(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24: What a lovely couple

Unsure of what he was supposed to do and where he was supposed to go, Kellen fell into line behind the Captain. The Captain pushed open the set of double doors at the end of the room, and Kellen was blinded by flashing lights. The sounds of cameras shuttering and people yelling filled his ears, and he was immediately overwhelmed. To the right there was a platform setup with tables and chairs, with a banner behind that covered in the Saturn Guild's logo. Only four seats were at the table, and when Kellen felt like he was going to drop, the Captain grabbed his arm. He stopped him, letting Gunther, who he hadn't even realised had followed them out, go ahead of him. Then he motioned for Kellen to follow the other Esper up the small steps to the tables and chairs. Kellen sat down when Gunther sat down, wedged between the two Espers while the pink eyed lady sat on the far end, filling out the table. Kellen's hands were clenched into fists under the table, his eyes wide as the bright lights flashed all around him.

"Guide Woods, look over here!"

"Captain Thatcher, what do you think of the Nemesis Guild gaining the rights to the new gate?"

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Kellen wasn't feeling well all of a sudden, and the Captain glanced over at the Guide. Suddenly, he felt the Captain's hand cover his own under the table and gave it a squeeze. He turned it over under the table and threaded his fingers through the younger man's, resting the intertwined hands on Kellen's thigh. He smiled down at him, ignoring everything around him easily and Kellen felt his shoulders relax. If the Captain was able to behave as if nothing was happening, Kellen felt like he could too.

"Alright! Settle down everyone. We are happy to take any questions, but I will point at you and we'll go around slowly. Everyone will have a turn, so please be patient." Pink eyes ordered, and quickly everyone settled down. Kellen had no idea how she was able to see among all of these lights, but maybe her powers had something to do with it. She must have pointed at someone because the first question came.

"How did you two first meet?" The voice from the crowd asked. Kellen glanced nervously at the Captain, seeing if he would answer. When he didn't, Kellen licked his lips before opening his mouth.

"We met on the front lines while I was working as a freelance Field Guide." He answered, which caused a stir in the room.

"How long were you a freelance Field Guide?"

"I was a freelance Field Guide for about seven years, give or take. I only recently stepped away from the front lines to settle down and work at a Guiding Center, but, well, you can see how that turned out." He joked with a wry smile.

"I have reports you were retested several times without any changes to your powers. Why now do you think that has changed?" He gulped. Pink eyes seemed upset at the question, but Kellen shook his head. He answered the question before she could berate them for it.

"Well, to answer your question, no, it wasn't that my tests had no changes in them, just that the progress was small. Since we have access to all of my retests we are able to see that over the 12 years that I have been active as a Guide my powers have been growing, but slowly. Yes, my powers have recently taken quite the jump, but I was going to change Classes even if that happened when I was 40." He smiled his best Guide smile to finish the question off, hoping no one prodded.

"You were a C Class Guide before this, correct? How are you finding the changes in Classes different for you?" Kellen puffed his cheeks out, breathing out a shaky breath.

"Oh, well, for one, when I guide now my power is expressed through my eyes like an Esper and other A Class Guides, so that was quite a change for me. I'm also much more efficient than before, which is nice. Beyond that, I'm still learning. I have to increase my calorie intake, since I haven't fully gotten used to what is the right amount of power per guiding session, since there is such a large gap between C and A Class." He kept a smile on his face, like a good little Guide.

"Why did you join Guiding Center B if you were going to end up joining the Saturn Guild? You took the spot from another hopeful Guide." Someone asked and the Captain jumped in to answer this question.

"Let me make something clear. None of this was planned. Yes, Mr. Woods and I have known each other for seven years but even for us we thought a pairing between an S Class Esper and C Class Guide would be too difficult. Mr. Woods was an outstanding C Class Guide, the same way he'll be an outstanding A Class Guide." Kellen's cheeks heated at the clear praise. The Captain nodded at him to continue.

"I worked very hard to become a good enough Guide to be hired at Guiding Center B. I really wanted others to feel comfortable around me and leave feeling relaxed and nurtured. It was through a series of events that the Captain and I met again after having not seen each other for over half a year." The Captain glanced at Kellen.

"Was it really half a year?" He whispered loud enough that Kellen could hear him. He nodded. "Huh. It felt longer. I guess I just missed you." He grinned as Kellen turned bright red. He was teasing him out in the open, and he knew since he'd asked and received confirmation earlier that Kellen wasn't going to go back on his word.

"You suggested that you two had considered a relationship without concern for your compatibility rating before this, but you didn't engage. Why?" Kellen's head was still reeling from the Captain's teasing, so the Captain took pity on him, chuckling as he looked over at the blushing Guide.

"You'll have to forgive Mr. Woods. He's shy when it comes to romance." Chuckles around the room. "That's part of the reason, but there was also his concern about our power imbalances. Mr. Woods has spent most of his life until now as a C Class Guide, which has greatly influenced his opinions on the world. He didn't want anyone to think he was with me because of my status, and he also didn't want anyone to think that I was abusing my power and status to have my wicked way with a C Class Guide who couldn't turn me away."

"Yes, but his parents are quite famous, aren't they?" Someone interrupted and Kellen laughed.

"To you they might be famous, but to me they're just my Mom and Dad. I've never used my last name to get my foot in the door. I've always believed that through hard work I could be recognised for who I am, not who my parents are."

"But you do admit that your parents are famous and that could have given you more opportunities than someone else who was also C Class?" A stir around the room and Kellen felt his smile slip.

"Let me be very clear. My Mother and Father worked very hard for the world during their time, and still do but in a different capacity these days. The fact that they didn't die on the front lines or in gates blows my mind. Considering the advancements I've seen with my own eyes that have been made in the seven years I've been there, and the 15 they've been gone...I'm stunned people survived at all. My parents gave me and my sister everything they thought we would need, and that included making sure we weren't spoilt brats. If we wanted something, we had to work for it. Nothing was simply given to me, even if I cried or screamed for it as a child. Sure, there could have been times when someone could have recognised my Father out and about with his kids and offered sweets or something, but if you are implying that people in high up positions gave my sister and I advantages over others because of who their parents are, you are very mistaken. I am offended that you would even dare suggest it." He glared around the room. "Next question."