Chapter Text
Ryland knew this was a bad idea. He's barely been on Earth for two months, and he still feels like a baby deer learning what gravity is. He hates the gravity on Earth; he hates it he hates it he hates it—
"Ryland?"
"GAH!" Ryland jumped and nearly fell out of his seat, blinking rapidly as he came back to himself. He was on Earth, on a movie set, and Colt was in front of him, and he looked so concerned, and oh fudge sticks, now he felt bad.
Grace winced slightly as he straightened up on the plastic chair, accepting the cup of coffee from Colt with a wobbly smile, his hand rubbing the mark on his arm slightly, the only reminder he had of Rocky here on Earth. "Ah… thanks, Colt… sorry."
Colt just shook his head and sat next to him. "Don't worry about it, Ry; I know things are a bit confusing now and a little overwhelming considering... literally everything you've been through. I get it, man."
Grace was so lucky to have a brother like Colt; he still felt guilty about the silence and the no contact after he got fired, but while Colt was pissed about it at first, he was just happy to have his brother back.
Now here he was, on the set of a new movie where Cot was stunting again and he even met Jody! She's so sweet to him; he's glad to have met her, and he's glad his knowledge of space at least comes in handy now that he's a consultant for the time being.
Grace looks around while sipping his okayish coffee; it's better than space coffee at least, and he squints at a few props being made. He tapped his foot in a similar manner to Rocky. "Uh… what movie about again, question?"
Colt looked confused and slightly concerned at the phrasing, but he didn't mention it yet. "Just a sci-fi action or something; I haven't looked through the script yet," he said, shrugging and sitting down next to Grace with a stretch, and he crossed his arms while glancing in the direction that Ryland was looking at. "Might not look as cool as the Hail Mary, though."
Grace made a humming sound, similar to the sound Rocky used to make when he was thinking—god, he missed Rocky; he hopes Rocky misses him too—and he adjusted his glasses. "It's coming together, uh, fast fast fast. Good… good design."
God, he should shut up. Being stuck in a small space with one other person, or rock-spider, kind of makes you pick up on some things. Like speech patterns or even habits—Grace still can't sleep without someone watching him—and now he can't even sound normal anymore. He tried going back to teaching; oh, how he tried. He misses it so much, but he just can't explain things how he used to anymore, and he sometimes slips into Eridian without knowing, and now his voice is a little rough.
Who even is he anymore?
Grace let out a pained hiss when Colt tugged at his ear. "Stop that," he said firmly, and his brows furrowed. "You're in your head again, Ry; stop it. Whatever you're thinking, it's not true, alright? Now come on, you have to help me figure out how to look like I'm in zero gravity. Jody says I look like I'm constipated."
"Well, I mean… it's true." Grace answered with a lopsided grin, standing up to follow Colt over to the coordinators. This, at least, is something he can do well.
"Betrayed by my own blood, I can't believe it."
***
The day was going so well. So, so well, but then the practice explosion had to happen, and now Grace is back on the Hail Mary; the hull was damaged, and he's going to die. Oh god, he doesn't want to die; he wants to see Colt again. He can't—
No no no, he's here on Earth and has been for months. Right? Yes yes yes, on Earth, not up in the stars. That's Colt in front of him getting ready for a stunt, not a mirror, but Colt. His younger twin brother, by twelve minutes, yes, but his younger brother nonetheless.
A sharp pain broke through his panic, and he realized he was gripping his hand tightly, and he quickly let go to rub the back of his neck with a shaky sigh. He needs to get a grip, for fudge's sake; he can't keep going on like this. Yet his hands can't stop shaking. Why can't his hands stop shaking? He's fine fine fine, all good good good.
…he's crying.
If Rocky were here, he'd call Grace a leaky space blob before doing something to make him laugh.
…he misses Rocky.
He didn't care if anyone saw him; he just had to get out of here. He ran towards the nearest bathroom and locked himself in a stall, just for a moment. Just to breathe, please God let him breathe.
He can't he can't he can't he can't—
He was sobbing now, trying to stifle his cries behind his hands like the leaky space blob he is. He can't stop shaking; he needs to stop shaking. Colt is probably looking for him; he can't keep doing this to him; he has to be a better brother this time around.
He felt arms around him and at first he panicked, thinking that they're going to send him back up there where he's alone alone alone—
It's Jody, this sweet, kind woman who is dating his brother. She's hugging him like she cares and loves him already, despite them only having just met a few days ago.
"Jody…?" he rasped out and shook as he hugged her back, crying against her shoulder as she rubbed his back, soothing him with gentle words, and he was so happy his brother was with her.
"It's okay, Ry; you're okay. You're on Earth; it's okay." Jody whispered against his hair and he wished he believed it.