(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 307

Chapter 307: A pouty Esper

The rest of the evening went well. The Guides split the remaining food amongst them fairly, and then settled down to eat with the others.

Kellen and Rhys sat with each other in a very similar fashion that his parents were sitting with each other. Rhys had kind of wrapped Kellen around himself in a way that made sure Taylor didn’t yell at them for hurting his wound. Kellen could feel the way that Taylor was looking at him though, her gaze razor sharp.

With that being said, it appeared as if everyone was having a good time. Kellen and his Dad were clearly worrying about if everyone had enough food, but it appeared that everyone had a full plate, they were happy, and the conversation was flowing.

Kellen, who now had time to think about what he experienced while remaining mostly silent while everyone chatted to each other, had a moment to self reflect. He’d messed up. He had thought that he hadn’t behaved like Casper or Hill or Taylor, but that appeared to not be the case.

He had pushed himself too far, and everyone else had watched it, like he had done with the others, and they had been waiting for him to crash. Kellen didn’t feel like he’d done a complete crash, but he certainly had landed rather roughly.

Rhys shifted below him, getting more comfortable as he chatted to Hill and Pamela, and Kellen stared at him, his expression contemplative. While Rhys had certainly had a moment in the car, he was behaving almost normally now. Kellen wasn’t sure if he liked that.

Was Kellen being too vulnerable with him now? Did Rhys feel like he couldn’t confide in him anymore? Was he coming off as if he couldn’t support his partner? All these thoughts filled his head, and he was happy that he had finished eating because he wasn’t sure if he could raise the fork to his mouth again.

His stomach was churning. He felt full of...panic? The same feeling that had filled him when he couldn’t talk or move, but not to the same level. He just...felt. He couldn’t really put a finger on it.

"Kellen." It was Gwen’s voice, and he turned his head, meeting her gaze. She had moved over, close enough to him that she could speak softly. Kellen looked over his sister, still in her sweats that she wore for her training but her eyes bright. He wondered if she had been with Gunther all day. He wondered how Gunther was doing.

He hoped he was doing okay. God, that was going to be an awkward conversation. An awkward several conversations, honestly.

"Yeah?" Kellen said, his head feeling like a jumbled mess. While he was happy that he had invited everyone over for dinner, he felt that maybe he wasn’t good company. From the way that Gwen was looking at him, her grey eyes all soft and warm, she had some kind of feeling about it as well.

"You dumbass. Why didn’t you tell me about what was going on?" She accused, but her tone didn’t hold as sharp of a bite as he was expecting. Kellen sighed.

"Because you’re a new recruit? Even if you are my sister, I can’t tell someone so fresh into the Guild, into this kind of life, about details of a situation like this." Kellen told her and Gwen rolled her eyes.

"You could just warn me without any information, Kellen. I would have liked to know that my elder brother was going to be put in danger. Obviously I would have been with our parents if that was the case. That being said, I’m just glad that you’re back in one piece. You’re still an asshole though." Gwen patted Kellen’s shoulder a little too hard and Kellen did wince, just to make her feel bad.

She rolled her eyes, knowing it was just for show. Kellen felt his lips twitch.

"Well, next time a terrorist organisation openly tries to kill our Dad, I’ll let you know that I’m about to do something about it." Kellen told her and she sighed.

"Well, hopefully next time someone so bold decides to act I’ll have enough sway that they wouldn’t even think of that. Two powerful children? No one would want to mess with our parents then." Gwen puffed out her chest, her eyes bright and Kellen felt his heart squeeze.

He knew it was silly, but he just had a feeling that she was growing up. She had joined the Guild that she had wanted to, she had several friend groups that she spoke with, she was excelling in her training. She was her own person now, and Kellen felt a small moment of loss. She wasn’t going to need him anymore.

"Well, I would argue that we were powerful before this happened, and they still attacked us. How much more powerful are you thinking of getting? Are you going to run off and make your own Guild?" Kellen teased and watched as Gwen’s eyes sparkled and she smacked her fist against her open palm.

"Why didn’t I think of that? Most people don’t really mess with Captains, do they?" Her grin felt infectious, and Kellen had to fight a smile. Kellen shrugged.

"I wouldn’t know. Why don’t you ask a Captain and see what they have to say?" Kellen suggested and felt Rhys tense underneath him. His lips did fully turn up at that when Rhys cleared his throat. Gwen laughed.

"Oh, I should do that! Do you think Sakura would be open for a conversation?" Gwen laughed as Rhys started to grumble.

"Hey, what do you mean that you’re going to Sakura? Gwen, get back here!" Gwen laughed as she moved out of Rhys’ range, avoiding the arm he used to try and grab her. She stuck her tongue out, laughing as she spun and moved over towards Casper, Hill and Pamela. "That brat." Rhys grumbled, but Kellen knew it was good natured.

"No. I just want your help." Rhys told him and Kellen’s Mom laughed.

"I feel that that might be our cue to head out everyone. Rhys needs his Kellen time, and I would never want to overstay my welcome. Who knows what I’d walk in on, hmm?" Kellen felt his face heat, not expecting that from his own Mom. Gwen made a disgusted noise in the distance.

"Ew, gross. Don’t even suggest that. I don’t want to know. Same way I don’t want to know what my parents get up to." Kellen’s Mom smiled brightly.

"It’s completely normal and natural, Gwen." Gwen threw her hands up.

"Ew. Gross. That’s entirely enough. I’m heading out. A few of my friends wanted to go out drinking anyway. Anyone want to come? Charlie? Brent? Casper?" She raised her eyebrows, offering and Brent grabbed Charlie, and then grabbed Casper, dragging both of them.

"Charlie isn’t allowed to drink, Doctor’s orders, but we should absolutely go out." Brent said with a grin. "Don’t worry, to all parents in the room, I’ll make sure they got home in completely messed up states and well past their bedtimes." Brent promised while Charlie and Casper looked flustered and confused.

"Um, I don’t think-" Casper started and Brent Gwen zipped her lips.

"Absolutely not, Guide Casper. You’re in our hands now, and as my Dad has basically taken both of you in as my siblings, I’m going to take this chance to corrupt both of you." Gwen smirked, before saluting the room and the four of them left. Pamela let out a sigh.

"Poor Cas. He’s going to be so hungover tomorrow." She muttered and Taylor snorted.

"Good. I think he needs it. Gwen’s a fun time. She’ll keep his mind off of Gunther." Kellen agreed. While he hadn’t predicted this turn of events, or that they’d take Charlie with them, it would be good for the both of them to go out with Brent and Gwen. He had a feeling that Hill might somehow escape and go join them at some point, but Kellen wouldn’t be able to.

He had a Captain to comfort.