thehauntedfrequency

[Grey's head droops a little, leaning his cheek against the top of Manabu's head.]

It's unpleasant, isn't it?

[Grey might be a little out of it, but evidently he's not so out of it that he can't make dry little understatements.]

[he mumbles a drowsy affirmative, his eyes closing.

sorry about this. can i just...a little longer...?

the ask is utterly unintelligible in sleepyspeak, but he thinks he makes the ask while more of the panic tension drains and leaves him a weary lump sagging against Grey. hours-ago embarrassments feel so far away as to have been nonexistent, as does whatever shame went along with it. after all, after a scare, it's just nice to feel secure.]

[If his hands weren't already full, Grey would be sorely tempted to stroke Manabu's hair until the other man falls asleep. He almost feels like he could fall asleep himself. Grey's actually already quite comfortable sitting here like this, but he can't remain sitting up without the back of a chair or anything to support him.

So, since Manabu has been reduced to sleepy, indecipherable mumbling, Grey decides it's about time to settle in properly.]

Come on, it's cold out here...

[The next few moments are spent gently dragging Manabu back down onto the mattress and pulling up the sheets where they've been thrown off from Manabu's earlier thrashing. It's a little tricky to finesse while also holding onto Manabu with one arm, but Grey more or less manages.]

Relax. I'm not going anywhere.

[it's nice to not have to think about anything - not worry about being an imposition, about the implications of feeling comforted by another man's arms holding him, about a safe-seeming scent despite the blood and horror that had preceded it. Manabu fidgets only to curl in more certainly against Grey as he's lost to a mercifully dreamless sleep - one he's rested enough from that he doesn't actually wake with a start.

he stirs slow, warm and comfortable, as though he didn't have a lot of urgent matters on his mind. that comes gradually as his ears attune to a breathing rhythm that's not his, making him question and actually take stock of his surroundings.

where...am i? and does he have to move?

most certainly, but not before tilting his head to look and see who he's cuddled up to.]

[There isn't much in Grey's head as he falls asleep either, save for some hope that Manabu will be able to sleep alright, and the reflection that this is probably the coziest he has ever been in his entire life. Manabu is so warm, and the sound of his slow breathing is so soothing...

Grey's still out when morning comes and Manabu begins to stir. He has one arm slung over Manabu's waist, and the other raised and bent so that his hand rests, wrist-side up, just above his head. In the clutches of sleep Grey's expression is more relaxed than usual, lips parted to let out soft breathing, and eyes shut so that his lashes form a pair of purple crescents.]

...

[it's a good thing he didn't have a sudden urge to jump or scream or something - not just for the rude start, but because Manabu's not actually seen Grey look relaxed before. it's a different kind of expression on an often taut, troubled, or sarcastic face that gives Manabu cause to pause and consider it.

with how little (or as much) he knows about him...Grey doesn't have a lot of reason to be relaxed, does he?]

......

[what does he know about him? no birth records, a dead twin he hates, criminal connections...

...he studied medicine, likes to read - can spend a whole day doing that! - isn't big on the sun or bright lights, is keen on the idea of expensive food and fancy clothes...

thinks he's freer being outside of society...

doesn't...have many friends or people who acknowledge him. and that power he has...no wonder he feels alienated.

Manabu feels his chest tighten a bit. he's partly proud that despite the recoil Grey had in getting to know him, he's done so anyway - to the point of sticking his hands into this mess! but part of him is ashamed of that. this isn't Grey's problem to fight.

but...he's glad he's here. glad, but determined to protect him, prove that he can aim for more than just shady living and dodging connections. prove he's not just a stiff - look, he's warm! warm and...

uhh. y'know. comfortable.

Manabu gulps, feeling himself fluster a little when his thoughts move from loftier things. he should probably move, get up...

but that'd probably wake Grey up, and the tension would start all over again.]

...

[Manabu ducks his head again and quietly tries to take stock of himself without getting all heated about it.]

[Manabu will have to suffer in silence for several long minutes more. Grey is slow to rouse- this is probably the best rest he's had in months. No subconscious worries about Manabu's safety to bother his rest, no loud noises or movements to startle him, he's sleeping in an actual bed (kinda) instead of on the floor...

But he doesn't sleep forever. Awareness of his surroundings creeps in, not unpleasantly. Bleary eyes open, slowly coming to a focus on the top of Manabu's head, and the fuzzy dog ears that are there.]

Mmn?

[Manabu?

Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, Grey braces himself against one arm and shifts into a partially upright position.]

-!

[crap. even if he wanted to feign ignorance, his perking ear once again gives the game away. he holds his breath a bit while Grey's sitting up before daring to peek up through some of his tousled hair.]

Uh. [UHHHHH] H-hi.

[Grey's gaze shifts lower, to Manabu's face. Ah. He's awake.]

Mm? ...Good morning.

[There's another long moment which will probably be very awkward for Manabu where Grey just lounges there and quietly looks at him. Manabu looks all mussed up from sleep. Not too tired looking, at least, but he does seem flustered about something?

The realization slowly sinks in that they spent the night sharing the same bed. Again.

And that Grey has had his other arm around Manabu, probably the entire night, again.

He carefully withdraws the arm, as if doing so slowly and casually enough might keep Manabu from realizing it's there and thinking it's weird.]

Did you manage to sleep alright?

[Manabu's heart jumps a beat and his tail thumps in tandem; he clears his throat to try to get ahead of that, scooting a bit so he can sit up.]

I, um. Ye-yes. Sorry for the trouble. That must've been annoying.

[The apology is met with no surprise. Grey shifts further until he's properly sitting, not just propped up on an elbow.]

No, it gave me a convenient excuse to sleep in the bed instead of on the floor.

[With only a bit of a blush, he adds:] It's much more comfortable in here.

Oh-- [well, Manabu's already red-faced, so no change there.] Right. Sorry. Well, um-- [aaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA--] You didn't bother me, so, you can...do that. Instead of the floor. When you want.

[Grey glances away, mouth quirking.]

Well, thank you.

[He probably shouldn't accept that offer. Maybe??? But if Manabu keeps having nightmares, Grey's going to keep winding up in his bed, isn't he? So it's more efficient this way. Or something.

Grey will just have to hope he doesn't ravish Manabu in his sleep, which admittedly seems a farfetched scenario even to him.

Best not to think too hard on it either. Grey forces himself to get out of the bed and onto his feet.]

How are you feeling this morning? Any soreness, dizziness...?

Good question. [he was a bit too preoccupied with Grey to think much of himself. once Grey's moved and allotted some space, Manabu shifts to get his legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up for a bit and rubbing at his eyes.]

Not...dizzy... Stuff still hurts, but it's not as bad I think? My head at least. [and it better not start hurting worse; he has stuff to do!]

[Grey nods. It's about what he'd expect Manabu to be at after resting.]

We can give you more painkillers if the pain makes it difficult to function.

[Manabu might be sick of being drugged up all the time, but he'll heal faster if his body isn't constantly tightened up with pain.]

I think for today we should focus on your physical therapy. I looked up some vestibular exercises yesterday, so we'll run through them once you're ready.

[But before all that: Breakfast and other morning minutiae must be dealt with.]

Mn! Okay. [he's ready to go NOW, but...

but he should probably shower. and brush his teeth. and change clothes. it's been more than a day in these, after all. but after THAT, he's ready!!

...after more dry cereal.]

If we can-- [mid munch.] We need to get eyes on that building. Where the lab was. It's already been two days, right? Things might've already been gutted or torn out or locked down, so getting a read on what it's like right now to mark any changes is important. Oh-- [that reminds him; he feels around for wherever the tablet went.] And...obituaries...recents in the area, if they're mentioned at all...

[Dry cereal, these two are truly living the cat-and-dog life.

The tablet is actually on the floor (admittedly not the best place for it) near Grey's sleeping bag. Manabu will have to bend and stretch to retrieve it. Or ask Grey to pick it up.]

That does sound worth looking into. As for the lab, I can take a look at the building with clairvoyance, but I won't be able to retrieve any physical evidence unless I go there in person.

[And no, Manabu would not be tagging along, not until he's had more time to physically recover and get equipped.]

Claire-what? [he pops back upright after grabbing the tablet, nearly spilling food all over the place. dog moment.]

[Grey's pretty sure he mentioned this to Manabu before but it was during one of those moments where Manabu was in the depths of exhausted misery, so he refrains from giving Manabu shit over it.]

Clairvoyance. Voyance comes from the Latin videre, meaning "to see." It's a psychic ability that allows me to throw my physical senses, chiefly sight, out of my body...

[Does it really help to try and explain it in detail?]

...Basically, I can see and hear things that are happening far away. It was how I was able to tell when you were in danger on the train and in the mine, and I used it to have a look at the facility before Parish brought me to you.

Ehh...? You can just do that? [blink. blinkblink.] And all the time, even? [because why else would he have known about the train danger? what, like he was FOLLOWING him???]

[Grey smiles. It's a little thin, but he's genuinely enjoying Manabu's astonishment.]

It has its downsides. While I'm using it, I can't see or hear anything that's actually going on around my physical body. I keep my sense of touch within my body, though, so I'll notice if anyone touches me.

Huh. So like... [...] Like zoning out in a class, imagining you're somewhere else...but you kind of are somewhere else, but only a little?

[That's actually not a bad analogy! Grey's eyebrows raise, impressed that Manabu is understanding all this.]

Right. I've heard about other psychic users who are able to send their senses of touch and taste away from their bodies as well, but I've never tried doing that. It doesn't seem as useful. And having a few senses stay in your body keeps you grounded, otherwise it would be difficult to return.

[Which is a problem if you're getting attacked- or someone notices you and thinks you've lost consciousness and tries to rouse you. (RIP to that random nurse that Grey slapped way back when.)]

[the idea of getting lost out of one's body is a bit too high a thought for Manabu to easily visualize, so after a beat of scrunching his nose to consider it, he lets it go.]

Radar and scanner analytics would probably be safer and less stressful... [if they had them!!!!] But if it's something you're okay with doing and it doesn't hurt anybody, I can't say it's a bad idea. [because if it involves exploding more people, Manabu's out.

his attention pivots to the tablet he has balanced on one thigh while he's picking at the last few non-crumbs of cereal.]

...No public obituaries about career medical professionals. Hruh. Coverup? Or those people never did licensed work here to record...

I'll be safer doing it than I usually am if you'll be there to watch over me. [That feels a little embarrassing to admit to, um.] And I enjoy doing it, actually. It's something I've gotten a lot of practice at, during times when I had nothing better to do.

[That also feels a little personal? But it's basically what Manabu said, zoning out in class.

Anyway, tablet.]

Parish was licensed. I don't know about any of the other people I killed, but I'd assume so. Some of the research they were doing wasn't necessarily suspicious.

[Which would suggest there is a cover up being done, if only in the form of waiting to announce the deaths so they aren't saying "By the way several medical professionals died on the same day. Don't worry about it."]

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