Late-night Lessons
Author’s note: I told myself this was going to be a quick fic, and then I started experimenting with Rocky’s 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.
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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 he’s 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 doesn’t 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.
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 ‘lap cat’ or a weighted blanket while he is in this position; he says Rocky’s warmth keeps him cozy.
In front of Grace’s 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 he’s currently avoiding sleeping in.
Rocky continues hearing the tap, tap, tapping of Grace’s 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.
It’s 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 Grace’s focus on his computer in the slightest.
“Grace, clock currently says midnight. Is late,” Rocky mentions as his chirps are translated into a computer voice for Grace to understand. “Grace ready to sleep, question?”
Grace types away at his keyboard, tap, tap, tapping, not even looking at Rocky. “I’m almost done, buddy.”
“Grace said almost done human hour ago.” Rocky grows worried that the scientist is so tired that he is forgetting what he previously said.
“I needed a little more time,” Grace replies. “Give me five more minutes.”
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. “Rocky does not believe Grace.”
Grace’s gaze remains unmoving from the computer screen. “It’s going to take me even longer if you keep distracting me, buddy.”
Rocky rattles his shoulder joints and gurgles out a quiet grumble. He concedes, however, and plops himself back into Grace’s lap to wait the five so-called minutes that Grace has declared.
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.
The Eridian chirps out a quiet sigh. Seeing the first item in his vicinity, Rocky mindlessly starts playing with Grace’s 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 Rocky’s 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 wear–
Suddenly, the human flinches under Rocky’s claws. The tap, tap, tapping of the computer keys stop for a moment. Rocky pulls his claw away to see that the human’s stomach beneath his shirt has retracted out of reflex, most likely because Rocky mistakenly grazed his fleshy skin while he was examining his shirt.
“Rocky, please don’t do that. It’s distracting,” Grace says as a gentle reminder. However, Rocky’s immaculate hearing can tell Grace’s words were trying to mask what the Eridian has come to learn is an airy laugh humans do. A chuckle, it is called.
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 wouldn’t try to hide his laugh if that was the case. Rocky ponders for a moment… All he was doing was playing with Grace’s shirt when he accidentally touched his stomach and–
Oh.
Oh yes.
Humans have this reflex when they laugh when they’re 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.
Grace’s 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 human’s less-than immaculate ears can’t hear him.
With his plan in mind, Rocky starts playing with Grace’s shirt again, but he purposely scratches gently at the squishy stomach underneath.
The human’s 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.
“Rocky-” his smile quivers even more and his fingers twitch above his computer keys.
“Yes, Grace? Is there a problem, question?” Rocky’s computer voice correctly translates that he is fully enjoying this. “Rocky is keeping occupied by examining clothes covering squishy flesh.”
Grace shakes his head. “I know what you’re trying to do, Rock- and it’s not going to work.” Grace clearly sounds like he’s trying to swallow the build up of pressure in his chest from wanting to laugh, but the pressure keeps building.
“Rocky disagrees. Grace is very ticklish. Clearly holding in laughter,” Rocky makes sure to state. “Grace will not be able to last long,” the Eridian chirps out a giggle of his own.
Grace struggles to speak without a laugh, but he surprisingly manages. “Oh yeah? You think I can’t handle some tickling while I’m trying to focus? Watch me,” the human challenges.
He clears his throat like a cough, rolls his shoulders back, and straightens out his spine. Grace takes a deep breath like he’s 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 human’s 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 he’s typing to get his mind off the sensations Rocky is producing at his tummy.
“Okay…” Grace says to his computer screen, “So the noble gasses on the periodic table of elements are…” his smile wobbles. There’s a squeak in his throat. He bites his bottom lip. “Are…” 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. “Grace looks ready to explode, figuratively speaking, statement.”
Grace places his hands on the table for support and shakes his head. “Nope!” he barely gets out the words. “Nope! I’m good!”
Stubborn, stubborn human. Okay, that’s it. Time to bring in the second claw.
With no hesitation, Rocky takes his other arm and scratches it at the bottom of Grace’s 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.
Grace snorts and looks down at Rocky. “Ohohokay, okay,” the human reaches down to grab the Eridian’s claws away—his first mistake.
“Rocky–AH!” Grace yelps when Rocky launches his claw upwards, right in the middle of the top rib and the squishy part humans call the armpit. Grace’s loud giggles burst out of him and he flails his arms against Rocky’s full-scale attack with three of his claws squeezing at his torso, including his belly.
“Rocky win! Rocky win!” the Eridian cheers over the human’s laughter. “Rocky choose prize. Rocky wants Grace to sleep now, statement.”
“Nohoho! Grahahace wants to finish his lehehehesson!” the human mimics the speech pattern of Rocky’s 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.
“Stubborn. Stubborn human.” Rocky claws at his ribs to persuade him. Grace tosses his head back with a wheeze and bats at the Eridian’s claws that are clearly not going anywhere. It is foolish that he thinks he can push them away. “Stubborn human needs to lie down!”
“I a-ahahaham lying dohohohown!” Grace sasses.
Rocky growls and stomps his back foot on the ground. “Not on the floor! On bed! Grace can not do lessons if low on sleep!”
The human kicks his feet and leans forward to take another shove at the Eridian. “I’ll be fihihine! I’ve done it behehehefore!” Grace says.
Rocky squawks, like a hard surface screeching on metal, “WHAT?! 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!” Rocky adds more pressure to his wiggling claws into the human’s soft flesh to show that he means business.
Grace squeals. He hugs his torso and squirms from side to side to side. “Ahahaha! I’m nohohot a child!” Grace cackles.
“Grace certainly looks like one,” 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.
“Trust mehehehe! I cahahahan teach under ahahahany conditions!” 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, ‘eat words’? Yes, Rocky will serve him a meal of his own words.
“Then teach Rocky now, statement,” the Eridian says.
“WHAHAHAT?” Grace exclaims in the middle of his laughter.
“Grace needs to prove his statement of teaching under any condition. Teach Rocky while Rocky tickle.”
“Nohohoho way!” Grace squawks when Rocky plunges two claws into his armpits.
“Grace, teach Rocky,” the Eridian repeats. Rocky sees that Grace’s 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. “Tell Rocky what lesson is about.” Rocky knows the human can not resist a good challenge.
“Fihihihine!” Grace giggles, trying to get his thoughts in order while Rocky keeps his claws creating tickly sensations across his torso. “It’s about Earth’s periodic tahahable of ehehe-elements!” he says the mouthful of words through his laughter.
“And?” Rocky continues to skitter his claws over his friend’s stomach, awaiting the lesson he is owed.
Grace kicks his legs behind Rocky and flails his arms in front of the Eridan’s face. “Ihihihit’s ahahahabout the atomic numbers, prohohotons, electrons, atomic mahahahass!” Grace starts frantically spewing scientific knowledge, “Aahahahand- and the groups! And families! Like alkali metals, halogens, noble gahahahases!” 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.
Rocky tilts his body. “Pause. All of what Grace said is for Pebbles’ next lesson, question?”
“Yeheheah…” the human’s words are still laced in giggles. As the oxygen returns to Grace’s 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 friend’s glasses are pushed up in his hair from the result of their game.
“Do you think it’s too much?” Grace asks.
Rocky nods his body. “Rocky 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.”
Grace lifts himself on his arms. “You think?” Grace fixes his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. He narrows his eyes at Rocky through the lenses. “You’re not just saying that because you want me to sleep, right?” Not helping his own case, Grace lets out a yawn.
“Rocky being honest. Pebbles may not retain all of new Earth knowledge in one sitting.”
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.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Grace concedes, smiling. “I got too ambitious to teach them about a new topic again, huh?”
“Yes. Grace got overly excited, statement,” Rocky agrees. “But makes Rocky happy that Grace gets excited to fill the pebbles with Earth knowledge,” the Eridian stands on his legs like a proud parent. “Does this mean Grace sleep now, question?”
Grace lets out a soft chuckle. Rocky is surprised his friend has any more giggles to give after tickling him. “Yeah, bud. I’ll go to bed now,” Grace says.
“Amaze! Finally got through to stubborn human. Now up up up,” Rocky nudges and gestures for the human to get onto his feet.
“Okay, okay, I’m getting up. No need to be pushy,” Grace jokes and stands.
“Rocky must push. Human will not get sleep otherwise.”
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 Rocky’s shell.
“Grace sleep now. Get rest to teach pebbles in the morning,” Rocky says.
A chuckle softly rumbles in the human’s chest. “Yes Rocky. Goodnight.”
“It is technically morning-” Rocky corrects on impulse.
“Rocky,” Grace giggles.
“Apologies. Rocky stay quiet now. Grace sleep. Rocky watch. Night good to Grace too.”
Rocky moves himself closer to Grace so he can feel the warmth beneath the Eridian’s 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.
