Rocky, hovered near the baby, small in Grace's arms. "I will assist in protection. I will assist in development. I will assist in education."
Rocky taps on the ground.
“I have shared information,” Rocky states.
Ryland’s head snaps toward the entrance. “What information.”
“That there is baby.”
Ryland goes pale. “…You told who.”
Before Rocky can answer, The biodome doors open.And it’s not one Eridian.Not two.It’s dozens.
They don’t rush in aggressively—no, their movements are controlled, but there’s a clear, undeniable energy behind them. Curiosity. Excitement. An entire species encountering something they have never seen before.
A human infant.
Ryland’s brain short-circuits.“Whoa!!!!whoa!!!whoa, guys, guys!” he blurts, instinctively stepping back, turning slightly so his body shields the baby without even thinking about it. “This is....this is a lot of guys!”
You bite back a laugh despite yourself, even as your own heart races a little at the sheer number of them.
The Eridians stop just short of crowding, forming a wide, uneven circle, their tones overlapping in rapid, curious bursts.
Rocky, hovered near the baby, small in Grace's arms. "I will assist in protection. I will assist in development. I will assist in education."
Rocky taps on the ground.
“I have shared information,” Rocky states.
Ryland’s head snaps toward the entrance. “What information.”
“That there is baby.”
Ryland goes pale. “…You told who.”
Before Rocky can answer, The biodome doors open.And it’s not one Eridian.Not two.It’s dozens.
They don’t rush in aggressively—no, their movements are controlled, but there’s a clear, undeniable energy behind them. Curiosity. Excitement. An entire species encountering something they have never seen before.
A human infant.
Ryland’s brain short-circuits.“Whoa!!!!whoa!!!whoa, guys, guys!” he blurts, instinctively stepping back, turning slightly so his body shields the baby without even thinking about it. “This is....this is a lot of guys!”
You bite back a laugh despite yourself, even as your own heart races a little at the sheer number of them.
The Eridians stop just short of crowding, forming a wide, uneven circle, their tones overlapping in rapid, curious bursts.
Imagine, you laying on your bed. Writhing against the sheets. Your hands pulling at the sheets, moving in your hair, dragging down your face as you breathe heavy. You feel like you could cry and not even the bad kind.
The reason? Ryland Grace. One of his knees on the bed, the mattress dipping from the weight it's supporting. You can feel the warmth on your thigh from his skin. One of his hands on your stomach, pressing slightly as the other worked inside you.
Three fingers in. Dragging slowly against the inside, like he was scooping your soul out. Your hips moved under the pressure of both of his hands. A press of his thumb against your clit and you are blabbering-
"oh fuck- Grace- fuck.. oh- please, please, please- no, please -", you don't even know what you are saying. It feels like your tongue is loose. Your head tilts back. You are so close to sobbing from overstimulation or the lack of stimulation? You are sure, neither of you know.
"uh huh", he nods. You can see him lick his lips through your blurred vision, "I can't understand you. You're gonna have to use your words", he looks down at you from above his glasses.
"I wanna cum-", you whined. "You wanna cum?", he sounded way too proud.
You nodded way too eagerly, "please, please- yes, I want to", you closed your eyes. Head pressing against the sheets, lips pressed together as you focused more on the feeling of his fingers inside.
His thumb formed callouses from years of holding his pen wrong and it pressing directly against your clit. Making your jaw slack and mouth hanging open from a silent gasp.
"okay, okay", he was too proud. "You're gonna cum in five, okay?", you nodded, "nuh-uh", he shook his head. "I need words, com on. Your mouth still works, I know"
"yes- yes!", you forced out. "Good- now count with me"
"five", his thumb moved everytime he pulled his fingers out just to push it back in.
"four", every push in, he would curl them in and drag them out.
"three", your eyes felt too hooded. The knot in your stomach drawing closer and closer as you felt your hips push against his hand.
"two", the pressure of his other hand increased against your stomach. Oh, fuck.
One, didn't even have to voice it. You were already arching off of the bed. Your hand finding purchase on his arm, nails digging in as the other pressed against your mouth. Your hips moved on their own to ride the orgasm out.
After a few seconds of muscle spasm and your legs closing tightly around his hand, did you calm down. Chest still moving from rapid breathing. The hand on your mouth moved to your hair, slight damp against your forehead.
You finally glanced at Ryland when the hand on your stomach moved to wipe sweat or tears, you weren't sure, from under your eye. He had the biggest smile, "hi", he whispered. Fuck him.
can you guys tell I have a thing for hand against the stomach..
Summary: After months of wandering the space to study Tau Ceti, Grace found out that there’s another crew on board. It was only revealed when Rocky corrected him on how many people the ship has. Grace got hope for him to recall his pieces of his memories back on Earth. You must be an answer for him.
“Happy. Happy. Grace has woman now. statement.”
Pairing: Ryland Grace x fem!reader (shy!grace x soft!dom!fem )
Warning: Use of profanity / No use of Y/N / Fluff - smut / good ending / smut - !MDNI! / age gap / rocky yapper / shy!ry / bunch of flashbacks / you are rocky’s favorite human woman / ry dealing with amnesia / 50% conversation / slow burn AF/ weird safe words/
Words Count: 9k
Note: I just started reading the book so this is mostly based on the movie. Hope Andy Weir won’t get mad. tried to not make it like Passenger lol. 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.
Waking up drunk with the worst hangover is something Grace would choose rather than waking up with IVs all over your body in a space craft in the middle of nowhere. Not knowing himself, name, age, where he lives, occupation or even his own race. Just a sub-conscious self but smart enough to observe, understand everything happening and to analyze that he is no longer on earth before he could remember his own name.
No guide, no manual. He all started with scratch but the hardest part for him is trying to recall himself rather than how to use the laboratory apparatus to study outside of the ship. From analyzing how his brains work he was able to find out the reason why he is on that ship. I am a scientist. He said to himself.
Apparently the other two crew in the ship had already passed away for unknown reasons. Names were written in the bags which he thought meant ownerships. Since the two other bags were written in Chinese and Russian, he assumes that he owns the third bag. Grace. “Am I a girl? But I have a pe— oh! it's my last name.”
Not long he was able to recall how to study matters outside the ship and what was the mission for, and he directed his focus on it, setting aside knowing about himself since doing the mission was more of muscle memory for him— like he’s been doing this before.
“Grace is quiet. statement” and not so long when he met Rocky who has a bigger and cooler ship with just a different kind of aesthetic. Six months after he woke up from coma when he met this new friend, smart, reliable,
“What Grace is thinking, question?” and full of curiosity.
“I am having a moment, bud.” Grace said while his eyes were shut.
“Why Grace need time. question?”
“Because I am trying to recall my full name, Rocky.” eyes were still shut and sitting in the center of the LED dome made for the crew in the ship.
“Grace has more names. why? Question.”
“Because on Earth— argh you know what? nevermind, I lost focus.”
Rocky accompanied him for the past 3 months, since then he never cared about knowing him at all, compared to the first 6 months since he woke up. He is now accompanied and occupied. Not until now.
“Rocky checks on Grace okay.”
“Yeah, Rocky. I am fine. Thanks bud.”
“Grace thinking but not science.”
“It’s because..” He paused, “I wanted to know how I got in here. It’s like a missing puzzle piece for me. I can’t recall what's the benefit of this to me. what made me convinced to come here. If I could just ask the crews,”
Grace sighed, “...but they are all dead now. If those 2 crew just left any note or clue before they passed and left me alone in coma.”
Rocky rolled closer to Grace, “Grace is not alone. Not all dead. statement.” and that made a smile on his face and Grace threw his shoulder over the glass. “Thanks, bud. Thank you for accompanying me, You’re making me alive too.”
Grace never expected his bond with Rocky would grow strong like this. He knew he’s middle school teacher when the sudden excitement of wanting to share new things hit him, especially when he met Rocky, “The kids would be amazed to know about you. They’re little minds would explode.”— Kids? I have kids? Oh! I am a teacher. Science teacher.
“Grace never been alone. statement.”
“Yeah- yeah. I got it, bud. I am very glad you are here.”
“No. crew still rest.”
“Yes. They are resting in peace.”
“Rocky know dead. crew only rest.”
“They are dead as fudge, Rocky. 2 dead crew.” Grace detail while showing his two fingers up. He grabbed his laptop and checked if there were any translation issues but the words he had input in here was enough to form understandable human grammar.
“Grace is wrong. 2 dead. 2 alive crew. statement.”
“What are you talking abou— two what??” Grace immediately got up and wore his glasses properly. “Where is he?”
Rocky led him back to the part of the ship where he woke up from uncounted years of coma. He never took Rocky here and never detailed to him this part of the ship as for him it won’t be necessary to look back.
“Up up up. Crew resting.” Since rocky could only roll most of the surface, Grace needed to take it from there. There was a containment that Grace did not bother to look at since most of the things on the ship were meant for 3 crew, he never thought there could be another human in the ship.
Hopes are filling up into his heart in every step he takes in the ladder to check the chamber higher than where he woke up. Another human, another chance for him to know everything. It was a bigger MRI-like chamber where you could step inside or slide out the patient’s gatch bed. Grace was able to easily open the door and step inside.
“What Grace see? question.” He can hear Rocky from below waiting for him.
Grace sees a similar apparatus he has been before, monitoring computers and your unconscious body that is perfectly resting with signs of condemnation. You are a person that is buried in his memories.
Grace heard only a few banging of the door before footsteps inside his room. He did not bother. He continued to his sleep while on his sheets and boxers. Yesterday was a tough day doing his research and preparing for his presentation. Sleeping in a Naval Station wasn't the best experience but the best option he has for all extended effort he did last night.
“Since you often get yourself ready for 20 minutes, you'll be late for approximately 8 minutes for your presentation today with the world’s leaders.” He ignores the voice and buries his head to the pillow and covers his head.
“You need to get your rocket-boxered ass ready, Dr. Grace.” You commanded with a bit of firmness.
You questioned to yourself if the rocket printed boxers were still in 30’s men's choice of underwear or scientist thing, or maybe it's just him. You turned your head to Carl and asked, “Do you have any specific choice of underwear? If you don’t mind me asking.” Carl only shook his head while still standing firmly next to you. You looked back to the scientist who is still fighting for a nice sleep. “I see. I see. It’s just him. Last time his boxers were molecule printed.”
“I don’t get why they call you a Stratt clone, Stratt doesn't talk about someone else's underwear.” Grace said beneath the pillow, and that hit him. Hair tousled when he lifted his head and the first thing he met was your eyes. “Good morning, Doctor Grace. Time to get up.”
It was not the very first time you did it to Grace and the doctor can’t get help but to feel timidly as he covers himself with his blanket to hide his flushed face from you.
Grace was lucky that the presentation went well as he practiced last night. The world leader only threw questions related to his presentation since their interests were leaning more to strategy and planning which is under Stratt responsibility already.
A sound of a box placed in his desk woke Grace from his power nap in his laboratory, “You haven’t got your breakfast.” He sits properly off his body from the head rest of his swivel chair while eyes are still half open, “Thank you” trying to keep cool.
“How did you manage to get bento on a naval station? We’re practically sailing around Faslane.”
Most people saw you as another Eva Stratt in heels, sharp-edged and impossible to rattle, all clipped professionalism and firmness. Copying it was not that hard, just a couple of years working with her. But after months of working beside you, Grace learned the truth: once you let someone close enough, the steel gave way to something warmer. Playful. Gentle.
Caring in quiet little ways that caught him off guard. Carl and him are the most who sees it.
“I made it myself,” you said simply. And somehow, even after all this time, he realized there were still so many things about you he had yet to know.
You waited for him to take a big scoop and shove it into his mouth before asking, “So what’s with rocket printed undies?” He almost spit all of the food he took as he choked.
Grace knew you were well aware of how patient he could be, years of teaching middle school had made sure of that. He never lost his temper when you pulled things like this. If anything, all he ever felt around you was that strange little flutter in his stomach he still didn’t quite have a name for.
“You don’t ask someone about their underwear.” Grace said as soon as he swallowed food that almost choked him.
“We wanted to know if it is a scientist thing or just your thing. We are just curious. Right, Carl?” You said and turned away from Carl and faced Grace again.
Carl just casually mouthed “I am not” to Grace while shaking his head.
“It's just— It just happened that they made this kind of underwear. This is something I customize myself. And for God’s sake can you please not go inside my room?” His worry lies not in his privacy but on how you would think of him seeing him sleep— during hours where he is careless about himself.
“You are in a naval station. Basically it's owned by the government and we are authorized to check it anytime.” Your eyes smiled at him. Grace raises his index. “That sounds power tripping to me.” that only made you chuckle.
You put a bottle of water in front of him at the exact moment he chokes. Grace knows how reliable you are, not just inside the laboratory but in many aspects even to the smallest one.
“Carl, would you mind getting Dr. Grace some soda?” With no question, Carl followed what you asked and you waited for him to leave the laboratory.
You pushed his loose glasses towards his radix which made him get a clear sight of you in front of him.
“Wanna go stargazing later? I know a spot on the ship.”
It was the first time anyone had ever asked Grace to do something that wasn’t tied to work. Just one simple question, yet it stirred something unfamiliar in his chest, a strange warmth spreading through him at the thought of being wanted for something other than the job.
Mission was never left behind as it is still his priority while consistently checking on your unconscious body. Ofc he would always check on you since Rocky is asking about you every hour.
“You couldn’t hide how excited you were about her, yet somehow you hid from me that there was another crew here you can see for months.” Grace said to Rocky while observing you in your sleep. “Grace did not ask. statement.”
“How could I—” He stopped from there since Rocky got a point.
It was tricky to move your body to the lower chamber where the Chinese crew, Yao, used to be placed, but Grace managed to do it.
Your unconscious body wrapped in a translucent body bag which is being monitored by designated machinery in the chamber turned into Grace’s hope to unlock his true self, to recall who he was, but he was also having fear if he should still know about himself. “I should know.” He should know the answers why his body involuntarily gives him shivers and warmth whenever his hand lands in your skin.
You could be something more than a crew. You could be more than part of this project. You must be something more.
“Woman is beautiful. Grace want Woman. statement.” Grace’s dissociation was interrupted by Rocky. As he always does. Since Grace has no clue of her name, he just set it on Rocky’s translation as Woman so he wouldn’t constantly hear it as Adrian, “Please don’t do that once she wakes up. You’ll freak her out.”
“Do Grace want Woman. question.”
“We are professionals here.”
“Professionals… |”
“Our priority is the mission.”
“mission… |” Rocky copied.
“Yes, that's correct.”
“Grace did not answer rocky question.” Rocky rolls closer to Grace, “Grace want Woman. Statement.” Grace could lie to himself but not to Rocky.
Rocky could sense how his heartbeat skips and increases pace whenever he sees you and the different toxins his brain releases whenever he checks on her. Rocky knows that all.
He never pushes himself to remember everything but only lets his brain do it by nature. Grace only relies on the images from his memory of you. Doing laboratory stuff, him asking you to search information he needed and lunch together but more of work related activities. yet feels different. His smiles were different, words from his mouth were stuttering.
“When Woman wake up, question?” No one knows. Grace wouldn't take the risk to wake her up. They just both continue their routine in finding new information about how to eliminate these star-eating bacteria while on their journey to Tau Ceti.
“Did Woman wake up, question?” Grace couldn’t give more information than no, but never failed to check her, it became part of his routine.
There will always be room for new things to learn about each other. They have discussed a lot of things about each other’s planet and practices— although Earth has different practices in every corner.
“Earth is complicated, not like Erid. statement.”
“We are guilty as charged.”
“So how do humans breed, question?”
“Wow oh! that escalated fast.” Rocky got confused with how Grace reacted. He knew that humans are not vocal about breeding.
“Eridian breeding technique is beautiful.” Rocky said while his arms were raised. “Do Grace want to see the Eridian breeding technique, question?” He added.
“No. no. not now. I am not ready to see. Maybe next time, bud.”
“Does Grace have breeding techniques?”
“Of course, I do.”
“So Grace has breeding experience, question?”
“Breeding doesn't sound appropriate to me.”
“Humans are complicated. statement.” Grace couldn't even recall any past lovers— if he does have one. Surely he got some. He said to himself before looking again to the unconscious body in the bed.
“You seriously haven't been in a relationship before? woman? man?” You shift your focus to him, off from the monitor and turn your chair to face him. “What’s making you keep your virgin ass?”
“I didn't say I’m a virgin. I said— I haven't been in a proper relationship before.” Grace clarified. “Most of them I’ve only been with for some months, 10 months max. but they never really cared. So I just focus on my career, the longest relationship I’ve been with.”
“How about the other teachers in the school?”
“Who would you pair with a Science Teacher, then?”
“Math Teachers”
“One is a married man and the other is lesbian.”
You were suggesting more,“English Teachers?”
“All were my work besties plus they were way too young”
“Physical Education?”
“They are also the Math Teachers.”
“Principal?”
“Do you seriously have a thing in office romance?”
That caught you off guard. Like Stratt, You often stay professional and have no room for romance especially in the workplace. But you are not closing the door for opportunity, after all you are just a human with a beating heart.
You were about to ask him another question just to not cause any awkward silence but then he speaks, “—Because I don’t.” Grace added, with a very noticeable movement in his throat. “I’ll do the job, finish it, pack my stuff and go home. Making my life less complicated.”
Right on time, Stratt walks into the laboratory with Carl behind her. It's like a switch, you turn back on to your work mode. “Am I interrupting something?” Stratt.
“No, w-we are just talking about my student loan haha that's it.” Grace answered Stratt which made you look at him.
“You still have a student loan, Dr. Grace.?”
“Well, It is supposed to be paid off by the university if they just keep me there.”
You gasped, “Gosh— so I’ll be still paying my student loans till my 30s.”
Eva slowly looked at you, “You have a student loan that I didn’t know about?”
You immediately look for a valid escape goat and the first thing you see is Grace. “Dr. Grace asked me to get him some food.” and quickly exited the lab. Startt’s eyes followed you as you made your way out of the room, “I did not ask for food” Grace.
In the past few weeks of being locked up in the Naval Station, the most fun activity you often do with Grace is stargazing, and surprisingly he did appear every time you asked him to.
Focus was still on the mission, Startt has this kink in micro managing and you are the first hand receiving those tasks making you unable to spend time with him by night.
That particular week had been brutal. Stratt buried you under endless workloads on top of research assignments and experiments with Grace. He noticed that. Of course, he noticed it. and at the same time he was waiting for you to ask him for stargazing tonight. “Anything I can do for you, Dr. Grace?” You asked with half eyelid open
“Rest.” he said gently. “You need to rest. I’ll be fine here.”
You did follow that else your body will collapse. You immediately went to your assigned room and slept even if it wasn't still aligned to your body clock that you often follow.
Your body suddenly wakes you up by night, it reminds you that sleep was not enough, you need to fill up your tummy as well. While eating your dinner, you open your phone, which you are trying to avoid so you could have excuse to Stratt not seeing her messages
But you received a message from someone you did not expect.
Dr. Grace *.✧: Wanna watch the stars? Here at the same spot.
While in your pajamas and cardigan, You made your way to the upper deck on the side of the naval ship. Spot doesn't often check by the authorities in the said ship where you two could have a moment in peace.
“Nice Pajamas. Kuromi is a great choice.” Grace compliment half meant tease you. “It's not something I customized for myself.” You replied to aim to copy what he responded to you before.
“Hey— how do you know Kuromi?” You asked as you walked towards him he shrugged his shoulders in response. Of course he knew who Kuromi was. He’s a cool middle grade teacher.
You sat beside him, close enough to feel his body temperature in this cold night which noon was the only source of light but light enough to see his face clear.
He sighed, “I did not prepare any star fun facts today, sorry.”
“No pressure. I’m just here to relax and get some air.” You chuckled.
“Yeah— yeah. Oh! I may have no stars fun facts today but—” Grace paused. “I could get one for you.” He winked.
You smiled while raising an eyebrow at him, “Show me then” challenging him.
He rubs his palm against each other, “Okay then. Point the star you want.”
You have chosen Alphecca in Corona Borealis which is on your far side. Grace actually reached for it, lifting his hand and grabbing it like light years distance didn’t matter, like the sky might give in if he tried hard enough. You were about to laugh, but it caught in your chest when a faint glow lit at his fingertips, soft and warm, like a secret he brought to life just for this moment.
You never knew that thumb tip light magic would be this fun.
The light glowing in his fingers while the space between you quietly disappeared, did notice but did not bother. You watched how he passed the light from his left finger to right like a kid first time seeing magic, first time feeling a newly introduced feeling.
You didn’t ruin his show—you let him show you, let him have this small magic, because the way he looked at the sky… and slowly back to you, felt more real than anything else. And maybe that’s what made your heart stutter—he wasn’t reaching for the star anymore, not really. Grace was close enough now to what he really wanted more than the stars.
You were laughing at how creative he was and there were the show ends when he saw you smiling again. “Hope it's not lame.”
A soft hit to his chest while laughing “No—no. it's not. I wouldn't think that. I find it really nice. I did not expect it. Did you use that in your class?”
“Actually.”
He watched as you got over it and didn't bother to call you out on leaning on him. His eyes landed in your smiles, in your lips. His eyes made you recall all of the unspoken things you two have— you both have.
You cannot recall when it started but being on his side was no longer part of the job for you, but willingness to be on his side most of the time.
Ryland didn't know if that new memory was helpful or not. In a moment he was full of hope, and now it suddenly shifted to not knowing what you do once you woke up and still doesn't know who you were for him back on Earth because the last thing he saw on that memory was how close your lips to his.
Did we kiss?
What are we then?
Am I not really a virgin?
“What Grace is thinking, question?”
His dissociation was again declined when Rocky appeared on his side. “It's nothing Rocky. I just found out our names. My name is Ryland, Ryland Grace.”
Grace took a marker and went closer to your bed. He wrote both your full name on the wall, big enough to be noticed first. “....is here,” he added.
It's been a month since Grace found out your comatose body and marked it his 10th month from the time he woke up.
By this point, checking on you was just helping him to recall pieces of his life, but not entirely. If Rocky is resting in his ship, he would go to you and talk. slowly hope’s fading. yet you did help him to recall some of what he was used to.
“Amaze. amaze. amaze. Grace knows all his name.”
“Yeah, feel lightened up.”
When they were about to leave, Grace stopped and looked back when he heard familliar voice command.
“Body movement detected.” followed by “What is two plus two?”
They both stopped for a while to see if there might be a real movement or just a bug on the machine. “Oh god—” Grace runs towards you when eyelids tried to open.
You have no clue where you are or what was happening. The guy caught your attention away from looking at the blank white ceiling with floating machines around you. “Am I in the hospital?” questioned yourself but felt different. It wasn't the room, it was the atmosphere.
In his excitement, Grace answered the question that supposed to be answered by you.
“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.”
He did realize that you must answer those questions yourself as it was able to recognize his voice but also it was designed to know if you are conscious enough to think and answer.
“Seven hundredzbs— glunnn— twenty.” Tube that was in your mouth may cause you hard time to speak but you were able to manage answer it till stating your name which made the tubes automatically taken away.
This man helped you to get up. He must be the doctor? but he doesn't look like one, based on your guts.
“I am Ryland Grace. D-do you remember me?” He said while sitting in front of you. You remembered nothing than your name. You looked around but nothing. Just only sub conscious thoughts and body pain.
You don't mind what you were wearing, translucent body bag, but Grace does and wrapped you with a common lab coat.
“amaze! amaze! amaze!”
“Hello woman. I am Rocky. statement.” It was a blurry glass you assume was machinery. it does not surprise you until it moves closer to you. There was an alertness switch in your body but did not make you react much. Enough for Grace to notice.
“I know it does not look like usual, and it is new. but he’s a friend. He's from Erid.” He said while holding the glass around Rocky. “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.”
“You are in Project Hail Mary. Welcome aboard”
“cheer! cheers! cheers!”
—not the best word in Rocky’s translation to use at that moment.
Ryland was hands on in taking care of her. Never feel a burden while you are in the state of recovering yourself. He knew how hard it would be, so he won't let you alone.
He could say that you’re recovering fast, and if his calculation were correct you could recall her memories faster than him. but at the moment, they are taking things slow. Days and turn to weeks since you woke up.
“Did we kiss? Should I ask?” Ryland asked himself. Yet also, not right thing to ask for someone who is recovering.
“Grace thinking what, question?”
“Nothing, Rocky.”
“Grace can't think of nothing. Humans are always thinking. statement.” He knew Rocky wouldn’t stop but he can't just tell him everything, not that you are just behind them.
You walked towards Rocky with a rag in your hand, kneeled down to wipe his barrier. “Rocky is correct. humans can't think of nothing,” you said softly. “We just take a little time—sometimes to understand things better, sometimes to rest our minds, and sometimes because we’re trying to decide what’s right. The best thing you could do while we are taking some time to think is, to let us be. spare us more time.”
It did not take long for you to get comfortable with Rocky. Ryland did a great job in being a bridge for you two to build connection and know each other. Just like two kids befriending each other.
“Awesome awesome. Woman good explanation. Woman is best human ever. statement.”
Ryland protested, “Hey! you told me that first.”
“Grace is Rocky favorite human.” He paused, “—second. statement.” Rocky added.
Ryland also did give her a tour around the ship, from do’s and dont’s to how the ship works. Ryland did pass all things he knew about their spacecraft, but most of the time he gave you a light task why you are still recovering. Also since you can't find your bag here in this ship, you use Milana’s stuff. May God rest her soul in peace.
You did not bother adding your name or changing “woman” in Rocky’s translation. You got used to it.
“Hey, something's bothering you?” shiver crawls on Ryland’s back when he feels your hands on his near waist. He cannot deny that but you don’t notice it at all. “I am f-fine haha.” He responded.
“Let me know what else I could help you, okay?” You said before going out of the room to do other tasks.
Sound object skittered noisily as it rolled.
“Grace heart skipping beat. statement.”
“Shh Rocky! She’ll hear you.”
There were no new memories of you with Ryland and what you mostly recall about your life before the project, but you have a glimpse of memories working with him. You often check on Ryland since you could hear him talking with Rocky constantly but his words are getting fewer whenever you are around.
But if you two were colleagues, you two must be comfortable with each other, right? maybe not. But your guts says yes.
Been 3 weeks since you woke up and you can sense you are starting to recall what happened during the process of this project. You could be the hope for Ryland to know how she hopped in this ship. You start to learn how to manage the facility when Ryland realizes it takes more than two hands to operate the ship properly.
Today was so different it was too hard to interact with Ryland, especially that you woke up from a dream that felt so real. It could be real. It could be from your memory. In that dream, you can feel Ryland's soft breath touch your neck while he is sleeping next to you. The tolerable weight of his arm was in your waist while two of you were sharing one blanket. Feels so soft. Feels so light. Feels free. and felt so real.
“Earth to you?” Ryland said and snapped next to your ears. He moved to your side and checked on you while you were trying to hide your flushed face from thinking about what you dreamed of.
“Impossible. Why earth to Woman. Can Woman carry Earth. question?”
“It's an idiom, Rocky.” Ryland said.
“Oh, Earth idiom. very confusing.”
Ryland faced you again and asked, “Are you alright? You seem so distracted since you woke up.” You can't answer it. God knows how much respect you have for him. You couldn't tell him what your dream was about, that couldn't happen. He leads this project, and you? You don't know, you can't recall about yourself entirely.
When you looked at his face, you saw the same detail of your dream. much detail as you were only inches away from his sleeping face in that dream.
“Are you sick?” concerned Ryland.
“Woman is sick? DIE?! Woman is going to die no no no no no!”
That made you chuckle after you saw Rocky panicking inside his glass, “No and no. I am not dying and I am not sick.”
“You sure?” Ryland asked and you just nod at him.
He clapped and wore his glasses again. “Alright, need to get back to work. We haven't figured out how these things breed fast.” referring to Astrophage captured back in Venus sitting in his table.
“Rocky taught Grace how Eridian breeds but Grace did not teach Rocky human breeding technique.” That caught off guard both of you.
“And that was out of nowhere, Rocky.”
“Rocky remember sudden. statement.”
You just watch them discussing, not bother to interrupt. Ryland responds,“It's just— It's because— we don't teach others how to do it. I just came naturally? Yeah naturally.”
“Grace parents not teach, question?”
“That's disgusting. I am glad they did not do that.”
“Rocky is curious. Show me. command.”
“Woaw that’s such a demand.” disbelief in Ryland's face. “But no! It takes two humans to do it and the opposite gender.”
For a minute, they both went quiet. Ryland just realized what he just said and immediately blood rushed up to his face that he doesn't want to turn and face you. The silence made you also realize what Ryland has just said.
Ryland took the opportunity to talk to you in your so-called kitchen and handed you a pack of skittles in a sealed pack. “No expiration date but hope it won't hurt your tummy on that light years-old Skittles.”
“Thanks, Ry.” You said and put some of your hair in the back of your ears which gave Ryland a better view of your face.
“Uhm” He pauses, “Sorry if you might find it annoying earlier. Rocky is just curious about us. humans. He finds us very complex. too complicated to understand.”
“I totally understand. We are very different from each other. I myself also curious about Eridian.” You replied
“Well, I just also think that he’s messing up with me too. He knew I don't like talking about— you know— the breeding stuff. I barely discussed sex education to my students before.” and the two of you laugh.
He does check on you time by time, to see if there's any improvement with your memory or recalls something new. something you two shared. maybe time you two with each other, only two of you. To know if that's his imagination only or if it did happen back on Earth.
“May I ask? Do you—”
You cut him off by holding his arm when you felt something strange with your weight. “Do you feel that?” You asked him. Both your heads snapped toward the nearby monitor just as the warning flashed across the screen.
[ CENTRIFUGE DISABLED - PREPARE FOR GRAVITY SHUTDOWN ]
Before you could react your feet lifted off from the floor. The thing is you haven’t practiced floating around as Ryland wanted you to focus on your recovery. “R-ryland…” Ryland could see the terror in your eyes and immediately took your hands pulling you closer to him. “Relax, relax. You're safe.”
“This is the reason why there are many strings around the ship. You could try to hold with those if you wanted to go to another facility.” He explained while your hands were gripping tight in his arms.
“Please, don’t.” You plead asking not to let go of you. Ryland agreed.
But with no control over where your body wanted to drift, your hands latched onto the first thing you could find—Ryland. Before you realized it, you were clinging to the scientist outright. Ryland didn’t mind the way you held onto him. What worried him more was whether you’d mind it once you noticed exactly how close you were.
“Okay, I’ll put us lower, closer to the floor before I go to the function deck— to turn on the centrifuge again. Would that be fine for you?” Ryland asked for your approval. As soon as you nod while face is buried in his neck, and with gentle care, he pushes the two of you off the ceiling, guiding your drifting bodies downward.
When two of you were only inches away from the floor, the gravity went on immediately with more pressure, causing a loud sound across the room.
“Ouch— my back.” You complained while Ryland’s hand was on your back which he used to support your body.
“Are you hurt?” worried Ryland.
Before you could answer Ryland, Rocky entered the room and stopped on the doorsteps— that made two of you realize your positions. How you were lying beneath Ryland with his arm at your back and side of your head supporting his body from falling to yours.
“Nice nice nice. Grace and Woman breeding. statement.”
“No, we are not!” You and him said in chorus.
Ryland’s passion in teaching is not limited to his classroom. From everything he learned in handling kids, he was able to apply it in his everyday life— or maybe he is just patient in nature.
You could hear them discussing from the other room.
“Rocky turned on the centrifuge. statement.”
“How did it go off first?”
“Rocky too”
You chuckled silently after hearing it. No gravity could be fun sometimes.
During times that you all decided to rest, you often found him sitting in front of the window. Staring at the endless space composed of stars “Y’miss earth?” You asked as soon as you stepped in.
“Who wouldn't?” He looked at you with a smirk on his lips without moving his body. “I mean, yes, People there are not highly recommended to interact with, they are incredibly unfair— but it's still home.”
Ryland continues, “I have a bunch of memories being mistreated there, but I don't think that was enough for me to join here. That's why I was still wondering how I got in here.” For a moment, he forgot what just said as he faced you, “How about you? Do you recall going in here now?”
Your face looked almost angelic in the dim light. All he could do was look at you and wonder how someone could exist and make the whole room feel gentler just by being in it.
“No, actually sorry.” You answered. Ryland hopes to know if he has indeed shared the moment you have gone again. Getting itchy to know anything, even a clue.
“— but I have this dream. I am with you—” You couldn't decide whether to tell him the truth or you’ll just be judged. You don’t want him to think you are daydreaming of him.
There's only 3 living with conscious matter in the ship and you don't want to make it awkward. “...and?” Ryland was waiting for you to detail it.
“Oh— it's just a random dream. It just felt real? That you and I… were…” You sighed, “we’re colleagues. You know, just a random scene at work.”
Ryland nodded in response. “Yeah, I think that one is real. We won’t be here together if we aren’t working for this project. Makes sense right?”
For a brief moment, there was silence in between you two. He clears his throat and takes something out of his pocket. “I also have this dream? Memory? Uhm— of us. Kinda work related. That we are stargazing together.” He said, and yes you have a glimpse of those, like an old photos in your memory.
“We often star-gaze in a Naval Station since there are only limited things we can do. We are locked in research for this project—” He explains and moves closer to you.
“So uhm— ‘kay. Choose a star and I’ll get it for you.” Ryland said. You chuckled and pointed out random bright stars since you can’t identify names of the stars from where the ship was right now.
You watched him as he acted like a catching star using his bare hard— he even showed exhaustion after his ‘attempts’, and after a couple of catching stars he finally got one and kept it in his palm. “Gotcha!”
He slowly leaned to you while palm was still closed. Curious, you leaned toward him too, your attention fixed entirely on his hand. When he opened it, a tiny folded paper star rested in his palm. “Sorry, I don't have my thumb lights, so I improvised.”
That made your memory clearer.
“Oh! Yes! Hahaha I remember it now! stargazing on the Naval Station’s deck and we…” You stops.
“And we what?” Ryland asked
Before you could answer, Your gaze went down to his lips. Unsure if that really happened or just your brain tricking you since he’s the only guy you could interact with— but don’t feel like that. Everything seems so… natural.
He also noticed how your focus shifted to him instead of answering his questions. your eyes lingering where they shouldn’t have—on the slow bob of his adam’s apple as he swallowed, bullet sweats on the side of his forehead, on the faint, restless twitch of his jaw every time he fought for composure. You all notice those. surroundings went quiet, quieter than the endless dark outside the ship. Like the only person in the universe are the two of you.
Inch by inch your face was getting closer with no gravitation needed to pull each other closer. pulling you toward each other with the slow, inevitable force of magnets finally giving in.
“Are you hugging without Rocky, question?”
And just like that, you immediately part away, face flushed, and avoid each other’s eyes.
It all came back with painful clarity, even the memories you wished you could leave untouched. You remembered everything. You shared a brief time with him before this project took off but those weeks were the most wonderful weeks in your life. It was beautiful. He is.
Been almost a week since your last stargazing in Naval Station and he barely speaks to you since. Not unless it was strictly work-related and it was obvious. Unluckily for him, nearly everything that needed to be done requires talking to you.
“Carl, Can you pass me the pen— oh nevermind let me.” the pen was literally on your desk that he could have just asked you to hand it to him. Carl noticed this strange behaviour of Ryland and eye-questioned you, you only shrugged your shoulders in response.
Only the two of you left when Carl takes Stratt's call. You moved your swivel chair closer to him. “Want to grab something for lunch?” You asked.
“T-thanks but I have some errands to do.” That’s when you confirmed that he’s avoiding you.
You know he has nothing to do after lunch. You are the one who organize his schedule. You wanted to confront him but you know he would avoid you more, so you need to think of a way where he doesn't have any choice. Did he just kiss-n-run me?
In the other hand, Ryland hates himself for having no balls to tell you what he felt. It's just the hate for himself stays when he could tell her right away that he wanted that. Coward coward coward. He tells himself. He could have the chance to tell you that night, but chooses to run after kissing you.
After a long day, he immediately packs his thing like he has need to bike back home.
“Where are you going?” You asked when you saw him packing up his stuff.
“Where do you want me to go on this ship? I’ll be resting.”
“We are throwing a farewell party for them tonight.”
Everyone is having a great time, laughter is in every corner of the room while Ryland is only having an almost empty bottle of beer with his notes. You did not expect him to join but there he is. He was surprised when a hand closed his notes followed by another bottle of beer being set beside him. He heard you mutter a complaint about your head before you sank down beside him.
“Working hours are over, Dr. Grace.” He knew he couldn’t get off of this now you are there. You winked. “Set off your nerd mode for tonight, this is a party.”
Ryland knew he couldn't let this pass, so he set his notes aside and replaced the pen in his hand with a bottle of beer. Lucky for him you did not bring up what happened on that night. purely topic under the sun.
The party was loud and full of people, but you two were already in a world of your own. It was just better to be alone, as long as you were alone together, and that is what you two did.
“Be careful” He said while you were walking through the benches on the side of the deck. “It’s fun! Sometimes you need to explore things, Dr. Grace.”
He really finds you adventurous, easy to hangout with and not afraid to try new things out. Different from him who just kept himself in one place, comfort zone. One of the reasons why he can’t stop himself adoring you.
You were getting quiet, and he doesn’t want that feeling it gives him. Ryland used to hear you being expressive. Transparent of what you felt or what you were thinking. You stopped walking as soon as you reached the upper deck. “Why?” He asked.
“Nothing.”
“Humans can’t think of nothing.” He said. He is indeed a scientist. Cool scientists with just stupid displacement of eyeglasses often made you laugh.
The cold sea breeze is passing to his cardigan and making your scarf swing. You are looking into the eyes of someone who made you feel butterflies in the stomach that you thought you could only hear in teenage fiction.
You wanted to know if he treats everyone else like he did to you, or could be something special. Exclusively yours.
“Don’t you really mean that kiss?” You asked out of nowhere. His lips suddenly shut. That caught him off guard. “Was it really nothing for you?”
He wasn’t looking at your eyes, “Look, I don’t want you to get it wrong. No beef on you. It’s just—”
You stepped closer to him and pushed his eyeglasses again towards his radix. His face is almost next to yours.
“Dr. Grace, the question is closed ended. So, is it a yes or no? I am making it easier for you.” He can’t believe that he could get intimidated by someone way younger than him.
Ryland gulped, “It meant… nothing for me.” You nodded before placing your hand on his cheek and reached out his lips, placing a slow and heated kiss in his lips. You watched his eyes shut and deepen his face towards yours.
His cold hands crawl on your waist supporting your body. You move away when you feel his lips moving on yours. He even chased your lips when you moved it away. His body is telling you different story. telling you the truth that he couldn't say.
“I thought it was nothing?” You asked while foreheads were leaning to each other.
“I was.. a liar and coward to tell you it was more than everything.”
Ryland doesn’t know how to calm his pounding heart while you two are on your way to his room. He is trying to keep cool— as he doesn't want to give you an impression of being too eager.
Didn't he know you were the one being impatient.
He was thinking about what he should do once you reached his room. All of what he plotted in his mind was useless when you grab his face and claim his lips again. There was no time wasted. He reacted fast and joined you, dancing along with your lips while his arms secured to your waist and back.
Tongues were dancing, nose tips were bumping each other. It was a total mess, but exactly how he wanted. exactly how he daydreams that he often pushes away because of his respect for you. He loses it, so you do.
You're thankful that his cardigan’s button was cooperating. Your hand slides under the shirt and touches it with a light scratch of your nails, that sends him little shivers crawling all over his body. Even if he doesn't tell you, you can sense it, his arm around you tightened. “Stop.. teasing me… please.” He pleads in between the kisses.
You walked him to his bed which is a few steps away without breaking the kiss, and pushed him to his own bed. You admire the view of him in his bed leaning on his elbow.
“I like your shirt, Dr. Grace, but we need to let go of that.” and it didn't take a second for him to understand that, he immediately sits up and removes his shirt, finally showing to you the toned body he is hiding beneath.
You knew he got something under those lab coats, but it exceeded your expectations. You tried not to be impatient. Ryland watches as you slowly unbutton your tops, for him it's like a show he doesn't want to miss every scene. He crawls back till his back hits the headboard when you knelt in front of him.
His glasses were still on, but the usual not on its right place. You still find it attractive along with his messed up hair because of your hands.
“Do you have any prepared safe words, Dr. Grace?” You asked.
He let out a shaky laugh, “I’ll choose Torcularis Septentrionalis— longest name of a star but I’m not planning to use it either.”
You can't deny that his nerdy tricks attract you, making you want to devour him. Once again your lips and his links. You took the opportunity of touching every inch of his exposed skin. “Damn, where have you been all this time?” He asked while his eyes were shut.
“Hmm let’s say when you got your bachelor degree, I was in 8th or 9th grade.” You said.
“Please don't make this sound weird.”
“You were asking where I have been.”
“I love kids, but not that kind of love.” He said “Your humor is really in the wrong timing.” added.
He was interrupted when you shifted your focus to his ears. His mouth left open as you made your way through his jaw— taking much time as you enjoyed his scent there.
Ryland did not fight and surrender his body to you, letting you do anything you wanted. He enjoyed it. He did try his best not to make any sound, but you were a sucker of whimpers.
While busy with his neck, you sat in his pants exactly on top of his crotch and did an intentional friction there. Combination of light sucks in his neck and your hips rolling on top of him is driving him insane.
Not long after, his shaky breath turns to fading groans. His deep manly voice continues playing in your ears as your kisses travel down his abdomen.
He watched you while undoing his pants, giving him a final look before pulling it off was sinful. His thing sprung out proudly as soon as it freed itself. He was above average— as shown in his height and thick enough to give you a hard time later.
Ryland couldn't hide how embarrassed he was. You can't blame him, it's been almost a decade since his last.
But he let you take care of him, using your soft hands wrapping around his cock with gentle strokes— observing effects on him. He pressed his lips together once he felt your warm breath down there, trying to conceal the sound he might make.
You started with teasing your tongue on his tip,“Oh god— please.” He murmured and buried his head back in the pillow. You took him slowly inch by inch, sucking all down to the base for once only before it chokes you, then your tongue plays around his cock inside your mouth.
“Shit shit shit— fuck.” You knew he's losing his shit when he started cursing repeatedly with no censor unlike what he does most of the time. “Stop— please. I’m near. Torcularis— fuck— septentrionalis!” You slowly let him go and go up. He was panting.
“I just..” catches his breath between the words, “....finishes with you.”
You are glad he is using his words now. You stood up and stripped all of the remaining clothes you have, as you went back he was already leaning again to his headboard.
You placed yourself in his lap trapping him in between your legs. His cold hands were travelling in your bare skin, adoring every part of you. You held him again and positioned it towards your entrance.
“You sure with this?” He asked while staring directly into your eyes.
“I wouldn't suck the hell out of you if I am not sure.” Your response.
You lower yourself down, making him go inside you. You sucked up air half way through, You knew you would have this trouble. He was gripping your hips and waist. Still you manage to sit till its base. “You still sure?” He asked and you nod.
“Plus I forgot your safe word anyway, no way to stop.” You winked before clenching around him causing him to lean his head again in the headboard which gives you a better view of his neck. “You are torturing me.”
As soon as you adjust with his size, you start moving on top of him. He watched you like heaven in the sky and again your lips met his again. He held the back of your head to deepen his kisses on you while he rocked his hips so that you could bounce on him steadily. He knew what you needed.
“Fuck, Ryland.” whispered to this eat following up with a moan. The pleasure is very visible in his face. He looked helpless while eyes were half lid open. Never met someone who please you more than he did, and that encourage you to fuck him better.
He was murmuring something inaudible. You continued bouncing on his lap but you also noticed him being soft like letting you do whatever you wanted. Eyes closed, his eyebrows furrowed— signs he is trying to keep his focus. “I am near…” He said while panting.
“Hold it baby, hold it.” You whisper to his ears.
When he opened his eyes, he saw your flushed face which made it harder for him to hold. His hand landed in his bedsheet and gripped on it to help him keep his posture.
His other hand went down to your clit and rubbed it to help you. His hand was soft and his touch was gentle.
“I am near.” You announced. In just a few seconds, you were able to hit your climax and not long after a few bounce, Ryland hit his limit and released inside. “Oh no…” worries lie in his face for brief seconds.
“Don't worry, I’m safe.” then points out your inner arm.
He let rest on top of him, both restless yet satisfied. The overflowing feelings are unexplainable even to the genius mind of Ryland. He let his mind rest and let his heart take over— not thinking but only taking that moment. so you do.
You snapped back to reality and the first thing you saw was Ryland’s worried face right in front you. Heart pounding with all memories you retrieved. Your lips were shaking but afraid to let Ryland know.
Jealousy, Jealousy. ( Ryland Grace x Teacher!Reader Oneshot. )
Jealous hot nerdy men are hot
Title: Jealousy, Jealously.
Pairing: Heavily Implied - Ryland Grace x Teacher!Reader.
Rating: T. ( Nothing too suggestive tbh just to be safe. )
Words: 4.1K
Summary: Ryland runs into you in the Teacher's Lounge. But hey-o! You're not alone. There's some annoying parasite.... History teacher, attached to your hip.
Ryland Grace Masterlist.
Ryland Grace is a professional.
This was like a mantra he repeated every day when he woke up. He is an educator! A mentor! A responsible adult whose job is to guide young minds and maintain appropriate boundaries and composure at all times!
So, as he strolled into the Teacher’s Lounge on sparkling morning, expecting hot coffee in the pot and if he’s lucky? A stale donut left over from the batch one of the Math teachers brought in ‘just because’. What he was not expecting was you already there, leaning very casually against the counter, head tossed back in laughter at something Mr. Carter, new hire, 8th grade History teacher, suspiciously charismatic, had just told you.
Ryland is not someone who feels a very… A VERY specific and very unreasonable spike of irritation when someone else is already in the room talking to you.
The 6th grade science teacher… Does not like this History teacher. Again, not in a jealous way. More in a… data-based, observational and entirely rational way based in science! All things he told himself to feel a tiny bit better as he shuffled his way to the coffee pot.
Ryland noticed right away the stance of the other man, hand braced on the counter, a little too close beside you like he was some B-actor in some low budget rom-com. Ryland internally gagged at that as he pulled out his mug, setting it on the counter with a small ‘clink’ from the porcelain.
“And then the kid tried to argue with me that the War of 1812 actually happened in 1912.” Carter talked with that dumb charm that rubbed Ryland the wrong way, his blue eyes narrowing just a bit at the grin the History teacher gave you. Gross. There’s no way you’re falling for th---
“No way!” You laughed.
Oh C’mon!!! Ryland whined internally.
“I swear. Full confidence too, like there was no argument.”
“That’s kind of impressive, honestly.” Your head tilted, Ryland staring at the back of it, almost flabbergasted.
And without thinking, his mouth is moving, sharper than intended. “More like statistically concerning.”
Both you and Carter turn at the sound of Ryland’s voice finally breaking the moment. The smile you give him is instant, causing the blonde to feel a shift of… Pride that your attention was on him like he deserved it all. “Oh hey, Mr. Grace. Good morning.”
“Morning.” He replied to you, aiming for a totally normal tone but he landed somewhere in the vicinity of I’m in the middle of a tense lab presentation don’t even look at me.
Carter nodded curtly. “Mr. Grace.”
Ryland wanted nothing more than to make a disgusted face, but opted to just… Nod in response. Brief. Efficient and neutral. Ah… Professional. Nothing to draw his attention anymore than needed. Ryland squeezed himself to access the coffee pot behind you, almost hyper aware of the conversation happening.
“Are you still coming on Friday?” Carter asked, his voice deepened which caused Ryland to… Well, he mocked the History teacher in his head. ArE yoU sTIll ComINg oN FRIdaY. He scoffed softly, his hand pausing on the coffee pot handle as he waited for you answer.
“Yeah, I think so. They’ve been really pushing these social events for teachers, like making us interact outside of hours is going to help.” You chuckled and crossed your arms.
“You better.” Carter replied lightly and Ryland swears he can sense the stupidhead getting closer to you. “It won’t be as fun without you.”
Ryland grabbed the pot handle with a bit too much aggression, bringing it to his cup and pouring.
Too fast.
It sloshed onto the counter with a small ‘sploosh’, your eyes glancing over right as it happened.
“Great…” Ryland muttered softly, looking at it with a gaze of defeat. And it wasn’t even 8 AM
yet.
“Woah, careful. You don’t want to burn yourself.” There was such concern in your voice that Ryland really liked, but… Couldn’t shake the pair of hazel eyes also watching you. What was it with History teachers having to witness every flippin’ event? Ryland suppressed the desire to roll his eyes.
“I am being careful,” He told you gently, grabbing a paper towel and immediately knocking over the sugar container in the process. There’s a soft thunk as it hits the counter, your eyes trying to search for Ryland’s but he’s… Refusing as a wall of silence hit the three of you before ---
Carter snorted. Quiet enough to be subtle but enough for Ryland to close his eyes for half a second to recollect himself.
This is fine.
Everything is fine.
“You okay there, Grace?” Carter asked, clearly entertained.
“I’m excellent.” Ryland said tightly, mopping up sugar like it had personally offended him by following the laws of gravity.
“Rough morning?” You asked him, concern leaking from you as your body twisted towards him.
“No.” Ryland whispered gently. “Normal morning. Completely normal series of events.”
There was another beat that hit the air, the History teacher sensing a shift and without even missing another, Carter tugged you back his way, “Anyway, like I was saying. I’ll uhhh. Save you spot on Friday.”
Ryland straightened, glancing down at his mug with an intense glower. There it was again. That sentence. The audacity. That seat saving nonsense. The blonde man spoke before his mind even had time to process.
“That’s not necessary.”
You blink, Carter next to you raised an eyebrow and… Ryland immediately regretted even coming into the lounge to get the coffee he had every morning.
“I mean, not that you can’t.” His blue eyes met yours frantically, trying to backtrack and save face. He gestured vaguely at you with the paper towel, “Saving seats is uhhh… A common social practice. I just--- There’s uh no need to… Preemptively organize seating, is all.”
You watched Cater lean back against the counter, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Didn't realize seating charts were a sensitive topic.” He told Ryland matter-of-factly.
“You must not be a great teacher then, they’re a life saver when students mis-behave.” Ryland looked him dead in the eye.
Your mouth fell open at the insult that was so casually tossed into the air. “Oh my god, Ryland.” He could tell you were suppressing a laugh as your hand came up to cover your mouth.
Good, he got you to laugh. Ryland one, Carter zerrrooooo.
Carter looked between the two of you and in that moment, something clicked behind his eyes. “Right… Uh…” He said slowly, directly towards you, “Well, if you want me to save you a seat, just text me later.”
“Yeah, not a problem.” You replied, half-heartedly as your attention was still on Ryland who really committed to the pile of sugar in front of him. The other man next to you pushed off the counter, headed towards the door with a faint amusement lingering at what just happened.
The door swung shut with a small click and silence drifted in and settled between you as Ryland continued his attempt at cleaning up the spilt sugar. He scoops it until the paper towel carefully and throws it away like it was the last, very complicated step in an unknown experiment. Then, from across the room, he turned on his heel to look at you.
You’re already looking at him, a smile tugging at your lips. “You wanna explain what just happened?”
“A totally normal interaction. I don’t know what e---”
“That was not normal---”
“It was well within acceptable conversational boundaries for co-workers.”
“You knocked over the sugar, Ryland.”
He prickled at the sound of his first name. “That was… Unrelated.”
“And you told him not to sit next to me.”
“I did not tell him…” Ryland paused, letting his mouth press together for a moment, “Okay, I can see where that might have been the implication.”
“You literally insulted his teaching prowess.”
Ryland opened his mouth, closed it again, then seemed to decide that defending himself further would only make things worse—which, scientifically speaking, was already the established trend of the morning.
“You’re unbelievable.”
There was still a smile tugging on your face, Ryland’s glasses shining a bit as he took a guilty few steps towards you, back to the counter just so he could glance at you before looking back at his coffee mug on the counter. It took him a second, but the scientist did what he always did when things exceeded their acceptable control limits. He recalibrated.
“I am not unbelievable.” You raised an eyebrow at him, clearly saying ‘yeah, right’. Ryland swallowed softly as he scooped up his coffee and took a small sip. From behind the mug, you could hear him utter a small, “I am… Consistent.”
That statement earned him another coveted look from you that made his chest… Clench uncomfortably, annoyingly and so… non-scientifically. He cleared his throat and looked at the counter again.
“You absolutely are unbelievable.” You repeated surely, softer this time without sounding as accusing, like you were correcting him rather than trying to start an argument.
The blond in front of you began fiddling with the sugar container again with the hand not death-gripping his coffee mug. You knew him well enough to recognize that he was… Fidgeting, giving his hands something to do rather than letting his mind run with the first thing it wanted to say.
“It was a logical cor---”
“You were jealous.” You said confidently, the immediate sound from Ryland mid-sip coming out as a wet-choke of sorts as he coughed and tried to adamantly remain in control despite the hot liquid quite literally trying to end him.
The mug was sat down gently as he breathed in deeply, shoving his glasses up his nose with such pressure, he felt the nose-pieces dig a bit more into his skin. But, when Ryland went to open his mouth, nothing came out.
He closed it.
Then opened it once something actually populated behind his buffering mind.
“Woah, hey. I was not. Okay. I think we need to clarify a few things. I feel like this is getting scientifically misclassified."
You crossed your arms and leaned against the counter, the smile on your face smug and almost all-knowing as you let him continue with a gesture of your hand.
“I was not jealous. Jealousy is a very specific neurochemical response involving…” The sentence died on the way out as your eyes met his. You stared at each other for a moment, Ryland taking a delicate note of the pink-ish tone to your cheeks.
“Well, not that I would know personally, I mean I know academically, obviously. I teach middle school science, when it’s not about that specific thing, it’s usually about jealousy. And I know a lot of things about brains--- Thus. I was not experiencing it.”
You were just… Watching him. More carefully than you wanted to admit as he had abandoned his coffee completely and was unraveling right in front of you from a conclusion that was, when broken down, very true. And unfortunately, you watching him just spurred Ryland to continue.
Like a dingus. “All I was doing was observing a disruption in environmental peace. That’s all. He was…” Ryland’s jaw clenched a bit, the fluorescent lights bouncing off the muscles and were a feast for your eyes. “He was standing too close to you. Which, I know, you’re thinking ‘oh well, that’s not a crime, Ryland’.”
He mimicked your voice and went an octave up which caused you to chuckle.
“Unless you define personal space as a regulated boundary condition, which I do, but only in my head, not officially because that would be weird.”Ryland began gesturing vaguely at nothing as if movement was going to drive home the point he was trying to make. It wasn’t working, but you were enjoying it and let yourself lean over and grab your own coffee, taking a small sip as he continued.
“The distance between him and you was objectively… Not objectively-objectively like… I don’t have a ruler readily available to measure with, but I have a very strong internal sense of spatial geometry, and it was wrong.”
You blinked. Slowly, trying to process the absolute whammy of word vomit that the cute 6th grade teacher just bestowed upon you. The words flipped over and over again in your mind as you deduced what he was saying and what he actually meant by it. And off to your side, as you stared at him almost slack-jawed, Ryland nodded quickly like that solved the issue.
You opened your mouth to say something --- But weren’t allowed.
“And then he was doing the thing.” Ryland said a bit louder, gaining momentum now that he had fully committed to the spiral down. “You know, that thing where people lean? The conversational lean? That’s a dominance posture, super common in men like that when they’re around a potential sexual partner.”
You sputtered a bit at that, a small cold sweat running down your body at the implications that Ryland was giving. Like you had… Something going on with the History teacher. Which was definitely not the case and if Ryland were as brilliant as he claimed to be, he’d not be giving the go-around to what your relationship was and what it did to him emotionally. Very evident now as he was just digging himself a bigger hole. But who were you to stop it?
“That is not me being emotional, that is what we call a behavioral… Duhnnnnnn…. Behavioral anthropology! I definitely remember reading about it in a paper somewhere. Or maybe I just skimmed an article at 2 AM.”
He was forced to take a breath.
“And the seat-saving thing is just… It’s inefficient. It doesn’t even work for the kids who want to save a spot for their friends at lunch. And logistically? A nightmare. Because what if you get there and the seat is not emotionally available? You can’t assign social seating like it’s a controlled experiment and there are way too many variables. People sit differently, chairs have opinions!”
Ryland gasped softly, letting his hand rest on his forehead as he massaged the lines there that had built up during the spill of the century. In… front of… you… His stomach dropped a bit when his blue irises met yours, your eyes playing with his for a few seconds as if you were trying to read behind the words. Which, knowing you, Ryland… Knew you knew the truth. You were good at that, the emotional thing and reading people.
He clearly… Was not. He was quieter this time around, like he was trying to convince himself more than you. “I am saying I behaved very normally---”
“Is that all---”
“--- having to adapt on the fly to the unexpected variable upon entering the Teacher’s Lounge for my morning coffee, when the equation usually only calls for you and I to share a cup together.”
There was a beat as you leaned back a bit and drew your bottom lip in at the last thing he said.
Ryland was not done, having to add in a small, “Which is not jealousy.” Like it made his argument tight and secure.
Silence settled for half a second as you nodded your head slowly, your heart beating in your ears at… What you imagined to be the closest thing to a confession of ‘I like you’ from the teacher in front of you. Ryland… Was looking at the counter like it had earned his trust and then betrayed it all for no reason. You watched his stare go from that, to his mug, then to the sugar. Maybe… If he was lucky and he stared hard enough, the entire situation would just…. Poof, disappear.
You decided to be daring and took half a step towards him, your eyes focused on the minute expression changes he gave. He went from ‘Yeah, I know what I’m talking about’ to down right horrified in a matter of miliseconds.
You stepped closer to him, your body heat beating into him without warning, and that alone made Ryland’s overdrive brain visibly reboot.
“Oh golly gosh,” He said softly, voice wavering right around the edges. “I think I ma--- Made it worse. I think I just said five sentences when I could've said zero.” Ryland looked at you, almost accusatory.
“Hey, you were the one who wanted to go on about it, it wasn’t my fault.” You laughed and Ryland felt himself heat up from the inside out at that, minorly glad that the annoying vibrant florescents of the Lounge took the color out of most things because he just knew his face was red.
“That’s bad! That’s always bad. In literally every documented social study, excessive clarification is correlated with---...”
“Correlated with what?” It was your turn to interrupt with a heavy pink against your face and the pit of your stomach almost on the floor. He felt himself blush even harder at that and willed himself to glance down at his coffee. Maybe if he were lucky, his beard and glasses would cover the childish reaction his body was having.
The blonde stopped moving, his rambling dying in the air and the words that wanted to be spoken just drifted between the two of you.
Excessive clarification is correlated with defensive mechanisms because the argument presented was correct. Your assumption based on his interactions with another man, the assumption being his very mediated jealousy, was… Correct.
Ryland internally cringed.
The lack of momentum in the moment wasn’t obvious at first. Just… A minor pause, a hitch in the shift of Ryland’s breathing which was still catching up from the intense word-vomit. But, then it stretched, lengthened into something neither of you seemed very willing to break. His fingers, still curled loosely around his mug, tighten just enough to make you conscious of the motion. His knuckles turned slightly off-color.
Ryland was aware of you, and you… You weren’t actively looking at him, but from the flush against your cheeks, from the way your breathing was cascading up and down, you were very aware of him too as it all came to a head.
There was acute awareness of the space between the two of you and whatever the heck just passed through it.
Finally, like twenty years had passed, your eyes met. Accidentally. At least, that’s what made Ryland feel a little better, but the fact that you didn't look away quickly solidified something in him that was only there under the surface for the better half of this school year. It was not accidental. There was no sense anymore in pretending. The unsaid confession just sat there, fragile and undeniable. A balancing act between two teachers like it was something that might shatter if touched directly.
Ryland’s jaw clenched, your hand tightened around your mug.
He was running in circles in his mind.
This is a moment. Definitely a moment and even worse it’s a mutual moment shared with someone than active makes me…
Ryland tilted his head at that, not going as far for admittance, but was that even needed when he just went off the way he did? This entire thing caught him off guard. Not what he wanted on a Wednesday morning. He just wanted his coffee and his hopefully stale donut.
His expression morphed. Not dramatically from one subset to another, and not enough for anyone else to notice, but you saw it. Familiarity, like he’d just solved a long-standing equation. The flicker of recognition, followed immediately by Ryland’s wild instinct to contain it, intellectualize it and to put some far distance between himself and whatever that was. Not like your thoughts were any better, in fact, you wagered a bet to yourself that they were far less organized than Ryland’s. Did that just.Nahhhhh, it didn't. Yes, it totally did. You’re stupid to deny it.
Neither of you found yourselves smiling, as odd as that was. That would have made it easier, your mind should have yelled at you to smile and to try to rectify but… Instead you just stood there. Looking at each other, knowing. And there was definitely some effort on both parts to pretend that you didn't know.
And then, without warning, you finally broke. It wasn’t graceful or pretty, heck, it wasn’t even subtle. The floating moment finally snapped under the weight of your own self-awareness, the knowledge of how close Ryland had gotten, subconsciously or not.
Heat rushed up your neck so fast that it felt visceral. With a small straggled sound, you looked down at your mug, then darted your eyes away completely like looking at the science teacher would just confirm something that you weren’t ready to name.
“Uhhh right then.” You started too quickly. You slapped yourself mentally at that but Ryland was still whirling.
That had been a moment.
Abort! Abort! Abort!
But his body betrayed him and he was unable to move as you it was your turn to ramble. “I uh… Oh boy, look at the time.” It was 7:30. Ryland knew you didn't need to be in your classroom until 7:50. “I should uh go. I’ve got… things. Very important… Things.” Smooth, (Name). Very convincing.
Within seconds, you were grabbing your mug and headed towards the door to the hallway. Faster than you needed, but it felt like all the oxygen left the room with the dead-air and open confession. It was risky, but you let yourself glance at him once more.
Immediate regret. Ryland was still looking at you, he had to have watched you move almost robotically to the door and there was something written on his face that you couldn’t read. Curiosity and something more… Complex? Like, he hadn’t recovered and needed more time than you.
That didn't help the situation at all, you swallowed softly and took a step back towards him. “Hey,” Blue eyes widened a bit at the direct acknowledgement. “I’ll uhm… Save you a spot.”
Ryland’s lips parted as if he were going to say something, but you didn't allow him as you were fast to the finish line, “On Friday. The Teacher Pot luck thing. I’ll… Save you a seat.”
There was a pause as you grasped the door handle. Just long enough for the words to hang awkwardly between you before you gave the smallest, almost apologetic nod at the still suffering 6th grade teacher. It was also a half gesture, half escape as you opened the door.
“Yeah. F-Friday.” Ryland said. “I uhh….” He creased his eyebrows. He wasn’t even planning on going Friday. What was he doing? “Uhhh. The seat thing. Wouldn’t it be better if we showed up together? Statistically, we’d find seats side-by-side better that way. I can uhm…” Oh god, why was his mouth moving? “I can pick you up at your classroom on the way to the lunch hall.”
You smiled softly at that, the ice around you two finally melting just a bit, “Are you always that chivalrous, Mr. Grace?”
He sputtered just a bit, “I’ve got to make up for the fact that I just insulted the new History teacher.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t stop him from being an absolute tool.” You added, “But uh… Maybe try not to interrogate any more of the faculty before Friday.”
Ryland laughed, a small huff as he nodded shyly at that. “Yeah… Well, no guarantees."
“And Ryland?” You said his name again, propping open the door right as his eyes caught hold of yours from across the room and his chest did a small swimming motion like it was underwater.
“Yes?” He was quiet.
“It’s okay that you were jealous.”
That earned you a tired look from him as he stared back down at his coffee mug, the reaction enough confirmation of everything that had happened before. This time though?
He kept his mouth shut in fear of ruining the moment any further. And for a second, he considered arguing again. Like the reflex was right there at the forefront of his mind but it faded before his mouth could speak. Instead, he tightened his shoulders in just a fraction and let a quiet breath through his nose.
“I wasn’t… jealous.” Completely unconvincing and he knew that you knew as you nodded, the softening of your expression enough to get him to melt.
“So you’ll pick me up on Friday?”
He glanced up at that, something warmer slipping through his entire body despite his best efforts to… Remain calm. “Friday.” Ryland let you go with that, watching as the door swung shut with a minor click. And this time? Ryland finally felt free enough to not pretend that it hadn’t meant something more.
Ryland is obsessed with touching you. Not even sexual touching. Just like touching —a hand on your back. Or holding your hand. Playing with your hair.
He’s so touch starved 😭
Oh absolutely
The moment you give him the okay (and he’s worked out the first initial awkwardness he feels in himself) that he can touch you whenever —that man doesn’t stop.
It starts because the ship is tiny. The Hail Mary is small, and cramped. And he doesn’t mean to brush against you, or touch your back like that when he tries to move around you. He really doesn’t mean to. But then he does mean to.
And you notice immediately because Ryland isn’t subtle. Even Rocky notices eventually.
“Why Grace touch so much?”
And Ryland gets so flustered and freaked out by the call out. But you just laugh, and tell him it’s okay! You don’t mind. You even like it.
But Ryland thinks, at first, you’re just being nice. So he’s still a little awkward about it. Until you start touching him back. Running a hand through his hair when you walk by. Touching his arm when you’re standing close. And that’s what really makes him realize he misses touching another person —you touching him.
So he doesn’t stop. He has his hand on your lower back when analyzing slides or working. Holding your hand in the mental health room. God, cuddling. He loves cuddling. Lay on his chest, let him hold you. Or reverse it —he loves laying on you. Loves being held.
i know that ilya's ass is SO dramatic about getting his goodbye kisses after he and shane are together
shane forgets because he's running late for a meeting one day and has to rush out of the door, and he then arrives at the studio for the photoshoot he has booked to see a text from ilya with three different headstone styles with "one of these, i think"
and is just "for?? what??"
"when i am dead from broken heart because my husband does not love me anymore and does not kiss me before i will not see him for twenty years"
"ilya, i will be home in like four hours"
*pictures of two different casket models* "i am thinking the darker wood one, but perhaps that is too nice for your taste now that you do not love me anymore. perhaps you will bury me in cardboard shoe box like sad, dead hamster."
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