A/N: Another random 7a.m idea.
After dedicating a full three minutes to searching for his best friend, Daxter finally located the former in the hideout's storage room. Somehow, the blonde had managed to squash his body between a stack of crates and an empty, dilapidated bookshelf, with both knees huddled up to his chin and blue eyes studying the natural whorls of the floorboards.
Letting out a deep breath, the orange-furred rodent took it upon himself to see exactly what bothered Jak today. Yesterday consisted of multiple rants about Krimzon Guards not minding their own business, making the ottsel unsure of his ability to cope with such yelling again. It was a struggle to maintain the cheerful atmosphere, although he understood it was his duty to offer support when needed. "What's eatin' ya, Champ?"
"I don't know," the blonde weakly complained. "Just feel like…maybe I lost myself…left what I was behind in that place." His head hung. "And I don't know if I can ever find it again."
What the Hell am I supposed to say to that? Daxter wisely didn't voice the thought. "Maybe ya didn't lose it. Maybe ya…misplaced it."
In spite of his disposition, Jak raised his head and stared in disbelief at what he heard. "I…misplaced it?"
"Look, ah, lemme try an' explain it better…"
There followed a long, struggled silence.
"I'm waiting…" the blonde grumbled, somehow feeling worse.
"Okay, okay! Gimme chance! Sheesh!" The ottsel gave a thoughtful tap of the lower lip, before his optics widened. "Ooh, I got it!"
"I'm so scared you're about to say something awful."
"Thanks for the optimism."
"Fine, sorry. Go on."
"Remember at Sandover, when you used to help Keira fix all those machines? There'd be this huuuuuuge pile of metal bits and pieces?"
"Yeah…"
"You'd go diggin' through all that trash, lookin' for one little component that'd make a zoomer go. You couldn't see it yet, 'til ya went diggin'."
Jak's squint could not unravel and decipher the philosophical meaning behind Daxter's words, leaving the latter somewhat deflated.
"Ah, forget I said anythin'. I just thought…maybe you'll find it if ya dig. Like…maybe you're beneath all that trash those guys put you through."
"Wait…isn't that 'hidden', not 'misplaced'?"
"'Hidden', 'misplaced'…whatever word you wanna use. Point is, yer not lost. You just think you are."
"…what? That…doesn't make sense…"
"So, yer confused. Just think about what I said." Work apparently done, the rodent trotted out of the room, whilst muttering, "Least yer not sad anymore…"
Alone once more, the blonde considered their discussion…realising its truth.
He was depressed no longer. Just very, very confused.
A/N: Not sure I'd want Orange Lightning cheering me up, if this is anything to go by. XD
