doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[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.]

Comments

[siriusly]

[squimshed.

his tail floofs.]

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

[repeatedprayer]

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

[siriusly]

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?

[repeatedprayer]

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.]

[siriusly]

[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!]

[repeatedprayer]

[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?

[siriusly]

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

[repeatedprayer]

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.]

[siriusly]

...

-!!

[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!

[repeatedprayer]

[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.

[siriusly]

[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?

[repeatedprayer]

Musclebrain.

[Grey sets the bag of groceries aside, to be put away momentarily, and digs a data stick out of his jacket. He holds it out for Manabu to inspect.]

I grabbed this [re: stole it] while I was out and copied some documents onto it. I didn't have enough time to read them thoroughly but they looked relevant, although there's nothing damning.

[siriusly]

[the pout vanishes the moment the item is explained; Manabu's eyes get big and he takes a hold of it and looks it over.]

Eh-? Really? From the medical department and everything? [wait.] Hang on, what about surveillance? Did anyone see you? That was risky!

[repeatedprayer]

But a risk worth taking, right? [Grey smirks.] You can be at ease. I was careful. There weren't any cameras or witnesses when I copied the documents, and the originals are still where they should be.

[Admittedly he couldn't avoid being seen by some cameras but the campus has enough visitors that he's confident he didn't stand out. All anyone would see was some guy walking around with the ease of somebody who's used to the area!]

[siriusly]

[while tilting the stick as though looking at it sidelong makes any difference at all:] So the only real risk is whether or not the data has a tracer bug...

Jeez, Grey... [doing stuff that he'd do on impulse, but better! he's impressed! and despite his attempt to sound a little put out, it's plain that he's excited. one more step forward!]

[repeatedprayer]

I saw an opportunity so I took it. [He is not remotely chagrined by the "jeez" and it's clear in his expression that he's pleased with Manabu's reaction. With a satisfied nod, he goes to put the groceries away.] Are you hungry?

[siriusly]

I'll eat if you're eating. [but he'd have been also just as likely to forget a meal in favor of scoping this out. after grabbing his glass, he sets that and the stick up on the seat of a chair so he can climb onto his feet with a grunt, pulling at his tank to wipe at his face, plopping backward onto the bed and immediately regretting it.]

Gih-!! Stupid! Tail! [a man can't even sit without consequences anymore, can't have shit in this economy.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Does that mean Grey gets to be in charge of lunch? Grey places the meat in the fridge, contemplating the best way to cook it if so, and then nearly jumps at Manabu's outburst. He turns around and blinks, quickly connecting the dots between Manabu's current position and the mention of stupid tail.]

You sat on it?

[Seeing that Manabu appears to be alright, just in pain, a mixture of a terrible sense of humor and lingering horny brain prompts Grey to ask:]

Do you need me to kiss it better?

[siriusly]

Th-the tail? [the one he's grabbed in both hands out of frustration? that tail?] That's weird. Who kisses a tail? Even on a pet, I mean!

[kiss him in normal places!!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey moves over to give it a look, just in case it's actually injured.] Hm. I've never had a pet before so I wouldn't know.

[He reaches a hand out and pokes a bit of the excess fluff with his fingertips.] Then if the tail isn't acceptable, where would be?

[siriusly]

You don't have a pet now, either. [hello? human here. not a pet.

he grimaces, expecting some kind of jolt from being poked, but since it was just tail fluff and not the limb itself...nothing. whew.

an ear twitches as his face gets red.] N-normal places! [obviously! didn't he hear him the first time? in his thoughts? not spoken out loud?]

had 2 fight my cat 2 get this tag written

[repeatedprayer]

[Manabu may want to move that tail, or at least let go of it, because otherwise Grey's going to encroach further.]

And where is a normal place? You say it's not here- [Yeah, Grey is going to attempt to grab the tip briefly, before letting go and moving his hand to Manabu's wrist.] -What about here? May I kiss your hand?

i cant believe ur cat hates dog romance (i can believe it)

[siriusly]

Hey-! [his shoulders draw up sharply at the tail-grab out of some unfamiliar reflex and stay that way even after the touch has moved on.

hand? isn't that for girls? wonders the guy who was kissing at Grey's fingers the other night.

being braced for getting teased while also getting discombobulated by the fluttery feelings that proximity and Grey's voice create sure is a strange state to be in, yet there he is.]

That...That makes more sense than a tail, so...

[repeatedprayer]

So it's alright, then?

[Grey tugs at Manabu's wrist, encouraging him to let go of his tail and raise his hand. As soon as Manabu's hand is within a suitable distance, Grey leans down and kisses the back of it, then slides down to kiss Manabu's knuckles. Lifting his head barely a centimeter, his gaze goes to Manabu's expression.]

Is this acceptable?

[siriusly]

[the hand is tugged free before Manabu can think to relent, and it's all he can do to keep from melting. maybe if he actually read or, hell, paid attention to Grey's recounting of those old stories, it wouldn't be surprising how such a gesture can yank at a person's heartstrings.

he almost forgets to breathe.]

Uh? [what? huh? blink. blinkblinkblink.] Oh. Ah, uh--ye-yes... [the stagger effect still hasn't completely lifted, given the starry-eyed look on his face.]