Chapter Text
“So is that a date?” Adrian asked nonchalantly as they fastened the seatbelt.
Grace forgot that he, as a human being, needed to breathe, and choked on air. “Sorry, where did that come from?!” Oh, he knows. But he can pretend he’s got some dignity left by pretending to be oblivious. And darn it, he tried to look normal! How did they figure him out so fast?
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe from the way you two were arranging it?”
“Or the way you look at him,” Rocky pipes in, grinning widely.
“Guys, it’s not that. We are just going out. Like– like just going to a din– argh, I mean as friends! No nothing!” He wishes it wasn’t so, but…
“Protest too much?” They look at the spouse.
“He doth, he doth,” he says with a pretense sigh.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough fun for today. Yes, Grace gets a friend and it definitely means something else. Ha-ha. As always, I’m just an enrichment to you.” Grace jabs a finger in Rocky’s side from the backseats. He is satisfied when the other squeals at that. “You just can’t annoy each other like that, so poor me has to suffer. You’re so lucky I love you too much… Oh, by the way, did you finish the rings?” Saying that, he looked at Rocky.
“You’re trying to change the subject, and don’t think I’ll forget about it.” Rocky cast him a glance, but turned to look at the road quickly. “But. I have to give you credit for a good distraction. They are done!”
And he proudly shows a hand with a simple, but gorgeous cast iron ring. Grace remembers the sketch design, so he can distinguish the symbolic lines. From the other front seat Adrian also shows a ring, similar to this, but the design is different. Lines on both are symbols for themselves and the other spouse, a coded message that they are together no matter what happens. He knew Rocky’s been working on them for weeks, but wasn’t sure when he himself would see the result. The wait was absolutely worth it.
“They’re beautiful.” Grace couldn’t hide awe.
Even with the tan skin the annoyed blush is visible. “Yeah, of course they are. It took a few tries, but it was worth it.” He speaks briskly, but all of them know he cares for these things
“It looks like it was an interesting project.” Grace knows for sure he poured his soul into it.
“You bet! And fun. I talked to some interesting people and learned a few things. Could make more stuff like that in the future. If we need it.”
“Oh, maybe…” Adrian suddenly says with slightly visible mischievous enthusiasm, “Simon looks like he wouldn’t hate a new ring.”
Rocky grimaces. “Nope, not for him.”
Huh, what? That was way too categorical. What’s that all about?
Adrian continued, “You can’t still be so cross, you’ve met him, and he was okay!”
“No, I’ve met him and he was a stone cold bastard.” Hey!
“Hey, he is not! And second: language!”
“Sorry, forgot I’m back in elementary school. But I’m not taking it back.”
“What’s gotten into you?”
Rocky honked at somebody for something probably not deserving it. “Oh, nothing. Ab-so-lutely–”
“He just doesn’t like to share,” Adrian supplied, helpful as always. Well, not counting that they riled him up in the first place.
“No, I don’t.”
“And you worry.”
“Correction: Grace is stupid when in love and I make sure he sees well.”
Aaand we’re back. “I never said I was in love! Why does everybody–”
“Oh, no?” Rocky lifted an arm from the wheel to accentuate his speech. “ ‘Oh, I’ll call Simon to get me home’, or ‘oh no, I scared him, how do I live from now on?’ Or, most recent... what was it, A?”
The initial instigator spoke, “I think it went something like, ‘hey, tell me when to be free and I will’. Or was it different, Grace?”
To his demise, it all sounded factually correct. The tone with which they said it was the real reason why he was so flustered. He didn't sound like that but it was clear what they meant. And in that they were right.
“Okay. Okay! So I have a little crush. But that’s it. Simon doesn't know. And tomorrow we’re just going to visit a cafe. It’s not a crime.”
“It’s incredible how bad you are at lying. Told you we knew. Good chance he does too. But that we can unpack later. We’re here. Everybody, get out!”
It took Grace by surprise how fast they got to his flat. Something about distortion of perceived time when distracted… he won’t get into it now.
It’s true though that he lost this battle. So, sullen and surrounded, he makes his way upstairs.
***
Eventually he was (temporarily) left in peace – the couple was arguing about the route or baggage or both. Naturally he used that time to process some of today’s happenings. He couldn’t help but rewind the scene in his mind.
“We could go out?”
Grace was still thinking about the late nights and criminally early mornings during which that cafe had literally saved him, with the lack of time to cook anything himself. So, no, he hadn’t heard properly what Simon just said. Who saw his confusion and explained, “There. That place. Like a dinner..?” Ah, that. Hm. It’s actually a pretty good idea. Like a date... would be nice if it was one.
It wasn't a date, right?..
…No, don’t be ridiculous, he said “dinner”, and it has a perfectly normal direct meaning without connotations. Jeez, he’s become delusional. Was it always like this with falling for people? He’s not sure. But he thinks it always made him feel like he just got back from Jupiter.
Grace was pretty sure his blushing was visible, but thank the universe Simon doesn't comment on his quirks. As a rule. Not on the mannerisms, not this. He had stopped Grace when he started rambling out of control, but it was helpful. His lungs truly weren’t getting enough air, and his thoughts were racing.
It still sounded like a date, with the evening dinner, and movies, and likely staying at Simon’s because it’ll be late. He really wished it was so. He won’t be able to stop himself from referring to their little outing as such. True, they’ve had walks and stayed together before, but this time it felt like a more serious thing? Like, they were planning… or he’s actually delusional. He’s pretty sure there’s an actual type of it for when you think someone’s in love with you.
Well, at least he can for sure say Simon’s not. He just got more open with Grace, it’s stupid to expect anything more any time soon. Just like he said, he’s just starting to get used to things being easier. Grace understood the need to wait, to build support systems to be able to move forward. He wasn’t going to put unnecessary weight on him. Good things are worth putting time into.
Maybe Grace will get over him by then. That’d be easier to live with.
But for now he hasn’t. And it will be known to the worst people to know about it. The ones that are visiting. The ones that will keep nudging him to do something about it while he just wants to lie down and breathe.
He’ll try stalling their discovery of his crush, but he’s a bad actor. God bless him and let Erids have mercy upon his soul.
…
They did not, expectedly, have mercy. But this time around it was calmer, with Adrian and Grace’s veto against Rocky having a vote in this. Y’know, since Rocky bristles at the mention of Simon. From what Grace gathered, it started when he called him at night that one time, and from there he’s not sure. But he trusts Adrian to have told him immediately then if anything was seriously wrong, and they haven't, so… Likely most of his attitude now is for show and the rest is protectiveness. After all, they are the ones who deal with Grace after break-ups.
“Hey? Grace? You still with us or should I report a missing person?”
Grace moved his gaze to them, “Yeah, sorry, got distracted. You were saying?..”
“What are you ordering?”
Ah, yes. For the evening. With his friends. Who organised a trip to him for these few days. Because they all miss each other and want to spend more time together. Yeah, he’ll try to be more present. So, food…
While he was poking around the familiar options, deciding if he wants to experiment or to get comfort dishes, the hotel living room started getting more comfortable. Both Rocky’s engineering mind and Adrian’s preparedness are shown as pillows are arranged in a nest on a giant bed made of a couch and two unfolded armchairs, and blankets appear out of nowhere, used as a binding for other materials or as covers. He notes a couple of his own, and connects this with the suspicious amount of time Adrian spent out of his sight when he came home. Good thinking on their part.
When all is set and they sit close, Adrian and Grace leaning on each other and Rocky splayed across both of them, with a movie playing in the background, Grace forgets for a second all necessity for caution. And why would there be any? He spends too much time without them, so much that he forgets what true serenity feels like. No worries if he's doing anything wrong, no preparing for when people inevitably do something he doesn't like. Not like this doesn't happen with them, but he just knows that with them there won't be any irreversible damage. Also, they know each other well enough so that these situations are rare. They've been through it all. Now they get to simply enjoy the company.
That is, enjoy until Grace is asked some questions.
“So, Simon.” Adrian starts, and the tone doesn't promise anything peaceful, “How did you two meet, again?”
“He was just helping me with supplies.” And then there was the flower. And then he was so tired he fell asleep in his home. And after that Simon was kind enough to let him do it some more times. “And then we just kept meeting, I guess.”
“Oh, is that all?” They clearly weren't buying the half-truth, and both were looking at Grace inquiringly.
“Well, a lot happened in that time, but that’s pretty much it.” Gosh, was it already two months or so since they met? It feels unreal. Probably because a lot really did happen. He adds in a careful voice, remembering the most recent situation, “He helps me out sometimes still, like when they were repairing the pipes in my house. I know he looks intimidating, but he’s actually nice. And patient enough to not get tired of me.”
“Well, we’ll see that ourselves,” Rocky said. Grace knew that tone.
“Please don’t spy on him? I would like to hear all you have against him,” and try to prove all of it wrong, because it has to be, “but there’s nothing to worry about. Have some faith in me?”
“Okay, we heard you. Only a background check,” Adrian said, while their spouse muttered something about protecting privacy and fairness.
He could live with that. “Thanks. So, anything else or..?” They finally relented, shook heads and turned to the screen (oh, yes, there was a movie).
Then, during one of the more boring scenes, Rocky suddenly said, “Do you think the a, b or c will happen?” He was obviously talking to Adrian, but the formula was familiar to Grace somewhat. The sudden interruption and the question itself, though, stopped his brain from immediately replying.
“Dunno. Probably the latter. Actually I think it may have already…”
“Okay,” he came back online then, “care to remind the audience what those options are?”
“Oh, y’know, just been talking, and we wonder if it takes you another half a year to actually ask him on a date or if he’ll do it himself sooner.” Rocky sighed. “I know I talk a lot of shit about him, but he looks more decisive than you. So it’s more likely than you think.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying. You sure tomorrow it’s not a date?”
They keep asking like he could miss that. He couldn’t be that stupid, right? He’d notice signs…
…Yes, he would. And he saw that it was too early for them to exist.
“Guys, please, it’s not. He's not into me.” Then, before he could think of it, he added quieter, “Not that I don't want him to. But it’s just not going to happen any time soon.” It’s the most honest he’s been the entire time since they met today. It made him feel too open, even with his best friends.
He felt a comforting hand land on his shoulders, pulling him into Adrian’s side, then their hand moved to card through his hair, and he put his head on their shoulder.
Another hand landed on his wrist, immediately starting to draw invisible lines. Some of them were reaching the scar from so long ago. As much as it was soothing for himself, he knew the texture and the motion helped to calm Rocky down, giving him something to do.
The room was warm. There were sounds all around, but not oppressive. He was not put on a spot, not asked to know everything or, more specifically, what to say and how to act correctly. He had help in figuring this out and was allowed to make mistakes along the way.
“I just think it’s not a good time yet. He… he’s been through something, and I just got him to trust me with some of it. I don’t wanna push him.”
The voice near his ear is somewhat sad, and gentle. “You never do. You always care about them so much. You just forget that you’re a part of the relationship too.”
“I’m fine waiting. His company is enough, more than, and a few additional perks of having a ‘real’ relationship aren’t worth risking it.”
“If you say so. Just don’t forget what I said.”
“And that we’re just a few hours away. And we’d never miss a call if you wanted to tell on him…”
Grace laughs at that a little. “Yeah, thanks for that, sure. But really, thank you. I think it’ll be fine.”
All are quiet for some time, as the conversation fades. TV is still on, and they are getting drawn into it eventually. The movie is unrealistic and silly. It takes only minutes for the first person to roll eyes and groan, and for others to start agreeing and dissecting the scene.
They get distracted in the middle of it because characters mentioned Europe, and the pair here had a lot of plans for Italy to share, most of them being walking around the older parts of the towns, getting lost in crowds and finding local curiosities. They promised to take pictures for Grace too, which yet again reminded him of their silent care.
Then they veered into planning the next few days, and Rocky went on a rant about a French electro duo he found recently, who were now touring and were going to be in town soon. Grace didn’t usually listen to that, but their works (the preview Rocky gave him) were interesting enough to check it out live. Adrian said they might join, but they weren’t much into it. They were probably going to visit some of their own old friends.
They left the guys alone not long after that, choosing to take a shower before others. It is then, after the excitement is let out and silence falls again, that Rocky says, “You do know I don’t actually hate him, right?”
“Huh? Simon?”
He rolls eyes and breathes out an exasperated sigh, “Who else. Yeah, him.”
“I guessed. But it’s not like you to be like that without reason. Is something wrong? Have you met before?” He’d tell him if Simon was to be cautious about. So there had to be something else here.
“No. It’s not really about him, even. But it’s true that I didn’t know what to expect from him, and you basically never told us anything about him. You know?”
“Did I? I didn’t mean to, if so. I guess your lives are just more interesting,” he tried to soften the mood.
“What, in all that time you didn’t have anything at all to say? Like, what was it, water problems–”
“Hot water turned–”
“Yea, yea, whatever, the thing is, he was helping you and we found out later.”
Oh. “I really didn’t mean to stay silent. Swear. It just happened so quickly, and I was settling down–”
“What do you mean ‘settling down’?” He somehow noticed the exact thing he better didn’t.
“Uhhh, nevermind, its nothing, the impor–”
“Nope, you just said you didn’t mean to not tell me stuff, and here you are doing it again. What happened?”
Man, he was a pain when he wanted to. Yes, it was unfair on Grace’s side to actually conceal information, but… Okay, he doesn’t actually have to share anything personal. ‘Cause, of course, he wanted to share, but he knew the reaction that would follow (example: the entire car ride).
He spoke it all in one breath. “It was nothing serious, I didn’t really have to go, but I asked Si if I could crash at his place till they’d fix the issue, and he agreed, and so I lived there for a while.” He inhaled quickly, then added, “I’m back to my place now, but… well, yeah, that’s it. Not much.”
A pause. “So, you basically moved in with him before even dating?”
Grace thought he heard a humorous note, but was trying too hard to respond to take that in account. “Only technically! Technically moved in!”
“You know it doesn’t help you convince us, right?” Only then he noticed that Rocky was smiling again.
“That’s exactly why I wasn’t saying anything. Knew you’d say something like that.”
“You only knew it because deep down you know I’m right. Thanks for telling, though. Really. But I’m telling Adrian, too, they’re going to love it.”
“Sure, I've already passed your intervention, the worst is over for me. Hope this makes you a little happier.”
“It actually does. If you managed to live together and are still this close, however much that might be, maybe you have some expertise here. And if he actually is a somewhat good influence on you, well, that’s more than I could ask. I’ll be blunt, I thought you found a stranger because we are not near anymore. Good to be proven wrong.”
Grace chuckles, “You wouldn’t think I’d replace you, would’ya?” Silence and averted eyes speak for him. “Did you really? Wait, why didn’t you ask?”
“Well, if you did get tired of us, you had reasons!” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was more anxious, which is a thing he usually hides well behind bratty confidence. A sign that this was more serious than Grace first thought. “We lived together for at least half the years we know each other, and even after that we were together a lot. I know you don’t like being around people much, and I'd understand if you were getting further…”
“Hey, hey, Rock, calm down. I’m not going anywhere. You aren't going anywhere. You said it, we spent too many years together for it. It’d be pretty stupid of me to leave my best friend for someone new.”
“I know, I heard you the first time. I know you wouldn’t, but it’s a shitty thought anyway. They get to you.”
“They do. And to the best of us, too. Remember how Ria couldn't stand me back when we met? It’s ridiculous that they got jealous, but still. I’m glad we figured it out.”
“Me too. Got the best people in the world with me now.”
“Oh God, are you getting sappy? Please don't?"
“No, you said you are staying, and that was final, so you’re stuck with me.”
Grace plops on his back, making his desperation visible and audible, “I’ll regret it soon if you continue.”
He heard the other smiling, “No you won’t.”
He sighs, but with a smile now, “No. I promised.”
His eyes are closed, but he hears shuffling and shifting of pillows, and then feels a weight on his chest. Cracking open one eye he sees a mane of graying hair. He closed his eyes back. Back to comfort.
He manages to drift off before he is lightly tapped in a gesture to get up. He is metaphorically kicked out to take a shower, but when he returns, both of his friends wait there. All three of them shuffle in a cuddle pile, with Grace in between the other two. Safe. Surrounded by people he trusts and people who love him. The last coherent thought is of how lucky he is to have found and kept them.