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Adrian and Rocky were only pebbles when Erid discovered stars. The reason for Erid's warmth had nothing to do with the core of their planet, as thrums had decided in millenia past, but rather the radiation emitted from this unheard force from a soundless void.
Then, once they improved their monitoring systems, they discovered more of these balls of gas, faint reads on their texture reader. And more. And more. To the point where the Nothing was found to be anything but— it was peppered in these stars, stars much like their very own. Erid was one of many planets orbiting their own star, in one of many solar systems spread out across the galaxy.
Of course, like any major scientific discovery, it was met with public curiosity.
And backlash. Lots, and lots of backlash. The revelation upset most religious orders on Erid.
The pair met in the Eridian equivalent of undergrad. Both were nearing their finalization of their primary studies, and both had already decided to further their studies in their respective topics. Two of Rocky's younger siblings had followed his journey to the coastal colony, where Rocky spent most of his time outside of school coaching them in their entrance projects.
During their time in "graduate school," Rocky treated Adrian to a romantic outing. Rocky had found a windy spot by the ocean, setting up chimes and soft blankets for them to sit. They sang and danced, letting their limbs tangle with each other.
The two finally calmed down, with Adrian going oddly silent.
"What do you think is out there, in the Nothing?" they asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Light," Rocky answered, matter of factly.
"I know that," they huffed. "But what's out there that we haven't discovered yet?"
Rocky thought for a second. "My cluster believed that's where the souls of bad Eridians went after they died."
Adrian tilted. "I didn't take you as the religious type."
"I'm not."
"Good. Neither am I." They shifted their limbs. "I always wondered, if there's seemingly infinite stars up there, and a star has a potential to host it's own planets… what if there's other life out there? What if they're just like us?"
Rocky listened intently, letting Adrian continue.
"Other Eridians have had this thought, it's not original, but… I really like it." They fiddled their claws. "Perhaps space is like our oceans— we spent so long thinking that their was nothing of note in the water, and any creature we did hear was either a threat or completely useless, but time went on and it turned out, we were wrong! There's a whole diverse ecosystem down there that keeps our planet alive! Maybe it's the same way out there. Other life forms keeping their own worlds alive."
"I like it!" Rocky hummed. "Do you think they'd be interested in us, the same way we're interested in them?"
Adrian huffed. "There's no way of knowing. If they are intelligent and they want to meet Eridians… who knows what their intentions would be. I can only hope that they wouldn't have any nefarious ideas. A space faring species would have to be much more advanced than we are." They paused for a moment. "But who knows! The steps to intelligent life are exceedingly slow and random. We might be a one-off, the only species in the entire universe to develop sapience or the only planet that produced life. Again, it's only a thought. I wouldn't dare bring it to a thrum. But there has to be life out there, even if they're most likely microbes."
Rocky bobbed. "I believe you, Adrian! Your brains are so interesting, Erid needs more thinkers like you!"
"I don't know about all of that," they murmured.
Adrian thought that they received their answer 133 years later, when the strange anomaly astronomers discovered turned out to be life. Life!
That thrill was soon diminished by the following discovery, that the very life that brought them joy was the one that would bring Erid's doom.
Rocky volunteered to journey into the stars immediately. Of course he did. His siblings, now graduated, joined their older brother, much to his dismay.
Adrian did not. The Nothing, while fascinating, terrified them to their core. Eridians didn't have the technology to explore space, they hardly had the technology to explore their own oceans! Not to mention, the mere mention of a space elevator made them nauseous to their core. Adrian instead volunteered for the program to breed astrophage, ensuring the aquatic life did not mistake the breeding pods as prey or entangle themselves in the chains.
If there was intelligent extraterrestrial life, they were cruel for ignoring Erid through this crisis.
Rocky and Adrian rammed their carapaces hard against each other for the last time, as if they were trying to merge into one being. They had been locked in this position for minutes, the captains of the ship clicking to let them know it was time to go.
"Bring back an alien for me, okay?" Adrian choked through their cries.
Rocky tried to laugh. "Of course. Anything for my Adrian."
With that, Rocky stepped back and played the goodbyes on his arm, mixing in with the sound of twenty two other Eridians.
The elevator ascended into the sky, the goodbye song fading away with their mate.
At first, Adrian tried to act like things were normal. That their mate was only on a trip, and they would return soon. Adrian was praised by almost every Eridian in their city, telling them that they must be so brave and so strong. It irked them, Adrian was not the hero here. It was Rocky, his siblings, the whole damn crew. Yet, they let others sing their praises. Adrian would relay the message once he got back.
They knew he'd be back. Adrian just had to wait. They had the easier job out of the two. It was hard to fuck up waiting.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
They started going into town less and less. The facade broke— they couldn't keep up appearances. They were starting to lose hope. The voices in their brains became louder and louder.
Rocky should be back by now.
No, they're being precise. Of course it would take longer than we expected.
We couldn't have done it. Space travel was too crazy of an idea.
Rocky's crew was declared dead after thirty six years. The voyage should have returned many years ago, and the government Entities decided to accept the cold future that Erid would face. They swiftly turned their efforts to artificial warming.
Adrian remained nearly motionless for an Eridian year. They were invited to several memorial thrums, one hosted by Rocky's family themselves, but they refused to move, hardly eating and mostly sleeping.
It's not true. He's still out there. He wouldn't leave me.
After much convincing from their family, they returned to work, needing something to stimulate their brain and distract them from grief.
Adrian did not speak at work, but it did not stop their coworkers from attempting to speak to them. They worked on three projects at the same time, listening to music in an attempt to drown them out.
"He was so brave, Adrian."
"May the stars hold him now, Adrian."
"He did his best to save us, but Hell is coming."
Hell. A cold, quiet place. Adrian's home for the past 36.5 years.
"We're worried about you, Adrian. We know this has been hard for you."
What do they know?
One day, after work, Adrian found themselves alone on the shore. Most kept their distance from the water, going out too deep meant certain death. It wasn't until the discovery of hydrokinetic energy that Eridians actually began to build their settlements near the ocean and study the life living under the water's sound dampening blanket.
Adrian sat there for a moment, letting the waves lap around their claws. The water was colder than it was a century ago.
Surrounded by my life's work wouldn't be a terrible way to go. Letting the waves erode me-
They sobbed. No! Stupid Adrian! You have to keep on living! Rocky is waiting!
Accept it. Rocky wouldn't want you living like this.
"He's alive!" They screamed at the water. "He's alive, and he's going to come back!"
Nobody answered.
"I need him back! Stars, you return him this instant! Please! I'll do whatever you want!" they cried to an unknown god, slowly stepping out of the water. They had to stay strong.
Years went by. Adrian remained the same, burying themselves in work. They received a few promotions, but fewer family members came to watch them sleep. They almost wanted to tell them not to bother anymore, that Adrian did not care whether they would wake the next cycle or not. Occasionally a therapist would come to their nest, listen to Adrian's melancholy, ask a few questions, try and help Adrian work through their grief, and then leave. Adrian refused to change.
An unfamiliar knock on the door disturbed Adrian's peace.
"Go away!" they shouted.
It continued.
"If you are here to try and mate, fuck off!" They raised their back leg into a weapon, stomping near the door before removing the sound dampening screen.
"Government business," the new voice stated. Adrian immediately dropped their leg. Shit.
"No time for introductions. Esteemed Biologist Adrian, your presence is required at once."
Adrian took a step back, shaking their carapace. "What is this about? You here to drag me to another memorial event? Rocky's not dead! I don't know how many times I have to tell you people this!" they shrieked, digging their claws in the floor.
They remained unphased. "Esteemed Biologist Adrian, please calm yourself. I assure you that you will want to join us. This matter must be discussed privately."
Adrian tapped their claw on the ground, inspecting the mysterious intruder's engravings who dare disturb their mourning. "You work at the space elevator."
The stranger beamed. "Correct. Please, come with me."
Adrian followed reluctantly. "Do I have to get on that?"
"Yes. Necessary."
Adrian lowered themselves. "I apologize, it is hard for me to get onto the thing that took my mate away."
They stood still for a moment. "He is waiting."
"What?" Adrian stopped.
"I promise, you will not regret joining me. Cannot divelge details now, will later."
A long ride (and one not-so-expertly concealed panic attack later), Adrian sat in the communications room intended for the astrophage mission.
"They are here," their escort spoke into the microphone.
A familiar shriek of joy cracked on the radio. "Adrian? Adrian, is that you?"
Adrian was speechless.
"Yes, yes it's me! Rocky! I- is this real?" they cried.
Their excitement beamed in their voice. "It's Rocky! Rocky is here! Real real real! Rocky miss Adrian so so so much!" He paused for a moment."Adrian… still Rocky mate?"
"Yes, 46656 times yes!! No Eridian could ever compete with my Rocky!" As if that was even a question!
Rocky squealed— he was squealing again! "Brought home surprise. Think Adrian will like like like. Fulfill promise made fifty years ago."
Strange. Wasn't it fifty six? Adrian kept track of every rotation on the axis and around the sun. "An alien?" they asked. Of course they remembered their conversation, Adrian had replayed it a million times in their head.
Adrian knew their mate was bobbing. "Yes, yes! Grace sleeping right now, but will meet when we reach Erid!"
Adrian wheezed. "You're messing with me, question?" The simplified language was rubbing off on them.
Their escort interrupted. "He is not."
Now it was Adrian's turn to squeal. "Rocky, you're insane. I was obviously joking!"
"Rocky did say anything for my Adrian, didn't I? Rocky always find solution." he laughed, before pausing. "I joke. Grace… Grace is one to thank. Alien bring Rocky home, not vice versa. Without Grace, Rocky and Erid die. Grace is hero."
They shook violently. "Oh Rocky, I don't care. I'm just so happy you're back!"
The two sang together, renewing their mate song from farther away than any Eridians have ever done before. It must have went on for hours, before the serious Eridian tapped and let them know their time was up.
"It won't be long, love, until I see you again… but at the same time, far, far too long," Adrian mused.
"One last thing. Can I have Adrian new measurements? Making surprise," he giggled.
"All of them?"
"All of them."
It took two months for Rocky to dock onto the space elevator, a blip compared to the eternity Adrian faced without hope. Adrian had been briefed on the details of the mission; how twenty two Eridians were murdered by a silent killer known as radiation, a threat they couldn't even begin to comprehend. How Rocky intended to return with the bodies of his crew, return them to their rightful place in the dirt, until the solution leaked into Rocky's fuel. How Grace turned around to take Rocky home in its own ship, forever abandoning any chance of return, to save a world it never knew. Adrian paced nervously in their temporary shelter. Not only were they antsy to finally touch their mate again, but their words from Rocky's last day on Erid repeated in their head.
Rocky didn't... seriously spend all that time trying to fulfill my wish, right?
Oh no, what if he did, and I doomed my mate to half a century in space! Am I the worst mate ever?
Those two months dragged on as long as Rocky's absence.
The pair were swiftly transported to a medical wing at the bottom of the space elevator, built for the sole purpose of nursing the star crew back to full strength. From their limited time with their star-observation tower, they discovered that living above Erid's atmosphere had severe, long lasting effects on their biology. Rocky disclosed the requirements for Grace's atmosphere, leading them to construct a temporary, mini-dome next to Rocky's medical nest.
After several doctors observed their sleep and a few medical examinations later, Adrian was cleared to visit.
"I can't- I can't believe you're here!" Adrian rammed into Rocky, thunking their carapace into his. Rocky lifted up two arms, wrapping around Adrian as much as he could. Strange, but Adrian didn't comment on it. Another strange mannerism he picked up, but still their Rocky, the same size as he was when he left.
"Here. Here to stay. Not leave Adrian ever, ever again!" he pressed harder into them.
"I missed you, I missed you so much." They backed up, clearing their vents. "You didn't seriously spend [fifty six Earth years] searching for an alien for me, right?"
"No, no! Grace was a surprise. Greatest surprise to ever happen. Grace's homeworld sent him to space to find solution for dimming star, just like Erid. Grace Rocky work together."
Adrian sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the gods below, I was so worried..." they shifted into a low hum. "I needed you, Rocky. My sack called for you every night you were gone."
Rocky shuttered, aroused.
"Should I- uh- give you two some privacy? This feels like a very intimate moment."
What the hell is that? They tapped on the floor, trying to hear better. Oh right. The alien. Grace. It laid on a mattress from its ship, a quilt draped over its body. A thin protective layer encapsulated millions of strings, which themselves lined the organs and bones of its body. There was so much happening, and so much on display! They could hear the softness, the wetness, the fragility… its ethereal beauty.
That was another thing— pronouns. It became very clear Rocky's speaking pattern had devolved quite significantly, either from insanity or for the alien's benefit. Or both. Whatever the case, Rocky had avoided using any pronouns for Grace. However, simply referring to the alien by its name started to annoy Adrian. The inanimate pronoun felt too demeaning, as the being was obviously intelligent and sentient enough to build a spaceship and also save their mate. Although Grace was certainly deserving of the 'she' pronoun, an honor reserved for high ranking Eridians, it felt far too formal in their vents. Rocky would hate that.
Adrian ultimately settled on 'he,' the pronoun for equals.
"No no, Grace stay! Want Grace to meet Adrian, Adrian to meet Grace!" reassured Rocky, caressing the wall that separated them.
"Wasn't planning on going anywhere, Rocks. Don't think I really can," he huffed. Amazing, aliens do that too!
"We come over soon!" Rocky turned. "Grace environment cold cold cold and less dense, also harder to hear. Rocky make suits for Grace's atmosphere with xenonite while on ship. Make one for Rocky, one for Adrian."
"One for Adrian?" they chirped.
"Of course one for Adrian! Why think Rocky ask for measurements, question?"
"You made that? Rocky, you're the greatest engineer on Erid!"
"Nooo, Adrian embellish." He waved a claw, giggling.
The two scuttled away from Grace's view as they prepared to enter his atmosphere. Well, tried to. Rocky collapsed once he tried to move.
Adrian honked, helping him to his claws.
"Gravity hard for Rocky, but is okay," he chuckled.
Rocky suited up like second nature, before turning and helping Adrian get into their much larger and more intricate suit while explaining all he could about heads and eyes and light.
Grace pushed himself to sit up as they entered. "Adrian! It's lovely to finally meet you, Rocky talks about you all the time! I'm Grace," he.. bared his teeth?
"Grace is smiling, is friendly gesture!" Rocky explained, crawling onto the mattress and resting beside Grace.
How intimate, they thought. They expected jealousy to rush over them, but Adrian relaxed at the scene. It was domestic. The domesticity they'd been deprived of.
Adrian bowed. "You have my deepest, utmost gratitude, Savior Grace." They shifted into singing their introduction-song, pressing two limbs together to show their engravings. "You are incredibly brave for risking everything. May I ask how your homeworld will fare without your presence? If you need a solution to save your planet, it is best to work on it immediately."
"You're too kind, Adrian." Grace mimicked the motion, covering his face with his forearms.
"Sol-3, or Earth, sent Grace four mini-ships that fly themselves! Grace send back information in mini-ships. Earth will be okay. Erid will be okay."
Grace confirmed, before shifting his attention to his bare arms. "I don't have any tattoos yet! I need to get on that."
"No! No engravings for Grace! Not gentle enough for Grace skin! Humans do this!" Rocky climbed over Grace and took one of his hands in his own, gently shaking it. Grace extended his other hand for Adrian to take. They shook hands much slower and gentler than Rocky, scared that the bone might snap off.
Oh, this was doing wonders for Adrian, even through the xenonite. They bit back their arousal. He couldn't possibly know how intimate this gesture was for Eridians, and Rocky had demonstrated for them like it was nothing…
Dammit Adrian, you're supposed to be horny for your mate, not an alien! they cursed themselves. Oh, Grace watching us mate, that would be so hot-
"Yeah, just like that!" Grace turned his head towards Rocky. "For the record, humans decorate their skin too."
"Healthy humans, not sick, starving humans!" he chastized, clicking his claws.
He groaned. "I'm not that sick yet!"
"He's sick?" A wave of concern washed over Adrian.
"Grace need nutrients to survive, but can't eat Eridian food. Have nutrients in food, but running out. Trying to ration it during journey so Eridian scientists can study and replicate. Supplement with taumoeba, but make Grace sick sick sick," Rocky clarified.
Adrian inched closer to Grace. "Oh, poor, poor thing…"
"What- Adrian, what are you- woah!"
They slipped two of their arms underneath Grace, lifting him up and bringing him close to their carapace. So cold… he feels so good… the way his body hums and vibrates.
They knew what they were doing was highly inappropriate, but they couldn't help themselves! Something so soft and in pain should be comforted, especially if it was the reason why they could reunite with their mate. Plus, they just held claws. It was the least Adrian could do. He relaxed at the warmth of Adrian's suit, burrowing deeper into their arms.
"Adrian likes Grace, statement." Rocky teased, scurrying up to the opposite nook between Adrian's arm and carapace, caressing them. Fuck. Rocky was going to make Adrian open up and deposit their eggs right there. "Scratch the underside of his top part. His chin. He likes that."
Grace threw up his arms, laughing. "Rocky! I'm not some-" He softened and sighed as Adrian followed Rocky's words. "Oh yeah, that's the stuff."
"You brought my mate home, even though you knew it would cause you pain. You could have left him behind and returned to your own planet, but you didn't. You saved him. You saved me," they purred.
Blood rushed to Grace's face. "Adrian-"
"It is funny. We discovered your planet many years ago, but ultimately concluded that it was unsuitable for life due to it's extremely low temperature. I never thought something so cold could produce something so… caring."
"Is that so?" he cocked his head.
"Yes. Erid is wrong about many things. Your existence proves that. You're not like anything on this planet… I could study you forever." Adrian pressed their carapace closer, wanting to be as close as possible, cursing the xenonite. How did Rocky do it for so long?
Grace adjusted his position, focusing on Rocky, who had begun translating for both of them. "I felt the same way about Eridians!"
"Grace is biologist too! Greatest scientist on Earth!" he added.
"No, I'm really not. We've been over this." Grace tried to correct, but Rocky kept chirping over him.
Adrian clicked a claw together. "Oh! How fascinating! I can't wait to collaborate with you! I have been studying biology for [193 years]."
Grace widened his eyes. "Dang, that's a long time…"
Adrian tilted their carapace. "How long have you studied biology?"
"Twenty years? Ish?"
"Only twenty years?"
"Well, I am only thirty six…"
"[THIRTY SIX EARTH YEARS]?!" Adrian shrieked, pressing Grace tighter, their protective instincts kicking in. Oh gods below, Adrian was a monster! "Whose baby is this? What was a child doing out in space?"
He squirmed in Adrian's hold. "Adrian!" he choked. "I'm well into adulthood. Our lifespans are just shorter than yours. Humans live to be about eighty, give or take."
"Oh." They loosened their grip. "So short…" Thank gods. The idea that Adrian had been turned on by a child instantly killed their libido, as pent up as they were.
"I know, I've gotten plenty of crap from Rocky for it already."
Rocky crossed their arms, an Earth gesture. "Rocky not translating that!"
Grace focused his eyes on Rocky. "Rocks. You criticized the human body almost every day on the journey back."
"Not true! Rocky only make light criticisms on occasional basis," he retorted.
"If by occasional basis you mean all the time, sure."
"Rocky love Grace even with biological inferiorities."
Adrian gently rubbed a claw across the top of Grace's head. "Rocky! It's not nice to scold Grace for something he can't control. Besides, Grace evolved on a completely different planet with completely different needs than us."
"Oh believe me, human biology is imperfect even by Earth standards," Grace said.
"So is Eridian biology. Evolution says 'good enough' and leave us with many flaws,"
"Yep! Same thing on Earth! The whole bipedal thing left us with so many problems."
"You think five legs is perfect, question? Not in the slightest!"
They laughed, chatting about the biology of their species and the makeup of their planets, and how life even came to be on either one. Adrian and Grace were fascinated with each other, and Rocky needed to translate less and less as they continued to talk.
A nurse tapped against the wall, letting them know their time was up.
They placed him back on the mattress, chirping sadly. "Must leave soon. Must thrum to find nutrient solution for Grace." Thankfully, Rocky stayed attached.
He sighed, readjusting his quilt. "I understand. I'd love to experience one someday."
Adrian thought for a moment. "I make arrangements. Erid would love for Grace to thrum."
"Really?" he perked up.
"Grace get better first!" Rocky waved a claw.
"Yes. Not to this thrum, but future thrum. Will thrum at this thrum to let Grace come to future thrum." Adrian paused. "Sorry, thrum talk must be confusing for Grace. Verb and noun same."
Grace nodded slowly. "I think I get the gist. Thank you, Adrian! I didn't think you'd actually do that for me."
"Of course. Anything for Grace. Just ask, and we will thrum."
"Anything for Grace!" Rocky repeated.
After years of isolation, Adrian finally bonded with a new person.
The thrum concluded on a hopeful note. Three "packs" were formed to tackle the key issues— introducing taumoeba to Threeworld, memorializing the fallen, and keeping Grace alive.
Aside from Rocky (of course), Adrian was the first to volunteer for Grace's care team, earning them several happy noises from Rocky. The thrum appointed Adrian as one of the supervisors of the newly formed group, allowing Rocky to get the rest he needed.
"So… Adrian like Grace, question?" Rocky chimed, practically jumping up and down as they left the chamber.
"Adrian love Grace!" they trilled. "So happy to get to work with Grace!" Gracespeak was addictive.
"Rocky glad!" he chirped, clicking his claws together.
They considered their next words carefully. "Beautiful, smart, brave… Adrian's type. Perhaps Rocky have competition."
He stepped back, clearly flustered, but not upset. "You- you said nobody else could ever compete with Rocky!"
Adrian hummed. "Correct. No other Eridian. Grace not Eridian."
He whined with a playful tone. "Rocky wait for four Earth years for Adrian approval to court. Adrian remained celibate for fifty six years, only to immediately fold when Rocky returns, question? To Rocky's alien best friend, question? Horrible."
They laughed. "Maybe you should've considered that before bringing home an attractive alien."
Rocky wrapped two arms around Adrian as he shook with delight. "Adrian is the worst, statement."
"And Rocky is the best. Fact."