(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109: slippery like snakes

Hill had gotten the colour back in her face, and she cleared her throat. Once done, she turned to the two of them, interested.

"You’re going to spar your sister? Oh right! You did ask for a sparring partner when you came here to test your new abilities. Honestly, now that Brent is here I thought he was going to fill the gap." Kellen chuckled at her attempted nonchalant tone. He swore he could still see her sweating.

"Brent probably will become my sparring partner, but sometimes he doesn’t like wearing his prosthetic. Today he’s fine, but every once in a while it bugs him. Plus, I’ve already run into Gwen, and it would be a good idea to check where she’s at with her training, and how much work Mom put into her for the Esper games." Gwen seemed frozen by something Kellen had said. Given what he had just done, it could have been anything.

"Wait, Brent has a prosthetic? I never would have guessed." Gwen’s face was slightly flushed, and she seemed...confused? Kellen had no idea why, but a suspicious feeling was overcoming his body.

"Does it matter that he has one?" He asked her, confused since he had never seen her behave like this. She was shifting on her feet, her face flushed, and she was behaving like she was nervous. Honestly, sometimes Kellen worried about what would come out of her mouth. Gwen sometimes did say off the cuff stuff, but he really hoped she wasn’t about to disparage people who’d lost limbs.

"It doesn’t really matter, I’m just shocked. It didn’t seem like he had one at all." Kellen was even more bewildered as he looked over at her. She was playing with her fingers, and even Hill was staring at her. Hill’s expression, though, was calculating, while Kellen was just confused.

"He doesn’t make it a big deal, you’re right about that. He just likes to be treated like a normal human? Is that a problem, Gwen?" It was the only logical jump Kellen could make. Gwen had a problem with people who were amputees.

However, Gwen’s face flushed more, and Hill whistled. She unwrapped a lollipop as she approached them and began to circle them, or more, circling Gwen. Her eyes were only on Gwen, watching her shift and twitch, and it made Gwen shrink in on herself.

"I don’t think she cares about it in the way you’re worried about, Kellen." Hill’s smile was all mischief, and her words made Gwen duck her head for a moment before she raised it again, her face determined.

"I’m not against people who have different bodies, Kellen! That’s so rude to assume." She was right. It was rude to assume, but Kellen had dealt with worse in Brent’s place before. Sometimes, when people found out he was an amputee, they wanted to cancel their contracts. It was a knee jerk reaction to protect someone he cared about, even from a person he cared about. He couldn’t help being sensitive about it.

"I just realised we’d never had this kind of conversation before, so I was worried you weren’t going to be a good person about it. Sorry for assuming you were going to be an asshole about it, but you can see where my concern was coming from, right? That was a weird reaction to finding out Brent has a prosthetic." Hill laughed as Kellen’s words made Gwen seethe. Hill turned sparkling eyes in his direction.

"Kellen, you’re a Guide, what’s the best way to get an Esper’s attention as a Guide?" She asked. Her question threw Kellen for a loop.

"Uh, depends on the situation and the Esper?" He responded. It took everything in him to not let his gaze wander to the Captain. Hill sighed, shaking her head. She waved a finger at Kellen.

"Kellen, Kellen, Kellen. There is always a foolproof way to get an Esper’s attention. That is to be injured, even if you’re faking it, and cute. You cannot tell me that Brent wouldn’t be attractive to a specific type of Esper." Kellen blinked, before Hill’s words really washed over him. Stunned, he turned to look at Gwen and she covered her face with her hands.

"Don’t look at me like that! I can feel your judgment!" He was shocked.

"Gwen Woods! Did you just get an Esper hard on for a Guide who has a prosthetic? In front of your brother? And the Guide in question also happens to be your brother’s friend? What fucked up bullshit is this?" She crouched down, covering her head with her arms.

"Don’t hit me! I can’t help it! The heart wants what the heart wants!" She was practically begging and Hill snorted.

"Yeah, the heart." She snorted again, sucking on her lollipop. The Captain hadn’t moved from where he was standing, and glancing over at him, Kellen realised he was on his phone. He sighed, running a hand over his face.

"He doesn’t need saving, Gwen. He’s a big boy, and can take care of himself." Hill cleared her throat. _{freewёbnoνel.com}

I think she might just want to...lend him a hand? You know, out of the kindness of her heart." Gwen, unable to handle Hill’s teasing, threw a very cute and panicked look in her direction.

"I wasn’t thinking like that! I just thought it was super cool that he was doing his best even if others thought less of him!" Hill covered her mouth, a flush on her own cheeks.

"Oh, how cute and kind of you. Both siblings are sweet like honey, aren’t they? So pure in their help and assistance." She was obviously teasing both of them, but Kellen chuckled. He reached for Gwen, ruffling the hair on the top of her head even as she swatted his hand away.

"I appreciate the compliment, Hill. Now, where were you on the day of-" She covered his mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. Laughing, Kellen pulled her hand away from his mouth. "Now, I think we’ve had enough chatter. Or are you now afraid to spar me, Gwen?" She uncovered herself and sighed, staring at the ground.

"No, I’m not scared. At least not of that. Fuck. Alright. Now I have something to work out anyway." She muttered darkly before getting to her feet. She turned and headed for the arena. Kellen followed after her after glancing back at the two Espers. Neither of them said anything, and after the moment the two of them had, the Captain hadn’t spoken a word to him.

In fact, the Captain wasn’t even looking in their direction. He had his back slightly turned, and was on the phone. Something in his chest hurt, and he frowned.

Hill had a strange look on her face as she stared at Gwen, and Kellen ignored it. He’d already warned the others, and Gwen was her own person. He had done his job as a big brother, plus, Gwen was capable of taking care of herself. If not, then he’d step in and make them regret ever messing with her. Plus, Hill didn’t remind him of someone who would force others, even if she was physically stronger than pretty much everyone else. Worst case scenario, blackmail apparently worked great.

Gwen paused when she got to the center of the now dry and bot free arena, and he could tell her face was still a little pink. He chuckled.