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'd be nice to spend more time surveying the topography of Grey's back without feeling like he was doing something wrong or wasting time, but Manabu makes himself stay on-task and rinse him off, looking for scars or other signs of the kind of violence enacted on him that night. he hangs onto the showerhead after the search, tilting it down to the floor.]

All set... Was that okay?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's a little disappointed when Manabu finishes up and starts rinsing him off (although the spray of water gently massaging his back is also very nice) but tilts his head to look over his shoulder and nods.]

Mm. I'd say my back is cleaner, yes.

[The next part is said a bit stiffly, just because it's not a usual sentiment from Grey:]

Thank you.

[Beat.]

Would you like it if I did yours?

[siriusly]

Auh, su-sure... Though, moving around will be tricky... Should I, uh, I should let you stand up first, so-- [so he straightens up and smushes himself against the wall, which doesn't feel great, but he's trying to be accommodating here and not weird!!!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey gets carefully to his feet (the floor's wet and slippery now) and turns around. Seeing the position Manabu's put himself in makes him scoff a little laugh.]

Is something wrong?

[Grey's tempted to also move directly in front of Manabu and slam his hands on the wall on either side of Manabu, but he refrains from the impulse since Manabu is already doing a fine job of kabedon-ing himself.]

[siriusly]

A--er, n-no, it's just... [hitting the showers usually has more space.

and he never jerked any of the other people off beforehand.

embarrassed, he looks askance.]

I'm not sure how to...do this. So I don't know what would be wrong, I guess. If that makes sense.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey gives him a thoughtful look for a moment, then scoots back a bit and gestures at the shower stool.]

Based on your demonstration, I believe the first step would be for you to sit down.

[Y'know, so he can wash your back.]

Although if you prefer, we could also do this standing up.

[siriusly]

Er-- [wait! that's not what he meant!! now he sounds stupid. augh!!!

Manabu's inner distress gets told on by the way his ears twitch and his mouth seems to chew on a response, instead just moving and sitting down, drooping a bit.

dumbass...!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey waits until Manabu has duly sat, then kneels behind him and murmurs:]

There's no need to be nervous.

[Isn't there? Grey's gaze shifts to Manabu's bare back, and he recognizes that it's going to be tricky to stay focused... If he even needs to.

For now, he starts by following Manabu's example and runs the water over Manabu's neck and back. Once Manabu seems suitably dampened, Grey lathers up and sets his hands on Manabu's back.

...It's really going to be tricky to stay focused.

Still, Grey gets to work, diligently scrubbing away at Manabu's back and ignoring the partial erection he's currently sporting. (And, if Manabu's tail starts lashing about and smacking him in the chest, ignoring that too.)]

[siriusly]

[the tail is indeed not at all helpful and, after a third swish, Manabu scrambles to grab at it and hold it in place, mortified.] S-sorry!!

[he's tense to the touch and squirmy - ticklish in places, but not willing to complain about it - and the closer Grey's hands move down his spine the harder it is to sit still.

even so, it'd be lame to make a fuss after Grey was so Extremely Normal moments ago...]

Ha, oh...uh-- [yeah, that's more than ticklish. Manabu peeks over his shoulder, red-faced and clearly affected.] Y-you may want to stop, or I'll get all worked up again...

[repeatedprayer]

[The tension just encourages Grey to press harder as he washes, turning the scrub down into a bit of a soapy massage while he's there. Handling Manabu's back is very nice, but Grey's continually tempted to slide his hands over Manabu's ribs to fondle the rest of his body, and to put his mouth on Manabu's skin while he's at it.

When Manabu glances over his shoulder Grey is hard at work on Manabu's lower back, but his gaze flicks up when Manabu speaks.]

I don't want to stop.

[Or more precisely: Grey wants Manabu to get worked up. God knows Grey already is.]

[siriusly]

[that gets a little bristle out of him, tensing up against the tingle of the press of Grey's fingers. Manabu's ears perk and then flatten, at a loss as to whether to telegraph alarm or wariness, so why not both while his expression is radiating a fluster.]

Wh...why is that, huh-? [he squeezes his tail a little tighter as much to have a tether as it is to keep it from twitching out of his grip.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Really? You're going to make him say it? Fine, then. Grey slides his hands up and grips Manabu by the waist.]

Because you've already gotten me worked up.

[He leans forward, tilting his head and pressing his cheek against Manabu's shoulder.]

It's only fair if you're being tormented as well.

[And then he shifts his head again, to lightly nip at Manabu's skin.]

[siriusly]

A--! [after a shiver, he was good and still at the grab (everything is slippery, he is not going to cause an incident here), but the grazing of teeth on his skin gets to him, makes him squirm.

it's so easy for Grey to stir him up, already under his skin as he is. Manabu stifles a little sound through his nose as the tingle radiates through him, his shoulder having reflexively moved up under the attention.]

Y-you're gonna start up here, and...and someone's going to slip... [he says that, but he's grabbed onto Grey's arm to brace him and already tilted his head in a way that gives Grey more area to roam.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey doesn't respond with words, instead opting to slide soap-slick hands over Manabu's torso, slowly rubbing circles over his abdomen and chest. This necessitates getting a little closer, although perhaps not as close as Grey gets, pressing his chest against Manabu's back.

Since Manabu hasn't complained about the introduction of teeth, Grey also starts to nibble his way up Manabu's shoulder and neck, testing how hard he can get away with biting.

Needless to say, Grey is not particularly concerned about the potential for a disaster. And since Grey's already kneeling, at least if he slips he doesn't have a very long fall to the ground?

He breaks off from sucking on one of the bite marks to briefly speak.]

You're irresistible when you squirm.

[siriusly]

[last night wasn't a fluke: as it turns out, Manabu is very weak to Grey's hands, so any fuss is simply vented fluster. a too-hard bite does get a flinch, but reconciliation comes from Grey's touching - something he winds up encouraging by finally letting his tail go to lay a hand over Grey's and press it harder against himself while leaning back into him.

the remark catches him mid-whimper and prompts an attempt to stifle himself - futile, but an attempt all the same.]

I-it's your own fault, so-! S-so--

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey laughs a little at the scold before pressing a kiss to the side of Manabu's neck. Manabu might be trying to sound accusatory, but Grey is entirely pleased with what he says. He likes thinking that Manabu doesn't squirm like this for anyone else.

His touch grows firmer, encouraged by Manabu's hand over his own. The slow rubbing becomes interspersed with squeezing, and when his fingertips run over Manabu's nipples he pauses to give those a gentle tease. It's all very experimental, trying to see what Manabu responds to and how.]

[siriusly]

Nnh...!

[the teasing at his nipples gives rise to more flustered whimpering, his stomach trembling under the press of Grey's palm. all the attention is near overwhelming, but only nearly; he's still aware of where he is, aware of getting harder by the second, needier...the water can't hide that, it just makes him warmer.]

Grey... [his head tilts back against Grey's shoulder with a huff.]

[repeatedprayer]

Mmm...

[As Grey continues to fondle Manabu, his head is starting to swim from desire. His cock is stiff and aching, and the top of it occasionally bumps against Manabu's lower back whenever Manabu squirms. This does not help with the state of his head.]

You're too enticing.

[Grey's voice is a low rumble against Manabu's skin.]

You have no damned idea how much I want you.

[His finger tips encircle one of Manabu's nipples and he gives it a little pinch.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu utters another helpless whimper, arching his back briefly before slumping back against him; there's a tingle where he can feel Grey's cock poking at him, so low down his back, it makes his mind swim with want - it's practically an echo of Grey's words aloud.

one hand lets Grey go to grab at himself, gasping a little.]

Grey... [he whimpers again.] You make me feel so... [crazy. overwhelmed. amazing. at a loss.] So much--

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's breath catches, for a moment; his hands slow, then go still, still pressed up against Manabu. After another moment he lets out a shuddering sigh and gives Manabu's shoulder another little kiss.]

...You too.

[You make me feel so much.

Grey loosens his grip and scooches back an inch or so- unwilling to let go of Manabu, but he needs to give him a little more room to move.]

Turn around.

[siriusly]

Enh-? [but-- the touching--

he squeezes at himself briefly, gulping and holding a breath to come back to a bit of reality despite the relentless buzz of arousal. the movement behind him helps, and after a moment he looks around himself to figure out the best way to turn around without being too disruptive.

he manages it a bit gracelessly, bumping at Grey's knee along the way and muttering an apology as he comes to sit facing him, his face ruddy and hair matted from the steam and water.]

[repeatedprayer]

[It's difficult for Grey to be patient while Manabu gets himself situated, and Grey trembles lightly the whole time he has to suppress the urge to just grab and grope at Manabu more. Manabu's movements, graceless as they may be, do little to cool his ardor.

Once Manabu's finally in place Grey simply stares, drinking in the sight of him for a heartbeat or two. That's about all he can manage before he shifts a hand to the back of Manabu's head and yanks him forward for a desperate kiss, prodding insistently at Manabu's lips with his tongue and tightening his grip on Manabu's head and side.]

[siriusly]

[those two heartbeats are enough for Manabu to worry on what Grey's thinking, for him to start to feel over exposed and vulnerable. but before he can voice it, he's grabbed.]

Mrph-! [it's a surprised sound stifled by Grey's insistence, and for a moment Manabu is bristled and struggles a little to follow where Grey is leading. his mouth opens and gives way, groaning a little as the sensation of his tongue searching about ignites a fresh spark.

the yanking had him reach to grab onto Grey's arms to avoid slipping off the stool entirely; those fingers grip tightly as they kiss.

he's such an overwhelming force...it's scary and thrilling at the same time. the risk is just in trusting, but Manabu always trusts in earnest.]

[repeatedprayer]

[I want you. I need you. Manabu!

Grey can't properly voice any of this while he's deep in exploring Manabu's mouth, but there's numerous clues that Manabu may be able to pick up on. The moans muffled into Manabu's mouth; the needy way he grips Manabu; the tremor of his body under Manabu's touch.

Manabu's attempts to stay on the stool may prove fruitless. Without breaking the kiss, Grey moves back a bit further, still pulling Manabu forward as he goes- right now, he wants Manabu seated on his lap.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu shudders intensely when bumps up against Grey, his aching cock pressing up against Grey and eliciting an almost pained sound - it's nearly drowned out by the clatter of the stool toppling in the process. the loss of the perch means Manabu's hands scramble for purchase, arms inevitably wrapping around Grey's shoulders as his chest presses flush against his.

everything feels so much more intense and electric than the night before and Manabu can't stop himself from feeling; between breaks in kissing for breath he lets out a soft, distressed sound as his hips buck against him.

i can't stop my body from moving...! it's like Grey's puppeting him to make those lewd and desperate moves.]