Chapter Text
Morty turned into his bed, unable to sleep. That day's adventure had been even more traumatizing that usual, and that was not setting the bar low at all. He sighed, thinking back on how things had unfolded. He was actually surprised that Rick had accepted his bargain, and he wondered about the man’s motivations, attempting to shed some lights into that day’s events. Rick had clearly accepted only because he had been certain it would’ve turned out boring and that Morty would’ve gone back to following along without complaining. In the end, he had been right, but Morty doubted even Rick could’ve predicted how badly it was going to go. Morty certainly hadn’t expected rape to be an actual risk. He could’ve dealt with someone trying to murder him, to beat him or anything else really, but rape had been something so separated from his own person, something so far from his mind, that the whole thing had shaken him to the core. Morty had not told Rick what happened, why he had suddenly wanted to leave, and he had no intention of ever doing so. He didn’t doubt that the man would make fun of him, especially if he found out how much it had affected him. No, crying about it at night by himself was leagues better than suffering his grandpa teasing.
Morty shook his head, trying to get out of that spiraling train of thought, trying not to think about what nearly happened a few hours before. He went back to analyzing Rick’s behavior instead. It had actually been surprising, thinking back, that in the end his grandpa had given up trying to be a dick. It was almost as if his words had finally gotten through as soon as he had left him alone for a few minutes. Clearly, while he was with Morty, he had been too stubborn to let go of his damn pride and simply enjoy the adventure, but as soon as he had left after a few angry words, he had actually listened and started letting go.
Morty didn’t know how to feel about that- was he happy cause in the end he had listened? Was he angry that he had to drag it out of him and let him alone for a while for Rick to even consider his words? He really thought about it, brow furrowed in the darkness, staring at his ceiling restlessly, but in the end, he couldn’t find a satisfying answer. After a while he got up from bed, frustrated that he couldn’t stop thinking about that dilemma, and sighed. Between that and the phantom feel of Jellybean’s hands on him, he sure as hell would not sleep that night.
Maybe a trip to the kitchen and a bowl of cereals would make him stop obsessing and finally go to sleep. He slipped out of his room, trying to be as silent as possible, tiptoeing in front of Rick’s door. He definitely didn’t want the man to wake up and make fun of his difficulty to sleep, or any other random thing he’d pick on to taunt him. If he heard another joke about his horrible skills in picking an adventure, he would probably break down crying and surely, he would never live that down.
He turned on the kitchen’s lights and went straight for the cupboard with his favorite cereals, feeling weirdly apprehensive.
He froze when he heard steps coming down the stairs, his heart jumping in his throat. He hoped with all his might it would be Summer, since he knew she would just ignore him. Beth and Jerry would surely find something to complain about and Rick… well, he decidedly didn’t want it to be Rick. Which, of course, meant it was Rick.
- Hey M-Morty? What are you d-doing awake? –
Morty felt his stomach drop, and he didn’t answer, shrugging while he started pouring milk into his bowl. He stared with way too much focus at his drowning chocolate squares. Rick was silent a few seconds, but Morty could feel his glare boring into the back of his head, though he could not tell if it was because he was waiting for him to elaborate, or if the man was just drunk.
- L-look Morty, since you’re already awake I’ll show you now!–
Morty turned, confused by the excitement in Rick’s voice and at his lack of comment on the fact he clearly hadn’t been able to sleep.
- I made- I made you a card! – And in fact, the man was waving a small piece of paper in Morty’s face, which he immediately grabbed from his unsteady hands, annoyed. He was drunk, though not as drunk as Morty would’ve expected at this hour. He gave him a suspicious look, but Rick was wearing a neutral expression, almost bored, so he looked down at the piece of paper. It had ten squares printed on it and under them, with big orange letters, was written “Morty Adventure Card”. Morty stared at it uncomprehendingly, then blinked up at Rick. - R-rick what is this? –
Rick groaned loudly and threw his hands in the air. – I-it’s a card, M-morty! One would think y-you knew what a card was! H-haven’t you ever been to s-supermarket M-morty!? T-this il like a loyalty card but m-much more awesome! –
Morty eyes were still void of any kind of understanding. Rick groaned. – Oh my god, how dumb can you be M-morty? This is like for every ten adventures with me that you s-survive, you get to chose y-your own adventure! Cause you survived! I-It’s like a-a prize Morty, for surviving! T-that’s how low the bar is. –
Then he started spouting off about dumb sidekicks that couldn’t even survive a simple adventure through an exploding star or something, but Morty had stopped listening staring at the small piece of paper with wide, surprised eyes. He had thought he would never get to choose ever again. Since he had fucked up the first one and he had dragged Rick back home when the man had just started to have fun, he thought Rick would never let him choose again and he sure as hell would not have had the balls to ask. Especially not after Jellybean. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to choose again after that. But now Rick was taking it off of his hands: he didn’t have to find the courage to ask him again, because that small piece of paper gave him the right to just pick an adventure when he felt like it, without having to convince himself or Rick.
He suddenly looked up at his grandpa with an excited smile. – Rick! – He almost shouted, interrupting the older man's drunken monologue. Rick jumped at his way too loud voice and he looked at him as if he had lost his mind – Goddamit, kid, y-you want to wake everyone? What t-the - - Rick this is awesome! – he interrupted him.
Rick rolled his eyes. – Yeah, I k-know dipshit, it was my idea, of c-course it’s awesome! –
Morty shook his head and gestured to the piece of paper – No but this Rick! – he exclaimed, making his way to the door, ready to put the card somewhere safe. He looked up again – This is the coolest thing ever! Thank y-you G-grandpa Rick! –
Rick looked to the side, not meeting Morty’s excited and sincere eyes, crossing his arms with a sour expression on his face. - Yeah, w-whatever. - One could’ve even said he was pouting, but Morty was so taken with his happiness that he didn’t even glance at Rick, almost running up the stairs, completely forgetting about his bowl of cereal and about his family sleeping. He glanced around his room, looking for a place to hide the precious piece of paper, then decided that he could just always keep it on himself since he couldn’t know when he would need it, if he decided it was his turn to have an adventure while they were in space.
He threw himself on his bed, still looking at his card, and thinking about all the things he could do with it, all the adventures he would have to choose, all the things he could see now. His heart was going decidedly faster than normal and he felt his throat closing for the intense mix of excitement and anxiety. He sure as hell would not sleep that night.