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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, it...it's a regular passenger train. It uses the railway, but the conductor didn't have a final destination logged. And everyone on there... [he grimaces.] I mean, everyone looked like normal people, just...kind of glowy? And cold. Very cold. When they brushed past me on accident, it was...really, really cold.

One of my crewmates and I kind of stowed away, chasing someone who was trying to find his girlfriend... [fiance, Manabu.]

[Grey's brow continues to furrow as Manabu attempts to explain. It's rather hard for him to picture, even though Rezo has dealt with ghosts firsthand on a few occasions. He does idly note-]

Ghosts absorb ambient energy, such as heat and electricity. That's why they feel cold.

[Grey can make an educated guess as to why Manabu and his crewmate were chasing the man chasing his dead girlfriend, so he doesn't question that part.]

How did that work out for him?

[Manabu blinks at him. Grey said that so easily...like he knew about ghost-coldness already! what the heck.]

...Uh, he. Well, we got him out of there, and...after a bit, he got some sense knocked back into him. No way he could've stayed on that train and lived, you know? And he has a lot of life to get to living before he can see her again, so...

[so they parted.

it was weird. it was sad. but not...miserable?]

Quite the romantic story.

[Grey says this in a neutral tone that makes it hard to tell if he's being sarcastic or not. He's not sure what he thinks about it either! Since he's hearing the cliff's notes secondhand it feels rather abstract for what it is.]

What other encounters have you had with ghosts?

[he feels a little flutter despite the lack of expressiveness with that remark, and he's glad to pivot to other encounters...until he remembers other encounters.]

Er...

[he fidgets, then sees to laying out dishes on a towel to dry.] Well, I'm not...super sure? Since she wasn't cold or anything, but, but there was this old lady... She thought I was her son? Or...pretended she thought I was, it's...hard to say. But...she, uh...basically bossed me around like I was, had me doing chores and things and, and stuff...

[like taking a bath.]

Pfft-

[Grey doesn't break out into a full laugh, but he does smile at the anecdote, just because "got bossed around by a random old (ghost) lady and did chores for her" does sound like a very Manabu-ish escapade.]

You're very respectful of your elder, aren't you? And how did this particular encounter turn out?

[his face gets redder. c'mon, of course he's respectful! don't laugh!! he didn't even mention the bath!!!]

Well, it... I mean. I was there to evacuate her off-planet, but...she disappeared. Near the end of the time cutoff.

[she thanked him and then... gone.]

I see. [It sounds like quite the inexplicable encounter! It's definitely for the best that Manabu didn't mention the bath because Grey would be quite vexed to hear about someone else stripping Manabu.]

People who are psychically sensitive usually encounter ghosts more often than those who are insensitive. The jury's still out on if that's because ghosts are drawn to them or because they're more capable of noticing them. [And not all ghosts are made alike; some are just wispy memories and strange sounds, while others are able to completely take over a place and touch the living.]

[Manabu scratches at his cheek as he considers that. him? psychically sensitive...?]

I don't know... I guess it's possible. But it's just as likely not, right? I mean, I wasn't the only one who jumped that train. And that old lady did rope the rest of the crew into chores when they found me...

[Grey nods.] Mm. It might be that someone else from your crew is the psychically sensitive one, or maybe you just coincidentally ran into multiple ghosts with enough strength to make themselves known.

[With a smile he adds:] It's quite the surprise to learn that you're experienced with the paranormal.

[his cheeks puff up briefly at that.]

Why is that? Y-you told me yourself you don't really talk to many people outside of business or whatever. What if lots of people have interacted with ghosts and you just haven't made friends with any?

[That earns Manabu a cheek poke.]

It isn't as if I'm a shut in. [~~anymore~~] And you were surprised by my powers!

[he tilts his head away from the poke.]

Ghosts and superpowers are different!

They're both classified as areas of paraphysics. [Since Manabu's leaning away from the poke Grey will instead set a hand on Manabu's head and squish down.] Which is not an area of study I would have thought you'd be interested in- or rather, I suppose I wouldn't think you'd be interested in studying at all!

[squimshed.

his tail floofs.]

Y-you'd not have thought I'd had read a book before, either, so!!!

Really? You have? [Grey grins, and begins to muss Manabu's hair while he's at it.] You're just full of surprises today!

Tch'-!! [he swats the hand away, ducking his head and pushing off the countertops, wobbly-walking toward the bed.] Don't you have somewhere to go?

Alright, yes. Just let me get ready before you kick me out of the apartment. [Grey throws up his hands in a theatrical gesture of helplessness, then walks around the bed and heads to the cupboard where he keeps his clothes.

And a moment later he's dropping trou to get changed. Manabu may want to make sure he's turned around or whatever. Although Grey's back is to Manabu so it's not as if he's paying attention to what Manabu is doing.]

[Manabu should be polite, but he double-takes and winds up watching anyway because... well, come on, it's fine, his back is turned! and...and his back is really striking. not overly toned the way a working officer or grenadier's would be, but still strong. that back's carried his weight here, back at the train station...

he bristles a little when he's at risk of being caught, sitting upright with a slightly flushed, bashful expression, glancing around to look at other things in rapid succession. he's minding his business! kind of! not really!]

[Grey doesn't take terribly long getting dressed. Manabu will only have a short window of time to admire Grey's bare behind and back before they're both covered up and Grey's turning around.

The way Manabu has suddenly developed an intense interest in random bits of furniture on the other side of the room does not go unnoticed, and Grey gives him a wry look before grabbing a comb and attempting to brush his own hair into some semblance of order.]

Meat and eggs. Is there anything else I should look for while I'm shopping?

N-noodles. [he rubs at his leg idly.] And soup stock! And...and whatever vegetables you want to eat with it.

Right then. [Grey will probably just buy whatever's cheap/available, because he's not a picky sort.

It's not terribly long before Grey's got his hair brushed, jacket on, etc. and is ready to head out the door. But before he heads out he stops by Manabu's side to steal a kiss.]

I'll see you later.

[He raises his head and with a final nod, heads outside.]

...

-!!

[Manabu bristles, gobsmacked. before he can choke out some kind of reply...

the apartment is quiet again.]

...

[Grey... his stomach does a flip as he touches his face. Manabu sighs, sitting there for a beat, stewing in his mix of familiar and unfamiliar feelings, tail thumping lightly behind him. his chest feels tight.

I still can't do enough... it's frustrating! I want to help him...and figure all of this out!

among other things. ~~(i want to kiss you more! Grey!)~~ such things wander in and out of mind as he sets to stretching and doing a few light exercises until his frustration and impatience bid him work a little harder - all with eyes squeezed shut against the threat of nausea when a pushup or squat makes his head swim from looking about too fast. but if he can't do anything else, at least this...

exercise feels good. how long had it been since he last could? strapped to that damn bed, the table...it just makes him want to work harder! at least until he remembers to stop and have something to drink and sit for a bit. but not before going at it again! this is the part he can do - he has to.

and so that's the state Grey can walk back in on: Manabu, sweaty and red, midway through a rep of pushups, half-drunk glass of water on the floor nearby, in boxers and a loose tank, halting mid-up when he heard the lock click, leaving him to stare owlishly with his breath held because his muscles are screaming.]

Uoh-- [he slumps back down with a puff.] H-hey!

[Grey's lips still tingle from that brief kiss all the way out the door and down the street. The closer he gets to the university campus, however, the more the feelings fade. When clusters of students start appearing and academic buildings loom on either side of him, the soft feelings are entirely replaced with a sharp wariness.

Somewhere on this campus are people who would imprison and experiment on an innocent stranger for their own gain. People he can't just track down and kill- people he needs to ruin in a more subtle, careful way, for Manabu's sake.

Grey clenches his fist and moves decisively forward.

...

It's some hours later when Grey finally returns, looking a little haggard and carrying a bag of groceries. Automatically he looks around for Manabu before anything else, but upon seeing him his brain short circuits.]

Oh. Hello.

[He's used to Manabu going around fairly lightly dressed, but- come on. Manabu's sweaty and breathing hard and when he does pushups like that Grey can see his muscles flexing.

After a moment Grey's brain successfully reboots and he remembers that Manabu's Supposed To Be Resting. He huffs, exasperated.]

I see you're getting plenty of rest.

[his tail stops mid-wag.]

Hey, I haven't been exerting pressure on my legs! But it's not like the rest of me can't use a workout, right? [that said, he sits up, getting his knees under him, wiping his forehead.]

How'd it go?

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