(BL) Hunting The Field Guide-Chapter 422: He can’t be that smart

Kellen needed to lay down the law now, before they began to speak about this seriously. Honestly, Kellen wasn’t sure that they weren’t speaking about this seriously. He needed to make sure that while they might be able to escape the law by doing this, he wasn’t going to forgive them.

Tragically, he knew that held more weight than the weight of the law.

"I’m not going to forgive you if I find out that you were responsible for his death. I will suspect you if it happens within the next year." Kellen warned the people in the room from his hospital bed and Rhys huffed.

"Why are you upset about it? This man has bullied you since you were a child. A child, Kellen! That also doesn’t call into question any of my own personal gripes with him. For him to cross this line? There’s no coming back from it. Every sensible Esper in the city is going to view it as a betrayal. Hell, Sergei and Hill might take care of it before we can." Rhys’ words washed over Kellen and Kellen found he couldn’t deny what the other man said.

But, he also couldn’t see Captain Sergei of all people acting so rashly. He’d never struck Kellen as the kind of person who would do something like that. Then again, he didn’t think his parents and Rhys would be discussing killing someone they all knew, but here he was.

"I would not feel comfortable with the fact that anyone killed another person because of me. There. Is that clear enough? I know all of your actions wouldn’t be because of the betrayal of our people, but because of me. You aren’t going to convince me otherwise." Kellen was firm in his stance and his parents at least had the decency to look a little ashamed. Rhys didn’t.

"Sugar, I can’t forgive him for this. You are...there are so many things that he let brew and fester all because of some reason I can’t comprehend and I can’t let it go. For you, and for me." Rhys told him and Kellen felt his chest tighten.

"Killing him isn’t the answer. Do you want to be like the E.A.G.? Killing someone just because we don’t like them? I’m fine with roughing him up, getting physical, but killing him? Rhys, we are all better than that." At the mention of the E.A.G. everyone got a little quiet. Kellen had tried to hint it quietly, but clearly they weren’t getting it.

He was going to have to be upfront. He didn’t want to be like them. Especially if it was like Rhys and the others were worrying about. That Uncle Tom was working with them. Kellen couldn’t see it.

Not really.

He knew Uncle Tom was smart, but over the years that he’d had to observe him Kellen thought of him as more of a suck up then anything else. A kiss ass. He might have agreed for this group to enter the front lines out of spite for losing control over other parts of his position, but Kellen couldn’t see him actually letting them onto the front lines because he was with them. That would be insane.

Uncle Tom wasn’t that smart.

So yeah, he had betrayed them through idiocy and a power complex, but not because he wanted others to die. Kellen had come to that conclusion while sitting in the hospital bed. Only Uncle Tom’s actions going forward could change his mind.

"That’s not a fair comparison." His Dad finally said, his voice small and Kellen sighed.

"Isn’t it? We’re all fairly certain that what’s happening on the front lines is the E.A.G. They’ve been fucking with almost every big city in the world. They kill people they don’t like or who cause them problems. You can’t tell me that Uncle Tom doesn’t fit that bill." Kellen said. He wasn’t trying to be harsh, just trying to get them to see it from his perspective.

Rhys squeezed Kellen’s hand.

"We’re getting away from the issue at hand." Rhys said quietly. "I understand what you’re saying Kellen, I do, but I can’t agree. We aren’t the E.A.G. because we aren’t doing it out of bigotry or a simple dislike. You aren’t the first one who he has used these tactics on, and if I have it my way, you will be the last. Who knows how many others he’s put down and belittled, making them think that they aren’t powerful enough? Good enough? He bred a culture of terror and hardships. I’ve tried to change it, but even I can’t do it from the outside of an organisation. That’s why I left." Rhys told him and Kellen felt his heart squeeze.

"We weren’t working for him, not directly when we went away. We were working for the international department because I don’t like the look of Tom. There was a reason we had to see him often, but we tried to not let you kids spend too much time with him." Kellen’s Mom said, before she sighed. "It should have been no time, considering what I’m hearing and learning. I’m not blaming you, Kellen. I should have been more vigilant. Gwen was, and she made sure to let us know about it." Kellen flushed.

"I-I was-" Her eyes glowed purple again and Kellen shut his mouth.

"You are not fine. You start going pale at just the mention of a retest. That’s not okay, and hell, some of it was the media, I won’t deny it, but clearly some of it is more than that." Kellen gulped.

"I just don’t like the machines." Kellen muttered lamely and Rhys let out a cold laugh.

"I was there, remember? I heard how they spoke to you before we went for our retest, Kellen. But, we should focus on the task at hand. I’m not letting you go back to the Center to get a retest done anyways, not until Tom is gone and we’ve flushed out all of the rats. Then, you can go. Or, I could see if I could twist Lieutenant Fisher’s arm and see if we can borrow some equipment so we can do a retest for you here." Kellen felt his eyes go wide at Rhys’ suggestion.

"What? They practically guard that tech like their lives depend on it!" Kellen exclaimed and turned, meeting his pair’s eyes. Rhys smiled, but it wasn’t...normal. Kellen swallowed. He was staring into the eyes on his Esper right now. Not just his boyfriend.

"Exactly. With their lives. If I make a compelling enough argument, he might be willing to listen." Rhys’ smile was too sharp, and had too many teeth. Kellen felt a little queasy hearing his words, and that feeling was only accentuated by his Mom’s sharp laugh.

"A good son-in-law. Look at him, looking out for my son?" Kellen’s Mom’s voice held warmth but it didn’t make Kellen feel good this time.

Kellen wanted to complain, was about to when his Dad squeezed his hand, tugging on it. Kellen looked towards his Dad and found that he was looking at him, slightly pleading.

"Kellen, sweetheart, we aren’t talking like this because we want to disrespect your boundaries. That’s not what this is about. Ultimately, your treatment might be a catalyst, but there is a reason that most S Classes in the city leave the D.E.C. after the allocated time that they are supposed to be there. The D.E.C...it needs some work. It’s...not the same organisation I joined when I was young, and it’s gotten power hungry." His Dad swallowed. "I just want you to feel okay. I just want to know that you are okay. If you are changing, we should be monitoring it. You should, of all people, have access to those machines. It’s documented that you have been changing over time and when you’re in A Class, those little changes cause a huge ripple. You could have continued changing as you continued to guide Rhys over these last few months. You have changed." Kellen listened to his Dad’s words and nearly panicked when his Dad’s eyes watered.

"Dad, I-"

"I’m sorry. I know you don’t like this conversation, but I agree with them. If what they did hurt you so much that you can’t even get the help that you need, I want that man dead too. If he’s even lightly responsible for you seeing a future that you shouldn’t be able to, I want him dead. You’re my precious son, my only son. I don’t want you to suffer more." His words were passionate, and Kellen didn’t know what to do as his Dad cried. "I was beside myself when I got the phone call. I know I’m...not myself right now but hearing something happened to you, even minor..."

Kellen remained silent as his Dad closed his eyes as if the thought was painful. Everyone gave him a second to compose himself, take a few deep, steadying breaths.

"If you two haven’t gone the whole way, I can’t blame Rhys for this. There isn’t any way that I could. Unless you two are participating in some rather, uh, advanced procedures, I can’t see how I could. That level of guiding does create a certain kind of bond, but let’s be honest with each other. We still don’t know a lot about the bonds between Espers and Guides. Especially of those who are in a higher Class. We only really came into compatibility scores around the time of the Guide Act. It was a way to protect Guides, but also..." His Dad let out a shaky sigh. "There aren’t many pairs that have the same compatibility as you two." His Dad stated the truth.

They were...unusual. Kellen hadn’t thought much of it. Not really. He was just excited to have a pair, someone who he matched with. He hadn’t even considered, not really, what it meant beyond that they had a good compatibility.

When Kellen stole a look at Rhys, it was clear he hadn’t really thought about it either. His jaw was tight and he looked as if he had swallowed a lemon.

"Do you think what happened and that is related?" Kellen asked and his Dad shook his head.

"I don’t know. I really don’t know. While I agree with Rhys, I don’t want you anywhere near the Center if you don’t have to be. You don’t need to be near that building, ever. I won’t be going near there either." His Dad’s jaw tightened. "They can come to me if they need something." His voice held something to it, and Kellen was awash with the memory that his Dad had been shot outside of the Center.

Kellen’s stomach churned at the memory. Of course his Dad would have some strong feelings about the building now. It made perfect sense.

"With that said, I want you to get retested. If we need to bully people, I’ll help. I can pull some strings. I’m sure there are a few Guides still in the D.E.C. who are willing to listen to me." His expression was grim and Kellen knew that there was no way he was going to get out of this retest. Not with the way everyone had returned to the topic.

Kellen felt a small shiver run down his spine. He was not looking forward to this.