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

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's tired enough that he doesn't think much of the fidgeting, beyond some sleepy irritation when a jolt stirs him out of deep sleep. All Manabu's shifting around means that Grey has to shift as well, and he winds up on his back before the night is over. After that, thankfully, he's able to sleep through the rest of the night relatively peacefully.

As for when he finally wakes... Manabu is a very nice sight to wake up to. Grey blinks sleepily at him for a moment, initially too bewildered to fully process all the pleasant sensory input.

Manabu...]

Mm...

[Grey lifts a languid hand and pets Manabu's head.]

[siriusly]

[his eyes are so strange and interesting. maybe if they were the same color it'd still be true, but the contrast is what makes them compelling to Manabu. he closes one of his own when the hand comes down to his hair, exhaling a little scoff in spite of the tail wag elicited from the attention. he's not a dog to pet!!!

...even if it feels nice. Manabu's mouth twitches a bit in lieu of any quips; even if he's never that clever, it's too early to try, anyway.]

Did I wake you up?

[repeatedprayer]

[Alas for Manabu, he is very pettable- and it can't even be blamed entirely on the dog ears and tail, he was frankly very pettable even without those- and Grey will continue to pet his hair even as Manabu scoffs about it.]

No. I'm fine.

[Though he does have to bring his hand back to his mouth to yawn a little. He'll get back to the petting in a moment unless Manabu wriggles free.

The gears in his brain are starting to turn again, and Grey vaguely remembers Manabu's fidgeting last night, as well as Manabu's fatigue... And the other conversation they'd had, but that gets mentally pushed aside with nary but a blush.]

How are you feeling?

[siriusly]

Umh... [good question; he's just been laying fairly prone save for his hand idly touching at Grey. he tries moving a leg a bit and grimaces.]

...Sore. Yeah.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey huffs, utterly unsurprised by the answer.]

I told you so.

[Truly, the four little words everyone likes to hear.]

[siriusly]

[his nose crinkles a little, tail lashing over onto Grey's side.] It's not like I didn't expect it... [it's just disappointing he's not superhuman and able to instantly have his muscles back in proper form again.]

I'll just...stretch a bit more beforehand. [his eyes wince. and probably take it easy...so i don't tear a muscle...]

[repeatedprayer]

Hm... Perhaps a massage would help? [Grey endeavors to look innocent. He does not succeed.] Where exactly are you feeling sore? [And how mortifying will it be to imagine Grey massaging that area?]

[siriusly]

[one of his ears flattens, his face getting red.] M-my legs, but...but you don't have to do that! An, and anyway... [bashful:] I was...going to ask if...if I could, um, kiss you? A little. If it's still early, I mean! What time is it-?

[repeatedprayer]

[Any thoughts of teasing Manabu are waylaid by the request Manabu makes, and Grey's eyes widen. Well done. You have his attention.]

It's still early.

[Grey is not going to actually check. Please kiss him.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu exchanges the gawk, ears perking.] Oh. Th-then...is it okay? [he didn't clarify that much, and like hell is he going to open himself up to be teased about not paying attention!]

[repeatedprayer]

[That earns Manabu another huff, one of those little sounds Grey makes when he means You are an idiot and I am in love with you.]

Yes, of course it is. [And just to encourage Manabu along Grey goes ahead and cradles the back of Manabu's head.]

[siriusly]

[it may take a while, but this dog can be trained to understand those wordless responses. for now, the verbal affirmation is what brightens his expression, and the guidance of Grey's hand is what prompts him to fidget onto an elbow with a few muffled pain-sounds before he's situated and can tilt in and kiss him. it'll be a couple chaste things unless Grey deems to goad him along with a nip or a lick, in which case Manabu obliges with fumbling earnestness, tail wagging in the air.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Something in Grey always seems to shift inside him when they kiss... Like glass heated to a near liquid and being reshaped into something new. Not a copy, not a monster, just a man with his lover. Of course Grey's eager to goad Manabu into more, and into staying longer. The touch of Manabu's lips and tongue feeds that inner heat in a way nothing else ever has.

He's tempted to invoke the favor Manabu owes for losing their bet to make Manabu just stay in bed with him all day. This would probably not be all that helpful with Manabu's need for rest, however.]

[siriusly]

[kissing Grey doesn't feel like anything else Manabu knows. that's as much inexperience as it is just how unique the circumstance is: the underlying anxiety of a ticking clock, the frustration of inability, the fear of being left behind alone, the vindication of feelings left adrift for months after they formed simmer together in the moment.

Manabu climbs partly on top of Grey to more comfortably indulge, enjoying the pleasing buzz that comes from kissing coupled with Grey's hands, his own idly stroking at his cheek and neck.

eventually, in a break:] It always...feels good like this, does it?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey makes a pleased, growly sound when Manabu climbs partly on him and playfully nips at Manabu's lip. Lest this be taken as discouragement he also presses a second hand against Manabu's waist to keep him from moving away.

When a break comes the hand that's tangled in Manabu's hair eases up and gently strokes, returning to the earlier petting that Grey had been doing. He's momentarily at a loss to answer Manabu's question because he's still distracted by their proximity.

Grey absently licks his lip, as if he can still taste Manabu there. Although he's no expert on kissing, an answer does float to the forefront of his mind.]

It does with you.

[Unstated is the hope that Manabu will feel similarly, and this isn't just a matter of Grey having introduced Manabu to a Fun New Hobby Of Making Out With Various People. Never mind that Grey hasn't actually kissed anyone else himself. He still has that bone deep certainty that it's Manabu himself that sets Grey alight rather than the basic stimulation.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's face is already flush, but he's somehow able to look a bit more flustered at that - smitten, even. his tail swishes once.]

B-but only because it's you, too...!

[repeatedprayer]

[Oh, Manabu. Grey's heart positively swells at that. He shifts his hands up and down to cradle either side of Manabu's face, and gives him a brief, but hard kiss.]

I'm so glad-! You understand...

[His grip eases, but Grey's still grinning almost madly.]

Ah, I am truly grateful that we ran into one another that day. [Had he not decided to get a drink, or had he decided on visiting a different bar, he might not have Manabu in his arms right now. How unfortunate that theoretical Grey would be.]

[siriusly]

[winded, flustered:] Y-you are? But you were so...cranky...!

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey does have the grace to look a little abashed at the reminder.]

I'm entitled to change my mind sometimes, aren't I? Besides, it wasn't entirely your fault that I was- cranky. [The hangover hadn't helped, for one thing. And mostly, he just hadn't known how the hell to deal with Manabu.]

[siriusly]

Wh, wh-what do you mean by that?! [tail is straight up in the air, ears cocked.] There's no way I forced you to drink so much!

[repeatedprayer]

Of course not. [And just for that, Grey's going to ruffle the heck out of Manabu's hair. Once he's suitably mussed:] What I mean is simply... I didn't realize how lucky I was at the time. And I would have been surly with anyone I met in that situation.

[He gives Manabu a quick kiss before continuing.] I'd only just gotten out of a difficult situation. [One he hopes Manabu won't ask him to elaborate on.] And I wasn't sure if I could trust your intentions.

[siriusly]

Mrhh-- [a bit of grumping and grumbling during the ruffling; he blinks one eye open after the surprise kiss.]

Eh...? What kind of situation? [sir u knew this was coming.]

[repeatedprayer]

[He did! And because of that, he's quick with a dismissal.]

It doesn't matter anymore. [Grey gives Manabu a warm smile.] Because now, I'm here.

[Taking care of a man who survived torturous mad science experiments while hiding from the mad scientists responsible. Yeah. Much easier.]

[siriusly]

[he exhales a drawn-out, thinking sound at that, tilting his head a little.]

You're not going to wind up back in whatever kind of situation that was afterward, are you?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey hesitates. There are a few people out there who know that a Rezo copy is out on the loose, but none of them have anything to gain from going after him. There shouldn't be anyone who needs Grey, specifically, as a test subject, nor a Rezo replacement.

(The world is doing quite well without Rezo, thank you.)

So despite the hesitation, Grey's voice is firm when he answers.] No. I'm never going back there again.

[And don't worry Manabu, he'll kill anyone who tries to drag him into such a situation!]