A/N: Yep.
Morty tried to keep up with Rick as his grandfather dodged the other students, in search of Morty's sister.
"Where the fuck are you?" He mumbled. "Just when she should be around, she disappears like the- Summer!"
The girl turned around at her name being called and grinned as he saw the duo. "Oh hey! Look at you two, holding hands and all! Did you make up?"
"Cute, but I don't have time for this shit." Rick scrunched up his nose, ignoring Summer's judgemental friends in general. "Where's the key, Summer?"
"What?" She feigned innocence. "What key?"
"Cut the bullshit." Rick snarled and moved his arms around, causing Morty to cry out in pain.
"Rick, quit it!" Morty hissed, trying to hold his wrist but Rick didn't lower the limb this time, too busy glaring at his granddaughter. "Rick! My fucking hand, ow!"
"Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson." Summer tsked. "Come back when you can say you've.. um, eh, I don't care. Just don't come back for a while." Was all she said before blending into the crowd.
"Summer, you bitch!" They both yelled out in unison.
"Don't talk that way about her!" One of her friends stepped ahead. "She's my BFF!"
"Yeah? Well she's my sister, so I outrank you." Morty eyed the girl with annoyance. "Also, I used to say the same thing. You'll outgrow it."
"C'mon, let's find your bitchy sister." Rick grumbled out, dragging Morty around.
"Rick, I don't even think she has the key." Morty said after a while miserably when they were outside the building. "Did you even check your garage? Maybe it's still there."
Rick stilled for a moment. "I need to take leak."
Morty's eyes widened in horror. "No, you don't."
"Yes I do. I haven't pissed since I've drunk I don't know how many bottles of strong liquor and I feel like I'm dying."
"So what? I stand next to the toilet while you sit there to pee?!" Morty asked incredulously.
"Uh, yes? That's the plan?" Rick raised his unibrow.
"How often do I tell you how much I hate you?" Morty stared blankly.
"Not enough to calm your ass, apparently." He cackled and ruffled Morty's hair with his free hand, earning a growl and a very regretted push.
"Ow, ugh-!"
"Motherfucker-!"
They sat behind Rick's workbench, like a regular day. The difference was, Morty had to sit there until Rick's work was done. And he'd heard noises from the garage at up to five in the morning.
"D-did you make a key yet, Rick?" Morty slurred, insomnia affecting him. He'd barely slept the night before.
"I made this handcuff thing, Morty. It's not as easy as you think." Rick complained and worked.
Morty set his head on the desk. "C-can I sleep at least?"
"No, I don't have enough limbs on me right now to move your hand around if I have to."
"When are you gonna finish?"
"Don't be a whiny bitch."
"That's not an answer, Rick. I'm tired and I'm trying not to fall asleep. Help me out here?"
"Err, we can talk?"
"What about?" Morty asked with curiosity.
He shrugged. "Fuck, I dunno. You're the expert at not shutting up."
Morty scowled, turning his head around on the desk, facing the opposite side. "I'd prefer to sit in silence."
"Wonderful." Noiselessly, the door to the garage opened.
"Dinner will be ready in- dad?" Morty turned around in time to see the contrasted expression of Rick.
"Uh, yeah sweetie?" He tried.
"Dad what is all this? Look, I don't care what creepy shit you do when you're bored, but keep my son out of it!" With Beth's voice approaching , Morty noticed her drunken state.
Morty frowned and turned around to reassure Beth that it wasn't- for once- Rick's fault, but Rick nudged him to keep quiet. Morty's frown deepened, but he complied.
"I'm sorry Beth. I'll fix it." He told his daughter in a calm voice. She stumbled over to him, taking the fabric of his collar weakly in a fist. She stayed like that for a moment.
"W-why did you ruin my life?" She sobbed, her grip loosening. "Why do you still insist on doing it? W-why are you such a monster?"
Morty felt weird listening to her rant. Was that how he sounded yelling at Rick? Wasn't that a bit of overreaction? Why didn't Rick ever point that out?
"I don't know sweetie. Born that way, I guess." Rick blankly told her. Being the one with a clear head, Morty saw the tension in Rick's body and expression, like he was trying hard to maintain the nonchalance. Why would he want to do that? What was good in pushing people away all the time?
"I hate you." She gritted her teeth, eyes tearful.
"I know you do." Rick gave her a dry smirk as well as a pat on the cheek. "Why don't you go to sleep, honey? I know you're tired. There's plenty of time for this bullshit tomorrow."
"You're lucky you're right." Beth muttered under her breath. She suddenly looked exhausted, and Rick gestured at Morty to grab onto his wrist before catching her.
After a few moments of silence, her eyes fluttered shut.
"Jeez." Morty couldn't help but look at his mother worriedly. "W-what do we do with her, Rick?"
"Summer's gonna pick her up in a few." He shrugged casually. "She probably saw her drink."
"Is this a scenario that happens often?" Morty craned his neck.
"Not a scenario, it's pretty much a routine at this point." Rick sighed, looking tired as well.
Morty paused. He was beginning to see a pattern in Rick's behavior, ever so faintly. "You're not really a psychopath- like a literal goddamn, unfeeling psychopath, are you?"
Rick seemed caught off guard by the ask. "What kind of question is that?"
"The kind that needs an answer." Morty would've crossed his arms if he didn't have a wrist linked to Rick's. "I-I saw it. Acting like you didn't care about mom's suffering- acting like you enjoyed it actually drained you!" He pointed out and grinned brightly in surprise when Rick squirmed in his spot. "W-why would you do that? Isn't is easier to just talk to her- to us like a normal person?"
Rick seemed to finally give in, sighing. "It's not about being easy. You wouldn't get it."
"Try me." Morty persisted as Rick went back to tinkering with a piece of rough metal.
"If I had a- like, fucking heart-to-heart or somethin' with your mom, it wouldn't end well."
"How are you so sure?" Morty asked.
"Because I've tried it before." He shrugged casually. "She's knees deep in the belief that I'm a monster. I can't blame her, but I tried to change her mind anyway. She freaked out and called out on my attempt to 'manipulate her again'." He made air quotes, rolling his eyes. "Deep down, she doesn't want me to have the tiniest bit of good in me, because it's easier for her to understand."
"I.. y-you're right. I don't get it." Morty said, utterly lost.
"Sometimes, it's easier for people to be able to have a situation where everything's black and white. Good and bad. The hero and the bad guy. It helps with internal conflicts." Rick explained. "Helps with the abandonment issues in her case. She'll be completely over my ass in a couple of years!"
"Bu- but that's insane!" Morty shook his head. "What about you?!"
"Believe me Morty, at this point, whatever happens to me, I deserve it."
"Did you.." Morty trailed off in uncertainty. "Did you do the same with me?" He finished, afraid of getting his answer.
Rick stopped in his tracks. "See? Smart! Told you I'm never wrong." He said smugly.
"You don't get to brush this off!" Morty snapped harshly.
"This again? Jesus Christ!" They both turned around at the voice of Summer. "Just hand over my mom."
"Are you sure you don't have the key, Summer?" Rick stressed. "Cause we can go on for fucking hours." He threatened as he helped straighten Beth's form- very delicately, Morty noted.
"I told you, I don't have it." Summer sighed. "And keep it down, you know what happens when you wake up.. the beast." She finished dramatically, and she and Rick shuddered.
"I don't." Morty said blankly, being ignored by the two.
"Anyway, I'll leave you two to your dead honeymoon." Summer struggled to move Beth.
"Yeah, don't let the door hit you on the way out, by the way." Rick called out with irritation. "Who am I kidding? I hope you trip on the stairs too!"
"What do I do with you, exactly?" Morty rubbed his temples. "What do I make out of the information you just gave me, huh?"
"Fucking- at least let her leave first!" Rick bit out. "Make out whatever you please. Make out with it all you want, but keep it in your own damn head!"
"I'm sorry to inform you these words don't affect me any more." Morty shook his head sarcastically.
"Dammit." He slumped against the desk with a groan.
"So I guess that adventure screwed your head over too." Morty offered awkwardly.
Rick just shrugged, not meeting his gaze.
Morty pursed his lips, also averting his eyes as the awkward silence stretched. This wasn't at all what he had expected. What now? Did they discuss their recently shared traumatic experience?
He swallowed. "Y-y'know, I-I know you don't respect psychology and all, but, some of the things that Dr. Wong said a-actually.." He bit his lip and trailed off, feeling stupid. Of all the people to talk therapy with, Rick? Seriously?!
"Okay." Rick burped unexpectedly. "Let's hear it."
"R-really?" Morty blinked in surprise. "Y-you don't think it's pointless or something?"
"I dunno. I still think it's fucking dumb, but if you say it worked, then it's worth a shot, right?" He shrugged and gave Morty a cautious truce-seeking look.
It made Morty slightly smile. "Y-yeah. So first of all, y-you're not gonna like this one at all."
"Figured."
"I don't think you were ever there for our 'I statements', were you?" He asked, feeling sheepish.
"Eye statements?" Rick arched his eyebrow. "Sounds like a surgical operation- or-or a term."
"N-no, look." Morty shook his head. "Y-you make a statement, and you start with I, cause you want to say your feelings on something." He explained awkwardly. "Like 'I hate this day'."
"You made a good example, cause I was ready to reject your idea once it fully came out of your mouth." Morty felt proud, being able to alter Rick's thoughts on the method. His grandfather hummed. "I guess it makes shit easier- the structure does some of the work here."
Morty raised an eyebrow. "Uh, okay? Are you going first or should I?"
He stared at Morty for a moment. "Fine. 'I' feel very uncomfortable and annoyed to start this conversation with you."
"Very good." Morty praised. "Now make it more specific."
"Aren't you supposed to say something too?" Rick attempted to cross his arms, but groaned in frustration as the cuffs dug into his wrist.
"Uh, sure. Um, 'I'-" Morty suddenly became self conscious as Rick looked at him with boredom. "- uh, want to bring up the adventure, but I don't know how you'll react." He cringed.
Rick hummed thoughtfully, following his train of thought. "And 'I' want to completely forget about it and move the fuck on."
Morty sniffed and wiped a tear he didn't notice forming. "Well, 'I' respect that, but can you really do that?" Rick confidently opened his mouth. "Without liquor?" It closed shut. "Please, I need to talk to someone."
"What makes you think I'm the person for that?" He scoffed. "I don't give a shit."
"For some reason, I have a hard time believing you after today." Morty voiced out his thoughts.
Rick narrowed his eyes at the smaller boy. "Morty, I'm the one that gives you the terror. Y-you sure you wanna work out the trauma with me?"
"W-wait, did you just point out you that feel guilty for those?" Morty asked, his jaw dropping.
The blinked at each other for a full minute. "N-no I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"No I didn't." Rick tried to create as much distance as possible between them behind the bench.
"Yes," Morty smirked. "You fucking did!"
"That's not the fucking point-"
"If you want to help me, let me know that I'm not alone." Morty's voice shook at the end. Rick remained quiet. "I feel like I'm the only one and that I'm going crazy-!" He looked in horror at his palms. "I-it's really scary, Rick. I-I-I killed each one of them. N-not like clean and simple with a gun."
He took a shaky breath. "I tore mom and dad's intestines out for that sacred object or whatever." He fixated his stare on the clock on the wall. "Fake Summer convinced me to shoot you with that gun I found. I was gonna do it."
"Huh." Rick said helpfully.
"It wasn't too hard." He mumbled out. "Just 'how many times has he hurt you?' and I realized she was right."
"Yep." Rick burped. "Morty, I saw you in the bushes. You had the gun pointed at me." Morty tensed. "Why didn't you shoot?"
"If you asked me that a day ago I would've said I was 'gaslighted' into not killing you." Rick cackled. Morty sighed, emotionally tired. "Honestly, I think I'm just stuck being human on this pathetic level. I think I just love you."
"Uh, what now?" Rick's laugh trailed off.
"Yeah." Morty nodded. "You're still my grandpa and best friend, so I guess.. I just love you.. unconditionally. Whether I like it or not. Which I don't." He deadpanned.
Rick looked unreadable. Morty arched an eyebrow. "Quiet isn't a good look on you."
"You've grown." Morty blinked at the unexpected comment.
"What?" He asked, bemused.
"You've mentally grown." Rick nodded to himself. "Just listening to you talk about all this bullshit the whole evening, you've become stronger. I'm proud of you, Morty." He smiled.
Morty looked away and blushed at the compliment. "Umm, okay? Jeez, gimme a warning or something when you-you wanna say shit like that. Christ..." He mumbled and Rick snickered, not too evilly, ruffling his hair with his left hand with affection.
"You look kinda cute when you're trying not to be." Morty growled and slapped his hand away. "Eh, I take it back. Wanna check out dinner?"
Morty shrugged. Rick took his hand and stood up, and Morty followed behind.
Beth was still asleep, and probably would've stayed like that until the next day. When they started eating, Jerry couldn't contain himself anymore.
"Okay, I'm not going to sit and ignore this." He looked over to Rick and Morty. "What happened exactly? Do I even wanna know?" He eyed the chain warily.
Rick didn't even spare him a glance. "Your stupid daughter happened. She didn't have the key either, she just randomly picked up some handcuffs and decided it'd be fun to ruin some lives." He rolled his eyes.
"You're the genius, Grandpa Rick. I thought you'd know how to break one of your own inventions."
"No. You told me you knew that Rick wouldn't be able to fix this, because he'd make it unbreakable!" Morty accused angrily.
"Okay, enough! Sorry I asked!" Jerry withdrew himself, looking small. "Let's just eat in peace, okay?"
No one answered him, but they internally agreed. Morty put another piece of lasagne in his mouth. He never knew eating with your hands could make you feel so.. alive.
He spent the rest of the dinner with a smile.
"So, your room or mine?" It took Morty's exhausted brain a few seconds to process the question.
"Mine. I have school tomorrow and my alarm clock's there." He helplessly shrugged.
"I'm not going to school again." Rick nagged as Morty dragged him down the hallway. "Whatever it is I'll teach you here- or-or even right now! You saw how easy that shit is!"
"I'm mostly doing this for mom." Morty sighed and opened the door. "She didn't get to do what she wanted cause she got knocked up. She wants me to have that chance. But the problem is I don't want it."
"Looks like you have a long meeting with your brain tonight." Rick snorted.
"I just want to sleep." Morty said miserably, turning the lights off.
"Hey, how are we gonna- Oof!" They both tripped over something in the dark and fell on the ground. "Nice going, dumbass." Rick said sarcastically.
"Get off me first!" Morty huffed in frustration. Rick let out a long sigh and removed himself from Morty and took both his hands this time.
"Just- c'mon, this is your bed right here, just don't trip over anything." Morty just blinked, his eyes not used to the lack of light, and let Rick guide him there. "Here, was it too hard to get your head out of your ass? It gets literally easier to see."
"Shut up." Morty snapped as they laid back. His wrist was starting to hurt again, and he refused to admit defeat.
"Ugh, how'd you sleep last night exactly?" Rick wriggled for the comfortable position Morty knew he couldn't find. "This- this is hell."
Morty cursed Summer in his head before rolling around. "Here." He placed their hands on the pillow by their heads. "You turn around on your side too s-so your hand won't hurt."
"Oh, thanks." A sigh of relief.
A few minutes passed as they blankly stared at each other. Morty tried to focus on the tik-tok of the clock, but the silence was getting unnerving.
"I.. I'm scared too, y'know." Rick muttered casually .
Morty was startled out of his thoughts. "U-um, of what?"
"Of myself."
"You are?" Morty asked, his voice soft and slightly doubtful.
"Why not, I mean. This isn't what I was aiming for at first, but we're not the same people as like-, five- ten years ago."
"Yeah." Morty quietly agreed.
"It's stupid to worry about the opinion of some asshat that's not even you anymore." Rick huffed.
Morty chuckled, hugging the scientist. "Yeah, yeah. I love you too, Grandpa Rick."
Rick snorted and patted his back. "Whatever you say, you moody teenager."
Morty was awoken as someone shook him. "Morty, wake up."
"Mom?" He groaned out. "D-do I have to leave for school?"
"Yes, that and can you wake up dad?"
"Rick, wake up." Morty barely put any effort in his call as he felt very tired.
"Do you want the key to the cuffs or not?" She let out a puff of air.
Morty's eyes fluttered open and he sat up straight. "W-where is it?!"
"Ow, 's too early for this shit, Morty." Rick groaned out, but sat up as well.
"Where's the key, mom?" Morty asked, ignoring his companion.
"The key?" Rick blinked, intrigued.
Beth raised an eyebrow. "Dad, this is one of the handcuffs you made me when I was a kid. I mean, I don't know why I still kept it, but here." She threw the object on the mattress. "Just hurry up. Morty, you still have to leave for school."
Rick picked it up, staring at it in silence before flashing Morty a shit-eating grin. "Say, how much more do you think we can go without killing each other?"
Morty burst out laughing. "I dunno. Wanna find out?"
"Let's go harass some teachers!" Morty whooped.
Spoiler Alert: They lasted for exactly another 4 hours.