Chapter Text
The first thing Simon saw as he woke up was white.
He squinted, trying to process the overwhelming brightness that surrounded him. Where was he? He could barely feel the rest of his body, straining weakly against straps that held him to the bed. He shut his eyes against the light.
Was he dead? Was this the afterlife? It couldn't be Heaven, not after what he did. Maybe that was why he was strapped to a table. They were going to cut him and disect him and drowned him in the righteous, innocent blood of his victims. He let his body relax, slumping back against the table, dread dripping slowly through his numb body. He had hoped the submarine had been enough of a punishment for his sins, but he guessed not.
A swishing sound came from his left, coming to hover over him. Simon cracked open his right eye hesitently, dreading what monster had ineveibly realized he was conscious and had come to deal out the first of his punishment. The brightness had become more bearable, though it still burned his eyes.
"Eye movment detected."
As Simon's eyes adjusted to the blinding light, he was able to make out a three clawed robot hand hovering above his face, twitching like it wanted to do something but was holding back. A white ceiling came into focus next, revealing the orgin of the odd robot arm. Well. A robot arm was certainly not on Simon's list of personal demons. The sheer amount of limbs on this demon did add to its terrifying factor though. Simon would rate it a 4/10 on the terrifying scale.
"Patient awake. What is two plus two?"
Simon blinked. The robot was asking him a question. He tried to reply, but it was muffled by a hard tube in his mouth.
"Mhuf?" He managed around the device in his mouth, struggling in against his bonds trying to spit it out.
"Incorrect. What is two plus two?"
Simon grunted again, the plastic grating against his throat. It gave him uncomfortable flashbacks to choking on deep red blood as it filled the sub. If this was his fate for the rest of eternity, he was not really looking forward to it.
"Patient requires help to remove endotracheal tube. Please remain still."
Another hand whirled down from the ceiling, this one equiped with a larger three fingered hand. Simon strained away from it, fear chilling his blood to slush as it neared his face. It backed off as he thrashed, but didn't go back into the ceiling.
"Please remain still for optimal removal." The robot spoke, its arms reaching again for Simon's face. He turned away from it, screwing his eyes shut as his throat closed painfully over the hard plastic.
"Patient distressed. Increasing sedatives."
Simon's eyes flew open at that, fresh panic coursing through his veins. No no no. His thrashing slowed as the sedative flowed through his IV, through the small prick on his arm he could now feel along with the throbing pain of the rest of his body. He tryed to continue fighting, even when he knew it was pointless, but the robot produced two more arms and pined down his shoulders and head as the largest arm reached for the device in his mouth. Simon's breathing was rapid, small frightened whimpers escaping his throat as he strained his eyes to watch the robot latch on to the device and begin to drag it out.
The sensation of it against his throat was nearly unbearable. He gagged, throat spasming as the tube finally left his airway. Fresh, clean oxygen filled his lungs as he dry heaved, head turned to the side as bile rose in his throat.
"Endotracheal tube removed. Resume cognative test. What is two plus two?" The main arm returned, hovering in Simon's eye sight. He glared at it through his dark hair.
"Four." He croaked out. His throat screamed in protest and he dissolved into a coughing fit. His body felt weird. He could feel various tubes sticking in him, bandages sticking close to him. That thought made his brows furrow in confustion. What kind of hell patches you up before your internal torture?
"Correct. Congitive test complete. Dr. Grace has been notified and will be with you shortly." The arm whirled away, busying itself with remove the more intrusive tubes connected to his body.
Simon's eyes widened at that. A doctor? Another human? There was no way. No way in hell the COI pulled him out of the blood ocean. This must be some kind of perverse trick. Maybe he wasn't dead and the creature was still playing with him.
When the robot finished its removal job, it thankfully released him from the confinments of the table. Simon ignored his dizziness, sitting up as soon as the robot retreated and swung his feet over the table's edge. He was barefoot, he soon noticed, the ground beneath him was smooth and white like the rest of the room. He stumbled to his feet, pushing off with his right arm. He yelped as he slid to his left, toppling off of the table and landing hard on his left shoulder.
He screamed as it sparked with pain, quickly rolling to relieve it of the pressure of his body. The lack of flesh made Simon's breath catch. He dared a quick look down that confirmed his fears. His arm was gone. He could vaugely recall the blinding pain in the submarine, the sickening image of his bloodied arm torn and swinging limply from where it merged with the sub's interior. Now it was neatly bandaged in white, not a single drop of red staining the pure cloth. Simon gritted his teeth, pushing back to his feet with his good arm. So, he thought as he cradled the stump of his left arm. He supposed he is not dead, then.
A sound came from the room's door, a scuffing sound as if someone was walking by. A man's voice echoed faintly in the hallway, talking fast and excited. It was getting closer.
Simon's brain finally kicked in. He flattened to the wall, dodging the robot arms that tryed to drag him back to the bed and made his way over to the other side of the room that was encased in some kind of…glass? No, it's different. Not that he's seen enought glass in his life to make sure.
He zeroed in on the corner of the room farthest from the door, where a whiteboard and a small table filled with small tools sat. He rifled quickly through the supplies, coming up with a small craft knife. He gripped it soothingly in his palm, twirling to face the door.
The material in his sweaty palm felt real, heavy and cold in his grip. The floor squeaked beneath his bare feet. The bedsheets on the other bed russled as he stepped carefully closer to the door. This was all too much sensation for a mere hallucinations, unless the monster had suddenly absorbed a very important official with access to insane luxtury. Simon didn't even think there was this much white, clean fabric on all of EDEN. Maybe even in the COI. If this wasn't a hallucination, these people would be the richest in the galax—
The voice (and the weird whale noises? What was that?) came to a crescendo as a man in a tshirt and sweat pants steped through the doorway. His rambling aruptly cut off as he and Simon stared at eachother. Simon squeezed his knife tighter as he took in the stranger. He was beautiful. The man had golden blond hair, so clean and pure Simon had never seen anything like it before. He wore a white tshirt with black and white flags on it and some text Simon couldn't make out with—by the Last Tree, where those glasses hanging from his ear?
"Oh. You're up!" The man started hesitently, eyeing the knife in Simon's hand.
Simon stared at him for a second more, before letting out a broken, wet chuckle. It quickly developed into hysterical laugh as he slid down the wall behind him, knife slipping out of his grasp and falling onto the floor next to him. He couldn't believe his eyes. He curled in on himself, tears starting to trace his clean, undirtied cheeks.
"Uh, you alright, dude? I know waking up to Armando can be a little overwhelming. I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up." The angel rubed his golden hair sheepishly, edging closer to Simon. Simon raised his head, staring up at him through watery eyes.
"I made it to Heaven?" He whispered, not breaking his stare from the godly being in front of him. "Are you an angel?"
He watched in wonder as red flushed into the man's pretty cheeks, watched him as he stuttered and flailed his hands around as he searched for words. After a few moments, the man finally composed himself, setting the pile of clothes he was carrying down on the bed with a sigh.
"I wish," the man smiled a bit sadly down at Simon. Simon's heart sank at his words, dread replacing the joy that had flooded him. He felt sick as the man smiled ruthfully at him, spreading his arms and gesturing to the white walls around him.
"You are alive. We are, in fact, not in a eternal paradise but in a space ship. Welcome aboard to the Hail Mary!" The man did little jazz hands, smiling like he was trying to entertain a child. Simon didn't react, continuing to stare.
Shit.
. . .
Simon picked at his bright white bandages as Grace and Rocky bickered behind him. Their story of rescuing him from the sub where it was stranded in space with no blood oceans in sight seemed unlikely, but Simon had no other idea of how he got here. The COI wouldn't waste precious resources hauling him up from the ocean floor. Maybe they thought he was already dead and pulled him up to recover info and salvage the sub?
Simon's eyes drifted up the clean white walls, scanning the room he's seen a million times before. He hasn't moved from the dormitory where he woke up, though he doesn't think Grace would stop him. His gaze landed on the scientist in question, who was currently using a dry erase marker to point accusingly at Rocky. Maybe the COI tried to salavage the sub, discovered Simon was still alive, and sold him to this incredible rich captain for supplies? No, that doesn't make any sense. Why would anyone want to buy a damaged product and spend this much time and effort patching them up and not just get a perfectly good one? He would just have to believe Grace's story about finding him.
Simon averted his gaze as Grace began to turn towards him, directing it back down to the bandages covering his stomach. Grace had spent so many valuable resources getting Simon back to even a conscious state. Why? What did the man who could afford glass want from Simon?
"Are your injuries bothering you?" A smooth voice cut through Simon's musings like a knife. Simon looked up into the man's pure blue eyes from across the room, the exact shade the elders of EDEN described the sky on Earth to be. Simon felt like he was doing wrong for looking into those eyes so freely. He averted them quickly, looking back to where his hands were fiddling with the soft sweatpants Grace had given him.
"N-no, they are fine," Simon pushed out, staring down at Grace's shoes. The Father always said it was a sign of respect to bow your head when talking to a authority. "May your body rot. Or, er, thank you." He choked out after a second, heart seizing as he stumbled over his words. This man certainly wasn't from EDEN, so it didn't make sense to thank him with EDEN's beliefs. He just had to hope the traditional one appeased Grace.
The man had so far been the kindest soul Simon has ever meant, but you never know. Kindness was a rare luxury on EDEN, and anyone who showed you any surely wanted something from you. Simon refused to let himself get to comfortable before he knew exactly what Grace wanted from him. The scientist seemed taken aback at his initial words but quickly recovered, crossing the room to Simon's side.
"Good. It seems like they are healing well. You might even be able to get up and about around the ship soon!" Grace exclaimed, examining his wounds but avoided touching him directly. Simon was grateful for that internally. He hoped that wasn't what Grace wanted from him. The sheer amount of precious medical equipment that has been wasted on him would take a lifetime to pay back. But he could be free one day, and thats all that matters.
"Grace friend heal well! Rocky hopes Simon friend clean. Grace dirty." The alien Grace calls "Rocky" rolled over in his ball, bumping over several stray articles of clothing as if to further prove his point. Simon still didn't understand what the hell that material that made up Rocky's domain was, even though Grace explained it to him after he woke up. Or how he was supposed to just know what xenoite or the period-table-something was. Whatever it was, it was certainly impressive.
Rocky had already expanded his tunnel that hovered over Grace's bed to Simon's, but for what reason Simon could not fantom. He supposed it was just to keep watch on him. But why on Grace's bed too? Is Grace a pet of Rocky's? What does that make Simon? Simon's head spun with questions, so consuming that he completely missed what his maybe-captor said to him.
"What?" Simon startled as a soft hand waved in front of his face. The man laughed, an angelic sound that made Simon's chest hurt.
"I asked if you were hungry." Grace repeated, already gesturing to the robot in the ceiling for food. Despite Simon's rumbling stomach, his heart dropped at the thought of owing Grace more than he does already and shook his head quickly.
Grace paused in his movements, seeming unconvinced of Simon's actions.
"Are—Are you sure? I think I can hear your stomach rumbling from over here." Grace laughed awkwardly, his own food delivered steaming into his lap by the robot. The sight of it made Simon's mouth water, but he stayed solid in his refusal.
"Not even water?" Another head shake. "Alright well, suit yourself." Grace shrugged, biting into his own burrito. Simon laid back down on his bed, shutting his eyes stubbornly against the dim lights and the tempting smell of further debt. He turned to his good side, ignoring Rocky's questions of Why won't friend Simon eat question? Simon sick question? and Grace's murmered assurences. He will take the time Grace allows him to rest and get back to his full strength, then he will figure out what exactly Grace wants from him.
Simon drifted off to sleep to the murmurings of the angel behind him and the feather soft dreams of being free.
. . .
Simon grunted as he shoved the final bag into place. His singular arm screamed as he hauled the heavy metal hatch into place over the storage area. Simon sat back on his heels as the metal clicked neatly into place, catching his breath.
"Nice job! That should be the last of them," Grace's voice sounded from behind him. Simon turned to see the man leaning against the dorm's entrance, a laptop settled on his hip. He looked as angelic as he was when Simon first saw him, as beautiful as he always was. Grace offered Simon a small smile, adjusting the laptop. "Thanks for doing that, I've been procrastinating it for months! Rocky will be happy with the extra space."
"Rocky very happy!" Simon flinched as Rocky's voice echoed down the halls from the lab. He somehow always forgets about Rocky's amazing hearing. It was creepy as hell to know he could see Simon’s every move from anywhere on the ship.
"You'll get used to it." Grace offered him a smile, eyes twinkling. "It used to freak me out too."
Simon didn't know what else to do but nod along. His heart sank a little as he was reminded of his debt, but he pushed through it. He stood from the floor with little trouble dispite his aching legs.
"What should I do next?" He asked Grace gruffly, eyes still averted to the floor.
Grace gave a little huff of surprise, chuckling a bit. "Wow, still got the energy? I'd expect you to be all tuckered out after all the work you've been doing."
Grace must have sensed Simon's tensing because he hurried to add: "Not that you aren't fit! You've already demonstrated your incredible healing ability and, er, physical strength, but you should really take a break dude. It's only been a week or so since you've woken up."
Simon shook his head at Grace's suggestion. He wasn't stupid. He knew this was Grace testing his ability to work after his injuries. He will prove that he can be useful. "No. I am alright. Tell me what I need to do."
Grace's eyebrows furrowed in that look he got when he was solving a complicated math problem. He took a step forward, extending his hand as if to brush Simon's elbow before thinking better of it. "Simon, you're trembling. Take a break. When was the last time you ate?"
Simon flinched away from him, his guard coming up against Grace's kindness. Kindness ment an exchange. Simon will not risk more debt to Grace. He shook his head again, desperation begining to claw at his throat. "I am fine, Captain. What is my next job?"
Please. Please just tell me what to do. I've had enough of these games.
"Grace. Just Grace," Grace's eyes softened as he took in Simon's form. Simon refused to fall for it. He couldn't afford softness right now. "Please, Simon. Please eat. You're no use to us all worn out and tired, right?"
Grace's eyes had the same twinkle in them as they did when he teased Rocky, but Simon knew the truth behind his words. So, as painful it was to take more from Grace, Simon dutifully sat down on his bed and accepted the food and small pouch of water the robot provided him with. Grace smiled at that, a bright, blinding thing that could light up the dormitory all by itself.
"Grace needed for task! Rocky superior tools not fit for pesky human science!"
Grace winced, shooting Simon a apologetic look as he huried down the hall to the labratory where Rocky was shouting from. Simon watched his retreating form, eating his food slowly. Physical labor seemed to apease his captain well enough, but Simon was worried about what will happen when there is no more big jobs to keep him busy. Simon had heard plenty of horror storys about what pirate captains do to their slaves and dependents for entertainment. Is that what Grace will expect from Simon? He is the only other human out here for miles. The thought itself sent shivers down Simon's spine.
He carefully folded the plastic back over his half eaten burrito, hidding it under his bed away from the many-armed robot where a small stash of food had steadly been growing. He would have to figure it out when he came to it. For now, he knew what was expected of him.
He stood from his cot, stretching and starting down the hallway to the labratory.
. . .
It had been almost a month since Simon woke up on the Hail Mary that he finally worked up the courage to ask Grace. Well, somewhere around a month. It was hard to tell the passage of time in space, with no sun and all. Simon still spent most of his free time at the window, staring out into the ocean of stars and planets that still existed. That was what Grace told him Rocky and his's mission was, to save the stars. The first time Grace had told him, he had barked out a laugh from the sheer correctness of the statment. Of course his angel, his saving Grace, would be the one to save their dead stars as well. If Simon was still on EDEN, he would have assumed this man was a holy being sent straight from the heavens.
What EDEN would have done to have this man on their side.
They were eating in the lab when Simon figured it out. Grace sat at his desk, typing away at a laptop with one hand with a burrito in the other, taking quick bites between hitting keys. Simon sat a few feet away from him, near where Rocky was sleeping in his xenotite tunnel, taking small bites of his own food as he watched Grace. Armando had just replaced the bandages around his stump and chest, and he hadn’t been bothered to put his shirt back on just yet.
"Alright! That should take care of the router problem. Just had to shuffle some things around and it should be good to go." Grace pushed off from his desk, stretching his arms up and over his head like a cat. Simon watched him in amusment. He had always wanted to meet a cat, but he supposed Grace would do.
Grace settled back into his chair, taking the last bite of his burrito and crumbling up the trash on his desk. He spun his chair around to Simon, watching him finish the last few bites of his meal. Simon copied Grace’s stretch, twisting his body to the side and stretching his neck, the muscles along his torso rippling with every move. Simon tensed as he noticed Grace’s eyes on him. What was he doing? Was Grace assessing his physical wellbeing?
Simon watched as Grace’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink as he caught Simon’s gaze, turning away so fast Simon worried he would pull a muscle in his neck.
Wait.
Simon watched as Grace hurriedly excused himself, busying himself with cleaning up some discarded lab equipment, face still flushed. A pool of dread opened up in his stomach. It all made sense now. The little touches, the insistence on extra food and water, the intense focus on swift healing.
Grace wanted to fuck him.
Simon supposed it made sense, he was the only other human at here in the wide expanse of space. It didn't make him any less comfortable though. Simon had heard murmers of men like that. The only way to fully humiliate someone, to prove your superiority and to drag your opponent through the dirt. Get them indebt to you, then pin them down and make them take it as payment. Simon had seen it in public a few times. It looked painful and unpleasent for both parties, but Simon had heard stories of the bliss it could bring with proper materials and a willing hole. It was, unfortunately, exactly what Simon's situation was.
He watched as Grace retreated down the hall, shouting something about trash and how he would be back. Simon looked down at his clenched fist, forcing it to relax. He knew what he needed to do now.
At very least, it wouldn't be too embarrasing. Grace was good man, and kind man, and fairly attractive. Simon had gotten very lucky to be in debt to someone so gentle. Grace wouldn't hurt him too bad.
. . .
Simon was getting a little fed up with Grace dancing around the subject.
It had been days, weeks even since the robot cleared him for all physical activity. Simon expected Grace to jump his bones the moment he was cleared after being so patient, but the man hadn't. Instead, he treats Simon like he's about to break, touch gentle and careful like he was handling delicate equipment. Simon knew what the nature of their relationship was, but he didn't appreciate being treated like some delicate female companion. All of Grace's soft touches where starting to get on his nerves.
It didn't help that Grace would pointedly look away from Simon every time he so much as had his shirt off. His face still burned red whenever he walked in on Simon changing, so he knew the man was still thinking of doing it with him. Perhaps it was the mutations.
Simon frowned at himself in the small, uncracked mirror. The bark-like scars that ran down his torso from his left shoulder were fairly unnerving. The mutant teeth that peices through his cheek certainly added to the monster look. Maybe Grace was into that, he thought as he twisted in the mirror to inspect his back. His muscles were still in good shape dispite the lowered gravity, firm and solid against the harness Simon refused to take off. It made him feel more secure, more in touch with the parts of his body that could still feel.
His hair fell in long waves across his eyes. He frowned at it, brushing the strands across his forehead. His long hair was the only thing even remotely feminine about him, so he supposed he should keep it to appeal to Grace. He sighed and leaned against the small sanitary station wall. Well, Grace would have to take it or leave it.
. . .
Grace was not taking or leaving it, and it was driving Simon mad.
He was sick of this game they were playing. Grace would always reach out, a gentle hand guiding him by the small of his back, or brushing away hair from his eyes, but would quickly back away at any sign of reproaching. He would always snatch his hand away, face pink and babbling on about how he had to go check on the cell modification replicator or something stupid like that.
The same thing happened when Simon walked around shirtless, or did something to flex his arm in just the right way that would make Grace squeak and dart away. It was cute. To the Last Tree, what his brothers on EDEN would have done to this brilliant, talented, beautiful man if they got their hands on him.
Simon has come to the conclusion that Grace is just much too nice to ask for something he wants, even if Simon was in debt to him. So, Simon decided to take it upon himself.
Simon waited till the rock alien was asleep before making his move. He stalked down the hallway to the lab, shirtless except for his harness, muscles on full display and freshly-washed hair loose in waves down his shoulders. Just as he expected, Grace was sitting at the desk peering into a microscope. Grace heard him coming, glancing up as Simon rounded the corner to the lab.
"Oh, Simon! I was just going to ask—O-oh cheese and crackers, sorry I—"
Grace didn't have the chance to scramble away before Simon's heavy arm came to rest on the chair's armrest, blocking the scientist in. Grace looked up at him, shock evident in his eyes. His face was slowly coloring an adorable shade of pink, his blue eyes standing out even more against his flushed skin. Simon found it unnecessarily attractive.
He shook himself out of his thoughts, focusing on parting Grace's knees with one of his own. Grace's face flushed even more as he glanced down to see what Simon was doing.
"Simon! What are you doi—"
Grace's question was cut off with a gasp as Simon lowered himself to the ground between Grace's thighs, glancing up to meet those baby blue eyes with his own. His hand slipped off the armrest to stroke Grace's thigh, leaning his cheek against his knee. Grace's breathing was quick now, his knuckles white as he clutched the armrests.
He huffed a quick breath as Simon pushed his knees father open, his hand lovingly stroking up his thigh to grasp his hip where Grace's shirt rode up. Grace stared down at him with wide eyes, before his body suddenly relaxed, slumping in his chair. He brought his hand up to rub at his brow, sighing. Simon paused his actions, confused. Was he doing something Grace didn't want? What else would he want then? Did he…did he want Simon to—
"I must be dreaming," Grace's voice above him snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked up at Grace with furrowed brows as the he continued to rub his temples with his eyes closed.
"I really need to get more sleep." Grace muttered under his breath, eyes still closed as he took a deep breath. Simon waited patiently on the floor for Grace to open his eyes, not daring to move even as his knees started to protest. What did he mean, dreaming?
Obviously, he had been waiting for Simon to be fully healed before trying anything. Right?
When Grace did open his eyes, he seemed suprised to find Simon still there, gently caressing his hip. Grace's mouth opened in a perfect pretty circle as his cheeks began to redden again. Simon took it as a green light, nuzzling his nose closer to Grace's crotch as his hand trailed up Grace's stupid science shirt. Grace gasped again, his hand this time shooting out to tangle in Simon's loose hair.
"Simon? Simon, wait—" he groaned as Simon's thumb brushed his nipple, doubling over to pant right next to Simon's ear. He'd be lying if he said the sound didn't make Simon shift uncomfortably in his pants. A sudden sharp tug of his hair pulled him away from Grace's crotch, his hand slipping out from under Grace's shirt to land on his thigh.
Simon looked up to meet Grace's flushed face, confused.
"Is this not to your liking, Grace?" Simon murmered, looking up through his lashes at the panting man above him. He doesn't know much about sex, but he knows enough to attempt to be attractive to the angel in front of him. He leaned closer to murmer right in Grace's ear: "Would you like me somewhere els—"
"Simon! What are you doing?" Grace's question caught him by suprise. His brows furrowed in confusion as he watched Grace lean away, face red as a tomato.
"What? Isn't this what you wanted?" Simon couldn't help the panic bubbling up in him. Had he read the signs wrong? Did Grace not want him like that? How would he earn his keep?
"No no no, I-I do, but—what? I'm confused," Grace waved his hands frantically, his brows also pinched. "I thought—I thought you didn't want this! You always seemed so tense when I so much as touched you—I just assumed—"
Simon leaned back on his heels, even more confused then before. He didn't want it?
"It doesn't matter what I want," Simon interrupted, leaning forward again and placing his hand back on Grace's hip. "I'm in debt to you. This is how I earn my keep?"
Grace looked like he was about to explode. Confusion slowly melt to dread on the man's face as his mind finally started to kick in.
"Holy crap—no no no, Simon, you don't have to earn your keep. There's nothing you need to do to, what, repay me? You don't even have to like me or anything, and you definitely don't have to do anything like—like this," Grace laughed awkwardly, panic still evident in his face. "I don't want anything from you. Saving your life was enough of a… a reward for me, ok?"
Simon watched the man ramble as his own brain screeched to a stop.
What?