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]

[Manabu unties the tail, already feeling a bit less nauseous for it...and that feels strange to be relieved to let it swish free.

at least until physio.

a few minutes in:] I'm kind of amazed...you haven't gotten sick of having to walk me around, hold me up...[grab him? in his sleep???]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey happens to be holding up Manabu's head when the other man makes his observation, leaving Grey momentarily nonplussed as to how to respond.]

...Well it isn't as if you're heavy.

[Grey would rather chew his own leg off than admit to it, but he actually quite likes touching Manabu. Even apart from the fact he's lusting after the unfortunate man, there's just something pleasant about Manabu that makes physical contact soothing.]

What brings this on? Do you find it bothersome?

[He slightly regrets asking immediately after he does so, because he suspects the answer is "yes," at least, in that Manabu clearly finds it embarrassing.]

[siriusly]

N-no, not-! Erh-- [turned his head too fast. give him a second.]

I mean! I don't like feeling like dead weight, obviously, I just meant--I figured it was bothersome for you, you know?

[repeatedprayer]

[Absently:]

Slower, Manabu.

[The copy sort of takes his own advice, taking a little time to consider his actual response. They've already had similar exchanges, so rather than directly deny it, Grey opts to give Manabu another question.]

Do I seem bothered to you?

[siriusly]

Er... [...]

No...I guess not. [which is weird, right?] But I guess that means...throwing out all that stuff about, uh, not...not wanting to have anything to do with me. After this, I mean. Right? [he peeks out the corner of his eye after turning his head, peeping past some stray hair.]

[repeatedprayer]

...

[Grey winces a little, as comprehension hits. God, where does he even begin to explain himself?]

It isn't anything personal.

[It's not really that he doesn't want to have anything to do with Manabu...]

But consider our positions... I'm an outlaw, and you're an SDF officer. You can understand why I need to keep my distance, can't you?

[siriusly]

[Manabu cannot even begin to comprehend the fluster he feels, so he's not going to try. he just goes with it.]

Only if you keep doing outlaw things! I told you, remember? I'll help you. I promise!

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's grip briefly tightens- which isn't good when he's holding onto Manabu's head right now, so he hastily forces his hands to relax.]

What, exactly, could you do? I doubt you have enough sway over the authorities to make them pardon every crime or misdemeanour, or to keep them from investigating my background.

[siriusly]

[if it hurt, it doesn't show on Manabu's already-concerned features. what bit of tail he's not laying on flicks anxiously on the bed.]

I...I don't know off-the-cuff, but... But if there were no paths to building a better life, what would the point of any of it be? Right?

[repeatedprayer]

[On the other hand, Grey's expression twists as if he's in physical pain at those words. Certainly, his heart hurts. It hurts, because he knows he can't change what he is. Even if he stops comitting crimes, stops using his powers, changes his appearance completely, he can't change the fact that he's a copy.

Grey blinks a few times, trying to let the wave of agony ebb a bit before he takes a deep breath.]

...You need to turn to the left now.

[Manabu's balance issues seem much simpler to treat than Grey's existential ones.]

[siriusly]

[he does so, but he's still looking at Grey - Grey the person, outlaw or psychic eclaire voyager or whatever. his friend!

right? despite the distance Grey tried to establish...]

You didn't say I'm wrong, so you don't think it's impossible. So believe in it at least a little, okay? I'll figure something out. [it's the least he can do, and it's worth more.]

[repeatedprayer]

[And there's that familiar Grey scowl again.It's amazing how Manabu can say something that cuts through Grey's melancholy by virtue of how exasperating it is.]

Manabu, just because I didn't say it's impossible, doesn't mean I agree with you!

[He should go and tell Manabu how wrong he is, just so the man gets the idea out of his head. They don't need that bit of belief. Hope.]

Besides, what do you think I'd even be doing with myself as a respectable citizen? [Actually, considering what he's doing right now-] And don't say doctor, I've sworn never to work as a medical professional.

[siriusly]

Why not a historian? [he peeps back over, slightly turning his head to do so.] You like to read old stuff and learn about things. There's people that do that and help build up the universal library.

[repeatedprayer]

Keep your head straight.

[Grey's grip tightens deliberately this time as he minutely adjusts the angle of Manabu's head. They're supposed to be exercising!

It also serves as a distraction from how stymied he is that Manabu had an immediate answer.]

This is because of that trip to the historical society, isn't it...?

[siriusly]

That, yeah. And you wanted to see other skies, right? Astronomy and things? There's avenues for that, too. [granted, he's not smart enough to see all the ways those things can connect to satisfy multiple appetites for knowledge, but he is certain that whatever Grey wants to do, he can do it without having to hide in the shadows and be a criminal about it.]

[repeatedprayer]

Hn.

[Grey can't really think of a counter-argument. He probably could handle a scholarly job easily if he were a normal civilian. It's just he's not, and can't properly explain why he's not.]

You can sit up now. Slowly.

[He releases Manabu's head and takes a step back so Manabu has more space to do so.]

How much have you been thinking about this?

[siriusly]

Well... [he sits up - slowly, as instructed, and rubs at the back of his head, looking at the wall ahead of him.] Aside from looking into this lab stuff, what else am I supposed to do?

[what - not think about Grey?? he's kind of...at the forefront of his world as it stands right now, after all.]

[repeatedprayer]

I didn't take you as a multitasker, I suppose.

[Grey's mouth quirks a bit at the tease, but he returns to sobriety within only a moment.]

Once you're back home I'm sure you'll have enough to keep you occupied. You won't have time to fret about me.

[siriusly]

I don't leave my friends in the dust, okay? [he shoots a stubborn look over his shoulder.]

[repeatedprayer]

Your-

[Grey stares, nearly staggering at the weight of what Manabu said. And the way Manabu says it, as if it were nothing! As if it were already granted that he and Grey were... were friends.

Grey's never thought that anyone would call him a friend. When did this even happen?

Grey finally glances away, unable to maintain eye contact as the shock fades.]

You really say the strangest things... Without even batting an eye...

[siriusly]

Ehhh? [scowl.] It's not strange at all! You've come this far and done so much - [tail thump.] you don't get to back out of being my friend now.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey flusters, rubbing self-consciously at his arm.]

I'm not even sure... How this happened...

[Was the rescue attempt what did it? Did it happen back on Tabito? One of those nights they were bunking together?]

What exactly was the tipping point?

[siriusly]

[ha?

Manabu turns partway to face Grey, blinking.]

Tipping point? [is it that deep? maybe for someone living on the outskirts.] Um... [he tilts his head, thinking.]

I guess...the moment you decided to come find me? [that's pretty nakama-coded to him.]

[repeatedprayer]

I see.

[That makes sense. Even Grey can admit it's not the sort of thing anyone would just casually do. Well, except maybe Manabu- but as Manabu himself pointed out, that's his job.

Grey glances back at Manabu briefly, then looks away again and folds his arm.]

Well. If you really do consider us friends, then I suppose I don't mind that.

[siriusly]

Eheh-- [Manabu grins, laughing a little.] I mean, I guess you don't! Nice of you to say, hardass!