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Today marked the anniversary of Erid's rescue.
It had been a year since Grace and Rocky had achieved the impossible. They had saved their worlds from a tragic end and become heroes. The Eridians had decided that this day deserved to be celebrated. A delegation was due to visit the biodome later that afternoon. Grace was excited, not so much by the party itself, but because some of his students would be able to attend too. He couldn't wait to interact more directly with his beloved peebles.
And speaking of them...
"Simon, look what my students gave me!" Grace said, smiling broadly.
He had just come home after finishing his day of teaching. Simon stopped reading and lifted his head from the tablet. He looked at Grace's right arm and saw the bracelet he was wearing. It was a braided band made of silver-coloured xenonite.
"Is that for the party?" Simon asked.
"Yes! They wanted to give it to me tonight, but they were too impatient." Grace replied.
He looked at his bracelet with a fond expression and Simon felt his heart race a little. This has been happening more and more often lately. Simon feared what it might mean. Despite his lack of experience in relationships, he could recognise the feelings he was developing for Grace. The scientist had been the first person in years to care about him and treat him like a human being again. Of course Simon's stupid heart would fall for Ryland Grace. However, Simon couldn't act on his feelings. Grace was far too good for Simon. He was just a former convict who had killed people.
He didn't deserve a man who had literally saved the stars.
Seven months had passed since Simon arrived on Erid. He still wasn't sure how he had escaped the blood ocean. He remembered crashing the damned submarine on the Eel but after that, everything was blurry. One minute he had been dying in a sea of red and then the next, he woke up on a soft bed, an angel standing in front of him. Said Angel had told him his name was Grace which was fitting. He also informed Simon that he wasn't dead but on Erid, a planet far from Earth.
A fucking planet!
Simon had found it hard to believe Grace. There were no more planets or stars! Grace had to be messing with him because if he weren't, then Simon's whole life had been a lie. Grace had tried to explain to him how his submarine had suddenly appeared near Erid. He talked of wormholes and alternate dimensions. Grace had retrieved Simon and healed him as well as he could with the help of a medical bot. To be honest, Simon didn't remember much of the conversation. He was more focused on keeping his rising panic under control. Everything seemed impossible so he must be dead or hallucinating.
The last straw was Rocky's arrival.
Simon wasn't proud of how he had reacted, but everything had been so overwhelming. He had lost an arm and had no idea where he was. Simon didn't even know if he was dead or if that fucking Blood Eel was just tormenting him. His fighting instincts took over and he jumped out of bed. He tackled a confused Grace to the floor and pinned him down with his remaining arm. Grace tried to push him away, but Simon didn't move. Thankfully for Grace, Rocky promptly reacted by slamming his body hard against Simon. The ex-convict was sent flying a few meters away, hitting his head hard on the floor and blacking out.
After this – ahem – incident, Grace and Simon began to cohabit on Erid. Grace's home was transformed into a two-bedrooms one.
It had taken a lot of explanation and even more times but Simon had slowly trusted Grace. Simon was free and, even if it was still hard to believe, he was safe. The C.O.I, Eden, the Blood Ocean were all far away from him now. Simon still wasn't sure that he deserved this second chance but Grace always reassured him about it. Despite having literally attacked him, Grace kept offering him support. No matter what doubts Simon expressed, Grace always responded with the firm conviction that he was a good person.
Simon still didn't know if Grace was just very optimistic or just naive.
Sudden silence made Simon focus back on the scientist. Grace had stopped talking about his students and Simon looked at him curiously. Grace was rubbing his thumb against the smooth metal of his bracelet. He seemed to hesitate, like he wanted to say something. Simon remained silent, knowing Grace would speak when he was ready.
He didn't have to wait long, as Grace turned his body fully towards him.
« Simon? » The scientist finally said.
« Uhm?» He hummed in acknowledgement.
Grace rubbed the back of his head and looked a little embarrassed.
« Will you come with me at the party ? » He asked softly.
Simon groaned internally at the question. He had really hoped Grace wouldn't ask him. The scientist had mentioned the celebration every now and then for the past two weeks. Simon had listened, like he always did, but he never let on that he wanted to go at all. Simon wasn't dumb ; he had seen the hints Grace had been dropping. But he had ignored them all. The ex-convict hated crowds. There were too many people to keep track of. He knew his instincts would go into overdrive and he wouldn't be able to relax. Simon also knew that if he accompanied Grace, he would inevitably be the centre of attention.
The two humans still fascinated the Eridians as much as ever. They were particularly interested in Grace, but Simon wasn't invisible either. His mysterious arrival had made him the subjects of many theories. Simon had come to appreciate the Eridians but they could be overwhelming. If given the choice, he would much rather stay home and read.
« I don't like crowds. » He reminded Grace.
« Neither do I.» Replied the scientist with a shrug. « It makes me nervous and I always end up embarrassing myself. »
Simon fought back the urge to snort. He had accompanied Grace to some of his classes. He saw how at ease Grace was in his classroom. But when he wasn't teaching ? Grace was a mess. Either he started to ramble and seemed unable to stop or he forgot his words and couldn't finish his sentences. Simon had seen it happen twice before when they had to meet with Eridian's representatives. It was awkward to see Grace fumbling so much, and Simon had to deal with a lot of second-hand embarrassment.
« Then don't go. » Simon said with a shrug.
« You know I can't do that. » Grace answered. « It's a party to celebrate the day we saved Erid with Rocky, I can hardly be absent. »
« Condemned to social interactions for saving the stars. How tragic. » Simon replied ironically.
Grace rolled his eyes before sitting next to Simon on the couch. They stayed quiet for a while, until Grace gently nudged Simon with his elbow. The ex-convict gave him a warning look and Grace held up his hands in a gesture of peace.
« I just wanted to say that you don't have to stay until the end of the party if you come. » Grace said in a rush.
« Grace… » Simon began.
« Please. » The scientist said, cutting Simon off. « I know Rocky and Adrian will be there if things get too much for me, but I'd really like it if you came too.»
Grace looked down then, clearly embarrassed to insist so much. It made all of Simon's protests die on his tongue. Grace reacted as if his request was unreasonable, as if he were abusing Simon's patience. The ex-convict instantly felt guilty. Grace was always there for him. He gave Simon everything: his time, his resources, his company... The scientist kept giving without expecting anything in return — a concept that Simon still found difficult to accept. On Eden, kindness and empathy didn't get you far. People would take advantage of you until you were no longer useful. For weeks after he arrived on Erid, Simon had expected Grace's kindness to be just a facade. It was mind-boggling to realise that Grace was just a genuinely good person.
And there he was, denying Grace's request just for his own comfort.
Simon was the butcher damn it ! He could survive a fucking party for Grace's sake.
« Okay, I'll come. » He finally said.
Grace looked at him quickly, taken aback.
« Wait? Really? » He asked.
« Don't make me regret it. » Simon groaned.
Grace started to smile and he held out his little finger. Simon frowned at Grace's reaction before looking at him in utter disbelief.
« You can't be serious. » He said.
« You promise?» The scientist asked, not moving.
« You spend too much time around kids. » Simon sighed. « Yeah, I promise.»
Grace still looked at him expectantly and Simon rolled his eyes. He wrapped his own finger around Grace's and they made the pinkie promise gesture. The scientist beamed at him and Simon felt his heart beat faster. Being uncomfortable at the party would be worth it if Grace kept smiling at him like that. However, Grace did more than just smile. The scientist pulled Simon for a quick hug, his arms around the other man's shoulders.
« Thank you. » He said. « You don't know how much it's meant to me. »
His voice was so close to Simon's ear that he had to stop himself from shivering. Simon flinched at the contact, and had to stop himself from pushing Grace away. The ex-convict wasn't used to human contact. He was so accustomed to being treated roughly or being hurt that he had to remind himself that he was safe with Grace. Simon had been deprived of gentle physical contact for years when he arrived on Erid. It was clear that Grace was too. They both needed each other, but they had to deal with their respective issues to avoid accidents. Simon couldn't stand being touched unexpectedly and Grace didn't like being touched for too long.
And Grace had just broken the principal rule.
He realised his mistake quickly and let go of Simon. The ex-convict relaxed but a part of him was disappointed at no longer being in Grace's arms.
« Sorry... I got carried away. » Grace apologised with a wince.
Simon just grunted, his skin still tingling from the brief touch.
***
The rest of the day passed slowly.
Simon watched as relentless energy invaded Grace. The man was constantly on the move and unable to stay still. Earlier, while Simon kept reading, he had worked. However, with the party only an hour away, Grace was unable to focus. He paced back and forth in the house until Simon had to tell him to « calm the fuck down. ». Then Grace had declared that he needed to be better dressed for the celebration. He then changed his clothes multiple times, always finding something wrong with what he was wearing. It was the first time Simon saw him so concerned about how he was dressed. He never seemed to care before but the formal aspect of the celebration was making Grace nervous. Once again, Simon marvelled at how different Grace was when he was working to when he had to attempt a social event. It was as if all of Grace's confidence disappeared once he was out of his comfort zone.
Half an hour before the party was due to start, Grace had changed into a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. The scientist had told Simon that keeping it simple was the best choice. Simon had agreed, mainly because he wanted Grace to stop ravaging their shared wardrobe. Wanting to show his support, Simon decided to change his clothes too. He was still wearing his grey sweatpants because he loved how comfortable they were. However, his silly pun shirt had been replaced by a wordless green one. He even tied his hair in a loose bun. Grace looked satisfied with their appearance. He told Simon he was going to shave quickly before Rocky came to pick them up.
Simon was waiting for Grace to finish when someone knocked on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Rocky invited himself in. Simon was about to tell him off for coming in without permission, but stopped himself. The former convict was slightly taken aback by Rocky's appearance. The Eridian was wearing a strip of dark blue fabric across his body. He was also wearing multiple necklaces with rectangular pendants and spiky ornaments at the joints between his arms and his body. Simon had never seen the Eridian dressed like that before. He supposed it was because of the party. Rocky was also wearing his portable translator so Simon could understand him.
« Hello Simon, is Grace ready, question ? » Rocky said, waving an arm in greeting.
« Yeah, I think he is almost done. » Simon nodded.
As if on cue, the bathroom door opened and Grace came out of it. He smiled when he saw the Eridian and gestured toward him.
« Hi Rocky, you look good. » He said.
The Eridian did little jazz hands before straightening proudly.
« Rocky always look good, statement. » Rocky answered.
« Yes you do, buddy. » Grace chuckled.
« Rocky would return Grace the compliment but can't really see how Grace is dressed, statement. »
Simon had half the mind to tell Rocky that Grace looked good even with a plain white shirt. Instead, he stayed quiet and watched Rocky tap his legs on the floor. The Eridian was trying to see something with his echolocalisation.
« Why Grace not wearing jewelry, question ? » Rocky asked.
« I am. » Grace said, showing his bracelet.
« No, no, no, Grace should wear the others too, statement ! » Rocky said. « Important celebration, statement ! »
« You have more jewelry ? » Simon asked, curious.
Grace sighed softly then he looked at him.
« Yes, the Eridians offered me a lot of gifts when I came there. » He explained. « I tried to decline them politely but they insisted. »
« Grace saves stars, Grace get gifts, statement. » Rocky said, like it was obvious.
It was for Simon.
From what he had understood, the scientist had abandoned his chance to go back to Earth to save Rocky. If he hadn't turned back, the Eridians would have probably died. Such an act of heroism deserved to be recompensed.
« We saved the star together. » Grace reminded Rocky.
« And Rocky got gifs too ! » The Eridian said.
With an arm, he gestured at two of his necklaces. This made Grace chuckle before he smiled in a resigned manner.
« Okay, okay, I'm will put them on. » He said.
Grace returned to his bedroom, leaving Simon and Rocky alone together. They remained silent, but it wasn't awkward like it would have been a few months ago. When Simon arrived on Erid, he was quite scared of Rocky. His only previous experience of an alien had been terrible – understatement of the fucking century – and he didn't trust Rocky at all. It wasn't any better for Rocky. He was very protective of Grace and had disliked Simon from the moment he hurt the scientist. Thankfully for Simon, it wasn't up to Rocky to decide whether or not the human was going to stay on Erid. If it was, Simon was sure that Rocky would have thrown him straight back into space.
They were doing better now, even though they might never be the best of friends.
« Simon comes to celebration, question ? » Rocky asked.
« Yeah, Grace asked me to. » Simon nodded.
« Good, good, good. » Rocky said. « Grace don't like large crowd, Simon's presence will help, statement. »
Simon couldn't help but groan. He was just as bad as Grace when surrounded by too many people. They just didn't react the same way. Grace would be awkward and clumsy where Simon would be tense and in a fighting mode.
« What's wrong, question ? » Rocky wondered.
« Nothing... I just hope the party won't be too fucking long. » Simon sighed.
If Rocky was offended by the ex-convict's words, he didn't show it.
« It won't be. » He reassured Simon. « Eridians's suits only have three hours of autonomy. »
« Still so fucking long, but okay. »
« You better not swear so much in front of the peebles. » Grace warned him as he came back into the living room.
Simon rolled his eyes and turned his head towards Grace. He froze when he saw the scientist. Although Grace was still dressed plainly, the jewelry he was wearing completely transformed his appearance. He had put on a necklace with a pendant formed of several rectangles of varying lengths. It was made of shiny xenonite, giving it an almost silvery colour. Grace now had two bracelets: the one offered by his students, and a new one on his other wrist. It was made of copper-coloured beads. Simon's eyes were then drawn to the single earring that Grace was wearing at his left ear. It was a turquoise-blue circle with a long, slender triangle hanging down the middle of Grace's neck. The colour reminded Simon of the marking on Rocky's body. Then, Simon saw the golden jewelry on top of Grace's head. It looked like a headband with seven short spikes, making it look like a halo.
Grace truly looked like an angel and Simon audibly gulped. He was lucky the teacher wasn't also bathed in sunlight of Simon's poor sanity would be definitely done for.
«You put Adrian's gift, statement ! » Rocky said, doing jazzy hands.
« Of course I did. » Answered Grace with a smile.
Then he turned towards Simon who was still looking at Grace like he was a dream come true. Thankfully for Simon, Grace didn't pick up his expression and just pointed at his earring.
« Adrian gifted me this for saving Rocky. » The scientist explained. « They didn't know what earrings were before they learned about human culture because, obviously, Eridians don't have ears. »
He chuckled before touching the earring with a fond smile.
« But Adrian wanted to fashion something unique so I have the first and only earring on Erid. » Grace said. « I had to get Armando to pierce my ears though. »
« Rocky's mate is amazing, statement. » The Eridian said proudly.
Simon could give Rocky that, he really loved his mate. Grace smiled again before gesturing at himself.
« I hope I don't look too ridiculous. » Grace said, gesturing at himself awkwardly. « I've never really worn jewelry before. »
Ridiculous? Grace feared he looked ridiculous? Simon would punch anyone who thought so, even rock aliens.
«Grace looks good.» Rocky said encouragingly.
« Yeah ? Even the headpiece ? I think it might be a bit too much. » Grace stated, brushing one of the small spikes.
Simon firmly believed that the headpiece was the best part of the outfit. Rocky was right, the scientist looked really good. Almost too good for Simon to process. Hell, Grace was even wearing his glasses correctly for once. Simon put his hand over his mouth in an attempt to hide his expression. Simon couldn't stop staring at the man in front of him.
« … Fuck, how are you even more beautiful? » He mumbled without thinking.
Grace tilted his head to one side — a habit he had picked up from Rocky — and his earring shone in the light.
« Sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say? » He asked, curiously.
Simon cursed himself for speaking out loud. There was no way he would repeat what he had just said. The ex-convict was absolutely not ready to let Grace know about how attracted he was to him. With his goddamned luck, Simon might scare Grace off or make things very awkward between them. Simon needed to say something – anything – as long as it didn't reveal his feelings.
« I-I said you look awful. » He blurted out.
… Wait, what ?! No, no, no ! Why the hell did he say that ?!
Simon wondered what the fuck was wrong with him. Probably too many things if his first reaction to protect his secret was to insult the man he was pinning for.
Grace's eyes widened at Simon's words and a look of hurt flashed across his face. The teacher self-consciously touched his necklace and turned his head, looking away from Simon. The ex-convict's heart sank when he saw that. He wanted to throw himself into the artificial ocean and drown.
« Oh...Well, maybe I should just change then...» Grace began to say with a small smile so painfully fake.
« No wait, I didn't mean... » Simon tried to apologise.
« That not what Simon said, statement ! » Rocky interrupted, tapping his two front legs. « Why is Simon lying, question ? Not nice! Not nice ! »
Grace frowned at that and he looked back at Simon. The ex-convict felt a sense of dread wash over him. Eridians had a crazy good hearing and Rocky had definitely heard what Simon had truly said. Simon had to do something, he couldn't let Rocky expose him like that.
« Mind your own damned business. » He said coldly.
«But Simon is lying, statement!» Rocky exclaimed, frustrated.
Then he pointed an accusatory arm toward Simon.
« Grace, Simon said - »
« You shut the fuck up, you fucking rock ! » Simon growled.
He took a threatening step towards Rocky, who let out a shrill sound that the translator didn't pick up on. Still Grace glared disapprovingly at the Eridian. That was all Simon needed to know to figure out that Rocky had just insulted him.
« Rocky not rock, statement !» Rocky screeched. « Simon, mean human, statement ! »
« I don't fucking care if you found me mean !» Simon shouted back.
They continued to yell at each other until a loud whistle startled them. They both stopped and they turned towards Grace. The scientist took the two fingers he had used to whistle out of his mouth. He put his hands on his hips and looked at Simon and Rocky with his disappointed teacher's face.
Simon absolutely hated it when Grace wore that expression. He had been on the receiving end of it a few times, mostly when he fought with Rocky. It made the child inside him recoil in fear of being physically punished as he had been in Eden. Part of him wanted to beg for forgiveness and promise to be good. The other part wanted to bare his teeth in defense.
« That enough. » Grace said sharply. « You'd better calm down because I don't want you fighting each other for the whole celebration. »
« Rocky is sorry,statement. » The Eridian apologised, sounding appropriately contrite.
Simon did the same, but then realised something important.
« Wait... You still want me to come?» He asked, unsure.
Grace looked at Simon for a few minutes before slowly nodding.
« Yes but if you really don't want to come, I won't force you. » Grace said quietly.
Rocky grumbled that if Simon was going to be rude, he should just stay behind. The ex-convict ignored him, focusing instead on Grace. Once again, the scientist was giving him another chance. Simon hadn't meant to insult him, but he had. Grace was clearly hurt by his words. But, crazy as it was, Grace still wanted him nearby. He was even giving Simon the chance to not go. Simon wondered, not for the first time, what would happen if he exhausted Grace's seemingly endless patience.
Would he stop caring so much about Simon ? Would he ignore him ? Kick him out of the house ?
… Would Grace look at him the same way the members of the C.O.I did ?
«I will come.» He said in a rush, overwhelmed by a sudden sense of anxiety. « I promised you. »
Grace looked at him for a moment longer. Then he sighed and went to put on his shoes. Once he was done, he walked to the door. Grace turned to face the other two, who were still standing awkwardly behind him. The scientist gave them a small smile and opened the door.
« Come on, let's go or we're going to be late ! » He said in a cheery voice.
It sounded a bit forced to Simon, but he didn't comment on it. He had said enough and didn't want to ruin the mood any further.
« Grace don't want to know what Simon really said, question ? » Rocky suddenly piped up.
Simon glared at the Eridian, sure that Rocky just wanted to embarrass him. Why else would he insist on telling Grace that Simon found him beautiful ? The ex-convict was ready to curse Rocky again but Grace was quicker.
« No, if Simon wants to tell me, then he will. » He said simply.
The Eridian made a disappointed humming noise but Simon didn't hear him. Grace's answer was so simple yet it meant so much to Simon. The scientist was giving him the choice to talk. He wasn't using Rocky's knowledge to his advantage. Simon was sure that Grace was probably dying to know what he had truly said. He was a very curious , as with Simon's past, Grace was ready to let him keep secrets.
… Or maybe Grace was just scared of finding out that Simon had said something even worse. Simon really hoped Grace knew that if that had been the case, Rocky would have been much angrier with Simon.
With a sigh, Simon followed Grace and Rocky outside of the house.
***
The celebration was at the entrance of the biodome.
Simon grumbled under his breath when he saw the crowd of Eridians who were already gathered there. Like Rocky, they were all wearing suits and talking to each other. A small stage had been set up, and Simon realised why Grace had wanted him to come. He and Rocky were surely expected to talk in front of everyone at some point. One more friendly face was always welcome in this kind of situation. Simon also noticed some tables being set up. As they got closer, the ex-convict could see food for humans on them. Grace noticed them too and laughed.
« Ah, the only good thing to this kind of party : the snacks. » He said.
« They never did this kind of food before. » Simon stated as he looked more attentively at the table.
Eridians kept trying to make them new foods that meet all their nutritional needs. Grace had told Simon that was dying of malnutrition when he arrived on Erid. The Eridians had worked tirelessly to save him and their best solution was to clone Grace's cells for consumption. It was weird but to Simon, food was food. It wasn't like he was actually eating the real Grace. Synthetic foods were good enough but Simon couldn't wait to have his first real vegetable. The Eridians were working on that using the seeds that were boarded on the Hail Mary.
They had promised to call him once they managed to grow a plant and Simon was dying of impatience.
« Yes and I can't wait to try it. » Grace said with enthusiasm. « They even made drinks. »
Grace was about to pick up what looked suspiciously like a mini-sandwich when several Eridians approached them.
Unlike Rocky and the other Eridians who worked on the biodome, they didn't have a portable translator. Grace had been fluent in Eridian for a long time, but this was not the case for Simon. He was still learning, making quick and steady progress. However, he still found it hard to understand full conversations. It was even harder when several people were talking at once. Nevertheless, Simon greeted the Eridians and tried to speak with them. They were very appreciative of his efforts, but the sounds and whistles were still quite overwhelming for him.
Fortunately for Simon, Adrian joined them. They told the others that it was difficult for Simon to understand the Eridians in the absence of a translator. After a collective murmur of disappointment, the Eridians slowly turned their attention to Grace. Simon sighed and smiled at Adrian. They were taller than Rocky, reaching Simon's waist. While Rocky was brown, Adrian was turquoise. Simon had found it surprisingly easy to become friends with Adrian. They were more calm and pragmatic and had a dry sense of humour that Simon really liked.
It took Rocky a while to admit that his mate was friends with Simon.
« How is Simon doing, question ? » Adrian asked.
« Fine. » He shrugged. « I got into a fight with your mate again though. »
Adrian made an amused sound.
« Over Grace again, question ? » They said.
« You could say that. » Simon grumbled, making Adrian laugh.
Adrian had taken in stride the close friendship Rocky and Grace had formed. They were just relieved and happy that their mate came back home after so long. So what if Rocky was now platonically bonded to a strange alien ? Grace had saved Rocky's life, which was more than enough for Adrian to accept him. The Eridian had told that to Simon in one of their conservations. They had also told Simon that Grace was a charming and interesting leaky space blob, which was an added bonus. Simon didn't know if Adrian found him charming too but they definitely took an interest in him. The Eridian kept wanting to know everything about Simon's alternate universe and how he ended up in Erid's solar system.
« Grace wears Adrian's gift. » The Eridian said after a while, pleased.
« It's a really nice gift. » Simon answered.
He looked at Grace, still talking to the Eridians, who seemed to shine even more thanks to the jewelry.
« Does Simon want an earring too? » The Eridian asked.
« No, it's all right, you guys have already done too much to me. » Simon declined with a shake of his head.
« It's no trouble. » Adrian promised.
Then, in an amused tone, they added :
« Could make one to match Grace's earring.»
Simon was glad that Adrian couldn't see him blushing. This wasn't the first time Adrian had said things like this. It seemed as if they wanted the two of them to become mates. Simon wasn't sure whether they thought the two humans would be a good match or if they were just driven by scientific curiosity. He cleared his throat and changed the subject.
« What's in the bottles? » He said, gesturing at the table.
« The Eridians in charge of human food learned that humans liked to consume beverages that made them stupid, statement. » Adrian answered. «We tried to replicate that. »
Simon frowned, and it took him a minute to understand what Adrian meant. His eyes widened as he picked up a bottle.
« You made... Alcohol? » He asked in disbelief.
« You managed to make alcohol?! » Grace said, standing right behind Simon.
The ex-convict startled and turned sharply towards Grace. He held the bottle up, almost protectively in front of him. The scientist winced before giving him an apologetic look . Simon grumbled something incomprehensible but nodded to show Grace that he wasn't angry at him. Grace smiled at Simon then he waved at Adrian. From the corner of his eyes, Simon saw Rocky still talking with other Eridians but he looked like he just wanted to join them.
«Hi, Grace. » The Eridian greeted him.
« Hi Adrian. Once again, I love the earring. » He said with sincerity.
Adrian did a « jazzy hands » gesture happily.
« Good, good, good. » They said, pleased.
« So... alcohol ? » Grace asked after a few seconds, curiously.
« Yes, can Simon and Grace try it and tell if it's good, question ? » Adrian said.
The two humans looked at each other before Grace shrugged. This was good enough for Simon, who opened the bottle with one hand. The scientist took the two glasses of xenonite that were waiting for them, and Simon poured a small amount of the liquid into each one. He then put down the bottle and looked curiously at the amber liquid. He took a glass and gave it a sniff. Simon could detect the faint smell of alcohol. When he looked back at Grace, he saw him do the same. Their gazes met, and Grace smiled at him. Simon couldn't help but smile back, although his smile was smaller.
« Cheers. » Grace said, taking a sip.
He closed his eyes with a small wince, then chuckled.
« It's been a while since I drank alcohol. » He explained. « I almost forgot it's burned a little.»
« Is the drink good, question ? » Adrian asked, curious.
« Yes, it tastes like some cocktails back on Earth. » Grace nodded.
Simon never had a cocktail in his life. There wasn't much choice when it came to alcohol on Eden. It was mostly strong stuff that hurt to drink and numbed the mind. Simon's last taste of alcohol was the disinfectant he had swallowed on the SM-13. Whatever the Eridians had made, it couldn't be worse than that. Simon started to drink too and was surprised by the sugary taste. It left a pleasant buzz on his tongue and it made his chest feel warm. It was much nicer than anything he had ever drunk on Eden.
« Do you like it? » Grace asked.
« It's good. » He said. « Doesn't taste much of alcohol though. »
« Ah, don't be fooled by that. » Grace warned him with a smile. « These kinds of drinks makes you forget they contain alcohol, and that's how you end up completely smashed. »
« And still a test, statement. » Adrian added. « Grace and Simon shouldn't drink so much of it anyways, might have side effects, statement. »
Grace had just finished his drink when Rocky called him over. The ex-convict watched Grace walk away, his jewelry catching the sunlight. Then he looked down at his cup.
« Smashed from that ? » He thought « Yeah, sure. »
Simon finished his drink and poured himself another one.
***
Unfortunately, Grace was fucking right.
Simon stayed close to the snacks and the drinks. He mostly talked to Adrian but also took the time to entertain the pebbles when they surrounded him. Adrian kindly let the children borrow their translator. Simon found it very strange to hear the peebles use « Adrian's voice » but at least he could understand them. They asked a lot of questions and Simon did his best to answer all of them. He only stopped when he was asked if he was their teacher's mate. Adrian looked very interested by his answer too. Simon muttered a « no » before finishing another drink.
Despite Adrian's warning, Simon kept drinking as the party dragged on. He knew it was probably a bad idea, and that he was setting himself up for a terrible hangover the next day. However, the alcohol made him feel warm and relaxed. It also made the whole situation more bearable. He was even able to feel less guilty about insulting Grace. Simon laughed at all of Adrian's jokes. He cheered with the other Eridians when Grace and Rocky went on stage.
The scientist looked nervous but his eyes found Simon's and he smiled at ex-convict smiled at Grace in a way he hoped would be encouraging. Several speeches followed one after another before it was Grace's turn. In the end, it wasn't much of a disaster. Grace rambled as usual, but it wasn't so bad. The Eridian seemed to enjoy it when he talked too much. Simon liked it a lot too. After the voices inside the SM-13 that almost drove him mad, listening to Grace was soothing. It reminded Simon that all of this was real because there was no way his subconscious could create someone like Ryland Grace.
The scientist had just let Rocky take over when the nice feeling inside Simon began to turn sour.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the wave of nausea rising inside of him. His stomach was twisting on himself and his mouth was dry. He didn't feel pleasantly warm anymore, just horribly hot. He was starting to sweat and Simon rubbed his forehead with a groan. Adrian tilted their body towards him before taping two legs on the floor.
« Is Simon all right,question?» They asked.
«I'm fine, don't worry. » He tried to reassure them.
Another wave of nausea, stronger than before, forced him to cover his mouth. He closed his eyes and tried very hard to stop himself from vomiting.
« Simon not fine, statement. » Adrian said firmly.
« I think the drink is making me sick quicker than it should. » He admitted.
The Eridian made a worried sound and patted Simon's arm gently.
« Well... Simon did drink a lot too,statement. » Adrian said with a hint of reprimand in their voice
«I didn't drink that much. » He protested quietly.
Adrian gave him an unimpressed look, which was no small feat given that they didn't have eyes.
« Simon drank six glasses,statement." They stated.
Then Adrian muttered almost to themself :
"Should have stopped you but I was curious, statement."
'' Well shit.'' Simon thought as he looked at his empty cup.
How could he have drunk that much without realising it ? Simon didn't have to look far for the answer. His mind was preoccupied with Grace and how he had hurt his feelings earlier.
« I'm going home. » He mumbled.
« I'll come with you,statement. » Adrian said.
« Not, I can do it. » He told the Eridian. « It's not far from here, I'll be okay. »
Simon wasn't so sure about that, but he didn't want anyone nearby in case he started to vomit. Adrian looked hesitant, then turned back towards Grace, who was still on stage with Rocky.
« Simon go home and I'll let Grace know, statement. » They said.
« You don't have to bother Grace with that.»
Simon didn't want to take Grace away from the party and, mostly, from his pebbles just because he had been stupid.
« I'll let Grace know, statement. » Adrian told him with a tone that didn't allow discussion.
The ex-convict nodded with a sigh, knowing that Adrian wouldn't let him leave otherwise. As quickly as he could without running, Simon walked out of the celebration. His heart was betting fast and his nausea was starting to get stronger. Simon hated feeling sick. It always reminded him how dying of illness was common in Eden. How people would die because of lack of resources and knowledge. Simon forced himself not to think about that. He was going to be fine, he just needed to lie down.
And probably throw up too.
Simon was halfway to the house when his vision began to waver. He groaned and closed his eyes, hoping to chase away the feeling of dizziness. He tried to walk again after a few seconds but it was almost worse. Simon felt terribly awful. He had drunk an experimental alcohol so much and now he was paying the price. His legs felt weak and he decided to sit on the beach, at least for a moment. He groaned from pain and promised himself to never drink again.
Simon looked at the ocean to try to distract himself. The sound of the waves was soothing, and he could see why Grace liked it so much. Nature was beautiful when it wasn't twisted into a nightmarish hellscape. Simon wrapped his arm around his knees and rested his head against them.
***
Simon had no idea how long he had been sitting there until he heard Grace's footsteps getting closer. He slowly looked at the scientist. It was clear that Grace was worried as he approached.
« Party's over ? » He winced at how rough his voice sounded .
« I don't know, Adrian told me you were sick so I left as soon as I could. » Explained Grace.
« You didn't have to. » Simon said, feeling bad for taking Grace away from the celebration. « I'm alright... I just drank too fucking much.»
« Nah, don't worry about that. » Grace reassured him. « Let's just get you home. »
Grace extended a hand, which Simon gratefully took. The scientist pulled him up and he managed to stand. However, it only took a few seconds before his legs gave out under him. Grace just had the time to grab him to slow down his fall but Simon still ended on his butt. Simon's stomach lurched violently and he had to swallow down his rising bile. Simon coughed a bit and groaned in pain. Looking back at Grace's worried face, Simon saw that everything was spinning. The ex-convict forced himself to breathe slowly, sure that he looked pathetic.
« I need to tell Adrian that the alcohol is too strong. It's shouldn't making you so sick so quickly » Grace mumbled to himself.
« Or maybe you're just not supposed to drink six glasses of it. » Simon said wearily.
Grace looked at him with wide eyes.
« Are you trying to get alcohol poisoning again? » He said in disbelief.
« Spare me the moral lesson. » Simon grunted.
He laid down on his back, not caring if he got sand in his hair. Then he closed his eyes and asked to himself, his voice close to a whine:
« Why is everything spinning so fucking much? »
Simon heard Grace sigh before feeling the man gently take hold of his shoulders.
« Come on, you can't stay there. » He said.
Grace tried to help Simon sit up again. This worsened the ex-convict's vision, and he batted Grace's hands away. For once, Simon was too ill to care if he was being difficult.
« Just leave me. » Simon grunted.
« No. » The scientist said, shaking his head.
« For fuck's sake, Grace – »
« I'm not leaving you. » Grace cut him off. « And if you don't get up, I will just carry you. »
Simon snorted loudly at that, then let out a groan of pain. He was starting to get a headache and his whole body felt like jelly. He threw his arm over his eyes, blocking the light. He just wanted to rest and Grace was being stupid.
«I can carry you!» Grace insisted, exasperated. « How do you think you got out of the submarine ? »
This caught Simon's attention and he lowered his arm just enough to see Grace.
« Don't know... I thought you had just dragged me out of it. » He mumbled.
Grace looked at him in pure disbelief.
« Simon, when I went into the sub to get you, you were unconscious and there was blood up to my knees. » He said slowly. « There was no way I would have dragged you through it. »
Had Simon not been so drunk, he would have appreciated once again what a good person Grace was. The man had truly cared for him since the day they met, even when Simon was just a total stranger. Grace might not be a real angel, but in Simon'heart, he would always be one.
An awkward, clumsy, painfully human one, but an angel all the same.
However, as drunk as Simon was, he just let out a small laugh.
« Carry me then. » He said, like it was a challenge. « I'd like to see you try. »
Grace rolled his eyes at Simon's attitude, but didn't back down. He lowered himself to one knee. Then he slipped one arm under Simon's legs and the other behind his back. The ex-convict didn't fight back, convinced that Grace wouldn't be able to carry him. He was bulkier than Grace and not exactly light. Grace could probably lift him, but he wouldn't be able to carry him all the way to the house. The scientist tightened his grip and pushed himself up with a groan. Simon remained relatively confident until Grace started to walk. His eyes widened, and he froze in Grace's arms.
« See ? I told you I could carry you. » Grace said, looking triumphant.
Simon remained silent, unable to process what was happening. There he was, pressed against Grace's chest and feeling his necklaces through his shirt. Despite still being sick, Simon suddenly felt sober. The ex-convict knew that his friend was not weak. He had seen him carry heavy things on more than one occasion. Simon thought it was probably just Grace's clumsiness that made him seem helpless. This little display of strength reminded Simon that it wasn't the case and made his heart do something funny.
« You're alright ? Let me know if you feel like throwing up so I can mentally prepare or I might end up being sick too. » Grace said with a sheepish laugh.
It made his earring jingle and Simon couldn't look away.
«I... I'm fine. » Simon answered, his voice cracking slightly.
He really needed to get his shit together.
« I'm just... Not used to being carried around. » He admitted.
Grace hummed in understanding as he kept walking. Simon could see the strain in Grace's arms, could hear his breathing become a little more heavy. It must not be easy to carry him like that. Simon didn't know how long Grace could hold him in his arms. He didn't want Grace to get hurt because of him. But the scientist didn't complain or show on his face that he was reaching his limits. He carried Simon as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Simon felt the urge to kiss him and had to stop himself.
He shouldn't do something so important while he was so drunk. Knowing Grace, he would just think that Simon had only acted on a drunken impulse.
« That the sad thing about being an adult. » Grace said. « You're much less likely to be picked up and carried around. »
« I could carry you if you want, once I'm able to fucking stand up. » Simon mumbled without thinking.
Although he only had one arm, he knew he could carry Grace bridal-style, too. No matter how hard it might be, he really wanted to pick up the scientist. Grace smiled at him, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
« That would be nice. » Grace said with a soft chuckle.
They finally arrived home, and Simon thought Grace would put him down. He felt slightly better and could probably drag himself to his room. However, the scientist kept him in his arms, even though it was harder for him to open the door. Simon stayed silent but, once they were inside, he said :
« Grace, put me down. »
« I can get you to your bedroom. » Protested Grace.
« I can feel yours arms trembling. » Simon said quietly. « I promise I won't fall on my face if you put me down. »
Grace looked embarrassed to be called out. After a few seconds, he sighed and gently lowered Simon to the ground. Simon ignored how disappointed he was not to be in Grace's arms anymore. The scientist stayed close by in case Simon's legs gave way again. The ex-convict couldn't blame him for that. Standing up again had made his nausea return with a vengeance. Nevertheless, Simon managed to stay upright, and they slowly walked to his bedroom.
Simon sat heavily down on his bed while Grace went to the kitchen. The ex-convict sighed and lay down. The world around him was spinning much less, but his head was still pounding. Simon really hoped that he wouldn't be sick. He wasn't sure if he could make it to the bathroom in time, and he would hate to vomit on the floor — or worse — on the bed. Maybe he should just ask Grace for a basin, just in case.
Speaking of Grace, he came back with a glass of water and some painkillers. Simon gratefully took it, swallowing the medicine as slowly as he could. His stomach lurched for an instant but everything stayed under Simon's control. Grace watched him attentively, like he was ready to help at any moment. Simon grunted a vague sound that was supposed to be a « I'm okay. »
He was never going to drink alcohol ever again.
« I'm going to take a shower. » Grace said after a while. « Yell for me if you need something. »
He turned to leave, his jewelry sparkling in the setting sun. Simon couldn't bear to let him go. Despite the alcohol, the ex-convict grabbed Grace's wrist and held it tightly. The scientist turned towards him, feeling both curious and worried.
« I'm sorry for earlier. » Simon rushed to said.
« What do you mean ? » Grace asked with a slight frown.
« When I said you looked awful... I'm sorry. » He said softly.
Grace's eyes widened slightly and Simon slowly let go of his wrist. Grace looked at Simon before shaking his head .
« Ah don't worry about that... It's alright. » Grace reassured him.
« No, it's not. » Simon protested. « You didn't look awful, far from it, and it was really a dick move to lie about it. »
This made the scientist pause. Rocky had said that Simon was lying, but he hadn't expected Simon to tell the truth so quickly. The ex-convict couldn't blame Grace for being surprised by Simon's willingness to talk. He kept a lot of things to himself and wasn't exactly a paragon of healthy communication.
« Why did you lie ? » Grace asked, curious.
Simon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowly extended his hand, daring to brush against Grace's earring. His fingers barely touched it, but Grace still shivered. Simon knew he should take his hand down and let Grace go. However, the alcohol made him more courageous – or more fucking stupid – and he needed to tell the truth. Simon cupped Grace's cheek in his palm.
«Because you're beautiful.» Simon whispered, voice shaking with vulnerability. « And with the jewelry... Fuck, the jewelry makes you look like a dream come true.»
Grace blushed hard at Simon's words but he didn't move away. He stayed in place and even pressed his cheek a bit more against Simon's hand. His glasses slipped down, hanging half across face. The whole scene made Simon's heart beat a lot louder against his ribcage. For a second, he wondered if Grace could hear it.
« You're drunk. » Grace whispered back.
« You're beautiful even when I'm not drunk. » Simon said with a soft smile.
Grace looked terribly embarrassed and more red than ever. It was awfully endearing and Simon threw away all caution. He moved his face closer to Grace's and stopped only a breath away. The scientist watched him with wide eyes but he still didn't move. Grace didn't protest and even glanced down at Simon's lips. It was enough of a permission for Simon's drunken mind.
With his eyes half closed, he went in for a kiss. However, at the last moment, Grace moved his head away. Simon's hand fell to his knees. Disappointment and fear overwhelmed him, and he cursed himself.
Great. his stupid, drunk brain had miscalculated.
Grace had dodged the kiss, and now Simon wished the ground would swallow him up. Maybe he could ask the Eridians to build him his own biodome.
Of course Grace didn't want him like that. Simon was just taking his dreams for reality.
« Fuck, I'm sor – » Simon started to say.
But Grace moved toward him and…
Oh.
Grace was kissing his forehead.
He took Simon's hand and laced their fingers together. Nothing had ever felt so right to Simon. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like a blessing. Grace wasn't disgusted by him, which was a huge relief. The ex-convict looked at Grace. He was obliviously flustered, but his gaze was kind nonetheless. There was also an undercurrent of desire in his gaze that made Simon's stomach twist for a very different reason to alcohol.
Maybe his feelings were shared after all...
« I think you need to sleep off all the alcohol you drank. » Grace finally said.
Then he briefly pressed his lips against Simon cheek and the ex-convict felt himself blush.
« And if you still want to kiss me when you're sober, I'd be more than happy to oblige.» Grace promised with a smile.