(BL) Hunting The Field Guide

Sounds were the first thing that reached him. The constant drone of a familiar beeping, going at a normal, regular pace. Something he was rather familiar with, especially on the front lines. The shifting of fabric, the sounds of others moving beyond where he was, and the soft, worn out sigh of a man who was patient with him.

Kellen opened his eyes slowly, staring up at the folded fabric above him, along with the metal beams that were holding the tent up. He half expected that he'd be back in the city when he opened his eyes. He had a feeling it wasn't off the table, but Taylor, or hell, even Carlos had been convincing. It would make sense if Carlos was on the front lines to keep all of those affected with the poison from the gate in one place.

So he could work on helping them.

Kellen inhaled slowly, feeling the oxygen reach his lungs, how he didn't feel laboured to breathe, before he exhaled, and then a face was in his view. His Captain was still there, still ready and dressed. He didn't look out of place, his eyes still that same unnatural shade, but he looked worn. Tired.

Rhys' hair didn't move as he hovered over Kellen, meeting his gaze and Kellen went to raise his hand to touch his face, but found he couldn't.

His hands were bound at his side, both of them. The one that was uninjured was filled with I.V.s and needles, while his other one was wrapped in bandages and probably the main reason he was bound. So he wouldn't hurt it.

That was when Kellen realised that he still couldn't see out of his left eye, but that had more to do with the fact that he had something on his face. An eyepatch.

"Can you hear me?" Kellen thought his heart was going to drop out of his chest. Rhys' words were soft, delicate. Worried. He was terrified that Kellen wasn't going to be able to hear him again. Kellen could hear it even though he couldn't see it in Rhys' face. He was hiding it from him in case he couldn't hear still.

Kellen swallowed, his mouth feeling dry, like cotton.

"Y-Yeah." He said, his voice catching because his throat was dry. Rhys' eyes widened, before his lips trembled and Kellen felt two wet spots fall on him before Rhys shifted, turning his body so that he could slip his hands up and under Kellen. He was pulling him against his chest, holding the man like he was delicate and easily breakable.

To Rhys, Kellen probably was. He always would be.

"Fuck." Rhys exhaled sharply, holding onto the man and Kellen just laid there, letting the man hold him as he shook, crying as he held Kellen against him. "I never doubted you. I never doubted you." Rhys repeated. Kellen knew he meant it. The man had faith in Kellen in a way that not even his own parents had. That didn't mean that the man wasn't terrified. Terrified of the cost of letting Kellen go and do what he wanted. Do what he needed.

"I know." Kellen told him softly. "Thank you for waiting." Kellen did his best to speak past the rough, cotton texture in his throat. He attempted to wet his mouth, gathering saliva as Rhys continued to cry. He didn't want to ask the man for some water, not when he was breaking down like this.

It felt wrong.

Rhys shuddered at Kellen's words, nuzzling his face into the nook of Kellen's neck, inhaling sharply as Kellen felt his tears dampen his neck and drip down into the sheets on the bed.

"I was so worried. So worried that they wouldn't wake me up. That I would wake up only to hear that something happened. Something bad." Rhys admitted against Kellen's skin, his words rough, fast, and whisper soft. "I couldn't live with myself if you were injured. I can barely live with myself now." Rhys admitted. "Fuck. Kellen. I'm so sorry. I can't believe-" Rhys cut off, choking. "Your hand. Your sister. Kellen, I-" Rhys cut off, shuddering as he tried to gather himself.

Kellen felt his own eyes water at the sheer emotion in Rhys' tone. In his despair. He was the first one to react ironically. Kellen hadn't let himself, nor had Bree allowed herself at the moment. Rhys was the first one to grieve.

"She thought it would be a fun thing to do." Kellen whispered, his voice still rough. He felt like it added to the horribleness of the moment. "She wanted to touch the core. Wouldn't let me or Bree do it." Rhys paused, his grip tightening on him. Kellen could feel what he was thinking, and he knew that the man felt guilt immediately because of what it cost him. Cost her. Kellen laughed. "She knew the risks. I just…" Kellen let out a shaky breath. "I just wish it hadn't been me who had to make the decision." Kellen admitted before he felt his own shoulders shook. "I couldn't lose her." He whispered and Rhys held him tighter against his chest.

"Oh baby." Rhys murmured. "You're her big brother. I know she knows it hurt you too." The way he said that made him realise that maybe…no one else had woken up yet.

"Rhys? Am I the only one awake?" Kellen asked and Rhys didn't pull away to meet his gaze.

"You are. Bree was awake when she came in, but she passed out shortly after we got her onto a bed. She hasn't woken up yet. Taylor is working around the clock with Carlos and Guide Martinez to make sure that they can wake up." Rhys told him, soothing him. Kellen gulped.

"They can wake up?" Kellen asked and Rhys was silent for a moment too long.

"We…don't know, Kellen." He admitted as softly as he could, and Kellen let out a shaky breath.

"Okay. Well, I at least got them out. I found two deceased members. Field Guides." Kellen said and Rhys let out a hiss of air.

"Oh fuck Kellen. I'm sorry." Kellen let out a shaky breath.

"It's okay. It has to be okay. I got…I got two out for sure." Kellen whispered. "I got Gwen out, and another Esper. Did the Esper near the gate come out?" Kellen asked and Rhys sighed.

"Barely. We dragged him out. He came out a day after the gate opened." Kellen was grateful. He didn't know why it took him that long, but that was still something. He'd gotten five out. That wasn't a bad ratio given what kind of hellhole they were going into, and no one being fully prepared.

He was honestly expecting that he wouldn't get that many people, or anyone.

"There's some types of monsters, but the gate really relies on the environment to kill people. I fucking hate pitcher plants. Don't tell Miro." Kellen muttered darkly and Rhys let out a surprised chuckle.

"I'm sure he'll be understanding." Rhys told him, warmth in his tone.

"One of them fell into one. I hurt my hand on one too." Kellen told him and Rhys paused.

"Hmm. He'll have to be understanding then." Rhys said, taking away the option with his tone. Kellen laid there, Rhys practically in the bed with him, holding him and Kellen realised that he wanted more.

"Do you want to get into the bed with me?" Kellen asked softly, and Rhys paused.

"You…don't mind?" Rhys asked, seemingly surprised by Kellen's question and Kellen shook his head.

"Do you want to know the thing I wanted to do when I got out of the gate?" Kellen asked, a small smile on his lips. Rhys finally pulled back to look at Kellen's face. Scan it with that bright yellow gaze. Kellen could almost see how dangerous his condition was, but knew the man would reject him no matter what given the condition Kellen was in if he offered guiding.

"What did you want to do, babe?" Rhys asked softly, watching Kellen as he felt his lips turn up more in a smile.

"I wanted to kiss you. I was worried I was going to poison you though." Kellen told him cheekily, and watched as Rhys' expression fell and the yellow slowly, ever so slowly shifted. Rhys bent, pressing his forehead against Kellen's, the sweat there rubbing against his skin, feeling oddly gritty but real.

It just proved that Rhys was real.

The shaky exhale from Rhys' lips proved that point further.

"You…You care nothing for my heart, do you?" Rhys muttered. "That's what you were thinking about?" He demanded, pulling back slightly to meet Kellen's gaze. Kellen was unrepentant.

"What else was I supposed to think when I saw you standing there, all pretty, and half delirious from toxins in my system? I just spent 6 days or so listening to you call for me in the forest, so I-" Kellen clammed up, realising that he probably shouldn't have mentioned that part at this moment as Rhys' expression darkened.

"You what?" His voice was quiet, dangerous, and Kellen wasn't sure if he was on the verge of crying again, or if he was about to fly into a rage.

"You aren't allowed to go into that gate alone. Or without me." Kellen said quickly, not wanting to test this. Rhys growled.

"Now you're going to tell me that? After the stunt you just pulled?" Rhys was pissed, and Kellen wished he had use of his hands.

"This situation right now is different. You're going to burn the place down. We need to find the bodies or the other survivors." Kellen said quickly. "And I'm fine with you burning it down after. Just…not until we're sure." Kellen told him, and that seemed to appease Rhys.

"You want to be there to see it happen?" Rhys asked, seeming to understand where Kellen was going. Kellen was glad that the man was able to see what Kellen hadn't said, glad that he didn't take it in a way where Kellen was trying to exclude him again.

"Oh, absolutely. Fuck that gate." Kellen said, and Rhys leaned in, pressing his forehead against Kellen's again.

"You…" Rhys dragged on, his voice tapering away before he let out a sigh. "6 days?" He asked softly and Kellen let out an exhale. He'd passed the hurdle, but just barely.

"I knew it wasn't you. You wouldn't call for me from anywhere but the exit." Kellen told him, absolutely sure of that point. Rhys closed his eyes, chuckling.

"Yeah?" Rhys asked and Kellen nodded, sliding his gaze to his lips.

"So, are you going to kiss me now? Or am I still poisonous to you?" Rhys froze at Kellen's words, and before he could answer or do anything, there was a rather awkward throat clearing behind them. Kellen scowled.

Figures.