(BL) Hunting The Field Guide
Chapter 442: The seventh day after everyone arrived on the front lines

Chapter 442: The seventh day after everyone arrived on the front lines

It was the morning after Kellen got back from the gym that Kellen found Rhys sitting at the island, staring at a cup of tea with a blank look on his face. When Kellen came into the apartment, Rhys looked up before he gave him a smile. It wasn’t his normal one, and Kellen knew that something wasn’t quite right.

"Hey. What happened?" Kellen asked, moving towards Rhys and placing his hand on his shoulder. Rhys sighed, placing his hands over his face as he let out a deep sigh.

"I didn’t want to tell you last night because you went out for dinner with your parents, but...they’re dead. All of the people we captured. They had hidden poison on them and Hill...Well, let’s just leave it at that." Rhys said. Kellen felt his gut twist.

That wasn’t good. If he said it like that, that told him that some of them hadn’t died that way. Kellen pulled out the stool next to him and sat down, taking Rhys’ hand in his own and giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Are you worried about those who are still on the front lines?" Kellen asked. Rhys sighed, nodded, and turned to meet his gaze.

"Hill and Green were there when it happened." Rhys told him and Kellen found himself nodding. Yeah, that was something to be worried about. Kellen didn’t take Taylor as a weak person, but seeing that? Probably wasn’t a good thing to see. Even if she was a healer, some things weren’t...okay.

"I wouldn’t count Taylor as weak." Kellen said and Rhys laughed.

"I’m not worried about her. I know Green has a steel rod for a spine. I’m worried about Hill because she’s already feeling like she let not just me down, but everyone else by not being able to keep them alive. If this was their plan, even if we had checked them, there was only so much we could do. We’ll just need to look over the bodies and see where they hid the poison so that we are prepared for next time." Rhys said, his jaw tense, his eyes dark. Kellen nodded.

"I agree. That’s all we can do. We’ll have to discuss that with Hill." Kellen said and Rhys sighed, nodding. "How are the plans with everything else?" Kellen asked and Rhys made a face.

"That’s the other thing. We have seen some strange movements in the forest as well. If we sent a few cars away from the front lines now, there is a chance that they could be targeted. Even those that are arriving by ground are in danger. We’re trying to make sure that everyone is safe, but fuck. I’m kicking myself for not seeing this." Rhys said, shaking his head. "I wish I had been able to see this, the same way that you had. Even just a little bit. I hate that I can’t just-use my powers as I like." Rhys complained and Kellen felt his guts churn.

"It’s okay Rhys. We’ll get through this. Everyone will be fine." Kellen told him, comforting him, even as his own sense of warning as screaming in his guts. Rhys glanced at him, a small self deprecating smile on his face.

"Thanks for comforting me Kellen. I think this is stressful for you too. When is the funeral?" Rhys asked and Kellen let out a soft sigh.

"Today. Dad’s getting set up. It’s why we went out for dinner last night. Mom has to...do something for the funeral but wouldn’t tell me what, and Dad looked a little pissed. Maybe Aunt Dina asked her for something that Dad doesn’t agree with? Probably aligns with her powers, and the less I know, the less trouble I can get in if it’s something illegal." Kellen said and Rhys chuckled.

"Must be nice to turn invisible whenever you want." He murmured and Kellen paused. This was the first time that Kellen had ever heard Rhys be truly envious of another person’s powers, and it was...alarming, but also made Rhys human.

Kellen leaned over, wrapping his arm around his boyfriend and sighing.

"You’re perfect the way that you are, Rhys. I’ve never thought you ever needed to change who you are, and honestly you wouldn’t be Rhys if you didn’t have your powers. It’s not always what it’s cracked up to be. I remember the awkward phase when Gwen was just getting her powers where she couldn’t be visible and also didn’t know how to make her clothes invisible either." Kellen snorted. "There are always downsides to everything, alright? It’s probably for the best that you can’t see the futures of those you are the closest to. It would drive you insane." Kellen told him and Rhys leaned into Kellen’s arms.

"I know you’re right, but that doesn’t make me feel less like a piece of shit. If I had just seen this, I could have warned the others. People wouldn’t even have to consider being in the bunkers." Rhys murmured and Kellen got it. It was a lot of responsibility, and others were probably having the same thoughts that Rhys was having.

The blame. The guilt. The anger.

"They are big boys and girls, Rhys. Most of them are hardened, and while we can’t bring the Field Guides home, they have Brent, Hill, Taylor, Sergei and the others there. They aren’t alone, and I know Gwen. She’s a responsible girl, and she’ll help out as much as she can." Kellen told him, his heart racing in his chest. "How long till an attack happens?" Kellen asked and Rhys sighed.

"From our predictions? Probably a day at most, 8 hours at the earliest. We’re tracking the ripple, but I just...something still doesn’t feel right, Kellen." Rhys told him and Kellen gulped.

"I...we can’t think like that." Kellen told him and Rhys turned to look at him. When Kellen felt his probing look, Kellen let out a deep sigh. "I can’t think like that. This feeling, this lurking in my gut? I just know something more is going to happen, but I don’t know what it is. I don’t want to think that something worse is going to happen, and I certainly don’t want to put any thoughts out there while we’re waiting for a flood of monsters to attack the front lines." Kellen said. "I’m doing my best to be calm for all of us. This isn’t a criticism, or a complaint. I just..." Kellen trailed off. "I just feel like I’m going to throw up, all the time." Kellen told him and Rhys turned, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend.

"Oh Babe. It’s okay. I’m just...I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-"

"I didn’t say it so that you would apologise." Kellen told him stiffly. "I’m just explaining my own concerns." Kellen told him and Rhys hugged him tightly.

"No. I know." Rhys said softly. Kellen didn’t relax.

"I like you telling me your issues. It makes me feel closer to you. I just...this is one that I don’t want to jinx, you know? The front lines are already so risky, I don’t want anything else to happen." Kellen said. Rhys stared at Kellen, pulling back until he leaned in, rubbing his nose against Kellen’s.

"Should we just stay in today? No classes, no work, just me and you trying to relax?" Rhys suggested and Kellen wished that he could do it. He wanted to. What Rhys had suggested spoke to what Kellen desired at his core. He just wanted to curl up, somewhere soft, with Rhys at his side.

He knew that wasn’t possible. This was basically just a fantasy.

"I want to." Kellen told him. "I really do."

"But." Rhys said, sighing. "You’re too responsible for that." Rhys said and Kellen chuckled.

"You’re too important. Until Gunther comes back, or you learn how to delegate tasks better, we can’t take time off like that. Especially right now. They need you to be a leader right now. Relaxation for Rhys can come later." Kellen told him and Rhys grumbled.

"Fuck. It sounds so sexy when you say it. How about we have a little quickie rub out at lunch? Just to get the edge off? It’ll help me get through the rest of the workday?" Rhys begged, pulling away and pressing kisses against Kellen’s cheek and throat.

"Stop. I’m sweaty." Kellen protested, but felt his lips turn up slightly. "I’ll think about it." Kellen finally said and Rhys chuckled.

"Score. It takes way less time to seduce you nowadays. Not that I’m complaining. My job is getting easier and easier." Rhys said and Kellen felt something overcome him. A spirit of boldness, a sudden backbone, he wasn’t sure.

He reached forward, grabbing Rhys’ cock through his pants. Rhys’ eyes widened as Kellen grinned at him.

"Well maybe if someone decided to give me this, I might be a little easier to seduce." Rhys’ jaw dropped at Kellen’s words.

"A-Are you serious right now Kellen?" Rhys asked, his voice a whisper and Kellen chuckled.

"When would I ever not be serious about this? When’s the date, Rhys? You said you wanted to see it in a heart on the calendar. I can only do that if you tell me." Rhys’ jaw dropped slightly as Kellen licked his lips. Rhys’ eyes shifted so quickly that Kellen thought he had imagined it. Rhys’ grip on him tightened, pulling him closer.

"When? How soon? Do you want to do it tomorrow? Fuck, do we have enough time tomorrow? No? Uh, two days from now, but I get to eat you out every day up till then? If that’s the case, I want to do three days from now." Kellen laughed at how quickly, and also how panicked Rhys was. Kellen reached up, grabbing his face in his hands, his expression softening.

"We can do three days from now. Does that sound okay? You’ve put enough other things in me that I think it’s about time I learn what you feel like." Kellen told him and Rhys gulped. Audibly gulped.

"Oh I’m not ready." Rhys whispered. "I can already tell. I’m going to be addicted to you." Kellen chuckled at the unintentional pun on Rhys’ part. A-dick-ted? Ha! Kellen pressed his lips against Rhys’. He was glad that such a tense conversation had ended with something happier, nicer.

He was hoping that continued for the rest of the day.