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Night times were meant for sleeping and trust him, Morty knew. But things down there haven't been working well since the accident.
He still got phantom pains since the accident of the ship running over his legs and crushing them, and as much as Rick tried to heal and repair the damage, Morty just never got the same use of his legs again. He didn't mind as much now as he did four months ago but it had made living a little tougher.
Like, going to the bathroom.
Oh, and getting up to get a glass of water.
Since this was Rick's fault, his ship and all that, not to mention, the faulty handbrake... The man had moved himself into Morty's room and slept with him every night for Morty's safety. It was a better and comfier option than trundling Morty up and down the stairs like a backpack and being squished like a sardine in his bare minimum cot.
When accidents did unfortunately happen, it made dealing with it a lot more easier with Rick always by his side.
The inside of Morty's diaper crinkled and felt heavy with the sag around his waist with his new latest embarrassment.
He didn't mean to do it.
He didn't like being invalid or dirty like a baby.
Morty blamed the glass of milk he had before bed, overfilling his bladder. But this wouldn't have been a problem if he could regulate the pressure. Sometimes he missed the days where he could go anywhere or do anything. It made dealing with his own accidents a whole lot easier. Like stripping the sheets and running the machine on at two in the morning to clean himself of the evidence.
It was a lot different with him now using diapers. He wasn't a baby, Morty knew that and so did Rick but right now with him laying in his own pee, he couldn't help but feel shame.
Although being clean trumped his embarrassment.
Morty had to get Rick's attention, even if he painfully was aware that Rick barely slept through the night, or at all. It wasn't the say that Rick was a light sleeper... He was a heavy drunk, able to pass out at the blink of an eye but since four months ago Rick had turned his gear into overdrive and always slept with one eye open, keeping a look out to his Morty.
Gently Morty's palm caressed Rick's bare back, lulling the man awake to the sound of Morty's voice.
"Rick — Um... hey? Wake up — Rick, wake up." Morty softly spoke, disliking the grating urgent tone of his voice.
He rocked his upper half of his body, the only half that still worked, feeling the discomfort rise around his waist.
Groggily after a few seconds Rick awoke, turning his head around and rubbed one eye to rid it of the crust that formed in his sleep.
"Hey buddy, what's up? Need another drink — Or maybe you need me to untangle the blankets between your legs again?"
"No — no, not that... I like — I maybe have wet myself." Morty squeaked out in confession. It was still dark but his curtain wasn't put on properly, cracking a slither of light down his face. It illuminated the unpleasant frown on his face, one that Rick could clearly see.
Rick palmed Morty's cheek while his eyes glazed over his features, stopping at the plush around his waist. "You sure? I mean — I, uh — I don't mind checking for you Morty, if you think so?"
"Please Rick... It just feels a little loose around my waist. I think it's only pee though."
Rick slid out of bed, crouching on the ground to help Morty out. "It's okay if it is the other one. I've — I know, I fucked you up bad."
"Don't — It was an accident." Morty countered with a sigh.
He used his elbows to crawl himself to the edge of the mattress while Rick directed his legs, dragging them along the sheet. Luckily there was no wet patch under him, only wetting himself inside the diaper.
Rick grabbed Morty around his waist, bringing him close to his body. He held Morty caringly in both arms princess style. Morty latched his arms around Rick's neck making sure he wasn't all that much dead weight.
"Ready to check?" Rick asked, heading to the bathroom carefully.
"I don't have a choice..." Morty mumbled out. His mood was mellowing out, hitting low.
It was dark in the hall, the little night light strapped to the wall barely lighting anything up. Luckily the bathroom was across the hall, only needing two Rick wide strides to get there.
Morty was placed on the toilet and Rick undid the diaper, swiping it under Morty's dangling legs and checked it. It did feel heavy in his palm with the faint smell of pee, though it wasn't that bad. Morty had caught himself early. Rick leaned against the tiled wall opposite Morty, keeping an eye out.
Though that did not throw away the embarrassment from the boy. Morty threw his hands against his face, blocking out everything. He didn't know if he still had anything inside to flush into the bowl but Rick waited.
He always did that these days.
Always waiting for Morty.
Some days Morty wishes that Rick didn't feel so guilty but this was a hell of a lot better than Rick yelling or smacking him like he used to. He wasn't abusive per se, but it was literally bordering that line.
"Can you — Ugh, just look away." Morty grumbled in humiliation as a little bit dripped out of him, lightly splashing against the bowl. He couldn't feel it drizzle out of him but he could hear it and that was all that Morty needed to start crying.
"I — I said look away Rick." Morty sobbed straight into his palms, knitting his eyebrows low. His body felt foreign sitting upright. He knew he was there but also not there. Helpless. Useless. Just dead weight.
The smartest man in the universe didn't need to take care of a cripple. While Rick felt guilty for the damage, Morty felt guilty for anchoring Rick down.
A colossal burden.
Rick sighed, crouching down on one knee and tried to uncover Morty's face. "Morty — Morty, look at me." Rick pleaded, tearing up himself.
Hacks and globules of spit rolled out of Morty's body to his cries, shaking his shoulders in his pain. Rick felt a little bit break inside of himself.
"Morty..." Rick tried again.
"No! Just — Just leave me. I'm — I am just pissing myself away anyways. I should have just tried to fall back asleep than bother you."
"Bother me?" Rick instantly creased his eyebrow in concern.
Morty never bothered him. It was actually the other way around. Rick felt like he was a bother to Morty, especially with their unlikely closeness. He was suffocating the kid, stealing his youth by being his all around the clock caretaker. Sure, Rick could pay someone or make some bionic legs to get the job done but Morty didn't want that.
He was happy using his wheelchair when downstairs and at school but the bathroom up here was tiny.
"Morty, you never bother me." Rick said, sliding his palm under Morty's trembling hands and cupped his cheek. He radiated heat from his hand to the scared, frail and shivering boy, trying his best to soothe his panic.
Morty rocked his shoulders into a harder sob, keeping his lips tight. When Morty got like this, it was hard to hear his side of the story. But Rick had a clue on why Morty was wailing his guts out.
Morty lost his autonomy. And before this Rick never saw Morty naked. But to Rick this wasn't anything like that. Nothing perverse. He wasn't someone to take advantage of Morty at all.
"You never — never ever bother me Morty." Rick ushered out, wedging another hand under the other cheek. He slowly pulled Morty's hands away from his face, trying to keep himself together than crumble to a slick and tearful face. Rick slithered a sigh through his parted lips, controlling himself best as he could.
"I do..." Morty spat out of his quivering lips, diving his eyes away to the tub. It was either the tub or the door, not directly ahead to Rick.
"You just need a little — I mean, I want to help you Morty. There's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just a little piss. Barely smells anyways."
Morty quickly glanced to Rick for a millisecond. And Rick smiled as best he could when he noticed Morty looking his way. He yawned once Morty returned looking the other way, feeling all the exhaustion seep through his body, rattling his bones. It was the middle of the night, breaking up his unusual peaceful sleep but Rick wasn't going to let Morty know that.
Morty would only cry more at the blunder which wasn't his fault at all.
Rick was always a piss poor sleeper. Morty should have known that by now.
Again, Morty looked his way, drying his tears with the back of his hand. No other sounds were made in the bathroom besides their breathing.
"But you shouldn't be handling that shit Rick. It's na-nast — gross." Morty muttered.
Rick returned the smile, keeping this easy breezy on his end. He pulled one hand down to Mortys shoulder, gripping him lightly. "I don't mind. It's all handled pretty well in your diaper. And you've been doing so well Morty. So, so well. What's that been — Two, no three times this month. So like three times in twenty days you've woken me up?"
"Three times too many."
"Morty," Rick gave Morty a little shake, "don't stress yourself on the numbers okay. Just focus on the facts. You realised you were peeing, you woke me up and I took us to the bathroom. Does that sound like you're useless?"
Morty nodded.
"You're not — Never." Rick groaned. "Look — Morty, I'm going to — I will be in your place one day. I'll be pissing and shitting myself because I'll be old as fuck. Am I going to complain?" Rick raised his eyebrow with the question, answering it himself. "Yeah, you're sure as shit I am going to complain about my old grandpa body. But would I cry about it?"
"You cry when you run out of whiskey in that flask of yours." Morty answered.
Rick tried to hold back a laugh. "Okay, you got me. And to answer my own question, yes — I'm gonna cry. It's not stupid — or weak to admit that I will because it's going to suck — like massive balls Morty."
Rick took a deep breath, hoping he wasn't stepping on any toes with his words. It had been more likely for Rick to be pissing his own pants before Morty but life dealt them a bad hand.
"But I—" Morty said but Rick cut him off, keeping both his hands in place. Morty twiddled his fingers in his lap, glad he still had some fat on him. Muscle atrophy was slowly getting the best of him but he still had a little bit to go before he was a full stick figure that was only skin and bones.
A shudder ran down his back, disappearing right when the feeling ran out. That was a conversation Morty wanted to have later with a proper cry where he could be bundled up into his bed with Rick's caring palm soothing and consoling his woes. But right now they were focused on this.
Rick continued, "I'll be just as disabled as you. It's not a bad thing Morty — Never think that because like you, I'll have family — or just regular people caring for me. And if we get there, I'll have you by my side keeping me company."
"But you — me — may-maybe..." Morty mumbled. He wasn't making much sense with an ocean of jumbled thoughts caking his mind.
Rick sighed. "I get it — It wasn't much a speech, I know. But Morty, what I was trying to get at was — is that, you're not alone. I love spending time with you, even if things are slow — and will continue to be at this pace. I'm not grossed out by things like a little pee. You should know this by now Morty. Nor vomit — or crap—"
Morty lifted his hands and playfully pushed against Rick's chest. "Okay — okay, I get it. You like disgusting shit."
"Hey, I never said that!"
"Fine. You can deal with it. And — and I can too. But it's hard sometimes. Like my memories and reflexes... I know I can go to the toilet myself but trying to get my legs to do anything — ever have that moment where your body feels like a tonne of bricks?"
Rick snorted, pointing to himself. "You're talking a resident dumbass Morty. I've tripped over my own feet when my joints get all gunked and locked up from standing or sitting too long."
"True. You are a bit of a clutz like that. Guess I get that from you." Morty quickly joked, returning to his point soon after. "I just miss doing things on my own — I'm not saying I don't appreciate you, or that I outright hate the help — because I don't — but I... I feel so lost. Like I know I can do something and then poof — I'm rolling out of bed because I forgot I can't walk anymore."
"Morty..." Rick whined, lowering his eyebrow in concern. "Those habits aren't bad but you — we all need to taper off the expectations."
"So you expect me to be useless forever?" Morty rose his voice.
Rick didn't mean that. It was far from it. "No Morty, more like we need need to give out an extra helping hand to even the score. Just a little push in the right direction — like riding a bicycle."
"You do realise your metaphor kinda is a little wrong for me Rick."
Rick hissed, taking it back. "Okay fine. A little push in the right direction like making the whole of the downstairs floor wheelchair accessible. The chairs around the dining table are pushed in now, not left wherever we parked out asses out — because we want to be considerate to you. Remember that first day that Jerry and I lifted the chair over the bump into the entrance? Remember how annoying it felt and sounded with us grunting like cavemen, bested by the wheel?"
Morty laughed, mood lifting already. "Alright, alright. I get it. You all make things easier because you love me."
"That's it. It's not because your useless or a burden or anything like that Morty. It's just an adjustment for all of us, okay?"
"I know but I wish I could you know, figure out if I could — would piss myself sooner than to wake up to it wet around me."
"Don't tell your mom but I could make a little nanite and slip it in your water to help you regulate things down there."
"You can do that?" Morty beamed up. He was quite relieved about the idea of getting some use of his body back.
"I know it isn't as zany as my idea of bionic legs but yeah. I don't have specifics — not even a prototype but it'll camp in your bladder and send you a signal to head when you need to go. Or something like that." Rick scratched his head, making himself a reminder to start scribbling down parts he needed to solder together for the little nanite.
"And it'll be a part of me?"
"For as long as you want. One day, nine days — whenever you want it. So, does that sound like it'll lift up your spirits?"
"Oh does it ever!" Morty sniffled a little but smiled for the first time in what felt like hours. He was optimistic to the idea of getting some of his autonomy back. Who knew that he'd miss the uncomfortable twist and pang of his full bladder that much? At least with Rick's idea, it would ground him and make him feel more confident to nap during the day. Where his head could knock against Rick's on the couch with the afternoon sun streaking its warm rays over their chests.
Rick ruffled Morty's hair, ripping of a bit of toilet paper with the other and gave it to Morty. "I'm glad. So how about you wipe yourself from any stray drops and I'll get you a new diaper from the basin cupboard?"
Morty graciously took the paper and parted his legs carefully and did what he was told. "Thanks Rick." He said once he was done, dropping the paper down into the bowl.
Rick grabbed Morty and leant him against the tub's edge. he flushed the toilet when Morty was gone and brought the bath's water nozzle up between Morty's legs to rinse off anything that could have lingered.
"Any time Morty. Just holler. I'll even run if I have to." Rick said lovingly, putting on a new diaper around Morty and taking the boy back to bed where they both slept undisturbed till morning.