Blood.

"Sit still idiot!"

Ratchet only managed a pained hiss as he sat on a rock as his dimensional counterpart wrapped a large bandage around his head, a steady trickle of blood having finally stopped after the bandage was tightened around his head, blocking half of his vision.

As soon as he brought his hands up to adjust it he felt a mechanical hand slap his own away from his head.

"Rivet I'm fine."

Putting her hands on her hips she gave him a look up and down shaking her head analysing him like a doctor would with a sick patient.

He rolled his eyes at her, the action making him swear and hold his head making him swear again.

"That's Dr Rivet to you, and no you really aren't fine, you took a piece of robot ass to the face."

Rivet pointed at the large hunk of metal that had hit him in the face with an audible clang, a decent amount of nano tech would turn the concussion into a dull headache.

What was left of the Empire had put up a decent fight in the few months since the emperors defeat, Ratchet having nothing to do with Clank being busy filming the most recent Secret Agent Clank reboot decided to tag along with Rivet to help with a cell of droids that popped up.

He had managed to get sloppy in his short time away from battling inter dimensional threats, Chalking it up to a mixture of age and just general sloppiness.

"Guess I'm getting old." He said with an ounce of humour in his voice, the comment making Rivets ear twitch slightly, her earrings reflecting the sunlight.

"We're the same age, you calling me old?"

"Yes."

"Shut up before I cut another hole into that pretty head of yours."

"Aww, you think I'm pretty?"

The comment earned him a laugh and a friendly punch in the shoulder as she sat down next to him with a sigh, the adrenaline of the past hour just starting to settle.

Idly kicking a piece of robot across the grass Ratchet broke the silence.

"You ever meet any other Lombaxes?"

The question sat in the air for a second as he watched her stiffen, her eyes dancing around in the dirt, as if she was choosing her words carefully.

"Uh yeah, there was this one called Angela, She broke me out of Zordoom once, I-I never really saw her after that."

Ratchets ears pricked up at the mention of Angela, he cocked his head at her with an inquisitive look.

"You knew Angela?"

"I wouldn't say I knew her, only really spoke two or three times, was a crazy time."

Ratchet smiled a little under the tight bandage wrapped around his forehead.

"I knew her pretty well."

Rivet fiddled with a piece of her mechanical arm absentmindedly as she hummed in acknowledgement.

"I'm assuming you were just friends"

Ratchet nodded as he flopped onto the soft grass below him resting his leg on one knee, the want for sleep itching his brain.

He immediately shot back up as he felt a small ball of scrap being dropped onto his gut, the action making him almost wheeze.

"No sleeping with a concussion dummy."

"I wasn't sleeping, just resting my eyes."

Rivet rolled her eyes for the tenth time that day as she helped him up, a hand steady on his back as they made their way back to the ship.

"You never just rest your eyes, you sleep worse than a teenage Cazar."

"That's not true!"

"Dude, you were asleep on my couch until 2 in the afternoon, I had to pretty much drag you to the shower."

Ratchet opened his mouth to speak but closed it straight away as he climbed sluggishly into the cockpit, sifting through an opened container of nanotech.

He had to swat Rivets hands away as he pulled the bloody bandage off, letting the blue sludge go to work.

"Reckon Clank's gonna throw a fit because I let you get hurt." Ratchet could hear the concern in her voice under a thick layer of smugness.

If anyone acts like a teenage Cazar it's her, jeez.

"Eh wasn't your fault, things like these happen, we've been doing the whole hero business for like… eleven years now."

Rivet smiled towards Ratchet as they took off, the sensation making his head swim slightly.

"Guess you are getting old then."

Shaking his head while chuckling he found himself agreeing with her somewhat.

He had been sluggish even during the final battle against the emperor, the aches and pains after any long battle seeming to last twice as long as they used to.

Leaning back into the chair he let out a groan along with a steady click of several joints which made Rivets eyebrow raise as she glanced at him.

"Shuddup" Was all he managed in between yawns as he let sleep begin to wash over him, Rivet's giggling being the last thing he heard before passing out.

Baking

Ratchet found himself groaning as flopped down on the couch covered in grimy patches of grease, the ancient space taxi he planned to turn into a racer proving more difficult to tinker with than it was worth, the muggy Kerwan heat not helping in the slightest.

His winter coat had been coming off all week as well, Clank having come at him with a brush as well as a vacuum cleaner at one point.

A robotic cough caught his attention, making him sit up straight, a guilty smile plastered on his face.

"Hey pal."

"Ratchet I just cleaned the house and you've already managed to tread filth everywhere."

Ratchet rolled his eyes as he scratched at his ear, a fair amount of fur coming off his body at the action.

Realising his mistake he quickly brushed his hand on his pants but it was too late.

The chrome toaster of cleanliness had noticed.

"Clank I swear to whatever holy being is listening if you come at me with a brush I will turn you into a paper weight."

"I'd like to see you try fur-ball."

Clank made his move lunging at his best friend brush in hand, the bristles barely making contact with its target.

Ratchet squealing like a small child jumped out of the way landing awkwardly on his side, a large cloud of golden fur flying off of him.

"C'mon Ratchet, I've brushed you before."

"Yeah but only when it was bad, I'm a big boy Clank I think I can clean myself."

Clank paused for a second, a look of amusement on his face at just how jumpy the Lombax was when it came to being brushed.

"Ratchet the average Lombax life span is 95 and adulthood was considered to start around 21."

"So?"

"You turned 19 two weeks ago, you're also underweight for the average Lombax at your age, you are not a big boy."

Ratchet made to open his mouth when a familiar scent attacked his nose, the smell of chocolate cake that Quark made on several occasions whenever he had managed to get Ratchet genuinely mad at him.

"Clank, is Quark here?"

Clank looked down at his best friend, who almost looked feral with the amount of fur falling off of him, the black gunk that stained him from head to toe didn't help, the shirt he was wearing ruined.

Not trusting himself to not break out in laughter Clank simply nodded and walked away towards the laundry, picking up a large bottle of some pink liquid Ratchet couldn't read from where he was.

Sighing to himself Ratchet stood up patting himself down, more fur coming off of him in what felt like sheets.

At this rate I'm gonna end up bald, jeez.

Walking into the kitchen he span around on his heels, the smell of cake wafting pleasantly through the air.

No sign of Quark.

Making his way towards the oven he peered inside, a large cake sat in the centre of the golden light that made his mouth water, the warmth of the oven pleasant on his fur.

Pre occupied with the oven Ratchet failed to notice the large hunk of green spandex cast its shadow over him until it was too late, a three fingered hand hoisting him up by the collar of his shirt.

Spinning slightly from being up that high Ratchet could only cross his arms and glare at his captor, ears low enough to touch his cheeks.

"Put me down Quark."

"No can do cadet, captains orders."

Walking back out towards the living room Quark flashed a wink at Clank who gave him the thumbs up.

Ratchet didn't even try to break loose of his captor's grip instead choosing to glare silently at Clank, the last time he tried breaking free of Quark all he got was an accidentally trodden on tail and a bruised ego.

He couldn't help but cross his arms as he was placed down, Quark ruffling his head made the scowl on his face ten times worse.

"Thank you Captain."

"Any time Clank!"

The captain's cheery demeanour and smile made Ratchet even angrier, his tail swishing back and forth as he stared at Clank with his arms crossed.

Quark rubbed the golden fur from the large pink apron he wore, sighing to himself once he realised it was a losing battle, faking a glance at his notably watch free wrist he exhaled deeply turning around on his feet.

"Well would you look at the time! I'd love to stay and watch my newest movie with you guys but I got a rather intense Blargian massage session to attend to, was great catching up!"

Ratchet acknowledged Quarks goodbye with a huff, the simple action of breathing deeply sending a few bits of fur off of his arms.

Quark let himself out of the front door closing it as softly as he could, which still ended up with half the apartment vibrating.

"Ratchet."

"No."

"You never have had an issue with getting brushed, why now?"

Cocking his head Ratchet stared at Clank with a look of confusion, one ear drooped slightly. Clank had to physically fight the urge to laugh at his friend's appearance.

Wordlessly Ratchet snatched the brush and walked towards the bathroom, muttering the entire while.

"Don't be in there too long, the bill will be outstanding!"

"Jeez Clank if I didn't know any better I'd mistake you for Grimm."

Clanks trademark giggle echoed through the house as he made his way to the kitchen, putting on oversized oven mitts that went to his shoulders as he pulled the cake out.

While icing the cake his thoughts ran to Ratchet and whether or not he was a bit too overbearing when it came to him.

The Lombax did have a terrible sense of self care though, more often than not going days without a proper meal or sleep, almost every day not saving the universe or keeping up appearances being spent tinkering with something or someone.

Some innate instinct deep within his species Clank had figured, He didn't know how Ratchet would function without him telling him to sleep or eat.

Clank turned to leave out the door coming face to face with Ratchet himself, wrapped in two towels, one precariously sitting atop his head, his fur puffed out to the point of looking like a full body afro, the sight making Clank laugh again.

Ratchet waited for his friend to stop laughing as he stood patiently, tail swishing.

"I presume you want me to brush you."

Sheepishly Ratchet dropped the hairbrush into Clanks hands, the oversized oven mitts acting like a baseball glove.

"Y'know you look pretty dumb with those on pal."

"As do you with an afro."

Ratchet giggled at the comment as he eyed the cake again, slowly making his way back out to the table.

Clank imitated Ratchets laugh as best he could, leading Ratchet to have his best crack at copying Clanks laugh, sounding more like an off brand Scooby Doo, the poor impression sending both into a fit of laughter.