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Grace was lying curled up on the floor of the Hail Mary, his eyes closed.
“Grace,” Rocky chimes, “Eat.”
“I don’t want to eat Taumoeba. I’m sick of Taumoeba,” Grace replies, scrunching his eyes.
“Humans need to eat every 5 awake Earth hours. Grace no eat for 15. Too long. Grace must eat.”
Grace lets out a long, wistful sigh. “But it’s so gross.”
“Must eat.”
“It tastes like slimy sludge. It is slimy sludge.”
“Grace must eat.”
Grace was quiet. He opened his eyes, but looked nowhere in particular. He sighed again, and seemed to melt into the floor.
“Grace… okay, question?” Rocky asked quietly, fidgeting with his claws.
Grace didn’t answer, instead looking at the floor.
“We are almost to Erid. Only 92 Earth days away! Erid scientists will make Grace safe better food. Grace will not have to eat yucky Taumoeba. Thank to radio communication, Erid scientists already working on it!”
Grace felt his throat tighten.
“Grace leaking, Grace sad, question? Or happy tears, question?”
“...I don’t know,” Grace whispered, “both, I guess. I’m so tired, Rocky.”
Grace has been sleeping so much lately, Rocky thought.
“Is okay. Grace can sleep now. Eat when wake up.”
Rocky reached out and touched Grace’s head. Thanks to the massive amount of free time they had, Rocky was able to create a xenonite suit that fit closely to his body, allowing him to interact much more with Grace, instead of having to be in a ball.
“Rocky watch Grace sleep now,” he chimed, stroking Grace’s head, a little awkwardly. He had seen humans do it in movies when another seemed sad. He hoped he was doing it right.
“Thanks, Rock,” Grace said weakly, shivering.
“Grace cold, question?”
“A little…” It’s a hearty 70 degrees in here, and I’m cold. I guess it’s because I haven’t really moved or eaten much lately, Grace thought.
Rocky bounced away and came back with Grace’s quilt. He draped it over Grace, but he was still shivering. Rocky sat down and fit himself into the curl of Grace’s body.
“Rocky help warm Grace,” he said.
Grace gave out a light chuckle. “Thanks bud. You are warm.”
“Go sleep now, Grace.”
“Good night, Rocky.”
“Good night, Grace friend.”