Morty C-137 took another swig as there was a knock on his door.
"Come in," he said in a low tone.
Morty U3945 walked in. "Your Rick wants to-to see you."
Rick C-137 walked in, shoving the Morty aside. "G-get out of here. You did what you—eugh!—wanted."
The Morty hesitated, but when Rick gave him a look, he rushed out, shutting the door behind him. There was silence as Morty took another drink, and his Rick frowned.
"That's where t-that went."
"Y-yeah." He paused, swallowing another mouthful. "So, you took the pill."
Rick shrugged. "I'll kill that Jellybean. I'll kill him in every universe. I already killed the one E—eugh!—Evil Morty was keeping. I killed him, too. I made him suffer."
Morty pursed his lips then set the flask aside and stripped off his shirt. Rick let his eyes rove over the scars that he'd experienced receiving through the pill. The teeth marks stood out, and Rick swore and started muttering threats to both Evil Morty and the jellybean. He began to pace, and Morty drank some more. Rick paused.
"Stop that, M-Morty!"
"I can't. I don't want to th-think about it. That's why you d-drink, right? So y-y-you don't have to think about it?"
Rick narrowed his eyes, shrugging. More silence ensued.
"I'm sorry, Morty."
"I can't stop feeling him," Morty whispered, staring into his fireplace. "I remember everything. I want it to go away, Rick. Make it stop."
"I could remove the memory," Rick suggested.
"I don't think that's wise. W-who knows what it'll do t-to my mind. It's been there too l-long."
"Maybe."
Rick hesitated then approached to sit down on the couch. Morty sat beside him, swilling the liquid in the flask before taking another drink. He slowly leaned over to rest against his grandfather's side. An arm was wrapped around him, and he buried his face in the man's shirt and cried.
He cried for an hour, and they sat there, neither of them moving besides Morty's shaking and sobbing. It wasn't a hug, but it was enough for Morty, who listened to the threats and curses spilling from his grandfather's lips as he whimpered and sniffled. Rick stared into the fire, refusing to look at his grandson, but still, he was there.
Morty C-137 had fought Evil Morty because of moments just like this, moments where Rick showed he cared, even a little. He knew deep down that Rick loved him somewhere inside, and that all Ricks felt the same way, though it was buried deeper in them. Ricks were worth saving, especially his.
As Morty sat up and they pretended that had never happened, he set aside the flask, not needing another drink for the moment. They sat and said nothing, but that was alright. Sitting together was enough. It was always enough at the end of the day, and that was one of the few constants in their lives. With that thought, Morty closed his tired, heavy eyes and fell asleep, feeling much better than he had in months.
Rick sat there and he hadn't said a word since the sobbing had stopped. As he gazed at his Morty, he entertained thoughts of what he was going to do with each foul Jellybean, a sadistic grin pulling up his lips. He would enjoy torturing the rapist. Again. And again. And again…But not now. Right now, he needed to guard his grandson. So he settled back and stared into the fire keeping one eye on Morty as he thought of revenge.