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]

[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!]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's tail swishes once while he watches and waits; he is still as he processes the answer, wondering on it. was it a lab, too? a concrete room? it's probably why he had problems managing nightmares, too...

still too many questions needing answers. Manabu exhales softly through his nose.]

Will you tell me about it? One day, at least.

[repeatedprayer]

[No.]

...Maybe one day.

["...every big feeling I have for you... I wouldn't throw any of them away." Grey hopes that's true but that doesn't mean he has to put it to the test. It isn't as if Manabu really needs to know, or will be any happier for knowing, right?

In an attempt at distraction (and because he just wants to) Grey starts petting Manabu's hair again.]

[siriusly]

[one eye winces closed under the pets while he pouts faintly, weighing a remark before just blurting it:] Can...that be what I win if you wind up liking the tea? The real-deal stuff, I mean. Or is that cheating?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's hand stills briefly. Manabu's so persistent! And. Came up with something potentially worse than asking Grey to stay. Damn.]

Didn't we agree I already won? [Alright so Grey himself had suggested that they try again with Tabito tea- but Manabu had already rejected that, so-]

Besides, I don't think it would be much of a prize. Surely you can think of something more enjoyable?

[siriusly]

[his face reddens and ears droop a little; no way he can hide his shame when his ears emote so much for him. he looks askance.]

R-right. Sorry. I'll...think of something, I guess. [what the hell is fun and what store do you buy it at.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey is not going to be affected by those sad droopy ears. He has their mutual best interests at heart, doesn't he?]

If you ever need help coming up with ideas... [Grey leans in and presses a kiss to Manabu's jaw.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu utters a soft, startled sound as he's prodded out of his shameful little funk; his ears perk and both eyes blink open owlishly. the tail starts swishing again.]

Oh--right. What would be good, then? That you wouldn't mind, I mean.

[repeatedprayer]

[Good- Grey will take the way Manabu brightens up as a sign that he's on the right track, and presses another kiss to Manabu's cheek.]

I could be convinced to bestow intimate favors.

[Y'know, because Manabu really needs to win a bet to get Grey to jump him.]

[siriusly]

O-oh. [he exhales a fluttery, nervous kind of sound; he was already writing baseball off since he was going to do that one anyway!] I kind of thought...you were going to do those anyway. I mean-- [he blinks, squints, and frowns. was that weird to say?] I, I-I can always ask like earlier, without...any betting, right?

[repeatedprayer]

Well yes, of course. [Where is Manabu's hand? Grey's gonna try and find it so he can entwine Manabu's fingers with his own.] But it's fun to feel as if you've won something, isn't it? [He grins, and there's only a slight sheepish edge to it. Come on, surely everyone gets off on feeling they've got the better of someone, right?]

[siriusly]

[his hand is lifted away from Grey's chest to tangle with Grey's, an act which makes him feel fluttery and weak. why's a gesture like that as affecting as a kiss? the sentimentality of it is over his head and yet insanely addictive despite that. it splinters his focus on the conversation, so his argument is pretty dead on his tongue, barely thought on.]

If...if I actually did, though...