Love Child

fadingshadesofpurple

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. It's all copyright Naughty Dog/SCEA. Bekka is my creation though.

Now...

Chapter 3. Bekka

She glanced up at the hazy sky above, as tufts of smog became visible, as they often did when sun graced the Haven City with it's rays. It was a pity that it's tough rays could barely penetrate the city's thick smog, and yet a blessing as well. She knew very well that when the smog wasn't visible, which was very rare, the city appeared to be very garish and ugly, even more so, under the golden sun.

She heard the gulls cry in the distance, as they bucked and dove into the rollicking waves, catching fish with their beaks and flying off to someplace where they could feast. In the port's filthy water, boats and war machines floated and drifted to the noisy sea.

She stared off into it, her mind wandering.

"Heya," a voice, female, and with a distinct tone to it, caught her attention, and she turned to face the speaker, who perched at the edge of the Port's circular, stone walkway. "You zoning out on me now?"

"No, Bekka, I was just looking that's all."

"Lookin' for what?"

She sighed before speaking. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"I don't believe that," Bekka murmured. "Not at all."

"Who gives a shit about what you believe," Ashelin snapped back at her, a fierce tone in her voice.

"Woah," Bekka said slowly, leaning back to gaze up at her friend. "What's gotten into you? You weren't this rotten the last time I spoke with you."

"Don't you have work you have to be doing?" Ashelin snapped again, unwilling to part with the issues that were plaguing her heart and mind.

"My work's done at night. That's when I pick up all my customers..and all the good Underground secrets," she grinned slyly as she said this.

"Sleazy, isn't it?"

"Yes, of course. Just like this city."

"I hate this city," Ashelin snapped, and it came out sounding much more bitter than she had intended it to. So much that Bekka caught onto its bite instantly.

"Won't you tell me what's on your mind? That's what I'm here for remember? A place to vent about things you would never tell your father, or anybody else? And vice versa? You would lend an ear to my complaints when and if I have them?"

There was a silence between them. More gull cries. More crashing waves. The sounds of footsteps on the cement of the pavement around them.

"It's been two long weeks since they've sent him away."

"Sent who away? That KG officer I've seen you with in the past? What's his name?"

"His name is Torn," came the saucy response.

"And...?"

"It's been two long weeks...and I don't even know if he's alive or dead..."

"I'm sure he's fine, knowing his type."

"I hope so. I'm still pissed off at him though. He left in such a huff, without saying goodbye properly. The ass, I hope he gets it kicked up there for that. Well, anyways, just a little."

Bekka smirked up at her, knowing full well what was going through her friend's mind.

Ashelin continued. "And it's not just that..."

"What else is there?"

"I just haven't been feeling real well, since that flu I had a couple weeks back."

"You had the flu?"

"Yeah. I felt awful. I couldn't stand or walk without getting dizzy. I had a high fever. I was retching constantly. Now, for the last few weeks, every time I wake up in the morning I feel nauseous, and sometimes the feeling doesn't go away until later in the day. And I still feel weak and achy from time to time."

Bekka responded with silence, and then a smirk. "If you don't mind me asking..."

"Asking what?"

"Just how far did you two go?"

"That's none of your business!" Ashelin snapped, wondering at the same time, why she had gotten so touchy.

"That just about answers my question, then..." Bekka murmured.

"What?"

"You two went all the way, didn't you?"

"I-You-Yes, we did. But what's it to you?"

"Was it safe?"

"Wha? Oh, no it wasn't."

Bekka smirked even further, before standing up to face her friend directly. "Ashelin, dear, come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"To a see a woman named Onin. Ever hear of her?"

"No. Who is she?"

"She's a soothsayer who lives in the Bazaar. She can see anything in the future, and she may be able to help you with your condition."

"My...condition? What the hell do you mean by that!"

"Uh uh uh!" Bekka replied with a smirk, taunting her friend as she walked a little further down the pavement. "You'll learn more when we get to Onin's."

"Why can't you just tell me now?"

Bekka paused, and looked her friend directly in the eye. "Wait until we get to Onin's. I want to be sure." Then, she grabbed her friend's arm, before Ashelin could react to that last statement, and pulled her in the direction of the mysterious soothsayer named Onin...