Hello! Lilrose here!
I just wanted to say thank you for the reviews this story has gotten. It's really helping me along and giving me the will to continue. So keep reviewing, so I know you like it!
Also, I know it is implied that Ratchet's mother died, but I'm changing it that she was wounded, but not killed. You'll see the story behind that later on.
Oh, and a warning: Grumpy character with a bad mouth.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OC, Zanora/Lynxion.
Ratchet stared in disbelief. Qwark was chasing a few butterflies, tripping over his own feet sometimes and faceplanting onto the dirt. He would always get up and chase after them again, though, making him seem like a five-year-old. Ratchet rolled his eyes and turned back to his weapons. His thoughts drifted as he cleaned, reflecting on what had transpired since he got here.
He wondered briefly what Lynxion and Aphelion are talking about in the garage, but by the sound of it, he didn't want to intrude. His thoughts unconsciously moved to the half-Lombax, going over everything he knew about her.
She was a puzzling being. She was quite helpful and friendly, but also sarcastic. She sometimes fought with speed and wit, out-maneuvering her foes with quick dodges and propelling herself off walls. Other times, the way she fought was almost... feral. Tearing and biting into the enemies ranks like a wild animal locked onto it's prey. She was on Fastoon before Tachyon, she created Aphelion, she knew some of the other Lombaxes and could even know his parents and his family and-
He stopped that thought track quickly, knowing that it wasn't likely that she knew them. It was a huge city back then. But... didn't she say she worked as an Engineer? An AI Creator? She could have known his father. He was using the Dimensionator, right? That had to have been created by engineers. Maybe she knew about it?
Ratchet shook his head, turning his thoughts to more pressing questions.
He knew her. He didn't know how and where from, but he recognised her. She was... familiar. In a way that made him feel safe. That was rare, feeling safe around anyone but Clank. But there was a connection between him and the 'One of Broken Wings'. And he was determined to find out why.
His thoughts screeched to a halt as a girly yelp sounded behind him.
He spun around in alarm, Omni wrench clenched tightly in his fist. He then proceeded to change spontaneously from 'Grr, Imma gonna beat up someone' to 'What the hell are you doing' and 'laughing at your stupidity'.
Qwark had chased the butterfly right into a mud pile, coating himself in the stuff. Ratchet continued to laugh as Qwark pulled himself out of the mud and stood up sulkily, looking like an upset child. He glared weakly up at the laughing Lombax, his face showing his embarrassment. He then got an idea and his face lit up cheekily.
"You know, Ratchet..." He started, getting the now calm Lombax's attention, "You've been awfully moody these days..."
Ratchet's ears fluffed up in suspicion as he watched the ex-hero cautiously, "What are you getting at, Qwark?"
Qwark started walking toward him, "You know what you need?"
Ratchet caught on too late as Qwark grabbed him when he tried to run.
"A hug!"
Then Qwark proceeded to coat the flailing Ratchet in mud and pulling him close. Ratchet flailed more, pushing against him in an effort to save his furry coat. He saw Lynxion watching them with Aphelion, looking amused as she leaned against the ship.
"Let go of me, Qwark!" He shouted, before turning to the half-Lombax, "Help!"
Lynxion started to chuckle as Qwark walked with Ratchet to the mud pile and threw him in. Ratchet shrieked as he hit the ground, looking down at his fur in despair. He glared at the triumphant looking man in green, eyes slitting dangerously. He growled in the back of his throat as he got up on his knees and clenched his muscles for a tackle.
Unbeknowest to him, Lynxion had caught onto what he was going to do and knew he had forgot about his now unshealthed claws. It made her realise he didn't use his Lombax animal instincts a lot. So she brought out one of her tails and ran forward just in time.
Ratchet lunged for Qwark, who had backed up a step. He then collided with Lynxion as she pushed herself and Ratchet back into the mud pile, using her tail to pull Qwark in. They all landed with loud splats, Lynxion subtly signalling Ratchet to calm down. He did, now noticing his claws retract themselves. His ears lowered slightly as he caught on to what he had nearly caused. He looked to Lynxion, face upset, and she threw a mud ball at him.
He wiped the mud off his face as Lynxion laughed. Suddenly a ball of mud hit her in the face and sent her back, a grinning Qwark looking at her, oblivious to how he had nearly been clawed. Ratchet smirked as he threw a mud ball into his face, making Qwark splutter as it got in his mouth. Ratchet sprinted around the mud pile as Lynxion threw another mud ball, laughing at the childish situation this had turned out to be.
They all ran around for a while, throwing mudballs and throwing and pushing each other into the mud. Qwark kept them all playful when Ratchet started to revert back to moping. Lynxion tripped Qwark up a lot and Ratchet was just hitting the both of them.
Eventually, the three walked up to Lynxion's house, tired and muddy. Lynxion showed them the shower and Qwark raced past, getting to the shower and probably going to stay there.
Lynxion and Ratchet sat in the garage, Ratchet in only his pants and Lynxion in a singlet and shorts. They swapped stories and eventually came to a conclusion about asking questions.
"Swapsies?" Ratchet asked, staring at Lynxion in confusion, "What the heck is Swapsies?"
"It's a question game." She replied, leaning back against the wall she was on, "Back when I was young, when someone didn't want to tell only their story, you'd take turns in asking questions and getting answers. It was like a truce between the two players."
"And you want to play it with me?"
"Well, you want to know about me and I want to know about you. So? You in?"
Ratchet mulled is over in his head before nodding reluctantly in agreement.
Lynxion pointed toward him, "You first. Ask away."
Ratchet asked the first question that came to mind, "Do you know anything about the Dimensionator?"
She flinched, he noticed, with a blank look on her face, "Yeah, I knew that it was used to move the Cragmites away. I even knew it's owner and-"
She stopped herself, eyes wide and she slapped her hand on her head. Ratchet, however, knew exactly what she said.
"You knew him? Can you tell me about him?"
She looked at him with an eyebrow raised, "I think you're forgetting the rules, cub."
"Are we still playing that stupid- wait, cub?" He looked at her in surprise.
She seemed to register what she said and blinked, "Yeah. That's what you'd call a young Lombax. You don't even seem of age, yet."
He blinked, a faint memory of someone calling him that in his head, "Someone called me that once. I can't remember who, though."
He saw her watching him as he looked for an image to the memory, but nothing came. He looked up at her, both of them staring each other down. He knew now that she was important. She knew his father, and probably knew him from before. But she didn't reply to his questions. Why did she keep dodging around the subject?
"Well, that answers one question of mine." She started, leaning back passively, "You were raised by Lombaxes. But it must have been long ago, for you don't seem to remember."
She contemplated something before finishing, "You were on Fastoon, weren't you?"
He looked up, his confusion and questions bubbling in his eyes. She seemed to get her answer, for she looked down quietly and let him be for the rest of the wait.
Qwark eventually got out of the shower and Ratchet went in, managing to get the dirt off easy. He cleaned his pants and dried them enough to put on. Lynxion went straight in after, leaving him to explore the place she called home. He wondered about, looking at the guest rooms and the lab she had. Eventually, he ended up in the garage, where Aphelion was hooked up to a charger.
She buzzed at him happily when he walked in, her sensor the only light apart from the moonlight coming from under the crack of the garage door. He leaned against her, tail curling forward to rest in front of his legs. He glanced at her before catching her attention.
"Aphelion, who exactly was Lynxion? Before Fastoon was attacked?" He asked, earning a contemplative hum.
"I can't tell you that, Ratchet. Only she can tell you when she's ready." Aphelion replied, then she beeped quickly, "Oh, and promise me that you won't get mad at her or freak out."
Ratchet watched the ship out of the corner of his eye, "What do you mean?"
"Ah, there you are, Ratchet!"
Ratchet jumped, muscles instinctively tightening and he turned in a defensive position. He relaxed under Lynxion's understanding gaze, though and stood up straight. He noticed briefly that she was holding something before his eyes went back to her face.
She looked sheepish, her free hand resting behind her head, "Sorry. I forgot you're a fighter. I shouldn't have snuck up on you."
"It's fine. What are you doing here?" He replied blankly, internally wincing at how harsh that came out.
Lynxion frowned slightly, then walked to the bench beside Aphelion and sat down, "I wanted to make sure you understood."
"I do understand." he replied instantly, "It's hard to talk about for you."
"But that's not it."
He stared at her with an eyebrow raised, clearly questioning her.
"You're not ready to know." Lynxion stared back at him, "What happened on Fastoon isn't just limited to Tachyon. Even without Tachyon attacking us, Fastoon would've..."
She shook her head, mouth slamming shut again. Ratchet felt alarmed at that. What really happened that day that only she knows now?
Ratchet blinked when he realised Lynxion was beckoning him over to the seat she was on. He walked over and sat down, fur on edge at being so close to a near stranger. Suddenly he felt something run though the fur on his back and he flinched, stopped by a reassuring hand on the shoulder. He tensed, feeling whatever it was going down his back before he relaxed, recognising what she was doing.
He felt relaxed. He couldn't remember the last time someone else had done this for him, but then again, Lynxion was different. Very different. But still, that didn't explain why she was...
"Why are you brushing my fur?"
"Humour me, cub."
Ratchet woke up, curled peacefully on his side and blankets covering him completely. He heard Qwark snoring on the bed beside him and pulled his ears down futilely. He eventually got up and quietly walked into the living room. He closed the door and walked to sit on the couch. He had just gotten comfortable when a sudden sizzling intruded on the quiet. He looked toward where he supposed the kitchen was and noticed that the table was set. He reluctantly stood and trudged over to the door, leaning against it to gain his bearings.
Lynxion was cooking pancakes. And doing a pretty good job of it. She was in a long white night gown and was rubbing her eyes every few seconds. But even though she looked dead on her feet, she continued making breakfast and piling the results onto a single plate. Ratchet yawned and Lynxion's ear twitched. She turned toward him and smiled, eyes half closed.
"Sorry if they're not that good." She started, putting the plate on the table, "I'm not awake in the mornings."
Ratchet simply nodded, digging in to the meal. Him and Lynxion were just finishing their first pancake when loud footsteps echoed through the house.
"GOOD MORNING, SIDEKICK!" Qwark greeted loudly as Ratchet tried to pull his ears down, "AND YOU TOO, WEIRD HUMANOID FRIEND!"
Ratchet heard Lynxion hiss and looked up in time to see her eye twitch. He pulled his ears down just in time as she jumped up.
"WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?! IT'S ONLY SEVEN IN THE MORNING, YOU ASSHOLE!" Lynxion screeched, making Qwark squeal and run out of the room.
Ratchet inched away slightly, a little frightened.
'Okay, not a morning person.' He thought meekly, eating his food quietly, 'Good to know.'
They eventually finished eating as Qwark slunk back in under Lynxion's glaring eyes. Ratchet got his suit back on and started preparing for the journey. Qwark had vanished to who-knows-where and it was just him and Lynxion filling up Aphelion. Aphelion was quiet through the whole process, which Ratchet noticed Lynxion twitching at occasionally. Ratchet raised an eyebrow at the half-Lombax's skittish behavior, but said nothing. Eventually, Lynxion declared him fine for the trip and locked the storage hull.
Ratchet nodded in her direction, wishing her a silent farewell. He noticed that Lynxion was looking slightly upset over something, but paid no mind to it. His last words, instead, were straight-forward.
"When I get back here when this is all over, you're going to be explaining everything, Lynxion!"
"Don't count on it, cub!" was her faint retort.
Ratchet smirked slightly, starting to drive Aphelion away. With his concentration on other things, he didn't notice Aphelion reaching out a cable and dragging Lynxion quickly into the storage hull as he sped out of the planet's atmosphere.