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One thing snowballed to another so quickly that even if Grace had perfect eridian he would’ve still failed to follow. One day Rocky let him know he was going to work on the Biodome’s water feature, the next Adrian let Grace know he’d blasted himself out cold. Not that exact wording to be fair, but it felt blunt and upsetting and so should be recalled as such.
Thankfully that was only a short bit of trouble, by the time Grace had understood what happened it was over and done with. Because Grace’s biodome is much colder than most of Erid, they had to find a way to cool down the water they wanted to put in it. However while, and this is an actual quote, “messing around with the coolant,” Rocky blasted himself.
Where a human would get severe frostbite, Eridians didn’t have skin to worry about, but it was still a major shock to his system. Rocky had been literally knocked out cold. Adrian had called the medics and it was sorted fairly quickly, but he’d been put on bedrest for the next two days.
Considering how cagey Rocky was about it when he finally got to see Grace again, Grace knew it must’ve been a real blow to the engineer’s ego. He decided to not push it, and the two went on about their day as usual.
However the next day Rocky didn’t show up. Grace waited for hours, worryingly tapping his foot against the sand grains and knocking on the biodome doors asking the passing guards and scientists if they knew anything. Holy heck was it stressful: logically Grace knew a large part of his panic was from his trauma. However it was hard to shake off the image of Rocky’s unmoving body and the painful itch on his scar shaped like Rocky’s lovable claws.
Then it suddenly got better and worse.
The Eridian equivalent of a Doctor showed up at his door a few hours before human bedtime. He named them Dr. Sydnee. They wore something akin to scrubs, and the carving on their arm was that of a medical professional. However Dr. Sydnee’s carving was extra fancy, clearly showing that they were a high ranking professional… gulp.
Grace tried to understand as much as he could, and asked for clarification enough times that even the endless patience of a doctor was tested.
The basic gist was that due to the lower temperature Rocky’s body endured, a bacteria that is usually killed by the natural body heat of Eridians was able to sneak in. After the incubation period was over, that bacteria becomes semi-immune to Rocky’s natural body heat. In other words, Rocky had gotten sick.
Grace swallowed slowly as the information settled in his head. He had asked Rocky if Eridians ever got sick and Rocky’s answer had been “Almost never.” and that he’d only ever gotten sick once as a pebble.
The bad news didn’t end there. Dr. Sydnee continued to explain that this illness was considered highly contagious, as after the bacteria becomes heat proof it can spread to other Eridians like a wildfire. Rocky was currently in quarantine.
“Yikes,” was all Grace got to say before the finale of Dr. Sydnee’s visit transpired. They explained that due to all this, it was quite difficult to properly treat Rocky. Of course they could manage, but it’d be a very lonely and difficult extended stay at the hospital.
Dr. Sydnee gestured towards Grace then, “But, you may immunity.”
Grace couldn’t argue with the possibility, after all even very similar illnesses needed a totally different strain to cross from one mammal to another. Rocky and him were the equivalent of a disease trying to jump from a stone to a horse.
…Still, not entirely impossible.
Grace wasn’t the type to brave a scary situation full speed ahead, but he was one to trust science. Even more importantly: he loved Rocky, he loved him so very much.
_
A few days later Grace waited anxiously by Armando in his lovingly made shack. His body was still a bit sore from all the prodding Dr. Sydnee and the team had conducted to test if he was immune. Still, with it confirmed and Grace up to date on how to care for a patient with this disease: he was as ready as he’d ever be to support his best friend.
He heard a ruckus by the front entrance and pounced to the door. Down the hill a group of Eridians inside xenonite suits were maneuvering Rocky’s stretcher. Rocky was also wearing a xenonite suit, but unlike the medical professionals he didn’t have an Eridian hazmat suit beneath as well.
Grace stumbled over but thankfully didn’t fall over in his rush to get there.
“Human Grace,” The leader of the group greeted. “We will not stay long, but please look over the tools provided and confirm you understand them.”
Grace looked at the stretcher on which Rocky laid, he was clearly alive but far from the lively rock he knew. He didn’t even greet Grace…
He knelt down to examine the shelf below Rocky. He recognized the first aid kit: er, long term aid kit? He hadn’t actually ever considered what the English word for one would be. Next to it was a communication device, if Grace had any trouble he could summon professionals with the big green button… Red would’ve been more fitting but, alas. Finally was a box of Rocky’s belongings, many things he liked to tinker with, his screen reading tool, and aw… A little statue of Adrian. This dork!
Grace listed the items and their uses to the leader, although he left out the details about Rocky’s belongings. Those were private!
The leader seemed satisfied with his confirmation, and the crew headed out. The biodome administrators had spent the morning upgrading the disinfectant showers by the exit. The Eridians did not want to take any risks.
…Well, besides the risk of having an alien care for their saviour.
“Heya Rocky.” Grace said gently after the crew left. “How are you feeling?” Stupid question, he knew.
“♫♬♬” Responded Rocky.
Ah, the curse word he’d refused to translate. Someday Grace would figure it out, but for now it was enough to know it was crude.
“Let's get you inside.” Grace decided. Sure, the biodome was already technically inside, but it wasn’t as cozy as his shack.
Thankfully even Eridians agreed they were quite heavy and difficult to transport, so the stretcher was actually very easy to push even with Grace’s human limbs. Human limbs that were weakened by exposure to immense gravity to boot!
It was good they’d prepared for the possibility that one day Grace would need a wheelchair, as there was already a solid slope for the stretcher to get up.
Once inside Grace set Rocky up by the screen they were using as a makeshift TV. Rocky had mentioned wanting to try and make a mixed Human and Eridian screen, where it showed both colour and texture. Such a marvel of engineering was a decade or two away still, and it was also going to have to wait for Rocky to be healthy again. So: they’d have to settle for the tiny screen stolen from Mary.
Grace placed Rocky’s screen reader at a good spot and gave Rocky the tablet to view. Rocky didn’t seem to want to grab onto it… So Grace propped it up with a big rock. It was a nice rock, it reminded him of Mars.
He used to dream of owning a Mars rock… Actually he still did. It didn’t matter how far he’d been, Mars was still cool as heck.
…Grace huffed, he was trying to distract himself from the poor sight that was his best friend.
Dr. Sydnee had warned him of the symptoms, but seeing them was a whole other experience.
Rocky was lethargic, quiet and apparently likely quite snappy if he found the energy to speak. It was one of the reasons Grace was asked to care for him, the unfortunate shift in behavior could be terrible for both the medical staff and the patient. Someone close to them was usually better at keeping things calm and comfortable.
Grace opened the favourite of his many laptops and scrolled through their near infinite movie options. Rocky was usually quite invested in the picking process, but this time he figured it was better to limit the options.
Rocky’s focus was impaired too, something simpler was probably better for now. It should be entertaining but not so much that he’d be upset later, Rocky liked to “experience things properly,” rather than rewatch it later. He got mad at Grace for falling asleep during vital scenes.
Minions…? Really, Stratt?
Finally he found a good option. He navigated the archive and got the player set up on the slightly bigger screen.
“This is Snow White,” Grace introduced. “Its one of the first animated movies ever... I think”
And it was perfect because maybe 3 things happened during the whole thing and the rest of the runtime was just pretty pictures.
Rocky shifted a bit. Getting more comfortable maybe? That was a good sign.
Grace pulled his makeshift armchair to sit right by Rocky and pressed play.
Besides, the classic Snow White experience was to watch it once as a child and forget everything that happens in it before the day is over. This was basically simulating the correct experience for Rocky and he wouldn’t get to complain.
…Well, that was the plan at least.
During the movie Rocky seemed to liven up slightly, Snow White’s voice seemed to fit the Eridian’s sensibilities and he even let out a few notes to join her. Muted, but audible.
His pose went from corpse-like to his more usual resting position, it reminded Grace a bit of cats loafing and golly was it always a delight.
Grace got to feel like a good nurse and friend for a solid little while, but unfortunately that came crashing down quickly. He’d entirely forgotten, as is human tradition, what happens in the movie. The moment Snow White fell into a deep slumber Grace hurried to press pause. Rocky let out deeply upset noises, they were barely words.
“Sh-She’s going to be okay! Sorry, I didn’t think to warn you–”
“Continue♩ ♪ ♬movie now.” he finally got out, and Grace did as commanded.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead as the least tense movie he’d ever seen put him right on the tips of his toes. He remembered the prince would save her soon, it'd all work out! …But every moment spent on her funeral and not her rescue had Rocky more upset.
Finally the questionably aged prince smooched the corpse and the two lived happily ever after.
Grace sighed in relief as Rocky’s noises quieted.
“♬movie bad.” Rocky concluded, but didn’t sound as much upset as disappointed.
“...Sorry Rocky, we can watch more interesting stuff when you recover some more.” Grace consoled, “So you can focus better.”
Rocky trilled unsatisfied. “Rocky hates bein♫ ♬ick.”
“I’ll say.” Grace huffed and leant back on his armchair, head nearly by Rocky. “Humans get sick all the time… I mean, you’ve seen it. I’m still recovering from all the garbage malnutrition threw at me.”
“don♪ ♫remind Rocky.”
Fair enough. Honestly Grace didn’t want to recall it much either. It had been gross and… very scary. A few times Grace wondered if it was time to tell Rocky where he hid his will.
Grace focused on that feeling, despite wanting to do anything else instead.
He recalled a conversation he and Rocky had shared, one where they both shared things they thought they’d never say out loud. About how Grace felt about the circumstances that took him to space, and… What Rocky had seen regarding his crewmates.
Grace idly tapped on the keyboard, but didn’t actually press anything. The familiar pattern was comforting to him …and Rocky. Tap, tap tap.
“You’ll be alright, you know that, right?” Grace brought up. “The doctor told me that although its uncomfortable its not deadly unless you’re ancient".
Rocky readjusted his loaf, a little further away from Grace’s head now. It could be a negative reaction, or simply him echolocating.
“Rocky knows.” He confirmed. “Not scared.”
Grace felt relief hearing that. “Good, good. I’m glad.”
“...Adrian scared.” Rocky added then, surprising Grace. Guess it was honesty hour? “And mad. Big mad mad mad.”
“Adrian is mad?” That was hard to believe. Sure Grace was from truly knowing Adrian, but he did know one thing for certain: Adrian loved Rocky immensely. They loved him to a point where even after decades of silence they took him back and welcomed the creature he brought along. Heck, Rocky committed his life to getting Grace all he needed to live on Erid and not only did Adrian accept it: they’re the head designer of the biodome!
What had Rocky done? Er, maybe that was judgemental. It was just hard to imagine that Adrian would be the one in the wrong, alright? Rocky’s the shining beacon of light in the dark that Grace would chase to the ends of the earth, but he was also sometimes… well, an ass.
“Adrian mad… ♫ ♬” Rocky repeated, the notes discordant. Little guy’s heart was breaking… “Rocky really messed up.”
Grace crossed his arms, brows furrowing in thought. “Its hard to imagine… What did you do?”
Rocky whined and trilled, squishing into as small of a shape as he could. “Grace would be mad too. Rocky knows.”
“I doubt it.” Grace shook his head. “After everything we’ve been through? You could cook my leg and eat it and I’d assume you had a good reason.”
“♪♫♬!! Disgusting!!” Rocky bounced out from his tiny shape. For a moment he looked like the Rocky he loved, but quickly collapsed soon after. Grace’s heart ached seeing that.
“Sorry, bud.” Grace put a hand on Rocky’s xenonite suit. “I just meant to say its hard to imagine anything we cant work through.”
Rocky listened, readjusting to his loaf with Grace’s hand still on the suit. Rocky pushed against it for a moment before settling.
“...Rocky acted stupid.” He explained nervously. “Like Grace on medication stupid.”
“The meds got to you?”
“No, before.” Rocky admitted: “Tried to impress Adrian with coolant. Get it done early, so we could go on date.”
“Oh?” Grace was surprised. Not by Rocky’s actions, those were very on brand, but that this apparently made Adrian mad... Oh, wait, its because–
“Rocky got injured.” He sighed. “Then sick. No date for us. Not for a long while.”
“Whats a few more weeks after decades?” Grace offered, but that seemed to be the wrong approach.
“Rocky w♪orst ♫♬♪ mate♫♬ on Erid.” He squeaked. “Not even on Erid for so long! Worst in all space♬♪!”
Either the illness had really gotten to Rocky, or his insecurities. Grace supposed both was the most likely option.
“No way.” He shook his head, hand still on Rocky even through all his shifting. “You messed up trying to do a good thing, that’s not what the worst mate in all of space would do.”
“...Thats not it.” Rocky admitted then, “Rocky away from Adrian so long. They say its okay, but Rocky can tell. Something is wrong, bad bad bad.”
Grace bit his lip, he was too aromantic for this. Erm. “You can’t assume how they feel.” Advice for friendship should still work here, right? They’re not that different after all. “Maybe Adrian is mad, but you have to talk about why together. Assuming just makes everything messy.”
Rocky let out a few discordant wails, thankfully quieter this time.
“Let's get you healed and then you can talk it out.” Grace decided, patting the suit three times before standing up. “It’s going to work out, I promise.” He had great faith in those two.
…And he didn't know what he’d do with himself if his presence ruined Rocky’s century old romance.
“Okay…” Rocky accepted.
Grace knew he was an extremely capable engineer with centuries of age over him, but at that moment he sounded awful much like a sad puppy.
…Did Grace remind Rocky of Eridian animals? Oh geez. He was a little afraid to ask. Too curious not to, but a little afraid.
_
Grace carefully inserted the tube of liquid within the syringe-esque container. Unlike on earth the tube wasn’t see through, and he could only tell it was liquid from the sound. Thankfully there was only one option, so Grace couldn’t accidentally grab the wrong stuff.
To put it simply, Grace was going to have to give Rocky his medicine directly into the multipurpose hole they both preferred not discussing.
After so long in space with only one another as company, they’d actually had stranger interactions, but… It was still not a fun time between homies.
Early Tauomeba consumption gave Grace a few torturous toilet trips that Rocky didn’t have an escape from due to his incredible ability to sense all that went on. The smallness of Hail mary had never felt so suffocating before.
Grace wasn’t entirely sure what he’d witnessed at the time Rocky’s food supply wasn’t quite right. Much like Grace chose not to divulge details, Rocky too did not explain the situation much.
There was also that time Grace had to figure out how to Heimlich maneuver an orb with a million kilogram rock inside of it.
Awful times, but they were their times. Somehow even such horrors gave Grace a fond feeling. Maybe it was because he knew for an absolute certain there was someone who loved him even after having seen the worst of him.
Grace hoped Rocky felt the same as the procedure went on. At least Rocky was cooperative and thanked Grace for it after.
They’d moved into a room outside the biodome, with Grace wearing a specialized xenonite suit a la Rocky. It was a bit of a risk for the quarantine but there was no way Grace could deliver the medication while Rocky was the one in the suit.
Grace was hovering about as Rocky slowly climbed onto his stretcher. He would’ve liked to help Rocky but, again, a million kilogram rock.
“Tired…” Rocky admitted. Possibly due to the medication, but it wasn't totally out of range of his sleep cycle either.
“I’ll watch you sleep.” Grace said near automatically. “If you fall asleep now, try not to freak out when waking up at my sha– house.”
“...♫okay♬♪” Rocky accepted and fell asleep. If Grace didn't know about the coma-like state Eridians entered when asleep, he’d be jealous of the speed.
Grace pushed the stretcher out and took as sharp of a turn as he could to return them both to the biodome. As sharp as he could in this case was a real puzzle, like pushing a shopping cart with seventy rocks in it. Still, he managed and got the two lined up with the door.
“Rocky? Grace?”
He hadn’t expected to hear a soul until Rocky next woke up and nearly jumped out of his skin. What held him back was the fact he instantly recognized the speaker’s voice.
“Adrian!” He replied, a little shocked but ultimately happy to see them. “Sorry, Rocky’s asleep right now.”
Adrian didn’t move much, implying a state of deep thought. “I can tell.” They were wearing a hazmat suit and holding a variety of cleaning tools: they were going to clean the makeshift medicine room.
“...Thanks for the help.” Grace said, trying to keep things friendly despite the elephant in the room.
Adrian clicked a bit before speaking: “Yes, Adrian helps.” But that wasn’t what had them acting unusual: “Grace, could we talk? Two of us?”
“Oh! Uh, sure!” He liked their company, hopefully even in these circumstances that would be the case. “...I promised Rocky to watch him sleep, though.”
“...Right. Important.”
Grace placed the hand of the xenonite suit somewhere approximately beard-like to mime scratching it. “Well, I could set up the ‘baby monitor.’” Grace suggested.
It was simply a camera and a live feed to one of his laptops, nothing fancy. Rocky never loved it but understood that humans need personal space and alone time. The only way to truly get any of that from a roommate with super hearing was when he was knocked the frick out.
…Although nower days the baby monitor was usually used by Rocky to “spy” on Grace at the Biodome.
“Yes.” Adrian confirmed, “Have heard Grace sleep. Will Rocky be fine with device?”
A part of Grace's heart fluttered thinking Adrian had seen him sleep, the Eridian culture slowly rubbing off on him... Most of him was horrified, but he was still proud of the part! He was learning!
“He doesn’t love it,” Grace repeated, “but he’ll understand. I’m sure of it.” Compromises were key to healthy relationships and all that.
Adrian agreed to the plan.
_
Life could be unpredictable, but even in his wildest dreams this wasn’t a scenario he would have come up with.
He was sitting on the table of a makeshift lab wearing a suit of gas made into alloy. Next to him an alien in a hazmat suit fidgeting with their many legs. That alone wasn’t so bizarre, a sci-fi novelist could certainly come up with it. What made it so strange was that the alien was Grace’s best friend’s mate and the mood in the room felt… soap opera-y. Not that Grace had watched many of those.
The laptop with Rocky’s live feed was securely in a xenonite container. Seeing it seemed to calm Adrian down somewhat.
Grace had taken a few more disinfectant showers than necessary, and the laptop wasn’t free from that fate either. Adrian was already taking a risk helping clean, the least he could do was minimize it further as they interacted.
…And that left them here, in the awkward silence of an upcoming conversation.
Was Adrian procrastinating as well? It was hard to tell from body language alone. Grace suspected that if Adrian was a human their eyes would be glued to the laptop… Then again, it didn’t display a thing for them as an Eridian. Guess they simply trusted Grace wasn’t lying.
“Adrian glad you accepted.” They spoke up. “Feel like intruding… Sorry.”
“No, no. I’m glad to see you.” Grace waved a hand as if to dismiss air born insecurities. “With Rocky asleep I wasn’t going to be doing anything useful. Probably just Minecraft.”
“Don’t know that word.”
“Its a game, I’ll show you sometime.” They would like it, Grace suspected.
Not that he knew Adrian that well. It had been years since the Hail Mary touched down, but many of them had been spent saving Grace. The first few went by in a blur, so much to take in and so little power in his malnourished brain to do it.
By the time the first prototype for the Biodome was done, Grace had only really talked with Adrian about his needs for it. They’d have a few moments of personal tidbits here and there, like how Adrian thought sunbeams were rad. However it was far from a real friendship.
It didn’t help that when they spent time together outside of biodome business, it was always with Rocky. Now, they both loved Rocky immensely: that was an excellent bridge for the two to get along. However it did mean their interactions were largely filtered through him.
Adrian and Grace were friends, that was a fact, but they weren’t close friends. It was a shame, really. Grace quite liked Adrian.
“Adrian likes Grace.” They said then, almost out of the blue. Although, perhaps they had the same worries floating about as him.
He blushed. He knew Adrian would be upset if he brushed off the compliment. “Aw, shucks. Thanks Adrian.” Yes, that’d do. “I like you too.”
“Grace is smart, funny and very kind.” Adrian continued, making Grace squirm. “Adrian likes Grace… Understand why Rocky loves Grace.”
Ah. Is that what this is about?
“Adrian is all of those things too.” Grace pointed out. “I’d love to get to know them better.”
“True.” Adrian shifted a bit. “Appreciate.”
At least somebody here could take a compliment!
“...♪♫♬♪” a thinking noise, “Adrian mad at Adrian.”
Did Grace understand that sentence correctly? “At yourself?”
“Yes.” Adrian confirmed.
A hundred years together really meant something, huh? Rocky had spotted Adrian’s hidden anger, even if the fool had assigned it to be his fault…
“How come?” Better let Adrian speak for themself, its the advice Grace had given after all. He didn’t want to be a hypocrite!
“Feel jealous…” Adrian admitted. “Ugly feeling, unfair and doesn’t fit the life I want.”
Aah. Geez, okay. “Its only human– er, normal. We all feel jealous sometimes.”
“Dont like it!” Adrian angrily tapped the table below them. “Dont like it one bit. Have the best mate in the world. Mate was saved and brought home by amazing friend from across the stars. Makes Rocky happy, Rocky happy makes Adrian happy! Everyone happy happy happy.”
Grace liked that scenario too, it sounded like home. “Reality is usually much more complicated. That’s allowed, you’re allowed to feel tough feelings.”
Adrian repeated their tapping on the table. “Adrian would be a bad mate if they told Rocky to not see Grace so much.”
“Would they?” Grace shrugged. “Honestly he’s kind of overbearing sometimes.” Not that he could blame Rocky for it, how many times had he watched Grace nearly die? If they were on earth instead there's no way Grace would let Rocky out his sight for even a second. The speed at which human scientists would vivisect the poor guy would be horrifyingly impressive.
…Sure Eridians had their wars and flaws but at least their ability to hear Grace’s guts saved him from that fate.
“...Loves Grace so, so much.”
“And Adrian.” Grace added. “...He told me he was hurrying with the coolant system just to get more time to spend with you.”
Adrian went still and quiet at that, before bursting into a loud trill. “WHAT?”
Maybe it wasn’t Grace’s place to tell, but… er. Too late. Should’ve thought before opening his mouth.
Rocky will be mad…
“He, uh, seemed to regret it.”
“That dumb dumb dumb!!!!” Adrian huffed and puffed: “Stupid stupid stupid!!”
Rocky was going to kill him…
Adrian continued their tirade, but they began losing steam a few sentences in. It was clear some things were clicking into place and their anger was changing shape into something entirely different.
“...He noticed. I was upset.” Adrian realized. “Been hiding jealousy, didn’t want to admit it.”
Grace nodded, yea that checked out. “You guys should really just talk it out. Honesty is the best policy.”
Maybe being a couples therapist would be a good job for him? At least if all centuries old Eridians had school yard level drama.
Ah but, maybe their ages were exactly the issue. They’d spent so long together, reading each other like a book. Suddenly it had been nearly a century with them apart, they’d have to relearn who the other is now… Actually talk again. Must’ve been jarring.
“Should.” Adrian agreed. “...Nervous. Don't like jealousy. Doesn’t fit who Adrian is. What if Rocky doesn’t like change either? Ugly ugly ugly feeling.”
Grace gave it some thought.
“You don’t want to be jealous, you want us all to be together and happy?”
“Yes yes yes.”
“Then I think Rocky won't mind one bit.” Grace decided, “He’ll help you with the jealousy.”
“Rocky would…” Adrian agreed.
“So, let him!” Grace said with the unearned confidence of an untrained Eridian relationship therapist. Er, maybe he’ll stick to science. This was simply an exception he’d make for the two people he loved the most on Erid. “Erm. In a way where he won't injure himself.”
“...Yes.” Adrian’s voice was hissy saying that. “Need to save Rocky from themself.”
Grace chuckled. “He may be a genius engineer but… Boy does he have his moments.”
“Love makes him stupid.” Adrian mimicked his chuckle. “Cute. Rocky my cute.”
Grace smiled, this was an excellent conclusion.
“...Our cute.” Adrian added, offering Grace their hand.
Grace hesitated a moment, unsure of the gesture’s meaning for Adrian and if the 3 showers back and 3 showers forth were enough, but figured it was worth trusting them on this one.
They held hands for a moment, followed by Adrian hopping off the table with a very audible thud. Boy howdy, Adrian could easily break every bone in his body with one jump…
“Should return to work. Waterfront making good progress.”
Grace smiled, awkwardly hopping after them. The xenonite suit gave him more heft but probably still sounded more like a pebble walking than a grown man to Adrian.
“Hey, Adrian-” he caught them before they left through the door. “You like jewelry, right?”
“♫♬♪…” Adrian paused by the door, hand on the handle. “Yes.”
“Could you… show me how you make them? Or bring pieces you're proud of?” Grace suggested. “Just you and me.”
When Adrian stayed quiet Grace wondered if he’d stumbled on a cultural difference and totally fudged up their good talk, but thankfully Adrian seemed delighted: “Sure!”
With that Adrian left, and Grace sighed in relief. Relationships sure were something wild. They functioned with patterns and logic, yet failed to be coherent the way math and physics were.
…well, then again, there was relativity, anti-matter and all the other freaky cool stuff humanity still didn’t understand. Maybe there was a formula to love, but Grace sure didn’t know about it.
At least when all parties involved had the same goal and the desire to work for it openly… That should get them good results.
Grace glanced at the baby monitor and felt a sense of comfort seeing Rocky exactly as he had been the whole time. “You’re gonna hate me when you find out about this.” Grace laughed to himself. “I’ve been a busy boy.”
_
It took Rocky two human weeks in Grace’s care to recover.
The first few days were surprisingly lonely despite Rocky’s constant presence. He didn’t talk much, only groan in pain now and then or respond to questions. Not all questions, only what Rocky seemed to find worth his energy. So he wouldn’t tell Grace how he was feeling but he did answer that Grace choice in socks was bad. He couldn’t even see the fun pattern… why did he have such a strong opinion on them? Because of the hole? It was so small! Nobody would care!
Rocky was a lot like a slightly grumpier pet rock before the medicine started to kick in.
Then he was… awful, to put it lightly. His body was doing its absolute darnest to kill the unwanted bacteria and my god was is a bloodbath. Rocky was shaking and deeply irritable. Thankfully half the things he said were either not in their shared dictionary, complete nonsense or said very strangely.
He did settle down when they continued to binge watch the Moomins anime from 1990. Grace had heard it was a very whimsical and cozy series but found himself struck with a deep unknown dread multiple times. Rocky was braver than him and invested enough to keep quiet. It was a fair trade, Grace decided. A little extential dread did good to a human. Maybe.
Sometimes when Rocky slept Grace would go spend some time with Adrian. Sure the biodome was a common topic but they’d brought in jewelry to show as agreed. They were very detail oriented and it showed in the intricate works.
Adrian was so excited to learn what colours could be found, and before Grace knew it they were studying rock samples together.
Although one time Grace was so invested that by the time he returned Rocky was awake, his buddy didn’t seem mad at all. “Grace busy spending time with Adrian? Have fun?”
“Yeah, uh, we really got into the weeds of Erid’s crust.”
“...happy.” Rocky said, something he hadn’t expressed for a solid while now.
Grace beamed hearing it.
At the middle to end part of the illness Rocky started to return to his normal behavior, although slowed down by the after effects.
It was nice to see, although what wasn’t as fun was. Erm. The egg?
“Do NOT call ♪♫♬♬ EGG.” Rocky was horrified by Grace’s description. “Not egg! Not at all! ♪♫♬♬ disgusting! Egg beautiful!”
Audibly Grace promised to not call it that, but, um. No it was definetly an egg to him.
When an Eridian body finds an intruder it will try to kill it with heat. When this doesn’t work, it will then try to capture it by sealing it in a sort of… mucus blob with a solid casing on top. This illness egg is then ejected and the body can start to recover.
Considering Grace was the one who had to seal it up and throw it away, he was going to call it whatever he wanted.
And for the record, no, he did not watch Rocky make it. He gave his best friend privacy as requested. Grace may have been a scientist but, erm, even he had limits. Have you ever seen a giraffe give birth? Grace would never forget it.
Rocky recovered slow but consistant, moving about Grace’s shack by himself only a little after. He’d still sleep long periods of time and his apetite was low, but Rocky’s progress was lovely to see.
He and Adrian were finally able to have a conversation, erm, through a wall. Grace gave them privacy, returning to his exploration of the Nether. Rocky would love the cool loot he found!
The lovebird returned a few hours later, settling nearby to use his thinking machine and hop online with Grace.
They talked while doing their own things in their shared server.
“How did it go?” Grace asked. It was mostly a formality, Rocky was clearly feeling better after the talk.
“Good good good.” He confirmed. “Long talk, important.”
Grace was fine leaving it there, but Rocky had other ideas.
“You tell Adrian about coolant?”
“...They seemed so sad!” Grace spoke on instinct: “I– I didn’t mean to, well– ugh. I’m sorry Rocky, that wasn’t a good move.”
Rocky threw a snowball at him in game. Grace hadn’t even realized he’d snuck up on him.
“Sorry, Rocky. I do mean it.”
“Forgive you.” He threw another. “But bad! Dummy!”
“I’m not the one who scared Adrian.” Grace huffed.
Rocky was holding the button down now, sending a barrage of snowballs. “...Rocky dummy too. Faced consequences.”
“Is this mine?” Grace grumpled trying to escape, but Rocky was relentless.
“Yes.”
…Fair enough.
_
“I’d go with the smoother texture.” Grace expressed, hand on his chin like those fashion designers on TV. “You can’t see it but the colour really brings out your carapace.”
“Adrian trusts Grace.” They said happily, clicking on the jewelry he suggested.
The once-make-shift-lab was back to being a meeting room. Adrian and Grace had started to get a lot of mileage out of it, often meeting up during their breaks at work to hang out. It felt a little silly looking back… How little they’d talked one on one considering their proximity. They’d both been so nervous about making the first move.
Adrian spun in place for a moment, showing off every decorated angle. They were wearing a lovely embroidered outfit that Grace bet was a real jaw-dropper for Eridians. Even he could tell it was “low cut,” even if he wasn’t sure what that equivalent was here…
“You look great.” He celebrated, “Rocky’s one lucky guy.”
“So am I!” Adrian beamed.
Right on time, Rocky knocked on the door. Grace almost felt like a proud father sending his kid to prom, except… These were centuries old rocks who saved his life.
“Rocky heard you.” He teased after the door was opened. “Adrian loves Rocky!” The way he hopped from a few feet to another made his giddyness obvious.
“Yes!” Adrian celebrated too, mimicking his dance.
Grace couldn’t resist bopping his head a bit on rhythm.
Rocky was wearing something similar to Adrian’s, but he had an interesting pant-slit moment going on. It was what Grace’s kids would’ve called “slay”… A thought that made Grace feel like his white-butt wouldn’t see the light of heaven. That was NOT lingo for him.
“Grace love Rocky.” He noted, slowing the dance down before ending it. “Can tell you’re staring!”
He laughed. “You caught me! You both look very dapper.” That was more like it, he could say dapper. “You better have fun!”
“Yes yes yes.” Rocky promised, Adrian joining in by the second “yes.”
They were going on a date somewhere fancy. Grace’s first thought had been dinner but obviously that wasn’t it. The way Adrian had explained it reminded Grace of bowling… But fancy. Fancy space alien bowling, oh boy, Grace would love to go sometime!
That could wait, however. He was even happier seeing those two spend more time together. It felt right.
Besides he had an iron golem farm to build, Rocky used a frick-ton of iron.
“It’s sturdier!”
“It’s a video game!”
Grace just hoped Rocky wouldn’t learn about Netherite anytime soon.
“See Grace later.” Rocky waved.
“Watch sleep!” Adrian added.
“Don’t worry about it too much.” Grace reassured. “I’ll uh, set up the baby monitor if you want the evening all for yourselves.”
Rocky and Adrian seemed slightly disappointed but accepted.
Despite supposedly planning to leave, Adrian had more to add: “Remember your evening meal!”
This was quickly turning from a proud father sending his kiddos out, into two parents fuzzing about their kid’s first nannyless date night.
Grace had spent some time since arriving to Erid reading on polygamy, non-traditional family structures and anything else that seemed in any way relevant. It hadn’t been for naught, of course, but Grace had to acknowledge his circumstances were a bit… unusual.
He smiled. “Of course.”
But that was more than okay… because in the end as long as they were all happy and understood what it was well enough, did it need a label? They were a family, mates, three peas in a pod… Something close and wonderful.
_
“Adrian mined little.” They confessed as Rocky and Grace looked through their chests in shock.
“Three stacks of diamonds?” Grace gasped. “That’s not a little mining!”
“Fortune pickaxe, mined at the right coordinates and explored caves. Yes yes. Rocky slept long, fun way to pass time.”
“That’s hot.” Rocky concluded.
Grace supposed that was fair.