(BL) Hunting The Field Guide-Chapter 414: A son full of concern

Kellen and Casper ran into his Dad and Charlie when they were heading to dinner at the end of the day. Casper had hung around, doing his work from his tablet as he also sat in on Kellen’s training session with his students. Kellen and Casper had realised it had been a long time, if he had ever sat in and watched his students train.

The two of them could tell that they were nervous, stealing glances at Casper as he sat there, all prim and proper in a folding chair at a fold out table, his phone ringing occasionally if someone needed something from him. Kellen knew he had probably made notes on the training session as well.

That was made clear when Casper pointed out that some of the Guides were using more of their powers, or releasing more of their powers as they trained. As Kellen wasn’t able to know that, he hadn’t even realised. Kellen wondered if Brent had, but hadn’t said anything to Kellen. Either way, Kellen tucked that information away, ready to look into it once he wasn’t so anxious, or had the time to be anxious and heavily bury himself in researching something.

Casper and Kellen had decided to have dinner together in the cafeteria to continue their discussion about Guide related issues, and Rhys was going to join them once he finished up a meeting. It was while they were in the elevator that they ran into Charlie and Kellen’s Dad.

Kellen’s Dad didn’t look well, and it was then that Kellen felt like a really shit son. He’d been so busy with everything else in his life that he had forgotten to check up on his Dad after the death of his Aunt’s partner.

He had noticed that his parents were missing around the Guild, but he had been so absorbed in his own life that he hadn’t checked up on them. Instead, Charlie had done so in his place, and Kellen felt even worse. He was just a kid. A kid who had come from a shitty background, and that only made Kellen feel worse.

"Dad. Charlie." Kellen said as he stepped into the elevator, and with only a moment’s hesitation, he reached for his Dad and pulled him close. "I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy that I-" His Father’s arms clamped around him, hugging him tightly.

"Shut up, Kellen. It’s okay that you have your own life. I’m not upset." His Dad said immediately, his words laced with love. "It’s okay. Charlie has been taking good care of me, and so has your Mom. Gwen has also been busy, so it’s okay. I know you two are doing your part to deal with the issues the E.A.G. are causing. It’s okay." He was so kind. Kellen squeezed him tighter.

"No. It’s not okay. I’m sorry. I should have at the very least sent you a fruit basket or something." Kellen muttered and his Dad gave a short laugh.

"Me? Why would I need a fruit basket? I didn’t-" Kellen pushed him away from his chest, staring into his eyes and that silenced his Dad. His Dad wasn’t one to normally say things so bluntly, or harshly, but given the situation, Kellen was willing to overlook it. He would overlook it no matter what, but he just knew where it was coming from this time.

"Dad. It’s okay to be upset at me." Kellen told him. "I should have supported you." Kellen’s Dad’s watered.

"No. I don’t want to burden you when you are finally starting to build your own family away from me. I already feel like a burden on you two for having to move in suddenly. I don’t want to get mad at you for prioritizing the future." Yup. It was official. Kellen felt like a bad son.

Charlie looked to be at a loss. He had been next to Kellen’s Dad, and now he wasn’t sure what to do.

"Uh, um, h-how about we go grab something to eat, hmm? That’s what we were planning to do." Charlie suggested and Casper grabbed onto Charlie’s suggestion.

"We were just about to do the same thing. Shall we call your wife, Mr. Woods? That way she can join us as well?" Kellen’s Dad made a face at Casper’s question and Kellen had a feeling that this was a lot worse than he knew. Shit.

It felt like everything had been held in suspension, allowing Kellen to adjust to everything before suddenly everything was in motion and life was pummeling him all at once. He felt like he wasn’t able to catch his breath. Was that normal? He wasn’t sure. He should talk to Rhys about it. After all, he was a Time Esper. He might have some kind of insight into his feelings.

"We should do that, Casper. Come on, Dad. Did you want to eat at the cafeteria, or did you want me to cook you something?" Kellen thought his heart was going to stop when his Dad’s eyes watered. He wasn’t the crier of the family. That honour lay with his Mom.

"Is it okay to ask you to cook?" He asked and Kellen’s jaw hardened.

That settled it, he was cooking a comfort meal to envy all others.

~

Kellen managed to get his Dad back to his apartment. Between Charlie and Casper, the proper authorities were notified, and Gwen was waiting at the door looking as if she hadn’t even showered after her training. She was breathless, panting, but she smiled at her Dad, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek and give him a one armed hug since his other hand was wrapped in Kellen’s firm grasp.

"Hey Dad. Good to see you. Kellen invited me too, is that okay?" She asked. Kellen waited, knowing that he wasn’t going to say no, and he watched as his Dad swallowed stiffly.

"No sweetheart. You didn’t have to rush here for me though." Kellen wanted to die. His Dad was never like this. He had to be incredibly depressed, and Kellen and Gwen shared a look as Kellen opened the door.

Charlie was there, helping his Dad take off his shoes and escorting him to one of the island stools that Rhys and Kellen had sat on in the morning while Kellen and Gwen hung back. Her expression was grim.

"Mom knows, right?" Gwen asked and Kellen nodded.

"Yeah. I would assume so. Casper told her we’re here, and Rhys is coming here as well." Kellen said and she nodded.

"Is it cool if I use your shower? I rushed here as soon as I saw Lieut-Casper’s text." Her cheeks flushed as she remembered she wasn’t supposed to use titles in Kellen’s home. Something the others had said, but Kellen did agree with. Kellen smiled.

"Go right ahead. My clothes are on the left hand side of the closet. Don’t look into any boxes." Kellen warned, and watched as Gwen’s eyes lit up. He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to poke around? You should know better. He’s an S Class." He warned and Gwen’s face paled.

"Oh yuck. Gross. Forget I even considered it. As far as I know, you’re celibate and have a platonic relationship." She said, disgust dripping from her words as she kicked her shoes off at the door.

She rushed to her Dad then, giving him another hug and a kiss on the cheek before she told him of her plans. Kellen watched as his Dad’s gaze slid to Kellen, warmth in his gaze, before they slid back to his daughter. Then, Gwen was off up the stairs, smiling, grinning, putting on a good show.

She wasn’t in a bad mood, not in the slightest, but their Dad needed extra care. He needed to see that they were fine. Both of his kids were doing okay. There Dad had only been like this a few times, but the same had held true each time.

Kellen set his mind to his task, grabbing his plain apron from its hook and pulling it over his head and he was tying it as he came to stand in front of his Dad, a smile on his face.

"What did you think I should do for dinner, Dad?"

~

Kellen was deep into dinner prep when he heard the sound of the door key activating and Rhys pushed open the door, his Mom behind him. Kellen gave them a wide, bright smile, shocking Rhys, who didn’t miss a beat to come in and steal a kiss from him.

"Hey sugar. What’s cooking good looking?" Kellen blushed at the words coming from Rhys’ mouth, but Kellen’s Dad smiled softly.

"Oh, I’m just cooking up some of Dad’s favourites." Kellen told him. Rhys blinked a few times before he smiled.

"Some of your Dad’s favourites? Well, it sounds like they’re about to become some of my favourites." Rhys declared boldly, and Charlie let out a giggle. So did Gwen.

"Are you so sure? Dad really likes chicken hearts and onions." Gwen warned, a twinkle in her eye and Kellen started laughing when he saw how Rhys immediately regretted his words. He looked a little pale, almost as if he wished he could roll back time, but Rhys cleared his throat, forging ahead.

"Well, I’ve never had them before, so I can’t say that I won’t like them." Rhys said rather boldly and Kellen smiled down at the food he was preparing.

"He likes dishes that don’t have meat too, Rhys. You don’t need to try to be perfect." Kellen told him, and Kellen’s Dad chuckled.

"Kellen took the words right out of my mouth. You love my son, Rhys. You’re already in my good books." Kellen blushed at his Dad’s words while he watched his mom circle around the island, pressing a kiss against her husband’s cheek, murmuring something too low for Kellen to hear.

Rhys’ sigh had Kellen turning his attention towards Rhys. He was being extra dramatic.

"Well, there goes some of the cool points I was trying to win. I guess I’ll just settle on loving your son more." Rhys said, tugging Kellen tighter against him as Kellen turned bright red. Gwen made booing noises, while Charlie laughed. Casper even flushed, but he was grinning as he watched the scene.

Kellen’s Dad looked...better. He still looked unwell, but he looked better. Kellen would take it.