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It started with Rocky at my door, wiggling in that way he does when he's excited. "Hi Grace!" Is all he said, but it was obvious he had news and wanted me to ask what it was. So I did.
The whole incompatible atmosphere thing has been an issue from first contact onwards, obviously, and eridians have been generous with working to provide me things higher on my hierarchy of needs than strictly necessary. So I don't know why I was so surprised to hear that there had been a breakthrough for the protective suits eridians wear when inside my biosphere.
Now, Rocky stands in my doorway, suited up. He's slowly swaying, which I know is his best attempt at staying still enough for me to take in what I'm seeing. For a moment I just gape at how visibly flexible the new suit is, rather than the old one's rigid polygons. Don't get me wrong, I'm so grateful for that one, it did a lot of emotional heavy lifting for the both of us, but this...
"Can- can I-"
"YES!" Rocky cries as he rushes forward, and I barely have time to duck down to meet him. The ensuing collision knocks some of the air out of my lungs, but it doesn't hurt so much as it serves to add to my brain's struggle to process what's happening.
I... can feel four strong arms, flush against me. Rocky's hugged me in the old suit before, but it couldn't be very hard thanks to the way its edges dug into me. Now, it's the perfect pressure. Okay, it's a bit tight, but that fact just makes me aware of the way my chest feels like it's about to burst with emotion.
"Oh my god. Rocky." It's victory I wasn't sure I was ever going to have. It's him.
"Grace!" Rocky quavers, high-pitched.
After a minute we pull away, and I'm so happy. I marvel at the way I can still feel some of Rocky's texture and warmth through his new suit, like I hoped I could. "Oh my god, you really do just feel like a rock."
"And you are squishy meat blob."
We both laugh, and take a breath. We're just taking each other in now, and I don't know what to say. I should be okay with the silence, I have been a thousand times before. But before, I couldn't feel Rocky's claw slide down my arm and gently ghost the scar his touch had left on me when he saved my life. I should be telling him how much that means to me and relishing this moment instead of whatever this is, and I don't know what to say.
My increasing anxiety must show somehow, because Rocky immediately pulls away and asks "Is Grace okay, question?"
Oh god, he must think I don't like the scar. How do I tell him I do, in a normal and not completely creepy way?
"Sorry, it's not you, um..." I drag a hand down my face. "Even before leaving Earth this stuff was... hard for me. No matter how much I wanted it." I smile, melancholy, and take his claw to line it up with the mark he left. Not exactly normal, but whatever.
Rocky's posture softens, and he makes a sound I don't hear from him much. I think I understand it anyway.
"Thinking of seeing Adrian again after long long time made me feel deep want, but also scared. Opposite feeling at same time. Is like that, question?"
I nod, only faintly noting the implications of that comparison among everything else in my head.
"I don't want there to be barriers between us, you know? Like- in general. I'm trying, I just... it's hard." I feel the weight of him, in more ways than one. "I..." I don't want to screw this up.
Rocky pauses for a moment, wiggling the claws of one hand in deliberation. "Whenever Grace needs to stop, is okay. Promise. We go at your speed. You already brave brave brave for me before. You still are."
I exhale sharply, like the sheer sentiment in that punched the air out of me the way our hug did. "You're gonna make me cry, dude," I chuckle, weakly.
Rocky holds out two of his arms and I don't have to consider how badly I want to dive in for another hug, I just do.