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 keeps his eyes ahead of him, though he can feel an ear quirk at the sound of Grey's voice from under the hat. he doesn't answer right away, tempering his impulse to insist he's fine, he'll get over it, but...

quietly:] Not great. Just going down some stairs made me queasy. [and he hates that fact. hates that he can't just brute force his way through recovery, aiming forward and upward.

his hands clench into fists at his sides.]

Nothing will change if I stand still, though. So I just have to endure it, right?

[...right?]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey huffs. Part of him agrees- or at least, knows that if he were in Manabu's position he'd be doing the same thing. Impatiently pushing himself at every opportunity to get better, do more, to not be stuck staying still.

But there's also a more sensible part of him that has inherited enough medical knowledge to know damn well that's not how it works.]

...Well. You're right and you're wrong.

[Grey tilts his head, looking up at the sky while he tries to find a way to explain it.]

Recovery is similar to crossing a tightrope. You have to keep moving in order to get to the other side, but if you move too fast you'll lose your balance.

[And after saying this, Grey grimaces a bit at how much he sounds like a Great Sage Dispensing His Pearls Of Wisdom. In a more quiet voice, he continues.]

...I have some experience with being sick myself. And with making myself worse by not heeding my limits.

[siriusly]

[Manabu looks over his shoulder, his expression pinched. it'd be nice to just be worried about that information for Grey's sake, but that's not why it was divulged, was it.]

I...I know. But... [he hesitates, looking back ahead, feeling a little funny in a feelings-way, not a guts-way.] I told you, right? That I'm relying on you. So if I do lose my balance, you're going to hold me up, aren't you?

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey casts Manabu a startled glance, but by that time Manabu's already facing away and Grey can't see his expression.]

...Yes. Yes, of course.

[It almost feels as if it doesn't need saying because hasn't he been doing that? He'd carried Manabu out of the lab, held him up during numerous physio sessions, remained poised and primed to grab him whenever he stumbles.

Grey's only concern is if he'll be able to keep his balance himself, because damned if Manabu doesn't have a way of making Grey feel unsteady.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu smiles a little to himself, feeling a lightness in his chest.]

Mn. And...I'll get my balance back. Thanks to your help. So even though I'm...frustrated. And worried... I can know that much is true still.

[he can't imagine going through this by himself. maybe he'd have made himself irreparably sick by now? that reckless streak of his unchecked by someone who cares.]

[repeatedprayer]

[And there's the thing that sets him off balance the most- the earnest faith that Manabu keeps placing in him, the faith that leaves Grey flustered and desperate to be worthy of it.]

Mm. Well then. I'm glad.

[His heart flutters, and Grey smiles in that uncertain way people do, as if he's not sure he's supposed to, but God does he want to.]

[siriusly]

Eheh... [Manabu scratches at the back of his neck bashfully, tickled by the admission. it's strange to feel so light despite the circumstances, or feel so anxious about saying the honest truth to Grey. but then...it's not like Manabu spends a lot of time expressing those kinds of feelings. those are usually the goes-without-saying type...back when the scope of what was said was...a lot different than it is now.

broadened horizons and all that. new connections. new paths to travel, so to speak.

all that said, though...]

I, ah...should probably go sit back down though. Before I spill my guts out on the street or something, huh.

[repeatedprayer]

[And that gets an alarmed look cast upon Manabu's back before Grey hastily heads over to yank the door open for Manabu.]

Ah, right-!

[Dang it, he was hoping some air would help with Manabu's nausea. And he's a bit concerned about the prospect of bringing Manabu upstairs later...]

You'll let me know if you need help getting to the washroom, won't you?

[The laundromat staff might prefer that over Manabu horfing on the linoleum.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu can't help but laugh despite the knot in his gut, making his unsteady way back inside. it's easier to hurry along when he can have his hand on the rows of machines along his way, and he waves off worry from the employee on his way to go use the washroom.]

I-it's nothing! I just ate something bad, eheh... [not to throw granola under the bus or anything, but he just doesn't want anyone to think he's shambling around here giving people the plague!

at least he feels better after throwing up; no more stomach incidents follow after he's returned to sit and wait out the remainder of the time until he's got to help with the chores.]

[repeatedprayer]

[You know how cats will sit outside the bathroom door when their favorite person is inside, maybe meowing and clawing a little at the door and trying to stick their paws beneath it?

Grey does not do any of that but he does pick a seat as close to the washroom as possible and sit there with his arms folded impatiently keeping an ear out for the sounds of Manabu puking. And naturally, when Manabu comes out, he has to endure some more fussing over if he's okay or not.

(The employee also casts a few concerned glances their way but relaxes pretty quickly when Manabu doesn't have to make a second trip to the washroom.)

Getting the laundry washed and dried takes a bit over an hour, and then afterwards Manabu gets to help fold it and repack it into bags. Grey's a tactile enough sort that he enjoys getting to handle warm, freshly dried laundry, and it helps him relax a bit after the worry over Manabu's sickly state.

He does hand Manabu the smaller bag to carry, though.]

How's your stomach doing?

[siriusly]

No more problems. [he nods, certain of it.

for a beat.]

Er, we'll...see how going upstairs goes. [his mouth twitches and his eyes wince, but he's...he's hopeful! going up isn't as bad as going down, right? so long as he doesn't let his vision dart around too much, maybe... that's the trick he tries, anyway, once it's time to go back up, and by then, the only trouble with the stomach there is just being nervous about trouble with the stomach! he's far more confident getting back up than he was before, but just like last time, once he's cleared that hurdle:] No good jobs or anything yet, okay? It was just stairs.

[though he is, privately, pretty damn pleased that he didn't wind up stomach-sick all over again.]

[repeatedprayer]

[That's certainly a relief!

More of a relief: Once they're actually back in the apartment and Manabu has managed not to throw up again, or pass out, or explode or whatever. Grey's pretty pleased about that, even if Manabu says he doesn't want any praise.]

You're always so modest. And what is the threshold where you'll be expecting praise?

[Grey shuts the door behind him and heads over to the bed so he can begin putting sheets back. No collapsing onto the bed yet!]

[siriusly]

Modest? [he echoes the word incredulously, almost laughing.] I-it's not that, it's just... [the threshold, huh?

he scratches at his cheek, lingering in place a beat before carefully pacing over toward the bed with the bag over his shoulder.]

Well...like...like baseball. [he offers a wincing smile.] It'll make sense when you see it, but...nobody gets any points just for making it across one or two bases. You have to clear them all to score. And a trip up and down some stairs isn't much of a base run.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey said it lightly, but now that they're on the subject he does recall that Manabu isn't much of a braggart... And in the past, when Grey's needled him about his ambitions, they've never been particularly grandiose.]

So what would make a suitable base run? A trip around the block, perhaps?

[Grey stuffs one corner of the fitted sheet under the mattress and pulls it over to the opposite end, bending and tucking it under the mattress as he talks.]

[siriusly]

[the other sheet tumbles out of the bag Manabu pulls it out of, holding it by a clump of it. he shakes it out to find the corners.]

Hmm... [around the block?] No, that's still too small... [he smiles crookedly.] Maybe to the college.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey stretches to reach another corner and gives Manabu a dubious glance. He echoes:]

Maybe.

[Don't think he forgot you puking in that bathroom an hour ago!]

We still need to get you some actual shoes.

[siriusly]

[his expression pinches a bit at that.]

Yeah... Jeez, every step has to be a pain, doesn't it.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey chuckles.]

If you change your mind about wanting praise, go ahead and say so.

[And Grey moves around Manabu to tuck the last corner in. There. Manabu's turn now.]

[siriusly]

[he blushes, flustering a little and hastening to finish his side.] Yeah, right! You'd just do it to embarrass me!

[repeatedprayer]

Is it my fault you're so easily embarrassed?

[Look, he barely even has to try and Manabu gets all flustered and blushy!]

[siriusly]

[he makes a face. after picking up one of the pillows, he chucks it at Grey.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Good news for Manabu- Grey was not expecting him to do that and doesn't move fast enough to dodge. Manabu is thus able to beam him in the side of the face.]

Ah-! Manabu!

[Surprised, but unhurt, Grey ducks down to grab the pillow from where it's landed and chucks it in Manabu's direction. Quite hard, because pfft, what is restraint?]

[siriusly]

[Manabu was anticipating a retaliation, even if it wasn't that aggressive, so he does manage to swat it away with a huff and a hah, smirking.]

Now you're picking on a sick guy? Jeez, Grey!

[repeatedprayer]

You little brat! I take back everything I said about you being modest.

[Grey huffs and crosses his arms- but there's a definite gleam in his eyes... As soon as Grey thinks Manabu's let his guard down he's going to dart over to grab Manabu and pull him off of his feet.]

[siriusly]

[guard's down once the last blanket is yanked onto the bed and Manabu turns away to finally pull his hat off his head with a sigh. a brief respite before--]

GAH! What the-!!