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Simon was getting used to Rocky, the alien that was Grace’s closest friend. He was…interesting. Chirpy and particular were the only ways he could describe him. There were many things to get used to on Erid. He and Grace shared what he called their habitat. Simon had never had a room to himself on Eden, limited resources and all. But living with Grace was something different. While Grace was sometimes messy he was always considerate. But the thing Simon loved about Grace was that he was kind. Always kind.
Grace was what he loved most about being here. Grace, who embodied his freedom. It was all he could ever want.
He had cried when he first saw the skies of Erid, because even in this universe there were no stars here too, until Grace explained that the planet was covered in a protective layer. But if you were outside of it, there would definitely be stars, because he and Rocky saved them. He wasn’t sure why the light brought him here. Why the blood ocean let him go after everything, but in a way he was eternally grateful because it brought him to Grace.
That is all to say, Simon loved being here. He loved this planet away from the monsters. He loved Rocky, Adrain, the children Grace taught, and most of all Grace himself.
When Rocky, in his geometric glass not-quite-glass ball rolled into their house Simon could tell something was wrong. He had not gotten the hang of Eridian like Grace insisted he would. His mouth couldn’t make the tunes the language required of him just yet. But he could understand a few key words and string along a sentence given the Eridian was patient with him. Which Rocky often was. But today was different.
“Grace! Bad bad, Grace is bad!” Instantly Simon’s heart started racing.
“Bad? Bad, how?” He asked carefully.
“Hurt! Grace is bad, bad hurt. His brain is hurt. Bad bad bad bad bad! Coming back here.” Simon went into action, he prepared the space for an injured human and made sure the nanny bot was ready for anything. There were no human medics on Erid, and Eridians barely had a grasp on human anatomy. So he and the nanny bot were what Grace was going to get. He just hoped it was enough.
A tirade of Eridians carried in an unconscious Grace on their version of a stretcher made out of xenonite. Simon wanted to throw up, because Grace’s head was covered in blood from a wound on his temple. Blood red and still flowing, Simon and the nanny bot went to work.
It wasn’t as bad as Simon had feared. He wasn’t a doctor but nothing was caved in or terribly bruised. By all accounts, Grace should make a full recovery. But by day two, he still hadn’t woken up. It was then that he really started to panic. He read all the medical journals Grace had on hand, but without a real doctor they weren’t much use. When there was nothing more he nor the nanny bot could do, Simon pulled up a chair and waited.
Rocky stayed by him the whole time, too.
“Grace and Simon, friends, question?” Rocky tilted his head—at least what he thought was Rocky’s head.
Way too tired to form a proper conversation in Eridian without Grace’s help, Simon took one of Grace’s computers to use for translation. It had taken a while to get used to typing with only one arm, but Simon got the hang of it. Faster than learning Eridian anyway. Plus, Grace had voice to text on his laptop which he used now just to make things easier on himself. He still couldn’t believe he had that luxury now.
“Why are you asking after all this time? Of course we’re friends.”
“Grace and Simon are close.” Rocky was avoiding a subject. But Simon wasn’t sure why.
“Yes. We live together.” Rocky let out a stream of musical notes that the computer registered as laughter.
“Simon and Grace mate, question?” Simon would’ve spat out any drink he had. But luckily, he didn’t drop the computer.
“Mate? You mean like a relation…ship? Are you asking if we’re dating?” He wasn’t sure why Rocky was asking such a question. But he was sure that his face was completely blood red.
“Grace likes Simon, does Simon like Grace, question?” Did Simon like Grace? The answer being anything other than yes was ridiculous.
“Of course I like Grace!” Simon shouted, then covered his mouth as if he’d wake Grace up. As if Grace was taking a normal nap. Which he wasn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t wake up, and he’d never get to see that smile again, or hear him laugh, or explain some scientific Earth thing that he didn’t understand. His shoulders slumped, Rocky must have sensed his change in mood, because his next question came in a lower tone.
“Grace loves Simon. Does Simon love Grace?” He noted the absence of the typical Eridian grammar. Rocky was being serious, and Simon knew he wasn’t going to get out of this with anything other than a serious answer.
“Grace gave me freedom. He…he changed me, I—yes Rocky, I love Grace.”
Grace’s finger twitched. The nanny bot went into action and fluttered all over him again as it monitored his movement. In one swift motion Simon abandoned the computer and held his hand by his side.
“Grace?” With great effort, Grace lifted one eyelid, then his other, and smiled when he realized who was next to him.
“Grace is awake! Amaze amaze amaze!” Rocky whirled around the room with his little jazz hand movements. But all of his attention was on Grace.
“Don’t you dare do that again.” Simon hissed. He gripped his hand tighter, but softened the second Grace winced.
“Sorry…one of the kids got a little carried away. I tripped and hit my head on a hard counter. I guess I’m a little more prone to comas since I was in one for…I don’t even know how long.” Grace explained. Simon collapsed against him with a sigh of relief. Grace used all his strength to place a hand against his chest.
“I’m alright. I’m sorry for scaring you.”
“Rocky and Simon watch Grace sleep.” Rocky said. Grace quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Are you learning Eridian costumes now?” Grace asked. Simon rolled his eyes with a huff.
“I was worried!” He couldn’t imagine a universe where Grace didn’t wake up. It wasn’t right.
“Grace like Simon, question?” Simon shot a glare at Rocky. Who wouldn’t care, because he couldn’t see it. Grace looked too Rocky and hummed in perfect Eridian, which the computer translated for him.
“Grace likes Simon. Why do you ask, buddy?” He knew he couldn’t stop Rocky from asking what he was going too. But it wasn’t like he was about to leave Grace’s side.
“Simon loves Grace. Grace love Simon, question?” Simon watched as blush went all the way to Grace’s ears. He didn’t remove his hand. For him, Grace answered in English.
“Yes Rocky. I love Simon.” Simon had not kissed anyone in a long time, since Filament Station. Grace had not kissed anyone in decades, but he didn’t care. It was still soft, still warm and everything he had dreamed of.
“Is that how humans mate, question?” Rocky asked, with that same stream of musical laughter. It was Grace who parted and glanced away.
“Come on Rocky.” He mumbled, his embarrassment made Simon laugh. It felt wonderful to be able to laugh again. Grace gave him that. Gave him so much. Simon was a convict, the butcher, a brother of Eden, and yet he would do anything, be anything for Grace if he asked.
“Rocky leave and tell others Grace is okay. Grace have fun with mate.” Rocky quickly rolled out of their habitat before he could be chastised.
“There were courting rituals back in Eden but I can’t really do them here.” Simon said. Those were more like marriage rites than courting rituals, but he didn’t have to know that yet. Simon found that he very much enjoyed making Grace blush.
“You’ll just have to tell me about them.” Simon leaned down to him.
“I will,” and kissed Grace once more.