Chapter Text
###[DAYS SINCE ARRIVAL TO ERID: 1,825]###
The beauty of the simulated environment stretched in his peripherals.
It had been five years since Grace had moved into Eridian. Five years of a deep friendship between him and Rocky. Five years of bonding, of growing, of learning.
Five years.
Grace stared out over the expanse of fake beach, watched the waves hit the sand. The simulated wind blew his hair. The simulated sun shone down. (Rocky's insistence, after finding out Grace needed vitamin D on occasion, and not always fog.)
It was beautiful.
It was...
"...Rocky?" Grace called into the air.
Rocky's voice came through the biome's speakers, musical notes Grace had long since come to understand.
"Yes, question? Grace need more vitamin D? Rocky adjust sun simulation brightness, question?"
“Nah. Brightness is good.”
There were a series of clicking sounds as Rocky adjusted his carapace in whatever part of the lab (attached to the biome) he was currently working. "Rocky also working on new song for Grace! Will play later. Very good. Many beats. Much harmony."
"Yeah? That's nice, buddy. Looking forward to it." Grace tugged his knees tighter to his chest. Silence passed. He’d finished teaching his class, earlier. The loudness of the environment was missed.
"Hey, uh. You busy right now?"
It was a rhetorical question. Rocky was busy. Rocky had been busy the past few years, helping with some other planets' issue with the Astraphage. Grace had been involved, of course. Had been doing quite a lot of work, himself.
But they hadn't quite been in the same space.
Grace was less nimble, when it came to the Eridian suits. They’d worked on it; some prototypes. But unlike Rocky, who would survive a short while in an unsuitable environment?
Grace would just die.
They had decided it wasn’t worth the risk. So Grace had limited travel; special trips, occasionally, in a glass dome. His own section of the lab fit with the chemical makeup, pressure, temperature he needed to be comfortable.
In sum; most days?
Grace was at the beach, his class, the lab. And the only one who regularly visited?
Rocky.
"Never busy for Grace-friend," Rocky responded immediately. "Why? Is Grace needing something, question?"
Grace flopped back into the sand. Shut his eyes. The simulated sun danced behind his eyelids.
"...Uh." His fingers threaded the sand. He took a slow breath. Exhaled. "I-I dunno. I uh. Kinda feel." He made a vague motion in the air. "Weird."
Rocky was silent for a few beats. When he spoke, it was clear he was thinking over his words. "Grace is having...emotional issue?" There was a hint of confusion in the way he asked the question, followed by a note that sounded like concern. The music of his language was quite good at conveying meaning and intent. "Question?"
"...Yeah, uh. Think I am." Grace laughed dryly and turned onto his side. Curled up. "Bad one."
"Grace does not seem happy, observation."
There was another pause from Rocky, like he was trying to process and understand. Eridians were not prone to 'emotional issues,' but after so much time spent with him, Rocky was getting better at understanding the human psyche.
When he finally spoke again, it was with careful consideration and thought.
"Rocky can listen. Grace...talk."
"...Thanks," Grace whispered. He knew Rocky wouldn't have a problem hearing it. "Uh. I dunno. Humans need, like. Touch? Y'know. Like. Hugs, yeah?" He opened his eyes. Drew in the sand.
"Rocky is knowing this. Rocky likes hugs. Now, at least.”
“...Yeah. And our hugs are great, it just. Y’know. The…suit, is in the way.”
“Oh.” Rocky had come to realize just how much physical affection humans needed only after watching movies with Grace (recorded ones from the ship, many, many files). Only after prompting. He'd noticed that Grace himself was particularly clingy, which was why he was willing to give the human so many hugs. The Eridian was quiet for a while. When he spoke again, he sounded hesitant. "Rocky...cannot touch Grace, observation." There was a note of helplessness in his words. Guilt. Regret that he could not fulfill this human need.
"...You can't," Grace agreed. "Uh. And that's like. That's fine. It's not like, a problem you need to fix, buddy. Just." He paused in the sand. Hesitantly reached to brush his fingers against his own hand, but flinched away from the touch. "...I dunno. It's not like I got much of it on Earth, either. I don't...I don't know why it's been bugging me lately."
There was another long moment of silence. When Rocky spoke, his notes were soft. "Grace is...lonely?"
He sounded hesitant. Rocky was used to being around other Eridians all the time. But he had taken the time to understand humans, over the last few years. He'd taken the time to understand the extent of Grace's isolation, and know that humans were much more social creatures. That they always had been. That Grace often underplayed his own issues, because Grace had been lonely on Earth, too.
Grace curled up in the sand. Hugged around his own stomach. Shut his eyes. "...Grace is lonely," he echoed.
The wind blew. The waves crashed. And the biome’s speakers crackled as Rocky made a decision.
"Rocky will fix."
He said it with absolute determination, as if it were an astrophage equation with a guaranteed solution. "Rocky will make sure Grace does not feel alone. Even if Rocky cannot touch touch, Rocky can...be near. Half touch. Talk more. Sing new song now, question?"
The last part was hopeful—an attempt to cheer him up immediately. Rocky never liked seeing Grace sad, and he would not let his best friend stay lonely.
"...Yeah," Grace agreed. He forced some cheer into his tone; it wasn't right to make Rocky feel so...
Down.
Not after everything he'd given him.
"I think that might fix it."
"Rocky will help friend." There was a note of determination in Rocky's notes. Grace would not become depressed. Rocky would simply not allow it. He wanted his friend to be happy.
The song that began to play from the speakers was gentle and uplifting. Rocky's usual high-energy style was much more reserved for now, while Grace was still upset. It was an attempt to help. To comfort and bring some joy to his friend.
No matter what it took.
###[DAYS SINCE ARRIVAL TO ERID: 1,825.5]###
The simulation was set for nighttime.
Rocky was home, at this hour, Grace knew. He and his mate were probably watching one another sleep, watching their children sleep.
And Grace...
Grace was sat under Armando, the machine's three fingers running through his hair.
It was a common routine before bed, now. He craved the touch. It felt weird to make the robot do it, but.
Oh well.
The soft whirring of the machine filled the silence of the house. He closed his eyes. Imagined it was a person. Maybe his mom. He missed his mom. Had missed her on Earth, too. He—
The silence was interrupted.
"Grace is still awake, observation."
Rocky’s voice was quieter than usual, like he was trying not to startle him. A downward slide in that way Grace had learned to understand was concerned. "Grace should sleep. Humans require adequate rest for optimal cognitive function, fact." Faint clicking. Rocky was moving. Likely away from the sleep pile of his family; trying to not disturb them. "Unless...Grace needs Rocky watch sleep?"
Rocky was still trying. Even from his own quarters, even late at night. He didn’t want Grace to feel alone, not for a second.
It made Grace's chest fill with hot-iron guilt.
"...You should keep watch over Adrian, Rocky. Why're you observing the cameras at this hour?" He didn't move from his position. The robot's fingers kept up their steady motion.
"Rocky takes turns with Adrian, fact," came the immediate response, his notes defensive but warm. "Rocky's turn to watch was earlier. Now Adrian is on duty." The camera in the living room zoomed in. "...Also, Rocky was working on new new song. Checking on Grace became priority." The honesty was blunt. Eridians didn’t lie—not like humans did. Rocky had been waiting to see if Grace needed something.
Because of course he had.
A quiet hum vibrated through the speakers. Rocky shifting his carapace. "Grace...why does Armando pet Grace’s hair? Is this a human comfort activity?"
Grace opened his eyes. Shifted a bit, before shooing Armando's hand away. He felt a bit bad after, so awkwardly pat the robot's arm before standing up and rolling his shoulders. "I don't wanna talk about human comfort activities right now. You're right. I should sleep."
Avoidance.
"Rocky will not force discussion, fact." Rocky knew Grace well enough by now to know that if the human didn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't. He'd wait for Grace to bring up the subject himself later. There was only a second's hesitation before Rocky spoke again.
"Rocky...has a question to ask, statement."
That, at least, made Grace pause in the doorway to his room. His bedroom, and the bathroom, were the only areas without cameras; a personal boundary. So, he reluctantly turned back around, and looked up at the one in the living room.
"Yeah, bud?"
"Rocky has...noticed..." For the first time ever, Rocky sounded hesitant. Rocky never sounded hesitant. Rocky was always blunt, straightforward, and honest. But now his notes were uncertain; he was taking his time forming his words. "Rocky has noticed...that Grace has been...clinging," he finally said, after a moment of silence. "Rocky has noticed...more than usual."
Grace's shoulders tensed. He crossed his arms to hide it, and looked away towards the starry, simulated sky out the window. "...I can uh. Stop, if it's bothering you—"
"No!" The note was sharp. Alarmed. Rocky corrected himself quickly. "Rocky does not mind. Rocky is...glad Grace trusts Rocky enough for contact. But...observation: Grace seems to be seeking touch more intensely. And human comfort touch is...limited here."
Grace didn’t answer. His gaze stayed out the window.
"Grace has spoken of missing touch just today. Rocky is...worried." There was no accusation in his voice. Just concern. Rocky wasn’t built for subtlety, but he was trying—for Grace’s sake.
"...I..." Grace cut himself off. Sighed. Ran a hand down his face. "It's...it's nice, to. I dunno. Hug you. Lean on you. But. It's. It's not." His hands lifted up in frustration, dropping onto his thighs.
"...It's not...really how...it's not satisfactory human comfort activities."
A low, deep sound echoed over the speakers. Rocky was thinking, probably trying to connect the dots. It was difficult when he didn't understand things like humans did. But he wasn't stupid. He was probably putting some of the puzzle pieces together.
"Rocky...will have to ask uncomfortable question," he muttered after a long pause. He sounded uncertain, but determined. Rocky had to try.
"Oh boy. Rocky, if you're worried about it being a mating thing, that is not what I mean—"
"ROCKY KNOWS THAT!"
The sheer volume and speed of his notes was enough to make Grace flinch—not out of fear, but surprise. Rocky very rarely raised his "voice."
After a beat of embarrassed silence between both of them, Rocky’s next words were softer, sheepish.
"Rocky was going to ask...if Grace misses romantic human touch."
Another shuffle.
"...Grace has not had partner in long time, observation."
"...Buddy, what are you suggesting?"
There was another long pause. Rocky sounded like he was...floundering. Trying to be delicate and polite. It was the only time Grace had ever heard him at a loss for words.
After a few awkward notes of silence, Rocky finally spoke.
"Rocky...has noticed that Grace...often expresses loneliness."
Another shuffle. The clicking of his carapace was a sign of his discomfort, likely knowing he was crossing an emotional boundary.
"Grace is touch starved," Rocky said bluntly. The words sounded weird coming from him. "Rocky already have romance-mate. But if Grace need Rocky pretend—"
"Woah, woah, woah, Rocky. No. No. You don't—I don't want you to pretend to be my mate," Grace laughed sheepishly. "That's not what I mean."
There was a deep note of relief from Rocky, and his entire body seemed to relax, judging by a sound similar to pebbles falling. For a second, the speakers almost made a sound that was similar to a human sigh. Rocky had probably been bracing himself for the worst. Grace chuckled a little as he listened. "...Thanks for offering. But. No. You're...we're platonic." Slowly, he made his way over to the couch, and sat down on it with a low sigh.
He traced his fingertips on his knee.
"It's not the romantic stuff I miss. Humans, like, kiss when we're romantic. It's where you put your mouths together.”
“Digust. Disgust.”
“Or the mating." Grace shrugged. "That stuff, even back on Earth? I could take it or leave it. Enjoyed working more than that. But the...I dunno. The only way to get touch, back on Earth for me, used to be like. To mate. And...y'know. You're in a romantic or sexual relationship, you are also cuddly. So. It was...like a fare, kinda."
After another brief silence, a sound of understanding was made over the speakers. Rocky was working through the information in his head. Humans had such complicated social interactions. Eridians were much more simple in terms of affection.
"Grace misses...non-romantic human touching," Rocky said slowly, like he was trying to make sure he understood it correctly. "Human intimacy outside of romantic activity. Grace...miss platonic human touch."
"...Not even really the human part of it? It's more like..." Grace shrunk in on himself. "Sentient touch. Armando does a great job, yeah. But. Armando is..."
"Not sentient. Not intelligent."
The finish to his sentence came after a moment. Rocky was trying to connect the pieces, trying to understand. To him, a lack of touch would be hellish. His species was extremely social. He let out another soft noise over the speaker system, a downward note.
"Rocky...cannot provide what Grace needs," he said bluntly. "If Grace does not talk about what human comfort requires."
Grace shrugged. "I mean. You're. You're really busy. I don't want to add another layer to my already complicated human care—"
There was a low growl over the speakers before Rocky even started speaking. "Does not matter," he repeated firmly, sounding more like himself than he had earlier. "Grace is friend."
An Eridian would find that statement enough—enough for their relationship to remain strong, despite distance. But it was clear Rocky was still trying to understand humans. Another soft click, like his carapace moving again.
"What...if Rocky had proposal?"
"...What kinda proposal?" Grace asked, sighing as he laid down on his couch.
Rocky sounded almost hesitant before he finally spoke. "Rocky...has noticed Grace interacts with Eridian students often. Grace has good relations with many Eridian families. Fact: Eridians often share sleep piles with non-family members for warmth and security. Grace could...join sometimes. If allowed by family in question."
Grace went quiet. His mouth opened. Closed.
He looked up at the camera.
"...Are...you inviting me into your sleep pile?"
"Yes."
The answer was blunt and immediate. Rocky sounded confident in the decision. He didn't take a second to think about it, or even hesitate. He wanted to help his best friend, and this was the first solution he could think of. There was another sound of shifting from the other end. He likely was looking back at his family pile.
"It is...not the same as a platonic human interaction," he explained quietly, "But it will provide...half-contact."
Grace sat up slowly. An arm hooked over the back of the couch. His knee raised. He leaned his side into the cushions.
"...But Adrian and your kids?—"
"Rocky family will understand." Rocky made the statement with such confidence, like it was an unarguable fact. They would not have a problem with it, no matter what. The kids already considered Grace to be 'Uncle Grace' anyways (a term Grace himself had taught them); of course they would want to include him.
But there was an uncertain note of hesitation as Rocky tapped on something. Thinking.
"But human is...not used to Eridian physical affection," he admitted quietly. "Rocky family may...accidentally be too rough with Grace."
Grace laughed quietly. He'd already dealt with that with a few of his students; in an attempt to hug, one had sprained his ribs.
Still...
"I'd have to be in a suit anyways, yeah? We can...use the flexible environmental protection guard but maybe make it a bit more reinforced? Kinda like a really strong glove."
"Rocky can design something." The notes lifted up. Rocky had clearly been waiting for Grace to say yes, and now he had an engineering challenge to solve. A low hum of thought. "Thick but flexible material. Shock-absorbing padding. Sturdy yet breathable...observation: Grace may look ridiculous." There was a teasing note in the last part. "But it will work."
"Not anymore ridiculous than you look in your sunhat," Grace grinned, picking up the offending item from the coffee table and waving it at the camera.
"Rocky looks AMAZING in sunhat!" came the indignant reply. "Grace has terrible fashion sense, observation! Rocky has better aesthetic judgment!"
“Uh-huh.”
"...Rocky still love Grace, though."
Grace snorted.
"...I love you too, Rocky."
He stood up again. Headed to the bedroom doorway, but paused outside of it.
“What are we naming this project?”
“Project Human Comfort Activity.”
“...Nah. That sounds like a sex thing, still. Uh. Project…Hug?”
“No. Dumb name. Bad. Dumb.”
“Well, jeez, what else do you suggest?”
“Project Hold Human.”
“Sounds like jail.”
“Project Touch Grace.”
“Yikes.”
“...Project…Cuddle.”
“...Yeah. I like that one. Project Cuddle a go?"
"Project Cuddle APPROVED. Excite. Excite. Excite."
Grace could practically picture the jazz hands.
"Rocky start design immediately. Will inform family. Adrian very good at cuddle." He sounded quite fond. "...Grace sleep well, request."
"...Rocky sleep well too," Grace returned gently. "Goodnight, bud."
He went into his room, and shut the door behind him.
...He wouldn't be sleeping alone soon.
Huh.
"Goodnight, Grace-friend." The words were soft, warm. Rocky lingered for a moment, just to make sure Grace got settled, before finally disengaging from the speakers.
He didn’t sleep that night.
He had work to do.