Chapter 7

Close Call

Rivet led the way through the streets as Ratchet walked behind her. Both had their hands full with shopping bags as they made their way over to the shipyard. The female lombax smiled back at Ratchet, blue eyes beaming happily as she took out the controller and popped the cockpit.

"Here, just throw these in the back of my ship," she demonstrated by tossing the plastic bags into a containment grid hidden behind the pilot seat. Ratchet nodded to her and mimicked her actions by throwing his set of bought items next to her's. Once the hatch shut, Rivet turned and took Ratchet by his arm, surprising the male lombax.

"Uh," he stammered, a bit baffled at her sudden grab. Her iron grip kept him from pulling away as if she sensed he would've tried that. "All okay?" Ratchet's ear flicked a bit, very nervous, trying to hide the blush at their direct contact.

"You're coming with me," Rivet snickered as she got his shoulders and pushed him along the walkway. Exiting to the shipyard and back onto the busy streets.

They had been shopping all day, the sun was setting, and the cities nightlife was already beginning to take form. All sorts of individuals were seen skulking about the streets. Some happy looking while others carried a sense of bitterness. Ratchet flinched; this was one of the only few things he didn't like much about city life. The more people you exposed yourself to, the wider variety of emotions you'd pick up on. Maybe it was his left-over hero instincts telling him to try and protect everyone. But now that his whole lively hood was on the line, maybe he was just desperate to find a reason to restore happiness.

Rivet seemed to sense this attitude of mixed emotions and placed a gentler hand on his shoulder. "Ratchet, about earlier… I…" she rubbed her arm, awkwardly trying to keep her metal hand on his limb. "I hope you don't think I was actually mad at you." The rebel waved her hand in the air, emphasizing her struggle to explain her point. "I just was so worried when you didn't message me, I just… um."

"Hey, it's okay, I deserved today's shopping spree," he laughed while placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder. His fingers rapidly shaking, but he fought off the urge to pull away. "Besides I did have fun! Was nice to sort of get out into the fresh air."

"Good," Rivet sighed in relief, smiling at his hand on her robotic shoulder. But the smile turned to a quick frown when he yanked his hand away. Sighing, she decided to keep her hand glued in place on Ratchet. "But I've noticed you been tense, so we're going to Nefarious' Night Club!"

"It's still called that?"

"Eh, 'the former n' club doesn't really have that 'party' ring to it." Rivet laughed as she got Ratchet and did a mad dash across the street.

During their rush, Ratchet had lost his footing and fell right on the ground. Horns blew as a massive truck was thundering right towards him. He froze, in complete shock as the vehicle grew and grew insight. All the colors in his vision slowly darkened, seeing a sharp blade instead of a truck. Those deep dark whispers replaced the horn. Familiar fear of the nightmare returned full force as his body felt like it was encased in ice. Rivet managed to stop and turn around in time to see the display, eyes widening at the sight before her. Ratchet sitting frozen on the ground, the huge vehicle getting closer and closer.

"No… NO!" Rivet shot away from her spot, running with all her might. Daring to take a huge leap, she shot towards Ratchet and grabbed his arm. Using all her strength and all her might, she threw herself onto the sidewalk. Barely able to drag Ratchet along with her as the truck shot past them, missing them by a mere few inches.

They both flopped on the ground, the female lombax breathing heavily as she watched the truck zoom away from them. Shooting her head back to her robotic hand, she could see Ratchet's arm still clutched in her grip. Like a leaf in the wind, Rivet shook and quickly clamored over to Ratchet. Seated on her knees with him sitting on his backside, she got him in a tight hug.

"Ratchet…" she whispered, arms shaking as she couldn't believe what almost happened. Her whole body began to tremble as she gazed to the hero, blue eyes wide with pure raw fear. Even her ears lowered so far they laid flat against her neck. "Ratch…!" she said his name again, now pulling back from the hug to shake him awake.

"Please, say something!" she begged him to awaken from his shock. Did he get hurt when he fell? Or when she flung them both out of the way? Oh, she prayed that wasn't the case! The fear ran the blood ice cold through her heart. Suffocating her lungs, she barely could breathe the longer she thought of what almost happened… or could've ended up happening.

The hero blinked his eyes, waking up from his trance as he looked at Rivet. "R… Rivet?" he looked at his hands, then to her shaking limbs. What happened? He clearly fell dark almost as the female lombax scootched closer to him.

"Are you okay?" She asked out in a total panic, moving his arms around. Checking him from head to toe, even when he tried to cease her search, she simply sped up the intensity.

"Y—yea I'm fine, I just…" he rubbed his head, wincing at the feel of a knot forming from where he face-kissed the concrete. "Think I knocked myself silly back there… got a bit of a bump. Other than that, think I'm okay."

Slowing her shakes, Rivet let out a loud breath. "Thank goodness, you scared the crap out of me!" She got up, eyes now glaring down at him. "Why did you just freeze like that?" Rivet knelt and got his hands, helping him up to his feet. Keeping her hands glued on him to keep his wobbly form stable.

"I uh," he froze when she practically smashed her body against his, using herself as leverage to keep him up. Feeling her waist so close to his immediately set alarm bells off as he tried to pull away. But Rivet clearly wasn't having it this time as she yanked him back against her. Her patience running a bit on edge since being scared so bad.

"No 'uh'," she growled, tightening her grip on him. "Why did you freeze? I've NEVER seen you freeze…" Rivet still kept him pressed up against her, arms snuggly wrapped around him. "My gosh, what if I hadn't turned around in time? I didn't see or hear you? You would've been—!"

She froze, jaw left open, unable to finish that statement. As if her mind just flat out stopped working. Daring NOT to picture that scene in her head. Now growing even more grief-stricken, she shoved Ratchet's head into her neck. Hugging him so tight Ratchet felt his head was about to pop off. Unable to press the topic even further, she gave a shaky breath.

"Don't ever freeze like that again!" She snapped, finally allowing Ratchet to have a little bit of room. But keeping him tethered to her robotic arm.

"I'm sorry, don't know what happened. I just tripped then…"

Rivet noticed Ratchet slowly beginning to veer into a spaced outlook. His eyes seeming to be a million miles away. She leaned her head closer, ear perking up, as if she'd be able to hear his mind's whispers. Her grip securing itself even tighter on him as she started reeling him back to her front. Then the male lombax finally came back to reality and noticed how close they were.

"Uh, t—thanks for the save."

Rivet sighed in relief to see he was okay. "Guess you just blacked out for a second… it's okay, it wasn't your fault." She released him and took a step behind him, hands still shaking from that intense adrenalin rush. "L—let's keep going."

Ratchet proceeded to look both ways before attempting to cross the street, only to feel a metal hand grab him by his shirt and yank him back.

"Hey, Rivet, what are you doing?" He protested as the rebel began tugging him back down the sidewalk. Away from the street crossing.

"You almost got flattened, we're not going that direction," she sternly stated, keeping a firm grip on his arm. "We'll simply go the long way to the club."

Judging from her dangerously serious tone, Ratchet knew better then to argue and just followed her. As they walked, the sun set lower and lower. Eventually, Rivet released her grip on him, but now she ensured the hero stayed in front of her. Blue eyes watching every corner for potential, on total alert of their surroundings. The yellow lombax watched the white female keep her muscles tense, prepared to leap into action if anything came his way.

Man, Ratchet sighed to himself, he just can't catch a break.

Eventually making it to the club, both interdimensional heroes walked in and grabbed a booth seated in the far back. A lot of smoke and mist from the stage's special effects veiled the two lombaxes, giving them both a sense of security. Rivet waved a bartender over and ordered a few rounds along with some shots. With their orders written down, he bowed to them and left to retrieve their drinks.

As they waited, Ratchet wrung his hands together, watching as Rivet listened to the music. A loud rock'n roll song came on a second ago, and the beat seemed to loosen the female up. She bobbed her head up and down, tail swishing a bit in rhythm to the beat.

"Thanks for saving me," Ratchet quickly spoke out. Startling Rivet out of her funk as she gifted him a surprise head tilt.

"N—no need to thank me… I never would let you have—" she sighed, looking at her robotic arm. Gripping the metal wrist, she shut her eyes and lowered her head. Ratchet got the metaphor and noticed the waiter bring them their drinks.

Getting one shot, he quickly offered the sad lombax a drink. Which she took gratefully and began with very small sips. Ratchet looked at his cup, cringing a bit, he never did drink. But after everything that led up to this event, from his accident to almost getting killed by a car, and scaring the crap out of his friend? Maybe a little memory wipe wouldn't hurt.

"Just remember, I had a headache earlier." Rivet pointed out between sips. "So just a few."

"Don't worry, I'll keep track." Ratchet promised, "besides, I've never been drunk in my life!"

~Thirty-eight minutes later~

Rivet and Ratchet laughed like loons; her head planted onto the table as Ratchet pounded his fist on the surface in uncontrollable giggles.

"And Qwark said—" Ratchet deepened his voice to sound like the eccentric hero who had no sense of fashion. "But it was mating season, how was I supposed to know that was your sister?"

Spit flew from the rebel's mouth as she took her turn and pounded her fist against the table. "Seriously? With a monkey?"

"I know right? I couldn't sleep all week!" Ratchet laughed harder, tears gathering in his green bloodshot eyes. "Still have nightmares!"

Rivet slowed her laughing down a bit to catch her breath, also whipping the tears away. She cleared her throat and drunkenly waved her hand to get Ratchet's attention.

"Okay okay," she took another big gulp and dried her mouth off. "Here's another question, but this time about YOUR love life. Remember the rules, no lying!"

Ratchet bent his fingers back and forth, gesturing for her to 'bring it' with a sly smile. Rivet laughed, took another big sip, and gave it to Ratchet to take his turn.

"A—alright, how experienced are you with dates?" The rebel looked around as if someone was listening, before leaning into Ratchet's ear. "By experience… I mean… 'experience'…" she snickered hard.

"Ah, well…" he gulped three big sips. "As shocking as th-is… m-mmay sound…" he got her ear, pulled it to his lips, and whispered. "For a big hero… I'm very tamed."

"Nah!" she gasped with a hand over her mouth. "Get out of here, you mean you never…!?"

"I had a few dates here and there," Ratchet laughed, but then got her hand. "Well hang on, what about you? Remember, no lying!"

"Y—yea, as crazy as this may sound. I had some… a—action with some good-looking guys." Rivet laughed a little and propped her head up with her robotic hand. When Ratchet looked at her oddly, she waved her hand to correct his thoughts. "By guys, I mean only a few, as in two, literally…" she held up her fingers and counted. "One… two… guys."

Ratchet nodded as he gestured for her to continue as he went onto the next round of shots. Rivet's joy melted into a numbed-looking stare. Her eyes firmly on the ground.

"I—I…" she hiccupped, stumbling over her slurred words. "Al—lways been on own, n-never had anyone. J—just a few times, thouuugh-t… had chance. Gue-ss could s—say, or the guyssss said.. I mov-ed to fast." Rivet rubbed her neck, sadly admitting the fate of the few relationships she hoped to have.

"Yea, but what about… you?" Rivet asked, eyes landing on Ratchet.

The male lombax stared at her for a few seconds, before a fond smile slowly grew on his face.

"Had… f—four instances with females… through my whole life. Two we—ere just… statements, didn't go anywhere. Third wa…s… a—actually a date. But with my luck, c—couldn't keep it up. So, it ended." he hiccupped. "That's about it. So not a lot of action on my part, shocking I know. Hah!"

Rivet paused, mouthing non-verbal words Ratchet couldn't understand till she pointed at him. "H—holy hold on… that's only… three, yo-u said four?" she crossed her arms, eyebrow raised in confusion. "What about the… fo-urth girl?"

The question ran Ratchet's train of thought right into a brick wall. Now fallen into a familiar sullen state, he gave Rivet a weak smile.

"L—last girl was… bit more complic-ated…" he gently put his drink down. "Can't really e—explain that one. It… n-never came to be… anything. B—but what felt… for her." Ratchet looked right into Rivet's eyes, his green ones almost melding with her blue. "M—made feelings for anyone else… impossible."

"Wow, not often you… f—find that kinda feeling! Why haven't you… told her?"

Ratchet chuckled a bit, trying to hide the pain that tried to work its way into his chest. "Just c—can't. C—can't explain to well…"

"Well… t—to bad, y—you're wonderful… i—I bet she'd love you to!"

The male lombax froze in place, hearing those words drift from Rivet's mouth. Looking at their left-over drinks, he got some credits out and paid for them. Once the tab was taken care of, Ratchet got up, got Rivet by the arm and helped her out of the booth.

"L—let's head back," Ratchet slurred as Rivet snickered and gave him a firm hug.

"J—just don't fall in… street again. Can-t save ya… like this!" She laughed as she hooked her arm possessively around Ratchet.

He gave a soft chuckle and a thumbs up.

"Promise."