I am a mosaic of everyone I have ever known

"The Body And The Blood"

Chapters: 1/11

Fandom: Project Hail Mary (2026), Iron Lung (2026)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace, Ryland Grace & Rocky, The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung) & Rocky (Project Hail Mary)

Characters: The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung), Ryland Grace, Rocky (Project Hail Mary), The NannyBot | Armando (Project Hail Mary), The Hail Mary Computer | Mary (Project Hail Mary)

Additional Tags:

Rescue, Blood and Injury, Mutation, Bonding, Trauma, Slow Burn, First Kiss, Getting Together, Healing, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Survival, Journey to Erid (Project Hail Mary), Ryland Grace and Rocky are Platonic Soulmates, Slow Romance, The Convict | Simon Lives (Iron Lung), Amputee The Convict | Simon (Iron Lung), Touch-Starved Ryland Grace, POV Alternating

Summary:

If Grace and Rocky had a nickel for every time they went "fishing" for a life source on an alien planet that would change the course of their lives forever, they'd have two nickels.

Which isn't a lot.

But it's pretty fudging insane that it's happened twice.

Excerpt:

“Contaminant detected.” “I know!” “Contaminant detected.” “I know, Mary, thank you!” Grace strains through gritted teeth. One last heave finally leverages the xenonite capsule over the lip of the airlock, and he promptly loses his balance. The EVA suit cushions his fall– the adrenaline even more so– and he barely feels the twinge in his hip as he scrambles over the top of the collector to stretch for the airlock door. ♪‘Grace inside, question?! Grace, status update. Status update!’♪ “Contaminant detected.” “I'm okay!” Grace shouts, wincing at his volume. It's just– Rocky is panicking, Mary is yelling about the “Contaminant detected” he’s just pulled into the airlock, and the sky is, once again, very slightly on fire. “I just can't….reach….the–” The ship jostles, knocking Grace backwards, slamming the airlock shut, and rolling the xenonite capsule full force into his chest. His arms wrap reflexively around it, even as his lungs compress and he wheezes recycled air back into them. Rocky's translator and Mary's speakers warp into a dizzying cacophony, and he groans rather pitifully. His helmet clangs against the far wall. A second, more muffled thud follows. Grace eases open his eyes, and follows the smear of red on one of the clear panels of the capsule to where a humanoid hand presses up against it. Grace screams.

Chapter One | Chapter Two |

Thank you so much @pippinoftheshire for the tag!!

From a 🌶Smutty🌶 Alternate Version of a scene from "The Body And The Blood"

🎶What Grace Simon doing, question? Heartbeat fast fast fast, make strange sounds.🎶 “Rocky! Please go away!” Grace jumps out of his skin and tries to merge with Simon in the vain hope of hiding. Simon chuckles, low and sinister, and takes Grace in hand again. Grace chokes a moan into the meat of his shoulder and scolds, “Simon–” “We're having sex, Rocky,” Simon answers easily, and Grace groans pitifully. In response, Simon thumbs the slit of his cock and Grace has to choke back another moan. Simon is going to be in so much trouble. 🎶No understand word.🎶 Simon hums in faux consideration, stroking Grace a little faster. Grace thrusts up into Simon's hand involuntarily and bites down on his knuckles to keep from crying out. He feels Simon turn his head and he whispers, “You can tell me to stop.” So. Much. Trouble. “It's how humans reproduce. But sometimes we do it for fun, or to let off some steam,” Simon explains, infuriatingly casual, “Usually, it's done in private.” Despite his situation, Grace can't help a snort of a laugh at Simon's choice of word. He smacks Simon's bicep in retribution, but that only succeeds in sending a jolt straight to Grace's cock and he hisses a gasp at his own thoughtlessness.

Thank you so much @willtheweaver for the tag!!!

Im gonna tease you guys with a line from Chapter Two ("Pray That You Stay Dead") of "The Body And The Blood", which will be posted Sunday!!

Grace is struck by a mental image of himself in white nurse's garb– complete with a red cross on his chest and a habit covering his head– and the stranger on the bed dressed in matching era-appropriate WWI fatigues.

Thank you so much @willtheweaver , @cha-melodius , and @pippinoftheshire for the tags!!!

I have OFFICIALLY (maybe technically) finished "The Body And The Blood" so whilst I await my wonderful beta reader......

From a currently unnamed BloodyMary Vampire Grace AU:

“You need to feed,” Simon observes. It's no secret. Rocky's worried too. “I know, I know,” Grace waves him off, underdeveloped fangs flashing in a grimace, “I'll eat after I get some grading done. Deadlines wait for no–” Simon catches his wrist and forces eye contact. The reflective, damaged pupils of Grace's achingly blue eyes pin. Simon knows that look. He's hearing the steady thrum-thrum-thrum of Simon's blood rushing through his veins, amplified by their skin-to-skin contact.  “You need to feed now, Ryland. From me,” he clarifies.

I think everyone beat me to it today so uhhhh Open Tag for anyone who wants to join!!!! 💕💕💕💕