(BL) Hunting The Field Guide

Kellen felt a bit more of himself as he stood beside Rhys, watching as the rest of their Guildmates rushed around making sure the vehicles were in working order, and all of Taylor's requests, no, demands were put in place. That was what happened when you had injured people.

The medics took complete control like tyrants.

Not that Kellen thought Taylor was a tyrant. She wasn't one of those healers who got off on the power imbalance between her and the other members. She just liked to make sure people were safe. And she liked money.

It was a strange thing, watching one of his friends succumb to a 'classic' vice. It was a common one, so at least it was easily manageable. Kellen hadn't realised how bad it had gotten until he was with her pretty consistently. Taylor also didn't make it a big deal, but because he was with Rhys he saw a bit more of her true nature.

All of this was to say that Taylor had demanded a raise in a fit of rage as she was checking a bed that one of the unconscious members was supposed to travel in, and Rhys hadn't even hesitated to agree with her in front of their people. Taylor had flushed, realising she had made a scene for no reason, grumbled, and then pulled her hair up into an even tighter bun before continuing her work.

They were moving out today. It was time to head back into town. They had to go back now, especially since Sergei was awake, and functional. The second part was very important given that was the whole reason Kellen had been asked to tell him the news about Brent.

Sergei wasn't turning down Guides anymore. To their face or rejecting them subconsciously either. Now that he knew that Brent was alive, just far enough away that he couldn't go grab him easily, he was better. His colour had returned to his face, or as much as it could. He was basically a ghost who haunted the front lines on a good day, but the tension around his eyes was gone, and determination had taken its place.

Brent had no idea who was coming his way, and his family had no idea that Brent had an S Class Esper who was willing to do anything to get him back. His family had no idea how deep of a connection their little black sheep had formed with the outside world.

Kellen was determined to make it all land with a bang.

Hell, maybe Kellen would still have his eyepatch then. How fitting would it be for Kellen to roll up, eyepatch on, savior of his city, only to swoop in and steal the other half of his partnership? He'd probably look cool as hell.

Maybe they wouldn't even realise he wasn't an Esper until one of their shitty little people realised who Kellen's parents were? Oo, that would be a nice touch. Or maybe Aunt Dina would be at his side. She would love to help out, given the circumstances. It was a problem that they had an Esper with teleporting capabilities, but he would figure it out.

He wasn't scared to get a little bloody rescuing his friend.

Rhys would be a little angry about the potential miscommunication about Kellen and Brent's relationship if he came in to save him the way that he wanted to, but he was sure that he wouldn't hold the tabloids against Brent. Or Kellen. Knowing Rhys, he'd take it out on Brent's family.

Maybe he could even get Sergei to play into it too.

Kellen was chuckling to himself as he watched over the others being moved into the vehicles now that Taylor had inspected them, Carlos on standby.

Sakura had headed back first thing in the morning, leaving Carlos and Isabella in their hands. After Kellen had displayed how well he managed him, she felt relieved to do so. Carlos had sent her off with a middle finger that she reciprocated.

At least they liked each other enough to work together.

"Are you feeling okay? No tiredness?" Rhys asked, his hand tightening on Kellen's waist. The man hadn't let Kellen out of his line of sight, and Kellen couldn't even get mad at the man over his treatment. Kellen liked that he was fussing over him. He liked that the man cared about him, and wanted him to be in good condition.

Kellen leaned back, pressing his head back against his chest with a soft sigh. His injured hand was still wrapped up, but Taylor had put it in a padded sling so that it wasn't in the way. His poisoned injuries were taking a lot longer to heal, especially since he needed the work of Taylor and Carlos together.

If it had just been a regular injury they wouldn't need Carlos involved, but because the poison was so potent…well, it was also a reason why the others weren't waking up. At least, that was the strongest theory that they had. He was sure that Rhys seeing him like this was doing something to his Esper sensibilities, and Kellen wasn't a monster. He would cut the man some slack.

"I'm better because you're here." Kellen told him honestly, not doing any lip service. It was nice to have Rhys around. Knowing that he was actually here, it wasn't all in his head. Sometimes he woke up from a nightmare thinking he was still in the gate and would only relax when he felt the warmth of Rhys' skin against his own.

The man was never far, as if he could sense Kellen's quiet insecurities. Kellen was sure it was because the man also felt insecure as well.

"Ugh. Get a room." Hill complained from across the clearing. "I don't need to hear such mushy shit." She sounded disgusted, but Kellen could see how wide her smile was from across the cleaning. As if to piss her off more, Rhys pulled Kellen close and planted a kiss on his cheek. Hill flipped him off. "Oh, rub it in! Sorry I can't be as happy as you fuckers!" Hill was being anything but professional, crouched down and giving them both a middle finger.

Kellen laughed, his cheeks creasing with his smile as he felt Rhys' lips tilt up against his skin. His grip tightened on Kellen's waist as he pulled him closer and he flipped off Hill as well. She gasped, covering her chest like she'd been shot.

"Captain Thatcher!" She screeched, offended and Kellen laughed harder. It was supposed to be a tense situation. Kellen was supposed to be filled with worry and fear, but he just wasn't able to do it when he had people like this around him. Especially since he trusted everyone with his life, and had faith in them.

Taylor was never going to let him down. And Carlos? He had no choice. Rhys would never abandon him, and Hill? She would always do what was right. Even if it meant that she butt heads with Kellen or even a damn S Class Esper. She had a spine made of steel.

He wasn't worried.

"Rhys Thatcher, be nice to your lieutenants." Kellen scolded, and Rhys let out a loud, heavy sigh.

"She's not even my favourite." Rhys complained, and Hill let out a shocked gasp.

"What? Who is it? It better not be fucking Gunther!" She shouted, staying away from them still. Rhys chuckled.

"It's Miro." He said and Taylor, who wasn't quite a lieutenant, but wasn't not a lieutenant, tsked as she passed them.

"Oh. Is that right? The little plant guy?" She demanded, sounding angry before she gave a frustrated sigh. "I can't even get really mad about that. Miro's the best." She mumbled, and Hill groaned too.

"That's a low blow. Who the hell would get mad that you selected Miro?" Hill sounded just as bitter as Taylor did. Rhys laughed.

"That's exactly the point. Now focus on your work. We're leaving here in a half an hour." Rhys reminded them, and Kellen shook his head. He was glad that they got along as well as they did, and he could tell that the rest of the Guild felt the same way.

The tension had been thick enough to cut with a knife before, but now it was soft, more casual. Everyone was feeling a lot better after listening to their higher ups banter like that.

"You three are so silly." Kellen told him with deep affection. "Come here. I want to kiss you." Kellen told him and Rhys' eyes widened before he tugged Kellen over between two vehicles so that they could have some privacy.

"We can't have anyone watching you kiss me. I rarely get a Kellen that's so hands on outside of the apartment." Rhys murmured, pulled Kellen against his body gently. Kellen's arm was a warm reminder that he wasn't quite well, but that he'd made it out.

They had made it through this trial, and Kellen wasn't about to let it stop him. They had only just started living their lives together. Had only just started getting to know each other.

Gwen was still unconscious along with the other members of the Saturn Guild who had been sucked into the gate, Brent was…misplaced, but they at least knew where he'd been misplaced to. The damn gate…they hadn't closed it, but they had bought themselves some time. There were still people missing inside of it.

Gunther was still missing after leaving a cryptic message for Rhys to find, the E.A.G. was still a beast breathing down the back of everyone's neck. There were so many dangerous things waiting for them, but Kellen didn't care.

Not when he had Rhys in his arms, alive, well, and so damn sexy that Kellen didn't want to resist his attraction to him. They had each other. They would always have each other, and he knew that while Rhys wouldn't let Kellen get away with everything, he wasn't going to try to stop Kellen from helping others.

They were in this together. They were going to be a pair, a partnership that just like his parents, others would talk about and envy. Kellen was never going to be the kind of Guide who sat back and let an Esper take over for him. Rhys wasn't the kind of man who wanted a Guide who would let him take over either.

He wanted Kellen, bruises and all, and Kellen felt the same.

This was just the end of a chapter, an end of the first half of their story. Kellen couldn't wait for the second half to start.

He couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life loving the man who looked at him like he was his whole reason for living, and now he just needed to make sure Rhys understood that it was a two way street. There was no way that Kellen was going to let this man go, not anymore. He belonged to Kellen.

Kellen Woods and Rhys Thatcher were a package deal from this moment on.