining ones are…separation anxiety.

Specifically for the Captain.

It was worse yesterday.

I…” He shook his head, not continuing and his Father had an understanding of the behaviour he might have displayed.

His Dad hummed, staring at his son as he thought.  “Huh.

I had no idea that the two of you got so close.

The symptoms don’t usually focus on one person.” Kellen was aware of that too, but he hadn’t looked at it too hard.

He wasn’t sure he was going to like the answer if he did.  “Well, I’m thinking it’s because we’ve known each other for 7 years.

That must play a part in this somehow.” Kellen said.

The look his Father gave him made his skin crawl.

It was calculating and Kellen worried about what he was going to say next.

Shifting nervously, rubbing his hands on his pants, he waited.  “If I’m remembering correctly, over the years you did bring up Captain Thatcher’s name in quite a few of your letters and phone calls home.” Kellen could feel his face heat as his Dad pondered it some more, a devious smile crossing his face.

“Actually, it was quite a lot now that I think about it.

I just never considered it because when you brought him up it was never in a romantic context, but you were always speaking about him.” A light went off behind his eyes and Kellen knew he was fucked.

“Wait!

Wasn’t he part of the D.E.C.

before he started his Guild?

I seem to remember that you had quite a few posters of him before you left for the front lines.

Kellen, did you have a crush on Rhys before now?” Kellen couldn’t hide how red his face was getting, even as he covered it with his hands.

His Dad’s eyes widened at the cute, nervous reaction.  “I-I didn’t!” His voice raised as he forced the words out.

There was no way that Kellen had a crush on Rhys Thatcher before now.

“H-He was a cool Esper and was super good at his job.” Kellen protested, before realising how loud he was.

He coughed, and the silence hung between them before Kellen added nervously, “I-I just thought he was really attractive.” The silence remained until Kellen’s Dad broke out into laughter.  “Really good at his job huh?

I’m glad we have more in common then I thought.” His Dad didn’t elaborate and Kellen kept his face covered until he felt like he had a bit more control over his expressions.

When Kellen did finally uncover his face, his Father was smiling at him with mischief in his gray gaze and Kellen panicked.

Instead, his Father reached for his face, cupping it in his slightly rough hands and giving a gentle squeeze.

“I’m glad, Kellen.

I was worried that the PR stunt was just that, a stunt to fake out the public.

I’m glad that’s not the case.

You had sounded so sincere I was worried that they had a gun pressed against your back as you answered.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled.

“I’m glad to know that he’s your type, the same way your his type.” Kellen opened his mouth to give a sharp protest, but closed it as he remembered the Captain’s behaviour and response this afternoon.

Turning his head, his cheeks warm, he broke eye contact with his Dad.

His Dad chuckled at his quiet protest, slapping Kellen’s cheek lightly.

“I was teasing earlier, talking about the wedding.

But if he does propose, you’ll call me first, won’t you?

I assume Taylor would be around in some capacity, and Gwen would throw a fit but she’d easily forgive you.” Kellen wanted to protest, until he met his Father’s gaze again.

It was serious, and warm.

He wasn’t teasing him, and Kellen bit his lip in response.  “I…I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Even Kellen didn’t sound sure to his ears and his Dad’s chuckle filled his ears.  “Oh Sweetheart, I think that man has the next six years of your lives planned out.

The way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking…” He trailed off, before shaking his head with a smile.

“If he wasn’t so serious about it, your Mother would have taken him aside and beaten the shit out of him.” From the smile on his face, Kellen was sure his Dad would have been there as well, wiping the sweat from his Mother’s brow.  “We should worry about dinner instead of what might happen.” His Dad chuckled, shaking his head at his son who didn’t want to face reality.

Yeah, might.  “Well, I guess that is true.

I will say this, and then I’ll drop it.

I’m glad that you didn’t hate him for marking you.

That’s deep enough that you had to have stayed still for it.

Good for you, Kellen.” His Father brushed past him with a grin as Kellen, once more, covered the mark.  “Dad!” He protested, and his Father laughed, opening the small pantry.  “What?

Aren’t we focusing on dinner now?” Kellen wanted to strangle his Father, but would never dare.

The man was full of laughter as he looked over his flustered son, and it put his heart at ease.

He was glad his son had a partner that took care of him, and his needs.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB I really do like Kellen’s Dad.

He likes to poke both of his children’s buttons.