Work Text:
-1-
A few months after Adrian returned with a beaten, battered, torn, and traumatized human from their expedition, that human had slowly gotten settled in Grace’s biodome. Adrian had offered Simon his own dome, his own house, his own space, but he insisted that he just… really didn’t want to be alone. And Grace had been relieved because oh my holy stars it’s another person. Simon didn’t seem to have any desire to leave and didn’t talk much about where he came from.
And Grace respects that want for privacy.
He’s just shocked to discover that privacy doesn’t seem to be Simon’s priority. That or Grace just needs to politely look away.
Any minute now. Maybe just… stare less conspicuously. Yeah, be discreet.
Taking a deep breath, Grace tries to avert his eyes from the scene before him, but like a magnet, they’re glued onto Simon, who insists on staying in shape, and to do that will exercise for no less than an hour almost every other day. Grace has a curled finger pressed against his lips, resisting the urge to bit his knuckle as he watches the other man in one of his own shirts, wearing that harness underneath, sweating, and doing one-handed pushes up. His hair falls like a curtain around his face, blocking most of the view both ways. Which Grace has honestly never been so freaking thankful for. He’s able to see how each of his muscles move under his shirt that is skin-tight to the shorter man. Holy moly, I cannot stop watching. What in the heck is wrong with me.
Simon’s eyes suddenly reach his own and Grace turns around to begin counting the seeds that Adrian had brought to him.
I am a monster. Grace cannot remember even being this attracted to the girlfriend he had in college. And he liked her a lot. But- mmmm no. This is just a physical attraction. Simon is a very attractive guy. Yeah. It’ll fade. It always does. It always will. Half the time it isn’t even the attraction he thinks it is.
——
-2-
Since getting caught for the first time, Grace has been much more discreet about his… staring problem. He’s offered to help Simon with his projects, having studied enough engineering to at least follow Simon’s instructions. And part of it is only because he’s trying to distract himself enough to not stare and so far it’s working like a charm!
…
Sorta.
For the most part.
Look, stolen glances up here and there are between him and no one else.
Plus, he’s being good, he’s doing great at not staring. He’s focused in on trying to put the gears in their correct spots and in the correct order. And on top of that, he has to get the wiring in the right spots, making sure they connect back to the microchip board. Grace has no idea where Simon picked any of this up from, it looks like Dr. Frankenstein made blueprints cross referencing four different eras of human technology, and Grace hasn’t even gotten to where Simon penciled in eridian tech.
Sighing out his nose, Grace leans far back then back in closer to manually readjust his sight. He’s soldering a wire to a trip when Grace feels something move next to him.
No.
Somone leaning really close to see what he’s doing. Grace has to steel himself not to move a muscle and not to tense a single nerve before daring to steal glance to the man next to him.
As soon as he catches a glance from his peripheral, his eyes snap back to the tech in front of him, but he isn’t processing a darn thing.
Oh my gosh he’s shirtless.
Grace swallows harshly, moving the tools back and forth repeatedly, as if thinking over his next move. But he’s a lying liar who is fibbing because there isn’t a singular thought going on behind his eyes.
Because Simon is shirtless and is standing right next to him, almost behind him and over his shoulder. Grace can feel the heat rolling off his body, his gorgeously shining body, just inches away from his own. If he were any closer, their bodies would touch each time Simon breathed in, expanding his chest. Grace is acutely aware of each individual nerve ending as they stand at attention, trying to force him to squirm in his seat.
What is he doing what is he thinking why is he so close wait am I doing something wrong? Did he catch me looking? No, no it’s been too long since I last loo-
“It’ll work better if you insulate that wire and connect it to the bolt of this gear,” Simon leans in closer as he speaks, pointing to what he’s talking about, his breath hitting the shell of Grace’s ear with each word. “It’ll keep it from short circuiting.” The ghost of contact never made makes Grace want to writhe in his seat, maybe even dare to reach o-
“Ri-” Grace’s voice cracks embarrassingly high before he clears his throat, “right, thank you so much, I will get right on that.”
Nodding, Simon pats Grace’s shoulder as he walks away, the momentary touch still shooting firework across his nerves. Grace can’t help himself as his head turns, glued to Simon’s back as the man stretches while walking back to his makeshift gym space. Grace has the perfect view and lighting of how Simon’s muscles move as he stretches them for his break.
Just as Simon goes to lean down to stretch his lower back, Rocky pipes up, scaring the absolute daylights out of Grace, “Why Grace staring, question?”
Grace darn near jumps out of his skin, fumbling the tools he was holding and successful only in dropping them. “I was- I was thinking!” He can feel his heart beating up in his throat as he whips his head over to his friend.
“Why Grace heart rate so fast?! Are you dizzy, question?” Rocky scuttles over to Grace’s side of the work bench, poking at the human.
Waving him off while trying to will his heart rate to slow, Grace takes a deep breath, “I’m fine Rock, really, it’s nothing.”
Rock freezes as he stays tilted up towards Grace in what’s probably disbelief. “Mhmm,” Rocky finally begins to chirp, “I’ll ask Adrian to look into the plants they brought you from neighboring system.”
Grace fidgets as he picks his tools back up and makes Simon’s corrections, “Yeah, it’s probably just an alien pollen or something.” Returning to his work, he’s much more careful about sneaking glances towards the man who is-
Oh my stars… Is he-?!
Grace’s breath catches in his throat as Simon lifts one of the oversized bags of soil Adrian had carried in. Lifting it over one shoulder, and Grace watches as Simon’s abdominal muscles stretch as he lifts it up with him to his full height. As he turns, Grace is given a perfect view of how Simon’s tricep and bicep flex. And Grace’s mind immediately illustrates to him the possibility of Simon pushing him against-
ALRIGHTY THEN. Grace practically lunges for his water.
——
-3-
Grace is fucked and not in the way he wants to be.
Yeah.
Basically.
Ever since Adrian had cleared Simon for physical exercise, it’s been almost every other day for an hour. For over a week and a half now. Don’t get him wrong, Grace is ecstatic that Simon is recovering well! More than well, it shouldn’t have happened this rapidly. But Grace’s thoughts towards Simon have quickly turned- yeah. No. It’s what has Grace in this predicament right now. Where Grace is hiding his face behind a giant freaking textbook, face flushed at having caught sight of Simon as he started a new addition to his routine. And Simon has become quite comfortable with losing his shirt half way through this routine of his.
So, yet again, Grace is given a full view of Simon’s abs. As he lifts himself up and down, up and down, up and down, u-
Ryland Grace, you are a monster! Stop it! Go- go do something else, literally anything else.
Grace finally forces himself up, text book still in his face, not reading a darn word of it.
Then, then, Grace sits his butt back down because he’ll be in danger if he doesn’t because Simon grunts, and slows, “Hey Adrian,” and just, continues.
“Hello Simon!” Adrian chirps, their voice the most elegant by eridian standards, but is quickly making their way to Grace. Simon is still learning how to understand the eridians, but is slowly getting there. “Grace alright, question? Rocky said-”
Grace curls in further on himself, wishing for the too-large grains of the beach to just please swallow him and the chair he sits on. “Yeah, I’m good! I’m fine. Promise.” Grace wills himself to close the book and place it into his lap, carefully. “I think it was just- allergies. Yeah.”
Adrian fully halts at that, making Grace feel like they’re giving him a skeptical once-over. “Allergies, question?”
“Oh, yeah,” Grace swallows hard, waving a hand awkwardly, “Y’know, dust.” Grace nods, as though trying to convince himself. Just past Adrian, Grace catches a glimpse of Simon, who has managed to get himself up onto the bar so he could begin doing upside down sit-ups. Breath hitching, Grace snaps his eyes back to Adrian, knowing they caught him. “I-”
“Grace need not explain. It’s just dust, right? It’s making Grace breathing quite irregular, statement,” their words are gentle and coaxing, understanding, but they have this indescribable edge to them. Then, they step around to settle in the sand next to Grace, both now facing Simon as Adrian comfortably tucks their feet around them, still towering over Grace. “Change in body temperature, zoning out, yes, it’s dust.”
Grace doesn’t dare look over to Adrian, feeling like he’s an organism under their microscope that they know all too well. And not looking at Adrian means facing forward. As Simon slides down from his pull-up bar and reaches for his water, tilting the bottle up high. Grace watches as he takes large gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down with each one.
Grace tries not to squirm in his seat. Finally, he decides that his best course of action has to be tearing his eyes away from Simon. “Adrian, I-”
“Don’t need to explain, dust is what bothers Grace.” Adrian stands and tilts towards Grace, “Looks like Simon needs more water. Grace go inside and get Simon fresh cup, question?”
Grace snaps his mouth shut and nods, jumping to his feet like he’s been burned, rushing into the house with his textbook in his hands.
Chiming a laugh, Adrian begins to make their way to their best friend, who is as oblivious as ever. “Simon work out and rehabilitation remarkable, exclamation. Recovering faster than human computer estimated, statement.”
Using a towel to wipe off a sheen of sweat, Simon nods, “Uh, Recovering fast and good workout routine is about all I caught there, Addy.”
“Yes, exclamation!” Adrian reaches into their utility sash for the ‘Pocket Sized Translator’ Simon and Adrian had adapted from Grace and Rocky’s version. “Indeed, Simon! But, you know, maybe you need… more of a challenge.” Adrian feels a thrill shiver through their core. Maybe they shouldn’t meddle. But it’s just too tempting. Too fun. Too easy.
Simon raises an eyebrow as he places his hand on his hip. “Alright, what do you reco-”
“Ask Grace to sit on your back while you perform push-ups.” Adrian doesn’t even wait for Simon to process much before tacking on, “For resistance purposes.”
Sighing, Simon slides his hand up his neck, rubbing the back of it in thought. “I don’ know Addy, he seems uncomfortable about-”
“Oh? So Simon can’t do it?” Adrian adds a coating of concern and a touch of disappointment. Such a shame.
Simon recoils, nostrils flaring at their doubt, “Oh, fuck you!” Simon stomps farther away, but Adrian already knows they won. It’s just a matter of time. Should they feel the least bit guilty? Probably. Do they? Absolutely not.
With a bright chirp, Adrian tucks away the translator and makes their way out of the biodome.
——
-4-
Something has gotten on Simon’s nerves the past few days and Grace cannot figure out what for he life of him. He’s working out more, and is taking it pretty far. Grace is worried, legitimately. But anytime he tries to work up the nerve to ease him into redirecting that frustration into maybe something that probably a bit less self destructive than pushing himself too far, Simon sighs and looks up at Grace in silence, calculating, trying to figure something out and Grace loses his nerve.
What is with Grace the past few months? This is all so unlike him-
There’s no point in stressing himself out over this. He needs to focus on something else. He’s recently worked with Adrian on making a cherry-flavored coffee. He’ll relax with a cup of that.
Mixing the creamer into the coffee, Grace steals another glance over to where Simon is doing more push-ups, his large chest pressing gently to the floor each time he lowers himself down and Grace is defenseless against the image of if he were the one under Simon.
Grace. Grace stop it. Coffee! Look. At. The. Fluffing. Coffee.
The scientist lifts the mug up to his lips, closing his eyes as he begins to tilt the delightful liquid into his mouth slowly.
Hmmm… Adrian absolutely out did themself with this one.
Simon growls, “Fucking Adrian,” he mumbles before raising his voice to call over to Grace, “Ryland, sit on me!”
Grace fucking inhales the coffee he had in his mouth, choking, “Wha-” Grace clears his throat, eyes snapping over to Simon, “Excuse me?!”
Annoyed, Simon rolls his eyes, “Sit on my back, dumbass!” He says it as if its the most obvious thing ever, and Grace reprimands himself, because it probably should be as opposed to the filth filling his own mind. “I need more resistance for my reps!”
Embarrassment mixed with something else flushes over Grace’s entire nervous system, and he can just feel the heat of it all rushing to his face. “O-oh! Yes, of course!” Grace jumps to his feet, movements jerky from his nerves overreacting to everything around him. He trips over his own feet trying to rush over to make up for his shock, but still manages to catches himself. He hesitates once he reaches Simon, who is waiting. “Are you sure? I’m much taller than you and so I’m pretty he-”
“Shut up and sit down.” Simon leaves zero room for any debate.
Grace’s body goes rigid. “Y-yeah, yep.”
It’s still relatively early in Simon’s routine, so his shirt: still on his body. Not that it makes the slightest difference because he has sweat right through it and it’s sticking to his body and it’s tight. It’s really tight holy-
Grace forces himself to stop studying every curve and slope of Simon’s toned back. It takes him a few seconds to trying and figure out how to sit down without hurting Simon, and once he’s on Simon’s back, he retreats to sitting cross-legged. Oh my stars oh my stars oh my stars. For a strong, considerable moment, Grace debates with himself that if xenon can be a solid, then it is entirely possible that he can and will melt right here right now. His body temperature is probably reaching high enough.
Simon makes an occasional grunt below Grace and, yep. I need to turn my brain off now. Mhmm. That’s enough of that.
Grace forces himself to zone out rather than deal with the embarrassment of the situation he’s found himself in.
—
Rocky bounces impatiently, whirring. “This boring. Grace is just sitting there! Nothing is happening, Adrian, statement.”
Adrian churns, then coos, “Rocky wait and see. It is working.” They tap the ground with one claw, then turns away, retreating deeper into the hall, silently tugging the air between them and their Rocky, pulling him from the observation deck. “Adrian have more ideas.”
——
-5-
At this point Grace is not able to remember if he’s always around Simon because Simon doesn’t like not having each other in sight, or if Grace had convinced himself it’s because he’s keeping an eye on Simon for his safety. So he could be there in case anything happened. Either one could be the real answer, and now with Simon insisting on utilizing a dead lift bar. And that alone isn’t even the most concerning part.
He’s dead lifting two hundred pounds. Or is about to.
Grace’s own cortisol levels are raising just watching Simon stretch and prepare for it. He’s thankful he’s made a track for Arm-ando to dash around on. Simon has been careful thus far, especially after Grace had helped him with his reps, he’d stopped pushing himself almost too far. Still, Grace sits, curled up on his beach chair with a book in his lap, discreetly keeping an eye on the other. Purely for Simon’s safety. Yes. Absolutely.
Grace convinces himself of that. He observes as Simon finally stands behind the bar, controlling his breathing as he bends his knees, lower his body and wraps his fingers securely around the bar. As Simon pushes his chest out, he smoothly thrusts his hips forward, lifting the bar up as he comes up. He slowly lowers it back down in reverse. Simon repeats the same motions several times, taking a pause of a break each time he brings the bar up or down. And Grace sinks back into his chair, trying to remind himself to blink.
At one point Simon pauses for half a second longer than usual and Grace looks up just to meet his gaze. Simon just raises a brow at him.
Shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot. A nervous huff of laughter escapes Grace’s lungs, sounding almost like a wheeze, then in a panicked frenzy, blurts out, “Jeez, I bet you could lift me like I weigh nothing at all!”
What is wrong with you.
Grace forces himself to keep his mouth shut, to stop himself from rambling himself into a grave he is already digging.
Shrugging, he bar still in his grip, Simon nonchalantly gives it a thought. “I don’t know,” he gently brings the bar back down, letting go this time before standing back to his full height and stretching a bit, easing the tension from his body. “Let’s see.” Simon motions Grace over with the wave of a couple fingers and says, “come here.”
Is he- Oh no. He’s serious. Grace’s eyes go wide, his body standing without him even realizing it. Oh. I messed up. Badly.
With each step Grace takes towards Simon, he his internal dialogue repeats, I messed up. I messed up. Fudge. Fudge. Please!
Grace realizes he doesn’t meet Simon’s gaze until he’s awkwardly standing before him, just in time to catch Simon eyeing him up and down slowly, studying him.
SHIT. Grace takes a sharp inhale.
“How much do you weigh?” Simon leans back ever so slightly as his eyes travel painfully slow up Grace’s body.
“I- I don’t…” please just kill me, I think that would be more merciful than this. “I, uh, don’t remember? Probably, uhhhm,” Please kill me. Stars, we both know I’ve never asked for that once, but I think I mean it. Simon’s intense gaze doesn’t leave Grace for even a second, as if trying to get an accurate weight gage himself. “Probably a bit more than two twenty-five? Like I said, I’m tall and people forget that that still adds weight…”
Grace’s voice slowly trails off and dies as Simon places a curled finger to his lips, thinking longer as he stares at Grace, trying to figure out how to go about picking him up, probably.
And I’ve been staring at Simon on and off for almost two weeks now because I couldn’t help myself. Is this how he felt any time he caught me? I’m the worst person to exist ever, actually- Grace wants to hide himself, growing more conscious of his body by the second. Simon’s gaze is intense and it’s all encompassing.
“Alright,” Simon nods to himself, finally taking a step towards Grace, “come here,” then Simon lowers onto one knee, wrapping his arm around Grace’s thighs, using himself as a make-shift seat for Grace, forcing him to lean one hand onto Simon’s shoulder while the other arm wraps around Simon’s back.
Oh.
My.
Stars.
Simon holds Grace close to himself, adjusting how he leans to keep Grace upright and looks up at him. And looks up at him. “Yeah that actually wasn’t as difficult as I- Grace?!”
The beach and the waves and the cliff side blurs lightly.
“Uuuuh, Rocky?” Grace hears Simon call distantly as he leans into Simon, or as Simon clutches him closer. “Shit, fucker’s in the house working on something. Hold on.” Simon leans Grace over his shoulder and tightens his grip on Grace and sprints across the sand. He’s able to kick the door open gently with his foot, “Heeeey, Rocky?” He steps further into the house, knowing damn well that bastard can hear his ass. “Do we have any medicine?”
Rocky tilts towards Simon’s direction, questioningly. “Armando has. Why, question?”
Simon shifts from one foot to the other as he looks for Arm-ando, not sure where the robot took itself on Grace’s new additions. “I, uh, mighta… accidentally…” Simon gently lowers Grace onto the floor by Arm-ando’s usual space, the robot in question zipping into the house, “killed Ryland?”
Rocky is immediately in the mix of leaning over Grace, “Alarm! Grace dead? Bad Simon! Bad bad bad!”
Both of them still as Grace stirs below them. “No, no, Simon good,” The older man slowly props himself up onto his elbows, but Simon is still there, supporting his back, “very, very good. I’m fine-”
Finally relaxing, Simon releases a breath he had been holding, “Oh thank god… Mother fucker,” Simon’s voice shakes slightly, “I thought I killed you!”
Grace makes random gestures with his hands, trying to come up with an excuse for the singular most embarrassing moment of his life, “No, no, I. Uh… Just got lightheaded…”
“Confirmed. Dr. Ryland Grace has suffered from intense heart rate, irregular breathing, and dizziness.”
“Yeah, what Arm-ando says,” Grace smiles nervously, gulping before pushing himself up. “I just need some water, probably.”
—
“Adrian!” Rocky comes barreling towards his mate, “Adrian, fix it. Or stop it. Or finish it, whatever is fastest.”
Adrian steps away from their project to turn their full attention to their Rocky. “What do you mean ‘it’, question?”
Rocky stomps the ground in what’s supposed to be frustration or distress, but it’s still so gentle and cute that Adrian has to try not to coo. “Your human almost killed mine! Rocky didn’t want Simon involved with Grace in first place, but Rocky was out numbered. But soon that won’t matter if my human dies, exclamation!”
Oh. Simon really is that oblivious. “Adrian will fix.”
——
-+1-
Not long after Grace arrives to the laboratory, Adrian slips away, mentioning that they have to go transport a lab result to the diagnostic team. Knowing that this is the best chance Adrian will have to slip into the biodome without alerting Grace.
Adrian seals into their suit and walks the shore, eventually finding their way to Simon’s passion project. He’s pollinating saplings and seeds so that they can grow. He glances up at Adrian and gives them a half wave.
Unfortunately, they don’t have time to waste on pleasantries, and they know that Simon prefers a direct approach, even if Adrian thinks it’s less fun this way. Rocky’s right, this could go south if these humans don’t get themselves together. In one sense of the phrase or another.
They switch on the translator and settle where they’re at. “What does Simon think about Grace?”
Simon curses under his breath as he nearly drops the cotton swab he’s working with.
“Simon like Grace?” They inflect it as if it’s a question, but it really is a statement. A surface level observation. Surface level to everyone but the two that inhabit this dome.
Simon avoids looking at his friend, puffing a breath to try and blow his hair from his face as he looks around the area, probably trying to make sure the other man in question isn’t there. “I don’t know wha-”
“As you so eloquently like to put it: cut the shit.” Actually, this is still fun. “Does Simon want to court Grace or not?”
Simon sighs, putting down his swab, and turns to face his friend, knowing they won’t drop something once they’ve set their mind on it. “Of course I do. He’s sweet and kind and cute. And he’s so smart, Addy. I-” Simon drags his hand down his face and muffles a scream. He’s been keeping this in for too long, “I want to hold him and I want to take his hand in mine and- He’s so gentle. And funny.”
Adrian feels their core melting and they will most definitely pull for more of these details later. “So what Simon do about it?”
Simon tenses at that, “Adrian, I’m serious. I don’t think Grace-”
Denial. Nope. No time for this. “Simon is very smart.”
The human tilts his head questioningly, something he started doing for Adrian to read him better. “What does that have to do with-”
“Except for about this. Simon being very blind and it’s not funny.” Adrian pauses for a moment and considers everything thus far. “It’s a little funny. But mostly concerning. And stupid. Stupid is not something Simon is, but Simon is acting like it right now.”
“I’m being serious here, what makes you think that Grace-”
“Grace brain stops working when he looks at Simon. Grace looks at Simon a lot. Grace likes to look at Simon.” Adrian also works with Grace a couple times a week. “When Adrian Grace walk to the labs, Grace speaks very highly of Simon. How innovative, brilliant Simon is.”
“He thinks I’m brilliant?”
“Grace thinks a lot of things about Simon.” They reach their claw out to brush against Simon’s arm. “Simon also thinks a lot of things about Grace. So Simon needs to stop dragging feet, stop being little bitch, make a damn move before Grace spontaneously combusts.”
Simon chokes before regaining his composure with a nod. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, trying to figure out what to say, but finally just goes with, “Y-yeah. Alright. How does Adrian suggest Simon do that?”
“Well. What do humans usually do to show care concern for one another that is irrefutable proof of selfless affection?”
—
“Ryland! I’m teaching you how to fight.”
Grace shoots up from where he was lounging on the couch, whipping his head towards Simon’s direction cherry twizzler hanging from his mouth. “What,” he mumbles in shock.
Simon stretches as he begins his explanation, facing away from the other. “Considering that I was able to pin you when we first met in the state I was in, I assume you either didn’t want to hurt me and didn’t know how to fight back in a way that would allow that while still keeping yourself save or you don’t know how to fight at all,” Simon straightens back up finally twisting his body a quarter to face the other with a raised eyebrow, “Yeah?”
Biting off the piece of twizzler he had in his mouth, Grace tucks the remainder behind his ear, “Uuuuuh. Sure, yeah, you’re not wrong with that observation, but why the sudden need to do something about it?”
Looking away with a shrug, Simon rubs the back of his neck, “Let’s say the impossible were to happen and for whatever reason you needed to be able to protect yourself. Could you without a shadow of a doubt do it?” Simon slides his eyes back to Grace, waiting earnestly for his response.
Gulping, Grace recounts the number of instances he couldn’t. “No.”
“Then, we’re going to change that. Starting now. Get up.” Simon begins to make his way to the door, but Grace can’t budge. His steps faltering, Simon slows to a stop. “You’ve put effort into teaching me so much,” once again, Simon looks anywhere but Grace. “And I want to keep learning from you.”
“You don’t have to give me anything in return though, Simon.” Grace silently steps over to Simon, easing into his line of sight. “You already do so much around here and you just got out of recovery.”
“I-” Simon pauses, swallowing hard, “I want to teach you this because- So that you can be protected.” Simon meets Grace’s eyes, pleading silently.
Grace thinks over his words carefully. Simon doesn’t like opening up about where he came from. Took over a month for Simon to willingly give Grace his name. “You… want me to be safe?”
Simon nods, turning his body to face him. “Yes. Please?”
Taking a deep breath, Grace thinks over all the ways he’ll possibly be able to embarrass himself over this. But with Simon being so vulnerable about this, Grace can’t find it in him to turn the man down. “Sure. Yeah. And, if you want, we can clear a space here in the living room to start? Because when you were saying you assumed one of those two things, I think you were giving me too much of the benefit of the doubt. Simon, you’re starting from literally level zero. My fight response is to scream.”
Snorting, Simon’s shoulders relax as he nods. “Sure.”
After the two of them move all the furniture to line the walls of the room, Simon makes Grace stretch.
“I don’t do it for fun, Ryland. You need to or you’ll either be in pain later or put yourself at risk for injuring yourself.” The mechanic watches as Grace pouts at him. Now, that’s just not fair, Simon frowns. “I’m serious.”
“I know,” Grace pouts harder, despite himself. He finishes the last stretch and already want to go lay down.
“When you say level zero,” Simon tilts his head back, studying Grace, “do you mean…”
“Nada, zilch, not a thing.”
“Do you at least know what proper form looks like?”
Grace’s lips thin as he shakes his head.
“Alright, we’ll start there then.” Simon displays with his own body the most basic defense form he knows, “Do what I’m doing.”
In his defense, he does try but this feels unnatural to him.
And it doesn’t go unnoticed by Simon, who’s studious gaze makes Grace want to fade out of existence.
“Here, let me show you.”
Just as Grace is about to say that Simon is showing him, he’s thrown off guard by Simon moving behind him, using two fingers to guide each of Grace’s awkward positions to a better form, which only causes Grace to tense.
Simon steps back a moment, now entirely out of Grace’s sight. “Grace, you have to relax. Locking up and tensing will make it difficult for you to move properly, and will make whatever hit you take do more damage.” Simon pauses. “Is it alright for me to show you an easier way?”
Not trusting his voice, Grace nods. However, what happens next has Grace’s brain unresponsive to any thought that might be rattling around.
Stepping closer, Simon’s body aligns against his own, their bodies connecting at every point. Simon uses his own body and form to guide Grace’s. “Just like that, Grace.” Simon’s hand slides to Grace’s wrist, gently lowering it so that Grace isn’t blocking his own line of sight, and Grace mirrors his other wrist to do the same. “Good,” Simon’s voice is gentle and encouraging, wrapping around Grace like a blanket, comforting him despite how on edge he is from the exact same thing. “You’re doing amazing so far.”
Grace relaxes the slightest bit, growing more comfortable in Simon’s warmth and wanting to lean more into it. Simon’s hand slips to Grace’s stomach as he instructs him to take a long breath in and hold it before slowly letting it out.
And that’s all it takes for Grace’s mind to finally boot back up and remember where he is.
Oh my stars he’s so close why is he so close why did I agree to this when did he get so close what the fudge am I doing-
“No, you’re too much in your own head, Grace,” Simon rests his chin on Grace’s shoulder, breath ghosting over his collarbone as he speaks.
“I’m really not good at this sort of thing, heh, sorry,” Grace tries to chuckle like he’s just being silly, but it comes out nervous.
“That’s alright, we can take as long as you need, as long as you want.” Simon fidgets behind Grace for a moment, then takes a sharp inhale, seemingly trying to calm himself. “I- thank you.”
“For being bad at this?” Grace is trying to redirect however possible. But deflecting and focusing on Simon allowing himself another rare moment of vulnerability is helping.
“No, you’re not-” Simon sighs and Grace kicks himself for making whatever he’s trying to express harder for him. “Thank you for letting me teach you this.” Simon relaxes again, drawing into Grace’s own warmth, hand hesitating before resting back where it had been against Grace’s diaphragm. “I- wanted…” Simon trails off, still trying to place his words in the right order.
“Simon?” Grace relaxes along with Simon, pushing away how his nerves are still lit ablaze all over. “Could I… turn around?” Swallowing hard, Grace pushes himself to take a leap. “I want to hold you.” He glances at Simon through his peripheral.
Simon nods, backing away just enough for Grace to turn.
Grace wraps his arms around Simon and holds him close. “You wanted to teach me how to defend myself?”
Simon melts into Grace’s arms. “Yes. Don’t think that you’re getting out of it either.”
Grace huffs a breath of a laugh, resting his cheek against Simon. “I’ve never been one to slack off from class, so.” Simon wants to make sure Grace can protect himself, he wants to look out for Grace even in the event that he can’t be there. And Simon doesn’t need to explain that. But Grace does want to be sure of something.
“Is it…” Steeling himself, Grace holds onto Simon tighter, missing how this felt. “Is it just because you wanted to express a type of gratitude?” Grace holds his breath.
“No.” Simon pulls back slightly, looking up at Grace, searching for something.
Grace wants so badly to ease whatever fears or worries Simon has, but he’s never been good at this. Not once. But he wants… to try.
Simon’s eyes drop to Grace’s lips and Grace catches sight of how Simon bites his own, just for a second. Taking a sharp inhale, Simon mutters a brief, “Fuck it.” And rushing forward to press his lips to Grace’s.
Oh. My. Stars! Grace’s eyes widen, his breath catching in his throat, gasping on Simon’s own air. Simon is kissing me. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. SIMON KISSING MY LIPS.
Grace’s hands ball into fists, the fabric of Simon’s shirt caught in them. Grace pushes into the kiss, tilting his head slightly. Which encourages Simon, who swipes his tongue along Grace’s lower lip. That, in turn, earns Simon a full body reaction from Grace, inhaling deeper pushing his body against Simon’s, bringing one hand up to bury in Simon’s hair, wanting to become as close to the man as physically possible.
Upon the second lick of Simon’s tongue, Grace squirms, parting his lips slightly, but just enough for Simon to gently push through. Simon’s tongue slides against Grace’s and the man buckles at the knees, being held up only by Simon’s support, who just pulls Grace further in. He is swallowed whole by the feeling of Simon’s strong arm holding him against his body. Grace can feel Simon everywhere, spreading from one nerve to the next a trillion times over like a wild fire. Just as desperately as Grace wants to be enveloped entirely by Simon, Simon seems just as desperate to pull Grace closer and not let him go. One of Grace’s hands rests on Simon’s chest and-
Oh my stars I’m going to die-
Simon breaks the kiss just as Grace was forgetting how to freaking breathe. And the way that Simon looks up at Grace as their pants intermingle in the small space between each other’s mouths, it has his brain running on overdrive. Oh my stars. We really just kissed, like that.
After a short moment, Grace catches his breath enough to muster a string of words before he can even fudging think to maybe not do that.
“Did you know that kissing strengthens your immune system?” Why. Why did I say that?! Now he’s never going to want to kiss you again!
However, Grace is pulled right out from his mental spiral at the sound of Simon giggling. Grace didn’t know he could do that! He can practically feel the wonder in his eyes as he stares down at the man, smiling so openly and contagiously.
“No, I didn’t know that, Ryland.” The fit subsides and Simon slips his hand into Grace’s interlocking their fingers. “Would you… maybe like to strengthen our immune systems on the couch?” Simon’s head is tilted down as his eyes look shyly up at Grace. “Maybe watch a movie and just… hold each other?”
Grace screams internally, wondering who gave this man the capacity to be this adorable. He wants to do terrible things to this man.
No! Not right now, because it’s cuddle time mother fudger. “Yep!” Grace nods his head roughly, partially because he’s trying to shake his brain like an etch-a-sketch. Also, just the thought of anything more than just kissing makes Grace want to just- implode.
“Good,” Simon grins and presses a kiss to the corner of Grace’s lips, “And then tomorrow, I mean it. You’re going to have to show me that you can pay attention, Dr. Ryland Grace.”
No, Grace will just implode right here right now, thank you.
However, he’s not given long to process that before being pushed on the couch and Simon finding the quickest way to entangle their limbs, not giving Grace any chance for escape any time soon.
And for the first time, maybe he’s okay with that.