Chapter Text
Adrian couldn't help but marvel at the human tucked underneath them. The wispy protein growth on their head- hair, Rocky has called it. And the overall softness of his exterior, so squishy and weak. Erotic to any Eridian.
Rocky had confessed to them that when he had first met Savior Grace, the human had been even softer and more plush. His song took on a breathless tune as he described the plump flesh that once covered the human’s face and body that would give under the slightest pressure. Adrian thinks their mate is just exaggerating. But the thought does send a small puff of steam out from their vents.
Rocky had left this mystifying creature under their care as he had no other choice but to attend the most recent thrum discussing the human’s future biodome. As a chief architect, Adrian was also meant to join, but only one could leave the human at a time.
This was decided after an early incident where, while Rocky and Adrian were away at an important thrum, a disoriented Grace had awoken earlier than expected and in a panic to keep him on the bed, two doctors had attempted to hold him down. Of course, they had no idea just how fragile the human was, and in the scuffle an arm bone had snapped clean in half.
The doctors’ carapace had cracked almost just as easily under Rocky’s claws.
It had been decided amongst the remaining brave doctors that one of the mated pair were to stay with Saviour Grace at all times. Reducing the amount of stress when the human woke up disoriented.
Hence why Adrian has been perched above Grace for over ᭡ hours. Said human shuffled yet again from between their legs. Another fascinating aspect of humans— dreams. A never ending firing of neurons that happened even in his sleep. As the human slowly regained his strength, his body seemed to be constantly moving one way or the other, and his sleep was no exception
Grace curled closer to one of Adrian's legs as tightly as he could with his splinted arm with a small whimper. Though in his few moments of lucidity, he assured them dreams were more often than not pleasant if not confusing. All Adrian had seen of them was the pain and fear they brought him. But Grace had assured them it was all normal, healthy even.
Adrian carefully lowers their carapace to rest closer to the cold human and tentatively begins to run a claw through his hair in an attempt to settle him. The newly improved xenonite suit Rocky had designed for them still prevented them from feeling the strands, but the light sound it makes when moved still delighted them all the same.
They don’t move from their comfortable position as they hear the airlock swoosh open. Rocky quickly makes his way to the pair and emits a sweet note at the sight of his mate and Grace so close together. He reaches out to rest a claw on one of Adrian’s arms and another on Grace’s side.
There were many rumors humming throughout Erid. That Saviour Rocky had come back with a beautiful alien, and the two seemed to have joined into one being. That there would be no room for Rocky’s old mate. But Adrian could do nothing but laugh.
Rocky and Grace had named the very planet that was a key to their salvation after them. Rocky had said that only the thought of seeing his mate again had kept him going all those years on his own. Grace had given up his chance at going home to save Rocky and see him home to his mate. Starved and delirious, Grace had looked at Adrian for the very first time and called them beautiful, telling them they had heard so much about them. How could Adrian feel anything other than loved by their mate and flustered at the attention of such a beautiful creature?
“What are you thinking about, my Adrian? Rocky asked quietly. He carefully climbed up on the bed and curled close to the human’s head where Adrain’s claw was still buried in his hair.
“Nothing new. Sleep, beloved. I’ll keep watch over you both.” Still in recovery himself, Rocky didn’t protest much before stilling in sleep. A pleased tone hummed from Adrian before they curled their limbs closer around the pair and settled in.
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Grace’s recovery was slow but overall steady. He knew it sometimes upset Rocky to see him still so weak and unsteady but Grace counted himself lucky to even be alive.
The synthesized minerals and vitamins were working wonders for his health and the me-burgers that the food biologists were fine-tuning were more edible every time. He was told by the team that the patties he was taste testing today were a mixture of his genetics and a lesser life form that Eridians consumed.
He looked up from the tray holding the patties to where he had been told an observation deck had been built into his temporary enclosure. Of course the material was solid to his eyes and he appreciated the attempt at privacy… If he didn’t count his ever present company.
“Is safe for Grace! Taste not too bad, Rocky make sure.” His friend chirped from his place in front of Grace. A large blue arm lightly nudged him. “Rocky and Adrian make sure.” He corrected.
“You guys tasted it?!” He asked, slightly mortified for some reason. Yes, the food wasn’t him but technically it kind of was his flesh. Sitting on the floor, his gaze darted from Rocky to Adrian, who moved even closer and cast him in a slight shadow.
“Yes! Grace taste wonderful!” Adrian's voice was a much deeper octave than any other Eridian he had met so far. It always managed to settle somewhere deep in his chest. His cheeks had to be boiling by now, Grace was thankful they couldn’t see color.
At a higher frequency that Grace could hear Adrian and Rocky squealed at the sight of Grace.
‘Look at his cheeks! So much blood rush rush rush to them!” Adrian loved the sight of the embarrassed human. They shifted closer again to fully block the doctors in the observation deck better. As if they would ever let someone else see Grace eating. They could get the report from him later about the food. Sure, Grace stated that he didn’t mind eating in front of others, that it was actually a way to bond with friends and family to his species. But Rocky and Adrian had agreed that it was still a sight not meant for greedy doctors and scientists.
“Right. I don’t-... Let’s just jump right in, no?” Grace cleared his throat.
They watched with attention as Grace opened his wet and soft mouth to take a bite from his food. The sound of his limber appendage moving the food around before the click of his throat as he swallowed it down, and the smacking of his lips as he processed the taste.
“Not bad. A little too salty if I had to nitpick. Kinda tastes like some type of deli meat.” Grace looked up to find Adrian looming over him.
“Oops. Sorry bud. I think the doctors wanted to watch?” Grace tried to peek over Adrian's large form but Adrian shifted again and blocked his view.
“No need. Doctors get report later.” Rocky had also migrated closer to him at some point. With Grace sitting criss cross on the floor, he was just about at eye level with him.
“Eat. Grace need food.” Adrian ordered. ‘I want to see him grow as soft as you said he was.’ They purred at Rocky.
‘He will. His flesh gives under your claws so sweetly. I only held him once but it was exhilarating.’ Rocky shivered at the thought, back legs tap tap tapping on the ground to get a better look at the human in front of him. His broken arm— Rocky should’ve crushed them till he spilt their soft innards on the ground— lay curled in his lap. Grace flashed Rocky’s mark at them every time he lifted the food to his mouth.
“So,” Grace spoke in between bites with food still in his mouth. Obscene. “You guys said you had something to tell me?”
“Yes! Rocky go to final meeting and final inspection is complete!” Adrian responded. “Grace new home is ready for Grace’s approval.”
“Wait, already? Didn’t you guys start building like three months ago?” Grace asked incredulously. Honestly, he had made his peace with probably having to live in the temporary space they were currently in. All he was thinking of asking for was for a version of the Don’t Go Crazy room and maybe a treadmill to regain muscle.
“Eridian’s fast builders,” Rocky spoke, carapace tilted up in pride. He was excited to get Grace out of the quarantine habitat. Adrian had personally seen to the construction of Grace’s new home, hence why the entire dwelling had been soundproofed against annoying nosy scientists.
The new place would give the mated pair the privacy they needed to initiate their carefully thought out plan.
They hadn’t even talked about it together really. There wasn’t a need to. Rocky had come home to Adrian with the beautiful human in tow, marked and provided for as best as he could given the circumstances. And Adrian had agreed, Grace is the perfect addition to their family.
They had rewarded Rocky thoroughly for his catch.
Rocky was the human expert, so they had deferred to his knowledge on how to go about the courtship. Rocky insisted on moving as slow as possible.
He sheepishly admitted that Grace had taken to showing him visual anthropological works on courtship. But perhaps he had been coming on too strong; immediately moving into Grace's ship and flashing his underside to him.
But now with Adrian to act as a balance and with much more practice on Rocky’s part, the courtship should be moving forward smoothly.
After all, Grace was already theirs. The two Eridians just need to make Grace aware of this simple fact.