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]

Ehhh... [that makes him blanch, a creepy chill running up his spine, tail fluffing.] That, that's so messed up...! Auh... [he smushes both of his hands against his face.] Th-thanks for...getting there before that-!

[repeatedprayer]

[Maybe he should have kept that tidbit to himself? It feels bizarre to be thanked when Manabu is sitting there- sitting, because just standing or walking makes him sick- with a prominent tail and dog ears.]

If I'd gotten there earlier we'd be much better off. Instead, I wasted too much time investigating dead ends, and- [Wasting time hesitating, because going after Manabu meant putting himself at risk. It wasn't until a few days after he'd read the news that he'd really done more than think about it.]

-I could have started earlier.

[siriusly]

[Manabu's head tilts as he squints up at Grey, hands dropping to his lap.]

What do you mean? You have a whole life of your own to live! Having to drop everything for my sake...that you did that at all is way more than enough, you know?

[and without SDF resources, too...]

I can't even imagine how you got this far, just on a connection you knew ahead of time...

[repeatedprayer]

It wasn't like that.

[Grey looks down at his own hands, turning them palm side up.]

Manabu, most of what I've been doing since we parted ways was illicit psychic work. Sometimes it was harmless things, back alley medicine, escorting unauthorized immigrant ships, things that only the stiffest of sticklers for the book would take offence to. But I've been rubbing elbows with pirates, drug dealers, and all manner of reprobates.

[With a grimace, Grey looks up.]

That was how I was able to track you down. It was easy for me to find people who had worked with Captain Spear in the past- or other members of the pirate crew who abducted you- and get them to talk, one way or another. I didn't know that Dr. Parish was involved in this incident. I had no idea what he'd been up to for the past decade or so. His name merely came up eventually as a potential buyer for the people that the Huntress traffics in.

[siriusly]

...

[pirates, drug dealers...]

That's...the kind of stuff you went and did? Why? [he doesn't understand.] Does...does someone have something on you?

[repeatedprayer]

It was the simplest option for me, and I don't mind getting my hands dirty. I'd already known how to find people like that, and, well...

[He's a copy! He's not a person, he can't live the life of a normal person! But how does he explain that without explaining it?]

Do you know why I was using a fake ID? Because I have no way of getting a legitimate one. There are no records of my birth- [Creation.] -or where I've lived or worked or my medical history. I'm not a legal citizen of any country or planet, I don't have a fixed address. Even if I sought to change that, with my- personal history, I'd probably wind up imprisoned for my trouble.

[There's a flash of defiance in his eyes.] And my freedom is the one thing I refuse to compromise on.

[Not for anything or anyone, even Manabu.]

[siriusly]

...

[no records...none? no home...? how does that happen?

well, thinking on it, galactic orphans aren't just imaginary things - conflicts happen, records get destroyed, especially on more independent-leaning planets and colonies, but even so...]

Still, that...that can't be the only way to live free... [he has to believe that - it's part of what he does his job for!!]

[repeatedprayer]

It's the only way for me.

[But maybe that makes it another prison, just a more spacious one than he was used to.

Grey shifts, offering Manabu a tentative look.]

...It has its benefits, you know. I had connections that the SDF doesn't. I think that's why I was able to find you first.

[siriusly]

[it's the only way.

Manabu's stubbornness kicks in at that, and he immediately disbelieves. there's always a better way. better might not be sensible, but better will always...be better for people...

the black markets and shady pirate dealings are a cage in of themselves...no wonder he wanted to see so many different skies! there's not a lot of freedom without being able to move through society properly, maybe more than how restrictive society itself can be with all of its red tape. the trick is the balance between.

Grey's...not so much walking that tightrope as he is finding his balance and just standing in place, isn't he?]

You're...really content with just that?

[repeatedprayer]

Of course I am.

[Isn't he? He's been relishing his freedom- outwitting law enforcement and rivals is enjoyable in and of itself, and he's also been able to travel around experiencing new things and seeing new sights.

Of course, sometimes at night he finds himself staring at the back of his eyelids, thinking How does being a petty criminal compare to everything Rezo did?

But more often he'd be thinking about where he'd go next, what he'd do next. He'd felt more like a person than a rat in a cage.]

There are far worse circumstances to have. You know this.

[Manabu's just barely out of them.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's lips press into a thin line, considering that.

after a beat of silence, he decides on something, and nods.]

Before we're out of this...I think I'll change your mind. And you'll let me help you. [saying it out loud makes it more than just a silly idea in his head.] I promise to aim for at least that much. [if not more.]

[repeatedprayer]

[...

Manabu's caring resolve naturally is met with an incredulous look, followed by a groan as Grey rests his head in one hand.]

You really do not have to do that.

[siriusly]

[Manabu's tail thumps with his insistence.] Well, I want to, so I'm going to try. I wouldn't be me if I didn't!

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey casts a baleful eye upon Manabu.]

No, I suppose not.

[I've brought this upon myself, haven't I.]

And exactly how do you propose to do this? Are you going to try and argue with me about it the entire time?

[siriusly]

[his face gets warm again.] N-no! That's stupid... [what, do you think he's stupid?!]

I mean...hopefully you'll be able to trust me enough to tell me more, since you've said that much...and we...figure it out from there.

[excellent. this is the kind of tactical genius one expects from Manabu Yuuki.]

[repeatedprayer]

[From Grey's expression, it's rather evident that he's underwhelmed by Manabu's plan. (Or rather, "plan.")

Fortunately for Manabu, Grey doesn't give him that much more shit about it.]

Rather than my salvation, I think it would be better if we focused on your welfare. We need to improve your sense of balance, or else I'll have to carry you all the way to Destiny.

[siriusly]

[well and good: Manabu's already resolved, so arguing just belabors the point.

more importantly...] Mn. There's...gotta be some kind of training I can do, right? Or is there a trick to fixing it when it's this kind of problem? [he can't imagine doing pushups or squats is going to do much.]

[repeatedprayer]

[What they really need is a safe hospital or medical research center, but they don't have that. Instead they have Grey, and a tiny apartment above a laundromat.]

I think we can try retraining your sense of balance. I've heard a little about vestibular rehabilitation therapy. I'll do research into specific exercises you can do while you're here, and we'll practice until you can handle more movement.

[At least, ideally they would, but... Grey examines their surroundings. How long can they stay here without being found?]

...But we also shouldn't stay too long on Ruvinagald.

[Really, the best time to have left would have been last night! But Grey hadn't been able to arrange transportation, hadn't even known for sure if Manabu would be there or if he'd be safe to move. So many issues to consider...]

[siriusly]

Guess not...but without any of my verification stuff... [it'd mean taking the railway is a no-go. he's not considering illicit travel, thank you! but notifying the authorities he's here right now, especially without any leads to send them down to uprooting the real culprits...

it'd all come crashing down on Grey, no matter what Manabu would say. he's an optimist, but he's not utterly naive to the way authority can suffocate in rather shady areas. shades of gray, if you will.

he can't...contact his mother anytime soon, either. that seeds a fresh bit of guilt in his gut, sending his gaze downcast as he's chewing on all this.]

Nothing else to do. I just...have to do it. Get better. Sort this all out.

[repeatedprayer]

I'll work something out.

[Grey, meanwhile, is considering nothing but illicit forms of travel, but they'll cross that bridge later.

Grey gets to his feet and stretches, wincing a little at a dull throb in his side reminding him he did get injured yesterday. The hum of the laundry machines and muffled sounds of a TV drift up from downstairs; seems they're not the only ones starting their day. And when Grey walks to the window across from the bed and adjusts the blinds, sunlight spills out into the apartment.

It's not the most impressive view- the square footage of the apartment is smaller than the floor below, so most of what can be seen is gritty roof- but it's probably the first real sunlight Manabu has seen in months.

Grey stares out, contemplating the various issues ahead of them. He should start by getting dressed, cleaning himself up... And an alarming thought occurs to him.]

Manabu?

[He casts a careful glance over his shoulder.]

Will you want to take a shower?

[siriusly]

[Manabu squints, blinking a few times to adjust to the change of light, watching Grey's bare back...]

Mn-?

[blink. blinkblink. what?]

Ah, sure, I can--

[...]

...R-right. [his eyes wince.] Am I really going to be that helpless...?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey considers the logistics of Manabu taking a shower, insomuch as he safely can. It's rather difficult to do so and avoid picturing Manabu naked, wet, Grey needing to help him lather up...

Nope. No, there's no chance Manabu would be willing to put up with that.]

I don't think you'll need much help, actually. You seem fine if you're sitting, and we have a detachable shower head and a stool. The only real concern is that you might fall getting in and out of the bathroom.

[And Grey can just see Manabu clonking his head on the sink...]

You can lean on me and I'll walk you to the shower, then I'll leave you in there to clean yourself up, and you'll call me back when you're done. Does that sound acceptable?

[siriusly]

Y...yeah. Guess so. [but he's still going to be embarrassed about it.] I'll be careful. [it's not like he wants to be even more pathetic!]

[repeatedprayer]

Good.

[He moves back to Manabu's side, holding out an arm for Manabu to grab and hoist himself upright with.]

Remember, if you succumb to an attack of pride after you're done showering and attempt to leave without my assistance, I will kill you.

[siriusly]

Ha? [he shoots him an incredulous look before grasping the arm.] Yeah, right! After all this work you did? [he hoists himself up with a grunt, slumping against him with the headrush before leaning onto his feet properly.]

You...don't strike me as someone who just...throws hard work away. Right? [haha?? ha?]