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Simon was adjusting to life on Erid. There had been a lot of challenges he’d faced when arriving.
One of which he was facing now, showering.
Simon takes a deep breath as he watches the water spray. He can do this. It’s just water, nothing like the blood ocean. Bracing himself, he steps under the spray, gritting his teeth. He notices he’s holding his breath and forces himself to breathe. God, why was he being such a baby! It was a fucking shower! Leaning against the shower wall, he closes his eyes in an attempt to calm down, but as soon as he does he’s back in the sub.
He hears the sound of the sub’s metal screaming in protest, the eel’s huge, sharp teeth penetrating the hull. He feels the scorching hot blood filling the sub as it raises past his knees.
No no no no this cant be happening again- please I just want to live, I want to live “NO!” He screams, falling backwards—
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Grace was in the living room grading some papers when he heard Simon screaming from the bathroom, followed by the sound of him falling.
“Simon?!” He immediately got up and ran to the bathroom, knocking on the door.
“Simon, are you okay?” When he doesn't get a response, he opens the door. Grace finds Simon on the floor curled into the corner of the shower, breath shallow and eyes distant. Carefully crouching down in front of the man, Grace attempts to make eye contact.
“Hey Si, everything's okay. You're here on Erid with Me. You’re safe, you’re not there anymore.”
Simon's eyes came into focus once again, locking onto Grace’s. “A-Angel?” His voice is shaky.
“Hey Si, you back with me?” Grace asks with a gentle smile. Simon can feel his eyes start burning.
“God, I’m so sorry-“
Grace cuts him off before he can say anything bad about himself. “Hey, it's okay. You have nothing to apologize for, Si.”
“I do! I mean, this is ridiculous, I'm a grown man who can't even take a shower without freaking out and making you fix my mess,” Simon clenches his fists and looks down.
Grace is silent for just a moment before, “Starlight, will you please look at me?” Simon's teary eyes meet Grace's, “I promise you, you have nothing to apologize for- let me continue,” Grace holds up a finger as Simon goes to interrupt. “You aren't making me do anything, I want to help you. I'm not doing this because I feel obligated, I do this because I love you.”
Grace almost immediately finds himself with an armful of Simon as he clings desperately to Grace's shirt. He feels his clothes getting wet, but he doesn't care as he hugs Simon tightly back, carding his finger through Simon’s dark hair.
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They stay like that for a while, until Grace's wet clothes began to stick to him uncomfortably.
“Hey, would it help if I took a shower with you?”
Simon pulls back enough to look at him with a nod, “Yeah if… if you wouldnt mind,” he says, hesitantly.
“Starlight, I wouldn't have offered if I minded,” Grace tells him, kissing his forehead before standing up and offering Simon his hand. Simons takes it, watching as Grace starts peeling off his soaked clothes, a slight grimace painting his face.
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Grace has his shirt halfway over his head when he hears Simon chuckling. “What?” He asks with a small smile as he watches Simon shake his head, slightly covering his grin.
“You look like a wet cat.”
“I- I do not!” Grace says with a pout that just makes Simon laugh more.
“You do.”
“Well you- you look like-” Grace looks over Simon, trying to think of a comeback, but he comes up short as his eyes trail over Simon’s body.
“See something you like, Angel?” Grace's eyes snap back up to Simon's face, blushing bright red.
“No!-“ Grace realizes what he said and how Simon might take it the wrong way, so he starts rambling. “I mean- yes…obviously. You're very attractive! I wasn’t saying ‘No, you aren't attractive,’ or ‘I don't like your body’ because I do! But, I like more than just your body! I obviously don’t like you for only your body! Even though you do have a nice-“
“Grace.”
“...Yeah?”
“I’m teasing you.”
Grace feels his face heat up more. “Oh...r-right,” Grace clears his throat and finishes getting undressed, right before Simon pulls him into a hug.
“God, how’d I get so lucky,” Simon mumbles against his shoulder.
“We both got lucky,” Grace says, swaying them slightly back and forth before walking them both under the spray of water.
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He can feel the way Simon tenses against him when the water hits them. “Shhh, you're okay. I'm right here,” Grace reassures him, hugging him closer and rubbing his shoulders.
After a short while, Simon begins to relax. It takes longer than average for them to finish in the shower, Grace goes slowly as he washes Simon's hair, making sure to not set him off. They had to pause multiple times when Simon's mind started to wander, so by the time they were both clean Simon was exhausted.
After drying off and getting in their boxers, Grace led them to their bed, holding Simon’s hand.
Simon immediately curled up against Grace’s side, resting his head on his chest as he listened to the sound of his heartbeat. Simon tilts his head up, propping his chin on Grace’s chest.
“Thank you.”
Grace smiles fondly down at him, running his hand through his hair then cupping his face.
“Of course.”
Simon leans up to press a gentle kiss to his lips.
“I love you, Angel.”
“I love you too, Starlight.”
~End~