I do not own Ratchet and Clank!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Four
Leia quit flipping through the channels on her sister's TV. CeCe had left about two minutes ago to check up with the kids from the park, the ones that had witnessed the crash. Leia had wanted to go, but CeCe had insisted on her sister staying here and making sure He didn't try anything. But there was nothing on TV, she couldn't go downstairs, and He was sleeping as a result to his belly being full.
"I'm bored," Lacy sighed, running her small hands through the sleeping creature's hair. The action caused him to smile in his sleep. They had told Lacy about him a while ago when she had suddenly walked in on them. Leia had expected Lacy to scream and run away or at least be shocked. But to Leia's surprise she had slowly walked over to him, touch his arm, and whisper a soft comment: "Your hair is really soft." He didn't do anything to her, just smiled and replied with a small "thank you." Leia didn't know why he had suddenly acted so friendly, but there was no need to worry about it now.
Leia walked over, turned on CeCe's Wii, and popped in the Guitar Hero: World Tour disc. Then she took one of the Wii remotes and connected it to the guitar controller.
"CeCe's gonna be mad we touched her game," Lacy said.
Leia picked her sister's band, DWN WIT PNK, and entered quickplay mode. "Maybe," she said. "But there's nothing else to do in here; she's just going to have to deal." She picked a song by System of a Down and started playing. Lacy watched in interest; Leia had definitely picked up her playing skills from CeCe. Mom had forced CeCe to teach Leia because she wouldn't stop whining about not being able to play, but she guessed it was worth it. As long as Leia asked first, she could play as much as she wanted and it was a great way to spend time together.
"Is this System of a Down?"
Leia had zoned everything and everyone else out, so she was startled when she heard the once sleeping creature behind her. She paused the game after missing a couple of notes and turned. He was looking at her with a calm expression. She smiled.
"Yeah," she said.
"B.Y.O.B., right?"
Leia nodded. "You know who the band is?"
"Some of the bands I listen to back at home are from foreign galaxies," he explained, clearly a little uncomfortable with keeping the conversation up.
"Never thought you'd be talking to me after I threatened you with a stapler."
He shrugged. "You stood up for your sister; gotta at least give you credit for it." He then looked at the TV screen. "What game is this?"
Leia showed him the guitar controller. "It's called Guitar Hero. You have to hit the notes when they come up to earn points. If you stop, though, the music stops with it."
"Looks fun," he said softly. He hesitated, looking at his hands, which were folded neatly on his lap.
Leia smiled. "Wanna learn how to play?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow, you're getting really good," Leia said about ten minutes later, almost shocked beyond words. She watched as he hit a 230 note streak. He was on the expert level. It only took him ten freakin' minutes to get on expert; it had taken CeCe about two years to get this far! CeCe's going to be pissed when she finds out her ego's being bruised.
"Do all the Guitar Hero games have the drums and mic?" He had been asking questions about the games since he started playing. Leia was amazed that he even trusted her enough to keep up a conversation. He hadn't told her his name, but a conversation was a good starting step- even though he still seemed a little uncomfortable.
"No," she replied. "Only this one- that's why its called 'World Tour'."
"ALRIGHT!! 100%!" Lacy threw her arms in the air and jumped on CeCe's bed. Then she hugged the furry creature with a "congrats", making him laugh. Leia smiled.
He looked over at her. "Is that a good thing?"
"Yep," Leia said. "Means that you're better than CeCe by a long shot!"
He frowned at the mention of CeCe's name, probably imagining how she was gonna torture him for being better than her. He shuddered. Lacy unwrapped her arms from his neck.
"We're sorry she's acting the way she is," she apologized.
He gave her a sweet smile. "She always act that way?"
"No," Leia said. He cocked an eyebrow in disbelief, causing her to chuckle. "At least, not all the time. She's actually really nice. Once she gets to know you and you get to know her, her attitude will go away." And it was true. CeCe might be stubborn at times, but she always seemed to make friends easyily once they got to know her. Leia looked down at the floor in thought. "It'd be easier to talk to him if I knew his name," she mumbled, even though she didn't mean to say it out loud. She scolded herself, Stop trying to push him for info! You're lucky he's even talking to-
"Ratchet."
Leia looked up in surprise. "Excuse me?" Had she heard correctly?
He gave a small, hesitated smile. "My name's Ratchet."
I looked at my phone: 12:55. I sighed. Damn kid with the camera made me late. Mom's going to be home soon.
When I had gotten to the park where His ship had crashed, the kid with that camera immediately ran and pointed the camera at me (have I mentioned that I don't like being the center of attention?), asking questions. I was almost tempted in giving away His location; I wanted to tell the kid about finding an alien species. But something in my mind told me to stay quiet. I sighed. You only have to put up with him until his ship is fixed. Just try to pull through.
As I approached the house, I heard music coming from my bedroom window. Leia must be playing my Wii, I thought. She better not be on career.
I got in the house, grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk from the fridge and started my way upstairs.
Mr. Crowley, what went on in your head?
Oh, Mr. Crowley, did you talk to the dead?
I stopped dead in my tracks and tilted my head, wondering where the angelic sound was coming from; whoever was singing was singing really well. It couldn't be Leia or Lacy (even though she liked to sing on the game once in a while). I started walking upstairs.
Your lifestyle to me seemed so tragic,
With the thrill of it all.
You fooled all the people with magic,
Yeah you waited on Satan's call!
Mr. Charming, did you think you were pure?
Mr Alarming, in nocturnal rapport.
Uncovering things that were sacred, manifest on this Earth.
Oh, conceived in the eye of a secret, yeah they scattered the afterbirth!
I continued my way up as the first of the two guitar solos of the song started, keeping my head tilted to hear the music better. I heard Lacy yell something along the lines of "A 50 phrase streak!" and Leia cheered. I also heard a deep laugh of success. Wait a minute... I knew that sound... I walked up to my bedroom door.
Lacy was sitting on my bed, bouncing on her tiny tush with joy. Leia was playing the Guitar Hero guitar. And He? He was awake, all full of life and smiling the freakin' biggest smile I've ever seen and his eyes shining like big green diamonds caught in the sun. He started headbanging to the solo and Lacy cheered. I frowned, crossing my arms and waiting for them to finish. As he began singing again, though, I started listening to his voice instead of waiting for them. His voice was so deep and loud when he talked, so I was amazed that he sang so beautifully. I smiled when he started headbanging to the song; he looked like a teenager at his first rock concert. He is really an amazing creature. My eyes widened at the thought. Where the hell did that come from?! Get their attention, I scolded myself. Just as he was about to sing again, I cleared my throat.
Lacy stopped bouncing and suddenly looked scared. Leia stopped playing. The notes she missed caused the golden feline (the now in trouble golden feline, I should say) to pause the game and turn around to face me. Leia began to ramble.
"CeCe, we can explain! You see I was trying to be good and find something to do and, and," she stopped as I gave her a glare and suddenly pointed at Lacy. "It was her idea!"
Lacy stood up. "Aw, shut up," she yelled. "It was your idea." She turned to me. "She's lying, I swear! I was just petting his hair," she said, pointing to him. He seemed to blush and looked away. "And I was waiting to see if he would wake up. Leia suggested we go outside-"
"What?!?" Leia had interrupted her. "I didn't suggest anything! YOU were the one complaining about being bored."
Lacy looked at me before saying "Well, I told you to ask CeCe if you could play her game first, but you said she would 'have to deal!'"
I growled before Leia could protest. "That's not why I'm mad! I'm not mad because you touched the Wii." I pointed at the creature on my bed and he straightened his back and shoulders in question. "When did the jerk-"
"Ratchet." Leia gave me a straight face as she said it.
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Ratchet," she said again as she set the guitar controller down. "His name's Ratchet." She looked at the alien (who was now completely slouching like before, probably relieved that he wasn't in complete trouble), looking as if she was silently asking him a question. After a moment he nodded, then he turned back to wait for me to finish. Lacy put her arms around his waist as if to protect him from any harsh comments I might blurt out and he stroked the top her head with a smile. Since when did he get all friendly and nice?
I sighed in frustration. "Fine," I began again. "When did Ratchet get up? How long was he up? I thought we agreed that you'd call me when he did?"
Leia fiddled with her thumbs. "I was playing the game when he woke up; he asked me what band it was."
"System of a Down," he said with a giant grin. "Awesome band." I gave him a look that told him to not interrupt.
"Yet you didn't-" My question was cut off when I heard a car park outside. I leaned over Ratchet's lap and looked out my window. Mom's blue Saturn was parked in our driveway outside. I heard footsteps heading upstairs.
Oh, crap.
Thanks, readers, for being patient with me! XD
I've been really busy with school and such, so this chapter took a while to complete. Read and review! ^_^