The past 3 days seemed to drag by for Torn like a muskrat dragging a broken leg. He'd barely left his room at all, save for the extremely uncomfortable pap smear Keira forced him to endure.
It was embarrassing enough when she opened up his ass uncomfortably wide to look inside, but when he felt that evil little brush scraping against his cervix he nearly kicked her in the face.
It was the fear that she would damage something that kept his foot in the stirrup.
Sig was right...pap smears SUCK.
The good news was all the tests came back with great results. He was disease free, healthy, and more fertile than the average male Omega...which still wasn't very much but being able to be impregnated was a high possibility.
Great...
After that mortifyingly intimate session, Torn didn't step a toe outside his room.
When Damas gifted him with some lovely acrylic paints, it only encouraged him to hole up like a shut-in and sketch his little heart out.
He'd managed to sketch a landscape of the Port at night. His reference was a picture he took with Tear on the day he opened the HipHog Heaven. It was a fond memory that featured the gorgeous location and bustling nightlife of the Port. He's always wanted so desperately to paint it, and now he had the time...possibly the only good thing to come out of his situation as of yet.
He had finished the basic sketch and began to apply the background paint when he heard a firm knocking at his door. He gave a frustrated sigh and tossed his paintbrush down on the coffee table. He tossed a sheet over his painting and strode to the door, pulling it open with the intent of shooing away whoever was behind it.
When he saw Jak standing in the hall with an irritated aura, he nearly slammed it closed again. However, he couldn't resist the urge to piss off the easily ruffled Prince, so he decided to goad the Alpha a bit...
"Well look who it is. The little prince of Spargus has decided to grace me with his presence!" he leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms and jutting out a hip, "Did you finally decide to listen to your daddy and apologize for striking your future mate? I heard that he grounded you until you do." Torn gave a playful pout, further digging at the young alpha, "I bet your rat-faced boyfriend misses you."
Jak's upper lip twitched up in a snarl, "Are you always such an unlikeable prick, or am I just that special?"
"Trust me sweetheart," He leaned forward, inches away from the smaller alpha's face, "You aint that special. But you are fun to tease." He smirked as Jak became visibly ruffled.
"Fuck you, asshole..."
"Not even in my most desperate and painful heat cycle would I even consider that as an option."
"What the fuck is your problem?!" Jak clenched his fists and glared up at Torn, getting in his face, "This can't still be about the fucking paint. Is it because I tried to rearrange your face? Because Lemme tell ya, it would be an improvement."
Torn dropped the smirk and bared his teeth, "Don't flatter yourself, pup. You got one lucky shot in. If we were actually in a fight, I'd have you on your back begging for mercy before you could even land a hit."
"Is that so?!"
"It is."
"Wanna bet?!"
"Name a place and time...unless you need a few days to grow some balls first."
"You fucking-" Jak suddenly stopped and growled in frustration, "Fucking damn it! Why are you so irritating?! This was NOT what I came here for."
"Oh?" Torn raised a brow, "Why did you come?"
"Get dressed, I'm showing you around the city." Jak's voice held authority, and Torn actually thought he seemed like a real prince for a moment, but the idea of leaving his room to spend even a second of his time with this entitled prick was highly distasteful.
"No thanks. I'd rather get another pap smear." He turned and moved to close the door in the prince's face when Jak grabbed the door, preventing him from closing it.
"And I'd rather brush my teeth with glass shards, but this isn't my idea!" He sighed and grumbled, "My dad forced me to invite you out."
Ahh...now it made sense.
Damas did want them to spend time together and get to know each other before the bonding. However, Torn knew that it was useless...no amount of hanging out could fix this mutual loathing they had. "Let's not and say we did then. It's not like he's watching to make sure we spend time together."
"You don't know my dad...he knows everything that goes on in the city." Jak noticed Torn's doubtful look and pressed, "Look, I don't like you and you don't like me...but it doesn't change the fact that we are literally getting bonded to each other in less than 2 weeks. I don't know about you, but I want to be at least somewhat civil with you by then. So lets bury the hatchet right now and just get this over with; that way we don't ever have to look at each other again once the stupid ceremony is over."
"Wishful thinking, but bonding doesn't work like that, kid." He stood up tall, crossing his arms, "Mated couples need to scent almost daily, otherwise you'll start feeling lethargic, irritated, and will most likely get sick if left unchecked. That means, we'll have to see each other at least once every other day to rub our scent glands together."
He noticed a faint blush begin to bloom on the Prince's cheeks, but the scowl remained as he continued, "Not to mention our heat and rut cycles. Mated couples can't survive a cycle without each other. So that means we'll be having sex at least once every three months...unless you manage to somehow knock me up the first time...then we'll have a glorious nine months where we don't feel the urge to fuck each others brains out against our will." He was starting to make himself feel queasy, but he was at least getting his point across when Jak's scowl fell and he seemed to be processing the information.
"So you see..." Torn leaned down so he was inches away from the Prince, "No amount of burying the hatchet between us is going to make up for the fact that we're going to be forced together for the rest of our miserable lives. At least you can take a concubine later down the line...but me?" He huffed out a humorless laugh, "I'm stuck relying on your dick. So count your fucking blessings you damn Alpha." He moved to close the door again, but Jak stopped him.
"So that's it? You're throwing in the towel here? Not even going to attempt to make peace so we don't have to wallow in misery until one of us keels over?" Jak mirrored Torn's posture by crossing his arms as well.
"Better believe it." Torn replied, "I've already resigned myself to martyrdom...and if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to it." He began to close the door when Jak uttered one word that stopped him instantly.
"Coward."
Torn swung the door back open, stepping close to Jak and growling in his face, "The fuck did you call me?!"
Jak smirked and stared right back at him, "I said, 'coward'. I'll bet you're just afraid you'll end up liking me. Maybe...you'll even like-like me."
"Like hell I will!"
"Then prove it!" Jak uncrossed his arms, "Spend one day with me. Let's try not to piss each other off, and maybe have some fun. If by tonight we're still on the verge of strangling each other, I won't bother you again and we'll blissfully skip into our tortured life of being hatefully bonded."
Jak stood there staring hard at him, waiting for his response.
Torn had to admit, the shrimpy Alpha was more mature than he seemed.
And as much as Torn hated to admit it...he had a good point.
If there was some way they could come to an accord, it didn't hurt to try.
But then again...
"Ok...counter-offer." Torn knew how he could weasel out of this whole deal, "You and me, alone, sparring match. If you manage to pin me to the floor within 10 minutes, I'll agree to go with you. If you can't even manage to do that, I'm coming right back to my room. Deal?"
He watched as Jak considered the offer.
The Alpha then smiled deviously, "Deal, old man."
Torn felt a flutter of annoyance but stomped it down quick.
It wasn't every day he got to school some arrogant Alpha, after all.
Jak had led them to an open room used for exercises. Torn glanced around, seeing several different pieces of equipment, weights, and even a sparring mat.
If he had known about this place, he would've left his room at least for some of the day.
This really beats trying to do pull-ups on the doorframe.
"Alright kid," Torn placed his hands on his hips and walked to the center of the mat, "Got any rules before we start? Besides the obvious 'no broken bones or death'?"
Jak shook his head and shucked off his shirt, exposing a surprisingly well-toned upper body and strong-looking arms.
Torn was...mildly surprised. Guess the younger man was only a shrimp height-wise.
"Nope...you said ten minutes right?" Jak took out his comm and started setting a timer as he walked to the edge of the mat, "How long do I need to pin you for?"
Jak actually seemed confident...typical Alpha behavior. Torn couldn't wait for those dark blue eyes to widen in surprise and shame when he gets his poor little alpha pride hurt. "Lets make it 20 seconds." He then grabbed the hum of his shirt, pulling it up and off, and tossing it to the side to join Jak's, "Unless you don't think you can handle that."
It was Jak's turn to stare now.
Spargus had its fair share of different body types, but even so, he'd never actually seem a male Omega's body before, aside from Sig's of course. Torn was well-muscled and broad like an average alpha male would be, but there were slender curves to his waist that dipped down into slightly flared hips and slender, yet muscled thighs. His pecs were firm looking, yet rounded, shoulders wide and arms thick and well-defined.
In short...he cut an irritatingly nice figure and Jak hated that he liked what he saw. Jak forced himself to look up at Torn's face instead of his body and huffed, "I bet I could hold you down for 30."
Torn chuckled breathily, "Guess you really did find your balls, huh?" He shook out his arms and rolled his neck before taking a defensive stance, "Start the timer when you're ready."
Jak pressed a button on his com, tossed it to the mat, then mirrored Torn's stance.
It began.
Torn was pleasantly surprised when Jak didn't come out swinging, instead hanging back and forming some sort of strategy.
They circled each other, and as Torn predicted, Jak made the first move. He stepped forward, quickly throwing a jab at Torn's face, which he expertly dodged. He took the offensive and began taking more swings, each one more easily dodged than the last.
Torn stayed on the defensive, waiting for Jak to tire himself out...
...until he was suddenly flat on his back due to Jak unexpectedly tackling his legs.
He scrambled out of Jak's loose grip and rolled away, still stunned that Jak had actually managed to bring him down.
I didn't even see him move...what the hell?
Jak was back up too, and this time he was done dancing around. He moved to tackle Torn again, grabbing him around the waist and trying to lift him up. Torn retaliated with a knee to the sternum, successfully pushing Jak off him.
That didn't stop Jak for long however, when he suddenly landed a kick to Torn's head. Torn managed to barely block it with his forearm just in time, but the impact still hurt.
He underestimated Jak's fighting ability...so now he would actually have to take this seriously. Torn blocked another punch from Jak, only this time he grabbed his arm and twisted it behind the blonde's back. He was about to kick out Jak's legs and take him down to the floor, when Jak reached behind and grabbed his own hand, pushing both arms straight so Torn's grip had less control.
Before Torn could react, Jak slammed his heel down onto Torn's ankle, making him stumble back and lose his grip, then Jak threw back his elbow, catching Torn in the temple before he whipped around and used his leverage to force Torn once again to the mat. This time, Jak managed to pin both of Torn's arms down and straddle him.
Torn stared wide-eyed at Jak's sweaty red face as the blonde began counting. Torn thrashed his legs for a moment, actually shocked that he was actually being pinned for over 10 seconds.
Before Jak was able to make it past 15 seconds, Torn lifted his hips off the ground high, forcing Jak's body forward. As Jak released Torn's wrists to catch himself before he cracked his head on the mat, Torn flipped their roles and pinned Jak to the mat, only this time he made the adjustment of pressing their chests and stomachs together do Jak couldn't so the same thing Torn had done to him.
Jak struggled against him for a bit, growling in frustration before he suddenly stilled and seemed to realize their position. They looked at each other for a moment and Jak couldn't help but focus on what he was feeling.
Torn's warm, sweaty body was pressing against his almost intimately. He could feel the deep rise and fall of his chest as he panted. The strength in his grip as he held Jak's fists to the mat was a bit more than Jak expected to feel.
But when he looked in Torn's eyes, seeing the primal aggression burning in those cold blue orbs, he felt something he'd never experienced before.
Then it hit him...
...a sweet, yet musky scent wafting around his nose...coming from the man currently inches away from his face.
Jak had smelled an Omega's scent before...but this...this was different.
Torn narrowed his eyes, pressed Jak's wrists into the mat a bit harder...then he let out a deep, low growl starting from deep in his chest as he bared his teeth...displaying dominance.
Jak felt a shiver run through his body as his face colored.
That's when Torn felt it...
He gave a confused look for a moment and shifted his hips subtly to confirm what he was feeling.
The growling stopped when he confirmed his suspicion...
Yep...Jak was hard.
As soon as he heard the timer go off, Torn leapt away from Jak, rising to his feet and walking over to where their shirts were.
The kid had popped a boner while being pinned to the ground and growled at...by an Omega...what the hell kind of Alpha gets off on getting their ass kicked?!
He put his shirt back on and pondered how the hell he should address the kid at the moment.
He thankfully didn't have to when Jak rose to his feet and padded over to him to also retrieve his shirt. When the blonde reached down and grabbed his missing article of clothing, he paused before putting it back on.
Without even looking at him, Jak muttered, "You won...a deals a deal. I won't bother you again." With that, Jak turned and began walking away.
Torn was silent for a moment.
The kid actually held up his end of the deal...he didn't even complain, or ask for a rematch, or even try to pass it off as "letting him win" because he's an Omega like so many have done before him.
He gave it his all...he was a surprisingly great fighter...and he lost with grace.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose briefly, "Fucks sake...fine." He turned towards Jak, "Hey brat!"
Jak stopped near the door and turned to look at him, not-so-subtly trying to cover his hard-on with his shirt.
Torn paused before continuing, "One hour. Shower, get dressed, and meet me outside my door." He strode over to Jak, who looked shocked. He playfully punched the prince in the shoulder and gave him a smirk, "This better be a top tier tour, or this time I'll kick your ass without restraint." He exited the room and left the young alpha gaping after him in the hall, still holding the shirt over his groin.
Torn had to admit...
Spending time with Jak wasn't completely horrible. Maybe it helped that they didn't really talk much during their stroll through the city, other than Jak pointing out things and Torn nodding or giving a one-word response.
As they walked around, Torn did notice something that changed his opinion of the royal brat slightly. Jak seemed to know everyone in the city, and they all seemed to adore him. He didn't act like he was better than any of them, and they treated him like a regular member of their community.
When Torn was a younger noble, before becoming a soldier, he was always taught that people not of his class were lower than him. He'd always thought that mentality was wrong, but people still treated him according to his family status.
Even after becoming the Commander, there was still a divide between him and the soldiers who were born into a status lower than him. He'd tried to erase that divide, but it always seemed to be rebuilt.
Class aside, there was something else that Torn noticed.
Jak treated everyone equally, despite their type as well.
He was an Alpha...the top of the food chain. And yet, Torn watched as he conversed with Alphas, Betas, and even Omegas like their types didn't matter.
"Is that your mate?!" Torn turned to see Jak talking to a group of women, two alphas and one omega from the scents he was picking up. All three of them were amazons covered from head to toe in armor and made Jak seem like a small child compared to them.
Hell...one of them was even taller than him.
The tallest Alpha smiled down at him, "He's a handsome one!"
"Look at those muscles!"
"Pretty eyes too!"
The first one addressed Jak again, "I heard he's a soldier. That true?"
Jak turned towards him briefly, motioning him over before replying, "Yeah, he was the Commander of Haven before coming here."
Torn raised a skeptical brow before rolling his eyes and padding over to the group.
All three women smiled and started whispering amongst themselves as they looked him over.
The omega smiled warmly at Jak, "He seems like he'd be good for you. May the precursors smile down on you and bring you nothing but joy in your bond."
Jak nervously scratched at the back of his head before mumbling, "Yeah...thanks."
"And may your seed take root quickly! We can't wait to see what kind of beauty you two make!"
Torn watched as Jak turned into a blushing, flustered mess which had all three ladies laughing. He had to admit...it was almost cute how he was getting teased but Torn was still a bit confused.
When they wandered away from the group, Torn had to break the silence and speak what was on his mind, "So, why was that Omega with those Alphas? Is she their sibling or being courted by one of them?" Jak stopped and gave him a weird look, "Uh...they're friends? Also they're in the same patrol I think."
Torn blinked owlishly at him, "They're different types...not courting...and yet they're friends?"
"...yeah?" Jak narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"And no one questions that? They aren't harassed or seen as scandalous?"
"Why the fuck-NO!" Jak seemed horrified, "Why would that even be a thing?!"
Torn thought back to his friends in Haven. There are dozens of people who believe that he was sleeping with Ashelin, even though they were only ever friends. When he had a casual sexual relationship with Jinx people were appalled when the alpha began courting Tear instead of him.
Rumors spiraled, but thankfully died down in the past year when sexual expression became a more positive experience amongst the younger generations.
Even so...the older generations still made it hard for them.
"In Haven...you typically only spend time with someone of the opposite type or sex when you're planning to court. If you have friends of different types and sexes, people talk."
"That's fucking stupid!" Jak sneered in disgust, "Why does it matter what your friend's sex or type is? If you like each other, you should be able to hang out without people assuming you're fucking."
"Yeah...I agree. Unfortunately, Haven isn't quite there yet. The younger generations are starting to get it, but it's the older ones at the top who refuse to bend." Torn shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants as they paused outside a store.
Jak looked away, unsure of what to say.
It was Torn who broke the silence once more, "It's good that your people can form relationships freely without being judged. You should treasure that."
That statement gave Jak pause.
He'd never even considered his own privilege in that regard. Spargus had always been this way ever since he was a child. He, Daxter, and Keira had always been great friends, and no one ever told them not to play together because they were all different types.
He couldn't imagine being separated from them or judged for liking them.
He glanced up at Torn, "Did something like that happen to you?"
Torn's mouth pressed into a thin line before he spoke, "Yeah. My two best friends are Alphas. When we first became friends, there was backlash. Other kids our age were told not to associate with us, our families tried to keep us apart, and even as adults people spread rumors. But despite everything, it didn't stop us from spending time together. I wouldn't be who I am today without them."
Jak suddenly felt something other than contempt for Torn...this was the first time he'd gotten a small glimpse into what the older Omega's life was life.
"I...I'm sorry." Jak looked genuinely sad for him.
"Don't be." Torn sighed, "I'm not someone who cares what others think of me. If it hurts their pride that I'm able to make relationships without involving my genitals, then fuck em."
That managed to get a small laugh out of Jak, "Yeah, fuck em!"
Torn allowed himself to smirk before looking up at the store they had stopped in front of, "So, what's this place?"
Jak followed Torn's gaze up to the sign, "This? Its just a candy and confectionary store. They sell some damn good Choco-bombs."
"What's a...'Choco-bomb'?"
Jak froze...he slowly turned his head to gape at Torn.
Torn returned the look of disbelief with one of confusion, "What?"
"Are you serious?"
"About what?"
"You've never had a Choco-bomb?"
Torn shrugged, "I've never really had any candy."
The look on Jak's face would make one thing Torn had just insulted his mother, "HOW?!"
"I'm an Omega?" The way Torn said it implied that it was obvious knowledge, yet Jak was still confused as shit, "And? What does that have to do with not eating candy?"
Torn looked away, shifting slightly, "In Haven, my grandmother forbade me from eating anything sweet or fattening. Most Omegas are denied unhealthy foods so they stay slim, especially amongst the nobility."
"Then how are you so-" Jak motioned with his arms towards Torn's well-defined body, unable to state the words.
"How am I so buff? Fortunately, I bulked up in the guard due to the standard military rations meant to build muscle, but I still never got around to trying any junk foods. I have a figure to maintain...it's just a different kind of figure."
In truth, Torn could very much access any foods he wanted...but the fear his grandmother instilled in him was so deeply ingrained, he was too anxious to ever go through with it.
"Dude, I know it's your city and all, but what the fuck is wrong with Haven?!"
Torn barely contained the laugh the escaped him from hearing such a blunt comment, "Well, it's gotten better in the last couple decades. The middle and lower classes have more freedom to eat what they want without fear of societal judgement. Still working on the upper class though..."
"No ...no no no, this is NOT gonna fly." Jak threw his hands up in exasperation, shaking his head, "I am NOT going to be bonded to some old man who's never even had a Choco-bomb let alone any other snack foods!" He grabbed Torn's arm and began dragging him to the store, "We are fixing this NOW!"
Torn stumbled after Jak exclaiming, "I'm not that old-HEY WAIT!" He was barely able to finish his protest when Jak shoved him into the shop, ignoring his protests.
"I can't believe you bought so much shit..." Torn stared wide eyed at the literal buffet of confectionaries and candies Jak purchased. There was so much...TOO much!
A whole squad of ravenous soldiers couldn't possibly finish this let alone two people!
Jak sat down on the sandy beach in front of Torn, placing the large basket of treats on a wide flat rock sitting between them, "And I can't believe I actually know someone who's never had a cupcake before."
"I've had a cupcake before!"
"A bran muffin with a dollop of whipped cream on top is NOT a cupcake, Torn!" Jak opened the basket and began laying out the different treats, "The sooner you step out of denial, the better."
Torn rolled his eyes in mild annoyance. However, the annoyance disappeared when he looked over the spread jak had laid out before him. He asked Torn to point out things he thought he would enjoy in the store, and then proceeded to add anything Torn cast a second glance towards.
There were macaroons, a slice of cheesecake, some sort of chocolate mousse, cupcakes, doughnuts, a slice of strawberry shortcake, several small candies that Torn forgot the names of, and of course...the coveted Choco-bombs Jak was so fond of.
"You're trying to kill me aren't you? That's what this is isn't it?" Torn narrowed his eyes in mild suspicion as his mouth betrayed him and began salivating as the sweet scents wafted up to his nose.
"Guilty as charged...I took you out today, showed you around the city, and bought you over 100 orbs worth of sweets just to have you keel over and waste my efforts to make nice." Jak gave him a cheeky smirk before handing Torn a fork, "Seriously...I just wanted to do something nice...you know...after what happened when we met."
Torn snickered as he grabbed the offered fork, "Oh? And you decided that causing me to gain ten pounds would smooth things over?"
Jak shrugged, "Hey, more mass, more strength behind your punches."
"True..." Torn's smirk softened before he looked over the array of items, "um...I..." He looked at Jak awkwardly, "I don't know what to pick."
Jak reached down and lifted up the cheesecake, "Start with this. It's pretty rich, so if you eat it first instead of last it'll be easier to eat the lighter things."
Torn was hesitant for a moment.
In the back of his mind, there was a twinge of fear that his grandmother would leap up from the ocean to chastise him for eating empty calories.
But he had to remind himself that even though his Grandmother's reach was far...it did not extend to Spargus.
Gingerly, he took the plate and nudged the dessert with his fork. He glanced back at Jak and saw the blonde staring at him like an animal in a zoo, "Could you not look at me like you just took a shit on the plate and are waiting for me to take a bite."
Jak frowned, "Thats a 9 orb slice of cake you're holding. I wanna see your reaction. I need entertainment too."
"I'm not a fucking performing seal."
"Just shut up and take a bite, prick."
Torn was about to slam the cake into the blonde's face out of spite, but he reminded himself that Jak was trying his best to be nice...and he did spend a lot of money on him just now.
He prodded the cake once more before scooping a small bite on his fork.
He hesitated before opening his mouth.
He finally worked up the courage to do so and slid the fork inside, swiping the small amount off the fork with his tongue.
He froze.
He stayed like that for a whole minute before Jak got worried.
"Dude, you o-"
He stopped when Torn suddenly forked a very large piece in his mouth and let out a loud moan of pleasure.
"Guess that answers my Question..." Jak sat back and watched with disbelief as Torn began wolfing down the entire cheesecake like he was starving, "Dude calm down! You're gonna choke or something!"
"Shut up! This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
"Are...are you crying?"
"...no..."
"Oh my god you ARE!"
"Shut the fuck up or I'll stab you with this fork!"
"And what's up with that moaning? Are you having an orgasm-" Jack was promptly shut up by the now empty paper plate slapping him in the face.
If someone had told Torn that the day would end with him and Jak laying side by side on the beach looking up at the stars, he would never have believed them.
Now, after having devoured almost everything Jak had purchased, he found the blonde's presence to be less irritating.
"So, what was your favorite?" Jak was absently sucking on a hard candy that Torn previously spat out due to it having some sort of spice that burned his mouth.
Torn shifted briefly, "The cheesecake...fuck, I could eat a whole one by myself."
"I'll be surprised if you make it to your 40s before diabetes takes you."
"If that happens it's your fault." He playfully elbowed Jak in the side, causing the blonde to elbow him back a bit harder.
Jak sighed, "Still, I can't believe you never had any of that. I wouldn't be able to function without my weekly Choco-bomb."
Torn chucked softly, "Now that I've had one, I don't think I'll be able to either."
"Glad I could corrupt you." Jak teased before he returned to staring at the sky.
The lights of Spargus were a lot dimmer than Haven. So, there was nothing to hide the billions of stars littering the black expanse.
Torn had to admit...it was beautiful.
They laid there for what seemed like hours, motionless, speechless...until Jak broke the silence.
"Hey...I'm sorry for how I acted. I just..." He sighed, brow furrowing, "I'm pissed off. I knew one day I would have to be bonded to someone, but I at least thought I would get to choose, y'know?" He turned to glance at Torn, learning that the older man was looking at him too when their eyes met, "That, and when I saw you grabbing my friend like that, I kinda lost it."
Torn's face softened, "It's fine...I get it. I did go after your friend. That day was just so awful for me too...when he ruined my paints that just tipped me over the edge." He sighed, turning away to stare back up into space, "I wasn't exactly prepared for this either."
Jak looked away as well. He hadn't even considered that maybe Torn had a reason for his aggressive behavior that day, and after a moment Torn followed up his response, "Which is why it's good that you forced me out of my room to spend time with you. After all, who knows what we're going through better than us, right?"
Jak didn't look at him for a moment. He had to admit, he didn't hate Torn as much as he had this morning.
Which was weird, because even after asking him to hang out, he expected nothing to come of it and for the both of them to continue silently loathing each other.
After the sparring match, Jak was ashamed that he had physically reacted to Torn inexplicably, so there was proof that he could feasibly be able to "seal the deal" when the time came...
...he didn't expect to actually begin to like Torn's personality...or at least tolerate it.
"Torn...can we start over?" He turned once more to look at the man laying next to him, happy to see Torn turn as well to meet his eyes...a surprised expression on his face.
"Start over?"
"Yeah..." Jak sat up and offered his hand, "Hi, I'm Jak Mar, Prince of Spargus and future cause of all your headaches." he smiled cheekily at the last statement and Torn couldn't help but laugh gently, "All right, I get it." He sat up as well and grabbed Jak's hand, "Nice to meet you, Jak. I'm Commander Torn Reista...your future mate and current kicker of your ass."
Torn laughed as Jak punched him in the shoulder, "Asshole!"
"Prick..." Torn smirked back at the smiling blonde.
They ended the night by watching the stars well into the night.
They were far from being friends, but then again, that wasn't tonight's goal. At least now they could speak a few sentences to each other without feeling the need to brawl.
And frankly...it was good enough.
