Author's Note: Y'know, for some reason, I picture Ratchet as someone who's not all that self confident in love. Which is usually alright in slash because then usually the other person is not so shy. Except in this case... they both are introverts in this regard. Which I believe is why we never see any RatchetClank fics. It's not due to lack of interest of lack of people picking up on the idea, it's because this is not an easy couple to write. This is much more revolutionary in my head then it will be in yours because I've been up for 27 hours at this point. -yawns- The ending of this amused me greatly. Does anyone read my author's notes anymore? I bet I could write anything here. Papaya causes cancer. I like cereal. The cake is a lie. Wheeee.

I OWN NOTHING. If you don't get it by now, you have issues.

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All this shyness is driving Ratchet crazy.

He doesn't want these little gestures. Hands brushing, eyes briefly locking, soft tones of voice. All those romance holo novels Sasha has lied. Relationships are nowhere near as fasting moving in reality as they are in fiction. There has yet to be any hot, rough, spontaneous making out. Firstly, while Ratchet loves Clank, 'hot' is not a word he'd use to describe his robot friend. Second of all, any kind of making out would be awkward and leave both of them completely unsure of what they're doing. And there has yet to be any wonderful, romantic words. Thus far it's been very awkward words with double meanings that leave both of them uneasy.

That's what he hates. When the moment is right, when things get to the dire point, they can be closer than anyone else in the universe and just as in love. Then when things are not about to fall apart, it suddenly gets hard. It's hard for Ratchet to say the words 'I love you', it's hard for him to touch Clank and not feel awkward, it's just not easy. He wants more than this. This isn't about relationships moving at the speed of light, it's about getting their relationship to move faster than a glacier.

He wants to be brave and bold in this. Ratchet wants to be smooth and romantic and charming. He wants to be able to sweep Clank off his feet at least once in this life. He would love to know what he's supposed to do right now. Ratchet doesn't know what to do or say to be all lovey dovey. He doesn't really understand how to be a boyfriend. All his life, he has been a friend first and anything else second. Every person he ever fell in love with, there was initial attraction, friendship, and off of that friendship, there came the romance. This was a great benefit at the time because it made it less awkward to start off the relationship. This was also a nightmare because Ratchet was left with no romantic conversation skills whatsoever. Nor did he know anything about communication, body language, or the whole lovers gift giving thing.

And inside it eats at him. He wants what he and Clank have to last forever. He wants Clank to know that he cares. But he has so little knowledge and experience. He's absolutely scared and absolutely clueless, a horrible combination that plays harshly into his insecurities. It isn't something he'd ever say out loud. Deep inside, he is petrified Clank is going to meet someone, some attractive robot who actually knows a thing or two about romance, and leave him. If Clank did, it'd be for the best, Ratchet knows that, because then he'd have someone he deserved more. He knows that an intelligent robot and an organic without a clue is a shaky combination at best.

That is why he is determined to end all this insane shyness. He has to, for their sake. One of them has to step up and be the romantic one. How hard could it be to just kiss Clank more often, or something? He should just do it, just reach over and kiss him.

But he can't, he realizes with a pang of horror at how cliche and overly cheesy this has all become.

He can't because of his shyness.

Oh, cringe. Did he really just think that?