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Simon awoke to the sound of someone moving.
This would be normal, considering Grace moves in his sleep quite a bit, even more since they started sleeping together, but this was different. More desperate. Like he was trying to escape from something. If he strained his ears, Simon could even make out the beginnings of mumbled pleas and attempts to make deals with the people who were chasing him.
Grace rolled further and further to the edge of the bed, Simon internally debating whether or not to shake him awake, until the universe answered that question for him by the sound of a thud as Grace hit the floor of their bedroom. Luckily, the force of the fall managed to shake him awake, eyes glassy and unfocused as he adjusted to the waking world.
Grace looked around, unsure of his surroundings, muttering something under his breath before getting up and running off towards another part of the house. Simon got up and ran after him, worrying that he could hurt himself. Simon stopped in the kitchen, catching Grace's eye before he darted out the front door.
Simon rushed out after him, taking the steps down to the beach. Grace, not watching his footing, caught on a stray rock which sent him tumbling to the ground for the second time that night. “Angel! You okay?” Simon asked, getting down to Grace's eye level. Grace didn't respond right away, but when he met Simon's eyes, his own widened in dread and terror as he let out a gut-wrenching scream.
Simon gasped, never hearing a sound so awful come from Grace before. He was always so happy and upbeat, always willing to lend a hand and teach Simon about the new world he'd been dropped into. But now? He was the exact opposite, tears pouring down his face as he let out more primal sounding wails.
“Get away from me! I can't do it! Please don't make me go!” Grace screamed, Simon becoming a mere vision of the people that ripped him away from the only life he'd ever known. He then felt arms (or was it only one?) wrap around his waist, trying to get that needle in his neck and on a mission he wasn't sure would even work. But he didn't want to go, and he was going to fight for it.
Simon grabbed Grace in a tight hold, mostly as a last resort because that's what Grace did for him during his nightmares and panic attacks. But Grace was still trapped in his own nightmare, presumably seeing Simon as someone trying to hurt him or take him somewhere, judging by his desperate pleas and cries.
Simon then felt a sting and pressure on his right arm, only to look down to see Grace biting down as hard as he could, trying to make Simon let go. When that didn't work, he turned to his nails, making long deep scratches that were sure to bleed, but steering clear of the amputated arm just in case it was still healing. He may be fighting for his life, but he wasn't an asshole.
Simon was terrified for his angel. He didn't even care about his newly developed injuries, he only saw Grace, fighting for his life, face becoming blotchy and red with tears, Eridian shrieks making their way out of his soon to be raw throat. But he kept screaming, kept begging to be let go, crying so hard Simon was wondering how he had that much water left in his body at all. And Simon just let him, not pushing him away or trying to fight back. He'd never seen Grace like this before, and it scared him more than anything that damned ocean put him through.
Eventually, Grace woke up, so to speak. His breathing evened out, his pupils went back to normal, just getting used to being again. Simon let go of him, Grace stepping away from him, wiping his eyes. “Angel, what happened?” Simon asked, voice low. “Are you okay?” Grace asked, ignoring Simon's question, not just noticing his injuries. “It'll be fine, nothing the robot can't fix,” he replied, trying to make an attempt at humor for Grace's sake.
“Did I ever tell you how I got on the ship?” Grace asked, Simon shaking his head. “I was recruited to solve the astrophage problem, and there were supposed to be three original astronauts on the mission. But the scientist and his backup both died during an experiment, so they asked me to go. I said no of course, but they chased me down and stuck me with the coma drugs and an amnesia drug so I wouldn't sabotage the mission I didn't choose to be on. And even though it let me meet Rocky and later meet you, it's safe to say that it still lingers in my head sometimes. That was the last human contact I had until you, Si.”
Simon stood horrified. Was that why he was fighting so hard and screaming so loud? So that maybe a part of him would hope to be heard and saved? He didn't know. “It's like you always told me, you survived. You got to live, and that's all because of you and your strength.” “I know,” Grace said, leaning into Simon's chest. Simon's arm wrapped loosely around his back, supporting him but letting him leave if he wanted. Simon sighed through his nose, picking up the half-asleep angel and took him back to their house.
They could talk about this tomorrow. But what they both needed right now was some good night's sleep.