Chapter Text
“I’m sorry Beth, I wanted to come sooner but your mother kicked me out for my debt and I knew I needed to make something of myself before I came back. I'm sorry it took so long”
That was the first thing Morty heard coming back from his shift, his last shift. The sad paycheck that probably wouldn't last them a month hung in his hand. The man had his back turned against the door, he could see his wild blue hair, his lab coat, and his mother’s face as she cried.
“Why didn't you call dad?” She wiped away another tear but they just kept coming.
“You didn't get my letters? I must have sent 100 of them until I realized you weren't answering, I thought you didn't want to see me. I understood why, I needed to prove myself first” The man placed a hand on her shoulder while Morty stood still, unsure of what to do as his brain asked himself a million different questions.
“What letters? I never got any…” She stepped closer to him putting her arms down.
“You didn't? Your mother must have thrown them out, oh sweetie I'm so sorry, if I had known I would have… I don't know, done something to show you I never forgot about you” He sounded sincere but an alarm was going off in the 16-year-old’s brain, something didn't seem right.
“Dad” She hugged him and cried on his chest, gripping his coat as if she was falling off a cliff and that was the one thing keeping her from meeting her death.
Morty watched until his mother stopped crying, then he made his presence known.
“Hey, I'm home” They both looked at him, the older man with a smile as if he had spent years searching for something just to find it in his pocket, a mixture of happiness, relief and… hunger, as if it hadn't been for nothing and he couldn't wait for a second longer to have it. It sent chills down Morty’s spine.
“Is this..?” With a nod from Beth, he approaches the boy “Hi, you don't know me but I'm your grandpa. I'm here to make everything okay” He smiled.
“Mom?” Morty wasn't sure what to do, how could this man he had never seen before in his life make everything, all this mess and despair he had called home, okay?
“It's true, he’s my dad. He couldn't be with us before but he will save us now” Her son hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time “You should pack your things, we will be moving with him” She left for the kitchen to open a beer to celebrate, Morty followed her but his grandpa stayed in the living room.
Not that it was a big space, so he still had to whisper as he questioned his mom. How could she trust that man so easily?
“Are you sure about this? We don't really know him…” Morty fidgeted with the worn-off adjustable straps of his backpack, of course, he wanted a better life, but he knew miracles didn't exist “I mean what does he want from us?”
“He WANTS to reconnect with his daughter, to meet his grandchildren and give us the life he worked so hard to get so we would accept him, so maybe be a little more grateful” She walked away from him back to her father.
Having no option but to accept, Morty walked to his room, collecting the few things he could call his and placing them in his backpack. He would have to carry his books but it wasn't as bad as the anxiety that filled him about this stranger walking into their lives. They waited for Jerry and Summer to get home, his father did seem a bit skeptical until he heard the other man, who Morty now knew was called Rick, saying he would never have to work again.
Summer was thrilled she would get to go to college and not have to work either, being able to finally focus on her studies. That rejection letter really took a token on her, it took some convincing but her brother made sure she didn't drop out. She was always the smartest of the two, he would figure out a way to pay for her college since he never really saw himself getting a chance to do the same, not while working full time and going to school just enough to not be held back.
Except that now he, apparently, didn't have to worry about that. The ride over was something else, despite his clothes Rick had a limousine waiting for them with a driver. And the house, if you could even call it that, was huge. More castle than a house, really.
Morty watched in awe, he really couldn't believe anyone could have enough money to buy something like this. He closed his mouth, blushing when he realized how stupid he must look. But watching his family they all pretty much had the same reaction, except for Rick who just smiled and sat closer to him.
“You like it? It was a bit too ‘white house’ for my taste, but it was either that or building one from the ground and that would mean not getting to see my daughter for longer, not getting to meet you” He placed a hand on his grandson’s shoulder and Morty couldn't help but smile back, maybe he was being paranoid, maybe his grandpa just wanted to do things right. To help them.
Stepping out of the car he noticed what Rick said about being close to The White House, the exterior was all white with columns at the entrance. A maid asked if she could take Morty’s bags and he hesitated, it might not be much but it was his stuff. The stuff he worked hard to buy, with the money he hid under the floorboards so his mother couldn't use it to buy beer, not until she found the hiding place anyway. Rick noticed that as he approached him once again.
“It's okay, she will just put it in your room so you don't have to carry that weight around” He placed his hand on Morty’s back, running it up and down a few times.
Morty wanted to cry at that simple gesture, it had been a long time since he had been comforted, told that it was going to be okay, and treated like he didn't need to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders because someone else would help him.
“O-okay, thanks” He handed her his backpack and books, he felt embarrassed he almost cried at such a stupid thing.
“How about I show you guys a tour of the house and you can go to your rooms to rest afterward?” With his hand still on his grandson’s back, he guided them inside.
The place was even bigger than they thought, having a backyard that went on for what looked like miles. There was a game room, indoor and outdoor pools, a dining room, a tv room, a huge library and even a ballroom, Morty didn't think that was an actual thing people had nowadays. They ended up on the second floor where the bedrooms were.
Rick left Beth and Jerry in their room first, explaining it was a second master room he made just for them, the first one being his. Summer got a room near theirs and was jumping out of excitement to see it had a walk-in closet, which her grandpa promised he would help her fill with brand-name clothing.
A couple of rooms down the hallway was Morty’s room, his grandpa explained the other rooms were smaller and he wasn't going to let him have a smaller room when he deserved more. His grandson almost wanted to fight him, telling him that any room was fine, he was just happy to have one just for himself instead of sharing it with his sister. That is until he saw his bedroom.
It was bigger than his old living room, there was a desk with a laptop on it, and a chair that was more comfortable than his old bed. Speaking of which, his new bed was so big he could have sworn it had to be more than one bed pushed together, slowly he sat on it running his hands on the sheets and blanket. They felt amazing to the touch, laying his back on it he felt as if he laid on a cloud instead. Unable to contain it he let out a groan, the same one you make once you get home from working hours non-stop.
Hearing a chuckle he quickly sits back up to see Rick standing by the door. Leaning on the frame with one shoulder and a smile that looked more genuine than any other he had given them. Felling his cheeks burning once again from the embarrassment he stands up.
“So-sorry I didn't mean to-”
“There is no reason to apologize, you did nothing wrong. I'm glad you enjoyed the bed, I had to guess your taste for most things” He starts to walk around the room, making Morty realize that his room was the only one with actual decorations or objects other than furniture in it “Of course if you didn't like anything don't be afraid to say it, this is your room after all. I want you to like all the stuff in it, so really” He turned to the boy petting his hair “tell me if you don't like something or want something else. It's not a problem or a burden, I would love to give you everything you want”
And there it was again, those tears threatening to form in his eyes, the lump in his throat. Morty always felt like a burden, he couldn't help it, he did so much to prove that he wasn't. But whenever his mom got drunk she would say how much he cost her, her youth, her body, her money. It didn't matter most of their money came from him, it didn't matter he helped his parents look for and keep their jobs as long as possible, it didn't matter that he did so much of the housework.
No, he had something wrong with him, something he would have to apologize and make up for over and over again. He just didn't know what it was, sometimes it felt like it was just his existence that promoted such hatred. He took a couple of seconds to control his breathing and hopefully his heart.
“Thank you…grandpa?” He was uncertain of what to call him, he didn't know what the man thought of him, but by god did he want Rick to like him, he desperately wanted to make a good impression.
“You can call me Rick if you like, I have a feeling we are going to be really close” He smiled, running his hands down the boy’s back again before turning to leave “I’ll leave you to explore your room, mine is right next door so call me whenever you like, oh and you see this door, it connects to my room. It came like this, I tried to take it down but, apparently, it's a part of the structure so the whole thing would collapse if I did that. Don't worry it's locked” He searched for something in the pockets of his coat until he found it “Here is the key if you ever want to visit, I have one too just in case this one gets lost, I'll call you when dinner is ready, okay?”
“Yeah, than-thank you” He held that key in his hand, ‘thank you’ didn't feel like enough but he didn't know how else he could show his gratitude. He was happy Rick thought they would be close, he wanted that too.
Everything in his room blew his mind, the smart tv facing his bed, with every video game imaginable attached to it, his walk-in closet where he found his backpack looking very out of place, the shelf with books, and the bathroom with a bathtub that could easily fit two people. He noticed his grandpa even brought him a toothbrush, an electric one. It may seem stupid, but Morty always wanted one of those.
Opening his drawers to place the few shirts he had, he noticed a couple of clothes already there. Morty had never felt special, but he remembered his sister’s closet completely empty, yet Rick took his time to buy him clothes. This time he allowed himself to cry, ‘It’s probably nothing, maybe he didn't have time to buy her clothes’ his brain told him reminding him he shouldn't feel special, he didn't deserve to. Still, it was hard not to be happy.
Seeing he had new clothes he decided to take a bath, toying around with the panel on the side he figures out how to use it and jumps right in, the hot water relaxing his muscles and taking his worries off his mind. He must have stayed there for a long time, trying out the water jets that seem to know exactly what spot in his back to hit, he hears a knock on the door.
“Just wanted to let you know dinner is ready”
“I’ll be right out” As he dried himself he tried to remember the path to the dining room, maybe he could ask Rick for a map, that is if he didn't get lost and could find him.
Now fully clothed he realized he didn't need to do that, Rick was waiting just outside of his room to accompany him to their meal.
“I know it's a big place, I get lost sometimes too” He mentioned almost as if he could read his grandson’s mind “You can always ask one of the servers or just text me”
He pulled a phone out of his pocket, it looked like a brand new one Morty had seen advertised around. It had a protective case with a space theme.
“I put my number there, on speed dial too, in case it's more urgent” He showed Morty how to do it and pulled his own phone as it started to ring, his case matched the boy’s “I can get you a new one if you don't like that one, though you should wait to see it in the dark first”
“NO, I mean I love this one, thank you so much” He was still in shock his grandpa just gave him the most expensive phone in existence just like that, he did feel stupid for staring at their cases, he didn't want Rick to think he didn't like it or appreciated it. He did end up smiling at how their phones matched once he got to the table and noticed everyone else’s phone had a simple clear case.
‘Stop it, he doesn't like you, he doesn't even know you and once he does he will hate you’ his thoughts turned against him, so he tried to focus on what his family was saying or on how Rick told him to see his case in the dark, anything but the dreadful feeling that he would ruin this.
The food served was incredible, the meat melted in their mouths, and even the juice tasted expensive like it was made with some special grapes or something. Morty, much like his parents and sister, ate as if it was his last mean. Food wasn't always a certainty in the smith house. Desert was even better, Morty had no idea what it was, it sounded french, but he ate 3 of it anyway, enjoying every bite.
‘I wanna stay here forever’ was the only thought in his mind, because not even he could ruin something that tasted this good. He hummed eating the last bite on his plate.
“Did you like it?” Rick asked leaning in, he didn't have to move much since he sat by his grandson’s side “I can teach you to make it if you want it”
Morty nodded enthusiastically, he had to learn to cook for when his parents weren't home or drunk so he felt confident maybe he could prove his value to Rick. They talked while walking back upstairs. His grandpa gave a quick goodnight to the rest of the family, looking more entertained by his conversation with him.
This made Morty smile too, at his door he hugged Rick. Immediately deciding to pull back, he couldn't hug what was essentially a stranger like that, ‘He hates me now, he thinks I'm too clingy, and he will kick me out for sure’ Morty began to panic, but as he stepped away his grandpa pulled him back in. One hand on his back and another one playing with his hair.
“Good night Morty” He smiled, stepping away to look at his grandson’s face.
“Goodnight Rick” His smile was as big as it could get, he turned around and as he opened his door he saw something.
Because of the light being on before, Morty hadn't seen the glow-in-the-dark stars glued to the ceiling. He just stared at them as if they were the real constellations in the sky.
“You like them? I was afraid you would think they were too childish” Rick stood by his side, moving his gaze to the ceiling and then back at his grandson.
“I love them” He wanted to hug Rick again, but refrained.
“Check your phone”
And sure enough, his case was also glowing, his grandpa placed his own phone right next to it, showing how the flow of those asteroids followed from one phone to another. Morty giggled like a little kid, unable to stop staring at them.
“Well, today was a long day, ill let you rest, but I can't wait for all we could do together tomorrow” Giving his grandson one last smile he left.
Morty fell on his bed, too tired to even change. Instead, falling asleep watching the stars taped to his ceiling.