Chapter Text
Over the years, Adrian's seen many different forms of Simon.
Terrified and confused, wedged in the corner of his observation cell, begging for his life. Focused and snarky, debating with his co-engineers, tool between teeth, elbows deep in some project. Unresponsive and lost, standing at the edge of a lake that isn't red based off their multiple scans, stitching together a fractured mind with the present. Serious and confident, piloting through a debris field and strolling along the space elevator exterior with the same ease as breathing.
Happy and calm, surrounded by plants, humming their mating song, wearing jewelry that chimed and swayed in the biodome's wind.
One of their favorite forms of Simon was the one currently tucked against their limbs. His breaths were slow and quiet, heart rate strong and steady. Curled up in a blanket with little raised textures resembling the plants he so loved, head cushioned by a pillow made of the same material. Though the nest in the greenhouse was smaller than the one in the den, Adrian made sure it still had many pillows and blankets for Simon to have ample selection.
Around the midway point of the biodome's day-night cycle, Simon would take a nap in the greenhouse. Surrounded by soft materials for his squishy flesh, Adrian's legs caging said materials in as extra support, solar lamps providing a gentle, cozy warmth.
A most optimal environment for a restful nap.
Adrian pressed their carapace gently against him, a pleased trill vibrating out their chords as he shifted to press back, still asleep.
They were endlessly fascinated by how human sleep worked. Dreaming itself was an entire aspect they were still curious about, ever since Rocky mentioned it. Unlike Eridians, sleeping was different between humans.
Grace could sleep right through Rocky welding xenonite in the same room, while Simon would wake up from mere footsteps, yet also slept through Adrian's singing. Grace made loud, rumbling noises and preferred to sleep on his side curled around Rocky or spread out, four limbs in each direction. Simon at most made a few quiet grumbles here and there and slept curled in a ball, right arm covering the back of his head.
Usually they'd watch their two humans to observe more differences, but Grace was busy with Rocky today on the Hail Mary, something in regards to attempting interstellar radio messaging. With the newly installed antenna on the space elevator, the prospect of establishing Earth and Erid relations were becoming more possible by the day.
The shrill beeping of Simon's radio broke through their melody. Adrian tried to silence it with a limb not cradling Simon, expelling a note of frustration when his hand shot out from underneath his blanket and grabbed it first.
Why can't Simon be more like Grace, who usually slept right through his first alarm?
"Hello…?" Simon grumbled, pinching the radio between his shoulder and ear as he wiped the sleep from his face. Adrian whined. That was one of their favorite things to see! Usually upon waking, Simon was all gentle features and soft sounds.
<Apology apology apology, Engineer Simon! The east hull arm track broke and no other arms can reach the site. Do you have time to come by and fix it?>
"Yeah yeah, I'm coming. Give me a couple minutes," Simon yawned, extracting himself from their nest, leaving the safety of Adrian's arms.
They let out a loud, discordant twang and snagged him by his waist. Easily pulling him down, Simon blinked as he fell back against the pillows.
"Adrian?"
They snatched up the radio and pressed down on the talk button. <Is it important? Does it need to be fixed immediately?> They asked, claws creaking against the shell, threatening to snap it into two.
<Well, not really—>
<Then Mate Simon will come fix it later. Don't call again until at least IVVℓℓℓ seconds have passed.> One stomp against the wall so they could hear over the radio. Adrian huffed and shuffled him and the blankets around until he was back curled against them, tucked away safe and sound.
"Adrian, it's not that big of a deal," Simon mumbled, patting their carapace face.
<Last week, your sleep was interrupted λ times. Mealtime interrupted V times. Unacceptable.>
Simon snorted and tucked his legs up toward his chest, letting Adrian curl around him even more. "I used to work half a day on an hour of sleep just for some water."
<And Simon will never do that again.> Adrian pinned their limbs over his ankles. They could already hear Simon's heart rate slowing back down as he shifted a couple more times to get comfortable. Three of their chords began to sing an old Eridian melody about the surface, one of Simon's favorites to listen to. <Go back to sleep, my melody.> They sang with chord four, Simon laughing quietly and nodding.
"Yeah yeah, I hear you."
It wasn't long before Simon was back asleep, breaths soft, heart slow and steady. Adrian watched over him, listening for when he truly fell into deep sleep and could finally get some proper hours of rest under his skin. And considered implementing a rule of leaving the radio outside the nest.