"No, Morty. Now go to bed." Rick's tone came across a lot more final than he felt about the matter.
Morty's whole body seemed to droop. Like a wilted plant he nearly sank straight down into the concrete even though his body was still standing. Rick could tell from his face, he wanted to fight. He wanted to drag this on kicking and screaming, yet a piece of him knew how useless that approach would be.
Morty leaned in, kissing Rick's cheek softly. He left and Rick felt his whole body ache. Was he really the idiot here? His only love practically gave himself like a sacrificial offering and he had denied it...again. He tried to regain his composure, he knew exactly why he kept Morty at bay and it was the most cruel and unfair part of their whole messed up situation.
Rick couldn't remember when he fell asleep, but he knew when he awoke it was far too early.
He felt Morty shaking him violently, "Rick! Wake up!" Morty's voice sounded passionate, demanding his attention. There was alcohol on his breath.
Rick sat up groggily, "W-what the- Morty? Fucking..*burp* fuck are you doing?"
Morty had tears in his eyes, "Y-you...we need to talk.. about- about what happened yesterday."
Rick gathered that he most likely meant the intimate moment but he honestly didn't want to discuss it further, "Are you drunk?"
Morty laughed as he wiped his eyes, "Oh come on! A-are you- you're really gonna act like nothing happened?" He hiccuped ungracefully.
"Nothing that should be continued happened." Rick corrected him.
Morty growled in frustration, "Un-fucking-believable! Why sleep with me at all then?"
"W-we were high, so there." Rick argued.
"Are you five? Are y-you always that easy high then or am I- was it a special occasion?" Morty asked sarcastically. He grabbed Rick by the jacket not sure whether he wanted to shake sense into him or simply appear intimidating to the frustrating scientist before him.
Rick frowned, "Maybe I am that easy, M-morty." Their breath mingled as the tension filled in the spaces around them. Morty's grip on Rick's jacket loosened only slightly, as he leaned in claiming Rick's lips with his own.
Rick responded eagerly, his body betraying him so easily. Rick hated that he was so uncertain about the whole topic. If time had been fractured he knew he would've been the cause for its complete collapse.
Rick had stayed away fifteen years after erasing the family's memories. He was horrified at the realization of what he had done. All hope had vanished from his life and in truth, he just wanted to die. He couldn't remember what drugs he had taken or how he had ended up in the Grubby Nubbler, but there he was.
The bartender gave Rick a long look before piping up, "I'm going to have to cut you off sir."
"F-fuck you, fucking square." Rick slurred drunkenly.
"You're drinking my whole stock. Look, not to be 'that' bartender. But what is eating you?" The bartender asked.
Rick laughed with a snort, "Family problems."
"Humans...you have K-Lax crystal dust wafting off of you over family issues?" The bartender remarked.
Rick brushed off the dust from his clothes before sneering at the observant server, "W-Well since you're so nosy, the guy I loved for... forever I guess? Well, he's my damn grandson. Bet y-ya haven't heard a bar *burp* bar story like that."
The bartender didn't even react to Rick's comment, only continuing to clean the glasses, "Wait, you didn't know the person you loved was your grandson?"
"No, h-he time traveled or some shit as a dumb teen. H-he was a toddler when I left." Rick defended.
The bartender scrunched his nose, "So you just assumed they're the same person?"
"I- Well, they.."
"I'm just saying you should be sure before you drink yourself to death in my bar." The bartender interrupted. For the first time in fifteen years Rick had a shred of hope. Maybe he had been paranoid. The only thing left then was to be sure.
Rick arrived at Beth's house and nervously knocked on the familiar door. A tall red head opened the door who Rick assumed was Summer.
She squinted one eye as she looked Rick over, "Who are you?"
"Beth's dad. Is Beth here?" Rick answered.
Summer's mouth dropped a bit, "Grandpa Rick? Wow, mom thought we'd never get to meet you. I'm Summer, come on in mom is picking Morty up from school." Summer said as she left the door open for him. She plopped on the couch as Rick tried not to act too familiar.
"Why aren't you in school?" Rick asked her.
"I've been sick." There was an awkward silence. Summer tried to break the ice, "So mom said you are a scientist. That's cool I think? Morty likes science too. He got a galaxy rug for his last birthday."
Rick swallowed hard, "Is that right?"
Before Summer could respond Beth walked through the door. She took one look at Rick, her eyes instantly watering.
Jerry followed in behind her, "I'm just saying the titanic exhibit could be fun if we both gave it- who's this?"
"Dad..." Beth whispered out.
Rick stood, "Sweetie...hey, I um..I was in the neighborhood."
Morty entered behind his parents not quite in Rick's vision. Beth turned to him, "Morty, come meet your grandpa Rick!"
Morty wiggled his way through his parents. As he came into view, Rick's heart practically stopped. He looked exactly how Rick remembered if not more beautiful. The cheesy quote about time and hearts growing fonder tried to sneak its way in but Rick swatted that away like a fly at a barbecue.
Morty smiled, "H-hi Rick!" Rick wanted to respond, to not appear like a complete loser but he simply stared at him, making Morty feel even more awkward.
Beth smiled, "How long are you going to stay? We have a guest room for you!"
Rick weighed his options at that. He could erase them and leave again. That'd be a one way ticket to a coward's death he was sure. The only other option was to stay and make sure the little brat never could go back in time. He reasoned to himself that that was exactly what he was going to do. He'd watch the boy like a hawk and prevent his life from being ruined by the self indulgent, idiotic, meddling-
"I um, I was hoping I could stay actually. I'd be willing to pay your bills for you." Rick said politely, "And the garage would be just fine for me, if that's ok."
"Dad! Of course you can stay! Don't worry about the bills!" Beth cried out as she hugged her father tightly.
Jerry cleared his throat, "Well maybe gas."
"None of it." Beth snapped.
Rick began walking to the garage to unpack, noticing Morty following him. He turned, wanting to be rude. He wanted to snap at the boy but all he could manage was a simple, "What do you want?"
"Oh I um..I thought y-you might need help? Maybe unpacking or something?"
Rick rolled his eyes, he'd never let this boy get to him again. That's what he had thought at least.
In between kisses Rick spoke softly, "Morty, y-you're intoxicated."
Morty whined as he clawed at his grandfather, "I- I'm not *hiccup* I'm not drunk at all. P-please don't reject me again.."
Rick wrapped his arms around the boy, "Morty.. we don't have time for this." He said those words but dove back in, allowing Morty to let his hands roam where they wanted. He could feel his own body responding with excitement despite knowing how hard he'd been fighting to distance them from this.
After a moment, Rick could hear some one coming to the garage. He sighed as he pulled away from Morty who so obviously wanted to cling to him. He'd managed separation as soon as Summer burst through the door.
"Rick I need your help, oh, what are you doing in here Morty?" Summer asked.
"Idiot accidentally swallowed my alien mouth wash. Completely drunk." Rick lied for him. Morty laughed at the absurdity.
Summer shrugged, "Well anyways, apparently the school is a die hard Twilight fan because I think the math teacher is a werewolf." Rick looked completely uninterested in the situation forcing her to plead her case, "Look I don't want to become bacon strips for a dog ok?"
"Fine. Fucking dammit." Rick climbed into the ship with Summer truthfully not prepared to see Morty climbing in as well.
As Rick began taking them to the school Morty piped up, "We...we aren't just going to- to *hiccup* charge into the school and kill him in front of- of all the s-students are we?"
"Why not?" Rick asked.
Morty felt his blood boil as he tried to gain a level head over the alcohol he'd consumed, "B-but..."
"Look Morty, our fellow classmates all could use a lesson in the fact that nobody is going to care about their feelings. You either take out the threat, or you become puppy chow." Summer explained.
Morty didn't like that reasoning. In that way, wouldn't that make Morty the threat to Rick? Proving once again that Rick was always right.
Morty frowned, "Who's to say he was- that's h-he's a threat? Being a werewolf doesn't m-mean dangerous."
"Two missing teachers disagree with you." Summer argued.
"It could be unrelated, SUMMER. This is ridiculous! Werewolf is just trying to l-l-live it's life and and you two have to go and- and blow it *hiccup* blow it all up." Morty spoke heatedly.
"Morty that doesn't make any sense." Rick said.
"Of course not! Because you two live in such a kill or be killed world!"
"Remind him never to use that mouth wash again Rick." Summer laughed.
Rick didn't say anything, only glancing to Morty in the rear view mirror. He looked more hurt than Rick wanted him to. Morty chose to stay behind, some part of him feeling like he was just like the wolf in the school. Knowing that was extremely sobering.
When Rick and Summer returned they joked about how obvious a name he had, typical conversation Morty should be used to but this time just angered him. He was silent until they reached the house and as Summer and Rick climbed out he chose to stay behind on the ship.
It didn't take Rick long to realize he hadn't come with them and found himself climbing back on.
"Morty, lets go inside." Rick offered.
"Rick...I'm so confused... you say you- that you don't want me, and that you do but... this back and forth...I-I'm getting motion sick from it all." Morty admitted.
"We don't have time for this." Rick snapped.
Morty yelled, "You keep saying that but I don't even understand what-" he froze.
It finally hit him what Rick meant every time he said it. Rick was old now. It didn't matter how he felt or what he wanted because in only a matter of time he would lose it all anyways. Time was the cruelest part of their relationship.
Morty's eyes welled with tears, "I see...I-I'm sorry I didn't understand sooner."
Morty left the ship as Rick called out for him, "M-Morty! Morty, Wait!" But he didn't.
Rick watched him walk away.
Again.