(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Worry about only me

The Captain was on a mission.

He rushed the two of them to the cafeteria and ordered food for delivery, all while chatting to Hill and Gunther in a group call. At the same time, he had his arm around Kellen like a leash. He wasn’t going to let him escape, and Kellen could feel everyone’s eyes on him.

Most of them were hostile, or sympathetic. It wasn’t a great feeling, but the Captain wasn’t giving Kellen enough time to stew in it. He was making sure they didn’t idle in one place long enough for them to get caught in a conversation. He even breezed past the A Class gym when others had clearly spotted them. They seemed stunned that the Captain had done so, while Kellen just looked at them apologetically.

The Captain was still on the phone when they approached Kellen’s apartment. Kellen wondered briefly if this was where the Captain actually wanted to take him, or if he wanted to go to his apartment, but he was still on the phone. Kellen didn’t want to interrupt him, since it did seem he was busy working. It sounded like a very serious conversation between the three of them.

Opening the door with his key card, Kellen took off his shoes, lining them up in the closet, before taking off his longer jacket and hanging it up in the closet. After making sure they were neatly put away, he pulled on his downstairs house slippers.

He heard the door close behind him, so he knew that the Captain had entered. The Captain had released his hold on him once he had stepped into the apartment. After all, there weren’t a lot of places Kellen could run here.

Glancing at the Captain, who had wandered into the kitchen but was still on the phone, Kellen shrugged and headed upstairs. He began pulling off the leather straps that criss crossed his body as he made his way up, listening as the Captain’s voice got further and further away the more he climbed.

Opening his door, he headed for the closet and opened the drawer that he kept the straps in. There were several other sets, all of varying sizes, but this was his largest size. Again, he worried that he was going to have to get a bigger set made. Closing that drawer, he looked around the closet and felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

He knew he didn’t have a lot of clothes before this. After all, he had lived out of two duffle bags for seven years, but after shopping with the Captain, and the clothes having arrived, the closet actually was starting to feel lived in. But, this was where Kellen came to a dilemma. Should he put on one of the outfits that the Captain bought him, or should he wear his normal clothes? He had been mixing and matching the things the Captain had bought him with his normal clothes, but he wasn’t sure if the Captain would be upset if he saw him dressed that way.

It was a little embarrassing to admit that he had so little clothing before the Captain, even if the Captain knew that. At least, now it feels embarrassing. Kellen had no idea why, since he had been perfectly fine with the fact that he didn’t have a lot before the Captain. It hadn’t been possible to have a variety of clothing while on the front lines.

Sighing, rolling his shoulders, Kellen decided he’d stick to what he knew. He pulled off his two shirts, tossing them into the laundry bin. He would put on a pair of pants that the Captain had got him, while wearing one of his own t-shirts. Black on black was fine, and the Captain might not even notice that he’d gotten Kellen the pants he selected. Why would he?

"Who said you could run away from me?" The Captain’s voice from behind Kellen made him jump. He spun, shirt off, pants on but unbuttoned, to face him.

He had entered the room quietly, and had a rather serious expression on his face. He was frowning, his eyebrows were drawn, and his eyes were bright yellow. His arms were crossed as he looked Kellen over, and Kellen felt his hands creep up and cover his nipples. It was instinctual, and Kellen watched as his lip twitched. "Why are you covering yourself? I’ve already seen all of it." Kellen’s face heated at his words.