Chapter Text
The days pass, and Morty works hard to keep his bakery running. The helpful stranger Rick doesn’t return the next day, but he makes good on his promise and sends over someone to check out Morty’s AC. A few days later, Morty’s basking in the cool air of his air conditioning unit once more, no longer overheating and dehydrating as he serves his customers.
Morty's grateful for the stranger's kindness, but he can't shake the feeling of loneliness that creeps in as the days go by. He misses the camaraderie and warmth of their brief encounter, the rare moment of connection in the vast, unforgiving landscape of the Citadel.
Despite his best efforts to stay positive, Morty finds himself slipping back into his old patterns, the weight of the Citadel pressing down on him like a heavy shroud. He's alone, adrift in a sea of indifference, and it's a struggle to keep his head above water.
But Morty's a hard worker, and he's not about to give up without a fight. He throws himself into his work, pouring all his energy and passion into each pastry, each loaf of bread, each cup of coffee. He finds solace in the rhythm of the bakery, the comforting familiarity of the dough beneath his hands, the soothing sound of the oven as it bakes his creations to perfection.
As the days turn to weeks, Morty finds himself falling into a routine. He wakes up early, opens the bakery, and serves his customers with a smile, even on the toughest days. He bakes, cleans, and closes the bakery, doing it all with a sense of purpose and determination.
And somehow, in the midst of the chaos and noise of the Citadel, Morty finds a sense of peace. It's a small, fragile thing, but it's enough to keep him going.
One day, as Morty's serving a particularly impatient Rick, he catches a glimpse of someone out of the corner of his eye. He turns, expecting to see another annoying customer, but instead, he sees the stranger Rick from their first encounter, pushing the door open and walking into the bakery, bell chiming above him.
Morty's heart skips a beat, and he can't help the grin that spreads across his face. "Hey there, stranger," he calls out, his voice warm and welcoming.
Approaching the counter with a smile that mirrors Morty’s own, the Rick returns the sentiment with equal fervor. “Hey, Morty,” he replies, his voice filled with warmth and genuine affection.
A wave of joy washes over Morty. “It’s good to see you again,” he says, his voice steady and sincere.
The familiar face nods, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I figured I'd swing by and check on you, see how things are going."
Morty's heart swells with gratitude, and he can't help but feel a sense of connection to this stranger. "Things are good," he says, his voice filled with a quiet strength. "I couldn't have done it without your help."
The Rick waves off Morty's thanks, his smile never wavering. "No problem, kid. You're doing great, and I'm glad I could help out.”
Morty slides a cookie across the counter to the impatient Rick he’d been serving before, and then he turns back to his new friend, unable to hold back his grin.
“I don’t think we properly introduced last time. I’m Morty P-181.”
“Rick A-738. My friends call me Raven, though.”
Morty's face lights up at the sound of the nickname, and he can’t help but laugh. “Raven, huh? I like it. It suits you. Where’d you come across a nickname like that?"
Raven leans against the counter as he recounts the story. “Oh, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you later, when you have more time. How’s the bakery been treating you?”
Morty beams. “It’s been good, thanks to your help with the AC. Business has been steady, and I’ve been experimenting with some new recipes.”
Raven’s eyes light up with interest. “New recipes, huh? Anything I should try?”
Morty’s grin widens as he gestures towards the display case filled with an array of pastries. “Well, I just perfected a recipe for raspberry almond scones. Care to give one a try?”
Raven’s mouth waters at the mention of the pastry. “I’d love to!” he exclaims eagerly.
Morty swiftly presents a freshly baked scone on a plate, sliding it across the counter. “On the house, as a thank you for checking up on me.”
Raven’s eyes widen in surprise, touched by Morty’s gesture. “Thanks, Morty. That’s really kind of you.”
Morty shrugs, a modest smile on his lips. “It’s the least I can do for a friend.”
The two of them share a moment of companionable silence as Raven takes a bite of the croissant, his eyes closing in blissful appreciation. “Mmm, this is amazing,” he declares after swallowing.
Morty beams with pride, pleased by Raven’s reaction. “Glad you like it. Let me know if you ever want to try anything else.”
Raven nods eagerly, eyeing the other treats in the display case. “Absolutely, Morty. Count on it.”
As Morty and Raven continue to chat, Morty’s heart feels lighter than it has in weeks. There’s something about Raven’s presence that brings a warmth and comfort he hadn’t realized he was missing.
“Hey, I’ve missed you these last few weeks. Where’ve you been?” Morty inquires, resting his chin on his hand and glancing at Raven across the counter.
“Oh, here and there,” Raven replies absently, waving his hand dismissively. “I, uh, applied for a job, but it didn’t go too well.” he admits.
Morty furrows his brow, concern etching his features. “I’m sorry to hear that, Raven. Is everything okay?”
Raven shrugs, a hint of disappointment clouding his eyes. “Yeah, it’s just… I thought it would be a good opportunity to keep myself afloat, you know? But I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think I would have liked the job, but the pay seemed good.”
Morty nods sympathetically, recognizing the familiar sting of rejection. “I know how that feels. But hey, maybe it’s just a sign that something better is waiting for you.”
Raven nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, maybe," he says, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But it's hard to stay positive when you're barely scraping by. I've been doing some dirty work for less than scrupulous Ricks around the Citadel just to make ends meet. It's not exactly a glamorous life."
Morty's face darkens with concern. "Raven, that's not right. You shouldn't have to resort to that kind of thing. You're better than that."
Raven shrugs, a weary look in his eyes. "I don't have much choice, Morty. I'm just trying to survive in this shithole of a city."
Morty's heart aches for his friend, and he feels a surge of anger at the injustice of it all. "Well, I'm here for you, Raven. If you ever need anything, just let me know. I'll do whatever I can to help."
Raven's face softens, and he manages a small smile. "Thanks, Morty. I really appreciate that.”
Morty and Raven continue their conversation, catching up on the days that have passed. Morty listens with a sympathetic ear as Raven recounts his struggles to find steady work in the harsh landscape of the Citadel. He can't help but feel a sense of anger and frustration at the injustice of it all, the way that the system seems designed to keep people like Raven down.
But Morty's a fighter, and he's not about to let his friend suffer in silence. He makes a silent vow to himself, to do whatever he can to help Raven, to lift him up and support him in any way he can.
As they talk, Morty can't help but feel a growing sense of connection to this stranger. There's something about Raven that speaks to him on a deeper level, a shared sense of resilience and determination that he finds both comforting and inspiring.
And as the conversation winds down and Raven finishes his scone, Morty can't help but feel a sense of hope and optimism. Maybe, just maybe, things are starting to look up for both of them.
"Hey, Raven, can I ask you something?” Morty’s voice trembles slightly, betraying his nervousness.
Raven looks up, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “Sure, Morty. What’s up?”
Morty takes a deep breath, steadying himself. “Well, I-I was wondering if you’d like to— to hang out today. Y-you know, outside of the bakery. I-I-I feel like we have a lot in common, a-and I’d really like to get to know you better.” He fidgets with a couple of coins on the counter, the metal clinking softly against the surface.
Raven’s eyes soften with understanding, a warm smile spreading across his face. “I’d like that, Morty. I really would.”
Morty exhales a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, relief washing over him like a cool wave. “G-great. Where do you wanna go? Cafe Sanchez?” Raven nods his agreement, his eyes meeting Morty’s with a reassuring gaze. “That sounds great, Morty,” he says warmly.
Morty swallows, gathering his courage. “I-I close up at six, so does seven work for you?” His voice is tinged with anticipation, hoping Raven will say yes.
“Seven sounds good to me,” Raven confirms, a soft smile playing across his lips that sends a jolt of happiness through Morty’s heart. “It’s a date.”
Just then, Raven’s phone rings, shattering the moment. His expression immediately darkens as he glances at the screen, brows furrowing with concern. “Sorry, Morty, I’ve got to take this,” he says, his voice tightening with urgency. Morty nods in understanding, watching as Raven steps outside the bakery, the doorbell chiming softly as he exits.
Through the window, Morty watches Raven pace back and forth on the sidewalk, his gestures animated as he speaks into the phone. The moments stretch on interminably, and Morty’s mind races with worry. He hopes it’s not more bad news.
After what feels like an eternity, Raven reenters the bakery, his expression troubled and shoulders tense. “I’m really sorry, Morty, but something urgent came up. I’ve got to go handle it,” he says, regret evident in his voice.
Morty’s heart sinks, his expression falling with disappointment. “I understand,” he says quietly, trying to mask the sadness in his tone. “I hope everything’s okay.”
Raven offers a weak smile, a shadow of his earlier warmth. “Thanks, Morty. I’ll catch up with you soon, okay?”
Morty reaches out before Raven can turn away, grabbing Raven’s sleeve. “Wait. Before you go, let me put my number in your phone.”
Raven blinks in surprise, then his troubled expression softens as he nods. “Sure, Morty. That sounds good.” He hands his phone over, the sleek device cold against Morty’s fingers.
Morty quickly types his number into Raven’s contact list, his hands trembling slightly. As he presses ‘save,’ he adds a small smiley face emoji next to his name, hoping to bring a bit of light to Raven’s day. “There you go,” he says, handing the phone back. “Now you can reach me anytime.”
Raven looks at the screen, then at Morty, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thanks, Morty. I really appreciate it.”
Morty smiles, trying to project the strength he feels is slipping away. “Anytime, Raven. Seriously. I’m here for you.”
Raven nods once more, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “I won’t forget that. I’ll be in touch soon.” With one last look, he turns and exits the bakery, the doorbell’s chime lingering in the air long after he’s gone.
Morty goes about the rest of the day’s routine solemnly, his thoughts lingering on Raven and the way their conversation had ended so abruptly. He can't shake the feeling of worry that's settled in his chest, the sense that something is wrong.
He finishes up his work for the day, cleaning and organizing the bakery until it's spotless. He takes one last look around, savoring the peace and quiet of the empty space, before flipping the sign on the door to 'closed' and heading upstairs to his cozy apartment above the bakery.
He collapses onto his worn couch and fumbles for the remote, staring blankly at the TV in front of him as he replays the day's events in his mind.
As the hours tick by, Morty's worry turns to anxiety, his thoughts spiraling out of control as he imagines the worst-case scenarios. He tries to distract himself with a show or some music, but nothing can shake the feeling of unease that's settled in his chest.
Finally, as the sun begins to set, Morty's phone buzzes with an incoming message. He snatches it up eagerly, his heart racing as he reads the words on the screen.
Hey, Morty. I'm really sorry about today. Something came up that I couldn't ignore. But I promise I'll make it up to you. How about we meet up tomorrow instead? Same time, same place?
Morty's heart swells with relief, and he can't help but smile at the message. Sure thing, Raven. I'll see you then.
After a moment’s hesitation, he sends a smiley face emoji along with the message, and then sets his phone down, feeling a sense of peace settle over him.
As the night wears on, Morty goes through his routine, making himself a dinner of simple pasta and salad. The rhythmic motions of chopping vegetables and stirring the pot help to calm his nerves. He tries to focus on the present, reminding himself that tomorrow is another chance to reconnect with Raven.
After dinner, he cleans up the kitchen and prepares for bed, his mind still racing with thoughts of their upcoming meeting. He decides to read for a bit to distract himself, picking up a well-worn sci-fi comic off a pile from his bedside table. As he gets lost in the pages, he finds some solace in the fictional world, the worries of the day gradually fading into the background.
An hour later, feeling somewhat settled, Morty finally winds down. He stares at the ceiling, replaying the day’s events and planning what he’ll say to Raven tomorrow. The anticipation is almost too much, but eventually, the weariness from the long day at the bakery catches up with him. He closes his eyes, the promise of a new day and the hope of a deepening friendship with Raven lulling him into a peaceful slumber.