Ratchet, By Any Other Name
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Ratchet may not know his real name but to Clank…He has the most important name of all. Friend
Disclaimer: Don't own them
Love bingo prompt: loneliness
Clank did not understand. At least, not at first.
He knew his name the moment that he came online. It was built into his very circuits. He had no doubt who he was.
It did not occur to him until Tachyon announced that he knew where the other Lombaxs were and Ratchet's true name as he fell through the portal. He had always thought that Ratchet's name was Ratchet. Ratchet never gave him any indication otherwise.
While the complex of organic life bogged his mind, he ached for his friend. Robots had a sense of purpose and a name when they are created. Apparently, Ratchet had no luxury. That new knowledge gave him insight into his friend that he never had before. Shuffling through his memory banks, he finally understood Ratchet. When he first met Ratchet, he couldn't understand why he was so angry and hostile. He did not understand why Ratchet wanted to leave Veldin. Now, he understood why.
Ratchet was lonely.
He did not have an identity and no family. He had no one.
"So, now, you know, huh?" Ratchet's voice broke him from his thought process.
"Know what?" He said.
"About me."
Even if he could not see through Ratchet's armor, he can tell by his body language that he was uncomfortable.
"It never occurred to me to think of you as the last Lombrax. I always through that they were else where in the universe. But I…."
"That isn't what I am talking about, Clank. I am talking about my name," Ratchet said as he shook his head.
"Ratchet…."
"It isn't a bad name. I got named after a wrench of all things. I supposed it could be worse things to name after."
"I supposed so. But you are you, Ratchet. I know no one else."
"Says the guy who named the toaster."
"It needed a name!" He said.
Then there was silence between them expected for the humming of the ship. He did not want to upset Ratchet like he clearly did. He did not know how to comfort his friend. It did not matter to him what Ratchet was his name was or will be. He knew who Ratchet was and that was more important to him than anything.
Then something sparked into his memory banks. It was a distant memory. It was one that he has not thought of for sometime.
"Do you remember how we first met?" He said.
"Yes?"
"When I told you my name, you said that "I just call you Clank," He said.
"Well…in my defense, your name is pretty long."
"It is not very complex."
Ratchet snorted.
"While I do have a true name, Clank is my name. It is who I am. I have many other names that I am called. Some of those names are wonderful and gifts from friends while others are not. It is part of my identity much like Ratchet is yours. A name is part of who you are but your actions and deeds are a larger and more important."
"So…even if I ever find out my true name, you are still going to call me Ratchet, huh?"
"That is correct."
"Thank you. I guess, I just needed to hear that," Ratchet said with a sigh.
"But to me, you have a more important name," He said.
"What is that?"
"Friend."
A smile broke out from Ratchet's face as he reached over and rubbed his head.
"Right back at you, little buddy."
End
A/N: Clearly….playing Tool of Destruction and Crack in Time are bad influences on me. Oh, well. Read and Review if you wish.
