The Phoenix Burglar

Chapter 13: What Now?

Mirri pov

I open my eyes to all blue. My hair swirls around me and I reach toward it, mesmerized. I floating in a sphere, and its fucking freezing. I pull my arms around myself and try to step out of the bubble. I manage to phase through it, but fall to the ground. I grumble and sit myself up, dusting off ice. In front of me lies Rick and Morty, passed out with weird looking things in their ears. I pause, feeling something in mine. I pull it out and sure enough, it's one of the same devices. Why are we here…Why was I…

Everything comes back at once and I lean back against the garage wall. Tears fall down my cheeks. Rick was wrong. It wasn’t a fucked up dream. Those things happened. I never remembered much of my childhood, and that was why. I blocked everything out. Morty starts to shift and sits up, Rick following shortly afterwards. I stand up and they look at me.

“Mirri!” Morty shouts joyfully as he jumps up and wraps his arms around me. I stiffen.

“Hey kiddo.” I reply softly and hug him back. Rick clears his throat loudly. Morty steps away from me.

“Ahem. You're welcome.” I scrunch my face in confusion.

“For what?” Rick looks at me flabbergasted.

“Are you serious? I saved your ass from a coma and burning everything in the galaxy’s vicinity!” 

“Is that true?” I ask, glancing at Morty. He nods. I stare at the ground, embarrassed.

“Thank you, Rick. And thank you for what you said in there. That version of me needed to hear that.” Rick looks uncomfortable now, and wouldn’t meet my gaze. 

“Yeah, well, I was a dad, I know how to comfort a kid having a nightmare.” I sigh. 

“You guys need to know that that wasn't a nightmare. That was something that really happened to me as a child.” They freeze, staring at me horrified. Morty steps in front of me, grabbing my hands. 

“I’m so sorry, Mirri. Is there anything I can do to help you right now?” He says with sincerity. I smile at him fondly, giving his hands back to him.

“Well, yes. But you’re not going to like it.” He looks at me with confusion. 

“I need to leave.” 

“What?!” Morty yells. Rick spits out the swig he had taken from his flask.

“You can’t just fucking leave!” Rick yells, stomping up to me. “Do you know how much resources I wasted to get you back?! This little shit is never gonna be the same if you- I need you!”He stops mid rant and his face flushes scarlet. Morty glares at him, and I blunk in confusion. “I mean, I need to find out what you are still, I can’t do that if you’re gone..” He says lamely with his shoulders slumped. Morty pushes him out of the way.

“Mirri, you can’t leave. Rick’s too much of a pussy to say it,”

“Fuck you,” Rick growls from behind him.

“...But we care about you and we would miss you too much. Please don’t go.” I look over them both unsure of what to say.

“I’m sorry…but I need to find someone. They might know where I came from, who I am.”

“Who could possibly know that?” Rick says in disbelief.

"The headmistress of my orphanage." They flinch upon hearing the word orphanage, but I ignore it. "She always acted strange around me. I think she knew more than she said. She might be able to give me a clue as to where I come from." I ramble with a frown. I really loathe the idea of seeing her again, but it isn't really an option at this point. She was a cruel woman, but I don't need to fear her. I was just a child back then but I can beat her ass now if I need to. Or if I just feel like it. 

"Let me help you, Mirri." A voice says softly. I look up, shocked to see that Rick is the one who spoke. An emotion floating in his eyes that I can't place. 

"You don't have to trust me, fuck I wouldn't, but just...let me help." Rick finishes.  Morty gently wraps his hand around mine. 

"Please, you don't have to be alone, Mirri." Morty gently coaxes. I look between them. One smiling up at me, the other leaned against his workbench with his arms crossed. My eyes prick with  tears, wanting to cry with joy and gratitude. I swallow them back.

"I suppose." I grumble, pretending to be annoyed. Morty lets out a relieved sigh before smacking the back of my head. "Ow! Morty! What was that for?"

"Making me think I was gonna lose you, you- you- ass butt!" I pause and burst into laughter at his silly worded insult. Morty glares before it slips into a smile and he starts laughing with me. Rick glares at us from his work bench and rolls his eyes. He turns away to take a drink from his flask, but I catch a glimpse of his smile and it only makes me grin and laugh harder.