Summary: Ryland Grace canât sleep. Rocky is very confused by this and wants to help
â ïžâïž WARNINGâïžâ ïž this is a tickle fic! No likey no readie! Thank you đ
â ïžâïžSPOILER WARNINGâïžâ ïž takes place about 2/3rd through the book or halfway through the movie!!
You would think that space, being silent, would be a phenomenal place to sleep.
There was no air outside for sound to travel through and the sounds of the Hail Mary were negligible after months of exposure. The only sounds to occasionally catch Grace's attention were that of his roommate, who still insisted on watching him sleep.
"Eridian culture".
The new "because I said so".
Grace huffed, turning to his side and tightly cocooning his blanket around his shoulders.
Despite the seemingly optimal conditions (and going to bed over two hours ago), sleep still hadn't come.
He tried counting sheep, only for his mind to wander as soon as it got bored.
He tried meditating, but the silence was way too loud.
He tried remembering all the elements of the periodic table in numerical order. Then when that was too easy, alphabetical order.
This was silly. He felt silly.
I can identify single-cell star-eating organisms, be kidnapped from my everyday life to help save humanity, get launched into space, survive an induced coma, and only cry a little bit about it, but I can't make myself fall asleep?
After his attempt at deep-pressure soothing via his thin blanket, Grace rolled to his back, flopping his arms to the sides with a dramatic sigh.
Maybe Armando would have warm milk if he asked?
Heavy footfalls and the clinking of a xenonite hamster ball approached.
Great. Grace thought. My nanny is here.
He had kept his eyes closed through all his attempts, but hadn't tried to mask his breathing or sounds of frustration. He knew Rocky would hear him regardless.
"Grace okay, question?" Rocky asked, his musical voice spoken over by the translator.
He opened his eyes, rolling his head to look at him. His carapace was tilted as if looking up at him, the stoney surface showing more emotion than it should.
"Yeah... Yeah, I'm alright." Grace said. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, sitting up and crossing his legs underneath him.
The spin drive was active, a test in the lab needing to be run "overnight". Sleeping in gravity was nicer anyways, more natural feeling.
Grace had half a mind to give up on sleeping and just get back to work. If he couldn't rest, he might as well be productive.
"Why Grace not sleep, question? Rocky too loud, question?" Rocky asked, concern in his voice. Or, at least, what Grace had begun to interpret as concern.
"No, you're not being too loud." Grace said, shaking his head. "It's my brain that's too loud."
Rocky made a curious noise, his front legs tapping excitedly. "Humans can hear brain? Amaze!"
Grace held up a hand, chuckling. "No, I can't really hear my brain. I can think in words and sounds, but I can't hear the tissue."
Rocky tilted again, seeming to understand.
"I mean, my brain is busy. Too many thoughts."
Rocky thought for a moment, rocking his hamster ball back and forth.
They had talked about their biological differences enough that they both somewhat understood what "sleep" meant for one other. For Rocky, it was more of an involuntary hard shut-down than what humans had, Grace having to explain circadian rhythm a few times before it clicked.
Being unable to sleep was something briefly brought up, but Rocky hadn't seen until now.
The Eridian looked around the room, thinking.
"Rocky help, question?" He asked. "Don't know how, but Grace show."
Grace hummed, trying to think if they shared enough biology for sleep tricks to be shareable. It was hard to say, but not necessarily impossible.
"I'm assuming you wont let me go back to work without sleeping first?" Grace said, leaning his head on his hand. Rocky shook his carapace.
"Must sleep. Sleep important, statement. Human stupid without sleep."
Well, he wasn't wrong.
Grace sighed, nodding slowly.
"We can try. Any ideas?"
Rocky paused before shaking again. "No. Human sleep different from Eridian sleep. What help humans sleep, question?"
"Generally," Grace started, fidgeting with his hands. "There's a few known tricks. Counting things in your head, clearing your mind, moving your pillow to the other end of the bed, warm drinks. Some even recommend pretending to be asleep, funny enough."
Rocky nodded, taking it all in.
He raised his hands, looking between them as his fingers twitched like he did when working something out.
He looked up.
"Thirty-four." Rocky said, nodding definitively.
Grace paused.
"Thirty-four what, buddy?"
"Things in your head. Thirty-four. Twenty-eight teeth, one tongue, two eyes, one nose, two ears. Thirty-four things in your head." Rocky said, trailing off in confusion when Grace laughed. The human flopped to his back on his mattress, sighing.
"Grace sleep now, question?" Rocky said, hopeful. He looked up at him eagerly, front legs straightened to peak over the edge of the bed. Grace shook his head.
"I meant counting objects or animals to tire your brain out." He said, grinning.
Rocky let out an embarrassed hum, sitting with a loud thunk. "Strange... Understand."
Grace stared to the ceiling, thinking.
"Music helps sometimes. What does music sound like on Erid?"
Rocky paused, thinking.
"Need new word."
Grace sat up, leaning for the nearby laptop. Even with their growing shared vocabulary, he kept it nearby just in case.
"Music is..."
Huh.
How do you describe music?
"Its like, sounds and words to a rhythm, meant to sound pretty?" He tried, hoping it was enough to get close.
"Sound that tells stories?" Rocky asked. "Makes emotion, question?"
"Exactly!" Grace said, finding a slot to create the new word.
"Eridian word is đ¶." He said, the musical tone resonating.
Grace entered the word, nodding thoughtfully.
"What does Eridian music sound like?" He said, setting the laptop aside and turning to him.
"It sound beautiful! Like Eridian word, but longer..." Rocky said, his tone sounding unsure. "Need more words but don't know what words."
Grace laughed. "It's okay, I think I understand."
He reached to the laptop, pulling up some audio recording software.
"Can you sing something for me? I want to hear it."
Rocky tilted again. "Need new word."
"Its when you make music with your voice."
Rocky started, suddenly nervous. He stood, rolling his ball to move back from Grace.
"Rocky is bad at music. Bad, bad, bad." He said, scuttling back and forth as if anxious.
"It can't be that bad! Just something short, I'm really curious." Grace insisted, offering a sincere smile.
"Grace sing first!" He said, stomping a foot into the xenonite.
Now, it was Grace's turn to be nervous. "Oh, no. I'm very bad at singing. Totally tone deaf, actually!" He said, flushing slightly.
"Don't know those words. Grace sing first or Rocky not sing." Rocky said, grumbling.
Grace raised his hands in surrender, blush deepening at the insistence. "Fine, no one's singing today!"
Grace crossed his arms, tapping his fingers as he leaned back against the wall. Stage fright, he guessed, was also a strange universal phenomenon.
"Maybe I just need some exercise or something. Run my body to exhaustion so I can conk out." Grace said idly.
Rocky perked up. "Idea!"
He rolled closer, tapping his legs. "Rocky and Grace play game, question?"
"Game?" Grace said, quirking an eyebrow. "What kind of game?"
Rocky gestured wildly, his voice excited. "Exercise game! Need new word, Eridian game. Players try to keep each other on floor?"
Grace immediately understood.
"Wrestling?" He typed it into the translator as Rocky gave his version. "Like, two people fighting, but not to hurt each other?"
Rocky nodded. Grace chuckled.
"Rocky, you would win. You're much heavier than me."
"Yes, yes, yes! Rocky heavy, make Grace tired fast!" He backed up, making space between them and waving Grace over, offering to let him have the first move.
He did have a point.
"You're also in a ball. You could just run me over."
Rocky scuttled his legs rapidly, trilling. "Rocky will play fair. Trust! Come fight Rocky, squishy human!"
Grace chuckled at his enthusiasm, shrugging and throwing his legs over the edge of the bed. "Okay, just be careful. I'm pretty sure you could snap my bones if you wanted to."
Rocky made a sound akin to laughter, moving into an overblown fighting stance. He stretched his legs in a slow pattern around himself, steps wide like a five-legged cowboy in a quickdraw match.
"Rocky will be careful."
Rocky suddenly lurched forward, making Grace yelp as he latched onto his ankles through the "mesh" front section of the xenonite ball. With a tug, he dragged Grace off of his bed with surprising ease.
Grace winced as he crashed to the floor before yelping as Rocky tried to clamber on top of him. He kicked, connecting with the ball and rolling it backwards a few feet as the Eridian scrambled within to regain his footing. Grace rolled to his front, crawling on all fours to gain some distance as his friend charged again, knocking him onto his side.
Grace gasped as he fell, feet flailing to gain purchase to escape. On his side, he couldn't get very fair before Rocky rolled into his chest, making him lie flat on the floor as he climbed up to stand on top of him. The human took a moment to regain his breath before struggling again, cringing as Rocky rapidly shot out his arms to adjust the ball with every movement.
With how Rocky looked when he ran and skittered, Grace was very glad he didn't have too bad of arachnophobia. It was a little unsettling.
"Y'know, you're pretty scary when you're running at me like that." Grace said through gritted teeth, trying to catch the Eridian off guard and throw him off. Rocky just balanced his weight, unbothered, much to the humans dismay.
Grace laughed, the sound further pressed out of him under the weight and the rush of endorphins. "Predator animal that's not real, made up as a scary story."
"Oh!" Rocky said, perking up. "Eridian word is đ¶đ”!" He rocked back and forth in his ball, making Grace wheeze. He still tried to squirm, but it was clear he wouldn't be able to get away.
"Eridians have many of those stories!"
Grace looked up with wide eyes, suddenly curious. "Really? You'll have to tell me some sometime." He grinned, excited by the idea of sharing campfire tales with someone brought up in a completely different culture. He'd have to jot some down for the scientists back home.
"Rocky tell Grace one right now!" Rocky said, backing up a little so the ball sat over his stomach. It wasn't the most comfortable, but he could breathe a little better, so Grace took it.
Grace propped himself up on his elbows to look at Rocky, curious. "Right now? I thought we were wrestling."
"Story is relevant, statement." Rocky said, tapping a leg as punctuation. Grace shrugged.
"Long time ago," Rocky started, his voice carrying a dramatic tone over the sound of the translator. "There was đ¶đ”đ¶đ¶. She was a large đ¶đ”, like Eridian, but big, big, big."
As he spoke, he gestured animatedly, making many different signs and movements with his arms as if acting out the scene. Grace was captivated, imagining a massive Eridian with powerful legs that shook the ground with each step.
"đ¶đ”đ¶đ¶ was a kind being. Big, but gentle and calm. Old Eridian story say she watch over lonely Eridians when they sleep and keep dumb Eridians out of trouble."
In Grace's mind, he pictured the lumbering beast of a creature standing guardian over an Eridian dwelling, a loyal sentinel in the eternal night of Erid's dense skies. Grace smiled as he listened, allowing his overtired imagination to wander.
"She was known for another thing too. A punishment all Eridians fear." Rocky paused dramatically, his hands freezing in the air as if waiting. Grace raised an eyebrow.
"Punishment? I thought you said she was nice."
Rocky nodded, waggling his carapace. "She is."
Grace made a confused face, his nose scrunching up. "Then what..?"
"She was also known as đ”đ”đ¶đ”đ¶đ¶." Rocky said, looking down in a way that made it seem like that was supposed to strike a chord.
"Uh... I don't know what that meANS-" Grace shouted as Rocky dropped his arms, pressing his hands through the xenonite mesh to skitter briefly over Grace's stomach. He pulled away, watching as realization bled across his human friends features.
In the early biology explainations, there was a shocking number of shared traits between humans and Eridians. Nerve endings were one that had confused Grace, originally thinking that Rocky's sense of touch would be dulled by his carapace. In reality, that was the furthest from the truth. Rocky had reported that Eridians were actually extremely touch sensitive.
Which meant Eridians could be ticklish. A theory that was confirmed as Grace felt a familiar, overwhelming swirl of anxiety in his gut.
Eridian legends had a tickle monster.
And he had just fallen for it. Hook, line, and sinker.
"Oh... Oh god no..."
A nervous smile began to push it's way across his face, sleep deprivation preventing him from suppressing it. Rocky clicked his hands together, chirping in amusement.
"Actually bud, I think I'm tired out. The wrestling and the story did it for me!" Grace said, arms shaking with the instinct to protect himself. Rocky shook his carapace.
"No, Rocky not done helping. Must make sure you sleep."
Grace tried to scoot backwards, unable to slide himself from under Rocky's weight. Rocky chittered.
"Rocky will be careful to not hurt stupid squishy skin." He reassured, adjusting before digging in.
Ryland Grace, humanities last hope, squealed.
Despite the xenonite and the rock hard fingers, Rocky was surprisingly gentle. Grace knew this, logically, after watching him with his xenonite building device, but who'd have known?
Grace threw his head back, his arms shooting to push against the hamster ball as he let out a stream of high pitched giggling. Rocky only had two hands working him over, pinching and scribbling across his belly and lower ribs, but it was so bad. Grace couldn't tell if it was the months without physical contact or if he was just unbearably sensitive.
"Rocky-! Knock it off!" He begged through his laughter, yelping as the tormenting fingers vibrated into his sides. Behind Rocky, he kicked his legs, banging his heels against the floor. Rocky was unfazed.
The Eridian rolled forwards to reach a little higher on Grace's torso, poking at his ribs. With each prod, the human jumped, trying desperately to grab Rocky's hands. This got a laugh out of the alien.
"How human so squishy, but have hard stuff in some places, question? Why not hard on the outside? Human body make no sense." Rocky teased as he poked, making frustrated laughter burst from his friend.
"I've told you about bones before!"
"Yes, but still make no sense." A third arm joined in, all three moving in rapid succession to make Grace collapse into hysterics. "Humans laugh funny."
What the human wanted to say was "Yeah? Well, yours is funnier!".
What actually came out was a garbled, alphabet soup of a sentence, not even registering with the translator. Rocky looked far too amused.
Suddenly, he stopped. Grace wiped tears from his eyes as he looked to his friend quizzically.
"T-that was mean." He said, residual laughter bubbling up.
"Rocky have idea." Rocky said, quickly moving off of his torso. Grace rolled over, planning to stand up, but he felt a weight roll over his lower legs.
Then, the weight started pulling at his shoes.
"Rocky! Rocky, don't you dare!" He turned as much as he could, putting on his angry-teacher voice. Rocky wiggled one shoe off, pushing it to the side.
"Rocky hasn't seen weird human feet. Want to see for science, statement." He pulled at the other shoe, the third arm pulling off the sock of the previous foot. Grace tried to kick out, but he wasn't able to do much more than bend his knees, making his upper body slide back towards Rocky.
"No you don't! You're just messing with me!" He tried to army-crawl away with his arms. They just slid against the floor uselessly.
"No~ sarcasm. Rocky is always genuine, sarcasm."
If he weren't already laughing in anticipation, he probably would have snorted.
"You suck!" Grace said, giving up and bracing himself. He tucked his arms under his chest, pressing his face into his hands.
"Grace suck more."
With that, stoney fingers swiped over his soles.
Grace cackled.
He writhed, struggling renewed as he clawed at the floor, pulling at his legs with all of his strength. Shrill screams laced the mirth, echoing off of the walls and through the ship. He curled in on himself, reaching back and swiping at the xenonite ball. He stretched out, reaching to grab something, anything, to pull himself out of Rocky's grip. The feeling sent electricity up his legs and straight to his spine, making him flop around like a fish.
"Grace is loud! So loud! Hurts Rocky ears!" Grace could make out over his hysteria. He shook his head, gasping as he tried to throw a retort back. He couldn't form the words.
Rocky was agonizingly thorough. He scratched at the soft inside of his sole, dragging the sharper edge of his fingers over the arches, scribbling lightly over the ball, then worming under and between his toes in a repetitive circular pattern. Every touch was exploratory, but precise as if he had some idea of what might work. He made sure no skin was left untouched, only slowing once Grace's laughter began to come in wheezes.
He didn't stop completely, switching to slow dragging up and down each foot. He listened intently as Grace damn near melted under the touch. Gasping breaths made way for breathy giggles, the human relaxing against the floor as his friend watched him, unaware of the attention.
To Rocky's sight, Grace looked more calm than he'd ever been.
Sure, his heart still beat rapidly, but his breathing was leisurely. It didn't carry the same stress it did before. His heartbeat sent soundwaves through his form, revealing unclenched shoulders, heavy limbs, and a dreamy grin. While Eridians didn't laugh the same way humans did, the effect was the same.
Rocky withdrew, backing off of his ankles and rolling to sit beside Grace's head. He watched as the laughter slowed, but the smile remained. The human looked up at him through tousled hair, not moving to stand.
"You're mean." He said, pointing at Rocky with a wavering hand. Rocky hummed.
"But, Grace is tired now, question? Can sleep?"
Grace thought for a moment, feeling the weight in his limbs and eyelids, how his breath was deep and slow. He felt how his mind was a little lighter, buzzing with happy chemicals.
Sighing, he nodded.
Rocky made a victorious sound, throwing his hands in the air.
"Grace go to bed now, get off floor." Rocky said, moving to get out of Grace's way. Grace didn't move, lying still. Rocky could hear his breathing deepen further, his eyes closing.
"No. Grace not sleep here, statement. Go to bed." He rolled closer, nudging the human on his shoulder. Rocky startled as Grace scooted towards him, wrapping around the ball and pressing his forehead into the xenonite mesh.
Rocky stared in confusion as Grace drifted off, spooning around the outside of the hamster ball. He couldn't imagine that was very comfortable for a being without carapace, but there he was. Pressed against the hard floor and the hard shell.
Oh well. At least he would sleep tonight.
Rocky settled in, lowering to lay in his ball next to Grace. He pressed a hand through the mesh to bury in the humans hair, trilling as he sighed in his sleep.
As he watched his friend sleep, feeling Grace deserved a reward after the torment, he began to sing softly.
The notes resonated through the xenonite like crystal bells, ringing in pure tones. It was an old melody from his younger years, something his parents used to sing while he was getting ready to sleep.
He had sung it to Adrian the night before he left, one last song to soothe her before saying goodbye.
He sang it to his crew the day they didn't wake up, a prayer that they knew someone still cared for them. An apology for failing them, it being the only comfort he thought he could give.
He sang it tonight as a promise. To himself, to his human companion, and to Earth and Erid.
when thereâs a tickle scene in a movie and you have to pretend you donât care. and after you leave your friends you go back and rewatch it again⊠and again đ
Authorâs note: I told myself this was going to be a quick fic, and then I started experimenting with Rockyâs POV lol. But omg I had a lot of fun writing in the mindset of our favorite sassy rock alien! At first I wrote a whole draft in first person, buuut I liked the flow of it better in third person limited with Rocky still as the narrator! I hope you enjoy!
(Also posted on AO3!)
Series: Project Hail Mary
Characters: Ryland Grace and Rocky
Word Count: 2,781
Summary: It is midnight and this stubborn human will not go to bed! Thankfully, Rocky remembers that humans have a strange reaction that causes them to laugh, which could be used to his advantage.
---
Rocky knows for a fact that humans are not nocturnal, a human word Grace taught him for creatures that sleep during the day and stay up at night, but Grace sometimes appears to be an exception to this rule. This fleshy being has a tendency of staying up late and sleeping in during the morning until Rocky has to practically drag him out of bed. He is like an infant. It is ridiculous. Grace says he is a grown human man. It is hard to believe him sometimes.
Grace usually has an excuse when he stays up late at night. He says heâs working on lesson plans and activities for class the next day for the young Eridians, or pebbles as Grace has named them. Rocky tells Grace to complete this task earlier so he doesnât have to lose sleep, but the scientist says that something called procrastination gets the better of him until he realizes what time it is. Rocky does not like procrastination.Â
But Rocky will stay with Grace during his bad, bad human decisions as he continues to do the same thing tonight. Rocky lies halfway over his lap, careful to balance his large weight, as Grace sits on the floor of his Eridian-made bedroom with his legs crossed with one over the other. The human has compared Rocky to a âlap catâ or a weighted blanket while he is in this position; he says Rockyâs warmth keeps him cozy.
In front of Graceâs chest, there is a small table that is being held up by an adjustable arm, allowing Grace to work on his computer from his sitting position. Much safer than Grace using Rocky as a platform to hold his electronic device, which he has jokingly done before. Behind Grace, a short distance away, is the bed that heâs currently avoiding sleeping in.
Rocky continues hearing the tap, tap, tapping of Graceâs computer keys for what he feels like has been all night. Rocky keeps himself occupied by creating xenonite puppets that Grace can give out to his students, if he wants. The clock on the other side of the room suddenly chimes a specific, quiet melody they rigged that allows Rocky to know what time it is without him having to look at the Earth version of the clock.
Twelve chimes.
Itâs midnight by human standards. Rocky shifts in his comfortable spot to look up at the human. It appears that the chimes of the clock have not wavered Graceâs focus on his computer in the slightest.
âGrace, clock currently says midnight. Is late,â Rocky mentions as his chirps are translated into a computer voice for Grace to understand. âGrace ready to sleep, question?â
Grace types away at his keyboard, tap, tap, tapping, not even looking at Rocky. âIâm almost done, buddy.â
âGrace said almost done human hour ago.â Rocky grows worried that the scientist is so tired that he is forgetting what he previously said.
âI needed a little more time,â Grace replies. âGive me five more minutes.â
Oh, Rocky has heard this one before, especially when he is trying to get the human out of bed. Five minutes is never five minutes.
Rocky stares up at Grace, clacking his claws together out of annoyance. âRocky does not believe Grace.â
Graceâs gaze remains unmoving from the computer screen. âItâs going to take me even longer if you keep distracting me, buddy.â
Rocky rattles his shoulder joints and gurgles out a quiet grumble. He concedes, however, and plops himself back into Graceâs lap to wait the five so-called minutes that Grace has declared.Â
Rocky does not get bored easily, but he does not want to start another xenonite puppet, and he finds the need to preoccupy his claws with something while he waits these excruciating three hundred seconds.Â
The Eridian chirps out a quiet sigh. Seeing the first item in his vicinity, Rocky mindlessly starts playing with Graceâs shirt through his claws, just fiddling with the material as if he is kitting it. Human cloth is a fascinating thing. Grace has explained it to Rocky before. Fabric made of plants or animal fibers, crafted into a wearable object is intriguing. Even through Rockyâs xenonite mesh suit, he can feel a bit of the texture, soft and fluffy. Maybe one day Rocky can craft a line of xenonite apparel for Grace to wearâ
Suddenly, the human flinches under Rockyâs claws. The tap, tap, tapping of the computer keys stop for a moment. Rocky pulls his claw away to see that the humanâs stomach beneath his shirt has retracted out of reflex, most likely because Rocky mistakenly grazed his fleshy skin while he was examining his shirt.
âRocky, please donât do that. Itâs distracting,â Grace says as a gentle reminder. However, Rockyâs immaculate hearing can tell Graceâs words were trying to mask what the Eridian has come to learn is an airy laugh humans do. A chuckle, it is called.Â
Now why would Grace be chuckling? No joke was told. Hmm, maybe he just wrote something funny in his lesson plan to the pebbles? No, no. He wouldnât try to hide his laugh if that was the case. Rocky ponders for a moment⊠All he was doing was playing with Graceâs shirt when he accidentally touched his stomach andâ
Oh.
Oh yes.
Humans have this reflex when they laugh when theyâre touched in their fleshy spots. It is very silly. Very adorable. Eridians have something similar, but Grace has taught Rocky that humans call it tickling. Rocky has used it on Grace on multiple occasions, such as using it to get the squishy human out of bed.
So, theoretically⊠there is a possibility that it can also get him in to bed.
Graceâs fingers have already resumed typing on his computer. While the human is occupied, Rocky looks at the end of his arm and flexes his claw. Rocky happily wiggles in place and stifles a squeaky laugh so the humanâs less-than immaculate ears canât hear him.Â
With his plan in mind, Rocky starts playing with Graceâs shirt again, but he purposely scratches gently at the squishy stomach underneath.Â
The humanâs belly retracts again, the tapping of the keys stop, and Grace stiffens. His mouth begins to wobble into a smile.
Grace pulls his shoulders close to his ears, resisting the urge to laugh, Rocky can tell.
âRocky-â his smile quivers even more and his fingers twitch above his computer keys.
âYes, Grace? Is there a problem, question?â Rockyâs computer voice correctly translates that he is fully enjoying this. âRocky is keeping occupied by examining clothes covering squishy flesh.â
Grace shakes his head. âI know what youâre trying to do, Rock- and itâs not going to work.â Grace clearly sounds like heâs trying to swallow the build up of pressure in his chest from wanting to laugh, but the pressure keeps building.Â
âRocky disagrees. Grace is very ticklish. Clearly holding in laughter,â Rocky makes sure to state. âGrace will not be able to last long,â the Eridian chirps out a giggle of his own.
Grace struggles to speak without a laugh, but he surprisingly manages. âOh yeah? You think I canât handle some tickling while Iâm trying to focus? Watch me,â the human challenges.Â
He clears his throat like a cough, rolls his shoulders back, and straightens out his spine. Grace takes a deep breath like heâs about to go swimming underwater, then refocuses. His fingers, miraculously, start tapping on the keys again.
Could Rocky absolutely tackle Grace to the floor and have him laughing in seconds? Yes, absolutely. Humans are far too squishy to resist for long. However, Rocky welcomes the challenge, as it is much more entertaining. The Eridian quickens the pace of his claw that is pressing into the humanâs belly.
Grace muffles a laugh behind his lips, only letting out a huff of air from his nose. He lets out a little squirm, then loudly, and very obviously, clears his throat again. He talks to himself about what heâs typing to get his mind off the sensations Rocky is producing at his tummy. Â
âOkayâŠâ Grace says to his computer screen, âSo the noble gasses on the periodic table of elements areâŠâ his smile wobbles. Thereâs a squeak in his throat. He bites his bottom lip. âAreâŠâ The human lets out a sound in-between a snort and a squeak. He squeezes his eyes shut and throws a hand up to cover his mouth.
Rocky shakes, quite pleased with the current results. âGrace looks ready to explode, figuratively speaking, statement.â
Grace places his hands on the table for support and shakes his head. âNope!â he barely gets out the words. âNope! Iâm good!âÂ
Stubborn, stubborn human. Okay, thatâs it. Time to bring in the second claw.
With no hesitation, Rocky takes his other arm and scratches it at the bottom of Graceâs ribs. Grace squeaks and curls his fingers into a fist, wobbling forward over his desk. A few of his giggles slip. The scientist leans back and slaps both of his hands across his mouth, but his giggles continue to leak through his fingers like a hole in an oxygen tank. His shoulders bounce and soon, Grace pulls his hands from his mouth, successfully giggling out into the room.Â
Grace snorts and looks down at Rocky. âOhohokay, okay,â the human reaches down to grab the Eridianâs claws awayâhis first mistake.Â
âRockyâAH!â Grace yelps when Rocky launches his claw upwards, right in the middle of the top rib and the squishy part humans call the armpit. Graceâs loud giggles burst out of him and he flails his arms against Rockyâs full-scale attack with three of his claws squeezing at his torso, including his belly.Â
âRocky win! Rocky win!â the Eridian cheers over the humanâs laughter. âRocky choose prize. Rocky wants Grace to sleep now, statement.âÂ
âNohoho! Grahahace wants to finish his lehehehesson!â the human mimics the speech pattern of Rockyâs computer voice as the scientist attempts to shove at him. Grace leans back and topples to the floor. Rocky crawls above him, poking and wiggling his claws into his squirmy form. Even when losing control of themselves from producing this joyful sound, humans still have the audacity to talk back.
âStubborn. Stubborn human.â Rocky claws at his ribs to persuade him. Grace tosses his head back with a wheeze and bats at the Eridianâs claws that are clearly not going anywhere. It is foolish that he thinks he can push them away. âStubborn human needs to lie down!â
Rocky growls and stomps his back foot on the ground. âNot on the floor! On bed! Grace can not do lessons if low on sleep!â
The human kicks his feet and leans forward to take another shove at the Eridian. âIâll be fihihine! Iâve done it behehehefore!â Grace says.
Rocky squawks, like a hard surface screeching on metal, âWHAT?! Grace has done this before, question??? Grace, bad! BAD! This is why Rocky needs to be here to watch over Grace more often! Can not leave Grace alone for even a small amount of time!â Rocky adds more pressure to his wiggling claws into the humanâs soft flesh to show that he means business.Â
Grace squeals. He hugs his torso and squirms from side to side to side. âAhahaha! Iâm nohohot a child!â Grace cackles.
âGrace certainly looks like one,â Rocky snickers at the giggle-filled human.
Grace covers his face, slipping his hands under his glasses that are already askew. He giggles under his hands for a moment before squeezing his arms to his sides.
âTrust mehehehe! I cahahahan teach under ahahahany conditions!â Grace declares with full confidence. How is this human not tired yet?
Rocky rumbles with a growl again. Rocky will make him, what is the human phrase again, âeat wordsâ? Yes, Rocky will serve him a meal of his own words.
âThen teach Rocky now, statement,â the Eridian says.
âWHAHAHAT?â Grace exclaims in the middle of his laughter.
âGrace needs to prove his statement of teaching under any condition. Teach Rocky while Rocky tickle.â
âNohohoho way!â Grace squawks when Rocky plunges two claws into his armpits.
âGrace, teach Rocky,â the Eridian repeats. Rocky sees that Graceâs shirt has shifted upwards, so Rocky changes spots and slips a claw under the fabric of his shirt to get at his squishy tummy, earning a flail and an overflow of giggles from the human. âTell Rocky what lesson is about.â Rocky knows the human can not resist a good challenge.Â
âFihihihine!â Grace giggles, trying to get his thoughts in order while Rocky keeps his claws creating tickly sensations across his torso. âItâs about Earthâs periodic tahahable of ehehe-elements!â he says the mouthful of words through his laughter.
âAnd?â Rocky continues to skitter his claws over his friendâs stomach, awaiting the lesson he is owed.
Grace kicks his legs behind Rocky and flails his arms in front of the Eridanâs face. âIhihihitâs ahahahabout the atomic numbers, prohohotons, electrons, atomic mahahahass!â Grace starts frantically spewing scientific knowledge, âAahahahand- and the groups! And families! Like alkali metals, halogens, noble gahahahases!â Grace cackles loud, wheezy giggles as his form of an answer.
Hearing all of this, Rocky pulls his claws away. Grace hugs his torso, taking a breather and exhaling any remaining laughter.Â
Rocky tilts his body. âPause. All of what Grace said is for Pebblesâ next lesson, question?âÂ
âYeheheahâŠâ the humanâs words are still laced in giggles. As the oxygen returns to Graceâs brain, he appears to realize the reason as to why Rocky is asking him this. Grace lifts his head up. Rocky keeps himself from snickering at how his friendâs glasses are pushed up in his hair from the result of their game. Â
âDo you think itâs too much?â Grace asks.Â
Rocky nods his body. âRocky likes the subject matter, but does think it is too much for pebbles for one day. Would be better if Grace separated lessons into multiple sections, statement.â
Grace lifts himself on his arms. âYou think?â Grace fixes his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. He narrows his eyes at Rocky through the lenses. âYouâre not just saying that because you want me to sleep, right?â Not helping his own case, Grace lets out a yawn.
âRocky being honest. Pebbles may not retain all of new Earth knowledge in one sitting.â
Grace takes a moment to soak in Rocky's words. The human moves to sit up and Rocky moves out of the way so the scientist can scoot closer to his computer. He scrolls his fingers on the laptop to glance at the pages he already has. After scrolling a few times, Grace exhales a breath out of his nose.
âYeah, youâre right,â Grace concedes, smiling. âI got too ambitious to teach them about a new topic again, huh?â
âYes. Grace got overly excited, statement,â Rocky agrees. âBut makes Rocky happy that Grace gets excited to fill the pebbles with Earth knowledge,â the Eridian stands on his legs like a proud parent. âDoes this mean Grace sleep now, question?âÂ
Grace lets out a soft chuckle. Rocky is surprised his friend has any more giggles to give after tickling him. âYeah, bud. Iâll go to bed now,â Grace says.
âAmaze! Finally got through to stubborn human. Now up up up,â Rocky nudges and gestures for the human to get onto his feet.
âOkay, okay, Iâm getting up. No need to be pushy,â Grace jokes and stands.
âRocky must push. Human will not get sleep otherwise.â
Grace huffs out another laugh. He leaves to prepare himself for bed and Rocky waits patiently. After a few minutes, Grace shuffles into the room towards his bed, then pulls down the covers and gets into the blankets. He folds his glasses, placing them on the nightstand beside the bed, and turns off the lamp next to it. Grace pats the mattress beside him, welcoming Rocky into his bed. Rocky hops up to join the human. Fortunately, the bed frame is built strong to hold the full weight of an Eridian. Grace pats the top of Rockyâs shell.
âGrace sleep now. Get rest to teach pebbles in the morning,â Rocky says.
A chuckle softly rumbles in the humanâs chest. âYes Rocky. Goodnight.â
âIt is technically morning-â Rocky corrects on impulse.
âRocky,â Grace giggles.Â
âApologies. Rocky stay quiet now. Grace sleep. Rocky watch. Night good to Grace too.âÂ
Rocky moves himself closer to Grace so he can feel the warmth beneath the Eridianâs xenonite suit. The human makes himself comfortable and in a few minutes, his breathing slows to that peaceful pace that gives Rocky confirmation that he is happily, and successfully, asleep.
Grace's years of isolation from humans result in severe touch starvation. Rocky takes one look at this problem and says, "Hold my minerals."
Word Count: 3,687
Warnings: None
This is a SFW tickle fic, if you donât like that then donât read :)
Inspired by an adorable series on A03 focused on Grace being a wet cat and Rocky learning about human quirks (physical contact and mental health)Â Link Below!
Archive of Our Own: Platonic Cuddling SeriesÂ
The journey to Erid was slow going.
Space. More space. Some stars. A little more space. And oh, hey, would you look at that! Space again!
During his lonely trek back to Earth, Ryland Grace had considered cracking out the cocktail of Knockout Juice to slip him into a coma until he was home. Now, however, he wasnât alone aboard the Hail Mary. Heck, he wasnât even going home anymore.Â
Heâd been on such a rollercoaster of emotions over heading back to Earth. Despair, acceptance (not really), hope, then acceptance again (for real this time). With the finality of his choice to stay permanently in foreign space, something festered within Grace.
Despite the companionship he has, an awful emptiness latched its teeth into his core and wouldnât abate. No matter how much time heâd spend with Rocky or watch clips of Earth in the Donât Go Crazy Room, the feeling of wrongness stayed, and Grace has no idea how to stop it.Â
A shudder runs through his form, making Grace hunch further in on himself, gripping onto his arms. His skin ached something fierce, despite his hands rubbing along the surface in a meager attempt to self-soothe against the barrage of phantom needles.
What he would give to be bundled in his motherâs arms like he was ten again after tumbling off his bike and scraping his knee. Or being smothered in his dadâs all-encompassing embrace after a failed science experiment, a promise that one day, âHeâd be the smartest and coolest of all scientistsâ. What heâd give for any form of hug at all whilst in deep space-
The invisible aches haunting his body intensify in a sudden surge. Grace freezes in place, struck by a daunting realisation.
âŠOh.Â
It was cruel and unfair, but it made sense. The urge to cry welling up behind his eyes has Grace's breath shuddering out of him sporadically.Â
âGrace, okay, question?â
The doubled thudding of the Eridianâs back leg cuts through the static building in Graceâs head. He looks to the side and finds the alien âwatchingâ him intently, his carapace shifting in blatant concern.Â
Grace has to push the word out of his throat. â...No.â He rubs his palm along his arm with a disconnected fervor. It doesnât feel as though the warmth of his own skin is even getting through.Â
âWhat problem, question?âÂ
How could he even begin to explain the torrential emotions wreaking havoc on his wrung-out body? âThereâs something wrong with me.â
âGrace sick? Question?â Rocky is growing restless, feet thunking against the xenonite shell of his ball.
Grace swallows back the lump trying to start an uprising of sadness in his throat. It was a persistent battle. âItâs a human thing,â he rasps. âI donât know if it can be helped.â
âExplain. Rocky fix.â
Grace shakes his head as he burrows into his arms, both to hide his burning eyes and to escape this conversation. Rocky couldnât fix it. Bless that alienâs heart of gold for trying, but he just couldnât. What Grace needed, what he was craving, was human touch. It had been years since he left Earth, and his skin was growing desperate for an inkling of steady, warm contact. But by abandoning his journey to Earth in favour of saving his best friend - which he didnât regret for a second, mind you - heâd robbed himself of the chance to ever experience it again.Â
Granted, the last memory of touch was being forcibly restrained to the ground, suffocating pressure pinning him down as he screamed for help that would never come. Not exactly a golden recollection of human connection.Â
A steady series of tapping filters into Graceâs ears, getting past the marching band thumping away. He peeks over his forearm. Rocky has rolled himself so close that heâs right beside his friend.Â
âHeartbeat fast,â the Eridian states, worry warbling through his medeloic voice. âBad, bad, bad. Oxygen needed.â
Heâs close enough that Grace can feel the alienâs warmth through the xenonite. His skin practically buzzes with the idea of leaning against the Eridianâs stone-like form, multiple arms encircling him with a pressure that could settle his racing thoughts and lonely heart.
Grace canât help it. He gives in to his pathetic, human instincts.Â
His arms stretch out from his self-contained ball of panic to clutch around the xenonite, drag Rocky into his chest, and slump against the warm, glass-like surface. A sob tries to strangle his throat, but any noise is kept locked behind Graceâs pursed lips. Rocky tucks himself against the wall separating them, soft melodic noises rumbling from his form in an attempt to settle the erratic pounding he can hear within Graceâs chest. Heâd only heard this in moments of extreme distress for his human, and it hurt every time. Though Grace is trying to stay quiet, soft plinks of moisture hitting the top of the zenonite were heard loud and clear for the alien.
Grace clings to the zenonite ball as tightly as he can, trying to trick his mind into believing that the smooth, warm surface was what it was after. That this hug shared between two species unable to co-exist within the same environment is enough for his human instincts.Â
His skin prickles. The tears keep falling. It isnât enough. And it is going to stay that way for as long as he is away from Earth.Â
A shudder runs through the man at this bleak thought, the ever-expanding pit in his chest feeling as though itâs swallowing up his entire being.Â
As if he heard the emotional casam split further, Rockyâs warbles take on a mournful croon. âGrace, tell Rocky what wrong. Please?â
Grace presses his tear-stained cheek against the warm surface, sighing miserably.Â
âIâm touch starved.â He says it quietly, fingertips brushing over a surface that isnât organic enough to trick his brain into thinking itâs skin. âHumans are social beings; we naturally seek connection, and with that comes physical contact. Itâs common with anyone weâre close to, not just mates. Itâs ingrained into us to co-regulate, so when we go for a long time without that, it causes us to experience skin hunger. It makes humans feel bad.âÂ
Rocky cocks his body to the side, akin to tilting one's head. âIs hug helping badness?â
Grace wishes he could say yes, but then heâd be lying, and he didnât want to do that to Rocky. Shaking his head miserably, Grace scrubs a fist across his eyes to stem the flow of tears. âNo. Iâm hugging you, but I canât feel you hugging back. Pressure is a key thing with hugging; it feels safer that way.â
Rocky trills sadly. âApologies.â
Grace shakes his head again, but this time itâs paired with a weak, sincere smile. âItâs not your fault. Just sucks that our biologies are so different. I bet youâd give really good hugs without this thing in the way.â Grace knocks twice on the ball, emphasizing the distance between them. Â
Rocky chitters, though thereâs something contemplative about his tone now - an inquisitive warble rumbling through the plates atop his body. He leans away from Grace, his back legs thumping against the casing of his ball as he thinks. âRocky has idea.â
âYeah?â Grace lets his arms fall away, desperately ignoring the loss they feel as the warmth disappears from them. There was no need to be clingy. It wasnât exactly like the hug was helping him in the long run. It was like putting a sticky plaster over a gaping chest wound and calling it a day.
Rocky trills again, more full-bodied. Determined. âYes. Need to begin work now. Will show Grace when ready.â Rocky is practically buzzing. An eagerness tugging at his limbs as he fidgets in place, itching to start whatever âmystery projectâ heâs begun cooking up.
â...You gonna tell me what your idea is?â
The alien gives Grace his version of a thumbs up and happily chirps, âNo.â
To make it even more peculiar, he hasnât allowed Grace anywhere near him as he crafts. Any time Grace sets foot in the lab, he gets hissed at. Forget Eridans being extraterrestrial lifeforms of complex intelligence. That sentient stone spider is a cat in disguise. Grace has it on good authority that the little guy practically purrs whenever heâs smug or has done something clever. There was simply no other way to describe the happy trills rumbling from his body.Â
So, Grace has been forced to amuse himself with other things on the Hail Mary, as his only companion is acting like a kid fresh into puberty and staying in his room to play video games. Fortunately, Stratt had been generous enough to provide enough stimuli aboard the ship to keep the passengers entertained while they slowly died in an eternal abyss of stars.Â
Unfortunately, he could only consume so many episodes of Star Trek in total silence before he felt an oncoming existential crisis about watching a space show in space. Â
Thankfully, just as heâs considering going into the lab and risking being cursed out in Eridian, a series of clunks from multiple legs echo through the ship. Only⊠it didnât sound like it was coming from inside the hamster tunnels running throughout the vessel. Nor was the clunking dulled slightly by a xenonite ball following the demands of five limbs.Â
It sounds clearer. Closer. Concerningly faster than the ball as well.Â
Grace drops the Comfort Quiltâą from his shoulders and scrambles up from his crossed leg position. He doesnât even know what heâs bracing for, but what greets him when it stomps into view is not what heâd been expecting in the slightest.
Rocky is encased in xenonite. Not a ball. His body is literally wearing such close-fitting xenonite that it follows every crevice, bump, and grain on his form.Â
âHi, Grace!â He chirrups, sounding utterly exhilarated as he holds up a claw and splits it into the famous Vulcan greeting from Star Trek. âSurprise!âÂ
Thank god Grace put down his mug of coffee before preparing for a potential ambush, or the inventory would be down a cup. His jaw has long hit the floor in place of ceramic shards, eyebrows high as if pulled by a passing moonâs gravity. âYouâre- you made a suit,â he sputters out.
âSo Rocky can fix starvation of skin!â Rocky bounces and wiggles in place, the thin xenonite moving with him flexibly. He eagerly reaches out with his two front limbs. âCan hug properly now!âÂ
Grace stares. His ears heard it, but his brain could not comprehend the development. That being said, his heart definitely could, and it felt full enough to burst.Â
He practically dives for Rocky and slams his full weight into him, knees colliding heavily with the floor. Rockyâs three back limbs counterbalance instantly, and the other two wrap tightly around his human. His claws grip into the fabric of Graceâs cardigan and stay there, keeping the man close against his body heat.
After months of being on the ship - technically years, but Grace didnât count the coma for his own mental health - with absolutely no physical contact from another being bar a ball of xenonite, this hug was everything.Â
It was tight, yet not enough for Graceâs deprived body. Every nerve was screaming from overwhelming warmth and pressure, but the idea of letting go only made Grace grip harder. He barely acknowledges heâs sobbing into the top of Rockyâs carapace; heâs too preoccupied trying to convince himself he isnât dreaming.Â
Rocky stays put, soft notes humming out of him in a gentle, soothing coo. Heâs seen Grace cry before - that man had earned the title of âLeaky Space Blobâ after all - but this is different. Itâs relief, itâs despair, it's everything the man has been silently yearning for in the depths of his subconscious.Â
Rocky is more than content to stay where he was with Grace practically smothering him from his doubled-over position, all his strings cut and emotions raw. He would stay put for as long as Grace needs. He lifts one of his limbs from the floor and runs it through Graceâs hair.Â
He pretends he doesnât hear the high-pitched, wounded keening that leaves the human in a cathartic, emotional release.
âHow did you do this?â Grace asks. âThis looks too thin- heck, it feels too thin to be safe for you.â
Rocky chitters, pleased. âMuch trials and errors,â he says. âImportant. Needed to make.â
Grace tightens his arms around Rocky for a moment before letting him go again. Well, kind of let him go, Rocky is lying over Graceâs legs with the manâs arms draped over his limbs. Yes, he was being a little clingy, but his entire nervous system was recovering from months of neglect. He needs this.Â
âIt means a lot,â he swallows back tears that threaten to have another revolution and overthrow his ability to see. Heâs already shed enough to fill a water bottle or two.Â
Theyâd moved to the dormitory once Grace felt reasonably steady to become a functioning human being again. (For those curious, it took a decent while for that to happen.) Now, heâs lying on his back atop the bedclothes with an Eridian carefully perched on his lower body as a steady source of contact. It seemed the small alien was enjoying the newfound freedom of touch without a ball getting in the way.Â
One of Graceâs hands is being diligently studied by the Eridian. âHumans soft.â Rocky remarks, something like awe filtering through his musical tones as he delicately handles Graceâs fingers. âToo easy to damage.â
Grace snorts. âWe canât all be sentient canon balls, Rock.â
âWhat is âcanon ballâ, question?âÂ
âProjectiles we have on Earth. It was used in battle.â
âRocky is terrifying space spider and dangerous ball, question?âÂ
Grace thinks of when Rocky first barged into the Hail Mary and proceeded to almost cause irreparable property damage to multiple items and devices within the ship. âYes.â He states with a laugh. âYouâre a force to be reckoned with.â
Rocky perks up. âGood reputation to have!â He prods at Graceâs fingers. âBetter than leaky, squishy, space blob.â He pokes at the softer skin of the manâs side to further drive his point home.
Grace yips, batting Rockyâs claws away from his torso instinctively. âHehey!â
Rocky jolts upright, removing himself from Graceâs legs. âHurt? Grace hurt? Rocky hurt Grace?!â His voice flits up several octaves as he panics, hands tightly curled against his body to keep them far from his friend.
âNo. No, no, you didnât- hey, come back here, you silly goose. Stop freaking out.â Grace grasps one of Rockyâs retreating limbs and gently tugs him forward with an exasperated chuckle.
Rocky hesitantly steps closer, but doesnât settle back down. Graceâs legs mourn the loss of their weighted blanket. âGrace make hurt noise,â he states. âMake same sound when burnt with solder iron.â
Grace sighs and sinks deeper into his mattress. He didnât think this would be a topic heâd have to explain to aliens, but here we are.
âHumans have a pretty complex nervous system that has evolved to alert us when weâre in danger, specifically through touch. When you poked me, my body was telling me something was digging into a place where vital organs sit. The noise I made was just a byproduct of that.âÂ
Rocky considers this explanation, then makes a confused warble. âYou laughed afterwards.â
Damn. Grace had been hoping Rocky didnât catch that.Â
â...Yeah.â
âWhy, question?âÂ
â...Itâs a human thing.â
âExplain. Grace live on Erid in future, need to know human biology.â
Well, no dodging the question now.
Grace sighs and runs a hand through his hair. âIt just tickled a bit, thatâs all.â
âNo understand word.â
Double damn.Â
â...Tickling is when humans are touched in a certain way that makes us laugh. Itâs attached to the nervous system thing, part of our fight or flight response.â
Rocky tilts his carapace and extends a claw to wiggle against Graceâs side again. The small squeak Grace lets out causes heat to flush his ears. Rocky chirps, delighted. âThis make laughter on command!â
Grace opens his mouth to parry that point, only to gasp and fall into bouts of snickers when Rockyâs claws start prodding at his stomach insistently with both claws. âR-Rohohocky!âÂ
Itâs been years, even more than heâs been on the Hail Mary, since heâs felt this sensation. The scuttling, electric sparks spread through his nerves, causing him to flail helplessly. His hands scrabble to both grab onto and bat away Rockyâs curious limbs. Neither tactic got him very far.
âGrace sound very happy,â Rocky informs him. Thank you, Rocky. Weâd be lost without your keen observation skills. âAre all humans this sensitive?â
Grace makes a strangled, embarrassed noise in the back of his throat and tries to yank his legs up so he can curl into a ball and hide.Â
âNo, stay stationary. Rocky is not done exploring this.â Rockyâs claws grab onto Graceâs knees to simply push them away, only for Grace to yelp and kick his legs out.Â
âNononono- Rohohocky câmohohon!â
Rocky chirps, curiosity singing through his melodic voice. âTickles happen all over, question?â He inquires, his back hand squeezing Graceâs knee and thigh twice in place of stomping.Â
âROHOHOCK!â The hearty cackles that sprang forth like an exploded fire hydrant were answer enough.
Rocky scuttles and prods over the muscular limbs, little chirps of excitement emanating from the depths of his carapace with every new noise he draws from Grace. Scratching at the underside of the human's knees produced a series of breathy, unstoppable giggles that vividly reminded Rocky of the young Eridians back home with newly developed squeaks perpetrating their vocal cords.Â
Rocky relays that thought to Grace, and the temperature of the humanâs face increased dramatically.Â
âGrace embarrassed, question? Sound cute.â Rocky reassures, wiggling his claws into Grace's lower abdomen.Â
A flustered noise left the man, quickly buried behind his arms as he wriggled incessantly from the tickling. âE-Enohohough wihihith- my knees!â He pleads, the feather-light wisps of touch sending his brain into a haywire state of laughter.Â
âThat okay, plenty more to try!â
Grace feels pressure firmly lay across his legs, keeping them still despite their instinctive desire to kick. Rocky has become essentially deadweight, using his higher body mass to easily pin Grace to the bed. At first, his heartbeat kicked up in learned fear from being pinned down amongst dead grass, but the gentle touches and familiar warmth of the Eridian dashes his anxiety instantly.Â
It was kind of hard to focus on the last memory of being pinned whilst Rocky's two front claws had taken to prodding all over the manâs torso. Light and experimental pinches being tossed in just for curiosity's sake.Â
âGrace should have informed Rocky of this sooner, couldâve cheered you up easily,â Rocky says, mirth filling his voice as he takes in Graceâs blinding grin, flushed cheeks, and bubbling laughter. He made sure to keep his touch light, not wanting to accidentally hurt his friend; however, in doing so, the tickling was simply more unbearable.Â
And as much as Grace's touch-starved body is relishing in this newfound, sorely missed companionship, itâs tiring quickly.Â
âR-Rohohock! Plehehease! No- Nohoho mohohore!â Grace wheezes out a laugh before slumping back into the rumpled bedclothes, all fight disappearing and leaving him in a puddle of giggles.Â
Rocky chirps, withdrawing his claws from Graceâs stomach. âThis hurts, question?â He stomps his back foot into the mattress to punctuate his concern.Â
âNo, not at all.â Grace drapes an arm over his eyes and takes in grateful gulps of air, the last of his laughter shaking his chest. âJust overwhelming, bud. Itâs been a long time.â
âBut Grace is okay, question?â
The hollowness is gone. Graceâs cheeks hurt from smiling. He feels good. âYeah.â The scientist reassures. âBetter than okay. I donât think Iâve laughed that hard in a while.â
âWant me to do again, question?âÂ
Graceâs arm thatâs draped over his eyes shoots down to preemptively cover his stomach, an embarrassed grin spreading across his face. âUh- no, no, that kind of touch is usually for play. Kinda wanting to get some rest now, Rock.â
Rocky chirps, leaning a bit more into Graceâs chest, akin to a weighted blanket. He wraps his claws underneath Grace in a hug, while one reaches up to scratch through his hair. Grace practically melts, a blissful sigh heaving Rocky up and then down in a slump.Â
âBetter, question?â
âYeh, feels nâce,â Grace slurs out, eyelids long since closed, and wrapping his arms over Rockyâs warm, xenonite-enclosed form. It was like hugging a hot water bottle made of glass. Sleep was sneaking around the corner with a bat and a trip to Night Night Station.Â
A claw slips down his scalp, scraping close to the skin of his ear. Grace flinches with a small grunt. The claw pauses.
âGrace is serious? Here as well, question?â The amusement is abundantly obvious.Â
âShut up,â Grace grumbles, gently taking Rockyâs front limb and guiding it back to his hair.Â
Rocky chuckles. âHumans are very endearing. Will be doing this again, statement."
Grace rolls his eyes, trying to pretend there wasnât a blush practically living on his ears now. Rocky let him dodge answering that. After all, he plans to use this newfound information to keep Graceâs spirits up. There would be plenty of time to prove to his friend that humans were loveable space blobs.Â
âYou sleep, I watch.â He murmurs, carefully scratching the manâs scalp in rhythmic patterns.Â
Graceâs fingers intertwine with Rockyâs and squeeze. âThanks, Rocky. âŠAnd thank you for fixing this. Youâre a miracle worker.â
âWill always fix for Grace. Grace family, statement.âÂ
Grace squeezes a bit tighter, hoping Rocky understands the love being projected through the gesture. He pretends his voice isnât choked up as he whispers, âYouâre my family too. Statement.â
The rumblings of the Hail Mary almost match the lyrical purrs emitting from Rocky, sending Grace into the deepest sleep heâs had since being aboard. Safe. Protected. Loved.
Get it? Like first aid⊠but itâs worst aid,,,LAUGH.
First fic back in like two years- so go easy on me guys,,, but itâs good to be back!! (This is so not proofread yall.)
This is a long one. Sorry LMAO
Written first person
Lee!Grace Ler!Armando
Ryland sustains a minor injury, due mostly to his own clumsiness. As Armando tends to him, Rocky gets a crash course on just how sensitive the human nervous system is.
1.8K Words
In my defense, Iâd been trying to pry that darn door open for days. Can you blame a guy for getting a little reckless with the execution?
-
For the most part, I had rummaged through just about every drawer, door, and compartment available to me on the Hail Mary.
Boredom had gotten the better of me before Rocky came along, so I kept busy by rooting around in the crew cabin for whatever I could find - whether pertinent to the mission or not.
Most of it was useless to me, but the hunt was fun enough.
There was one door, though, nestled in the corner of the dormitory, that was sealed off with a number lock - the kind youâd find on a bike lock - and for the life of me, I couldnât figure out the combination.
I tried everything. The date of the launch, Yaoâs birthday, Ilyukhinaâs birthday⊠heck, even my own. No matter what four digits I entered, nothing worked.
âWhat Grace doing, question?â
I nearly jumped out of my pants. How didnât I hear him approach?
âNothing, buddy, nothing. Just trying this door again.â I huffed, sitting back in defeat.
âYou try many times with door. Never work. Why question? What inside door, question?â
âI dunno. Thatâs why Iâm trying to get it open. The curiosity is killing me- but I just canât figure out the combinationâŠâ I mutter, now just spinning the number wheels in annoyance.
âWhy not break, question? Break metal barrier off. Much faster.â
I pause, considering for a moment. âGood idea, but I donât think they outfitted the Hail Mary with toolshed bolt cutters, Rock. And if they didâŠâ
I flick the thick metal arch of the lock with my finger
âI donât think itâd get through metal this sturdyâ
Rocky wiggles in place, thinking for a moment.
âI make.â
âWhat?â
âI make đ¶ with xenonite. Very strong. Will cut through metal.â
I smile, noting the new word for âbolt cutterâ in my mind. âXenonite is incredible stuffâ I say with a nod. âYeah, okay! Thatâll work!â
-
Just as I start to get bored of waiting, Rocky appears, bounding down his tunnel, with⊠incredibly accurate bolt utters. Impressive, considering I hadnât given him any specifications
âHere! Try, try, try!â
Rocky slides the things through his side of the airlock beside my bed. I know better than to touch something fresh out of his atmospheric conditions, so I grab a spare pair of EVA gloves from the drawer just above and to the left of my mystery door, slip them on, and grab Rockyâs new tool.
âThisâll do nicely!â I say with a grin. I crawl over to the little door. Rocky scuttled his way beside me as I positioned the blades around the solid metal of the lock.
Iâd like to think Iâm a strong man. No bogdybuilder, but definitely not a twig either.
This however, was making me look like a twig. I grunted, gritting my teeth as I used all the strength in my body to sever the metal. After an embarrassing 15 seconds, I resorted to using the wall for leverage, positioning one arm of the bolt cutters against the smooth steel wall, and with my body weight, I pushed on the other arm. Not wise, considering I was purring my full trust into one, thin, point of contact.
And I lost my balance.
With a sharp yelp, the bolt utters slipped out from under me, sending me careening into the wall, my shoulder blade banging against the⊠still open⊠drawer.
âAGH-! Cheese on rice-!â I so maturely swore, rubbing a hand over my shoulder.
âGrace! Grace! You okay, question?! Hurt, question?!â
Rocky chirped anxiously, tapping on the wall of his ball.
âYes, yes buddy Iâm okay- didnât hurt nearly as bad as it looked like it would.â I was really saying that for Rockyâs sake. Truthfully, that hurt pretty bad. Nothing that a little ice and a break from activity couldnât-
âPhysical distress detected.âïżŒ
I froze. Armando mustâve heard the commotion.
âNo no Armando. Iâm alright. No need for-â
âYes! Grave, hurt!â Rocky yelped out, bouncing back-and-forth nervously in his ball, clearly still concerned. I have to admit, it is pretty nice to know that he cares about me enough to flip his lid over what canât possibly be more than a bruise.
Without another word, along, sleek, robotic arm, approaches me, ready to drag me over to my bed for medical attention. âFine- fine. But I can walk there myself. No need to drag me.â I mutter, standing up begrudgingly, and plopping down on my bed for Robo-Nurse to have a look at me.
Rocky parks himself at my feet, staring up at me with his⊠absence of eyes, clearly still worried. I smile at him, earning a trill in reply.
Armando tugs at my shirt, attempting to remove it. Stuff like that doesnât work nearly as well on a patient thatâs conscious and upright, so I help out, and slide my shirt off with a sigh, setting it to the side.
âBruising detected.âïżŒïżŒïżŒ
Armando announces. Sounds about right.
âSee bud? I told you itâs nothing to worry about! Just a little br-â
âScanning for additional injuries.â
âHuh-?â Before I can protest, Armando has lowered a robotic hand to the back of my shoulder. Three rubber knobs, make contact with my skin, not unlike one of those massage guns they use in physical therapy. Never was a big fan of those. Glad this one doesnât vibrate. ïżŒ
Oh. It does.
Without any sort of warning, the three knobs of Armandoâs hand begin to vibrate softly. Only strong enough to bounce some sound waves through my skin, but definitely quick enough for me to react
âGAH-! Armando- e-enough-!â I bark out, lurching my torso forward.
Rocky tilts his carapace, not entirely sure how I went from yelling in pain, to yelling in surprise, with a lopsided smile on my face.â
â why Grace smile, question? Not in pain question? â ïżŒhe asks, taking a step closer
I regain a bit of composure, sitting up straight, and breathing through the brutal med-bot checkup. âN-no, no- tch- no pain. ProhAh-aHA-!â
I let out a rather unflattering sound- something between a manic hyena and a frightened dog.
Rocky sits patiently. A bit confused, but patient nonetheless. Little guy must not know what to make of any of this.
âPlease specify areas of discomfort.â
âNO-! Armondo, enough-! Y-youâre tickling me-!â I cry out, ducking and weaving away from the metal assailant.
ïżŒ
âNo understand. What that mean, question?â
Cripes sake. Now Iâve got us somehow find a way to explain what tickling is while in the thick of itâŠ
ïżŒ
âPlease specify areas of discomfort.â
I ignore Armando.
âIt- hahA! Itâs essentially- a ph-phenomenon where *snort* the human nervous systehehem reacts to.beibg touched a certain way, in certain places.â I say slowly, shooting upright again as Armondoâs hand rolls across my spine.
âAYWHAHA-! It- it makes us- it makes us laugh. Wes arenât sure why.â
Rocky trills in thought, swinging from side to side as he observes the scene before him.
â very strange. Human tickle all over, question?â
ïżŒI shiver, knowing itâs no use getting up or running away. Armando could drag me back here like a sack of potatoes if he wanted to.
âPlease specify areas of discomfort.â
âShuhuhut UP-! And no, not everywhere. Specific plahahaces. Itâs different for everyone.â Ah what the heck. It canât get much worse than this, so I tell Rocky the specifics. âFor me it- itâs mohohostly the back, knees, and under here-â I gesture under my arms. As I finish my sentence, Armondo pauses.
âDiscomfort reported on: back. Knees. Pectoralis major.â
My eyes widen, and my muscles go stiff.
âArmando- no- no no no ABORT. ABORT. CANCEL-â I shout at the robotic nurse as a second mechanical arm reaches towards me, completely and utterly ignoring my pleas. With skilled precision, the second hand found its way under my arms- I suppose the armpit muscle is called âpectoralis majorâ.
I crumple to my side, then onto my stomach, cackling like a madman, as my alien friend (who was doing NOTHING to help) continues to ask me questions.
âWhy move like in pain, but laugh, question?â He asks, scooting his ball closer to my bed
âAHAHA- O- WE DONâT KNOHOW FOR SURE- aHA-!â I bark out. âLEADING TH-THEORY IS- HAHA- PRIMITIVE SELF DEFENSE RESPONSE.â
ïżŒMy words begin to slur together as my frantic babbling picks up speed. Armandoâs vibrating sensors focus themselves on the center of my spine, circling like metal and silicone vultures, searching for nonexistent injuries. I bury my face into my pillow, cackling like a crow.
Definitely not my proudest moment.
âWhere other humans tickle, question? You only mention where you tickle.â
Rocky asks. Iâve had just about enough of this. Plus, I really didnât want Armando assuming my naming of other body parts was me telling him where else to poke and prod me.
âLATER. LAHAHATER. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT LATER. JUST- HIT ARMANDOâS KILLSWITCH. OHOHON THE WALL.â
I all but command. I didnât mean to sound so stern, but my chest was starting to ache, and I needed a break. ïżŒ
âGrace no answer science question, question?â He sounded disappointed. Iâll make it up to him some other time.
âNOHOHOW ROCKY!â I shouted, voice breaking through laughter. Rocky chirped, a startled sound. Heâs scuttled his way over to the wall, nudging his habitat ball into Armandoâs reset button.
The reset button wasnât a permanent off switch. Essentially, it worked like a forced reset on a phone or a laptop, shutting down all running programs in returning him to a neutral, stable state.
And thatâs exactly what happened. With a descending, electrical groan, Armandoâs arms went limp, allowing me to crawl out from beneath them. I sat up on the edge of the bed, catching my breath, head hung heavily at chest level. After about a minute, Armando powered back on with a series of beeps, clicks , and motor whirs. ïżŒïżŒ
I weakly reached over for my shirt, which I discarded at the beginning of the whole ordeal, and slid it on. I did it backwards, but I couldnât have cared any less.
â Grace alright, question? You look tired.â
âMâfine. Overwhelmed, but fine.â I mumble, sitting up straight and calming a hand through my hair. ïżŒ
â Good, good, good.â Rocky paused for a moment, tapping one of his claws, oddly on the floor of his ball. â Grace answer science questions later, question?â He asked meekly
I smiled softly, throwing myself onto my back on my bed, watching Armandoâs arms slowly retract up towards the dormitory ceiling. âYes, later, rocky. For now, Iâm taking a nap. Feel free to watch.â I say with a heavy sigh. ïżŒ
âYes yes. You sleep. I watch. Science later. Good plan.â Rocky chirps happily, making himself comfortable beside the bed, as I drifted off.
And after everything, I still never got that stupid door open.
Howdy Everyone! This is a fic Iâve had in the works for several weeks now and Iâm so happy I can share it with you all! A gift for a very dear friend of mine they know who they are. And I hope this can be enjoyed by others too. PHM lowkey gets a grip on everyone eventuallyâŠ
Lee!Grace
Ler: Rocky (and Armando technicallyâŠ)
Word Count: 5,000
The astrophage powered ship drifted slowly into the dark abyss of space, eleven years, ten months, many weeks, and days away from human contact. Too far away from the sun to provide much if not any warmth to the uncertified astronaut that slept soundly in his berth. At least as sound as he could be after all. Mary the ship's AI or robot if you would call her had already set the coffee machine on its cleaning cycle. Armando grabbed a goofy mug from a storage compartment underneath the machine. It was caramel flavored in the way the man liked it. They knew of course. They both knew everything they possibly could about Ryland Grace. It was programmed into their data center after all.Â
The science teacher's leg was dangling off the side of the bed. He had really stupid socks on too. Mismatched with a rainbow pattern halfway off his foot, and a bumble bee pattern. Due to the tossing and turning he usually did in his sleep. He was definitely more comfortable compared to how he was months and even years prior. To be fair he did have a tube up his butt and a mask on his face so this was certainly an improvement. The tube down his throat also wasnât greatâŠThis sleep however he had a new person to be by his side. Or in Graceâs case, an eridian. Watching him sleep for as long as he needed to. It was in his nature after all. And the human meant a lot to him. The alien had been keeping track of how long Grace usually slept for. He was told 29,000 seconds but he always seemed to be getting less sleep than that. It confused Rocky. Yet every time, after hours of waiting. Professor Ryland Grace always woke up.Â
The man slowly slid open from his drowsy state, his blue eyes meeting the darkness of the ship. Another reminder that he wasnât home yetâŠexcept he was never going home. This was his life now, and he had to make the most of it.Â
âGrace Awake!â The eridian enthusiastically chirped yet was translated through the computer system. He hovered around Grace in his hamster like ball. âHow sleep, Question?âÂ
Grace rubbed his eyes gently and yawned with a wide open mouth, a voice crack along with a squeak or two slipping out in the process. Taking his time to fully gain his consciousness back before responding to the eridian. Rocky would usually wait as long as he needed anyways.
âI slept good palâŠhad an interesting dreamâŠâÂ
Rocky seemed to tilt his head to the side like a curious puppy. Something the alien seemed to do when he had inclined interest. âRocky not understand new word.â He huffed out softly, rolling around a little bit in his âballâ
âAh right, dream. Well I guess they're what we see when humans sleep. Like a memory or want that we think about.â Grace pulled himself out from the sandwich of blankets on his bed and slowly walked over to the computer on a nearby table. Scratching his side and grabbing the glasses that laid next to it, placing them on his nose bridge and along his ears. Rocky followed him like a puppy wherever he went, always close behind the teacher. Grace didnât necessarily see him as such after all. He had grown very fond of him and saw him more so as an equal over a pet. Thatâs just not what he was to the man.Â
âRocky not have dreams. Sounds interesting. What Grace dream, Question?â
Grace ran a hand through his locks of hair at the question, trying to piece the dream back together. âIt wasnât anything very special, it was almost like a memory if anything. Just something simple I guess. Leaning out the window of my old apartment and watching the sunsetâŠIt was a little blurry but I could almost smell everything. I miss it.â
âRocky bedroom had window too. It beautiful when look out.â
The man smiled softly. âI can only imagine my friend.âÂ
The astro(not) sluggishly slipped out of his sleeping quarters with Rocky close behind. Happy for a cup of coffee to help wake him up and get him going. A taste that reminded him of the periods before he began to teach for the day. A cup already brewed and ready by the help of Mary. The smell was enough to already get the sleepiness buzzing out of his brain. Rocky plopped himself on the ground and tapped his claw onto the glass.
âGrace teach Rocky today?â
Grace took a sip of his coffee, wiping the creamy residue from his mustache. âHm? What in particular do you wanna learn? You need to be a little more specific buddy.âÂ
The eridian seemed to be making noises which the computer system was unable to translate. It could almost be taken as he was thinking. Similar to how a human humsâŠ
âGrace promised human anatomy.â
Grace chuckled softly under his breath, patting the top of Rocky's multi sided ball as he made his way into the medical sector of the space ship. âRight right, I suppose I did.â Should not be much different than teaching a middle school anatomy course for health classâŠright? The school teacher had promised Rocky that the next time Mary and Armando gave him a physical exam that he would let Rocky watch and answer any questions he had lingering in his little rock head. Leaving the alien to wait impatiently for several days, but now was finally the time to do so. Ryland Grace was often trying to avoid these check ups as much as he could, for they were deemed unnecessary and âchildishâ for him. Even though deep down he knew he needed them. Especially when he was so engulfed in his experiments with Rocky that he forgot to eat and would fast more regularly. Needing help to get back on track with his eating habits and general wellness needs. He had the mentality of, âIf I donât eat then Iâll be able to survive longer!â Which was not healthy in the slightestâŠ.
The alien chirped in delight as he skittered around Grace and pushed past him to their destination. Getting launched into the air just a few inches as he ran over a thick binder filled with lots of papers. Anxiously awaiting his lesson from his favorite human. Grace weaved through all the objects scattered across the flooring, making sure not to spill his coffee and burn himself. He really needed to clean some time soon⊠Eventually finding his spot on a chair next to the robot-like appendage better known as âArmando.â voiced over by the AI Mary. .Â
âHello, Ryland Grace. Thank you for remembering your medical exam today. Would you like the eridian to remain present?â-
âRocky want to watch! Statement.â She was quickly cut off by the eager rock-like-alien. Almost shushing her with a waving claw in the air. Bouncing up and down on his many appendages inside his ball. Nearly knocking over a desk in the process.Â
âHeâs more than fine staying, I donât mind really. Please just start the procedure. I've been dreading thisâŠâ Grace was very aware that he had been fasting a lot as of recently and it had led him to be far more fatigued than usual. He wasnât necessarily skinny just yet, for the amount of time he was in space unconscious his body had burned a lot of the belly fat he had. Which wasnât necessarily a horrible thing he thought. If you ignore the fact that the coma was forced onto himâŠat this point and time however, Grace was unaware of this. After a blood drawing from Mary and a scan of his glucose levels. As well as many questions from Rocky. Mary could quickly take note of the fact that Grace was not getting enough nutrients that was enough to sustain him. Leaving the man exhausted and anxious. Not good for anyone, especially an isolated astronaut.
âRyland Grace, you haven't been meeting your protein and vitamin intake properly since our last check in. We will need to do an abdominal ultrasound before we continue to the next step of the check in.âÂ
Said man's eyes rolled so slowly to face the AI like an exaggerated girl denied to visit her boyfriend's house. Before a shyly smug smile spread across his face. âCan I promise you Iâm not pregnant?â A fading and forced laugh coming from him. The Ai provided no response.Â
âIs Grace expecting young? Questionâ Rocky asked excitedly, rolling around and pent up with too much energy.Â
Grace couldn't help but burst out into a genuine chuckle. Hiding his smile behind his fist. âNoho- no I'm not. I was making jokes. Mary has to do something that is usually done to expecting mothers. But it can be done for other procedures. She needs it to look at my intestines to see if everything looks the way it's supposed to. However Iâm not very excited about itâŠâ
Grace was for some reason dragging out the procedure as long as he could. His fingers pinching and fiddling with the orange pants that covered his legs. He knew it wouldnât hurtâŠthat was apparent. Mary never did anything to intentionally hurt Grace on purpose at least. There was an accident here or there but this test would be entirely painless. So why were the sides of his head slightly damp with sweat? Because he had done this weeks back before Rocky was not in the picture. And it tickled. And he knew Rocky was going to ask about it. There was no way to get out of it either.Â
The mechanical arm Armando from the ship grabbed some supplies off to the side of where Grace was sitting. The only noise in the room being the patting of the manâs hands on his thighs. A form of stimming he began to do again once he became more comfortable around Rocky. No reason for him to judge after all, he was just an alien with a kinder spirit than most humans Grace had ever met.Â
âRyland Grace, please lay back in your seat and lift your shirt for the abdominal exam to begin.âÂ
Great he was going to have to do it himselfâŠthat made his ears turn a little red. Just from the inner anticipation of it all. This was just making him feel stupid. There was nothing to be worried about.Â
âMust we really have to do this? I mean come on donât you have enough information?â-Â
Rocky came close to Grace, his protective ball coming in contact with the teacher's leg. âGrace scared Mary will hurt Grace? QuestionâŠâ
Now he was really backed into a corner, something he couldnât get out of. âNo bud Itâs justâŠâ He paused and corrected himself. âN-No not at all buddy.â It took Grace a few seconds but he pinched the hem of his âI make science jokes periodicallyâ shirt and pulled it up to let his stomach show to the robot, as well as Rocky. Armando grabbed a bottle of gel nearby and with precise accuracy applied the cold gel onto the end of the wand. Before slowly lowering it onto the man's bare skin. A brief squeak coming from Grace at the sudden cold touch. Armando was completely unfazed as Mary took in data on the nearby screen and slowly began to circle the wand around his abdomen. Rocky however had a different reactionâŠ
âIS GRACE OKAY? What noise question!?â He chirped, worried that Grace was trying to hide his pain from him. Yet when Rocky looked at Grace again there didnât seem to be any signs of discomfort, at least in a way showing pain. Grace's knees were slightly lifted off the ground and unconsciously trying to protect his torsoâŠinteresting. He was holding his breath and his ears were turning a strange hueâŠfunny. Rocky couldnât see this however of course. Due to the way he sees things. Color was something he couldnât. Only white and black. His glasses were sliding down his nose bridge and his shoulders shook. But what would have been triggering such a reaction from the man?
âIhiâm fine pal I-I promise. Mary are we almost dohone?â- He snickered through his teeth as Mary made no changes to have Armando move away from Graceâs middle. Seeming to actually be spreading the gel and wand around in bigger circles. Grazing his belly button for just a second, making the man slap a hand over his mouth.
âNo Grace, the procedure will be done in no more than three minutes, it has been forty five seconds. It is normal for you to feel ticklish during this procedure but please remain still or we will have to restart.â
 The way that Grace reacted was very much so how a child would react to such a grown procedure. It was rather endearing to see a full grown man act this childish over something so simple. Rocky couldnât help but make a connection to the pebbles back on Erid. It made Rockyâs curiosity only grow bigger and form more questions.Â
âWhy Grace laughing? And what is new wordâŠ.QuestionâŠâÂ
Oh god now Grace was only getting more embarrassed as the time kept ticking and ticking and more things were being added to it all. A long groan came from the man as he dragged his palms down his cheeks. His tummy sucking in just a little trying to get away from the cold gel and wand. Yet still trying his best to stay still as possible.Â
âI-Ihitâs a huhumahan thing! Ihi donât know ihif I cahan do this, Mahary!â- Grace hiccuped as he held his forehead to his palm.
âJust twenty more seconds, Ryland Grace. We will be done soon.âÂ
From Grace's words it became confusing for him to tell whether or not Grace was disliking this. Yet when he looked up at Grace through echolocation he couldn't help but notice everything. The wide smile. The genuine and soft laughter coming from him. Not making an effort to physically stop MaryâŠwas Grace enjoying himself?
After what felt like an eternity to Grace the ultrasound was over and Mary needed all the information she needed to improve Graceâs health. She gave him the run down on what he needed to do for the next few weeks to get him feeling healthier and better. Yet everything she told him was practically going in one ear and out the other. It took some time for Graceâs cheeks and ears to fade from their pinkish hue and to get his breath back. All he could do now was hope Rocky wouldnât ask about itâŠNot like he would have minded of course. He missed such affections especially if it wasnât coming from a robot. He had memories of being tickled by his friends in grade school. How happy it made himâŠHe missed times like that. When he was able to just for a moment look back at his life on earth and remember what he was really doing this for. His students. He missed them.
It had been a few days or so since Graceâs medical exam from Mary and Armando. Yet for some reason he was actingâŠoffâŠnot in any bad way that mattered of course. Rocky just couldnât help but notice the little behaviours he had never seen the science teacher do before. When he was watching him sleep before Grace had actually drifted off, he had been tracing his fingers along his arm and down his sides. So slow and so softlyâŠinteresting ...Tracing his face and sides of his jawline with a pencil while he was working on a formula for astrophageâŠfamiliarâŠTapping his sides while he seemed to be pondering somethingâŠhis foot tapping on the floorâŠintriguing...Rocky wanted to try something.Â
At this current point in time Grace had his feet propped up onto a table, he had literally no motivation to do anything at all for this mission. He sometimes had days like this. He wasnât going to force himself. Simply having a computer laid across his lap and a manatee documentary playing. He missed going to aquariums and seeing them. Fat little sea cows that made him smile. The way they ate sea grass always got a chuckle out of him ever since he was little. Watch a video of them eating and thank me later.Â
Rocky rolled into his friendâs space, sitting down next to the man and curiously watching the computer next to Grace. A smile forming on the humanâs face.Â
âHey pal, you screen peaking?âÂ
âYes, very interesting animal. Rocky have question for Grace. Statement.â
Said man patted the top of Rocky's ball, pausing his documentary and coming down from his chair to sit criss-cross in front of Rocky at âeye levelâ. âGo right ahead, my friend.â He replied whilst taking a sip of yet another cup of coffee. His second one for the day. One would think that he would take it more seriously to drink water more but the taste was so bland he couldnât enjoy it much.
âWould Grace like Rocky to tickle Grace? QuestionâŠâÂ
The simple question shocked Grace so much that he stopped mid drink and shook his head a bit. Taking a concerning amount of time to properly respond to the alien. Holding the coffee in his mouth before swallowing. His speech became just a bit noticeably stuttered and slurred.Â
âI uhum- why would- AHEM whatâs got you asking me that?â Now this was a question he was dragging out for the past few days and it had finally caught up to him. Crap.
Rocky rolled closer to the man and sat right in front of Grace. The xenonite ball touching Grace's knees.Â
âGrace seem sad lately. When Mary tickle Grace, Grace look happy. Rocky want to make Grace happy.âÂ
The astro(not) simply sat there for some time, pondering the question and the idea. The way Rocky was being so genuine about it with his reasoning. If he had the time to think about it he never actually tolerated the idea. He actually did enjoy itâŠbut the idea of being embarrassed on top of it at his big age was enough to make him fidgety. Yet how could he say no to his friend? Sliding his glasses back up his nose bridge and nibbling at his lower lip he gave a response.Â
âWell ifâŠyoure genuinely curious⊠and you w-want to⊠I supposeâŠâ
The eridian perked up instantly onto his appendages. Tapping his claws onto the flooring of his ball vibrating in excitement.Â
âGrace teach Rocky how!âÂ
Grace couldnât help but worry that he was going to regret thisâŠwell too late now. His thumb pressed and spread across his eyebrow with a huff of air coming from him. How on earth was he supposed to TEACH someone to tickle him? He had no idea, but he would figure it out as he went along.Â
âWell I guess you kinda just uhmmâŠâ He cleared his throat. âLightly touch someone in a place they're sensitive. And the uh, louder they laugh the more tiâŠsensitive they are in that place.âÂ
âI see. Where should Rocky tickle Grace?â
That dreaded word. Rocky was going to keep saying it over and over and Grace could hardly mutter the first few letters of itâŠ
âI think that anywhere would work really- Iâm wellâŠI donât think it matters whereâ- Gods how hard was it for him to simply speak right now. The poor guy.Â
Rocky seemed to laugh at Grace's actions. Not in a negative demeanor in any way. Instead one of interest and curiosity.Â
âGrace is acting funny. Graceâs face is red. Statementâ Graceâs cheeks were in fact painted with a warm shade of pink.Â
âY-Yes Rocky I am very awareâŠItâs a thing humans do when they are embarrassedâŠ.â
âIs Grace embarrassed? Can Rocky try to tickle Grace? QuestionâŠâÂ
Grace didnât answer. Simply pushing his look outwards and looking at a nearby wall. Getting a twitter from the Eridian, he moved closer to Grace. His front claws push out of the mesh like material in the Xenonite ball. Hovering over the tops of Graceâs knee caps momentarily. The teacher's heart beat was seemingly louder to Rocky than a few minutes agoâŠhumans are so interestingâŠAfter a little bit of time however, the man nodded to both of the questions. Giving Rocky the go to.Â
The aliens' claws were softer when peeking through the mesh, it made them have a bit of cushion. Not as much as human hands however. Rockyâs claws oh so gently grabbed onto the tops of Graceâs knee caps. One of his claws accidentally dug into the soft dip of his knee. Not expecting much of any reaction at first. Being rather surprised however at a squeak from the man and a kick of his knee. A noise that Rocky had never heard from the human before. Rolling backwards from the force of the kick being followed by many apologies from Grace.Â
âO-OH MY GOD!- Sorry! Iâm sorry bud I promise you I didnât mean to do that, honestâŠâÂ
Rocky quickly came back to his feet and rolled over to Grace.Â
âWhat was noise! Rocky, try again, Please! Yes!âÂ
He had gotten up so fast his glasses had fallen down his nose bridge and dangled on his ears. Quickly getting backed up into a corner by Rocky as he followed him around. Sliding down the wall and nervously chuckling.Â
âIhi uhumâŠ.hey Rohocky buhuddy why not umâŠâ
âYes Grace?â
He was unable to get any more words out of him at the time. Instead, slowly taking his time to pinch the end of his shirt. Fiddling with the hem of it. Before veryâŠ.very slowly lifting it. His soft skin showing to the alien and sinking into his shoulders. His happy trail peeking out, a soft warm glow similar to his cheeks. It was rather endearingâŠ
Rocky was overjoyed by this act. It reminded him of when he was doing the medical procedure a few days ago. Rocky rolled closer to Grace and made sure to sit down firmly in his ball so he couldnât get rolled away. He was heavy enough after all. His claws coming out from the mesh again and slowly going to grab onto Graceâs sides. The slow motion of it made the man unconsciously suck in his belly. Rocky didnât even KNOW how to tease and somehow that made what he was doing worse and worked on the poor guy so well. The Eridianâs claws made their descent on his sides and gently did as Grace said to do earlier. Almost kneading his paw pads into the soft skin. Tapping the tips of his fingers. This resorted to pulling a squeal from the man. Throwing his head back a little and darting his hands to hold onto the âwristsâ of Rockyâs paws.Â
âGYEEhehe! Oho jeheeEEZ!âÂ
Rocky trilled almost like a feline, something the alien didnât know anything about. His little claws opened and closed on the manâs sides like a claw machine awaiting to grab its prize. Yet the only prize Rocky wanted was Grace's smile and laughter. By the way it was going. This was working.Â
âWhy are humans ticklish, question?âÂ
Grace knew what the answer was but it was a little difficult for him to get the words out through his giggling. Bitting his lip as Rockyâs fingers kneaded at the tops of his hip bones. A genuine and hearty laugh coming from the teacher. Throwing his head up and back just a little. Rocky stopped briefly so he could get a clear answer from Grace. He was using this as a learning lesson after all.
âIhihitâs a defehense mechanism *hic*! Thaht lhets us protect our impohortant places. L-Like our intestines or areas that have easy access to the heart. Like the stomach or underarmsâŠItâs not inherently a bad thing however. It can be an act of playâŠwellâŠtrust bonding I suppose. I guess itâs a bit of a social behaviour.â Grace rubbed his now glowing yet prickly cheeks.
The alien was listening intently to Graceâs words, analysing and applying everything to what he was saying. He remembered the anatomy lesson Grace gave him a few days agoâŠAnd Grace had practically just handed Rocky a scroll of where to tickle himâŠ
âRocky understands. Human Culture....â The way the computer picked up the way he said itâŠit was almost high pitched and playful in a way. Funny.
As soon as Rocky finished his sentence Grace practically jolted as Rocky's digits traveled from his sides to his belly. Pinching and prodding at the squishy skin curiously.
âGYAHA- *snort* ROHohocky!- Thahat whahasnât an ihinvitAHATION!!-â Grace chortled and slid all the way down to the floor now. Hugging onto his shoulders as his glasses slipped off his nose. Only dangled only on one of his ears now.
âWHAT NOISE? Grace made a funny noise statement!â He was absolutely elated at the sound! He just had to hear it again⊠âHumans are so softâŠwhy Grace soft squishy, question?âÂ
Grace was far too flustered by the bombardment of questions from his friend. Pulling his glasses from his face and hiding his eyes and mouth the best he could behind his hand. His belly bouncing up and down against Rocky's claws and paw pads. Rocky wasnât able to directly touch Grace due to the xenonite unfortunately separating them. Yet there was a joyful closeness that radiated from the alien. His incoherent chirps sounded like an excited animal that was a mix of so many different species. Grace was hardly able to focus on anything other than the electric tingles that scattered across his middle and the butterflies swirling around his tummy.Â
âOho gohosh! Ihit tihickles buhHUHUDDY!- *snort*!â Grace whined into his hands, curling his legs around the xenonite ball and scrunching up and into his shoulders. Shaking with laughter. He didnât ever think heâd be tickled by an alien rockâŠnow that was an original thoughtâŠ.
Rocky gently poked at the soft spot underneath Graceâs belly button. Pinching at the soft surface and squishing the side of the manâs belly. A high pitched squeal coming from the man. Not a very manly sound, followed by a loud snort as he scrunched up his nose. The noise only made Rocky want to tickle said spot more. Gently poking at the manâs tummy button a few times.
âWhy Grace have hole in stomach, question?â
âDYEE- *hic* HEHE! Ihitâs *snort* Aha bihHIRTH THIHING!â
The Eridianâs fingers patted on Graceâs belly, giving him a bit of time to get his breath back. Happily tapping all his paws on the ground.
âIhitâs nahat a bahad thihingâŠahall *hic* people hahave itâŠat leheast usuallyâŠâ Grace wheezed softly, rubbing his tummy.
Grace removed his hands from his face and took a few deep breaths. Placing his glasses back onto his face. His leftover giggles still made them slide down his nose bridge. He had to admit he was actually rather cheerfulâŠthe most heâd felt in a long time since being on Project Hail Mary. It was a good change of pace.Â
âYehes buddyâŠIâm hahappyâŠâ
âCan Rocky tickle Grace a little longer, question?âÂ
Grace propped himself up onto his elbows, letting out a long breath of air. ThinkingâŠhis ears are definitely burning with heat by now.Â
âIhi uhmmâŠâ He pondered for a momentâŠhe was really enjoying himselfâŠalmost as much as Rocky was⊠âGoho right ahead pahalâŠI donât mind..âÂ
Rocky almost in an instant shot his hands up into Graceâs armpits. Gently scratching his digits into the following area from an unsuspecting Grace. Rocky thought that his friends' laugh was loud before. He was mistaken.Â
Grace was terrified of tossing Rocky across the room again, yet needing some way of grounding himself. Quickly deciding on hugging onto Rockyâs ball and wrapping his legs around it. Like a kid hugging onto a Target bouncy ball that was much too big for them. The downside to this however was he exposed his underarms more to the relentless little alien. Not like he minded howeverâŠmaybe he did it on purpose. Who knowsâŠ
âGrace laughter is louder. Is more ticklish question?â The alien asked while the poor man belly laughed, smushing his cheek into the xenonite glass.Â
âYEHEHES!- GYEHAHAH!- *hic*!-âÂ
Rocky's paws fluttered and danced around the hollow area. Quickly picking up on the areas that were more sensitive due to the escalation of laughter and quick jolts. Grace rubbed his face against the ball Rocky was kept in. Kicking his feet just a bit as a form of stimming. After a bit more time however Rocky stopped his attack, instead hugging Grace through the ballâs mesh. Chirping and purring with delight.Â
âHappy Happy HappyâŠDid Grace have fun question?â
Grace kept his embrace against âRockyâ, taking in slow breaths of air and with one arm wrapping around his belly. It was now filled with a warm and fuzzy feeling. One that didnât compare to the ones he got when he was drunk. This might be his replacement for Vodka for a whileâŠ
