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Adrian and Rocky had been clear from the start that this nest of theirs now belonged to Grace, too. Grace hadn't been sure at first, still under the assumption that Rocky had only brought him back to be supervised while he learned how to navigate his body, but as the hours passed and Grace slowly began to understand what it was like to be an Eridian, their verdict became clearer than ever to him.
Adrian and Rocky wanted him to stay, and if any mention of him finding somewhere else to live was brought up, it was shut down quicker than he could argue, their hands coming to his carapace as they reminded him that he already had a home with them. And it wasn't that Grace was complaining either, after all, getting to spend the rest of his life in close proximity with his two closest friends was great. It was just that he wasn't so used to people wanting him to stay so close. To say that he wasn't at least a little bit confused about it all would be a lie.
But the decision was already locked in tight, and even if he wanted to, Grace didn't think he would be able to go anywhere else. He didn't particularly want to, and he was pretty sure that both of them would fight anyone who attempted to invite him into their home.
And so that is where he found himself now, learning how to use his new body with the help of those who lived alongside him. His ability to walk without falling over had come leaps and bounds since Grace had first woken up, and though he still struggled with fine motor skills, he was progressing more and more each day.
It was after the first Eridian week that one of his bodily functions finally revealed itself to him, the feeling of hunger crawling along his body one night as he practiced using his claws. Grace hadn't realised what it was at first, after all, the signals were different between Eridians and Humans, and it wasn't until he brought the strange new ache in his lower body up to Rocky that he finally learned what was going on, the other Eridian being amused when the reveal had dragged a groan out of his chords.
The process had been awkward, to say the least, and while there was nothing to expel since no food had been in his body before, it was new, and Grace wished it were as socially acceptable as Human eating was. Rocky watched him for the first time around, just to ensure he didn't accidentally choke himself, and it somehow helped to make the process much more comfortable. Ultimately, the two of them had spent years together on the Hail Mary, and Grace didn't think much else could disgust them now. Thankfully, no food coma came from the meal, as it was only a small amount, and Grace wouldn't be lying to say that he was quite grateful for that. He wasn't so sure about the whole 'paralyzed' during sleep thing just yet, and he hoped it would stay that way for a while, just until he was used to the idea a bit more.
And outside of dealing with his new bodily functions, it was also during this time that Grace came to understand a part of him that he thought he had a better grip on in the first place. It was no secret that Grace rarely had actual physical skin-on-skin contact, whether it be platonic or romantic (not that he ever seemed to care for that aspect), but now that he was in a position where that contact was a frequent occurrence, Grace didn't think he could hold it in anymore.
He was touch-starved, and in a way that had long passed the threshold of being embarrassing. He was so desperate for contact that it was almost pathetic. The realisation had hit him like a truck the day after Adrian had touched him with such a gentle curiosity, and ever since that moment, it was all he could think of.
And it didn't help that both Rocky and Adrian were unaware of this, too. Rocky really seemed to enjoy giving him brief, passing touches whenever the two of them came into contact, and because of this, Grace was always left wishing for more, desperately wanting to ask for a hug but stopping himself every time the words came moments away from leaving his body.
It was a little torturous, if he was being completely honest.
It had now been two full Eridian weeks since Grace had begun his new life, and surprisingly, everything was going well.
Except for the fact that his body was suddenly growing stiffer than he was used to.
Grace had been working on his fine motor skills when the feeling slowly stretched over him, dipping into his legs and stretching all the way down to the tips of his claws, but being so used to his old human habits, he ignored the heaviness that was settling in his carapace and instead focused on the task that was in front of him. It had only been 30 minutes since he started, and he preferred it if he could actually finish the practice as he told himself he would.
He was able to get another 10 minutes out of his task before the feeling hit him again, and this time, it had prevented him from picking up one of the small objects he had in front of him, his claws refusing to open and close like he wanted them to. It quickly proved to be frustrating as he attempted to continue, and when Grace realised he was unable to focus anymore, he let out a chorus of toned-down Eridian curses (Years of working with children changes you), stumbled to his feet, and decided to put his attention on something more productive.
There were tons of different things he could do! He could plan ahead for when he'd eventually go back to his job as a Teacher, he quite enjoyed doing that, or he could even go off and find Rocky, knowing that he had stayed inside the nest while Adrian went back to their job.
Grace clicked towards the walls to see where Rocky had ended up, and after a moment of searching, he soon found him sitting in another room fiddling with something, quiet and focused on his hands.
Though, his shape was fuzzier than Grace remembered. It was blurred, and not as clear as it was those few hours before. He attempted to click towards him once again to see if it would offer more input, but nothing came of it, only reflecting the same amount of feedback as before.
Something seemed to be wrong with his echolocation.
"Rock?" Grace called out as he scurried forward and stepped into the room where Rocky was, and he ignored how slow his movements had become as he placed one leg in front of the other, trying his hardest not to panic.
"Grace." Rocky responded instantly, chords pleased as he clicked towards him, his project now being put to the side. Grace could see the way his carapace shook in excitement, and when he thought about it properly, it had been a few hours since they had interacted properly, even if they could sense each other nearby.
"Something.. something's wrong." Grace finally admitted once he realised there was no escaping this feeling, and tucking his legs closer to his carapace, he sat down, hoping to get himself more comfortable.
Rocky stood up the moment he heard Grace say this, and stepping forward, it didn't take long until he had walked over and began to click at him nervously, claws touching Grace's arms.
"Grace not feeling well??" Rocky asked anxiously, circling him a few times as he checked over his body. Grace wanted to trill at the contact, but he forced himself to stay quiet.
"Stiff." He managed out, finding it harder for his body to cooperate with him now. Grace had expected Rocky to freak out at this, to rush him back to the Hospital to figure out just what was going on, but the moment Grace told him exactly how he felt, the other Eridian paused.
And then promptly began to laugh.
Grace let out a chord of question when Rocky began to chitter in amusement, and tapping his foot on the ground a few times, he bristled in confusion. Just why was Rocky laughing at him??
Thankfully though, Rocky didn't leave him in the dark for long, and walking around to his 'front', Grace soon felt as he took his hands and gently pulled him upwards.
"Grace is just tired." He said, a trill still lining his chords. "Time for first sleep cycle."
Relief flooded Grace's senses. That's what that was. He was tired!
"I'm just tired?" Grace whistled, a little dumbfounded that he hadn't picked up on such a simple thing already. Rocky hummed in agreement, still holding onto Grace's claws.
"Body slows down when tired." Rocky explained, tapping his feet excitedly. Grace didn't understand why.
"Makes sense." He responded, pushing it aside.
Rocky just chittered.
"Come, I observe." He finally said as he pulled Grace forward, leading him out of the room they were just standing in.
Grace was confused at first, not being able to do anything but follow, but when he felt the soft texture of the blankets that lined the nest that Adrian and Rocky used to sleep, he suddenly realised where the other Eridian had taken him.
"Here?" Grace warbled quickly, feeling as Rocky pulled him inside.
"Yes, yes, yes. Grace sleep, I observe." Rocky trilled back, tapping his legs on the spot as he spun around and pushed Grace down. Grace listened, obviously, but there was still a sliver of doubt that remained in his carapace as Rocky made sure he was comfortable, a part of him wondering if it was really all right for him to sleep in the same bed that his best friend and his mate used.
"But.. isn't this?-" He tried asking, but Rocky was quick to interrupt.
"Is your nest as well." He said with a short whistle, refusing to let him go any further. Rocky had now planted himself down beside Grace, and when Grace felt him linking their arms, all of his worries were quick to drop, warmth overshadowing the questions in his mind.
It was fine if Rocky was okay with it, he supposed.
The feeling that Grace now knew to be tiredness rushed over his body the moment he settled against Rocky's carapace, and much to his surprise, it wasn't as scary as he thought it would be. He felt himself growing heavier and heavier as the seconds passed by, and it weirdly felt similar to the process that he had been so used to, body sinking deeper into a state of relaxation until it reached unconsciousness.
And yes, while there had been a deep instinctual panic that had briefly come over him at the thought of sleeping alone, the feeling was quickly brushed aside when he felt Rocky tightening his arm around his, their carapaces flush to one another. A warble of question left Grace's body before he could fully process the action, but Rocky didn't mind this, simply responding back with a purring tone as he pressed against him.
"Grace sleep, I observe." He trilled softly, and with both the confirmation he needed and the feeling of someone's warmth by his side, Grace finally gave in and let sleep take hold of him.
Grace wasn't sure how long it had been when he opened his eyes next. It was blurry at first, just like it had been when he woke up after the transfer, but with a quick tap to the floor, the world around him echoed back to life, the same way that he had left it.
There was a warm body still pressed against his carapace, and Grace knew immediately that it belonged to Rocky, his rough exterior familiar to Grace's sight as he pulled himself out of unconsciousness. Sleep had been a weird experience, feeling like he was there one moment, before suddenly finding himself aware of the next in less than a few seconds. It was nothing like human sleep, and Grace was even more conflicted when he realised he would no longer dream.
Some dreams may have been horrible, but there were some good ones, too. He'd would definitely miss that part.
Rocky noticed he was awake not long after, pushing himself to sit up properly as he clicked towards Grace. He hadn't unlinked their arms yet.
"Grace awake? How was sleep?" He chirped.
"Weird." Grace whistled, pulling his legs closer to him to feel more comfortable. He had sorta splayed out weirdly before he fell asleep.
"But not bad weird?" Rocky questioned nervously, tilting his carapace to the side as he clicked his claws together.
"No, good weird." Grace responded, amusement leaking through his chords. Rocky practically deflated at this, air puffing from his vents.
"Good, good, good." He chanted, wiggling around a bit. "Grace will get used to sleep."
Grace just let out a single chord. He sure hoped he would. It would be incredibly difficult if sleep were something he began to dislike.
The thoughts rotated in his mind for a bit, but it wasn't long until Grace grew hyperaware of the way Rocky was still pressed up against him, the warmth that radiated from his carapace leaking into Grace's body as if it belonged there.
It had been.. how many hours now..? Five or six? It had at least been a full Eridian day, Grace realised, and for some reason, Rocky still sat beside him. Surely he had better things to do, better places to be, and yet here he sat, tucked up to Grace like he hadn't a care in the world.
"I'm awake now, aren't you busy?" Grace hummed out, taking a moment to figure out which chords he had to use. He felt the way his heart (Oh right, hearts He had five of them now) hurt at the thought of him leaving, but Grace was quick to push it aside when he remembered that it would be selfish to keep Rocky here longer than he needed to be.
"Nowhere to be." Rocky responded immediately, raising his carapace as he turned his attention to Grace. His chords seemed calm, relaxed even, and it just confused Grace further as he sat silently for a moment, gathering his words. "Quite comfortable, actually."
But in the end, it was Rocky's second response that stopped any words from forming in Grace's mind. The hurt that once settled in Grace's hearts was replaced with relief the moment Rocky admitted that he didn't want to leave yet, and feeling as his carapace sank deeper into the blankets, Grace let out a sigh, the air expelling from his vents as he got comfortable again.
"Okay." He whistled, feeling as Rocky responded with his own trill and wiggled in closer.
Grace wasn't an idiot. There was no way he was going to give up the chance to cuddle more.
Rocky's own sleep cycle came a few days later, his body slowing down at precisely the right time. Adrian had taken time from their work to watch Rocky, and when the time came, they settled down in the nest beside him, large arms tucking underneath their carapace as Rocky wiggled up to them.
Grace had wanted to join them, after all, he had long gotten used to watching Rocky while he slept, the years he spent on Erid as a human giving him many, many chances to watch his best friend in his most vulnerable moments. But this time around had been different, and when Adrian took over the role completely and told Grace to focus on his fine motor skills, Grace didn't retaliate.
A part of him worried that he would mess up somehow now that he had a new body, the Eridian brain he didn't evolve alongside throwing all sorts of possibilities at him, and Grace wouldn't be lying to say that he was secretly grateful that he was able to sit back and allow someone else to take over.
It had now been a few hours since Rocky had fallen asleep, and Grace could already feel his attention span weakening. It had been a rather big shock to learn that Eridians were unable to focus on a single task longer than an hour, but it was even weirder to experience it.
Grace had been so used to just sitting down and hyper-focusing on his work for hours on end back when he was human, but he was unable to do that now, at least without nearly boring himself to death. He tried, he really did, to focus on it for a bit longer, but in the end, his body won the argument, and he was forced to stop.
He could've used a break now that he was thinking about it.
Getting up and stretching out his legs, Grace took a peek around his surroundings before deciding he'd like to check on Adrian and Rocky, letting out a soft chirp as he stood up straight again and trotted off.
Adrian was still sat in the exact place that Grace had last seen them, and when they saw Grace coming out, they clicked in his direction, curious about his sudden appearance.
"Rocky's still asleep?" Grace asked once he was standing in the room, carapace tilted towards the two of them despite him no longer having a face. Old habits died hard, he supposed.
"Yes." Adrian chittered back, their arms now tucked around Rocky's frame.
Grace just hummed at this, shifting his legs slightly. He wondered how much longer Rocky would be asleep. Sometimes he was out like a light for multiple Eridian days, and other times, it was no longer than five hours at a time.
If he was going to sleep for a while, then Grace considered going to find something else to entertain himself with, something that would hold his attention more than his practice. Rocky had brought in his laptop from the Biodome in the most recent days, so that he didn't have to hog Rocky's gifted version all of the time, and he felt that would work.<
"Would you like to join?" But in the end, he didn't get the chance to wander off again.
A surprised warble left Grace quicker than he could stop it the moment Adrian spoke, and lifting his carapace, the only thing he could do was stare in disbelief.
"What?" He asked, shock evident in his chords. The reaction just made Adrian chirp softly, and lifting their arm, they soon asked again.
"I asked if you would like to join?" They repeated, and Grace just stared. Hard.
Rocky was tucked snuggly against their other arm, and Grace could practically see the warmth that radiated from the area, comfortable and safe from any possible threats. Adrian had invited him to settle down in the spare spot beside Rocky, and Grace honestly didn't know how to feel about that. It made his legs feel weak.
There was a moment of hesitation that settled in his carapace the longer he thought about it, but when he realised that he had gotten explicit permission to basically wiggle his way under their arm and get cosy, Grace felt that it would be rude to say no.
So, slowly creeping forward, he hummed out a chord of agreement and made his way over.
It had been just as warm as Grace had anticipated as he slipped underneath their arm, and taking a seat beside Rocky's sleeping body, Grace felt the way his carapace vibrated at the contact, unable to hide the comfort such a small action brought him.
If Adrian had noticed it, they never said anything, and it didn't take long until Grace felt them scooping him closer, pushing him further against their carapace and closer to Rocky's body in return.
It was an awfully intimate action, Grace realised midst his touch-starved panic, but he couldn't find it in him to even complain about it, Adrian letting out a rumbling purr once they had all settled down again.
He would be here for a while.
It was two hours later when Rocky finally woke up. Grace had long zoned out, diving deep into his own mind to become unaware of the world around him, and so when Rocky began to move his legs, Grace never registered that his best friend was awake.
Rocky, on the other hand, had become confused at feeling the third body that was pressed against him, only remembering falling asleep with Adrian behind him, and with a quick click towards the warm body, he soon realised it was Grace.
"When did Grace join us in the nest?" Rocky asked his mate excitedly, body shaking as he lifted his carapace.
"About two hours ago." Adrian trilled, their arms still wound around both of them protectively. "I noticed they were staring."
Rocky just laughed, and reaching forward, he soon placed his hand on Grace's arm.
"Grace." He trilled softly, claws opening to tap at his limb.
Grace, who had been deep in some of his favourite memories of being on Erid, jolted back in awareness the moment he felt someone touching him, and turning his attention to where the touch had originated, he noticed that it was Rocky who had touched him, and that he was now awake.
"Oh, hey, Rock." Grace whistled, carapace lifting happily.
"Grace comfortable, question?" Rocky was quick to ask, wiggling on the spot as he played with Grace's hand. A rush of embarrassment flooded over Grace when he remembered where he was nestled, but he felt he shouldn't let the feeling cause too much trouble once he saw how excited Rocky was. It was like Rocky was genuinely glad that he was there, and Grace didn't want to ruin that.
"Yeah, I suppose I am." He responded, settling down in the nest with a soft exhale. He wasn't lying either, he truly was comfortable.
"Good, good, good. Grace stay here forever." Rocky trilled out finally, shuffling closer so that he could completely wrap his arms around Grace's. Grace felt his carapace flush as Rocky pulled him closer, but he never once felt the urge to get up and move.
Both Rocky and Adrian were a warm and comforting presence, and Grace was right where he wanted to be.
You'd think that mostly being confined to a single area for all of your new life on your best friend's home planet would drive a person crazy, but it had been quite the opposite for Grace. Grace adored his Biodome, and this fondness never left him, even once his human body had been left behind.
In a way, it made the feelings stronger, and after spending nearly a month away from the place that had been his home for nearly 10 years, Grace found himself wishing that he could return, even if for a moment.
He knew it would be different now that he was an Eridian, his body no longer able to withstand the oxygen that filled the dome, and most of the things that had been specifically designed for humans now unable to be used by his form. But, Grace didn't mind this, and as long as he was able to walk along the beach once more, he would be happy.
He was quick to bring up the desire to Adrian and Rocky, and Rocky had been on board immediately, wasting no time in heading off to create an EXO suit that was form-fitting to Grace's new body. Adrian had been amused to hear that Grace missed his old home, but they were unable to come along, their work schedule being too rigid to change. It was disappointing at first, but when Grace remembered he could visit his beach as often as he wanted, he realised there were future opportunities for Adrian to join them in the future.
In the end, it took a day for the EXO suit to be created, and as soon as Rocky had finished it, the two of them rushed over to the Biodome to test it out.
Nine times out of ten, if you couldn't find Grace in his house when he lived in the Biodome, you could always find him on the beach, sat in front of the waves with his legs up to his chest. Early mornings were always his favourite, when the fog was high, and the sun was appearing just above the horizon, and he'd always be sat there thinking. About his life here, and about what his life used to be.
It had been some time since he had one of those silent moments to himself, and it made him wonder if he could sit on the beach and do the same now that he was an Eridian.
The sand of the Biodome was a weird sensation as he and Rocky made their way down from the airlock and onto the beach. It was grainy and echoed weirdly against his carapace, his xenonite suit stopping any sand from getting between his claws but still allowing him to feel its rough texture underneath his skin. He quickly found that walking was a lot harder than it was supposed to be, and after testing it a little, he realised that it was because his feet sank deeper into the ground than he was used to, knocking his balance off and making all of his practice null against a new surface. Grace now understood why Rocky had seemed so unstable when he first entered the Biodome all those years ago.
The two talked for what felt like hours as they trotted along the beach, chatting about whatever entered their minds until all topics had been exhausted. It had been a while since Grace had the chance to have a deep conversation with someone, and being on the beach while it happened made it even better. Rocky seemed to feel the same way, his 'front' arms lifted to his carapace as he gestured alongside his chords, and Grace felt that was a habit he had gotten from being around a human for years on end, though he wasn't really certain.
It was three hours later before Grace decided he had had enough, his legs aching from the awkwardness that the sand brought, and when he brought it up to Rocky, he was quick to agree. Neither of them had mentioned it, but they both knew deep down that they would end up staying in the Biodome for hours if they were given the chance, and they would very much rather avoid that outcome.
Rocky took off his EXO suit first once they were inside the airlock, and once he was done, he walked over to help Grace, knowing he would struggle with such precise movements. He had been right, of course, Grace had found it harder than he had expected when he tried to lift his hand, but thankfully Rocky was there to help him out, after he had laughed at him while watching Grace try and fail to do it himself.
The suit was removed soon enough, and Grace found that kicking it afterwards was the easiest part for him, allowing him to use his limbs more precisely to pull it away from him. He could still feel Rocky lingering in his space, but Grace expected him to move away once their suits were put back alongside the others. And so, when Rocky had placed his hand on Grace's carapace to help him stay balanced, Grace was unable to hold back the chirp that left his body.
"Grace okay, question?" Rocky asked the moment the sound left his body, his arm pulling back from Grace's carapace faster than Grace had ever seen him move and quickly settling back against his sides. Grace hadn't originally processed why he had moved so quickly, but when he lifted his attention and noticed the way that Rocky fiddled with his claws nervously, it all suddenly clicked. Rocky thought he had done something wrong.
"You just surprised me, Rock." Grace responded quickly, not wanting to leave him thinking that for long. He pulled his EXO suit to the side as he continued, hoping to settle his friend. "I'm still getting used to touch, I suppose."
Rocky just tilted his carapace.
"Is a bad thing?" He questioned, his nervousness gone and now replaced with something else. Grace couldn't tell what it was.
"No, no." He whistled out quickly, shaking his hands. "It's a good thing. Just.. new."
Rocky was silent for a moment as the two stood, and Grace almost wondered if he had said something wrong as his friend stared, his own nervousness growing stronger.
But, when Rocky suddenly spoke again, Grace realised that he had been wrong.
"Grace want hug?" Rocky asked, and the mere question made Grace's carapace burn with excitement. Of course he wanted a hug, it was all he ever thought about, but the real question was whether or not Rocky was okay with it. Grace knew Rocky enjoyed sitting as close as he could to him back when he slept as a human, but that was different to hugging. Even Grace didn't know how he would feel hugging a giant leaking blob now that he understood Eridian hearing to the fullest.
"I- I mean if you want, then I don't mind." Grace responded after a moment, unintentionally tapping his feet to the ground in an attempt to calm himself down. "But don't force yourself-" He then attempted to add, wanting Rocky to know that it was his idea in the end, but before Grace could even finish his sentence, Rocky had suddenly rushed forward and wrapped his arms around his carapace in a way that Grace had not felt in a long time.
Grace wasted no time in hugging him back.
He felt it was rather dramatic how tightly he held onto Rocky as the two stood alone in the Biodome airlock, but yet again, Grace was a very dramatic person, and he really didn't have the gall to care what others thought about him right now. He was touch-starved, and he was finally able to hug his best friend without a barrier between them.
A rumbling purr left Rocky's carapace as Grace pressed himself further into his touch, and Grace swore that he felt the same vibration rushing through his own body as they held onto each other's arms, the sensation alone enough to make him giddy. The cuddling in the nest had been satisfying, the warmth and the safety leaving Grace reeling for hours after, but nothing compared to a hug. Hugs were tight and squeezing, pressure so heavenly that Grace wanted to cry, and he didn't think anything else could change his mind. And it was even better when that hug was from your best friend.
It felt like hours had passed before they finally separated, both of them reluctant as they stepped back and gave each other distance. Grace noted that Rocky refused to remove his hand on his arm, holding onto him like he'd run away, but he didn't particularly care about that, in fact, he revelled in the warm touch for as long as he could.
" Grace satisfied, question?" Rocky asked almost instantly, carapace raised in a way that seemed curious.
"Yeah, yeah I am." Grace chirped out, his carapace still vibrating in excitement. Rocky seemed amused by it, but he never mentioned it.
"Good." He said as he removed his hand from Grace's arm, picking up his body to begin moving once again. Grace stopped himself from complaining. "Rocky been wanting to do that for forever." Rocky then added, and Grace wasn't even able to process it properly before Rocky was out of the airlock.
"Wha- What do you mean?!"
Rocky was halfway down the path by the time Grace had managed to catch up with him, and coming to a quick stop, Grace matched his pace, legs a little shaky from the sudden rush.
"Are you going to explain??" Grace questioned, chords louder than he had intended through his surprise.
"Been holding back since Grace became Eridian. Didn't want to scare." Rocky just chirped, seemingly unbothered as they trotted down towards the nest. His words were enough to make Grace pause.
"You.. did that for me?" He asked, emotions quickly welling up in his carapace. Rocky had been worried that he would make him uncomfortable, enough to stop himself from engaging in touch that was practically normal for them.
Rocky hummed in agreement, and Grace was unable to stop the whining warble that came from him next, carapace deflating as he felt himself crumble. Grace hadn't been able to hear the noise back when he was human, the frequency being too high, but he knew the behaviours that came with what was equivalent to an Eridian cry. Rocky only did it a few times in the past, and now it was Grace's turn.
He knew he'd be a blubbering mess if he could still produce tears.
"Grace crying again." Rocky chirped out in laughter as he stepped closer, and Grace didn't hesitate to take his hand when he offered it, their claws meeting and wrapping around each other in the closest way they could.
"Yeah.." Grace just replied, and squeezing Rocky's hand as tightly as he was able to without hurting him, Grace never wished to let go.