the universe from my eyes

Rocky’s inquiry about Grace’s relationship status lingers for a moment before Grace takes a heavy breath.

“I had somebody back home, yeah,” he murmurs, blinking away the sting that began to surface behind his eyes. His gaze trails down to his hands, twisting the simple ring on his wedding finger in thought, “life was simple with them.”

The sun had begun to set across the coast - warm oranges and yellows settle on the horizon. Gentle waves lapped against the cooling sand of the shore while Grace fiddled with a small box in his pocket. A small smile found its way onto his face, lips curled with warmth as he admired you, his partner. The cold water of the ocean nipped at your ankles, and the sound of your surprised yelp elicited a quiet chuckle from him.

The sound of your name tumbled from Grace’s lips, soft and amused. He took a step forward and pressed a warm hand to your back, to which you had instinctively leaned into. Your eyes lingered on his for a moment, before falling to his lips. The world had fallen quiet for once, while they stood on the shore. 

Grace cleared his throat nervously. He took a step back, and gently led you further from the cold waters. His hands twitched and fell back into his pockets, moving to turn the box over in his hand a few times.

“I- uh, I got you- well..” Grace huffed, making a noise of embarrassment. 

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, before he cautiously dropped to one knee. Grace had his eyes trained on your feet, and when he heard the hitch of your breath he bit the inside of his cheek with enough strength to draw blood. His fingers shook as he opened the box, and he finally let his eyes meet yours.

“I know it isn't much, you deserve more - but if you'll have me..?” He mused with a tinge of hope coating his voice. You had stared at him in awe, and right before his face could fall in fear, you had your arms wrapped around him tightly.

“Yes! Yes,” you had almost choked out in a sob.

His arms had swiftly found themselves around you in return, and he looked up to find your expression filled with mirth. Your hands had tangled into his hair, and he watched you with teary eyes of adoration. Grace pulled you closer, his hand slid up your waist and rested on your shoulder, his thumb pressed into your collarbone. With a laugh of awe and what could be nothing other than glee, he tugged you into a searing kiss. You melted into it, a hand moving to rest above his racing heart. You pulled back first, gasping for air between soft laughter. Grace rested his forehead against yours, before he slid the ring from the box onto your finger. He lifted your hand to his mouth and pressed a loving kiss to where the ring now sat.

“I love you.”

The curious tilt of Rocky's carapace and the melodic trills echoing from him snaps Grace back into the present.

“Grace miss mate, question?” Rocky voices with interest.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do,” Grace purses his lips. He could still remember the sound of your voice over the rushing water, and the view of your face drenched in the warm glow of the setting sun. The feeling of home he was ripped from, light-years away.