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Adrian runs a claw over Grace's forelimb as delicately as they can.
The texture of Grace's carapace is muffled behind a xenonite suit, the small variations masked. Still, Adrian marvels at the vast difference in their forms.
Across the surface of Grace is so much… give, for lack of a better term. They know why, they have been studying studying studying on the 'human thinking machine' nonstop since Grace and their beloved returned from the Vast Silence. Adrian is aware of the elasticity of the human carapace. Of their 'skin', an organ very troublingly on the outside of their bodies. This knowledge does nothing to temper the tactile sensation of Grace's body literally giving way underneath contact.
The very first time Adrian touched Grace they felt the motion and yanked their arm back as if the suit had burst and they'd been exposed to Grace's deadly oxygen. Not from disgust, the motion and the sensation of Grace was odd yes, but Adrian was not afraid. They were biologist, they dealt with creatures with thin, often slimy carapaces before.
No, they had been worried they broke Grace.
Which in itself would be horrible horrible. Grace has suffered so much since coming here. Salvation was at hand, perhaps, but not guaranteed. Adrian knew Grace was still terrified in the rare moments they were lucid enough to speak. Hunger gripped them so tightly that all who know Grace fear they still might not rip them free of its grasping claws.
So yes, Adrian was awfully frightened of hurting Grace. Of damaging delicate 'skin' and 'bones' that bravely attempt to hold a form together that is so very ready to fall apart.
Rocky, their beloved, has been holding tight for the entire journey to Erid. Embracing Grace to keep those pieces together. Their love was exhausted. Their love needed their help.
Grace needed their help.
Which Adrian would readily give. Not just willingly, but eagerly. With joy and passion and love and relief— How else could they react? Their mate came home from the deepest void. Returned to their side, followed their song of love right back home.
All of this was wonderful. Exhilarating! Terrifying. So many emotions. So little time to process them.
After all, their mate had brought a few new notes to their song.
Grace threw some… hm. They did not throw discordant beats into their thrum, no. That implies Grace is not welcome. Which they are. Very much welcome. Adrian has only gotten the ah… what did Rocky call it? The 'spark-notes' of the journey so far, they were simply too tired to tell the rest of the details, but Adrian understands the most important one; that Grace was kind. That they gave up so very much for their mate. For their planet.
(But mostly for Adrian's mate.)
This is why Adrian is so very. Hesitant in touching Grace. They are different, yes, but not disturbing. Adrian has held creatures much more disgusting in their bare claws as the little bastard tried to bite them and— They digress. Grace is not upsetting to touch.
Its simply that the act of hurting Grace is of hurting Rocky.
And Adrian would never, never hurt their beloved.
…and also. Grace is very, very easy to hurt.
There was an event. Call it a small incident during an examination with one of the doctors putting a bit too much pressure on Grace as they slept.
Apparently they bruised Grace.
(Adrian had only gotten there in time to hear Rocky's shrieks of rage. Of the impressive amount of swears their mate was flinging at the poor medical care professionals who were already more than a little rattled by a literal alien being one of their patients. It took both Adrian and one of Rocky's parents to soothe them.)
…Adrian was more impressed that Rocky could sense bruising so well. It is exceedingly difficult to hear such subtle damage to creatures you are not intimately familiar with! Rocky never dealt with such delicate creatures before Grace.
Now though, Adrian is aggrieved to know that they have had a lot of practice learning the tells.
Carefully, carefully, Adrian again strokes Grace's limb. Maintaining an even rhythm that Adrian can only hope is comforting. Rocky already told them Grace enjoyed physical contact. That in fact, touch was very important to humans. The few 'psychology' notes that they were able to scan and translate amidst all the chaos corroborated their mate's words. Humans are 'pack' animals, their social bonds are very important; humans need their pack, just as Eridians need their clan, their friends and family.
Adrian hopes it is not too forward to place themselves in this position. Of comforter, of sleep watcher. Humans apparently do not always need a sleep watcher— And yet they often choose to rest together. For what purpose? Unclear. Need to do more research— but Adrian gets the sense that humans would generally prefer someone close to them to stay in this situation. Not a stranger, as sometimes busy Eridians must make do with during a sudden sleep cycle.
But the only person Grace is familiar with on the entire world is Rocky. They are the one who watch and watch sleep as much as possible. Sleeping beside Grace twice since they returned from the stars. Adrian had wished they had gone home. Was upset and unsettled when they didn't the first sleep. Was worried that perhaps they did not want to come home.
Meeting Grace and seeing just how delicate a creature they were, how precarious their situation is, gave Adrian far more compassion for their mate's choice. It is not…
It would not be out of the realm of possibility for Grace's song to fade while Rocky slept. As much as they are trying to help, Grace is still so hurt, so ill.
So, knowing that Rocky could never forgive themself if Grace were to leave without even a mourning song, Adrian has started planning for the long haul. For staying in this odd, hastily constructed med-bay for the for-audible future. They already have managed to convince the doctors and engineers of Grace environment to allow them to build nests right beside Grace room. Close enough to rest beside their mate while Rocky still listens for Grace's very squishy, very alive noises.
Rocky said they were so grateful. That they were so happy that Adrian was not angry at them for their fear. For their near desperation to care for Grace. Which was foolish, because suggesting otherwise did make Adrian irritated.
Did Rocky really think Adrian would think poorly of Grace? Of Rocky?? Of their bond? Preposterous.
Adrian's love was alone. For years. For hundreds of years. Left only with bodies, shells of Eridians that they must have been too frightened to even go near for fear of sickness. Of a mystery demise reaching them at last. Lost in a place with no sound but your own, with ghosts echoing around you… it sounds like a horror story.
Yet it was their Dear Song's reality.
Until Grace.
This delicate person resting under their claw gave their mate hope. Gave their mate joy. Gave their mate friendship and love. Watched them sleep, kept them safe.
Brought them home.
Adrian did not quite yet know what to think about Grace. Had barely gotten a chance to know the human beside the barest of greetings. But right now all that matters is what Rocky feels about them.
So, curled up in their nest less than a dozen full steps away from where Grace lays, Adrian had convinced their love to actually take care of themself. A task difficult to accomplish before their trip into the void.
Much, much harder now. Their mate is exasperating.
'But Grace!' They kept claiming. As if taking the time to head off and eat privately would doom the human instantly.
Adrian had to soothe them, promise over and over not to leave Grace's soundscape range. The doctors were also here, but Rocky did not seem to think that mattered much.
(In truth, Adrian was relieved that Rocky deemed them trustworthy to guard over Grace. It didn't seem like anyone was worthy to their love.)
It had still taken hours to press hard enough for Rocky to agree. Dejected, Rocky had walked to the makeshift campus where Adrian knows private rooms are being built. Adrian is sure they will come bounding back as soon as is physically possible. Which is not very quickly, unfortunately. Lack of gravity has harmed their mate over the long stretch of centuries. The doctors assure them both that Rocky will recover. But Adrian knows they will have to make sure of it themself. Will have to plan to care for Rocky, to nudge Rocky to take care of themself.
Which is exactly how they got in this position, stroking Grace as softly as they can, trying not to harm them. And even more difficult, trying to find the line between comfort and waking them up.
Yes! They can wake up during a sleep cycle! To anything!!
Well. Not simply anything. Hopefully not to this. But it didn't matter.
After all, Grace had already been making noise when Adrian came in.
"Grace?" They had whistled, rising from the empty nest when they heard a sharp cry from the strange voice. Rushing to their side, hearing a doctor only a pace behind them. Hoping with growing desperation that Rocky was not about to lose Grace the second they left their human behind.
Everything in the room had been relief. Grace was quiet once more, resting in their own bed. The doctor said everything seems normal. As far as they could tell.
(Adrian will not mention their phrasing to Rocky.)
Despite the doctor's assurance, Adrian still felt anxiety tapping at their carapace. They did not know what caused the change in Grace's condition. So they chose to stay, to observe Grace themself, to try and soothe. Rocky would like that anyway.
As far as Adrian could tell, Grace is still asleep. Their 'eyes' are shut, the strange, watery organs covered with a thin layer of carapace. To block 'light', they suspect. And their heartbeat is slowing again with every gentle touch. From this distance Adrian can hear their single heartbeat stutter occasionally and then regain what they hope is a proper rhythm. Aha, so Adrian is doing it right! Hopefully!
Tapping very, very lightly on a reverberation bar beside Grace's bed, they can hear that their 'face' is different than the slack from before. And much different than the odd gestures they maintain when awake.
Leaning as close as they can, Adrian can sense the motion of their eyes. Moving in their sleep… it is slightly disturbing to know just how much movement is involved in human sleep, but Rocky had informed everyone that human eye motion was normal. Was part of 'dream', a concept that Rocky had not yet explained beyond 'sleep-hallucinations', which sounds incredibly distressing.
Likely the reason Grace seemed so restless. Is it frightening? Is it part of human illness? Adrian hopes they can move past 'dream' to sleep properly.
Again, very, very carefully, they press ever so slightly harder into the skin. Perhaps that will provide more comfort. They really need Rocky to tell them more about how to help.
Rocky… does this to Grace's 'head' sometimes. Runs their claws through the soft fur there. But Adrian is hesitant to broach that act. They know the 'head' is quite sensitive. It seems to be where every single sense humans possess lives. Save for touch.
Because of that, Adrian is content to try and maintain contact in a place that they are almost a hundred percent certain they will not hurt as long as they are gentle.
Below their claw, the skin presses down more with the additional pressure. The skin shifts with no leaking, which would be incredibly bad.
Adrian freezes though, when the limb… moves in rhythm.
At first they worry they have harmed Grace and the human is trying to twitch their damaged and weakened limb out of their grip, but then Grace's body does not move except for the strange occasional pressure.
In fact, it feels familiar. In small, soft-bodied water creatures, you can feel the motion occasionally. (Even as they try and bite you.) Adrian has mostly focused on ecology over individual biology in their career, but they understood it could be from multiple mechanisms depending on species. Most common is water rushing through their body to move muscles or whole limbs. Similar to an eridian's own motion. Adrian had always found something harmonious in that— Water being so entwined with their very being that they pulse with it, like the ebb and flow of waves across the quickest of oceans.
For a moment they wonder why the rhythm lives in Grace's muscles.
Quickly they remember their research. It is a fluid much more important than water, it is Grace's 'blood'. A substance that few creatures on their planet have. The equivalent that Eridians themselves have is liquid mercury, and very little of it, reasonably.
Grace has much blood, and it sings with a rhythm that as Adrian holds their limb, they can feel harmonizes with their lone heartbeat.
How odd, they think at first.
How lovely, they start to feel after listening for a few minutes.
Grace settles, relaxing muscles that Adrian had not realized we're tensed until they hear them unwind. Their 'head' shifts, sliding on the pillow and the 'cardigan' that Rocky had carefully tucked under them when they first transferred Grace. Their fur falls in their face a bit, some sticking to the pillow in a little clump as they reposition. Adrian worries, they are unsure if human fur should fall out so readily—
Their claw slides up into Adrian's.
Freezing once again, panic rushes through them with enough vengeance that their vents actually respond with a huffs of breath, lingering in their xenonite suit.
Any motion to comfort Grace ceases immediately as their hand touches Adrian's claws. They can't move a single centimeter.
What if they hurt Grace?
Perhaps its illogical, they know they can hold delicate creatures. They touched Grace for minutes before now without harm. But Grace's claws…
Its just. They feel so, so fragile. Brittle. Delicate.
Pressed against the suit, centimeters away from their own are claws that are longer by at least a third. Their larger size makes them feel no less breakable, however. They're blunt at the end, rounded arcs with only a small bit of a harder material tipping them. Adrian marvels as the sudden difference in sound quality. Does that part have a separate name? Likely, it is a part of one of the most important sections of humans.
Compared to the rest of their limb, the complexity of Grace's claws are astonishing. Each claw has three separate joints, allowing for a range of motions that eridian claws could never manage. Even now as they slip towards Adrian's, those claws have a relaxed bend.
In each claw is small 'bone' structures wrapped in tendons to move. So little actual support, so little to protect the important part of the limb. Even the base of the claws are fragile sounding, with lost 'fat' padding revealing a mass of bones near yet another joint on the limb.
All of these joints should make the human hand feel gangly, but somehow it doesn't.
Rocky joked before, quavery and nervous, held in Adrian's arm as they both watched the doctors leaping around Grace, listening to and scanning different body parts like mad to figure out how to even begin treating an alien, that the only part of Grace that lived up to their name was their strange claws.
(And their brain. Sometimes.)
Feeling these long, fragile claws now, Adrian understands exactly what they meant. Its odd, but they are quite fascinating.
Also. Disturbing. What do you mean this is one of the main ways humans interact with their world?! How do these not shatter in the slightest crisis??
Perhaps that is being a tad dramatic. Adrian is sure that Grace's long health decline is the cause of them being so. Thin. Narrow and loud with their supports so obviously exposed.
Taking a massive risk, Adrian moves their claw, entwining them with Grace's.
Prepared to leap away at the slightest sign of pain from Grace, Adrian holds the claws and runs their thumb across the base of Grace's equivalent claw. It feels the least fragile, with a small amount of 'fat' still stored to cushion any rough contact.
The pump of blood in time with their heart greets Adrian.
No terrible, agonized response from the sleeping human.
Ah— Anticlimactic. But excellent! This does not harm them—
Grace warbles a tone that does not belong to Eridian, shifts again, and squeezes their delicate claws around Adrian's.
Adrian is glad that they are alone in the room. The honk they let out is. Undignified to say the least.
Can anyone blame them? The only thought in their brain is,
Do not squeeze back, do not squeeze back, do not crush those tiny claws, DO NOT—
Grace in their rest is merciful enough to relax again, but keep their hand entwined with Adrian's. Two of their five only loosely hooked onto one of Adrian's. Their hand no longer in danger, but still holding onto comfort.
Which Adrian is very glad for, except for the beating of their five hearts out of control. Rocky never would have forgiven them had they broken Grace's limb.
Adrian would never forgive Adrian! Oh, they feel faint. Their hearing feels fuzzy.
Leaving their hand near Grace's, they hope the human is taking comfort in absolutely scaring Adrian half to death. They will need to enter sleep-cycle to recover from that alone!
Humming a laugh, Adrian lets the sudden shock and terror wash away, staying close to monitor Grace and provide comfort still. Although, that hand is now captured.
The temperature difference wasn't apparent to Adrian before, the xenonite holds back most of the cold of Grace environment. With human claws pressed into their own, unmoving, Adrian begins to feel the slightest chill. Almost imperceptible, save for the fact that they are focused on being very careful and not maiming Grace. It brings their attention solely to that point of contact.
Its not unpleasant. In fact, they would call it an intriguing sensation. Nothing on their planet is naturally so cold. Some artificial preservation materials, maybe. Adrian can't imagine being so cold all the time. Obviously its normal for Grace, the human has their own range of temperature perception. Eridians are burning hot to Grace, they probably think their own body temperature is perfectly fine.
Still, Adrian can't help but wonder if that incessant chill is the reason for Grace clinging on so readily. Perhaps they are simply tired of being cold.
Chittering another laugh at the thought, Adrian uses another hand to tap the reverb bar again, taking stock of Grace's status. Far be it from them to remove the hand that Grace has claimed.
Relief. The sound reveals nothing too amiss. Grace's 'head' is tilted, the front part where all their senses seem to be located is leaning to the side, pressing into the plush 'cardigan' material. Their face muscles are pinched, with what little plushness that remains in Grace's face smushed into the bed.
Somehow, their slight motions have knocked their fur into even more disarray, the longest part at the top now resting all across Grace's eyes.
Is that comfortable? The muscles near their eyes are squinted even in sleep.
When this happened while Rocky was watching Grace sleep, Rocky occasionally moved the fur. Sometimes while petting, shifting it away from Grace's eyes.
Ah… Adrian is getting a bad idea.
Changing their comfort plan had already almost send them into a panic— and this is by far more dangerous.
One false move and they wake up Grace! Or blow them up, possibly. In this moment it feels like those are equal stakes.
Acknowledging that they are being ridiculous and maybe a little delirious (Rocky is not the only one who perhaps has skipped sleep and the occasional meal lately), Adrian shakes off the lingering worry and just goes for it.
Halfway there, Adrian realizes just how bad this idea is. That human 'head' have to be very sensitive— But Rocky does it all the time!— and that they should just let Grace sleep. Surely their own fur is not that big a bother.
And yet, they continue reaching, carefully, carefully touching their 'face', a few centimeters above their 'eyes'.
Then pushing back in the same motion they touched Grace's arm with, use a gentle press against the fur to move it back into place.
Immediately Adrian grasps that this actually might be one of the strangest parts about Grace. When Rocky called it fur, that must have simply been the closest concept they could compare it to, not the most accurate description. As Adrian expects the thick, bristly fur that a few genus of animals on Erid maintain, they brace for the sharp edges, even knowing they could not hope to pierce xenonite.
Instead, they are greeted with tiny, tiny strands that are crumpled together. The spines that Adrian had expected to feel absent entirely in favor of masses of soft tufts. Its a texture that Adrian is actually shocked to realize they might not have an equivalent for!
And Rocky said this was after it became dry and brittle. They ponder what this 'hair' is supposed to be like when its healthy. They wonder what it will take to get it back.
Adrian much hopes to feel it soon.
As their claws push this strange fur out of strange 'eyes', Grace hums.
They freeze, but Grace leans into the touch. Pressing their head further into Adrian's claws. They don't seem bothered by the suit or the ensuing heat they must feel. No, they 'smile' a little.
So very strange, to hear Grace's bones so clearly. Even weirder for the exposing of these bones to be a sign of joy or greeting.
Fascinating as well.
Thoughtlessly, Adrian leans on the bed, bracing most of their weight on the frame to free a third limb to explore the surface of Grace's 'face'. One hand still in their hair, the other still held with no ransom, they have to resort to yet another limb to explore the details of this alien before them.
Adrian finds that while most of their fur is on the top of their head, there are two small patches of fur just above the eyes. Adrian has no idea if they have a practical purpose, but they do already have running theories about human expression and evolution selecting for social signaling and display. The muscles the patches are connected to move around quite a bit, and Adrian is fairly certain they would be obvious to a human's senses. Likely they are a part of 'facial expressions' that the 'psychology' notes and Rocky both insisted on being critical in human communication. Perhaps Grace can tell them more later.
With Grace not responding negatively, Adrian allows themself an indulgent, if very careful exploration of the side of their 'face'. Feeling where another bone juts out below their eyes. To protect the organs? Rocky said they were very, every delicate sounding. Which they are. Disturbingly so. The exact words that Rocky used were 'gross as hell', but Adrian will be nicer than their mate. Although they understand why one would react with shock. Eyes are weird! Yet another part of Grace that Adrian truly does not have a comparison for. Nothing on Erid senses light.
…Nothing that they know about, anyway.
Starkiller-predator lived in the clouds of the planet that their beloved named after them. Could something similar live in the thickest of Erid clouds? Doubtful, science thrums have sent probes in before, but it would be a fun experiment. Imagine, finding new kinds of life so close to home. Perhaps they 'see' as Grace does. This could be fun topic of conversation for later— The human is a 'microbiologist', so it would be their area of expertise.
Adrian is curious, but avoids touching near the center of the face. At least three senses live there (insane), and Adrian does not want to push their luck too far or risk damaging sensitive human organs. Also, it feels a bit rude.
For now, they continue petting soft fur in comforting motions, letting Grace grasp on to their limb, and brace a claw around Grace's face. Near the middle, cradling the side of their head. Copying the rhythm from their petting hand, they stoke a thumb on Grace's face. The 'skin' here feels even more delicate— A terrifying notion to Adrian. How could they get more fragile? This is why Rocky was like that to the doctors.
Taking a moment, Adrian comforts and watches over their ill Grace. Listening to the sounds of general internal squishy-ness. Rocky was not kidding even a little bit about the squishy part.
Then Grace mumbles something into the pillow.
"What was that, Dear?" Adrian responds before thinking. Without—
Oh no! They woke Grace!! How do you get your human back in a sleep cycle??
As they ponder how irritated Rocky will be that they ruined Grace's rest, the human in question hums a little louder. Shifting with more purpose than the times before.
Their voice is unintelligible for a moment, words spoken in their own language that are lost on Adrian. (Hm. Note to self, ask Rocky to prepare language lessons.)
Then they take a sharp breath in, one that Adrian worries is a pain signal. It sounds very similar to before when Grace was far more uncomfortable.
Before they can fuss, Grace starts whistling.
"Rocky? You okay, question?"
The noises are not quite natural. A little forced, Adrian can hear as their air-filled organs expand and collapse rapidly. Speaking Eridian is difficult for Grace at the moment, isn't it?
"No, not Rocky, Grace." They say very gently in return.
To that Grace opens their 'eyes', turning their 'head' with startling speed and energy Adrian had no idea Grace held. Their eyes shift to 'look' at Adrian. As they do, Adrian yanks their hands away from Grace's head entirely, fearful of a collision harming the human.
"Rocky?" Grace whistles, wavering a little, "No where is— Adrian!" The words come through fine this time, but the emotion feels so flat, even as Grace has to labor through each note.
Feeling suddenly awkward, Adrian hums an affirmative, "Yes. It is Adrian." They can't tell how Grace feels about Adrian being their sleep watcher. They worry that perhaps they overstepped. After all, Rocky never got the chance to even inform the human of the change in plans.
Laying back on the pillow, Grace 'smiles', "Wow, amaze. Hi!" They say slowly.
The welcoming joyful strands are natural and automatic for Adrian, "Hello, Grace!" They echo, "Sleep cycle finished?"
"Sleep— mm. No." Grace pauses, their 'eyes' roll in a different direction. Adrian tries to imagine what that would mean for their perception and can't even begin. How can they stand not sensing all around them with clarity? "Tired." They whistle sadly. Even the tune leaden with their exhaustion.
"Sleep then." Adrian urges, "Adrian stay. Adrian watch." They are careful to use more simple words and grammar. Trying to match the same pidgin that Rocky had fallen into speaking.
Grace does an odd gesture with their head, moving it forward and back up. They say nothing else for a moment, but they can sense Grace's expression twisting,
"Rocky okay?" Is what they finally ask. Their head shifts to the door. Adrian wonders if the 'lights' are on for Grace. From what they understand about humans is that being without 'light' is akin to being without sound. Frightening prospect even before adding in the hospital element. A buzz of electricity somewhere above them is hopefully the 'light' Rocky made. Adrian have no idea how to activate them otherwise.
"Yes. Rocky is okay." They assure. "Rocky is—" Adrian pauses and internally cringes. A euphemism is more appropriate in polite conversation, but they doubt Rocky taught Grace polite words during their trip, "Rocky had to go take a meal." They explain, as neutral as they can while staying simple. Ordinarily, being crude is not agonizing for Adrian, but that is around friends. Not around Grace who—
"Oh. They eat?" Immediately responds with something much more crass. Rocky didn't even bother cloaking their words at all, huh?
"Yes." Adrian replies, honking a note that they wonder if Grace will even understand is a laugh. The concern of remaining polite to their Savior Grace falls away, morphing into an easy amusement. If it doesn't bother Grace then who minds? "They will be back. They will come rest. Sleep."
"Mm. Sound good." Grace starts closing their eyes. Adrian wonders if it is of their own volition.
Whether it is or not, they make the effort to open them again, turning just to smile at Adrian, "Thank you. For watch sleep."
Then they squeeze Adrian's hand once more. This time conscious, but the connection feels no less delicate.
The gesture sends a jolt through their system. But this time its much, much happier. Given that Grace can tell them if it hurts, Adrian is far more confident as they squeeze the tiniest bit in response as they insist, "No need thank. Always, Grace."
No one should sleep alone. And Adrian would never let anyone so close to Rocky sleep that way.
And as Grace continues holding their hand, drifting back into their fragile sleep-cycle, nervous, but soothed by their presence, Adrian has to restart their comforting motions. Urged to help their rest, Adrian presses close once again, pets their fur, listens to their squishy noises slowing down ever so slightly.
As each loud breath merges with the unsteady rhythm of their heart and the rush of an ocean in their 'veins', Adrian joins the one-being choir and sings a soothing song to carry Grace back to rest. One to guard them from 'dream' interruptions and keep them safe as their dear Song comes home.
Yes. Adrian will never let Grace sleep alone.