Chapter 1

The Lyricist

"Where words fail,

Music speaks"

~Hans Christian Andersen~

Ricks POV

"C-come o-on Mor*Bleurgh*ttty I need a flat head screw driver and decompressor f-for the last f-fu-fucking five times" Rick grunted with frustration from his place on the work bench hunched over a small device as he continues tinkering with it. Some ominous whirring can be heard from the device as it starts to show some static sparks on one of the buttons that Rick pressed. Murmuring every now and then while writing down equations on his work surface.

"Aww geez Sorry R-rick let me g-g-ge-get them right away" said Morty as he turned towards the shelves near the door and rifles through the myriad of boxes for the said tools. After digging around in this particular box at the lower shelf he felt a crinkle of paper at the bottom of the box. Confused he pulled it up only to see a picture of a younger Rick during his Flesh Curtain days laughing up at the camera while side hugging a pink-haired beautiful punk girl, sparkling blue eyes filled with mirth and a bright cute smile holding up a peace sign. Whoa this girl looks so pretty, she had her pink hair half up in dual space buns while the rest flowed over her leather jacket in loose waves with some framing her face. As he looked closer he noticed a small black heart drawn under her right eye and a beauty mole on the left side of her lip. Morty knew that Rick was young once and couldn't get over that he looked so happy and carefree in this photo than his current grumpy drunk ass self. So absorbed in gripping the picture in between his hands, he didn't noticed Rick standing behind him and grabbed his shoulder harshly pulling him to Rick's front.

"M-M*urp*ORTY! W-whats f-fucking taking so long, huh?!" Morty yelped after being tugged around to face Rick, dropping the picture in between them. Looking up in fear he saw Rick looking at the picture floating down to the floor. Faster than Morty can even attempt to pick it up, Rick quickly scooped it up with his hand and bringing up to the light to see what had distracted his dumb grandson from giving him the tools he needed. Bringing it up closer to his face and away from Morty while ignoring his low whining of apologies.

"Uhhhh R-ri-rick I-I'm really sorry, look I will put that picture back a-and I can get you those tools now- Uhh Rick?" Morty stopped and was shocked to see his grandpa stood still.

But Rick's breath was knocked out of him, the figures on the picture was like a punch to the gut. He trailed a shaking figure on the girl in the photo. It's been years since he has last seen the lyrical genius.

"A-Ahyesha" Rick muttered and begin to minutely tremble from his spot as memories from back then flooded into his brain as a worried Morty tugged on his lab coat.

On a planet somewhere...

Ayesha POV

Backstage shrouded in shadows, Ayesha clutches her necklace reverently while taking deep slow breaths. She can do this, she can perform this song without falling apart. But what if HE hears about it, will he even care? It has been years since she has last thought of Rick. The mounting anxiety resurfaced and the never-ending black hole in her heart clenched hard in pain at the thought. Feeling some tears prick her eyes already she allowed some to fall but she knew this isn't exactly the time for another meltdown. Immediately swiping it off gently with the sleeve of her costume when she felt somebody placed their hand on her back.

"Excuse me Miss Ayesha, you are up in one minute" whispered the Gazorpian stage hand from the doorway.

"Uhh, sure thanks" she smiled as she turned around towards the nearest mirror acting as if to check for some last touch-ups on her make-up, hiding the fact she was sad. After getting affirmation he rushed away quickly back into the stage area. Looking through the reflection to see if the alien really left. She visibly relaxed a little and glanced back to take in her form in the floor length mirror. Her pink hair styled in a half-up half-down styled with pearls and stardust that sparkle every time she moved. Her make-up kept flawless with a blush hue around her cheeks to the bridge of her nose, her ombre purple winged eye-liner around her tired blue eyes made her look cat-like, plump heart-shaped glossy lips put in a sad smile and her signature black heart under her right eye all in its right place. She shifted from side to side to check for any wrinkles in her costume that the company prepared for her. Her sparkling silver puffy half-shoulder long-sleeved crop top showed off her perky breasts and toned stomach. Coupled with the same ensemble her silver sparkling mini-skirt ended a few inches before her thighs making her look tall and have a great ass and lastly her white knee-high boots. It felt so stuffy to wear these kinds of costumes, but whatever the company says go as she agreed to it as long she gets to do the one thing she loves... singing. After the actual final check-ups she moved towards the edge of the corner of the backstage area waiting for her cue.

"First time ever on the SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT segment we have a very special guest to enter the screen. It is none other than the living legend, lyricist, singer, songwriter Ayesha Roux!" The floating heads cheered as the remaining contestants stepped aside to let Ayesha pass through to the stage. Overhead lights of different colors continue to strobe across the stage and the camera crew. Walking forwards to the center stage she spotted a clear see-through galactic-style piano often sparkling a different color as the light passes through it. Before she sat down Ayesha took out three small circular discs from her inner pocket and threw them across the stage in different positions.

"Activate Holo-musicians" she whispered without looking back and where each disc landed showed a projection of different alien musicians in different colored suits with their own instruments. The one in a neon red suit held a clear see through electric violin standing on the left side of the stage, a neon blue suit holding a guitar on the farthest right of the stage, and lastly, a neon green suit sitting down at the back center with its set of drums to side. All holo-musicians wearing black shades as their image flicker every now and then with them adjusting their gear before they waited for her signal.

"Performing for the first time live on the show is her latest single Reckless!" announced the Floating head host as he hovered over the stage in anticipation. Taking another deep breath Ayesha moved her pink locks away from her face and placed her hands gently on the keys pressing them into the opening melody. The holo-musicians behind her reacted quickly and started to fill the area with music.

Hey~~, this is a story I hate ?

She sang with a melancholic look in her eyes as she reminisce how it all started.

And telling it... might make me break?

But she'll tell it anyway of how things started to fall apart at the seams as she continued to play the piano in sad tones with the holo-musicians behind backing her up.

This chapter's about: How you said there was nobody else?

She felt foolish in always trusting Rick's word when he said he was just going only for a smoke at the Flesh Curtains after-party and head back to their shared apartment when she refused to join them at times. Before she left in one finished successful FC concert, she forgot to give Rick the new lyrics for their possible next hit to appease the masses. Turning around to walk back to their last gig she spotted Rick laughing going on his way out the door in the alley. Ayesha was about to call him out with the paper in hand, but her instincts told her to wait outside in a nearby building and to hide. With good timing too because she was not prepared to see Rick walking out drunk and side-hugging a Flesh curtains groupie wearing a scandalous skimpy outfit. Both of them stumbled around down the other alleyway exit away from where she hid. Her shock faded to anger and despair in rapid succession as Rick groped that whore's ass every now and then once they turned the opposite corner from where she hid. Feeling her heart drop to her stomach Ayesha ran from the scene leaving the new lyrics crumpled on the ground.

You guys always left me out~~?

From that point on, that's where the arguments always ensued in every future gigs. Even though Birdperson and Squanchy tried to intercept in between our fights it ultimately always end with Rick blowing her off and ignoring her calls and texts. As they continue to go to different gigs and places just...without her anymore in the band. Adding to salt to injury was that he replaced her part as the lyricist/singer with a goddamn MACHINE that spewed unfeeling songs and told her to her face that she can suck their balls in the crowd.

I... still have the letter you wrote?

? When you told me that I was the only girl You'd ever want in your liiiife~

Ayesha sat in her lonely broken apartment devoid of life as Rick apparently came by when she was away to take his things back and thoroughly trashed the furniture, kitchen, bathroom, and their- her bedroom now, leaving hurtful words spray painted on every wall that he never needed her in his life. Looking down and picking up her things, she found the stash of letters and little trinkets that Rick used to gift her when he went off-worlds untouched beneath the upturned wrecked couch. Opening the box she felt tears well up in her eyes as Ayesha shakily moved aside the pictures of her and him together and took the first letter she had ever received from him.

I guess my friends were right...?

Mr. Nimbus and Mr. Poopybutthole did warn me of the kind of character that was the loose cannon, Richard Sanchez. But did Ayesha listen? No. She didn't, because all in her hormonal teenage mind at the time was filled with only Rick's sweet caresses, his rare smiles, the scent of leather and Jameson, his little quirks when he was tinkering the instruments, and the gentle kisses. Each day goes by and each night, I cry Ayesha couldn't think or move from the break-up. But with the help of her friends, she moved out of the apartment of broken memories and went to Glorm Farx's company to contract a deal that Ayesha sells her meaningful yet catchy lyrics exclusively for him and signed away earning her more million flurbos than she did at her ex-band. Did it bring her joy? Temporarily. Did it help with the pain? Minimally. But Ayesha has to push on and moved past the pain.

? Somebody saw you with her (another groupie) last night, You gave me your word,

"Don't worry 'bout her, babe" You might love her now, but you loved me first?

While writing new lyrics and mixing samples Ayesha worked hard to avoid love songs but some pass through when she remembered her and Rick kissing and the feeling of a budding romance. Only for it to be stomped down every time their band increased in popularity which pushed them to the highest heights in their music careers. Rick's ego always gets so annoying and inflated and turns him into a reckless punk wannabe that always gets into his big fat head of stardom. This was when he always trash his bass guitar, verbally abusing both Birdperson and me, fucking the groupies that follow him at his beck and call and always becoming overly demanding and raving about his so-called music being God's (him) gift to the masses. Ayesha always felt like leaving the band only to end up getting her foot halfway to the door when Rick steps in to charm her back by telling her the groupies meant nothing and that Ayesha was his number one. But deep down she knew that in Rick's heart, he has no one but himself as his number one.

?Said you'd never hurt me, but here we are (again)

Oh, you swore on every star?

The thought of traveling to other off-worlds with Rick was always a dream she had when they were together. But it only stayed a broken dream when the illusion of their love shattered every time he went into a drug-induced rage and accidentally got caught up in the shitstorm called Rick. Were the times they had together all lies? Was there ever even love in the first place? How could you beeeee, so reckless with my heart? I'm broken but fine on most days, why did Rick have to go and make me fall for him and then leaving me in my own swirling mess of feelings, missing him all the time?

?And she must be perfect,

oh well, I hope you both go to hell?

With confidence and feeling spiteful, she sang triumphantly while showing a middle finger towards the cameras as her other hand played across the keys. Garnering cheers from the crowd and a guffawed laugh with approval from the Floating Heads.

How could you beeee so reckless, Rick?

Euphoria spread through her being as she belted out each line, getting stronger.

. . ?!

She stood up and threw her hair back singing the line out from her heart while clutching her chest. Angry at Rick for breaking her heart all those years ago and calling her insulting slurs on the many nights she tried to get him away from the drugs, alcohol, and the gold-digging sluts who didn't care about him. How... could you be so reckless with someone's heart? Ayesha's clutch on her chest weakened and slowly moved to her side limply as she opened her eyes in unshed tears towards the center camera. Her rage dying, leaving her feeling completely empty, and sang the last few lines in low tones.

?Hey~~~, this is a story I hate

But I told it to cope with the pain (of losing you) I'm so sorry if you can relate~?

She sighed out the last notes of the song and bowed her head, closing her eyes and making the unshed tears flow down her face in thin streams as the last tunes from the holo-musicians fade into the grand applause and yells from the crowd.

"Ayesha Roux! What a moving and touching performance! Splendid, stunning, amazing, and totally different from the usual genre that you lean towards!" exclaimed the tv host from his table seated on the opposite chair from Ayesha and her holo-musicians who sat on the long couch.

"Yes, actually that song has been in the making for some time now" chuckled Ayesha as she twirled a strand of her hair and crossed her legs as she leaned on the armrest of the couch.

"What inspired you to create this masterpiece? Why even our Floating Head judges couldn't get it out of their minds" Pulling away from his seat the tv host clicked a button on the desk and what flashed on the tv screen from behind them were the heads yelling Reckless on the top of their heads and swaying around crazily as several planets explode in the background.

Ahhh the fireworks, a usual sight in this kind of competition.

"Well, you could say it was inspired by personal experience," Ayesha said, her tone light but her eyes telling a different story. A story of pain and longing, regret and betrayal. The host, and indeed the audience, could tell there was more to this song than met the eye.

"Oh?" The host leaned forward, intrigued. "Can you share a little bit more about that?"

"Let's just say... it's about a reckless love." Ayesha replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Would you mind sharing who this reckless love was with?" The host asked, sensing the potential for a juicy scoop.

Ayesha looked down, a sad smile playing on her lips. "I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you. He knows who he is."

The audience murmured, whispers of speculation spreading like wildfire. Ayesha's secretive nature only fueled the rumors, and soon the internet was ablaze with theories about who this "reckless love" could be. Some even speculated it could be Rick Sanchez, the infamous rockstar and intergalactic outlaw, but others dismissed it as mere coincidence.

Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy...

Ricks POV

Rick Sanchez sat alone in his garage-turned-lab, a half-drunk bottle of whiskey by his side. The picture of Ayesha, the one Morty had found, was still in his hand, a painful reminder of the past he'd left behind.

As he listened to Ayesha's performance on the radio, her voice cutting through the silence of his lab like a blade, his heart ached. He couldn't help but think about what could have been, what should have been, if he hadn't been so reckless.

And as he heard the last notes of Ayesha's song, he couldn't help but wonder if he was the reckless love she was singing about. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and for the first time in a long time, Rick Sanchez, the man who prided himself on not caring about anything, felt a profound sense of regret.

"Dammit, Ayesha," he whispered into the silence, his voice choked with emotion. "I was a fool."

But he knew it was too late for apologies, too late for regrets. He had made his choices, and now he had to live with them.

And as the stars twinkled in the endless expanse of the universe, one thing was clear: Rick Sanchez was alone, and it was entirely his own fault. He had been reckless with his own heart, and now he was paying the price. The question was, could he ever make things right?

Perhaps, in time, he would find out. But for now, he was just a lonely man in a lonely universe, haunted by the ghost of a love he'd lost. And all he could do was drink his sorrows away, one bottle at a time.

End Note: Hope ya'll enjoyed the first chapter! :3