#ler!adrian

It’s so much attention, but you love it. And the tickling has made you come out of your shell more than Grace could’ve imagined. Now, it’s like you’re a different person: you initiate conversations, you make jokes, and you even seem to relax a bit with your guilt over being asleep during the actual mission. You feel constantly cared for. 

Rocky’s favorite thing to do nowadays is to wake you up with tickles. He’d found his ball too clunky and uncomfortable for the long journey to Erid, so he built himself a carapace-tight xenonite suit. Now, he sits at the foot of your bunk to watch you sleep. Often, you’re woken up after eight hours of rest by a few gentle tickles on the sole of your foot or a claw softly scratching into your tummy. 

Grace prefers a more playful method. Sometimes, when you’re both sitting in the lab, Grace will catch you watching him work in awe. He’ll beckon you over and patiently explain what he’s doing. Then, he would quiz you on the things he just taught. You’re a fast learner, so you usually get it right, but when you’re wrong he’ll say “Try again” with a smirk and tickle you out of any sort of coherence. 

“Keep talking,” he’ll say with a smug grin. “Oh… right, you can’t, ‘cause I’m tickling you. That’s rough,” he’d add with fake pity. 

Usually it ends in you squealing, “I cahahan’t think when you’re dohohoing that!!” He won’t stop until you either say the correct answer through your laughter or you actually say stop. Which, knowing you, you’d never do. 

Other times, he will grab you when you walk past him, put you in his lap, and start tickling you absentmindedly as he types away at his computer. Then he’ll have the audacity to tell you to be quieter so he can focus on his work. 

Grace also loves it when you ask for what you want, and he’s more than happy to oblige. When a few days go by and you haven’t asked for tickles, he will get worried. He’ll pretend to take your temperature, saying, “Are you sick? You haven’t been in the mood for tickles in so long,” poking you in random spots to “check your health.” His favorite bit is diagnosing you with “a case of the giggles.”

If you have the nerve to tell him his title of “Dr.” isn’t remotely medical, he’ll drag you to the floor or a nearby soft surface and go for your worst spots. He can be mean when he wants to be. 

He gets in the mood to tickle you very spontaneously. When he’s the one initiating, he’s very predictable and always goes for his two favorite spots on you—your tummy or under your arms. Grace’s favorite facial expression on you is the look of delighted panic you get when he pins one of your arms up to scribble under it. 

Once, the two of you were sitting side-by-side in the Don’t Go Crazy Room watching a random movie. 

“Can I see your hand?” He’d asked you. 

You’d offered your right hand, confused. It was the one closer to his body, so he grabbed it with his left hand and pulled it around his shoulders, exposing your entire right side. 

For a second you thought he was trying to cuddle, but then his grip tightened on your captive hand. Your mouth had dropped open in shock, and then a flood of anticipatory giggles had come out of it, as he wiggled his fingers slowly towards your wide-open underarm. You’d tried to squirm away to no avail. 

You still have dreams about that time. You always wake up from those dreams with a happy smile on your face. 

As you ran out of real food and switched to coma slurry, you could see your and Grace’s mental health decline in real time. You were still getting the number of calories and nutrients required, but eating felt like a punishment with the chalky texture and salty taste of the slurry. Grace had to convince and cajole you to eat, which in a way kept him eating as well for the sake of taking care of you. Sometimes he would tickle you to cheer you up after another mundane, unappetizing meal. 

When you had to switch to eating Taumoeba, both of you started losing energy and weight fast. It was tasteless and lacked a lot of the vitamins you needed, but it was just enough to keep you alive. Rocky watched helplessly as his two favorite humans withered away. It was a rougher period. The tickling mostly stopped, turning into occasional light tickles for comfort. The two of you watched a lot of movies and TV. You cuddled a lot. You became a lot closer, intimately familiar with the trials of slowly starving on each others’ bodies. You never started calling Grace your dad, but it was implied. 

It was a difficult few years when you reached Erid. Your mental health was hanging by a thread, and the only way Grace stayed sane was by taking care of you. Rocky was very protective of you two, harshly demanding your needs from the Eridian doctors, engineers, scientists that came to take care of you, create the food you needed, and build you a place to live on Erid. 

Things got better quickly when they were able to make meat from your DNA and muscle tissue. Once you were getting proper amounts of iron, vitamin C, vitamin B, and vitamin D, your nutrition improved exponentially. A few months after that, the Adrian had finished building the biodome. You and Grace moved as soon as possible. You were delighted to discover that Adrian had made you your own bedroom. 

The first few weeks, both you and Grace didn’t do much except sleep. As soon as the two of you stepped into the biodome and had eaten something that wasn’t Taumoeba, you realized you were safe in a way you hadn’t been in a while. The realization had allowed you to take blissfully warm showers and sleep for about 12 hours each in your new beds. You’d woken up to find Rocky watching you, stumbled into the kitchen to eat, and gone back to bed. That was your and Grace’s routine. Rocky found it extremely concerning, but was pacified as you slowly gained back your weight and strength. 

When you both started feeling ready to live like people again, you had more time to process your feelings. You quickly found that you had a hard time sleeping alone, even with Rocky or Adrian watching you. You’d lie awake for hours, tossing and turning. When you slept, you’d have nightmares and wake up with Grace’s name on the tip of your tongue before you remembered yourself. 

One night, you just couldn’t do it anymore. You ignore Adrian’s chirp of confusion and stumble into Grace’s doorway. He’s awake and working on his laptop. Rocky is tinkering with something as well at the foot of the bed. 

Grace looks up. “What’s wrong, kiddo?”

“I can’t sleep,” you admit. “Couldn’t sleep the night before. Or the night before that.”

He immediately moves over to make room for you in his bed. He pats the empty spot. You hesitate and then scoot in. 

He gently pulls you against him, fingers tangling in your hair. “Have you been having nightmares?”

You nod. 

He hums thoughtfully. “Me too.”

You’re both quiet for a while. Adrian speaks up in their deep, rumbling voice to suggest: “Can humans have—” They cut off. “Need word.”

Adrian and Rocky debate the proper word for a second before Rocky supplies his partner with “separation anxiety.”

Grace chuckles. “Oh boy, can we,” he mutters sarcastically. “Yeah. We can. Maybe it’s because we’re not used to sleeping in different rooms.”

You’re not really paying attention to the conversation anymore. You are more relaxed than you’ve felt in days, falling asleep to the lullaby of Grace’s heartbeat. He notices, looking down and petting your hair with a small smile. 

When you realize everyone is looking at you fondly, you clear your throat, cheeks slightly pink. “Uh,” you fumble. “I guess I should… go back to my own bed. Train myself out of the, uh, separation anxiety.”

You start to get up and Grace tugs you back. “What, sweetheart, you’re going to go back to bed and be lonely and have more nightmares?” He asks rhetorically, a sympathetic look on his face. 

You shrug helplessly. You shoot a wary glance at your audience of two, who are watching quietly, and murmur: “I don’t know, Grace. This isn’t normal.”

“We’re not normal,” he replies, pulling you back into his arms. 

You sigh deeply in response, cuddling closer. 

“Hey now, kiddo,” he says quietly. “That’s a big sigh.”

You don’t respond beyond a sleepy hum of acknowledgment. 

He shifts slightly, moving his hand to your side. You freeze as he starts wiggling his fingers gently from your hip to your ribs. His chin rests on the top of your head. “You gonna lighten up, or what?” 

You pretend not to hear him, trying to stay still. A few giggles slip out, muffled by his t-shirt. 

Vaguely in the background you hear Rocky explaining to Adrian what tickling is. 

“I need you to laugh properly before I let you go to sleep,” Grace teases in my ear. “Don’t they say something about not going to bed angry?”

“I’m nohohot angry,” you giggle into his chest. 

“Ah, whatever, you get the idea,” he mutters, clawing gently into your lower belly. 

Grace notices Adrian peering curiously over the edge of the bed. “Hey, Adrian, you wanna help?”

“Yes, want to know what Grace is doing,” Adrian says. 

“Poke here, with your claw,” Grace instructs, pointing at your side. You try to block it with your hands, but Grace patiently moves them out of the way.  He crosses your wrists and uses one big hand to pin them to your chest.  

Adrian is too gentle at first, afraid to hurt you. But soon, with Grace’s encouragement, they begin tickling you silly, clawing and pinching at your ribs. 

Grace shoves your hoodie up so he can get at your belly unrestricted. “That’s better,” he teases, drawing out the ‘r.’

“Nohoho dohohon’t—“ you protest. 

“No?” Grace teases. “You sure about that? You look pretty happy.”

Adrian’s claws dance against your side as Grace torments your bellybutton with a few teasing fingers. You snort-laugh, prompting Adrian to first startle and then coo in adoration. 

“Awh, that’s cute, isn’t it, Adrian?” Grace murmurs in your ear, trying to see if he can make you snort again. 

“Okahahay okahahay- stahahap…” you whine, curling up around Grace’s hand. 

Adrian removes their claw and Grace slows down, rubbing your tummy gently. You’re thoroughly tired out. Grace shifts more to make room for you in his bed and coaxes you into lying down. 

You shed your hoodie, warmed up from being tickled. Underneath is Grace’s “element of surprise” shirt, hanging loose over your smaller frame. 

“I was wondering where that had gone,” he mutters. You chuckle softly in reply. 

He rests his head on the pillow next to yours, sneaking his hand under your shirt and tracing down your spine. You shiver visibly—it tickles a little, but it feels nice. 

Science Stuff & Theories

okay, first off, we’re gonna talk about how tkls developed for humans to establish a base for discussion—if you already know the difference between gargalesis and knismesis, and the current working theories for why each developed, feel free to skip the next two paragraphs! … and if i get anything wrong please don’t hesitate to tell me it i WILL edit this

okay, starting off with the more “itchy, prickly” side of tkling, we have knismesis! knismesis is triggered by light touch, think of the feeling you get when a small bug lands on you, or the prickle you feel in your ears when you hear a fly buzzing. this is seen among many, many animals—so we have a much better idea on why it develops. The evolutionary theory is that this feeling causes irritation, causing the organism experiencing to instinctively remove the stimuli. this prevents any bugs/pests from staying on the organism for too long, lowering risk for death caused by parasitic infection, or possible disease transfer. basically, its the same reason we feel pain! this makes it very likely that other organisms, yes, life outside of earth included, would experience it.

next up, we have gargalesis! that’s the kind of tkling that provokes full blown laughter. while we’re not entirely sure why it exists, we have some theories, especially with studies suggesting rats, highly social creatures, enjoy being tkled. earlier theories were based in evolutionary and social lenses, evolutionary being that many spots that are commonly tklish protect vital organs, so being extra sensitive in those areas can promote protecting them. as for socially, that laughter response is a social signal, sort of “encouraging” whoever is tkling the person to continue. it promotes contact, social bonding, and play fighting, which can all be very good for physical and emotional development. with these lenses, it suggests any socially dependent species could experience this.

andddd finally, eridian biology. eridians can feel, hell, their entire sight is technically through touch—as it’s just sound waves bouncing off their carapace. they don’t exactly have cochlea like humans, it’s described in the book as having receptors all over their body. instead of having typical muscle contractions from a nervous system, they use hot and cold blood to expand and contract their inner workings, thus moving them around. not super relevant to this rant, but it could be if my brain was bigger. anyways, the point is, an eridians shell is super sensitive to sensory input, canonically. and they are social creatures, they need to be. they go completely helpless when sleeping, so they watch each other. they thrum, basically becoming a part of a hive mind to brainstorm better ideas.

so, in my opinion, they are the PERFECT alien subject to be tklish similar to how humans are

i personally hc for eridians to be tklish in three distinct ways based on info above,

1. that “feather sensitive” type, where light brushes and tingles cause shivers and squeaks—don’t want anything mistaking it’s shell for a home! probably evolved from keeping organisms that could risk digging into their shell off.

2. gargalesis type one, through rougher touch and scratching in “weaker” spots, think their joints, especially where they connect to the body, their top vents, and potentially their “one size fits all” hole—i’m not here to entertain freaks, even though it’s okay to be one that is NOT the focus of this blog, but that would be a spot that’d be necessary to protect from an evolutionary perspective.

3. gargalesis type two, but this one is specifically triggered by certain frequencies of sound! eridians are very sensitive to sound, so why wouldn’t it just be an evolutionary mishap that some sounds trigger those same receptors? think of it like the eridian version of raspberries, just a little harder to escape… i also think other eridians would not be able to make this sound naturally. maybe something more like clinking crystals/certain rocks together?

now onto the real show!

Rocky Headcanons!

the first time grace found out rocky could experience anything remotely similar to tickles, it was on complete accident, as does normally happen

it was on the hail mary, before they actually began to solve the astrophage issue—grace set an alarm that coincidentally had a couple of repeated notes at that “tkl frequency”, but only briefly enough to make rocky squeak.

grace was VERY confused at this, and in his panicked, still half amnesiac state, did not put two and two together that it was his alarm that caused rocky’s reaction. it did not help that rocky did not explain—

everyone talks about grace being embarrassed to explain tkling to rocky, but what about the other way around? especially if it’s a point in the story where rocky doesn’t even know humans can be tklish yet? i think he’d be just as, if not more, hesitant to explain it than grace. especially when you consider how sassy he gets in the book…

rocky probably figures out grace is tklish through normal shenanigans on the trip to erid, and i am firm on the idea he totally plays dumb about it. in fact, he probably relentlessly teases grace for it thinking he’s untouchable. besides, why would grace ever need to know or how would he even figure out that eridians are tklish too?

… later, rocky very much regrets the “merciless torment” he inflicted on grace, because, inevitably, grace does find out.

i hc that adrian definitely gets him back on erid, emphasizing more on that social bonding aspect of tkling. this is how grace finds out, as i’ll elaborate on in a couple of points here

the first time grace actually sees eridian tkling, it’s probably in the form of his new students. just really a rare prod here and there with grace misinterpreting it as them trying to knock each other off balance.

i could even put an extra layer of miscommunication here with grace thinking the eridian word for “tkl” is “shove/annoy”, causing for some… very strange translations for both parties.

but one day adrian and rocky were hanging out with grace, when rocky makes a sly remark, causing adrian to shove him, and then GET him. and grace is standing there dumbfounded, watching rocky get wrecked, and remembering all the times rocky teased him RELENTLESSLY.

and rocky? oh, he’s embarrassed as all hell. i’m talking steam wavering the air above his vents kind of flustered when he sees grace grinning at him. eridians don’t forget anything, and he definitely remembers all those times he didn’t let up on grace.

adrian is also shocked when they find out grace didn’t know eridians could be tklish… because he shared a ship with rocky. who, by eridian standards, is actually ridiculously tklish. to be such a skilled engineer, he has to have a stronger sense than other eridians, which allows him to have finer attention to even the smallest details. it’s why his models in the book are so, so exact.

and it 100% has its drawbacks…

so for grace not to have accidentally discovered that while in space? yeah, adrian is pretty surprised. especially because they consider grace pretty smart. if their mate was willing to give their life to save them, and entrust them with the saving of their home and own planets, then they’ve got to be something special.

adrian definitely gives a demonstration on how to get rocky after grace explained that rocky flat out told him eridians can’t be tklish, and how rocky “bullied” him on their trip home. the only thing that stopped them was the fact that the steam coming out of rocky’s vents was clouding the xenonite suit, and making it very, very hot.

adrian designed an alternate version shortly after to allow for the steam to escape :)

annnndd that’s all for now because this post is getting waaay too long. but i have so many more lee!rocky ideas so if you guys want that i will make a part two…

Illusions of Another Time

“Now, just hold still.” Adrian spoke, a reassuring smile on his face as he placed his hand on Edric’s wrist. Gus watches with bated breath, as did the rest of the student body. But when he pulled his hand back he gestured for Edric to turn to the crowd. “Now! As you can all see, it looks real! But, Edric was it? Show us some beast keeping magic.” Edric looked worriedly out to his sister, but drew a small circle in the air, summoning a butterfly. The tension that left the room was palpable. Everyone was suddenly lining up to get their “sigils” and chattering excitedly about how cool it was that they were gonna pull one over on the emperor’s coven!

When Gus’s turn came up he fiddled nervously with his tunic. He was excited to be part of this whole big ruse, but… He was meeting the head of the illusions coven! The coven he was so desperate to join! This was kind of a big deal!

When he approached, Adrian grinned wide and knelt down in front of him, tail swishing, almost like a puppy. “Ah! You must be Agustus! Principal Bump told me about you! Quite the little prodigy, from what he said. I have to say, for someone so young to be in such advanced classes, it’s a marvel! Why, even I wasn’t that good at your age! Who knows, maybe you’ll replace me one day!”

Gus giggled and held out his arm, “I don’t know about all of that, but I do want to join the illusions coven one day! I like having some extra showmanship in my life.” “You and me both little ringmaster!” he laughed, putting the fake sigil over Gus’s wrist. “If you don’t mind, once the scouts have passed, would you mind showing me just what you can do?” This must be a dream… “I-I’d love to! It would be an honor even!” he grinned, bouncing on his heels excitedly. Adrian chuckled, his tail coming up and playfully tickling Gus’s nose, making the boy giggle and cringe away cutely. “The honor is all mine! Now, run along to your friends, I’ll meet with you soon.” Gus nodded and ran off, “WILLOW! WILLOW! OH MY TITAN!” ~timeskip~ “And so you just draw your spell circle with the mirror and…”

Before them appeared a field of multi-colored flowers and plants. Adrian looked down and inspected the flowers. “Amazing work! So detailed!” Gus tried to grin, always happy to get such high praise from his new mentor, but it was hard keeping up an illusion like this. There were so many tiny details to focus on. The older witch chuckled and ruffled Gus’s hair, “Let’s take a break, alright?” Gus quickly dispelled the field and flopped over with a sigh of relief. “Yes please.” Adrian laughed and sat next to him, “Tired already little ringmaster?”

Gus just put an arm over his eyes, blowing a tired raspberry. They’d been at this for most of the day, though this was the first time he got to use the amplifier. It was a heck of a rush really. The magic was stronger than anything he’d felt before. He’d definitely want one of his own someday!

 A poke to his belly made him jump out of his thoughts with a squeal. Adrian backed up a bit, blinking in shock. “I was just going to ask if you were listening. But I’d rather ask if you’re ok. That was quite a reaction.” Gus’s face went dark with a warm blush, “I-I’m fine! You just startled me, that's all!”

“Is that so…” the head witch smirked, gently poking him again. Gus squealed again, curling up a bit and hugging himself.

“Did that surprise you too? Or are you going to be honest now?” he teased, “I am the head of the illusions coven, if I couldn’t see through a lie then well… I wouldn’t be very good at my job, would I?”

Gus pouted but it was pretty pointless to argue with him at this point. “W-well… I mean… I might be… just a bit… kinda… ticklish?” “Now was that so hard?” he chuckled, ruffling Gus’s hair, “There’s no shame in it! Plenty of people are ticklish! I mean, if I had a snail for every time I saw and heard that Golden Guard boy getting destroyed by Darius, well, my pay as a coven head wouldn’t be able to compare.” Gus laughed a bit, and was definitely remembering that bit of information. After all, Hunter was living with Darius now, and Gus had been wanting to visit again.

“In fact.” the coven head continued, “I am even of the firm belief that everyone has a tickle spot somewhere, I’d even be willing to bet Belos has a few.” Gus snorted,m “No way! He’s way too grumpy!” “The grumpier they are, the harder they giggle.” Adrian replied dramatically, wiggling his fingers at Gus for emphasis, making the boy squeak and giggle. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d quite like to find your tickle spot!” Gus gasped as Adrian’s wiggly fingers hit his belly, quickly falling into a stream of bubbly, silly, giggles. “W-wahahait! I’m tihihicklish! Ahahah!”

“Well that I could guess.” he drawled, moving to scratch at his ribs, “But your belly isn’t what I’m looking for…”

He squealed and wiggled, batting weakly at Adrians hands, “Stahahahap! It tihihihickles!”

Adrian only chuckled and dug into his underarms, “That’s what it’s supposed to do little ringmaster!”

Gus’s laughter only rose in pitch, it was clearly a bad spot, but noT quite his tickle spot. “EEHEHEHHEHEHE! NOT THEHEHERE!”

“Oh? Not there? Maybe… here then!” Gus shrieked when he felt the fluffy soft tuft of fur on his neck and swiping along his ears. “T-TAHAHAHAHAHILS ARE CHEHEHEHEHEATING!” he squealed, kicking and scrunching up his neck to deter the tickly tool.

Adrian only went faster, his fluffy tail turning the poor kid into a giggly puddle.

“AHAHHAHAHAAHAH! A-AHAHAHADRIAN! S-STAHAHAHAHHAP! PLEEHEHEHEHEASE!” he cackled, pushing at the covenheads tail.

He sighed playfully and rolled his eyes, letting the boy go after a final wiggle behind an ear to make the boy squeal. “Alright, alright. I can be nice. And we still have some training to do before you head off home.” Gus was all but limp, half flopped on Adrians leg, “Just…. Juhuhust a sec…” “Of course, take your time. Just be warned, this isn’t going to be the last time this happens.” Adrian smirked, tickling the kids nose with his tail. Gus giggled and batted at his tail, “Okahahy! Ok! I get it! But I’m pretty formidable myself! You’d better watch your back!”

“I’m shaking in my boots.” he drawled, tasering two fingers into Gus's belly, making him shriek and curl up. “But really, you’re still so young Gus. And with all that’s about to happen… you should savor the moments when you can act your age.”

The idea for the tickle spot chart thing was inspired by @fluffomatic

- A switch for sure

Alright, headcanon time!

As a lee

- very ticklish

- his tail waggles like a happy puppy when he's tickled

- is ticklish in "odd" spots like his wrists and ankles

- Worst spots are thighs, backs of knees, and tummy, in that order

- "I'm not ticklish-" bestie you're crying laughing, yes you are

- Has hiccups in his laugh

- his nose scrunches up when he smiles too big

- his laugh is super pitchy because he tries to hide it, not realizing that hiding it is just gonna make him laugh harder later

- curls into a ball to dampen the sensation (it doesn't ever work, but A for effort)

- I imagine Raine just grabbing his tail one day, just being curious, and then Adrian embraces his inner tomato and breaks down laughing

- And then Raine tells Darius

- and then Darius tells Hunter

- and then Hunter tells Augustus (just in case he wants a little vengeance for the events of Labyrinth Runners)

- His one piece does absolutely nothing to help dull the attack

- Please ask before you touch the floof at the end of his tail, it's very sensitive so it can cause him pain

- If he's in a Lee Mood™️ he will walk up behind someone, poke them, and then just book it

- screaming crying laughing happens fairly often with this pathetic cat man

- especially if you get multiple spots at once

- Is wrecked a lot, because he annoys Darius everyone a lot

- He'll bury his head into the ler's chest and giggle his heart out while they trail their fingers up and down his back

- but cuddly tickles??? Aweeee actually adorable

- Does not, will not, and can not speak while being tickled

As a ler

- whether that is from all the laughter, because he's flustered, or because he hasn't been tickled like this since he was like 10 is unclear

- Is always super pouty after he's tickled

- if he's super pouty AND super clingy after he's tickled, it means he still wants more tickles

- doesn't say no, don't, or stop until he actually, physically cannot handle being tickled anymore

- Raine has picked up on this and teases him relentlessly for it

- Adrian explains it away as having trouble speaking while laughing so hard

- "if you can say please you can say stop"

- He absolutely loves the loopy happy playful feeling he gets after being wrecked to pieces, and then the ability to fall asleep in someone's arms?!?! Yes please

- aka, he likes being tickled (although he's too stubborn to admit it)

- Uses his tail like a feather duster

- "my, my, giggly today, aren't we?"

- Has a Ler Voice™️

- enjoys using illusions to help trap his victims

- like, he'll cast an illusion in front of his victim so they back away, but REAL Adrian Graye was behind them the whole time

- Also just chases his victims or cuts them off

- uses baby-talk and "aww so adorable" teases the most

- Listen he just does what works on him

- "I can't believe the Golden Guard is really just a ticklish teenager. This is adorable; I should tell everyone in a breaking news broadcast!"

- "Awe, Waine, is youw tummy youw wowst spot?" (Awe, Raine, is your tummy your worst spot?)

- Literally just uses anything and everything that works on him

Congrats on reading my very jumbled thoughts about Adrian Graye to the end

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 ݁ ˖ִ🛸༄˖°.