On the Hail Mary with Grace, you see how he hugs himself when no one is around or presses his knees to his chest to comfort himself. Or the way he leans against Rocky’s xenonite ball. You’re the only person on the ship to provide him human touch, but you’ve never considered yourself touchy feely.
With the memories of your past life slowly resurfacing, you were never great at or had much of an interest in physical affection. Grace, of course, respects your boundaries, but you see the way he looks at you when he thinks you’re not looking. Hell, even Rocky reprimands you if you’re alone with him or if you’re both watching Grace sleep.
“Why won’t you give friend Grace an embrace? Bad bad bad companion!” says Rocky, the octave in his voice sharp.
You’ve had enough of Rocky’s (well meaning) comments.
So, you start with little actions. Rubbing Grace’s back if you’re near him or elbowing his side after teasing him. But when you find Grace uncharacteristically quiet in the lab, you need to provide him physical comfort. He's hunched over on a table with a computer in his lap.
Awkwardly, you shuffle towards him. You slowly extend your hands towards him. “Do… you want a hug?”
Grace looks dumbly at your face, then your hands. He slid the computer onto the table. He wraps his arms around your back, melting into your touch. Your limbs tense as you gingerly rub his back. You feel yourself relax into the embrace, and he pulls away, rubbing his face.
“Sorry if that made you uncomfortable…” his voice trails off.
You wave your hand. “No, no, it didn’t. I’m just…” you pause. “Not really touchy feely. But I wanna be better at it, for you.”
He furrows his brow. “I don’t want you to accommodate yourself for me. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it.
You take a step toward him. “But I want to! Promise I do.”
You grab his hand, staring at him intently. “We’re the only humans out here in space. I feel like it’s reasonable if you need some hugs to get you by.”
Grace turns away, a little embarrassed. You squeeze his hand, and he doesn't pull away.
You run into Rocky later, on his side of the barrier. He’s fidgeting with a device in his claw. He tilted his carapace towards you, trilling.
“You helped Grace? Amaze amaze amaze!” He makes jazz hands.
Jazz hands are a gesture both you and Grace taught him and it's something that Rocky uses whenever he sees fit. You think it's cute that he's using some of earth's culture.
You let out a small sigh, fighting off a smile. “You didn’t have to spy on us.”
“No understand. I hear the embrace.”
Your smile widens. “I know, Rocky. I was just teasing.”
"Oohh. Understand." Rocky returns to the device.
You fondly shake your head at him.
