AN: Say it with me now: Aww, cute.

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No contract will ever bind Clank so tightly he can't find time for Ratchet.

No amount of money, movie deals or wealth could ever mean anything. The fact is, Clank doesn't place much value on money. All he wants in this life, really, is to be able to just come home and relax. To have Ratchet call him buddy and play games with him. Even though other robots would kill for the kind of acting contract Clank has, honestly, it doesn't mean anything to him. It's worthless in and off itself.

He doesn't care about the fame, either. About the screaming fangirls, over the top lines, and being recognized everywhere. This rather stupid little show has given him recognition he'd never had before. But somehow, he found himself unable to enjoy it. Being mobbed, screamed at and stalked by the fans was not an ego booster. It was creepy. Creepy, freaky, and the worst part of his day. For all the time he'd spent acting, he was not in love with the show. The plotline, the co stars, the pretty robot women - it was all so gagtastically fake. He was definitely not in this out of love for it.

The only reason, really, he keeps going at this is because when he gets home from long, boring work days, Ratchet will there. Ratchet, having done his bit part and gone home, will be sprawled out on the couch, his expression dull. He never minds when Clank clamors onto the couch and collapses into his lap. There will be a comment on the show - usually some snarky little insult to the director - and Clank will close his eyes and simply feel at home. Here, he has finally found a place where he is content. No one on that overblown cash cow they called the set seemed to care about Clank. Ratchet, on the other hand, cared, and expressed that caring with a running commentary on Clank's day that made the little robot chuckle and smile. Moments like these, truly, were what Clank lived for.

And so no matter what his contract says, Clank goes across the universe with Ratchet, not once regretting how angry everyone else is. Let them all hate him, call him a flake and make his part in that god forsaken show smaller. He doesn't care.

There's no contract more important than friendship.