(BL) Hunting The Field Guide Chapter 210: The guilt of the uninjured

A soft knock sounded at the door and both of them looked towards the sound. Thankfully, it was just the Captain who had returned with what Kellen had asked for.

In his arms the Captain carried a small box of things from Kellen’s place. Quietly, without saying a word to either Kellen or his Mom, the Captain unpacked the box, putting down an incense burner, a few boxes of incense, a kettle, and a few cups and types of tea. Tucking the box under the table, the Captain turned to the two of them with a smile.

"I did my best to select so options that I thought you would like. I also have a lighter." He said, and Kellen felt his expression soften at the way he stood there proudly, pleased that he’d completed the task Kellen had asked of him. Kellen’s Mom’s shoulders began to shake, and Kellen turned his attention to her.

"Did you ask him to do this?" She whispered, and Kellen nodded.

"I told him to give us so ti alone, and to grab so things from my apartnt. Are you upset that I did?" She shook her head, her grip tight on him.

"No. No, I’m not upset. You are too good for ." She whispered, and Kellen’s heart broke. He was just doing his duty for his Mom. She was in pain. She was hurting. Kellen was doing the bare minimum.

"Kellen is a good man, but only because he had you two for his parents. Do not sell yourself so short. He is only doing his duty, and I am just helping him out with that. Now, what shall I do for you? Have you called your daughter yet?" Rhys asked softly, warmly, and Kellen’s Mom looked up at him. She stared at him for a long mont before she closed her eyes and sighed.

"Gwen was here earlier with Kellen’s friend, Brent? Brent made her go get sothing to eat. She was trembling like a leaf." Kellen’s Mom said, and Rhys nodded.

"Hmm. I think Green said the sa thing. Do you want to get you two sothing to eat? Or we can order in. Fried chicken?" He suggested and Kellen felt his shoulders shake.

"I like fried chicken, but not that much." Kellen told him and Rhys chuckled.

"Hmm. I’m not sure I believe you when you say that. You cared an awful lot about the fried chicken I got you last ti." Kellen watched with wide eyes as Rhys pouted. "You wouldn’t even pay attention to ." Kellen narrowed his eyes.

"That was because I was working and eating at the sa ti. You offered to feed ." Kellen protested, and Rhys sighed heavily, placing his hand on his forehead dramatically.

"Oh, how you’ve wounded . Yes, I offered, but you abused your power. I was slaving away. No rewards, no thank yous. It was devastating." Kellen’s expression was full of confusion and disbelief. Why was he behaving this way?

"Abused my power? I don’t have power. You knew I had work to do, and you offered to feed ! I wasn’t the one who asked you to!" Kellen could feel his blood beginning to boil and his Mom let him go as he turned to stumble his way over to the Captain to glare up at him. Rhys watched him move, his eyes full of concern even as his lips remained in that cocky smile.

"But did I receive a reward?" Kellen’s eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed. He absolutely had. This damn Esper.

"If you dare say that out loud again, you aren’t getting a ’reward’ ever again, Captain Thatcher." Kellen threatened and Rhys chuckled. He reached out, cupping Kellen’s cheek with his hand.

"Hmm. It’s been a while since I heard you call Captain Thatcher. Are you angry I even brought it up? That’s very cute, Kellen. Now, should I get you two sothing to eat?" He asked again, and Kellen wondered if he’d gotten him worked up just so he could touch him.

He wouldn’t put it past this crazy Esper.

"That would be great, Rhys. But probably only sothing light for . I can’t seem to stomach anything that isn’t my husband’s cooking very well." Kellen’s Mom said from behind them, and both of them turned to stare at her. She had a complicated expression on her face. "It’s good to see that you two have grown closer while I haven’t seen you." She said, swallowing thickly. Rhys smiled.

"Thank you. I appreciate your kind words. On the topic of growing closer, I was thinking of offering up my apartnt for you to rest in. I know that you had plans to remain in this waiting room, but I also know your husband would not be pleased about that." She opened her mouth to protest, and Rhys wrapped his arm around Kellen’s shoulder. "I also was planning to let both of you rest there once he was well enough, or unwell enough. My room is set up to be able to support the equipnt from the dical bay, so we could have it set up ahead of ti. I know you are probably worrying about how safe your ho is now, since that is sothing I would be worrying about as well. But I promise you, I’ll be nearby, along with my whole Guild. We have no desire for anything bad to happen to either one of you." Rhys told her, and Kellen watched as his Mother struggled to make a choice.

Kellen was also surprised by the Captain’s words. He had no idea that he was thinking of offering his own apartnt up for them. But if he did that, where was he going to sleep? Curious, but not wanting to undermine him while his Mom was still thinking, Kellen saved asking Rhys about that for later.

Eventually, Kellen’s Mom gave him. Running her hand over her pale face, she glanced at the two n who were staring at her, who had offered their lives to save her husband, and sighed.

"Alright. Should I speak to Taylor or?" She cut off when the Captain grinned at her like a cat who got the cream.

"No need to worry about that. I’ve already had the not busy part of the dical team set everything up. Once Green gives him the approval to move, he’s safe to do so." Kellen knew that Rhys was sneaky like this, but it was his Mom’s first ti coming face to face with it.

Her eyes were wide, shocked, before they slid to Kellen who shook his head with a sigh. She blinked several tis, before she burst into laughter. She hunched over at the waist, laughing so hard Kellen worried it was hurting her. Kellen wanted to go and approach her, but Rhys held him back with a firm hand.

When Kellen’s Mom ca back up for air, she was wiping tears from her eyes.

"You wouldn’t hesitate to knock out if I got close, would you?" She asked Rhys with a smile, while Kellen’s stomach dropped. Rhys’ grip on Kellen tightened further.

"You’re wrong. I would hesitate. Which is why I would like to do my best to prevent having to knock out my in-laws. I have a feeling Kellen would have sleeping on the couch for weeks." Her shoulders shook as she looked over the two n before her, and so of the light returned to her gaze.

It was a good sign, and a small part of Kellen relaxed.

"Hmm. I don’t know about that. Kellen isn’t that bitter, and understands that policies are policies. It would probably only be a few days." She teased, and Rhys chuckled.

"That’s already too much. I’ve grown too used to having him in my arms now to relent. I don’t like to beg, Eleanor, so don’t make have to grovel." Kellen’s Mom shook her head at Rhys’ response. She turned her gaze to her son, who seed to be lost, confused, and worried all at the sa ti.

"It’s alright, Kellen. I’ll warn you if I’m feeling like I’m going over the edge. For so reason, hugging you has helped ." Without hesitation, Kellen shrugged off his pair’s arm and moved towards his Mom as fast as his injured leg would take him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, giving her a tight squeeze. Her eyes were wide at first, before she wrapped her arms around him.

"Then use . I don’t mind. Do not make have to be the one who has to tell people in person about what happened." Kellen begged, and she shuddered.

"I’m not a great parent, but I would never do that to you." Kellen’s grip grew bruising.

"And stop saying that about yourself. I can’t punish you like the others for saying lies. You are a great Mom." Kellen’s words were angry, and harsh as he fought tears again. Her soft chuckle only made Kellen’s shoulder’s tense.

"Alright, alright. I’ll stop. Rhys is staring at like he’ll put in a headlock if I make you cry again." She said, and Kellen shook his head.

"He wouldn’t dare do that to his in-laws. He’s more likely to punish ." Kellen muttered and Rhys laughed.

"I can hear you two, and no, I wouldn’t punish either of you for crying or making the other cry. Kellen so rarely lets his emotions out that I’m fairly certain he gets that from you, Eleanor." She flinched.

"I, oh goodness, I’ve given you a hard ti for it, while thinking I was more open. I’m sorry Kellen." Kellen wasn’t taking any of her apologies right now.

"Stop. None of that. It’s not a problem. So what if I’m not a weeping child whenever sothing doesn’t go my way? It works better for on the front lines. Could you imagine in my uniform sobbing as I tried to give instructions?" Kellen turned and glared at the Captain "Keep your mouth shut." He ordered, and Rhys zipped his lips up, throwing the key over his shoulders.

His Mom’s shoulders shook as she laughed.

"What are you two? A cody duo?" She asked, before smiling at her son. "I suppose it’s a good thing since not many would take you seriously if you sobbed all the ti. But Gwen doesn’t cry all the ti either, and she probably gets it from your Father." Kellen made a face.

"She doesn’t cry, but she is more expressive than I am." He admitted, and both of them took a second to self-reflect. They sighed at the sa ti, and that was enough to send both of them into a fit of giggles.