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“You wanna.. What?”
Grace startles at the suggestion. He quickly scans the last paragraph of the biometrics report he was reading, sure he must’ve swapped whatever words Rocky just uttered with some sentence on plant cell bodies. His friend just makes a clicking sound in his throat and leans closer, since Grace is clearly hard of hearing.
“See Grace’s body, yes,” Rocky spoke with factual precision, like this wasn’t something wild to spring on a guy alone… in his dormitory… on his bed, where the both of them were currently lounging.
“Rocky want to see how Human body different from Eridani.”
Oh, that’s all he meant! Phew! Rock has always been fascinated by humans ever since their colony ships merged some decades ago. That curiosity had multiplied tenfold after Grace entered his life: finally giving him an outlet for all his buzzing questions most other crewmates couldn’t care less to indulge in. Well, sure- there were tons of medical diagrams and scientific papers for both respective species. Even the most bare-bones medical wing had enough to educate an alien on the basics of the other’s biology. But where’s the fun in reading a stuffy textbook when you can get a primary source on the matter. Of course their biological differences would be ripe for discussing. Frankly, it’s preposterous that the topic hadn’t come up sooner. It was perfectly normal. Scientific even. Nothing you wouldn’t find in a public locker room, anyway. Grace wonders, though, why the sudden intress– and his rambling thoughts grind to a halt with a warm chin pressing into his shoulder. Shoot. He never answered, did he?
Rocky hums a curious note from his perch on Grace’s shoulder. “Is a bad suggestion?” He speaks just as boldly as ever, but the two featherlight taps of his fingertips to Grace’s arm betray the hesitance in his question.
“What? No, no, I’m just- buffering. You caught me mid-read, and Stratt was very insistent I figure out the kink in our pollen distribution system before tomorrow so-”
“‘So’, Grace answer my question now, question?” The eridian huffs impatiently. Two more taps.
Grace blows a raspberry at the empty air, considering the offer carefully. “Sure bud,” he relents with a roll of his shoulders, making half-gestures with his hand as he figures out where to put his clipboard, before giving up and dropping it to the floor beside the bed. “I can’t look at another pollen spore count without my head exploding anyway. Let’s talk fauna.”
===
Grace rearranges the pillow behind his head with a grunt, bouncing his shoulders to shimmy the cushion more comfortably against his neck and upper back. His stocky Eridian friend had decided, most unceremoniously, to seat himself right on Grace’s lower abdomen. Grace was sure that had to be counterintuitive to Rocky’s study goal, but it was admittedly hard to utter a complaint with Rocky’s hot hands hiking Grace’s shirt up to his clavicle. When did he take his gloves off-
“This absolutely could’ve been a standing activity, yknow.” Grace protests, fingers flexing nervously against the sheets. Was he supposed to do something with his hands? His eyes flick to the most logical place: the two legs actively straddling his waist… perfectly at arm's length… His eyes wander up the length of those familiar thighs, where- Grace yanks his head back to stare at the ceiling. That’s not a train of thought he needs leaving the station today. Wow, did his room always have exposed ducts in the ceiling? That's pretty neat, isn’t it?
He opts instead to prop one arm behind his head alongside his pillow, hoping he looks super cool and casual and not at all like the manic wreck he feels like. If Rocky noticed his mini panic episode, he didn’t show it. In fact, he seemed much too preoccupied with raking his eyes over Grace’s exposed torso to bother with much else. An airy whistle leaves his friend’s mouth, just under his breath. Hands grab firm to either side of Grace’s ribcage, making the taller man jolt and stifle a laugh. “Could be standing, yes yes yes… but Grace always moving too much. So annoying. Example!” With a shit-eating grin, Rocky wriggles his fingers, watching his friend convulse with laughter under him. Rocky lets out a gravelly chortle at the sight, bracing his knees on the bed to keep Grace from bucking him off. “Knew you were ticklish here!! Grace is so obvious when sparring. Rocky loves watching. Had to test theory.”
The thought of his friend analyzing his every move shouldn’t make Grace feel so lightheaded, and he’s quick to blame it on the lack of oxygen from this impromptu torture session. Gasping on an inhale, his free hand flies up to grasp Rocky’s arm. “Stop! Pfbt- Can’t breathe rock!” He can barely spit the words out around his laughter, but Rocky takes pity on him anyway, stilling his hands until he’s only tracing gentle circles with his thumbs beneath Ryland’s pecs, humming happily to himself.
Grace can’t help but observe the Eridian while he catches his breath, chest rising and falling with the steady presence of Rocky’s palms keeping him grounded. It was nice, really nice. Absently, he realizes he was still grabbing Rocky’s wrist and loosens his death grip, a dull sting in his palm where Rocky’s bracelets had been digging in. Grace rolls his thumb apologetically over the jut of his wrist bone, mimicking Rocky’s own caresses on his chest. The eridian’s rhythm falters suddenly, his gaze jumping down to linger on Grace’s hand, before moving up to meet his friend’s blue eyes. He huffs quick and straightens his back, hands slipping from Grace’s touch and down to the blond’s stomach as a counterbalance. Grace starts, “Sorry, did I-?”
“Your heartbeat is so loud. I can hear with my ears plugged!” He rolls his eyes like it's the most ridiculous thing ever. “Few seconds without air and Grace acts like Grace is dying. Amazing humans ever survived this long, statement.” Rocky cocks his chin up, looking all too proud of himself with his chest puffed out. Grace was not about to let that slide, crossing his arms squarely over his chest.
“Well, a strong heart is a sign of good health! Sounds like mine’s working like a champ, so thank you.” Grace puffs out his chest in kind, well, as much as one can while it’s pinned down. It’s not nearly as imposing as he’d hoped. Regardless, he uses the gesture to mask a repositioning of his legs to ease a cramp budding up in his hip. Grace wills himself to ignore how the button of his jeans snagged on the underside of Rocky’s jumpsuit. “Got any more compliments you wanna run by me?”
Rocky so loved a challenge, a sweet trill bubbling up his throat as he ponders his next move. He gives Grace’s stomach a testing press of his palms, watching the muscles in the man's abdomen spasm once in response. Humans were so jumpy. “Rocky can find many more flaws, yes. For start!” He slides his hands northbound again, feeling the dip of Grace’s skin even with such light pressure. “Humans skin so much softer, so much more give.”
Grace forces out a breath, the top of his thighs knocking against Rocky’s back. This was feeling less like a biology showcase by the minute. Part of him wanted to keep pushing Rocky’s buttons, though. This was fun, if he could just ignore the nagging voice in his head at the alarming intimacy of the whole exchange. He hadn’t shared a good laugh like this in forever. An indignant poke to his pectoral snapped him back to the present. “Wh- hey!”
“So so squishy. Grace would never survive on Erid. Eridani are only this weak when with child. Need full protection from their thrum to survive. Grace would not.” Rocky nods matter-of-factly, the gems in his dreadlocks clinking together in agreement.
That little- rascal! He’s totally making things up! He’s- Grace lolls his head forward in disbelief, a full-body laugh rippling through him. “Are you calling me pregnant right now??” He kicks his legs purposefully against Rocky’s back to properly jostle him around “That’s the first thing you think up?”
Rocky all but squawks as he’s knocked forward, planting his hands squarely on Grace’s pecs to catch himself, his cheeks flushing hot at the accusation. “I am not! Grace does not listen!” He gives the flesh beneath his hands a harsh squeeze in retaliation, a chill rushing down his spine at the way Grace suddenly yelps and arches his back into him. “This,” Rocky swallows, finding it suddenly hard to breathe himself. “This is third problem with humans. Grace is stupid stupid stupid. Grace agreed to help learn difference in biology. I offer difference. Not my fault you can’t hear right.” The Eridian couldn’t help but squeeze the blond’s chest again, and Grace’s breathy laugh pitches up before his mouth snaps shut.
This was getting out of hand. “Rock, hey-” Grace pants out. Way, way out of hand. Grace tries to speak again, but Rocky isn’t paying him any attention, muttering something in Eridian that Grace couldn’t make out– probably more insults, and– j-jeez- kneading at his chest like a stress ball. The focused look on Rocky’s face was something else. He wanted to pick apart whatever gears were turning in that brilliant head of his, but right now Grace’s thoughts couldn’t reach much further than Rocky’s hands, and everywhere they were touching. He felt one slip from his chest to stroke slowly back down his ribs, his stomach- “W-woah, Bud” he tries to protest, but warm, calloused fingers graze across his nipple, and the words die in his throat, “Waithhnh-”
The Eridian freezes. Oh.