Rick and Morty: Smartest Morty in the multiverse

The morning crowd thickened near the science lab entrance students jostling bags, trading lazy insults, laughing too loud about nothing.

Morty moved through it like a man walking across ice. Smooth, controlled, every step placed. He wasn't in a hurry. Never looked like he was.

Which was probably why Chad barreled into him the way he did.

Shoulder check. Not hard but deliberate.

The kind of bump a guy gives when he wants to remind the hallway who he thinks runs it.

Morty took a half-step back, catching his balance.

Chad turned, grin already in place. "Oops. My bad. Didn't see you there, Smith."

Morty met his eyes calm, steady. "That right?"

Chad's grin sharpened. "Yeah. Guess you're just easy to miss."

The students around them chuckled a soft ripple, harmless, the kind that fades if you ignore it.

Morty adjusted the strap of his bag, letting the silence linger just long enough before answering.

"Well. You saw me now."

He gave a slight nod and turned toward the classroom.

Chad watched him walk three steps before falling into place beside him.

"Funny," Chad said, low and casual. "You've been acting different lately. Kinda got people talking. Think you're hot stuff now?"

Morty gave him a glance—nothing sharp, nothing heavy. "People talk about a lot of things."

Chad snorted. "Yeah, but usually not about you. Not unless it's a joke."

Morty shrugged. "Times change."

Chad leaned in a little. "They don't change that much."

They reached the lab door. Morty pushed it open first, stepping inside. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead.

Chad followed, taking the seat across from him at their assigned table, dropping his bag with a dull thud.

"You know," Chad said, voice dropping as the rest of the class filed in, "a guy who acts bigger than he is… tends to get reminded where he stands."

Morty set his bag down on the floor. Looked up. "Is that how it works?"

Chad smirked. "Yeah. Sometimes you gotta put people back in their place."

Morty considered that. Then gave a slight, thoughtful nod. "I guess it's a good thing you're not the kind of guy who needs to be reminded."

That blink that half-second where Chad opened his mouth to fire back but realized the ground under him wasn't as solid as he thought.

Morty leaned forward slightly, folding his arms on the table relaxed, like they were two friends talking shop.

"I mean, you're not, right?"

Chad stiffened. "What?"

"You're not the guy who talks big until someone doesn't flinch."

Morty tilted his head, eyes mild.

"Not the guy who needs a crowd to feel bigger. Who measures his worth by who he can shove around."

A pause...sharp and brief.

"You're better than that. Right?"

Chad's jaw worked. He tried for a scoff, but it landed half-hearted. "Man… whatever."

He sat back, arms crossing defensive now, not lazy.

Morty smiled faintly. Not smug. Not taunting. Just… a man satisfied with how predictably things fell into place.

"Thought so."

He reached for the project kit, laying out the tools with quiet precision.

Chad stayed silent.

The classroom buzzed on around them voices rising and falling, chairs scraping, laughter bubbling in soft waves.

But at their table, only one of them moved.

And it wasn't Chad.

___________

We're gonna try something new. How many of you are there

"Attendance please"

I don't wanna write to ghost nor do l want to waste my time