You're My Lionheart

Author's Note: Some more fluff. Shorter than the last, but I think still okay. This story was inspired by King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men with traces of Swing Life Away by Rise Against. Anyeay, hope you cry, I guess.

Even though there was an alien amusement park behind him, Morty didn't hear much of the joyful commotion. He paid attention to the pitch black cloudless sky in front of him, a few stars twinkling in the distance.

He noticed his grandfather next to him sipping from a bottle of foreign alcohol he had gotten from the amusement park. Because the beverage was so potent, he had gotten drunk quickly.

"L-Look at th-th-those, mountains i-in the distance, Morty," Rick said, pointing into the dark expanse at a purplish outline. "Those have, th-these rainbow s-spirit ghosts that, they-they, you can walk on stuff with them."

"That's pretty cool, Rick." Morty blandly responded. He knew just to go with Rick's pointless rants when he was like this. He watched the gentle waves crash against the wooden stakes of the pier the two were sitting on.

Morty tensed in surprise when Rick wrapped his arm around Morty's shoulders and slightly leaned into him. "You're a good kid, Morty. You're a good kid."

"I know." Morty said. "Hey, what are you doing?"

"My feet are hot." Rick slipped off his shoes and placed them next to him, letting his lanky legs and socked feet dangle below him. "You and me, one day, we-we're gonna explore that ghost forest and get, a bunch of ghosts."

Morty grinned at the thought. "That's be nice."

"You're not scared?" Rick asked, genuinely craving an answer.

"No, I'm not." Morty said with a confidence he didn't know he had.

Rick spread a dim looking smile across his face. "Wow. You're just like my last Morty."

"What last Morty?" Morty responded, taking interest in the statement. That was the first time his grandfather had mentioned having any other Morty.

"He was real brave, just like you," Rick stared into the distance as he spoke. "Was full of energy, altruistic,"

Rick's breath hitched in his throat at the last word. Morty saw him gently close his eyes and bringing his free fist up to his mouth. "A lionheart."

"What's a lionheart?" Morty inquired.

"Someone who's brave, good," Rick choked out. "Anyone not me."

Morty felt a peculiar sadness wash over him at the sight of his best friend talking about another version of him who was most likely better. But he felt daring enough to ask more questions. "W-What happened t-to him?"

Rick let a sliver of his eyes show again before reclosing, forcing streams of tears down his cheeks. "H-He," His voice cracked, so he disguised it by taking a swig of his alcohol. "But you know what, Morty?"

"What?" Morty said.

Rick turned to face Morty, allowing his remaining tears to spill. He threw his arms around his grandson in a deep hug.

Morty was stunned at the sudden burst of affection, but in seconds felt a warmth that spread throughout his being overtake him and any of his previous negative thoughts. He felt a shaky smile blossom across his face to accompany the euphoria.

"You're th-the best p-person ever, Morty," Rick whispered in Morty's ear. "Y-You're amazing. You're my best friend, Morty. I'm with you until the very end."

Morty's throat constricted as he fought the tears that now threatened to stream down his face. He couldn't say any words, restrained by his emotions. But he felt the wetness of Rick's tears on his cheek as he pulled him closer, close enough for him to feel his grandfather's racing heartbeat and trembling.

He held the hug for what felt like a while, until, after Morty felt Rick's heart slow down and his trembling cease, spoke. "You're my lionheart."