fun in space | rick sanchez

07. something ricked this way comes

It wasn't the routine, it was her, and yet, Rick couldn't admit it to himself just yet.

He couldn't surrender the fact that Morty was right and he was wrong. The excuse that it was for her safety still prevented him from listening to the part of him that realized it was always Cas and that she was fully capable of protecting herself. He feared that if they got involved, it would put a bigger target on her back from not only the Galactic Federation but everyone else that he had crossed. He kept her at a distance to prevent her from becoming a target to his enemies but mostly from the Galactic Federation. Stories of Rick's that didn't take precautions when it came to that were heard across the multiverse. Cas' suffered because they got too close and Rick couldn't risk that with his own Cas.

He knew it hurt both of them to be away from each other but it would hurt more to see her being held against him as leverage. She didn't deserve that. Though he knew what Cas was capable of and that she could handle herself, he wasn't sure he could handle the risk of loosing her.

One of the biggest things Rick and the rest of his family noticed though was how Cas' whole demeanor changed, as mentioned before. She was no longer the childish, bubbly person that Rick knew. The person who would insist on eating rainbow, sugary cereal (with her 'special dairy free milk') instead of the fluffy pancakes Beth would make every morning. Cas always told him the colors made her happy compared to the bland color of pancakes and the sugary taste was better than bland pancakes, even with syrup and butter. Now though, Cas' plate had an untouched pancake and a barely touched pile of hash browns. Rick stared at her plate until Morty snapped him out of it.

"Hey Rick, I have to make a project for the science fair this weekend. You think you could help me out?" Morty entered the dining room, breaking Rick's trance from Cas.

"Whatever," He mumbled and shrugged.

"Well, um, traditionally science fairs are a father-son thing," Jerry spoke up and Rick rolled his eyes. He found himself more irritated by anything and everything now. His tolerance for the rest of the family's problems was lower than it had ever been, especially when it came to Jerry.

"Well, scientifically, traditions are an idiot thing," Rick snapped, twisting the spare parts in his hand together.

"Morty, I think it will be fun for you to work on a science project with your dad," Beth smiles as she looked down at her phone. Rick tuned most of what happened next out as Cas pushed her plate forwards slightly and rested her head on her palm with a blank face. His hands moved without realizing it, pushing the plate back to her without looking away from his own. He didn't miss the glare that Cas gave him but ignored it as he kept eating.

"What is my purpose?" The small little robot on the table uttered as it came to life. Rick could feel Cas' eyes on him.

"Pass the butter," Rick replied. The robot hooked his little arms into the butter tray, pulling it towards him. "Thank you," Rick grinned as he began to spread the butter on his pancake. The feeling of Cas' eyes on him had yet to leave and he only took a short moment to see her staring at him before glancing down at her plate. She scoffed quietly towards him before scooping a bit of her hash browns and eating slowly.

"Dad, I need a ride to work," Summer came in, looking towards Jerry who was focused on his tablet.

"Maybe Rick can give you a ride," Jerry smiled smugly as Rick looked up. His fork was still in his mouth as he rose half a brow at Jerry. "I'm helping Morty with science." Jerry bragged.