(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 366

Chapter 366: You shopped without me?

"Are they gone?" Brent’s words were like a dagger in his heart as he arrived in the gym. Kellen had arrived at the Guild and instead of going up to his apartment had gone for one of the lockers in the changeroom and one of the free workout uniforms today. He normally used his own stuff, but he just couldn’t be bothered right now.

He was out of sorts. He’d already had one goodbye today, and he was going to have to say goodbye to this idiot after this as well. He was allowed to not be as perfect as he normally was.

Rhys told him that in the car ride back to the Guild too. Followed by several sweet, toe curling kisses. The kind that he really liked.

"They’re gone." Hill’s voice spoke up behind them and both Brent and Kellen turned. They had been sharing a bench together as Kellen and Brent curled some weights. Brent was just taking it easy, while Kellen had upped the amount he was lifting. Needed to lift.

"I didn’t expect that you’d be here." Brent said, voicing Kellen’s own thoughts. Hill grinned, glancing around the gym at the faces that Kellen was used to, but Hill normally didn’t see in this capacity. She probably saw them in different ways. She waved at a few people before she turned her gaze to Kellen.

Her expression softened.

"Well, how was I going to miss something like this? We’re both going to be gone for a while. I’ll be coming back a week before you, but that’s still a long time. Poor little Kellen will be all on his own, no one around to protect him from the big, bad Captain Thatcher." Hill joked, and Kellen felt his forehead furrow. Brent chuckled.

"I had completely forgotten about that. Casper isn’t going to step in, and Gunther’s...away, and so are your parents. Unless your sister moves into your apartment, you’re on your own, Kellen." They were clearly teasing him, and Kellen didn’t mind it. It was actually nice that they were both here, poking fun at him.

Kellen felt his lips turn up slightly, finishing his curl before he put down his weights.

"What makes you think that at this point, it’s me that’s in danger? What about the Captain?" Brent whistled, and Hill let out a short laugh.

"What? Are you suddenly a beast, Kellen? Brent, did you know about this? Have I been kept out of the loop?" Hill teased, nudging Brent’s leg with her foot. Brent glanced at Kellen, his green eyes squinting before he grinned. He turned on the bench, pulling up one of his legs so that he could rest his elbow on, staring at Kellen.

Kellen grew worried.

"Hmm, not suddenly. Hey Kellen, did those toys we looked at together ever arrive?" Hill’s eyes widened and she turned to stare at Kellen.

"You guys bought toys? Why didn’t you call me! I would have helped!" Brent chuckled, his smirk making Kellen’s face heat.

"Unfortunately, Karen, I don’t think it’s something you could help with. You don’t have the right anatomy." Hill processed Brent’s words, before she gasped and Kellen could see her mind going a mile a minute.

"Wait! Wait wait wait! What part is it? Are they cocksleeves? I could have helped with that? Or insertable toys? I could have helped with that too." Brent’s chuckle grew even louder, and Kellen grumbled.

"Uh, it’s not...those either." Kellen told her and Hill stared at him intently. The longer she stared, the more Kellen felt awkward.

"So it involves your dick." She said and Kellen nodded, knowing that everyone was listening in on him. This was awful. "Huh. I wonder-" She froze, her eyes going wide. Kellen wasn’t sure if what she was thinking was exactly correct, but it felt like she might have been on the right track.

She crouched down, realising how private this conversation was. She spoke quietly, her eyes bright as she looked between Kellen and Brent.

"Is it related to how long you last? In bed?" She asked and Kellen sighed. He covered his face with his hands, took a few deep breaths, before he uncovered his face and met her gaze.

"I’m normal, okay? I did a little bit of research, so I know I’m actually okay. I’m above average, possibly. But, I can’t match with Rhys." Kellen said, and Hill’s lips quivered. She looked like she was trying not to laugh, or giggle, or smile, but she was doing her best to keep a straight face.

"So you’re normal. Rhys is the problem. I see. I think I can understand what you mean. Knowing Rhys...yeah. That makes sense. So, these toys...were along the lines to help you last longer?"

Kellen mulled over Brent’s words, his arm still around Hill’s and her hand giving his a squeeze again. Would it be okay to do that? Kellen hadn’t even slept that much today already, and he’d probably be exhausted at the end of the day. He’d also probably remain awake throughout the night, keeping track of his parents.

It just...didn’t feel right to be doing something like that while he was waiting for news about them.

"I’ll be waiting for news on my parents. I just don’t think that would be a smart, or right thing to do." Kellen said and Brent frowned.

"Ah. I forgot about that. Even though they just left, but, you don’t have to go the whole way? You can just take a bit of happiness for yourself. For Rhys, too." Brent didn’t give up, trying to appeal to Kellen and Hill nodded encouragingly.

"Of course! A little handy, a little sucky, just some small things and you can still keep an eye on your parents." Kellen nearly choked at the way Hill was speaking. A handy? A sucky? Was that a normal way to call it? He felt like his head was spinning since he’d never heard her refer to them like that.

Brent laughed at his expression, the shock on his face, and Hill grinned.

"Maybe too soon to call them that? Well, that’s fine. You have three weeks to adjust. When I come back, I’m going to be throwing all kinds of slang your way, especially since I’ll be around a bunch of younger kids. And the Espers that always remain on the front lines. You know the ones. The cuckoo ones." She made a swirling motion near her ear, and Kellen sighed.

He remembered how crass some of them could be.

Kellen did appreciate how she was talking though. Like she was coming back. Like this wasn’t a big deal. He knew this was a routine thing, and that the new gate had halted everything. He even knew that he was the one who was making this happen. That didn’t mean that he was always confident, especially after sending off his parents, and just facing the realisation that he was going to be alone.

He sighed, and Brent and Hill shared a look before they both smiled.

"Let’s ditch the gym and go get some tea, hmm? We could all use it, and the coffee shop is open earlier today because we’re all leaving for the front lines soon. A nice little goodbye instead of this sobfest." Hill joked, but Kellen just got to his feet with a nod. He wasn’t focusing, and he’d probably need the caffeine to get him through the rest of the day. He was going to be in class when the both officially left, so he was going to take what he could get.