(BL) Hunting The Field Guide Chapter 280: When visions come in handy

"Well well well, Guide Woods, don’t you look perfectly perfect?" Sakura teased as Kellen arrived to the D.E.C. building. They had gone through the backway, driving in one of the Captain’s more innocuous cars so that they didn’t catch the attention of the public.

It wasn’t exactly what Kellen wanted, but the Captain and the others weren’t going to budge when it ca to his safety today. It was different from when he’d done his press conferences in the Guild Tower. This wasn’t even a covered area. This was out in the open, easy to target.

Kellen was practically painting a giant target on his back today.

With that being said, the D.E.C. had Espers set up everywhere. The D.E.C. had taken up the mantle for the general security of the press conference. This was partially because they were out front of the D.E.C. but also because they had to feel guilty.

Kellen’s Mom had been a part of the D.E.C. before she had ’retired’ and as far as Kellen knew, was still doing missions here and there for them. To have one of their most prominent Esper’s Guide targeted outside of their building must have stung. Especially since they were part of the governnt, and no doubt were worried about what wrath Kellen’s Mom was going to rain down on them once his Dad was well enough to be left alone in her eyes.

This was just a temporary stop gap to that.

With Uncle Tom on the front lines, they were dealing with his second in command. His na was Lieutenant Fisher, and Kellen was surprised that he had never t them before. They were a na that he’d heard in passing several tis, but he’d never actually t them in person. Only seen them in calls or the like.

When Kellen arrived at the D.E.C. and was greeted by Sakura, he understood why.

In a small room off of the lobby that made Kellen’s skin crawl and his body break out into a cold sweat, Kellen and Rhys t up with Sakura, and a dark haired man with equally dark eyes set into a richer shade of brown then Kellen was expecting. He looked a lot more...alive than when he was on a giant screen.

The truly surprising thing about Lieutenant Fisher was sothing that was never talked about. Kellen had no idea why, it wasn’t as if it was a bad thing. Lieutenant Fisher was wheelchair bound. Everything in the room they were currently in was on adjustable tables so that he could have access to them, and Kellen hoped he didn’t stare too much.

It wasn’t out of disrespect, he was just fascinated by the chair.

"Uh, well, thank you Sakura." Kellen responded, leaning on his cane as they stood in the small room. Taylor had warned him heavily to use the cane while he wasn’t in front of the cara, but he was allowed to walk without it for the small ti he was walking, but had to lean against the podium provided when he was doing his press conference. He knew she would be watching, and that she would be pissed if he didn’t follow her words.

"Well? Are you going to say it back?" She asked coyly, batting her eyes at Kellen and Kellen rolled his own. She was always like this.

"Sakura, you’re wearing your Captain’s uniform." Kellen told her and she huffed. Sakura’s personality was taking up the whole room, along with her towering height. Having walked into the room to find Lieutenant Fisher in his wheelchair and Sakura towering over him in her heels had really tickled his funny bone. He was probably just nervous.

"And you’re wearing your Field Guide uniform, and I still complinted you." Kellen stared at her blankly.

"Sakura, I’m a guy. I honestly don’t notice that kind of thing, but, if it makes you happy, you look good too." Sakura glowed.

"Awe, thanks Kellen." She waved her hand, as if she hadn’t asked Kellen to complint her and Kellen pushed air out of his nose, shaking his head. At least Sakura was normal. "Also," she took a step closer to him, her features shifting from her usual calm expression into one of sadness. "I’m sorry about what happened to your Dad, and that it happened after you left my Guild. I know it’s silly, but I’ve felt a little bit responsible. I’ve been on uh, their ass to get their work done since your injury." Ah. That explained the suits then.

"There is no reason for you to feel guilty, but I appreciate you pushing them since we’ve gotten the suits out of it." Kellen told her and she relaxed. Her eyes softened.

"I knew you weren’t going to bla , but so things are hard to shake. Now, shall we go over the plan a few more tis?" She suggested, turning to Lieutenant Fisher who nodded with a soft smile.

"I agree, Captain Sakura. As previously discussed, Guide Woods and Captain Sakura are going to be doing most of the talking today at the press conference. We have Espers posted all around. Please refer to the map placed on the table behind Captain Thatcher." Everyone turned to look at the map. It was placed flat against the table, with little figures marking where the Espers for security were placed. There were four colours. Pink, red, yellow and grey. "I will explain the colours, but I feel they are pretty self explanatory. The pink is the Peach Guild, red for the Nesis Guild. Yellow is for the Saturn Guild and grey for the D.E.C. As you can tell, we have more grey pieces in play, but that is to be expected. The Nesis Guild is going to take up the back half of the security for the most part since they have more wide reaching powers, while the Saturn and Peach Guild will focus more around those who are speaking." Lieutenant Fisher glanced at Kellen. "I heard you have an Esper who will be with you on the podium outside of Captain Sakura?" Kellen nodded.

"Yes. Esper Blake. She was there the day of the attack as well." Lieutenant Fisher nodded.

"Perfect. I assu she’ll be arriving shortly?" He asked and Rhys spoke up for Kellen.

"She’s arriving with Lieutenant Hill. They are planning to make a grand show of their arrival to really shake others off of our trail." Lieutenant Fisher nodded again.

"Ah, perfect. So, here is the layout. The conference starts at 10:30 am. While it is happening, Captain Thatcher will be back here with , watching over any security footage. If we notice any discrepancies, he has full right to leave my side and make his presence known. That was the agreent we ca to." Everyone nodded. He then pushed himself over to a stack of plastic, serious-looking boxes. "In here are several ear pieces attached to that system." He pointed over to a machine before he sighed. "It’s a closed system because, as I am sure you are also aware, there was a chance that we might have a leak in the D.E.C. Nothing is confird at the mont, but let’s just say, we’re working on it." His tone dipped from slightly cheerful to downright serious.

Rhys made a soft noise of agreent. Kellen glanced back at him, as did Sakura.

"Ah. I was planning to tell you about that." Lieutenant Fisher’s eyes widened.

"About what?" He asked and Rhys looked slightly apologetic.

"When I was checking on Guide Woods, Mr. Woods’ Father, I was able to get a clear picture of soone calling in to say that he had arrived, followed by gunshots. If the vision was correct, they were probably on the fifth floor, facing towards Guiding Center B, so they would have had a perfect view of the area below." Lieutenant Fisher closed his eyes, sighing.

"Anything else?"

"Male, white hands. I couldn’t see the uniform unfortunately, so I can’t tell you if they were a Guide or an Esper, but with them being male, more likely to be an Esper, but I wouldn’t rule out Guides." Kellen nodded in agreent to Rhys’ words. Anyone was capable of evil if they thought they could get sothing out of it. Lieutenant Fisher suddenly looked rather tired.

"Ah Fuck." He muttered, before gathering himself again. "Well, thank you for the news, Captain Thatcher. I assu you delayed telling us until you saw soone in person?" Captain Thatcher shrugged.

"If that’s what you want to believe, then yes." Kellen smacked his shoulder.

"Rhys!" Kellen protested and he shrugged.

"What? I want to find the people who hurt you as soon as possible, but I’m also pissed. I’m not apologising for being petty." Kellen narrowed his eyes.

"But you should apologise when other people’s lives are in danger." Kellen told him sternly and Rhys sighed heavily. He turned to Lieutenant Fisher and bowed slightly.

"Forgive for withholding information. I wasn’t exactly comfortable leaving his side." Kellen wanted to point out that he hadn’t left Kellen’s side even now, but held it in. Sakura chuckled.

"Awe. That’s pretty cute. I’m super jealous." Rhys tensed and Kellen gave Sakura a confused look.

"What do you an you’re jealous?" He asked and Sakura pouted.

"I want a pair too." Kellen was even more confused.

"Aren’t you and your Lieutenant a pair? Aren’t you and Esper Spencer together?" Sakura’s whole face went red and she began to sputter.

"N-No! We’re just friends, and I’m her Boss, Kellen! That’s an abuse of power!" Kellen realised he’d stumbled into a landmine and Rhys turned his body away so he could laugh silently.

"I had no idea. I’m sorry. You two just seed so close. I an, she sat in your lap a few tis on call so I just...assud? That was rude of . I just wouldn’t do that with soone who wasn’t my pair, so..." Kellen trailed off. Sakura covered her face.

"She just likes to tease , Kellen. That’s all. We aren’t anything." Well, the mood felt weird in the room now, and Kellen knew he was to bla for it. He just also didn’t know how to recover it.

Thankfully, Lieutenant Fisher turned everyone’s attention back to the debrief about safety and where they were to stand. Sakura was noticeably more muted, and Kellen wasn’t sure what to do. Hopefully Hill would fix it when she arrived. She seed able to fix most people’s moods.