I guess they didn't totally make it up for X-Force

"Don't sweat it, Boom-Boom. It's not much worse than bein' in jail! My dad and I were thrown in jail in Costa Rica -- did I ever tell you? He --" Rictor, page 19, New Mutants #79

Incidentally, page 20 has Rictor explaining his relationship with Boom-Boom to Sam.

Sam: Give her some space, Ric. She'll snap out of it.
Ric: I don't know. This isn't ordinary Boom-Boom dramatics. All this... Asgard... really bothers her. She saved me, once, you know. The Right Organization cyborgs who'd tortured me once were after me again. And I was ready to die, rather than let them have me. Maybe it was enlightened self-interest on Boom-Boom's part... After all, there was a good chance that, if I went, I'd take her with me... But she talked me out of dying. It was a turning point for me. I was able to grab hold of myself, for her sake. I owe her, Sam. She thinks she's so tough, but she's not really. I know her, probably better than she knows herself. I try and watch out for her, and boss her around and steer her when she goes wrong. I won't let her down, Sam... no matter what...

He hovers over her a lot, too. Sits next to her at dinner with the dwarfs, etc. And actually, poor Artie would have loved this dinner, and I don't mean because the kid's got dwarfism. I remember him trying to convince Skids to make anchovy sandwiches.

Ric: Good grub, Eitri.
Boom-Boom: If you like pickled herring...

:3 New Mutants :3