It was another unbearably hot and dry day in the wasteland as Jak and Daxter prepared themselves for another gruelling mission they had for that day. Daxter certainly wasn't too keen on the idea of having to go out in this heat, but Jak had already decided on accepting a "request" that was made. He let out a snort as he watched his friend double check his bag.
If it was up to Daxter he was two-thousand percent sure that the way Kliever "asked" them was more of a demand and that there were no options, but Jak had just dismissed it all as Kliever having a strange way for asking favors. He sure wasn't going to believe that the man asked for favors - even if it rained for a whole month in the desert. The guy just didn't know how to be polite. That or never had some decency drilled into him.
Daxter wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter considering that the man basically wore a diaper around town. He was very well near convinced that his father and mother probably wore a diaper as well since he had heard from others that he had been dressing like that for as long as they could remember. Maybe they abandoned him and that resurfaced as some horrendous need to cope by using a diaper. He shuddered and was grateful he hadn't gone down the same path.
Deciding that he didn't want to contemplate on how Kliever came about wearing an adult diaper any longer, Daxter quickly moved his thoughts on to the events that led up to this beautiful moment as he sat on the nightstand in their small room while Jak finished getting ready.
Most of their morning had been taken up by heading out to the marketplace in Spargus to do some errands before the sun rose too high up in the sky. You get used to the heat out here but that didn't mean that one wanted to be out in the sun all day lugging stuff around. They had gone around nearly all the stalls stocking up on essentials, food, and clothes, if they need it, then they were on their way back to their house when they had been rudely stopped in the street by Kliever.
As usual, Kliever had more demanded than asked that Jak should go collect artifacts out in the desert giving the reason that the city needed repairs here and there and he would be too busy with doing that to go out to the desert and get parts. Both Jak and Daxter knew that it was just bullshit and that he just wanted to get out of having to go out in the desert and actually comply with his responsibilities.
They really weren't in the mood to go out on a mission, especially since today was their unofficial "day off", but Daxter had been shocked, and annoyed, that Jak-had accepted. Yes, in the moment he processed Jak's acceptance he was slightly miffed, but not enough to argue in the middle of town and especially now that they had to get ready for a mission. Daxter had kept his mouth shut except for a couple of snide remarks cast in Kleiver's direction who looked like he wanted to murder him.
They had gone back to their district area where they lived without seeing the rest of the stalls. Daxter had just held onto the shoulder armor and huffed out as Jak rushed back to their house.
It was smaller than most houses that was for sure, and to be quite honest, Daxter thought it was more like an apartment, but it sure beat being homeless so the both of them were grateful to have a place to call their own. Most people wouldn't be delighted with the tiny house, but most people haven't been through the hell they had been through. The second floor had the kitchen and living space with some storage and the second floor held the bedroom and bathroom with a small closet. It was quaint but it had it's appeal.
Not to mention that going from place to place non-stop, barely getting any sleep except for the rare night of sleeping on a stone floor in some random corner, and not being able to keep up their hygiene while fighting the Baron-they knew how to appreciate the little things that came their way.
Snapping out of his daze, Daxter decided that now would be a good time to bring up how they got stuck with this mission.
"Hey, Jak?" He started.
"Yeah, Dax?"
"Why'd you accept Kleiver's "request" instead of blowing him off? We both know he could have done it himself," Daxter made sure to make quotation marks in the air when he said request.
Jak paused for a moment, then proceeded to place his gun into its place on his back over his bag.
Daxter just knew by the silence that Jak was making up an excuse. He never did anything without having another reason for doing something other than the task itself. The task always played a smaller part in their "adventures" and gave them a valid reason for dicking around places they technically shouldn't. Jak finally turned towards Daxter to reply and Daxter gave him an unimpressed look.
"Well, I just thought that if we helped with something like this, the people of Spargus would be . . . grateful, you know." Jak offered which only worked in making Daxter roll his eyes.
"But Jak," he complained, "we already do a ton of stuff for them. Nonstop. Don't you think they would be grateful enough already? I mean, last week we joined a raid on a metalhead nest, and let me tell you, Jak, that was no easy task. I almost got picked off by one of those flying shitheads! And the gas-whoo-absolutely disgusting," Daxter's wine filled the air. He didn't even care if he might be a little insensitive, it was not easy being an ottsel so he got a free ride to be rude every now and then.
After a moment of silence he where Jak had looked away from him, Daxter snapped his fingers to get his attention back and gave Jak his "okay, what's really on your mind look" to get to the real reason behind this mission. It never failed to get the other to spill.
"I get what you're saying Dax," Jak sighed, "but I already agreed so we do have to go collect the artifacts whether we want to or not. Besides, I really wanted to get some fresh air for a change, and no you know what I mean by fresh air. I don't like being caged in and these walls, even though they provide protection, they feel suffocating. This task isn't as difficult as the others this past week. So we could relax a bit on this one," Jak only shrugged his shoulders and gave him a sheepish look.
Oh, Daxter knew what "relax" meant. To anyone else - "relax" meant relax - but to Daxter it meant adventure. So many times as kids Jak had invited him out to "relax" and goof around when it actually led to a new dangerous location to explore or just plain trouble. In the end he never could say no to the excited boy back then. Maybe he just didn't want to be left behind or maybe he had come to care about the mute boy more than he wanted to. Can't say those weren't good times, but I need a little more convincing, he thought and, oh, by the look on Jak's face, here it came.
"If we hurry we can get back before it gets ridiculously late, and there might be some shops open with fruit that I would be willing to indulge you with," Jak gave him a private smile. It was one of those smiles that he used to give Daxter back before any of this mess happened. Back before they had to stop Gol and Maya. It was a smile that he never showed anyone else. A glimpse of the innocent boy he was before. Daxter narrowed his eyes not wanting to give away that he would agree, but Jak knew him too well to be deceptive.
Coming back late was probably going to end up being coming back in a couple of days, but he already knew that. Words never meant what they meant when it came to Jak.
Letting out a heavy sigh he hopped onto Jak's shoulder from the nightstand and huffed out dramatically, "Oh, don't give me that look. I'm only agreeing to go because you would be lost without me. Not to mention that you'd miss my wonderful presence that you obviously can't get enough of."
The only reply he got was Jak chuckling out, "Whatever you say, Dax."
Daxter kept quiet for a moment before poking Jak's cheek playfully to get his attention as they made their way out of their house. "You better keep that promise about the fruit, Jak," he smiled and Jak grinned back at him.
Jak sure was a handful, but he was his handful and that was okay with him. Afterall, their adventures were to die for, and so was Jak's company even though he wouldn't ever say it out loud. It wasn't that they didn't appreciate each other, but Daxter was sure he was the only one out of both of them that got lost in the other's existence.
He could just simply say he appreciates him and he's his best friend as always, but it always got a little difficult to do every time without spilling the truth. Remember the invitations that he mentioned earlier about their childhood adventures? Yeah, most of the time he was scared shittless, but he still went on them because he wanted-needed-to be near Jak.
He had the biggest crush on him even if Jak was as clueless as a lurker and would only think of him as a friend. Jak was just amazing to him. The way his face would brighten up when he agreed to go with him. That smile that would grace his face making him even more dazzling and would make anyone else envious.
How could he say no? He also may or may not have been enthralled by the way his muscles moved under his clothes on multiple occasions. He'd space out watching as Jak had climbed up trees to get them fruit while Daxter waited to catch them below. Some of those fruit might have hit him in the face because of that, but Jak didn't need to know. They'd just share a laugh at his clumsiness.
His most favorite thing about the other would be when he'd help Daxter or rescue him from some creature. The fact that someone would look at him with such concern-it always felt like a punch in the gut. It left you breathless. Of course, Daxter just knew they wouldn't end up together.
Jak was the Golden Boy, a hero, and full of masculinity and being turned into an ottsel sure didn't help Daxter at all. The village would rather chuck him onto a merchant ship or into the jaws of a lurker shark on a regular basis. If they knew he had a crush on the boy, well, they'd probably throw him off a cliff or send him far away just so he wouldn't taint their perfect hero.
Every parent that had a daughter in the village wanted Jak to marry her. It sucked. Having to watch it all go down the flirting Jak's shy looks. It did make him feel like absolute shit. But Jak still wanted to help him and care for him instead of dumping his ass on that island or just leaving him to Samos.
But then there was Keira. Oh, Keira. A beautiful girl that was smart, charming, giggly and the first girl that Jak actually showed interest in.
Okay, so he was bitter towards her and it was petty, but who gives a fuck. Not him that's for sure. After all those years of being put down by her and the other village kids he did have the right to be bitter. Now that he thought about it, her treatment did get worse once he started hanging around Jak more. He didn't exactly make their relationship better with the rude comments he gave her, but whatever.
Well, it was a long time ago so he guessed it didn't matter as much anymore. It wasn't like he was bitter towards her anymore either. She did treat him nice now than before, but he wasn't sure if it was because they were all stuck in a new place with only each other as something familiar or because she actually matured.
An all too familiar voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"What's up, Dax? You haven't said anything at all on the way here or even when Kleiver dissed us just now," Jak was giving him that concerned look and tone. Wow, he didn't even notice when Jak had placed him in the passenger seat of the dune hopper. Oh great, did he really just spend all his time getting to the exit gate thinking of Jak? He needed to get a new hobby and fast.
"I was just thinking about Sandover and how everything is so different now, that's all," he replied. Giving a half-truth wasn't bad.
"Oh...well don't get so distracted when we get out in the desert, alright." A slight pause came as the sound of the vehicle starting up filled the air and the gate's screeched as they were opened. As soon as the gates are open Jak speaks up again.
"Were you thinking of all of our awesome adventures and how this one is going to be just as awesome?" He asks.
There was that playful voice and the hidden meaning. Daxter knew Jak still felt sorry for his predicament no matter how many times he told him not to, but he'll get Jak to stop worrying so much all the time.
"Of course!" Daxter blurted out and smiled at Jak. "Remember when you would always lead me up to the forbidden forest just to get fruit everyone else was too scared to get and then go down to the beach to eat it?" Playing over happy memories always got Jak to forget. Oh, there are lots of other sad folks heading out into the desert too, Daxter thought as he watched more people hop into the other vehicles and start them up. Suckers-wait, I'm one of them too, Daxter realized as they drove out into the open ocean of sand.
"Yeah. Remember all the times the fruit would smack you in the face 'cause you were spacing out?" Oh noooo, Daxter groaned inwardly. "What were you always thinking of either way, Dax?" Now Jak was looking at him and Daxter knew it was with curiosity even with those damn goggles hiding his eyes.
Damn it. Why did he have to look so attractive with the scarf pulled over his mouth and nose and the goggles resting so perfectly on his nose and the sandy air whipping around him as they drove around? Oh yeah, it's Jak, that's why.
"I was always thinking about how much trouble we would be in, and when I say we-I mean me," Daxter supplied, "when Samos and the village people found out where we went. The wooden floors of Samos's hut still haunt me to this day, Jak. They were sooo dirty every day no matter how many times I cleaned them. How did he even live in those conditions? I mean, you would expect someone so respected to be clean and tidy, ya' know?" Daxter was most definitely not trying to dodge the truth.
Jak looks at him for a little and then bursts into laughter as he looks back out into the desert. They passed a patch of weird looking trees. Daxter really wishes he could see how his face looks laughing with the sun hitting his face in all the right places. To bad the scarf and goggles were hiding it all. He could feel the sandy air whipping his ears and fur all over the place, so he knows for sure that he looks like a mess, but then again he was an ottsel so why would Jak care? Why should he himself care? On the other hand, Jak never looked like a mess. Damn.
"I can't believe you would think of that while I was tossing the fruit down at you. You seriously thought of Samos making you sweep his hut every single time? Like, not just once or twice, but every time we went?" Okay, now you could really hear the curiosity and seriousness embedded in the questions. Shit.
"Well, maybe not every time, but it was enough. And before you ask me about the other times I was thinking of how envious all the other kids would be that we had all this delicious fruit and they didn't." Nice save Orange Lightning.
"Wow, if I knew you actually liked collecting and eating fruit so much I would have taken you up the first time instead of just bringing you one the first couple of times I went by myself," Jak's voice was laced with his amusement and then he perked up. Daxter will have to remember to ask Jak about those first times. "We barely knew each other then, but I could just tell you were more fun than the rest of the kids. I couldn't talk, so I had to find another way to get you to like me," he shrugged.
He felt that same giddiness when he first discovered it as a child. The utter glee he had knowing that Jak had only brought him fruit and not anyone else. Not to a single pretty girl or boy. "Okay, we can keep talking about this right afterwards, but there is an artifact right up ahead. You know the drill," Jak turned to him all goofiness gone and replaced with seriousness.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I quickly jump out, get the artifact, and move as quick as I can back to the car and away we go," Daxter gave him the finger guns and Jak snorted at him skidding to a stop a couple of ways off from the artifact and making a cloud of sand rise.
You ran a risk of breaking the artifact with your car if you got to close and weren't careful. They had learned this the hard way, so they figured out what was a safe distance of where to stop and always followed that guideline. Daxter jumped out of the car making a quick beeline for the artifact, the hot sand licking at the pads of his feet encouraging him to hurry up. Suddenly the roar of another vehicle filled the air.
He knew it was the marauders that roamed the desert. Their cars had a distinct sound their engines made. He gritted his teeth and let out a curse. They always made things more dangerous-but he was on a mission and he would finish it. He didn't even stop when Jak called him back.
Instead Daxter switched to run on all fours to speed up. Okay, this is probably one of those bad choices he tended to make, like the one where he wanted to open the water valve himself and got sucked up into the pipes, but probably worse. Much worse.
Yeah, he reached the artifact and was currently cradling it in his arms, but he was in open desert with no cover to take and very far away from Jak.
Who would have thought that he would get plucked right off the nice soft desert floor and placed into a MARAUDER'S car? He certainly didn't but fate wasn't ever kind to him so why was he so surprised to be staring into the masked face of the very dangerous man currently grasping him.
Jak was going to be sooo pissed at him if he lived and that was going to be scary. He absolutely hated it when Jak got mad at him. He preferred the dazzling smiles to his frowns. Twisting in the man's grip he caught a glimpse of the outside world through the mirror could see how close Jak.
He could feel his body turn cold as he felt his heart fall into his stomach and the nausea hit him hard.
Jak was trying to lose some three other marauders that were chasing and shooting at him, but he was getting further and further and further and oh precursors he has officially made the worst mistake of his life, cause not only is a giant gross slimy hand pulling him away from Jak, his Jak, but the equally repulsive laughter booming in his ears left a very sinister feeling.
"You're mine now, little ottsel."