(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Two kids in a candy store

Once Kellen had eaten, and maybe calmed down a little bit, he allowed the Captain to massage his legs on the couch while Brent surfed through the channels on the T.V. Kellen paid him no mind as the Captain worked.

It was a blissful morning for him after everything he’d been through.

When he felt better, he dragged the two men to the coffee shop, ordered several expensive teas which only made Brent laugh at him, and took them all to a comfy seat by the window to enjoy them. The Captain, who hadn’t often seen, or seen this side of Kellen at all, was delighted that he was showing this side to him. Brent, who’d spent 3 years covered in blood, mud and shit with the man had often seen Kellen like this, but held his tongue. No matter how much he wanted to tease him, Kellen had been through some shit over the last week and he needed a break. Being a little selfish wasn’t a bad thing, and in his opinion, he needed to be more selfish.

So Brent kept his mouth shut, sipped on the iced drink the Captain had so kindly paid for, and watched the magic unfold of Kellen slowly working his way into a serious relationship with the Captain of the Saturn Guild. Without his knowledge. Brent was going to lose his mind when it actually became official. He just wondered if Kellen was going to realise his feelings before or after.

Kellen, who now felt better, and his legs didn’t shake like a newborn anymore, wanted to do something. Anything. That was when he remembered the obstacle course. Brent hadn’t seen it yet, and someone had suggested that the Captain had been upset he hadn’t seen Kellen run through it last time, so now was the perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone.

"Brent, do you want to see something cool?" Brent, who knew Kellen’s definition of ’cool’ was wide, raised an eyebrow.

"Sure?" He said and Kellen chugged his last drink. The Captain, who had been dragged along like some kind of coin purse, watched everything with amusement. Kellen, who was currently upset by any expression the Captain made, even if it was an innocent smile, narrowed his eyes at the man.

"Then let’s go. Are you coming, Captain Thatcher?" The Captain’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as he finished his drink. He’d ordered a bright pink lemonade concoction that made Kellen’s teeth ache. It only proved the two of them had different tastes. The Captain, all long legs wrapped in tight jeans, uncrossed his legs and stood. Kellen was still bitter, as he gave the man a one over. He was still angry that he looked so good, and that he was fine. Kellen knew he hadn’t been the only one...the only one climaxing, but the Captain was fine. He was still angry about it. Were Espers and Guides that different? Fuck.

"Of course, my dear Guide. You two lead the way and I shall follow behind." Kellen tossed him a dirty look over his shoulder as he crossed the coffee shop towards the elevator. unaware that the sweatpants he’d selected to wear hugged his ass quite nicely, and the Captain was enjoying the view. Brent kept his laughter to himself, well aware it would get him punished later if he didn’t.

The Captain received a call while they were on their way to the obstacle course room, and Kellen’s anger simmered down once more. The Captain was a busy man, but yesterday he had spent the whole day with Kellen. He’d accepted no phone calls, nothing. It had been just about Kellen. It made him feel guilty. He was the Captain of a Guild, he didn’t belong to just Kellen.

He didn’t belong to Kellen at all.

A sharp pain in Kellen’s chest had him rubbing the spot in confusion, but he ignored it.

The three of them arrived at the obstacle course and no one was around. The Captain was still on the phone, and waved the two excited Guides on their way. Brent’s eyes had grown to the size of saucers, and sparkled like a kid in a candy store. Kellen had a feeling that was almost exactly what he had looked like when Casper had taken him here. Kellen waved Brent on so that he could look it over, and Kellen chuckled to himself. He could tell that Brent was checking his prosthetic to make sure it was in perfect condition so he could run the course. Kellen couldn’t blame the man, he was thinking about the same thing.

It was around the time that another, newer prosthetic usually arrived for Brent at the front lines. The duo had never discussed it, since Brent wasn’t one to talk about himself, but it was clear that no matter if Brent was trying to run away from the people in his past, some still cared about him. Otherwise, Brent wouldn’t open those packages with such a tender look on his face. It gave Kellen some comfort. He hated the thought that Brent’s childhood had been straight awful. The same way that Kellen didn’t pry into Brent’s past was the same way that neither of them spoke about Brent’s path to destruction he’d been on since Kellen had met him. It was like the man had hoped to stop coming out of the gates. Kellen had never pried, but had beaten the shit out of him a few times when he got too close.

He hoped that he was making the right choice by bringing Brent away from the front lines right now. Kellen hadn’t thought about what Brent would be like once Kellen left the front lines. Now, actually looking over Brent for the first time since he’d gotten here, he realised Brent had had serious bags under his eyes. He had looked exhausted and unapproachable in his memories of when he’d first seen him. Now? Now Brent seemed at least rested, and the bags were mostly gone. His gaze seemed a little brighter, and like Kellen, he had filled out a little more. Kellen just worried now about how he was mentally, but he was hesitant to ask. What if Brent didn’t want to talk about it? What if it made Brent not like him anymore? What if he was too nosy?