A/N:Hey this is my first Jak fanfic so don't flame me if it's crappy. I'm also sorry this first part is so long. I'm just trying to get an actual plot going. The next chapter will be better and have some stuff actually worth reading. Not sure when I'll get the next part up yet though.
Mar
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. So don't go saying I do.
In Love and Death-Life as I knew it
I sat on the floor of my room clad in my pajamas that consisted of my bra and a pair of my brother's boxer's that don't fit him anymore. I'm currently staring at my favorite gaming console of all time. The PS2. I say this because it's the gaming platform that has my favorite gaming series. Jak and Daxter. I'm staring at it trying to figure out which of my collection of games to pop in. My hand glides over a stack of games, mostly Final Fantasy. I remove Dirge of Cerberus from the pile along withAdvent Children. I then turn to one of my other ones and remove my favorite Jak game. Jak II. I line them up staring at all the cases. A look of concentration across my face as I try to pick one. 'Why is picking a game so hard?' I ask myself mentally.
Footfalls on the stairs leading down to my basement bedroom tell me that someone it coming to alert me of dinner. My older brother probably. My older brother is Vergil. He stands about 6'2, taller than my father who is 6ft on the dot. Vergil also outweighs me by about 50 pounds, himself weighing 130 lb's. He has long black and blue hair that goes to about 3 inches below his shoulder blades. His eyes are naturally green but he wears black contacts even though he doesn't need them. It's all just to make my parents mad. He's also 3 years older than me. Which brings him to the age of 18.
The door to my room is flung open carelessly and my brother pokes his head in. He's taken his nose ring out, that's the first thing I notice about him, then I see his black eye and bruised lip. He's gotten in a fight with either dad or the cop that patrols our neighbor hood. I sigh mentally reminding myself to ask him about it later. "Dinner's ready Mar. Mom'll be pissed if you miss it so I wouldn't try to bail if I were you." I nod silently. My brother comes in and sits by me, staring at my impassive face. I try to hold back a smile but all to soon I'm in the floor rolling with laughter as my brother launches a full-scale tickle attack. "S-s-stop! Stop!" I shriek tears pouring out of my eyes. After a few minutes of that I get my bearings and stand up smiling broadly. "You've got to stop that whole god forsaken emo thing Mar." "Yeah.I know I was just seeing how long I could hold out. It's easy while your alone, but if someone else is there it's harder." I continue "Besides, I was trying to figure out which game to play" I say motioning to the three games laying on the floor before my PS2. My brother leans down to inspect my choices. I hear him make some grunt of recognition. "I'll help later let's go watch momrant over Mallory choosing to go out with Katie and Bart instead of staying home to eat withus the night dad came home." We both start laughing and walk down the black hallway to the staircase that leads up to the main floor with the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room.
When we get to the kitchen I see what he's talking about. Mom's standing there yelling into the phone about dragging Mallory's ass back herself if she has to. She's probably talking to my dad. I'm guessing their conversation was going a little like this:
Mom: 'Eric! Your daughters done it again!'
Dad: 'sigh What has my daughter done Debra?'
Mom: 'She's passed up dinner with the family again to go eat with her friends!'
Dad: 'well, she doesn't get to see them often. It could be this is the only night they're free. You should just let it slide. As long as the other two will eat with the family (my dad doesn't refer to us by name when talking to my mother if he's referring to more than one) it should be OK.'
Mom: 'no it's not! We need to eat like a real family! It's rare you get to come visit us!'
Dad: 'Debra calm down. I'll see if I can get her all right?'
Mom: 'Well you'd better! Or I'll drag he ass back here myself!'
Dad: 'yes honey'
My mother has this thing about eating like a real family when my father's around. Mostly because he lives in a different state due to work. My mother turned around and saw us in the doorway. We both thought she was going to explode on us to but she just turned away. I'm guessing she and my father have marriage problems because she doesn't like it when he comes out to visit. She also get's anal about us meaning Vergil, Mallory, and Myself. Mallory just happened to be the one who screwed up first so mom's gonna be watching her more than Vergil and me. Thank god. This means we can train without fear of getting caught. Vergil and I hurried upstairs to Mallory's bedroom and locked the door. We immediately wentlooking for her notebook. My sister though she's 20 still lives at home. Whenever she goes out she leaves a notebook with a note to us in it. She tells us where she'll be incase we need her, the best phone numbers to call and how long she'll be gone along withwho she's going with. The only thing is she hides it in a different spot each time so our mom won't find it. After we've read it and memorized everything were to burn it.
About 20 minutes later my brother found it inside her stereo. She had unscrewed the back and placed it in there then put the back put against it so it looked like it was still attached. The note we found had more than it usually did. Though this is what it said:
Hey guy's, glad you found it I picked a good spot this time. I chose one so hard because this might be one of the most important notes I'll ever leave you two. So pay close attention all right?
Who I'm with: Andy, Bart, Katie, Jasmine, and Courtney
Where were going: pikes perk then about and hour or two later were going to the collage campus to get Katie and Bart's things. After that's over about 2 hours later were going down to Nevada, about 6 hours. Were going to stay with Katie's brother Pat. The next morning were all going to a show? Don't tell mom or dad. Were getting you all gifts. So we'll be home in about a day or two. Allright?
Best phone numbers to call: Bart's, Andy's, Jasmin's, or mine.
I'll miss you both
Love,
Mallory.
Vergil and I sighed. 'Verge. She's doing it again. Testing mom dad, her friends, and us. Mom might go back to Cedar Springs.' 'Nah. I don't think so. We both know that bag of bones is to annoying to just go away.' Vergil laughed and so did I. though it was kind of a forced laugh. We both heard the front door open. My brother grabbed Mallory's lighter and lit the paper on fire, sticking it in one of Mallory's empty glass jars. We unlocked her door and ran down the stairs. By the smell of the air my father had gotten Shang Hai. A family run Chinese restaurant about 30 minutes from us.
We all spooned out our food to our plates and sat at the table. Dad and mom at their heads of the table. Me and Vergil sitting next to each other. The air was so tense you could cut it with a steak knife. I could tell my mom was still pissed about Mallory not being there. Well wait until she found out that she wasn't going to be home for a few days. Then my father spoke up. My father Eric is balding, his hair is brown and he has blue eyes under his larger glasses. What my father said VergilandI knew meant nothing good. He said that right after dinner he had something to discuss with my mother privately. Now to most that might not seem good but my family is open with each other. We're comfortable with everything. Only if something bad happens do we not tell each other. Well, exept for my case. But that's different. So right after dinner Vergil and I retreated to our floor. The basement. We walked into my room and sat down trying to hear them. "Verge? What's wrong? Our family used to be nice. There wern't many complaints going on and we all got along." My brother looked at me. He was the only person in my life I'd ever been completely truthful with. I'm not saying I lied to everybody constantly. I just …kept them from seeing my soft underbelly while they got to look face first into my spines. My brother looked at me. Trying to come up with an answer. "Well, I'd haveto say it's when you started lying to mom and dad. Your teachers, and friends. When you started toughening up. Showing your backbone and lying to get out of situations you didn't like being in. You started being sly and manipulative. Just to get what you wanted." Vergil said staring at the PS2 and the three games scattered in front of it.
About 20 minutes later the muffled shouts and yells from above ceased. The noise that followed was footsteps going up stairs. It was about midnight when the fight finally stopped. I pushed Vergil out of my room so I could change. I pulled off my brothers boxers and pulled on a pair of my black boy's cargo shorts. I then pulled off my bra and grabbed a white tank top and put it on, tucking it into my shorts and then grabbed my black belt and put that on over my shorts and shirt. I reached under my bed and pulled out my black combat boot's. I pulled them on and laced them up tightly. I then turned on my sterio,but turned the volume down to about 6 so it would seem like I fell asleep with it on. I then pushed some of my clothes and pillows under my blanket so if either of my parents came down to check on me and opened the door it appeared I was asleep. I then grabbed the stave my best friends Stephie had custom made for me. It weighed about 50 pounds and was 7'5 inches. One end was 5 feet the other 2. Then there was a 5-inch grip in the middle so it wouldn't go flying out of my hands. Metal does that if your hands are sweaty enough. I found that out the hard way once. On the end of each side is a little push thing like on exacto knives to push out these sharpened knifes if I wanted to practice withthem that way. It was made so that if you pushed one out both would come out.
I seeped out my door closing it quietly. Vergil was leaning against the wall. He glanced up when I came out and smirked. He was standing there holding two dart guns. We both headed towards the back door on our level of the house. Silently we opened it and stepped out into the cool night air that came at the end of spring and beginning of summer. 'Just 2 days left of school' I though hopefully. Vergil started walking into the forest at the end of our property. We owned about 10 acres. We walked for about 10 minutes before we came to a tight grove of trees. Once you squeezed through the tight circle though it was a good size clearing. About 20ft by 15ft. Perfect for our training. Vergil walked over to his usual spot and practiced hitting Target's we drew on trees. I however, took my usual spot in the middle of the clearing. I know this area like the back of my hand. Just behind where Vergil was standing was a pile of boulders. They stood 20 feet off the ground. Vergil was on my left, which was North. I was facing East. On my right there was high grass that came to our knees. I put my stave in my left hand and slid my right foot back about 4 ½ inches twisting it at a 40-degree angle. I then moved the stave into my right hand placing my left on the push thing and closed my eyes.
I envisioned myself in a Jak II scene. Jak has just gotten part of the Lurker totem and the KG just started attacking him. I imagine myself there in Jak's place. A few KG officers are running up to me, they are shooting like mad men not even trying to aim just hoping they'll hit something. I lunge forward the knifes come out and I stab the Kg in the gut. Blood spurts out as I use him to smack the other officers off the rickety bridge/walk way thing. I take off at a run and make a left turn. More Kg's, I quickly dispose of them by getting them to shoot one another by hitting them then ducking behind their comrads. When theirs one left I jump on his head and stab him through the head taking off again using my agility to Finnish the whole thing off.
I open my eyes I'vegot my stave in a tree. I put my feet up there grabbing my stave with both hands and yanking. It comes out quickly. I do a flip and land in my usual spot. Pain rushes up my right leg. I look down and realize I landed on a rock that my brother threw at me. I can tell because he's stifling laughs over in his area. I glare at him and drop my weapon launching myself at him. 'Jackass!' I yell mauling him to the ground. Him and me start wrestling for a while before we fall short of breath. "Hey, Verg. What time is it? I've got school tomorrow." I say climbing up Vergil pulls out his phone that some how managed to not get broken. 'Umm…3:30. Why?' Vergil asks. 'No reason' I reply quickly. We stood there for a minute before I spoke up finally. 'Hey Vrig. I'll bet my Skinny Puppy CD that I can beat you back to the house' I said a smirk playing on my lips. Virgel cocked and eye brow. He then pointed his dart gun at my head and closed one eye like her was lineing it up for the perfect shot. 'I'll take that bet. If you win I'll…take you to get some part of your body peirced tomorrow after I pick you up from school. That fair?' My smirk broadened to a smile. I'd wanted to bet my eyebrow pierced but apparently you have to have someone18 or older with you to get something besides your ear pierced. 'You got yourself a deal buddy.' I said. Vergil and I worked on our endurance a little but more by seeing who could hold onto a pine tree branch longer. When we decided to race home it was 4 am. My mother would be coming to wake me up in 1 hour. Vergil and I stood at the edge of the grove. 'On three.' Vergil said. 'One…two…THREE!' Vergilshouted both of us taking off. I ran like I raced. My sister Mallory taught me how to race on Jak so I guess I ran like she raced. But that beside the point. I made my brother think I was trying to cur him off so he'd run faster thus burning up more energy and when we were going around the corner and he couldn't slow down soon enough I took my chance and sped past him. I had my sights on the door as I ran. I leaned against it when I got there. Vergil was still a little ways behind so I got to rest up a bit. When he finally got there he glared at me from his hunched over position. Breathing heavily it was Vergil's turn to glare at his younger sister. 'Fine, I'll take you to get something peirced tomorrow.' I smirked at this. I just loved to rub it into my brother's face when I won our bets but I had some sleep to get.
We both trudged into the house Vergil locking the door behind us. He gave me a hug before going into his room to get what sleep he could. I walked into my room and glanced at the three games I had laid out. 'Sigh I totally forgot, I was going to play one…'I though tiredly. I turned to my clothes cabinet and pulled out a large sleep shirt and grabbed my purple striped sleep pants. I then stripped down and pulled them on. I climbed into my bed. Thank god for technology. I had one of those heating pads in my bed so it relaxed all the tension that was starting to build up away from my muscles. I closed my eyes and let sleep envelope me. It was like a blanket covering me over and taking me with it. Then all to soon I felt myself being shaken. I opened my eyes groggily. My brother was standing over me. 'What is it?' I asked him. 'Mom's making breakfast and told me to wake you.' Vergil said quietly. I take it he was just as tired as I was. I climbed out of bed and walked upstairs. My mother had made pancakes. 'Hey kids. I made breakfast. Help yourselves.' My mother said quickly as if she wanted to say something else but couldn't think of how to phrase it. We nodded and sat down. We were so tired and achy that we almost fell asleep face first in our food. My mother set down a coffee for Vergil and an energy drink for me. Monster, my favorite. I quickly downed it and immediately felt awake. I then ate a pancake and ran down the stairs to get dressed and apply my blue eyeliner.
It's 7:20 and I'm walking to the bus stop. When I finally get there I join my usual group of friends. Stephie we've been friends since kindergarten. Mike he's gay and we've known him since 7th grade. And Clark aka Superman. Also gay but we've know him since 7th grade as well. As I join them they all look at me. Stephie immediatelypounces on the silence to inform me. 'Mar did you hear?!' She didn't give me time to answer and jumped in to telling me. She got like this when she was excited. 'There was a drug deal at the school last night!' Stephie was now practically having a heart attack now. Mike put his hand on her shoulder 'Steph! Calm yourself' He said trying to keep himself from bursting out laughing. 'Hmm really? That's nice' I said yawning. Clark and Mike made faces at me 'Uh…hun. You hair is gross. You need a shower bad.' Mike said cracking a smile. 'I know. I didn't take one this morning and I didn't have time last night.' I said groggily. While giving them the most innocent look I could muster at the moment. Which looked more like I was trying to not smile. We all burst out laughing just as the bus pulled up. Thank god my study hall was second period today. I could get some sleep in.
My school day was as usual un eventful. As me Mike, Clark, and Stephie walked through the door we knew my mom was gone and Vergil wasn't home yet. We all walked into the kitchen and grabbed some snacks then headed to the T.V room in the basement. We set out our homework and traded it off according to the subject we were best at. Stephie took science, Mike took math, Clark took History, and I got English. We turned on MTV and started doing our work and eating cracking the occasional joke but mostly doing each others homework. About 2 hours later we had finished the work along with the snacks. We then retreated to my bedroom. As we walked in I locked my door. 'Ok people. As you all know we have a little problem. I need help on what to do.' I said looking at them all from the door. Steph was sprawled on the floor, Clark was sitting in the chair by my bookshelves and Mike was on my bed. I joined Steph on the floor. We all sat there in silence thinking of how we could fix this dilemma. Out of no where someone knocked on my door exactly 16 times. That would be Vergil and I let him in. 'Verg. Were trying to figure out what to tell mom if she asks where Lory went. You know she'll ask tonight.' Vergil stood there in thought. We all looked to him waiting to hear what he thought. 'Well…I suppose we could tell her Katie's Boyfriend came back and since bart's truck breaks down every 20 miles and Katie, and Andy can't drive she had to take them.'Vergil said looking proud of himself. 'Yeah but what about Jasmine?' I retorted. 'Say she didn't go with them.' Vergil said staring me in the eye. I sighed. 'I guess it'll work. Ok guy's delema solved let's get all our homework together and Vergiland I will drive you guy's home.' I offered. 'Nah we can walk. You need to go take a shower girlfriend.' Mike said pinching his nose in mockery of me. 'Well fine then' I said lunging forward knocking him on to the bec and giving him a fake wet kiss on his cheek. I then climbed off him and we went to pack our homework up. Once I had walked them to the end of the driveway and returned to my room I glared at Vergil. 'What?! What did I do?' Vergil asked obviously not getting why I was glaring. 'You didn't take me to get a piercing.' I said. Looking pissed. 'Oh right.' He said looking guilty. 'Well if you'll wait until Saturdaymorning Mallory can come with. And I'll let you get two. Hows abut that?' Vergil asked looking hopeful. I snorted but said yes anyway.
After that little conversation Vergil returned to his room and I went to take my shower. I turned the water to just about ¾ of the way past the middle. I ran back to my room to get some clothes to wear when I got out. A quick glance at my alarm clock, which I never used, told me it was 6:00 p.m. I ran back into the bathroom and placed my clothes and towel on the toilet seat lit and stepped into the shower. The hot water made the tendon in my neck, back, and legs go away. The shower took about 3 hours including the time to clean my face, shave my legs and brush my teethand hair. I pulled on my baggy black shorts belt and tank top so I'd be ready for training that night. Got this was getting annoying but it was worth it. I could feel my muscles now and I could feel myself getting used to the exercise. Soon I'd need a new training program.
The next day went exactly the same as the last exept Vergil and my training session carried on longer and my sister Mallory just walked in the front door. At 2 am.
'Mallory!' I exclaimed jumping up from the game of monopoly my and Vergil had been playing in anticipation for her to get home. I wrapped my arms around my older sister in a lung popping hug. She returned it, if not a little softer. Mallory had never seen me so happy to see her and so, didn't know how to react other than to slowly hug me back in the same fashion.
Mallory,Vergil, and I all went into the basement. We told her about mom and dad's episode and having to cover for her. Then in return her opened her suit case and handed each of us a box . Vergil opened his first. He had the new Devil May Cry 4 game. They both then turned to me. 'I just know your going to love yours Mar.' Mallory said to me winking. I cocked an eyebrow at her then continued to open my gift. It was a PS2 game cartidge. Only it was black with purple swirls. It kinda looked like it had fallen in dark eco. Mallory quickly jumped into explaining what it was. 'The guy at the store said it was new technology. That it upped the graphics of the game and just make everything better. He said they were the first store in the country to get them in.' I looked at her then back at the game cartridge. Running my hand over it to pick it up I felt a jolt of electricity run though me hand that sparked through my whole body. 'Thanks Mallory. I can't wait to use it to play!' I said giving her an excited look. I placed it back into the black metal box it came in and put it next to my PS2.
The next morning I woke up feeling sore but despite that I still got up and lumbered my way into the kitchen to eat. I saw my mother had made coffee but probably went back to her room to eat. I looked at the clock on the stove, it said that it was 10:00 am. My brother and Mallory were sitting in the living room which branched off from the kitchen playing chess. I decided to get a little revenge on them for not waking me up. I ran into the room and flipped the chess board in the air. All the pieces came down and a queen hit Vergil square on the head. 'Checkmate!' I yelled at him causing Mallory to go into a fit of giggles. I smiled triumphantly Vergil sat there looking confused.
After my little episode we all went into the kitchen and got breakfast. Vergil was first to start the conversation this time. 'So Mallory. I lost a bet to Mar and now I have to let her get two piercings. Would you like to come? Mar will need some emotional support. As well as a hand to squeeze.' Vergil asked looking at Mallory hope in his eyes. 'I think he's just chicken and doesn't want to watch me get peirced.' I commented causing Mallory to smile. 'Sure I'll go.' Was her reply. After breakfast I went to get dressed. I pulled on my Blink 182 T-Shirt and a pair of faded flair jeans. I then pulled on my BC's and we all set out the door and to the car. It was my turn to start the conversation from the backseat. 'hey vergil. I forgot to ask. why do you have a black eye and a bruised lip?' I said curiously. Vergil let out a sigh I got into a fight at school, Don't wrroy about it.' Was all he said ending the conversation in the car before Mallory put in a Guns 'N' Roses CD causing all of us to sing the whole way to the tattoo parlor. We had left mom a note saying we were going out and would be back in a little while. We drove for a while until we got to down town Colorado and walked into a place called 'Area 51' It's a tattoo parlor but they do piercings to. My brother immediately told us he'd be outside and for me to call for him when I was done. I got my left eyebrow pierced and my lower lip right in the middle so I could wear this spike thing there. Once I called my brother back in he nearly fainted at the sight of me. But payed for it just the same. We then headed straight home. Once there I ran to the basement to play with the new cartridge Mal had gotten me. I put it in the cartridge and placed my all time favorite game in. Jak II. I started the intro scene and all was going well.
Ok so this is the first part of my story. Long and boring but at least i've got a plot going. Not sure when i'll have the next part up. It wont be more than a week though.
Marissa