Chapter Text
It wasn't like Eve lived at the Smith house. That would be crazy. But he does just… appear most days at this point. It’s never a huge thing- sometimes it's just for a few hours, sometimes it's a couple days. He’ll portal in, curling up on the couch with Morty or randomly cooking dinner for the entire family because he “got bored”. Morty has gotten pretty used to Eve being around all the time. They’ve only been dating for a couple months, but Morty would be lying if he said he wasn't attached at the hip already. Eve is just so… alluring? Beautifully chaotic? Sweet, but only to Morty in these tiny, unexpected doses that make his chest tighten and his brain fuzz out in pure gay.
It's not like Eve is too straightforward- Morty has discovered (the hard way) that he’s not nearly as affectionate in front of other people. Eve usually has this untouchable, sarcastic appearance even to Morty’s family. But if its just him and Morty? It’s different. He’s soft, in this way that makes Morty feel valued like an actual equal. Eve has been a lot more open the last couple weeks too. (He called Morty “Angel” once last week. Morty nearly died on the spot.)
Unfortunately, Eve hasn't been around this week. The last week and ½ actually. He left one night, texted Morty about a solo adventure, and then poof. This isn’t an irregular occurrence- this has happened at least twice already. Morty doesn't mind! Of course Eve has his own life, adventures and projects he wanted to work on. Of course Morty is going to support that. He's just really bored. He's gotten so used to Eve just.. Being around. All the time. It's a constant comfort- so there's always that part of him that gets lonely. But it's never forever, Eve always comes home.
The TV was blaring. When Morty stepped into the living room, the only thing he could hear was the screaming and gunshots of whatever random war movie was on. Rick was half slouched across the couch cushions with his flask in hand, eyes glazed like he was only paying attention to every third explosion. Morty plopped down on the other end, knees up to his chest, phone clutched in hand. Eve had said he was coming back tonight, so of course Morty had been checking his phone nonstop all day. Every buzz made his stomach flip, but every notification without Eve’s name on it he wanted to throw it across the room. “Waiting for prince charming to text you?” Rick leaned over- peering over Morty's shoulder to stare at his phone like a raccoon sniffing out garbage. Morty jerked back, clutching the phone to his chest. “Shut up, Rick.” the old man simply snorted, turning back to the TV and leaving Morty to continue staring at his multiversal messaging app like it owed him money.
The next hour was a blur. Morty kept staring at his phone, Waiting for a notification or something from Eve. Beth came downstairs to start dinner, pots clinking and the smell of garlic filling the kitchen, but Morty barely registered it. Summer had dropped onto the loveseat twenty minutes ago, scrolling TikTok and occasionally snorting at random fail videos or reddit stories. Even Jerry had wandered in, parking himself at the island to chat at Beth, who only really answered with distracted nodding. The whole house was buzzing with background noise, but for Morty it all faded into static. The noise that finally got him to look up was The soft little swhoop of a portal opening somewhere in the house’s main hallway. Morty was on his feet before he even processed the noise- shoving his phone in his pocket and bolting for the hallway. (Rick barely glanced over at the blur of motion, while Summer had immediately sat up straighter- phone already out and ready to record the inevitable blackmail with a shit eating grin.)
The glowing yellow portal snapped open in the middle of the hallway. Eve stepped out, with a black bag over his left shoulder and only slightly charred clothes. His eyes scanned the hall immediately, scanning for danger out of habit. He barely had time to exhale before Morty came barreling toward him. The bag hit the floor with a heavy thud as Morty collided with him full force- arms wrapping around Eve’s waist so tightly it nearly knocked the breath out of him. Eve staggered back a step or two, grunting, but one arm came around Morty’s frame without hesitation to hold them both steady. “Hey, Angel.” Eve breathed, voice softer than he would ever admit out loud. His free hand slid up to the back of Morty’s head, fingers weaving into his curls like he’d missed the texture of them.
Morty’s grin widened, squeezing tighter around his waist and pressing his face into Eve’s chest. (Mortys entire body had immediately sagged with relief, listening to the thump of Eve’s heart and the faint whir of implants under the skin.) “You’re back!! Y-you’re finally back!” His words tumbled out in a rush, messy and unpracticed. He pulled away just enough to look up, gazing up at the taller with those bright brown eyes and smile of pure joy. “I can’t believe you’re back, it’s been so long, did you get everything you needed? You’re kinda scratched up, d-do you think I should get the first aid kit or are you fine-” The more Morty spoke, the faster the rambling became. Eve huffed, trying not to grin as he pressed a kiss to Morty’s forehead that lingered just long enough to silence Morty’s rush of words and worry. “I’m fine, don't worry.” he murmured, exhaustion bleeding through his tone even as his smile softened. His forehead rested against Morty’s temple, a quiet surrender. “I missed you.” Morty flushed- face going pink and slightly splotchy. The grin he had softened, wobbling into an honest, relieved smile. “I-I missed you too..” He let out a shaky laugh, nerves spilling out, before tilting his chin up to kiss him. It was clumsy enough that their noses bumped and Morty let out a startled little laugh against his lips. Eve steadied him with a hand along his jaw, thumb brushing the edge of his cheek as he leaned down more deliberately this time. Immediately the kiss softened- this sweet press of lips that turned Morty’s brain to static and had him gripping the cloth of Eve’s jacket to steady himself.
The family scattered around the house, of course, couldn’t ignore the noise coming from the hallway. Rick had glanced over from the couch just long enough to see the kiss before grumbling under his breath. He promptly shut off the TV and disappeared into the garage. (He was way too emotionally constipated to sit through his grandson’s love life. No thank you.) Summer had crept up around the wall between the kitchen and living room, pointing her phone down the hall to get a clear video of the two boys’ reunion. “I swear to god, if they break up I'm going to lose hope in love entirely.” she muttered- just loud enough for Beth to hear from a few feet away. “Summer-” Beth started, lifting her gaze from the vegetables she was methodically chopping on the island. “Stop placing your emotional stability on your brother's relationship.”
“Im not!” Summer hissed back, still focused on getting the perfect shot. “I'm placing it on this specific relationship. Look at them!” Jerry, sitting at the island with his tablet, looked up like he’d been waiting for an excuse to chime in. “I agree. They’re very connected.” Beth sighed, a mostly exasperated noise.
When the boys finally pulled away from their kiss- Morty’s hand immediately found Eve’s, fingers intertwining tightly together. Without a word, he tugged toward the stairs. Eve, always indulgent, just bent to grab his travel bag before letting himself be pulled along. The low murmur of the family in the kitchen and Summer’s stifled giggle went ignored entirely.
As soon as Morty’s bedroom door clicked behind them, Eve sighed and shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over Morty’s desk chair with practiced ease. He looked a little frayed around the edges, but he still carried himself with the unbothered confidence that made Morty’s chest ache. “I brought you something.” Eve said suddenly, crouching beside his bag. Morty blinked and looked up, caught off guard. “Y-you didn't have to-”
“I wanted to.” he shrugged, like it wasn't a huge deal, and started digging in his travel bag. Morty sat down criss crossed on the bed; watching with wide, expectant eyes as Eve sat beside him. Eve placed the bundle into Morty’s hands, his touch careful and deliberate. Morty took it, of course, trying not to grin too wide as he pulled the cloth off- and paused. “Eve…” It was beautiful. A glass sphere with a glowing Seyfert galaxy suspended inside. Wisps of purple and deep blue light shimmered; casting a soft glow on Morty’s face as he leaned in instinctively, nose nearly brushing the glass as he tried to catch every detail. Tiny points of starlight glimmered, and four planets drifted in orbit around a small blue star at the center. There were even thousands of stars, small enough to be specs of glitter. “I-is this an actual galaxy?? Like- are there people on these planets?” Eve nodded. “It's a self-sustaining galaxy. Only 1 of the planets has life, and it's only bacteria and plants.” Morty’s shoulders sagged a little, the relief visible. “Okay good- I’d feel really guilty if there were like- prisoners in here.” Eve huffed a laugh, pressing his shoulder against Morty’s. “Yeah, I figured.” Morty glanced up at him- then quickly ducked his head, face burning. He pressed into the crook of Eve’s neck instead, inhaling the faint scent of smoke and metal that always clung to him. Eve didn’t move right away. He simply shifted the sphere from Morty’s hands, setting it carefully on the nightstand. Then he turned fully, wrapping an arm around Morty’s waist and pulling him a little closer. “...I’m glad you’re back, Evie,” Morty mumbled, voice muffled against his skin. Eve stilled at the nickname, the flush creeping up the tips of his ears before he could stop it. His hand tightened slightly at Morty’s side. “…Me too.”