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Simon had a feeling that Rocky was jealous. The worst part was that he didn’t know why.
Simon had been living on Erid with Grace for nearly six months now. It was nice. The biodome was the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, Grace was… Grace (meaning lovely and kind, as always), and he and Grace were… something. Teetering between something more than friendly and friendly. Simon wasn’t complaining. Instead of waking up cold in the bedroom the Eridians made for him, he more often than not woke up warm with Grace’s arms around him.
Now that he thought about it, maybe that’s where the jealousy started.
It was a particularly lazy morning, as Grace didn’t have a class to teach that day and he’d decided to stay in. Simon, again, wasn’t complaining. He was warm, the room was basked in a warm light, and Grace’s head was tucked into his shoulder. His mouth was slightly open with light snores sounding out. Simon stayed in bed, unwilling to jostle him because he deserved every ounce of peaceful sleep he could manage after saving two worlds. That, and it was nice to hold someone who felt at peace with him around. It was nice to hold someone, regardless.
Simon rested his head atop Grace’s, rubbing his arm slowly. For some reason, the touch seemed to calm the other man, even in sleep. Grace often got nightmares, same as Simon, which is why they started sharing a bed in the first place. Grace had told him that Rocky would usually be there to watch him sleep, but being on Erid, now, Rocky was a little busy catching up with Adrian and helping his people understand how to use the computer Grace gave him. Grace had told Simon with a pink hue to his cheeks how he missed having Rocky around every day, especially because Rocky liked cuddling as much as Grace did. He found the human custom cute.
So, Simon was… basically a replacement for Rocky, but he didn’t mind. He knew Grace would deny it, saying it was different with Simon because he was human and human touch is different than Rocky, blah blah blah. Simon didn’t really care, either way, as long as Grace was comfortable and happy and he could keep lying in this marshmallow of a bed.
Simon sighed, closing his eyes and holding Grace closer just because he could. He’d genuinely never felt so calm before, so relaxed.
It was quickly revoked when three bangs came from the window. Simon opened his eyes to see Rocky at the window, one of his arms tapping the glass. Simon frowned, confused as Rocky skittered away. A few seconds later, he could hear the door handle to the house rattling. Simon covered Grace’s exposed ear as Rocky stomped into the room.
“What Simon doing, question?” Rocky asked with a poke to Simon’s back.
“Uh, nothing?” Simon whispered back.
“Grace sleeping.”
“Yeah.”
Rocky moved again, this time to jump up on the foot of the bed. It was then that he stopped, as if assessing the two men. “Simon Grace cuddle…”
The way he said it, like an observation but also a threat, made Simon even more confused about Rocky’s behavior.
“Rocky cuddle, too.”
Rocky crawled up the bed to push himself in between Simon and Grace, nearly sending Simon tumbling to the floor. The alien made himself comfortable, tossing two of his arms over Grace and flopping the rest of his body against the man. Grace didn’t stir at all, perhaps because of his body already being accustomed to a giant rock spider getting in his personal space. Rocky hummed a little tune as he got comfortable.
Simon stared, gobsmacked at what he just saw. Was Rocky… jealous?
He huffed, turning over onto his back to stare at the ceiling. Now Simon was the jealous one. He wouldn’t be able to move Rocky aside if he wanted to because the alien weighed over, like, four hundred pounds or something. And he had a feeling he would be met with heavy resistance from Rocky if he tried to move him.
So Simon stared at the ceiling, listening to Grace’s soft snores and wondering just what Rocky was jealous of.
He got part of an answer the next time it happened.
Not a cuddle session, no, but yet another day where Grace was free from class. He’d asked Simon if he wanted to watch movies, which of course he said yes to because it meant spending more time with Grace and also getting to see more of Earth’s entertainment. Grace liked talking about Earth on good days. Others, he could barely get a word out without tumbling over his own grief. Simon never pried on those days because he’d learned of Grace’s circumstances from Rocky—how he ended up on the Hail Mary. It broke his heart listening to Rocky tell him all about how Grace was drugged and forced to go on a suicide mission.
It hit a little too close to home.
Still, he was happy to sit on the couch with Grace muttering a fun fact about the film every other second in his ear. He had a hard time focusing on the films when Grace was huddled up next to him, holding a bowl of chips. One thing about Grace was how tactile he was. He’d reach out here or there, hesitant at first, before realizing Simon wanted the touch just as much as him. Holding his hand was normal, hugging was normal, clinging to each other in sleep was normal. It was a new normal that Simon wouldn’t trade for the world.
Watching movies, Grace liked to have their sides pressed together from shoulder to ankle. Again, no complaints from Simon. It felt nice having a warm weight constantly beside him when all he thought he knew was the cold.
Grace had insisted Simon watch the films titled The Lord of the Rings, which already intrigued him enough on the title alone. He was enraptured by the concept of films because there was no such thing as visual entertainment where he was from. Books, sure, whatever they had left, but most stories were told in groups orally. Hardly ever did they have the resources to write stories down and keep them in memory. It was primarily oral tradition that kept these tales alive.
From what Simon understood about the films they were watching, there was a ton of trivia surrounding them, because every other second Grace was mumbling something about the location the film was shot at or something about the costumes. They were on the second film, The Two Towers, when Grace had yet another thing to say.
“See how Aragorn just kicked that helmet and screamed? So, in real life, the actor who plays him actually broke his toe when he kicked it, so that’s why he was screaming. But it looked so real and good that they kept it in.”
“I see…” Simon muttered.
“It’s one of the most well-known behind the scenes facts of the entire franchise. Nobody doesn’t know about Viggo breaking his toe.”
“Interesting. So how did they film the rest of this if he broke his toe? Wouldn’t he have been limping?”
“Uh… I dunno actually. Maybe he just powered through,” Grace replied with a shrug. He stuffed chips in his mouth.
Simon had to say, he was liking these movies a lot more than he thought he would. He liked the aspect of adventure and fantasy lands. Later, he would unpack that he liked fantasy because his past was something he wished desperately to escape, but for now he took a few chips from the bowl and ate them and wondering if Aragorn would catch up to the Hobbits.
Then, another set of knocks at the door.
Grace started to move to get it when the door flung open. Rocky entered, closing the door behind him.
“Oh, hey Rock. How’s it going?” Grace said.
“Good good good, Rocky happy. Finally have time to see Grace!”
Simon watched the alien still again, assessing. Simon heard a low chirp before Rocky was waddling over to the couch.
“Rocky watch movie with Grace Simon.”
“Oh, okay. You don’t have to go to a meeting, or—” Grace wondered.
Rocky climbed onto the couch, once again pushing Simon slightly to the side to create more room for himself. Rocky flopped onto the cushion, one of his legs draped over Grace’s thigh. He didn’t do that with Simon.
“No, Rocky have free day like Grace. Come hang out. Missed Grace.”
Wow. No Rocky miss Simon, too? Just Grace? Well, it made sense. The two were quite literally inseparable for the four years it took the Hail Mary to arrive on Erid. Simon silently watched the movie, but his mind was elsewhere. Specifically on the alien rock that insisted on getting in between Simon and Grace when they were just hanging out (cuddling again).
Humans lived a lot shorter lives than those of Eridians, genuinely a fraction of an Eridian’s life. Maybe Rocky understood that and just wanted to spend a lot of time with Grace before… you know?
Simon’s running theory, especially after hearing what Rocky just said, was that Rocky was jealous that Simon could spend a lot more time with Grace because he lived with him. Rocky could visit whenever he wanted, sure, but he was a bit busy as of late with all sorts of meetings and stuff Simon couldn’t comprehend. He didn’t have time to visit for hours a day like he used to. Simon didn’t want to get in between the two best friends at all. Whenever Rocky pushed him aside, he just went with it.
He understood what it was like to be dependent on something or someone like a lifeline. He’s heard horror stories about the trip to Erid, how close Grace got to certain death and the recovery afterwards. It was no wonder Rocky was so clingy. He didn’t blame him at all.
So Simon sucked it up, pulled the blanket off the back of the couch around him for warmth, and continued to watch the movie, glad that he had a piece of the puzzle.
The third time it happened, it solidified in Simon’s mind. Rocky was insanely jealous.
It was nighttime in the biodome and unfortunately one of those nights where Grace insisted on sleeping by himself because, and Simon quotes: “I don’t want my alarm to wake you up, too. I know you hate the mornings.”
Heart of gold, he swears. Simon had told the man he didn’t mind, that he could be a heavy sleeper, but Grace practically pushed him out of his room. Simon shrugged it off and went to his room smiling like an idiot, because Grace was the kindest person he’d ever met and how did he get lucky enough to be able to live on Erid with him? So Simon got ready for bed, flopped in, and drifted off to sleep.
Except at some point in the middle of the night, he awoke to a shout.
Alarmed, Simon was immediately on his feet and running down the hall to Grace’s room where the sounds were coming from. He threw the door open. Grace was lying on his side, blankets kicked onto the floor, his hands in a white-knuckle grip on the bedsheets. He was sweating profusely, strands of hair plastered on his forehead and his expression twisted in agony. Tears leaked from his eyes.
“No, no! Can’t… can’t do it!” Grace muttered, breaths coming in pained bursts. “No!”
Simon didn’t hesitate. He rushed to Grace’s side, his hand shaking the man’s shoulder. “Grace, wake up. Come on, wake up!”
To his horror, Grace flinched away from the contact. His hands thrashed about, trying to fight an invisible attacker.
“Stop, no!” he cried.
“Grace! It’s okay, it’s just me. It’s Simon,” Simon pleaded, pulling his hands away as if they were on fire. He raised his voice. “Grace!”
The man wasn’t listening. His eyes screwed shut, his breaths heaving. Simon’s hands lay limp by his sides. He didn’t know what to do. He’d never seen Grace like this before. He’d intercepted a nightmare before, right when they started sharing a bed, but it had never been this bad. He had sweat like he had a fever and he’d muttered to himself. But now he was screaming and crying and lashing out and Simon didn’t know how to help.
“Grace, please. Listen, it’s me. Simon. It’s Simon.”
Grace stopped thrashing, but his fists refused to let up on the sheets. Simon wouldn’t be surprised if the fabric tore under his grip. Simon slowly reached out until his hand brushed Grace’s. The man didn’t flinch, but whimpered instead, as if the touch brought him great pain. Simon gently squeezed his hand.
“Hey, you’ve gotta wake up, Grace. It’s not real. Whatever’s happening to you isn’t real.”
Grace sniffled, and Simon saw the clarity start to settle in as his eyes peeked open. It broke Simon’s heart. Never had he seen such grief and agony in Grace’s, kind Grace’s, eyes, nor had he ever seen them so puffy and red. Grace caught his gaze.
“S’mon?” he muttered, voice shaky.
Simon nodded, gently rubbing his thumb against the back of his hand. “It’s me. You’re okay.”
“They—” he hiccupped, gripping Simon’s hand in a bruising grip. “They got me, they—”
They got him?
Oh. The humans that sent him on the mission. He was dreaming about what happened before he got drugged. Simon could only imagine how horrified he was to find out about that woman’s plan for him, only to try and run for his life and fail. How scared he must’ve been, how betrayed he must’ve felt with his last interaction with humanity being one of violence and cruelty.
Simon’s heart squeezed painfully seeing Grace’s face twist into a grimace as he sobbed, like the grief had stabbed him over and over again. In a way, it had. How do you comfort a man who was subject to one of the greatest betrayals in the world? The universe, even?
First thing’s first, Grace’s sobbing was making him struggle to breathe, and his position lying down wasn’t helping. He slowly tugged Grace to sit up. Good.
“There you go, just breathe with me, okay? You need to breathe, Grace, come on.”
Simon over exaggerated a couple of breaths, guiding Grace’s hand to rest against his chest. Touch was grounding for him, that Simon knew well. He continued taking breaths and holding Grace’s hand as the man started to reign control over his lungs.
“There you go. Keep doing that.”
Grace blinked and sniffled, reaching his empty shaky hand to wipe his eyes. “Simon?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Simon smiled, hoping it looked reassuring.
That was when Simon heard the telltale three knocks at the door before it creaked open. Pitter patters walked through the halls and entered the bedroom. He wasn’t surprised to see Rocky jump up on the bed beside him. He felt a little relieved seeing the alien, as he was better equipped to deal with unexpected emotional bursts. Simon hated that he wasn’t equipped because Grace deserved to have someone who knew how to take care of him, not someone who panicked himself.
Rocky plopped himself in Grace’s lap, two of his arms reaching up to wipe at Grace’s face. “Grace heart really fast, Rocky come as quick as possible. Have same dream, question?”
Grace nodded, turning his head to the side to avoid Simon and Rocky. “‘M sorry, Rock.”
“No apology. Grace hurt. Rocky fix.”
Simon smiled, watching Rocky’s claw hand reach up to pat Grace’s head. “Come on, let’s lie back down,” he suggested, not even bothering to get in between the two.
Still, he laid down beside them. This time, he put his arm around Rocky and Grace and rested his head on the pillow. Despite Grace’s sniffles, he managed to fall asleep soon after Rocky appeared.
The next morning, Grace still went to class even though he looked exhausted, which left Simon and Rocky to hang out in the living room. It was quiet. He could feel some sort of… tension. It felt like a bad thing to Simon, but he wouldn’t know unless he asked, right?
“Hey, Rocky?”
“Yes, Simon.”
He fluffed one of the pillows on the couch. “Do you… hate me, or something?”
Rocky turned from where he was fiddling with Armando’s wiring. “Why Simon ask, question?”
“You didn’t deny it.”
“I ask more question to understand why Simon ask.”
Simon finally looked at Rocky, crossing his arms. “I only ask because I feel like you’ve been… weird lately. At least around me.”
“Simon is friend, like Grace. Rocky like. Rocky not act weird around Simon.”
“Yes you have, you’ve been… pushing me aside and ignoring me. Why?”
Rocky stomped. “Rocky care about Grace, want to see him. Don’t see him often now, just want to visit. Me and him, like on Mary. Rocky check in on Grace because Grace leaky space blob, cry a lot.”
Simon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Rocky, if you wanted to hang out with Grace one-on-one, you could’ve just asked. I don’t mind. You don’t have to be so jealous all the time.”
“Rocky not jealous.”
“Yes you are. You literally push me aside to cozy up with him.”
“Rocky like cuddle, like Grace. Make Grace feel better.”
Okay, yeah, he was getting nowhere with this. Rocky acknowledged it, sure, but he was totally being snarky. Little shit.
“Simon sometimes in way of cuddles,” Rocky said with a chirp, like a snicker.
Simon rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“No be mad, Simon friend. Rocky like Simon friend, too. Grace was here first.”
“No, no, I get it. Grace is your best friend. He takes priority.”
Rocky’s claws moved. “Simon no see Grace on ship to Erid. Was very bad.”
Simon stopped. He’s heard about Earth, how Grace got into space, how he and Rocky found the amoeba thing that saved their planets. Neither Rocky nor Grace ever spoke about the journey to Erid. All he knew was that it took four years. The way Rocky spoke made Simon’s petty thoughts dissipate immediately.
“Grace nearly die many time. Very sick, very hungry. Moody. Sleep for long time like Rocky crew. Scared Grace would not wake up.” Rocky chittered sadly. “Touch help Grace stay awake, stay happy when always moody. Being close to Grace make Rocky happy, too. Make sure best friend stay alive when really sick.”
Simon stayed quiet, watching Rocky step closer to him. The alien tapped Simon’s knee.
“Grace Rocky depend on each other greatly on way to Erid. Still do,” he said. “Rocky get scared sometimes when far away from Grace too long. Wonder if he okay. Wonder if he alive, happy. Have to check, to make sure. Did not mean to make Simon feel sad. Rocky just worry.”
Simon placed his hand over Rocky’s claw. “I’m not upset, Rocky. Well, I kinda was at first, but I know you worry a lot. It’s okay, it’s normal. You’re best friends. It’s natural to want to stick to Grace, especially after what you’ve been through. I’m not sad, either, so don’t think I am. I’m glad you guys are so close.”
“Simon not sad, question?”
“No. You’re a cuddle stealer, but I’m not mad.”
Rocky laughed. “Rocky steal all cuddles.”
“Yeah, bud.”
“Rocky give hug, hug hug hug.”
Simon grunted as Rocky tossed all three hundred something pounds onto his lap. Now he understood why Grace fell asleep so fast whenever Rocky gave hugs. He was warm, heavy, and insistent on giving light squeezes in the hug. Hell, Simon was blinking heavily, having lost a bit of sleep the night before making sure Grace didn’t have another nightmare.
“Good hug, question?”
Simon snickered. “Yeah. You’re a little too good at it.”
“Simon fall asleep, Rocky watch.”
He didn’t mind living with a cuddle stealer as long as he kept getting a good night’s sleep.