(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Family time with the Woods Chapter 71: Family time with the Woods When Kellen finally stepped downstairs, Hill, Gunther, Brent and his Mom were seated around the island while his Dad was bumbling around in the kitchen.

Kellen glanced around, trying to find Gwen, Casper and the Captain, but didn’t say anything as he couldn’t find them.

He grabbed his apron from it’s hook near the fridge and his Dad smiled at the sight of him.  “Anything in particular you want to make?” He asked, and Kellen shrugged, tying the strings behind his back.  “Nope.

I’ve made them beer snacks before, so we can do practically anything.” His Dad nodded, before the two of them stood in front of the open fridge and discussed.

While they were doing that, a knock sounded at the door and his Mom got up to answer it before anyone else could.

In came Casper, Gwen and the Captain.

The Captain and Gwen were carrying more stools, and it looked rather precarious, while Casper had his arms full with bags.  “We’re back!” Gwen called.

“We grabbed as many chairs as we could, and Captain Thatcher piled up Lieutenant Casper’s arms with liquor.

It’s the weekend!” Her grin was infectious, and Hill laughed.

Hill got to her feet, heading over to help the two unpack their chairs, while Casper placed his bags on the island.  “Ah, I think I like this side of recruit Woods.” She reached out and ruffled Gwen’s hair on the top of her head, and Kellen watched as Gwen’s eyes went wide.

“When we’re just hanging out, you can drop the formalities, Gwen.” Hill told her with a grin as she helped her by taking one of the extra stools.

Kellen’s Mom did the same for the Captain.

Kellen kept an eye on them as him and his Dad continued to discuss the dinner plans..

Gwen tilted her head to the side in thought, before nodding.  “Understood, Ms.

Hill.” Hill groaned, putting her head in her hands.  “What the hell is up with you siblings?

Seriously?

Kellen, did you tell her?” Gwen seemed baffled by the turn of events while Kellen laughed.  “I didn’t say a thing, Ms.

Hill.” She growled.  “I worked so hard for you to call me Hill.

Gwen!” Gwen straightened up at hearing her name called by one of her instructors.

“Do not call me Ms.

Hill!

I am not your teacher right now, I am a friend of your brother.

Just Hill is fine.” She declared and Gwen giggled.

What a freaking cutie Kellen had as a little sister.

Too bad her mouth was foul.

But Kellen could also tell that some of the other members of the group noticed how cute Gwen was as well.

He frowned.  “Alright, I won’t call you Ms.

Hill.

Is just Hill alright?

I was really nervous to overstep while you guys were all here.” She told them, and Captain put his chair down and wrapped his arm around her shoulder comfortingly.  “Of course you wouldn’t overstep.

Hell, I’d like it if Kellen called all of us by our first names, but he’s been on the front lines for too long.

We have to get to you first so his habits don’t rub off on you.” He teased both of the siblings, with a grin.

Kellen felt his lips twitch, before he turned his attention back to his Dad.

His Dad was watching all of them with a tender look in his eyes.  “Awe, you’re the best brother-in-law a girl could ask for!” Gwen declared, and Kellen glanced over his shoulder again to see that Gwen had wrapped the Captain in a hug.  “Focus Kellen, or are we going to end up ordering take out while you have all these amazing ingredients in house?” Kellen felt his face go red, but he fully turned around to speak with his Father.

“We were just humming and hawing over making something with potatoes, so why don’t we make gnocchi with a protein, and salad, with a cream sauce or something?” Kellen suggested and his Dad’s eyes lit up.

He clapped his hands together.

“Oh!

We can make a garlic and spinach cream sauce!

I’ll turn the oven on right now!

Chicken or pork?” He asked and Kellen shrugged.

He was in the fridge grabbing the refrigerated ingredients they would need now that they had decided on something.  “Mom?

Chicken or pork?” Kellen asked and she shrugged, her smile mischievous.  “Why don’t you ask my son-in-law?” She said, and Kellen froze.

Silence around the room as Kellen came out of the fridge, his face warm and he glanced over at the Captain.

Even he had a slightly red face.

It was one thing if Gwen teased them, it was another when it was Kellen’s own parents.  “What do you need, Mr.

Woods?” He asked and Kellen felt his body untense.  “Well, do you have a preference over chicken or pork?” He asked, fiddling with the ends of his apron.

He could feel the Captain’s eyes watching him intently.  “I do have a preference for chicken out of the two, since I’m not too fond of meat in general.” Kellen froze.

Oh fuck, how could I forget that?

Kellen turned wild eyes towards his Father, and he got the signal.

The Captain froze at their response.

“Uh, you don’t need to-” Gwen stopped him this time as the two Guide’s rushed to the pantry to find a substitute.  “Don’t mind them.

You need to let this happen.

I know that all Guides like to take care of people, and this is how Kellen and Dad do it.” Casper nodded in agreement as he popped open a can of beer, handing it to Hill who took it, before popping open another and handing it to Gunther.

He offered one to Kellen’s Mom, who took it with a smile, before offering one to Brent, Gwen, and then the Captain before opening his own.

Gwen smirked.

“See?

All Guides take care of their people.

Which reminds me, Brent, how long did you work with my brother on the front lines?” Gwen turned to Brent, who up until this point after Kellen’s warning, had been avoiding the younger woman.

Now, faced with her full attention, he grew slightly nervous.

If anyone thought this was strange behaviour for Brent, no one said anything, especially Kellen.

Kellen and his Father, for the most part, were busy coming out from the pantry with their arms full of ingredients, including and not limited to, potatoes, squash, onions, several spices, flour, and some other extra things.

Brent turned in his stool to face Kellen’s younger sister with a slight smile.  “Hmm, I’d say about three years.

He won’t let me live it down that he spent longer there than me.” He offered and Gwen smiled widely, before taking a sip of her beer.  “I’m sorry for his behaviour.

Three years is a long time!

Especially if you had to deal with his awful attitude.” Brent blinked, and before he could respond, Kellen had thrown an onion at her.

She caught it, laughing, one onion in hand and a beer in the other.

“See?

Not giving himself any favours.” Kellen stuck his tongue out at her when his parents weren’t looking, and the others who hadn’t seen this playful side of Kellen were a little surprised.

Gwen gave him a middle finger.

Kellen glanced at Brent, and he looked absolutely smitten, his gaze on Kellen’s younger sister.

Brent swallowed.  “You don’t need to apologise.

If anything, Kellen had to put up with me.

I came to the front lines thinking I was hot shit and he ground me into a paste and made me into a good Field Guide.” Gwen put the onion on the island, smiled at Brent, before leaning in towards him.  “You don’t have to lie.

His hearing isn’t that great.” Kellen threw another onion at her an this time Hill caught it.  “Great aim as always, Kellen.” She deadpanned, before throwing it back to him.

Kellen caught it while his Dad shook his head.  “No wasting food children.

Or I’ll make you do push ups until I say so.” Both Gwen and Kellen groaned.

It was clearly a threat that worked.  “Of course Dad.

And I have great hearing, Gwen, for a normal non crazy human, thank you.

Just because you’re a little freak show doesn’t mean I have to be.” Gwen snorted, rolling her eyes.  “Oh yes, I’m the freak show of the family.

So says the man who is the first Guide in the country to jump Classes, probably in the top five in the word to do so, and until this week had no matches above 27%, which was strange all on its own.

I may be the second A Class Esper with invisibility powers in the country, but at least my Mom is the first.” Kellen gave her another middle finger when their parents weren’t looking and this time she gasped, covering her chest with her hand, like she was scandalized.

Kellen began prepping some of the veggies.  “You better watch your mouth.

I know for a fact that you purposefully didn’t go for first place in the Esper games because you didn’t want to stand out, young lady.” Her face went red as Hill gasped.

“Is that true?” She demanded and Gwen got shy.

Kellen chuckled as his Dad tossed the potatoes into the oven for the gnocchi.  “Absolutely.

Who do you think trained with her outside of Mom?

The moves I watched her pull were weaker than if she was fighting me.” Their Mom tsked, and Gwen paled.  “I knew something was strange about that footage.

You purposefully got less points.

Gwen Woods, where did I go wrong?” Their Mom sighed heavily, and Gwen took a deep drink from her beer.  “So what if I didn’t want to stand out?

I knew I was a sure in for the Guild I wanted, and I already stood out because of my powers.” Kellen scoffed.

“But Gwen, you let a fire Esper take first place/ How could you let this family down?

An elementalist?

Gwen, you know better.” Her cheeks flamed at Kellen’s tone, and their parents played along, nodding seriously, and his Mom even looked at her with disappointment.

Gunther cleared his throat.  “As a water Esper, I find that offensive.

Not all elementalists, Kellen.” Kellen waved his hand dismissively.  “This is a family matter, Gunther, and I know you’re better than most.” Casper had to hide his laughter at Gunther’s stunned expression before his can of beer.

The Captain and Hill were chuckling to themselves.  “It’s just a power you guys!

Plus, they’re a good friend of mine and wanted to show off to their parents.

I thought it was a good idea since now they owe me a favour.” Kellen pointed a knife at her, pausing his chopping motions, grinning.  “Good.

If you haven’t gotten anything out of it, I would have been more upset.

Good job little sister.

Did you get it in writing?” She nodded, and her Mom stood up and wrapped her in a hug.

Before pressing a kiss onto her forehead.  “Oh, my sweet baby is learning.

Always get everything in writing.

It’s very important.

Especially when someone owes you a favour.

That, or make them too scared to ignore you.” Hill gave a nervous chuckle, her eyes wide.  “Ah, I’m glad to see that there is a whole family of them, and that they will create more of them.” She sounded quite nervous, and so did the rest of the members of the Saturn Guild.

Kellen’s Dad chuckled, shaking his head as he rinsed some of the other veggies in the sink.  “Well, I can’t argue about that.

But in our defense, back in the day, the deals they would try to give out and say were ‘fair’ were absolutely criminal.

They were basically slave contracts, so Ellie and I are quite passionate about it, and it transferred to our children as well.” His wife nodded as she released Gwen and took a sip of her beer.  “They were just awful.

If it wasn’t for Hugh, may he rest in peace, I would have been the one who lost my shit and destroyed the old D.E.C.

building.” That got everyone’s interest.

So, as Kellen and his Dad prepared dinner, his parents regaled everyone with stories of the past, including ones Gwen and Kellen hadn’t heard in their childhood.

It was a very soft, healing time.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Kellen and Gwen bring out the child in each other, so it’s sweet to see them interact.