I do not own Rick and Morty.
This story is based off of a song by the group City and Colour titled Grand Optimist. Please listen to the song sometime for greater appreciation. Thanks! Enjoy
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New York City- 1974
The streets of the city were dusty, loud, and gray. The vast population of people perpetually walking on the sidewalk in a continuous cloud of bodies, like ants down a hill moving forward towards an unknown destination. Amongst the horde, a disturbance was zig zagging around the bodies against the flow of human traffic. The occasional bump, grunt, and angry glare from the crowd didn't slow him down. He had to distance himself as quickly as possible before they found him again.
13 year old Rick Sanchez ran through the city trying to reach his sanctuary. He knew that they were hot on his tail, but he couldn't let them make him late. Not again. As he continued to weave in and out of the crowd, his blonde hair swishing furiously as he ran, he was about to round the corner for the final home stretch to his destination. As he turned the corner, he ran into what felt like a brick wall. With a yelp, he fell backwards onto the unforgiving concrete ground, skinning his elbows. He looked up to see a familiar enormous figure standing above him.
"Well, well…. If it isn't little Ricky! Thought you could get away from me today, huh Ricky?"
The older boy loomed over Rick, hands on his waist, looking down at him with amusement. Before Rick could answer, two more boys grabbed him by either arm and forced him into a nearby alley, throwing him to the ground. Rick quickly scampered to get to his feet, knowing his beating would be much more painful if he found himself on the ground. He discovered this was the best way to avoid straight kicks to the stomach, which were especially painful.
"H-h-hey J-John, I was, was just try-trying to-" Rick stuttered nervously.
All three boys began to laugh together while standing in the way of Rick's exit.
"Hey Phil, get a load of this freak! Can't you say ANYTHING without stuttering, you reject? You make this too easy!" the bully known as John cackled.
Before Rick could reply, the two boys who had picked him up earlier grabbed him again by each arm and held him firmly in place. At only 5'7'', the older high school boys completely overpowered 13 year old Rick. All he could do was wait. He thought back to his lesson from school earlier today. What was it the nun had said? 'This too shall pass' he thought as he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for what he knew was coming.
"I'll make this quick, little Ricky. I've got other places to be. Can't waste all day chasing down your geeky ass." The bully chortled, as he punched a fist into his other open hand. With that statement, the older boy socked a punch right into Rick's stomach.
'This too shall pass…' Rick thought. But all at once, everything went black.
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Rick slowly opened his eyes, his head pounding and a sickening ringing present in his ears. He slowly lifted himself up to see he was alone in the alley, save a couple rats in the nearby dumpster. He sat for a couple minutes to regain his strength, disappointed in himself he wasn't able to outrun the bullies today. As he stood up, he looked down to notice his school uniform had been torn in a couple places. This was going to mean bad news when he went home to mother.
He came out of the alley and noticed the sun was significantly lower than when his attackers first arrived.
"Shit. I'm-I'm late! Again!" Rick said to himself. He walked out of the alley and turned left.
As he walked down the street he kept a hand on his burning ribs. The worst part about his bullies? They were smart. They never hit Rick in the face, never left broken bones, and made sure none of his injuries were visible. This way, the bullies knew they would never be caught. Unless Rick narked. Which would be an entirely new world of pain he wasn't keen on experiencing.
He walked a few more blocks until he came to a large, industrial building with a bright red glowing cross on the front. The doors automatically opened with a swish as he walked inside. He walked passed the waiting room chairs to the nurse behind the counter. He picked up a nearby pen and signed his name on a resting clipboard. The nurse had short dark hair and wore thick glasses and a kind smile.
"Good evening Rick! I thought you would be a little sooner today! We only have about an hour left of visiting time." The nurse said.
"I-I know, sorry about th-that…" Rick said quietly
"No need to apologize!" she smiled. "You know his room, I think he just woke from resting a few minutes ago."
"Th-thank you." Rick stuttered. As he walked down the hospital hall, he couldn't help but glimpse into a few rooms while he passed. Rick hated the hospital. It was full of sadness, sickness, and death. He shuddered as he walked passed a room with a woman sobbing hysterically. It seemed so strange to Rick over top of the deathly quiet. He continued walking until he came to the room. The room he visited almost every day. Number 243, patient Andres Sanchez.
Rick quietly knocked and cracked open the door to peer inside.
"….Hey D-Dad, it's Rick."
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That's chapter one, yo! More to come soon!
