(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Warm ups and Harsh looks

Shortly after their touching moment, the Captain got a phone call he couldn’t refuse, and after answering it, leaving Kellen alone on the couch, he had to leave. It was clear that he didn’t want to, given the sad, yellow eyes he’d given the Guide, but Kellen was always the professional, and sent him on his way.

The Captain promised that he would pick Kellen up in the morning for the press conference around 8 am. Kellen, who was busy shoving the man out of his apartment so that he didn’t make the Captain a liar, took note of the time. He was distracted enough that the Captain was able to get in a chaste kiss before the door closed in his face. Kellen felt his face flush, before he covered it.

That damn man. He had no idea why that damn kiss was what made his heart race, given everything the two had gotten up to. What Kellen had admitted to.

Pushing all thoughts that could distract him out of his mind, Kellen set to work calming himself down so that he could go to bed early. If the Captain was going to pick him up at 8 am, he would need to wake up a little earlier so that he could fit in a workout before that.

Finishing his tea, he took his time to relax and stare out the giant windows of his apartment, actually taking time to enjoy the view as night set over the city. Half of the city that knew what had happened hated him, and the other half probably didn’t know what to do with him. But that didn’t mean Kellen didn’t like the city. It was a beautiful place that he had worked hard to protect. He just hoped that they would appreciate all that he had done for them after the press conference aired.

Cleaning up after him and the Captain, Kellen went through the motions of turning off all the lights, making sure the door was locked, the counters were clean, and everything was in its place before heading upstairs. He grabbed a quick shower before brushing his teeth and heading for his closet.

Standing with his hands on his hips, his towel around his neck, and Kellen looked over everything he had. Slowly, he gathered his uniform together, making sure that everything was ready when he came back from the gym. He even made sure to polish his shoes again so that they were shiny and bright for the morning. He glanced at the few boxes he still hadn’t unpacked, and for good reason.

Two of them held his dark history with the Captain, while the other one was his box of sex toys. He hadn’t really used them, but had them for research purposes. He knew how they worked, and had gotten the more expensive ones since they had good reviews, but beyond that, he’d used them in the context of research, and hadn’t touched them since. The clearest example of that was the simple fact that the box, along with the photos and clippings of Captain Thatcher, had been down in the garage instead of in Kellen’s apartment proper.

Honestly, he’d forgotten about them until the Captain had kicked up a stink about him having an emergency stash for the front lines. He also hadn’t forgotten what the Captain had said either.

Moving towards his night stands, he opened the first drawer, pulling out the bottle of lube he had, and the several condoms he had put in there as well. He wasn’t sure what the Captain was into, so he’d gotten a variety pack, and had based the condoms on his own size. He’d even made sure the expiration date was a long ways out. He then went to the other night stand and opened it, revealing the flavoured lube he’d gotten as a free gift when he’d ordered everything in.

Thank goodness no one asked questions when he ordered things for the Field Guides.

Obviously, Kellen would make small ’emergency’ kits for his Guides as well, once they were closer to being ready to be sent to the front lines, but it never hurt to be well stocked. He cleared his throat.

He had a feeling that he would be using these sooner rather than later. Kellen wasn’t scared by that idea anymore. He was getting used to these...practises that he and the Captain were participating in. Kellen found that he didn’t hate them, and they did provide useful information for him. He was learning more about himself, and about the Captain. It would make the higher levels of guiding go easier. Smoother.

Kellen felt his face flush and he sighed, covering it with his hands.

Yes. That’s why he was doing this. That was the only reason. It was because he was his pair, and nothing else.

~

Kellen’s alarm at 5 am came suddenly, but Kellen woke easily. Getting dressed, and grabbing a protein shake on the way out the door, he headed for the gym.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to see Brent at the gym, but he was. Usually he didn’t hit the gym for another hour and a half, yet here Brent was, already sweating. Kellen wondered if there was something wrong, until Brent smiled and waved at him. Maybe he just wanted to work out? Kellen hoped that was the case.

The looks Kellen got from the others in the gym were mixed. Some were still friendly, while others avoided him or even sneered at him. Kellen could tell with every negative interaction that Brent was getting more wound up, but Kellen was fine. Most of the people who were treating him poorly were people he hadn’t spent much time with anyone. And people were allowed to dislike him. It would be exhausting if everyone liked him.

Kellen only stayed in the gym for about two hours before heading back up to his apartment to shower, and get ready. Kellen made sure to take extra care that not a single thread was out of place. His shoes were shined, his leather was all one shake and gleamed, and his clothing he had steamed to make sure there wasn’t a wrinkle in sight.