Chapter 1

Farewell

TW: Drinking/Alcohol use

2 Years ago...

Everything was going according to plan, The balloons are up, the fireworks are ready, Everything was ready to thank the dimensions' four heroes.

Two lombaxes and two robots we're waving at the fans. The boys looked more comfortable doing it since they've been doing it for...I don't know...years? But the girls we're a bit more shyer. The celebration was newer to them but they tried their very best not to show that they were uncomfortable.

After taking a few selfies and writing a few autographs and doing other fun stuff, the four were hanging out at the bar. The female lombax, Rivet, since she was the boldest and the sassiest of the group, The one that don't give much comet about people staring at her at a bar (other places is a different story), she took 20 shots of strong whiskey for a drink as the male lombax, Ratchet, had a glass of mint water and the two robots, Clank and Kit, had oil to drink, since they're robots.

"This is soooooooo much better than the boring waving to the fans and all that stupid comet!" Rivet started, blushing from how strong her shots were even though she only took five shots, "I will be right here instead of out there!"

Ratchet just gave her a look, knowing that she was tipsy, five more shots and she is drunk, and he can't imagine how she's going to be like when she takes all 20 shots. Like seriously, that is pretty strong whiskey.

"Rivet, don't you take any more of those shots!" Clank lectured, "you know that is very strong whiskey you're taking there. 12 of those shots is like drinking a whole bottle of wine!"

"kiss my astroid!" Rivet scoffed as she took another shot, "It's not like you know how it feels to get drunk because you're just a robot!"

She then lets out a drunken giggle, which made Clank facepalm. Ratchet just took another sip of his mint water, he didn't know which side to take: It was Rivet or Clank. Clank did have a point, yes, but he didn't want to ruin Rivet's first party. Besides, she seems happy. Kinda.

"Face it *hic* Bolts!" Riv chuckled drunkenly As she more shots that were bouncing on her metal fingers, she was taking shots so fast that everyone, including Clank, lost count. "you're *hic* scrap metal! Kit is a sweet *hic* war-machine! And *hic* Ratchy here is a cute *hic* little *hic* sexy liger! Hehehehe~ *hic*"

Ratchet blushed at the comment, getting out of his seat and grabs Rivet by the metal arm before she took another shot.

"I think you had too much!" Ratchet snapped, blushing red like a tomato.

Rivet just turned to him, "go to Venus, you sugar-pie *hic* honey-bunch!" She snorted before sticking her tongue at him.

That made Ratch blush even more before pulling her off her seat.

"You're drunk Rivet!" He said, putting two firm hands on her shoulders, "you had too much whiskey and now you're wasted."

Riv just gives him a look, her usual Rivet look but with a hint of drunk disbelief and...Flirtiness.

She then puts a hand on his chest before coming even more closer to him and snuggles under his chin. Was she snuggling him like a lover?! Ok I get she's drunk, but that's a little too sus, don't you think?!

"Awwwww...are you two in loooooove?" Another drunk voice called, causing both lombaxes to perk up.

"go away you *hic* astroid!" Rivet snapped drunkenly, "and mind your own *hic* scrappin' business!"

The One that spoke stood up march towards Ratchet and Rivet, glaring daggers at the drunk lombax.

"what did you just say, raccoon?!" He threatened, "you wanna fight?!"

Rivet steps towards the other drunk alien and gets into a fighting pose, "Bring it buddy! I think your friends would definitely celebrate YOUR DEFEAT!!!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!"

As several other bar mates exclaimed from her fighting words, The bigger alien throws a punch, but Rivet ducks down, dodging it before jumping up and sucker punches him in the face with her metal arm, causing a tooth to get knocked out and the other alien to plummet to the ground. Rivet stood his body with drunk pride,

"Nailed it!!!" She shouted in victory as she stepped off of her defeated opponent, "have your parents ever told you NOT to hit a-?"

Before she finished, a glass bottle strikes her in the face. With a painful yelp, Rivet plummeted to the ground, losing consciousness as soon as she hit the floor.

"What the- HEY!!!!"

Ratchet sneers as he notices the ones who threw the bottle at his counterpart laughing as the ringleader shouts out "Bullseye". The angry male lombax then lunges towards them and hits the ringleader with his Omni-Wrench. His two friends then looked at him with frightened looks before running away. Soon enough, due to the amount of violence that happened and due to one of the ones who knocked out Rivet crashing into a bulkier alien, A bar fight ensued.

As Clank and Kit tried desperately to hide from The flying bottles and glass, Ratchet notices and grab them along with an unconscious Rivet and runs out of the bar. While leaving the bar though, Ratchet lets out a sharp sigh like he was telling himself; "I am so screwed!"

Ratchet opens the door to his house with Rivet on his back, piggyback style, and walks in with his shoes on. Having a girl on your back is tough, you have to make sure that she wouldn't fall off, especially if they are asleep.

"You need us to come with you?" Asked Kit, she was a bit shaken up from the bar fight that ensued. Ratchet just smiled softly at her, "I think I can handle." He replied as he walked upstairs with Rivet still on his back. Kit looks at her friend with concern, but Clank places a soft hand on her shoulder, "She'll be fine Kit." he ensured, "she just needs some rest, that's all." Kit just sighs, "I hope you're right.."

Upstairs, Ratchet walks into his room and places Rivet on his bed as carefully as he could. She looks so peaceful and he didn't want to ruin it by waking her up. He then notices a small cut over her left brow from when those drunk men hit her with a glass bottle. "Alright, let me treat that cut for ya." Ratchet said as he got a first aid kit and, after a slight sting warning, cleans it with some healing alcohol. Rivet barely even flinched, she moaned softly. It sounded like wasn't that painful, maybe because she that out, or maybe because she went though a even more painful experience since she did lose her arm, so she was used to feeling pain.

When Ratchet places a band-aid over her wound, he then heard a small rumbling sound coming from her.

He smiled when he realized that she was purring, like a cat. It's pretty much obvious since lombaxes are kind of like humanoid cats. But right after he tucks her in bed, Ratchet felt like he couldn't leave her in her current condition, so he took off his shirt and boots and climbs in bed with her. She purrs even more. Is this what she's like when she's cuddled by someone? Cuddled by another lombax? Ratchet smiles and cuddles her more before he falls asleep also.

The next morning...

Rivet flatters open her eyes, feeling drained and feverish. Her head throbs with pain and her stomach felt like it was on fire. She knew that she was having a hangover, she had them before but not like this. This one was a lot more worse. Like how much did she drink?!

As her fuzzy eyesight begins to clear up she sees a bottle of Gatorade and some Aspirin. Rivet cocks an eyebrow, wondering who put the stuff there. Was it Kit? Clank? Ratchet?

Several thoughts flowed in her mind at once, causing her headache to get worse. She sits up and takes a few aspirin to soothe her headache. As she sips her gatorade, she heard the door open. Her ears perked up. "Ratchet?" She spoke finally, causing the golden tiger furred lombax to jump slightly from the sudden sound of her voice. "Oh uh...hey Riv." He said, "you feeling OK?" "Oh uh...yeah!" Rivet replied, "I'm feeling OK, just a bit tired."

Ratchet then, out of nowhere, started blushing, "Ok. well that's normal after you drink too much." He said, "at least you are not puking." Rivet just gives him a...slightly riveting look, "Who says I'm not puking?" She asked, "I threw up in my mouth twice already." Ratchet then cringes when she said that, "puke...in your mouth?"

"Eeeeeeyep!"

"Twice?"

"Sometimes thrice."

Ratchet then lets out a giant gag, making Rivet giggle. "Man! For a girl version of me, you're tough!" Ratchet exclaimed, "when I suffer from a hangover, I'm straight to the toilet puking!" "HAHAHA! we are TOTALLY from different dimensions!" Rivet said before busting out laughing. "you can say THAT again!" Ratchet snapped before eventually laughing with her.

A few hours later, Rivet recovers from her hangover and was hanging out with Ratchet while there are two robot companions were working on the dimensionator to bring Rivet and Kit back to their dimension. This saddens Rivet for some reason. She loves her home, yes , but the more time she spends with Ratchet, the more she wants to stay with him.

It was the first time she ever met another lombax like her, it was like she wasn't the last of her kind anymore. And, speak of the devil, he slept with her. She wasn't conscious, true, but it was pretty sweet of him. Plus, it felt nice to be in his arms, his warm comforting arms. She felt love before from when she was a child, living with the Morts, but never ever felt that love before; Having a boy cuddle her in bed, taking care of her when she was sick, It felt nice. Is this what it feels like to be loved at a new level? What it feels like...to have a boyfriend?

Of course the robots weren't too long to fix the dimensionator and it was soon time to go. "so...this is it..." Rivet rasped slightly, "I and Kit...are going home and..." As she spoke she feels very painful sensation in her chest, she felt tears starting to form in her eyes, but she was trying her very best to hold it. Ratchet notices it and taps her shoulder, which makes the white lombax to turn around to see what he wants, Only to get embraced by him.

"R-Ratch..."

Her voice cracked as she finally broke down. "Hey Hey Hey, don't cry." Ratchet cooed with comfort, " "It's OK. We're not THAT far apart." "but what if we don't see each other again!" Rivet cried. "We will!" Ratchet spoke with hope in his voice, "we're only a rift apart. And I promise you, no matter how far apart we are, we'll always find a way to get back together. If the dimensions don't fall apart AGAIN." Riv just giggles at the comment before hugging him back.

After a long minute, The two counterparts finally released her hug...

...and went to their separate ways.

But that was only two years ago...

Because two years later...

Their lives will be changed forever...