Raindrops - VIII

Disclaimer: I do not own Ratchet and Clank or any of its characters. I usually write these drabbles whenever I want to feel better, but this one is for another person who could really use something to help.

Raindrops

VIII

Ratchet held the umbrella high over their heads as the sky began to mourn alongside the retired heroes.

Soft raindrops pattered the cloth as the Lombax and the robot looked down at the grave at their knees. The smell of rain and fresh dirt together created a pleasant scent for the late afternoon.

The Lombax, more grey than yellow, rested his free hand against the dark soil. His lips moved, but he couldn't force out a sound.

Clank rested on his knees next to him, a hand rubbing at one of the edges of his optics. After a moment, the little robot took a tiny little stone and placed it on top of the little tombstone. He settled back down, his metal joints softly bumping the ground.

It took a few minutes before either of them were able to speak a word.

"Clank... was... was it a mistake to get... to get her? To have gotten a pet in the first place?" His red-rimmed eyes began to water again. "She didn't live long at all. It was so short... Should we have-"

Clank's hand slipped into his own.

The tears began again, and coughing and sniffling followed as the Lombax choked on his words. "She's just a pet, Clank," he cried as his free hand drifted to his face. "She wasn't supposed to live with us forever... but..."

"Ratchet, it was not a mistake." The metal hand squeezed his gloved one. "She had a short life, but it was one filled with love and joy."

Ratchet coughed, sobs cut off as breaths of air tried to fill his lungs. "I shouldn't be this affected, you know? I knew this was going to happen, Clank. You have to understand it when you get a pet. ...But-"

The sixty-year-old Lombax cupped a hand over his mouth as his eyes closed. More tears ran down his cheeks as the rain picked up.

Clank took a moment to look at Ratchet before looking back at her grave. "Ratchet... there is no shame in feeling this way..." He fell silent for a moment. "Logic cannot do much when emotions come into play, and even with preparation, loss is still a difficult topic to handle."

Silence, yet again, filled the space they sat in.

The rain grew and shrank, dipping in volume as time dragged on.

"Clank, what were some of the things you loved about her?"

A tiny smile appeared on the robot's mouth. "I remember the time you showed Talwyn the adorable little tongue stick-out that she used to do when she ate a grape."

A throaty laugh came from Ratchet. "Oh yeah... I remember that. What about the fact that I made a little noise for her, and she'd answer back? We'd have like, full conversations together." His laugh grew louder. "A few little squeaks and chirps and she'd answer back... She was such a joy to be around."

It went back and forth between the two. They remembered and laughed at the time she had fallen asleep on Ratchet's shoulder only to whine when taken away. They grinned at the time Talwyn had squealed at how cute their pet was, and how she almost completely ignored Ratchet to play with their adorable pet.

The rain soon stopped.

As the conversation began to fade, the Lombax slowly rose to his feet and helped Clank to his own.

They stared at the grave one last time, the last three to four years of memories flashing through their minds.

She wasn't entirely gone.

Ratchet gently put a tiny stone on top of the tombstone before slipping his free hand back into Clank's. "Rest in peace, Mavis. I hope you're in a much better place, and I hope I'll be able to see you again soon."

Some of the rain clouds parted, and evening twilight shined down on the little grave as the duo stepped away.

She wasn't entirely gone. Not while they held the memory of her.

~~~

Song that goes with this drabble: "Rainbow" by Sia.

This drabble breaks some of the rules, though for this person, for a situation like this, for the fact that I technically have all the control in how this fic is made, I am more than happy to break a few rules for.

Mavis, a guinea pig that The White Guardian had, passed away a couple days ago (the thirteenth of June 2019). I had the opportunity of meeting Mavis back in the summer of 2017, when Guardian and I got to know each other more. During some of our video chats, I got to see Mavis interacting with my friend. A lot of the things that Ratchet and Clank mention were some of the things that I saw through our calls. One of the first pictures I even got of her was her little pink tongue poking out and contrasting against silky black fur.

To get the news that she had passed away today was just... she wasn't my pet, but I felt the weight of her death.

That is why this drabble exists. To pay tribute to a sweet little pet that passed away far too early, and to give one of my friends something to remember her by. If you have some time and know him as a friend, send him some love and hugs.

Other than that sweet Mavis, I hope you're in a good place, and I hope you get to eat all the grapes you've ever wanted to eat.

Thank you guys for reading.