A/N: After thinking a bit harder at the age thing, as well as another review that pointed this out. I've decided to re-state my previous comment about making Rivet and Ratchet in their early thirties. We'll go ahead and move it back to late twenties. But everyone agrees both are fully grown adults. With that in mind, enjoy chapter 4.

Chapter 4

Heart's Pain With Liquor's Doubt

Ratchet slowly drug himself out of his ship after flying home for nearly two hours. He purposely chose to take the long way back from the gym to give himself time to think over the course of this morning's events. Time was becoming slower for him as he dragged his feet along the sidewalk and up the steps into the small condo he and Clank owned. Fishing the keys out, he unlocked the latch and entered his shared home.

"Hey buddy, sorry for taking so long to get home." Ratchet spoke out while tossing his leather jacket onto the nearest sofa. Something that annoyed the overly clean square bot that rode on his back. But lately, Ratchet just stopped paying attention.

Clank was sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the tv screen. As if oblivious to his friend entering the domicile. Ratchet peaked around the corner to observe his strangely quiet friend. "Uh, pal?" He cautiously asked out, "you okay?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I'm not." Clank turned off the tv and crossed his arms, leaning back into the grey sofa. His calm demeanor almost seeming staged as he refused eye contact. This rang alarm bells in Ratchet's head as he moved a step forward till the next set of words stopped him. "Tell me, what did you this morning that was so important you'd hang up on me?"

Sighing, Ratchet rubbed the back of his head and sat on one of their softer spinning chairs. Hands run together, gloves squeaking from the grip of his fingers hugging together.

"Uh, well… I went to the gym, got bored. Then, well—…"

"Think long and hard before you start lying."

"Okay, someone needed help with something, so I tried." He quickly raised his hands up to defend himself when Clank slowly turned to lock gazes. "It's fine, no one was hurt, all was under control."

"Then how do you explain a massive crash in the north sector, two announced dead, under control?" Clank flipped the TV on and showed Ratchet a scene that he had previously been to.

A robotic new reporter with shiny swept-back chocolate-colored hair and mustache (all metal) held a megaphone. He described the massive disaster that left five civilians hurt and two suspects dead. Ratchet watched in horror as medics treated many injuries as well as guards escorting two body bags to the back of a black hover cruiser. This left the male lombax utterly speechless as Clank switched the tv off.

"You were a part of that, weren't you?" Clank asked, his calm state struggling to hide the sheer frustration trying to boil up.

"Ok, yes, I was there, just to save a guy's daughter! If I didn't get there, then—"

"Then the guards would've arrived!" Clank suddenly snapped and threw the remote onto the floor. Ratchet froze in complete shock as the little robot stood to his feet and pointed an angry digit at his friend. "I specifically said you couldn't be doing this anymore, to at least get help, and you completely disregarded me!"

"Clank… I had to do something!"

"That was calling for help!" The bot snapped while turning away, hands angrily on his head. "Do you not think I would've noticed?"

"This is ridiculous, I am just doing the job I've always done! You can't expect me to give it up that easily Clank!" Ratchet yelled back, voice cracking from misery at having his own best friend say such words. "This is all I know; all my heart knows!"

"Your heart is not the same anymore Ratchet, that's not what you're understanding!"

Getting up, Ratchet stomped past his friend, hand shaking as he shoved the kitchen door open. "Don't finish that statement…" he hissed, a vein sprouting over his temple. "You can't say what my heart can and can't handle…"

"Your heart can't handle anymore because—"

"Because why? Go ahead, say it! Why can't my heart handle this?" Ratchet yelled, spit flying from his fangs.

Clank stood tall and tightened his fist. Body rattling with his circuity boiling, he threw one fist in the air and jabbed a finger at Ratchet.

"Because your heart is artificial now!" Clank yelled at the top of his voice box. Ratchet's shoulders slowly began to sag as the mini bot wasn't finished yet. "The day you began losing focus, leading up the night you had that injury, you would've died if the surgeons had not been able to replace your heart!"

Ratchet kept his back to Clank, head lowering as he leaned against the cabinet, both hands planted firmly on its surface. His silver companion began pacing, in complete shock at his friend's complete denial of reality.

"Do you have any idea what it was like for me? To watch you, my BEST friend, lie on a hospital bed nearly bleeding to death as doctors tried all they could to save you?" Clank's voice slowly began to soften. "You can't keep doing this Ratchet, but you refuse to listen. Like almost always, I don't know what to do, sometimes I feel like just giving up."

"Then why don't you?" Ratchet answered, tears streaming down his face. "It's because of me I failed… and continue to fail. The only thing I could do to make up for it was saving people. Was all I did to be useful, now I'm losing the only thing my heart… and all because my actual heart is now gone." He pressed his face firmly into his hands, letting water drip through the space in his fingers.

Suddenly, Clank grabbed the lombax, whipped him around, and caught him in a massive hug.

"You are not useless Ratchet, you never were… but your body needs to heal, but so does your mind. I know you've been slipping mentally for some reason." Clank whispered as he tightened his hug, "I just want you safe and healthy."

Slowly wrapping his arms around his little buddy, the hero whispered in a croaked voice. "What do I do then…?"

"Maybe… it's time for a vacation." Clank whispered.

"Wait…" Ratchet whispered in a hoarse voice. "Please, don't tell—"

"I promise, I won't say anything to anyone…" Clank swore while sweeping a stray tear away from those sad green eyes. "But I need your word that you won't be pushing yourself like this anymore."

Nodding to confirm their agreement, Ratchet leaned in once more for a much-needed embrace. Finally starting to calm down.

~Sargasso~

Rivet danced at the bar with Mort and some of her friends, all spinning about with loud laughter ringing the air. The white lombax finally had a true moment to smile when Kit invited her friends over for a karaoke night. Kit sat on one of the back tables, watching her happy friends with a big smile.

"I knew this would 'lighten the mood." She giggled before hearing a small click in her head. The yellow bot looked around, curious of where the random said hailed from, till it clicked again. Hearing the noise from her internal monitor, Kit checked her surroundings and quickly accessed her private messaging system.

"Hello Kit," Came a text from a familiar number.

Kit gasped in surprise and quickly turned on her inner router to write back a responding message.

"Clank!" she added before writing an additional comment. "I haven't heard from you in two days, is everything okay?"

"Everything is… moderately fine."

Kit paused, a little thrown off by that sentence. Not expecting to hear that from her male companion.

"Moderately?"

"Yes, um, it's a long story. But I believe Ratchet is missing you guys a bit more than I expected, so I was wondering if perhaps we could come for an extended stay."

"Of course! You're welcome anytime!" Kit looked over to the blue-eyed lombax break dancing to some rock'n roll music. "I don't think Ratchet is the only one who's been feeling lonely, this is the first time in weeks I managed to get Rivet out of the garage."

"Oh? Is everything alright on her end?"

Kit paused with a black finger to her mouth, hm'ing for a bit before quickly writing back.

"Yes, I think she's been moody. But I believe I know why."

"And what is your conclusion?"

"I have done some research on Lombax biography," Kit pulled up the article she found and forwarded it to Clank's end in private chat. "It says young adult Lombaxes will eventually crave a sense of bonding from another adult, most preferably one of the opposite gender, once a certain age is reached."

Clank didn't respond right away; Kit waited a few seconds till the male bot finally typed back. Judging from his slow pace, Kit could conclude he was thinking hard about her new discovery.

"Not… exactly what I expected, but very well could be a key competent in both their behaviors."

"Wait, Ratchet is also acting up?"

"Well, as said, it's a bit difficult to explain and would rather do so in person. But for now, I think we've been away far to long. Wanted to ask your permission before coming."

"Of course!" Kit responded as Clank barely sent the last message. "Please, come whenever you like! We'll be so happy to see you two again, especially Rivet!"

"Haha, perhaps not tell her about our arrival just yet?"

"No, let's make it a surprise. I can't wait to see her face!"

"Indeed, Ratchet is also excited. We will see you guys in sometime tomorrow."

"See you then, have a goodnight Clank."

"You as well."

Kit clicked her eyes online once exiting her internal hard drive's private messaging system. With a renewed sense of joy, she leaped to her feet and ran towards her friend. Rivet still didn't take notice as she did some backflips in order to land on one arm. Doing her typical break-dancing moves as the other aliens stumbled along to try and keep up. All falling short of her superior dance moves.

Kit paused, seeing the glazed overlook in her friend's eye. Tapping the lombax's organic shoulder, Rivet quickly whirled around, laughing like she was high as a kite. This tapered Kit's joy a bit, but not by much. Long as the rebel was having some sense of fun was good enough for her.

"Rivet, we have been here for a few hours. Perhaps it is time to go back?" Kit offered while getting her arm and gesturing to the exit with a few eager tugs. Wanting to get her friend rested up for tomorrow.

"Aw come one, but we're having soo much—" she hiccupped. "So much f—fun! Don't wanna… g—go home yet!" she began another round of hiccups.

Kit sighed, knowing this lombax was drunker than a skunk. "I believe you, but you'll need strength for tomorrow." Hooking Rivet's arm around her neck, she managed to use superior sober strength to tug the lombax to her feet. Eventually getting the upper hand and able to drag her friend out the door.

"Sorry guys, w—we'll finish t-t-t-t—tomorrow!" Rivet yelled back to the other partiers before the sliding door shut and cut her voice off. She giggled like mad, leaning against her friend, in great need of all the support Kit could offer. "You know, y—you're a great… f-f-f-fr—iend… Kat…!"

"K.i.t." the mini bot corrected, trying to contain her giggles, it was always super funny to see the lombax's tongue stumble.

They kept walking till Kit stopped Rivet on the side of a road, waving down a nearby hover taxi. Getting the door open, a one-eyed octopus looked back to them. Six of his tentacle arms hooked to the steering wheel. "Where we headin'?" the purple creature asked gruffly.

"Just to western sector, please." Kit answered while wrestling the floppy lombax into the seat. Rivet was not at all cooperating as she laughed like a loon, falling all over her friend. Blue bionic eyes rolled in disbelief as Kit managed to force the seat belt on Rivet. "Relax, we'll be home soon, just try to rest."

"Y—you're right," Rivet slurred as Kit shut the cabin door and hunkered down next to her. She craned robotic arm around the mini warbot, both colors being completely identical to each other. "Also, you—you were r-r-r-right Kit… kat…" Her gloved hand smoothed her messy hair back, but only to make it more wild and out of place. "I-i-i-i… beeeeen… SUPER moody… becau-se… certain SOMEONE—" she shoved her cheek against the cold window, enjoying its chilly surface. "Because SOMEONE… not naming who… R—ratchet… wasn't t-t-t-talki-ng to me. It w—worr-ed… me." Drunkly, she placed her palm on Kit's head. "Wo-rried h-h-he.. might be angry or somethin…"

"Rivet," Kit started, gently taking Rivet's hand off her head. A worried hand place on the drunk female's shoulder to soothe her. "I am sure Ratchet is not mad at you, he has been busy… I am sure it is not the worst-case scenario."

"I kn-ow.. but… i-i-I don't know WHY," Rivet dramatically shot her hands up. "But it-it-it just bothers ME."

"I think feelings can be stimulated by alcohol, which you've had large amounts of tonight." Kit patted Rivet's shoulder as the rebel started to doze off. "Rest, we'll be back soon, and I'm betting tomorrow happiness will erase all your recent worries."

"Yo-u think so?"

"I know so," Kit smiled hugely.

Smiling in deep thanks to her friend's support, Rivet felt comfortable enough to finally doze off. Conscious slowly fading away, losing sight of the taxi's interior till darkness finally found her.