Chapter Text
Colt almost laughed as he watched Ryland basically vibrate with excitement.
They were standing outside of the welcome building, at the private hangar of the San Francisco airport, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the jet that would bring Rocky down to Earth.
“Is this how you felt?” Ryland asked then and Colt blinked.
Not long ago he had stood in the same spot, awaiting his brother's arrival. But this time the sky was light blue, the morning sun slowly heating up the ground.
“I might have been worse,” he sheepishly replied.
The amount of emotions he had felt back then, in such a short time frame, had been way more than any human should experience.
Finally, the jet appeared as a dot in the sky.
“There!” Ryland almost yelled, grabbing onto Colt's arm with one hand and pointing with the other.
Colt squinted. He probably really needed permanent glasses now. So far he had avoided that topic, because it felt like Rylands thing. It seemed inevitable now, but he would think about that another time.
Moments later, the jet touched down and after a minute, the door opened, once again only a small film crew there.
Rocky appeared in the door in his xenonite suit, and before Colt could even blink, Ryland was rushing towards the jet.
Colt followed a bit slower, arriving as Rocky reached the bottom of the stairs, everyone in quiet reverence as he stretched out a leg and finally stepped down onto Earth.
He chirped something Colt couldn't understand, but Ryland just kneeled down.
“Welcome to Earth, Rocky.”
The alien lifted his arms, leaning into Ryland in something akin to a hug, continuing with his little noises.
Colt just watched for a moment as they chatted.
Finally, Ryland looked up with a smile. “Rocky, I want you to meet Colt. My twin brother.”
Rocky skittered towards him and without even thinking, Colt kneeled down too, hugging the alien as he chittered and hummed.
“Whoa, whoa, Rocks. He can't understand you, give me a second.”
Rocky seemed to whine while Ryland pulled out his phone, the one Colt had gotten for him and shown him how to use.
It took him a moment, but then a voice came out of the speaker.
“Hello other Grace, I am Rocky from planet Erid. I am happy to meet you. Grace miss you a lot in space, talk about you all the time. Return to Earth because of you.”
Colt felt teary eyed. “It's really great to meet you too, Rocky. I really want to thank you for saving my brother and for giving him a chance to return home to me. It means absolutely everything to me, I can't put it into words.”
“Grace very brave human. Other Grace too for waiting for so long! But both of you leak. Gross!”
“Rocky!” Ryland scolded him and the Alien snickered.
Colt trailed behind, watching as the two of them walked towards the armored car that would bring them to the biodome
They were talking and joking, Ryland rolling his eyes and sighing as Rocky said “fist my bump”, but then holding out his fist and bumping it with Rocky's claw through the xenonite.
Rubbing his chest, Colt felt that tiny pinch again. He felt like he was third wheeling here, barely understanding half of their conversation and jokes despite the translator.
It felt like a cold sadness filling his chest cavity and he could only hope that Ryland wouldn't notice. He didn't want to bring the mood down.
Hours later, driving back home, Ryland turned to Colt from the passenger seat. “You were quiet today. I am not used to that from you.”
Colt bit his lip. Dang it. His twin had noticed after all.
He exhaled. “I didn't want to interrupt. You had a lot of catching up to do and I didn't want to insert myself into your conversations. Seeing you interact like that, so natural and with so many jokes I couldn't understand… I felt like I was the alien in that situation.”
Ryland bit his lip, “I'm sorry,” he murmured. “I didn't mean to leave you out. I should've made more of an effort to include you.”
“No,” Colt shook his head, “It's not your fault. I should've made an effort to be more active in the conversation. You had only Rocky to talk to for years, so it's only logical that your brain now gravitates towards him.”
It was quiet for a moment, waiting at the intersection, waiting for the light to turn green.
Then Colt cleared his throat. “How long do they want to stay? I mean, the Eridians?”
Ryland pressed his lips together before answering. “They haven't outright said it, but it is pretty clear that…” he hesitated. “They want to stay until I die.”
Colt grabbed the steering wheel harder, his knuckles turning white. “Oh…”
He started driving again. “I mean, it makes sense, with the journey being so long and all.”
“Yeah.” Ryland stared out of the window, a street sign bringing up a very old memory.
“Can… Can we visit Mom and Dad?” His voice was barely audible, but Colt still heard him.
“Of course.” he answered, voice raw.
15 Minutes later they stood in front of the white headstone, a bit weathered, but the grave otherwise well maintained.
Ryland crouched down, running his fingers over the engraved names. “Hi Mom, Hi Dad… it's good to see you again. I'm sorry I didn't bring any flowers.”
Colt kneeled down too, steadying himself on his brother's shoulder. “I don't think they would be mad about that.”
Running his fingers over the dates below the names, Ryland suddenly stilled for a moment.
“Even with time dilation, I am now older than they ever got to be.”
Nodding, Colt sighed. “Yeah. It was pretty weird for me too when I turned that age.”
Ryland's eyes wandered to the empty patch of grass next to the grave and Colt understood.
“I bought the lots next to them. For Jody and me and… well, for you.” he cleared his throat. “For years, I was thinking about whether I should get you a stone to honor you, but it felt wrong to do that, when you were still alive, and even after I thought you had died it felt wrong then too, because I couldn't actually put you in the grave, and also it somehow felt like I was burying your memory.”
He shook his head. “And now the plot is gonna go to waste anyways, but I can't bring myself to sell it.”
“Why would it go to waste?” Ryland asked with a frown and Colt gave him a pained look.
“Well, you're gonna get a state funeral, right?”
Ryland shook his head. “No. I don't want that… When my time comes, I want to be laid to rest with my loved ones. Next to Mom and Dad and you and Jody…” he swallowed. “And I want Rocky to have a handful of my ashes to spread on Erid.”
Colt slowly exhaled. “Then I want him to take a handful of my ashes too. Because I'll never get to go there, but I also don't want you to be that far away from me ever again.” He was teary eyed now and Ryland couldn't speak, just laying his head on his brother's shoulder.
They just sat there in silence for a long time before Colt softly groaned. “Sorry Ry, I gotta get up. My joints are killing me sitting on the hard ground like that.”
Ryland helped him up, dusting himself off before meeting Colt's eyes again. His brother was looking at him intensely.
“You know,” Colt said then, “right now you're actually the one who looks like Dad… or well. At least how I remember him.”
That put a slight smile on Rylands face, as they made their way back to the parking lot.
The sun was shining through the leaves of the trees, and for the first time in a while Ryland actually let himself enjoy it.
“Mr. Grace?”
The voice had both of them turning around.
Ryland knew that voice somehow. And the way the voice had called his name…
It didn't just sound like recognition because his face had been all over the news, it seemed… more familiar.
The woman standing there was about Rylands age, meaning she must've been a teen when he had left Earth.
And she had called him ‘Mr.’, not ‘Dr.’
Ryland blinked. That face. The eyes especially… something deep within his brain clicked into place.
“Olivia?”
“Yes.” Her voice cracked. “You recognize me?”
He nodded slowly, stepping towards her. “It took me a second, but I do.”
She shuddered, clearly wrangling with her emotions. “I never thought I'd see you again… I mean, even after knowing you were alive and back on Earth, I…”
He stepped forward, hugging her. He had always been that kind of teacher, not just awkwardly standing by when kids cried, instead offering a hug or gentle touch if needed, obviously always in a respectful, appropriate way.
And even if she was an adult now, the same age as him, she was still his kid in a way.
“It's good to see you too,” he said softly, not trusting his voice, “I didn't think I'd see any of my students again either… gosh, you're so grown up now.”
They separated with a wet chuckle and Olivia waved to Colt. “Hi, Mr. Seavers.”
“Also Mr. Grace now,” Colt said, shaking her hand with a smile, “Haven't used the stage name in a long time.”
Ryland looked between them, his chest tightening with emotion. “You kept your promise,” he stated then, “you went to visit my class.”
Colt nodded and Olivia smiled. “Yeah, he came to visit us. It was chaos at first because we thought you were back, but he explained it all…” she licked her lips. “He explained it all to us, didn't sugar coat it or made empty promises, but he did it in a gentle way… I don't think there was anyone who wasn't crying by the end of it.”
“I can imagine,” Ryland said quietly, then exhaled. “How have you been doing? Are you still in touch with the others?”
“I'm good,” she said then, “my oldest just started college… Most of us went into the science field because of you… a bunch became teachers and…” she cleared her throat, “as far as I know our class all made it… we all got to grow up and have families because of you… I'm sure you've heard it a million times since landing but… thank you, Mr. Grace.”
They all were crying again, Ryland hugging her one more time as he was flooded with relief.
His kids had made it.
The sun was setting as they arrived back home and both of them just went right to bed, the exhaustion of the day knocking them out almost instantly.
Colt found Ryland sitting at the kitchen table the next morning. He looked frazzled, hair even more disheveled than usual.
“You good?,” he asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Ryland nodded. “Yeah.” He met Colt's eyes. “Did you or Jody hear anything last night?”
“No, why?” Colt added milk and sugar.
“I might have screamed.”
That alarmed Colt greatly, and he glanced at his brother. “What? Why did you scream? What happened?”
“I got a call last night… I won the Nobel prize in chemistry."
The coffee cup fell out of Colt's hand and into the sink, not breaking but the coffee sloshing everywhere as he whipped around.
“What? Oh my god, Ry, that is huge! Congrats!”
The coffee forgotten, he pulled his twin into a hug.
“That's the oscar of science,” Colt mumbled and it made Ryland laugh. “Well in that case you still have one up on me.”
Colt pulled back, holding his brother by the shoulders, staring at him. “Oh god, no one told you?”
“Told me what?” Ryland blinked.
“You already have one… it was awarded umm… posthumously? The year after the beetles returned.” Colt explained, and Ryland had to sit down.
“That is… fudge… Colt I can't even… what?” he looked up at his brother. “They don't award Nobel prizes posthumously… And since when are the winners not announced in October anymore?”
Colt didn't have an answer for that, instead making a new coffee for himself and one for Ryland.
Jody came in then, looking between them, immediately feeling that something was off. “Whats going on?”
“He got another Nobel Prize,” Colt explained, “He didn't even know about the first one and I think it fried his brain.”
Before she could say anything else, the door opened, Clarke storming in. She must've heard the news too.
“Uncle Ryland! Congratulations!” She hugged him, a smile curling at his lips due to her enthusiasm.
She had gotten into Molecular biology thanks to her uncle, so she was extra excited for his achievement.
“Thank you, Clarke,” he said then, “I still can't fully grasp it, to be honest.”
She stepped back, handing him an envelope. “I have something for you… I had to sweet talk a whole lot of people to be able to hand you this myself, but it was worth it.”
Colt watched as his brother opened it, pulling out a paper and the way his eyes grew huge before he hugged Clarke again.
Grabbing the paper, Colt took a look.
It was a doctorate certificate.
Ryland's PhD was officially reinstated.
Ryland looked up at the knock of the doorframe, finding Colt standing there.
“I'm gonna meet a few stunt friends at Dan's house, just snacks, beers and some gaming. Wanna come?” he asked, then playfully added, “Celebrate your Nobel Prize?”
The idea of people he didn't know combined with tech he didn't know anything about and potential screaming didn't appeal to him.
But spending time with his brother did.
“Sure,” he answered, grabbing his jacket and Colt's smile almost made it worth it already.
The car radio played a song Ryland didn't know and frankly didn't like, but luckily, Colt turned it down after a moment. “You and Clarke have a good chat?”
“We did,” Ryland chuckled. “It was nice to be able to speak to someone who understood what I was saying, but also wasn't some random person from academia… it was nice that it was family.”
“Yeah, I get that.” Colt smiled, pulling into a driveway Ryland didn't know.
He only dimly remembered his brother's stunt friends, only ever having talked with them briefly. He was nervous, but he would manage somehow.
An hour later, he sat on a couch with Colt and three other guys, wondering if this was how Colt had felt while he was talking with Rocky.
They were playing a game he didn't understand on a console he didn't know on controllers he understood even less, talking about things he had no clue about, and reminiscing over old stunts.
His beer bottle was still almost entirely full as he fiddled with it. He hadn't had alcohol in decades and this right now was not a situation where he wanted to let loose.
Colt shot him a questioning glance and Ryland tried to signal him that he was fine.
It was okay. Colt had tried to include him multiple times and his friends were nice and welcoming, but Ryland just couldn't really find his place in the conversation with all of them being 20 something years older, so he stayed mostly quiet.
He didn't want to ruin things for Colt, who seemed to be genuinely having fun right now, even if it hurt him, deep down, to see that there was one more thing that seemed like a road block between him and his brother, something where other people had replaced him, and he probably wouldn't ever be able to claim that spot again.
A soft ping had Ryland snap back to reality and checking the notification on his phone, which he still didn't entirely understand.
“I gotta go, I have a meeting,” he said then, standing up. Colt, who didn't have a drop the whole night, immediately set down his controller.
“Oh, I'll drive you.”
Ryland looked at his brother's character on the TV screen slowly taking damage from being idle and shook his head.
“No, I'll get picked up.”
“I could still come,” Colt said, not even caring about the game.
“You're obviously having fun right now,” Ryland said quietly, “I don't want to interrupt that… I won't be alone, Rocky will be there too.”
Colt looked at him for a long moment. “Are you sure?”
“I am. I promise I'll call if I need you.”
With one last wave to the other's he left, the blacked out car rolling up just as he stepped outside.
This meeting was a welcome distraction. He had to get away from the jealousy and guilt he felt for a little while.
The drive wasn't too long and upon arriving he quickly walked into the building next to the biodome, someone immediately leading him to a room on the second floor.
A man was waiting there, standing up when he entered, holding out his hand.
“Mark Watney,” he said, “it's a pleasure to get to meet you, Dr. Grace.”
He took his hand, “Call me Ryland please, and it's great to meet you too” he said, then paused.
Usually the etiquette was the older person offering to be less formal, and if it was down to birth years he was actually 4 years older than him, but with time dilation…
Mark, seeming to notice this spiral, chuckled. “I prefer Mark too. All good.”
Ryland exhaled. “So. I guess we're the only humans who somehow have been through a similar thing.”
“Yeah,” Mark nodded, “Never thought there'd be someone who could understand… and even if our situations were wildly different there are still a lot of similarities.”
“It is weird being back,” Ryland admitted then. “How did you do it?”
Mark's answer was quiet. “It took time… you can't get over a trauma like that quickly… It leaves scars in different ways. I still can't stand potatoes… but I promise you, things will get better.”
They talked some more, about their experiences and how to deal with the aftermath, until a knock interrupted them, an employee poking their inside. “Rocky just woke up, he is here now.”
Ryland couldn't help but grin as Mark's eyes widened as Rocky strutted in wearing his xenonite suit, greeting him with a chirp.
“Hi, Rocky. I want to introduce you to someone.”
He pulled out his phone, opening the translator for Mark.
“Rocky, this is Mark Watney, he was an Astronaut and he got stranded on Mars for a bit.”
Rocky was quiet for a moment. “Bad Mark? Mark hurt Grace. Rocky hate Mark. Why you make me meet him, question?” he asked then, his stance slightly aggressive.
“No, no, no!” Ryland almost panicked, as Mark took a surprised step back, “Rocky, this is a totally different Mark. It is not the Mark who stole my ex-girlfriend. This one is really nice. They just happen to share a name.”
“Oh, good.” Rocky said and Ryland had to sit again while the two introduced themselves properly.
With the misunderstanding out of the way they actually got along great and Ryland really enjoyed the conversation, yet his thoughts wandered.
The way Colt had laughed at something Dan had said, some kind of inside joke Ryland couldn't decipher and how rapidly and without any effort Dan managed to bring up old memories of them.
He was grateful that Colt had had Dan, as a friend, someone who he could fall back on, but it was painful to see that someone else knew his twin better than him.
Shaking his head, he shifted back into the conversation, his mind clinging to Mark's promise of it gets better.
When Ryland got home, Colt was softly snoring on the couch, some sports game playing on the TV, Jody in the kitchen.
“Hey,” she greeted him with a warm smile.
“Hi Jody.” He looked at the couch. “Colt sleeping on the couch. Never thought I'd see that.”
Jody closed the dishwasher. “Me either… but he started that some time after we had the girls.”
Ryland just nodded and exhaled. “Dan… he had Dan through all of this, right?”
“Yeah, Dan was there for him… sometimes Colt just needed a guy to talk to, not his wife and that's when Dan stepped in.”
A lump formed in his throat. “I am glad Colt wasn't alone… but I really, really wish it could've been me.”
“I know,” Jody's voice was soft. “And it might not feel like it, but you have to know that nothing and no one could ever replace you for Colt.”
Ryland just nodded, then looked at the couch again. “Is he gonna wake up and go to bed or…”
Jody shook her head with a wince. “He is unable to wake up once he falls asleep like that, so he'll stay on the couch tonight… his back is not gonna like that.”
Something surged deep inside of Ryland's chest. “I'll take care of it,” he said then, a look of determination on his face, as he walked over and carefully went to pick up his sleeping brother.
Colt was tall and not exactly light, but traveling at 1.5G and constant muscle stimulation from Armando had left Ryland stronger as expected as he slid his arms underneath Colt's knees and shoulders, lifting him without a flinch.
Colt didn't even stir.
Jody went ahead opening the bedroom door for him and he gently laid Colt down on the bed. “Dan wouldn't have been able to do that,” he murmured, only audible to himself.
“Thank you,” Jody smiled at him, grabbing Colt's pajamas from the drawer, “I'll take care of the rest.”
Ryland left with a nod, sitting down on the couch where Colt had laid just a few moments ago, the fabric still warm.
He still felt Colt's weight in his arms, but it also reminded him of their age gap again.
Closing his eyes, he exhaled. “It gets better,” he whispered to himself, only hoping that it would be soon.