For Your Flesh Do My Curtains Part.

BirdPerson

Rick Sanchez was lying on the terrace of their current motel, sipping from a can of light beer (it was amazing what one missed after spending three months sleeping in Stanley's car) when he heard a small bleeping sound from above. A flash of green filled the sky, with a long, spiralling gradient into yellow then white then a slight tinge of blue. It stretched across the sky like a tightly pulled rope, making the scientist raised an eyebrow in intrigue. What exactly was this? That question was answered when a pair of large wings like an eagle's shot open and down swooped his oldest and dearest friend, BirdPerson. "Hey, wh-what's going on BirdPerson?" of course his name wasn't really BirdPerson, but he real name was in a language Rick found extremely difficult to learn, and had given up on several years before. He spoke ten intergalactic languages, even Kronenburg. But he couldn't get the bird language.

"Rick, hello," While BirdPerson's voice was in its usual emotionless tone, Rick sensed a hint of concern and urgency behind it.

"W-What's going on man?" Rick offered the alien a beer which he didn't accept; liquor confused him. Rick shrugged and padded into the motel room where Stanley was sitting on the couch reading a newspaper.

"What the-?!" Stanley yelled, but then recognised the large alien from the first night he met Rick. "Hey...uh...Bird-Man,"

"Hello overweight human with large nose," Birdperson replied, which made Stanley go red in the face and Rick's eyes water from trying to stifle his laughter. "Rick, would it be better to continue this discussion in private?"

"No," Rick re[lied immediately. "Any-anything we have to discuss c-can be said in front of him," Rick explained with such a look of determination to include Stanley. Until then they had lived very separately when it came to Rick's 'extracurricular activities', but Rick didn't want that. He loved Stanley Pines and was going to include the larger man whether he liked it or not.

"Vey well. Rick, the Intergalactic Government required my planet to sign up under their rule. Since we have declined, they have begun to invade us. We are at war with them Rick, and we need your help," the alien explained gravely.

"Count me in," was the immediate response.

"Woah, woah, woah," Stanley stood up from his arms chair and waved his large forearms around in front of the two. "Rick, you don't think we should talk about this first? I man, what the hell? You're the one who practically forced me to stay with you, now you're talkin' about leavin' ta some Godforsaken planet to get killed in a war?!"

BirdPerson raised an eyebrow as he heard Stanley state that Rick forced them to be together, but decided not to mention it. Actually, he decided not to mention anything during this weird and clearly volatile situation. He really didn't understand humans. "Lee, look," Rick tried, holding his hands up in what, to BirdPerson, seemed like a defensive gesture, like Rick was scared of his partner. But then, why would that be? "I-I love you, okay?> But we-we're talkin' a whole planet, billions of - well not people but you know what I mean - being wiped out, taken control of. I cant fucking stand it Lee. I have to go help. He's my friend,"

Stanley scoffed. "Since when have you been fuckin' loyal? Huh, since when have you gave a fuck about anyone other than yourself?"

"I care about you!" Rick screamed hoarsely. That made everyone in the room freeze. Rick widen his eyes. He had never said that to anyone. Ever. Nobody meant anything to him. But Lee did. Was he suddenly capable of caring? Had this rugged redneck actually incited something like that in him? Destroyed the cold person he had once been and replaced it with this scared puppy, terrified of being left alone? "I...care about you, Lee," Rick repeated in a confused tone this time. The conviction was gone, replaced by something lost and desperate. Stanley seethed.

"Ya know what? Fine! You fuckin' manipulative psycho, all you are is a drain on my damn resources. Go, fuck off to plant Bird-Man! See if I give a damn," Stanley threw his red jacket on and opened the door to leave, turning back to his boyfriend. ""You wanna go then go, but don't expect me to be here waiting when you come back," The door slammed behind him.

Rick stared at the floor for a few seconds before turning to BirdPerson. "Come-come help me p-pack,"

Five hours later Rick and Birdpersojn sat under the sky littered with twinkling star, Rick with a beer in his hand and BirdPerson with his arms hanging limply between his thigh, perching himself on the balcony. "Rick, I shall now attempt to ask you a personal question." BirdPerson stated. Rick looked at him like he had just sprouted a third wing, but just shrugged.

"Okay, shoot," BirdPerson lifted up one of Rick's spindly arms.

"These erosive bruising marks, how did you get them?"

Rick snatched his black and blue arm back, cuddling it close to his chest. "None-None of your damn business,"

"Rick, on my world, when one leaves bruises on their significant other this is considered a dick move,"

Rick snarled half-heartedly at his friend. "Shut up you don't know anything about me or Lee you have no idea the shit we've been through," Rick exclaimed very quickly, with no full-stops in-between. BirdPerson raised his arms in surrender. Rick stared out into the desert for a few seconds, a tear trickling down his face. He quickly wiped it, concealing it so his friend wouldn't see. "Come on, let's go," Rick swung his knapsack onto his back, carrying it one-strapped like he'd seen the cool kids in high school do. Personally he couldn't understand the appeal.

Rick and BirdPerson jumped into the large portal, feeling themselves split into pieces, reappearing in the jungle that was BirdPerson's planet. "Fuck..." Rick whispered to himself, hissing through his teeth. "What have I done to Lee?" he started to cry.

"Hey Rick?!" he heard a voice from behind. "How's it Schwanching bro?!"

Oh shit. Rick thought. This guy. 

Rick turned around with a huge and very false smile. "Schwanchy!" he exclaimed, hugging his ex-bandmate tightly. The scruffy little cat let out a pleased yelp before  Rick settled him back down on the floor. "I kn-knew you'd be here helping out our no-UUURRRPPP-ble cause," 

"I'm not the only one," Schwanchy raised an eyebrow. "I met this brilliant scientist Rick who's agreed to build our weapons and schwanch," 

Rick rolled his eyes skeptically but tried to seem enthusiastic. "And who's that huh?" 

"Forgotten me already Sanchez? Wouldn't be surprised with how much a junkie you are," 

Rick whirled around, his eyes widening like saucers. "FORD?!" 

^ 

Stanely sat in a bar nursing a beer. That was it; a whole year of his life wasted away. Nothing would ever be the same again - not without Rick. Stanley had been strong that first time, the first time he real;y abused Rick. He had been strong enough and mature enough to walk out. But now Rick had walked out, and Stanley was left broken, desperate, screaming out in his head, replaying that entire year over and over to try to figure out what went wrong, what he could have done to make Rick stay. What he could have done to make Rick happy, not the cynical, broken person he had become. What would become of him now? And what would become of Rick? 

Except he knew what would become of Rick. Rick had a talent. He was so smart, and he had friends who looked out for him. He had a purpose and a mean to fulfill it. What did Stanley have? Nothing. No education, no talents, no smarts, no friends or family. His only real family had left him. Rick had almost been like a replacement for Ford, but now he had left just like Ford did. Maybe too good a replacement then. 

Stanley finished off the drink and just as he was about to get up and leave someone brushed past him. Stanley smirked slightly. Time to do the only thing I've ever been good at, Stanley decided. Pick a fight.