(BL) Hunting The Field Guide-Chapter 462: Promise bound

The climb up the Guild Tower only got harder from that point on. Stopping into the research department, they were already in tears as if they knew. Maeve had a rather grave expression on her face before handing over some tools as well as a few vials for him to gather samples with.

So that he would make sure to come out to give them to her.

It was a rather emotional ordeal, but it kept getting worse.

At the A Class gym, the Espers there looked ill that they were sending in a Guide, no matter who, into the new gate. It didn’t matter that Kellen had years of experience under his belt, he was still a Guide, and Their Guide. He belonged to the Saturn Guild, to the Captain specifically, and that was distressing to them.

They clearly wanted to coddle him, take care of him, make sure that he was okay.

A few of them were even giving Rhys an accusing look, like how could he let Kellen go into the gate? Rhys just took the accusations as they came, having a few conversations with some of the more aggressive Espers off to the side.

Kellen comforted the others, unsure if he was doing any of this right.

Then, Rhys had then stop in to visit Kellen’s parents.

Kellen’s hands were already sweating as soon as they stepped into the elevator and Rhys pressed his parents’ floor. He needed to do this. He knew he did. He didn’t consider yesterday as a proper goodbye. Hell, he didn’t even want to say goodbye. There wasn’t going to be a goodbye.

Rhys took his hand in the elevator, not glancing at Kellen, but just being there as support. Kellen knew he noticed how warm and sweaty his hand got, but the man didn’t release it. Especially as the elevator door opened and Kellen had to step out.

Kellen’s heart raced in his chest as Rhys took the lead, forcing them towards the door he’d entered willingly the day before.

It opened before they even got there.

It was Kellen’s Dad.

Kellen’s heart hurt looking at him. His normally bright grey eyes were dull, dead. His hair was unkept, and he was wearing one of his mother’s larger, fluffier sweaters with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. It took Kellen a moment to realise that it was a blanket that used to be in Gwen’s room when she lived at home, before she moved into the Guild tower when she was accepted into the Guild.

Before their lives were in danger in general. Before everything that they had known as normal had started crumbling.

He was wearing slippers on his feet, his face pale and gaunt. His gaze looked at Rhys as he stopped, and then slid to their hands, then up to Kellen’s face. Then, he turned, letting them enter.

Kellen scanned the room, and noticed that Charlie was gone as were the Espers that were supposed to be keeping an eye on him and his Mom. They weren’t in the kitchen, like they had been before, and Rene wasn’t here either.

His Mom was though, and she was sitting at a chair at the island, looking like she had aged more since yesterday. His Dad only waited until the door was closed behind them before he spoke.

"You’re going in?" He asked softly and Kellen’s mouth suddenly felt dry. Like cotton. Like every bit of liquid had been absorbed and he opened and closed his mouth without answering. Rhys had to speak for him.

"No one else volunteered." Rhys clarified. "He didn’t put his name down as the first choice." Rhys sounded...almost proud of that? That only made Kellen feel worse. Like he was proud that he had been able to ask that much of Kellen.

Fuck. What was he doing?

"Right." His Dad said, emotionless. He turned to look at Kellen with his dead, grey eyes and Kellen felt a shiver run down his spine. If he didn’t come back out of the gate...he didn’t think his parents would survive long after.

The E.A.G. would get their wish.

Kellen felt the blood drain from his face at that realisation.

"When are you going?" His Mom spoke up, sounding tired. Like everything was finally catching up with her.

"Tonight. When night falls. I’m waiting...on a new suit." Kellen was able to get the words out. It involved him clearing his throat a few times, but it was his own words, not Rhys speaking for him. His Mom sighed heavily.

"Anyone else going in with you?" His Mom asked, making a pointed look at Rhys. Kellen felt ill again. Even his Mom was shaming him for his actions.

"N-No." Kellen said, stuttering over his words and his Dad let out a deep, horrible sigh that had Kellen stiffening.

"Kellen Woods." His Dad began. "You’re going to make him wait for you?" It was cruel. Kellen knew it was cruel. That had been pointed out, several times over. Kellen felt his brave face crumble under his Dad’s scrutiny and it was Rhys who stepped in, turning Kellen’s face away from the dead eyes of his Dad and into Rhys’ chest. His arms were warm around him, giving him comfort.

"It’s okay." Rhys said. "It took a while, but I understand why he is doing it. He’s already getting into enough trouble with everyone else, I do think his parents should support him, even if it means rubbing it in my face." Rhys said lowly, and Kellen felt his shoulders shake. He wanted to look at his Dad, at his Mom. He was doing something good.

He was going into the gate. He was going to save his sister. The one that they were initially grieving. He was going to save the family.

"Kellen." His Dad’s voice was weak, but held a cord of steel in it that had Kellen turning his head slightly. "I don’t know what dumb idea you’ve gotten into your brain, but you both mean the world to me. All of you do. I’m upset because of what is happening with your Aunt Dina right now, not because I think you’re not doing the right thing. Please, please don’t make Rhys wait forever." Kellen didn’t know what to say to that.

The only thing he wanted to say was caught in his throat. He opened his mouth a few times, before it finally left.

"You need to wait for us too." Kellen whispered. The tension skyrocketed in the room. Rhys’ arms tightened around Kellen, before he loosened them and then Kellen was passed to his crying Dad. Both of them were crying, his Dad holding onto him tightly. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

"I’m sorry baby. I’ll try. I’m sorry I’m making you worry about this again." His Dad whispered, the hard shell he’d had before gone. "I didn’t mean to make my son experience this. This would have been so much easier if you had never been a Guide or Esper." His Dad whispered, and Kellen knew from the way he said it that it was a secret wish.

A wish that he probably had for both of his kids.

It felt like a knife twisting in his gut.

His Mom came over, her expression grim as she reached for her son and husband, wrapping her arms around both of them.

"I’ll wait, my son." She said, making a promise that meant a lot to Kellen. She was going to be the strong one. She would make sure that they stayed as long as they could. Kellen hated that they were even having this conversation in the first place, but as he held his Mom and his Dad, he could feel how weak his Dad was.

How skinny.

It was practically a death sentence to a Guide. Skinny meant death.

"I-I have some of your granola still upstairs. I’ll have Rhys bring it down." It was hard to speak past the lump in his throat, and it was as close as he was going to get to a goodbye. He wasn’t going to fucking say it. It was a curse. An ill will omen on anyone who worked on the front lines.

His Mom nodded, knowing what it was at face value, while his Dad’s face crumbled. He held Kellen, pulling him in tighter.

"I’ll eat it." He promised. "I’ll eat it, Kellen." Kellen nodded, too emotional to speak. He wanted to say more, but he just couldn’t.

Eventually, he left, Rhys holding his hand as he waved to his parents, them waving back sadly as they stood there. Looking their age for the first time.

Both of them had their Class in their eyes as they watched him, the blue and purple haunting Kellen’s memories as Rhys pulled him towards the elevator again. Rhys didn’t stop anywhere else, going to their apartment.

He helped Kellen take off his shoes, putting on his slippers before he did the same for himself.

"Did you want to order food in today?" He asked and Kellen sniffed. He was still quite emotional from his talk with his parents.

"No. I want to cook for you today." Rhys’ expression stiffened, before it softened and he nodded.

"Okay sugar. You can do that." Rhys was silent for a moment before he let out a soft sigh. "I’ll make sure your Dad gets his granola." He promised and Kellen nodded, reaching for him and hugging him tightly.

"Fuck. I’m sorry." Kellen told him. "I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to ask you to come in with me." Rhys held him tightly in his arms.

"It’s okay. You explained it so that I understand, but next time? We go in together." Rhys whispered. "Promise me." Rhys’ voice was hoarse with emotion and Kellen nodded aggressively.

"Yes. Next time we go in together."

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