It wasn't anything serious at first…

"Oh, CJ's here early. Hey, can you cover for me so we can go hang out?" asked his long-time friend Mordecai.

"Sure, man!"

"Cool." Rigby took the hose from him and continued to water the shrubs and lawn while making 'pew pew' noises as he left.

Then it happened again; no big deal, though…

"Oh hey man, sorry about this. I'm taking CJ to see that Swedish movie with the crying so…" The blue jay gestured out of there while looking at his best friend expectantly.

"Oh… ok. Well, have fun." Rigby didn't want to stop his best friend from hanging out with CJ. He was happy with a girl for once, and his friend deserved to catch a break. He just really wished that he'd do it after work.

"I probably won't," Mordecai handed over his trash collection poker, "It's pretty cerebral and really sad!" He said this as he jogged off to be with CJ again, waving goodbye to Rigby. Once out of sight, Rigby returned to stabbing the trash in frustration.

But it kept happening… and happening… again and again…

"Hey uhh, sorry but-" Rigby cut him off, knowing what his friend would ask.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it…" He took the rag from his friend with a resigned sigh.

"Great!" Was all Mordecai said before turning around and leaving without a second glance to be with CJ again. Rigby then went back to cleaning the window. It was just one of many that had to be done that day on the house. He grumbled under his breath in mounting frustration as his friend ditched him again.

But it continued to happen for weeks, then into a month, it kept happening. Mordecai would hardly say that he was leaving or try to come up with some excuse anymore. It was purely habit now. And with anger mounting from Rigby, it was only a matter of time before things finally came to a head…

It's a pleasant morning at the park as everyone is gathered around the house's stairs for the morning meeting. Well… almost everyone… Rigby acutely noticed that a certain bird friend of his was missing this morning when he woke up. The same friend who isn't at the meeting listening to Benson complaining about another prank by teens on the toilets or something. He isn't paying much attention and instead is looking around for the tall blue jerk who will get in trouble if he doesn't show up today. No number of favors will stop Benson from blowing his top off at the blue jay for being late.

Just then, as his attention is once more drifting from the drone of Benson's voice, he sees Mordecai walking casually up the path. It won't be long until their gumball machine boss notices as well.

"Oh, maybe Mordecai has some insight on who's been wrapping the public toilet seats with plastic wrap." Rigby felt a weird sense of pleasure hearing that tone leveled at his friend. He is in it deep for being late, for sure.

"Sorry I'm late, I was moving CJ's couch."

"Oh ho ho! I guess CJ is the remote in that relationship. Because she's the one with all the control!" Said Muscle Man. Rigby did his best to keep quiet and enjoy the catharsis. After all, it's nothing less than Mordecai deserves for being such a flake lately,

"Want me to explain? Do we get it?"

"We get it," Benson replies flatly.

"I'm afraid I don't quite-"

"We get it!" Benson asserts, interrupting Pops before turning back to the blue jay, "It's a good thing you're here. I'm going to need you to help Rigby change the lightbulbs." Already, Rigby saw where this would go, and his disappointment gets worse at the lack of yelling at Mordecai for being late, irritating the back of his mind. Whatever. There's no need to drag this out since Mordecai will bail on him later.

"Oh, I can do that myself."

"Heheh yeah… sure you can." Benson chuckles.

"Yeah, I can. I help all the time!" This time, all the other park employees, including Mordecai, laugh with Benson, "Why are you laughing?!"

"Bro, without Mordecai, you would be totally useless." Says Muscle Man, furthering the raccoon's irritation.

"Wha… come on, Mordecai, tell them how useful I am." This is ridiculous! He's plenty useful! Even if he is a bit pissed at his friend, surely Mordecai, of all people, will vouch for him. He's been covering for him long enough that surely-

"Uhhhh… yeah, I mean, you're fun."

"What? No! Tell them I'm useful!"

"Yeah, you're my friend."

"Why aren't you saying the word useful!" What the heck! Rigby's helped him out so much! How hard is it really to say he is useful?

"Well… I mean, there was the time with the chairs," Mordecai starts counting off on his fingers, "the limousine, the pretzel, you're basically the opposite of useful pretty much anytime we do anything."

"But we did those things together!"

"Yeah, I mean, you were there…"

"So the whole time I've been covering for you and CJ?!"

"Well, I mean, it's the least you could do." …What?

"The least… I could…" What could he even say? That was single-handedly the worst thing Mordecai had ever said to him. And literally, after everything they have been through together, how could he say that? Rigby could feel his chest cramping, like the worst hunger pang in his life, but in his chest. What could he say to that? The fiery anger that had been building for over a month dies, and in its place, a pit yawns open, sucking in the ashes of his fury, leaving him cold. The words 'I quit' hang on the tip of his tongue. For the first time in a long time, maybe even ever, Rigby well and truly wants nothing to do with his supposed friend,

"Benson, I can do the lightbulbs myself."

"Come on, dude, let's just-"

"No!" He yells, "I don't want to work with you! You… you…JERK!"

"ENOUGH!" Cries Benson, "Rigby, you will help Mordecai with the lightbulbs, or you're FIRED!" A tense silence hangs in the air for a moment. Rigby's fingers dig into the palms of his hands. Still, as quickly as the anger comes, it joins his former fury in the pit, leaving behind pure resignation.

"Ok, then fire me." It's said quietly and full of acceptance. It is definitive. Benson will fire him, and that will be that.

"C'mon dude, don't be such a drama queen. Let's get the stuff from the shed and get it over with." The only response Mordecai gets is a glance from Rigby before his eyes return to Benson.

"I don't want to work with Mordecai. I can do the lightbulbs alone… or fire me." His eyes sink to the ground, waiting for the axe to fall. The past few years flash in his mind, all the good times and laughs with everyone at the park playing themselves again in his mind's eye. But they burn and pull apart like a movie reel gone wrong as he sees them. His tail curls around his leg, trying to grant comfort where there is none to be found by the people around him. Instead of his termination being explosively slapped in his face, there's an exasperated sigh from his boss.

"I can't deal with this today. There's too much to be done and too few hands." He pinches the bridge of his glass brows, "Look, Rigby, go help Thomas clear the public bathrooms of the plastic wrap."

"I can-"

"No, you can't do it on your own. I don't trust you. Now stop being a slacker and do your job!" Rigby stands there for a moment before nodding, "Good. Thomas is at the northern bathrooms by the information kiosk getting started. Now go." He turns away and continues to address the others. In an almost daze, Rigby leaves the group, heading towards his new chores for the day. As he's going, he overhears Benson ask,

"You think you can do the bulbs alone, Mordecai?"

"Yeah, no sweat."

"Good. At least I can count on one of you two to get a job done on your own." The pain pulses again in Rigby's chest, but he presses on. He will show them he can be useful… he can!

…Right?