Been getting some interesting reception regarding this story. Please keep the vibe positive. If you are not a fan of the direction, The best I could advise is to stop reading. Though I hope you stay for the remainder.

Chapter 8

Tiff returned to her seat next to Wrench just as another round of shots had been brought out for the pair. "Let's go…." Wrench said as he picked up the shot at the same time as the markazian. Nearby, Talwyn had returned with a pair of drinks "What's this?" Ratchet asked "A couple of drinks. You have drank before right?" Talwyn joked as Ratchet took the drink "Ah I just don't know if drinking is a good idea tonight." Ratchet said and Talwyn looked at Tiffany who gave her a look. Talwyn turned back to Ratchet and pushed the drink towards him. "Come on, I'm drinking. Tiff's drinking, your friends drinking. Loosen up Ratch!" Talwyn said and Ratchet looked at the drink. "Well, what harm is one…." Ratchet spoke as he picked up the glass and began to drink.

…..

Rivet was seated still, and was finishing the bottle. She looked over at Slayton who was talking to another woman. His words hurt her heart. Did guys really get bored when they were with her? She clenched the bottle she was holding angrily, the the point where the bottle shattered in her metal hand. She got up and began walking over to Slayton, by the time the markazian rapper had turned around, he was met with a hard punch from Rivet's metal arm. The punch floored him and drew attention in the bar. Rivet picked him up and punched him again "WHY ARE YOU PUNCHING ME?!" Slayton asked "BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT!" Rivet screamed before picking him up again only to be stopped by Zurkie "RIVET! This is a violence free zone! You know this!" The robot expressed disappointment in the female. "Don't worry. I'm leaving…" Rivet said walking out of the bar. She activated the dimensionator and returned home.

Rivet placed down the dimensionator in the room where it was held, and exited. Clank had entered rest mode but Kit was still awake. Rivet checked the time and saw it was after 11. "Kit, is Ratchet back?" Rivet slurred "No…Rivet are you drunk?" Kit responded looking at the lombax "Yes." Rivet responded "I thought he'd be back by now." she continued before joining Kit on the couch. "Maybe you should get some sleep." Kit suggested and Rivet ignored her "Rivet…" Kit spoke and Rivet looked at the yellow robot. "I wanna be awake when he gets home…" Rivet said in a low tone.

…..

"RAISE YOUR GLASS, RAISE YOUR GLASS, RAISE YOUR GLASS!" Wrench screamed while standing on top of the bar "YEAH!" Ratchet screamed and all patrons who were drinking raised their glasses. Wrench took two shots, while Ratchet finished another. Tiffany who was nearby signaled Talwyn, who was also drunk. Talwyn made her way over to Ratchet who wrapped his arm around the markazian. "Try this…" Talwyn slurred as she handed Ratchet her drink. Ratchet took a taste of the drink and nodded in approval "Lemme get one of these!" he signaled the bartender who nodded. Tiffany signaled Talwyn again who cuddled Ratchet and then asked "Dance with me?" Tiffany looked at Wrench who was distracted, as he was beyond drunk and watching the staff guide a blacked out patron out "FREE MY MAN!" Wrench screamed

"We gotta help him!" Wrench spoke to a couple random patrons who nodded and they began walking over to the staff "LIBERATION!" Wrench screamed as they walked over. Tiffany couldn't help but laugh as Wrench was finally out of the picture. She leaned back in her seat and watched Ratchet, actually agree to dance with Talwyn "You get 'em girl." Tiff said and Talwyn smiled. Ratchet held the markazian close as the two danced slowly and drunkenly

Song: End Game (Taylor Swift)

"Big reputation, big reputation. Ooh, you and me, we got big reputations ah…"

"Thanks for this….I'm having fun." Talwyn said and Ratchet nodded "Me too…" He said and Talwyn realized, Tiff was right, the line of defense Ratchet had put up had started to come down. Talwyn got real close to Ratchet, their lips inches apart

"Big reputation, big reputation…ooh you and me would be a big conversation, ah…"

"Do you still feel for me?" Talwyn whispered and Ratchet looked into her blue eyes. The drink had done it's job, and loosened his lips. "I do…but I also love Rivet…" he spoke honestly. Talwyn felt that sting in her stomach again at hearing Rivet's name. "Let me help you decide…." Talwyn said seductively and she pressed her lips against Ratchet's, a deep and drunk kiss ensued. Talwyn started tugging at Ratchet's clothes, indicating she wanted more. "WOAH HEY HEY! WHAT IS YOU DOING?!" Wrench had returned, and he had pulled Ratchet away from the markazian. Breaking the kiss

"Uh uh! This ain't what we signed up fo!" Wrench said and Talwyn looked at Ratchet sadly "Wrench wait…Ratchet said and the crimson furred lombax looked at him "Ratchet walked up to the now raven-haired markazian and held her hands in his. "I don't know what to do." Ratchet said "It shouldn't be an issue dipshit!" Tiffany chimed "TIFFANY! Just…give me a moment!" Ratchet yelled at the other markazian "No…she's right…" Talwyn said pulling her hands away slowly. "If you love me…It…shouldn't be a choice…." she continued and she walked over to Tiffany. "Tal…" Ratchet said "It shouldn't be a choice." Talwyn repeated and Ratchet nodded "Let's go homie." Wrench said as Ratchet walked back to the brolic lombax "Get home safe." Tiff chimed "Shut up." Wrench shot, glancing back at the two markazians.

…..

Returning to the home, Wrench's drinks had settled, Ratchet was getting there too, but both were still a tad buzzed. The pair exited the cruiser "Ay man, i'm sorry I wasn't more vigilant tonight." Wrench spoke "It wasn't you….It's that Tiffany. Something just doesn't seem right about her." Ratchet said and Wrench nodded "Still, I'm yo wingman, I should've done better." Wrench said "You did what you could. Trust me bro, I'm still super confused…about all this." Ratchet said as he unlocked the door and walked inside "Yeah I know homie. My head is gonna kill tomorrow." Wrench said following him inside. "I understand the feeling…" Ratchet said and he stopped when he saw Rivet sitting at the counter.

"Hi Ratchet…" She said in a voice that was so calm it was terrifying. "Hey Riv…didn't think you'd still be awake." Ratchet said "Mhm…." Rivet said, maintaining that calm tone "Rivet if it wasn't a guy's night we would've invited you for sure homie!" Wrench added "Really, huh…" Rivet got up and walked right up to Ratchet. She pulled something from his jacket; a long strand of dark hair. "Doesn't look like mine…" She said, still in a calm tone. "Oh Riv…." Ratchet started and Rivet cut him off by tracing her finger across his lips, and holding up the finger to her face "Not my lipstick." She said "Rivet…." Ratchet tried to explain but he was cut off by Rivet pulling on Ratchet's jacket and allowing the male lombax to get a whiff of the perfume that had stuck to it. "Not my perfume." She said

"One thing you should know about me babe, i'm the most hyperaware drunk you'll ever meet." Rivet said and Ratchet was at a loss for words. "DAMN!" Wrench said, stunned at how Rivet picked up on everything. Rivet looked at Wrench "Go home Wrench. Now." she said "Okay…i'm…i'm leavin…" Wrench said and he walked around Rivet, bumping into the couch as he left. "Oh shock." Wrench said fixing the couch and going into the room with the dimensionator and going home.

"I'm gonna ask you something right now. And you better not fucking lie to me." Rivet said and the hard curse took Ratchet back a bit. "Okay." Ratchet said "Were you with her tonight, and Wrench was just your cover?" Rivet asked and Ratchet sighed. "We were trying to meet, as just friends." Ratchet started "Wow. I don't kiss my friends on the lips Ratch." Rivet said "We started drinking…and she danced with me…" Ratchet said "That's when the kiss happened." Ratchet said and Rivet stepped away. "Rivet…" he spoke and the female looked at him with eyes filled with anger and hurt. "She kissed me." Ratchet honestly spoke "I don't give a damn. You kissed her." Rivet said, her voice was quickly becoming shaky.

"Do you still have feelings for her?" She asked "Rivet…" Ratchet started "ANSWER ME!" Rivet screamed. Ratchet looked at Rivet and knew he could lose her in this moment, and he didn't want to. "No." Ratchet lied. "You're being honest?" Rivet shakily asked and before Ratchet could respond "If I find out you lied…i'm gone. You will NEVER. See me again." Rivet said "I'm being honest." Ratchet lied again. "Okay." Rivet said and she walked up to Ratchet. "I love you…." She said as they embraced for a hug "Don't hurt me again…." She continued and Ratchet nodded. "I won't." he said and they broke the hug in exchange for a deep and loving kiss before hugging again. Ratchet knew he had to figure this out quick, before Rivet found out about his lie. He had to figure out who his heart truly felt for.

How long before Rivet finds out about the lie?

Will Ratchet figure this out before things get out of hand?

Stay Blessed, and again if you do not like the direction of this story, I truly apologize that it isn't to your liking, and suggest you stop reading, though I would love to have you stick around for the remainder.