thehauntedfrequency

Gya--! [Manabu flails to catch himself from flopping over the other end of the bed, jolting at the slam of the door.

after a beat, he pulls the sheet off himself, hair now frizzy and all out of sorts, and he blinks owlishly at the door as the shower is turned on.

...so it was...that...

his eyes wince. yikes, no wonder he was flustered - that was...embarrassing...]

[Grey's had his share of shameful moments over the course of his life, and this? This is definitely up near the top. He's shaking a little as he sits on the shower stool, trying to sort out his thoughts while simultaneously not being sure he wants to. He'd like to forget this entire morning happened, thanks!

The shower was really just the first excuse to get away that came to mind, but now that he's here Grey figures he's committed. He strips off his clothes, sets them aside, and crouches under the shower head. Ice water is probably what's called for here, but he's already feeling pretty fucking tormented this morning, so he turns it on to a lukewarm temperature instead. The water raining down on his bare skin still makes him shiver.

Logic desperately throws him a lifeline in the sea of shame- morning wood- nocturnal penile tumescence- *is* a very common occurrence, he reminds himself. Manabu's probably experienced it plenty of times himself, since he was able to recognize it!

He probably shouldn't be picturing Manabu with an erection. He definitely shouldn't be imagining Manabu, flushed and muzzy from just waking up, with his dick hard between his legs... Shifting about and shyly touching Grey's arm... Can you give me a hand, Grey?

There's a light thunk from the bathroom as Grey taps his forehead against the wall. Idiot!!! Don't think about things like that!!!

On the other hand... He does need to do something about his situation...

Grey closes his eyes, takes his aching cock in one hand, and covers his mouth with the other.

It's a rather frustrating session he has in the shower, honestly. The buzz of arousal feels good, and the thoughts of Manabu are pleasing- when he isn't getting distracted by feelings of shame and the part of his brain that tells him Manabu would never, ever say or do things like that. That makes it more difficult to reach climax, but he does eventually, sinking his teeth into the palm of his hand with a muffled moan and spilling his cum into his hand and against the tiled wall.

Then he has to clean up after himself and leave, but at least by then he's feeling significantly calmer and doesn't have a visible tent in his pants. He's still feeling rather mortified but he's hanging onto the hope that Manabu will 1) be understanding of his woes, and 2) keep his fucking mouth shut.]

[really should've accounted for that, really.

Manabu rubs at his flushed face, now getting properly suffocated by that embarrassment. poor Grey, with him curled up like that, too, just like that night...

he slaps at his cheeks until it stings, grimacing. don't think about that! even half-memories of that aren't appropriate for right now!!

dammit, he can't even be the better man and offer to sleep on the floor - Grey would probably just give him shit for that. he apologize, either...

sigh.

Manabu finagles getting out of pajama bottoms into slacks - at least up to his tail, and flops back on the bed.

he does, in fact, keep his mouth shut.]

[Grey looks over at the bed warily once he reemerges, a little afraid that whatever he'll see might set him off again. But he's satiated enough that seeing Manabu flopped onto the bed does not send him into a mindless haze of lust, so. It's probably alright?

And Manabu isn't saying anything.

Which is good! Grey does not want Manabu to start. Asking questions, or whatever, or generally acknowledging the morning incident. But the quiet is also pretty awkward.

Grey glances at the kitchen.]

...Shall we have more cereal?

[The cornflakes haven't saved him yet, but by god is he giving them a chance.]

[he's inclined to say no, but he is hungry. so, slowly, he sits up with an affirmative, scooting to sit with his back propped up on the headboard, accepting the bowl when offered.

the crunching of shame.]

You're going out today, right? [to get supplies.

..and cards.]

[The cereal does not seem to be helping the moment much, but they do need to eat. And fortunately, Manabu remembers they had plans.

Logistics! Bless logistics. Grey swallows his mouthful of cereal and nods.]

Right. We have several things we need, but my first priority is getting you a means to protect yourself whenever I'm gone.

[i.e. buying Manabu a gun. That way Grey can continue to go out and about without being anxious about Manabu being left alone and unprotected.

Well, not as anxious.]

Eh-? [that was news to him. but it does make sense...

he looks toward the kitchen area.]

Are there any knives over there?

[Grey smirks, amused by the question.]

Butter knives. If you're looking for something sharp, the scissors are your best chance.

[His amusement fades somewhat, as he thinks on more of the logistics of what Manabu could do if he's endangered.]

If anyone finds you while I'm gone... I know running will be difficult, but you can get out onto the roof through that window if need be. [He gestures with a spoon.] I doubt it'll help much, if they've found us then they'll no doubt have accounted for the potential exits, but...

[Well. It's there.]

You can also send a text message to my phone via the tablet. I've already got a messenger application set up, so if you're in trouble just send me a message, anything at all, and I'll come here as quickly as I can.

Mn. [he doesn't seem to worried about intruders, even in his limited state. they've been in this room for two days (two? right? or was it more...?) with no incident, the odds are in his favor.

that, and looking around, he's sure he can improvise a few things.]

I can handle things.

Don't take any risks. Contact me the moment you so much as think there might be trouble.

[Grey's mostly sure that they're safe right now, but he's not nearly as confident as Manabu. They could very well just be waiting for an opportunity, and Grey leaving would be an excellent one. But they really can't wait around forever.]

[part of him wants to scoff, but...he's gotta cut Grey some slack - he knows the score of the immediate area better than he does. and the last thing he wants is to get dragged back to a lab...

he nods, solemn.]

I will, I promise.

[Grey visibly relaxes at that. Maybe he's wrong to, but he thinks he can trust Manabu to keep a promise.]

Alright, good.

[That mostly covers the safety issue... The rest of the morning passes by peaceably enough. After they've both eaten and gotten dressed and cleaned up, Grey has Manabu doing more physio (in a switch-up from yesterday, they focus on Manabu's right side instead of his left) and then there isn't really any reason to delay any further.

Though Grey does do the nagging mother thing as he's on his way out the door, still adjusting the ball cap and sunglasses he's opted to wear to try and disguise his distinctive hair and eye colors.]

Remember, don't let anyone except me in. If the landlord shows up, pretend that nobody's home. Make sure the blinds are drawn.

[That last one feels a little cruel considering Manabu's been trapped in a basement for months, but what if someone looks in and sees him?]

[being handled by Grey during exercise is a bit distracting - Manabu is less focused on his impatience to get better than he is with recollection of the morning. of being grabbed tightly around the waist, of Grey's flustered expression, of...

engh. stop, Yuuki.

at the reminders about security, one of Manabu's ears flicks to vent out a little agitation while he sighs. yeah, yeah.]

Nobody but you, Grey. [he gives him a pointed look.] I got it.

[but if someone gets robbed outside the door? he's probably doing something about that.]

[Grey huffs, rather agitated himself. This is going to be his first time parting ways with Manabu ever since the rescue, and he's feeling a rather alarming amount of separation anxiety. You'd think Grey was the one who'd just been through something traumatic.]

I'll see you later.

[In spite of that anxiety, Grey's finally out the door. He shuts and locks it behind him- it's a cheap lock, the door wouldn't be hard to break down, but every little bit of security helps- and heads out as nonchalantly as he can manage.

His first stop is just to duck into another secluded alleyway a few streets away, to call up his local contact and ask about buying a handgun. He feels a little internal twist of discomfort as he does so, belatedly remembering that he'd said he'd consult Manabu before doing anything illegal... But hopefully Manabu will understand the necessity of this.]

[they seem connected by that same string of anxiety, given how Manabu feels it under his skin, curdling his stomach. what if...what if they were just waiting for Grey to leave the apartment? what if it was only a matter of time before this enclosed space becomes the concrete basement?

he shivers.

that wasn't going to happen. not again. he wasn't going to let that happen...and neither was Grey.

the memory of the scent of blood suddenly strikes, making Manabu feel downright nauseous; it's all he can do to keep steady, close his eyes, and navigate shakily along the wall toward the bathroom. that's where he'll spend a bit of the day, trying to keep dread in check and reality front and center. he can't let himself fall to pieces when he's alone for even a little while, after all!

it's hard, though: reality includes that blood. dead men. the fact he's got animal parts grafted onto his body, pieces of himself removed...he can't let himself pretend it's not real, but it's not an ideal way to spend time in silence!

he eventually returns to the bed and checks on news of the SDF. of Sirius Platoon. how are you guys?

he smiles sadly as he comes across news that they'd captured one of Captain Spear's smaller fleet ships. are you...still looking for me?

i'm sorry. i'm...

sounds from downstairs fill his ears, erratic thumping giving him little scares now and then, mistaking it for hostile footsteps. it's just another day for some people here. good... it needs to be that way for folks. that's...what he worked for.

it should be just another day for Grey, too, but...here he is. and even if he wasn't here, he said he couldn't move in sanctioned ways, live safely...

how am i going to help him? when i'm...

he gnaws on a granola bar, hoping it sits in his stomach gently while he thinks about a strong arm around his waist, large and deft hands on his head, and a laugh he's starting to note he hears more often than he realized.]

[The arms dealer isn't able to meet with Grey until later in the day- since he's trying to keep on relatively cordial terms with this guy Grey refrains from growling into the phone and politely agrees to a time and place.

After that, the day is spent running from store to store, picking up necessities, good-to-haves, and generally killing time until he can meet with the dealer. Most of what he gets are groceries, the bulk of which are random vegetables, but he gets the meat Manabu requested (some random cuts of pork and chicken), bread, milk, butter, peanut butter (after wondering for a few minutes about the possibility of Manabu having a serious peanut allergy, or any other allergies that he failed to mention), eggs, and a random assortment of snacks.

At a few other places Grey also picks up a frying pan, a kitchen knife, a pair of oven mitts with a floral pattern, a whisk, a knit cap to hide Manabu's ears (he's briefly tempted to pick up one that has a pair of crocheted animal ears attached, but decides it wouldn't be wise to bring that home along with a gun for Manabu), a length of cheap cord, a deck of cards, a jigsaw puzzle with a thousand pieces, and in a burst of optimism, a book about a (fictional) SDF platoon hunting down a (fictional) serial killer. He also picks up a few medical magazines and a box of hair dye for himself.

Needless to say, he's absolutely loaded down with stuff when he meets his dealer near the port. The guy's bodyguard visibly relax when they see Grey's situation, and he tries not to be miffed at being clearly taken as not a threat. The arms dealer also looks somewhat amused, but doesn't ask too many questions. Grey's pretty sure he's overcharging for the hand gun but considers the expense worth the secrecy.

And after that, Grey has to lug everything all the way back to the apartment.

Needless to say, while it's not yet dark it's well into the afternoon before Grey's back. From the alleyway behind the laundromat, the apartment looks dark and quiet. Grey does his best to swallow down his nerves. The quiet is probably a good thing- he told Manabu to make it look like nobody's around!

He heads up the stairs slowly, footsteps slightly heavier than they normally would be by dint of all the crap he's hauling around. He makes it up the stairs safely enough, but once he's at the top, Grey runs into a problem.

His key is in his pocket. In order to reach it, he needs to put some of his bags down. And the balcony is tiny, without a lot of floor space.

After several long moments of fumbling, Grey gives up on setting his things down and opts instead to "knock" by kicking at the base of the door a few times.]

Manabu? Can you get the door?

Edited 2024-03-26 02:52 (UTC)

[with all the quiet keeping him company, Manabu easily keys into the noise outside. he'd never pin Grey as fumbling or awkward (not even after this morning!), so all that excess noise gives him pause and reason for his skin to prickle with unease in his alertness. there's not much to parse from the shadow moving faintly at the edge of window blinds, so all he can do is hold his breath and listen...

until the thumping and the call. he startles, double-blinking. oh!]

Uoh, ha-hang on!

[he gets up a bit faster than he ought to, but he has a tail to prevent the wobble from being a full-on fall. he closes his eyes and steps over to the door, heartened by the minimal swirl in his head and unlocks, opening up and gawking a bit.

as he steps out of the way:] You buy a whole second apartment...?

[There's an astonishing rush of warmth when he peers over the top of the shopping bags and sees Manabu gawking up at him. It's a relief to see him still here, and looking well- even if he's smartmouthing Grey at the moment.]

Very amusing.

[Grey steps into the apartment and glances around for a place to put down everything. The kitchen counter's too small, the floor's a tripping hazard...]

I had to essentially stock an entire kitchen and pick up a few things besides, and I can't use telekinesis in public. This was a natural consequence.

[Grey sidles around Manabu and sets everything down on the bed.]

[Manabu locks the door behind them, turning and watching all the bags and things getting piled up. a pang of guilt hits - he should've been able to help!!

he swallows on it and sighs, pushing away from the door and walking slowly over. it's not so bad, so long as he keeps his eyes focused on one thing in front of him.]

This, on top of the fancy dinner, huh... [it's gonna be one helluva tab to pay up later, isn't it.]

[Not so much of a tab as Manabu may think, considering:]

Ah yes, you volunteered to do the cooking, didn't you?

[Grey gets to work sorting through the bags, separating the groceries from the everything-else and carrying them off to the cupboards and fridge. He hasn't done the best job bringing everything home, honestly- the bread is squished, as is the package of butter, a few of the eggs did not survive the trip home, and some of the veggies are bruised.

He doesn't ask Manabu to help him unpack, but he won't protest if Manabu decides to look through what he bought either.]

[oh dear. Mom would be disappointed with this haul... but beggars can't be choosers! Manabu takes some of the less fragile stuff along with him, lest he give that egg carton more PTSD with a dizzy spell, and sizes everything up. it'll be a kitchen sink kind of situation, but...this is doable.]

You got a knife and something to cook on, right?

In the other bag.

[He gestures.]

I also picked up a whisk? I believe those are used on eggs and things.

[Note: Grey did not pick up a proper mixing bowl. Or measuring things. Or a cutting board to go with that knife. Is it obvious he doesn't really cook much?]

['used on eggs and things'....they sure are, buddy. Manabu's mouth twitches, then purses into a thin line to keep from puffing out a laugh as he goes through the other bag.

...

no cutting board. hm. well! he'll just...wipe down the counter extra good later.

no bowls to separate cut things in, either...

this is fine.]

...Right. [he rolls up the cuffs of his sleeves in order to wash his hands and get started on this attempt. here goes nothing.]

[There are the cereal bowls they've been using! Those are kind of useful, right? Not that Grey is cognizant enough of what proper cooking requires to realize the issue and try to defend himself.

While Manabu gets started on a late lunch, Grey finishes unpacking. Hat and cord go with Manabu's clothes; the various entertainments are stacked near the bed; the hair dye would go in the bathroom except Grey would have to shoulder Manabu aside to get in there, so he just sets it on the shelf at the back of the room, along with Manabu's gun.

Then after that he winds up hovering a bit behind and to the right of Manabu, watching what he's doing curiously.]

What are you making?

[Manabu's tail swishes idly, lightly bonking Grey's leg.]

An educated guess, eheh... [he's arranging things in groups that make sense to him, then picking at the meat packaging with the tip of the knife.] I can sear all of this in one go and save some for later, probably...

[he tilts his head up to look at the cupboards above him.]

Think there's any seasonings just...hanging around in here? [like.....even just salt.]

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