.....

"You just need someone to be brave for."

And the person he needed to be brave for was his best friend. It wasn't a lover, a partner, a romantic interest. It was his best friend.

And honestly this isn't even specifically about aroace grace- Rockys story could so easily be a romantic one. He's been completely alone trying to finish an impossible mission without his crew for years. And then an alien comes and they learn how to communicate. And with that alien they both save their planets. Rocky gives Grace fuel with no hesitation, even if in the movie it means he will get back home 6 years slower. 6 years longer to see his mate. And he still does it without hesitating for even a second.

That kind of devotion and story could have so easily been romantic. Two aliens who help save each other, who are both the most important people to each other, but they're not lovers.

Winter softness