Chapter Text
Grace had been on Erid for a whole Earth year. He had been teaching for three months and loved every second of it. His students were just so smart, they kept him on his toes. They loved experiment days, they loved “field trips” where Grace would show a video from Earth with Rocky's little crystal thing. He would come back from class and crawl in bed to grade projects while Adrian and Rocky chattered on the other side of the wall, asking questions about his day and sharing stories and progress updates from their research.
He seemed to slip into their dynamic so easily. Grace knew that Rocky was worried that being gone for so long would change how Adrian felt about him, that they would have found a new, better mate, but they didn't. They always believed that Rocky was coming home. Plus, they didn't seem to mind the leaky space blob that Rocky brought home with him.
Eridians got four days a month off in their short months. Grace, Rocky, and Adrian spent the days together for almost all of them, so much so that some of their work friends started asking when there would be a better EVA suit for Grace to tag along in their errands.
Grace though, never felt left out. He tried to stress the importance of alone time to his brain, using the few hours he got to himself to tidy up the house, have a snack, or practice his Eridian without either of them teasing that he struggled with their grammar structure.
Today was one such day, where he was left alone and was doing some chores as he waited for them to return. He was in the bedroom, stopped to admire the gentle sparkle on the other side of the xenonite where Rocky and Adrian's room was. After some trial and error, Rocky had managed to make some string lights, littered around their house so Grace could see them when they were inside. The closest thing he could equate Eridian future to was almost brutalist in its design, with sharp, sturdy angles. There were wind chimes and little noise makers as decoration. It was… cute. Pressed against the wall was their nest, essentially. At least that was the closest thing Grace could equate it to. There was a base made of some soft Eridian wood that grew along their riverbanks where the ground was softer. On top of it was a collection of fibers and other soft things- and now that he looked closer at it… Was that his Cats: the Musical shirt?
Holy shit it was.
Half hidden, as if they forgot that he could see, was the black t-shirt. He didn't care, really. If anything he thought it was sweet. Still, how did he never notice?
“Grace! We're home!” Adrian chimes. The little chime by their front door jingled as they entered. He was so glad xenonite wasn't sound proof. He loved hearing them move about their home nearby.
“How was it?” Grace asks, leaning against the xenonite as Adiran and Rocky entered the bedroom. Rocky lightly tapped against the floor to get a better view of Grace.
“Good good good! Rocky Adrian get new trinket for Grace. Will bring over later.” Rocky says proudly, showing off a little windchime of his own for the door.
“Oh, guys.. thats so sweet.” Grace says, grinning. It was beautiful. Blue and green stones and little resonant metal carved to perfect pitch. “Speaking of trinkets… who took my shirt?” He asks.
Both Adrian and Rocky freeze, like they just got caught with their claws down the cookie jar. If they had eyes, Grace was sure they would be frantically looking between each other.
Adrian spoke first, their tone a nervous laugh. “Very funny.. No idea what you talk about…” They say as Rocky tries to scuttle to the nest as silently as possible and shove the shirt out of sight.
“Awe, I don't mind, you know, im just curious.” Grace says.
“Was Adrian idea!” Rocky says quickly, pointing an accusing claw at his mate.
“Was not!” Adrian immediately argues back. “Rocky go please please please until agree!”
Grace held his hands up in a surrender, taking a small back. “Woah, guys, it is not that important.” He says. “I really don’t mind, I'm just poking fun. Really.”
Both Eridians tilt their carapaces down, Rocky fidgeting with two of his arms, almost mimicking the terrible nail picking habit that Grace had when he was nervous. “Just… wanted something of Grace in nest.” Rocky mumbles.
“Adrian Grace science friend find way to stop Earth fabric from burning in atmosphere.. figured try it.. Successful, so keep… to celebrate.” Adrian says. Neither seem thrilled to go into detail about why they had one of their friends figuring out how to heat treat Grace's clothes, so he decided not to push his luck.
“O..kay?” Grace says, sitting down on his bed and facing the wall, looking between the two Eridians. “You could've asked. I would've given it to you. It's a little small for me now anyways.” He says. Now that he was getting proper meals and nutrients, some of his muscle mass and body fat had returned that he lost in space. It wasn't substantial, but enough that some of the clothes that were on the smaller side no longer comfortably fit.
“Grace really not mind?” Rocky asks, like he was afraid Grace would be mad at them both for both stealing something of his and experimenting on it.
“Really not mind.” Grace echos. “I think its sweet.” He says. The flutter in his chest is back, one he had been trying, and failing, to shove down for months.
He was never good at relationships on Earth. He was always too engrossed in his research and work to really be what his partners in the past wanted, and while he wasn't anti-sex, it wasn't the highest priority for him. His attraction was pretty low, and more often than not he confused infatuation with actual, genuine romantic love.
And that was fine. He was plenty content with every other aspect of his life. He loved his job, he had friends and coworkers that he liked.. He was content. He didn't need a romantic partner.
So why did this now feel so warm, so right? Why wasn't he upset that his friends stole his shirt? Why did he wait for them to get home from running errands? Why did he never once question why they built his house connected to theirs via the bedroom??.
He was whipped.
It wasn't fireworks, or some head over heels feeling. But it was warm and settled deep in his stomach, and made his mind feel more at peace.
And he really didn't have time to unpack that right now.