The halls of Harry Herpson High buzzed with the usual din students dragging their feet, lockers clanging, some drama unfolding three doors down that smelled like heartbreak and Axe body spray. Summer walked ahead, scrolling through her phone, barely glancing at the crowd. Viktor, comfortably slipping into Morty's skin, kept pace beside her back straight, steps calm, eyes watchful.
They walked for half a hallway before she noticed it.
She slowed. Stopped. Turned.
"Okay," she said, squinting at him like he was a glitch in the simulation. "What's going on with you?"
Viktor raised an eyebrow, his expression smooth, relaxed. "What do you mean?"
Summer tilted her head. "You're… walking normally. You haven't tripped over your words once since we left the car. You didn't flinch when Jerry told that tragic story about his 'strategic leave.' And and you made me laugh. You."
She narrowed her eyes. "Morty, what happened to you?"
Viktor paused, as if choosing his words mattered not because he was hiding, but because she deserved an honest-sounding lie.
"I don't know," he said with an easy shrug. "I just got tired of hating how I sound. How I walk. How people talk over me."
Summer blinked. That wasn't what she was expecting.
"No offense," he added gently, "but I think I've been playing the role a little too well, you know? Always the panicked sidekick. Always apologizing."
She folded her arms. "So what you're enlightened now?"
He gave a short laugh. "Not even close."
"Then what is this? Seriously. Did Rick give you something?"
"No." His tone was firm, but not defensive. "I just decided I didn't want to keep giving people a reason to look through me."
Summer watched him for a moment, studying his face. His posture. The way he didn't break eye contact.
"You're freaking me out," she said finally.
"I know," he replied. "But not in a bad way, right?"
She hesitated, then reluctantly smiled.
"No," she said. "It's kinda… cool. Weird. But cool."
They started walking again, the conversation hanging between them like fog that hadn't decided whether to lift or stay.
Then Summer glanced over again. "So what no more stutter? No more anxious Morty?"
Viktor smiled, eyes forward. "He's still in there. Just... quieter."
There was a long pause. Then, softly, Summer said, "You're not gonna go full Rick on me, are you?"
He laughed under his breath. "Please. He wishes he had my manners."
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Now seeing it is kind is really small my bad