Multi fandom tickle fics but mostly Irondad

This isn't the first time it has suggested this. I think it asks at least once every time they see me, and my answer stays the same every time. “No.” It comes out harsher than I intend.

“He means a lot to me and so do you. I want you to get along.” I will say, it doesn't usually push after the first no; I'm a little surprised. It shifts closer to me while I'm working at my desk. “You work on the biodome team. You are in charge of so much of his life. This includes everything from what he eats to the conditions of the ocean in his home. You should be more involved physically..." I huff. Sure, maybe it would make my life easier to see the human in person, but my feelings towards the creature keep me away, and I think that's for the best for everyone involved.

“I work on the human because you don't trust anyone to care for it other than yourself and me.” We have a team, of course, but when it comes to Grace’s immediate health and comfort, I am the primary Eridian involved. Rocky shifts even closer to me; he's wobbling a bit. He's ready for sleep. 

“I-I don't want you to just do it for me. Do you enjoy it a little at least?” I move away slightly as it reaches a claw out for me. “You were excited when we first arrived…not just for me, for Grace too.” Grace was exciting when he first arrived. An alien who saved not one but two planets and saved my mate personally. Of course I would find that exciting. And to have the opportunity to help lead in the invention of its enclosure was amazing. But not so much anymore since I learned what the consequences of its existence on my life would be.

“It keeps me busy" is all I give to it. “Why are you being more pushy than normal?” I sense something's up. The unaccepted claw retracts, and Rocky pushes it together with another, fidgeting. I knew it.

“I must attend a meeting pertaining to Grace. I won't be there with him… I want you there to watch him instead," it trills out sheepishly. “I don't know how long I will be gone for. I…do not want him to be alone.”

“It is alone right now, is it not? It can function and take care of itself just fine.” Annoyance and anger lace my voice a bit. Rocky scitters back a bit but tries to touch me again. Its words are starting to slur as exhaustion takes over his body.

“You know what I mean. Grace is…sensitive. I don't want him to be alone ever again.” I feel anger rise within me. What about me being alone? For decades I waited to not be alone again, and now, even with my mate back, I am alone. I feel the mercury boil under my carapace as I try and be understanding.

“I know you do not like him.” It's not that I hate Grace personally. I can't really. I've only ever interacted with him while he was unconscious the first few weeks of being on Erid. I have complicated feelings toward the human and the situation that has come with it. 

“Please do it for me.” I move away from them again while trying to continue working.

"It's always for you, isn't it?"

"I-I…I'm sorr—"

"I'll do it. It's fine," I grumble at its despondent tone and move away from my desk.

Rocky comes over to me again. This time I know it isn't trying to convince me of anything; it just wants to sleep. The sight of it tugging at me hurts more than the argument did. Rocky is exhausted. Its movements are sluggish; it reaches a claw towards me. I flinch away before I can stop myself.

Rocky goes rigid and sits for a moment. “Y-you won't even hold me? You won't let me close to sleep?" It sounds broken, close to a cry but not quite. The sight makes me go rigid in return.

I let out a low hum. “...I need some space right now. I will still watch.” Rocky lets out a strangled whine, close to a sob, but settles on the bed close by anyway. I can tell it's too exhausted to really do anything about it; it's actively fighting off sleep that should have taken it days ago.

“Thank you, Adrian." the words come out slurred. I shift towards it to answer but Rocky is already asleep. Its claws are still loosely curled together where it has been fidgeting moments earlier. 

Something inside me aches.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ🛸༄˖°.

I arrive at the dome's airlock, wearing a thin Xenonite suit I've never had to put on before. Rocky stated that Grace knew I was coming to see him today instead of itself and that the human was nervous. To play nice, for Grace’s sake. I've taken the human's chart with me. While I'm here, I might as well take notes while I can and see what I can improve for him.

I step in and wait for it to pressurize, and then I'm on my way. I head out to the beach and start towards the humans' house. The sand shifts below my feet, and I hear the constant crashing of waves next to me. I move my attention to the “classroom” on the other side of the dome. I think making it a bit bigger would be helpful. More students to teach at a time, but to give the human more space to work with for demonstrations and such. Maybe add storage for materials so it's easier on the human.

By the time I come back to reality, I've approached the house. I realize we haven't exactly built the house for an Eridian of my size. I could probably get in, but I'm not sure how cramped the inside would be.

I knock lightly and wait a moment. I hear its footsteps frantically heading towards the door. It finally opens, and the little human looks up at me in awe. 

“Hello Grace.” It's still silent, just staring. I shift uncomfortably at the tiny alien.

“Oh, uh, sorry. I didn't know Eridians could get so…tall." It chuckles a little, but I feel its heart skyrocket. It's for sure nervous. “Rocky told me you were bigger but didn't really specify how much bigger."

“Yes.” It fidgets as I speak. “Adrian does not think it is good idea to try and go in Grace house.”

It looks back at the structure and rubs the back of its neck. “Uh–yeah. It's probably better if we hang out outside instead. Um, let me grab my shoes.” It turns back inside and grabs what it's looking for. 

I let out a small annoyed hum. The human is so loud. It is much louder now than when it was unconscious. I can hear its heart, its blood, and its breath. I can hear the crackles and pops of its joints, the way its tongue moves as it talks. So loud. How did Rocky get used to this noise? I would have gone crazy on that ship. 

The tiny human comes fumbling through the door and walks ahead of me. I noticed the door that it left open and pulled it shut. And so forgetful. 

We head down the beach in silence. Every wave crashes against the shore with a different rhythm. Besides me, Grace's heartbeat refuses to settle. Between the ocean and the human, there is hardly any silence at all.

The human comes to a stop and drops to sit, facing the waves. I do the same, crossing two arms in front of me, ready to take any notes on the human I might need.

“Grace nervous, question?" I ask softly. He spins to face me head-on.

He turns his head up at me and chuckles lightly. “You can tell?” What a dumb question. 

“Yes. Grace heart loud and fast.” I hear blood pump to its face, and it looks away.

“Sorry.” 

“Is okay. Human can not control.” Before I can stop myself, I reach a digit out and run it over its cheek, pushing its face to look at me again. "This is blush, question? Grace embarrassed, question?” I can't help but be a scientist first, I guess. The portable human thinking machine has made my life a thousand times easier. I can look up any knowledge about the human body and system, but seeing and experiencing it in person is so much different.

It lets out a small yelp at my sudden touch, making its heart beat more. The blood in its face reaches its ears. Although I want to, I refrain from grabbing at the tips of its ears too. One thing I don't stop myself from doing, however, is dragging that claw down to its neck to feel for the carotid pulse. It's one thing to hear but another to feel, and it's strong. I can feel its blood thump against its skin, rappidly, over and over.

“Amaze.” I murmur without thinking. 

"Uh—umm, Adrian?” The little human squeaks out. It has squeezed its eyes shut and forced its head up to the sky to accommodate my touching.

I let out an amused hum. “Apology.” I retract my claw, curling it back into my lap. I stay quiet, hoping it will calm down. When no calming down happens, I try to pivot to my questions, hoping to distract the human.

"How Grace feeling, Question. Eating well, question?” I ask.

It clears its throat. “Uh, I'm feeling good. Better than I did! And yes, eating well!” he smiles. 

“How are ‘burger’, question?”

“The me-burgers are amazing!” he shouts excitedly, hands moving as he talks. “You literally saved me with those things.” I feel myself get a little flustered at the praise, and I hate it.

“Saved Grace in other ways. More important ways.” I let it click out with some disbelief. I cure and bring this human back from death, but ‘me-burger’ is what saves it. Human priorities are weird and confusing.

“Well, yes," he rolls his eyes a bit. “But humans have a strong connection to the food they eat. Physically and mentally. Mentally I didn't want to eat, even though I was dying of starvation. The food tasted awful and had a horrible texture. Your idea to use my muscle was fantastic!” I feel him shift a little closer to me. “It tastes so much better than the other stuff. You kind of cured my starvation and helped cure my bad mental health at the same time!” It laughs as though what it said was funny and not worrying. Though I did not know how linked the mental state and food were, this information is helpful to know when synthesizing more food for it in the future.

“Adrian will work on making 'me-burger' taste better for optimal mental health and human relationship with food for future.” I mentally add this information as a task to get started on when I get back home.

“You don't have to do that, Adrian. I'm okay with the burger. I promise." It looks away, towards the artificial ocean again.

“Adrian must.” I let out a quiet rumbling for a moment as one of my claws gently plays with the sand beneath me. The human looks back at me. 

“Why?” Its head cocks to the side, in a cute way, with wide eyes.

“For Rocky," is all I say, and I can tell it comes out sad. “Adrian will do anything that Rocky asks of it. For Grace.” I know Grace still needs a translator to some extent, but he is good at picking up tone.

He sighs, "Thank you for coming to see me today. Letting me meet you.” He smiles, but his eyes look sad, lids falling low. “I know you hate me, but…I still appreciate it. Appreciate you and everything you have done.” Its eyes well up with liquid. “I know Rocky puts a lot—too much—on you, and I know he's never home with you. I know that," he sniffs, looking down into his lap. “I-I feel like it's all my fault. I'm so…so useless on my own here. I-I'm such a burden to you…” he starts leaking, and I feel myself starting to panic now. I don't know what to do when a human starts leaking from their face. 

I suddenly feel guilty, not a little guilty but deeply guilty. Grace looks so small sitting beside me. He is smaller than I ever thought he would be. Somehow I convinced myself that Grace was the source of my frustration. Looking at him now, crying into his hands, I realize how unfair that was.

“I don't hate you, Grace.” I try and speak as softly as I can. He presses his hands to his face harder, shielding himself from me.

"It's okay that you do. I would hate me too. I—I do hate me.” His voice cracks and he breathes in sharply. “I’ve ruined what y-you two could have had…” I can tell he's trying his best to keep his emotions in, sniffling and wiping the tears from his face just to have them replaced immediately with fresh ones.

I let out a low, pained coo. Slowly, carefully, I pull the human towards me. I expect it to resist, but Grace practically folds into my arms. The moment his head touches my carapace, he latches on. His fingers clutch at me desperately. I scoop his legs off the sand, holding him gently. 

“Grace. Adrian does not hate you.” My words, which are supposed to be comforting, only seem to make it cry harder. "Adrian frustration is not Grace fault. Grace bring Rocky back to me. Rocky could hate Adrian. Not want to be mates and Adrian would be happy that Rocky alive and well.” Grace pulls his very leaky face from me, looking for a moment but not saying anything while he quietly weeps. 

“I-I know your relationship with Rocky is bad…he acts different.” He babbles over his words, “I know w-why you didn't want to see me; I'm not that s-stupid—” I move my arm up in front, making him stop.

The notion of how fragile and small he is worms its way into my thoughts, and it makes me happy that he trusts me as much as he does. That he wants to be okay in my arms, even though he is adamant that I hate him. I let out a sad trill, running a claw through his hair. 

“Grace save all of Erid. All of Earth. Grace risk life for Rocky. For me. Adrian will never hate Grace.” I scratch gently at his head, bringing my claw down to the side, near his ear. He breathes in deep and leans into the touch. 

“Understand, question?” He nods slightly, but the tears and sobs don’t stop. “Grace.”

“Y-yes…I do.” He shoves his face back into me, pulling his arms to his chest. He shakes with sadness.

I feel myself heat up in embarrassment as I contemplate what to say next. “Adrian has…grown to love taking care of Grace…” Rocky was right. I do enjoy it as much as I told myself I didn't. All those times I pushed my limit on how long I could go without sleep and worked so hard for Rocky and Grace, I did, deep down, enjoy it. “Adrian happy hearing Rocky tell how Grace is happy with new thing.” I hum out rather quickly. 

He seems to perk up at this. “Y-you don’t have to do that, Adrian.” His crying is slowing. I pull off his glasses, placing them into the sand next to us. I wipe a claw over his face.

“Adrian not doing anything but tell truth.” He starts giggling and pushing at my claw. He sniffs while I clear the tears from his face.

“Thank you…” he says, breathing in deep. I move my claw back to his ear to comfort him again, scratching it lightly. He shoots up with a high-pitched noise, and I flinch, pulling my claw back.

“Grace okay, question?” I frantically say, grabbing his chin and moving his head to the side. I trace his ear again, and he flails. “Where hurt, question?”

“W-wahait nohoho!” he squirms about in my hold. “Nohot hururt! Tihihicklish!” he squeaks out. 

Rocky has told me about the human version of tickling before, specifically that Grace is quite fond of it, and it's come up in my research on the human body. It has a similar outcome to Eridian tickling. Laughing and wiggling around. I think this method will be a good way to make Grace feel better. 

I pull my claw away with a hum of understanding, and he relaxes. He's lying in my lap, a small smile across his face, but I still see the faintest tears in his eyes. He moves his face to his hands, still sniffling.

“Hm. Adrian will give Grace check up.” He glances through his fingers.

“W-what?” he asks, his voice gravelly.

I gently pull up his shirt, and he tenses up. He's still quite thin, but fat has definitely started to come back. I reach my claw and grab at his ribs, giving slight squeezes. He jumps with a squeal.

“WAHAhait! Adriahahan!” He presses his arms to his side while twisting in my grasp. I feel around the bones, moving my claws up. His ribs definitely don't stick out as much as they did when I first treated him. I squeeze his top ribs while feeling his chest muscle for any growth.

“NAHAHOHO-AH I-I dohont neheheed a CHEHheheCK UHUP—“ he cackles, trying his best to dislodge my claw.

“Grace need check up from Adrian. Make sure Grace eat well. Check for fat and muscle growth.” I chirp with a playful tone. "Is Adrian job." I moved my claw from under his arm to trail down it, using another claw to pull his arm from his side.

“I-I ahaham! Ihihim eahahating gohohood!” I trace lightly down his arm as he pulls at it. I pinch at his elbow and let out a yelp and some more giggles. There’s some muscle growth here, though definitely not as much as I would like.

“Hm. Not enough.” I trace down to his wrist, then back up to his inner arm.

“Ah-I’m sohorry!” he tugs weakly at his hand, soft laughter leaving him.

“Grace no apology. Adrian work harder to help. Make grace strong.” I murmur it out while thinking of solutions for later.

I release his arm, and he presses it to his side again, his legs trying to come up and curl him into a ball. I stick a claw back down, feeling around his tummy. He screeches, fighting my arm. 

“Good. Much fat and muscle here.” I firmly press in, feeling all the muscles twitch under my touch. “Rocky will be happy.” 

“EEEAHHAHA—NOHOHO!” I hear blood rush to his head again as embarrassment takes him. “S-stohOHOP—ADRIAHAHAN!” He kicks at my carapace, and I can’t help but let out some giggles. He’s so small and weak; it’s amusing. I have to admit his little human sounds are quite cute.

“Grace too ticklish for exam, question?” I tease a bit, vibrating my claw. He squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head rapidly.

“A-ADRIAHAHAN– *SNRK* THIHihis ihihisn’t neheceHESSARY!” squeaky noises come from him.

I grab a flailing foot with another claw, stretching his leg out as my other moves down to his thigh. I push into the muscle there and let out a pleased trill.

“Good human Grace! Much muscle here. Good good good.” His other leg kicks out frantically as his arms scramble to pull at my claw. “Such a good human. Adrian can tell Grace been running. Keep up with regiment. Good Grace!” I half tease, half praise, soaking in the new wave of blush creeping up his face.

I squeeze his knee, and his leg jerks hard. “How joints, question?” I know the gravity on our planet has taken its toll on his body. I scratch lightly at the underside, pulling giggles from him.

“T-they ahahache a bihit, not bahahd!” He covers his face, pulling at his appendage.

“Hm. Will work on problem. Brace maybe help.” I go back up and squeeze rapidly at his kneecap.

“ADRIAHAhahan! P-pleheHEHEASE! NOHOHO MOHOHORE-AHAHEHEhehe—“ I let go of his leg, and he immediately folds in on himself, gasping for air.

“Grace very good. Fat and muscle build good. Will add more magnesium and zinc to diet. Help.” I state, scratching at his scalp, pulling lightly at his hair.

“O-okahahay—“

“One spot Adrian check.” I unfold him a bit and pull down his pants a few inches, then push into his lower stomach, making him scream and fight me again.

“ADRIHIHI—NAHAHOHOHOT THEHEHERE!” He squeals, curling around my claw. I squeeze at the little pudge that sits there with content.

“Adrian happy happy happy! Grace get more healthy. Grace doing so good!” His cheeks flush again, ‘hiding’ his face as much as he can while wiggling around.

“NOHOHO—“ I move up a bit and press into his belly button. 

“Yes.” I scratch lightly at the little spot.

“EEEHEHAHA—PLEAHAHASE!” He arches up while making a rather adorable noise.

I stop moving my claw, letting it rest against his tummy. His laughter lingers intertwined with little hiccups and tiny giggles. Different kinds of tears staining his face now. I rub soothing circles into his skin while he catches his breath.

His heartbeat is loud and strong. Alive. Every beat is proof that Rocky made it home. Proof that Grace made it home too. The little pitter patter settles something deep inside me.

He's curled up in my arms, his breathing and heart evening out. He has a smile plastered on his face, and soft giggles still spill from his lips. He wraps his arms around the leg that is still settled on his stomach, and he lets out a sigh. 

“Grace…very endearing. Adrian understand why Rocky love so much.” My admission makes him shove his face in my arm with a flustered noise. I reach a claw up and pet at his head again, sliding to scratch at the base of his neck. He melts into my arms, eyes closing. 

“Thank you. I hope you visit me again.” He shifts a little in my hold.

“Will visit. Promise." his small frame shifting to look at me again. “Adrian apologize for not seeing Grace sooner.” Guilt floods my chords.

"No, it's okay. I understand why.” He laughs slightly. "I would be upset at me too.”

“Not upset at Grace. Or Rocky. Adrian understand situation. Adrian knows feeling not logical. No one fault.” I rumble out gently. "Adrian apologize. Not Grace fault. Grace save Rocky. Adrian forever be in Grace dept. Should not have taken feelings out on Grace Rocky.” I move my claw to under his chin, scratching slightly. He smiles wide, scrunching up his shoulders a bit but tilting his head up, giving me more access.

"It's okay.”

“Is not," frustration lacing my voice. His eyes widen slightly. I can't get over what he said. "Grace really not like Grace, question?” He looks away as I lower my claw from his chin.

“I just–I hate the way I'm so helpless here, I guess? I rely on so many Eridians just to wake up and take a walk. I don't, like, hate myself. I feel like a burden to you and Rock–”

“Grace good burden. Adrian like Grace burden.” I see his heart rate start to rise again. I stroke his forehead as I see tears start to swell in his eyes again. He sniffs and takes a deep inhale. 

“Okay, question?” I say firmly.

He wipes at his eyes. “O-okay.” 

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ🛸༄˖°.

“Adrian?” Rocky's voice pulls me from my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed it sneak up on me.

“Rocky! How was the meeting?” I ask tenderly. The waves crash softly in front of us.

Instead of answering me, its carapace shifts down, its attention on the little human asleep in my lap. It seems to look in shock and awe as I pet Grace. After a moment, it lets out a small excited sound, something I haven't heard in months. 

“D-Did it go well?” Its voice vibrates from joy, already knowing the obvious answer.

I let out a giggle. “Yes. Me and Grace had a good talk.” I bring my claw to scratch at his scalp. He shifts, making adorable little purring noises in his sleep. 

Rocky walks up in front of me and Grace. "I'm very, very, very happy!” it trills, bringing up its claws and shaking them. 

“Me too," I reply fondly. Rocky suddenly stops; the atmosphere around it changes abruptly.

“Are…we okay?” I let out a small, pained sound as Rocky moves a bit closer to me. 

“Yes. I am sorry, my love. I was never mad at you. I apologize for any hurt I have caused.” I reach an arm out, hoping it will come to me.  ' I placed my emotions on you both when shouldn't have."

They come closer, about to take my claw, but hesitates. “I am sorry too. I have not been home with you to spend time or watch you sleep. I had you work nonstop on Grace, not thinking of your thoughts or feelings. I am sorry.” It shifts back and forth, two claws fidgeting together. “Do you still need space?”

“Rocky, I know why you did it. I do not blame you," I whisper out softly. “I would love nothing more than for you to be in my arms.” 

It takes my claw immediately. It was as if I were afraid I might change my mind. I gently pull Rocky closer until it's pressed into me and Grace. The tension leaves its body so quickly it almost makes me laugh. I start caressing it the same way I'm doing with Grace, and exhaustion immediately starts pulling at it again. In my arms, it softens, and I can feel sleep beginning to take hold. A low rumbling starts deep inside Rocky. So sleepy and content with both of us here. I've missed that sound.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ🛸༄˖°.

“You guys are babysitting? I didn’t know Eridians did that.” I look over at the two cuddling on the floor. Rocky has perched himself on top of Adrian, soaking in their heat.

“Obvious. Other Eridians get busy. Need help watching over pebbles.” Rocky clicks out. Two of his legs hang off the side of Adrian’s carapace and I notice they swing back and forth a bit.

“Well my bad.” I roll my eyes with a smile. “I would love to. I haven’t been given the chance to see baby Eridians yet.” I’ve only taught more adolescent Eridians in my class, not toddler and below age. I’m actually a little nervous at the thought.

“Grace must be gentle.” Adrian adds a bit sternly, shifting to stand. Rocky climbs off and stretches a bit, kinda like a cat.

I scoff “Of course I’ll be gentle! Who do you think I am?” I fake a shocked expression, hand over my chest.

“Grace is…clumsy.” Gee thanks. “Grace be more careful than usual.” Rocky adds as they both head towards the door.

“I promise to be more careful than usual.” I hold my right hand up like I’m giving an oath though I don’t think either one of them actually knows what that means.

I lean over the couch to watch them head out. Adrian lets out a low giggle. “Adrian Rocky be back soon with pebbles.”

They shut the door behind them as I slump back into the couch. I feel a bit giddy, my first time seeing little baby Eridians! I hope they’re as cute as I imagine them to be.

——————

Around an hour later I hear a very soft knock at the door.

“Coming!” I scramble over to let them in. As I open the door Rocky pushes himself in and then herds me out of the way.

“Grace move out of Adrian way.” He lightly taps at my shins. I stagger back a bit, trying not to step on Rocky in the process. Adrian walks in holding six little rocks in one arm, little sounds of random notes coming from them. They are all buzzing with life, little legs and claws moving and squirming about.

I let out a little coo as Adrian walked up in front of me, letting me get a good look, “They're so tiny! They look adorable!” They look like they would fit in the palm of my hand! A few are thick and stubby while others are thin. So thin it’s a little scary. I desperately want to reach out and touch them but decide not until I get an okay at the very least.

Adrian hums “Yes. They are.” They stop for a moment, letting me bask in their adorableness. “Pebbles will love you Grace.”

“Why me?” I smile a bit, leaning my face closer to the little babies in their arms. I see their claws reach up at me, their claws making grabbing motions.

“Grace is new. New sounds and new species. Grace is whole new experience.” They shift to move past me to settle on the floor in the house. “Also…Grace is cute and nice.” They add, making me a bit flustered. Me and Rocky quickly follow and Rocky curls up next to Adrian while I stand awkwardly. I’m not sure where I should sit.

Adrian makes a circle on the floor using their arms as a little fence to keep them in. They carefully lower the pebbles into the circle and they all immediately start moving. Adrian lifts a claw in my direction and I take it in my hand. They guide me back to the circle as Rocky shoos the little baby’s away from me so I can sit in the circle too. I lean my back against Adrian as I feel my excitement and anxiety rise.

”Pebbles not communicate well yet but still very curious. Can understand most of language.” Rocky explains but pauses “…Grace heart beat fast. Calm. You will do great.” He reassures as the pebbles make their way over to me. They are careful and cautious but their curiosity seems to be winning.

“O-okay…can I, um, touch them? Like, pet them?” I ask as they move closer and closer. Little legs scuttling in my direction.

“Of course.” Rocky takes my hand and places it out in front of me, low to the ground. It’s like if I were to meet a new dog for the first time. Letting them sniff my hand to make sure I’m not a threat. They seem to stop their advance towards me at the movement, keeping a distance.

“Aw! Hey little guys! My name is Grace—“

I suddenly realize I have absolutely no idea if they can understand me. Heat creeps up my cheeks as Adrian gently repeats what I said beside me. Right. Of course they can’t speak English.

Not my brightest moment.

I keep my hand as still as possible, hoping one comes up to me. I feel my anxiety rise even more as the thought of them hating or being scared of me crosses my mind.

I tense at a feeling on my head and I glance up. Adrian has started petting me softly, I think to calm my nerves but also to show the pebbles I mean no harm.

One brave pebble scuttle up and places a single claw on one of my fingers. It squeezes softly and chirps excitedly. God, there so cute!

That seems to be enough to convince the others and they all rush towards my hand. Little claws grab at my fingers, squishing and pulling. I giggle a bit, clenching my fingers ever so slightly. They seem to like it and they all let out little squeaks and trills.

I hear Rocky and Adrian giggle from somewhere above me.

“I think they like me!” I whisper excitedly grinning with a goofy smile. I carefully tip my hand over letting them explore. Tiny claws rub over my knuckles curiously, feeling the difference between my soft palm and the bonier top of my hand.

One pebble wanders past my wrist and grabs onto my pant leg. I tense instinctively, fighting the urge to pull away and accidentally shake them off.

Apparently, once again, one brave pebble is all the encouragement the others needed. They swarm my leg almost immediately. I let out a startled laugh as claws climb up my jeans and into my lap, forcing me to lean back against Adrian for support.

“See. Grace is natural.” Rocky teases a bit, chittering in my direction.

One pebble climbs up the front of my shirt, surprisingly quickly. It grabs at my collar and hoists itself on my shoulder, two arms grabbing my neck for support. I gasp slightly and the tickly feeling and hold as still as possible, my body going ridged.

“A-ah wahait! That tihickles!” I fight every bone in my body to not scrunch up my shoulders but my hands to fly up to grab at the air around my neck. I realize the other little ones go still. I carefully glance down and they are all sitting, like they are waiting. Then I suddenly feel the claws at my neck slowly trace and squeeze experimentally and I jump.

“Noho dohont doho thahat!” I giggle softly and a symphony of chirps and trills follow my laughter as the pebbles start moving again with vigor. They all start trying to climb up my shirt now.

Fudge.

“Adrain think they like Grace laugh.” Adrain chuckles out, still softly rubbing at my scalp. Little legs claw at my stomach as they try to reach the baby perched on my shoulder that is still clawing at my neck.

“AH—guys wahait!”

I squirm helplessly, unsure of what to even do with my hands. Instinctively I curl forward trying to protect my stomach while I laugh which is a huge mistake.

My shirt rides up in the process and the pebbles immediately notice the new exposed skin. Apparently they decide this is a much better route to my neck than climbing over my arms. Tiny claws hook into the fabric before several scuttle below.

“NANOHO NOhohot underNEHEATH—!”

I slowly slide down Adrian’s carapace, forcing my arms up and out. I don’t want to hurt them but I don’t know what else to do. They go still again for a moment and suddenly they're digging into the pudge on my stomach with purpose now, trying to force out loud laughter from me. I squeal as I feel Adrian let out a laugh against me.

“H-Hehelp meheHEHE ADRIAHAHAN! ROHOCKY!” I yelp, my arms slowly lowering back to my stomach against my will. I can’t help it, it’s their little legs, the way they vibrate with sound and excitement against my skin tickles more than I can handle.

“Adrain help Grace.” I silently thank them but I don’t hear Adrian or Rocky tell them to stop or even any action to grab at the little guys. Then I feel a large claw scoop up my hands and stretch me up and out against my will with my back half on the ground and half leaving against Adrian. The pebbles slow a bit at my sudden movement, balancing themselves.

“Adriahan w-whahat are yohou dohOHOING—NO WAhahAIT!” I hear happy trills from under my shirt as they dig in more. Some pinch, some claw, some vibrate, all experimenting to see what can bring the best noises from me. A few have travelled up towards my ribs, feelings round the bones with their legs while other push into my hip making me arch up with a squeak.

“Adrain make sure Grace not hurt pebbles on accident. Still let pebbles play and experience Grace.” The playful trill in their voice tells me I’m doomed. I tug helplessly against their grip but Adrian doesn’t budge.

I turn my head towards Rocky in a last desperate plea for mercy only to find him sitting comfortably beside us, cooing at my distress.

I feel my face burn bright red.

I squeeze my eyes shut trying to block out any tickly feelings. One pebble makes its way up to my collar and carefully starts tracing my clavicle making my chin shoot down to my chest with a squeak. I fidget at the new sensation as the other pebble still stationed on my shoulder traces the shell of my ear.

“This is human version of tickle.” I hear Rocky explain over my cackles. “Hunan touch sensitive. Have common ‘tickle spot’ but Grace very sensitive human. Tickle spot everywhere.” I feel the tips of my ears go red at Rocky’s very helpful commentary.

I’m about to say something dumb probably when a certain curious baby decides to explore my belly button. I shoot up as straight as I can, feeling a small claw reach in and scratch at sensitive skin hiding there.

“AHAHA—NAHOHOHO *SNRK* NAHAHAT THEHEHEHEREAHAH—!” I screech out and flail hard.

I’m actually worried the noise that ripped from my throat would scare the little pebbles but it only seemed to make them more determined. The other three little Eridians on my stomach and ribs immediately went to investigate this new very sensitive spot.

I kick my feet as I feel twenty little arms claw and trace at my bellybutton, making tears quickly well up in my eyes. I buck my hips up, I can’t help it anymore. My erratic movements do nothing to stop them.

“PEHEHEBBLES *SNRK* P-PLEHEHASE!” I beg, kinda forgetting they can’t understand me anyway. They trace around the sensitive spot, reaching in a poking making me laugh hard, my face hurts from the smile.

I squeal, “ROHOHCKYEHE PLEAHAHASE! ADRIAHAHANONO—!” I feel my body get increasingly more exhausted, my arms going slack against Adrian as I slump down, hunching into myself, shaking my head softly.

“Okay. Enough.” I hear Adrian say rather firmly. The pebbles slow their torment to a stop but don’t move off of me. There are little movements to balance and hang on, still making me squirm with giggles.

“Give Grace room.” Rocky adds, getting up to pluck a few pebbles off of me while the other skitter off.

“Heheha thahank yohouhehe.” I wheeze, my eyes closing in relief.

Once they're all off Adrian finally lets go of my arms and I immediately pull them close, sliding all the way to the floor. I rub at the skin of my tummy, trying to get the tingles out of my skin.

As I huff to get my breath back, the baby’s crawl up and watch closely around my head. I feel a small movement and I jump. But then I feel more and more. The pebbles start petting me, mimicking what Adrian was doing earlier. Not sure if they're doing it to be soothing on purpose or if they're just curious about what hair is but I don’t care. They let out purring and cooing noises as the continue. Little claws scratch at my scalp making me melt a bit under the touch, relaxing my tense muscles.

“Told Grace. Pebbles love you.” Adrian shifts closer to me, pulling my shirt back over my stomach and fixing my glasses, pushing them up the bridge of my nose. They take a digit and carefully wipe at the tears on my cheeks making me giggle and scrunch up softly, pushed at their arm.

I sigh, “Well they could at least express it in a different way.” A smirk makes its way to my face as a pebble climbs on my forehead, feeling my eyebrows then reaching under my glasses to graze the tear soaked eyelashes of my one eye.

Anxiously Rocky trills “Careful! Human eyes very important and delicate!” I see him shift to quickly grab at the baby but I hold my arm up.

There is no way to know if all my work paid off, and that fact has lost me countless nights of sleep.

There is no way for me to know that those Beatles made it back to Earth intact, that the taumoebas survived the journey, let alone reentry, or that Earth wasn’t already empty by the time they got back.

It’s a possibility that I had convinced myself I needed to accept. Something I knew even Stratt considered a likely outcome. Utter failure.

Why else would she name the mission “Hail Mary”?

But I am terrified. I risked my life to make sure my planet had a fighting chance at survival.

What if it was all for nothing…

I gripped my arms tightly, nails digging into the skin, with something slick beneath my curled, clawed fingers I couldn’t see in the dark on my right arm.

Every drumming beat of my heart felt like rhythmic punches to my chest, making me wheeze and gasp.

Breathing was merely a motor function - not purposeful or productive. A machine instinct to keep air in my lungs, though no matter how hard my body pushed, hardly anything made it in.

Dizziness.

My extremities tingled as the blood in my body collected around my vitals, leaving my arms and legs feeling cold, heavy, and numb.

I know I have to breathe, but it hurts. Every breath feels like I’ve just come up from underwater.

I deserve nothing more.

“Everyone’s gone…”

I mutter to myself. My voice, if you could even call it that, was no more than a whining squeak.

“Everyone. Eva’s gone… Dimitri’s gone… Carl, your students- they’re gone. They’re doomed to freeze a-and starve, and die and it’s my fault. It’s my fault! it’s my fault-!”

My voice cracks, the harshest words I’ve ever spoken to myself are nothing but a whimper.

“I’m a coward. A coward. I wouldn’t have done ANY of this if Eva hadn’t forced me. What the hell makes me so special? What makes ME with being the lone survivor of the ice age I didn’t even want to help prevent…”

My grip tightens on my arms, a stinging, staticky pain on my right flared in rapid pulses, but I ignore it still.

“I’m not a hero…” I begin to cry. “I’m not a hero… I’m not a hero… I hope they don’t think I am…”

I hang my head, glasses tumbling off my face. Heavy, heaving sobs lurch from my chest as I sit in the tiny, dark bathroom.

It’s cold, it’s pitch black, and I couldn’t convince myself I deserved anything more at the time. My punishment. Death would be too merciful.

My body shakes, but not from the cold.

Breathing becomes difficult, shallow and erratic.

“Grace!”

There’s a voice… I can’t bring myself to look up.

“Grace!”

“Get away from me.” I wheeze, head still hung, knees to my chest.

“Are you- Grace what’s going on?”

I don’t reply, hoping he’ll leave.

“Ryland Grace, can you hear me?”

“Go AWAY.”

“No, look at me.” The voice is insistent.

I only sob in reply.

“Grace, it’s me, it’s Simon. What’s happening? Can you please look up at me?”

“NoooOOO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” I cry out, pressing my back to the wall as hard as I can.

I hear soft footsteps approach me, slowly, like you would a scared animal.

“Grace, you’re scaring me…”

“Simon… go away…”

“No! Stop telling me to leave, I’m not moving! You think I’m leaving you alone like this? You’re out of your fuckin’ mind! I could hear you crying from the observation deck!” I pick up the irritation in his voice, but he was making an effort not to shout at me.

I shake my head slowly, sniffling and breathing heavy.

There’s a quiet click as Simon turns on the bathroom light, casting the room in a dim, whiteish orange glow.

“Oh Jesus- fuck, Ryland!” Simon hisses, taking a shaky breath, before dropping down in front of me.

“You’re bleeding. Shit- damnit, Gracie, you’re bleeding, where is that coming from?!”

It sounds like there’s a lump in Simon’s throat. Oh- he’s afraid of blood…

I shoot up, staring at him with wide, puffy eyes.

“I-I’m sorry-! I didn’t know! I- I can’t feel…” my words are breathy and quiet, but urgent. “I— I’ll take care of it, go- go back upstairs!”

“NO. Give me your hands.” Simon demands.

He sits on the floor in front of me, extending both hands out to me.

“Now, Ryland, I’m serious.”

I hesitate for a long time, and Simon waits patiently.

Finally, I weakly put both my hands in Simon’s, and he pulls my arms out straight.

“There it is- Gracie, you’ve picked straight through Rocky’s paw print scar on your arm.”

The source was hard to see through blurred vision, but my forearm was painted red, along with the opposite hand’s fingers, and some of my, thankfully, red shirt.

“I- I didn’t… I didn’t realize…”

“I know, you do this when you’re anxious, you pick, and you pick, and you pick. Never like this though.” Simon sighs.

He looks around for a moment, I say nothing.

Quickly, he yanks a wad of toilet paper from the wall, and slips the headband he’s wearing off his head, fashioning a crude gauze and bandage around my arm, trying his best not to focus on the blood.

I wince as he pulls the knot tight.

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s not severe, but I have to make sure the bandage stays secure.”

“Y-your headband…”

“It can be washed. We have peroxide.”

Simon finishes his work, sighing as he releases my arm.

“I’m so sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Grace, stop.”

My voice begins to shake, and I can feel another wave of guilt, sending me to tears. Now I’ve involved Simon. I’ve worried him, scared him…

I shake my head, trying to will the words out that are stuck in the back of my throat, but all that comes out is a dry heave, and a sputtered sob.

Simon sighs, bringing himself closer to me. He waits a moment, before gently taking me by the shoulders, and pulling me into him.

I don’t protest, falling into Simon’s chest, arms wrapped tight around him, clutching his sweatshirt as though it were the only thing between me and oblivion, which for all I know could be true.

“It’s alright, you’re alright. You’re alive, you’re safe, and I’m here. You’re not alone.” Simon begins to rock from side to side, gently tracing a hand up and down my back as he tries to put me at ease.

I shake my head against Simon’s chest. “No… no… nonono…”

“No what, Gracie? Use your words.”

“Nonono, no! What if I messed it all up?!”

“Messed what up?”

“You haven’t messed anything up… and if you have, I’m sure we can fix it.”

“You don’t… know that. How do you k ow I’ve done everything right?”

Simon pulls back, looking down at me, brows furrowed in confusion. “What’re you talking about?”

“I- I went through the motions- I did what I had to…”

“Okay… for what?”

“But how could you possibly know it was all correct? W-what if something happened?! What if I did something wrong?!” I sob, almost pleading with Simon.

“What if I did something wrong with the probes- o-or the breeder tanks, and because of me, everyone is gonna die?!”

“Hey, hey-“

“What if it’s my fault humanity is gone?! Wh- what if I’m a murderer…? They said I’d be remembered as a hero, but that’s not- that’s not true!”

“Grace-!”

“I’M A MURDERER, SIMON. EVERYONE COULD BE GONE AND IT’S MY FAULT.” I shout, my entire body tensing as I use every ounce of strength to scream.”

“No., that isn’t true”

“I’m a murdererrRRR. Why should I get to survive when everyone else is on the green mile?!WHY AM I STILL HERE?!”

“HEY. Do not say that. That’s a horrible thing to say. You deserve to be here, and you’re not gonna say otherwise. I don’t fuckin like hearing you talk like that.”

“People have been condemned for far less…” I mutter.

“Enough. That’s enough, Gracie. You’re getting in your own head.” Simon gives me a sharp squeeze, bringing me back to focus.

“Listen to me. You have gone places, done things, experiences and survived things that no human ever has.” His voice is soft and quiet.

“Impossible odds, even more impossible decisions, and here you are, still alive, and still well. That counts for something. That means something.”

Simon brings a hand to my hair, brushing through it lazily.

“And neither of us are naive, or idiots. We know there’s always a nonzero chance of something happening, but what matters is that you have done everything and more in your power to make sure your planet survives. And that’s all anyone can reasonably ask of you. No one is gonna blame you personally on the off chance something goes wrong. You’ve done your part.”

I say nothing in reply.

“And don’t give me the bullshit of “I’m not a hero”, either. You realize you’re the lone savior of Earth, Erid, and me, right?”

Simon pushes me back just far enough to get a look at my face.

“Why else would I call you my angel, if not for the fact that you saved my life? You nearly crashed your ship taking a chance on a distress signal from a moon you didn’t even have charted on your system, all to potentially help something in need. and you brought me aboard, showed me patience through my distrust and anger, care for my injuries, and compassion towards my past, my mutations, and every bit of baggage I dragged in with me. You saved my life. If nothing else, then selfishly, you’re my hero.”

I let out a whining sob, collapsing back into Simon. He tightens his hold on me, resting his chin on the top of my head.

“I owe you my life, and I’ll spend every minute of the rest of it making sure you know just how much you’ve done and sacrificed for me, and the two planets you and Rocky saved.” I can feel the vibration of his words through my skull, and I nod slowly.

“Can you sit up and look at me, Angel?” Simon asks, coaxing me up again.

Reluctantly, I sit up, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, and looking up at Simon.

“You are humanity’s, Erid’s and my hero, Ryland Grace.”

I take a breath, still a little shaky, but nothing like before. I shift to sit on my knees in front of Simon, and pull him into a hug, arms wrapped tight around his neck. He doesn’t miss a beat, returning the hug with equal strength, the both of us holding each other as if we’d never see one another again.

“Thank you, Simon- I- I’m… I’m so happy I found you.”

He chuckles softly, nodding against my shoulder.

“I’m glad you found me too, I would t be here if-“

“I love you.”

The words are put before I even know it. Silence follows.

“I- I’m sorry, I don’t mean-“

Simon shakes his head.

“No, no. It’s alright… I love you too.” He chuckles, squeezing me tighter. He pulls back slightly, tipping my head down, and planting a quick kiss on the top of it. “I love you more than you know.”

The words aren’t as heavy and burdening as they’ve felt for me in the past. There was something different about how Simon said it.

The moment I loosen my grip, Simon Dows the same.

I sit up, my cheeks a bit red. I take a deep breath, sitting back against the wall.

“Do you feel better?”

“I think so.”

“You think so? Or you know so.”

“I’m… retry sure so.” I sniffle, shrugging.

“I’ll accept that answer.” Simon nods, sitting crisscross in front of me.

“What brought this on? Bad dream? Did you see something?”

“I dunno. I couldn’t sleep all night, and my mind just…”

“Started wandering.”

“Yeah.”

“So you’ve been up all night, then? That’s why you look so exhausted.”

I nod, thumbing the bandage on my arm with the opposite hand. Yeah…”

“Why didn’t you come up to the observation deck? I could have kept you company.”

“I- I didn’t want to wake you- I know you have trouble sleeping too…”

“Ohhh bullshit, you know you don’t have to worry about that.” He rolls his eyes.

“I know, but-“

“Anything my Saving Grace needs is within reach, if I can help it.” Simon says dramatically.

“Come on- don’t call me that.”

“I am ever at your service.”

“Ugh, stop that!” I scrunch my nose at Simon, cringing at the display, unable to help bit smile.

“Oh! Look at that, we got a smile!” Simon teases, flicking me on the nose.

“Simon!” I shove his hand away

“Fine, Fine, but I mean it, if you feel your mind starting t wander, please come find me. I’ve always got time.”

“I appreciate it. S-same to you, of course.” I try not to make it sound like an afterthought. It isn’t, it’s just hard to articulate at the moment.

Simon gives me a smile, before standing up with a groan. “C’mon. Grab your pillow and quilt.”

He nods towards the door of the tiny bathroom.

“What? Why?”

“You’re sleeping over at mine tonight.” He crosses his arms.

“In the observation deck?”

“Yeah, I cannot in good conscience leave you alone down here tonight, so you’re coming upstairs. Rocky’s sleeping up by the deck tonight too. He finally trusts me enough to sleep by me. I’ll be all of us.” He smiles.

I remain on the floor, staring up at him, trying to hide the smile on my face.

“You’re excited, I cannot see you smiling.”

“Whatever.”

“I’ve got eyes, Gracie- not good ones, but I can still see. Here, I’ll take up your stuff, you clean up, change into something that’s not covered in blood, sweat and tears, and meet me upstairs, ok?”

I look down at my shirt, sighing. It was in pretty rough shape.

“Alright.”

Simon nods.

“I’ll see you in a bit, then.”” Simon says, before rather discreetly taking the clippers from the shelf above the sink, and pocketing them as he leaves the bathroom.

I sigh. I know why he took them, and part of me hates myself for making him distrust me. The rest of me appreciates the concern.

-

I find a pair of shorts, like basketball shorts, but softer, and a sweatshirt that I rarely wore - black, with the NASA ‘worm’ style logo branded on the front in stark white. I roll the sleeves up over my forearms, deciding this was good enough as anything.

-

I ascended the ladder, crawling out of the dormitory. The observation deck was straight down the long hallway, and I could see the light of the stars from where I stood.

Since we converted the observation window to Simon’s “room”, it had taken on a life of its own. Rocky built a suspended platform for his mattress, with room on either side for personal items, like books from around the ship, rolled up charts, and notebooks. The rounded walls held a few shelves with more books, a small box Rocky built to hold Simon’s amulet if he ever took it off for any reason, and a crudely made origami plant that I made for him a few months back. He even kept it under a UV grow light.

I approach the platform, stepping up, and plopping down beside Simon. He had my quilt and pillow laid on the opposite side of the bed from where he typically sleeps.

“Looks a Lot more comfortable.” He gestures to my sweater.

“Yeah, it is.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen that one before.”

“I don’t wear it a whole lot- I’m still getting over the uh- the whole ‘wearing merch for the company that sent me out to die’ thing.” I shrug.

Simon chuckles. “That’s fair, I definitely wouldn’t wear a COI t-shirt.” We both snicker.

“Oh- you changed your bandages too.” Simon points down to my arm.

“Yeah, I had Armando wrap it up really quick. Linda tight, but that’s alright.” I lift my arm, looking down at the cleanly wrapped gauze. “Oh, and I promise, I promise I’ll wash your headband for you- I already hit it with some hydrogen peroxide.”

“Don’t sweat it, I’ll be fine.” Simon shakes his head.

I sigh, lying back on the bed.

…

“Can I ask you something?l Simon looks down at me, his voice sounding heavier than it had a moment ago.

“Sure.”

He takes a moment, arranging his sentence in his brain like scrabble tiles.

“You don’t… uhm… are you- okay?”

“Am I… okay?”

“I mean- I know you were in a tough spot earlier, but you were saying some really concerning things, Ryland…”

“No, no, Simon really, I’m alright. It was the panic talking.”

“That doesn’t just come from nowhere, though. I understand what you mean, but you don’t just say you don’t think you deserve to be here without having that idea cross your mind in the past.”

I’m quiet for a while. He’s absolutely right.

“I promise, it’s not something that I consider as often as it… probably seems… which is probably why it makes me panic- it scares me too- but I swear, I’m alright.”

“Please, utilize me. We’re the only humans around for lightyears - we’ll lose it if we don’t communicate. So please please tallk to me, and bring things like this up to me in the moment so I can help.”

“I will, I promise. I’m sorry.” I sit up on my elbows as I speak.

“I hope you mean it…”

…

“Thank you, by the way.” I say

“Hm?”

“For keeping me company- and making me feel like I’m not Earth’s biggest failure.”

“Anytime. I’m glad I got to you in time.”

I hum in reply. Im glad too.

A moment of silence passes.

“Oh- I have something for you.”

I turn my to face Simon.

“I was gonna wait to give it to you, but this is as good a time as any…”

He turns to the shelf on the wall, grabbing a roughly wrapped object, concealed in notebook paper with “Grace” written in marker on it. It was taped together hastily, like he was fighting with the dispenser in the process.

I chuckle, sitting up and taking the parcel from him, turning it over in my hand. It was about as big as my palm, and relatively light.

“I know, I’m terrible at wrapping things up, but…”

“N-Noho! No, it’s great, Si!” I chuckled, tugging at the twisted tape.

After a bit of struggle I get the thing open, and a thin, dark metal chain slides free onto the quilt beside me. I pick it up, letting it dangle in my hand.

It was a… a pendant… it looked quite similar to Simon’s amulet, a round frame with a clear center. Something was suspended in the clear, glassy center - small, ivory, sharp and curved.

“Wow- this is awesome! What is that? In the center?”

“Don’t freak out.”

“…okay..?”

“It’s a tooth.”

I gasp, staring at Simon for a moment before shouting.

“Simon!! This is your tooth?!”

“No! No, dummy it’s not my tooth, calm down. It’s a tooth that got stuck to my clothes before you rescued me - a fragment of one from the creature in the ocean. I cleaned it, and had Rocky make a pendant to keep it in.”

I sigh. “My god, lead with that.”

“Not as funny that way.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever… this is really cool though, thank you.”

“Now you can wear a reminder of what you saved me from. Now you have no reason to doubt that you’re a hero.”

I’m silent for a long while, clutching the pendant in my hand, staring down at it, before a few tears roll down my face, dropping down into my hand.

“Oh shit, goddamnit, are you alright?!”

Simon puts a hand on my shoulder, concern in his voice all over Gaian.”

“I- I’m okay, I’m okay… sorry, just kinda emotional at the moment. I love it. I’ll never take it off.

“Good, good- I don’t think I can take another scare tonight. Here, give it here.”

Simon extends a hand, and I drop the pendant into it. He moves behind me, lowering the charm over my head and onto my chest, fastening the clasp behind me with a bit of struggle.

I shudder, letting out a stray huff of laughter as his knuckles brush against me.

“Laughing at a man struggling with a prosthetic?”

“Nohoho! No, I’m just- tahahake your time.” I say.

“You’d like that.” Simon mutters, scritching my neck with one finger, making my shoulders shoot up.

“Sihihimon!”

Sorry, sorry. I’ll stop.”

I look down at the necklace. “I don’t- I don’t mind…. You don’t… have to…” I mutter, as Simon moves back over beside me.

“You want me to?”

“W- well I mean…”

I can feel him smiling at me. I continue looking straight ahead.

“Would that make you feel better? If I ticke you? That’s what you’re dancing around asking?” He tilts his head.

“Maybe, I guess…”

“Maybe you guess?”

“C’mon, please don’t make me spell it out, it’s been a long night.” I huff.

“I won’t, I won’t. Just wanna make sure it’s what you want.”

“Yes.”

“Ok, I’ll go easy on you.”

I look over at Simon with an honestly pretty pathetic look.

“You don’t want me to go easy? Angel, I- I don’t want to overwhelm your system- you’ve only just come down from a panic attack, is laughing like a maniac really safe after crying so hard?”

He does raise a valid point, but I can’t find it in myself to care. I needed the pick-me-up.

Simon sighs after I greet him with the same expression..

“Fine, I’ll work up to it. Start slow.” He relents. “Are you gonna come to me, or am o gonna have for grab you myself.”

I smile at him, not moving an inch.

Right… fine, I’ll bite.” He shrugs, lurching at me, grabbing me by the shoulders, and pulling me down onto the quilt.

“Please let me know if you need a break.” Simon says rather sternly as he sidles up to me.

“I will. I’m okay.” I smile.

He nods. Two, uncharacteristically gentle hands find their place against my torso, lightly squeezing and kneading my stomach.

I snort,quietly giggling. “Sihihimon, you don’t have to treat me like I’m made of glahahass!”

“I know that, I’m just being careful.”

“I- I tohoOLD YOu, I’m okay. You’re nohohot gonna hurt me I’m a grown man.”

“Hmoh.”

“What’s thahat supposed to mean?!”

“Nothing.” He pokes me in the navel.

“AaAAH-haha-! If anything, it’ll just tire me out and I’ll finally be able to get some sleep.” I shrug, looking over at Simon.

He sighs. “If it’ll help you sleep…” Simon grumbles. He grabs me, dragging mw up into his lap. His metal arm held me up against his chest at an awkward angle, my arms suspended, and unable to drop. My sweatshirt had ridden up to my stomach in the process, which was precisely the target he struck.

“A-AHAHAHA-HAHAHAA!!” I shriek, feeling a strong hand strumming at my stomach like a guitar.

“Y-YOUR HAND IS SOHOHO COLD-!!”

“Low iron.”

“H-HOHOW IS TBAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!” Simon switches to roughly squeezing the center of my stomach, forcing the muscle to flex.

“It’s not, that was a lie. Wow- have you actually been using the fitness equipment?” Simon chuckles, giving my abdominal muscles a few strong pokes.

“A-AH! AHAHA! WHY IS THANAT SURPRISING, JERK?! OHOHOW!”

Simon stops a ruptly. “Whats wrong? Are you okay?!”

“YEHEhehes! Simon, I’m fihihine!”

“Why the hell did you say ‘ow’ then?!”

“I dunno! I just did!” I shrug as best I can in the suspended position I’m stuck in.

“You’re gonna give me a heart attack. Don’t say that unless you’re actually in pain, dumbass.”

“You’re so jumpy!”

“I’m worried about you! God forbid I’m worried!”

“AwwwwWWAAAAHAHAHA-!”

“Shut up!” Simon hisses, digging his knuckles into my ribs, dragging them up and down like a xylophone.

I throw my head back against Simon’s shoulder, cackling probably a bit too close to his ear.

I find myself sliding upward, pushing with my legs, instinctively to move away from Simon’s hand. He grumbles, clearly annoyed with me worming around.

“My god, hold still if you want me to do this!”

Simon takes me under the arms, lifting, and tossing me down into the bed, with enough push to one shoulder to land me on my back.

I land with a muffled thump, looking up at him with a lopsided smile on my face. Simon’s mild annoyance thaws when he looks down at me.

“You tired yet?”

“No, not really.”

He sighs, looking me over.

“The hell is with those socks?”

“What?! What’s wrong with them?!” I shrug.

The Hailart crew stocked my luggage with apparently, very strictly science themed items… shirts, sleepwear, and socks.

There’s no way this was all my wardrobe was back on earth…

This particular pair of socks, I quite liked. They were black, patterned with the line angle formulas of various chemicals. Dopamine, adrenaline, seraronin, and others of the sort.

“Are these constellations? Whats going on?”

“No- they- no they’re not constellations, are you blind?! What constellations look like that?!”

“How would I know?!”

“Oh- haha- r-right.”

“Jerk.”

“They’re skeletal structures of chemicals. They’re diagrams used in chemistry to show the bonds of molecules.”

“Huh…” Simon lifts my right foot up by the ankle. “What’s this one.” He jabs one of the images stitched into the bottom of the sock, and I yelp, jerking my knee back, unable to pry my ankle free.

“AH-! I- I dunno-! I cahahan’t see it!”

“Okay, does this help?” Simon shrugs, tracing a finger along the hexagons and lines of the chemical structure.

“A-ABAHAHA-! SIHIHIIMON-!”

“Do you know it or not? Pay attention.” He huffs, starting over.

Hexagon… two lines protruding from the left, going up left, and down left… GOD this sucks- then a line going up right from the hexagon… Oh!

“ADREHEHENALINE! IT… ITS ADEENALINE.” I shout, grabbing a corner of the quilt and covering my face with it, letting out a gravelly, muffled scream.

“That’s not what it says here. It’s got a bunch of letters and numbers.” Seriously?! The formula?!

Simon retraces the shape again as I struggle to think

“UHUHUJHH- DANGIT!! I- I DUNNOHOHO.”

“Yes you do, Think.”

“UUUURRBHHAHAHAHA OH-! OHOH ITS C- SUB 9, H SUB 13, N O SUB 3.”

“I need the elements, Gracie.” Simon shakes his head, suddenly raking his fingers up and down the bottom of my foot.

“AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA-! OKAHAHAHAY OKAY ALRIHIHIGHT-! PLEHEHEASE! STOP AND I’LL AMSWER- I CAN’T TAKE IT.” I howl, thrashing around like a fish out of water.

Simon stops immedietly, pulling his hand away. “Alright. Go.” He says.

I take a moment to catch my breath before answering.

“It- it’s (R)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino)ethanol…”

“…What..?”

“You asked!” I throw my hands up. “NO. Nohoho no more of that, that SUCKED.”

I yanked my leg away from Simon as he searched for another chemical to quiz me on.

“You’re done?”

“Just with that.”

Simon chuckles, patting my bent knee. “Okay, fine.” He says, shuffling up to my side. “One more, the. I think it should be lights out.”

“Deal.” I agree, admittedly feeling a bit groggy already.

Simon smiles with the wickedness of a man with a plan.

“Sit up.”

“Huh?”

“Up, Gracie.” He makes a rising motion with his hand.

I stare at him for a moment, a bit confused, but I do as I’m asked, sitting up with my knees still bent.

Simon opens out his arms, gesturing for a hug.

“What?”

“Would you just come here?” He chuckles. “So inquisitive.”

“I’m a-“

“Scientist, yes, so I’ve been told. Cmon.” He become me close with a rotation of the wrist.

Hesitantly, I move closer, accepting the suspicious hug, wrapping my arms around Simon’s neck as I do before, and he closes his arms around me.

“Perfect.” Simon purrs, before tightening his grip like a boa constrictor, both hands digging into the muscle of my back.

“A-AHAHAHAHA-! WHAHHAT?! WHAT THE HECK?!” I shout with stunned disbelief.

Simon chuckles darkly, the sound reverberating through my head as he began to knead and pinch and scratch, and jab all up and down the expanse of my back.

“AAHAHAHAHA-! AAAAAH-!! PLEHEHEASE THIS IS SO NOT FAIR!!”

“Yes it is, this is all at your request, Angel.”

He drives his knuckles into my low back, at the same time, blowing a sharp raspberry onto my neck. I thrash in his iron- or xenonite grip, until finally, I’ve had enough.

“ALRIIIIHIHIHIGHT ALRIGHT, UNCLE, PINEAPPLE, HAIL MARY, WHATEVER, STOHOHOP!”

And he does.

I fall limp, and Simon keeps me steady against him.

“That was cruel, y’know that?”

“Again, you asked me to do this. You said it’d make you feel better.”

“Uuurrerrghhj…”

Simon snorts, patting me on the back.

He peels me away from him, holding me at a short distance.

“Do you feel better?”

I nod, fatigue weighing heavy on my eyes. “Yeah, yes, thank you.”

“Anytime, Angel.” Simon nods, squeezing my shoulder gently.

He reaches up, combing a hand tgrough my hair, pushing it out of my face. He looks at me softly, not saying a word.

…What happens next can only be explained by a sleep deprivation induced lapse in judgment. I honestly to god don’t know what came over me in the moment, but in the stillness of the silence, I took a breath, and leaned forward…

I kissed Simon.

I… kissed Simon. I did.

And he kissed me back.

I figured- heck, I expected him to push me back, but he didn’t. Sure he was stunned for a second, but once the shock wore off, he slid a hand behind my neck, the metal one down to my back, and he kissed me back.

Not rough, not vicious or messy… equal, comfortable reciprocation.

I’d hardly ever done this before, and hadn’t the slightest clue what I was doing, but pulled back, with a sharp pain in my lip that I’m pretty sure was y standard for the experience.

Right, the teeth.

“Oh, sorry-“ Simon mutters, looking down at the red stain on my lip.

“No no, it’s alright. It’s fine.”

“It’s bleeding.”

“Yeah I can taste it. It stings…” My voice is quieter now. @Y- you’re not… venomous, are you?”

“I dunno, guess we’ll see.”

“What?!” I tense up.

“Joking, Joking. I’m not venomous. My teeth aren’t hollow like snake teeth.” Simon taps one of the long, sharp teeth with his finger.

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.” He smiles.

I nod, looking to the side.

“Gracie.” Simon tilts his head to catch my eye again. “That didn’t have to mean anything you don’t want it to. You’re drained, and your mind is probably still a little scrambled - don’t worry about it, okay?” He says softly.

Admittedly, a part of me is relieved. I’m really not a relationship guy, let alone a kisser, so I couldn’t begin to imagine the implications a spur of the moment kiss would have on any other person.

I sigh. “Thank you, I- I appreciate it. I don’t know where that came from… W-well it’s not that I didn’t- that I don’t want to… kiss you…”

“Oh? Okay-“ Simon chuckles.

“No! But- I don’t- I just-…” Simon puts a hand up, signaling me to shut up, and I do.

“You don’t need to explain yourself. Don’t hurt yourself, you don’t have to explain.”

“Right… sorry…”

Simon lets out a deep quiet laugh, shaking his head.

I yawn, rolling my eyes.

Simon tips my head down, planting a kiss on the top of my head, like he did earlier.

“Why don’t we stick to that for now? No obligation, Nonthreatening.” He smiles.

“Yeah… yeah okay that sounds good…” I murmur, fading in and out where I sat.

Simon points behind me to my rumpled quilt and pillow. “Lay down. You’re gonna pass out sitting up.”

I mutter something even I can’t remember now, and let myself drop back onto the bed, making the supports rattle with the impact. I had been craving this sleep for dozens of hours, and it was finally within reach.

I hear Simon shuffle over to his side of the mattress, enough room between us maybe for Rocky to fit without his hamster ball. The light on the shelf clicks off, and Simon lays back with a groan only a man thirty years his senior should make.

I short.

“Something funny, Grace?”

I giggle like a kid at a sleepover, whispering - “you sound like an old man.”

“You’re older than I am.”

“But I don’t sound like that when I move around.”

Simon sighs, no longer finding me amusing. I can’t blame him.

“Go to sleep.” He grumbles.

I sigh, rolling over, closing the distance between us.

“Seriously?”

“It’s cold…”

“You chose to wear shorts!” He hisses.

“Okay! And so I’m cold!”

“Will this help you go to sleep?”

“…yes.”

Simon sighs, slinging his arm up and over me, yanking me close, my head between his arm and chest.

“Goodnight.” Simon says, grumbling with exhaustion.

“H’night… love you.” I mutter, my body finally falling limp against Simon’s.

Since the day they met, Rocky had been fascinated by Ryland's body (- or more accurately, the human body). It was weirdly vertical, perhaps due to the lack of gravity compared to Erid, and had so many odd eccentricities that complicated it's shape.

One such oddity, was what Ryland called 'ears'.

Rocky had noticed them after Ryland had begun sitting and sleeping near the wall that separeted their ships, and once Rocky became mobile due to the ball he designed he was able to get an even closer look.

Seemingly random curves and hollows surrounded the epicentre, forming an overall lopsided conical shape with a small dangling circle at the base (that still confused Rocky to this day).

However, as often happens in science, one question quickly led to another discovery.

Ryland had been hunched over on the floor, scribbling in a notepad about their most recent attempt at solving the Astrophage problem, and Rocky had been crouched next to him tittering away about everything from their science mission to "Grace writing messy."

After a few moments of Ryland tuning Rocky out, the little rock creature had decided to turn his attention to the side of Ryland's head. Given they were so close, with Ryland practically lying against Rocky's ball, surely it wouldn't be difficult to Rocky to reach out and investigate his ear.

And reach out he did.

Rocky gently pushed his hand against the mesh of his ball towards Ryland, outstretching his claw and making sure his touch would be gentle as to not hurt Ryland. He got closer, and closer, and right as he made contact-

"HUH?!" Ryland flinched, ducking his head backwards into his shoulders and slapping at the air as if some extra-terrestrial mosquito had tried to take a bite out of him.

"Grace hurt?! Question?!" Rocky chirped, jumping back himself and retracting his claw.

Ryland rubbed his ear, a slight red tinge on his face. "No- no... You just... surprised me."

Rocky, relieved, settled back into his ball and let Ryland continue. Given his pressure wasn't enough to hurt Ryland, surely he could try again.

As Rocky's claw touched the shell of Ryland's ear a second time, Ryland stifled a giggle and slapped Rocky's arm away again.

"Rohock don't."

"Why Grace hit Rocky? Question?" Rocky wriggled, mildly disdained. "Grace said touch not hurt."

Ryland blushed further "I- uh- Well it didn't hurt, it's..."

"Rocky going to touch again. Statement." Rocky announced, reaching out through the mesh again.

"Rocky will not!" Grace yelped, swatting at Rocky's claw and dodging his head from side to side.

Rocky persisted. "Why Grace fight?! Question! Rocky want to touch ear! Why Grace not let Rocky touch?! Question! No surprise!"

After a moment of back and forth, Rocky widthdrew his arms and Ryland was able to settle back to his spot and pick up his notebook in peace.

At least, he thought so.

"Rocky touch again. Statement."

Without a moment to lose, Ryland scrambled to his feet. "No! No, Rock you can't!"

"Rocky touch Grace!" Rocky chirped, beginning to chase after Ryland. "Rocky learn about human ears! Rocky do science!"

Ryland giggled as his feet pounded through the Hail Mary. "Rohocky stop it!"

"Grace come back! Come back for science!" Rocky tumbled after him, clanging against the wall of every turn and surprisingly gaining on Ryland. "Rocky learn how to make humans make sounds!"

The hail mary had never been louder, footsteps pounding throughout the ship, metal clanging against metal, Ryland's nervous giggling echoing down the corridors, and Rocky's endless chirps chasing after him.

Ryland felt Rocky hot on his heels, increasing his giggling tenfold.

Rocky chirped in excitement and sped up. "Rocky not even have to touch grace! Rocky make grace make sound anyways!"

"Stohop chasing me then!" Ryland shouted back.

Rocky beeped. "No! Rocky want to find more sound! Rocky want to find why sound!"

With that, Rocky's ball smacked into Ryland from behind, sending the pair of them tumbling to the floor. Ryland, already in a fit of giggles, frantically tried to push Rocky off - but the little rock alien was far too determined in his pursuit of knowledge and rolled himself high onto Ryland's sternum.

"Rohocky Rohocky nonononoNONONO!" Ryland squealed as he watched his friend's claw extend out of the mesh again.

"Grace hurt? Question?" Rocky asked, pausing his attack.

"NOPE!" Ryland answered far too quickly. "Nope I'm fine just let me g-"

"Good! Rocky can continue science."

Ryland panicked, giggles bubbling out of his chest as Rocky reached out for his ear again. His sudden shift in movement made Rocky's ball slip, and Rocky grabbed out for anything to steady himself.

Unfortunately for Ryland, that happened to be his side.

"NONONO ROHOCKY!!!" Ryland squealed, legs curling up and kicking out in the air. 

"Oh! New sound! New sound!" Rocky beeped excitedly. "All humans make sounds when squished? Question?"

Ryland shot his hands up to cover his burning face with a giggly groan.

Rocky continued, poking and prodding his claw into the softest parts of Ryland's torso. "Why grace no answer questions? And why Grace face red? Question."

"SHUHUT UHUHUP ROCKY!" Ryland begged, feet drumming on the metal floor.  

Rocky decided to investigate further, adjusting his position so he could access Grace's neck. "Why Grace say bad words to Rocky? Rocky doing science! Grace like science! Statement!"

"THIHIHIS ISNT SCIEHEHEHENCE!" Ryland squeaked, shaking his head from side to side.

Rocky jumped up and down in his ball. "Is science! Is science! Rocky experiment with squishing Grace! Rocky find out why!"

Ryland slapped his hands against Rocky's ball in a futile attempt to free himself. "OKOKOK ITS CALLED TICKLING!"

Rocky paused. "New word? Question?"

"Uh..." Ryland stutterred, residual giggles still tmbling out of his mouth. "So, when humans are touched in particular spots, we tend to move away and... laugh."

Rocky seemed to ponder the thought a little. "Oh. Why tickling? Question?"

With another giggle, Ryland continued his explanation. "It's usually considered a social bonding activity, potentially for an evolutionary self defence-"

Seemingly out of nowhere, Rocky vibrated and bounced around excitedly. "TICKLING FOR FRIEND? QUESTION? ROCKY TICKLE GRACE GRACE BE FRIEND !"

Ryland shrieked as the vibrations rumbled through Rocky's ball and into his stomach. "ROHOCKY Rocky we're ahalready friends you don't have to tihihickle me!" 

"ROCKY BE MORE FRIEND WITH GRACE GRACE AND ROCKY FRIEND FOREVER ROCKY WANT TO TICKLING GRACE!" Rocky sang, intermitedly interrupted by happy beeps and chirps as he reached his claw out again.

Ryland began sliding his feet on the floor, trying to gain some kind of traction to get away again. "Nonono Rohohcky please!"

But there was no deterring the Eridian, Rocky somehow wormed his claw up under Ryland's arm (evoking a quite embarrasingly high pitched squeal).

"ROHOHOCKY QUIHIHIT IHIHIT!" Ryland begged, clamping his arm over Rocky's claw.

"Grace not want to friend rocky?" Rocky asked as he tickled, moving his claw down Ryland's sides again. "Grace not like rocky anymore? Question?"

Ryland groaned through his laughter, covering his face again. "Nohoho Rocky I do I dohoho I swear, just plehehease let me gohoho!"

Rocky vibrated again. "Grace friends with Rocky! Rocky tickling grace forever!"

"Nohohoho!" Ryland tossed his head from side to side. "Whahahat happened to sahave Earth save Eheherid???"