Chapter Text
Simon, minding his own business, walks around attending the various plants Grace was able to grow. He can’t help but be amazed by just how many plants he’s able to touch, feel under his finder tips, smell and hopefully soon taste.
The air around him feels so much lighter, the extra oxygen given off by such simple yet complex plants brings a smile to Simon’s face. He knows it’s not really that much more oxygen but compared to the sub, it’s literally a breath of fresh air when he comes to Grace’s bio dome.
Several racks and tables fill the room, taking the watering can Simon gives each seedling a bit of water. Taking his time as he uses this moment to calm his mind. There's something therapeutic about attending the garden on this ship. It helps his mind grow calm, something so simple helps the unsettled mindset Simon typically finds himself sulking in.
As Simon walks around watering what he’s told is pepper plants a lovely tune reaches his ears. A softer expression crosses Simon’s face as he closes his eyes, taking in one of these semi rare moments. It’s not often Grace lets himself get so lost in his work that he hums the working process turning inside that beautiful blond head of his.
Blushing immensely Simon’s eyes shot open at the thoughts creeping into his mind. Shaking his head in hopes of ridding them, a slight frown tugs at the corner of his lips. There is no way Grace could feel the same way as him, he really needs to stop having these thoughts running through his mind.
After all Simon is broken, not fully himself. Aside from part of his arm missing his right eye hasn’t fully worked right since being pulled out of that god forsaken blood ocean. His vision in that eye is about as good as a blind man, he can see shadows and light differences but that’s it. At least he can be thankful one of his eyes work, seeing Grace’s smile always brightens his darker moods even if it’s only slightly.
Grunting to himself the sour mood thickens as Simon starts to dwell. There’s no way he could be loved, not before the sub nor after.
Simon sighs, he still thinks himself a convict after all, he did even if it was an accident, kill so many lives that unfortunate day. His mood now soured by a mix of self pity and irritation at himself for allowing such wishful thoughts. Simon walks over to set the watering can on the nearby table.
A sudden pain ripples through his head, caught off guard he drops the can and water splashes over the metallic flooring. Spreading in all directions as Simon cradles his head in his hand, grabbing at his long black hair. Another shooting pain ripples through his mind and an odd sensation takes over as he falls to his knees.
Breathing heavy Simon squeezes his eyes as tight as he could. The lights around him were suddenly too bright for his mind to handle. The pain dissipates after what felt like an eternity of crouching with his forehead touching the cool and now wet floor. Simon’s body feels sore and it felt like his very bones ache from every muscle tensing at once.
Slowly he sits up, resting on his knees as he takes a deep breath in. Letting it out slowly a cold chill runs down Simon’s spine as he opens his eyes.
He can see.
He can see perfectly through both his eyes. Everything was so bright compared to before, squinting Simon’s breath hitched as he crawled the best he could over to the plants in front of him. There was so much color in the petals before him, the tiny fiber hairs covering the tomato plants seems so clear. The more he focused the more his vision was able to pick out each individual flaw in the plant.
Tears threatened to escape his eyes but Simon wiped them away quickly not wanting his vision to blur. Sniffing he cleared the lump forming in throat, grabbing the side of the shelf Simon groaned as he tried to stand. As he got halfway up a shot of pain rippled down his spine. His legs giving out, unfortunately he pulled the shelf down on top of himself. Various plants and mulch poured over his back as the shelving lands over his collapsed form.
His new vision darkened as a slight red tinge coated the outer rim of his sight. Blood perhaps, was he crying blood? Before his consciousness left him he felt that odd sensation return but with more force as it rippled its way through his brain.
”Simon…..” an eerie and familiar voice called to him as Simon felt himself sink further into the darkness.”You can’t escape me, we are one, the blood ocean consumes all…..” His heart sank, then darkness took over.
~
‘Am I Floating?’Simon thinks as tries to twitch his fingers. No, as his senses tingle throughout his limbs Simon can tell he’s drifting. Up or down, it’s hard to tell.
When he tries to open his eyes all Simon can see is darkness. Closing his eyes he feels a stabbing sensation ripple across the right side of his face. Grimacing, he bites out a few curses. As the pain increased Simon felt his entire face slam against a liquid wall, it quickly filled his mouth as he gasped from the impact.
Coughing, Simon tried to gasp for air, the unforgettable penchant salty and copper liquid dripped down from his lips. Warmth wrapped around him as the thick maroon blood coated every inch of his body. Like a blanket the blood dripped from his body as he found semi-solid ground suddenly underneath himself. Standing on shaky legs, shock took an iron grip in Simon’s chest as he looked around.
The stars are gone, the universes he got to gaze upon thanks to Grace are swallowed whole by the red clouds. Lightning shot through the sky, lighting up the blood ocean surrounding him. Shrieking Simon stumbled, falling onto his ass as he tried to crawl backwards through a foot of blood. A small wave billowed from him as panic seized through him, causing his breath to quicken.
“No, no I can’t be back. I got out….I-I got out,”Simons panic transformed to pure rage as his face scrunched up, yelling up into the sky,”I FUCKING GOT OUT OF THIS GOD FORSAKEN OCEAN.”
Breathing heavily Simon slammed his fist into the ground, screaming again he hung his head low and against his chest. Pulling his legs closer to himself Simon wrapped his arm around his knees as he shouted,”FUCK!!!”
His right eye aches as he sat there in silence, time felt still and with no motivation to move Simon dug the palm of his hand into his eye. The pressure only relieves a small portion of the irritation.
A splash nearby made Simon leap almost out of his skin as he whipped his head around. Nothing. The area around him was motionless, aside from the small movements he’d caused by jerking around. Confused Simon turned his head and screamed as he fell further onto his back.
Right there, inches from his face, was the blood Eel he saw swimming in the depths of the ocean. Except it wasn’t the blood Eel, not in its true size at least. The skull, wrapped in sharp teeth, was roughly the same size of his own skull. The length of its body slithering from the blood around them.
“Simon….,”the blood Eel croaks out, its voice echoing around them. Worming its way closer to Simon’s terrified face, the Eel cackles,”We are one boy, I’ve let you have your fun, but soon it’ll be my turn to play.”
Bearing his teeth Simon spits,”What the fuck do you mean by that?! We aren’t the same, you piece of shit!!”
Maniacal laughter fills the stiff air around Simon, making his skin crawl and the ocean around him to quiver. “No, we are not the same, but we are one. I am forever a part of you. You are forever a part of me, blood intertwined since the day you entered my home.” Seeming to ponder the, Eel tilts its head,”Not my home, no.” As the sharp teeth are able to turn themselves into a crooked smile the Eel whispers,” Our home.”
Denial seeps out of Simon as he shakes his head vigorously,”Fuck you, that ocean is NOT MY HOME!” Grace crosses his mind for a split second before Simon is able to stop himself. Another bone chill shoots down his back as he takes note of the Eel tilting his head in thought once more. Seemingly sensing exactly what Simon was just thinking about.
“Grace,”pondered the Eel.
The name felt like sandpaper wrapping around Simon’s heart at the sound of the monstrosity daring to say the other's name. Shooting up Simon pushed his face centimeters from the Eels, growling,”Don’t you FUCKING dare say his name.”
Headbutting the Eel Simon felt a sharp stabbing pain across the right side of his face, digging into his eye. Not caring, Simon used his only hand left to punch the Eel square in the jaw, sending another wave of pain to rip its way through his mind.”You are not allowed, to FUCKING utter his name you BASTARD!!”
The Eel crashed against the ocean sending waves of blood to push out as it sank down under the surface. Another fit of laughter echoed around Simon, as he breathed in gasps. The pain he felt caused him to tumble onto his hand and knees.
“We are one, Simon,” the Eel roared. The ocean trembled at the vibrations.
“Fuck you, and your ocean.” Simon whispered, the world around felt like it was starting to waver. His eyelids felt heavy, god he was so tired. Teardrops fell from his right eye, looking down Simon couldn’t tell if it was normal tears or bloody tears dripping into the ocean.
With no energy left Simon only stared as the Eels face appeared below him.
The ocean dripped off its face as it lifted only inches above the blood surface,“We will do great things together Simon. I look forward to meeting this, Grace. He’ll make a great addition to our home.”
Before Simon could respond he felt his body give out. Landing into the blood like a sack of rocks he drifted back into the darkness. An uneasy feeling is the last thing his brain is able to register before the darkness takes hold again.
~
Pacing back and forth, Grace anxiously fiddled with his glasses as he watched Simon’s vitals roll across the screen. They’ve gone up and down several times now and he can’t figure out why. Why did this happen, and what is happening? Scratching the back of his head Grace let out a frustrated sigh and he continued to pace back and forth.
Simon was currently stable, his heartbeat currently 76 beats per minute while his blood pressure was 127/86. For a few minutes there every vital read as though Simon was about to have a heart attack for the third time in the last 48 hours.
Rocky sat watching Grace pace back and forth,”What is happening to Convict Simon, question?”
“I don’t know and it’s bothering me, Rocky can you tell me again what happened?” Grace croaked out his voice stiff from barely any use in the last two days.
“Why, question?” A hint of frustration in Rocky’s tone,”Rocky already stated several times that Convict Simon was found under a plant shelf.”
Rubbing his eyes Grace sighed,” I know, I know Rocky and thank you for finding him, and for coming and telling me right away.” Taking a moment to sit, he removed his glasses as he pinched the bridge of his nose. The feeling of rushing to Simon’s aid replayed in Grace's mind all over again.