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"Come on Rick, it would be so cool! I bet the younger you is adorable."
Rick rolls his eyes and walks out of the garage that you two were conversing in, ignoring your propositions and the slight burn in his cheeks.
"I don't think s-so dipshit. I'm not that m-much of a maSOOChist that I want to watch you make conversation with a cringier, crybaby version of me" Rick retorts, heading into the kitchen and grabbing some Wafers from the cabinet.
You sigh quietly and cross your arms, standing in front of him.
"Okay, well, if you let me meet him, I'll uh- tell you the embarrassing peanut butter story from when I was 14," you prod.
Rick shoves a wafer into his mouth and raises an eyebrow. "Oh yeah, really? Been trying to pry that o-out of you forever and this will finally crack the secret o-open?"
You look away, already slightly heated with humiliation at the thought, but knowing Rick wouldn't be able to pass it up. "Yeah," you murmur.
He smirks now, throwing the wafers back into the cabinet and grabbing your arm to drag you back into the garage. "L-let's fuckin go, then."
You finally peaked your eyes open after Rick shoved you through his glowing portal without warning once again. You were in a room with a small bed in the shape of a race car and various toys scattered amongst the floor. Posters of dinosaurs and science inventions lined the walls. Rick was beside you, kind of emotionlessly staring ahead. When you finally followed his gaze, you gasped.
In the center of the room, was a tiny child Rick, sitting on the floor and playing with some levers on what looked to be a metal box. He was humming a tune in concentration and kicking his small feet. You covered your mouth to hide your smile, not wanting Rick to see how sentimental you found it to be. He's so fucking cute.
"Baby Rick," you whispered.
Just as you went to ask Rick why he had put you both THIS far back in the timeline, someone called from upstairs in the house.
"Rick, sweetheart, dinner's ready!"
Child Rick's eyes lit up and he carefully placed the box down, running out of the room to go downstairs.
"He's so-"
"Shh," Rick cuts you off, motioning for you to follow him as he darts over to the closet.
He flings open the door, and there perched in the corner was Memory Rick, who was startled and screamed in shock.
"Oh, you, hey. What are you doing back here again?" He asks Rick, looking between the two of you.
"It's not by c-choice, I've got a begging puppy here and y-you're just my show and tell piece" he jabs, taking a drink from his flask.
You push him gently out of the doorway and smile at Memory Rick. "Don't listen to him, you probably already know how big of a sourpuss he is. I'm Y/N, it's nice to meet you." You hold your hand out.
He smiles warmly at you and shakes your hand. "Of course. He is me. Or, what I'll become if I ever cross over. Are you his um, partner?"
"Hmm, something of that nature," you respond, ignoring Rick's scowl at the intrusive question.
"Well, he picked a lovely one then. Very easy on the eyes too. Technically I guess you could say I picked a lovely one," he winks and clasps your hand to gently kiss it.
Your face flushes and you giggle a little at the sweet notion that takes you by surprise. You couldn't ever picture Rick doing this with you, and it made your stomach feel home to a butterfly garden.
"Next time r-remind me to dress for a fucking wedding," Rick says, visibly annoyed.
"So, do you live here? What do you do?" You asked Memory Rick.
He shakes his head. "Just visiting. Sometimes I'm here, chilling out with the little bud- our younger self. I have a job at a local game store and spend my days writing songs for my band. We're called The Flesh Curtains."
"Oh yes, I've heard a little bit about you guys. Not much because it's hard to get any info outta this guy," you say nodding to Rick.
This earns a laugh from Memory Rick. "Just me, Birdperson, and Squanchy. We've been performing for a couple of years, a few major arenas and even one stadium. There's really nothing like being on the road and touring."
"I could imagine. I've always thought that would be an amazing experience" you smile.
"It is. Isn't it, Rick?" Memory Rick asks the older man, who couldn't have a more sullen face if he tried.
"Yep" he replies shortly, taking a big swig from his flask.
Memory Rick carefully takes your hand in his again. "Well you know what? I'd love to take you on the road with us one day. Let you live the rock star life, even come on stag-"
"O-okay, party time's over." Before you could blink, Rick pulls out his portal gun and you're being pushed through a swirling green light.
"What the fuck, Rick?" You ask, looking up at the man, furious that he not only cut your time with Memory Rick short but also gave no heads up for the shove back into reality.
"S-sorry, I thought I was gonna vomit i-i-if I couldn't find a way to cut my ears off soon enough," he grumbles, sitting down in his chair by his work bench.
"Why are you such an asshole? We were having a nice time. What is there to be mad about?" You cross your arms, unwilling to back off from this.
"Just wasn't w-worth the time. I've got other dimensions to see about."
You narrow your eyes at him. "I don't see you in them right now. So what's the real reason?"
He shifts in his seat uncomfortably and runs a hand through his hair. "You're like a bug th-"
You suddenly snapped out of it and realized what was actually going on. He's jealous. He's very jealous. And you've only seen this once or twice before.
"You're jealous."
"O-of myself? Sure s-sweetie, I'll be sure to tell my therapist a-about it."
You smirk. "You absolutely are. Can't believe it took me so long to realize."
"I-I'm not fucking jealous, get off your emotion detecting high h-horse. You're wrong."
You relax your face and soften your voice now, intending to break the truth out of him another way if he didn't care to confess.
"Okay, I'm sorry. You're right," you say and he looks relieved for the moment.
"But I would love to go on tour with him soon. I can still feel my hand tingling from his kiss," you swoon and rub over your hand.
Rick's face turns down again and his eyes drop as rage fills his face once more. You can see his clenched fists in his lap. He gets up from his chair and walks over to tower in your face. "Not fucking happening, babe. B-By the way, now seems like a good time to throw it out there that I already know the peanut butter story. Infiltrated y-your memory after the second time you wouldn't tell me. That's why I did this. Last time I do you a nice favor." He stalks out and you smile, knowing you got what you wanted.