Disclaimer: Do I even need to say it?

A/N: Character study. Hurt/comfort, but ambigous ending. I've never had one of those. This is platonic, but idk bro. You do you.


Morty rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet and toes, clicking his tongue in boredom. Adventures weren't usually this dull and Morty was ruefully addicted to the adrenaline rush. He tried to distract himself with the interior design of a shop of some sort which they were standing in while his grandfather did the talking.

After they found their way back to their earth, things weren't much different with the family. Beth was worried that they were gone for a week, but had calmed down after Morty explained the fiasco with the former president of the former Citadel. Summer laughed hard at 'Evil Morty', but it died when he got to the place being destroyed by said president.

A couple of dark jokes aside, things were almost back to square one. Maybe not counting Rick.

Morty tried to be positive, brushing his gut feeling off and treating it as paranoia, but the signs were getting hard to ignore. The most obvious one was that Rick was quiet most days. He zoned out, constantly. That itself caused a great deal of concern and raised many questions. Morty'd contemplated whether or not he should have said anything, still was.

The female alien Rick was conversing with turned its black orbs- her eyes, he'd decided- on him, making him sober up from the attention.

"…Say Rick, you never brought anyone here all the years I've known you." She was friendly enough. "Care to introduce me to this pretty little youngling?"

Morty gave a shy smile, waiting for Rick to do so. "Uh, yeah, yeah. Reese, this is Morty. He's my…" he trailed off.

Frowning at the hesitation, Morty looked over to his grandfather to see him tense and unreadable, his paralyzed stare not leaving the alien's. His eyes were slightly wider than usual, lips pressed into a thin line and a set jaw. Subtle, but it was there.

"…partner." He finally decided, a bit forcefully. "Y-yeah, he tags along on my errands."

Reese looked slightly confused. "Alrighty. Though it is kind of weird that he's spending time with you, Rick. He is a human child. I thought that sort of thing was inappropriate on your planet."

"Nothing like that." Morty shook his head before Rick could say anything else. "I-I'm his g-grandson." He couldn't help but hiss as he glared at his grandfather. "I'm not sure why he didn't lead with that." Rick stubbornly pretended to be interested on one of the shelves behind the counter.

"Oh…kay." The alien drawled, switching between the two. "Uh, I'll have it ready by next Blaghlia. Be sure to pick it up- I have so many clients who'd play triple what you do for that baby. You're lucky I owe you." She flashed them her long sharp yellow teeth.

But Rick was already leaving, movements rigid. "Sure…"

"Is he always like that?" Reese wondered as she watched the human exit her shop.

"No." Morty admitted, then ran after the fleeing scientist. "Rick!" He called after him. Annoyed at being ignored, he followed Rick into the spaceship. "Hey." He shut the door as he settled in the front seat.

"Hey." Rick greeted back casually, with less energy than usual.

"Um," Morty stammered, unsure of what to say. "A-are you okay?"

"What?" Rick's hand stilled on the stirring wheel. "Why wouldn't I be?" He scoffed as if the idea was ridiculous, starting the flying car.

"I dunno, you just haven't been really… you lately." Morty lamely shrugged.

He snorted as he drove up. "You want me to be fucking me? I can do that, but be careful what you wish for, dipshit. N-no take backs."

The teen smiled at the familiar attitude. "You know what, I do take it back." They shared a snort. Maybe it was nothing after all.


By the time they were at the dinner table, Rick had gone back to normal, relatively speaking.

In amusement, Morty watched an exchange between his father and grandfather while eating his mashed potatoes. Rick was cussing at Jerry for being unemployed still even after his daughter had found a job. And his son in law was desperately trying to defend himself and get Beth on his side. He was most likely going to fail at that, Morty decided before taking another spoon of the food.

"So, Morty. Up for some Blipz and Chits tomorrow night?" Morty's spoon froze mid air as his grandfather beamed at him.

Summer regarded her brother strangely for a moment before speaking. "You didn't tell him?"

"I was going to." Morty put the object down defensively.

"Tell me what?" The blue haired scientist raised a side of his eyebrow. "C'mon, is this relationship so complicated and full of secrets to have to witness this type of bullshit scenario?"

Sighing, the boy scratched his arm nervously. "It's just that- remember how shit went to hell when I brought Jessica over here? When- when Mr. Nimbus was here too?"

"Oh yeah, that one." He chuckled, as if remembering a fond memory.

"I-I started talking to her in-in school more o-often." He stuttered nervously, averting his eyes. "She lost all her friends ever since she started babbling everywhere how she's a time god. I-I told her I get it, and that she could talk to me if she wanted to vent o-or somethin', y'know?" He shrugged.

"SmoOUGHth." Rick burped nonchalantly.

"I'll let you know that it worked." His cheeky grin earned a raised eyebrow. "I got myself a freaking date!"

Rick didn't look impressed. "Wow, Morty, good job on finally finding the normal route to a hormone addled bound to fail relationship. Better than turning your entire planet into a-a-a shitland of Cronenbergs. W-what does that have to do with Blipz and Chitz?" Impatience swam in his sharp crystal blue eyes as he tapped his fingers on the table.

Morty licked his lips. The answer to that question could very possibly turn Rick's mood upside down. "Uhh, w-we got movie tickets for… tomorrow night." He awkwardly finished.

The taps stopped, but Rick didn't look phased. "Oh. Cancel it, then."

"Truly amazing." Summer murmured to her phone.

"I can't cancel it, Rick!" Morty protested. "I-I have a date! My life still has some parts where you're not directly involved in everything, y'know. I have a life, b-basically."

"Since when?" He rolled his eyes.

"Since now." The boy hissed. "I'm sorry I can't make it, but you can't force me to go. I really look forward to that date."

"Morty, today was already our first adventure in weeks." Rick stated pointedly as he expected Morty to get to a quick conclusion from it, but he didn't.

"Uh, okay?" Morty hesitantly responded. "So?"

Suddenly Rick looked at him as if Morty'd murdered his family… bad joke. "Are you fucking serious?! You really don't get it!" He let out an incredulous chuckle.

"No- I-I don- t-tell me, then." Morty managed to form.

But Rick only shook his head, expression hardening into something blank and unreadable. "Nothing. Have fun on your date." He muttered, not the slightest signs of malice in it. It just sounded distracted.

"Uh… thanks." Cautiously he replied. He exchanged looks with the rest of his family, getting helpfully informed that no one understood what just happened.


The giggling teenagers walked down the sidewalk, hand in hand.

"God, I should've talked to you sooner." Jessica smiled at him, soft and wide. "Those bastards at school gave me hell- they-they just didn't get it! Their feeble minds can't even comprehend-"

"-Okay, we get it." Morty rolled his eyes playfully. "You're a literal sexy goddess and like to show off."

She feigned a dramatic gasp. "You doubt me now? Besides, I didn't hear you complain." She nudged him in the side with a wink.

"Because I'm not complaining." He shrugged, simply stating the truth.

"I love how simple you are with approaching this kind of stuff." Jessica expressed affectionately. "Emotionally open, just saying what's on your mind. You think I'm like a sexy goddess? You just say it. Bam! Like that."

"Oh, my god, dad!" Was what wiped the smile off of Morty's face. "I-I guess that's our house, then."

She giggled. "Come on, let's go inside."

"Are you sure you want to?" Morty stopped just outside the half open door, wary.

"I know how your family is, Morty, I've met them before." She brushed him off. "They're chaotic, yes. But also pretty fun!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He deadpanned, but let the girl drag him inside.

"Hey, we're ba- dad? Jesus Christ." Distracted with the scene in front of him, he dropped Jessica's hand and hurriedly approached his father on the couch. "W-what the hell happened to you?!" Jerry only groaned in response. "Are those… bee stings?" He squinted the same time his sister appeared from the kitchen, holding pills and a glass of water.

"Here's the antihistamines, dad." She grumbled moodily as she handed them over. "What were you thinking leaving the protecting clothes in the house? Of course they were going to sting you!"

"…I thought we had a special bond." Jerry murmured through the redness of his face.

"Where's mom?" Morty turned back to his sister.

She shrugged. "Emergency night shift at the hospital. Said she left some money to order a pizza."

"And Rick?" He remembered.

"Locked himself in the garage and won't even talk."

Morty groaned, slumping his shoulders. "Fuck…"

"He's your problem now." She smirked. "I'm staying in my room. This time, you're the babysitter of these idiots, bitch!"

"I'm here to help out if I can." Jessica sheepishly attempted to cheer him up.

"You'll regret it. Come on. Let's check on Rick first." He crossed the living room.

"And after that?" She raised a suggestive eyebrow.

He smiled a shy smile. "Whatever you want."

"I think I like the sound of that."

He hummed as he turned the garage door handle. "Huh…?" Locked. He narrowed his eyes. "Rick!" He shouted.

"Go away, I'm busy!" Rick shouted back.

"Open the goddamn door!" He yelled in frustration. "I won't bother you for long, just- just let me in, grandpa Rick." In that moment, he noticed how the last of his words sounded about more than just the door.

He briefly wondered if Rick caught it too from the moment of silence from the other side. "Look, if Summer sent you, I'm fine. Fine, and stuck on a problem. Also, tell the bitch to go fuck herself- I have work to do!"

"He sounds okay to me." Jessica whispered.

"Yeah, Morty. Listen to your girlfriend!"

"He has mikes everywhere in the house-records our conversations like a creep." Morty sighed at the confused look on Jessica's face. "Rick, stop acting like a child!"

"I do what I want. Fuck you, Morty!"

The exasperated teen dragged his palm down his face, frustrated. "Rick, I don't know what goes through that scary fucking thing you call your brain, but if you keep shutting everyone out, it's only going to get-"

"Oh, my god! Here we go again." Rick's long drawl cut through his speech. "Un-fucking-believable! Everyone under this goddamn roof has already given me that nonsensical bullshit. Ugh! Even my own-" He trailed off.

Morty glared at the door. "Your own what?"

"B-Beth. Yeah, she fuckin' tried to high road me just earlier and now you. I need silence and concentration and y'all are just making turkey noises in my head, just so you know."

"Lovely to know." He deadpanned. "Fine, rot in here doing your- whatever it is your doing." Receiving no response, he sighed and went to head upstairs, the redhead trailing behind.

"You don't have a problem with him listening to every conversation that goes on in the house?" Jessica sounded mildly horrified.

"He mostly records them, not really interested in listening through all of them." Morty frowned. "But I guess there's not much we can do about it. Privacy has no meaning when Rick's around."

"So," She stopped in her tracks. "Want to go to my place?" She chirped.

He grinned. "How long have you been waiting to ask that?"


He was on his tiptoes, walking up the stairs in the dark as quietly as possible. His family was probably asleep at this ungodly hour, minus Rick of course. So he was careful not to wake them up.

Passing his sister's room though, the door opened. Summer eyed him with annoyance. "Where the hell were you not answering your phone?" She hissed in a low voice, sounding like she'd just woken up.

"I-I fell asleep, sorry." Morty whispered. "W-we both did, it was a boring movie."

"You expect me to believe you were just watching movies in Jessica's apartment?" She smirked, taunting.

A flush crept up the boy's neck in anger and embarrassment. "We've been dating for just two weeks, Summer. What your mind has been up to, I don't want to know."

"You've barely been around these days, Morty." Summer said randomly.

He raised an eyebrow. "W-what are you talking about? I-I do hang out with Jess, but I actually also started hanging out with you a-and mom. I'm helping dad with his bees tomorrow. He's grown a phobia."

"Yeah- that's not I mean." She said dryly. "What about Rick?" Morty started to frown. "It's weird that you're suddenly acting like you're, like… invisible to each other or something."

"I dunno, I guess he doesn't want me to tag along anymore." He shrugged. "He hasn't said anything, so I won't be an idiot and ruin it. I like sleeping eight hours a night, Summer!" He hissed.

"Stop playing dumb with me." Summer warned. "Rick's been quiet, Morty."

"Rick's always quiet." Morty rolled his eyes.

She scrunched up her nose at him. "He didn't use to be before you left for the Citadel."

Morty huffed. "But now he is, and I like this version of him."

"No, you don't." Summer squinted her eyes knowingly. "You miss his rants and shit. You like a good adrenaline rush, you miss going on adventures with Rick. I'm your fucking sister, I'm bound to notice this sort of shit sooner or later!"

"Fine!" Morty gave in. "Let's say I do miss adventuring. Wha-what can I do about it if Rick doesn't want to take me with him?"

"Rick hasn't gone on a single adventure since your last one." Summer narrowed her eyes. "Good to know you haven't noticed he hasn't moved from his workbench in the garage these last two weeks."

He glared incredulously. "The fuck does he do in there?"

"Oh, I don't know." She feigned an ignorant shrug. "Being an unresponsive bitch of a drunk, having his head up the ass of his work?"

"What work?" Morty contracted his features.

"Exactly." Came the smooth reply. "And you're being a stubborn asshole by letting him do it."

"So I should fix him, then?"

"You should try." She corrected.

Morty licked his lips, staring thoughtfully at the staircase he'd just climbed. "Do you think he's still awake?" He finally asked.

Summer smirked. "Always."

The boy took a deep breath. Summer was right. He had been stubborn, trying to basically tune his grandfather out of his life. He was better than Rick, he reasoned as he raised his fist to knock.

"Um, Rick?" Morty called with caution, as loud as he could at the late hour. No answer came. "Rick, c'mon! Open the door… I-I-I want to talk to you."

It took the man a few seconds to answer. "…'s open."

With a confused frown, Morty tried the handle, successfully opening the door. He silently closed it behind him before looking up, seeing Rick sprawled on the ground, empty bottles of liquor scattered around him. "L-look wh-oOUGH decided to- to show up." Rick slurred, shaking the bottle in his hand. A familiar green drool made its way down the man's flushed face.

Morty scrunched up his nose at the smell of alcohol. "Summer said you locked the door."

The drunken man took an interest in a particular crack in the green glass, humming loudly. "Eh, so fuck if I- I uh… w-whuh was your question?"

Morty eyed the mess on the floor warily, sitting down next to him. "Jeez, Rick. How much have you had to drink?"

"S-see the bottles, suh-sidekick." He hissed at the bottle, gripping it tightly. "Ca-count 'em."

"I see the bottles." He said with annoyance. "It's a lot. It's too many."

As if to irritate him further, Rick brought the holding bottle to his mouth and gulped down. "Aa-oOGHhh. I did… I didn't know you were, tha-that fuckin' bad at counting shit. Geh-guess I was… w-wha-what did you want? To talk, about."

"This." He pointed at the inebriated old man. "I want to know what the fuck is going on with you."

Rick cackled, loud and sloppy. "Oh, me? Fuck me! How the fuck are you?" He did an unnecessarily long drawl as he poked Morty's cheek.

"Rick." Morty warned. "I still have the emergency sobering serum you gave me." The old man went rigid at the mention of the serum. It gave him a major one minute headache and Rick dreaded it.

He always did. "N-n- you wouldn't." But he sounded uncertain and slurred. "Would you?" Morty continued to look at him, an underlying look of superior smugness in there. "Moh-fucker. 'Course you would." Drunk Rick grumbled, taking another swig. "Smartass bitch, ya know that?" He raised the bottle abruptly, causing it to harshly bump into Morty's forehead.

He drew back, hissing out a few swear words. But he was distracted from saying anything else when Rick instantly threw the bottle aside, staring at him wide eyed as he tried to sit up, failing multiple times. "ShoOUGHht. A-are you okay M-Mort- Morty?" With as much concern as his unfocused crystal blue eyes could carry, he searched for any signs of hurt on Morty's confused face. "Dammit, what-why you here?" He let out another burp.

"Did you just check for an injury?" Morty said unbelievingly, slightly amused. "We should always keep you this drunk when-when we go out on adventures, Rick." He joked.

Rick smiled in return- a faint, sad smile. "I-I'm a-oOUGHh-lways w-worry about you, M-Mort. Waaay too much." He tried to emphasize with hand gestures. "'S really irr-irrational. I-I'm stupid!" He spat out. "The entire multi…something just likes to fuh-fuck with me, always."

Morty furrowed his brows, feeling like he should be connecting some dots. But he couldn't see the dots. "Uh, why should it be weird that you worry about me? Tha-that sounds pretty good to me." He shrugged, trying to play nonchalant.

"Naah, hurts." Was all the drunken man mumbled. And with such deep melancholy.

Morty continued to blink, gears failing to turn in his head. Rick slurred again. "Y'know, you get pretty damn sad when Beth and uh- who was that dumbass-?" He snapped his fingers. "-Jerry! Y-yeah, when they f-fight- like hormone addled teenagers. Angsty pieces of-of-of shit." He muttered. "Don't get sad, dipshit. Pretty suh-simple request- don't be so sad!" He raised his voice abnormally high.

"…You did have a lot to drink." Morty noted, weirded out by the inebriated speech. A sentimental drunk was a result of a dangerous level of alcohol toxicity for Rick.

"I-I know I don-don't really approve of the thing- the-the uh, marriage thing…" He trailed off a moment, staring at the small pool of liquor that flowed out of the thrown bottle. "But i-i-it's not that bad."

"Really?" Morty's eyebrows shot high.

Rick reached for another bottle, almost falling on his face reaching for it. "Y-yeah! I-I mean they had you. Y-you-you're the best thing that came out of that thing- the relationship" He slurred together casually. "A-and Summer. N-no Rick would ha-ave a Morty then 'n crap."

"I would've thought you'd be relieved by that." Morty couldn't help but snort. "Not having a-a Morty around to bitch about everything."

Rick sighed and fell on his back, as if surrendering to gravity. "I want a Morty around to-to bitch about everything." Morty's smile fell. "The fuck am I saying?" Rick suddenly turned rigid, a scowl overtaking his face. "I want sleep."

Morty shook away his bafflement. "Uh, want me to-to help you go to your room?"

"I have a portal gun, dammit!" He suddenly yelled. "Leave me the fuck alone!"

Holding his hands up in defense, Morty decided his time was over. "Fine, fine! I'll get out of your-"

He was quickly cut off with a snore.

Glaring daggers at his passed out grandfather, Morty stood up. Some things just didn't change.


Morty made it his mission to check on a hungover Rick first thing in the morning.

When he arrived on the garage's door though, he found himself short for ways to start up a conversation.

What would he even say? Hey, you said some pretty good crap about me when you were drunk while you barely even look at me during the day. I have some questions, so could you let me in, please?

Huffing to himself, he turned the door knob to find it open again. Stepping inside, Rick was standing in the middle of the room with his back facing Morty, staring at a picture he held in his hand. The mess from last night sat on the floor, plus some vomit. He didn't appear to notice Morty's entrance. He almost looked like he was in a trance of some sort.

As quiet as possible, Morty tip toed his way to his grandfather in a stupid plan. Getting close enough to be able to do so, he snatched the polaroid out of his hand and jumped back.

"What the- son of a bitch!"

But by the time Rick turned around and snatched it back, Morty'd already seen it, frozen in his spot.

"Something called privacy, jackass!" Rick snapped at him, protectively holding the picture behind his back. "The fuck do you want from me? I thought you had a date with the redhead!"

"Tha-that…" Brain struggling to keep up with the present, the shocked teen pointed to Rick's hidden hand. "Is that why you couldn't call me your grandson?" He gaped, signs and pieces coming together. "Or mom your daughter?"

Rick's eye twitched, stoic face betraying no reaction.

"Crap- I-I… aw, Jeez." Miserably, Morty only blinked.

"Get out of the garage, Morty." Rick intoned unreadably, rigid. The boy shook his head no, shaken. "I said get out, or I'll throw you out."

"This-this is not healthy, Rick-"

"Fuck off." He ever so slightly narrowed his eyes, turning to his workbench to secure the polaroid in a drawer.

"Rick, we really need to talk-" Morty started, composing himself into a serious expression.

"Morty, I really think you should get the fuck out of here." Rick cut him off sarcastically, his visible back muscles tense. "I don't have time for your bitch ass today."

"I-I don't exactly understand, but I know you must be hurting," Morty started concernedly, reaching out a hand of comfort. "But-but your can trust your family to-" Rick sharply turned around and slapped the hand off his shoulder.

"I DON'T HAVE A FUCKING FAMILY!" He burst out in a scream, clenched fists set by his side as he towered over the teen. They both froze in shock then, Rick's pants the only thing breaking the silence.

"…What?" Morty whispered, voice faltering. Again it clicked. The polaroid. It was of the Rick and the only family he'd probably ever known: His Diane and Beth. No matter how identical these versions were, and Rick's hypocrisy about infinite versions of everyone being worth the same… He could never get that family back. Not the original.

"Morty, please just- leave." Rick's blank face looked like it could crack at any second. "Y-you don't wanna deal with this."

"If I didn't, I-I-I wouldn't be here right now, okay?" Morty furrowed his brows, shaking off his shock. "I know you."

"Unfortunately."

"For who?" He raised an eyebrow. "Seriously Rick, I'll listen. Wh-whatever you have to say-"

"Stop acting like family." Rick gritted out, face expressionless. "You don't get it- my family's dead, stop fucking talking with me like you fill the gap."

"I-I-I do get it." The boy reassured. "But I don't have to be your grandson to be in your life o-o-or be worried about you." That earned a raised eyebrow. "I can, y'know, be your friend?" He kicked the floor awkwardly. "If-if it's not weird being friends with a teenager. Cause you're, y'know? Old?" He reached the conclusion that he should probably stop talking. "I wanna be your friend if you let me."

The glaring eyes glistened with tears, but still didn't back down. There was some time before Rick spoke again. "It hurts to see Beth."

Morty stared expectantly, waiting for him to speak further.

"A-all grown up a-and making stupid mundane mistakes because his asshole of a father left her." His hard and tense tone slightly shook. "And she drinks herself to the point of passing out every night, which hurts." His jaw tensed. "Because, she used to be just a kid. When I look at her, I see my kid."

Morty swallowed the tightness in his throat, giving off a nod of encouragement.

"She's beautiful. Pale, and then… dead. A bloody lump of human meat and it's my fault. That image never goes away Morty. I never want to look at that woman ever again. I don't know a Beth Smith!" His leveled voice slightly rose, but he stopped himself. "At the same time, it feels like betraying Beth Sanchez when I try to help Beth Smith. It all feels so… so wrong." He shook his head, hands clenching and unclenching.

Unsure, Morty opened his arms, stepping towards the rigid man. "Don't you even dare." Rick threatened. Morty dared step closer. "I don't need your pity, Morty! The fuck are you- get away from me!" He demanded as Morty wrapped his arms around the man's middle, stubbornly gluing himself to his chest.

"Rick, even if you don't need this, I do." Morty huffed as Rick tried to get him off his person. "So just let-let me do what I do best and be clingy."

"Get. Off-!" Suddenly the angry outburst faltered and the blue haired man sank down to his knees, slumping. "You're a very fucking annoying friend, Morty." He sighed.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thank you." The boy cheekily replied, feeling the man relenting in returning the hug.

"I'm fucking fine though!" Rick started to hiss, tensing once more as he unconsciously clutched Morty's shirt tightly with each word. "What did you even think, coming to me with-with that bullshit? Seriously, fuck off!" But he only squeezed the small body tighter.

"It's okay." Morty whispered as calmly as he could manage with having his life be squeezed out of him. "It's fine. I get you, Rick."

"Go fuck yourself, you-you manipulative bastard!" Rick's yell sounded like a half sob, but Morty couldn't tell since he had buried his face in the teen's shoulder. "I was fine before you came here with your stupid fucking- I am fine! I don't need you, you hear me?!"

"I-I hear you." Morty rolled his eyes, but rubbed soothing circles on his back. "Loud and clear."

"What the heck is going on in here-?!"

"Shut up, Dad!" "Shut up, Jerry!" They both pulled away and yelled in unison at the newcomer.

"Jeez, I'll go!" The poor man raised his hands in defense and ran back to the house.

When Morty turned back, he saw Rick angrily drying his face with his sleeve. "Ugh."

"Y-you gotta admit it feels better to-to let it out." Morty offered.

"I was already fine." Rick huffed. "You were just being clingy and wouldn't get out when you were told."

"Whatever you say, Rick." He rolled his eyes. "I just have one question."

"Which you'll pester me until I answer it in any case." Rick grumbled, standing up to dust himself. Morty continued to sit down. "What is it?"

"Last night, when-when you were drunk-" Morty started, closely watching his not-grandfather's body language. "You said it hurt that you-you cared about me and that it was irrational. I guess it was the same thing as you explained for mom" Rick grunted something out in acknowledgement, sitting behind his workbench.

"But," He paused. "You still said you worried about me a few times- a-a-and also that I-I-I was the best thing that came out of my parents' marriage. And that you wanted a Morty around to bitch about everything to you." Rick didn't respond. "Why would you want me around, Rick?" He questioned, genuinely confused.

The man finally gave up with a sigh. "I've been asking myself that question for weeks."

Morty stilled halfway in getting up. "Oh."

"I guess I really want you to be family, even though you're not." Rick's words were pronounced casually. "But all this cheese you're making me spit out is making me sick, so I'll just say you're my… irrational attachment. There, bleh-" He feigned throwing up, shuddering. "Seriously, just-just go away before I kill you or myself."

"Uh, oh-okay." The two words that Rick used to describe him threw him off, the roots going back to when Rick was battling his toxic side and used that term as the weakness of toxic Rick. "Um, just- you can talk to me any time." He awkwardly offered.

"I threatened you with murder, Morty." Rick growled. "You know it's serious when it's murder. Fuck off already! Christ!"

Morty finally relented and exited the garage, mumbling under his breath. Only when the door slammed shut did the old man let himself relax.

"Oh Morty, you fucking moron." Rick tutted affectionately to himself, crossing his arms. "I'll always worry about you." He pulled out a second polaroid from inside his sleeve where he hid it.

It showed a selfie with a beaming Rick and a roughly two year old Morty showing a near toothless grin to the camera. It didn't take a genius to realize it wasn't going to be long before Morty preferred mundane human life to spending time with him. It was a pathetic thing to worry about, but he'd already been over that shit.

Sighing with exasperation, he put the picture with the other one in the drawer. "I need another drink."


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