1Naughty DogGod to them.
So hush.
–W–
They stood at the door's threshold, all eyes on Sig as the metal on the barkeepers boots clicked into the distance. The tall man sighed heavily and turned, looking only a bit concerned.
"I should get back to Spargus, Jak, you should come by there soon too before the ceremony. I'll go find Daxter soon and bring him down. Send me a letter when you come."
As the warrior walked stiffly down the hall, all eyes turned to Jak. A soft hand rested on his left shoulder guard. Ashlyn leaned on him slightly.
"Maybe you should have told him earlier, Jak." He looked up and she rose an eyebrow, tugging. "I'm goin' to steal the scum for a moment, I'll bring him right back, promise. He and I need to chat."
"What–"
Torn nodded and rested a hand on the Sage's shoulder, starting a conversation and pulling them towards the dinning hall. As the three walked away, Kiera glanced back to see Jak and Ashlyn vanish into a room.
"You never told him, did you?" She walked to stand near a window, standing with her hand on her hip. "Ever."
"Well I didn't find it important–"
"Jak I know about you two." Her dark eyes turned on him, boring into his skull. He felt his color drain.
"Us what?"
"Don't play idiot with me, Jak." Her glare softened. "It's not that hard to realize. At least to me. You've put one over on most everyone else."
"'Most everyone?' Someone else knows?" He looked concerned and took a step forward. "What?"
"Sig does. Why do you think he was so quiet when you saw him the other day?" Again she looked skeptical. "Apparently you don't sound to friendly while...enamored."
"Shit," Jak looked carefully at the floor.
"Yeah well I wont tell," She frowned a bit. "Dax is goin' to be going through hell for a while. But maybe this is best for the two of you."
"What do you mean?"
He didn't look up.
"Maybe you and Kiera will work out wonderfully. Torn and I have talked, and Sig too, and Dax can stay in Spargus as, I forget, something like Co-king I'd guess. Your little Mini-you in Spargus, and we'll watch his bar." When his expression turned grim, she scrambled for something else. "He'll be okay ut there. Away, secluded, he'll be really busy, you wont have to worry much on that. Sig can keep his mind off you."
Jak looked up in blank horror.
"Keep his mind off me."
"Yes." For once she felt conscious of herself and her courage was draining. The look he had was devastating. "Jak...we'll help him forget you."
"Forget me." He stared, dumbstruck. "Forget, Ashlyn, he was on my shoulder for two years, he's been my lover for two years, he's been my best friend since I have memory, how can he just FORGET me." He had her back against the wall and she saw her reflexion in the solid onyx his eyes had turned. She whimpered a bit in pain, but calmed herself.
"If you want him to heal, Jak." She took a breath. "Maybe you should just...leave him alone."
She slipped to the floor and coughed lightly as he stepped back. Next she looked up, he was gone, the doors swinging shut.
–W–
The next morning, I woke up to a knocking on my bedroom door. Against my will my hope soared, I should have known better.
I managed out of bed, still in yesterday's clothes, and opened the door. My heart sunk like a popped balloon.
"Sig?"
"I have something for ya', Red." He smiled at me. It was...kinda creepy. "Spargus needs a ruler while Jak's away doin' marry things and they seem ta' like ya' so, You're coming back with me."
And that's how I ended up in this craft, standing in the back and watching the city shrink into the distance, the last of the towers beind consumed by sand storm preliminaries. I was alone back here, my foot steps echoed.
I'd managed to scavenge through Jak's old clothes to find the outfit he'd had on when we'd first come to this time period four years ago, it was still a bit big and I couldn't find the loopy belty chesty thing he loved, since he was probably wearing it, so the shirt kind of ate me.
Just a little.
But while I was alone back here it gave me time to think. Usually I was busy doing things...or being done, whatever, but for once I didn't want to do anything but think. And thinking I was doing, probably to hard on the subject, now that I look back on it.
Mar's amulet. Jak always wore it. A ruler while Jak's away? Jak's Spargus' new leader.
I didn't know this.
The hell?
"Red," I turned to my 'name' from Sig and the hatch was open. I didn't even noticed the landing. "Come on, I'll show you your chambers, tomorrow I'll introduce you to the council and take you around, okay, Smallfry?"
"Sure, Sig."
The walk and tour took an hour and a half, and afterwards I went straight to the throne room afterwards. For some reason I felt drawn there. I traced the pools, ran my hands over the plants and stones, but when I got in front of the throne, I couldn't get past the first step. I just stared at it. I couldn't really remember much about it but now that I saw it, I could really see Jak sitting there. Scruffy, dirty and tired from Kingly duties, and I could see myself pearched up on his shoulder, pulling things out of his hair with little paws, or walking over with some wet rags or something. And then my memorable mood went sour.
I was a slave to him. That's all I was.
I was his moral support, but I was always helpin' him around with everything. Even now, or... a few days ago. I was there to cook, clean and be torn to shreds during sex. The hot tears boiled up again, but I wouldn't let them fall.
"That's all I am," I whispered to myself. I glared at the throne before a cough trying to hide a sob echoed around me.
He has a girl to do it now. A new model, a sleek little hussy ready and willing to do anything for him. I got it now. That's why he could drop me so quickly. I was nothing but a slave to the high and mighty hero. Mr. Man. No credit for Dax. Nothing was I good for I guess.
I threw the closest thing to me, a small potted plant, into one of the pools. The water exploded into a tiny tsunami wave, coursing over the rock flooring and into other pools, the poor plant bobbing helplessly.
"Is that all I am, JAK?" I screamed, but I was choked by sobs. "A mannequin. You were waiting for the new to wear off, huh? Huh?" I don't know why I screamed, or why at the throne. I guess it was cause I could still see him there, though he was smiling at me with a skimpy little Kiera dangling on his arm. "Huh? She's your new best pal? She'll ride you, you bet you're ass she will. Just look at her." I turned and kicked another pot into another pool, but less violently. I made my way around the room, screaming insults and wagers and accusations I knew were false until I finally misstepped and slipped on some water I'd spilt. I hit the ground with a sickening crack and my head felt like it'd been cracked open, but I didn't care. That was nothing compared to the pain surging in my chest. With every beat of my heart fire coursed across my being, darkening my vision and leaking out onto the floor through my new head wound.
I hugged myself, tears burning my cheeks, the water burning my wound, my heart burning my body. I was scrambling in an endless flame and I couldn't get away. He'd shoved me into my own hell, the one he promised me he'd never do. He swore to me he'd never leave me alone like this. I was his best pal. I was his boy.
He loved me.
I screamed against the thought. My limbs lit on fire and the room was closing in. I fought through the heavy water to consciousness but it seemed determined to keep me under. He didn't love me, obviously not. He said that so I wouldn't question. So I wouldn't protest.
I heard muted voices and people slowly seeped into my view. I tried to fight them off, by even the slightest movement made the darkness swarm and the fire consume. I couldn't hear myself screaming, I just saw concerned faces and heard worried mumbles. The fire finally closed off my view, the dark engulfing the room. I finally slipped under the waves, drifting away into my own mind and watching the surface bubble and flame with anger.
