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The ship was cool, which made the feeling of the softness of my bed, and the warmth of my quilt feel rather cozy. As I rolled into bed to get comfortable, I listen to the taps and clinks Rocky's feet make against the clear xenonite he had set above my bed. It was measured to be as close as possible without the risk of me hitting my head on it. It was the best we could do.
Dispite it being past my scheduled, alien-enforced bedtime, I didn’t quite want to sleep yet. I had a thought today which had been distracting me, making me feel a new emotion that I wasn’t the most used to.
“I think you’re really cool, Rocky.” is what I manage to say. I am not sure if it really captures what I want to convey completely, but it feels like a start.
“Grace is interesting too.” He hums back in response. “Why are you talking about this during sleep time question.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.” I stutter out. “Like, I think Eridians are super interesting, yes, but like, you, Rocky, the engineer, are really awesome.”
I listen to Rocky hum in a gently pleasant way. Some expressions of glee. In my mind, it's something like blushing. He then asks “Does not answer question. Why Grace bring this up now question.”
“I don’t know.” I answer earnestly. “Just something new I was thinking about today. Like, I was thinking about how interesting you are Rocky. And… I want to know more about you. Rocky. Not Erdians, you.”
“I think it is common to want to know more about your friends. Is that not the case for humans question.”
I suddenly feel stunned. Friend. That’s what it is. I want to be friends with Rocky. We were colleagues, certainly. Partners forced to solve the same issue to save both of our planets. We had become roommates too, however reluctant on my part. I was quite concerned back then, missing my private time without a sentient church organ constantly asking me personal questions. But now, it felt different, because I wanted to be his friend, too.
“I think it’s common for human friends too. But maybe friends aren’t so common for me, personally.
“Elaborate.” He sings.
“Humans usually want to be friends with people, I understand. But I was usually okay without friends. I was like, too busy with work, or studying, or saving the world or something else. I didn’t really think about friends too much.” I think of how to explain best. “If I was close enough to someone, and we got along, I would start to want to be their friend, but it only happened a few times in all of my life.
“Sounds sad. Lonely.”
I disagree with him. “It’s neutral to me.” I explain. It was, I hadn’t really felt the want to have that many friends. I had students and coworkers for my socialization, and that was plenty. When I heard other people vent about all the lengths they would go to for something as simple as a friend's birthday party, or how busy they were with dozens of weekly social engagements, it made me relieved to not have to deal with all that. I felt fine going home and reading alone after work each day. “But now, I just kind of feel that feeling again, and I’d like to be friends with you.”
Pulses of what I can tell was laughter escaping Rocky’s rugged carapace. “I thought Grace was my friend long ago. You are a funny human.”
“Hey, I’m the only human you’ve ever met!” I protest.
“Yes. You are still funny.” I see him press an extended palm against the Xenonite barrier above me. I have never before felt as strongly about the thin material keeping us separate, safe from each other's poisonous atmosphere. “However, if Grace does friends differently, that is fine. We can be official friends now. I will tell you everything you want to know about The Great Engineer Rocky.” He sings out his full name, all the self aggrandizing bastard.
I press my splayed hand to meet his. As close as we can get. “Thank you, Rocky. I’m glad I get to be your friend.”