(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: A Guide’s gentle touch Chapter 85: A Guide’s gentle touch Brent stood in silence, the laptop bag slung over his shoulder as he stared at the elevator doors.

His foot tapping was getting on Kellen’s nerves, but he couldn’t blame the man.

Anyone would react that way once they found out that the newest gate on the front lines was only the second of its kind, and the first one exploded.  Honestly, Kellen found that Brent was taking everything in stride, and Kellen was grateful for it.

If he had freaked out in the same way that the researchers had when Maeve told them what was going on before they left, he would have felt way more conflicted about bringing Brent with him to the meeting.  “Why would they even want me there?” Brent muttered, as if he was able to read Kellen’s mind.

Kellen shrugged.  “You were on the front line more recently than anyone else.” Kellen said, and Brent snorted.  “Yeah, but I’m not a part of a big Guild.

No one is going to tell me anything.” Kellen cast a calculating look at Brent.  “They might, but I also know you have plenty of friends on the front lines, Brent, and they might have told you something, or answered any question you had because of the services you provided.” Brent blinked, stunned, before he tossed his head back and laughed.

He tossed his gaze towards Kellen, his eyes sparkling as he looked over at the other Field Guide who could also get information out of others, but in a decidedly different way.  “Oh how kind of you to think of me in such a kind light.

I had no idea you thought I had a knack for espionage.” Kellen chuckled, his eyes bright and blue as he looked over the other.  “Brent, anyone with connections like you would be good at it.

I’m just good at getting information, you’re good at gathering it, and maintaining good standing.

I’m all brawn.” Kellen flexed slightly, and Brent rolled his eyes.

The person who believed that was a dead man.

The door to the elevator opened, and the two stepped out.

Like Casper had said, it was quite easy to find where Kellen and Brent needed to go.

It might have something to do with the frantic running around of several Guides, Espers and civilians.

But the large hallways, with quite a bit of spacing between one door and the next made it very easy for them to spot the double doored conference room with Conference Room 1 sprawled in bold writing outside.

Kellen’s footsteps faltered for only a moment as he caught sight of Pamela, with her pink eyes glowing, as she sat outside of the conference room proper.

She had set up a small foldable table outside and was frantically typing away on several keyboards.

She was barking orders into an earpiece, and only nodded at the two Field Guides as they passed.  Brent was getting nervous from this obvious concerning display, and honestly, Kellen couldn’t blame him.

Kellen was getting nervous too.

Why was there so much panic?

Yes, they hadn’t known how dangerous the gate had been prior to this, but they had the Peach Guild and their secret weapon in the town.

They had a way better chance if the Captain’s of the Guilds all worked together and- Oh Oh right  The Captain’s were all dumb S Class Espers who viewed collaboration as a great mark on their honour.

The only reason they put up with each other in the city was because the city had a long standing agreement from several Captain’s ago.  Plus, there wasn’t a huge age gap between the Captains of this era unlike there had been previously, counting out the D.E.C.

Captain.

Sergei, Sakura and Captain Thatcher all seemed to get along reasonably well.

Reasonably, because Kellen hadn’t forgotten that Sergei and the Captain had fought previously while ‘discussing’ who was going to get the rights to the gate.  Coming to a stop at the large double doors, Kellen and Brent looked over the disaster zone before them.

The conference room had a large, oval table inside, that seemed to be divided into two.

On one side was a projector where four screens were visible.

It was obvious that it was a meeting between the Captains, with the last square blank.

On the other side was a group set up with laptops and a lot of coffee who looked drained.

From the layout, and the mess, Kellen could tell that they had probably been here before, maybe over the weekend.

Kellen felt his heart jerk.

He felt guilty now for taking time away from the Captain this weekend, especially if things were so critical.

“Hey, is that your parents?” Brent asked, nudging Kellen out of his thoughts.

He glanced over and noticed that yes, it was in fact his parents.

His eyes scanned over Casper, who was busy running around with his hair spiked to the high heavens, and an exhausted look on his face, to where his Father was sitting calmly next to his Mother.

His Mother had two laptops out in front of her, and like Pamela, she was talking into an earpiece.

When she felt Kellen’s gaze on her, she glanced up, and a wide smile split her face.  “Oh my sweet baby boy.

Come here!” Her voice carried loudly over the room, and Kellen felt his ears heat.

His Dad’s soft, happy smile settled something in Kellen and he grabbed Brent and dragged him over.

He had felt him stiffen beside him at his Mother’s call and wasn’t going to let him escape.  “Mom, Dad.

What are you two doing here?” He asked warmly, and his Dad got to his feet and gave his son a long squeeze of a hug.  “Oh, you know.

Just trying to provide some assistance.

I heard about the new gate from Tom and Rhys.

Dangerous stuff, that is.

I’ll do what I can to help, but I don’t think an old timer like me can provide much in the way of assistance.” Kellen didn’t trust that for a minute.

Like Brent, Kellen’s mom had excellent connections, but unlike Brent, she didn’t sleep with said connections.

That honour was saved for Kellen’s Father.

The same Father who hadn’t let him go yet.  “Are you doing okay?

Was everything settled well?” He asked softly, well aware that the whole room had big ears, especially since his wife had drawn attention to them.

Kellen’s cheeks flushed.  “I was properly lectured, if that is what you are asking.” Kellen muttered, and his Dad squeezed him tighter.  “That is not what I am asking, but I’m glad to hear it.

If I know my girls, it was probably Gwen and Taylor.

Now, how are my boys doing, hmm?

Brent, is it normal for you to only have one arm?” Brent, who had not expected to be included in Kellen’s Father’s assessment of ‘his boys’ was stunned.

He had been preparing to sit next to Kellen’s Mother on her other side, but now he stood frozen.

His face heated.  “Uh, well,” he stuttered, and Kellen answered for him.  “Yes Dad.

Brent has a prosthetic.” Kellen’s Dad finally let him go to check on Brent.

He looked him over, and Kellen could tell Brent was uncomfortable.

Kellen’s Dad gave a nod of approval after a period of time.  “Good.

You seem to be healthy in every other regard.

I’ll ask Taylor for your charts later, just to be sure.” Brent’s face was beet red.  “Isn’t that against like, client and doctor privileges?” He asked and Kellen’s Dad laughed.

He turned his smiling, gray gaze towards the other Guide.  “Are you going to report me, Brent?” He asked sweetly, and Brent swallowed.

He glanced between the Woods family, of which he only knew one member well.

He shook his head rather quickly.

Kellen’s Dad smiled, patting his shoulder.

“What a good boy you are.

What does Kellen have you working on?” That was Kellen’s cue to go check on the Captain and Casper.

It wasn’t even lunchtime and everything felt hectic already.  Turning, he felt a gaze on him.

When he met the yellow gaze directed at him, he found no affection, only calculation.

It should have concerned Kellen, but instead, a tremble went down his spine, and Kellen made his way towards the Captain.  This side of the room was a little more chaotic.

Casper was clearly taking the lead of trying to organise this side, while Hill was busy up to her tits in files and papers.

Other Espers with abilities that would assist Hill were also overwhelmed, while the Captain remained calm, standing amid all the chaos, chatting away to the other Captains.

His stance was relaxed, his hair was not a strand out of place, and he looked every bit the fine morsel he had always been on the front lines.

Kellen could feel his heart beginning to pick up as he moved towards him, forcing himself to move one foot in front of the other instead of running away.

This man was now his pair, he better fucking act like it.  “Ah, Mr.

Woods.

Glad to see you made it here safely in one piece.” The Captain greeted him, a soft smile crossing his lips.

Kellen glanced away, embarrassed from the way the Captain’s physical looks were affecting him.  “Thank you for your concern, Captain.” Kellen muttered, and was rewarded with a real smile as the Captain looked him over.  “I was told you visited Green before coming here.

Did she have anything interesting to say?” Kellen glanced at the other three Captain’s whose meeting he had clearly interrupted.

None of them seemed upset, in fact, it felt like they had all been waiting for him.

“Uh, well, she just wanted to go over our results for our first week of monitored guiding.” Sakura whistled.  “You let someone else watch?

I didn’t expect that from you.

By the way, hi Kellen!” She gave a gigantic wave with a gigantic smile as Kellen’s cheeks turned red.  “Only basic guiding, Sakura.

Get your head out of the gutter.” She grinned, unrepentant as even Captain Sergei chuckled.

A gentle touch from the Captain’s fingers on Kellen’s chin had Kellen turning his attention back to him.  “Well?

What did she say about it?

Are you on the right track?” He prompted and Kellen took a moment to think.

He had a feeling the Captain wouldn’t understand how crazy it was that the most intimate guiding the two of them could do cost so much, and this also didn’t seem like the time nor the place to expose it.

He nodded.  “Yes, she thinks so.

If we keep going in and doing our sessions the way we are, we should be good.

I’ll need to increase my calorie intake a little, but I should be okay.” The Captain frowned.  “But you’re already eating so much.” He muttered, looking over Kellen’s body.

A warmth spread through Kellen’s body at his quick, but thorough glance.  “Y-You don’t seem to complain most days.” Kellen murmured, his mouth running away from him.

The Captain’s gaze brightened, before darkening into a golden shade.  “Oh?

You noticed, Kellen?

But chose now to say something about it?

I had no idea you wanted to flirt with me in front of so many.

You usually hate it when we have an audience.” The Captain’s arm wrapped around Kellen’s waist, pulling the other man closer.

Kellen could feel his face turning bright red as the Esper chuckled, bringing their faces closer together.  “No, no!

You are not allowed to shamelessly flirt in front of two single people!

It’s very rude!” Sakura’s loud voice filled up the room, coming to Kellen’s rescue before he gave into the Captain’s demands for a kiss.

Kellen could feel his heart racing in his chest as the Captain turned his face away from him, grinning at the screens.

He didn’t release his hold on Kellen though, pulling the man closer to his side, his grip tight.

Kellen would have said something about it if he hadn’t caught a particular look in the Captain’s gaze.

He wasn’t sure what it was…but for some reason, it made Kellen believe that the Captain had no plans to let him go.

At least, not right now.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB How much sleep do you think everyone in this room has had over the weekend?

I’m gonna guess…not a lot.