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.]

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If I don't put the idea in my head, I don't have a chance to feel the need to strive, right? And if I make it that far, you won't have to carry me back. [his tail thumps; he leans back in for another kiss as punctuation - a so there! in a way.]

[Grey would make an exasperated retort if he weren't busy returning the kiss instead. It can come afterwards instead, after a nice leisurely amount of kissing that leaves him melting and his voice a touch huskier.]

...That's quite a big if isn't it?

It'd be scarier if there was a chance you wouldn't help me out. [which, at this point, is clearly not in the cards. Grey is here for the long haul. partner, in a couple senses of the word.

wag, wag.]

So it's good, right?

[God dang it. Grey can't resist smiling any longer. As it turns out, flattery is an excellent way of managing Grey.]

Oh, very well. I'm just glad you're finally recognizing what a great advantage you have on your hands.

[And now it's Grey's turn to kiss Manabu, thank you.]

[finally? the retort is just a muffled sound against his mouth, indignation lost to the kiss. Manabu melts against him, the fingers not occupied in his hair trailing against the skin of his neck. as far as 'touching and being touched' is concerned, he all-too easily gets lost in the latter (not his fault Grey's hands are big and impactful), but his ears have been better about picking up those notes Grey offers without word.]

[An indignant Manabu is entertaining, but a Manabu that is turning to putty in Grey's hands is better. The hands in question have been resting on Manabu's back but as the kissing grows more fervent, so too do Grey's hands- stroking, pressing, and occasionally giving an experimental squeeze. His goal is to draw pleasured noises out of Manabu- the man makes the most amusing sounds- and while he may yet succeed in this venture Manabu certainly succeeds in eliciting little noises from Grey.

Particularly when the tangle of fingers in Grey's hair tugs a little.]

Mmm...

[An earlier thought returns and this time it seems more appropriate to voice it, once he has the opportunity.]

You can pull harder than that, if you like.

[God knows that Grey has been rough with Manabu at times. It's fortunate that Manabu seems to favor high-necked shirts.]

Hmh-? [he's still seeing stars in a sense, so it takes a second to process the suggestion. pull...what? oh--

his fingers curl in a bit tighter.] Like this?

Mm. [Grey's eyes close, enjoying the intense sensation prickling his scalp... Though it's not as intense as it could be.] A bit... harder than that. But it feels good.

[Grey reflects that it's not surprising that Manabu's being cautious; besides how experimental this is for both of them, Manabu also doesn't seem to have a sadistic bone in his body.]

[does it? Manabu's a little surprised by that - hair pulling isn't high on his own list, given the fruitless war waged in attempts to tame decades of childhood cowlicks by his poor mother.

after a moment of thought, he gives it a shot.

yank.

wait--that was a bit strong--]

Ah-!

[Grey gasps as his head is jerked back; more surprised than actually hurt, though his scalp throbs where the hair was yanked, and there's a non-zero chance that Manabu's going to come away from this with a few stray purple-black hairs in his possession.

Afterwards, he let's out a breathy little laugh.]

My- You're certainly obedient.

[Or not? That was a bit more than a bit, but Grey appreciates Manabu trying to please all the same.]

[Manabu grimaces, already reflexively recoiling, hands hovering open-palm away from Grey.]

S-sorry! I didn't mean to pull that...that hard... [well. that's embarrassing.]

I thought not. But it seems your strength training hasn't been for nothing, hm?

[Grey remains untroubled, except for the fact that Manabu's moved his hands away from him. That certainly won't do.]

I'll forgive you if you kiss me.

[that gets a sheepish smile out of him. he wanted to do that anyway, so was that really proper reparation?

far be it from him to argue, though; his hands settle on his shoulders while he straightens back up and leans in to kiss him, the end of his tail waving and twitching a little as a vent to some of that delight.]

[Grey nearly sighs into the kiss, and his grip on Manabu tightens. Adorable, adorable man. How did Grey, a man who seemed destined to live a cursed half-existence as a thing used by others, wind up with the companionship of someone like Manabu? Someone so earnest and inexplicably eager to do right by Grey, someone who tastes so good and makes the sweetest noises?

He doesn't fully understand it, but they're both here and the moment is real. Grey deepens the kiss at the first opportunity Manabu gives him, and loosens his grip enough to skim his hands lower. Low enough to give Manabu's ass a tentative grope.]

[the touch elicits a sound through Manabu's nose and a shifting of posture - straighter back, nearly turning his head away out of reflex, but still connected by that tongue in his mouth. even in hindsight (no pun intended), Manabu can't really fully understand why Grey gets under his skin so quickly and so certainly, but in the moment it's more a source of pleasure than concern.

when there's a break for air, Manabu fidgets in Grey's lap, sitting back and pulling his shirt off his own shoulders before getting his hands under Grey's and feeling around the topography of his waist and back while the material moves up with his arms.]

[Grey barely has time to register his growing hunger at the sight of Manabu's bared skin before Manabu's tossing more fuel onto the fire by slipping his hands under Grey's shirt. Grey groans at the touches against his torso, shifting and arching into the touch as best he can.

When he notices the touch moving upwards and the fabric of his shirt riding up along with it he makes a few mental connections and obligingly raises his own arms.]

You want this off, do you?

[the act of undressing Grey himself is affecting in a way Manabu hadn't really anticipated, and doing so leaves him abuzz with want and affection; he nearly forgets to discard the shirt while he's gazing lovingly and longingly at that body, but the moment going on a beat too long shakes him out of the stupor.

flustered:] I-it's better off, right? [chuck that shirt. gone.]

[As the shirt slips off Grey's arms and into Manabu's hands, Grey's hit by a heated pulse of yearning and self-consciousness. He settles back and stares at Manabu staring at him; there's an urge to cross his arms over his chest but at the same time he rather likes the dumbstruck expression on Manabu's face.

God.]

...It was getting in the way, wasn't it?

[He holds out his arms in a wordless invitation for Manabu to get back to touching and kissing.]

[being a bit more intentional and coherent than his usual horny stupor adds some pressure Manabu's not sure how to reconcile with (maybe if Grey wasn't looking at him? would that be weird? turning around? a blindfold???

he gulps, nodding a little at the remark, and reflexively bristling at the gesture. his hands lift slightly, hesitating.]

Where is it...you want me to touch you...? [he should ask, right? and not just paw around blindly without knowing?

see, it's different when he's doing it - Grey clearly always has the right of it somehow, but Manabu? no way.]

[Anywhere??? Well maybe not anywhere, it would be weird if Manabu pinched his nose or something, but Grey feels as though there's a 90% chance of Manabu's hands landing somewhere nice.

Besides, words are difficult.

In light of that, Grey hesitates, then reaches out to gently grasp Manabu's wrists and pull his hands forward to settle them on Grey's chest.]

How about we start here?

[Manabu complies, splaying his fingers out upon contact, palms pressing flush on Grey's skin. he feels a flutter that's strong enough that his eyes flick away from the risk of meeting Grey's and seeing questions or judgment.

he thinks about the way it felt when roles were reversed, which prompts him to lean in and kiss at Grey's jaw and neck - the act of which helps him ease into touching and groping around with less hesitance than just staring point-blank and feeling more the fool about it.]

[Grey tilts his head, swallowing even as he instinctively bares his throat to Manabu. His skin tingles wherever Manabu's lips and hands touch him, pleasure rippling gently through his body. And that's to say nothing of the sight, when Grey's gaze flicks down, of Manabu with his head tilted downwards and tenderly ministering to Grey's body.]

Ahn...

[It's sweet, and pleasurable, and leaves him feeling vulnerable enough to tremble. Needing purchase he reaches out and grasps the back of Manabu's head, sliding his fingers through Manabu's hair.

Lest this gesture be taken as a halt:]

Keep going.

[it does halt him - less out of alarm and more because the tingling racing up and down his spine staggers his focus; his tail lifts and curls at the tip.

after a shiver, he utters a soft, affirmative noise and returns to doting on Grey's body with his hands and mouth. he's nowhere near as brazenly covetous as Grey is, but there's earnest intention behind each movement, his ears perked for each sound of affirmation or discomfort. an impatience grows in him as wanting does, but he wants to make love, not just fuck.

...man. he does want to fuck, though.]

[Grey's overall sensitivity is heightened with arousal, but there are a few spots in particular that really wind him up. Manabu's fingertips tickle against his navel, his nipples harden rapidly under Manabu's attention, and his throat is almost too sensitive to bear.

Grey's eyes flutter shut whenever Manabu hits a particularly good spot and the intensity spikes, but afterwards he always coaxes them open so he can keep watching Manabu. Manabau's so earnest, and gentle- attentive in a way Grey's never known before.

It breaks Grey's heart, just a little.]

Manabu...

[Grey moans, and Manabu can probably feel the erection hard beneath him even before Grey grips Manabu's hip with his spare hand and grinds up against him.]

Your mouth- you feel indecently good.

Hmmh? [indecently? is that a good thing? it ends with good. that better be good, because his head's been getting rather hazy with horny delight with all this sensory input he's been receiving. in fact, Grey rubbing up on him completely obliterates any thought to question the statement, leaving a swirling buzz in its place. he pants against his skin for a moment as his head clears a little and he can parse all the little feelings into the places they come from.

the press of Grey's erection against him, the fingers in his hair, the warmth and scent of Grey's skin, the timbre of his voice...

maybe indecently good is a good statement.

he murmurs a faint affirmative, lifting out of the slouch his work had put him in, kissing blindly at Grey's chin before finding his way back to his mouth and pressing his body against his, his groping hands on his back.]

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