Ratchet took deep breaths as the smoke of the battle that he and Rivet had just cleared in the arena settled. Lingering scents stung his nose and throat, but it was nothing new. As common to them as the sight of the crumpled and mangled robotic enemies all around them. Piles of twitching metallic limbs were scattered all around, leaking oil and hydraulic fluid onto the floor.
He ignored the roaring crowd and looked around for his partner in the fight, having lost sight of her around the time that robotic grunthor had dive bombed the stage. Eventually he caught sight of white and blue fur on the other side of the arena. He was excited at first, but then he saw her clutching her ankle. Worried, he rushed over, propelled with speed by his hoverboots.
Arriving at her side, he saw she was wincing in pain. "What's wrong?" He asked. "How bad you hurt?"
"Ah, it's just a sprained ankle I think. I'm out of nanotech though, you got any?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Used up my last after that sniper hit. Guess I'll carry you out to , get us a refill."
She looked up at him. "You don't have to carry me Hotshot. I'll be able to move fine if you just support me."
He smirked. "Maybe, but that doesn't let me feel like a guy carrying his princess, does it?"
He could see the blush burn its way through the fur of her cheeks while she refused to meet his eyes. Though he also spied the corners of her mouth curl in a flattered smile. "Well…" She paused in thought, then shrugged with a giggle. "How can a girl say no to a request like that?"
He laughed and knelt down to pick her up, scooping her up in his arms in a princess carry. "Good, now let's get going."
He walked with her in his arms with immeasurable pride, a feeling brought about everytime he gets to help her or show off the love they have where others can see. He liked to flaunt that she was his, and he was hers. Even if it embarrassed her from time to time, it was a pastime he wouldn't give up for the world.
Thankfully she seemed less embarrassed and more happy about what he was doing, giggling and smiling as she looped her arms around his neck. They ignored Zurkon jr. as he declared them victors and dolled out their prize. Bolts were added to their accounts by the thousands, though they really didn't care. Much more occupied with the view in each other's eyes.
He walks her to the exit and leaves, arriving in the bar area where they were greeted by cheers and raised glasses from those that bet on them, jeers from those who bet against, and knowing smiles from those that appreciated a young couple in love.
Clank and Kit came running up from the windows where they had been watching, both of their faces painted with concern. Kit reached them first, though only just by a moment. "Rivet! Are you alright!?"
Rivet gave her best smile to her partner. "I'm fine Sunshine, just a sprain. My prince here is taking me to get some nanotech outside."
The robots looked relieved to hear it was nothing serious. They looked at each other and had a silent conversation before nodding in agreement. Clank looked back to them. "We will allow you your time to heal while we pick up your winnings then. You two did bet on yourselves, correct?"
Ratchet nodded. "Of course we did! Not like we thought we'd lose."
"Yeah! What do you take us for Bolts?" Rivet tacked on in joking anger.
The silver bot rolled his eyes, or at least did the equivalent of such a thing that one can do without true eyes. He then motioned for Kit to follow him to the counter to talk to . Kit waved at them before leaving, then followed after Clank happily.
Ratchet readjusted his grip, bringing Rivet somehow closer to him and drawing another round of happy laughter from her. He practically danced with her in his arms through the bar, both laughing all the way like a pair of kids. Other patrons ceased to exist unless they got in the way, which most of them knew better than to do when they got like this after the last time Rivet had earned a temporary ban from the bar.
Getting through to the lobby, their weapons were reloaded into their digital armories, another detail of the world around them that they chose not to notice. Ratchet swung and swooped his way down the hallway, reaching the elevator that was now the entrance once the dimensional rifts had been closed. Once in the elevator there wasn't much room for them to swing and sway. Instead, Rivet pulled herself up by her arms and planted a big kiss on his cheek, following it with smaller, peppered kisses across the entire left side of his muzzle.
He laughed as she dampened the fur surrounding his eye and mouth, though always being sure to miss the mark of his mouth exactly. And good thing too, since if she did hit that mark it would probably turn into a full on elevator makeout. (And it wouldn't be the first time.)
With a ding, the elevator arrived at the top. Starlight streamed in and shone through her beautiful fur while she shifted and continued her assault on his face. He danced his way out of the lift through laughter and obscured vision, slowly making his way to the stand of their favorite arms dealer. They eventually came into her view and were called out immediately.
"Hello there dearies! I see you two are as lovey dovey as ever!" They broke apart to look over at the kind robot.
"Yup!" Rivet said with an adorable giggle.
"What brings you two out here?"
"I sprained my ankle in the arena and we ran out of nanotech. Can we get a refill?"
"Well of course dears! Though, why didn't you use the vender in the bar?"
The lombaxes looked at each other, suddenly remembering the ability to purchase ammo and nanotech from the challenge selector. They smiled sheepishly and turned back to Ms.Z.
"We uhhh, just wanted some air while we got it is all. The air in the bar can get kinda stuffy, you know?" Ratchet covered for them quickly, and thankfully the vendor seemed to buy it.
"Oh, I know dear, believe me. Here, nanotech at a discount for the lovebirds." The bolts were taken from their accounts and replaced with nanotech vials on their belts. They both waved in thanks before Ratchet carried his love to a secluded stack of crates to finally set her down. Though, judging by her face she had wanted no such thing.
Once sat down, she extended out her right foot to him with a knowing smirk. He smiled back and rolled his eyes before gently taking hold of her foot, doing his best to avoid manipulating her ankle. He carefully untied the boot and loosened it up as much as possible.
"Deep breath now babe." He said before she nodded and took that breath. He pulled the boot down and off her foot, trying his best to do it quickly to save her some pain. Still, he couldn't prevent it entirely and that was proven as she hissed and winced. She sighed though as her ankle was exposed to the cool air of the artificial atmosphere of the asteroid.
"That was the worst part. Now comes the good." He assured her and reached for a nanotech vial. He cracked it open over her ankle, dripping the thick blue fluid onto her fur. The immediate relief was evident on her face, the scrunch relaxing right away.
Once the vial was empty, Ratchet decided to make sure it was as effective as possible. Taking off his gloves, he started to work his fingers around the whole of her foot. Pressure applied and moved in slow circles, working the nanotech in throughout her entire foot. Thumbs pressed up against the balls of her feet while fingers worked on the top, traveling up towards her ankle. Judging by the sound of her huffs and dare he say moans she was enjoying his ministrations quite a bit.
He shifted one hand up, rubbing across the whole of her ankle while the other stayed on her foot. Toe claws curled while she bit her lip in ecstasy. "Ooooo, you're good at that."
"Well, I have been told I'm good with my hands before." He replied with a chuckle.
"Ohhh, you have no idea. Mmmmmm" She hummed and leaned back on the crates surrounding her, letting him do his good work. And so he did, massaging away at the ankle until all nanotech had finally seeped into her skin. Once that was done he stopped and stood.
"Well, looks like you should be fine now." He said. Rivet cracked her eyes open, though they looked different than they had before. Pain wasn't there at all, instead replaced by joy and a heady heat.
"How about this instead." She started, retracting her foot from his hand and replacing it with the other. "You work those fingers of yours on my other foot and you can see what mine can do."
The offer came with a mischievous smile, and was one he was all too happy to accept, made clear as he reached down and slowly pulled the laces of her other boot loose. With a smile of his own, he yanked the boot free.
"Then let's get started."