Work Text:
The months since arriving on Erid had been a flurry of chaos and building. By the time we had reached within radio distance of the planet, my body had been nearly completely shut down from lack of food. The empty calories of Taumoeba and the thick, hard to even keep down, sludge of coma slurry were only doing so much to keep my body alive. Luckily, once we had connected the Hail Mary to the space elevator, the scientists of Erid were easily able to synthesize the food Rocky and I had come up with, the me-burgers. Which, I had thought would take some getting used to, but I was so hungry by the time the first me-burger was put in front of me, I could’ve eaten anything.
Next was building the dome I would spend my days in. Adrian had insisted on taking the head position in building it, insisting that it was the least they could do for the alien that saved not only their whole planet but also brought their mate back to them. So after some initial hesitation, I communicated all of the things I wanted to the Eridian, and they happily helped the scientists design it. Initially, it was just a small area with a bed, but over time it was expanded into first a house, then a rocky path for me to walk on. That eventually became a beach at my request, and the dome was expanded even more to give me my own personal ocean, with an artificial light source looking over it all, programmed to turn off and on according to Earth days.
It was perfect, truly it was everything I could have wished for. I told Adrian this several times, but they did not seem to believe me, always insisting that if there was anything else I needed, I must tell them right away. A deep pit of guilt had started to settle in my stomach over the past few months. I’m taking so many resources and time from all the Eridians, but Rocky and Adrian in particular, and giving nothing back. They deserved to celebrate with their people instead of having to constantly leave and check on me. However, I had learned that, similar to their mate, Adrian was incredibly stubborn. But where Rocky was rambling thoughts and constant movements, Adrian was a still, constant presence by his side. I guess opposites truly did attract.
Speaking of Rocky, our time together has been limited lately, well, limited compared to living together on a cramped spaceship for many years. Between being hailed as the hero of Erid and reuniting with his loved ones, we hadn’t been able to spend much time together unless it was for the purpose of making sure my environment was perfectly to my liking. I tried not to, but I couldn’t help but feel a curl of jealousy every time he had to leave me. It was selfish, I knew he was probably much happier being able to roam around freely on his own planet instead of being cooped up by the alien he had spent the past few years with.
Which is why I’m surprised when my doorbell goes off one evening, and I open it to see Rocky standing in my atmosphere without his hamster ball.
“Hi Grace!”
“Hey… Rocky.”
At a second look a realize that Rocky still had a suit on, but one that is built closer to him and his individual limbs. A vague sense of deja vu passes through me as Rocky walks past me into my house, as I stand still slightly stunned at the doorway. Closing the door behind me, I clear my throat and speak.
“Nice suit.”
“Thank you. Been building it as a surprise for Grace. More technology and resources on Erid. Easy to build here.”
“Cool, cool. So what’s up?” Why do I feel awkward? I haven’t seen Rocky for more than a few hours at a time in the past couple of weeks, but I spent years with him on a space craft before this.
“Grace requires company. Rocky and Grace will have movie night.”
Happiness fills me, but at the same time, the guilt rises further. Of course, I wanted to spend more time with my friend, but he didn’t have to be here just because I needed company. He should be spending the night with Adrian or going to a celebration (did Eridians have clubs?), instead, he’s here.
“Rock, you don’t have to hang out with me.”
“Grace promised to show Rocky many movies, dancing and singing ones. Rocky always curious to hear more of human singing.” He exclaims as he scuttles deeper into the house.
I shrug to myself, not willing to argue, and follow him to my bedroom.
There had been dozens of computers on the Hail Mary, ranging in size and models. I had taken the one with the largest screen and placed it on the dresser across from my bed. This, combined with the pirated content courtesy of Stratt, allowed me to binge as many shows as I wanted, or in this case, show Rocky the joys of human musicals. I hooked the device that allowed him to see things to the computer with a couple of long cords and plopped it down on the bed next to me.
Rocky demanded something musically focused, so I scrolled through various streaming sites before settling on a movie I had heard about a few times but never watched. Rocky seemed to enjoy the piano that was in it, and the story was quite compelling. At the final scene where the two characters stare at each other longingly, I found myself letting a few tears loose.
“Rocky enjoyed that, Grace did not, question?”
I sniff “No no, I did. The endings bitter sweet, y’know. And anyways, lots of movies are made to make you cry.”
“Odd. Mia's voice was very pretty, Sebastian's not so much.”
“You liked his piano, though.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Sounded closer to Eridian speech than human voices. Very pleasant.”
I chuckle, “Well, glad I could give Eridian’s something decent from humanity.”
“Where to get more piano sounds, question? Gathering hosted every night, Eridians would like these sounds very much.”
“Gathering?”
“Yes, gathering, or celebration. Have one every night since Rocky’s return. Eridians would like to hear human piano.”
I frown. “Are you skipping out on a gathering to hang out with me?”
“Yes. Adrian is there for me.”
I sigh and push myself up from the bed’s pillows. “Rocky, you shouldn’t miss out on parties held in your honor just to hang out with me. Is it still going on now? Maybe you can still make it?”
Rocky lowers his carapace, and his voice becomes lower. “Rocky thought we could watch another movie. Grace does not want Rocky here, question?”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, I know you’d rather be there than cooped up in this suit, in this house with me.”
Rocky makes a low sound, “Rocky does not understand. Rocky offered movie night first.”
“You literally said you were only here for me,” I huff, falling back onto the pillows behind me. “I’ve taken enough of your time.” All the guilt I had been feeling was welling up in me. Rocky was skipping parties, probably with important people, to keep his pet alien company.
“Rocky wants to be here, statement! Want to have movie night with Grace!” He’s shifting his weight from arm to arm on the bed next to me, the Eridian version of pacing.
“I’ve taken enough time and stuff from you, Adrian, heck, all of Erid. I can’t give you anything in return, and I’m sorry for that. The least I can do is give you time off from babysitting me.”
“Grace does not need to give Eridians anything, statement. Grace saved whole planet, Eridians owe him.”
“I know that I just- I feel like I’m just sitting in this dome. Mooching off your resources, doing nothing all day. I feel..” I trail off, not knowing how to explain the sense of wrongness in my gut. The lack of purpose that filtered into every thought. Rocky doesn’t press, and he’s silent for a while before speaking again.
“...Grace said he was teacher on Earth. Why choose to be teacher, question?”
“Yeah, I was,” I smile softly, grateful for the change in topic. “I liked knowing I was helping to raise the next generation. The people who would take over the planet after we were gone.”
“Grace wants to be a teacher again, question?”
“I’d love to be.” I sigh wisefully, but before my thoughts can linger too long on sadness, Rocky lets out a high-pitched trill and speaks again.
“Amaze, Grace will be teacher then. Grace will teach pebbles!”
My eyes widen, I could teach again? “Wait, wait Rocky, I’m human. I’m an alien. I’m sure parents don’t want their kids being taught by an extraterrestrial being.”
Rocky waves his claw in a dismissive gesture, a habit he picked up from me, “Grace is saviour of two planets, Grace is smart and kind. Is Rocky’s best friend. Anyone would be honored to be taught by you.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes, yes, yes. I am not like Grace. I say what I mean.”
I throw my arms around his suit and hug him tightly. “Thank you. I’d love to be a teacher again.”
Rocky pauses before wrapping some of his arms around me, too. “This is proper hug, question?”
I laugh, “Yes, this is a proper hug.”
We stayed like that for a while. Eventually, I looked outside my window to see that the faux sun had completely dimmed.
“Ah, Rocky, you should head home or to the gathering. Adrian’s probably waiting.” I say while reluctantly drawing back my arms from around him.
Rocky lets out a hum, his arms staying exactly where they are, “No, I stay. Celebration every night, tiring. Much rather be here, be with Grace.”
“Rocky, I know you're due for a sleep cycle soon. Adrian needs to watch over you.”
“I sleep here. Grace watch, statement.”
I huff and lie down on the bed, wrapping my arms around him again. “Fine, but if Adrian asks where you’ve been, I’m blaming you.”
Rocky only responds by pulling me closer, so my chest is pressed against his suit. The warmth emitting from him is nowhere near how hot he actually is. Instead, it’s a warm, comforting heat that I can’t help but curl up against.
“Good night, Grace.” I hear him say before his body goes lax, including his heavy limbs. Which still curled around me kind of feels like a weighted blanket.
“Night Rocky.”
I lay there for a while, fighting every instinct in me that tells me to sleep. But between the subtle sounds of waves crashing in the distance and the warmth pressed against me, it’s not long till my eyes drift shut.
—
I woke to the sound of tapping. Blinking my eyes a few times, I pick up my glasses from where they had fallen off and perch them on my nose as I squint around the room to identify the sound. Rocky is still curled up by my side, still asleep. I peer out the window and see that only the beginning of the faux sunrise has started. Only the barest sliver of light comes into the room, and framed in that light is another Eridian, Adrian. They're in a similar suit to Rocky’s and speaking, but their voice is too muffled by the clear xenonite to hear what they are saying. I wave a hand, beckoning them to come inside, forgetting that they might not understand that gesture. However, they got the gist of it because they disappeared from the window, and moments later, I could hear the front door open and close. Not long after, the taller Eridian comes into the room.
“Rocky did not come home last night. I assumed he would be here.”
“It’s a sleepover, human culture thing,” I murmur, still feeling half asleep.
“Sleepover, question? Interesting. Not safe, all sleeping at once. Grace fell asleep when he was supposed to watch.”
I stammer to apologize, but Adrian makes a series of clicking noises I’ve come to associate with shushing as they climb onto the bed. They turn around for a moment before settling near my head, laying one arm on Rocky’s sleeping carapace.
“Grace go back to sleep, Adrian watch.” There's no room for argument in their tone.
I let my eyes drift closed once more. I’ll let Rocky deal with the mildly pissed-off Adrian in a few hours.