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]

Eh?

['got you,' huh?]

Ye-yeah, you do. [if he exhales too much, he's gonna get squeezed too much!

leg... he tries stretching his leg out and tilting his foot to get that cramp out. owww.]

A...aheh...

[repeatedprayer]

[Eventually, the combination of Miscellaneous Manabu Noises (non-distressed version) and fidgeting gets through to Grey's sleep brain and he begins to properly rouse. His arm shifts and his eyes open, blinking the sleep out of them.]

Ah...

[He kind of wants to keep lying here, but he can feel Manabu stretching his leg around and assumes that means Manabu's ready to start moving. So he finally slips his arm out from around Manabu and begins to sit up.]

You're awake?

[Grey scrubs at his face with one hand and peeks over at Manabu.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu braces unconsciously for some kind of freakout that doesn't come, exhaling quietly as he watches Grey sit up and come to terms with waking up. that feels time enough that he can pull his leg free and roll over, sitting up and reaching to stretch it.]

Y-yeah, hey. Morning. Sleep okay?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey watches Manabu stretch with mild interest, but no real concern. Manabu doesn't seem particularly distressed.]

Quite well, thank you. And yourself?

[Grey almost blushes at how prim he sounds. Like they're acquaintances who slept in separate hotel rooms instead of clinging to one another through a good chunk of the night.]

[siriusly]

Ye-yeah! [a bit overly chipper, but no less honest, Manabu's face grows warm as he affirms it, looking askance, bashful.] I guess it's just...better when you're close-by, eheh. I really do...ask a lot of you, huh.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey scoffs, but the sound and expression are soft.]

You ask hardly anything. I have to drag you into accepting my help most of the time.

[siriusly]

[his face gets redder.]

Well! Well, I'll--[he clears his throat.] I'll...try to ask more.

[more being close... he can just. ask for that???]

[repeatedprayer]

[It is an extraordinary concept, Grey has to admit!]

Good. That will greatly simplify matters.

[Grey pushes the sheets off and slides out of the bed. Time to start the morning.]

Did you want to start making breakfast or take a shower first?

[siriusly]

Oh, right-- [he's on the hook to cook. this supersedes the want to ask to just sit and be close. that's too much to ask anyway!! don't be a weirdo, Yuuki!] I can heat up the rest of the meat you got? With the eggs... Does that sound okay?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey walks over to Manabu's side of the bed, holding out an arm for Manabu to grab.]

I'll defer to your judgment. You're the culinary expert around here.

[It sounds very protein-heavy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Grey thinks he'll grab some of the bread to go with it, once Manabu's done cooking. The bread might've gotten kind of squished, but it should still be edible!]

[siriusly]

[after getting his legs over the side, Manabu reaches up and takes it. he doesn't think he needs the help, but! but...he wants to hold onto him.

so he does!

the tail wagging is involuntary.]

D-don't stretch 'expert' too thin, okay. That's setting me up for failure...

[repeatedprayer]

[Manabu's certainly made great strides since his first day out of the lab, but surely it doesn't hurt to lend him a hand. Manabu doesn't seem to mind either.]

I meant comparatively speaking. I have some knowledge of chemistry, but I know more about what goes into amoxicillin than in an omelette.

[A slight exaggeration! He knows that eggs go in an omelette, and sometimes other things.]

[siriusly]

But you're not a doctor. Got it. [he smiles crookedly, letting himself be led over to the kitchen area.] 'Kay... Can you grab the stuff from the fridge? [and he'll get the hotplate and utensils ready.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey shouts Manabu an offended look that is definitely not a pout. He's not a doctor or a healer or anything like that!!! He's just a guy who knows a lot of things about medicine for reasons that aren't Manabu's business!

He tragically can't come up with a clever retort during the few steps it takes to deposit Manabu in the kitchen, so he has to let the matter drop in favor of domestic affairs.]

Here. [He takes out the eggs and meat, setting them delicately on the edge of the sink.] Is there anything else? [Butter for frying, vegetables for vitamins?]

[siriusly]

Uh, butter, too, sorry. [he's oblivious to having jabbed onto something so sensitive! instead, he's focused on doing a Very Good Job in prepping and cooking - it's the very least he can do in light of all the trouble he's been giving Grey.

and besides... acts of service are Manabu's love language; this vents out that anxious need to convey something to him through a Very Good Job, and he visibly relaxes to see eggs cooking and meat sizzling in a favorable way, even if they're spiceless.

it smells good. it makes his stomach growl.

but he's not eating until Grey's had a bite first, and that can only come after he's been served.

in...in a bowl...

...they need more dishes.]

It...should taste all right...

[repeatedprayer]

[It's a sensitive spot, but Grey's mood is honestly good enough this morning that any real offense is quick to fade. Or maybe it's not so much that his mood is good as the fact that, where Manabu is concerned, Grey's feelings are soft and warm in a way that's unfamiliar to him.

Manabu will once again have to deal with Grey watching him the entire time he's cooking. Grey tries to give Manabu enough space to work, but he still lingers nearby... It's not like there's much else to do in the apartment! And his stomach twists with hunger as the aroma of food frying wafts out.

Once Manabu's handed him a bowl:]

It smells good. Thank you.

[Manabu will have to wait until Grey retrieves a slice of bread to go with it, but otherwise Grey doesn't hesitate to start chowing down.

And once he does, Grey visibly perks up- there's something comforting about the flavor and Grey is soon devouring his way through his serving as politely as he can manage.]

[siriusly]

Eheh-- [what a plainly telegraphed expression! Manabu's tickled by it.] Either you were really hungry, or I did an okay job, huh?

[he'll dig in, too - not as vigorously, but certainly pleased to have a good, warm meal.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey turns a little pink at having been so clearly read, but only stops eating long enough to reply.]

It's good, that's all.

[So what if he likes it??? Huh???]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's expression warms, but he lets him off the hook. this is the kind of thing his mom would talk about, right? the joy that cooking can bring to other people... it's certainly not his main calling in life, but being able to do something for Grey that can bring about that kind of response is gratifying, especially after so much strife.

it makes it easier to accept the routine, too. the physio, the idleness of the day while Grey is making moves out in the world...

easier to a point.

the gun in the house is troubling. Manabu...doesn't want to touch it, let alone use it. but that's impractical.

even so...

even so, when Grey does return at whatever early or late hour in the day, he'll find the gun in pieces, laid out in orderly fashion before a cross-legged Manabu who is using the cooking knife to carefully poke at some electronic component within.]

[repeatedprayer]

[If it weren't for the tension of Manabu's restlessness and the danger they're in, Grey would find it easy to slip into a state of simple contentment. The routine is certainly easier on him than it is on Manabu, who Grey guiltily feels like he's keeping cooped up like some sort of pet.

The dog parts make the comparison kind of easy.

Grey's errands are twofold- first, he has to locate several of the sites they need to investigate. Finding them in person will make it easier to scout the areas clairvoyantly later on, and he may as well observe the comings and goings while he's there.

Secondly, he has to pick up a cutting board, cooking oil, a mixing bowl, plates, seasonings, etc.

His arms are full when he gets back, but not so full that he can't let himself in this time, and get a look at what Manabu's doing.

...Whatever it is.]

What are you doing?

[Grey frowns, clearly vexed- Manabu can't protect himself with a gun that's in pieces!- but not actually on the verge of losing his temper, since the orderliness makes it look like Manabu has some idea of what he's doing. Maintenance, perhaps? But what's with the knife?]

[siriusly]

Uoh, hey-- [the moment he heard the door, he sat up straighter, eyes big. his tail wags once, and he sets down the component and knife to start to get to his feet and help with the bags.] Mm? Nothing, it's fine. Can I help!

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey obligingly hands over one of the bags- there's only two, but they're both on the heavy side- but doesn't let the subject drop.]

Your gun is in pieces, I can hardly help but be curious about it.

[siriusly]

[while taking the back, tail out:] I wanted to see the components. It's not a standard-issue, so I want to know what I'm working with, you know? [he'll follow along after Grey, slowly.]

And I have to make sure to cut its ability to deliver full-powered blasts.

[repeatedprayer]

[The first part sounds reasonable enough, but the second bit earns Manabu an incredulous look.]

So you're deliberately trying to make it worse?

[As he talks, Grey sets his bag on the kitchen counter and begins to unpack, setting things in the cupboard.]

[siriusly]

[holding out the second bag to be collected:] Yeah. Nobody's going to be killed by that gun if I can help it, especially if it winds up changing hands again.

[stuns and staggers? sure. that's fine. but he's not going to kill anyone with an illegal weapon!]