Archive of Our Own

Ever since 'The Incident' as Grace has taken to calling it, he's had a lot to consider about himself. It's mostly been at night, when he doesn't have a million and one things to distract himself with. In the haze of pre-sleep when he's just tired enough not to want to move, but his mind is still awake enough to remind him of every sin he's committed since the age of three. He has no memories of having sex with anyone on Earth. There was one attempt, but it ended fairly swiftly. He's never had any urges before the Petrova Task Force or during.

And after? Well, The Incident with Rocky has been it.

Grace spent a little too much time spiraling before admitting defeat and turning to his laptop. When in doubt, the internet is there for a reason, right? Thankfully he has access to everything that was available online before he left. Stratt's reference material was basically a snapshot of the internet right before the Hail Mary was sent out. Meaning there were plenty of forums and posts to look into.

Grace can only blame himself for never discovering the language for his feelings until now. It seems there's been discussion upon discussions, even academic articles on the topic. Grace knew, logically, that it would only make sense for there to be academic studies on human sexuality. It was an entire other thing to finally sit down and read them, though.

The academic articles help with the nature of the topic. He's read and written plenty of research articles and academic journals before and during the Hail Mary Project. It aids in making the unknown topic of his own sexuality into something familiar. Something he can analyze and study.

Grace realizes he might be… probably, more than likely, on the asexual spectrum. Where, exactly? Grace hasn't gotten that far yet. There's not exactly a set term for "only ever came with the assistance of my alien best friend". In between Taumoeba farming and Spore play-throughs, Grace has been searching the internet and his memories to try and figure out what his deal is.

He hasn't come up with much on the sexuality front, but he has gotten to the creature stage in Spore so at least he's achieved something! He's definitely not distracting himself from the looming crisis over his sexuality.

"Creature need more legs, statement." There's a little tap against the xenonite chamber above Grace as Rocky instructs him on the latest design for "ABBA". Yes, he did name his Spore creature after a Swedish pop group. He was listening to Dancing Queen and felt inspired, okay?

"They've already got four," Grace hums, arguing just for argument's sake. He and Rocky will just do that, bickering for fun. They still have three years left in their journey, it's not like there's much else for them to do.

"Five legs better, statement."

"You're biased."

"Grace biased. Rocky correct."

"That's it, I'm adding more eyes instead."

"Grace have no care for aesthetics, statement. Grace bad at games."

"I have no care for aesthetics?" Grace huffs, turning his head away from the laptop screen to look up at Rocky. Rocky is working on a cup-looking object as he sits in the xenonite tunnel, three legs tucked under him as his two forelegs are wearing his 'work gloves'. He's got his screen reader and the crystal gun propped up beside him. "Says you. I've seen your Minecraft builds, pal."

"Grace promise not to bring up villager farm! Bad bad bad!" Rocky stands up then, using one of his non-gloved hands to point accusingly at Grace.

Grace grins and laughs to himself before turning back to the screen.

"Need new word," Rocky huffs. Grace hears the clicking and shuffling of Rocky settling back down.

"Alright," Grace hums, pausing his game to tab over to their translation spreadsheet. "Hit me with it."

"Word for… teasing, defiant person."

Grace feels his face heat up as he turns back to Rocky. He raises a brow as he looks up at him over the rim of his glasses. Rocky just lowers his carapace for a moment, mimicking a shrug.

"𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅗𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅗𝅥♫ is word. Person who instigates on purpose."

Grace swallows, turning back to the computer. He's got a pretty solid idea as to what Rocky is trying to say. Even if it makes his face heat up.

"I think you mean brat, Rock," he answers, adding the new word to the program. In spite of the way he knows it's going to be used against him.

"Brat! Grace is brat brat brat. So mean to Rocky!"

Yep, there it is.

"I am not-! Hey- actually-?" Grace starts off arguing, but pauses as Rocky sways his carapace into a tilt.

Grace glances back at the word typed on his screen. Is he a brat? He's been deep diving into articles on sexuality all week, so BDSM terms and language has come up. He knows the vague ideas around bratting. He's fairly certain he and Rocky's dynamic fell more into platonic 'rage-baiting' as his students would say. But now that he's thinking on it…

"Grace not always brat. Only when Grace flustered. Rocky like brat-Grace, statement."

"Rocky-" he starts, tone chastising. He doesn't continue the thought though, eyes still tracing over the word on screen.

<brat.>

He reaches up to take his glasses off before rubbing at his eyes. He blinks a few times but the word is still on his screen. Bold black and white feeling far too bright against his fuzzy vision.

Well, he's already been edging a week long sexuality crisis, why not throw kinks into the mix as well?

"Grace thinking hard. Rocky hear it from here, statement."

Grace groans as he turns his head to give Rocky his best withering glare. It's probably not as intimidating as he hopes, seeing as he has to squint to see more than a brown blob. Rocky learning about sarcasm and human idioms has been great for smoother communication. Not so great for Grace's ego and emotional state.

"If anything you're the brat," Grace scoffs, crossing his arms.

"No. Rocky pervert, Grace said so."

At that, Grace snorts. Unable to stop the fond chuckle that escapes him. Rocky chitters once he spots the slight upturn of Grace's lip. The familiar staccato of chirping to imitate Grace's own laughter.

"Rocky pervert, statement," Grace agrees.

"Oh! Oh! Grace!" Rocky suddenly bounces up and down, clambering into standing with a few dull thunks against the xenonite. "Rocky read Internet, discovery! Discussion, request?"

Grace's fond smile slips into something more hesitant. He's not sure he wants to know about Rocky's latest discovery if he was reminded of it by being called a pervert. Grace puts his glasses back on anyways.

"What's up?"

They haven't really discussed The Incident, mostly because Grace tries to find the nearest exit whenever Rocky brings it up. Rocky's seemingly caught on, because after the third attempt Rocky stopped attempting to broach the topic entirely.

"Rocky search about male lactation-"

"Nope! No, we're not talking about that!" Grace interrupts before Rocky can even finish humming the sentence for the translator. Rocky makes a few irritated stomps against his tunnel.

"Grace-"

"Nope!"

"Grace-"

"Nada, nyet, non-"

"Brat."

Grace opens his mouth, about to continue listing off all the translations for 'no' he can think of. He learned quite a few on Stratt's Vat of multi-cultural conscripts. But what Rocky said finally catches up to his brain and stops him dead in his tracks. His stupid body betrays him. His ears go hot- in fact his entire body feels like it went up a few degrees. Followed by the familiar tight swoop in his stomach that Grace is realizing only Rocky causes.

"Pervert," he grumbles, the only defense he can come up with in the moment.

"Correct. Now Grace let Rocky speak, question?"

Grace crosses his arms and definitely doesn't pout.

"Graaaace."

"Fine."

"Good job, statement," Grace pointedly ignores the weird fluttering in his chest at that. "Male lactation caused by hormone, statement. Grace breed Taumoeba to have hormone and Grace lactate, suggestion!"

"Rocky-" he starts, pinching the bridge of his nose. His glasses have slipped down, but Grace has decided he actually doesn't want to see anything right now. Despite the embarrassed flush heating up his face, arousal sparks at the base of his spine. "I am not going to breed Taumoeba so you can watch me lactate, that's ridiculous! It's weird, firstly. Secondly, a waste of precious resources! Did I mention how this is weird?"

"Rocky care little about weird. Rocky want Grace lactating."

"I really should've never given you access to the Internet," Grace whispers to himself. He hears chittering laughter above him. Grace slumps down in his chair, shaking his head.

He tosses it back and forth in his mind for a bit, but ultimately decides that no, he will not do this.

… At least, not right now.

"Rock, even if it was possible for me to make a strain of Taumoeba that had prolactin, lactating like that would take away nutrients. Valuable nutrients I need for our trip back to Erid," he sighs, shaking his head. "I'm likely to develop scurvy during the last legs, last thing I need is a calcium deficiency because we decided to… well, ya know?"

A glance up shows Rocky deflating, his carapace thunking against the xenonite.

"Rocky sad, statement."

"Sorry, pal."

"Grace lactate on Erid, question?"

Grace shakes his head. He doesn't even know if he'll make it to Erid. He supposes if he lives that long and Rocky figures out how to make Erid not kill him instantly, Rocky will certainly have earned the chance to make him lactate.

"We can experiment with it when we're not in space, how does that sound?"

"Amaze amaze amaze!"

That conversation isn't the last discussion they have. Rocky is very curious about Grace as it turns out, not just humans in general. Grace supposes it makes sense, if Rocky wanted to know more about humans, he has more than enough information stored on the laptop Grace gave him.

Grace fears he's created a monster.

"Grace, Rocky have question, statement."

Grace is lounging, watching Rocky play Minecraft. His teasing must've gotten to the Eridian and now Rocky was demanding Grace "help" him with making his base prettier. Rocky is in his atmosphere controlled bunk with his special Eridian laptop. Thankfully, despite the retro-fitted Eridian materials of Rocky's laptop, the Bluetooth inside still works. So, Grace can easily watch Rocky's screen on one of the screens in the dormitory while he lounges on their "futon". The same place…

Nope, Grace doesn't need a boner right now. Not when Rocky is right there.

"No, the sea lanterns don't work for this. I think you should go back to the frog lights," Grace replies, assuming the question is about Rocky's design.

"No no no. Not about game, statement."

"What is it then, Rock?"

"Rocky finish project for Grace. Want to use, but Grace has been… away, statement."

Ah.

"Yeah… sorry."

What else is he supposed to say? Sorry I've been distant, Rocky. It's just that you were the first person to ever make me cum, including myself, and that's sent me into a spiral. Or maybe: I've been having a crisis about getting off with an alien instead of ever achieving it with a human.

Yeah, no. He's not saying that.

"Rocky… no understand. Want to know why Grace quiet… Grace upset with Rocky, question?"

Okay, maybe Grace has to say something.

"I'm not upset with you, Rocky," he murmurs, softening as he spots Rocky tracing shapes along the xenonite paneling beneath him. "I… enjoyed what we did. A little too much, I think. That's why… why I've been weird."

"Rocky worry, statement."

"I'm sorry, bud."

"What Grace mean, question? When Grace say 'like too much'. Rocky like. Like like like, statement."

"…I-" Grace clears his throat, turning away to look back at the mirror display in front of him. His eyes trace the little particle effects of the enchanting table. "There's a lot of… feelings I'm working through right now. I didn't… I wasn't really into sex back on Earth. But now… now I don't know."

Rocky doesn't reply, just lets out a soft humming noise while one of his claws clicks together.

"I've been trying to figure out what I'm feeling or why I'm feeling it and I just… I can't find the exact language to describe it, I guess. It was easier when I felt nothing, because then I could fit into an easy box. But I do feel something. But it's not in the same way that I've seen others describe and I just—"

"Grace."

Grace takes a deep breath, recognizing the familiar word dump at the same time that Rocky does. He's spiraling.

"Yeah?"

"Why need word, question? Feeling… does not always need word. Not science, just emotion, statement."

And well, maybe he should've talked to Rocky sooner.

Damn.

"Grace use science brain too much. No need to science when feeling good."

"You said it was a science experiment!"

"… Rocky had second motivation, statement."

Grace didn't think it was possible for a text-to-speech program to sound sheepish, but somehow Rocky found a way. He laughs, despite himself and the anxiety that's been rolling in his mind like thunder for a whole week. He knew that Rocky had secondary motivation- namely making Grace cum in his pants, but it's still funny to hear the little pervert admit it.

"I know! I just- it's- well-"

"Just us. No need explain. Rocky understand. Grace can be weird with Rocky."

"Yeah?" Grace breathes as he turns to look up at Rocky once more. He's perched in a way that reminds Grace of the way cats sit back on Earth, with his legs tucked under him. "I fear I'm not the prime example of human sexuality…"

"Rocky no want prime example. Just want Grace, statement."

Something warm unfurls inside Grace's chest then. A warmth he hadn't felt since Linda and one he lost rather quickly during the relationship. He can see the renewed blush on his cheeks through his reflection in the xenonite.

"Thanks, Rock."

He turns back to the screen, settling among the soft blankets and letting his head rest on a pillow. Rocky just wants to be with him. He doesn't have any of the same expectations that Grace so pointedly tried to avoid on Earth. Rocky knows how Grace is and he still wants Grace. Not an ideal to mold Grace into, just Grace as he is.

Something finally feels like it settles in his brain. Like the background noise finally cut out and Grace is left in blissful, still silence.

"Tell me about your surprise."

"Oh! Amaze amaze amaze! Rocky found diagram online…"

The surprise shouldn't have surprised Grace. He really doesn't know what else it could've been, considering Rocky stated rather explicitly what he wanted to do. Grace chews on the inside of his cheek as he looks down at the contraption before him. He recognizes parts of it from times he's stumbled upon rocky working in the dormitory! He should've figured it out.

"So…" he starts, glancing up at Rocky from above the rim of his glasses. "I see you've been doing more than enough research."

Rocky's carapace bounces as he does happy little taps against the floor.

Grace glances back down at the box in his lap. There's two cups and a… cylinder. He has a sneaking suspicion what each are and yet he's not nearly as apprehensive about the entire collection as he thought he would be. He picks up one of the cups to inspect it closer. There's a silicone style material around the edges, cushioning the clear xenonite. Inside the cup is more of that 'silicone', two rings of it around a small circle and all three lined with soft squishy bumps. Behind that is a thick, plastic-feeling material that Grace assumes is some sort of covering/housing for whatever mechanism are inside.

"Are these-?"

"Suction toy for nipple! Will make proper machine for Grace when arrive on Erid, statement," Rocky chirps, oh so happy to explain.

Grace nods slowly as his face turns ruddy. Rocky is a mechanical engineer. He doesn't know why he's shocked at the idea of someone who worked on a spaceship for his species being able to reverse-engineer human sex toys. Rocky is certainly the most qualified Eridian for the job.

"And this?" He asks instead of commenting, pointing down at to the cylinder.

"𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅗𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅗𝅥♫𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅗𝅥♫, toy for human anatomy! Word not in shared dictionary!"

"It's uh-" Grace stammers as he picks up what is most certainly an Eridian fleshlight. "Stroker or fleshlight."

It's the same rigid plastic feeling material on the outside, with the same silicone material at the top and inside. Thankfully Rock didn't try to make any fancy shapes out of the top, just a simple narrow hole that stretches when Grace pushes a curious finger around the rim. There's some sort of leather-y cloth around the tube, a strap? It hooks onto either side of the tube in a loose loop that looks suspiciously close to the size of Grace's waistband and has an adjustable buckle to the left.

Is he really going to go through with this?

Grace chews on his lip as he glances between the toys and Rocky. He's suddenly very aware of the cotton of his briefs against himself. The familiar weight of arousal settles at the bottom of his stomach as the entire room grows warmer around him.

"You really outdid yourself, pal," he huffs, uncertain how else to reply. He knows there's a million and one sexier things he could say- he could try to set the mood. But Rocky said that he didn't want "prime human sexuality". He just wants Grace, in Grace's own weird way.

"Rocky want very best for Grace! Only prototype- Grace must review. Rocky make improvements off of Grace review."

Grace hums, tucking the toys back into their box. Even with the arousal curling in his gut, he's not quite fully in the mood just yet. Thankfully, Rocky takes it with grace (hah).

"… Let's finish up your enchanting room first."

Grace doesn't really know what to do with himself. Since receiving Rocky's 'gift' he's been restless. He's jumping from task to task. When he grows bored with one task or his mind wanders, he searches for the next one. There's a heat that curled low in his gut that won't leave and his dick has been making his presence known since Rocky gave him the box.

Grace is certain Rocky can tell. Rocky can see whenever he blushes due to the noise that blood makes whilst it's pumping through his veins. He figures Rocky can hear when he's starting to… pitch tents. Rocky hasn't said anything or even reacted to the fact. Which Grace is only mildly concerned about.

Okay, he's really concerned, actually. The thought that his alien is no longer interested because of how long Grace is taking only adds onto the swirl of anxiety in his brain.

Wait-

His alien?

Okay, so Grace is definitely thinking of Rocky in a different light. Cool. Right. Totally normal after Rocky's explored his body. Totally normal…

Yeah, Grace can't think about that. He still has his normal sexual anxiety to worry about. Feelings are getting tossed in a box and shoved to the back of his mind to be dealt with later.

His alien? Really, Ryland? Going there?

Nope! In the box.

Rocky has, on multiple occasions, reached over with a xenonite covered claw to put his hand on Grace's knee or thigh whenever his leg bouncing gets too intense. It's an old habit from his academia days that came back during the stress with Project Hail Mary. Now it's back and Rocky's taken notice.

Rocky's touch burns. Not in the way it once had, before either of them understood their temperature differences and before Rocky took to ensuring his xenonite mixes were insulated enough for delicate human skin. it's more like burn-in on a screen. Even when rocky stops touching him, it lingers. The sensation stays, splayed upon Grace's skin in delicate flashes only he can bear witness to.

It's right before dinner when Grace finally breaks.

"Rocky!" He calls, not bothering to raise his voice any further than "lecture" levels because Rocky can hear him whispering from across the ship.

Grace is in the dormitory again, back on the futon with Rocky's gift box in his lap. Because even Spore can't keep his attention when his stupid cock is rubbing against the seam of his jumpsuit.

Grace hears familiar chirping and skittering in reply. Instead of the deeper reverb of the xenonite tunnels above him, it's the clicking of xenonite against steel. Rocky's already in his XEVA suit.

Perfect.

Grace doesn't bother with pleasantries, he wants to cum now. So he stands, strips down to his boxers, and tucks his glasses up on the shelf above the futon. If they continue on with this new… development, Grace fears he might develop a Freudian response to couches. Specifically, he and Rocky sharing a couch.

He sits back down, leaning up against the wall. There's more blankets and pillows, a mix of Earth and Eridian materials. Rocky's recently discovered human knitting forums and has gone crazy with it. There's meticulously crafted blankets that line the bed, cushioning Grace's delicate skin from the walls of the Hail Mary.

Movie nights have recently featured Rocky laying his carapace against Grace so he can use four arms for his projects. Sometimes, all four work on the same project, sometimes Rocky has two going at once. One night, Rocky even attempted at working on three at once via Grace acting as a sixth arm.

That specific blanket is the one Grace pulls around his shoulders, one end lumpy with slipped and mis-counted stitches. He told Rocky he could just pull out the stitches Grace messed up, but Rocky reacted with a sad flutter of his vents followed by a high crooning noise that reminded Grace of whale-song. He didn't press the matter any further after.

"Grace okay, question?" Rocky calls just before he skitters into the doorway. One leg raises in preparation for the two-stomp punctuation, but Rocky pauses halfway.

"Hey, Rock," Grace greets, giving a little wave.

"Oh. Grace finally want to do something about hard-on, question?"

Grace really really regrets updating their shared translation dictionary.

"Maybe," Grace replies, only huffing a little. He gives Rocky a small frown. "You never said if you noticed."

"Obvious Rocky notice. Grace… hesitate. Rocky wait."

Grace's shoulders slump then, his expression softening as he looks over Rocky. He feels like a fool every time he comes out of his little spirals. It's like his brain forgets just how wonderful and patient Rocky has been and is. He pushes down the guilt in favor of reaching out for Rocky.

The Eridian scurries to close the distance. He ducks his carapace under Grace's hand before pushing up, like a cat requesting to be pet. It makes Grace want to wrap around Rocky and squeeze.

"I have a lot of feelings," Grace states, feeling like it's the understatement of the century. He taps against the top of the XEVA suit as Rocky carefully steps closer. "And I know we talked about my not needing a solid definition, but this is still… a lot for me. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

Rocky settles against Grace's side, curling up with his legs tucked beneath himself. Grace smiles and leans against Rocky, one arm draped over the top of Rocky's carapace.

"Rocky wait long time. Rocky not mind."

"Thanks, buddy."

"Grace ready, question?"

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, I think I am."

Grace sits up then, stretching his legs out and only wincing slightly at the way his hips crack. There's simple latches on the box that pop open with ease, revealing the contents once more to Grace.

"Is it really smart to waste your xenonite on sex toys? We have a limited supply," Grace hums as he lifts the toys out. They're nestled in some sort of plush material, not unlike packaging foam.

"Not xenonite, different material. 𝅘𝅥𝅮♫𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥♫𝅘𝅥𝅗𝅥♫𝅘𝅥𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅗𝅥𝅘𝅥. Amount need for toys small enough, statement." Rocky gives an impatient rattle of his vents, which Grace learned a while ago is something Rocky learned from him. It's Rocky's version of an impatient huff.

Normally, Grace would be curious about a new Eridian material. If his blood was in his brain and not his penis, he might've actually gone to the lab to scan for whatever elements made up the toys. However, science can wait after he gets off.

What is space doing to him?

"Noted."

He lifts the cups as he shimmies out of the blanket, letting it pool around his hips as he looks over the toys once more. There's thick dials at the bottom and when Grace turns them (left-y tight-y, right-y loose-y) the silicone-style material inside whirls to life. Putting his hand over the top reveals there's suction too, which earns a startled noise from the back of his throat.

"Wrong location, statement."

"I know!" Grace squeaks, turning his head to glare at Rocky. Rocky just chitters in reply, getting up and stomping his claws around. Grace watches, toys forgotten in favor of watching Rocky move around the bed/couch/sex futon. He really needs to stop thinking about it as the sex futon.

Rocky moves the box off of Grace's lap in favor of climbing between his legs, similar to how they'd been positioned the last time they… did this. Grace grumbles as Rocky grabs at his thighs to adjust his position.

"Take too long, statement," is what he earns in reply.

"You're impatient," Grace huffs, scowling only to keep up appearances for himself.

Rocky plucks the other cup out of the box before leaning forward to press the silicone cup against Grace's chest. It's cold, initially, but other than that it's just a weird circle pressed against his chest. Rocky waits, doesn't turn the dial immediately like Grace thought he would. Slowly, Grace holds out the cup in his hand. Rocky turns it off before placing it beside it's twin.

The bastard waits until Grace sighs and slouches again the wall before turning both toys on at once.

Grace jolts as the suction starts, goosebumps rising on his skin. The cups make little whirring noises as the suction against his pecs starts. His skin raises slightly, but thankfully the Eridian silicone keeps it from pinching. So far, it's just a light suction that leaves Grace far too aware of the way his nipples are pebbling through the clear material.

"Rocky-"

Rocky only makes a small chirping-like noise as his carapace bounces up and down. He pulls his hands off to 'watch'. Grace squirms, feeling like a sample beneath a microscope.

"Relax," comes Rocky's reply, claws patting at Grace's hip. "Grace good for Rocky, question?"

Grace whines before turning his head so he won't have to look.

There's a few more notes that Grace doesn't know the translation of before Rocky reaches up to turn the dials to the next notch. This causes the silicone rings to descend from the housing, encircling Grace's nipples as the suction increases.

"Brat," Rocky adds at the end, emphasizing it with another little pat to Grace's hip.

Grace shudders as he's teased, both by Rocky's words and the rings swirling around his nipples. It's an entirely new sensation, the gentle circles of silicone rolling over his skin in a soft mechanical massage. He squirms to adjust, nearly dislodging one of the cups as he searches for something to cling to.

"Bad Grace," Rocky chides, tapping his hip a bit more forcefully now. Grace means to grumble, but it comes out as a choked whine.

"H-hah, sorry," Grace stammers, already feeling breathless.

He takes a deep breath to try and calm himself, but the act of his chest rising only adds to the slow drag of suction from the cups. He lets his head fall back, eyes closing as the sensations take over. He can hear Rocky moving and the clinking of something being fiddled with, but he's too focused on the whirring from the nipple cups. Blood is slowly filling out his cock, the length pressed against his thigh feels heavy and noticeable even with the cover of his boxers.

"Lift," Rocky instructs as two xenonite claws pinch at Grace's hips. He doesn't bother opening his eyes, just obeys with a little hum. He feels Rocky sliding down his boxers as another piece of fabric wraps around his waist.

"Mnh? Wha-?" He starts, forcing himself to open his eyes and look down. Rocky's got the fleshlight in hand, the strap already wrapped around the high points of Grace's hips. The strap is loose, giving Rocky plenty of room to maneuver the bulky tube. He's got one claw on the strap, one on the tube, and one holding a packet of medical-grade lubricant open. Grace didn't even notice when Rocky grabbed it.

"Both?!" He squeaks, drawing his thighs up as his traitorous dick twitches with interest.

"Both!" Rocky chirps back, tilting his carapace back and forth in an imitation of a nod.

Grace stills, though his chest is moving with each little pant he makes. He glances between each object Rocky's holding rapidly, feeling overwhelmed already.

"Go slow," he sighs. Did he relent too quickly? Probably. He's horny, it's fine.

Rocky makes a small humming noise as he lines the toy with lubricant. Seemingly taking his time, just as Grace requested. Grace bites at his bottom lip, this isn't what he meant! He nudges Rocky with his thigh lightly, hoping he'd get the hint.

"Say please."

"What?! Rocky- no. I'm not-"

"Say please," Rocky repeats as he drops the packet off to the side.

Grace glares down at Rocky, cheeks warm. Rocky is nonplussed, reaching out and gripping Grace's length with the hand that previously held the lube. He lines Grace up with toy, resting the stretchy silicone against the head of his cock.

Grace thinks they're finally getting somewhere. He bucks his hips up, teasing himself with the slick stretch at the tip. But Rocky doesn't move.

"Say please, demand."

"Rocky-"

"Brat. Grace know what Rocky want, statement."

Grace huffs, rolling his eyes instead of replying. This is already embarrassing enough with the toys hooked up to his chest. Part of him wants to just say it already- to get it over with. But even as he prepares for the words, they just won't come out.

Rocky shifts the toy into a different claw before reaching up to twist the dials on the cups to the next notch. Moments after, the cups rattle as the suction increases, little pulses of increased suction before settling back to the pressure from before.

"Wh- Ro-Rocky!" Grace squeaks, instinctively dragging his legs up to his chest. Rocky catches him midway, pressing his thighs back down. There's a jolt of molten arousal that shoots through Grace at the reminder of just how strong Rocky is in comparison.

He feels dazed as the sensations on his chest drown out any sense or reason. Lube and pre-cum drip from the fleshlight's opening and down his shaft. He feels a slight itch where it's dribbled down his balls. Everything suddenly feels far away, like his senses have tuned out all but himself and Rocky.

He whimpers, limbs loose and lax as he tries to reach up with his hands to turn the dials back.

"No no no. Bad Grace," Rocky chuffs, pinching Grace's hip. Another whine follows after as Grace frowns in the vague direction of Rocky.

He feels… odd. Like his body isn't really there. It's just his brain matter turning into cotton as he floats along the pleasure. The room feels like it's spinning almost. Not quite in the way it did back when he drank Ilyukhina's vodka. More like the room is tilting oh so slowly.

"Mnh- h-hah, okay," he babbles, words slurring together as he bucks his hips. He doesn't get very far and most certainly doesn't get to sink into the toy like he'd been wanting. Rocky keeps the stroker just out of reach, claws tapping against his skin.

"Grace say please." The TTS voice doesn't convey much emotion, but Grace can hear the harsh clicks and drawn out notes from Rocky against his skin. He's getting impatient too.

"Please," he finally breathes out, the tinge of humiliation from having to beg curls in his gut. It swirls in tandem with the arousal. There's an ache deep in his core and the measly drop of lube running down his cock is doing nothing to satiate it. "Puh- please, Rock. Just- please touch me! Anything-"

"Good good good," Rocky trills, sinking the toy down in one deep stroke.

The lube is cold and the silicone isn't much warmer in comparison. Grace can feel the ridges of the internal silicone rubbing and squeezing against his cock on the way down, carefully toeing the line of too tight. It's overwhelming. His entire body jolts and more embarrassing noises tumble forth.

Thankfully, Rocky seems to take pity on him and doesn't move the stroker after. Grace slouches once his muscles learn to unclench, eyes closed and mouth open. There's a soft clinking followed by the sound of fabric sliding on metal before Grace feels the strap on his hip suddenly tighten.

Oh shit.

He blearily blinks his eyes, rousing just enough to look down at Rocky. The absolute goblin of a creature has strapped the stroker into place and is repositioning himself. Carapace on the mattress beneath them as two legs stretch over Grace's thighs, the other two reaching up and grasping at Grace's wrists. A hiss of steam from Rocky's vents follows.

Eridian biology is entirely different from humans, Grace knows this. He also knows that their limbs don't move via muscles like most Earth creatures. Instead, Eridians are fascinatingly steam powered, rapidly cooling and heating water to move each limb. It's an astonishing difference. It also means that they can lock their limbs into place without the risk of long term damage from lack of blood flow that humans have.

Rocky has locked his limbs in place. He's pinning Grace down and both of them are fully aware Grace is not nearly as strong or durable as Rocky. Grace's arousal swells and his stomach does that same fluttering sensation as it did the first time Rocky praised him.

Does this count as a bondage kink?! is the delirious thought that runs through Grace's head.

"Cute cute cute! Rocky put Grace in place now, statement."

"I- hm. I hate you." Grace lets his head fall back as he stares up at the vague, blurring shapes that make up the ceiling.

"No no no! Brat. Grace is brat! Be nice to Rocky."

Grace shakes his head, fingers curling and wrists flexing to test the hold Rocky has on him. He can still move his hands freely, but his wrists aren't budging from where they're pinned. His body is too warm and he already feels the dampness of his sweat clinging to the blanket around him, but it's background noise to the pleasure the toys keep bringing him.

"Give me something to be nice about then, Rock," Grace snipes, smiling to himself as he shifts his hips.

Rocky makes a clicking noise, pinching Grace's thighs before the one claw not holding him down reaches up and turns the dial on the stroker. Not to the first notch, oh no. Grace hears a minimum of four clicks before Rocky holds the cylinder in place.

Grace moans like it's ripped out of him. The inside of the toy buzzes as the internal rings swirl and squeeze. Rippling up and down his shaft rapidly, as if the toy is trying to milk him for all he's worth. The sudden overwhelming assault of pleasure has tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Grace writhes, but Rocky's hold is resolute. He can't do much other than moan and wriggle in place.

"Ro- oh fuck- ngh!" Grace can't help himself from whimpering. He tries to press back against the mattress, a desperate attempt at escaping the toys. The strap keeps it locked in place, making his efforts futile.

It feels too good.

"Take it, Grace. Good good good."

"You- you- hah. You suck, Rocky."

"No, toy suck! Rocky hold."

Grace only groans in response, unable to formulate much of an argument. He thinks whining should count.

It takes him an embarrassingly short amount of time to reach his peak. His stomach clenching and tightening as his balls draw up and the pressure of a long-awaited orgasm builds. He trembles, fingers curling as his hips make little aborted thrusts upwards.

"Close! Mnph, close close close! Rocky- Rocky, please!"

Rocky doesn't stop him, letting Grace cum in the toy with a pleased chirp. Grace's eyes roll up as his entire body gets yanked into orgasm. His voice cracks around the wailing moan torn from his throat. The toy continues on, milking him through his orgasm until his cock give its final spurt.

He pants as his mind finally comes back to his body. He tries to relax, but everything is still going. His entire body is buzzing in the aftershocks but the toys are still on.

"Rock- I- mnh. I came alrea-ah-dy," he whimpers, pants and moans punctuating each word.

"Rocky know. Keep going."

"Christ."

His cock is overly sensitive, but still rock (hah) hard thanks to the toy. Grace only now notices how damp his face feels, tear tracks flowing from his temples down to his cheeks. His breath hitches as he tries to keep himself from crying.

It's so good though. He doesn't want any of this to stop- he wants Rocky to play with him and wring him dry. Being pinned takes away any chance Grace has to chicken out. He revels in it. He wants his limits tested.

They probably should've figured out a safe-word.

Grace doesn't really care in this moment.

Rocky reaches up to twist the notches on both cups, increasing the suction and rotation. Grace whimpers, high and desperate sounding, before he finally gives in. He goes limp in surrender, fingers digging into the blankets beneath him as he braces for the ride.

The second peak takes him a longer. His cock is still being squeezed but he surprises even himself with how quickly his body adjusted to the overstimulation. He sniffles as he looks down at Rocky.

Rocky's clicking his claws and tapping Grace's thighs occasionally. Letting out little cooing trills and nonsense noises. He's got Rocky's undivided attention at the moment.

Static licks at his toes and tension coils in his gut once more, he's close.

"Rocky-" he croaks out, feeling tears well up. His throat feels tight all of the sudden. "Rocky- please. Please-"

He doesn't know what he's begging for. Just that he needs Rocky.

"Is okay, Grace. Good good good."

Grace sobs as he cums again.

His entire body seizes at the sensation, the delicate skin at his wrists chaffing under xenonite. His thighs are trembling as he kicks and cries, tears streaming down his reddened face. His entire body feels like it's lit up with static and his mind is empty. Save for the sound of blood rushing.

"I- I can't! No- no more, please! Please, Rock-"

He sobs through the come down, squirming even more as Rocky lets go of his wrists. His arms feel like they're made of cooked spaghetti as he weakly reaches down to try and pull at the toy on his cock. It won't budge, thanks to the strap and now the pleasure is getting painful. Sharp and overwhelming—

Warm xenonite bats his hands away, Grace hiccups as the entire stroker goes still. He watches with blurry vision as Rocky reaches up and presses on the dials of the cups. The toys are still and the suction gives way as Grace heaves and shakes.

"Fuh- hng- Rocky," he hiccups out, one trembling hand extending towards the Eridian.

Rocky chirps, taking Grace's hand in his. Grace squeezes the xenonite as his head flops back against the pillow. Rocky divests him of the toys, shoving them off to the side somewhere, before carefully moving Grace to lay flat on the mattress. He's sniffling and shaking as he clings to Rocky's carapace.

"Grace okay, question?"

Grace nods as he nuzzles against the clear xenonite. He's leaving trails of tears and sweat along the panels, though Rocky isn't complaining about it. For once.

"A lot… was a lot," he mumbles, bringing his thighs up so he can curl around Rocky entirely. His dick is still slick with lube and cum, which smears across the other side of Rocky's XEVA suit.

"Good or bad, question?" Rocky makes a little two-tap stomp against the mattress before tucking his legs under himself and settling down.

"Good. Very good. Great. Good good good," Grace babbles, closing his eyes. He's exhausted and feels particularly brainless. Rocky probably sucked brain cells out of his dick with his machine.

"Mmm. Grace stupid. Cute cute cute."

"Guh."

Grace goes limp as he snuggles Rocky, just breathing and enjoying the floaty feeling that's washed over him. At some point, Rocky calls for Armando. Grace doesn't pay attention to the commands Rocky gives, just rests his cheek against the xenonite and closes his eyes.

Rocky starts to clean him up with wipes graciously given to them by Armando. Grace lets him, but isn't much help as he's set to just lay there. Until Rocky goes to wipe off his thighs and dick and the sensation has Grace almost leaping out of the bed.

"No! Nope! Hands away!" He pleads as he rolls onto his back. His cock is red and soft, curled against his stomach and looking pathetic. He weakly takes the wipe from Rocky's claw, ignoring the huffy stomps he gets in response.

He still sweaty and sticky, but wiping down means his balls no longer feel like they're drowning in lube. He'll take what wins he can.

He reaches up to clean Rocky after, giggling as he accidentally slaps the xenonite with the cum covered wipe. Rocky startles before chittering at him.

"Disgust! Leaky leaky leaky. Human reproductive fluid not for suit!"

"Hehe, I gave you a facial," Grace snickers as he draws a smiley face in the cum. He's loose-limbed and the floaty feeling means he doesn't mind being a little silly with Rocky.

Rocky stomps with one claw before grabbing more wipes from the box. He cleans up the spots Grace missed on himself before wiping down his own suit. The wipes are tossed to the floor and a quick command from Rocky has Armando cleaning up for them.

Grace sighs as Rocky finally settles down beside him, using Rocky like the weirdest little spoon. The xenonite is warm despite the lack of give. Grace wouldn't trade it for anything, though.

"Rocky," he mumbles, eyes half-closed as he traces the sealed edges of the suit.

"Grace," comes out in a soft chirp alongside the TTS voice.

"… You're very good to me."

He wants to say something else, but his heart clenches and his throat tightens. Another night, he'll say it. When he feels more brave. For now, this will be enough.

Rocky clicks as he inches closer, warm xenonite against Grace's stomach.

"Grace deserve good. Deserve best, statement."

Grace doesn't reply, already half asleep. He doesn't think he deserves half of what Rocky's already given him. But he supposes he can be selfish. Just for a little while longer.