I just had a sad headcanon about Nico Di Angelo and Project Hail Mary... So now i would share It with Tumblr so i'm not the only one crying.
Well, i was tagging a post with the "Ryland Grace" tag, but i wrote Grace instead of Ryland and Tumblr suggested me Jason Grace instead. And my brain said "hey, how do you think Nico would react to that movie?"
So... Here is how i imagine that went.
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Every Saturday night, if there wasn't any demigod problems or Nico wasn't visiting Hazel, Will and Nico took the camp old portable DVD reader modified by Leo so it could work fine on camp without risking monster attacks or something. They went to the infirmary cuddle with a cozy blanket, popcorn and watch some pirated DVDs. Those DVDs that the Hermes cabin added to the pile so everyone had something nice to watch while recovering from injuries or on dates like those of Nico and Will.
Nico had watched nerd stuff with his significant annoyance, he was forced by Leo to watch adventure time (and he would never admit to the son of Hephaestus but he really liked it), he even watched some romance movies with Frank and Hazel when they visited or some scary movies with Piper and Percy which was a terrible thing to do and ended with a pile of wet bones floating next to the Poseidon cabin...
Tonight, Will chose a movie that he was trying Nico to watch since It came out. Apparently, it was about space and aliens and stars but without the "Alien" element. Nico had postponed the movie because the last time Will put something with Ryan Gosling on It, Nico either ended trying to not cry or humming catchy songs for a week. But Will swear this one didn't had Barbie nor LalaLand themes on It, so Nico agreed.
He cuddled against Will, stealing some of his coke while the blonde was pressing the remote. Nico was intrigued by the movie from the start, and then his brain started to register "the thing". It was the blonde hair first, even before Nico's brain registered the name, it was that blonde hair and the glasses and...
Grace.
The damn pathetic man in space who just woke up amnesic and with two dead "friends" in an starship far away from home, was named Grace.
He tensed, looking at Will sideways, but he didn't seems to had clicked in all that. Nico saw his own blonde smiling at something the Grace in that movie did or said and Nico decided to shut up and try to not think about Jason Grace.
But he couldn't help but compare the character in that movie with his dead friend. The clumsy movements even when they were obviously not unfit or unhealthy. The kindness. How smart and stupid they could be at the same time. Bit by bit, Nico found himself imagine Jason Grace as Ryland Grace and it didn't felt all that wrong. A part of him thought Jason could have being an amazing teacher like Ryland.
Nico even thought that Hera or Juno could have fit Eva Stratt's role just fine.
By the time Rocky appeared on the screen Nico was having his own movie going on his own mind. He laughed slightly because he knew Jason probably would had reached for his weapon in that moment when Rocky jumpscared Grace.
And he spent all the movie comparing this Dr Ryland Grace with his deceased friend Jason Grace. Both heroes, both funny and great and kind and put in the most difficult places to save Earth.
"No, no, no, Grace, wake up" he heard Will and felt him gripping his hand too absorbed by the story to notice Nico's teary eyes thinking that maybe this was it, he couldn't have a Grace alive even in fiction.
And then he saw Rocky, sacrificing themselves to try and save Grace, the stars and everything. And that Rocky alien did what Nico would have loved to do for Jason. Rocky saved their Grace. Nico saw the shadow-like effects where Rocky was hurting because of the atmosphere of the Hail Mary.
"I love that Rock" Nico said under his breath feeling his chest tight gripping Will's hand while his boyfriend nodded unaware of Nico's thoughts but equally teary and worried about the alien from Erid.
Both of them cheered and laughed when the damn rock and Grace hugged after almost dying. Will said something about the injuries or healing, Nico didn't heard him because he was so excited about seeing those characters alive and ready to save the stars that he kissed his boyfriend. Will smiled at him like an idiot, but they decided to keep watching the movie.
After that, Nico was practically using Will as a pillow clenching the blanket with his hands while Will played with his hair. Neither of them feeling all that happy about the return of Grace to save Earth, knowing he'll had to get away from Rocky and never see his rock alien friend again.
Will hugged Nico crying a little when Grace cut the tunnel and Nico looked at his boyfriend with a soft expression. For a moment, not seeing Jason everywhere in that movie.
At least not until the thaumeba leak. The decision of save Rocky and Earth but never getting back home. Nico went pale thinking about Jason Grace deciding to go to that final mission knowing perfectly what could happen just to protect his friends. The tears started even before Nico could finish that thought. Looking at the screen, understanding that probably he was just projecting but maybe in the healthiest he has projected something in all his life.
Will noticed him crying and Nico hugged him. Unable to stop his tears seeing Rocky and Grace safe on Erid and how the Eridians treated Ryland Grace making sure he was safe and sound there until he could go back home if he wanted to. Nico was a mess, crying and hugging Will.
"i hope Elysium is as pretty as that dome" he was mumbling unable to stop his tears hiding himself against Will seeking comfort. "Jason deserve to have a nice place like the movie Grace" he said and Will tensed a little noticing that maybe this movie had triggered Nico's trauma or his grief for Jason or...
"fuck, Nico, sorry. I..." Will started to apologize searching Nico's face gently trying to look at his eyes and remind him that he was there.
When Will got to see his face he was relieved and surprised to see Nico smiling despite his tears.
"I'm not mad, i liked the movie." Nico admitted trying to calm down, he raised his hands towards Will's that were over his own wet cheeks. "I could imagine for a moment Jason being a teacher, saving the sun and living in a nice place where neither monsters or gods could reach him." Nico's smile was sad and his tears run down his face, Will's eyes were also teary but he kept it together for a moment longer.
"He also saved the sun in his own way, didn't he?" Will whispered and Nico smiled grew a little.
"you are such a..." But he didn't finished his words kissing Will.
Will thought Nico would never want to watch that movie ever again. He was wrong. Through the years, even after they grew older and got try to live their lives outside camp, whenever Nico was missing Jason Grace instead of hurt himself with unhealthy ways to miss his friend or let the grief consume him, he made popcorn and decided to let Dr Ryland Grace to give him the hope that after all the hero stuff, maybe, Elysium or reincarnation could look like a foggy beach with a friend, safe and loved knowing you made it, you saved them.
