Chapter Text
"Rocky, just give us a moment!" Grace screeches and tries his best to break free from Simon's hold. He does not succeed. This only seems to enrage the alien he called Rocky.
Simon ready's himself for a fight, he has no weapon and knows nothing about this creature, but he can kill it if it tries to harm his Grace. The thing is definitely some kind of rock creature, so the name Rocky seems appropriate. Simon would bet anything that Grace is the one that named it.
"Friend Grace, do you require help. Question. Can throw new human out of airlock. Statement." The Rock creature speaks through a computer, which definitely confuses Simon. Had Grace set that up?
Simon makes a sound in his throat that might have been a growl. "Don't roll any closer rock." Simon grits out. "And state your intentions with Grace!" He knows from context clues that these two have been traveling together, but it still makes him nervous. He doesn't like that he doesn't know exactly what's going on.
Rocky tilts to one side in his ball and then the other. "Rocky name, not rock. New human stupid. Grace less stupid. Grace and Rocky friend."
While Simon doesn't appreciate being called stupid, he also realizes exactly what this creature is trying to say. That and a few minutes ago, Grace said he'd found Rocky. So this must really be Rocky. How was Grace so naive that he'd been willing to cohabit this ship with an unknown alien species?! This thing could have hurt or killed him! It clearly hadn't, but it fucking could have. Simon grits his teeth at the very thought of how badly that could have gone for Grace.
Grace was a miracle walking. He couldn't even recognize the danger of talking to strangers and somehow he is living with a dangerous alien that Simon doesn't know anything about! Simon would accept this friendship, but from now on he'd be the one making decisions on who they intercepted and contacted. It was clear that Grace was so friendly that he'd accept anyone or anything into his space. Grace would never make a hard decision if it hurt someone else, so from now on Simon would give that role to himself.
A voice in the back of Simon's mind told him that thoughts like that just wasn't okay. It didn't matter. Simon's life had honestly never been okay. He wanted to hold onto this nice thing that he finally had. He'd do his best to make sure that Grace doesn't realize that Simon is trying to protect him like that, but Grace's safety is suddenly the most important thing ever to him.
"And how did this friendship happen?" Simon lets himself calmly ask.
"Oh! Our ships got real close together when trying to solve the Astrophage problem and Rocky decided to move in because it was easier to do science that way." Grace says with a smile, like there's just nothing wrong with that.
Simon could fucking punch a hole in the wall. Grace was so fucking vulnerable and he didn't even seem to realize it. He could have died a hundred times over! This rock could have killed him, or even taken advantage of him. Fuck, Simon could have done the same when he got on board too.
"Right and you're now on the way back to his planet you said?" Simon asks. They are supposedly on their way to this aliens planet, where there will be a whole population of these rocks. Simon is going to have so much work to do making sure Grace is continuously safe!
Grace nods with a smile. "Rocky was going to give me enough fuel to make it home, but we encountered some storage issues. What's important is Rocky makes it home to his people who need him. I don't mind not going back, but now you're with us too. Sorry, we won't be able to go home." It's just like Grace to apologize for Simon not being able to go back. Earth doesn't even exist anymore.
Grace has nothing to be sorry for in Simon's books. No, even if this wasn't all a great big trick that was somehow being played, Grace certainly had the short end of the stick. He believed in so much. Simon could only hope that Rocky was correct and was leading them to an alien planet. Not to certain death because of lack of resources or oxygen, but it somewhere safe and peaceful.
"It's fine Grace." Simon reassures. He doesn't give a fuck about not going back to the fake Earth or wherever Grace thought he was from. Whatever was ahead would be good enough. He just can hear the sadness in Grace's voice and that's not alright with him. Grace is emotional and Simon doesn't mind if he cries, but he also would prefer Grace not have to think about such things.
"You don't mind not being able to go home?" Grace asks, tone quiet. Perhaps Grace is sad himself that he won't be going back to Earth.
"I fine with having a new home, even if it's on an alien planet." What he meant was that Grace would be his new home, but he didn't want a freak Grace out by saying that out loud. It would probably be too much, too soon.
"Oh!" Grace exclaims and then smiles widely at Simon. He was clearly happy without Simon answered. Good, Simon liked Grace being happy. He looked beautiful when he smiled like that. "Okay, let me give you the full tour of our ship next then."
Simon hadn't really realized how big the ship was, as his own had been such a tiny thing. And then it happens. Something which Simon never thought possible. Grace leads him to enlarged viewing window and the greatest sight ever is out there. He can see a star. It's in the very far distance, but he can tell that it's alive and real. One of the most beautiful sights he'd ever seen.
Simon is sure his mouth drops open in his own stupor. Is it real?
Grace comes over and grabs his hand, squeezing it lightly in his grip. Maybe, just maybe, Grace isn't confused about what's happening. Maybe this is all real. Maybe not all the stars died out. He just had to go really far away first to find one. Maybe there is an alien planet there heading towards. Maybe him and Grace will be the only humans there and will rely on each other for the rest of their lives. Whatever really is happening, in this moment, Simon chooses to believe. That's a star, there's a planet. And Grace is wonderful.
It's not impossible that this is real. Simon is tearing up he's suddenly so happy. Grace hugs him again and Simon just holds him while continuing to look out the viewing window.
The stars are alive. Simon kisses Grace on the cheek as he tries not to cry. This is the best thing that ever could have happened to him.
"Now both human leak. Rocky stuck with disgusting leaky space blobs. Statement."
Grace lets out a laugh, but doesn't separate from the hug. "Yeah Rocky, you're stuck with both of us now."