Chapter Text
Adrian trilled happily to themself as they made their way to the nest, wearing the body-close EVA suit Rocky had made them back when they were first making life suitable for Grace on Erid. Grace’s home had a clear panel of xenonite that connected to Rocky and Adrian’s home, for easy communication even when neither species felt like suiting up to go venturing in the other’s atmosphere... but they much preferred to be there in-person, especially when it was time to watch their partner and companion sleep.
Rocky was currently laughing at Grace for no doubt another bout of his clumsiness, given how he was sprawled haphazardly on the floor. The blanket beneath his feet was partially kicked up, so Adrian could only guess that it had made a slippery surface beneath him and dislodged his balance.
“Are you two ready for bed, question?” Adrian chirped fondly, watching as Rocky settled down beside Grace, who hadn’t bothered to get up from the floor. There was already a cozy pile of pillows and blankets, anyways, so he was already where he needed to be.
“Very ready. Grace isn’t going to fight cuddles this time, right, question?” Rocky asked playfully, draping one leg over Grace as he lay in the nest of pillows and blankets.
“Alright alright, if you insist,” Grace teased back, but he couldn’t stop the grin on his face if he wanted to.
“Good. You two rest. I’ll watch,” Adrian urged, and they settled down just beside them, letting one leg tangle with one of Rocky’s while the other brushed against Grace’s hair - an odd, fuzzy thing that still fascinated Adrian, though they tried not to overstep about it. They wondered if one day Grace might let them “pet” him, as he had described doing on Earth with fuzzy creatures.
“I’ll watch too,” Rocky tried to declare, puffing up proudly. Adrian shook their head in that human way they had since learned.
“You’ve spent too long since sleeping, too. Rest. I’ll watch," they insisted. And, much as Rocky wanted to fight it, he knew he couldn’t say no to Adrian. Not when they were being so sweet, and so right at the same time, much to his chagrin. Rocky had never really decided if he found that knowing tone utterly endearing or mildly annoying.
Well, no matter. He had the rest of their lives to come to a decision on that.
“Yeah, you heard them. No escaping bedtime, mister,” Grace teased, turning his head to grin at Rocky.
Rocky huffed. He was being tag-teamed.
But... maybe, surrounded by the two people he cared about the most, held close and kept safe... he couldn’t bring himself to mind.
As Grace drifted off, he couldn’t help but think the same.