Mistletoe

December.  One of the most unforgettable months in history.  It's that month where everyone is filled with joy and cheer.  Singing carols, anxiously waiting for Santa to give out gifts, drinking all the eggnog that's possibly been spiked, and kissing under the mistletoe that could lead into the bed-

"Qwark?"

The self-proclaimed super hero turned around from the window to see a rather unamused Ratchet who was wearing a Santa hat.

"Who are you talking to?" Ratchet tapped his foot and looked at the idiot with annoyance.

"What?" Quark shrugged, "Can't a guy narrate what's happening in the great outdoors?  The great outdoors where the snow is falling as if the snowflakes were glittery tears from the angels above.  The same angels that watch over ever organic life form to guide in the path of goodness and purity, or the path filled with struggles to make one as strong and perfect as yours truly.  They could be crying over the awesomeness that I have brought to this galaxy once again, perfect for the holidays, or of those that may not get what they have wished for.  But knowing that whenever those diamond like orbs fall from the sky, they'll always be watching over us."

Ratchet was now disturbed, "Was that something you read from a card at the store, or did you just make that up right then?"

Qwark blinked for a moment and laughed to himself a bit, "Yeah, that was pretty weird wasn't it?  Let's see what's on the holo-screen?  I hope it's something Christmas....y?"

Ratchet rolled his eyes and sighed.  Tomorrow was Christmas, Meridan City was snowing, and it was somewhat late.  It was as freezing as Kreeli Comet outside and everyone was most likely indoors.  Also for the fact that it was getting dark too.  Either way, going out was out of the question for the lombax.  He would much rather stay inside his warm apartment in cozy clothes and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with his newly transformed lombax pal, Clank.   Ratchet and Clank have been the best of friends since they've met on Veldin.  However, ever since Clank turned from a small robot into a lombax, their relationship had somewhat changed...romantically.  The two have had a few, shall we say, romantic and sometimes hot moments but they were never deemed official.  

Speaking of the Cragmite, that same grey lombax just walked in the living room from the bedroom.  Clank was wearing a pair of Ratchet's pajama pants, an old t shirt, and not to mention that Clank's fur was slightly, which was probably from a shower he took not too long ago.  The image, to Ratchet, was pleasing.

"Well, hey there, baby.  Ready for bed so soon?" Ratchet just had to tease the other lombax.  He found it kinda cute to see Clank flustered.  And to top it off, Ratchet gave him a wink.

"E-Excuse me!?" Clank stuttered with a blush (bingo!), "That was absolutely unnecessary, and no I am not!  I am just getting comfy like everyone else."

Ratchet held his up in defense, "Yes, yes, I know.  That was too much for your standards. But uh, I need to ask you one thing..." He then held up mistletoe above the two of them with a cheeky grin, "Is this necessary?"  Ratchet was purposely not the best actor when it came to Clank.  He'd do anything to kiss Clank.  No seriously, Ratchet will probably be glad to be mesmerized by a groovitron and start dancing for Clank just for a kiss on the cheek from his grey nerdy friend.  Ever since the two became somewhat of a couple, those kisses have been like a much worse drug than catnip.

Clank looked up at the strange looking plant with slight confusion, "Ratchet, what is that?  Is it edible?"

Ratchet laughed a bit, "No, you goose.  However..."Ratchet got closer to Clank until they were barely touching and whispered in a sultry voice, "I can show you what you do around them."

Clank had to admit it, Ratchet was good when it came to this.  Normally he'd push the yellow one out of the way whenever Ratchet was joking, but this was one of the times that Clank couldn't move a muscle.  Clank didn't even register that Ratchet had gotten evencloser than he was a minute ago....then they were chest to chest.  Face to face.  Noses brushing each other ever so slightly.  Lips millimeters away from each other...

"OOH YAY!!!  RUDOLPH IS ON!!  RATCHET!  CLANK!  HURRY, IT JUST STARTED!"

Captain freaking Qwark.  The two lombax jumped and froze by the sudden, if overly-dramatic, exclamation.  Ratchet had so much of the urge as to blow Qwark out of his apartment with one of his RYNOs, but he really didn't feel like getting a wall replaced and paying a bill on Christmas Day.  Again.

"Coming, Qwark."  Ratchet gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath, walked over to the couch.  All he wanted was to be with Clank and cuddle him.  How hard is that!?  

Clank looked at his friend with confusion.  Yes, he wanted to hit Qwark as well, but he hated to see his friend upset over anything.  His foot felt something and he looked down on the ground, seeing the mistletoe that Ratchet had.  Clank picked it up, and looked at the odd plant.  He thought for a moment, and then looked at Ratchet.  A minute later, Clank joined Ratchet and Qwark and watched the old holo-film, thinking.

~*~*~*

It felt like an eon for Qwark to fall asleep!  That or the movie felt longer than usual.  To Ratchet and Clank, this was expected from the 'super-hero'.  It's not that the two lombaxes disliked the reindeer movie, but it was the fact they had to watch it every time Qwark was around.  Not to mention he ALWAYS fell asleep on their couch when the holo film wasn't even halfway done!  They almost had the lines mesmerized at this point.  However, this time one certain grey lombax wasn't really paying attention during the time being.  Clank just couldn't stop thinking about what Ratchet was trying to do earlier.  Ratchet was trying to kiss him, that Clank knew for sure, but with this small, green plant?  Why?  Was it normal for organic a to do this or what?  Honestly, Clank didn't know.  

"So should we kick Captain McSnorfinbutt out?"

Clank jumped slightly at the sudden question and turned to see a tired Ratchet, "Uh...no!"  It took a minute to register what happened, "I mean, no.  I guess Captain Qwark can stay...again."

"....M'kay."  Ratchet got up and turned the holo-vision off, "I'll call the cops tomorrow if he's still here."

"....Ratchet?"

"Hm?  Yeah?"

"Earlier..." Clank got up slowly and began carefully, "Earlier you were about to kiss me...?"

Ratchet blinked in confusion for a second then remembered, "Oh.  Yeah, sorry about that, I guess.  Just forget-"

"I want to know why."  Clank interrupted, catch the yellow lombax off guard.  Clank then held up the plant, "And with this...twig thing as well."

Ratchet took the plant from Clank, "you mean mistletoe?"

"Yes.  Is that what it is called?" Clank asked.

"Yeah."  Ratchet replied.  He then realized this was Clank's Christmas, so Clank doesn't know much about the holiday.  Whoops.  Now Ratchet felt dumber than Qwark, and that was saying something.

"Eh, that really was my bad, pal." Ratchet felt cold sweat, "I should've told you that around this time of the year, these plants called mistletoe start growing about.  And if two people are standing underneath it, they have to kiss.  So uh..." Ratchet scratched the back of his neck and looked down in embarrassment, "that's what...I was...trying to do...to you."

Clank looked at Ratchet, and then back at the plant.   He thought for a moment about this mistletoe plant.  That explains it then.  This was a mere holiday tradition, just like how on Valentine's Day you ask someone to be their valentine.  Thinking back on the day and on how far the two lombaxes have come, Clank smiled to himself.  Clank then came to a conclusion of this situation, and decided to be bold.  He leaned in and gave Ratchet a kiss on the cheek, catching the yellow lombax completely off guard.  But Clank could tell Ratchet wasn't complaining with the look on his face, making the grey lombax smile even bigger.

"What did you do that for?"  Ratchet almost smiled.

"I do not need a mere leaf to tell me that I should kiss my boyfriend, and neither should you."  Clank simply stated with a small, shy smile.  Ratchet didn't know what he should melt over:  Clank calling him his 'boyfriend' or that adorable smile.  Clank then looked a bit worried, "Is that....what you wanted me to be?"

Ratchet gave Clank a blank stare, "The truth?"

"...Y-Yes."

Ratchet nodded his head slowly, "...No."

Clank rolled his eyes and laughed a bit at the joke, "Oh, what am I going to with you?"

Ratchet gave a sassy smirk, tossing the mistletoe aside on the ground, and pulled Clank closer, "Kiss me and drive me insane from tonight until dawn."

"Ooh...can I have that quoted and written on paper by chance?"  Clank teased back.

Ratchet laughed a bit before giving his friend, scratch that, his boyfriend a romantic, Christmas kiss in which Clank happily returned.  The kiss was sending them both into absolute pleasure, but in a more sweet and loving manner.  The two lombaxes didn't even realize the clock striking midnight until the clocks outside in Meridian City.  The two took a minute to take a brief break and mutter 'Merry Christmas' to one another before getting back into the kiss...and possibly stumbling into the bedroom to kiss some more (I swear to orvus they did that).  If there was one thing Ratchet and Clank learned this Christmas. It was that you don't need mistletoe to show your love for one another.