Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet and Clank or any of its characters. Last Elarious drabble for this collection! Time to give some fluff for some of the past chapters!

Parallelism

Drabble 5: Thoughts

Chapter Summary: They filled each other's minds, both when they were around each other and when they weren't.

They filled each other's minds, both when they were around each other and when they weren't.

They couldn't help it. Being around the other was like breathing in that first gasp of air after being underwater. Each moment carried a feeling of relief, and the warmth of finally being listened to swept over both of them the moment they heard the other call their name. Words and ideas were accepted and encouraged. Gentle touches set fire to their skin and kept them close. For the first time in so many years, they felt a deep connection between them, a shared experience that only they knew.

The love didn't fade away when they were apart.

Whenever Elaris thought of her lab partner, a soft smile would curl up the corners of her mouth and deep color would dot her cheeks. Blue eyes would look away, careful to keep down to the floor, and her fingers would lift up to massage the skin at the back of her neck. The thought of him warmed her chest and tickled her skin in a magical way that bubbled happiness through her veins.

More often than not, the other Rangers caught her gooey grin that appeared whenever she stayed by Nefarious' side.

He was no better. Every time the scientist thought of the wonderful woman that helped and worked with him on his experiments and weapon constructions, his eyes would roll up and one side of his mouth would lift higher than the other. Deep green colors darkened his face whenever he brought up the memory of her laugh, embarrassment and shyness painting his face even if he was by himself.

Nefarious gained the reputation as "Flustered Nerd" throughout the entirety of the Ranger corp. within the first month of Elaris working as a Ranger.

Their love stretched over the space. They completed the other, and when they weren't together, their minds filled in the empty space.

"I was thinking about you yesterday…"

The low hum of the air conditioner hung over the room, giving the early dawn a telltale sound of arrival. Darkness covered the open space, and the two occupants in the modest bed shifted deeper under the covers as the morning chill drew goosebumps across their exposed skin.

A soft laugh came from Elaris. "Have you ever stopped thinking about me, Nef?"

"Well, no." His arm, curled over her stomach and nestled around her waist, pulled her closer to his chest. "But I was thinking about more than just you in the present. I thought of you. Of us. Of the future we could have…"

Elaris rolled over to face him, her nightgown tightening around her hips with the shift. "Funny you mention that…" she hummed. "I've been thinking the same kind of thing…"

Their gazes broke, and their eyes looked down at the soft white sheets. Fingers ducked under both their pillows, reaching for something they had been hiding from the other for the past two weeks.

"Ellie, you're the light of my life-"

"Nef, I've never felt so good around anyone else-"

Both stopped short as their eyes locked onto the ring in the other's hand.

Nefarious ring was small, a platinum band with a tear-drop of raritanium surrounded by sapphires. Elaris' ring was a similar platinum band, near the same ring size as her own finger, and decorated with small studs of raritanium.

Silence fell in the space between them.

Then, the laughter started.

It began as a giggle, rising up from both their chests and curling their mouths into enormous smiles. Then it morphed into full-on laughter, echoing around the room as both clapped their free hands over their foreheads.

And when the laughter died down, the smiles stayed.

Nefarious gazed at the woman across from him. "Well, guess the secret's out."

"I don't mind," Elaris chuckled. "I think we both knew where it was going next."

Nefarious held up his ring to her. "Then do you think you'd be up for marrying me?"

"I'd love to, so long as you're up for marrying me…"

Blue eyes blurred as Nefarious slipped the ring onto Elaris' left ring finger. "I can't think of anyone else I would rather be with, Ellie."

She ran her ring over his left ring finger. Tears of joy snaked down her cheeks, and the goofy grin on her face couldn't be shaken.

When both rings were on their hands, the two looked back up to each other.

"I love you, Ellie." Gentle fingers hooked under her hand and pulled the back of her hand to his lips. "Now and forever," he whispered against her skin.

Her body cuddled close to Nefarious, and she pulled her hand away from his mouth to replace with her own. Soft kisses drowned the rest of the world away.

"Right back at you, sweetheart." Elaris hugged him close, nuzzling her head just under his. "I love you so much and more…"

And as the first rays of sunlight drifted through the bedroom's window, the newly-engaged lovers began to plan out their future together.

Song Inspo: "True Love" by Ariana Grande.

This is the last com for this collection! There was the option for more stories, though DH was okay with me ending here. Since there's still some stories I could write for them, I may write them out and gift them to them later, but overall, this set of coms is finished! Thank you so much for comming me, Nadja, and thank you so much for pushing me to finally write some Elarious!

Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you all enjoyed! :D

XD