DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jak and Daxter or any other characters. If I did, I'd be perfectly content owning Torn.
Torn: You wish.
Nowhere Girl: Yes, I do.
The ache was still there. It had been a whole year and that ache, that longing, that wanting of something more still drowned her in it's fleeting passes. It had all started with that would-be kiss. The same one Daxter had so rudely interrupted. The same kiss Jak had later finally given to Ashelin. 'Oh well,' Kiera thought,'if he's into older women, fine.' It wasn't as if she'd never gotten over him. It wasn't as if they'd never been childhood sweethearts, either. And yet here they were; Kiera still trying to fake-smile her way through thier conversations, pretending to be someone she wasn't.
She laughed inwardly. She was starting to make it sound like she still loved him. She was smarter than that. It was pointless to stay attatched to someone who had already moved on. Even if it HAD been moving on to some BIMBO who'd been around the block more times than Kiera cared to count.
Kiera shook herself off, trying to make herself forget again, like she'd done so many times before. "No," she said aloud, "Not now, not ever again. It doesn't help me to dwindle on him."
She turned back to the task at hand. Bieng a mechanic had always been one thing she'd been good at. She could always lose herself; strip every emotion away until she was as hollow as this world had made her. She began to loosen the bolts over the cam shaft. Daxter's next race was fast approaching, and she had yet to tune the zoomer's carbuerater.
That silly ottsel. Ever since his victory in the second finals of the Qualifying race some time ago, he'd had a bloated ego. 'But since when,' Kiera thought,'doesn't he have a big head?' However she felt about him, she had to give him "his props". He made quite a fine racer; sometimes becoming as fierce and crazy as Errol had once been on the track. It worried Kiera. Sometimes she wondered if Daxter knew what he was getting himself into.
But even thinking about that damn rat made her think of the boy whose shoulder he so often rode on. And that thought brought that feeling up again. The feeling that Jak had so long ago started with a simple never-kiss. The fires of passion and longing Kiera feared she'd never live down.
"Shit," she said aloud again to no one. She dropped the heavy wrench she'd been holding. It fell to the floor with a clank. She walked out of the Race Garage and into the rain.
She didn't know how long she'd been walking, only that she knew where her footsteps were taking her. She was walking along the port before she knew it, watching the empty, lonely boats in the harbor; wet, cold rain pouring down her face like so many tears. But she didn't cry for Jak. She cried for the endless burning, venomous poison that seeped through her viens and ate away at her soul. She needed to be wanted and needed by someone who cared for her as much as she did them. But she knew she wouldn't find that where she was going. Her footsteps halted in front of the Naughty Ottsel.
She stood at the door, not really wanting to go in, not really wanting to stand out in the rain. She really didn't know what posessed her to come here, of all places, save for the excuse to get out of the garage. She knew that HE would be here, and that if he was here, SHE would be here, also. Kiera looked up at the door, still contemplating whether or not to just turn and go back home. But her mind was made up for her when the doors slid open and Sig poked his head out into the downpour.
"-just going out to do a little trophy - hunting," he said to no one Kiera could see,"I'll catch ya'll later - Oh, hi, chillipepper," Sig bellowed as he caught sight of Kiera,"What are you doing standing out in the rain?"
Kiera put on her best fake smile,"I just got here,"she lied, even though she knew Sig would know better.
Sig cocked an eyebrow,"Uh, huh. Why didn't you bring a zoomer?" That was just like Sig. Very observant.
"I wanted the walk,"Kiera lied again, not really caring if the big wastelander figured it out or not. Sig chose not to scrutinize.
"Well then cherry, you should at least go on inside,"and with that he hustled her in, not pausing to look back as the doors shut him safely outside. "Women,"Sig muttered. He'd rather think about killing metalheads.
Kiera found the Naughty Ottsel realively empty for this time of day. This time of week, too. Odd, really, she liked it better this way. Jak and Ashelin were nowhere to be seen. That in itself made her feel better already. At least she wouldn't feel forced to fake smile all the time. She quickly scanned the bar. Other than Samos, Onin, Pecker, Daxter, Tess and Jinx, the place was almost vacant. The old, blue glowing war table still sat in the middle of the room. Scattered empty ammo chests still lay stacked in heaps in the corners. A year had gone by and still Daxter had not seen fit to clean the place up more than he had to. He was after all, quite lazy.
"Daddy,"Keira beamed as she pecked her father on the cheek,"how are you?" For an instant she felt green eco flow around her, healing away all her tired aches and pains. It seeped inside her soul, too, almost healing her of the one ache she had yet to rid herself of. Almost.
"Oh, hello, Kiera,"her father said warmly,"I was just discussing eco energies with Onin and Pecker here."
"Discussing, my feathered buttocks,"the monkaw screeched,"you were spitting green eco into my face you senile old -" Onin zapped him with a trace of blue light.
"As I was saying,"Samos remarked. Kiera supressed a giggle,"I think I'll leave myself out of this."
"I thought so,"Samos chuckled. Kiera sidled up to the bar.
"Hiya, sweetcheeks,"Daxter beamed up at her from the counter. Kiera tried not to laugh. Despite his odd remarks, his quirky attitude radiated sunshine. He was open and warm. Keira liked that.
"Hey Kiera,"Tess equally beamed from beside her partner,"What'll it be?"
"How 'bout a Purple Lurker?"Kiera said.
"Ooo...that one's a little strong. Rough day at work?" Tess asked.
"Not really,"Kiera fake grinned and lied,"I just felt like relaxing a little, that's all."
Tess nodded as she poured the drink, the cup looking ridiculously huge in Tess's tiny ottsel hands,"I've had those days myself,"she said as she handed Kiera the beverage. Kiera watched Tess as she returned to her cooing over Daxter. They suited each other. Tess was as every bit as friendly yet carefree as Daxter. Together they could make anyone smile. Kiera did. Although it was on the inside.
She turned away from them, too, facing away from the bar to see the bizzarre array of Daxter's macho self-portraits. She laughed, sipping her Purple Lurker. It was extremely sweet, the way she liked them, and it warmed her insides; easing her into a relaxed stupor. The harsh stench of rolled grass and twig hit her nostrils. She turned to find Jinx sitting at the end of the bar, smoking his fat cigar and examining self-adhesive explosive putty. 'Probably not the best combination,' Kiera thought,'but he does know better that me.'
She opted not to speak to him. He would probably only try to hit on her anyway. Ever since Jak ran off with Miss Priss, Jinx's had the idea that Kiera considered herself up for grabs. 'And maybe I am,' she thought,'But definatly not to Jinx.'
That's when she caught sight of another figure she hadn't noticed before in the bar. He'd tucked himself into an alcove in the wall, halfway down the row of booths. She could hardly see him in the dim lighting; almost completely surrounded by the empty flasks that covered the table. And yet, the dark lines of tattoos across his face made him stand out more than anyone. But more than that, the hollow lonliness she found in his aquamarine glare so closely reflected Kiera's that seeing it almost made her heart break. She slowly stood and walked to his booth. He barely acknowledged her presence, even as Kiera sat down across from him amongst the bottles.
"Hello, Torn,"she said.
Hope this is OK for my first shot. I'm working on the second chapter as you read this and will have it up before you know it. Reviews, please!