Work Text:
"Rocky?" Adrian chirped, stepping into Grace's home and sitting down besides their partner. Rocky couldn't find it in himself to even look at them right now - Grace was sleeping, he needed to watch Grace. "How is he doing?" They asked, wrapping a cobble leg over Rocky's carapace, their voice low.
Rocky refused to answer, opting to remain silent. If he didn't answer, then this wasn't real. What the Eridian doctors had said wouldn't be true. He couldn't accept this. Not Grace. Not his best friend who had abandoned his home planet to save Rocky and Erid and everyone Rocky loved on it.
"Please, dear," Adrian urged. "Grace is your friend just as much as he is mine. Tell me how he is doing."
"He… He remembered me today. I guess it's an improvement," Rocky admitted, carapace shaking but unable to sob no matter how much he wanted to. Why had he ever made fun of Grace for crying? "We needed the translator for some of our conversations today. It's needed more and more often," Rocky continued, gaze falling over to the device that had been dust covered for so, so long, but not anymore. "How could he have gotten so sick so quickly?"
It had started a few years ago. Grace began having trouble walking and remembering where he had left stuff or what plans he and Rocky had made. Nothing had worried them, both brushing it off as Grace's tiny human brain not having enough space and his weak body not being able to deal with Erid's gravity with a laugh. Would the outcome have changed if Rocky had forced Grace to see the Eridian doctors? Could he have prevented this by caring a bit more? He had known how fragile humans were, he should have known better.
"Humans are fragile," Adrian responded, snapping Rocky out of his daze. "There was nothing we could have done to prevent this."
"But there could have been," Rocky whispered. "I could have done something."
"Don't blame yourself, Rocky," Adrian soothed, emitting a somber tune that mirrored their pain. "We knew this would come eventually."
"Not this soon. We need more time," Rocky argued, his voice becoming louder and angry - cursing out every Eridian god there was for taking his friend this soon. Grace was only 70, a child by Eridian standards. Why did they see it fit to take him from Rocky? From his home so soon?
"R-Rock?" Grace's voice crackled, old and pained, but hearing his friend. "Is that you, Rocky?" He asked, his eyes focusing on the two boulders across the room as a hand reached out towards the brown one, his best friend.
"Go to him," Adrian pushed, knowing that time was limited. Grace needed Rocky more than Rocky needed Adrian right now. "Grace needs you."
Without a moment of hesitation, Rocky skittered across the room, gently, oh so gently, climbing onto Grace's bed. He had to be more careful than ever now. Grace was more fragile than ever and Rocky would rather die than cause his aging friend even more pain.
"Hey buddy," Grace spoke softly, smiling as his friend came into view. "Come here," he offered, lifting an arm up and letting Rocky curl up under it, close to his friend's chest, but still able to see him clearly.
"How Grace feel?" Rocky asked, burrowing even closer to Grace, like he could protect his friend from the inevitable just by staying close to him.
"I… I'm feeling okay right now," Grace admitted, sniffling slightly. "But I think we both know where this is going, Rock. Humans get a last shot of adrenaline before the end, makes them feel better and more lucid," he explained, ever the science teacher. "I know you don't want to-"
"No." Rocky cut him off, leaving no room for argument. "We no talk about that. Grace go nowhere. Grace stay here with Rocky."
"Oh buddy," Grace breathed out, tears coming faster now. "I wish I could. God… I wish I could. But we had a good run, you know?"
"Not long enough."
"For us, it'd never be long enough. I'd rather go now while I remember you than forget any of the time we had together. That's too important to me, I can't lose a single second of the time we spent together."
"Please Grace," Rocky sobbed, shaking roughly as he looked at Grace. How had 35 years passed so quickly? How could he have no cherished each moment like a precious gem? How could he have let them just pass by without a second thought?
"Get outta that head of yours, Rocky," Grace demanded, tapping Rocky's carapace gently. "This has nothing to do with what you did or didn't do, okay? This is just the final stage for humans."
"No. Not for Grace. Grace stay with Rocky for many many years. Rest of Rocky life. Please question?" He begged, his notes so quiet, like if he was too loud, Grace would leave him sooner.
"I-I can't buddy. I'm so, so sorry, Rocky. I wish I could, I really do, but I think this is it for us, okay? It'll be alright," Grace comforted, tears trailing down his face as he attempted to smile - attempted to make his friend feel better, even if for a moment.
"Not all right."
"I know. But I can't stay forever. You just don't push Adrian away. Let them be there for you. Promise?"
"I… I promise," Rocky sobbed out, pushing gently against Grace.
"Good. I have one more thing to ask though, I'm a needy human remember," he joked. "Don't forget me, okay?"
"Could never forget Grace. Never forget best friend."
"I love you, Rocky," Grace sobbed out, feeling the end coming to a close.
"I love Grace too," Rocky agreed, wrapping his legs around his friend, hearing Grace's heart slow one beat at a time.
"I'll miss you buddy," Grace whispered, eyes fluttering. "I'll see you later," he muttered with a soft smile.
Before Rocky could respond, Grace's eyes shut and Rocky knew they wouldn't open again.
"Love Grace," Rocky repeated again, gently placing himself over Grace's chest, listening to everything.
He would be here in his friend's final moments - he wouldn't abandon Grace, even when his breathing stopped. When his heart stopped. When Adrian attempted to comfort Rocky over the sounds of his own screams. When the doctors tried to make him leave. He would never abandon Grace.
~~~
Years passed in a blur for Rocky. He had been in charge of the death plans, funeral arrangements as Grace had called them once, since he knew Grace best. What would Grace have wanted? Rocky wasn't sure. It mainly fell onto Adrian to make the plans since Rocky spent most of his days in Grace's home, sitting on the bed, waiting for Grace to walk back through the door, forgetting to shut it but Rocky wouldn't yell at him for it. He just wanted Grace back. He wanted Ryland back.
Adrian had chosen for Grace to be buried in the dome, following human customs and placing a rock with his name inscribed on it above the grave. He had been a hero, a savior, to Erid. The least they could do was bury him in the ways of his culture.
They had spent most of their days with Rocky when they could, sitting patently in the dome, either in the house or on the beach if Rocky needed time alone, cradling Grace's fox sweater or his plush Earth. Adrian had never seen Rocky like this. They didn't know how to help him. Their only choice was to give it time, to let Rocky grieve as he saw fit. They wouldn't judge. They would support where they could.
Life was not easy for Rocky after Grace's… passing. He was hesitant to even say the word, like if he acknowledged it, Grace no longer being by his side would be reality - permanent and unchangeable. If he didn't, Grace could still come back. Grace could still come back to Rocky and all of this would be like one of the dreams Grace talked about.
Each and every year that marked his passing threw Rocky into an even deeper depression. It took Adrian and their friends pulling him out of the biodome some days so he didn't die from a lack of ammonia. He could barely find it in himself to care though. He loved Adrian, but they didn't understand him in the same ways Grace did most days. What had happened out in space had changed both of them permanently.
The house remained the same, dusted constantly by Rocky without moving anything. Grace never liked when Rocky moved his things, touched his stuff. Rocky wouldn't do that to Grace.
They had promised to never leave the other alone, after all that time in space, they didn't feel safe by themselves. So, why did Grace leave Rocky? Why did Grace have to be such a small part of Rocky's life but have such a big impact?
Curling up on the bed, burrowing into Grace's pillow, in a similar position to that terrible day, Rocky sobbed as best as he could. Wishing more than anything he could talk with his friend one last time.
~~~
"Rocky," Adrian began one day, over 10 years since Grace had passed. "My love, you must accept that Grace is gone. I cannot stand to watch you wreck your life day after day for all these years."
"If it wasn't for Grace, I wouldn't have a life," Rocky responded bitterly, curled up under Grace's worn and fraying fox sweater. His friend had always worn it and now he would too, at least in the dome.
"Then you must live it for him. Grace gave you your life and you are wasting it, sitting here everyday waiting for him. Grace is not coming back, but you will see him again in the great beyond. You must have tales to tell him when that time comes," they concluded with a pause, adjusting the sweater over Rocky's form. "I'll see you tonight."
Watching Adrian leave, Rocky let their words sink in. Grace was gone. They were right about that, but they were also right that he would see Grace again some day - the great beyond. He could wait. He would always wait for Grace, now it was Grace's turn to wait for Rocky.
Stepping out onto the beach, leaving the sweater behind, Rocky walked along the coast, letting the water lap at his legs. Grace was right. The beach was never the same, especially now that Grace was gone, but it didn't make it any less beautiful. The memories Rocky had of Grace were still there, they always would be. His friend had accomplished more in his short life than many Eridians. He would never be forgotten. Rocky would ensure it.
~~~
"This is the biodome," the Eridian guide spoke, leading a small group along the beach. "This was once home to a human, an alien species, named Ryland Grace who helped save Erid over 400 years ago. While Grace has passed, Erid's leaders thought it important to maintain the dome and all of Grace's belongings to teach future Eridians about how two species came together to save their planets. Oh, hello Rocky," they greeted, waving at the old Eridian sitting on the beach. "Rocky here was friends with Grace and was part of the mission to save Erid, it's sole survivor."
"Hello. New group question?" He asked. Ever since Adrian had passed, Rocky knew his days were numbered. He'd make sure everyone remembered Grace like he did - a hero who never thought he deserved the title.
"Yes! Would you like to talk a bit question?" They offered.
"Of course. Follow me," he stated, slowly leading the group down the beach and towards Grace's house, still in the same condition as when he passed. "Please, do not touch anything in here. I want you to observe human lodgings, Grace's lodgings," he corrected, pushing the door open gently.
It was still in pristine condition after all this time. Rocky kept it neat and orderly, just how Grace always tried to keep it but never could.
Inside, Rocky spoke at length about Grace and his time spent with him. He told stories of survival, friendship, humor, and loss - his final days with Grace, ever the teacher to the end, and the promises they'd made. Grace was dead, but he wouldn't be lost. The stories Rocky told would keep him alive forever.
The group left soon after, needing to keep on schedule, and Rocky settled down on the bed, Grace's presence beside his. Rocky knew his time was limited, but he was ready to see his partner and friend again. Breathing deeply, Rocky felt himself get lighter and lighter, the weight of loss he had carried for so many years no long burdening his form as he was lifted by a pair of cold arms.
"Hey buddy," a familiar voice greeted, pulling Rocky in close.
"Grace!" Rocky shouted, attaching himself to his friend, willing to never let go. "Missed you! Missed you!"
"I missed you too, Rocky," Grace admitted, sobbing with a smile. "So, what did I miss?"