A/N: This happens between chapters fifteen and sixteen, during Jak and Taryn's holiday in Spargus. I regretted cutting it from Catalyst, but it unfortunately wouldn't fit, so it's nice to put it up in this collection.

There's something very amusing to me about Taryn being bad at riding animals, but comfortable with vehicles.

~ Leapers ~

Jak awoke later than he would have liked – not that it was imperative to set a schedule for the week – but that would mean less time spent taking his blue-haired girl on adventures throughout the city. He was enjoying their time together more and more, after the revelation of his parentage.

Still…something had shifted between the pair, following that event. Taryn's body language was subtly different, but they had spent enough intimate time together that he could see it. They were not only more open with each another now, but she was more tactile with him. And he wasn't complaining one bit.

Today, the blonde decided an enjoyable activity for them would involve riding wild, desert lizards. As soon as Taryn saw the creatures, she wondered where "fun" entered the equation.

The poor girl had a foot inserted in the stirrup, trying to raise her body to mount a leaper, and looked incredibly uncomfortable doing so. Instead of laughing, Jak should have been more supportive, but he simply couldn't help it; the very image was worth a photo or two.

However, she obviously needed assistance, so he personally decided to help her up and onto the animal. He stepped behind her and touched his hands to her lips – she shivered at the contact – then helped push her weight up and over, until she comfortably sat on the saddle. He moved away and mounted his own lizard, then steered it around to take hold of her reins, knowing she wasn't sure about what to do.

"Just leave it to me," he assured. She eagerly nodded, more than happy to follow his lead. She watched him, perfectly comfortable, and felt a tad envious.

"How can you be so good at everything?" Taryn mock-grumbled. He responded with a slightly suggestive wink, followed by a beaming, cheeky grin that made her blush and heart skip a beat. The sensation was overwhelming, but she couldn't place her finger on what was going on with her reactions.

Perhaps fortunately, she was distracted by the tip of her saddle, and she rolled off, although luckily landed on the soft sand.

"You okay, there?" Jak enquired.

"Fine!" she called, wiping herself down and patting the lizard's neck. "It's not you; it's me," she assured the creature. When it responded by affectionately butting her hand, she sighed. "I'm more comfortable with vehicles. They purr beneath me. You know what I mean, right?"

The blonde nodded his agreement, knowing exactly what she meant – after all, he purred beneath her, too. Attempting to redirect his thoughts, he hurried said, "You wanna keep trying?"

"Am I the kind of girl who gives up?" she joked, insisting on struggling her way atop the saddle by herself this time. He shrugged and observed, not at all impatient with her lack of experience. She relaxed a little and tenderly scratched the top of her leaper's head, and it let out a content rumble. Maybe I can do this.

"You know, back in Sandover, there were Flut Fluts," Jak suddenly remarked.

Taryn frowned. "What's a Flut Flut?"

"It's like a bird version of these things. Blue and yellow feathers, big feet…"

"Oh, wow. They sound adorable."

"I'm sure I could find a picture for you."

"I'd like that," she smiled. "Tell me more about the Old World."

He hadn't expected that request, but still indulged her. "What do you wanna know?"

"What other creatures were there? Leapers?"

"None that I ever saw. There was pretty much everything that's here now, 'though without Metal Heads."

"Sounds wonderful."

The blonde's head lifted and he watched her expression, but all he found was sincerity in the form of a faraway gaze, as she pictured his erstwhile home.

As the pair pulled up to the pen, they dismounted and handed the leapers over to a keeper, who began removing the steeds' saddles and reins. Taryn gave hers a last pat on the head, before it was shuffled into the pen with the others.

"Hate to say this, but I don't think I'll ever ride a living thing again," she said, shaking her head. Jak tilted his head and smirked, giving his thoughts away, and she let out a sigh. "Take your mind out of the gutter."

"Sorry…" he apologised, but it didn't sound very earnest. A roll and the eyes and playful shove were his punishment, yet it simply made him worse. "Can't help it with you."

"Stop it."

"Hey, this is revenge for sniffing me!"

"I can't help it if you smell nice!"

Unable to argue with her, he threw his arms up into the air in exasperation, whilst she continued to laugh at his side, and they made their way back towards the Sand Shark parked nearby.