the one word where morty figured out this wasn’t really rick.
and no wonder morty believes rick could just up and replace him any day. because there’s infinite versions of him, after all. because there’s infinite other things that are better than him. because, for the longest time, every other day, rick kept on telling him how replaceable he is.
no wonder he was scared that hug wouldn't have been real.
but, truth is, rick would’ve jumped after him (if he had thought morty was in real danger).
truth is, rick would have performed in front of a crowd for him.
truth is, rick would anything, just about anything, for him. he would travel the longest distances just to get him back. he would spoil him with gadgets and gifts. he would forgo the chance to see his wife again just so he could spend the rest of the evening with him.