Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Jak and Daxter nor the setting of it; that all belongs to Naughty Dogg. I don't make any profit off this.
A/n: I just feel that their reunion missed a lot of important notes in their relationship. I almost might do a second chapter with Jak telling Keira what happened in prison and maybe even making something up for Keira in the two years Jak was in prison. However, since I'm not sure yet, it's going to be labeled as completed.
Jak was making his way to the racing garages to see if he could get any more information out of that female mechanic. It still surprised him to find a female mechanic in Haven City, or even with job besides in a bar, seeings as how they are treated as more trophies and 'candy' then anything. When Krew had first told him about the races, he hadn't heard the part about the mechanic being a 'her', so when he arrived and heard an irritated female voice from behind that thick green curtain, he almost dropped from shock; but not just because she's a girl. He's only ever seen her silhouette, but her curves are heavenly to say the least. Wide hips lead up to an almost questionably thin waist which bloomed into a beautiful hourglass shape. He had noticed that large breasts seemed to be common in Haven City, but he wasn't concerned with that. His softer feelings had only one outlet.
Keira. He missed her and worried for her so much. Jak was ashamed to admit it, but he had forgotten it all during his time in prison. He forgot Samos, Sandover, his uncle, Daxter and even Keira. The only things he could process were hate, fear, and rage; making it near impossible to retreat into his much more lighthearted memories. That's not to say he never saw Keiras' face, as she haunted his nightmares. She would be calling his name, fear and panic overwhelming her voice and making it crack. He didn't know who the voice belonged to, but knew he needed to find them. He would run and run and run, but Jak never felt like he went anywhere. A figure would appear to his left side, never the right. He would turn and she was there. Even when he didn't know who she was, she was the most beautiful being he had ever seen. He would slowly make his way toward her.
Everything goes wrong after that. Jak feels the darkness of the eco inside inside him take over his mind and body, almost like being shoved into a glass box behind his eyes. He can see everything, yet cannot do anything to stop it.
Keira keeps saying his name, it taking on a pleading tone. He feels his canines extend, making sharp fangs. A splitting pain from the top of his skull feels like two stakes are forcing their way out. The ends of his fingers ache and start to feel heavy and tingle harshly. He is helpless as the unfamiliar Keira took an uncertain step forward, still saying only his name. Her emerald green eyes were brimmed with tears, hand trembling as she raises it to his cheek. Quicker then he can follow his own movement, his arm shoots up, embedding black talons and pale fingers in her chest. She gasps in pain, unable to speak. Her hand stills for a moment, before finishing its journey to his cheek. He is screaming and crying in his mental prison, not understanding why he felt such pain for this girl. She would whisper his name once more, before falling limp against him.
"Jak? HEY JAK!" Said man turned his head to his little orange companion. Daxter was looking at him with a mix of inpatients and questioning. "Are you just gonna stand there?"
"Sorry, Dax. Lets get this over with." Jak shook his head, making his way toward the garage once again. He saw the lovely figure behind the curtain and didn't want to be confrontational. "We destroyed Krews' cargo.." He began, hoping that she would be pleased because of her disliking of Krew.
"Great, I'll send you a medal." Was the sarcastic response he got, wearing on his already breaking patience. "Now if you don't mind, I'm on a deadline! So scram!"
"Are you always this difficult?!" He snapped back.
"Let me handle this Jak." Daxter said, walking forward and glaring at the curtain. "Listen lady, we beat your stupid course, and we can out race anybody in this city."
Jak thought he heard a mumble from behind the curtain.
"Now there are just two things you need to know," Daxter continued. "One, we don't wanna join your stinking race team; and two, you just lost a date with Orange Lightning." Daxter turned to his dark friend. "Lets go Jak." Suddenly the curtain burst open, and Jak was not expecting the person behind it.
"Daxter! It is you!" Keira exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
"Keira?!" Daxter seemed just as socked as Jak.
"Oh, I never thought I'd be so glad to see your furry mug!" She knelt down to his level and rubbed him behind his ears affectionately. "And Jak!" She looked up at him, eyes widening as she took in his appearance. He had to turn away from her eyes. "You look... different."
"It's been a tough ride." He said slowly, not exactly sure how to word it, glancing back toward her.
"The Baron pumped our boy here full of dark eco," Daxter stated. Jak once again looked away, not wanted to see her expression. His gaze shot up as he felt something hovering just above his arm. Keira was right in front of him, hand over his arm. Her eyes were filled with concern, relief and confusion. "and it did something to him." Daxter continued. "Now he has super moves or something. And a few anger issues as well." The last part was murmured.
"I've been looking for you two forever." Keira told them, stepping away from Jak. "And planing a way to get us back home. Somehow the rift took us far into the future." She explained, though Jak was feeling a little lost. "I've calculated the time displacement, and I think I've-"
"We found your father." Jak interrupted, a hand over his eyes. "Well, sort of." Keira turned to him sharply.
"He's working with the underground fighting the Baron-" Daxter tried to say.j
"Oh, you mean the Shadow.." Keira interrupted, looking down with a sad smile. "I've met him.. I tried to explain everything, but he didn't believe a word that came out of my mouth. That's daddy for you I guess." She chuckled slightly, though it was humorless.
"I need to get to the Baron." Jak said, trying to bring her out of the little funk.
Keira looked at him and scratched her neck in thought. "You could try to win the class 1 racing championship." She crossed her arms under her chest with one hand on her chin, hips cocking to the right. "The winner of that big race always gets to meet the Baron in the palace." Jak nodded his understanding. "But you have to qualify by winning the lower class races." Keira snapped her fingers. "There's a class 3 race starting soon! You can drive for my team!" She took the welding mask off her head. "But Jak, we should think about getting out of here. I don't like this place, and some of the people-"
"Jak, my boy." Krew floated into the garage. Keira turned her face away and gagged lightly, and Jak simply narrowed his eyes. "I need that ruby key you found. A special client and requested it."
"Sorry about that Krew." Jak said, trying to look at least a little bashful. "I must have forgotten."
"Right.." Krews tone told Jak that the floating blob hadn't been fooled.
As Krew was leaving, Jak saw Keira still turned away from him, head lowered with her hands in front of her. "Keira, I-" He never got to finish the sentence as Keira whipped around and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her face was burrowing into the crook of his neck, lips occasionally brushing his skin. He stood in shock; after two years of physical contact being associated with torture, it was almost painful to have her talented hands on his back and her floral grease stained hair brushing his jaw. His hands were trembling inches away from her shoulders, afraid that if he touched her she would somehow disappear. Afraid that if he held her as close to him as he could, she would shatter and collapse into millions of pieces. Not sure what to do, Jak looked down at her in fear.
Keira on the other hand wasn't paying attention to Jaks hesitation. She clung to him tightly, mumbling reassurances to herself that his form was solid flesh and that she did actually remember getting out of bed this morning. But despite her need to be close to him, Keira also could guess that he wasn't to comfortable with lots of touching. She took a few deep breaths, taking in the scent of Jak; grime and dirt, with the slight tingle of eco, overlaying an earthy, living smell that could only be Jak. She slowly removed her arms from his frame, taking a step back to look in his eyes. The blue that she loved so much was the same, but the man wearing them was completely different. No longer a free spirited, mischievous boy; this was a battle hardened warrior. Keira could see the scars he must bear, physical, emotional and mental, all in his eyes. She wanted to know, needed to understand how this could have happened; but she also understood that in his revenge filled state of mind, it would only lead to bad outcomes. So instead, she slowly rested her hand on his, barely letting their skin touch. "I've missed you so much."
Jak could only smile slightly before turning to Daxter. "We need to get moving." He turned briskly and walked away just as fast, both Daxter and Keira wondering why he made the quick exit. Jak just couldn't bear it, seeing Keira again. After two years, he had been turned into a monster, a raging demon that destroyed anything in its path. Yet she had stayed the same. She was still strong, smart, and loyal. It terrified him. Jak knew that Keira would stay beside him even as the dark eco takes over his entire being. He has to keep her safe. He needs to keep her out of harms way. No one will hurt her, not the Baron, Errol and the guard, the Metal Heads. No one will put her in danger.
Not even himself.