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Rick tinkered with a device on his desk.
His previous drunk stupor was left unattended by Morty which did confuse and shock him a little but not enough to mention immediately.
If anything, it made Rick's current situation better, it gave way for a new idea! A device that could make Morty learn a lesson… or two.
Rick maniacally grinned as sparks flew out. He hunched further over his desk, without the proper safety equipment it was reckless, but he's Rick Sanchez and so it didn't affect him.
A step.
Then another.
A soft knock before the door was brazenly opened without Rick's permission.
Rick chose not to turn around, not until he heard the heavy thump of another set of steps. Older, and definitely not that of any adult in the house. Jerry was too tepid and Beth too aggressive, no, this was similar to his own.
Multiple appendages shot out of Rick's back, knives, fire, and guns to name a few. The array of weaponry seemed to have no effect however, as when Rick turned around the smug face seemed all too prevalent.
“We meet again!” Prime's voice was filled with jubilation as he waved excitedly.
A small hand tugged at Prime's hand. The hand of a pre-pubescent boy Rick recognized all too well.
“PRIME!— YOU STOLE MY GRANDKID!?” Rick yelled out, pointing at Prime with a newfound fury in his face.
Prime snorted, “You mean the grandkid you handed me?”
Prime ruffled Morty's hair as he giggled.
Morty playfully shoved Prime's hand away, “Stop it!” Even though he said it, the smile on his face and the laugh at the back of his throat told a different story.
Rick looked at Morty then at Prime, “Wha-what is this? Morty?”
Morty scowled and Prime relinquished his hand with it.
Morty huffed and rubbed his arm as a means of comfort, “You… you s-sold me out. After your dementia diagnosis, re-remember? Or well… I-I-I guess not.”
Prime stuck his tongue out and patted himself down for something as Rick looked at Morty aghast.
Rick quirked up a part of his unibrow, “Sol-sold you out? Dementia? I don't have dementia!?”
Rick lowered his defenses as he watched Morty with a sense of doom. He didn't really have any safe guards in place for if he had dementia, not anything besides Morty's mind blowers. The only argument in his favour was the reasoning behind why he would even sell out Morty.
Prime dug out his wallet from his back pocket with a relieved sigh. He opened it and pulled out pictures of Morty. Dozens of them.
Rick snatched them, using his robotic enhancements to point a chainsaw at Prime's throat.
Prime put his hands up with a mischievous grin, he rolled his eyes and turned to Morty. He giggled a little at Prime's laid back attitude, he smiled back.
Rick looked through the photos. Several were of Prime and Morty having fun but they slowly devolved into random pictures of Morty.
“That's not even Morty! That's just a picture of you!” Rick furiously tapped at the polaroid, shoving it in Prime's face.
Prime looked disinterested, checking his nails instead, “You're now a senile Rick, congrats.” He said it dryly, as if to emphasize his lack of care, “Now me and my Morty—”
Rick snapped back, “NOT, your Morty, you left him behind first. That's my grandson.” Rick protectively grasped Morty who backed away from his touch.
Rick stared at Morty, “M-morty!? What the hell! Ba-back away from him,” he switched to a softer voice, “Your grandpa is taking you back."
Morty pouted and grabbed for Prime's waist, moving behind Prime.
“Y-you left me. He didn't. He gave me ice cream a-a-and hugs and video games—” Morty couldn't finish his sentence before Rick cut him off.
“That's just the ba-bare minimum Morty!” Rick put his hands in the air before hovering them over Morty's shoulders.
Morty just backed away.
“Ye-yeah? Well, well, then you failed at the bare minimum!” Morty pushed the words out through gritted teeth.
Rick solemnly stared at Morty, his hand retreating back as his mechanical arm began to lower.
“Well, then, that settles it! Guess we'll be going!” Prime smiled and gently held Morty's wrist.
Rick's mechanical arm raised again as Prime watched it, unimpressed.
“You—! You brainwashed him!” Rick's unibrow dipped down as he watched Prime.
Prime stared Rick down blankly before giving out a boisterous laugh, slapping his knee and wiping his tears away. Rick backed away, scanning him for bombs, or any sort of weapon.
Prime began to regain his composure, “That face! Oh, I should've taken a picture! Put it in my wallet n’ everything! Maybe even… a photo album!”
Morty slowly began to grin, snorting as he watched Rick's mortified face.
“Wha-what is this…? Am I in a matrix or something…” Rick mumbled the last part to himself.
Morty helpfully explained, “We were just playing a prank on you! You-you're not senile yet! We th-thought it'd be funny!” Morty giggled again, “I didn't think it-it'd work that well!”
Prime gave a content sigh, “Oh man… I really thought you'd have caught on sooner! The alcohol must be getting to your brain.” Prime swirled his finger around beside his head.
Morty held back a laugh at the sight, Rick was fuming.
“Y-you, you, you betrayed me Morty!” Rick pointed at Morty.
Prime covered his mouth with an over the top shocked gasp. Prime nudged Morty, telling him with his eyes to go do something.
Morty tepidly walked closer to Rick, “He's nice to me! A-a-and I just wanted to play a prank on you!”
Rick grabbed Morty by his shirt and lowered his head to Morty's level.
“HE KILLED MY WIFE!” Rick yelled it, tapping Morty's forehead as if to drill it in.
Morty flailed trying to push Rick's hand back when suddenly Rick's hand stopped. Morty looked up to see Prime frowning while holding Rick back.
“Look, he's brainwashed. I'll end it now.” Prime looked at Morty.
Morty was frozen. He felt petrified. He looked at Rick's triumphant yet depressed face then back at Prime's resigned one.
“B-but…” Morty's voice trailed off as Rick let go.
Prime took a knee and whispered in Morty's ear, paying no mind to the blade at his side. “We'll hang out again next week. Okay?”
Morty quietly nodded, he wasn't sure whether to be delighted or terrified. He was worried Prime couldn't actually come again or Rick would really kill him.
“O-okay. I'm not longer controlled I guess… so that was all fake, huh?” Morty sniffled, wiping his eyes.
Prime teleported away and for a moment Rick raised his robot arm but stopped when he heard another sniffle.
Rick dropped down to where Morty was crying on the floor. Rick gently rubbed Morty's hair away, ignoring the flinch that came from Morty. Rick frowned as he tilted Morty's head up and wiped his tears.
“It-it's okay now…” Rick held Morty in his arms, lightly cradling him.
Morty rubbed his snot on Rick's coat but he didn't mind.
“I-it,” he sniffled again, “Does… doesn't feel like it! D-do you have to…?” Morty pushed his head further into Rick's chest.
Rick turned his head to the wall, “... There's a blind spot on the camera and defense system near Gene's lawn.”
Morty stilled, quiet as a mouse until he registered what Rick had said.
“Wha-what…?” Morty wiped his eyes and looked up at Rick hopefully.
“Don't make me be any nicer than I have to be.” Was all Rick could manage.
It hurt him, to have Prime so close, yet so far. But he couldn't deal with a crying Morty everyday.
“R-really…? Not as bait?” Morty hugged Rick.
Rick hugged him back dejectedly, “Yeah…”
They stayed like that for longer than Rick liked, but he felt as if he owed Morty that much.