Work Text:
It's been do long since he felt that relaxed.
The warm rays of the sun through the window, reaching for the other side of the room, stretching to the door, the smell of a candle he didn't even remember bringing, the weight of that certain someone over him, the gentle music playing in his right ear through an old pair of earphones that looked almost primitive next to his own implants (but that didn't stop him from accepting the second small piece from the other) the yellow pages in front of him he was barely focusing on, all of this, appeased something in him he never knew was burning.
This was all his fault, if anything.
His fault for sleeping so soundly on top of him, his face half buried in the other's neck, breathing in and out deeply and soundly, without a care in the world.
His fault for having such soft hair that he couldn't help but let his fingers run through the locks and scratch the scalp where, he had learned with time, it felt the best.
His fault for falling asleep to a playlist that has been fully played hours ago but that nobody had done anything when the app automatically pushed title after title neither of them knew.
His fault for feeling so warm against him.
His fault that his weight felt so grounding, like he was his only anchor in this room, and that a single second spent without him would be like being thrown overboard and left to fend for yourself.
His fault for the sound of his breathing being so regular that he synchronised his own to it, that he enjoyed the small puffs he felt against his neck.
His fault for inviting him over just because 'the way he texted seemed off', whatever that was supposed to even mean in the first place.
Eyes half lidded -as much as he had to admit it, that book wasn't the most interesting either-, he pressed a kiss against the other's temple. The hair in the way tickled his lips, however he didn't mind it. He heard a soft hum, most likely one of satisfaction, coming from the boy on his chest.
Em smiled at that, scratching at Morty's skull gently yet firmly. The other seemed to melt at the touch.
That was a sight he wouldn't mind seeing for the rest of his existence.
Most of all, it wasn't a sight he could see anywhere in his own little paradise.
The loneliness there was suffocating. It was a void, never satiated from all the despair Em would try to chuck at it, it was unaffected by the apparent mask of apathy he tried to put forward.
All the beauty of the skies, all the stars, the black holes, the planets, the meteorites, the countless aurora borealis, the many moons sprinkled everywhere, the infinite colors, as well as the infinite possibilities of the outside of the curve couldn't fill that ever growing hole.
Well, nothing couldn't.
But he could.
Of course he could. He's Morty. Morty Prime at that: the Morty-est Morty. A pile of living empathy, unable to stop himself from feeling.
So, of course Em would only feel relieved from that crushing loneliness when he was with Morty.
Of course he would randomly crash at his house (well, not technically his, he completely lost track of how many times they had moved dimensions.), mock him for whatever reason he could find at the moment before helping him with homework.
That was only so that he could, yet again, prove his own intellectual prowess, obviously. Only he could make a Morty actually understand basic science, as that was proved to be a true exploit again and again.
That totally wasn't so that he could see his concentrated adorable frown, the way his eyes moved when he read, the way they light up when he finally found the good answer after being stuck for hours. It also wasn't so that he could take in the focused glare Morty would give the page while he wrote whatever equation was next, nor was it so that he could hear the cute huffs he would give when a question somehow offended him or the small smile his lips would form when he was finally freed from the endless work and left to do what he pleased (that being playing the lastest alien video game with Em).
Of course he would allow himself to be dragged to other dimensions to meet other Mortys, only if it was his Morty that took him by the wrist and excitedly babbled about people he called 'Miami' or 'Morticia' or 'Gucci'.
And if he let himself be dragged here and there, it was only so that he could keep an eye on everyone within the curve to see who could potentially be a nuisance.
And if he put off the names 'Miami', 'Morticia' and 'Gucci' off his 'immediately shoot' list so that the defenses of his place wouldn't annihilate them on the spot if, for some reason, they were to show up at his own place, it was solely because they could maybe hold some valuable information he shouldn't let go to waste.
''Who am I even trying to fool?'' Em muttered in the silence, setting the book he was holding to the side.
Before his mind could try to answer that question, the door flew open, revealing the very culmination of Em's hatred.
A burp resonated through the room, the sound of liquid hitting the floor from being rough handled echoing.
''M-Morty-'' the smartest man alive started.
Yet, he came to face with a very much sleeping Morty and a very, very much alarmed Em.
Out of pure reflex, the latter had grabbed Morty as much, hand leaving the other's head and reaching further down his back to pull him nearer against his chest. His implants reacted to the supposed threat, the mechanical tentacles spurring out of his back and locking on their new target.
He was sure that, to anyone other than Rick Sanchez C-137, he would've had appeared absolutely terrifying. Yet, it was C-137 starring him down, unimpressed and judgemental, so it seemed that no intimidation tactic would work.
''What the,'' the man burped again, louder this time, like he was trying to fill the void of the room. ''Hell are you doing here out of all people?''
Should he answer? Should he throw himself at his forgot portal gun over at Morty's desk and teleport away? Should he shoot the other until he had no more bullets?
''I was...invited.'' Em mesured each word carefully.
Rick seemed to remember he was holding his flask, looked down at it for several seconds in his drunk state, and took a long swig, not even bothering to wipe the puke like substance running down his chin.
''Cool.'' he responded, and turned around to walk away.
''What?'' Em immediately answered, completely shocked by the laid back attitude of the mad scientist.
Rick looked back, still just as unimpressed as before.
''What? You think I care?'' he vaguely gestured to the still iron tight grip he had over Morty. ''Infinite universes, infinite stuff happen.'' he burped once more.
Em blushed slightly before slightly letting go of the other boy.
''Plus, that means you'll be less of a pain in the ass to me.''
Em was about the answer something just as kind and helpful when the other added.
''Dinner is ready, by the way, so come down or whatever.'' and he walked away, not caring enough to even push the door back.
Em huffed at the laziness of the man. Typical Rick behaviour.
His eyepatch picked up on the change of heartbeat of the boy on his chest, signaling he had probably been woke up by the noise.
Indeed, Morty hummed softly, muscles tensing before he opened his eyes ajar.
Em place a hand over this cheek, stroking the skin there. Morty immediately leaned in and Em couldn't help but pinch him gently. The former groaned at the new pressure but didn't say anything, as it apparently wasn't worth the trouble.
The sleepyhead's gaze first focused on the boy under him, taking long seconds to actually process the world surrounding him. Then, when he realised who he had been taking a nap on, he smiled, a tired but content grin that lightened up his features.
Em's heart stopped beating, red rushing to his cheeks at the sight. His mind also ceased to function, entirely focused on the other.
However, when he finally regained control over himself after totally-not-staring, he pushed Morty off of him out of pure embarrassment, reddening even more at the other's chuckle filling the room.
Eventually, he was able to free himself from the sudden iron grip of Morty, who tried to pin him down again, still giggling. Em dusted the nonexistent dust off his shoulder.
''Dinner is ready, you should head downstairs.'' he informed, reaching for his portal gun.
''Wait!'' Morty interrupted while he was trying the coordinates of an all too cold home.
Em turned back to him, slightly surprised.
''Um- Well, m-maybe you could come eat dinner with us?'' Morty scratched the back of his neck, awkwardness almost dripping off him.
''I wouldn't want to be intrusive-'' Em responded, but was cut off again.
''No!'' the boy practically half shouted, shocking even himself with the determination in his own voice. He cleared his throat before continuing. ''No, it's fine I swear. Plus, Space Beth and my dad's parents are here, so nobody would even pay that much attention to you.''
Doubtful, Em glanced back at his portal gun. Morty jumped off his bed and, taking his most pitiful tone -because of course he knew that would work without hesitation- he put his hands together in some sort of prayer.
''Pleeeease! Just this once- I'll owe you!'' the other pleaded.
Em felt his hesitation withering and before he knew it, he gave the other a short nod.
He thought he heart wouldn't be able to take the joy in Morty's eyes without having a heart attack right here and there, but apparently he was stronger than he thought because he was able to stay up even when the other basically invaded all of his personal space to gingerly press their lips together for a moment so short Em had to check the records of his eyepatch to actually verify this has happened.
Morty suddenly grabbed his wrist and lead the way downstairs, much to Em's relief when even he could tell he looked like a tomato.
Turns out, Morty was right: barely anybody payed attention to him because of the havoc all the other guests brought to the table. Beth simply added one more plate next to Morty's -she didn't even ask him anything- and pretended this had been planned all along.
She probably didn't care enough to say anything, but it was incredibly nice to just exist in a room without sci-fi bullshit -well, that wasn't completely true, since Space Beth and Rick were seated next to each other- but he just appreciated the moment while it lasted.
Most of all, he enjoyed his fingers being intertwined with Morty's under the table and his lingering taste on his lips.
He really was completely down bad for Morty, wasn't he?
Oh well.
He was okay with that.