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“Grace, are you not attracted to me?”
Simon had had this gnawing feeling the last couple months, because every time things had gotten a bit physical between them, Grace shied away. They seemed to love kissing and cuddling and sometimes would get enthusiastic while making out, but Simon was worried it was because he… was a mutant.
Grace had never shied away from the teeth along his cheek or his missing arm before, in fact they often soothed the anxiety about his appearance. Kissing all over his cheek and face while giving so much praises and compliments. It made Simon feel so loved.
And it’s not like Simon needed the physical things, he’d only had sex once before his mission, it wasn’t a necessity. But thinking that Grace wasn’t attracted to him killed him a little inside.
But Grace’s reaction to what he said made him feel even more guilty.
Grace’s eyes widened immediately and scrambled to be closer to Simon, repeating the words
“No no no no no! That’s not it!”
Their hands cradling the side of their boyfriend’s cheeks and running their thumb gently over the bottom set of outward teeth while looking into his eyes.
“It’s not that! I just… I dunno I don’t…”
Looking so flustered like they didn’t have the words to speak properly. Relaxing just a little when they felt Simon’s hand holding theirs, squeezing reassuringly, giving them space to breathe and think.
Grace took a few slow breathes before looking down to their laps, closing their eyes as for some reason it made it easier to speak.
“It’s been like this forever… middle school, college, even as an adult… I just never had the urge to.. y’know. Everyone would talk about things like *oh I’d do horrible things to that man* or just being so open about wanting to do sexual things with people. And it’s not like I don’t feel turned on! When you hold the back of my neck to deepen a kiss it just makes me feel all warm inside…”
Trying to withhold the urge to bury their face into their boyfriend’s neck or hide behind their own palms before continuing, looking up at Simon this time.
“I just.. I don’t feel the urge to go further. When I look at you I don’t think *I’m going to wreck that man*, I think about how I want to watch movies and cuddle with you, how I want to fall asleep against your chest and wake up in that same spot, to kiss you good morning and not care about morning breath. I-I just want to love you and share hot chocolate in the winter with you and.. a-and-“
Their voice cracking a little and this is when Simon stepped in again. Cradling the back of their neck gently this time, encouraging them to rest against his shoulder. Running his fingers through their hair slowly, humming because he knew Grace loved the sensation. His voice soft and low as he murmured into their hair
“Shhh shhh… it’s okay, I understand. I’d never push you to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m happy just like this, here.. with you…”
And even though Grace was emotional, all Simon felt was relief. Because it wasn’t him, Grace wasn’t put off by him, it wasn’t anything he could change. And he was okay with that! If his little angel ever wanted to do more, he’d be there. But it wasn’t a necessity, he loved Grace just as they were.
His smile widening a little as he pressed a gentle kiss to Grace’s cheek before adding
“But, love… what’s hot chocolate?”
Grace lifting their head to look at Simon with their head cocked to the side like a confused puppy before melting into a little fit of laughter, having completely forgotten that they hadn’t both come from earth. The both of them laughing eased everything about this conversation, just relaxing back into each other. Because Grace wasn’t worried about Simon being upset about a lack of physical intimacy, and Simon wasn’t self conscious about his appearance putting off his little love.
Because sometimes, love could be simple.
