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Since returning to Erid’s surface, Rocky had hardly left the alien’s medical ward. Only briefly had Adrian met the alien during the short periods that it found the strength to wake. Every time it stirred, Adrian had watched Rocky hastily get into a suit to enter the volatile alien atmosphere.
Mostly, the alien slept. ‘Grace’ was its name. In its language, its name referred to an ease and elegance in movement that it seemed to lack. Perhaps that was due to its sickened state, Adrian reasoned. Another meaning of the name was mercy and goodwill. While researching its culture, Adrian had learned that according to its mythology, the word described an esteemed trait of benevolence bestowed by a higher power.
Adrian found it a fitting name. Grace had saved Adrian’s mate even when it had thought that meant dooming itself. Adrian was eternally grateful for Grace and its goodwill.
“Rocky,” Adrian cooed.
Together, they sat in Grace’s medical room, outside the xenonite barrier closest to Grace. Rocky had hardly moved the entire day because it refused to let Grace sleep unwatched. It did not matter to Rocky that Grace was under constant monitoring by the medical staff. It could not be persuaded to take its attention off the alien.
“I watch Grace sleep,” Rocky stated before Adrian could say anything. It spoke in a choppy manner these days. Adrian had overheard its conversations with Grace, where Rocky used simplified vocabulary and unconventional grammar to communicate. Rocky had never been the most eloquent speaker, but now it was incredibly direct. It was harsh and lacked tone. Its phrasing was often like a pebble. No one said anything. So far, every Eridian seemed to understand that there were to be complex and lasting effects from being alone so long, then solely communicate using an alien language for years. Still, Adrian sensed the unease Rocky now gave other Eridians since its return.
Adrian knew it was not worth its time to suggest to Rocky to go home, and let Adrian watch as it slept in their bed. There was only one time Rocky had slept since it had returned home, and that had been at Grace’s insistence. Adrian had been shocked! The alien convinced Adrian’s spouse to sleep when Adrian itself could not! Ego aside, Adrian had to be grateful for Grace’s ability to sway Rocky. Perhaps during its next waking period, Adrian would ask Grace to convince Rocky of a second sleep cycle.
Adrian suspected that sleep deprivation was nothing new to Rocky. Adrian feared to consider how little Rocky had slept in all those years it was alone with no one to watch it sleep before meeting Grace.
“If I grab a cushion, will you sleep here?” Adrian asked. There were some in the waiting rooms Rocky had only used when doctors had kicked it out of the room. “I will watch you and Grace sleep.”
Rocky tilted one side of its carapace toward Adrian, then Grace. The gesture made sense for a species that received its primary sensory input from only one direction of its body. It was a very human behavior that was completely unnecessary for Eridians, but one Rocky had adopted for Grace. At least it made it easier to tell where Rocky was directing his attention.
“…Now?”
“Not if you don’t want, but soon.”
Rocky’s vents blew air before it answered. “Yes. Will sleep. For Adrian.”
Adrian let a low hum, acknowledging its words. Rocky should not be sleeping just to appease its partner, but the fact that it had agreed at all was a small step in the right direction. Adrian walked out of the room to grab a cushion it had heard earlier. Adrian tried not to outright hurry, but walked with a quickened pace that was becoming its new normal. Adrian did not want Rocky alone for long. Adrian knew that made Rocky nervous now, regardless of the building’s staff never being far.
Adrian returned, grateful not to see Rocky pacing or trying to enter Grace’s atmosphere again. Adrian set the cushion down. “Here. Rest on this, my harmony.”
When Rocky stood, its legs were shaky from being tucked under itself for so long. It took a few steps and settled onto the cushion. Adrian laid its own down right next to Rocky. When Rocky leaned into Adrian, Rocky let a long exhale of air go, savoring the moment.
Adrian knew it well enough to tell its focus remained on Grace. What parts of its mind were not actively focused on the alien in front of them were surely running calculations, designs, and plans surrounding Grace’s well-being.
“If you don’t want to sleep yet, may we talk?” Adrian asked.
“Yes.”
Adrian had to be careful in how to address this. Rocky had not spoken to many Eridians since its return and had yet to re-immerse itself in Eridian culture. Mostly, it had only spoken to the scientists, medics, and engineers relevant to keeping Grace alive. When only reuniting with its family for a few hours, it had grown anxious to be parted from Grace for long. It had postponed any formal meetings on the Tau Ceti mission, only agreeing to communicate from the hospital. All of Rocky’s focus and care was dedicated to Grace, and that had inadvertently shielded it from the rumors that had spread since its arrival.
While some Eridians in fringe groups were making up malicious conspiracy theories of Rocky killing his crew, or an impending alien invasion, and overall bastardizing Rocky’s, Grace’s, and their crews’ sacrifices, most Eridians were busy celebrating their saviors’ arrivals. Everyone was curious of the first intelligent alien life, and information had quickly spread that it had an Eridian handprint on one of its limbs.
“I want to speak about the mark on Savior Grace’s arm. How is there a mark of your hand on the fragile exterior layer of its body if you two cannot exist in the same environment?”
Rocky grew still. For only a moment, Adrian wondered if Rocky had fallen asleep, but it know Rocky well enough to tell.
After a long moment, Rocky spoke up, slowly and in a low tone. “Rocky hurt Grace; no mean to. Grace Rocky did dangerous mission to gather Taumoeba. Grace got hurt hurt hurt. Rocky… went into Grace’s atmosphere. Had to get him to medic robot. Eridian hands too hot for human skin. Rocky burned Grace trying to save him.”
It hits Adrian like a landslide that its mate had willingly entered the freezing, toxic atmosphere and risked death to save the alien they were watching. Why had Rocky not mentioned coming so close to death sooner?! But Adrian can’t focus on that; Rocky is speaking in such a low tone. Rocky feels guilty.
“You saved Savior Grace,” Adrian assured.
“Hurt him. Keep hurting Grace.”
“That is not true. Grace was sent to die by its species, but you are using all your power to make sure it is safe, ensure it is healed, and that it will have a comfortable habitat to live in while on Erid.”
“Grace deserves best,” Rocky said firmly.
It is so adamant about Grace’s comfort and safety. Adrian chuckled at the idea of what another Eridian might think if they could hear Rocky.
“What?”
“You are very sentimental toward it.”
“‘Him’,” Rocky corrects. It is not a preexisting word. The word Rocky made modifies the common Eridian pronoun for intelligent creatures, but indicates gender, which is some societal construct the humans classify themselves with. ‘He’ is also what Grace calls Rocky, and what Rocky seems to prefer, Adrian had to remind itself. Adrian doubts Rocky had considered that it has marked them as a social class of two.
“Yes,” Rocky agrees with Adrian. “Care, care, care about Grace.”
“I know. I think all of Erid knows.” A playful lilt enters its voice. “People are curious of the mark on Grace’s arm.”
“Why do they wonder? Do they think I hurt him on purpose?! No, no, no! Adrian! Tell Eridians Rocky no mean to!”
“No! No one thinks you hurt him on purpose,” Adrian replied quickly to ease Rocky’s mind before dropping the rumor, “They think it is a mate mark.”
Rocky freezes, with his legs straightening in surprise.
“Some Eridians think you were rejected, to have no matching mark on yourself,” Adrian says it all lightly, making itself obvious in its teasing. It’s quite the juicy rumor on Erid. Perhaps it should bother Adrian, but the outlandishness of how far some Eridians will spread a rumor amused it. Besides, its own curiosity had been piqued.
“Eridians think Rocky wanted Grace as mate?”
“Some do, yes.”
“They think Grace does not care about Rocky as much as Rocky cares for Grace?” Rocky shifts his legs tighter under him. “They think Rocky would not deserve that?”
Adrian is very quickly starting to regret this conversation. Adrian had thought some light teasing would raise Rocky’s mood like it once had. Light-hearted banter used to be common between them.
“Eridians would be right,” Rocky said. “Grace deserve everything. Saved Erid, saved Sol, saved Rocky. Rocky would give him anything, even if he hated Rocky. Would have threatened to throw Taumoeba to space if Eridians did not agree to heal Grace. Because of Grace, I hear you again, but did not return how I left. Rocky broken now. Does not deserve Grace’s care. Does not deserve mate Adrian.”
Adrian places a clawed hand over Rocky’s. It is a foreign gesture to Adrian, but it hopes it is comforting to Rocky.
“To Erid, you are Savior Rocky. You saved two stars. Rocky deserves so much joy and comfort. I love love love Rocky, even if Rocky has changed. I would never expect you to be the same after so much loss and loneliness. Rocky so so so cherished for being here.”
Rocky leans closer into Adrian, listening to its carapace for a long moment.
“Did Adrian think scar was mate mark?” Rocky asks.
“I did not think so. At first, I could not imagine you mated to another, and later, I grew certain it could not be.” Adrian considers its next words. The conversation could be left where it was, or Adrian could be honest. “I realized it could not be a mate mark because you did not have one to match, and it was clear you loved each other equally.”
Rocky had caught Adrian’s use of the word ‘love’. The same verb Adrian would use to describe its own feelings toward Rocky. The strongest word for care that Adrian knew. It made Rocky stiffen. “Grace does not feel such emotions. Is ‘♪ ♪ ♩ ♩ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♫’ — human satisfied with life without any urge for a mate. Besides, Rocky does not feel same toward Grace as toward Adrian.”
Interesting how Rocky immediately prioritized Grace’s feelings. His words were quick, like trying to convince Adrian away from something before he got in trouble.
“Relax, my harmony. I am assured in your love for me. That does not diminish that I can hear that your love has grown. It reaches Grace as fully as it reaches me.”
Adrian prepared itself for its next words. “I want only joy, safety, and love for you. In my absence, Grace gave you this. Eternally grateful. I know your song has changed after so long. You are still my harmony, but I know Grace and your souls sing a song only you two could ever know. Do not think I expect you to continue your life from the last note we sang together so many years ago. I still know you are my perfect harmony, just as I know you have found a second voice to sing with. I would never ask you to cut off your song. I only ask that you give me time to learn it. Do not diminish your love for the one who returned you to me.”
Rocky keened at Adrian’s words. When he spoke, it was in his usual pitch as he tilted his carapace in the same way he did when having lost an argument. “Adrian correct. Rocky loves Grace.”
“Tell him when he wakes,” Adrian coos.
Rocky fidgeted with his cushion. “Some Eridians need to mind own business, statement.”
“Hmm. Agreed.”
“Watch sleep?” Rocky asked.
“Yes. Watch Grace Rocky sleep.”