thehauntedfrequency

doggone

[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.

Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.

By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.

It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.

He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.

And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.

Until the day it does.

SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]

* * *

[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.

Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.

He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.

The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.

But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."

Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]

Interesting?

["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]

Nothing would please me more.

[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]

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Um. A, a while… [wow, he can be both mellow AND bashful.

he clears his throat.]

That…that week…

Oh.

[Manabu doesn't have to specify what he means by "that week" as Grey remembers it very well himself. It's more than a little odd to think that technically, they've only spent less than a month regularly interacting with one another- it feels like Manabu's been part of his life for much longer.

Grey's fingers curl a little against the sheets. While he hadn't really admitted his own attraction to himself until relatively recently, in retrospect he's been attracted to Manabu since the very beginning.]

...We could have done this much earlier.

I don’t know…

[he turns his head just slightly in Grey’s direction, eyes still closed.]

Something like this… I don’t know if I’d have let myself before. Not then. [not when he had the job. normalcy. things to keep him busy and keep Grey as just some figment of dreaming.] I would’ve messed so much up…

But…so much is already messed up now… [so by comparison…]

...

[Grey can't be properly offended by Manabu's words, because he's had similar thoughts himself. But the reminder still leaves him cold.

Manabu's in no position to be Grey's... whatever this is, and under normal circumstances this could never have happened. It's a good chunk of why Grey was so resistant to their mutual attraction, and their circumstances haven't really changed any. Manabu's still Manabu, and Grey's still... nobody.

It's just that by happenstance, Grey wound up being the one with the information and the means to find Manabu, and then watch over him while he's still in a vulnerable state. With the mixture of mutual attraction and temporary dependence and isolation, this was inevitable, but impermanent.]

So that's how it is.

[He'll deliver Manabu to Destiny, Manabu will bring the results of their investigation to the authorities, hire a tailor, and go back to his job. Probably eventually marry some Tabito miner's kid, one who likes dogs.]

You'll get your life back eventually, Manabu. And until then...

[Grey shifts, raising himself slightly above Manabu, and presses a kiss against his temple.

Until then, you're mine.]

I think you should try to sleep.

[the thing Grey doesn’t get, though, is that he’s already a fixture in Manabu’s life - that, if he can help it, he wouldn’t be letting him go by choice. making such an emotional connection, just to let it go…?

that only makes sense if one of them were already a ghost.

getting his life back already has a piece carved out for Grey, even if Manabu can’t see how or where it can be carved; he’s already decided.

Manabu’s skin tickles where it’s kissed; his tail gently thumps.]

Mn…don’t go anywhere, okay…?

[Grey's heart squeezes a little at those words as he settles back against the mattress.]

Of course not.

[He carefully arranges himself around Manabu until they're both hopefully in a comfortable position, and closes his eyes. He briefly reflects that, thankfully, he longer needs to worry about his body somehow betraying his attraction when they lie close- Manabu's already well informed on that matter!

The exhaustion from the day wars for a while with Grey's own intense emotions in the wake of their intimacy, but the former eventually wins out. Grey curls up against Manabu and sleeps.]

[Manabu wakes up to a kinder echo of their first forming, spooned against Grey like he meant to fit there all along. he blinks slowly, blearily taking in his view of the apartment as memory sinks in.

he and i…

his stomach flutters and his face warms up to remember it. he can feel Grey breathing behind him, further informing that reality; Manabu stays still for a while just to listen and be certain.

eventually he dares to move, to carefully start to turn himself around and see him there. he still sleeping…?]

[Grey is awake, though not entirely willingly. He's not sure how long he's been lying there by the time Manabu starts moving, or which one of them woke first, but he spent some time after waking just quietly holding Manabu and absorbing the moment.

He'd held Manabu like this before, hadn't he? At the hotel on Destiny. He hadn't known what to make of it at the time, and had been quick to let go. It's strange how much has changed.

Grey loosens his grip once Manabu begins to stir and turn around, but stays close. As Manabu's face comes into view Grey smiles, taking in the sight of him. The messy hair and big dark eyes that he's come to know so well.

But affection is mixed with wariness, leaving him tongue-tied. How will the events of last night stand up in the scrutiny of the daylight?]

Uoh-[he’s awake! aforementioned eyes blink and widen a bit more, his face growing red. was it weird to be caught looking at his sleepy face?

sheepishly:] Uh, hey. Hi. Morning. You okay?

...Good morning. I'm doing quite well.

[Is that a weird thing to say, after last night? Although surely it would be better than claiming to be doing horribly??? Which he isn't, he's in a better mood than usual- minus some nerves about how Manabu potentially feels about last night.

So Grey shifts and leans over to press a soft kiss against Manabu's forehead.

Y'know, just testing the waters a little. With the equivalent of a cannonball dive.]

Re-really? [the tail wagging starts on contact - kiss-activated, apparently.] I’m glad…

[that…was permission to kiss him, right? he went first, so!

so, yeah! Manabu goes for it, though his aim isn’t very finessed while laying on his side.]

[Grey lets out a little laugh of startled delight. Oddly, he wasn't expecting to get a kiss in return, but he certainly isn't complaining. The last of his nerves retreat, leaving Grey grinning like a besotted buffoon.]

You seem to be in high spirits yourself.

[He can hear that tail thumping.]

That’s not weird, is it? [maybe it is, but he can’t un-feel a feeling just felt.

but the light of day telegraphs his nervous uncertainty even better than the clues in the dark.]

I don't know what's normal, and frankly I don't care. If you're happy about it then that's good enough for me.

[Sure, he could commit valuable brain energy to trying to figure out what is the Normal, Socially Acceptable Response to a morning after, but that would be a waste of time that he is instead going to spend giving Manabu a second kiss.]

[any half-thought response is silenced by a kiss, and Manabu’s brain spins once more. he could leave it at that, start the day…

…but instead follows the impulse to kiss back again, scooting in to impose himself that much more for the inch given.]

[As far as starts to the day go, this is an excellent one. Lying in bed, exchanging lazy kisses with Manabu, feeling his skin buzzing with pleasure...

After a bit of brainless kissing Grey raises his hand with intent to touch Manabu in some way, and then abruptly remembers that he's. Kind of gross still, after last night. So reluctantly he scooches back and begins to sit up. As he does, he tosses a faux-casual question Manabu's way.]

Shall we share the shower this morning?

[Not mentioned, but hoped for: "And make out more while we're there."]

Eh?? [he needs a second to get out of the little stupor that kissing puts him in.

shower? sure.

wait—-] Same time? Isn’t it small…? [isn't that a safety hazard?]

I will admit it, it may be cramped. But it will be more efficient, no?

[One of them is likely to wind up banging their hip against the sink or something similar- either Grey by virtue of being the larger guy, or Manabu by virtue of his Klutzy Shonen Protagonist energy- but it's one of those open showers so at least they won't have a curtain or door to contend with?]

Besides, we've already gotten very close.

That…that’s true… [one of his floppy ears twitches.

he sits up, rubbing the back of his neck.] Mn—-okay. I,
I can wash your back…?

[that would be justification enough for being a little handsy?]

[Little lines of mirth form around Grey's eyes at the acquiesence.]

I would appreciate that very much.

[Yessss good, walk into his trap.

Grey slides out of bed and proceeds to putter around gathering things for their shower- wash basin, change of clothes to leave outside the bathroom- smiling as he goes in a way that probably would have been alarming when Manabu was first getting to know him.

It might be a little alarming now, actually, considering how much of it is because Grey's straight up looking forward to getting to ogle Manabu naked. Last night it had been dark, and they'd had clothes and sheets covering things, so this seems like an excellent opportunity to rectify that.]

[Manabu, for his part, is trying to be careful and remember not to get to his feet too quickly; Grey being so peppy helps distract him from doing just that. he watches him move about while his own legs dangle over the bed, flexing the fingers of his vaguely sticky hand.

Grey in the dark and Grey in the day…are they a lot different? is he different? hopefully enough to not lose his head over seeing Grey naked again and forget to wash…

wondering on that alone still makes his face hot, and he looks a bit embarrassed of himself when Grey comes over to help collect him.]

Come along now.

[Grey grows a little more subdued as the moment of truth draws near, although his overall mood's still good. But there's a sense of self-consciousness that rises in him at his own sticky state when he helps Manabu up, as well as in anticipation of what's coming.

Remembering the state Manabu was in last night is another factor. On the way to the bathroom, Grey pays close attention to Manabu's movements, and it's not entirely for lecherous reasons. It won't do to get carried away and let Manabu collapse from exhaustion.

Though once they've gotten into the bathroom, the door shut, and Grey's gaze is flicking over Manabu, it's not really concern motivating his next offer.]

Would you like help getting undressed?

[no unsteady steps here, especially when he can lean on Grey and not feel weird about having a tail for balance. Manabu's conveyed easily, and when the door's closing he's already tugging at the collar of his own shirt when Grey asks the question.]

Ha? I can do that much! [the notion that Grey would want to do that for sexy reasons wooshes over his head - almost as much as his own shirt does! see! woosh.] I been able to do that already, you know?

...So you can.

[Manabu being topless isn't really new for Grey- technically he's even seen Manabu naked before!- but there's a new context involved and in prior occasions Grey hasn't really allowed himself to stare the way he does now.

He doesn't really know much about physical beauty, so maybe his assessment isn't objective, but Manabu... He's lovely.

Grey leans against the door, eyebrows raised, and watches expectantly for Manabu to start on his pants. He'd like to think he seems cool and composed at the moment, but the way his color heightens and the look in his eyes... It's far closer to "randy teenager" than anything else.]

...

[so he can!

so he...should... hell, with the tail, the trousers he never changed out of last night are just a shimmy away from sliding off anyway, but...when Grey's looking at him like that...

Manabu's own face flushes red, feeling extremely self-conscious. he gulps. c'mon, Yuuki, it's not like you've never used a public bath before! it's!

...it's...not the same at all!!!!]

A-are you going to just stand there or, or what... [he looks away, embarrassed, and pulls down the trousers, leaning against the sink behind him so he can yank his feet out, left in nothing but those infamous striped boxers. the design is ubiquitous to like every planet, what can ya do.]

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