(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221: An S Class is always an S Class

The next morning felt more normal than Kellen felt it had any right to.

He didn’t go to the gym, but he woke up in the Captain’s arms as if it was the most normal thing to do. With the Captain’s help, he made breakfast, got dressed in his Guild uniform, and after they were both dressed, teeth brushed, and primped to proper Guild standards, they left Kellen’s apartment.

It was...odd how easily it had happened. Like it was always meant to be this way. Kellen wasn’t sure if that was the case, but it made Rhys smile.

It was hard to get Rhys to smile all morning. He kept watching Kellen limp around the kitchen or the closet with a pained expression on his face. Kellen thought it was ridiculous. Yes, he had been hurt, but he was still able to move. That was all he could ask for.

His Dad was alive, and so was everyone else he cared about. An injury like this? Nothing. Especially since they were going to get the motherfuckers who did this.

Kellen was messaging Casper to get a morning debrief as they headed down the first elevator. He was, of course, in the Captain’s arms since the man refused to let him stand or walk for too long. Kellen knew he was being overprotective, but it did hurt, so he was going to let him do it until Taylor told him otherwise.

Which hopefully, was going to be soon. Since they were both headed for the Medical Bay. Kellen had two missions there. Make sure that his Mom ate breakfast, and check on his and his Dad’s conditions. Technically that was three, but Kellen roped in the two injuries since they happened so close together.

At least in his mind. It didn’t matter what others thought.

"How is the team holding up?" Kellen asked the Captain as the doors opened to the A Class gym floor. When the Captain didn’t speak right away, Kellen glanced up from his phone to stare at the man who wasn’t making eye contact with him. "Please tell me you didn’t hurt some of the team members while you were upset." Kellen said, and Rhys chuckled. A slightly bitter smile crossed his expression.

"Is that what you think of me? Of course I didn’t do that. They were very helpful in getting you to safety. No, I’m just...I think Casper and Gunther had a falling out, and I’m not quite sure how to go about it. Plus, Hill is...there is something wrong there as well. The only people acting normally are Miro, and Guide Jameson." What the hell was up with Taylor and Pamela? Or did he just not include them for a specific reason?

In Taylor’s defense, she was trying to save her second Father’s life, so she was bound to be a little...on edge. But Pamela? Why was she-?

Oh.

Rene and his Mom were good friends. That probably impacted how she was doing as well.

"Fuck. That’s not good." Kellen responded, and Rhys nodded. He took his time walking down the hallway between the two sets of elevators. The glass wall showing the inside of the gym. It was practically barren, and Kellen worried about that.

"This isn’t normal." He muttered and Rhys made a noise of agreement in his throat. At the sound, Kellen jerked his gaze towards him. "You know the reason?" Kellen asked. It would be a terrible situation if the Guild Captain didn’t know the reason.

"We’re on high alert, Kellen. You were attacked." Kellen blinked, not comprehending what Rhys was saying and Rhys chuckled. He pressed his nose against Kellen’s throat, inhaling the scent of the soap that covered both of their bodies. "You’re my pair, and someone tried to kill you. Of course we’re going to be on high alert. Or did you forget how important you are to me?" Kellen’s eyes widened at his serious question, before he felt his face flush.

Placing his phone face down on his lower stomach, Kellen turned away and covered his mouth with one hand. He was shocked. He hadn’t...he’d never been treated like this before. Was it bad that he’d gotten used to treating near death experiences as...normal?

He hadn’t batted an eye when the scouting party had all but been turned to shreds, but had reacted badly to his Dad being attacked. He’d give himself that one. Anyone would have reacted poorly, and Kellen believed he’d done well in the end. His Dad was still alive, after all.

It was a long way to say that Kellen hadn’t expected Rhys to care about him getting injured. Well, he expected him to care, but not this much. This almost felt excessive, but then Kellen had to remind himself that he was now the pair of an S Class Esper.

It was clear that everyone was shocked to see them there. Kellen couldn’t blame them. When the two of them had last been there together, it had been long after the regular customers had left, and even the staff had gone home for the night.

Kellen just hadn’t expected the several gasps in shock, nor the way that some of the staff appeared to start crying. It made Kellen uncomfortable, but he wasn’t going to embarrass them. He glanced at Rhys to see his expression stony, and Kellen was surprised that he was the one who was supposed to calm him down. Rhys had been so well behaved before now, but maybe he was a little...antsy. Kellen couldn’t get mad at him for caring about him. At least, not so early in the morning.

"Rhys. They’re civilians, or as good as. Calm down." Kellen muttered quietly, and Rhys closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths. His grip tightened on Kellen, and Kellen said nothing. Neither of them had spoken about the handprint bruises on Kellen’s body. Kellen wasn’t even sure where to start with them, honestly.

"I’ll...try." He whispered, and that was all Kellen could ask for.

They got through the ordering process with minimal bloodshed. There was a moment when someone got too close to Kellen while in Rhys’ arms, and Kellen had to reel him in. It was the most Rhys had acted like an S Class in the general public that Kellen had seen.

He didn’t like it, but he understood why. Rhys would need a talking to about his behaviour, but he knew it would be pointless until Kellen fully healed. Kellen could allow him a day of behaviour like this, but he had a feeling he would have a shorter fuse tomorrow.

That was for tomorrow’s Kellen. Today’s Kellen had a lot on his plate. Casper had gotten back to him while he was waiting in line, and sent well wishes to him and his Dad. It was appreciated, and a small part was kicking himself for not sending Casper to his Dad. Maybe if he had, the attack wouldn’t...

No, it was pointless to think like that. Worrying about the what if’s could send a person in a spiral, and Kellen didn’t have time for that. Between the gate, the assassination attempt, the lack of Guides, and whatever else the world was going to throw at him, Kellen had his hands full. Fake situations weren’t going to help him right now.

So, settling his Mom’s breakfast into his lap, he sent his trusty steed off to the Medical Bay. Rhys even neighed and everything, causing Kellen to almost spill his Mom’s tea all over himself. The damn fool.