gay thought

Aboard the Hail Mary were Ryland Grace, Rocky, and Simon. The former two rescued Simon from a blood moon. Neither Grace nor Rocky had a strong conclusion as to how Simon and the blood moon wound up there. In particular, how Simon wound up in their universe. Simon didn’t quite understand it when Grace was explaining. Something about wormholes and the multiverse?

Still on their way to planet Erid, the three needed to pass the time. Rocky was tinkering with xenonite, leaving the two humans by themselves. “Follow me,” Grace ordered Simon, stretching out his hand for Simon to hold. Touch had become a normal occurrence. The contact sent sparks down Simon’s spine. “Have you heard of karaoke?” asked Grace.

Simon shook his head. “No, what is that?”

Making their way to the “don’t go crazy” room, Grace explained karaoke. “So there’s music accompaniment, and lyrics on the screen. You sing along to the music. Just like that!” Grace smiled, his charismatic nature shining through. Simon found it adorable. Since the first time they saw each other, Simon was captivated by Grace. His blue eyes, tousled dirty blonde hair, and glasses that never sat right on his face. He found all of it endearing. 

The pair made it to the room. The screens lit up, showing a forest background. Grace knew how much Simon loved trees. After everything Simon had been through, Grace made it his duty to make Simon as comfortable as possible. As happy as possible.

Grace shuffled through songs. Surprisingly, the Hail Mary had quite a large selection of music. “Hmm, no. That one? Maybe. Ah!” Grace mumbled to himself.

A piano began to play the first chord of the song, giving Grace his first note. Then, Grace started to sing.

“I’ll be the one that stays ‘til the end,

And I’ll be the one that needs you again

I’ll be the one that proposes

In a garden of roses

And truly loves you long after our curtain closes,”

Wow, Simon thought. Is there anything this guy can’t do? He looked at Grace, who was looking at the screen, showing the lyrics. Simon noted the way the screen reflected on Grace’s glasses, the way his lips moved, the way his voice sounded. God, his voice.

“But will you still love me when nobody wants me around?

When I turn eighty-one and forget things, will you still be proud?”

Grace looked away from the screen, turning to look at Simon instead. Making eye contact, Grace continued to sing. 

“'Cause I am the one who's waited this long,

And I am the one that might get it wrong

And I'll be the one that will love you the way I'm supposed to

Boy, oh”

Boy? Simon questioned. He didn’t miss that the original lyric on the screen said “girl”. He brushed it off, thinking he heard wrong. However, Grace stepped closer to Simon.

“But will you still love me when nobody wants me around?”

I always want you around, Simon thought.

“When I turn eighty-one and forget things, will you still be proud? 

Proud of me and my short list of accomplishments,

Me and my lack of new news”

These lyrics fit Grace a little too well. Despite on the way to saving two worlds, Grace always downplayed himself and his accomplishments. Simon didn’t see him that way. He saw him as an angel, his saving grace. The most beautiful man in the world. No, the most beautiful person in the multiverse.

“Me and my selfishness, oh, me and myself

Wish you nothing but a happy new version of you”

You’re not selfish, you just wanted to live, thought Simon. He recalled when Grace recounted the story of how he ended up on the Hail Mary in the first place. “Despite how much Rocky says I’m brave, I’m not. I’m a coward.”

“Not to me, you’re not,” Simon argued. “I know this isn’t saying much since I didn’t know many people, but you’re the strongest person I’ve ever known. Even when you found out you were forced on this mission, you kept going. You chose to save Rocky. You put him over yourself. That’s not being a coward. That’s being brave.”

“I want you to tell me you find it hard to be yourself, so I can say it’s gonna be alright”

Was he singing to him? Was Simon overthinking this? They were still making eye contact. There’s no way, Simon thought.

Grace stepped even closer. He sang with the most intention. 

“I want you to love me the way you love your family, the way you love to show me what it’s like,

To be,

Happy.”

For a split second, the two stood there, only inches apart. Then, out of the blue, Grace stepped back and broke into song once again, strumming an air guitar along to the song, his voice imitating the guitar.

Simon chuckled. He’s so adorable, he thought. He could stare at him forever. Grace really was an angel, just without wings. Once the guitar stopped, it was the sound of the piano by itself. Grace stopped his air guitar playing and locked eyes with Simon once again. He stepped closer. And closer. He cupped his hand against Simon’s cheek. “Ryland, what are you-“

Simon was interrupted by Grace’s lips meeting his. Grace pulled back, removing his hand from Simon’s face. “I’m so sorry, why did I do that? Oh my god, you hate me now, I ruined the one friendship I have-

“Ryland.”

“Humanity is light years away and you’re gonna hate me for the rest of our lives-“

“Ryland.”

Grace stopped his rambling when Simon shook his shoulders. He loved the way his first name rolled off Simon’s tongue. “Do that again,” Simon commanded.

“Wha-“

Simon cut off his rambling, kissing him. Grace kissed back, closing his eyes and pushing closer to Simon. Grace parted his lips, inviting Simon’s tongue. Their tongues danced with each other, starting off slow but passionate. The rhythm of their kiss started to speed up. Simon rested his hand on the back of Grace’s neck, with Grace grabbing Simon’s hair. Simon was in heaven. The pair pulled apart from each other to catch their breaths, when suddenly-

“Grace Simon mates now, question?”

The two men jumped at the voice. “Rocky!” Grace exclaimed. Simon let out a burst of laughter. 

“Yes, Rocky,” Simon replied, locking eyes with Grace and holding his hand. “We are, if Ryland’s okay with it.”

“Uh, y-yeah! Of course! I mean- yes. I would love to be,” Grace added, trying not to sound too enthusiastic.

“Amaze amaze amaze! Grace always talk about Simon. Grace always stare. Grace love Simon like Rocky love Adrian,” chimes Rocky.

Grace blushed, covering his face out of embarrassment. “Oh really?” teased Simon. “You talk about me a lot?”

“Shut up,” Grace said, unable to hide his smile.

“Rocky let Simon Grace be alone. Enjoy mating rituals.”

Grace turned an even darker shade of red. “Rocky, that is NOT how human mating works!” 

“Humans stupid. Take forever to mate,” Rocky joked, rolling away in his xenonite ball. 

Simon laughed even harder. Grace loved the sound of his laugh. When they first met, Simon was very apprehensive, not even cracking a smile. Over time, Simon learned to trust Grace and let his real self show. To hear Simon laugh made Grace’s heart skip a beat. He knew how precious it was to hear it.

“You have no idea how much I wanted to kiss you,” Grace stated, once Rocky left.

“Oh yeah? I think I have some idea now,” Simon teased again.

“Shut up and kiss me.”