Chapter 9
By shadows/of/flame
Zoomg! School! ARGH! XD
Dark eco crackled through the air as Jak and Torn left the palace, oblivious to pedestrians they bowled over.
Torn and Jak were so blind with fury, they didn't know where they were going, running blindly through the streets as far away from the palace as possible seeming like the best option.
Anywhere. Anywhere but the hell that was Spargus would be a GREAT place right now.
Running away from there was the only thought occupying their brains as they ran, hand in hand, towards the gates to Spargus.
Torn stopped, gasping for breath right by the city gate, unable to breathe, nor believe what had happened in the palace only a few minutes before.
"I - can't believe... I was ever stupid enough to trust them..."
Jak stopped, and slowly turned around.
Torn was obviously in distress, and Jak walked slowly back to his lover, supporting him, and making him sit down as he tried to catch his breath.
"Look Torn, I know we should have never trusted them... I was so, so stupid to ever believe that Ashelin was up to any good. But we'll learn from our mistakes, right?"
Torn snorted, burying his face in Jaks chest.
"And I wanted to become a Wastelander? Pffft. Those bastards tried to kill, no, they physically KILLED you! I can't believe... ugh."
"I still don't understand why you wanted to be one of them..." Jak murmured.
The ex commander looked into Jaks eyes, seeing the hurt and pain reflected in them.
He took a deep breath, and sighed.
"Jak, do you want to know the truth? Fine, I'll tell you. I was running away from you."
Jaks eyes widened in shock as Torn spoke.
Running away from him?
Torn didn't notice, and continued talking.
"As you know, I left Haven City, and came here to the Wasteland to serve under Damas...but it was because... I love you, and I didn't want you to get hurt because of the homophobia in the city. OK?"
Jak looked at Torn in surprise, but the brunette was no longer looking at his lover, rather, his lovers chest seemed to be of much more interest to him.
"Torn..."
"Don't say anything."
Jak put his finger under Torns chin, and made the ex KG look into his eyes.
With that, he gently kissed him, ignoring the fact that Damas or Ashelin could be chasing after them and could eat them for an afternoon snack.
They were so close to the scorching desert, and if they wanted to leave with a buggy, they had better do so when Kleiver was still absent and didn't ask any questions.
Or rather, before he was no longer absent and asked questions.
"Jaaaak..." Torn moaned as the former licked the tip of his ear, smiling softly.
"Come on Torn, lets go home."
Jak took Torns hand in his as they went to inspect the buggies.
"Which one would be easiest to hot wire, and which one offers us most protection against the sandstorms?" the brunette murmured, tiredly laying his head on Jaks shoulder.
"Hm, probably the Gila Stomper." Jak replied almost as wearily, pushing Torn over to said vehicle and hopping in, pulling Torn in after him.
After a few minutes, the engine rumbled and groaned into life, and Jak strapped in Torn, pulling scarves over his and his lovers face.
"Get ready, we're finally going home." Jak smiled, and zoomed out the gate of Spargus.
After a few minutes of driving, Jak realised they were being fired at.
With missiles no less, and by the only brutes in the desert who still dared to give Jak cheek after the blond had saved the world.
"Marauders!" he swore, putting the pedal to the metal, but as soon as he looked in the rear view mirror, all he could see was more and more marauders, ready to launch what looked suspiciously like a bazooka at them.
"Aww, dammit! We're stuffed!"
Jak unbuckled his seatbelt with lightning haste, knowing that the Marauders wouldn't take their time in loading the bazooka and firing it.
He almost forgot about Torn; quickly, he scrambled over the seat, unbuckled Torn, shoved him out of the car, and jumped.
Not with a second to lose...
BOOM.
The two warriors went spinning through the air, Jak slamming into some rocks, and Torn landing head first on some.
Jak groaned as the world spun around him, eventually flopping over unconcious, his head resting on Torns chest.
0o0o0o0
"T... Torn."
Torn awoke to one hell of a headache. Everything around him was spinning something terrible, and he noticed Jak was holding him weakly in his arms.
"W... what happened?" Torn groaned, not daring to move in case he had broken something.
Jak helped him sit up properly, and checked his body for any broken bones.
"The Gila Stomper was blown up..." Jak was cut off whenhe touched around Torns hips and the brunette hissed in undescribable pain. "... and if we don't get you out of here soon..."
Torn shook his head slowly, knowing the inevidable.
Jak would have to go for help without him.
"Jak..." he rasped. "You have to go without me. Get help, I'll stay here."
Jak paled visibly, hugging Torn closer.
"There is no way I am leaving you here on your own!"
Torn shook his head, glaring at Jak.
"There is no way you are going to get me out of here without help. Go, now!"
Jak looked at the resolve burning in his eyes, and slowly but surely nodded.
"Are you sure---"
"Go. Now."
Jak sighed, mumbling a quick prayer to Mar so that he would keep Torn safe, and started walking quickly to Haven City, trying hard not to look back.
Leaving Torn behind was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do.
But it wouldn't be the last.