Chapter Text
The morning was quiet. Faux light filtered through the xenonite windows. Grace had gotten up at the first few minutes of early dawn, leaving Simon to rest in bed while he got ready for school. After a quick shower, change of clothes and half a cup of synthesized coffee, he still had a bit before he needed to get to class. Grace nestled into the living room's couch, gently placing his mug on the low table in front of him in favor of the Hail Mary’s database tablet that now laid next to it. It functioned the same as any other tablet back on earth as far as Grace knew (who knows how far technology had advanced in his absence?), with the added bonus of all the earth's media and knowledge at his fingertips for free. Maybe that made the suicide space trip worth it? Definitely not…
After going through his lesson plan one last time, Grace decided to put on a documentary Simon had recommended, one about desert plant life that especially fascinated him. As he watched, he could hear the sluggish shuffling of Simon behind him before he appeared in the corner of his vision.
“Morning angel,” Grace greeted as Simon flopped onto the couch beside him and promptly laid his head in Grace's lap. It was only now in full view that Grace saw the large quilt that wrapped around Simon's shoulder and cascaded over his figure. He looked like a painting.
“mmm” Simon acknowledged before wrapping his arm around Grace's waist. “...why so early?” he grumbled into the blonde man's chest.
“Class today,” Grace answered, gently stroking the long ebony locks of his Simon's hair while placing the tablet back on the table, “Speaking of which, I have to go in a bit. You doing anything today?”
“Mmm…” Simon pondered for a bit, clearly still foggy from sleep. “Not much, pr’ly j’st clean” he settled.
They stayed like that for a while. Simon slowly fell back asleep as Grace continued playing with his hair. There was no rush or hurry for anything. It was just them in that moment, their synchronized breaths and heartbeats proving nothing else mattered. Not the planets or stars, nor time itself. That was until Grace remembered time in fact did matter as he was going to be late now.
Simon immediately tightened his grip on Grace's side at his attempt to stand. It was absurd how difficult it was for Grace to escape the loving embrace, especially when the person holding him down had one arm and was barely conscious. Was grace truly that weak? He realized quickly he didn't want to know the answer.
“I'll only be gone about 2 hours. Short day, remember?” Grace tried convincing. After grumbling and some back and forth, Simon soon let go and shifted to lay on the opposite side of the couch. Grace got up quickly, grabbing his mug and tablet, before placing a gentle kiss on his lover's head and sped through the door.
Speed walking down the shore now, Grace checked his watch. Doing some mental math and considering how eridian time worked, he’d get there almost exactly on the dot. Shame he wouldn't have much time to set up, if at all, but the unit was relatively easy with his class and if he used his time wisely-
A medium sized rock appeared in Grace's path mid stride, leaving him face first in the sand and spilling the rest of his coffee on the tablet.
He’d just put on 'Bill Nye’ or something and call it a day.
Most class days were short already from Grace's perspective. The eridian days were only a couple hours long to begin with, so a whole school day would only end up at most three-to-four hours. Having a half day was supposed to be shorter, right? So how come it feels like he just did a twelve hour shift of getting screamed at?
To be fair, he made his class of genius sentient rocks sit and stare at a random human talk about science on the texture monitor. Of course these kids would start seeing who could throw who the farthest. This was on grace. Luckily no one was hurt, but if anything did happen, the fact his students' atmosphere could kill him in an instant, wouldn't have helped. Something he got an earful from many, many eridian parents at the sight of the scuffs on their precious pebbles' carapaces.
On his way back to the house, Grace contemplated what to do next class to make up for how horrible today went. The kids always liked hands-on experiments, so maybe a lab day? A class field trip to the bio-dome that somehow relates to the unit? There's no way the parents would sign off on that after today. He’d think about it more later, right now Grace just wanted to go home and forget everything that happened the last two and a half hours.
“I'm back!” Grace announced, pushing the door behind him and kicking off his sand riddled shoes. Brushing the last bits of sea breeze off himself, Grace took a look at his surroundings. The house's floor plan was quite open. The living room was to his right with the kitchen behind it, the reading nook/office space to his left, leaving the hallway to the bedroom and bathroom straight ahead of grace at the doorway. From a quick glance, Grace instantly knew something was off. Simon was nowhere to be seen.
Most days when Grace came back from teaching, Simon would be in the greenhouse tending to the plants inside where Grace would meet him, or kitchen preparing the fruits and vegetables for future meals, or watching/reading something on the spare tablet, nestled in the couch or the nook. At the very least, he'd be somewhere in the open area, waiting to greet grace at his return. Most days.
Grace took a few strides to the bedroom before stopping in front, only a few inches between his fist and the door. Steadying his breath, Grace knocked lightly before stepping in. The scene in front wasn't an unfamiliar one, but still broke his heart all the same.
Simon was sitting on the floor, just, staring at the bed in front of him. Grace took a few steps in the room to get a better look. And, God, was it hard to look at. Simon’s eyes were almost gazed over but still wide and panicked, seemingly stuck in this state for a while now. He looked like a doll, only the barely noticeable shaky raise and fall of his chest distinguishing the two. It seemed like he was trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. He had his knees to his chest with his back to the wall, hand clenched tight around his shirt collar. Just like he did the first few days when he woke up on the Hail Mary. Just like grace can get when he remembers launch day. Just a body, almost. Going through the motions with a stuck person inside.
Grace moved toward Simon slowly, crouching down to his level. It took a moment for Simon's body to remember to react, if only slightly. His eyes met Grace's and, God, they were barely focused on anything. Only slowly flicking towards the different features of Grace's face before shifting back to the covers on the bed.
“... hi angel.” Grace sighed gently. His legs were shaking now, from crouching or nerves, he didn't know. Grace shifted his body next to Simon's and stared at him for a bit… What now?
“Can you talk right now?” Grace asked.
…
Simon shook his head, still dead-locked on the mattress in front of him.
“Can I touch you?”
…
A hesitant nod before a quick shake ‘no’.
“How about you touch me?”
Simon's tense shoulders relaxed a little at that, seemingly relieved his confused signals were understood. Slowly, Simon slid down the wall until their shoulders touched, then further until his head was on Grace's chest and arm wrapped around his torso. Grace gently wrapped his own arms around Simon's back and shoulders, a hand stroking his hair. Simon squeezed at Grace's side, a quiet plea, and practically melted when Grace copied. They held each other for a long time, soaking in each other's warmth and touch much longer than the morning allowed them to. But soon enough, Simon began to tremble. His eyes were tightly squeezed shut at Grace's chest. This was going to be hard but Simon needed this.
“Can you open your eyes for me, angel?” Grace asked gently. Simon immediately shook his head and pushed his face impossibly deeper into Grace's chest. Grace moved his hand from Simon's hair to his face, softly cradling it and pulling up to his own. Even with his eyes closed, Simon looked so scared.
“I know it's hard but please, Simon,” Grace whispered, "You're okay, I promise”. It took a lot of effort but soon enough, Simon squinted up at grace, too scared to open them all the way. Grace lowered himself to plant a light kiss on Simon's cheek.
“Thank you angel.” He kissed Simon's other cheek, “Now, what are five things you can see? You don't have to tell me,” He let go of his face and placed his hand back in Simon's hair. "Just think about it.”
Simon stared at Grace and Grace stared back, letting him gather all the detail he wanted. After a while, Simon turned his head to the side and back onto Grace's chest.
“Do you have them?” Simon nodded after a beat. “Four things you can touch now.”
Simon picked his head up and started moving, slowly tracing his hand up from Grace's torso to shoulder, shifting onto his lap properly now with Grace gladly helping him. Grace watched as Simon gently touched him. He felt Grace's arm down to the hand on one of his hips, then back up the sleeve of Grace's cardigan. He continued up to Grace's neck and the back of his head, shifting through the short hair. Grace nestled into the touch and softly smiled up at Simon. Something changed in Simon's face before he ducked into Grace's shoulder. He was trembling again and breathing strangely next to Grace's ear.
“Ry-” Simon strangled out before devolving into sobs, shaking violently as he held onto grace for dear life. Grace quickly returned the hold, leaning in and squeezing back as hard as he could, slowly rocking their bodies together.
“Shh, you're okay angel. I'm here.” Grace whispered. He brought hand to Simon's hair and lifted his own head to gently kiss his tear soaked face. This was a good sign, Grace had to tell himself, Simon's body was letting him react now, process what had happened. Grace kept kissing Simon and held him tight, enclosing him in touch and warmth and anything to remind him that it was real.
Grace was real.
Simon was real.
.And he was alive