(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 469

Chapter 469: We believe in you

Kellen and Rhys didn’t go to sleep after the bath. They laid in bed, wrapped up in each other’s arms for as long as they could before Kellen had to get up.

He headed for the closet, pulling out his gun cases, his actual uniform with all of the bells and whistles, and began to pull it on. Rhys watched him, silent, but Kellen could feel his gaze on his skin.

Kellen was just missing his boots at this point, opting for the shorter coat since he didn’t know what he’d be walking into when he went into the gate. When Kellen finished tucking his gun into his waistband, he turned, facing Rhys.

The man looked sad. Terribly, irreparably sad. Kellen’s heart squeezed and he moved towards the other man, his footsteps firm. He reached out, grabbing the other man’s head and pressing it against his chest while Rhys wrapped his arms around Kellen.

"This isn’t goodbye." Kellen said softly. "We don’t say goodbye on the front lines. It’s a curse. I will be back. Believe in me." Kellen told him and Rhys just squeezed him more.

"This isn’t goodbye. I...I’ll probably head downstairs and go to sleep. I can’t see you enter the gate. If...When they get notice that you’ve touched the core, I’ll wake up then and wait for you. So you better make it all the way out, Kellen. Or so help me, I’ll go in and find you, and then at least we’ll be together." Rhys told him, the anger in his tone, the desperation in his voice washing over Kellen. Kellen swallowed.

He couldn’t be mad if that happened, but he would do everything within his power to fight against it.

"Okay." Kellen agreed. "You have every right to that, but I won’t let it come to that." Kellen told him. Now that he had his arms around him, he didn’t want to let him go. His heart begged him not to, but he knew he had to.

That didn’t mean he didn’t hesitate.

"Are you going to eat before you leave?" Rhys asked and Kellen nodded.

"I was planning to come back after speaking to Carlos and Sakura, and then leave from the tower." Kellen told him and Rhys exhaled.

"Okay. I’ll make sure you have food then. Come up here. I’ll...I’ll see you off." Rhys told him. "I can’t go to the front lines, since that would leave the city unprotected, but I can see you off." Rhys sounded like a part of him was breaking and Kellen didn’t know what to say. He wanted to beg the man to come in with him, tell him he was sorry, but...

"So you couldn’t ever come with me?" Kellen asked softly and Rhys held his breath before he let out a shaky breath.

"We would have figured it out." He told him and Kellen shook his head. He felt himself smile at the man who was his, who held his heart and just sighed. He pressed his lips against his forehead, pulling away to gently kiss his lips.

"I’ll see you again shortly. I don’t think I’ll be gone long, and I’m armed. Honestly, I kind of wish the E.A.G. would attack me right now. I don’t have any patience for it." Kellen told him and Rhys’ eyes turned up slightly.

"At least you would be able to blow off some steam before you go inside." Rhys joked and Kellen gave him a soft smile. He kissed him again, deeper, harder, before he pulled back.

"I’ll see you soon." Kellen confirmed, heading for the door, forcing himself not to look back at the other man. It would only make this smaller, temporary separation worse. He was going to see him again before he left. This wasn’t goodbye.

~

The air was charged as Kellen moved through the Guild. Everyone who saw him had this strange, choked look on their face that Kellen wasn’t quite able to place. He just assumed that they were mad at him, so he didn’t make any conversation with them. Kellen headed down to the garage and used the car that Rhys had gotten him to get him to the Peach Guild.

Nothing happened on the way, and Kellen was a little happy to see how easy getting through the city was for him. When he pulled up to the Peach Guild and got out he half expected to hear more gunshots, but nothing happened.

Kellen walked into the Guild lobby, and the air shifted. It was like every member knew what Kellen was about to do. They all stared at him, somber, and when he made eye contact with the receptionist, she yanked her phone to her ear, pressing buttons quickly.

It was only a few minutes later that Sakura showed up, marching out of an elevator, short of breath and looking every bit of a mess that she had been over camera.

"Kellen! What are you doing here alone?" She demanded, and it was clear that she expected either Rhys or another Esper to accompany him. Kellen gave a tight smile.

"What do I have to fear right now?" Kellen asked, genuine, and Sakura turned pale. She closed her eyes for a moment, nodded, before she ran a hand over her face.

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