(BL) Hunting The Field Guide-Chapter 435: It’s the best we can do for now

Sakura thought that Rhys was crazy. She had said as much when he’d called, but then turned around and found a quote for him about how much that would cost. She was also crazy, so she didn’t bat an eye.

With one thing out of the way, Kellen felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The feeling wasn’t gone, nor was it really lessened, but he felt better that he’d at least attempted something. Sakura told Rhys that they would be done by the time that they were leaving for the front lines because Carlos was working on getting the best ones out for his team who were on the front lines next to the gate as well.

Kellen was grateful for that, and grateful for the fact that Rhys didn’t make him feel crazy. He just helped him. It was something that Kellen was pretty sure he wasn’t going to forget. Rhys didn’t even tease him, asking for something in return.

He just held Kellen closer, tighter, not even complaining that they weren’t doing anything more than cuddling. He didn’t push him to give him more, and Kellen felt his affection for him grow.

He didn’t expect that kind of bad behaviour from Rhys, never had, but it just made everything better for Kellen. He liked that they were able to just go to bed that night wrapped around each other without having to take it to the next step.

Kellen was grateful that his partner was so great.

~

Kellen did his best to go out of his way to spend more time with Gwen and his Guides. Even if it felt like his guts were churning, he wanted to make sure he put in the work.

Gwen was hesitant at first to be around him, but she didn’t really make a fuss of it. It helped that Kellen also reached out to his parents and made this a family thing. Trying to get Gwen hyped for her first visit to a danger zone. They even included some of Gwen’s friends in their visits.

Kellen was able to ease some of his concerns, while also getting to check up on his family, his parents particularly, while also catching up with the people he felt like he had been neglecting in the face of his new job.

Kellen knew his parents weren’t upset with him about it, not after the conversation he had with his parents, but there was just this...Kellen was sure this was just anxiety. He was just anxious. It just felt like there was a giant beast looming over his shoulder at all times as the days counted down.

Brent had cornered him about it eventually, forcing Kellen to spill the beans about the fact that he was panicking about a feeling he was having. Brent had also listened to him, then asked if it was about Gwen.

Kellen had flinched at the way he had said it, as if he had known that it was about her. It wasn’t like Kellen was hiding the fact that he was hanging out with his sister a secret, but it was the way that Brent had been looking at him.

Like Brent was able to guess what was going to happen without being told.

Brent didn’t tell him he was being foolish or stupid. Well, he did call Kellen stupid for keeping it to himself especially since Brent was going to the front lines, but Kellen argued that he didn’t want to burden him with anything when he wasn’t sure.

Brent had given him a look that had Kellen pausing.

"Kellen. How many times have you saved my life?" Kellen had opened his mouth to answer, but Brent had waved a hand, brushing him off. "Shut up. I wasn’t actually asking you that. What I was getting at is if you’re having a feeling, I’m listening. I don’t really care if you’re a new hybrid of Guide. Never really cared either. I care about the fact that the years that I worked with you that I knew better than to doubt your feelings. I’ll look out for your sister. I’ll try to keep her safe, alright?" It was a promise.

A serious promise, and Kellen felt his chest tighten.

"Brent, you don’t-"

"Look, Kellen." Brent started, running his hand through his hair. He’d left his prosthetic off again today. They were still acting up. "You’re basically the brother I never had. Granted, I do have siblings, they’re all just..." Brent trailed off, scoffing. "They don’t matter. Your family has treated me more like family than pretty much everyone but my grandfather did. I don’t mind. It’s not out of duty or feeling like I owe you or anything that I’m doing this. I want to do this." Brent told him and Kellen was at a loss. Brent reached over, pushing at his shoulder. "So stop being a dipshit and keeping all of your worries to yourself. You’re going to ruin that pretty face of yours, and then all you’ll have left is your rocking body and tits." Laughter bubbled out of Kellen and Brent’s serious expression brightened. "There we go. Enough with this mopey face. The kids can feel it, and while they aren’t being obvious, they’re asking me about it." Brent warned.

That was enough to shake him up.

When the lots had been drawn, a mix group had been formed. The first group consisted of a heavily second class group, with a few of the first class mixed in. In that group was Bree, a few of the high contenders for moving ahead and being good Field Guides, and that was it. Bree had looked tense. Honestly, after their conversation Kellen had thought that she was going to go to the teaching side, but she had surprised him.

She had been so scared of dying, and yet here she was, continuing down the path that would continue to put her at risk. Kellen wasn’t sure if she was feeling like she had a lot of pressure on her shoulders to continue down this path despite Brent and Kellen’s talk with her, or what. Either way, he was not happy to hear that his students were feeling his emotions.

Kellen was going to have to get his shit together. He didn’t want to cause them any more stress than they needed. Not right now.

~

The day of the second round of the new recruits heading out came. Kellen woke up early, taking his time getting ready with his Field Guide uniform while Rhys woke up with him and pulled on his uniform as well.

They were silent as they moved in unison through the apartment. It was a good quiet, one full of companionship even as Kellen felt his guts turn.

He wasn’t going to ask them to cancel the trip. He knew that he couldn’t. Rhys was already stressed, so were the others on the front lines and in the Guild. In the week leading up to the new recruits going to the front lines several of the other Espers from the Guild had made their way there ahead of them.

They were also going to start working, and Miro was staying on the front lines to act as the ’Gunther’ to Hill’s normal position. It wasn’t the first time Miro had stepped up like this, but it was the first time he had done so in a while.

Then again, they had all been pulled away from the front lines when they had been negotiating over the gate, and now things were only just going ’back to normal’. The suits had arrived, been checked, and were going with them as they went.

Sergei had asked for some for his people as well, so Kellen and Rhys had just told him to add it to their order and they would figure out the rest. Sergei had appreciated it, and Kellen made sure that they had the extra suits that they needed.

Apparently Carlos had been cursing Kellen’s name as if it was his fault when it was Rhys who had put in the order. Kellen was glad that Carlos knew it was him who had suggested it.

When Rhys and Kellen were finally dressed, looking impeccable in both of their eyes, they shared a quick kiss, locked hands, and headed down to the coffee shop where everyone was going to be.

The air of excitement and nerves filled the air, nearly coming to a halt when Kellen and Rhys showed up. Gwen and her friends, along with Kellen’s Field Guides were the ones who approached the couple. Chatting, accepting their heartfelt well wishes, and soon it was like a celebrity meet up where Kellen and Rhys were offering up words of encouragement and guidance. freewebnøvel.coɱ

It was a simple task, but one that felt huge, monumental. There weren’t many large scale Guilds who would be this hands on, ever. Kellen knew that the Saturn Guild was unique in that way, same with all of the bigger Guilds in the city. He was proud of them, even as his stomach churned.

He wasn’t even able to enjoy his matcha latte due to the uneasiness he felt. Rhys didn’t let go of his hand the whole time. While they were up in the coffee shop, and when they went down to see everyone off for real.

Brent met them there, a smile on his face as he took in Kellen’s slightly pale expression. He leaned in.

"Maybe it’s a good thing you and Rhys don’t have opposite powers. You’d faint all the fucking time, or you’d go around looking like a damn ghost." Brent teased before he yanked his friend towards him, hugging him tightly with one arm. "It’s going to be fine. We’ve already done this once and nothing truly terrible happened. We can do it a second time. Plus, that old guy’s on the run." Brent said, releasing him, his green eyes sparkling.

Kellen swallowed, nodding. He really hoped that Brent was right. He really wanted to believe him, but Kellen just couldn’t find it in himself to trust him completely. Brent shook his head, pretending to be hurt.

"Well, at the very least, see me off with a damn smile, would you? I won’t see you for another month." Brent teased and Kellen swallowed, composed himself before he plastered on his best Guide smile.

"I’ll see you in a month, Brent. Good luck, and don’t get an STI." Brent snorted, pulling Kellen in for another hug before he pulled Rhys in for a hug.

"Make sure this guy doesn’t worry himself into an early grave, alright?" He told Rhys, before Brent, along with all of the others, headed off.

Kellen stood watching them go for a bit too long. It was Rhys turned him towards the exit. Right. Kellen couldn’t panic about it now. There were other people who relied on him here too. All he could do was wait to hear word about them from the front lines.