Disclaimer: I don't own Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart. I don't own the picture (cover). Or the song.

(qwertuno and SilentReadersMatter)

(Hope you enjoy.)

Without a soul, Kit sleeps somewhere cold.

Kit's body isn't hers to control. She no longer had the driving seat in her mind to operate the main frame of the robotic self.

However, what he created did.

The monster inside targeted Kit mentally and physically. The two entities aren't supposed to interact, much less even acknowledge their existence within the same mind and body.

Watching everyone action as if walking through a dream. Whatever the creation decided to do Kit unwillingly followed.

I am you. You are me. We are family.

Those nine words drove Kit insane. Every freaking day it repeated them over and over. Drilling them so deep she couldn't not block them out.

I am you. You are me. We are family.

The creation is sadistic and cruel. It's sentience choosing to force Kit into watching their one actions and seeing there isn't a thing she can do.

I am you. You are me. We are family.

'I am you...You are...Me.'

We are family~

The possessor planted the words inside Kit's mind so often she now repeated them back sometimes just to get it to leave her alone. It worked most of the time.

I am you. You are me. We are family.

Sometimes, it didn't.

I am you. You are me.

'...We are family.'

A sadistic chuckled sounded. Kit gave into the temptation of those words and laughed along with the never ending torrent voicing.

She truly lost her mind. The darkness swallowed the little hot whole, her last viewing was of another Kit standing there with red optic consumed. Fiery red and hell fire looking.

Glowing and never ending.

I am you. You are me. WE ARE FAMILY.

***

"And we aren't family."

Kit flinched those words as she awoke. Blinking drearily, her vision came into focus as she yawned and stretched her tiny muscles.

"What happened?"

Looking around, she saw Rivet tinkering with some kind of device, though it seemed more of a hobby than of actual importance.

"I tore you apart." Rivet replied casually, walking past and tossing the device in a bin. "And then put you back together for some ungodly reason."

"What happened with your eyes?"

The Lombax shrugged. Humming a familiar tune, she disturbingly took of the limb replacing her arm and placed it on shook.

"I'm one armed." She attempted to joke. "And and I'm limbless now."

It actually got a laugh out of Kit. The Lombax surely hadn't changed apart from wanting to beat the ever loving crap out of the bot. Humour and personality wise?

Yeah, Rivet's stayed the same.

Kit's eyes were drawn to the stump. The base of the humorous stayed. The other parts were cut off and replaced by the metal prosthetic.

It made Kit sick to think she caused it.

"How did you forgive me for it?" Kit asked in exhaustion. She's tired of life. "I caused you to lose your arm."

"We all lose something." Rivet responded with a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about it."

Worry about it.

"I can't help but worry about it."

Rivet had no words in response. Simply choosing to ignore Kit's little jab and get on with her normal life consisting of beating creatures for justice.

She is a hero and heroes fight villains in the name of the law. Batting villains so they didn't do evil. She's not evil, the monster inside controls the body when it committed the heinous acts.

"Well, don't then." Is all she replied. Rivet flopped onto a hammock, humming as it set. "I ain't a worrier anymore. Simply gave into my other side."

"That side."

Rivet shot Kit a grin. Stretching out and sighing in content as the hammock's swaying lulled the Lombax into a light froze.

"That...side."

Rivet yawned obnoxiously. Kit glared at her in light anger as the Lombax was putting on a show as a changed creature.

"What the hell do you take?

"Sleeping medication. Helps insomnia."

"Hmmm."

Kit looked at the apartment.

Red bricks everywhere due to no wallpaper. Black carpeting all over the floors and going form the door until the window next to where Kit sat.

A mini-lab set up in the corner obviously for experiments and to set up new gear should Rivet need an upgrade in weapons.

A desk to tinker stuff like the unnamed device. A few posters of the old times where they'd hand out. Rivet took notice of the nosy robot.

"You are curious."

Kit jumped in surprise. She huffed and folded her arms turning her head to avoid eye contact. She's crumple if they looked at each other.

Rivet could read her like a book.

"I don't mind you looking." She decided to give permission. "Long as you don't touch anything you ain't supposed to."

"Rivet?" Kit questioned softly. "You forgive me?"

A silence was both. The tension pregnant and only bursted when Rivet's tired voice cut it as the knife.

"I want to...But I can't."

Rivet let her gaze fall on Kit. It held a sad expression, conflict fighting inside those tired orbs. Emotions swirling as if two fish swam in a circle.

"I can't trust you."

Each word cut a wound in Kit like a stab wound.

"I only saved you because of her."

Kit jumped one again. She stared into those glowing red eyes. Consuming all thoughts and irises and pupils. You can only see the red, nothing else.

"Rivet's gone at the moment. She'll be asleep in a few moments." The copycat grinned, deciding to stay still as to not arouse suspicion in the shot. "I don't forgive you. She doesn't forgive you. No one will ever forgive you."

Suddenly, Rivet's eyes switched to their normal colour. They rolled into the back of her head and something forced her to pass out.

Her eyes closed and she fell asleep in the swaying hammock. It rocking slightly holding her leg as it slipped out making it rock even more.

Light snoring filled the room, leaving Kit to either fall asleep or snoop the place. Obviously she chose the latter because when is your don't choose the latter in these situations?

But something decided she shouldn't. Kit suddenly gave a tired yawn, the monster inside taking control of her mind and putting her to sleep.

I am you. You are me. We are family.

The words acted as a trigger and her eyes optic dropped to where she could barely keep opening the lids up to not give in.

When she looked at Rivet again, she saw a space and the medication muddily registered in words-

"Sleeping medication. Helps insomnia."

Kit stumbled over and somehow managed to climb into the still swaying hammock. Setting in the mentioned space, she wriggled to put some distance between her and Rivet.

She may have been out, but Kit still respected the Lombax enough to not make her uncomfortable.

I am you. You are-

Shut. Up.

The entity decided to obey the command. Kit finally gained a piece of mind, able to think clearly without those nine words haunting her mind.

"Pick up."

A decide beeped on Kit's top parts. Too small and too silent for Rivet's ears to possibly hear. She subconsciously shuffled in her sleep-

And put an arm onto Kit drawing her close. Well, her only arm. The other one hung up on a hook a few metres in the room displayed as if a proud invention.

Kit still felt guilt about that event, even to this day.

"Here. The target is here."

She spoke hurriedly, holding a worried expression. If River chose to wake up now, she'd be screwed.

"Remember your task. Don't get attached."

"Yes my Lord. Bring the weapon back."

"Good robot. You will get your reward."

Kit hung up the com. She looked up at Rivet noticing the peace face forming as she slept through the night undisturbed. Kit wished she didn't take it granted.

After all, she's nothing if not a traitor.

The monster inside growled. Kit had to agree there, once they'd both packed to be there for each other, only to have Rivet running off in the end.

Then finding out how she's the only hero.

It couldn't be a coincidence. And Kit happened to show up and be a villain of all things. Rivet may be the only hero known in existence. She's not subtle.

Kit drifted off beside Kit facing her back to the Lombax in hopes her guilt couldn't be seen or sensed even in sleep. The monster didn't take emotion.

To live, creatures infected repressed weakness.