Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN JAK AND DAXTER THE GAME/SERIES AND/OR IT'S CHARACTERS. ONLY MY OWL PLOT AND CHARACTERS ARE MINE.

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"This is a nice place you've got here, Ki." I glanced up at Adriel and nodded some in agreement- looking back down at my gun.

"It works," I mumbled gently.

A few hours had gone by since Adriel was assigned to me- again. Seemed the roll of who guarded who was flipped for now. The thought of him at one time being my guardian kept coming back. There was never a time I stopped thinking of the older man in front of me as my protector. Not until Jak said he about went rouge. And even then I didn't change my thoughts on him. If anything the only time it wavered was the fact I was told his binding tattoo to me went away.

Yet the instant we touched on the beach- something happened there. The thought made me stop fixing my gun and I just stared blankly.

At the beach, the world faded to black. It was like my body was jolted to a whole other dimension with him. Then again on the platform in the palace. The last time I had that feeling he was being ripping out of my body to gain his own.

It made me wonder what that could have meant. His binding tattoo reformed and connected to me again when we faded to black. And it's been there since.

I glanced through my eyelashes at the male as he read the map painted onto my wall.

"Adri…" At my soft voice it was like he responded immediately, his eyes snapping to my jade with such obedience I was caught off guard. I blinked repeatedly at this and he simply stared calmer now.

"Yes, my lady?" he asked with a small smile. That made me come back, shaking my head some and I leaned back on the couch.

"I wanted to test something," I explained shortly. Raising a brow the cocky male came back instantly as he walked so he was standing on the other side of the coffee table my feet were propped on.

"Did I pass?" he asked smirking. I glared some and he just let out a small laugh. "So it seems I did not."

"I wasn't testing you." I stood huffing and stretched out my back, "I was testing your compliance time to me." At that the male gave me an inquisitive look to which I met calmly. After another moment I smiled dully and walked around towards the hall, "You respond to me like I'm your princess."

"You are."

I stopped instantly. Turning around I could feel an overwhelming emotion fill my being but I didn't react to it. Adriel's teal were serious as ever and he calmly nodded. Taking some steps forward to me around the coffee table, I didn't move. When he reached me I could feel his body heat compared to the cool atmosphere around the dark desert.

"Before..at the coast. You felt it," he started slowly. I didn't react at first, watching him. He was holding something back again just like before. Refusing to give into something- though this time it wasn't fear of what I would react with. It was fear of himself. I craved to know why.

"When you left, Kida, everything I knew- everything I was brought up to believe… was gone. I shattered." Pain laced his voice and my blank expression withered away at it as I stared up at him. Shaking his head he shut his eyes tiredly before opening them again to reveal a blazing wrath of sentiment, "My bind to you was severed. The emotions you felt, your thoughts, where you were. Everything was gone. It was like you never existed. Like I was never put into your head."

I nodded slowly. I was absorbing all of this but I didn't really understand where it was going. I mean this was shit I already knew. I got that much. So why did I feel like that wasn't the point of the conversation?

"Because it isn't," he said slowly. So he read my thoughts. At the feeling of being invaded on my privacy again I began to come to my senses.

"So you're saying when we were separated our bond broke," I repeated shifting. At that, he nodded this time.

"Yes and when that happens it means the one bound is supposed to die. It was told to us repeatedly. I had read it in legend books, everything said that that would happen but it didn't," he said lightly. My stomach dropped instantly and I felt my eyes widen.

"What…?" Adriel suddenly took on a panic and quickly gripped my face in his hands.

"No, no. I would have already. I'm not going to die, Kida. I'm not going anywhere," he reassured quickly. My green stared up at his face, searching for a trickle of a lie in there but he was being honest.

I breathed out a sigh a relief at that, my eyes closing, and I simply relaxed in his touch.

"Scared the shit out of me," I grumbled. I could hear him chuckle faintly and I peeked an eye open at his gentle smile.

"I didn't know you cared that much." What sounded like a tease lifted into genuine surprise and I frowned some.

"Of course I care, Adriel, don't be stupid. I thought you died," I snapped. The male looked offended at either A: I thought he was dead or B: I called him stupid.

"I can't die that easily, geez. If anything I thought you were dead." His tone was harsh this time, taking on more of scolding uplift and I scowled out of his caress.

"Yeah, right." I could feel the doubt engulf me. The same doubt that filled me everytime I thought about any of them and I cast my gaze away- taking a step back away from him. "It didn't matter if I were dead or not righ-?"

My chin was grasped hard and I was shoved back until I met a wall harshly. My gaze was forced up into his own, his knees pinning my legs and when I went to shove him off of me his hand grasped my wrists hard above my head. The dark gleam was back only deeper- his face stone set and his hair shadowing some of his gaze.

"Do not…do that. I looked for you. I fought for you- fuckin' got kicked out of that hell hole for you. Someone everyone thought was dead," he growled. I didn't back down from his glare, not feeling any fear and instead stared up at him calmly.

"I missed you, Adriel," I admitted gently.

In that instant we faded. When is eyes melted his pupils pulsed again, widening and reforming as his forehead touched mine, I could feel my own green lid. The hand that held my chin loosened, scraping down my neck and into the back simply to pull at the tiny hairs in the back to tilt my head up. A breath left me at this, remembering when he came to me. To tell me goodbye because he thought..

He thought he'd never see me again. Hold me again. Feel my touch. See my eyes. Breathe my scent.

I began to realize these weren't my thoughts anymore. Adriel's were bleeding into my own. At that very moment he was listing the things he feared to never see again. What he missed more than anything in the world. Me.

He loved me. And I was reminded of how much he really felt for me at that very moment as he gazed down looking my features over like I was the most beautiful and cherished thing on this planet. I could feel the back of his fingertips run down my jawline before catching my chin between his forefinger and thumb.

I didn't control myself as I leaned up. My eyes were so heavy it was hard to keep them open at this point. There was black all around- surrounding us. Engulfing us to our own world. And as our lips brushed everything shattered at the bang that sounded.

We exploded back into the normal area, both of us back in the living room and Adriel was blinking repeatedly, his hold falling on me to my waist and we both looked at the door. Another knock sounded and before I knew it a deep scowl was on Adriel's face. Looking back down at me he glared.

"He's always..in..the…way," he growled lowly. I sighed moving from his grasp.

"Jak."

The thought of Jak being here when it was this late at night threw me for a loop. Everything at the moment however was making me confused. Sure enough by the time I opened the door said blonde male was there- dirty and with Daxter as always. Shifting some I rose a brow, "Well you're alive."

Jak scoffed and I smirked hard, "Which means you obviously survived the second Arena match."

I didn't flinch as he walked in grumbling something along the lines of crazy Wastelander's and Damas. I shut the door behind him and turned to see Adriel was gone. It surprised me though I didn't show it. I focused and heard running water and folded my arms.

'Taking a shower?'

'Didn't want to be there- that's for damn sure.'

The fact he replied so quickly made me hold back another smirk and I motioned for Jak to sit down. The usual annoyance I had been feeling for the past couple of days with Jak was now gone since I saved him from the Wasteland Metalheads. But why was it that there was something in me that said that wasn't the reason I was so calm..

"How did your mission go, Kida?" I looked at Jak as he questioned me and then shrugged offhandishly. Looking off, I thought about it making a face.

"It…Well …It went," I admitted some. Shaking my head, I sat next to him and folded my ankles on the coffee table again- feeling him relax beside me. There was a lot I should have said at that very moment but didn't. Held my tongue as I feared what could have come about with it. And not with the male beside me..the other in the bathroom in the shower.

I chewed my lip in thought though jolted my jade down to Dax as he landed on my lap. Folding his arms he shook his head with a look of annoyance.

"At least you look like you didn't nearly die!" I rose a brow though he was already going off, jumping on the table and pacing. "FIRST they send these warrior men after us! THEN there's lava coming up everywhere!"

I nodded with a fond smile and glanced at the ceiling, "Ah. Flame Floor. Gotta love it."

Dax stared at me blankly.

"No…ya don't," he grumbled. I smiled halfly at the rodent and then shook my head.

"Coulda been worse." Jak looked at me quickly.

"It gets worse?" he asked in disbelief. I scoffed as if he were stupid and then looked away.

"'It gets worse?' Of course it gets worse. It's Spargus." There was deep sigh that came from him though I dismissed it and instead rose to my feet. Walking over I headed to the kitchen.

"I think you both just need to slip into a coma for a day or two until your next Arena battle. It's what I'd do." I grabbed them a glass of water and walked back in, "I mean you're pushing yourself to-"

Glass shattered on the ground when the cup fell from my fingers unexpectedly. Jak now stood calmly in front of the couch while a half-naked Adriel stood folded arms across from him in the hallway frame.

His hair was still damp from the shower- strone across his forehead and his towel barley clung to his hips. I couldn't help but stare for a moment before snapping out of it quickly, attempting to get a hold of myself.

"Adriel's here…" Jak's tone had changed and if it were supposed to be a question it didn't come out as one at all. Glancing at me Jak's blue were different now compared to a few moments ago and I saw Daxter was shrunk away with his ears low on the couch. Walking over I stopped between the both of them and nodded.

"Yes. Apparently he was found in the desert a few days ago." I motioned to him some, "Like we were."

"Not like us. He deserved what he had coming," Jak spat this before he could stop himself and I felt anger course through me- glaring at him evenly.

"He was my assignment, Jak-"

"He betrayed everyone!"

"Everyone betrayed us!"

Jak halted when there was barely a beat between our shouts. I shook my head slowly, not caring that we were in eachother faces and looked him over slowly in distain. "Look at you, Jak…Who's side are you really on?" I mumbled softly.

Jak stared at me and I shut my green before looking at him again- this time with a pained expression.

"The city threw us out, Jak. All of us." I motioned around, looking at him once more, "Like trash…Their so called heroes."

As if it were hitting him for the first time, Jak looked away from me, his blue hard and confused now and he glared at the ground. He was searching for an answer. To what, I didn't know- but it was clear he was searching so hard. I felt guilt swell up in me but I didn't act on it. Instead I just stood before Adriel and looked down, my hair shadowing my face.

"We're here now. That means what ever happened before- however we lived our lives then, is over. This is the only chance to start new," I said calmly. Looking at Jak when he glanced at me I shook my head with a soft shrug, "We have no choice, Jak."

Jak didn't respond for a long time and the room grew tense and quiet. He looked from me before slowly looking behind me where I knew Adriel was- silent as ever. After a long moment of them staring at each other Jak shut his eyes.

"Let's go, Dax." I was confused by this probably about as much as Dax was but the Ottsel rose anyway- jumping on his bestfriends shoulder as he walked over to the door.

Jak opened it easily, looking back at me and I caught a smirk.

"Fine. Start anew." He looked at Adriel and I glanced back up at said male who was as calm as ever. "On everything."

Adriel stared at Jak before a smirk split across his face and he kept his arms folded- nodding.

"You've already lost," he stated matter-of-factly. Jak looked from him to me and then back at him with a nod.

"Probably." With that he walked out and the door shut behind him.

Silence hit us and I let out an unknown breath. Why was that so hard? And what the hell was with the end. I turned and looked at Adriel so I was facing him and rose a brow which he met calmly, "Yes?"

"I thought you wanted a shower," I said sharply. He shrugged walking back to the kitchen and calmly stepping over the broken glass.

"I got done. What? Were you trying to hide me?" he called. I shut my jade slowly, breathing in and out to calm my frustration. Opening them again when he walked back in with an apple I stared at him for a long time. Whatever he did in seven months' time to gain that six pack was beyond me but damn. V and all. Not to mention the tan he was getting from the desert…his hair was even getting lighter.

"Ya like what ya see?" Adriel could hardly contain his grin as he bit into the apple and I scowled looking away from him and heading down the hall.

"I'm taking a shower." Shaking my head I turned the corner to the bathroom, "Clean up that glass."

I heard him reply with a grumble though soon he was doing it either way. I did just as I said- not even going to the bedroom for clothes as I wanted a shower that much. Showers always made me feel better. Wash the pain and stress away.

Stripping down to nothing quickly I hopped in under the warm water- holding back a content groan when my muscles loosened and soon enough I was calm. Opening my green I began to think. Jak said something about starting over completely. It was obvious what they were both talking about, but then again it could have been something entirely different.

The fact that Jak called Adriel a traitor made me mad to no extent. I was livid just thinking about it. Everything was coming back to bite me in the ass and in part, I wanted my words to be true even about myself. Getting thrown out to my death from Haven made me see that I needed a new life. Second chance. New beginning. All that BS. And yet now everything that I was going to start over from is in the same damn boat as me.

Finishing my shower I huffed in annoyance, grasping for the towel that was now no longer there because…Adriel…took it..

At this realization a deep sigh came from me and I pressed my forehead to the wall. Grasping myself around the chest I stood there for a moment in contemplation. I could just walk out bare and all and run straight to my room. Obviously it was my house so I had the right to….The other thing I could do was stand there naked. I kept my forehead on the wall, simply keeping my eyes shut and mentally bitched about life.

Then the curtain came open.

I looked over at a beaming Adriel, the male having a hand on his side casually while his other forearm held the curtain against the wall easily. As he stood there he didn't even try to cover the fact he was looking me over and instead his teal eyes turned sharp just as that fucking smug smile of his grew.

"I realized you had no towel when I saw this one still on me," he said smiling. If that smile got any bigger he'd break his face. Then he tapped his temple, "I can also read your mind."

I glared at him angrily though I could feel the flush crawling up my neck and to my face. I turned so had my back to him- still in the shower- with my arms around myself.

"You're disgusting," I muttered hotly. He laughed whole heartedly and something in me flittered at the sound I had missed so much. At that thought I blinked repeatedly at the wall- feeling my hair dripping against my form.

"Here."

I blinked and turned though the towel fell right on my head causing me to huff. Snatching it off of my head I looked at him though he was now pridefully strutting away. It was no wonder he was so prideful in his-

'Oh, Mar!' I cut my own thoughts off, nearly HEARING him smirk as he turned to walk out of the door. I stood there for a moment or two to…absorb what just happened. However I concluded it to idiotism on my own behalf and dismissed it.

Now although I say this, we all know it was not that easy. It will never…be that easy. With my composure back to myself I finally did the smart thing put the fabric on, the towel tightly bound around me. I went to walk out to go to my room but instead my jade caught onto jade in the half broken mirror. I stared at my reflection for a long time. I always did. Because I didn't like what I saw. It wasn't that I didn't like it, I just didn't…know who it was anymore. Who I was. Tilting my head I watched myself do the same thing, stray locks of hair falling in my face just as the rest of it pooled over my shoulders heavily and down my back. I was tanner now..my once sandy skin now a caramel tone. It made my jade-green eyes stand out even more. Soon I was scanning over the scars engraved into my skin, across my shoulders and down my arms and I felt my fingertips graze them. It was almost like feeling every single one being put there again.

I snapped my attention up once more when his hands fell on my hips gently and I stared at Adriel in my reflection. I couldn't see his eyes as he stood behind me since his hair covered them. His lips were pressed into a thin line masking whatever else he felt as he nuzzled his nose into my hair. I could hear him deeply inhale- surprised with myself that I was so…calm. Like this was normal. Like it had already happened but really, it never had. It was simply what I craved, wished would happen at one point though repressed it.

I repressed a lot of things about myself. My old self. About my feelings. And even Jak couldn't rip them out of me. Just barely a sliver was pushed out but not enough to…

I looked up at Adriel through the mirror again as his lips fell to a scar on my shoulder, then another- and another. For a moment I didn't react to this- watching him with lidded and empty eyes.

"Why do you love me." I spoke this before I could stop it- and the dullness there covered the true intentions behind such things. But when his icy teal locked with my jade through the reflection of us both- I knew he could see my true intentions.

I needed to know. I wanted to feel what he felt- to see what he saw in something like me. I was no longer the princess he was once sworn to protect or the girl he was once supposed to marry. One that he risked his life for. One that he loved.

I wasn't her anymore and yet…

"You're Kida," he said calmly. Not looking away from me his hands trailed higher on my hips, grasping my waist and pulling the end of my towel up only a little though he never looked away from my gaze. "You're my...Kida."

Those words hit hard. So hard it pulsed through me in that instant as I felt so much from those..three words. It was so true it was shocking. I was his Kida. One he accepted- believed in even. Searched for and looked at no differently than before even if I looked at myself as a monster. Even if I hated myself he…didn't. He didn't care if I was the same as before or if I was the same as now. And I heard him think all of these things in that instant making me blink repeatedly.

Adriel smiled faintly, his teal melting and he tightened his hold on me, "It just took you a while to realize you're so much stronger than that. And even if you are struggling now…I'm not going stop protecting you. Even from yourself."

I looked away from his gaze in the reflection and instead turned to look at the real one. He stared down at me calmly, not changing his expression and I could see no doubt on his features. I felt myself choke on something- whatever it was I didn't know. Maybe the flow of emotions I had that I couldn't control.

My fingertips reached up and grazed his jawline softly- feeling him relax instantly and his eyes lidded deeply. He leaned into my touch and soon I was caressing his face, feeling his hands move to my lower back and simply hold me to him. This interaction and affection was…new to me. At least it felt like it was new even though I consciously knew I had felt it before it felt right.

Adriel's teal was so gone as I heard him breathe my name again though this time when he leaned in I fought back the black that was shrouding us. Adriel's hand caught the tip of my chin- keeping my attention on him when his breath was on my lips and he shook his head looking at my green again.

"No interruptions this time, my lady," he breathed softly. I heard the desperation in his voice and I broke- leaning up and pressing my lips to his instantly.

This got steamy really fast. Welp! I updated at least! Tell me what you think, how you feel, yer fav part so far in the storyline- both Confused & Revolutionize. (: I like hearing your thoughts. I take them into account!

Look, I'm just gonna fair warn you guys- this story..novel…sequal thing- whatever you wanna call it is indeed rated MA. SOOOOO the next chapter is gonna have some lemon smutty goodness in it. Maybe it will maybe it won't. *cough*it will*cough*

But the point is that I wanna warn you now cause if yer not into it..

Leave.

Either that or just skip past it :D Anyway review and subscribe and all that other nice things that you guys are doing for me and I shall indeed see you soon ^^ Kisses and love one another! !