Chapter Text
Something about the whole thing that happened made you mad, like real mad, but you couldn't even begin to explain why (It meant accepting that the thing you based your life in for the past two decades was wrong, it was a can of worms you didn't want to open, at least not yet)
You can admit it, alright? You’re definitely not the best dad there is out there, which was also an understatement considering you abandoned your daughter when she was a little kid, and you haven’t seen her in like twenty years, or something, but you guessed she would be a better mom, for some reason. Summer managed to turn out pretty fine, but that seemed to be an exception limited only to her, because for some reason Beth hated Morty, and maybe hate was a strong word, but she simply couldn't deal with him, and it got so bad the kid wouldn’t be able to stare at someone in the eye without getting nervous, but to be fair, that pathetic excuse of a husband she has must have been weighing her down, Beth had to be real stressed then.
Back to Morty though, you still felt bad for the kid, you have seen how he has been getting worse for the past six years you have been visiting him, red marks around his eyes from crying so much, the small scars around his body from picking at his own skin, or how his room would look like it hadn’t been tidied up in weeks, messy bed, dirty floor, even some mold growing around in the corners.
It was around when Morty turned six years old when you decided you’d eventually take him with you, as always you had visited him to take him out to do– well, anything really, from stargazing to going to an alien carnival, there was something about him that just filled you with joy whenever he was happy. After going back from the little trip, you remember taking him to bed, and with droopy eyelids and sluggish movements, he mumbled something that might or might not have changed how you felt about him in general, how he “Wished you were his real papa”
You spent so much time thinking about it, it was stupid, because when you had Beth you didn’t feel as nearly as much interest as you did in Morty, what was it about him that made him so special? Were those lesser versions of yourself getting to you? You never saw the appeal of moving in with the child you abandoned, but spending time with your grandson felt different, like those “paternal” instincts that you thought you had forgotten long ago had come back.
You were going to bring him with you when he turned ten, already mentally preparing yourself for all the “kicking” and “screaming” from trying to do so, you’ll make him accept it one way or another, and he would eventually realize it was for his well being, he’s a smart kid, he’ll understand.
Well, that’s what you initially thought, before checking on him for his ninth birthday, because the moment you stepped through that portal the kid lunged into you, crying and begging you to take him far away from that house, and while you were obviously mad from the mistreatment your grandson had been receiving, you weren’t going to complain either, it was actually for the better! because this way you’ll be able to skip all the trouble from the future, glad the kid realized his family was holding him down at such a young age, it’s tough but it’s true, it was something you had accepted long ago.
On the side of the ship, on the co-pilot seat, Morty was looking at the window, seemingly enamored by all the stars that were engulfing him, you chuckled a bit at the sight, you had stopped being amazed by the space a long time ago, but seeing the kid’s reaction to it made you remember how it felt once. You couldn't tell him because you didn't want the words to get up into his head, but you were real excited to be with him,
You are going to teach him everything
…
The room was illuminated with a bright green neon that disappeared after a few seconds, Prime looked around noticing the lights were turned off, signal that his grandson was probably sleeping
He walked to the door that was in front of him, clothes stained with blood that technically didn't belong to him, he didn't bother changing, he wanted to see his grandson, since it had been a while he left his “house” to deal with “Rick stuff”, remembering how he and Morty had argued because he wanted to come with him, and obviously, he had to say no. Having a bunch of versions of yourself trying to hunt you across the multiverse was annoying already, you didn't need them to go after your grandson too.
Anywho, you went through the door without knocking, expecting to see him sleeping, watching videos on his phone or playing with his console, instead, you were met with a deafening silence, and no Morty around.
You checked under the bed and the closet just in case, but had no luck finding him, how strange…
“Ship?”
A robotic voice answered you back “Yes Rick?”
“Where is Morty?”
“Morty is in the stargazing room” it answered
Huh, strange
You had made that room in the first months of Morty living with you, for some reason at times he would get terribly nervous, it would make him hurt himself, not talk or eat all day, you didn't want to sedate him every time he started acting like that, so you thought that giving him a room where he could relax would calm things down a little, and they did! (obviously because you're the best grandpa ever). But it had been a good while since Morty had gone there, and it worried you that he might be going through a bad time again.
You walked to the room with somewhat hurried steps, and stopped before opening the door. If Morty had done something bad you would just hold him and tell him you’ll take care of him and that grandpa will fix him like he always does.
He opened the door and..
Morty was laying on the floor, he was simply looking at the stars and even had some snacks around, it took him a few seconds to notice you and when he did he only waved his hand at you. Rick waved his hand back and got closer to his grandson, then laid on the floor right next to him.
“Hey bud” he said casually, Morty finished the snack he was eating before answering back
“Hi grandpa” He didn’t look at him, just mindlessly looked at the vast space
“What are you doing up so late, huh? Thought you’d be sleeping” Prime looked at his grandson, noticing little features that any other person wouldn’t notice, but that he had ingrained in his brain, a small furrow in his eyebrows, the way he didn’t look back at him when he talked and how his hand picked slightly at his arm, Morty was nervous or anxious about something.
“Uhh..” Morty actually glanced a look at him before returning his sight to the stars “ I just– I have been thinking about stuff… Uhm– again “ The boy had said nervously “ Im just trying to not– really let it get into my head “
Thinking about stuff could mean a lot, sometimes his grandson would get a little sentimental and would start missing his family, he doubted it was that since it had been a while since they’ve crossed his head, it could also be those thoughts related to hurting himself, or maybe, those violent ones about hurting others, Rick had tried to indulge Morty on that, but the boy had been somewhat skeptical about it, something about being “scared to hurt his grandpa”, he appreciated the thoughtfulness, but not even in his wildest dreams the boy would be able to leave a scratch on him.
And while Rick had no problem about his grandson talking about his teenage problems to him, he was pretty tired and exhausted after a long day of fighting with other versions of himself, and all he wanted to do was have a good and relaxing time, plus, it didn't seem like Morty was up for talking anyways, might as well distract the kid for a bit.
“Hmm…” He gave Morty a thoughtful look before speaking up again “ Well, why don’t we watch some TV and eat some of that alien ice cream I brought the other day, hm?” his grandson's face lit up after hearing his words and nodded in excitement, Rick ruffled his head and then shooed him so he could go get things ready. Seconds after Morty left, he found himself staring at the space surrounding him before getting up and exiting the room.
…
The bright lights from the TV were reflected on his and Morty’s face, what was playing right now seemed to be a movie from “Ball fondlers”, it was something his grandson enjoyed more than him, but right now he was sleeping, head on his grandpa’s lap, body being covered by a soft blanket.
Rick petted Morty’s hair at a slow pace, the action seemed to relax the kid. It made the man think about when he first met Morty, how he had deluded himself back then into thinking it was only out of curiosity, that the other visits he paid to him were from wanting to know how his grandson was like, being seen more as an experiment than a human being, but as the years went through he simply couldn't keep the lie, eight years from constantly visiting his grandson couldn't be justified from curiosity, and now he can (somewhat) admit it, he cares about him, about his wellbeing, and obviously about what Morty thinks about him, maybe because the kid was just too similar to him, from physical traits (like his nose, or his gray blue eyes) or his personality, that vastly reminded Rick about how he acted when he was a kid (Like when he used to hide on his bed, and the violent thoughts that would constantly haunt him that he had eventually come to accept).
He didn't know what he truly tried to achieve by adopting Morty, is not like he wanted a sidekick or something like that, but maybe those human instincts that he suppressed came back making him desperately yearn for any kind of human connection, and perhaps his grandson happened to be in the right time and moment, maybe it was something else entirely, he didn’t know
what he did know is that he wanted Morty by his side
forever.