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"Papa Ry'!" LG announced themselves with a bright whistle. It was on one of the breaks he'd set up. Not so much for the students. Eridians were very enthusiastic about learning, and while they did get tired, they would run him ragged if he went by their ideas of when 'vacation' should be.
"Hey, kiddo!" Grace laughed, preparing to catch them. They were about to turn five at the end of the year. For fellow humans, we can equate that to somewhere around six months old. But much like he'd learned in his nearly…hm. It had to be almost sixteen years since he'd gotten to Erid. Woof, his new life could almost get a drivers license if it was an American.
And hey, proof of concept, Eridian infants pick up on language far faster than their human counterparts.
But there's a…problem with intercepting LG this time. When he caught his now seventy pound child, something in his left knee popped. Then it gives out. With a startled gasp, Ryland collapsed. He tries to minimize damage. He was by his desk, so he makes sure he doesn't catch on the edge. It would be even worse if he did.
LG would be fine, but he still instinctively leaned into them so their fall was softened. He doesn't want them to be scared.
They were still confused. "Papa?"
Oh man that hurt. Like, the kind that you just know you'd be suffering from for the rest of your life. Especially as he was approaching his fifties. "It's okay, bud."
"Grace?" Rocky this time. As much as he loved him, if the man had a choice, he'd prefer the steadier Adrian in this situation.
"In my study, Rock'." He just needs to focus on not hyperventilating. He'd be okay. He wasn't bleeding. He had no internal (organ) injuries. He wasn't having a heart attack. He wasn't having a stroke- okay that's not helping.
His partner nearly skidded out rounding the corner. Grace, knowing he above any other of his species could properly read human facial expressions gave him a look. One that said 'easy. don't scare LG.' That, thankfully, got across quickly.
"LG." Rocky called gently. "Can you come here? Papa needs to get up."
Yeah, so Papa doesn't know if he can get up. But it at least takes pressure off. "Thanks. Sorry kiddo, I'm just a mess today, huh?"
"Papa messy all time!" LG chimed brightly. "Papa-" (This was the variant referencing Rocky.) "-say was worse."
They don't seem to understand what's happened at first. But they're just as clever as their parents. Cocking their body, they started to focus their attention. While Eridians had passive echolocation, they could easily see deeper if they put effort in. A low, repetitive clicking was something strangers would have to actually train themselves to recognize.
"…Papa Ry', leg is…"
"Hey, it's okay buddy. I have a very important task for you." Grace is intentionally not looking at the problem. He knows it's going to make him sick to his stomach, and that won't help anyone. "Why don't you go get Nanny?"
About a year ago, LG had gotten over his fear of the two main robots that resided in his home. In fact, they were now fascinated by the nurse and Armando. Once having gotten into a little trouble for tinkering with the machines.
Adrian had gotten them an electronics kit shortly thereafter.
It was good though, as Rocky could get a moment to check his human over while their child retrieved the very necessary robot.
"Oh Grace…" He whispered gently. "Is it-"
"Yeah." Ryland is very aware that they couldn't possibly be quiet enough to evade kiddo's ears. Or, to be specific, he couldn't. So roundabouts they go, all in an effort to keep the scene calm. "Not ideal."
"Same as last time?"
Last time referring to a couple years back. He'd twisted his leg on the way to class, and thankfully was within shouting distance of their friend Balboa. That time had come with a very clear warning from the Eridian doctor they'd called in after Nanny had helped him recover.
Next time was going to be bad bad bad. This was his leg's last stand…hah…
"Mhmm…" Tears are beginning to spring into his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault." Rocky refutes him immediately. "Happens when you get old, remember?"
He'd tried to help Grace out of his pants, to which he'd had to stop him. Extra squishy right now. Nanny would just cut him out of them, it's okay.
God it hurts. "Yeah…" He sees Nanny-On-The-Go being wheeled in. He's so grateful they'd had the foresight to add that modification to her.
She sprung into action the second she was in range and her rig was locked down. It would be terrible if she tipped over mid-emergency treatment. "Thanks LG. Rocky?"
His partner picked up their child. "Okay for now?"
"Yeah. LG, Papa needs to get checked out. I'll see you tonight okay? We'll have a good time." Breathe, Ryland. Don't pass out in front of your kid.
"…Hurts?"
"A little." No point in denying it completely. "You two are gonna have a fun day, okay? Rock', how about you two go decorate the classroom? Sounds cool, huh?"
LG was clearly not sure what was happening. Clever thing, they didn't seem to totally buy it. But they allowed their father to carry them off.
Good. Good. Adrian was going to be far better in this circumstance. But for now…
Nanny-On-The-Go (Nanny OTG henceforth) made short work of his favorite trousers. They were embroidered with traditional Eridian tattoos. He hadn't bit the bullet and agreed to scarification yet. But better that than peeling him out.
He finally looked. His vision began to swim. His left knee was hyper extended. Carefully, the robot gets him laid straight out on his back, and the pain is overwhelming.
"Left knee dislocation. Torn: ACL, PCL, MCL, Meniscus. No apparent vascular damage."
Y'know, that was a silver lining at least…yeah. He's gonna pass out now, okay?
Upon waking, Grace can tell something big happened. But he's fine. He tried to roll out of the bed-
"Patient movement detected. Attempted elopement. Restraint engaged."
Something tightened around his chest, and a couple of places on his arms. "M'fine…"
There's some sort of musical sound. He should recognize it, and he…kinda does. He hears his name. He hears no. That's about it.
There his mind goes again.
The next time he comes around, there's more garbled notes. He tried to roll again, but can't move. Or remember why he couldn't' move. Ironic, he knows. Back here again.
Ope, away once more.
The third time, it sticks. His throat is raw, he was intubated. IV catheter being removed as he watched. He's sure there's others but he's more distracted by his leg. It was in a hefty Xenonite and Eri-Leather (not creative, he knows. Shush.) brace.
The full Nanny-Bot and Armando were doting on him, talking him through the procedure he'd just endured. Hamstring harvesting, pins, screws, three portals- man, he'd really wrecked himself.
They're talking about his recovery as if he wasn't living with these robots…but it was going to be hard when everyone sapient around you needed an EVA suit to live.
Speaking of…there's their doctor friend. He was concurring with and consulting the robots. (He'd installed an Eridian dictionary for emergencies like this.)
Grace doesn't really need to know. This was it. The big one. His recovery was going to be long, painful, and exhausting. With his age and previous injury…he's not coming back the same. Really, he should be glad he's coming back at all. But…there's so many things hanging in the balance.
He's probably never going to walk unassisted again. Cane, ideally. Wheelchair, eventually. He needs to-
"Grace?"
Ryland glanced over. "Hey'a, Rock'."
A relieved rush of air from his partner's vents. "Grace feel…okay, question?" His nerves were understandable.
"Been better…but okay for now."
Rocky is shaking as he places a suited hand over the matching scar on Grace's arm. The restraints were released. A bubbling, reedy sound. Eridian crying. "Hey…hey, what's with the water works? I'm okay."
The notes were too fast and too garbled for him to understand. But he doesn't need to. He stroked his partner's carapace indirectly, humming and whistling as best he can. Things he picked up while raising LG.
Speaking of…he's never going to be able to pick them up again.
An even, steadying song. Adrian. They have LG cradled in a free arm, greeting him. "Good evening, Ryland."
"Hi, Adrian." He offered a lopsided smile. "How long have I been out?"
"Including recovery, four hours and forty six minutes." They were even faster at conversion than Rocky. "I've begun drafting plans for an inclined slope to be added into the cliff side, it should be finished before your recovery is."
…Oh crud, his students. "I'll need to talk to Balboa about getting a substitute in the classroom."
"Already done." Adrian hummed. "Everything is taken care of."
"Just focus on recovery." Rocky continued, finally getting his voice under control. "We got you."
Grace leaned into his partner best he can. "Yeah, you always do…you two are the best. I'm s-"
"No. No sorry." Adrian cut him off firmly. "You did nothing wrong. I'll be watching you tonight. LG wanted to see you before we get you into bed."
They hold them up. Grace wants to pick his child up so terribly. "Hi kiddo. That was pretty scary, huh?"
"Scary scary scary." They agreed. "Papa be okay, question?"
"Oh, for sure bud." He didn't even need to think before responding. "You helped so much. The best I could ask for. You're my hero."
"Proud, question?"
"Proud, statement."
They linger for a while, but eventually, Adrian and the doctor would have to make the call. Ryland needed to rest and eat. Amongst other things that were going to be embarrassing, but couldn't be avoided.
He kissed LG's suit, giving him the best one-sided hug he could. Rocky as well, though he took longer. He loves them, alright? He's the one that's in pain, this makes him feel better.
Eventually, it's just himself and Adrian.
They carefully run through the night routine. There's such an intimacy to it. Occasional nudity aside, just the sheer amount of trust and contact. 'Gloved' hands at his beck and call. Currently, guiding him into bed. Gently elevating and icing his braced knee for twenty minutes every hour.
"Ryland?"
"Yes?" He can feel exhaustion weighing on him.
"Once you're feeling better, Rocky has a surprise for you." Adrian adjusted his pillows. They bring his quilt over, settling it in place. "We were going to save it for your birthday, but you need a ♬♭♪♬♭♪."
A rare new word. "A what?"
"Ah…makes you feel better when you're down."
"Oh, a pick-me-up." He nodded.
"I can't pick yo-" Adrian was thrown. It was awfully charming, but they're together for a reason. He's allowed to be enchanted by them.
"It's a turn of phrase. Means to make someone feel better." Grace chuckled. "I don't know what I'd do without you all."
"You'd be dead." Adrian pointed out bluntly. They pulled a small 'cot' from beneath his bed. For when they all wanted to sleep over. It was specifically designed for the aliens, and thus was deeply uncomfortable for his own use.
Leave it to his tall, serious partner to be so up front. He liked it. "Yup. Thanks for this. I mean it."
"It's what you do for the people you love." Adrian observed as they delicately pulled Ryland's glasses off. He can see the flash of a stolen lens on their front arm. What had once been a reminder of an irritating theft, was now pure comfort.
They were here for him. What more could he ask for?