Heavy patting echoed throughout the hall. The same scenery moved back and forth as (Y/n)'s pacing seemingly had no end. The grinding of his claws against his teeth a screeching accompaniment to his heavy breathing. The door remained closed and merely read "Occupied". Each step the burgundy lombax took he became more desperate to find out Ratchet's condition. His fur was ruffled, his clothes dirty, and his foot paws rubbed raw. Anyone could tell he hadn't left the hospitable since he got back from the mission. Eventually his exhaustion got the better of him and he found himself curled up against the wall.

He laid there, unable to gather any strength nor motivation to get up and do something, not that there was anything he could do to help his injured friend. A hiss sounded in front of him and his ears perked. (Y/n) slowly stood up straight and faced the medical robot in front of him. "Well...?" He asked, his voice rasping as he spoke. It had been some time since he last drank anything. "His liver, kidney, and lung have suffered some bruising from the metal scrap that was lodged into his body..." (Y/n)'s ears drooped and his paws clenched each other. "Luckily we were able to remove them with little to no difficulty. He'll have difficulty breathing, moving, he may even need someone to help him go to the bathroom on account of his damaged kidneys, he'll be in some pain while those organs continue to do their work." The doctot continued.

(Y/n) bit his lip as he stared at the ground. His body ached with every word that traveled to his ears. "He can go home if he wants to but he needs someone to watch over him for the time being. Keep a fresh supply of nanotech nearby in case anything happens and make sure he takes it easy." The doctor added as he eyed the lombax patiently. (Y/n) wiped something fron his eyes and sniffed. "May I see him?" He asked shifting a bit. The doctor nodded and began walking down the hallway to another door also labeled "Occupied".

The lombax sighed and took a step forward. The door swished open to reveal it's contents to him. Ratchet was lying a platform hovering a few feet off the floor. He was covered in bandages, specifically where his torso had been most critically injured. The sight pained (Y/n) as he looked away immediately after he saw Ratchet. "Hey, (Y/n). Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Ratchet joked a bit weakly. "Well don't just stand there. Come over here." The yellow lombax said with a smile. He adjusted himself on the bed as (Y/n) walked towards his bedside. "Listen, don't blame yourself for what happened. There's no way we could've known what Nefarious was up to." Ratchet reassured putting his paw on (Y/n)'s shoulder. "But I should've seen it coming! There's no way Nefarious would--!" He was interrupted by Ratchet forcefully grabbing his paws.

"This was not your fault. Nefarious just got the better of us this time." Ratchet narrowed his eyes at (Y/n). (Y/n)'s eyes widened. Ratchet now had a smile on his face. "Don't worry I'll get through this. I just need to take a rest for a while." Ratchet explained letting go of (Y/n)'s arms and placing them back in his lap. "Do you... want to come back with us? The doctor said it was okay so long as we're careful." (Y/n) asked rocking back and forth on his foot paws. "That would be fine. Besides, we all know how terrible hospital food is right?" Ratchet laughed as he scratched his right ear. (Y/n) tilted his head, his eyes blinking twice.

"What is it?" Ratchet asked. "The hospital food is bad here?" (Y/n) responded. "Yeah, it's like someone pours tar all over it before it's served. Why do you ask?" Ratchet explained biting his lip. "Where I come from the hospital food is like a five star restaurant. It was so good a law was put in place making it illegal to injure yourself for the sole purpose of eating the hospital food." (Y/n) said snickering a bit. "Really? That good?" Ratchet asked turning a bit. Suddenly he hissed and grabbed his side. "H-hey are you okay?!" (Y/n) asked almost jumping to his aid.

"Gah, I-I'm fine. It's just the bruises. I guess I'm gonna be sore for a while." Ratchet chuckled before groaning in pain again. "Do you still want to go back to The Hall of Heroes?" (Y/n) asked putting his paws behind his back. "Actually, I wanna go back to the garage. I'm a little beat. No pun intended." Ratchet said pointing at (Y/n) with a smirk. (Y/n) chuckled a bit and scratched the back of his neck. "So, how are we gonna get you out of here? You can't exactly move in your condition." (Y/n) pointed out. Another robot doctor came in holding a clipboard. "You're free to use the hospital bed to transport him so long as you get him to another bed and return this one to us." The doctor said writing something out on the clipboard.

"I'm perscribing two small doses of nanotech every four to six hours, and another large dose of nanotech on standby for any emergencies that may occur while you guys are at home." The doctor explained ripping off a small square piece of paper and handing it to (Y/n). "Of course. Let's go Ratchet." (Y/n) walked behind the hovering bed and slowly pushed Ratchet out of the room. "See you around doc. Thank you for your help." (Y/n) said to the doctor is it waved at them. The door shut behind them as they started traveling down the hall. "I can't wait to see Grim. He's probably lonely taking repair jobs by himself." Ratchet said looking down at his bandaged torso.

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Achievement unlocked: It could be worse, right?
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A few hours later Ratchet was lying in bed, drinking a cup of vermillion coffee. The TV was playing thr news program discussung a recent explosion on Umbris that had been investigated by the Galactic Rangers. "Following the explosion, Galactic Ranger Ratchet had been injured and sent to the hospital. He is currently stated to be at home on the Kyzil Plateu recovering from his injuries and being tended to by (Y/n) from the Nanogladiator Tournament." The Tv suddenly shut off as (Y/n) walked in holding a bowl of hot soup. "That's not something we should be watching right now. Especially considering the circumstances." The burgundy lombax said handing the soup to Ratchet.

"Heh, thanks (Y/n)." Ratchet chuckled with a crooked smile. He took the spoon in his hand and raised a spoonful of soup up to his muzzle, taking the warm food into his body. "You're a good cook." Ratchet said before eating another spoonful of soup. (Y/n) sat down with Ratchet at the foot of the bed. "So looks I'm suspended from duty until you get healed up."  (Y/n) spoke while kicking his legs. Ratchet suddenly gasped and started clutching his throat. "Ratchet!" (Y/n) immediately stood up reaching for the yellow lombax. Instead Ratchet held up his paw. (Y/n) stopoed in place but was still ready to push the food out of him. Ratchet groaned and swallowed, sighing in brief relief. "You're what?!" Ratchet asked looking at (Y/n) with wide eyes.

"Relax, they didn't officially suspend me. They just needed something ti put in the books for the sake of consistency... and as an excuse for me to stay with you." (Y/n) said twiddling his digits while giving a side shrug. "B-but the Galactic Rangers..." (Y/n) put a digit to Ratchet's muzzle. "Will be fine. Clawsha and Dickey are there, and they are no pushovers. If anything the Rangers are overstaffed." (Y/n) joked pulling his digit away with a smile. Ratchet sighed and looked down. "I suppose you're right." Ratchet said looking back up at (Y/n) with a smile. "There's that cute little smile I've been looking for. Seriousy that took way too long." (Y/n) said gently snuggling up with Ratchet under the blanket.

Ratchet and (Y/n) started staring at each other. They leaned in and their lips made contact. This familiar and wonderful feeling returned again. They began sharing their breath and saliva in theur passionate french kiss, swirling their tongues around each other in their best attempt at getting lost in each other's warmth. "Hey Ratchet, do you need me to get you anything at the mar--" Grim rose up to Ratchet's balcony on his crane only to find him and (Y/n) making out with each other. Grim merely smiled and descended on his crane down to the garage. A few hours passed and the two Lombax's fell asleep with each other. They hadn't even stripped each other down yet.