Spore Druid

It has been 36 years since the Hail Mary was launched (technically the game dispatch takes place during the same time. Ryland would’ve been helping with the Hail Mary, but ignore that. Or maybe this is a different timeline that also needed its stars to be saved). Due to multiple factors, such as Time dilation, being exposed to astrophage and eridian science Grace ages much slower than a normal human so he is still in his mid thirties. I mean, do you really think Rocky was gonna let Grace die so soon? Of course not. (plus living on Erid tho difficult would make Grace hella strong on Earth. Not superhuman but still pretty strong)

Apparently not only do superheroes and villains now exist but Earth can open a portal to Erid for instant travel.

Grace, Rocky and Adrian (because I refuse to separate them) decided to visit Earth Grace. During a public meeting they were doing Grace is kidnapped by a local villain for the status of kidnapping the ‘Saviour of the Stars’. Not to mention how cute the teacher turned astronaut was.

Well, this good idea turned out to be a bad idea because here comes MechaMan Blue to the Rescue. At one point during the Battle, MechaMan pulls Grace into the Suit (and his lap) to keep him safe and get him away from danger.

When the fight is over the two of them finally get a good look at each other.

Ryland sees these soft tiered but determined doe eyes, maybe Asian descent (love Wasian Robert). They were the colours of dark chocolate and gave Graces heart a jump.

Meanwhile MechaMan see eyes just as tiered but in a different way. They still have that sparkle of wonder in a bright blue eyes more beautiful than any blue he has ever seen.

They talk all the way back to the public meeting. About biology, mechanics, how astrophage works, how the mecha works. As much as they can.

As soon as Graces is returned everyone cheered off MechaMan for an another job well done, only Rocky and Adrian can hear their heart beat in sync and the blood rushing in their cheeks.

A few days later Grace is walking through a park with Rocky, when Rocky suddenly takes off saying “YOU YOU youyouyouyou!” Running straight up to a man walking an extremely fat Chihuahua. A man with the same doe eyes as the man who saved him.

The two of them meet up two more times. First time was with Rocky and Adrian. Robert showed them the Mecha in more detail, as well as his sad excuse of an apartment. Rocky makes a comment on it, but is stoped by Adrian. Rocky does however wants to bring the Mecha suit back to his workshop, saying he wants to make upgrades.

The next time is with just him and Grace going out for coffee. And they essentially have the billboard scene with Blazer but this time with Grace. Robert talks about his dad and the legacy he has to up hold.

“I don’t know about whole ‘legacy’ thing but I do know one thing. You should have to go through that alone.” Grace says as he takes Robert’s hand. He remembers that warmth when he watches Robert be blown out of the sky.

Robert is out for 4 months and Grace is constantly by his side. Rocky gets his hands on what’s left of the Mecha but it’s gonna take a while to learn its mechanics. They also learned that astrophage is rejecting to fuel the Mecha which is a pain. So they need to figure out why.

Robert Wakes to find a large quilted blanket on top of him and a Grace sleeping next to him in a chair with his arms and head feasted on the bed. Sure Grace went back to Erid a few times, he is a teacher after all, he has class. But he always came back to him.

The press conference happens and Adrian and Rocky cheer as MechaMan beats up that reporter. And Robert never goes to the Hero Bar. He instead goes to Grace, Rocky and Adrian’s Earth home on Ryland’s insistence. They only got a few minutes of peace when there’s a knock at the door.

Blazer offers the job at SDN and Robert takes the offer. If he or SDN can’t fix the mech then at least he has a job to pay back Ryland or at least contribute in some way.

His first day goes as it does until the meeting when Grace shows up with Rocky and Adrian. Can you blame Grace Robert just came out of a coma and he is working.

Grace is meet with Blazer only for once again, Rocky but led by Adrian go charging off. The two of them heard Robert being thrown to the floor by golem barging into the room and the rest of the room laughing. Which is not something they will tolerate to Grace Future mate. Before Robert could respond to the floor began to rumble as Adrian (who is not as big as Golem but definitely denser) barges into the room and pin Golem against the wall with their body. And letting out an extremely intimidating bellow scaring the shit out of the z-team.

Grace and Blazer run in and grace runs over to Robert who is still on the ground. Robert then immediately calls off Adrian and calms Rocky down, explaining that it was just an accident.

The ZTeam tho intimidated and confused to the sentient rocks they are also intrigued by the extremely attractive man that is fusing over Robert with such tenderness. And how the dry, harsh and sarcastic man they spoke to before now has a softened face and love struck eyes when looking at the blonde man. They only get one name, Grace.

It’s only later do they find out who those two men are.

Oh, and Grace totally puts on the innocent teacher act and ends up guilting blazer into keeping all of the members of the Z team. Because “there’s no i in team”