(BL) Hunting The Field Guide

Chapter 268: Side story- 6 years ago Kellen and the Captain part 3

Chapter 268: Side story- 6 years ago Kellen and the Captain part 3Shuffling his feet, Kellen ignored the grumbling of his stomach. He hadn’t eaten a few meals, but he knew his body could handle it. He usually foraged for things inside of gates instead of paying for food from the suppliers on the front lines. The food was usually dry, disgusting, and never satisfied him.

It was better to get something from the gates when he was sneaking in to re

Kellen knew he was going to have to deal with this later, and that alone had him on edge. But it was the last man who made him the most nervous. Fuck.

He’d only ever seen him from afar or from magazines. He hadn’t taken any of them with him because he knew he’d be mocked if others found them. Kellen knew he needed to look at him, especially as he arrived at the spot where the seat was and Kellen placed his backpack down on it. He swallowed, feeling all of their gazes on him, and Kellen finally worked up the courage to look in his direction.

Damn it. The man looked composed. Like he wasn’t weighing Kellen’s life in his hands. His hair was perfectly gelled back, the black gleaming in the light from the few bulbs in the area, and his features were calm, collected. He looked like a damn handsome statue.

His uniform was different from those beside him, and Kellen assumed that was because he was the Captain. He had to be. There was no one else that Kellen could imagine taking up the mantle, especially if he was in a Guild. There weren’t many like him that would go from being in the D.E.C. to being under another Esper.

He’d also never struck Kellen as the kind of man who would take orders well from another Esper.

The way his yellow eyes stared at him made Kellen sweat. Damn it. He’d never expected to run into the man he’d had posters on his walls of here, and neither had he expected that he was the one who put out that call for Field Guides.

Keep it together Kellen. You could manage this. It was just like any other interview.

Kellen remained standing, and gave a slight bow. The chattering stopped, and everyone turned their attention to him.

"Are you not going to take a seat?" It was Taylor, his friend from high school who spoke. Her blue eyes piercing as she crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.

"Um, I feel more comfortable standing, thank you." Kellen inclined his head. Kellen tucked his hands behind his back, standing in a relaxed state while he watched her eyes turn green and he clenched his hands. Damn woman. Couldn’t she see he was doing his best? Why did she need to embarrass him?

The shuffling of papers made Kellen turn his attention to the man he was desperately trying not to look at. He was looking through the papers until he found Kellen’s.

"Ah. So your full name is Kellen Woods?" He asked and Kellen gulped.

"That would be correct." Kellen watched as his lips turned up slightly.

"That’s not the most common name. Are you in any way associated with the Woods family?" Kellen swallowed. Fuck. Right out of the gate, huh? Kellen swallowed thickly.

"Whether I am or not associated with them, I would hope that you would judge me as myself, not who my parents may or may not be." The brunette sitting next to the Guide leaned forward, a smirk on her face.

"Oh, that’s precious. A Guide who doesn’t use their family name?" She snatched the papers out of her Captain’s hands and Kellen frowned. "And a C Class at that? Who shit in your cornflakes?" Taylor glared at the other woman.

"Esper Hill. How can you speak that way when we don’t know the full story?" Taylor defended and Esper Hill snorted. She slammed the papers back down before her Captain, and then leaned back in her chair, rolling her brown eyes.

"We’ve seen a dozen of his type before. At least the pretty one had some backing behind her so she won’t be a burden." Kellen held firm. Even if every word from her lips felt like a blow.

"Hill." She froze. A single word from his lips had everyone holding their breath. He turned his gaze towards Kellen. "So, if I am to read between the lines, you do not like using your family name?" Kellen sucked in, and nodded. "But you didn’t give us a fake identity." He seemed to be probing, and Kellen sighed. He worried his lip before he spoke.

"I...don’t like to lie. It would be easier if I did so, but at the same time, I’d rather tell the truth." Kellen told him. He leaned forward, a smile on his lips.

"Interesting. It says that you’ve been a Field Guide for a year now, is that correct?" Kellen nodded. "But you don’t seem to have many contracts completed under your belt compared to the others who have come forward." Kellen gulped.

"Ah, no." Esper Hill snorted, and Kellen ignored her. Taylor hadn’t taken her haunting, green gaze off of him, and Kellen knew he was going to be in trouble, one way or another.

"Is there a reason for that?" Kellen’s fingers dug into the palms of his hands. There were several, but he doubted that they would want to hear it. There weren’t many who wanted to hear about the politics between Field Guides on the front lines.

"Well, I think anyone would have some trepidation in hiring someone so new. It takes everyone a while to get their feet under them." Kellen gave a slight smile. He hated acting like the Guide guidebook told him to. He’d spent so long thinking he wasn’t going to be one, that putting on the damn smile almost hurt him.

The Guide at the end of the table snorted, and Kellen did his best not to flush.

"I see. Well, Field Guide Woods, please tell us about your plan." Kellen nodded, glancing at the white board. The soft chuckle from the other man’s lips nearly took Kellen out. "You may use whatever you need in this room for your presentation." He told him, and Kellen knew his cheeks were red. He nodded, pulling the papers out from behind his back and moved towards the whiteboard.

He really needed to not mess this up.