Under the Stars

(Starting 2018 off strong!

Last year was a bit of a disappointment for me. I only really published 4 stories, and 3 of them were birthday fics [that's not to say that I didn't enjoy publishing fics for people, but it did feel like I was starting to lose myself to birthday stories]. I really wanted to publish more, and I wanted to branch out into different fandoms and write some stories for them, but that didn't happen. I don't just want to sit around and complain about it, so right now, I'm going to be as proactive as I can. Here is my first story of the new year, a slice-of-life fic that probably would have been better as an end-of-the-year piece. If there's one thing I plan to do, it's try to publish more this year, and starting off the first day of the new year with a story feels like a great way to get cracking on that New Years' Resolution. Slice of Life isn't really what I like to write, since my SoL stuff comes off as bland and boring to me, but this one stuck out to me, and I felt like I just had to write a story for it. :]

I hope you enjoy the little oneshot, and I hope everyone's ready for a brand-new, fresh year! :D)

Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet and Clank or any of its characters. They own me if I'm really going to be honest about it... my entire life has been consumed by this universe and the two heroic dorks that save it.

Under the Stars

"...And then... we escape the prison ship and beat it to a nearby ice planet named... uh, let's call it Stryker. Pass."

"Hm. As the ship hits the ground, we are thrown from the ship, and after checking to make sure every one of our vitals are at optimal health, we trek onward, searching for the weapons the thugs scattered all over the planet while we were incarcerated. Pass."

"Heh, you aren't making things easy for us pal."

Moonlight shined off Clank's metal face as the little robot turned his head and smiled. "I thought you liked having a challenge," he teased, a playful smirk gracing his mouth.

Ratchet rolled his eyes as he carefully turned his head and looked toward the little robot next to him. "Yeah, but even imaging running around an entire ice planet to collect a few weapons sounds utterly exhausting." A grin split the Lombax's face as he stared at Clank for a moment before putting a hand to his chin.

"Alrighty then... so we head off on our epic search to find my Fusion Grenades, Sonic Eruptor, Negotiator, Blaster, and Buzz Blades. Things are going great, and then..." Ratchet smirked as he nudged Clank's side gently. "You suddenly remember that you can track the weapons, since you put mini tracking devices on all of them."

Clank frowned, the rough, brown dirt crunching as the robot rolled over on his side. He waved his finger on his other hand at the Lombax as he nursed his head in his left hand. "Ratchet, you know not to use impossible solutions in the stories."

Ratchet raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Have you ever put tracking devices on my weapons before?"

"...That is beside the point."

His smirk grew. "Claaannk..."

Clank softened and looked away bashfully. "Perhaps I did. Once or twice." He giggled, before his expression changed. "Where do you put all those weapons after each of our adventures?" he asked, his optics narrowing.

Ratchet let out a sharp bark of laughter. "So that's what those are for!"

Clank sat up and placed his hands on his hips. "I seem to recall that you already bought the Buzz Blades during the time we fought Tachyon. Then why did I find another, brand-new Buzz Blades gun when you saved me from Cassiopeia and the Valkyries?"