some sappy grace and rocky cuddles…
Xenonite covered paws move in a rhythmic motion through silky smooth locks, brushing across his scalp. they let the golden hairs slide through their grasp. they’re gentle, only carding through it. they don’t grab, they don’t hold on, they glide through it.
Ryland’s eyes are glossed over. the ship lights reflect in the unshed tears and glow in all sorts of red, green and white. blurring together - just for a moment - with every slow, sleepy blink. perhaps he had gone into a bit of a decline. he wasn’t exactly sure what happened today.
he felt utterly miserable. he knew of the nightmare he had been dragged through the night before. this one had been particularly vivid. how on Mary could he forget? it’s the same two. they reoccur every few nights, only letting him free for a couple dreamless nights of bliss. they simmer in the back of his mind, ready to strike just as he thinks he’s finally rid of it.
either it’s his bloody nose pressed against Mary’s shattered control panels.
or he’s back in that yellow raincoat, grass under his hands, staring up at the rainbow in the sky as it all goes dark.
it was the latter last night.
Ryland blinks slowly, and the tears that had been suspended in his eyes slipped free, rolling sideways into his hairline. his eyelashes flutter against his cheeks, and he scrunches up his nose in an attempt to pull himself together. one of Rocky’s other paws lifts to wipe the tears from his face.
“close your eyes.” Rocky requests, chords soft and quiet for his sake. he knew. it’s okay.
Ryland doesn’t close them. they open up and move to look up at Rocky. he’s perched at the top of his pillow where Ryland’s head rested, paws working overtime for his sake. he knew Rocky liked to play with his hair, so it was often a win for the both of them when Ryland requested it.
another tear slips out and he mentally curses himself for it. Rocky lets out a low drone. it reminds him of a sigh. perhaps its an Eridian equivalent. one of his paws frees itself from his blonde locks and reaches to his temple. Ryland’s eyes follow the movement of the paw as it pats his tear dry and as it raises to the bridge of his nose.
one claw pets softly between his eyes.
thats the most cared for Ryland has ever felt. where did you learn this, Rocky? i didn’t teach you this, he thinks.
goodness, he was sleepy. Rocky continues his ministrations until Ryland complies and lets his heavy eyelids win over his strength. Rocky smooths his hair back down and slowly comes to stand. he scuttles down the bed, waiting for Ryland to get comfortable.
he turns over onto his side, curling up slightly as if to protect himself. he pulls Earth quilt up higher and settles against his pillow with a sigh. Rocky slips himself underneath the blanket and nestles himself into the space created by Ryland’s thighs and his body. a perfect little triangle for him.
Ryland always felt out of place at home. sure, he had friends and family that he adored, and people who loved him just the same. he enjoyed his life on Earth. he loved his kids and his job, he loved his little apartment, he loved going for walks and feeding the ducks on weekends. but he never really felt he fit in anywhere.
speaking of fitting, he always felt awkward in people’s arms. he felt he never fit right or was awkward to hug. too tall, too thin, too…him. but that all changed when he hugged Rocky for the first time in his “EVA” suit.
they fit like a puzzle piece. his arms rested comfortably around his carapace in a way he had never experienced before. his paws were almost exactly the same size as his palm when he spread out his claws. when Rocky climbs into his lap, his carapace comes up to just the right height for him to lean forward and rest his head against him without any awkward positions. not to mention how comfortably Rocky’s arms fit around him.
“Grace okay? need hug, question?”
Ryland hesitates, but he lets a weak “mhm…” slip before his brain had settled on a decision. Rocky stands up again and scuttles along under the blanket and collapses onto his side beside Ryland’s face.
he smiles softly, reaching a hand up to pet the top of his carapace. he knew Rocky enjoyed that. he loved the feeling of his fingertips running over the top of his vents. it seemed to calm him. its considered an intimate gesture in Eridian culture to pet someone’s vents as it requires a lot of trust, so naturally Ryland is allowed to do it.
Rocky tucks himself forward, slotting perfectly underneath his chin, he brings up his two front arms and loops them around the other’s neck. Ryland wraps an arm around him, trying to pull him closer. considering rocky weighs just over double his weight, he’s proving rather difficult to move. he gets the memo, luckily.
“Grace is okay?” he brushes some hair out of Ryland’s face, and he nods slowly against the gentle paw.
“i’m okay, pal…just sleepy and sad today. you knew that i was sad today, though. you’ve been very helpful in making it better, thank you.”
“Grace still leak. why?” two taps against the mattress.
Ryland chuckles softly, nuzzling his nose into the xenonite. “you’d be more worried if i didn’t…”
Rocky lets out his ‘giggle’ trill. “is true.”
a paw goes back to his hair, and Ryland settles right down. his eyes drift closed without the encouragement despite how settled it had made him. the way Rocky holds him is unbelievable. he seems to know just what to do every time Ryland cries because he’s scared or gets a flashback or has a nightmare. he’d been ridiculously touch starved and Rocky had rescued him…oh, hes so warm…
he’s utterly boneless, falling asleep and still clinging to Rocky’s carapace. the warmth and the comfort drag him into sleep. the nightmares stayed away for tonight.
origamiaround
jbbartram-illu
germansingergirl
vaporwave
baratheonpilled
