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Grace rolled over in bed. He could not seem to get comfortable tonight.
His arm ached from the burns — or was it one singular burn given there was no break in it from his hand to his shoulder? Regardless, it was aching from the movement and the skin had begun tightening around it more and more.
He understood that this was a part of the healing process and that there was not anything he could do except to make himself as comfortable as possible. He did not want to take any more painkillers as Rocky was right, it made him stupid. But at least he was comfortable whilst being stupid?
Grace shook the thought away. He had made too many stupid mistakes when he was high on the painkillers. They could not afford any more stupidity on his behalf.
“Grace okay, question?” Rocky sat with his legs under him like he did when he was asleep. Grace had jokingly referred to it as loafing. He then had to explain with visuals in the simulation room what that meant. Rocky then got offended that Grace had used the example of a pet to compare him to. Rocky had grumbled something to himself about Grace more likely being the pet than Rocky. Grace cried with laughter that day, Grace smiled at Rocky.
“Yeah. I just—” Grace shuffled around on the bed for a moment. “Can’t seem to get comfortable.” Rocky grumbled for a moment.
“Grace need to stay still for good sleep, statement.” Grace sighed.
“I know, but if I can’t get comfortable, I am not going to fall asleep.” Rocky grumbled to himself again for a moment.
“Why Grace not comfortable, question?” Grace’s right hand instantly rubbed at his still bandaged left arm. Grace saw Rocky shrink down a little.
“It’s just that my arm is sore where it is healing. It’ll pass eventually. It is just making it uncomfortable to sleep right now.” Rocky tapped his claws together for a moment in front of him.
“How Rocky fix, question?” Grace’s small smile faded from his face completely. He knew that chances are he wouldn’t have full mobility in his arm back ever again. His skin was completely destroyed by scar tissue and melted skin. Not to mention the chronic pain that he would likely have. Sometimes he would move his arm a little too much or too quickly and would open a small split in the skin. Armando had patched Grace also knew that Rocky blamed himself for it despite how many times Grace had told Rocky that it was his own choice to do what he did.
“I don’t know if you can. It will always be like this now. I will have issues with the way the skin has healed for the rest of my life.” Rocky sunk down further. “But you know what?” Rocky’s carapaced lifted slightly to Grace. Grace knew what was about to happen as soon as he said the next words. Rocky was not going to be happy.
“I don’t regret it for a second—” Rocky shot up onto all of his legs.
“Grace stupid, statement! Grace risk life for Rock stupid, statement!” Grace waited until Rocky’s little hissy fit was over. Grace would not let Rocky think that he is to blame for it.
“Yes, it was stupid of me to expose myself to your atmosphere, but I don’t regret it. You are here and alive. That is what matters to me more. Yes, my arm will likely cause me chronic pain for the rest of my life but do you know what would have caused me even more pain for the rest of my life?” Rocky tilted his carapace as his claws tapped together in front of him. Grace didn’t let him respond.
“Losing you Rocky. Losing you would have absolutely killed me. I would have had to figure all of this out alone, which I think we have discovered I am not great at. Not to mention having to get Taumeoba to Erid by myself. So no, Rocky. Nothing about this—” Grace gestured to his left arm. “Is not your fault, pal.”
Rocky sunk back down again, more gently this time. He continued to tap his claws in thought.
“What word before pain mean?” Grace took a moment to think back to what he had said.
“Chronic pain?” Rocky hummed in agreement. “It means that the pain will never go away. I will always be in pain or uncomfortable for the rest of my life.” Rocky grumbled again, he clearly didn’t like what Grace had just said.
“Rocky fix. Eridians have medical facilities. Grace not be in pain because of Rocky, statement.” Grace smiled a little.
“First of all, it was not because of you, pal, and second, I don’t mind being in pain. The pain reminds me of what I achieved and what we did together. I would not change a single thing I did that day— well, except for blowing the soot out of you. I would not do that again now that I know what it was for.” Rocky chittered a little, his own little way of laughing.
“Grace good human. Grace brave human, statement. Grace bravest human I ever meet.” Rocky chittered again at a slightly higher frequency. Grace’s jaw dropped. “Is joke, I only meet one human.” Grace laughed.
“Look at you. Starting to get and use humour.” Rocky chittered again in more frequencies, his way of having a good hearty laugh. “Looks like I am rubbing off on you, pal.”
Rocky stood up straight at that, Grace thought he was about to start shouting at him again for a moment.
“Grace not touch Rocky. Rocky hurt Grace if touch. Bad bad bad.” Grace huffed out a little laugh again.
“No, it’s just a saying back on Earth, Rock. It just means that you are picking up my personality because of the time we have spent together.” Rocky settled back down again.
“Earth saying stupid, statement.”