(BL) Taming the Field Guide

Chapter 216: Welcome to the gun show

The cafe was nice. Both Kellen and Rhys were right that people were going to be a little nervous as two tall, beefy men dressed well entered the cafe early in the morning. Kellen didn’t even consider that him wearing an eye patch might be considered strange, but he also thought that the people of this city were used to Espers and Guides.

Turns out, they were far more sheltered than even his hometown.

They were nervous about Rhys and his yellow eyes, but they kept looking at Kellen and his beefy size and eye patch. Rhys almost got offended for Kellen, but Kellen didn’t mind. He just took his time ordering his tea and a nice little sweet treat and waited at a table away from the window for their orders.

He wanted to pay, truly, but Rhys’ eyes flashed in a way that told Kellen that they would spend the rest of the day switching who paid. Kellen smiled at the thought. This was nice.

They sat and ate, chatting and going over their plans for the day. They might not be the most date-like for average couples, but they suited Kellen and Rhys just fine.

There was an antique gun show in town that Rhys had shown interest in before when it came to their city but he hadn’t been able to go. It was run by the same organisation and tickets were still available so Kellen and Rhys had ordered some last night. That was where they were going to go after they had their light breakfast and then after the show they were thinking about walking around a park or an aquarium.

They were leaning more towards the aquarium because it wasn’t an open space. Kellen and Rhys weren’t stupid. They knew it was better to be in quiet, enclosed spaces. It was also mid-week so the aquarium would be quieter, hopefully. Kellen hadn’t been in one since he was a child and on a school trip and Rhys had never been. Kellen had grown almost determined to go after that, and the aquarium had a place where they could grab lunch.

Kellen wasn’t sure how much time they would spend at either location, but he wanted to give Rhys a lot of time to wander and grow. He wanted Rhys to know that he could also expand his horizons the same way that Rhys had expanded Kellen’s. It might be something simple like taking him to an aquarium tour, but it meant something to Kellen. If he knew Rhys the way that he thought he did, he was sure that he felt the same.

They continued to get a few strange, worried looks as they ate but as time continued to move and nothing happened, it seemed that everyone relaxed.

"Should I wear some sunglasses?" Rhys whispered to Kellen, their hands interlocked on the top of the table. Kellen frowned.

"I don’t want you to have to hide yourself." Kellen told him and Rhys shrugged.

"I’m fine with it. My eyesight is good enough even if we go somewhere dark." Rhys was confident and Kellen didn’t doubt him, but he made Rhys promise to only do it if others bothered him too much.

They left shortly after that, walking hand in hand to the venue where the antique show was being held. Kellen was pretty impressed that it was nearby, only to find out that it wasn’t as close as Rhys said it was. He just wanted to hold hands and walk through town with Kellen.

They could have taken a car, but he was waiting for Kellen to ask how much longer they had to sweep him off his feet and carry him to their next location. Kellen should have known better, since the aquarium was quite a ways away from his Aunt’s guild. He should have known the man was scheming to get him into his arms.

Kellen couldn’t even be upset about it. It wasn’t like he hated it.

Kellen just wrapped his arms around Rhys’ neck, laughing as Rhys carried him to the venue.

When they arrived, Kellen and Rhys found that they were clearly not the only Espers or Guides in the area. Well, more Espers than anything else. The Guides were...surprisingly lacking, but Espers were on video calls with their Guides. That was a strange sight for Kellen. A bunch of tough, rather serious-looking Espers all with earpieces in and phones held up as they waited to get through security. Kellen was watching everything with curiousity while Rhys was smiling and on high alert.

Kellen was strangely relaxed. He hadn’t had a vision and his gut feeling wasn’t back. He knew that he’d lost that when he went into the poison gate. With that said, he just knew that they were going to be okay.

Call it cockiness, call it confidence, but Kellen, now that he was aware of his new powers, wasn’t stupid enough to ignore what was going on.

"Rhys, relax, darling. I’m going to be fine." Kellen told him calmly. Rhys glanced at him, his eyes bright yellow.

"How can you be so sure?" He asked and Kellen stared at him with his one eye. They stared at each other for a long, tense moment before Rhys sighed, closed his eyes, and pressed his face into Kellen’s shoulder. Kellen could feel how everyone was watching them, curious. Kellen didn’t mind. They weren’t looking at them with hostility, they were looking at them with jealousy.

"Rhys, come on. You already saw a display of how it’s leaking into my life right now. You’re able to control it, I’m not. Plus, powers move in ways that are familiar to the body. They don’t look for the path of most resistance, but least." Kellen pointed out. He could tell that Rhys was pouting into his shoulder, but he didn’t pout for long.

He pressed a kiss against Kellen’s cheek, grumbled a bit more about how Kellen was too cute and he was worried someone else would notice, and Kellen couldn’t even hide his smile as they got to security.

The team seemed to take offense to Kellen’s gun, until Kellen showed them his I.D. After that, they paled, but let Kellen go with his weapon. That drew more attention than anything else Kellen could have done and most of the Espers around started growing interested in Kellen.

Thankfully, he had a big, scary S Class Esper as a boyfriend so no one overstepped. Especially since Rhys was not afraid to flex his powers around everyone and show that he was the bigger threat.

After the show of power, Kellen and Rhys found themselves really enjoying the antique show. Kellen even found a gun that he thought Brent would really like, and this strangely wrapped money gun that he thought Taylor might like.

Well, he thought it was hideous if he was honest, but another knowing told him to get it. It was lightweight enough that she would be able to use it whenever she wanted. He also found a pink beating stick that he thought Sakura would like too.

Kellen realised he was basically souvenir shopping with Rhys after they bought their third thing for someone from their hometown. He looked at Rhys, horrified.

"Am I doing this wrong?" Kellen asked. "Is this a bad thing? Are you enjoying yourself, or am I supposed to be buying a gift for you?" Kellen asked. Rhys paused and threw back his head and laughed.

He pulled Kellen into his arms, squeezing him tightly as he pressed a kiss against his cheek.

"Oh, sugar, you’re too damn sweet." Rhys told him, his eyes warm. "How can we do a date wrong? You aren’t flirting with anyone else and you’re including me in every choice. I just find it cute watching your eye light up as you realise someone might like something you get for them." Rhys told him. "I also know you like giving gifts to others, especially in ways that they can’t say no to them." Kellen flushed as Rhys stared at him, love in his gaze.

"Y-You knew?" Kellen stuttered, flustered that he’d been caught. Rhys’ eyes warmed even more.

"You are going to give me a cavity, love." Rhys gushed and Kellen found his body growing warm. Ah shit, were they even going to make it to the aquarium? Maybe they could take a detour to a pretty park and Kellen could propose there?

"Kellen? Kellen Woods?" Kellen and Rhys stiffened as a low, raspy male voice called Kellen’s name. Rhys spun them towards the voice and Kellen felt his eyes grow wide, even under his eye patch.

"Instructor Kim?" Kellen replied, before a slow smile spread across his face. He gently tapped Rhys’ chest, asking him to let him go before Kellen took his hand in his and moved towards the man who had recognised him.

Kellen was surprised to even see him here. He had been one of his instructors at his Field Guide school. There had been several that weren’t actually Field Guides, and he had been one. Still, he was a very respected instructor and when Kellen was making his training program he was one of the few that he had reached out to for help. He was also one of the few that had reached back out to him and given him serious feedback.

He was an older Esper now with salt and pepper hair, some pretty gnarly scars on his arms and lines around his eyes and mouth that told Kellen he’d started smiling more after he’d taught Kellen what he’d needed to know.

He gladly held out his hand, shaking Kellen’s with a firm grip. Kellen grinned in response.

"I had no idea I would see you here, Kellen. Are you still on the front lines?" He asked, before it looked like a light went off behind his eyes. "What am I even saying? I saw the news. You’re with the Saturn Guild now, correct?" Instructor Kim said and Kellen nodded. He pulled Rhys closer and the other Esper turned to him. Kellen saw the moment where the older Esper scanned him for threats before he offered Rhys a hand as well.

"Instructor Kim, this is the Captain of the Saturn Guild and my boyfriend, Rhys Thatcher." The air felt heavy for a moment as Instructor Kim stared at Rhys. Then it was like the air let out a breath and Instructor Kim smiled.

"Ah, the famed Captain, huh? Well, the articles were right for once. He’s handsome, Kellen. Good for you." Instructor Kim said warmly. Kellen felt his face warm.

"Did you think they were wrong?" Kellen asked and his former teacher laughed.

"No no, I was just hoping that the rest of us Espers had a damn chance. How could we when he’s not only handsome, but an S Class on top of it? It’s an unfair advantage, but at least he’s off the market thanks to you, Kellen. Gives the younger Espers a chance." He smiled. "How did the program work out that you sent me? Are your students okay?"

They spent the next 10 minutes talking about work and Rhys relaxed. Once it was clear that the other man was someone Kellen respected, Rhys turned into a respectable boyfriend and Captain. Kellen could feel how the others hovered, listening in on their conversation as soon as Rhys’ cover was blown. Kellen knew that it was going to happen, but didn’t hate it.

He was proud to show off that he was holding Rhys’ hand, not anyone else.

"Well, I’m glad that I was able to be of help. I retired from teaching a year after I taught your class." Instructor Kim said, his smile a little bitter. "It was hard to teach kids with stars in their eyes only to send them into hell." His words hit Kellen hard. The first person that came to mind was Bree and Kellen’s jaw hardened.

"I get it." Kellen said lowly. "I do, but I also understand how important this is for us as well. I give my kids several times to back down. Each time I show them more of how dangerous it is, I give them a choice. I understand that this is my lifestyle, but I would never, ever force them into it. Lots of them are planning to be teachers, and even if their students never step inside gates, we’re giving them the strength to believe in themselves more." Kellen told him seriously.

Instructor Kim stared at Kellen, really taking him in, and he gave him a warm smile.

"If it’s you, Kellen, I know you’ll be able to do it. That look in your eyes hasn’t changed since you stepped into my classroom, even if it’s softened a bit. It was good to see you again. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask more questions. It was nice to hear from you, and see you know." He said. He waved, letting Rhys and Kellen get back to their date and Kellen felt something warm in his chest.

It was good to see him, especially now. When Kellen looked up at Rhys, he couldn’t stop himself from reaching up and pulling the man down to his lips. He smiled in the face of Rhys’ stunned expression.

"Thank you for saving me a spot." Kellen told him softly. Rhys chuckled.

"Of course. It was always yours, anyways."