thehauntedfrequency

[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?

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.]

[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.]

[...

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.

[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!

[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?

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

[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...]

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.

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?

[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...?

[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?

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!]

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.

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?]

[Grey gently encircles his arm with Manabu's.]

Yes, it would be a dreadful waste of the work I've put in. So don't test me, I beg of you.

[~~This would probably be funnier if it wasn't coming from a guy that Manabu had personally seen kill a bunch of dudes, Grey.~~]

[that gets a little grumble, but no great revelatory clapbacks, as he needs to focus his energy on moving without wanting to keel over or hurl - harder than he'd like, honestly! but he'll grit his teeth and bear it to avoid being more of a problem. he'll shoo Grey out once he's gotten lay of the land in there so he can take his time situating and cleaning up and...and looking at himself again.

admittedly, more of the time spent in there is looking back at himself in the mirror, oscillating between dread and dismay. it's not every day parts of him are so blatantly changed without his consent, and while there may be a plan to move forward, every time he thinks about how he's meant to explain things to his mother, to his platoon...he almost wants to cry. scream, maybe.

but crying and screaming about how things aren't fair doesn't change anything, now does it?

man up, Yuuki...

being clean feels nice...until he sees the dripping mess a wet tail makes, so that's more time spent just having to try and towel off the stupid thing. at least it's not so sensitive when he touches it himself! but that makes him stubbornly try to finagle boxers back on by himself, and that's...rough.

he does, though, because stubbornness can prevail eventually.

it's enough time to rouse suspicion, so any ask on his status gets met with a harried:] Y-yeah! Sorry. I'm...I'm good. I think. A little help out of here?

[Grey thinks he does a rather heroic job of resisting the urge to fuss over Manabu while they're both in the bathroom. He allows himself to be shooed out with only an obligatory "Are you sure you don't need anything else?" and lets Manabu get on with things otherwise.

But once the bathroom door's closed, Grey sits on the bed and buries his face in his hands. Between the panic attack and Manabu's balance issues... Make no mistake, he's been acting as a caretaker. It's a role that sits heavily on his shoulders, thanks to all the Rezo-related baggage that comes with it. But he can't leave Manabu to suffer alone now, anymore than he could after Manabu was first abducted.

He doesn't know what it is about Manabu. Not only has the man motivated Grey into putting on Rezo's and Rezo-adjacent roles, but he's coaxed Grey into revealing far more of himself than he's ever revealed to anyone.

Admittedly, Manabu's the only person who's ever expressed much of an interest in Grey.

Regardless, now that he has a moment to himself Grey feels rather drained. The urge to just lie back and go back to sleep is strong. Reminding himself that he needs to at least be awake so that he can haul Manabu out of the bathroom later is enough to drag him out of bed though.

So while Manabu wrestles with himself physically and mentally, Grey spends most of that time doing research on a tablet into vestibular rehabilitation therapy and rebalancing exercises, reading various papers and articles and watching a few videos of people demonstrating the exercises. It's distracting enough that it keeps him from watching the clock... Until he can't hear water running anymore.

Followed by suspicious thumping noises. That's enough to get Grey's check-in.

Once Manabu's extended an invitation, Grey opens the door and peers into the bathroom suspiciously. He's not sure of what to expect. But there's Manabu, and he looks fine, and- Ah, he's got his boxers on. That's probably good. It would have been even more awkward if he'd had to help Manabu dress again.

Grey himself has changed into a shirt and slacks, so Manabu no longer has to endure Grey walking around with his upper torso exposed. Grey sidles into the tiny bathroom and holds out his arm for Manabu.]

Here.

[While Manabu's hauling himself up:]

You know, a good thing about this is that it also counts as balance training.

[it counts? well, that's a relief.

while letting himself get ferried along:] The sooner-- [woh. hang on.

okay.] --the better, guh... I might go stircrazy before then, though. [he has to take it this slow and carefully? for how long?!? jeez...]

Mm. I apologize in advance for not being the most entertaining of hosts.

[Grey sets a hand on the back of Manabu's waist to steady him as they make their awkward way out of the bathroom and back towards the bed.

The stir-craziness is probably going to be an issue for both of them. Grey doesn't want to leave Manabu alone and unprotected unless he has to though, so it's not like he can just go on casual walks whenever he wants. Still, he's been thinking about the issue.]

We'll have to get you out of here eventually, whether you're recovered or not. I think a knit cap will be enough to hide your ears, but for your tail I think we'll need to keep a pair of pants intact, and tie it to your leg.

[Manabu's tail, not his pants.]

[he grunts, plopping down and wincing - the damn tail getting in the way of him just sitting as he pleases! - sighing once he's sat comfortably.

he glances over his shoulder at the offending appendage.]

No real choice there, I guess. Not unless we find a long enough coat... [he knows he shouldn't complain, but he wants to.

he rubs at the back of his neck.]

If we can get a beat on the news going on around here, too, that'll help...as much to keep out of a pinch as it is to know what the score is here. [in order to help make things right later.]

[Grey also eyes the thing, which looks rather thinner now that it's wet.]

Even then, I wouldn't want to risk it attracting attention if you start wag- er, if it starts moving again.

[Can you just imagine a small child noticing and going "Mommy, I think that man has a snake in his pants?"

At the mention of news, Grey picks up the tablet from where he's set it aside on the kitchen counter and brings it over to Manabu.]

Here. We can start by looking for articles online.

[He doesn't expect they'll find anything about the break-in from last night, considering the laboratory itself was a secret... But Manabu's right that it doesn't hurt to have more general information.]

[Manabu takes it, scooting so he can sit up against the headboard while he's tapping away.]

Without my SDF access credentials, it's gonna make it hard to get any really intensive information, but maybe this planet's journalism is on top of things? I've...never actually visited this planet before.

[maybe they have something on the doctor? or Rezo?]

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