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 mouth twitches, amused by Manabu's attitude. He feels like he just made a kid finish off their broccoli.]

Well done.

[With that done, Grey returns to sitting on the bed and picks up the hairbrush he'd set aside, before patting the mattress beside him invitingly.]

Come here.

[It Is Time.]

[siriusly]

[his tail swishes, expression obstinate.]

Wouldn't exercising be more useful than brushing my stupid tail?

[repeatedprayer]

[Really now. Grey gives Manabu a Look.]

We have to do it eventually. Why put it off and give it an opportunity to get worse?

[siriusly]

[man... he scowls, huffs, and then trudges over, hesitating as his pace demands he not drag his feet like a petulant child. so stupid!

he plops onto the mattress with a huff, folding his arms, his tail twitching.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's mouth twitches again, torn between the urge to laugh and to roll his eyes.]

I don't know why you're being so stubborn about this. It'll be over quicker if you cooperate.

[And now the moment Manabu has probably been dreading: Since it's going to be hard to brush Manabu's tail while it's twitching around everywhere, Grey has to curl a hand around it before he starts brushing.

To his credit, it's a loose grip- he is aware that Manabu's tail is sensitive as hell, so Grey's being as gentle as he can, starting by combing the very bottom of Manabu's fur and only gradually moving his way up once the brush can glide through Manabu's fur without hitting any snags.]

[siriusly]

I just think it's-! [he blushes, tensing up. it's only a little pressure, but it still tingles in such a way.] Stupid... [he gulps, turning his head and looking in the direction opposite.] It's just gonna get messy again anyway...

[wow unexpected logic from the guy with eternal cowlicks, who'd have guessed.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey glances briefly at Manabu's shoulder, still brushing away at his tail.]

It won't if you start brushing it regularly. You'll just have to make it part of your regular routine, like showering and shaving.

[It was a nice attempt at logic, but Grey remains unimpressed. The brushy brushy will continue.]

[siriusly]

[the tail twitches in the loose grip, tip wiggling. Manabu's shoulders draw up against the tickling feeling going up his spine. it has no business feeling nice...

but it does feel really nice. dammit. freakshow tail...]

There's...really no way to get rid of it, is there... [it's just...part of his regular routine now. normal.

it's not normal at all!!]

[repeatedprayer]

...

[Grey's silent for a bit, brushing and mulling over the issue.]

In theory, you could have it amputated eventually. It would probably be easier than restoring your ears. However, the surgeons would need to understand how it's attached to your spine, and if it's possible to amputate it without causing serious damage to your nerves and spine.

[And then Manabu would most likely have to deal with phantom tail sensations afterwards...]

Chimera procedures aren't done with the intention of being reversible.

[siriusly]

Right...

[his balance would probably be screwed up entirely if he did that - to say nothing of what he might do to his motor functions. he doesn't know a lot, but he knows messing with the spinal column is bad, bad news.

it's not like he can get a confirmation on how to undo it from the doctor who did it either, right? not if he's dead...

Manabu's ears droop, tail going limp for the remainder of the brushing.]

[repeatedprayer]

[It takes a little while for Grey to work all the matts out. Luckily, the ones that are there are small. He suspects that those bastards at the lab were brushing it every now and then to keep from having to shave it, but he keeps that thought to himself.

The process of brushing out all of Manabu's fur is a surprisingly meditative one, and Grey's secretly a little sorry when it's over and the brush can glide smoothly from top to tip, at any angle he holds it. But it's done, and the tail is looking much silkier and prettier than it did before.

Grey sets the hair brush aside and lets go of the tail.]

You're all set. How is it feeling?

[siriusly]

Mmh-?

[the process had been kind of hypnotizing on Manabu's end: the pleasant tingling persisted even if he tried to bristle against it, so eventually exhaling the tension left him feeling kind of...floaty. weirdly content, despite the troubles weighing on him.

he blinks over, face still a bit pink, but more lucid after a beat of staring. his eyebrows lift.]

Wait, huh? What? [what'd he say?]

[repeatedprayer]

[Once again, Manabu is saying/doing something that gives Grey simultaneous swells of exasperation and affection. However, he supposes it makes sense that Manabu would have drifted off. Isn't it supposed to be relaxing when you have someone grooming you? At least, if it's someone you trust, as Manabu inexplicably trusts Grey?

Certainly, Grey had liked it when Manabu had washed his back...

Grey turns a little pink himself.]

Your tail. I've finished brushing it. How does it feel?

[siriusly]

Oh-- [obviously tail! Manabu glances down at it.

huh. it looks far less ugly now.]

It, it's fine... [sheepish:] It felt nice. Mostly nice. So, uh...thank you. I know it's...a weird thing to do. [brushing a guy's tail. eesh.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey nods.]

You're welcome. You'll brush it regularly from now on, won't you? I don't mind helping you with it but I won't always be available to do this for you.

[You know. If he's busy running errands or something.

And when he inevitably returns to his criminal career with their current relationship being but a warm memory that will have to sustain him as he drifts through cold, harsh reality. You know.]

[siriusly]

I, I guess. Yeah. [but it's not going to be as nice, he's sure...even if it'd be too much of a burden to ask Grey to do it. no matter how nice it is.

he can't just...utterly absorb all of his attention all the time, can he? soon enough, Grey will get sick of minding him. and this investigation will end, and he'll try to run, because Manabu wasn't reliable enough to show him a better way...

i'm so behind. i'm already so behind...!

he rubs at his face, feeling the weight time lost and time gaining too fast on him. focus up.]

Right...where's that cord? I need to practice walking around with this tail tied up. Maybe even outside? [he looks over toward Grey, tentatively hopeful.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey gets to his feet to go retrieve the cord in question.]

We'll see how well today's session goes.

[As much as Manabu no doubt needs a walk, they're in a second story apartment. To go out, they will need to either stand on a teeny tiny balcony (not much room for pacing) or go down the stairs. And Grey does not want Manabu falling down a staircase and landing on the cement back alley ground at the bottom.

Still, it might be worth pushing his limits a little more... Manabu's made a lot of progress with his general balance...

Grey picks up the cord from the cupboard where Manabu's spare clothes are being stored and brings it over to Manabu, automatically kneeling so he can help Manabu tie his tail down.]

If you can walk around this bed three times without falling... Then we'll give it a try. How does that sound?

[siriusly]

[Manabu does his best to move past the fluttery feeling he gets when Grey kneels in front of him - stay focused, Yuuki.

the challenge helps with that; his expression grows tighter, stubborn, as he slips the cord under his leg and finagles the tail against his thigh to tie it up.]

That's easy. [in theory, anyway.

once he's got the tail tied up to what he assumes is decently enough, he hesitates, about to get up but...that'd put him right up in Grey's face.

he clears his throat.]

Um. Can you...grab me some pants?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey hmms skeptically when Manabu proclaims the goal to be easy- He's rooting for Manabu of course, but he also remembers how much having the tail bound screwed up Manabu's balance last time!

Manabu doesn't seem to need much help getting the tail tied up this time, but Grey still hovers protectively until Manabu clears his throat. Grey blinks a few times.

Right, Manabu will theoretically be going around with pants over his tail. Not just walking about in boxers and with a tail visibly tied to his leg. Might as well get used to that part too.]

Of course.

[Grey gets to his feet again and goes to fetch those pants, leaving Manabu free to stand up without potentially shoving his crotch in Grey's face.]

[siriusly]

[there's been more than enough crotch-shoving for the morning, so that's probably for the best...in either case, Manabu pushes up to his feet, feeling a want to wobble right at the onset - one that he fights back by holding his arms out.

he holds pose for a beat, testing, then exhales. good! good so far...this puts him in better spirits as pants are brought over.]

Mn, thanks! [he...has to sit back down to actually get them on (it's actually cruel that there are never any properly fitting trousers that aren't tailored (or stitched up by Mom)...he's truly stuck in the void between Tall Tallguys and shrunken bean people...

that said, there's a bit of excess length on these that he'll just have to deal with as he gets back up to his feet with a huff, chest puffing kind of preemptively triumphant.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey keeps an eye on Manabu as much as he can while he's fetching those pants, because he is very concerned about the potential for disaster. Nothing bad has happened so far, but! But Grey will be watching like a hawk (or a mama bear) the entire time Manabu is doing this.

Once Manabu is clothed and standing, Grey sits on the mattress and crawls towards the middle, folding his legs so they won't be hanging off the bed as a tripping hazard for Manabu while he sits and watches.]

Are you ready to begin?

[Go dog boy, go!]

[siriusly]

[now that his judge is situated for the assessment, Manabu inhales...and exhales in a huff. c'mon, Yuuki...it's just walking! he's walked all his grown life!

and yet...in motion, confidence fades, because even two steps in and he can feel his security in balance wavering, prompting his hands to come out again.]

Woh... Okay. Okay...

[he moves very carefully, slower than he'd like, but despite the stops and wavers, he makes the circuits, getting a bit antsy by the third lap and nearly pitching himself into the wall.]

D'ah! Hoh! [he catches himself.

after a beat, he straightens up, looking queasy...but triumphant.] S-see! Good to...good to go...

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey watches, occasionally tilting his head or shifting his position as he assesses the sight and sounds of Manabu's movements. The exercise seems to go by painfully slowly. Every time Manabu wavers Grey has to suppress a wince, and when Manabu nearly pitches himself into the wall Grey nearly flings himself off the bed to try and grab Manabu- fortunately, Manabu catches himself, but Grey's already poised in a crouch on the bed, ready to leap off.

Well.

Seeing the tremendous effort Manabu has put into this, Grey's response is all heart:]

You stumbled.

[siriusly]

[quickly, getting red-faced:] But I didn't fall. You said if I didn't fall--

[repeatedprayer]

I know what I said.

[Grey purses his lips, clearly not entirely happy. Manabu is keeping his balance! But it's clearly a struggle and besides the risk of Manabu falling and injuring himself, it also might attract attention if somebody saw Manabu stumbling about for no apparent reason...

Thinking it over, Grey closes his eyes. Maybe if they got Manabu a cane or something it would make his clumsiness stand out less. But what to do in the mean time?]

...