This is heavily, heavily inspired by the fic Safety on Archive of our Own, and though it might not be apparent in the beginning and middle, the last paragraphs do kind of rely on that crux. For those who are confused, Jak is living in the Naughty Ottsel with Dax and Tess after Jak X, along with Woh'hue (the OC). In Safety, there's a polyamorous relation between Jak, Daxter, and Tess, and I'd highly recommend it if you're interested and not grossed out by NSFW stuff. The relationship doesn't feel forced and it's actually quite adorable at points.
II. Love
He might've known what love was. Back in Sandover, even with his lack of voice, Keira had almost adored him. He never figured out why, or if it could've become something more, before his life became endless metal walls and regular injections, with various tests thrown in between.
He didn't know what love was. When the girl-Woh'hue-became his cellmate, there was nothing but general indifference towards her, perhaps a well of despair pooling in his gut, because she had been sent to suffer the same fate as him. The guards taunted, expecting him to do vile things to her, but all he could do was drape a blanket over her and hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could save her from the worst of the worst.
Perhaps he couldn't feel love. When Ashelin kissed him, when Keira kissed him, when Erol taunted him, when Torn yelled at him, when younger Samos tried to assuage his fears and prevail with logic and wisdom, he could feel nothing. The only thing he could feel and properly connect to were rage, anguish, or good old apathy.
But maybe he could, he thought as Daxter drew out a smile with his jokes, as he met Pecker and Onin, as Woh'hue and him blasted away at Metal Heads and Krimzon Guards. Maybe not love, but emotions that were positive, emotions that made him feel lighter and didn't weigh him down.
Oh yes, he could feel love. As he leaned over the dying king of Spargus, hearing his last request, only to realize with dawning horror that the lost son was him, a realization that didn't reach Damas before he left the land of the living. Dark Eco bubbled in his veins until it broke through his skin, nothing could subdue it as he screamed, Woh'hue joining as she, too, grieved. He'd lost so many people in his life, before arriving in Haven, while assisting the Underground, but Damas was another thing entirely. He'd never lost someone close to him before, never like this, never in front of him, never so slowly and painfully, where life ebbed away instead of being ripped without an ounce of pain. His Light Eco could only heal himself, not another, he'd tried, and he could only watch and do nothing, could only be useless. He'd loved Damas like a father, how utterly ironic that was, and now he was gone.
Perhaps he should never love again. Keira and him weren't working, Ashelin was taken, Daxter and Tess were happy, Woh'hue was his sister in name and emotions. He didn't want love, not after what had happened, because everyone close to him ended up suffering. Perhaps he was destined to live alone, to never make ties with anyone again, but Woh'hue's middle name was stubborn, and she clung to him like a vine.
Maybe this is what love could be like, he pondered, as he stared up at the ceiling. The healing lights of the reforming Haven City shined through the window, landing in rectangular beams onto them through the curtains. Woh'hue was just a hair's breadth away on his left with Daxter nuzzling her breasts, Tess curled on his chest and breathing deeply, all asleep but him as he thought too deeply about the world, a recurring problem. He closed his eyes and breathed out, hoping that nightmares would stay away tonight.
Perhaps, he wondered as he heard the trio breathe around him, lulling him into sleep. Perhaps he could feel love if this was what it was.