A/N: Not much to say... except there is no review love. Oh well... oh yeah, Ashelin is P.O'd.
Now, back to the story...
Title: Eco Rumble
Rating: M+
Chapter Six: A plan!
Weeks passed and the fall season grew deeper with each passing day. With each passing day, Faux grew stronger. A majority of her wounds now healed, the bruises now gone and the scars starting to fade. The brightness of her eyes returned and Torn could begin to see the spirit she probably once had, now coming back.
"Again!" He yelled as he held out his hands which were covered in wide pads. Faux gritted her teeth and swatted a few good punches at him that would have stung the average person. "AGAIN!" He growled and she followed his lead. He swooped left, then right and she followed each blow as if missing would mean death.
Faux hadn't been out of the apartment much, Torn warning her on her shoot-to-kill warrant. She questioned it, but the ex-KG could give her no answer. "Just hang low." It was his only answer and she followed his leads, trusting him more each day, as well as Jak. Torn could see each day how frustrated Jak became with Ashelin, even as she hung on his neck at the Naughty Ottsel when the gang was there for a drink. She would sit in a booth in the back and play with his icy wings as he became light Jak. Neither Jak, NOR Light Jak were happy about it.
Yet now was the unveiling of what Torn kept a secret for nearly a month. The 'crippled bag of bones' that hid in his bed was now full and filled out, slowly gaining muscle back. Torn was pleased, even with her scars and now healed ribs. Faux could talk normally and even slip back into her normal training she had ceased a long while ago. Yet now, Torn could do no more... as far as beauty went that was. Faux was not an ugly girl, yet far from it, although she did need a lot of work with most things. The spirits had already blessed her with a healthy and curvy body and Torn would always blush as she padded through his living room from the bathroom back to his room to change from a shower.
Smirking as he thought, he barely paid attention as Faux landed a sour punch to the side of his jaw, sending him off balance. Jak had been sitting on a wall and burst out in unbelievable laughter and Faux dropped to her knees.
"Oh! Torn I'm so sorry... I was just going so quickly I didn't judge..." She tried to hold in her laughter, but found herself howling like Jak. Torn shook his head and let out a smooth smirk.
"Strong sucker punch there, don't you think Jak?" He let out a snicker. "I think our baby is all grown up!" He cooed and mocked.
"Ah, Torn leave her be..." Jak winked to Faux, who giggled. He hadn't been around as much lately, often going off with Ashelin on missions towards the Wasteland. Torn had been doing the same, sternly telling Faux to lock herself in his apartment and never open the door. He often shielded the windows carefully as well as upped his security. Faux hadn't really connected with Jak as much as Torn and she had heard the two talking one night as they sat drinking in the kitchen. Jak of course was barely of age, but no one of course said a word about it.
Flashback -
"I think we should..." Torn's voice spoke softly so Faux, although 'asleep', would not hear.
Jak had nodded at this. "I'm going to Spargus for three days, wait until I come back... then we'll do it. I know even Tess and Keira can help us more. I'm sure Jinx and Sig would love to see her..."
Torn took the opportunity to intervene. "And Ashelin?" He asked curiously.
Jak looked over at Torn, placing his beverage down. "What do you think she'll do? As you put it, she already treats Tess and Keira like crap."
Torn scoffed. "Somehow, I don't think Faux is going to put up with her shit. She's like you Jak, she KNOWS pain, not that we all don't... but she knows it like here..." Torn put his fist where his heart was and looked at Jak who nodded. Faux was strong, but her spirit was still broken.
-End Flashback-
Now, there was a knock at Torn's door which frightened Faux. She was ready to bolt, knowing the only two she ever saw were Jak and Torn. Feeling a strong tug on her shoulder, she looked up at Jak who smirked.
"Relax..." Were his words, although she could not. How could she relax if she was going to be shot? Or worse! Shaking, she waited for Torn to return, yet could see the smug look on Jak's face. What game was this?
"... Like then, Keira told Jinx that his cigar 'accidentally' lit the fuse to one of Jinx's bombs and he like, FLIPPED OUT!" It was Tess, giggling in her normal form, Daxter on her shoulder as she carried a large case.
"Oh my gawd! Like, NO!" Torn mocked Tess and Tess snarled.
"Oh shut up tattoo face!" It was something Daxter loved calling Torn and Tess stuck her tongue out as they entered the room. Torn could only chuckle. He loved screwing with Tess as much as he loved screwing with Daxter... until Jak got him back good as always. His face returned to it's usual cold, hard state, yet when he stared at Faux, it always softened. "Oh wow..." Tess settled down now, seeing the girl who sat by Jak, drinking in the corner of the room. Faux squirmed beneath the gaze of the elves, her hand smoothing her hair behind her ear. Her scars were faded, but still visible, her hair long and untamed, yet at least she wasn't as thin as she was. Torn had taken care of that... although usually he would have just thrown her right back out to the world as he did any other. Faux was different.
"Do your stuff Tess..." Jak spoke up and Faux looked confused. Tess approached her carefully.
"She isn't going to kill me is she?" She stuck her hand out to the girl's hair and Torn smacked his skull.
"Damn it Tess, does she LOOK like she's going to even slap you? She's fucking afraid of you, you twit." Sometimes that girl as bright as she was had a serious issue. Torn was usually the one to correct it.
"Alright..." She huffed with a slight growl. "Fruitcake..." She muttered. Torn caught it, but rolled his eyes instead. Jak chuckled and Faux stared at Tess who turned back to the boys. "Leave." They were her only words and she grabbed the girl by her hand. "You heard me, leave!"
"It's MY house you blonde FRUITCAKE." Torn growled angrily. Tess grinned and stepped nose to nose with him, smirking and sliding a nail to his chest.
"And it's my time Torn..." She whispered. "NOW LEAVE!" Tess shoved Torn back abruptly and he hit the wall. Recovering, he came after Tess who pulled a small pistol from her belt. Jak intervened.
"Now, now, can't we all just... get along?" The two were acting quite childish and Torn rolled his eyes.
"I need a damn drink..." He left the room, Jak in tow shrugging. Torn snatched his leather jacket from a hook, swung it over his shoulders and headed towards his Zoomer as Jak followed.
"Guess the Naughty Ottsel it is..." Jak muttered, snapping himself up on his.
As the two zoomed off, a bright orange ball of fur scampered around the corner of Torn's apartment and sprinted inside. "WHEW! Good thing he didn't find his armor yet..." The ottsel sweated. Tess turned and faced him as she began to brush Faux's hair.
"What did you do snookums?" She purred to him. Her voice made Daxter squirm with uneasiness and he began to babble mindlessly.
"Ooh... oh nothing... you know, just having some fun..." He grinned sheepishly and approached the two females, hopping upon Faux's lap. "So, you're the little squirt we found out in the city, eh?" He began to poke at Faux, who sighed. "You're even worse than Keira! That girl is so quiet... pity, she could have saved Jak from that witch that has a tighter leash on him than Torn would like to hang me with."
Tess' mouth twitched with a certain anger. "Ashelin has really pushed the limits with everyone. It's bad enough she picks on Keira for not speaking up and being a 'weak player' but she'll use the girl if her vehicles break down... I told her to knock it off yesterday and she called me a furry wench." Tess' eyes blazed with anger and Faux could see them. "Anyway, I suppose we'll get started..."
Daxter jumped to attention, snatching various items from Tess' bags and 'assisting her' which looked to Faux as if he were literally drooling from his mouth. As Tess worked the group sat in silence. Faux finding Daxter quite entertaining, the small Ottsel reclining in her lap and adjusting his goggles and Tess carefully doing her beauty work, trimming and untangling the girl's long hair. Before it had reached past her hips, now it was at her belt line and smoothing out. Tess looked as if she were thinking hard about something, then nearly stabbed Daxter with a nail file.
"I HAVE IT!" She shrieked which made Daxter jump out of his slim slumber of coziness.
"Have what sweedums?" He hopped onto Faux's shoulder.
"A plan! To get Keira back with Jak... and Faux is just the one to help us." Tess swung the girl's chair around, making her face Tess. Faux looked completely confused, even more so then when she tried to recall her previous purpose for being in Haven, which was coming in slowly bit by bit.
"How... how am I going to help Jak?" She asked timidly. Tess only smiled. "It's easy... and you might be doing it already whether you know it or not." She began to file the long nails of the girl, which oddly looked claw-like instead of straight nails. "Ashelin was Torn's old love... well, sort of. They never got together, but it's really clear that Ashelin still gives Torn some "pure hearted looks". Tess but her hands to her heart and acted like she was crying. "You drive Ashelin away from Jak and we get Keira to make her moves..." Tess continued painting the clear lacquer onto Faux's nails and Daxter filed the other ones. Faux turned her head. Then what of her? Tess could see her expression and smiled. "Only, I don't think Torn will take Ashelin back... he cant' stand her ever since she ran off with Jak. While Ashelin is distracted, Jak and Keira will be together and Ashelin won't be able to come back to him... it's flawless!" Tess smirked, something most sinister and evil that made even Daxter shudder.
"Almost flawless..." He added, filing at Faux's last nail.
"Faux..." Tess looked the girl in the eye. "If you do this, I PROMISE me and Daxter will help you find out where you came from. Believe it or not, I have many connections." She grinned, something feral with a hint of sinister glint to her eye. Faux nodded, now determined.
"Deal."