(BL) Hunting The Field Guide-Chapter 412: We are a blended family

It was the next morning, after Kellen was well rested, that Rhys told Kellen more about what had happened on the front lines, and what they had discovered.

Kellen felt sick to his stomach thinking about all of his new recruits on the front lines. He’d just sent them out, and they would be scared to death if they knew what was going on. If they were suddenly pulled back.

Rhys reassured Kellen as he saw the man go white, his hands shaking where they held his tea cup at the island. He reached across, wrapping his hand around his.

"Kellen, sugar, Brent knows what’s going on, so does Hill and Sergei. Even Tom knows. They are only there for a week, and then we’re going to pull everyone from the front lines. Like we had planned. It’s only a few more days. We can’t just pull everyone as soon as we hear since it would jeopardize Gunther’s life, so we’ll just beef up security, switch up rotations, do more scans of everyone and trust no one. We’re not going to let anything happen to our people, okay?" Kellen knew that. He knew it.

That didn’t make the tightness in his chest leave. He didn’t want to be the reason that they were hurt. He didn’t want that.

"Can we tell them once they come back? I don’t want to force them to continue training if they don’t know. I can’t send them somewhere where the E.A.G. could intentionally aim for them, and they will. All because they are my students." Kellen whispered. He was holding on so tightly to his mug that he was afraid he might shatter it.

Rhys, as if able to sense Kellen’s worry, gently took his hands off of the mug, taking Kellen’s hands into his own.

"Babe." Rhys called, and Kellen slowly raised his eyes from the mug to Rhys’ yellow, fierce gaze. "I can’t say outright that you should tell them. I haven’t discussed that part with Hill, Pamela or Casper yet. Once we do, we can move forward. I don’t want to just hand out information without making sure it doesn’t get back to them." Kellen’s heart twisted, but he knew what he meant.

It wasn’t that long ago that a bunch of Guides called lower Class Espers beneath them and tried to kill them. Also, they were his Lieutenants, he should clear this decision by them before promising Kellen anything. He knew this, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t having a hard time coming to terms with that. Rhys needed to put the safety of his whole Guild before the comfort it would give Kellen to tell his people were in danger.

His people could not even be ’his’.

Kellen squeezed Rhys’ hands, hating the thought of that. He thought he had picked out good people. He hated how he needed to doubt everyone, everything all because of those fucking monsters and their fu-

"Kellen? Are you okay? I can-I can discuss this with them right away if it-" Rhys was nervous, trying to get a read on what Kellen was thinking but Kellen just shook his head. He was upset, he was emotional right now, but he wasn’t upset at Rhys. Not really. He was just upset at the whole situation.

"It’s okay. Rhys. I’m...I’ll be fine. I understand that the Guild comes first. This is a situation where the Guild should come first. I’m just upset that I...that we even need to be in this situation in the first place. Can’t they just leave us the fuck alone?" Kellen’s voice broke, cracked, and Rhys let out a low sigh before he leaned over, pulling Kellen close in a hug.

"I know sugar. I know. It’s okay to be upset. I’m upset too. Everyone is. We’ll figure out their plot, we’ll keep everyone safe, and then we’ll crush the faction that’s in our city, alright?" Kellen nodded, glad that he had the comfort of Rhys’ arms.

"How did Gunther look when you saw him? Is he okay?" Kellen asked and Rhys chuckled.

"Worried about another man while I’m holding you?" Rhys teased and Kellen thumped his back where he was holding him. Rhys chuckled. "Kidding." He said, smiling as Kellen pulled back to meet his gaze. "He looked...tired. At least, that’s the nice way to say it. Exhausted, deep circles under his eyes, doesn’t look like he’s slept in days is another way." Rhys said and Kellen was sure that was the case.

Gunther wasn’t the kind of man who would half ass something, and if he had destroyed a few generators on the front lines to warn them, things must be quite serious. Kellen knew this, and that only made him more worried.

After his talk with Casper, Kellen was now regretting his decision. Had he made the right choice? Casper hadn’t really thought that he had, and now Kellen was doubting himself. He knew what was good for him, but maybe it wasn’t a good choice for Gunther? Kellen wouldn’t forgive himself if Gunther never came back. He would always think it was because of him.

"I..." Kellen trailed off, unsure what to say and Rhys gave him a squeeze.

"We need to trust in Gunther." Rhys said, and Kellen wondered if Rhys knew where Kellen’s thoughts had taken him. "He’s a good man, even with all of the shit we were forced to live through. He’ll come back to us. He might be a little battered, but that’s what family’s for, isn’t it?" Rhys’ grip tightened on Kellen, and Kellen had the sharp realisation that he was the one looking for comfort from Kellen. He wanted Kellen to be the one to tell him that Gunther was coming back.

Gunther was his family, his only family, and Rhys had to be worried about him. Kellen’s throat closed up, emotion filling him as he squeezed the other man tightly.

"Yeah. It is." Kellen told him, speaking around the tightness in his throat. "Family is there to support you. Especially through hard times." Kellen told him. Rhys nodded.

"And we’re family. Gunther and I. You and I. All of us." Rhys confirmed, emotional as well and Kellen tightened his grip on him. Oh fuck. They were. They were all family. They were Rhys’ found family.

"Yes baby. We’re all family. We won’t let him down. We won’t let any of them down." Kellen promised and Rhys jerked his head in a nod. He didn’t release Kellen, and Kellen didn’t want him to. It was...he was worried about his people, he was angry at the situation they had to be in, but it was so, so nice that Rhys was relying on him for comfort. That it felt like a small barrier had been removed and Rhys was seeking comfort from him.

Rhys and Kellen sought comfort from the arms of their lover for a few moments longer. Rhys was the first to pull back, just far enough that he was able to cup Kellen’s cheek with his hand, searching his face with his yellow gaze. It was warm, his touch, his gaze, and Kellen felt his cheeks flush. He didn’t protest, especially when Rhys leaned down and pressed a tender, heartfelt kiss against his lips.

"You are everything to me." Rhys whispered. "Everything. I’m sorry I’m not able to put your concerns before the Guild. I don’t want you to ever feel second place, I-" Kellen turned, biting down on one of Rhys’ finger. Rhys stopped speaking, his eyes widening as Kellen released the digit.

"Shut up." Kellen told him, affection in his tone. Rhys flushed. "It’s okay, Rhys. I understand. You’ve been a single parent for a long time. I understand that your child comes first, and I’ll never complain about that. Just let me help you raise them, alright?" Kellen told him, meaning every word.

He knew how much the Guild meant to him. He knew it from the way he’d seen his family friends raise up their Guild’s all through his childhood. How warm some of them had been, how welcoming they had been to the child born from two people who loved each other. Most of the people in the Guild weren’t able to have kids with their own partners, so Kellen and Gwen had gotten so many welcoming Aunties and Uncles.

He knew very well what Guild’s meant, he’d just been clouded by his own fears and anxieties for so long that he’d forgotten about it. Until he started to get involved with Rhys properly. It was slowly coming back and Kellen was glad. He wanted to help Rhys foster the same kind of environment. The same warm, welcoming place. Devoid of fear, anger, with a few arguments here and there.

Nothing like before. Nothing like where those damn Guides thought they could grow.

Rhys swallowed, before he pressed his forehead against Kellen’s. He seemed...relieved. So relieved that it made Kellen chuckle.

"Thank you. I know you, I should know you, but I was so worried. So scared stiff that you would get upset. I shouldn’t have been. I didn’t-you think of me as a single dad?" Rhys asked, opening his gaze to stare into Kellen’s. Kellen grinned.

"Aren’t you? You’ve got this big family, a few Aunts and Uncles running around, but a lot of kids. All adopted. You’ve got a big heart, Rhys, but so do I. It’s okay. I understand. I just have to understand that we’re a blended family, and the safety of everyone is important, not just my side." Rhys let out a shaky breath. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"What did I do to deserve you? Seriously? I’m going to cry." Rhys whispered and Kellen could tell he wasn’t joking. Kellen wrapped his arms around Rhys, pulling him in for another hug along with a soft kiss that Rhys took little to no time to deepen the kiss until Kellen found himself in Rhys’ lap, his cock pressing against his thigh.

Kellen pulled away, just far enough so that they could breathe for a few seconds. His grip tightened around Rhys’ neck, his arms tightening as he stared into Rhys’ eyes.

"Do you...want to go to the couch?" Kellen asked and Rhys grinned.

"Are you suggesting we fool around before we go into work, Kellen?" Kellen worried for only a second that Rhys was going to suggest it was a stupid idea. He shouldn’t have worried even for that moment because he found himself thrown onto the couch only a second later. "I’m so happy we were thinking the same thing." Rhys said as he came down on top of him, pressing him into the couch cushions. "Now I can show you how thankful I am for you." Rhys said, grabbing onto Kellen’s waist as he pressed a kiss to the exposed skin of his stomach.

Rhys’ grin told Kellen he was going to be thinking about this for the rest of the day.