Rick and Morty: Smartest Morty in the multiverse

Beth reached for the salad bowl again, this time slower, her fingers grazing past Morty's as they both reached for the serving spoon at the same moment. The touch was brief nothing remarkable but neither of them moved away first. Their hands paused over the bowl, fingertips barely touching, a fleeting contact that lingered just half a second too long for comfort.

Morty smiled first. "After you," he said, voice low, almost playful.

Beth gave him a look a soft scoff under her breath as if to say, Don't push your luck. Yet she didn't pull away. She scooped a portion onto her plate, passing the spoon back toward him, her hand brushing against his again as she set it down.

"Gentleman now, huh?" Beth said, eyebrow raised.

Morty gave a small shrug, picking up his fork. "Only when the company calls for it."

Beth huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head as she stabbed a piece of lettuce. "Where's this coming from?"

Morty leaned in slightly, resting his forearm on the edge of the table. His tone dropped just enough to make her glance up. "Maybe I just figured it's about time someone treated you like you deserve."

Beth froze for a fraction of a second not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for Morty to catch it.

"You're really pushing it tonight," she said, her voice half warning, half… something else.

Morty tilted his head slightly, eyes calm. "Am I?"

Beth gave him that same sideways look the one she used on Rick when he said something that walked the tightrope between brilliant and insane.

"You are," she said quietly.

Morty didn't look away. "Good."

The word hung in the air like a challenge neither of them was sure how to take.

Beth shook her head, taking another sip of wine, setting the glass down with a soft clink. "You know, you're lucky you're my kid."

Morty smirked. "That the only reason you're letting me get away with this?"

Beth gave him a slow, deliberate once-over—not lingering, not inappropriate, but appraising in a way that suggested she wasn't entirely sure herself.

"Yeah," she said finally, though her tone didn't carry much conviction.

Morty leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely over his chest. "That's fair."

Beth's eyes lingered on him for a breath longer before she reached out lightly, casually and brushed a crumb off his sleeve.

"There," she said, almost under her breath. "Wouldn't want you looking sloppy now that you're all grown up and charming."

Morty caught her wrist gently not tight, not forceful. Just enough to make her glance down in surprise.

He held it for half a second longer than necessary before releasing it with a small, deliberate smile.

"Thanks, Mom," he said, his voice smooth, soft.

Beth pulled her hand back slowly, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she shook her head again, a quiet laugh escaping her lips. "You're impossible."

Morty tilted his head, his smile softening. "You said that already."

Beth gave him a look. "And I'll probably say it again before the night's over."

They fell into a momentary silence not awkward, but charged with something neither of them named.

Beth shifted in her chair, glancing toward the living room where Jerry's laughter echoed faintly from the TV.

"You're lucky Jerry's half deaf," she muttered.

Morty chuckled softly. "He wouldn't hear it even if he wasn't."

Beth rolled her eyes but didn't disagree.

She reached for her wine again, and Morty this time steadied the base of the glass with two fingers as she lifted it. Their hands touched again, just briefly, but neither acknowledged it.

Beth took a slow sip, her eyes flicking back to him over the rim of the glass.

"You're going to get tired of this game," she said quietly.

Morty leaned in, his voice dropping to a low hum. "Who says it's a game?"

Beth exhaled, shaking her head. "Oh, it's a game. You just haven't figured out the rules yet."

Morty smiled not smug, not sharp. Just that faint, knowing curve of lips that stayed comfortably close to harmless.

"Maybe I'm learning."

Beth smirked. "Not fast enough."

She pushed her chair back, standing with a stretch that pulled her shoulders tight beneath her shirt.

Morty stood as well not hurried, not tense. Just moving with her, matching her pace.

"You're a bold one tonight," Beth said, setting her empty glass on the counter.

Morty shrugged lightly. "I guess I figured… why not?"

Beth turned, folding her arms as she leaned casually against the counter. "Careful."

Morty stepped closer, still within that safe, ambiguous range close enough for it to be something, far enough for no one to accuse him of anything.

Beth met his gaze, her expression sharp, almost amused.

"You keep walking this line," she said softly, "one day you're gonna fall off it."

Morty gave her a slow, deliberate nod. "Maybe."

Beth studied him for a long second before shaking her head with a quiet, resigned smile.

"Get the dishes, Morty," she said, turning toward the sink. "Before I forget you're my son."

Morty chuckled, stepping past her to grab the plates close enough that their shoulders brushed for a half-second.

"Wouldn't want that," he murmured.

Beth gave him a sideways glance half warning, half amused and said nothing as she turned on the tap.

And Morty?

He took his time clearing the table, letting the moment settle exactly where it belonged.

Somewhere between bold and harmless.

Somewhere perfectly in between.

Just how Viktor likes it.

_______

So l just Wana say l have made a little mistake

You might be thinking what mistake everything seems perfect.

Well l accidentally mislabled Viktor as a sociopath...

He is a high functioning psychopath or that what Google told me because sociopath may sound cool they are highly emotional which Viktor is clearly not

I will change the intro pretty soon but if you seen me say Viktor a sociopath in previous chapter please forgive me for that

Regardless love ya ❤️