Chapter Text
The biodome was built surprisingly quick, ofcourse everything was a work in progress but it held breathable air so Simon wasn't complaining.
It took roughly 6 months to build so unfortunately he and Grace had to stay on the hailmary until then. Though, the first few weeks eridians came up and talked with Grace.
They did end up finding a solution to their scurvy within 2 weeks. And after another 2 weeks they had food with atleast some nutrition, and some supplements to give the rest the.. meburgers (He seriously hates that name) didn't give.
Grace ended up recovering in about 3 months and Simon took an extra month. Probably due to the low food rations before he even met Grace.
But all of that aside, they've been living in a small xenonite hut in the biodome for about a week and a half while the Eridians focused on completing the rest of the biodome, making sure it wouldn't malfunction. Then they started on building a house for them.
Simon and Grace talked and figured that there isn't really a point in having two houses. They've been living together perfectly fine for like four years.
Somethings off though. Maybe he's just paranoid but Simon swears he keeps hearing whispering.
He's even had a fight with Grace about it. Simon thought it was him, telling him to stop and Grace just kept saying it wasn't him.
Simon didn't really believe Grace until he heard it when Grace wasn't around.
Grace would be hanging out with Rocky at the other end of the biodome and he'll hear a whisper of his name. It's starting to freak him out, like he's back down in that sub again.
Now that he thinks about it hes been a lot more irritable lately. But can you seriously blame Simon?? His back hurts and he's so paranoid he's hearing things.
Yknow what? He's just going to garden, that always calms him, talking to Adrian also does, but they're busy at the moment. Simon honestly doesn't know how Rocky landed such a nice Eridian.
Simon walks out of the house, spotting his pride and joy, the little greenhouse he's made with the plants from the hailmary.
Simon grabs his little spray bottle and kneels down to gently mist his plants. Giving each and everyone of them his attention.
"Simon," He hears the whispers again. It's different this time, like multiple people whispering his name at once. But he ignores it.
"We're here"
"I'm here"
"They're here"
"It's us"
He hears it more clearly now, not a whisper anymore. But it's overlapping like an echo.
But it doesn't continue and Simon tries his best to not think about it. He's not gonna fucking spiral after he just got settled in.
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It hasn't stopped, it's becoming more frequent. It used to be once every few days and now it's almost daily, he feels like he's going crazy.
And his back won't stop fucking hurting, the first time he mentioned it was to Adrian after a few days of hiding it. Adrian told him he had a growing bump on his lower back but they didn't know it wasn't normal.
Simon obviously freaked, found Grace and had him look at it. Grace seemed very concerned.
"This isn't anything I've seen before. You're tailbone looks to have shifted up and something is growing from it." Grace explained.
"So basically what you're saying is I'm not done mutating." Simon growls, how more fucked up can he get?? He already has teeth that grew out his cheek, fucking gills on his neck and ribs, and his ears have grown into fins.
"Kinda, I think the pain you're experiencing is growing pain. We'll, uh, keep an eye on it okay?"
"Whatever," Simon grumbles
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The next time Simon heard the voices, as he's labeled them, was on the beach the next day. He was just sitting there enjoying the artificial breeze when it interrupted his thoughts
"Simon"
"Hello again"
"Convict"
"Butcher"
"Be nice"
"No"
Simon's brows furrow, this time it sounds like the echos are more distinct, almost like a conversation. "I'm fucking insane for doing this, but, Hi?"
"Response"
"Finally"
"Knew he would"
"Recognition"
"Hello"
Simon sighs, "This is weird as hell, what is happening." He says more to himself then anything, but he receives a response nonetheless.
"Host"
"We are one"
"Together"
"Simon is host"
"One mind"
"Im.. what??" Simon doesn't even want to comprehend what the hell this is.
"Host."
"Live in Simon"
"Past body died"
"Convict new member"
"Still alive"
"Not group"
"One"
"Shut up"
Simon's brain halts, "Wait. Are you that fucking eel??"
"Yes"
"Not eel"
"No"
"Eel"
"Agree"
"Fuck, okay. Why are you just showing up now?" Simon's asks, head in his hands.
"Weak"
"Convict mind unstable"
"Filter in and out"
"Asleep"
"Always here"
"Stuck"
Simon blows the air out of his lungs, "Okay, that was a confusing answer. I'm also concerned that you.. guys? Are just there watching everything. How much have you guys seen."
"Simon"
"Plants"
"Parts of house"
"Beach"
"Blue Rock"
"Other human?"
"No"
"Maybe"
Simon thinks that answer over, "You haven't seen Grace?"
"Hand"
"Not alot"
"Ratty shoes"
"Nope"
"Very little"
"Stupid name"
"Says you"
"I... don't know how to feel about that. Do you all have names?" Simon asks hesitantly.
"Doesn't matter."
"No"
"Forgot"
"Move on"
"All one"
"Cannot agree on name"
"They were stupid"
"Okay.. um-" before Simon could question them further though they cut him off.
"Fading"
"Hate you"
"Stop it"
"No"
"Eel out"
"Not eel"
"No whimsy here"
And they were gone again. Simon is a whole mix of emotions right now. But he can smell food wafting from the house so he pushes off the sand, electing to ignore this and have dinner with Grace.
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The next time they appear is after Simon has dinner with Grace. Simon fears that at some point they're always going to be there. He's just thankful that Grace has gone upstairs to do some classwork planning since Rocky told him he is allowed to teach Eridian children once the biodome is finished.
"Simon"
"We're back"
"Convict."
"Miss us?"
"We miss the blood ocean"
"We don't"
Simon groans, "why do you miss the blood ocean?" He asks like a tired parent.
"Warm"
"It's home"
"Swimming"
"Eating people"
"No."
"Agree"
Simon pauses, "I'm only counting the first three as valid."
"No fun"
"Thank you"
"Fuck off"
"Unfair"
"Doesn't matter"
Simon only sighs deeply, before footsteps catch his attention and he sees Grace rounding the corner, looking concerned. "You okay? Who are you talking too?"
"Holy shit"
"That's Grace??"
"He's hot"
"Would."
"GODDAMN"
"Need that."
Simon's face goes beet red and he grabs his hair, hunching over between his knees almost. "Shut up!" He says through gritted teeth.
"No"
"Only if he tells us"
"Kiss him"
"We need him"
"Sharing is caring"
"Don't fumble this"
"Simon, what's going on..?" Grace asks gently as he moves to sit next to him on the couch.
"Um, something has been happening.." Simon trails off, where was he even supposed to start?
"So detailed"
"No, really?"
"Idiot"
"Spit it out Convict."
"Tell about us"
Simon grits his teeth, "Yknow when I thought you were whispering? So turns out that might be that eel I saw in the blood ocean."
Grace only looks more confused.
"Blood merged us"
"Now apart of Simon"
"Convict is host"
Simon is surprised that they elaborate for him but takes the information anyway, who is he to look a gift horse in the mouth?
"They appear as voices in my head. They uh said that the blood from the ocean merged us and now they're apart of me and I'm the host?" Simon tries his best to relay.
"Oh. Well, I suppose that isn't the worst outcome." Grace says after a moment of taking in the information. "Also, they?"
"We are one"
"Merged before in eel"
"Still not an eel"
"Suck it"
"I can suck Grace"
Simon doesn't look Grace in the eye when he answers, "Yea they were merged in the eel before"
"Oh, okay. That's so interesting!" Grace smiles.
"Gorgeous"
"Beautiful"
"Study us"
"One chance"
Simon rubs his temples, he doesn't know how long he can handle this. "Easy for you to say when you don't have to hear them constantly going at it. It seems the only thing they can agree on is that they like you."
Grace blinks at him suprised, "They do?"
"Yes," he sighs, "A lot"
"Pretty man"
"Please"
"Kiss him"
"We need to hit that"
"Fucking hell, it's like they're slowly getting more inappropriate"
"What!?" Grace screeches, "they like me like THAT??"
"You fumbled it"
"How dare you"
"This is why we hate you" "He hates us now"
"He thinks we're creeps"
"We are creeps"
"Oh my god!" Simon groans, "Will you guys fucking relax!? And yes! You guys are very much creeps!"
"Fuck you"
"We hate it here"
"Die"
"Bastard"
"So embarrassing"
"We could've had it all"
"I mean, I'm flattered," Grace says shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"We still got it"
"Not fumbled yet"
"Fix this, Convict"
"We need this man in our soul"
"Yes"
"True"
"Agree"
"Absolutely"
"Without a doubt"
Simon sighs for the fifth time this conversation as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Do they have a name?" Grace asks.
"I asked earlier and they said they couldn't decide on one name." Simon explains, turning to face Grace.
Grace seems to think for a moment, "Would they mind if I just nicknamed them?"
"Do it"
"Absolutely"
"You can do whatever baby"
"Not at all"
"Please do"
"They said sure," Simon adjusts the answer. Taking out all of the unnecessary desperation and pleading.
"Okay, and you said they were an eel right?"
"Maybe"
"If you want"
"Yes"
"Something like that"
Simon simply nods, ignoring how they've stopped protesting that they weren't an eel.
"How about Elli then?" Grace smiles, "Like Elli the eel."
"Cute"
"It's perfect"
"Adorable"
"We like it"
"We like you more"
"They like it.." Simon says, already done with all of this.
"I'm happy to hear that!" Grace beams, Simon smiles lightly despite his hatred for the situation.
"Don't panic guys"
"I'm panicking"
"He's so Portuguese"
"We love him"
"Swooning"
Simon grunts, leaning back so he can maneuver into Grace's side, resting his head on his shoulder. If he has to suffer he's atleast gonna get some compensation. And by the look on Grace's face, he doesn't mind one bit.
So he snuggles into Grace like a cat, ignoring the cheers in his head and the ache in his back.