"...mmm," Ratchet says, looking away, his expression thoughtful. "I agree. That he should have had it earlier. Nothing we can do about it now--not besides this, I guess. Just."

He shrugs, not sure how to disguise just how much he does like his youngest recruit, how surprised he is by that fondness, how odd he feels about concealing at all. He huffs a gust of air from his vents and shakes his head.

"He's good at his job, and he asked. Stupid to turn down help when we need it so badly."