A/N: Lots of pairings! If you are going to bash... don't comment!

Title: Eco Rumble

Rating: M+

Chapter two: It 'jogs' your memory

Jak had been living at the base for quite sometime now. Torn had found him a room, although small, Jak had no real complaints. Daxter on the other hand was a different story. The two headed out the door close to 3:00 AM. The streets were almost clear, except for the few partiers that still lingered here and there. He started to walk at first, Daxter still clutched as usual to his shoulder, the threat of giant globs of crème from the bear claw he ate dripped dangerously near Jak's shoulder.

"Dax... c'mon..." The green-blonde rolled his eyes.

"Wuht?" The ottsel replied, mouth stuffed. Jak only sighed and shook his head as he looked to the sky.

"Looks like its going to rain again." A chilled breeze swept past his bare arms. It was cold to the touch, but he did not shiver at it as he walked. With Daxter busy with his snacks shoved into his mouth making him unable to speak, it gave Jak time to think. Mostly about his demons, yet about what he had gained and a tear swept down his cheek slightly. Damas... He gritted his teeth. My father... is dead. He never knew... The thoughts bothered him greatly, but he quickly took the back of his gloved hand roughly to his cheek.

Besides from the thought of his demons and his father, he thought of other things such as Keira and how Ashelin came into the picture and fucked things up. She never did like Keira, and at times always joked about what a mouse she was. Jak only made things worse by not speaking up and following into Ashelin's traps of love. Now, it was hopeless. Keira didn't want to talk to him, especially after the last time she picked a fight and he transformed into Dark Jak. Thank goodness she fled in time, but her apartment was not spared. Ever since then, Jak never did go back and talk to her. He rarely saw her, mostly because he spent a lot of time near Spargus and the Wastelands.

Now bolting into a spirited run, he picked a route down some back alleyways with Daxter bobbing on his shoulder as he licked his fingers.

"JaAaaAK!" The ottsel clung for dear life at the sprint. Jak paid no mind, he was used to Daxter rambling on and taught himself to block it out, only this time he was actually thinking. Keira.. if I could take it back...then, a gunshot. He stopped dead.

"You hear that?" He narrowed his eyes, turning towards the noise. It was a few streets over, but there was some major commotion going on about it. "Sounded like a heavy gun, something a guard would have..."

"Or something you would like to fool around with..." Daxter added, also searching for the noise.

"Let's check it out." Jak started to run again, but Daxter intervened.

"Jak, must we? I mean... what if we get shot? You aren't wearing your armor and you know how those guards love target practice with... fuzzy... orange... creatures..." He gulped.

"Relax Dax, we're just going to make sure nothing major is going on..." He started to round the corner, still jogging heavily as his boots hit the pavement. Turning, Jak felt his skull crack against something and he was flung to the ground, Daxter landing a few feet away. "Ouch..." Unexpected, it stung him a bit. "What the h-" He stopped short, his blue eyes looking up as he scattered to his feet. In front of him was the nastiest sight he had seen in a week. A girl, battered and beaten, her eyes showing nothing but fear.

"Jak... next time we're playing slide board on the pavement again... warn me, k?" The ottsel staggered, shook his head, and then leaned against his friend who was still staring at the crumpled sight before him. "Wow... you really know how t' pick em', don't ya?" Daxter commented smartly. The crumpled girl was no real beauty, yet she wasn't homely either. What looked like a combat suit was torn in several places, as if it were clawed. Her skin was covered with abrasions and her side a gashed mess, bleeding from under her ribs. She showed a scar under her right eye and her long hair was unkempt. The tiny girl panted, holding her ribs in pain as she tried to protect herself from the two males as much as possible. She whimpered, mostly from the pain, yet also from the sheer fear of the two, even the small ottsel.

"Over here! I heard something!" Jak's ears perked toward the direction of the guards, then looked back to the girl. He just stared at her, as if he were assessing her yet she showed more fear at the guards voices. "She's a shoot to kill! Orders are to find and execute!" She gulped at the words. Execute. Jak knew what that meant, who didn't? Without a cue, he dashed forward towards the girl and scooped her up. Jak knew the city pretty well, even all it's corners and cracks. At his touch, she shuddered and cried in pain, but he shushed her.

"Jak? Jaaaak?" The annoyance of the ottsel made Jak turn and shush him as well.

"Down here!" Jak had carefully stuffed the girl in a small cubby, high above the street then turned and headed back down walking normally.

"Hey, you!" One spat at him. He turned and faced him, eye to eye. "We're lookin' for a girl. About so high with long hair... pretty beat up. You seen her boy?" He snarled at him.

"I haven't seen any girl since the last one I pounded." Jak winked and licked his teeth at the guard. The guard in reply growled, but stared and called to his team. As he turned, blood dripped from above right behind him.

"Nothing down here, let's move! She must be more south in the city." He turned again and stared at the blood, which Jak had smartly smeared under his lip. Hoping the scent wouldn't trigger his darker side, he fought against it. "What's the blood from boy!" The guard asked. Jak shrugged.

"She likes it rough..." He chuckled. Daxter just hid behind his arm. The guard finally turned, then moved with the rest. As soon as he felt safe that they were completely gone, he leapt to the high corners of a building and pulled himself up to a ledge, letting his legs dangle as he rested on his stomach. "You okay?" He asked the small girl. She did not reply, only stared at him with fear, yet it was eased seeing as she understood he saved her ass. "I'm not going to hurt you... I just want to know what happened to you. At least tell me your name?" Finding this new problem eased his anger and mind away from his life at the moment.

"Faux." A raspy whisper came. She could barely talk and he could see why. Scars lined her throat, along with bruises. Something had been entered there... and it looked like the bones had been crushed before.

"Faux..." He whispered back. "Looks like you got yourself in a shit load of trouble." He stared at her face. She didn't look the best and many scars lined her body, yet a majority stayed far from her face. She had green eyes and the longest hair he had ever seen. A few scars lined near her eyes, the major one connecting to her right eye alone.

The girl started to edge away from Jak, her expression stating she was ready to strike if need be to defend herself. Jak read it perfectly.

"I don't think you're going to be doing any of that." He tried to reach for her, but she resisted and growled at him. "Whoa... okay... bad idea." Below, Daxter grew impatient.

"Jak, what's going on?" The orange ottsel climbed the side of the wall, then over Jak's back and onto the flat of the roof. Faux stared at the creature and tried to reach out to it slowly.

"I think she likes you..." Jak half smiled from the corners of his mouth as the ottsel tensed. A hand was placed on his back, stroking his fur, but leaving a hint of red stain behind.

"I think I need a bath!" He shuddered.

"Maybe she'll listen to you, we can't leave her here..." He didn't know why he was so sympathetic. Perhaps it was because he was in the same position before, when Daxter found him.

"Me!" The ottsel turned, sending a stare at Jak. Jak glared back at him which made him sigh. "Alright, alright..." He turned back and walked towards Faux. "Trouble over there says you can't stay here like this... so I guess he wants to take you home. You dig?" She stared at the ottsel like he was nuts. The girl was slightly confused. Daxter sighed and rubbed his temples. "You. Go home. With Jak." He stated in fragments. Faux raised her dull eyes to Jak who stared back at her. "He won't hurt you... he's a good guy, er, as long as you stay on his GOOD side." The orange furball nervously chuckled.

"I'll help you." Jak extended his hand and after severeal paused moments, Faux reluctantly took it and tensed up as Jak reached for her, scooping her back up. "Now, to find a back way without getting noticed..."

"Or shot. Or maimed... or, arrested then shot... or zapped, or sliced, or-" Daxter started but Jak slapped the back of his head. "Ow!" Daxter shot him a look. "Guess that means I have to walk right?"

"You'll loose the crème doughnut weight that made you so fat." Jak grinned, carrying Faux as gently as possible.

"Hey! I'm not fat!" Daxter glared at Jak as they walked, nearly walking into a pole.

"Right Dax... Right... I suppose all the hero saving made you fit as a whistle..." Jak grinned, but Faux started drifting off, both into sleep and unconciousness. Jak moved his glove. Dark pools of blood covered his hand and he cringed. I just hope I make it in time...

A/N: Reviews? Anyone?

Torn: Aww... you made a friend!

Jak: Shut up tattoo face.

Torn: Watch it eco freak.

Jak: NEH NEH! I'll sic Ashelin on your ass!

Torn: BRING IT ON! I'll tell her you want to marry her.

Jak: OO

Torn: Heh Heh...

Jak: I'll tell her about the time you got drunk and made out with Tess...

Torn:

Jak: YEAH! I SAW IT!

Daxter: Can't we all just get along and read the story, eat some cookies and drink some milk?

Torn: Can I make him a stew NOW?

Jak: Yes...

Daxter OO