He woke up without a hint of a hangover. Rick couldn't tell if he was still a bit drunk from the night before or if he was extremely lucky. Looking at Eleanore by his side, dead asleep and snoring like a grown man, he fancied it was the latter. Her bare back was exposed and peeking through beneath the sheets. He took a moment to watch her breathing before he slid out of bed. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and headed for the minibar in their hotel room. Rick washed the morning breath from his mouth with a swig of vodka, grimacing as the warmth burned down his throat. Grimly, Rick looked at the kitchenette, his stomach rumbling.
"Breakfast," he mumbled, his voice deep, gravelly.
"You making breakfast?" Squanchy was sprawled out in front of the veranda, lying where the morning sun lit up the carpet.
"With what?" grumbled Rick. He opened the mini-fridge: nothing. "I was g-gurrrp-onna make something for..." He trailed off, gesturing toward the adjoining bedroom from where from where he'd just come.
"Oh, ho, ho," sang Squanchy. "Somebody got squanchy last night. Should've guessed since this is your home planet. Just wait 'til we get to Planet Squanch."
"Uh, yeah. I dunno," Rick replied, rubbing his neck.
"What do you mean you don't know? You won't squanch right for a week, dude!"
Rick looked from Squanchy back to the bedroom, silent. After a second, he asked, "Wh-Where's the—the—the room service menu?"
Squanchy pointed to the rabbit ears on the television set. Rick grabbed the menu and, finding its options unappealing, resigned to get coffee from the hotel lobby. He donned a t-shirt—probably Bird Person's—that was thrown over the armchair, and he groggily made his way toward the coffee.
Squanchy was asleep again when Rick opened the door. Just as well; he had only brought coffee for two.
With some juggling, Rick got the bedroom door open. To his surprise, Eleanore was up and had pulled on his t-shirt from the night before. It hung off one shoulder, and Eleanore looked at him with sleep-filled eyes. Nothing had ever looked so beautiful.
"Good morning, Ellie," Rick greeted her, using her nickname from high school. He didn't notice the grimace on her face when she heard it. "Brought you some café."
"Radical," replied Eleanore, reaching for her cup. "Thanks." She sipped it, sighing in delight.
For several minutes, they sat like that: sipping their coffee in silence until they both spoke up.
"L-Listen, Ellie, about last night—"
"Can I use your phone?"
Rick blinked. "Uh, yeah. Yeah. I'll give you some space, then." He hesitated only for a moment and backed out of the room, giving Eleanore a wan smile. He made his way to the kitchenette, leaning up against the cheap counter until he drained his coffee.
"...Yeah, um, I went home with Rick last night."
His name caught his attention, even though Eleanore was speaking quietly. Rick furrowed his brow, inching closer.
"Fuck, I don't know," she was whispering. "I mean, he just showed up out of nowhere after two years. I'm so stupid." She paused, listening to the person on the other line. "What am I supposed to tell Gary?" Eleanore sounded choked up, frantic. Who the hell is Gary? Rick pressed his ear to the door. "No," Eleanore said after a pause. She stayed silent another few seconds, listening. "It has to be. Rick is toxic."
Rick bristled; his anger bubbled up, a defense against the hurt he felt.
"A one-time thing. It has to be." Eleanore mumbled a goodbye, and the phone clicked. Rick turned and leaned his back against the bedroom door, mulling over what he'd heard. He supposed he deserved it. He had left Eleanore. She'd been collateral when he ran from his mother's memory, his foster family, his absentee father. The feeling of guilt was overtaken by anger. He did what was best for him. Maybe she was better off without him, anyway. He had done her a favor...and fucked it all up again. Rick groaned, slapping his palm to his head. Idiot.
"Rick?" She had him again—just the sound of her voice, and his anger dissolved.
Rick opened the door slowly. Eleanore was standing by the telephone in nothing but his t-shirt. He cleared his throat, taking the extra effort to keep his eyes from her legs, her hips, her breasts.
He cleared his throat again.
"Yeah, wha-urrrp-at's happening?"
"Bogue," Eleanore replied, blowing away his burp, her face twisted in disgust. "Listen, Rick..." She took a seat at the edge of the bed. "We need to talk." She patted the duvet, and he took a seat next to her. "I know we both were pretty drunk last night, so I guess I just wanted to apologize for my behavior."
"Eleanore—"
"No, hang on. Lemme finish." She put her hand on his leg and looked him dead in the eye. "I wanted to let you know I understand that you're going on tour, and you all are going all over the country, er, the galaxy." Rick shook his head. "Okay, the universe? The universe. Basically, this was a one-time thing. I'm not trying to hold you back or anything." She looked away, swallowing. "Uh, so, yeah. That's it." She stood. "I'm gonna get out of your hair."
"Eleanore, wait." Rick grabbed her hand and stood as well. He was more than head taller than her now. "I wanted to ask you something." Eleanore's eyes widened. Rick rushed to quell her fears. "It's not—it's not, uh...look, I want to take you with me."
Eleanore took back her hand and wrapped her arms around herself. "On tour?"
"Wherever. To the moon. No, f-further. Saturn, Polaris, every part of the constellation T-Taurus. I want to take you with me this time."
Eleanore was silent. She took a few steps back. "Rick..."
"Before you say no, just—just think about it."
Eleanore sighed. "Rick, this is what you do. You run away."
"No, not this time. I want you to come with me—"
"You're going to abandon your friends?"
Rick blinked.
Eleanore looked up at him, trying to smile. "I can't. I just...can't." She turned away, and Rick's heart fell to his stomach. "Listen, I'll go as soon as I find my dress..."
Rick shook his head. "Keep the shirt. Borrow some sweatpants. I'll...I'll have Bird Person or Squanchy drop off your dress before we check out." He hadn't noticed before, but she had already gathered her things.
"Oh, okay." She fiddled with the earring in her left ear. "And let me know if you find my other earring, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I need that dress back. It's Sindy's."
"Who?"
"My roommate, Rick."
"Oh." He rummaged through his nearby suitcase and tossed a pair of sweatpants Eleanore's way. She caught them easily.
"Thanks." They stood for a moment in silence, this one more painful than the last. "Goodbye, Rick."
"Goodbye."
A/N: Hopefully it was evident that this was a flashback; if not, surprise! It was a flashback. Our regularly scheduled program will continue shortly.