Chapter one of Hero. Dedicated to everyone affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

I've decided each chapter will be written centered around one word that describes a hero, or what they all might go through. Keep in mind each chapter might have a completely different rating then the next.

This chapter is for DarkEcoMuse, cause of the Dark Jak stuff in it. We both agree that he is the best... I mean c'mon. He is.

Rated T for minor language

Characters: Jak and Daxter

Word prompt: Suffer

Choking for air, Jak wrapped his arms around himself and sunk to the ground. Stomach churning, head spinning, Jak continued to gasp for more air. His temples still throbbed from where horns had been a mere moments ago, the reminder of what he had become never failing to terrify him to the point of collasping. The memories that flashed behind his eyes pullied him to those two years of prison. Sometimes that was the only thing Jak could remember of his life. Darkness and suffering. His still mutated fingernails dragged along the cold, hard wall that he considered his own personal jail cell.

Haven City.

Suddenly his stomach heaved, emptying its contents and leaving Jak choking for more air. As he pressed the back of his head against the cold wall, Jak shook uncontrollably, each spasm sent him deeper and deeper to losing it. That cold, numb feeling that always managed to remind him of prison began in his stomach, forcing him to shake even harder. From below him a comforting, yet unfamiliar voice brought him back to reality.

"Jak?" An ottsel asked hesitantly, paw extended in a poor attempt to comfort his tortured friend. "You okay buddy?"

That voice...

He couldn't even nod, couldn't even remember how to. At that moment Jak could barely remember where he was, let alone that the orange creature standing was his life long best friend. His only response is to bury his head in his hands. Through the numbness he could feel a warm liquid dripping down his face, onto his shaking hands, and soaking his clothes. But Jak didn't care. He was in to much pain.

"C'mon Jak, it's alright now." That voice returned, and it dawned on Jak just who it was.

"Daxter?"

His voice cracked, showing the pain he was suffering. Through his blurry vision he saw Daxter edging closer to him, a small grimace on his furry face.

"That's right Jak. It's your old pal Daxter."

Jak gasped as a burst of pain made its way through his already beaten body, forcing him to press his chest harder against his legs.

"It's alright Jak," Daxter soothed, his voice barely contained the edge of hysteria that threatened to put him over the edge. "It's okay. We got ambushed by some KG scum, but you took care of them."

That was an understatement.

Jak looked around for the first time and saw the bloody carcasses of the Krimzon Guards that had attempted to capture him and Daxter.

Each and every one of them was slain, their bloody remains proved that. Many were remains and just that, some missing arms and legs, others heads. They all covered the cold hard ground, blood shining in the pale full moon.

They had been destroyed.

And Jak had done it himself. He had killed them himself, with no remorse. In a simple act of bloodlust, as Dark took over, only for a moment, Jak had managed to end lives of many men.

How many of them had wives, and parents, and children? They probably all did. Who cares what side they were on? They all had lives to live, things to do, people they loved.

And Jak had taken them away.

The pure agony that Jak felt now was nothing compared to the torture he had received from Praxis. He would face him again. Every single Dark Eco injection, as long as he could forget what he had become. Every taunt, every beating, just as long as they could erase what he had done. Every single freaking day spent in that damn chair...

Just to take away this empty feeling.

"Can you walk?"

Daxter dragged him away from his thoughts that were leading him down a path of suffering. Thoughts that could only lead to more pain.

Silently thanking the one person who stood by his side, Jak nodded. "Think so."

His friend nodded, forcing a smile. "Well c'mon then. Tattoed Wonder's gonna be pissed if we don't get there soon." He hopped on Jak's shoulder. "Besides, it's not everyday we get to save the city."

Is that what we're doing? Jak felt like asking, but brushed it off. He stood up, ignoring the unreal pain that made him want to just curl up in a ball and die. His fist curled into fists and he bit down on his lip to restrain from bursting out in screams as he began to walk unsteadily. He staggered more than he walked. The Dark Eco was still pumping through his blood, nearly spearing a hole through his chest. It hurt so much... But not nearly as much as his thoughts.

To Jak it didn't seem like he was helping the city.

Killing bastards who thought they could do whatever they wanted? Yeah. Sure.

Helping?

He wasn't sure. But then again, maybe everyone was supposed to suffer. Maybe that was the only way things could get better.

Daxter was talking quietly in his ear, asking him if he was okay. Jak just nodded, and forced a smile that seemed to take a tremendous amount of energy. It used to be so easy to smile...

Forcing himself to walk through the black haze that seemed to cloud his vision Jak made his way to the Underground hideout. His thoughts lifted considerably, just enough for him to tear his thoughts away from prison.

He could save the city. He would save the city. And he'd be the one to stop all of this suffering.

Yikes. Very very angsty... Poor Jak. I love him so.

~LeiaOrganicSolo