Chapter Text
“I made you a door, so close the door!” Rocky fusses.
“Okay, okay.” I sigh. “I thought this was a safe neighbourhood.”
I yank the door behind me until it slams into the doorframe.
“Hey, treat that door with some respect, huh? It was built with love.”
“Oh God, I can never get it just right, can I?”
I shake my head.
“How about you tell me your news instead. How's life? How's Adrian?” I ask as I sit down facing the beach, running my hand through layers of pebbles on the shore.
“I don't know,” Rocky hums sadly and slumps down beside me. “What about you? Is your bloodwork better now? Do the vitamin shakes taste okay?”
“Wait, what do you mean you don’t know?” I crease my forehead. “Aren't you so happy to see Adrian again? And him to see you?”
"Well, I’m happy. Or I was. But he is acting really weird."
“Weird how?” I look at him over the rim of my glasses.
“He’s telling me I've been gone for such a long time, and he can't wrap his head around it… and he needs time to think.”
"Okay, I guess that's… unfortunate but kind of understandable. But you guys are still together, right?"
“Well, we are married, it's not easy to terminate a mating bond on Erid.”
"Yeah, it's not easy on Earth either. Especially if you don’t have a prenup… oh boy. You have to do a lot of paperwork and it takes months or even longer than that. Like with my friend Gus... "
The one with the lavish beach wedding.
"His ex-wife really destroyed him."
"Well, it's not just paperwork. On Erid, you have to do a surgery to extract the mating stone, among other things. And let me tell you that after almost two hundred years, those stones really start to merge with your own tissue. As they should. You know, them being a sign of a lifetime commitment."
“Okay, but you're not getting divorced, are you? Or are you separated or something like that? He’s just a little overwhelmed… right?”
“I don't know what we are. I mean, we still technically live together. We own property together. He still very much wants to work on your biodome. He watches me sleep every time… out of duty, I guess. But he barely talks to me and he doesn’t want to mate with me."
Poor Rocky! He hasn't even been able to break his dry spell after all these years?
"Does he have a new mate or something?"
"No. And I'm glad he doesn't, but at least that would be something I could actually understand."
“I’m so sorry, Rock! I know you love him so much. I’m sure you two will figure it out.”
I wish I could do something about it. Anything at all.
“How about a hug to cheer you up?”
He throws his warm xenonite-clad limbs around me immediately.
“Is it helping?” I ask, hugging him back.
“A little.”
“Anyway, maybe I should talk to him?" I offer, still hugging him.
"Was Grace a good mediator back on Earth?" Rocky asks curiously.
No. Oh God, no.
"Not exactly. But I'd like to help. And I'd like to get to know him, anyway. How about we all go watch a game of rockball? Us three."
"Okay. I'll talk to Adrian."
The stadium is really loud. Not human stadium loud, but Eridian stadium loud. It's also pitch black in here, of course.
Luckily, Rocky has built me a massively oversized heavy-duty flashlight that I can sort of make out my surroundings with. It helps me walk up the stairs and find our assigned seats, as Rocky steadies me.
We're sitting in the nosebleeds. I insisted on it. I know that my elongated towering body would block the echolocation of any Eridian fan sitting behind me. I don't wanna ruin the game for them.
I guess I will also be needing the flashlight to be able to actually follow the game of rocks thrown about in the air. Assuming I even see that much, with my visor constantly fogging up.
The fact that round, heavy boulders will start getting catapulted around here in just a few minutes doesn't sit that well with me. I don't think my skull will be able to withstand those very well. Let's just hope that these Eridian rockball players know what they're doing.
"So nice to meet you, Adrian," I say to the pointy, turquoise shimmering Eridian occupying the seat next to Rocky’s.
"Likewise, Savior," he answers simply.
So, he’s using my unofficial title to communicate his gratitude. But in using something so impersonal, it’s like he’s digging an abysmal hole between us.
“Call me Grace, please. Famous Adrian, huh? Rocky wouldn't shut up about you the whole time!"
Rocky kicks me lightly under my seat.
Technically, it took Rocky quite a while to even tell me he has a mate. But that's just how Rocky operates. Nevertheless, I always knew he loved and missed his mate a lot.
"He doesn't shut up about you either," he says tiredly.
"Ha ha, Rock! Stop pestering Adrian with your adventure stories, huh? I'm sure you have more romantic things to talk about." I nudge Rocky gently with my elbow. The nudge gets ignored. "Hey, pal, can you get us some snacks, maybe?"
Rocky shudders angrily. I keep forgetting I'm not supposed to talk about these things. Actually, I got pretty good at following Eridian etiquette after all these years, but the vibe here definitely makes me think of beer and hot dogs. Garlic fries. The Crazy Crab'z Sandwich. Some say it's a glorified tuna melt, but I'd kill to have one right now.
"Sorry. Well, can you get us some... little flags to wave around or some noisemakers or something? I bet you have something like that. I'd like a full fan experience, please."
He scuttles away.
"So, you like rockball, Adrian?"
"I can take it or leave it."
I read a book about making friends and influencing people back in the day. It said that when you're making conversation, you're supposed to leave some hooks in the things you say, so that your conversation partner knows what to latch onto. Don't just say that it's raining — say it's good for the plants. Now, you can talk about gardening.
I have to get Adrian that book.
"I have to say that based on everything that Rocky told me about you two, I was fully expecting some epic love story to unfold when you two reunite."
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint."
"But what's going on, exactly? Rocky loves you. And from everything he told me, you love him too."
"It's not that simple."
"I don't see any reason why you guys shouldn't just be together."
"Oh, that's lovely that you don't see any reasons. Maybe you should be with him, then."
"Er... don't make this about me!" I laugh nervously. "And don't act like it wouldn't bother you if I was with him."
"I don't care what he does."
"Look, I get it. It's a trauma response. You basically buried him—"
"Well, I did bury him! There was a joint funeral ceremony for all crew members. People kept telling me for decades that I was dumb for holding out hope. And then I just had to accept he wasn’t coming back."
“Well, that's—”
"You could never understand.”
“No, I'm not saying I do!”
“Did you know that after sixty years of going missing they just send you a death certificate? I have it in my drawer. They annulled it now, of course. But it’s there.”
"God, that’s horrible, Adrian! But that explains everything! You had given up all hope, and now he's suddenly back and well. Of course you don't know how to process that! And I'm sure there are conflicting feelings involved—"
"Do all humans walk around telling others how they're supposed to feel? That’s a very off-putting quality.”
“Adrian, I—”
“If you tell me it’s your species, you’ll probably help your case. So, think about it. And remind me how much experience with being married you have again?"
“Uhh…”
“Oh dear. I vaguely remember Rocky saying you were smart. All those years in space must have really skewed his perception. Although I guess some parts of your analysis were valid, so... you’re not a lost cause. I almost felt seen.”
"Well, look. You’re right, of course. I’m not the one you should be talking to about this. On Earth we have something called therapy, where we go talk about our problems with a professional. Do you guys have something like that?"
"Of course we have therapy!" Adrian groans. "How else would a highly intelligent species deal with life?"
"Okay, sorry! So, it's settled then! You guys just go to couple's therapy!"
"No."
"Why not?"
Adrian processes for a minute.
"I don’t owe you any explanations. Neither do I want to hear unsolicited advice from you."
Rocky is back, carrying as many rattles and poppers as he can hold with his free limbs.
A horn blares. The game starts.
I duck my head in horror as the first huge rock gets launched into the sky.
Rocky stands up and tries to shield me with his carapace.
“You’ll be fine,” he comforts me.
Adrian stands up, too.
“Adrian?” I gasp, slightly taken aback.
“Dead spectators tend to kinda kill the vibe,” he says.
Rocky and I both stay silent on our way back from the stadium.
We both get into our respective sections of the airlock, for me to get out of my xenosuit and for him to get into his.
We walk onto the beach almost simultaneously.
"Your Adrian is sure a tough nut to crack," I say, relishing the salty ocean breeze filling up my lungs and the feel of my cardigan against my skin. Spending an entire day in one of those suits is no fun.
"Always has been," Rocky says apologetically.
"We definitely got off on the wrong foot. I mean, is it advisable to suggest therapy to someone you met five minutes ago? No! But it's your marriage we're talking about! And he's being very stubborn and unreasonable!"
I use my foot to kick the pebbles into the air.
"Forget about it. It is what it is."
He sinks down onto the ground, his carapace swiveling. I feel like it's his thoughts that go round and round in his mind, making him spin.
My heart breaks watching him like this.
"Well, maybe you can do something. Rekindle the flames."
"Look, I tried talking to him, seducing him—"
"I know. I'm sure you're a very good... seducer. Well, have you tried making him jealous?"
"What?"
"You guys have a concept of jealousy, right? When your mate gets too friendly with another, and you feel bad?"
"Sure."
"So, jealousy can make someone realize their feelings — and act on them. You could pretend to have a new love interest, see how that goes. And if that doesn't work, you can still book that stone explantation surgery."
I know it's not particularly healthy. Or wise. But I feel like I have to do something. It's my best friend hurting, and his marriage failing. I won't let it stand.
"So, you think we should pretend to like each other romantically? Or pretend we’re together, even?"
"Uhh, us?!" My glasses slump down my face and I go in to pull them back up. "I mean, you could ask any friend, not just me.”
"Most of my friends are friends with Adrian, too.”
“Well, it's even better if it's not a friend. These things tend to get messy. Just ask some… confidante.”
“I was gone for seventy years. I don't exactly have any. It's also a big ask. And you're kinda my guy for big asks, you know? Although you already saved my life, so—"
"No, of course! I'll help you. There's also still a few days until the school year starts, so I'm fully at your disposal. But... I'm an alien. Do you think Adrian would be able to even see me as a potential threat?"
"Oh, for sure! I mean, he was getting kinda jealous, anyway. He says–and I quote–I gush over you too much.”
That explains some of the hostility.
“Okay, then… let's write a cosmic love story!”
"This could hurt Adrian, though."
"Yeah, I know. It's probably a stupid idea. It's your call whether we do this. Although I guess he did say he doesn’t care what you do."
"He said what?!" Rocky shrieks, buzzing with outrage.
"I... probably wasn't supposed to tell you that. I also don't think that's true. He’s full of shit."
Adrian reminds me of someone else who likes to put up walls and acts cagey when things get serious.
"Oh, we're doing this! We're so doing this!" Rocky reverberates angrily.
"Okay. Deal! So… I guess starting tomorrow, we'll be holding hands."
I stretch out my hand to him.
"Not a fist bump. Something new."
He puts his claw into the palm of my hand. We interlink our fingers.
"Yeah, just like that."
We're holding hands. On a beach.
That's normal. I mean, considering what we're planning to do, it is. Still, there's some kind of soaring, zero g-like feeling in my stomach.
"Rocky sleep cycle about to start," he says suddenly.
"Oh. Okay. Do you wanna go home or should I watch you sleep?"
Adrian will watch him sleep out of marital duty. Because of a vow he made decades ago.
I'll watch him sleep because I want to. Because I missed this.
"I'll stay here."
"Okay."
"You know, because I'm too tired to go home."
"Okay, sure. Let's get you to bed."
I put him in my bed and cover him up with a fluffy blanket. He doesn't need it, but I love tucking him in.
"Good night, pal. I’ll be here when you wake," I say lovingly, but he's already out of it.
I sit down beside him and put my hand on his.
I might need to practice to get it just right.