(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51: The forbidden fruit

Kellen and the Captain entered the cafeteria at it’s busiest time. Kellen, one who was usually aware of how others perceived him felt the gaze of everyone in the room like a knife. The Captain, however, was pleased as punch to have everyone looking at them. The led the hesitant Guide towards the line by the hand, his grin from ear to ear.

"Captain! Kellen! You’re both alive!" Kellen turned as Hill’s voice carried over the whole room. Hill got up from where she had been sitting with Gunther and Miro a few tables away. She moved quickly towards the two men she hadn’t seen for several hours. Genuine concern was on her face as she stopped in front of them, looking them over. Noticing that Kellen had a death grip on the Captain’s hand, and that the Captain seemed to be glowing, she narrowed her eyes. Kellen felt worry wash over him as she opened her mouth again. "Did anything happen while you two were out of my sight? Hmm?" Her eyes lit up from inside and her lips turned up in a smirk. "Are you feeling sore today Kellen? Is your body okay? I know you and the Captain are around the same size in height, but that doesn’t always mean that’s true where it matters." Kellen felt his face heat as she patted his shoulder. "I do hope you’re okay. He treated you right? Not too rough?" Instinctively, Kellen who hadn’t known about the mark before, now raised his hand to cover the back of his neck, laughing nervously. He knew what Hill was implying, but he felt that she should be asking the Captain that instead. After all, Kellen pretty much forced himself on him yesterday. The man had every right to complain.

"Hill, that’s so rude. Mr. Woods is a well rounded Guide." Kellen nearly choked when the Captain spoke up, as if he was defending Kellen’s honour. Hill’s eyes widened, before her smirk grew.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I know it’s a sensitive topic between men sometimes." Her tone was actively teasing now, and Kellen, who was still reeling from the Captain’s words, tried to brush everything else away.

"I don’t know what either of you are implying, but, nothing crazy happened. I just had some side effects from overextending myself yesterday and the Captain was kind enough to help me take care of them. Of me." The Captain squeezed Kellen’s hand that he held as Kellen felt his ears go red. Hill snickered.

"He’s right. I took very good care of Mr. Woods. I was unaware that Field Guides had that much stamina, but it was a great honour to be given the duty of taking care of Mr. Woods in his time of need. It took quite a lot of effort on my part to exhaust him, but as you can see, I did eventually tire him out. He slept quite well in my arms." Hill elbowed the Captain as Kellen felt his jaw drop.

"Oh, naughty Captain! I bet it truly was an honour for you." She giggled and Kellen frowned, embarrassed.

"You sound like a pervert, Hill. H-Have some respect. We aren’t all like you." Kellen scolded her, and she frowned at Kellen who didn’t normally attack her like this. The Captain’s shoulders shook with his laughter. The longer the man laughed, the more embarrassed Kellen felt. He knew he was being a hypocrite. His thighs burned from where the Captain had thrust his cock, and his body was covered in bite marks and hickies from the Captain. He knew that she’d done worse, but he felt like a sinner as he called her out on her behaviour while hiding his and the Captain’s bodies. Hill scoffed.

"Oh, I’m sorry, I’m the one who sounds like a pervert? Really? What, did the Captain treat you like a delicate flower and laid you down on a bed of rose petals last night Kellen? Was he your prince in shining armor or some shit? Did you forget who the Captain is?" Kellen’s mouth fell open as she continued, and the Captain didn’t stop her. "He’s an Esper Kellen. We’re greedy, dirty minded people. I bet he has a diary somewhere where he’s written down every nasty thing he wants to do to you."

"Alright, enough teasing Mr. Woods, Hill. He’s had enough of it from me." Kellen shot a look at the Captain, whose face appeared calm, but even Kellen knew that the man was trying to pivot the conversation. That only confirmed Hill’s theory, and her knowing smirk said it all. Kellen had a feeling that if he ever found that diary, the things that the Captain had said to him would sound like child’s play.

"Alright. Whatever you say Captain Thatcher. I’ll stop for today." She winked at Kellen and he sighed. His face grew grave.

"Tomorrow it is then." He stated, causing Hill to laugh. Her eyes smiled at him as she stared at the Guide.

"Come join us at our table once you get your food. Casper’s on his way up with the new Field Guide too." Hill told them before bouncing away to the other two lieutenants. The pair continued to move through the line while Kellen pushed away how torturous tomorrow was going to be. Grabbing two trays, since he knew he would need it after skipping several meals, Kellen loaded the trays up with three meals each. The Captain, being the kind soul that he was, grabbed the same drinks that Kellen had picked out when they had last eaten together. Kellen, noticing the drinks on his tray, shot the Captain a grateful smile as the Captain rested his hand on the Guide’s lower back, keeping contact with him since Kellen’s hands were full. He kept his hand there even as the two of them left the line and went to join the others at their table. Kellen’s chest felt warm at the small gesture of kindness.

Sitting down at the table, the Captain added the drinks he’d grabbed for the Guide to his trays while Kellen began to devour the food in front of him. To anyone unused to this, like Miro, it was like watching a snake unhinge their jaw and shove something impossibly large into their mouth. Miro was in shock witnessing this, while Gunther and Hill behaved as if this was normal. Kellen had just finished one tray when Hill noticed the other Guides enter the cafeteria. The Guides didn’t notice the group right away so Kellen had a moment to observe them.

Brent was calm, wearing the Guild’s Guide uniform as if he’d always worn it. He had his prosthetic on today, and his gloves on as well. hair slicked back, his face was partially turned away from Kellen, hiding his scar from his view as he spoke to Casper. Casper had his hair spiked in every direction possible. His glasses were clean, his jacket was falling off of one shoulder but he seemed relaxed. Kellen was glad that at least the two of them seemed to be getting along. Especially since he had been so out of it for the last several hours.

When they noticed the group and that Kellen was with them, the two seemed relieved as he waved at them mid bite.

"Thank god you’re okay. We’ll grab some food and then you have to let us know what happened." Brent warned as they approached before dragging Casper towards the line. Hill chuckled.

"I like him. He doesn’t beat around the bush." Kellen snorted at her words.

"Oh? Who did you use for your control group?" He asked and Kellen scoffed.

"I’m never going to publish my findings since it’s such a niche topic, and I also did the experiment unethically. I never asked anyone for their permission, therefore, I’m not ratting myself out. It’s obvious you’re going to know who they are, and you already appear upset about it. Why? Did you think that I sent people your way?" Kellen asked, watching the Captain’s face close off slightly. Kellen had been making fun of him and hadn’t expected to be correct. Hill was still laughing off to the side.

"Why would I think that, Mr. Woods? You avoided me like the plague on the front lines. It would have been obvious if you had done such a thing." Kellen smirked, but said nothing further, making the man even more curious. "Wait, did you? Kellen Woods, did you send people my way thinking I would sleep with them as part of some research you were conducting?" Kellen laughed at the desperate tone in his voice. Kellen couldn’t tell if he was upset, or flustered. It might have been a bit of both.

"I will put your worries at ease, Captain Thatcher. No, I did not do that. I’ll even tell you I didn’t use any S Classes or Captains for my research. There? Feel better?" He teased, a soft smile on his face as he glanced over at the Captain. Captain Thatcher narrowed his eyes at the Guide who was driving him insane.

"Do you remember what I promised you last night, Mr. Woods?" Kellen wasn’t sure what he meant, and the Captain could tell by his blank expression. He reached down, giving the man’s ass another squeeze. "I wonder how it would look if I did it while we were somewhere public?" He whispered, well aware that everyone at the table could hear him. Kellen’s face lit up.

"Are you threatening me right now?" He whispered back fiercely. The Captain chuckled.

"No Mr. Woods. I’m making a promise. If you ever make me think you included me in a test of some kind like that again, I will follow through with it." Kellen’s jaw dropped, stunned. The Captain leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his cheek. "Anyway, please keep in mind that you should keep your teasing to a minimum Mr. Woods. We wouldn’t want Guide Jameson to turn his back on you while you’re in a gate." The Captain smirked down at the flustered expression on Kellen’s face. Kellen fixed himself rather quickly, responding to the provocation.

"He likes me too much to leave me for dead." He told him, and the Captain chuckled, reaching out to ruffle his hair.

"Good. I would hate to lose you because you picked a fight you shouldn’t have." Gunther turned his head away as Kellen narrowed his eyes up at the glittering yellow gaze. How dare this man imply that Kellen couldn’t handle himself, and that he had pushed the Captain to the edge. They had been talking about a lighthearted research project he’d done on the front lines. What had him so upset?