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It was tense on the ship. Rick was focused on driving just to not have to look at the little fucker sitting in the passenger seat doing whatever on his fancy-ass phone. Seriously, who needs a gold phone case? Fucking try-hard.
Evil Morty was minding his business too, only having spoken to Rick when they first left on his ship to go and defeat another universal threat from growing into an actual problem. The usual back-and-forth to make sure Rick had everything they needed and also to make sure he was sober enough to function.
Well, that, and also to sneak a few light jabs in to piss Rick off. Just to remind him that them working together wouldn't diminish the hatred Evil Morty had for Ricks. He just tolerated this one.
Honestly, as much as it annoyed him, Rick couldn't blame him either. He knew how other Ricks were. Most negligent, others abusive. He's no angel either. It's not a stretch to think about how bad this Morty's Rick was to make him genocidal, of all things. Though Rick was still careful not to feel too much sympathy for the kid. He was smart, angry, and hormonal. A deadly trio.
The ride itself was quiet besides the elevator music playing on the radio just to fill the silence. Rick was staring ahead, periodically checking his coordinates to stay on course while dodging the occasional chunks of meteorites floating in their way, and Evil Morty was typing on his phone, sometimes glancing out the window if something caught his eye for even a second.
But then he sighed, resting his phone facedown on his lap. "So, how's Morty?" he suddenly asked, his tone calm and almost bored, as always.
Rick blinked, pausing his train of thought at the question. He's used to Evil Morty probing into his personal life and asking questions about his family just to have more ammo to insult Rick with. But he never specifically asked about someone's well-being. Let alone Morty's.
He side-eyed the boy, raising a brow in suspicion. "What're you on about?" he asked.
Evil Morty side-eyed him back, face blank and arms crossed. "Just curious." he shrugged, voice softer now as he looked out the window again.
Rick squinted his eyes briefly. "Why do you care?" he asked, looking back ahead as he had to make a quick turn away from another meteorite.
"Curiosity doesn't mean caring." Evil Morty rolled his eyes.
"You cared enough to ask." Rick retorts. "And you never asked before. What's up with you?"
"Nothing." Evil Morty crossed his arms, annoyed now. "I'm just bored, okay?"
"You were fine on your phone earlier." Rick rolled his eyes.
"Well, now I'm not. So fuck you." Evil Morty retorted, staring out the window again with a pout. God, he was like Morty when he was in a mood.
A moment of silence passed before Rick sighed. "Morty's fine, okay?" he relented.
Evil Morty stared outside for a moment longer before glancing at Rick. "Yeah?" he asked, his tone strangely soft, which Rick noted.
Rick glanced back at him briefly before looking back ahead. "Yeah, he is. He's spending more time with Summer and Snowball. Sometimes Space Beth will visit and take him and Summer out for food or something." he casually said.
Evil Morty stared for a moment before looking down at his lap, seemingly thinking about something. "Sounds fun." he muttered softly, starting to fiddle with his thumbs. That was a first for Rick. He's never seen Evil Morty fidget. Another moment passed in silence. "Is Morty dating anyone?" he suddenly asked.
Rick paused, eyes widening. "What the fuck?" he looked at the boy, both shocked and confused.
Evil Morty blinked, suddenly backtracking. "I mean like, with Jessica, y'know? Very few Mortys actually manage that." he clarified. But Rick could tell he was lying.
"No, no. Don't dodge something you started." Rick turned off the radio, leaving the ship in a sudden complete silence. "What's up with you? You're asking all these private questions as if they matter to you all of a sudden."
Evil Morty stared at him. "They don't 'matter' to me. I'm just...making conversation." he waved a hand back and forth in Rick's face.
Rick's scoffed, brows furrowed. "Oh really? Well, that's a first then. U-Usually you wanna talk shit, and now you're asking about my grandson's love life?" he retorted sarcastically.
"Oh my god! This is why I hate you! You're always assuming things and jumping to conclusions that make no sense." Evil Morty retorted, angry now.
"Oh, don't give me that shit like you don't do the same." Rick gave a smug grin. "If you don't want me assuming things so bad, start making sense. Why're you asking about Morty?" he asked again.
Evil Morty glared at him for a bit until his cheeks faintly flushed and he turned away with a huff, arms crossed as he faced the window. "I don't have to explain myself to a Rick." he muttered with a slight pout.
Rick blinked, watching the kid's reaction with a raised brow until the dots connected. "Ugh! You like my grandson?" he suddenly yelled in disgust.
Evil Morty flinched at that, blushing harder. "No! God no! I don't like your fucking Morty!" he yelled back, pointing a finger at Rick.
Rick leaned away as if the boy's finger was contagious. "Oh, shit, you do!" he groaned, facepalming.
"Can you shut up?! I don't!" Evil Morty insisted, leaning over his lap and covering his face with his hands.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Rick doubled down. "What, w-were you asking if he's single in case you wanna slip in? You're not fucking my grandson, you little shit!" he snapped, glaring at the boy again.
"Are we there yet?!" Evil Morty yelled out, his face fully pink by now, wanting to finish this mission as fast as humanly possible.