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]

[Once Manabu begins working in earnest Grey's eyes squeeze shut so he can focus on the sensations that Manabu draws out from him.]

Oh, God.

[His own voice sounds obscene, not to mention the quiet wet sounds of Manabu's mouth on his cock. He feels like he's going to lose his mind... He hadn't expected Manabu to actually put his cock in his mouth either, had assumed he'd just get experimental licks and kisses, but if Manabu's willing than Grey's not going to disabuse him of the notion.]

I'm so- so very- Ah, Manabu, being in your mouth like this-! [Even if it's not terribly deep in there.] It's so good...

[Not just the physical sensations of it, but the sheer intimacy of it. Of Manabu accepting Grey inside himself in this way.]

[siriusly]

[if it weren't for those pleasured assurances, Manabu might become too flustered and self-conscious about precisely what he's doing, but this is all about what Grey thinks, right?

he eventually gets a hand around the base of Grey's shaft so he doesn't have to worry about jerking and squirming as much, ears still perked for affirmation and instruction; now and then he cracks an eye open to glimpse Grey's disheveled state, and that gets another tail wag or three.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey squirms and gives a weak thrust of the hips beneath Manabu. The hand helps push Grey closer to the edge, though he remains suspended, not quite there yet. But it won't be a great effort to take him there, not when he's been waiting this long for release.]

Ma- hah- Manabu- I'm getting close...

[It's perhaps a bit vague, but it's intended as a warning. If Manabu goes a little harder, a little faster, and still has his mouth on Grey's cock, then Grey will end up coming into it.]

[siriusly]

[an ear perks up at that. wait, then--what should he do? does he just...keep going? faster? stop outright? he knows he cannot be this stupid, but he feels very suddenly on-the-spot to do the right thing at the right moment. hell, he's never had someone's mouth on his junk to know what would work!

his brow knits as he tries to think fast, inadvertently sucking in a breath that's likely the trigger, which'll ensure, while withdrawing, he's going to get blasted in the face.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey's dick was already throbbing but the way Manabu's mouth contracts around the head just so when Manabu takes that breath, that bit of suction as Manabu withdraws is indeed enough to bring him to climax.]

Nn-!

[Incoherent gasps and sobbed breaths escape Grey's lips as his orgasm surges through him. His hips jerk; a few choked words are attempted, mostly along the lines of Yes and God and Manabu. His cum erupts out of him in thick strings, Grey's body finally taking its release with a vengeance.

When he's spent Grey slumps back and gulps down air while the afterglow ripples gently through him. For several long moments Grey just lays there basking before he eventually thinks to maybe look properly at Manabu.

...

Ah. Crap?]

[siriusly]

...

[Manabu's half-sat up, eyes squeezed shut and mouth pursed - a little belated from getting hit in the face; while Grey's recovering, he slowly lets him go and tries wiping his face with the back of his hand, ears flattened in the telegraph of unease.]

Y-you okay...? [typical, asking about Grey rather than himself; Grey could shove him out a window and he'd probably still ask if Grey tripped (after the coma or whatever, obviously).]

[repeatedprayer]

[That is indeed typical; really, Manabu's going to make Grey worry about him. What if some (other) bad man tries to take advantage of him?

Grey shakily straightens up and gives Manabu what is hopefully a reassuring smile. Or would be if Manabu's eyes weren't squeezed shut.]

More than okay, actually. For someone who claims not to have known what he was doing, you certainly learn fast.

[Hopefully knowing that he did a good job helps soothe Manabu's frazzled state. Grey suppresses a frown when he notices the flattened ears, and as for the mess still on Manabu's face and in his hair...

Well. It does give him a little flutter of pleasure to see it, but he's also ashamed of that same flutter.]

...I am sorry about your face. It wasn't my intention to do. That. [Y'know. Give him a facial and all.]

[siriusly]

Ehh, eheh... [a feeble attempt at a laugh to brush it off while he's scrubbing at an eyelid.] C-can you grab me a towel or something?

[repeatedprayer]

Of course.

[Grey scurries off to do so (stumbling a little as he gets onto his feet) and after a moment Manabu will be able to hear water running.

A few moments after that Grey returns and presses a warm, damp towel against Manabu's cheek.]

Here.

[siriusly]

A-! [oh! wet! he's a little surprised, but laughs it off sheepishly, withdrawing his hand after the recoil and letting Grey wipe him off, cracking an eye open after it's brushed by the towel.

he smiles bashfully at him, tail swishing a little. he's embarrassed, but still weirdly pleased.]

N-not the worst job, right?

[repeatedprayer]

[Cleaning Manabu's face feels like the least Grey can do after he's the one who made a mess of it in the first place. It helps soothe his conscience, although not as much as the bashful smile Manabu gives him.]

Not bad at all. Tha- Er.

[Grey flushes.]

Would it be gauche if I thanked you?

[siriusly]

[helpful:] I don't even know what gauche means.

[repeatedprayer]

[And that makes Grey crack, laughing hard enough that his shoulder's shake. Manabu will likely be able to feel the tremors through both the mattress and the towel Grey has pressed against Manabu's face.]

-Of course. I should have realized.

[Once his laughter subsides Grey takes a breath and looks at Manabu warmly.]

I'll risk it. Thank you, Manabu. You made me feel very good.

[siriusly]

[the tail wags a bit more eagerly as the blush creeps across Manabu's cheeks. he tries to laugh it off, but he can't hold the breath for long. maybe it's just all the hard work, but his heart won't stop racing, he feels winded...

that's normal, isn't it? or maybe it's because he's still not at a hundred percent, not fully recovered...]

I...I'm glad... [he looks down and away, bashful.] Mn. Glad. Yeah...

[repeatedprayer]

[Manabu turning his head like that gives Grey a very easy opening; he leans in and presses a brief kiss to Manabu's ear. Hopefully this will not trigger an attack of bodily dysmorphia.]

Let's clean up and get some rest. You have two kilometers to go tomorrow.

[siriusly]

Mn--ye, yeah.

[he's too discombobulated to fully process the ear-thing, and remains as such during clean up and wind down, looking like he's trying to mentally solve some kind of logic puzzle he's missing pieces of. there's feelings he can't properly discern jumbled up together in a big knot, and the sense of being vulnerable and out-in-the-open presses on him like an uncomfortable weight. all this leaves him with a mild headache as he finally settles in, shrinking under the weight of Grey's arm and knees drawing up slightly for the space his tail needs to curl.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey picks up on Manabu's odd mood soon enough, and while Manabu broods, Grey occasionally shoots him puzzled looks, trying to discern what's going on in there. It might be a hormonal drop after sex, or it might have to do with the past four months- Grey's gotten used to Manabu's occasional bouts of melancholy although he can't entirely keep from being concerned.

Concern isn't enough to give him a way of Fixing It, however, so Manabu's mostly left to sort it out himself as they wind down, asides from the physical proximity.]

Goodnight, Manabu.

[Grey says that, but he'll lie awake for at least a little while, waiting for Manabu to say what's on his mind. If Manabu can even put it into words.]

[siriusly]

[just sleep it off. a long way to walk tomorrow. the next task, then the next, then the next.

the more he reminds himself, the less he sleeps - until he does, as is often the case when a racing mind pitches off a cliff. but it's restless sleep, and he doesn't get the benefit of being void of dreaming. when the anesthesiologist leans in and blocks the overhead light, it's Yuki; he can see glimpses the SDF uniform under the surgeon's smock. it wakes him up with a little startle in a cold sweat, and he bites down hard on his lip to hold his breath before it can get away from him.

if prompted, he can eventually murmur:] Just a bad dream.

[...]

I don't know if...I can go back. [and expect things to be normal, at least.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Sleeping while entwined with Manabu helps Grey stay in tune with what Manabu's state is; Grey dozes lightly, and is easily shaken awake when Manabu startles.]

Nn...

[Grey shifts, loosening his grip on Manabu.]

Manabu...?

[The answer, a bad dream, doesn't surprise him at all. Mostly, it just serves to confirm that Manabu's now awake and reasonably lucid. Grey hums, considering asking for detail on that bad dream, but before he can do so Manabu makes an admittance that causes Grey's brow to furrow.]

Go back?

[Pardon Grey- they have just woken up in the dark of the night and he's lacking the context of Manabu's thoughts. "Go back" could refer to home, but it could also refer to sleep.]

[siriusly]

[what is it about late hours and restless weariness that makes the mind act up like this? it's never been so bad before. but then...he hadn't gone through what he had before, so there is that. Manabu Yuuki was never privy to existential dread of this sort before.

he swallows thickly.]

Go back...t-to sleep. Sorry. Good night. [he rubs at his face. things to do tomorrow, just sleep! things will be better when the sun is up and he can move further forward.]

[repeatedprayer]

...

[Alright, Grey's now sure that "go back" refers to anything but sleep.]

You're a poor liar, Manabu.

[He raises his hand and pokes Manabu's cheek.]

[siriusly]

Nrh-- [his ear twitches in tandem with the poke; he peeks up past his hand, pouting behind it.] I don't--want to make a big deal out of...little things. Like weird dreams. They don't mean anything, right?

[right???]

[repeatedprayer]

...That's a matter of ongoing debate in the field of psychology, but most people would agree that dreams at the very least have a connection to one's current mental state.

[That poke is now being followed up with a pinch. Grey is going to annoy Manabu out of that state of existential dread.]

So tell me about yours. Were you dreaming of the lab again?

[siriusly]

Arh-- [his nose scrunches at the pinch, prompting him to duck his head.] O-obviously! [gosh!

beat.]

The, the doctors were SDF this time, though.

[repeatedprayer]

[SDF?]

That does sound strange.

[Wow. Helpful commentary, Grey. He shifts his hand away from Manabu's poor abused face and settles it back down on Manabu's shoulder.]

If we're going to be Freudian about it and assign symbolism to the dream, then it could indicate that on some level you blame the SDF for your current predicament. [A beat, presumably during which Manabu will bristle.]

-Or perhaps you fear that the SDF will no longer recognize you as one of their own.