Chapter Text
One would think that in a vast universe, where there are infinite possibilities, those who are brave enough to face it alone would be satisfied with their own success. Traveling anywhere in the multiverse, untethered by attachments or commitments. Only committed to self-preservation and, every so often, hedonistic pleasure. But the thing is, that in any person's life, there is a creeping, sulking loneliness. It can be buried, ignored, pushed away to the very back of your mind. But it is always there, on the prowl. And when that pit of debilitating loneliness finally stares you in the eye, you start to realize that it needs to be filled.
Which is exactly why one teenaged boy, who appeared to be wiser and smarter beyond his years, who had worked painstakingly hard for his own freedom… found himself looking for company.
It happened suddenly, and without warning. A day like any other in Morty Prime's life.
One day, when Morty was coming home from school, he went up to his bedroom and there he was. The one who was plagued by loneliness, but wanted to seem like he was anything but. Standing there, looking out the window with an aloof attitude. His evil counterpart stood right there, arms clasped behind him and an ominous aura about him that could not be ignored.
"Evil Morty" wasn't anything like him. And yet, he was him. But better. Everything that (Prime) Morty wanted to be and also hoped to never become.
"Oh good, you're finally here. I was wondering if you were ever gonna come upstairs. It isn't polite to keep a guest waiting." Evil Morty turned around and regarded his counterpart with an amused smirk. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
The other boy shook his head and blinked rapidly. He tossed his backpack aside and squared up to his "evil" version. "What do you want? Wh-What are you doing here? Is this something I should t-tell Rick about?"
Evil Morty rolled his eyes. Or at least one eye, as today he wore his signature eyepatch. He side-steps and sits on the bed, crossing his legs. "Give it a rest. You're safe, kid. For now. Don't you think that if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done something by now?"
This is starting to annoy him. Morty turns to the one sitting before him and gestures mockingly as he speaks. "Well, excuuuuse me for wondering why Mr. Don't-Come-Looking-For-Me just decided to break into my house!"
"I didn't break in. I portaled."
"Can you j-just tell me what your deal is?!"
Silence. A moment where they both hold their breaths and each other's glaring gazes. Finally, a sigh.
"I'm... bored." Evil Morty looks away, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He felt like he could have come up with a more convincing speech, with his past experience in politics. But he also knew that this was a different kind of persuasion. "I know I could've gone literally anywhere else, but... you didn't seem to want to actively kill me last time we met."
"Oh..." Morty's stance falters as his counterpart meets his eyes again. It's true, after Evil Morty helped them hunt down Rick Prime, they let him go peacefully. He studies his features, and finds the other's usually flat tone to be sincere and... vulnerable. Which was rare. "So... So is that it? You're just... Looking for a friend?"
Evil Morty rises. With his eyepatch and black outfit, he looks intimidating. He walks up to his brighter, more naive counterpart, until the other has to step back to maintain his personal space. "I'm extending an olive branch, from me to you. First offer for an indefinite truce. It's also my last offer, so choose your next move carefully."
Morty watches as his more cunning version holds out his hand. His eyes flick from the hand to the only visible eye. It seems icy and blue, like an overcast sky. It's not his usual steely, dark gray. For some reason, something in his gut says that this time around, he's trustworthy.
He begins to outstretch his own hand, but pauses halfway through. "W-what's in it for me?"
"I could show you some places outside of the Central Finite Curve... If you play your cards right."
"And if I refuse?"
Evil Morty gives him a knowing, smug look. "You know better than that."
And for once, Morty hopes that he's smarter than he thinks himself to be.
They shake hands. A promise of something new and unprecedented, at least to one of them. For the other, this is a rare experiment, testing out a theory.
"So.... H-How about some videogames?"
Evil Morty's expression went back to its neutral state. Completely unreadable and blank. "Hm. Tempting. What do you got?"
The two of them chat about the alien and interdimensional consoles available in the Smith household, as they head downstairs. Soon enough, they have booted up the old hyper-realistic games console, where Evil Morty shows his other self the right mods and settings that transform the gaming experience into something actually worthwhile.
After a bit of bickering and playing, some laughs and some yelling, they find themselves to be quite entertained.
Morty Prime looks at his fellow player with a grin. "You know... You're pretty fun to be around, E... Evil... Um... M-Mort-"
"Drop it." Evil Morty looks at the boy sitting next to him up and down. He knows that this Morty doesn't have much experience interacting with another version of himself. But there's room for some social improvement. "Just call me Em."
"O-Oh... Alright, Em."
Em then shoves Morty's shoulder and then points at the screen. "Head in the game, man! You're running into a ditch!"
"Aw jeez!"
The two of them continue to play their games, blissfully unaware of Rick watching them carefully from a safe distance behind.
Summer comes downstairs and stands next to her grandpa, watching the scene unfold. She sees two of her brother and feels like something is off. "Hey... Isn't that his evil twin or whatever?"
"Yup." Rick takes a swig of his flask.
The ginger teen looks between the old man and the boys in front of them, curious. "Should we do something...? I can go get the net."
Rick scans them for a moment. He's suspicious of the Evil version of Morty, but he wants to see how things play out. After all, this kid was the one who helped him finally get rid of his nemesis. "Not for now, sweetie. Let them have this."
"Fine, whatever." Summer disappears into the kitchen, instantly uninterested.
The two Mortys continue playing until Beth calls the family into the dining room for dinner. Prime Morty groans. He doesn't want to stop the game, but he also feels incredibly hungry. His stomach growls, betraying his true feelings to his counterpart.
Em sighs. He stands up and shoots one of his yellow portals into the wall. "I'll take this as my cue to leave. This was..." He gestures vaguely in the air. Then, with a soft smile, he continues. "Fun." It was certainly one way to put it.
His good version walks up to him. He seems almost sad to see him go. "Oh... Y-Yeah! This was fun. We-we should do it again sometime. Although, a heads-up would be nice next time."
Em takes a small crystal out of his pocket and hands it to Morty. It's flat, pressed into a thin, rounded rectangle. "Use this as a secondary chip in your phone. You'll find my contact there."
"Whoa, cool! So this means I can text y-you across dimensions?"
Em lets out a huff and a chuckle. This Morty was so easily impressed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'll be in touch. Bye."
He leaves through the portal with no further ado. However, as the portal closes, Em catches a hint of conversation.
"Hey, Morty! Is your friend staying for dinner?" An older female voice asks. Most likely Beth.
"N-No, mom. But maybe next time. I think… we'll be seeing more of him." Morty's tone sounds cheerful.
Evil Morty watches the golden portal dissolve in front of him and disappear. He sighs, sitting back on his own bed and looking out at the vast expanse of space from his window, in his mansion, in the lone floating island all his own.
Maybe getting to know his other self won't be so bad. Maybe the prowling beast of loneliness won't swallow him whole if he doesn't let it. If he's as careful as he's always been, planning each and every move, then perhaps… this could all turn out to be useful, after all.