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No Light Years Between Us ✧˚₊

4th Project Crew: Sequel | PHM Ryland Grace ✧˚₊

No Light Years Between Us

4th Project Crew Sequel | Ryland Grace (Project Hail Mary)

Summary: Both you and Ryland found out who you got on the ship and your pasts. The exploration through the stars was also a journey to recall pieces of memories. “Your favorite space couple!” Pairing: Ryland Grace x fem!reader ( soft!dom!needy!grace x tease!fem!reader ) Warning: Use of profanity | No use of Y/N | Fluff - angst - smut | SMUT - !MDNI! | unprotected p in v | age gap | shy!grace | needy!grace | bunch of flashbacks | ry dealing with amnesia | 50% conversation | slow burn AF | weird humor | big argument | mention of injury | space adventure | beefy grace | Words Count: 12k Note: It took me so long to write this since I have to write it all over again. The first draft I made was total trash. Glad my ovulation right on time and push me to write this 🤭 kidding aside. Hope you could share some comments for this, any feedback would be appreciated. Ps. I am guilty and honestly have a thing for older fine men. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK: Grammatical errors may occur. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, events and science claims are either imagined or used for storytelling purposes only. Any resemblance to real people or real-life situations is purely coincidental. Part 1/2 : 4th Project Crew || MASTERLIST ||

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

Spending a year in space awake from his coma bed was not that boring as Ryland expected, not this boring when he has a kid-like eridian century older than him and you accompany him in this exploration to save the stars.

The DGSE drug was supposed to wear off not long after he woke up, but something clearly went wrong. A year had passed, and parts of him were still missing. It helped, in a way—kept the fear quiet, kept him steady, but it also buried things that mattered the most.

Things like whatever it was he had with you before all of this.

You watched him as he drew a face in Rocky’s ball. Animated eyes with pouty lips, a satisfied smile on his face as he finished his drawing which will be rolled over after anyways.

Ryland faced Rocky to you like a proud kid who drew a mustache to his friend’s face sleeping, but this time his friend is awake and fully aware. This Scientist has taken advantage of his naive friend.

“Woman likes Grace drawing on Rocky, question?”

“It's…” You were looking for the best word to use. “..Perfection. You look awesome, Rocky.”

“Rocky is awesome!” he cheered and lifted one of his arms to Grace. “Fist my bump”

“Hmm nope” Grace said, trying not to show how disgusted he was just thinking about it, “I told you that’s not how we say it. It’s fistb—”

“Fist my bun?”

“That’s— nope nope”

“Fisting?”

“That’s even worse.”

“Ahh Human language. So complicated. statement.” Rocky complained.

You faced them both as soon as you finished setting up the camera, “You boys ready?” interrupting them to get their attention.

Three of you get ready in front of the camera for the photo as it is part of documenting the journey to Tau Ceti.

Ryland’s undecided where to put his hand. It rested lightly on your shoulder, unsure, slipping a little each time he tried to steady it. Before he could decide, you took the lead, grabbing his hand and rest it on your waist. The timer went off right at that moment, capturing the flicker of surprise on his face at what you’d just done.

“Let’s t-take another shot, can we?” He asked.

Ryland can only recall what his basic personal information, occupation, in academia, eventually became as a middle school teacher, how he got recruited in this project and some glimpse of you working with him in the lab, and last that unfinished memory with you under the stars and unclear kiss. Other than that is nothing.

Right now, for Grace, having accompaniment was not to reduce his workload but to relieve the feeling of loneliness, fighting to save the star in the middle of nowhere. It’s a plus that you are flexible enough to do what needs to be done. You are the most reliable person and he felt great having you with him.

In the first months, he’s in the ship, alone, existential crisis was the main thing he was dealing with. He knows many things and nothing about himself. But all of the things he worried about faded away when Rocky and you stepped in. It was like making him complete.

“Wow, you look so..” smiles at him “...radiant” you said and looks back at the photo while his gaze follows your hand as it goes to his chest and rests there like it is nothing. Well, It's not nothing for Grace.

His only major problem right now is that tense feeling in some particular moment when you are around. It's just because you couldn't get your hand off him. Those random touches of skin, caressed in safe areas were driving him crazy.

“Grace breathing unstabliz—”

“I THINK! that’s enough photos for Stratt. Sure she wouldn’t like to see much of my face haha” He cuts off Rocky before he could finish his words.

It's you and Rocky’s unpredictable announcing of body monitoring against Grace.

He cannot just deny the fact that he melts whenever you are around, close to him and like he often lets his guard down while afraid of getting too much of you at the same time.

Grace has always been dealing with you messing around like that. Like how you intentionally make skin contact with him, split second yet noticeable. Or the way you put your hand on his waist whenever you passed by, especially in tiny spaces where he was.

A brush of skin that lasted no longer than a second, barely but impossible to ignore. The way your hand would find his waist and back as you passed, especially in those narrow corridors of the ship, like you knew exactly what you were doing. And maybe you did.

he wanted you to know how it drives him crazy in this little game you were playing. But he stayed quiet and kept it that way.

“Can you check this for me?” He asked you to check improvements in the astrophage after some experiment he had done on it and moved away from his microscope.

Before he could move away from the table to give you space, you stopped his chair and caged him in with your arms.

It happened so fast that he was left frozen in place, completely caught off guard.

You leaned over the lens, adjusting the focus with slow precision, while unbothered with the close distance of you to his exposed flushed face. Your face was so close to his that he could feel your warm air breathing in his neck.

“Relax, Dr. Grace. I won’t do anything stupid for these star eaters.” You said while not leaving your eyes in the lenses. That 'Dr.Grace', You does that whenever you want to mess up with him. Addressing him by his PhD yet in the most seductive way he's ever heard in his entire life.

He pressed his lips together and tried to hold his breath. “How about the stupid things you've done to me?” voice in the back of my head. After some minutes of torture, he was able to get some air when you moved, yet tried to not make it obvious.

All of you have assigned tasks to do which made the load lighter. Grace told you most of the things he learned on the ship when he realized that it takes more than one pair of hands to run this ship.

You were assigned in organizing and maintaining the ship records and monitoring the equipment, thanks to the Spacecraft systems engineering units that Stratt forced you to take in college. Rocky was the handyman more of a mechanic that could create pieces needed using xenonite. And ofc, Grace, the big space brain leading this so called team.

The three of you working doing rounds in the ship, as billions maybe trillion of life form depending on this mission to save each own sun.

Grace refused to have backup and told the two of you to continue what you were doing whenever but you insisted. Every time he needed to go out, you and Rocky monitored him. Over time, Grace got used to the set up.

You helped him to zipped up his space suit and had some finger tips brushing his nape. There's another random caress to his broad shoulder which triggers his endorphins. He faced you and you pushed his crooked eyeglasses towards his nose.

“Can you see me now?” You asked

He nodded and answered, “Yes, I can see you clearly.” Still his eyes were everywhere but not on yours. Clear obvious attempt to avoid your eyes.

“Let me just clean your suit real quick.” You said before reaching out for his boots.

For some moment, he was relaxed, waiting for you to finish. But then he realized something was off when he felt your hands crawling up to his legs through that thick layer of latex of his suit. As he looked below, he found you kneeling on him— yes cleaning his spotless suit.

It added up to the tension he felt inside the suit when you looked up at him while you were still on your knees.

He found this unprofessional, unethical, inappropriate, enticing, alluring, mesmerizing, tempting, sexy and hard to take his eyes off.

“What else do you need, Dr.Grace?” Your face is at the same level of his torsos and from Grace’s point of view, it took everything in him to keep his thoughts from slipping somewhere they shouldn’t.

“I—”

“Why Grace take so long to go out, question?” Your attention shifted to Rocky you heard from in-wall speakers from the panels.

You stood up and took Grace’s helmet, “So impatient…” and looked at him, “Hope you are not, Doctor.” You whispered before putting his helmet on.

Luckily, his suit was bulky enough to hide whatever had been triggered beneath it. “Oh my god… She is going to be the death of me,” he muttered under his breath as he entered the airlock.

Dealing with your random mixed signals was more difficult than going outside the ship to fix something else.

The task was completed successfully with no issue even going back inside the ship. Ryland has been training himself to prepare to catch astrophage once we arrive in Tau Ceti. You can say he's a pro already.

Since there was no sun to follow to sleep, a clock is essential in this ship for sleep. Grace often sleeps beneath Rocky’s glass room. Under him. For some reason, this bedtime Rocky became more anxious.

“Rocky, I’m fine. I’ve been sleeping in the dorm for months.” You explain.

“But Rocky, want to watch Woman sleep.”

“You have Grace to watch while he’s asleep.”

His rock fingers pressing together, “But Rocky wants to watch Grace and Woman sleep together.”

Grace puts his hand on his waist while facing Rocky like a wannabe strict dad, “No, Rocky. You can’t get everything you want. We will be sleeping like our usual setup. So it's a no.” He firmly said.

Grace set his blanket straight and lay his back on the mattress, trying to make himself comfortable while facing upside down Rocky. “So… this is the last thing you see every time you go to sleep?” You asked

“Yep.” simply answered your question while not moving an inch from his position. The room was still big for the three of you, yet felt small for Grace when you were right beside him.

Two separate solo mattresses yet felt too close when there’s nothing in between.

“Grace sleeping, question?”

“Yes”

“How Grace answer, question?”

Grace pretends to snore, obvious snore.

Rocky was analyzing him “.....”

And he slowly opens an eye to take a peak on Rocky.

“Grace heartbeat fas—”

“YES! Yes, Rocky, I am still awake.”

You stifled and looked up at Rocky, “Let’s sleep now, Big boys. We still have to do some work tomorrow. Better to have enough rest.”

Winking at Grace before going to sleep.

He knew Rocky would noticed how his heart beat changes. His hand immediately reached for his laptop and turned off Rocky’s automated voice.

< Grace heart beat so fast >

< Grace face heat increase detected. statement. > |

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

“We have identified a viable method for breeding these astrophage. We are requesting additional time to produce sufficient amounts in preparation for the spacecraft’s journey to Tau Ceti.” Stratt presented in the meeting in front of the board members.

One of the team leads based on the structure of the spacecraft leaned closer to the microphone, “So how did you breed the astrophage?” He asked.

Stratt looked at Grace and eyed him to speak in the microphone. He mouthed, “Why me?” but it only takes Stratt’s firm glare for him to speak.

“so—basically—we just… spread this stuff over a really big surface, let it soak up heat like it’s on a tropical vacation, and give it a nice, cozy, super-rich environment. Then there go you— Baby Astrophage woo!”

There was a split second awkwardness that took place in the whole conference. Grace added, “You know, something casually resembling Venus and Sun. No big deal.”

“I hate it in here” He mumbled to you in his back.

“You are doing great, sweetie.” You whispered back in his ears which made him blush in an instant.

Been quite a while since Grace had been with someone else, he felt like being in high school again. He doesn't know if he'll get used to this setup. Can’t help but to let his face go red whenever he hears endearment. Your words were effective to help him calm after his very ‘professional intensive’ explanation to the board.

Sometimes he imagines how his students will tease him once they find out about you. They would love you once he introduced you to them.

Stratt continued, “Based on our current research, it may take approximately three weeks to over a month to cultivate sufficient amounts of astrophage, and once that is achieved, the spacecraft will be ready for launch. woo~” She copied Grace but in a more neutral tone..

He pressed his palm on his forehead down to his face from embarrassment that made you softly giggle enough not to distract the conference but for him to hear. “Don’t mind her”

You lightly tugged him back enough to clear a space as Stratt moved in to take the seat when another lead took over the presentation. You placed a hand on his knee sliding up to his thigh. Closed door meetings and lights off made you more confident not to be noticed but only by him.

On the other hand, Grace stayed perfectly still, trying to keep his composure intact, but the slight furrow in his and his breathing betrayed him.

He cough “hands” way of him telling you that you are in a serious discussion.

“Oh, sorry.” You mumbled but slid your hand higher on his thigh, in a way more dangerous part than earlier. way closer to his.

You heard him cursing to himself while eyes are still on the slides of the projector, “Jesus" It stayed there for more minutes before giving him a quiet squeeze.

That’s it. That was too much for him to handle in such a room full of people— highly classified people.

He excused himself and left the room. For a moment, you only watched him. That was an easier way to take his ass off from this boring meeting than asking him. you knew he would choose to behave and stayed professional. His virtue is insane but cannot defeat you.

“Question, what are the conflicts that may be encountered during the exploration using the astrophage in your built ship?” You just dropped a question that was not part of their practice presentation of the Spacecraft analytic team.

That made other members in the board question themselves, even Startt. Buying yourself some time. You made your way out of the room as follow up questions were being asked to the presenter.

A sigh was heard from a bathroom which you easily identified as Ryland’s. You enter it with no second thought and locked.

“What the heck! W-what are you doing here?”

“This is a gender-neutral bathroom.” and points out the sign in the bathroom door.

“You’re supposed to be in the meeting!” loudly whispers. He doesn’t also know why he panics when he hears you lock the door behind you.

“Yeah, so you too.” You simply answer and step forward to him.

He step backward. “I know what you are doing.” Grace said.

A mischievous smile formed in your lips, “I am doing nothing to you, Dr. Grace.”

“Y-you are smiling! I know that smile.”

“Of course, I smile at you everyday.” You said raising your hands while stepping forward towards him. “Chill…” until his back hits the wall as you keep moving towards him, cornering him.

“Someone might walk in and see us,” he murmured, voice low, careful. You had spent some night with him already but this was something he did not expect.

There was an unspoken agreement with you two to keep things discreet for the meantime. Grace had no problem with that, but not with this, of you, being close to him. tip of your noses touching each, he can feel your exhales in his own nostrils, you were too close like you weren’t afraid of being caught at all.

“No one’s walking in. They are too busy with that stupid project.” Your hands were in the hem of his knitted sweater. He was too weak to stop you, too weak by your touch and kisses in his neck.

He surrendered by closing his eyes.

“Ohh—” You covered his mouth when you heard footsteps from the outside. Putting a finger in his mouth telling him to keep his sound on him. Lips pressed together as your hands did the work of unbuckling his belt before sliding his hand inside.

“I won’t bite, Doctor…” whispering his ear before licking it. You wrapped your hand around his shaft. “But I can’t promise I can eat tho…” Sniffing his earlobe, his jaw down to his neck while leaving trails of soft kisses along the way.

You bend your knees and kneel down on him.

Grace watches you as you take care of his pants and unzip it, letting his thing sprung out free. You still wonder how he kept this long himself only— at least he has only shared this to few. It involuntarily twitches whenever he feels the warm air from your breath on it.

You looked up at him and locked your eyes on him while your hands were busy giving him gentle strokes. “Let me take care of you, okay?” not breaking eye contact.

The view of you in his perspective while your hands wrapped on is something he doesn't think can hold for a long time. He feels like exploding anytime. You start by running your tongue in his shaft up to the tip and start to put it inside your mouth, slowly. Grace can’t do anything but to swallow his own sound.

You continue your way till you hit the base, but something you can’t take for a long time. You spill it out when it was about to hit your throat and immediately back on taking him, sucking, not letting air inside your mouth.

“Holy Mother of God.” he said, running out of breath, when you start to bob your head. He grabbed your hair and guided you, still can feel his gentleness through your scalp.

Bullets of sweat in his forehead were visible from your position, he was trying hard to last long and not to make any sound by gasping some air instead. “I might— I might come soon. You gotta spill it out or just— stop! Shit. Shit!” words breaking apart as he struggled to keep composure.

You knew he was that near when he leaned his head back while mouth was wild open and panting.

“H-hey, you better stop n-now.. Oh— hey! hey!” He shouted quietly when speed it up but did not let it out. “Fuck!” Finally shout it out loud as he explodes it all inside your mouth.

”Shit shit shit” He didn’t pause to rest, he immediately took tissues and pulled up to stand, “Spill it out, spill it out here.” Grace said tissues in your chin but instead you swallow it all.

“You’re unbelievable…”

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

Grace woke up covered with sweat. If the star gaze memory was unsure, this time it cannot be. Everything was so clear, detailed and felt so real. He can even feel your touch, it couldn’t be a dream only.

He must tell you this— this time he will not let this pass.

Every step he took while looking for you was determined to know everything. He was looking for you everywhere. He must ask everything you know, everything you recall. Grace seeks answers.

He is the first man to explore outside the solar system. He can do everything— “Oh you’re awake. You need something?” but not in those shorts you were wearing, that must be illegal and banned in this ship.

He raised his index and paused while trying to set his mind straight. Come on Ryland Grace, you can say it. “Nothing.” and walks fast back to Rocky’s cell.

“Why Grace in hurry, question?”

“Need to sleep again.” covers himself with the blanket where he just woke up a few minutes ago.

If his calculations were correct, based on his memories that he has already recalled, there's a 37% chance he is correct about you two being together before. But there’s no way he’ll ask you about that, he had no plan to look like a creep with no enough evidence.

How are you gonna ask her, Ryland?

Oh hey do you remember when we were at the navy station, we kissed right?

How about when we make out during the meeting with other world leaders? How about that?

Fuck it, Ryland Grace. That’s the most creepy way I’ve ever heard.

Fucking memory loss. Fuck.

With that repetition of cussing in his head, he doesn't think he can go back again in middle school to teach kids.

You were observant—too observant not to notice. After a few days of him avoiding you, it left you with more questions than answers. It all started that night you slept beside him, something that never happened again anyway.

And his avoidance? It was painfully obvious. He’ll get something by himself when it’s literally beside you. Asking opinions were being asked to Rocky, even the goddamn flavor of ramen he will eat. He’s always been like that. You just need to give him some time.

You just set it aside and focus on the preparation and arrival in Tau Ceti.

Since Grace was trying to distract himself and diverting his attention to the mission, he’s almost working his ass off with no rest. This is how far he could go just to forget a thing.

✓ Comms

✓ Centrifuge

✓ Heat Shield

✓ Navigation Control Panel

✓ Atmospheric Analysis System

And etc

He knew you all were ready for this mission.

All of you were in the panel as the ship moved towards Tau Ceti. It was massive, green, and beautiful. You can’t get your eyes off it even just staring through the window in the control panel cell.

The light of it reflects on your face, “Majestic, isn't it?” you were too busy looking at Tau Ceti to see Grace on your side looking at you. “Yes, it's so beautiful.” He said before shifting his stare to the star.

By now, Grace had gotten past the worst of his panic. The memory of that dream is still in his mind, but it wasn’t enough to make him pull away from you or hide in embarrassment—not when you didn’t even know what it was about.

[ CENTRIFUGE DISABLED - PREPARE FOR GRAVITY SHUTDOWN ]

“Oh gooooood! here we go again.” You said with fear, regretting those days when you got time to learn how to manage yourself off gravity with Grace.

Grace removed his chair strap and swung towards you. “No, Please!” You plead

“You know you can’t stay here.” He said while you insisted on removing your strap, “I’m here. Don’t worry.”

Straps were removed one by one and released you from your seat. You immediately held Grace's shoulder while hand in your waist. He guided you off the Panel room.

When you reached the observation deck, he slowly let go of you. Grace was looking at you like a proud teacher.

“See? You made it. Teacher is the best experience.”

Rocky was rolling in the mid air inside his glass ball. “That sound not right, statement.” You only laugh in response

“Rocky, would you mind turning on the centrifuge after 10mns?” and Rocky did Grace’s favor before turning back to you.

“Now, try to swing towards me. It's just like you are swimming but in the air.” He said.

Hardly you swung towards Grace but you were able to do it. You were still holding on to him like you’ll fall anytime “You don’t need to push it by yourself. The walls are your friend.” Grace said and put his hand above, in the ceiling, to push both of you downwards. “See? Easy as that.”

In just a few minutes, you were able to stabilize yourself in the mid air. Grace leads you to the LED Dome and plays field scenery in the background. “So, this is how birds feel, huh?” You asked while still floating.

“Yes, freedom. right?”

You two were swinging like a child freely playing in a park. Flying, floating, levitating from left to right. Improvised fun in this isolated place meant for work only.

“Ouch!” Grace complains when you accidentally bump into him.

“Sorry!” placing your hand to his shoulder, “Sorry, I got carried away. Are you alright?” You asked him.

“I’m fine, It's alright.” He said while his hand went to your waist like he’s already used to. like he’s been doing that before. or really does…?

There were memory flashes in his mind while looking at your face.

“I wanted to see how pretty your face is…”

Tucked the floating hair to the back of your ear to have a better view of your face. “Just wanted to see… your face.”

“I won't get tired looking into those eyes…”

He met your eyes and locked in on those, “Can’t get enough… looking into those eyes.”

“Hugging you was the best thing in the morning…”

His hand slides down from your shoulders to your soft arms. “You were the best thing that happened to me..”

He continued but taking it back, “I mean haha great to have you in this m-mission.”

You were listening to every word he said. It was him. That was your Ryland over there. Eyes were forming tears. God knows how much you missed your man, and you can’t take it another day hiding, compressing your feelings.

“My Rylan—”

[ CENTRIFUGE ACTIVATED - GRAVITATION ACTIVATED ]

Before you could even react, gravity snapped back into place, dragging both of you down at once. This time, you and Grace had been floating near the upper part of the dome—where the ceiling stretched higher—making the drop feel just a little longer, just a little harder.

“My back!” Grace complains, the pull of gravity plus the pressure from your weight and velocity made the fall worse for Grace since you were basically on top of him.

One thing’s for sure, Rocky did it again on purpose.

You heard him rolling towards the dome where you both went in and stopped in the front of the door. “Grace breeding ready, question?”

“What?!” You could see how shocked he was.

“Grace body temperature is between normal and sick temperature. Grace breeding ready, statement.” and that was too much revelation for Grace.

“What th— No I am not! Can you please shut up?” Grace's defense and looked at you, “I am so sorry I don’t think he knows what he was saying.”

“Rocky no shut up. Rocky telling truth.”

“Oh my god…” Grace wanted to be swallowed by any nearby heavenly body. not to mention you’re still on top of him, you got a great view of how red his face is.

“Oh…” makes eridian laughing noise “Apology. Apology. Apology.”

“Grace was told to leave humans when breeding so Rocky went now, statement.” slowly walks away “Oh god— can you just go? please?”

Grace sat up and leaned on his elbow. “I never told him that.” You only nodded in response and fixed those stupid glasses to his radix and that hit him again. He's starting to think that is just one of your muscle memory.

“So where are we” Grace hummed, you sat in front him closer than usual. “What I was saying a while ago was— how do I say it— was not me. like not me right now. It was— It was—” He was trying to find the right word but more of telling you in another way than being directly on what he wanted to say.

“It could be from my past. A part of my memory that it POSSIBILITY happened. That is clearly involuntary. My body made me do that.” He was explaining it like he had killed someone.

“I think I am getting the point…” You were trying to understand what he is trying to convey.

“Right? Right?” Looking for more validation as he continued, “What I’m trying to say is—there’s a non-zero possibility that certain past memories of mine, involving another individual, overlapped with you in what happened earlier. And for the sake of clarity—as your colleague—I want to state that I have no intention of acting inappropriately or causing you any discomfort.”

“Okay, now I don't get it.” You said and you are starting to feel overwhelmed, it's too much words. but also, that's him. That is the Ryland you know.

“What I mean is—” He tried to explain it again but the words just simply passed your ears and you were only watching him while explaining.

You tend to stop when you are overwhelmed, and your compressed feeling that you kept was too much to carry around and hide within you while in this ship.

“And— and when I touched your arm, I don't want you to t-think I am fantasizi—”

Word cut off when you placed a hand in his face, fingers running to that stupid newly grown beard, and sealed his lips with yours. Before he could react, you threw your arms around his shoulder, pulling him deeper, and started moving your lips against his.

Tension in his body has gone, his muscles relax, hands are on your waist and starts to respond to your kisses.

You cut the kiss to look at his reaction, “I fucking miss you, Ryland Grace.” and pull him again. This time it was messy. All of the months you were keeping how you'd miss him was poured that kiss.

His lips were moving in the same rhythm as you do. tips of your noses were bumping to each other and tongues were fighting for dominance while your hand running all over his head messing up his hair.

More and more memories were flashing to his mind at once. This wasn't just a simple what his body wants, but also key to recall everything. He held you in your face and danced his lips along with yours.

Every move of his lips on you was meaningful. He finally remembered everything about himself, everything he had done and interest in gaining his PhD.

It helps so good when his brain releases dopamine when he recalls the moment he met you, worked along with you, shared a first night together and…

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

Waking up next you was new for him yet serene. You him and a blanket covers you both. His arm and leg were wrapped across your waist and hips. Grace can sense you watching him even while his eyes are still closed. “Rise and shine, my favorite scientist.” You said while trailing his nose using your finger tip.

Those reddish lips were so inviting.

While for Ryland, Hugging you was a great start in the morning. He tends to pull you closer and wraps his arm tighter around you. “5 more minutes please…” He groaned while half of his face was still buried in his pillow.

“Have I told you how I like your eyes?” He asked.

“Everyday, Ryland. Everyday.”

“I won't get tired looking into those eyes.”

You throw light punches in his chest. “Stop that, Ryland Grace.” that made some strands cover your face.

He moves those strands of your hair to see your face clearly, “how pretty your face is.”

Time slows down when you are with him and don't notice that you have shared many moments with him. Time was slow yet fast. Yesterday he was trying to hide his feelings for you, now he is lying next to you. This is magic for him.

Even how bad he wanted to stay in bed with you, there’s a job that needs to be done.

Hot coffee on the table. Freshly cooked pancakes, and a drop-dead gorgeous chef. It’s his ideal perfect slow morning he never thought he would have.

“Where do you want to go this afternoon?” You asked since Stratt did not give anything for this week since most of the load has been passed to the Launch Team and for the preparation of the Project Hail Mary.

“How about hmm..” Took a sip of his coffee, “We just cuddle today?”

“We’ve been cuddling all night and all day long, Ry.” While your focus was still on the pancake you were cooking.

“Not enough”

Because for him cuddling with you feels the most safest place in the entire universe.

While you continued to discuss with him what are the plans for today you were thinking about, his attention went to the message that he received from Startt.

Strattosphere ✗ do not reply as possible✗: 2 scientists are dead from exposure. Need you to come to HQ now.

“Where are you going?” You asked him when he started running around the apartment.

“Stratt needs me now. The scientists were… dead.”

“Oh gosh.” Hearing it felt like being poured with cold water on your body.

“Yes. This is serious. So I need to go now. Please take care here. I’ll call you if I need to. Okay?” He said before giving you a peck in your lips and walked out the door.

The headquarters was in a whole mess. Everyone was busy. Chaos was in every corner he looked. Closed door meeting was the only quiet place in this building.

“If we miss this launch, it will set us back months.”

Grace sighed, “Yeah, but if there’s no one trained to do the mission, it won’t matter.”

“Casualty projection got exponentially if we delay. We will launch on schedule with the replacement scientist.”

Grace removes his glasses, “Okay, but… who?”

As he looked up, everyone in the room was looking at him. He gave Startt a plain smile and she does it too as a response. “I am not an astronaut.”

“I don’t need an astronaut. I need an expert in astrophage- just mission ready.”

“I am not ready. I don’t.. have any training. I am not an astronaut. I put a not in astronaut. I have never done anything— I have never been in space. I can’t even moonwalk! I can’t do this.”

Stratt kept her composure, “You are smart, You can figure it out. If you don’t go, you'll die anyway. Think of it.”

Grace knows how important this mission is, but for him there are other heroic scientists on this planet who can be part of this mission. Smarter and wiser than him. What he mostly thinks about is his life. Even before he did value the life given to him. Especially now, that he has you.

“I am giving you 3 hours to decide.”

Immediately took out his phone and dialed your number as he made his way to your apartment. “Come on, come on. Pick up the phone.”

After failed attempts to get in touch with you, he left you a message and continued to pack his and your clothes. He has this bad feeling about this. He can’t be complacent with this.

After two hours of preparing his stuff and planning on where to go, you were able to pick up his phone.

“Why aren't you answering my calls?”

“I’m so sorry. I went o-outside and and my phone was silent. What’s happening?”

He went more calm after hearing you alright, “Listen, I’ll explain to you later on. Stay where you are at right now, I’m gonna pick you up. Okay?”

Grace grabbed all the important documents the two of you needed, along with a few essentials, and hurried into the car you’d let him borrow. He drove straight to the location you’d sent him.

The thought that you were in something like a convenience store, maybe a gym or an establishment turned to confusion when he arrived in a field nearby a power plant.

He ran towards you when he saw you in the middle of the grass field. He was catching his breath as he stopped in front you. “Breathe, sweetie. Tell me what happened”

“W-we need to go.. the scientist who was supposed to be on the mission, died.” He started, “Eva.. I think she is planning something and- and I have this feeling it won’t be only to me. Y-you need to come with me.”

You took a deep breath. He wanted you to understand why he’s making this impulsive decision for the two of you.

“But..” You bit your lips and tried to hold your tears.

Grace held your face and caressed it with his thumb to comfort you, “I know, I know. This is too much to handle and we need to make this decision, but we need to be quick.”

“You won’t understand, Ry… This is my life. I’ve been with Stratt almost my whole life.”

“Is that so? What if she throws you in the ship—”

“She won’t do that.” You defend.

“What about me? And us?”

You have no answers for that. Your silence was making it harder for him to decide whether to run away alone or still bargain with you. He looked away and wanted to scream.

“Ryland Grace..” You held his face this time and made him look at you. “You know how bad I want you, right? But Earth needs you more than I want you."

Grace was cut off when your lips met his. It felt the same—familiar, warm—the same kind of love he had tasted the first time. And in that moment, everything narrowed down to you.

In just a few months of being with you, he had already begun to picture a future—one where it didn’t matter where he ended up, as long as it was somewhere with you. He tasted bitterness yet this shared kiss was everything for him.

“What do you mean by more than you want me?” he asked while staring at your face.

“Just please don't forget that…. You are taking my heart with you anywhere, even in the stars.”

“You will be remembered as a hero, Ryland.”

Next thing he knew he was pinned down in the ground while being surrounded by security and medical personnel. Resisting was no help since there were 2-3 men behind him.

“What is this?! No! Noo” He started to cry for help.

You were there, standing in front of him, with tears of guilt. He saw Stratt approaching and handed you a handkerchief before walking you away from there. The love he believes in was the one that betrayed him.

The last thing he saw was a glimpse of you looking at him for the last time before everything went black.

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

The dome was still playing field in the background when Grace opened his eyes. You were still wearing the sweet smile after your lips parted from his but Ryland. He is in total devastation.

Devastated from knowing the truth. Truth he once chased to remember.

You can see the shift of his aura, you already have the idea. Yet afraid to know if you are on the same page. “Ryland, are you okay?”

He didn’t say a word but the way he pushed himself back was a sign. His index up—not harsh, just enough to stop you from coming any closer. eyes holding back his tears.

Grace quickly stood up and ran outside the dome. You followed him till you heard a scream coming from the containment facility. “Ryalnd!” You said in surprise of all of the mess, papers scattered, equipment overturned, all from out of his rage.

Hands were on the table with his eyes red while facing the floor.

“Did you?” he asked you with a broken voice.

You knew this day would come, you knew he would react like this. Anyone in this situation would react like this, and he is not excepted.

“Did you?!” that made you step back and dodge.

You made a small nod and answered, “...Yes. I’m sorry.” in that you are unable to hold back your tears.

He continued screaming, throwing things around and punching monitors in the facility. In that rage, he could hurt you but he did not. He only screamed and cursed around. You did not say a word because you know it won't be helpful. You can’t do anything on what has been done.

“How.. how did you get in here, huh?”

“I don’t know…”

He cynically laughed at it, “You don’t know? You think I would trust that?”

“I don’t really know, Ryland, believe m—”

“How would I trust you?! You took away the life that I have! You made a decision for myself! MYSELF!”

He stopped for a minute, “Did you…”

“Did you make me fall for you on purpose? Was it all just to give me to Stratt?”

“N-no, I did not.” But he’s not listening to any words coming from you anymore.

You have no energy to say any excuse or even just a reason. You knew it was a mistake that you have tried to undone but cannot be. For meantime, you let him have his time. For himself, to think.

By night, when you are sure he is resting. You clean his wound and cuts that he got from earlier. You were being careful to not wake him up but the amount of alcohol he took from Ilyukhina’s stuff was enough for him to sleep more than his body clock.

Time is running fast being wasted, the ship is just orbiting around the star doing nothing.

You and Rocky took over running the ship’s maintenance, while Grace was still keeping himself from you.

“Why Grace angry, question?” Rocky finally asked you.

“Because…” exhales, “I did something wrong, and it is hard to forget it.” Everywhere he looks it reminds him of what you did to him. Grace won’t be here because of you.

“Did Woman sorry to Grace?”

“Yes, I did. But I get it” You said and scratched your temple, “There are things that cannot be solved by simple sorry.”

“Eridian say sorry, Eridian forgives. statement.”

“I wish it could be easy like that, Rocky.”

You heard him making noise, noise that he often do when he is hurt. “Rocky don’t like see friend angry or sad. statement.”

“Word of encouragement. statement.” He added.

Your head turned a little when you heard familiar footsteps, but he did not stop to say a single word. Only one quick glimpse of you with vodka in his hand going back to his bed bunk.

He wasn't an alcoholic, maybe the time when he woke up from a coma, but had never been in this consumption of alcohol in his entire life. You were very sorry for what happened and you did let him know that very well.

This setup continues, you tried to reach him out but he’s uncooperative.

You were holding a plate in front of the observation lounge, chest rise and fall before entering it. “I cook some—”

“Not hungry.” He responded, not letting you finish your sentence. Grace’s leaning on the window, looking in Earth's direction like he can see it from here, lights years away from there.

No plan of pushing him through, but you wanted to talk at least about the mission all of you prepared about. Wasting time in here could be years of suffering back on your own planets. Not only on Earth, but also in Erid.

Another 24 hours passed and you were worried when you saw Rocky getting anxious while waiting for the mission to take over. You need to step in.

“Hey…” your lips were irresistible, doesn’t know what right words to use. He noticed that you have nothing prepared this time, food nor water. “Sorry, I have only prepared food for myself since.. T-to avoid food waste. I’m just being practical.”

“What do you want?”

“To talk with you”

“We are talking…”

You finally look at his eyes, “About the mission. We need to at least know when.”

He sipped vodka from an IV bag like it’s just water, “They can wait.”

“But..”

“They waited years when they put me in a coma. In a coma!”

That made you shut your mouth and control your breathing to not break down in this room.

“I know you’re mad at what I did to you,” you started, your voice low but firm. “And you have every right to be. But that’s on me—put it on me. Not on this mission. Because whether you accept it or not, this is bigger than us now. There are lives depending on this… on us.”

You added, “Don’t be so witless, Grace.”

You didn’t raise your voice, but every word carried weight, pressed carefully and deliberately, making sure he heard exactly what you needed him to understand. You marched out of the room with your eyes carrying the heaviness of your chest.

Rocky found you in the containment room where you were still fixing the mess Ryland did as he caused many equipment broken during his breakdown. You heard him roll closer from your back, “Is woman okay, question?”

“I am fine, Rocky. Thanks for asking you.” You did not face but Rocky knows. He can sense the amount of cortisol your body releases.

“Rocky see Woman is not… okay. statement.”

That is all you need to hear before dropping on your knees and letting your tears flow. You lean to Rocky and hug him. Rocky made sure you feel his sympathy by leaning closer to you even though there's a barrier in between.

No words needed. You didn’t try to explain, didn’t try to hide it—you just let yourself feel, every emotion spilling out without restraint. This was the very first time showing someone what you really feel, something never done in your whole life —it wasn’t even with a person. It was with Rocky.

Your forehead leaning against his glass, “We need to get going, Rocky. Whatever it takes. For Earth, For Erid.”

You have no proper training outside the ship, cannot even control yourself during no gravity, but you cannot waste another day doing nothing.

After wearing the suit, you ready the control panel for Rocky. You have decided to collect the Tau Ceti astrophage yourself and ofc Rocky will be in control of the ship.

“I’m all set now, How about you, Rocky?”

“Rocky is ready. Rocky great pilot.” He said.

You wear your helmet and exit the control panel room., but as you made your way towards the airlock, you heard alarmed in the in-wall speakers.

[ DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER UNLOCKED : EXTERNAL AIRLOCK OPEN ]

One thing came to your mind, Grace.

You ran back to Rocky instead and there you were able to confirm it was Grace who went outside. Wearing that red uniform suit holding a xenon tool that Rocky built in his arms. You can see how he struggles in the way he walks on the surface of the ship.

“Ryland, What the fuck are you doing? You are not in the right state to do that!” You shouted in the comms.

“Being witless…” He answered you, which made you roll your eyes, “...and a little bit heroic.” He added.

You were watching him the whole time he’s outside and followed everything he’s been asking. However it was miscalculated how low you should and now Ryland asking you to go lower.

“I cannot, I can’t do that Ryland. It’s too low altitude. We can do it again.”

“It will take weeks again and we are reserving astrophage for our fuel. We have to do it now.”

He doesn't elaborate himself. You know what could be the consequences and how much time will be wasted again. Hesitantly, you move the lever and the ship begins to move towards the star’s atmosphere.

“Fuck! Damnit!” You can hear Ryland screaming while pulling the chain.

“No. no. no. Too low altitude. Grace outside low altitude.” Rocky panics. There are many things that could happen, this is such a great risk.

You wear your helmet and push Rocky to your seat. “Pull the lever now!” and you ran towards the decompression chamber making your way out of the ship. “Shit. shit. shit. Shit.” You said when you peaked outside and saw how far the Tau Ceti surface was.

The pressure of turbulence of the ship made it harder to reach Ryland. Little by little you step and crawl towards him.

“What the he— what are you— doing here?!”

“Saving your heroic ass.” You said while still trying to reach him from the other end.

As the ship began to rise, the pressure of the atmosphere made it harder for both of you to hold on,our vision blurred, your head spinning as if you might pass out at any second but you still commanded Rocky to pull the Hail Mary up and Ryland also agreed.

“Keep it, Rocky, we are f-fine.”

But in just a second, Ryland passed out. “Ryland? Ryland!”

With no other option, you let go of your grip on the ladder, trusting only the rope tied to you as you moved as fast as you could toward him. You took his rope and pulled his unconscious body towards. “Fuck, Ryland! Wake up!” You are pulling his weight and the mass of Xenonite with astrophage on it.

You pull him harder, every muscle straining and one leg hooked around the ladder for support, until you manage to grab onto his suit along with the chain of the astrophage catcher. Wraps his rope and chain around your hand and arm to secure them as the ship made out from Tau Ceti’s atmosphere.

“When Grace wake up, question?” No one knows. You couldn’t give more information than no, but never failed to check him, even though you are also healing from the injuries you got from that incident.

It’s been 24hrs since he passed out but you still can't see a response from him. You only knew his vitals were stable. You manage to look after Grace while enduring the injuries you got.

Muscle strain, broken hand and massive hemorrhage in the back of your leg. None of it worries you more than Grace’s situation. You are afraid that he might take years again to wake up.

“Did Grace wake up, question?”

That sound familiar to you, seems like you heard it from a dream or somewhere. You kneel down to at least level Rocky. “No, Rocky, Grace hasn't woken up yet.” You said but Rocky’s attention seems like not on you, you couldn’t identify, you just know he’s not facing you.

You went back to check the astrophage in a microscope, “Well, we don’t know.” and sighs, “Hope he won’t take years to wake up again.”

“Yeah, lucky me, it didn't take me light years to wake up a second time around.”

….and he was there, standing in his gown with some IVs still on him.

“Grace awake! Grace awake! Grace awake!”

Heart beating in your chest. You couldn’t move an inch. Not even a step. You were stuck watching him and Rocky hug. He looked pale, unsteady—but awake. Alive. Real in a way that made your chest tighten all at once.

“I think I deserve a congratulatory— uhm— hug? After my heroic move out there.” He said.

You ran as fast as you could towards him and kissed him torridly. Not moving your lips but only breathing in while both your lips were steady to this shared moment. He did not stop you.

“S-sorry… got carried away.” You murmured, “Plus I am injured, I can’t hug.” You said while showing the bandage wrapped around your arms from the strain you got.

“U-understandable…”

Since he needed rest, you guided him back to his bed. He was still quieter around you, but it didn’t feel as heavy anymore.

You didn’t expect things to go back to how they were—you’d take whatever he was willing to give, whatever this became. All that mattered was that he was safe.

“For the record, I didn’t want you out there, not when you were drunk the entire week.” You finally use words to scold him.

“For the record, someone forgot my PhDs and told me I am stupid.” keep himself in bed.

Your simple response, “Conceited.”

The awkward silence takes place again in the room while you were busy checking his vitals and putting it on record. “What’s two plus two?” You asked.

“Oh please— Not that question.” That made you softly laugh and so did he. Even just pulling your other leg, you manage to walk and sit beside him.

“I haven’t formally apologized to you.. For what I did.” You started. “I am really sorry for making that decision. For you. To your life. There’s no excuse, it was entirely wrong.”

This time he is being cooperative by listening to you. You continued, “I have many things I haven’t told you before. I am an orphan and Stratt is my aunt. Aunt Eva takes care of me— well take care of my needs starting when my parents abandoned me. So I owe her everything I have.” There was a visible surprise in his reaction when he heard it.

“All of the things she told me to do, I followed. I have no control in my whole life. 25 years existing on Earth and I haven’t been on a proper date with anyone haha— anyways, even though it was hard for me, I do what she told me to and hand you over to her.”

You took a deep breath, “This is not an excuse, I am not telling this to reason out. It’s more on for you to know what’s behind this and to clarify that.. I did not intentionally make you fall for me on purpose because I did not intentionally fall for you too, before.”

After weeks long of studying astrophage from Tau Ceti which you all named as Taumoeba, Grace discovered the life on it is the reason why the Star remains uninfested unlike its neighbor stars.

Luckily Rocky has a way to make their population grow that may not need to go and catch them in Tau Ceti’s atmosphere. It was a total win for everyone.

It was fun to do the job with Rocky, he has a lot of things to share and so do you two. With this advanced discovery of breeding the astrophage, it also means you all separate with Rocky early since he needed to deliver it back to his home planet to save their star.

“We will miss you, Rocky.” You said while hugging his glassball.

“Rocky enjoy mission with Grace and Woman…”

“... but Rocky needs to go home now. statement.”

You can sense from behind you Grace was holding his tears. Rocky rolled back to his ship and did the final wave before you closed the door. This whole time Rocky is there for you two. No rolling sound, no random question. It was peaceful but it was longing for him to treat family. Now it feels different when he’s not around. Especially for Ryland.

“You can cry now.” a queue for him to whine like a baby.

Two of you agreed and met halfway to be just friends. For you that settles, better than nothing. You can now work with nothing else to think aside from the mission.

You were looking at the spaces where Rocky used to occupy. “So it's just us now, huh?”

“Yep, just us.” He exhaled out.

Tension between you cannot be denied, something neither of you could just brush aside—not after everything you’d shared. The moments you had together lingered, quietly refusing to fade.

And yet, neither of you crossed the line. stayed where it was safe.

You look at him, “So what now?”

“We go study unevil astrophage and we go home.”

You just finished putting the astrophage in their xenonite containers and let them breed on it. It took hours of continuous labor to propagate them early. You removed your gloves, surgical cap and everything removed aside from your lab coat.

Grace, in his lab coat, entered the room with drinks in his hands.

“It’s non-alcoholic.” He said

You smiled, “Yeah because you drank it all.”

Whenever you make some skin contact with him, he still has a reaction. That's where you identify that you still have this effect on him but you were trying to avoid it. Stayed professional.

Grace was waving his index finger while nodding, “You know what, I just realized something. Being kidnaped and forced to be detained here wasn’t bad at all.” You glared at him

“I mean I got to explore outside our solar system, save stars, bond together and most importantly make friends.” He said, referring to Rocky.

“Yeah, you’re correct. I am glad that you accept me again— you know— as your friend.”

That made his forehead furrowed, “Friends?” He asked in confusion.

“Yes, friends. right?” You asked and faced him before giving your hand to shake, “Oh, we haven’t formally agreed to it, so…”

“...friends?”

He was looking at your hand and hesitantly held it, “Friends…”

“Friends.” You repeated it. You could see hesitation in his face, “What is it, Ryland?”

“Sorry. It’s just..” Grace is not letting go of your hand and his grip is getting tighter.

“Ryland, my h-hand.”

“It’s just, I don’t think we could go back to being friends again…” He finally looked at your eyes and it was full of desire.

“....Do you know how bad I miss you?” Grace.

That made you confused as he does, “You are so confusing, Ryland.”

“Me? You are confusing one.” He responded, letting go of your hand. You two start raising voices.

“You did agree for us to be friends.” You said

“I never said anything.”

“It's an unspoken thing. I thought we were meeting halfway.”

He stood up and put his hand in his nape, “See? Unspoken. that is making me confused right there.” Grace pointed out.

“Becuase sometimes you are mad then happy then quiet. I can’t read you.” You explain.

Your voices were so loud that you could hear from the other rooms, “It's because— I am keeping myself from doing anything stupid!” He said.

“Stupid what?”

He took some time while looking at the ceiling not trying to make eye contact with you, “Something stupid like this—” He murmured before looking at you and within a second he caught your lips.

Your eyes widened, blinking once like you hadn’t caught up to what just happened. He moved his face enough to see your reaction, “Y-yeah, that was stupid.” You said.

His hand was still in jaw, catching breath on what he impulsively did. “More stupid?” He asked and one nod from you was enough answer for him.

This time he went slowly ensuring you would catch up. His lips moved just like how you wanted. While his lips were busy on yours, his hands slipped down to your soft arms and caressed up and down. Grace is being cautious in every move he is doing, making sure you are fine.

Your hand came up and rested in his chest. Your non-verbal response as approval was all he needed from you. however Grace couldn’t maintain it slower due to his longing for you.

“I freaking miss you..” He said in between your lips.

“Show me how you miss me.” You respond as your arms make their way wrapping to his shoulder.

Grace went back to your lips and walked backwards till your hips hit the edge of a table. He lifted you up, made you sit on it. His lips never left yours, tongue won dominance and started to explore inside your mouth.

Your eyes were half-open while his were shut.

The perfect tip of his nose bumps against yours side to side since his mouth is never consistent on one side. Next thing he focused on was your neck. His kisses were messy just like how you wanted.

“We need to let go of this…” his husky breathless voice groans in your ear asking to remove your coat.

“As you wish, Doctor.” You said, eyes closed.

You knew how he liked it when you called him that. He didn't think that his PhD could be something more than in his field until you use it in your first time with him. You heard him cuss and start to remove his coat and shirt revealing his thick chest that his shirt barely hides.

“Vegans would hate you for being this beefy.” your hands trace the veins in his arms. “Please don’t tease me.” he said while your hand trailing the veins peaking out from below his pants.

His hand took the hem of your shirt and lifted it, continuing it till no piece of cloth covered your body. He would never get enough with the view of your body.

He slowly kneeled down and kissed your foot and sniffed your legs upwards. Kissing starts from your knee to your inner thigh before parting your legs apart showing all of yourself to him.

It all started with a lick, you felt his whole tongue in your fold. You have no idea where to put your head with this pleasure you get from Ryland. His glasses weren't helpful but he kept it anyway, making him look witlessly handsome while his tongue was busy trying to get inside your hole.

His tongue moving inside you was making you unable to hold it longer. His hand was on your clit and circling it in the right rhythm and the other was holding your thigh to pull you closer and to make his tongue enter you deeper. “If.. you keep doing that, I’m gonna cum soon.”

Grace stayed a little longer before standing up again and taking his pants off letting his member sprung out freely. sensitive. thick. throbbing. You can now trail the veins you were tracing earlier to where it leads. As your finger reaches his cock veins, he exhales like losing his mind. Because he does. “E-enough..”

He swept everything off the table in one motion, not caring what fell or broke, and gently laid you back against it.

“Ready?” Grace asked, drooling on you.

“Yes, give me what you have, Doctor.”

You don’t need to ask him twice. He enters you with all inches. You screamed out. “Motherf— take it slowly!”

But he wasn’t listening, “I told you I miss you, right?”

“Yes! but let me adjust first— fuck, Ry! wait!” He indeed shows you how bad he really misses you by not wasting time and moves inside right away. He was needy of you and he is not denying neither hiding it.

Taking a leg and putting it in his shoulder to give a better space to move inside you deeply. “Ohh fuck, Ry!” You were moaning his name out loud that could be almost here in the entire ship.

You were considered lucky that he has a good amount of precum that serves as lubricant along with your wetness. His pace was getting faster every time he thrusts inside you. “I miss you. I miss you so fucking bad.” He was chanting it again and again, making sure you understood what he meant but his thrust was enough to understand it.

Grace throws kisses all over your body while his thrust is getting slower but deeper like he was trying to reach something in you. Not long you felt almost pulsing in your walls, “Ry… I’m near.. O-oh gosh..” You started to plead with him and bury your face in his neck. He did follow it, hitting the same spot at an incredible pace but not being too hard. With one good thrust of him inside you, orgasm broke all over you.

While you are getting over your orgasm, His lips met yours and torridly, messy kissed you. You knew he was that near and you helped him lose himself by giving him a squeeze. Mouth wide open, damp hair from the sweat in his hair and uneven placement of his glasses. He is losing his mind. After hard thrusts, he took himself out and released it on your belly.

“That is a lot.” You said while looking at his releases dripping to your side.

“I know, the last time I got laid was light years ago.” He said and took nearby tissues to wipe it, cleaning you.

He helped you to sit, “You’re so beautiful.” while giving you small kisses.

You pushed his glasses again to his radix.

“Those glasses are incredibly shockproof.”

“Yes, it is.” He said and continued to give you peck. “You know, “I’ve been holding this feeling ever since you woke up—”

You cut him off “I know it.”

“You know it all? H-how?”

“Aside from you being too obvious, Rocky told me too.”

“That little brick.”

At that time, you knew that spending light years going back home would be this interesting and fun. You two have no idea what will be next but whatever it will be as long as you are together, even exploring the universe and its infinite possibility.

Your moment was interrupted with the alarm going on and alerts the entire ship.

[ ALERT : CONTAINMENT BREACH ]

“Oh no… Rocky…” You both say in chorus.

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

Your feet stomping that you were hiding under the table, heavy beat of heart, sleepless nights, all of it because of your conscience that now you are trying to correct. You came to your Aunt’s office after days of being ignored.

“What brings you to my office? During my busy schedule…” Stratt started with her neutral voice. It's only 2 days away from take off of the ship and you need to get things right asap.

taking a full breath, “I wanted to take back, take him back from this project.” The only reaction she gave you was a movement of a brow.

“He has contributed a lot of things for this mission, more than enough. Nobody has been dedicated more than him. So please… Don’t do this to him.” You plead to your aunt.

“You are making me more convinced he is the ideal candidate to replace the scientist.” Stratt response.

You shook your head, “You are not getting the point, Aunt. We are taking this man’s life from him. This is against his rights. His free will!” This is the very first time you raise your voice in front of her, the first time speaking out on the woman you owe everything to.

She stood up, hands in her pocket, and slowly walked towards the window where see the Hail Mary ship from far. “Human rights huh”

“There will be no human rights if there’s no one left.” She added.

You knew you couldn’t convince her that easily, so you need to pull up your last resort. “Take him back or…. I’ll let the press know.”

Stratt wanted to explain herself more, but she thought it would be only redundant as you already knew her reason. Not only the pressure of responsibility she is carrying, but also for humanity.

She slightly turned her head to you, “Fine.”

“But I want you to see this first…”

You obeyed it and walked towards her side.

“I always knew you were this brave, brave girl, a very flexible girl and can do whatever nature requires.”

She turns to her back and waves to something else. Next thing you saw was the familiar security personnel and medical attendant. You started to panic but had nowhere to go.

“No! Noooo!” Just you felt the same betrayal Grace felt days ago.

Resisting was no help with these men who pinned you down on Stratt’s office floor.

“Please! Don’t do this!” You cried out.

“There’s billions of life depending on this. The world leaders are counting on me. I can’t mess it up, whatever it takes…” She was standing in front of you. emotionless.

“Plus our scientist out there might need assistance, and you were with him the whole time. So I wonder why not hire another one for this project.” She was only staring at you while you kept trying to resist.

“But Madam, we have no time to prepare another bag for her.”

“Let’s just ask Ilyukhina to bring more of her stuff.”

Your fingers scratch on the floor and attempt to push yourself out from being pinned, but it is meaningless. Blubbering for your fate. You have nothing to do but to accept the drug being injected to your body leading to your coma bed.

Next thing you saw was red laser light through your eyes, vision was blurry, muscles in your body were numb, it felt like you slept for decades.

There was a man with a familiar voice.

“What's two plus two?” “Four…”

“What is the root cube of 8?” “Two…”

“What is the factorial of 6?” “Seven hundre— That wasn't asked to me before.”

You don't understand what was going on but you knew how to answer the question, “Seven hundredzbs— glunnn— twenty”

The man was trying to help and guide you, but you can't comprehend every word he says. Your body automatically reacts when you see an unfamiliar creature behind him, but it wasn't fear. only surprise due to unfamiliarity.

“I don’t want you to freak out, but I believe you should and you must be aware of this— that you are not on Earth anymore.” He explained,

“You are in Project Hail Mary. Welcome aboard”

“cheer! cheers! cheers!”

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽ ･:･.:☁︎ ⋆⭒˚｡⋆𖦹. ₊ ⊹ . ₊˖ . ₊𓈒𓏸.°•･:. ₊˖ ˚｡･.:☁︎ ☽˚✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊ ･

Soft kisses touch his cheeks just like how the sunrise kisses the morning.

“Good morning, Mr. Grace.” You greeted him.

“Good morning too, Mrs. Grace.” Your husband greeted you back. He was looking at you like he doesn’t comprehend what’s happening. “Are we really actually married?” He asked.

“Hmm Yes. I said I do and you did too. Unless you don’t respect the tradition.”

“Wow, we are married for real. I just can’t believe it…”

He reached you out and kissed you on the lips, but before you could do anything, he pushed you down back in the bed lying on your back. You couldn’t stop him, you have no strength to stop him.

“Ry. we just spent the whole night.” You protest while he is busy in your jaw. He paused for a second and looked at you while pinning your hands to the sides of your head.

“Rocky spent a century long with his mate and still not enough, what more to a human like me?” You both laugh at it, when he was about to get back to his business on you, a loud knock echoed against the door.

“Knock knock!” a computer generated voice

“Who’s there?!” Ryland

“Rocky. Statement.”

“Rocky statement who?”

“Rocky no understand Grace humor.” Rocky said. Ryland got up and opened the door and saw Rocky patiently waiting with a banner but in Eridian Alphabet.

“Word of congratulatory, statement.” He said and then entered the house the same time you made your way to the living room. “Hi, Grace Woman.” He greeted you.

“Hi Rocky!”

“I think I should change my name in his translation to Ryland” He said while looking at his laptop. “Because you know, we are both Grace now.”

“Rocky no like Grace other name, Rocky likes call Grace- Grace. statement.”

“Her name is Grace now too, there will be confusion there.”

“Woman Grace?” Rocky suggested

“Too long”

“Grace Grace and Woman Grace.”

“Nope.”

“Grace 1 and Grace 2”

“No, not with numbers”

“Grace Woman?”

“You just switch the first one!”

You can’t help but to giggle and continue to watch them, “Alright boys, that’s enough.”

You went to Rocky’s laptop and code ‘Mrs. Grace’

“Simple as that. Try it out, Rocky, call me.” You said

“Mrs. Grace— Ohh Mrs. Grace. Rocky like this. Mrs. Grace always amazing. Statement.”

After the astrophage leaked inside the ship, you both decided to prioritize saving Rocky, since the breach came from the xenonite as it broke out of its container. Most of the shared astrophage was already sent back to Earth, securing enough for them to study and breed along with the research you and Ryland has done.

Instead of returning home, you chose to head to Erid to conserve what remained—combining your resources to make the journey faster. With what was left of the ship’s fuel slash astrophage from chasing Rocky’s ship, going back home wouldn’t have been possible anyway.

“So we…” He looked at you and back to the camera lens, “...have decided to stay here on this planet for good.” His hands intertwined with yours.

“Based on the last coordinates we received, we understand many of you were worried about us here on this planet. We want to assure you that we’re doing fine. There’s a lot keeping us busy, and the Eridians have been very accommodating.”

You paused there, choosing not to share more. You both had agreed to keep the details as limited as possible—for the Eridians’ safety.

“Alright! I am going to play our wedding video from yesterday. So you could witness our special perfect day as we bond as one, as husband and wife.”

He took his laptop and played a clip first to check the video.

“In the presence of your family, friends and Eridians, you have joined yourselves in marriage. I, Rockiest, declare your marria—”

“Did you just name him Rockiest in his translation?”

“Why? He is the eldest Eridian alive?”

“You’re unbelievable…”

“Can we just finish our wedding first, Sweetheart?”

Ryland pressed his lips together and made a pop before closing his laptop. “We don't have to prove ourselves. We got married and that's it.”

He went close to the camera and placed his finger on its button,

“We’ll see your response in the next 3-5 light years. For now, your favorite space couple, signing out.”

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡✮ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆｡°✩.˚ ݁ ˖ ✧ ‧₊:･ﾟ:･.˚｡☽･ﾟ::･. ⋆.˚｡:･ ˚｡

Note: Thank you again to those who read the first part and especially those who came till this part. You are awesome human beings 👎

We are no Stratt hater. We support Eva’s rights and wrongs ✊🏽

Coming soon: SHORT AU - RYLAND X FEM!READER || Genre: Fluff / smut

Professor Ryland x fem!reader assistant/librarian

Synopsis: Teacher Grace has a rumored girlfriend ( established relationship? )

This sequel stresses the shit out of me, so I'll be just writing fluff with a bit of smut next. Open for tag!

Open for request! writing anything not men being dominant unless needy

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Hope yall could check my other works

RYAN GOSLING FF (Lars Lindstorm) - PAPA BEAR 🧸

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credits: @multi-fandom-imagine a scene in this sequel base to Rocky Leaves the Room… On Purpose || Ryland Grace ||

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tags: @lowbudgetdoll @ladybirdbeetle7 @dontworryboutmyname @darnsit @beeisaokay @moonlitblossomsofthesun @storiesoferoda @plan3t-plut0 @divineshedevil @jijijihanji @deadbeatphobos @ellasaddiction2 @shadow-pancake9 @moonlight-echoes @carrotkitten10 @briefkittenearthquake @syaurites @dannahprtc @sunnycl0ver @natinikl @psampsam @eventual-absquatulate @forthefunofit25rb @jrliz6 @rossieburrow @bandito-baddie @caitsymichelle13 @agustdpeach @kcollins356 @imafangirlofeverything @eternallovers65 @rainiieday damn more than 20peeps requested to be tagged. I really hope you like this sequel, this is for yall!

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