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When Rocky had first met an alien life form near Tau Ceti, he had been overjoyed. There was life from other planets, intelligent life that was likely dealing with the same problem his people were. He wasn't alone out here, not anymore.
The alien had been a bit slow at first to understand, requiring more time to process what he was trying to get across, usually involving puppet shows or physical representations, such as 2 rings of 8 for it's atmosphere or a second capsule that needed to be sent across slower.
It didn't bother Rocky all that much, mildly infuriating at times if nothing else, but overall not horrible. He would just have to be patient with the other life form to catch up to what he was saying - this one clearly had a slower processing time than the Eridians.
Despite needing extra time, the blob-like alien had good ideas, such as making a way for them to communicate since. For some unknown reason to Rocky at the time, the alien could not remember all of Rocky's language like he could for theirs. A change needed to be made and so it was, allowing for communication and a chance to work together to solve their same problem: the bacteria eating the light - astrophage.
When coming up with names for each other, since language was not transferrable, Rocky didn't expect to see the alien after they solved the problem, both going their own ways to save their respective planets, so he chose one that encapsulated the alien so far: dumbass. A simple cord that managed to get his feelings about the alien across well.
No matter how much he grew to like the alien, the name didn't change. It continued to remain true with how often he had to point out the obvious for them, but Rocky didn't mind. He had been good company, allowing Rocky to share his culture with them and doing their best to be understanding, even when it was a difficult or slow process.
When the two separated after finding the taumoeba, Rocky never expected to see the alien again, especially after his own ship was left without fuel from the astrophage - he thought it would be his grave, never to see Adrian again. But, despite it all, the alien he had grown to love showed back up, willing to die in exchange for getting Rocky and the solution to Erid. The ultimate sacrifice.
The trip back home had been difficult for the alien as food ran out and resources were scarce, but Rocky refused to let his friend and his planet's savior die - that was not an acceptable outcome - so as soon as the ship landed, Rocky ensured that the top Eridian scientists were working on solutions for getting his friend back to health, no matter the cost.
This unfortunately meant that he had to tell the leaders and elders of the thrum the name he gave to the savior of Erid. Rocky was not looking forward to it.
"You call them what, question?" The leader of the thrum asked, hoping that they had misunderstood Rocky's chirp of an answer.
"Dumbass," Rocky repeated quietly. "It's true though," he defended. "The alien was very stupid when we first met and I needed an easy name for them. It's an accurate name if nothing else."
"Please tell me our savior is not aware of the meaning of it," one of the elders pleaded.
"They are not," Rocky agreed. "As far as the alien is aware, their name is their name in our language. They understand Eridian, but I ensured to never use the word outside of their name."
"Very well," the leader grumbled. "We must change it though. Calling the savior of Erid, an alien that was willing to die to save all of us, such a name cannot be allowed. It is a disgrace to the sacrifice they were willing to make for us, for you."
"But, if we change their name, they will wonder why," Rocky defended. "We would have to tell them why we changed it."
"Then we must decide which is worse: telling the alien why we changed their name and explain to them why they were given that name," the elder began, eyeing Rocky as they spoke, "or have the people call our planet's savior by such a name?"
~~~
A decision had been made by popular vote in the thrum. They would change the alien's name, which meant that Rocky had to tell his friend what his name for them meant. He hoped that his friend would understand - they had had a good sense of humor, so hopefully it would go over well.
"Hey," Dumbass waved, welcoming Rocky into the biodome that had been built for them. "How are you?"
"I am well," Rocky responded, crawling onto the bed that his friend had been kept on, needing time to heal and regain their strength still. "How are you feeling today?"
"I'm good," the alien smiled, giving Rocky a small fist of bump. "Not feel as bad anymore, getting strong more each day."
"Good good good," Rocky spoke to himself, trying to get his resolve back together. Hopefully his friend would understand. "I come to speak to you about business from the elders of the thrum," he explained, settling down near his friend.
"Oh?" The alien made a sound of curiosity. "What wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Rocky clarified. "We just want to change the name you were given in Eridian to be more… honest about who you are to us," he slid around the truth, covering up the real reason while being as honest as possible.
"There no need," Dumbass waved him off. "I want keep name you gave me," his friend explained. "Is gift from you. I like."
Oh shit, Rocky swore to himself. He was actually going to have to explain what his friend's name was.
"Your name is not good," Rocky tried to say this in the nicest terms he could. "When I gave you an Eridian name, I never thought I'd see you again, so I gave you an impolite name. I'm sorry."
"Impolite?" Dumbass repeated. "What does name mean?"
"It mean idiot or stupid, but worse," Rocky answered and the room went quiet.
The quiet only lasted for a few moments before his friend began to laugh uncontrollably, their body shaking as air moved in and out of them quickly. Rocky found himself relaxing unwittingly.
"I'd say you wrong, but you not," the alien managed to say between breaths. "I very stupid when first met."
"Yes, very very very stupid," Rocky agreed. "Not as stupid now. You're smart for a human, but a bit dumb for an Eridian," Rocky explained between chirping laughs.
"Name very appropriate," his friend agreed, their laughing slowing down. "No need change name. Better this way."
"Are you sure?" Rocky asked, not sure why his friend was so willing to stick with such a rude name, especially after all that they had done for him and the rest of Erid.
"Yes," Dumbass responded, wrapping an arm around Rocky. "Is gift from you. No want change it."
~~~
"The hell do you mean they don't want to change it?" The leader of the thrum shouted at Rocky. "You told them what it means and they didn't want to change it? Why?"
"They like it," Rocky responded honestly. "They said it was a gift from me and it was accurate. They do not want to change it. We should follow their wishes."
"What will the public say?" One of the elders pointed out. "They will be appalled that we chose to call one of our saviors something so heinous!"
"We can tell them that the alien is aware of its meaning and wishes to keep it," Rocky offered. "I will not allow for my friend's wishes to be brushed aside."
"Oh please," another elder sighed, bristling their carapace. "You just want to keep insulting them like you originally did."
"Like hell I do!" Rocky shouted back, stomping his legs as he spoke, furious. "I gave them that name, that is my fault! We tried to fix it, but they want to keep it! They saved my life, all of our lives, I am indebted to them more than I will ever be able to pay back! I will not let you take away their agency, no matter how much I disagree with them! I want to change their name too, but if they want to keep it, they are going to keep it. They have had their agency taken away before," Rocky explained, thinking about how his friend told him that they had gotten into space. "I will not let it happen again."
The thrum went silent outside of the constant humming that occurred - everyone too scared to argue with Rocky, to face his wrath. It was obvious how protective he was over the new life form.
"Very well," the leader sighed out. "We shall accept the alien's decision and inform the public of their name."
"Thank you," Rocky concluded, taking the last word before he exited the thrum to go and visit his friend.
~~~
"They what?" Dumbass asked, their voice high and confused.
"Erid wants to celebrate you," Rocky repeated himself. "We want you to meet the elders and leaders of Erid."
"Why?"
"You saved the planet," Rocky explained, the reason for the nickname still existing clearly. "They want to thank you, at the very least."
"I guess," Dumbass muttered out, moving their body awkwardly. "I not know what say though."
"You don't have to say anything," Rocky comforted, trilling softly. "You just need to meet them, let them say their thanks, and then you can leave. I can tell them that you are still healing and require rest."
"Okay," his alien nodded in agreement. "You be with, right?"
"Of course," Rocky hummed, rubbing his carapace against his friend lightly. "I'll never leave you alone."
"Thanks."
Together, the two began to walk to the edge of the biodome, a visiting area built for interactions between the Eridians and the alien. Other than Adrian, Rocky was the only Eridian that would enter into the dangerous atmosphere. The rest were too afraid, but Rocky reasoned that he had survived it once, the odds of it happening again were low.
"Hello!" The elders greeted, waving and chirping at Rocky and the alien as they approached. "It's very nice to meet you."
"Nice meet you too," the alien responded, the automated system transferring their words into Eridian.
"Keep short. Dumbass is very tired and needs to rest. They're still healing," Rocky informed the group, telling them to get a move on it in diplomatic terms. Adrian would be so proud of him.
"Very well then," the leader of the thrum spoke up. "Alien, we came here today to personally thank you for what you have done for Erid and its people. You made a great sacrifice for a planet you knew nothing about. We deeply thank you for your service to our planet. If you ever require anything, no matter how small or trivial, please let us know. We are indebted to you."
"Thanks," Dumbass very quietly said, avoiding looking at the thrum.
Rocky knew that his friend was very awkward when it came to interactions, even with Rocky himself. They tended to make his friend anxious and fidgety. It was time for this to be done.
"Many thanks," Rocky continued, not letting the silence last. "It is time for them to rest. We shall continue this discussion at a later date if necessary."
"Of course, rest well, savior," the thrum wished, letting Rocky and his friend walk off back towards their house.
"Went well?" Dumbass asked, still anxious and fidgety.
"Very well," Rocky assured them. "Did well, Dumbass."
"Good," they sighed out. "Want have movie night?"
"Yes yes yes!"