Obligatory disclaimer: I do not own or intend copyright infringement on the Jak and Daxter series. This is a fanfiction written strictly for my own enjoyment.

"Daxter and I got separated as soon as we hit the ground here," said Jak, clenching his fists on his knees. "One minute we're flying through the air and the next I'm knocked out by Krimzon Guards. I was just a kid," he growled. "I still don't know why they picked me up. I woke up in a cell and no one would tell me why I was there. I just sat there hoping Daxter would show up… but I was alone. For days and days I was alone, and all I could hear was the other prisoners screaming from far away or crying in other cells." He grimaced at the memories. "I think I was losing it by the end of the first week. The only contact I had was from the KG shoving food into under the door, and they never said a word to me.

"The first time they brought me out of my cell, I thought I was finally going to get some answers. I thought they'd let me go because there had been a misunderstanding." He laughed bitterly. "The Baron was standing there with his hands behind his back, and he asked me if I knew who he was. When I shook my head, he just smiled and took off my handcuffs and looked at me for a while. I'll never forget what he said then… 'You will learn, boy.' Next thing I knew I was strapped to a table and… and…." Jak's eyes closed and the only sound in the room was his shaky intake of breath.

Keira sat perched on her end of the couch, at a loss for what to say. She'd never heard Jak speak for so long at one time. The story just spilled out of his mouth, and he hardly seemed to remember she was there – she realized that he had probably never told anyone.

"Every day they shot me with needles full of dark eco. I can't tell you how much it hurt. I thought I was going to die. Sometimes I'd be unconscious for days afterwards but as soon as I woke up, Errol would be there ready to drag me out of my cell for more."

Keira's eyes widened in horror. "Errol was there? I mean… he… he was…." She covered her mouth with both hands, remembering their last conversation about Errol. "I had no idea, I never would have – "

"It's in the past," Jak interrupted gruffly. "You couldn't have known."

"How are you… how are you still alive?"

"I'm not always sure. I know they'd already killed dozens of people trying to create a dark army. I just know that they were getting more and more pissed that I was still alive and not showing any changes. I should be dead, but I'm not. Sometimes I wish they had just killed me."

"Jak, why would you say something like that?" Keira whispered.

Jak looked at her levelly. "Because when I get really angry or afraid, I change. I become a monster and I can't control what I do. You haven't seen me that way but I hope you never have to. I get… hungry for dark eco, Keira," he said shakily. "My body absorbs it if I get near it. It hurts me every time but I still can't get enough. That thing that I become is always inside me, waiting to surface. Anything can set it off. That's what the Baron did to me." He sat silently for a while, pushing his long hair out of his eyes. "You know, the first time I heard his voice coming over the city loudspeakers, I almost lost it. I had to fight so hard to keep myself under control. Every time Torn sent me on a mission, I would imagine the Baron's face when he found out what had happened. I hoped he knew it was me. I hated him so much. Hating him was kind of my existence for a while. " Jak set the melted ice pack on the table and stared grimly at the floor.

"But I know you're better than that. You've worked so hard to help the city." Keira hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder, which caused Jak to flinch and draw a sharp breath. She immediately withdrew. "Why do you keep doing that? Is it that awful for me to touch you?"

"No. No. It's just that you're… the same."

Keira blinked in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not the same person that I was," Jak answered slowly. "I'm not the guy you knew in Sandover village. I've killed people. I've done things that I don't even want to tell you about. And you… you're the same girl that you always were. It kills me that I can't be the guy you remember." He looked straight into her eyes for the first time in a very long time. "I feel wrong for wanting you the way I do. I feel like I need to forget you, but I can't."

Keira was speechless. Everything Jak told her explained his behavior, but it was the absolute last thing she ever could have expected. She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, but she had to ask. "So you and Ashelin… is there anything...?"

Jak looked stunned. "Me and Ashelin? Are you kidding? Keira, I think Torn would come after me with a Peacemaker."

A smile slowly crept up lips. "Then listen to me," she said, firmly putting her hands on his shoulders. "You are a hero, no matter what you think of yourself. Look how many times you've saved the world! Look how many lives you've saved. You've got a lot of people who care about you, including…" she took a deep breath, "especially me. You're not alone. I want to help you." Keira bit her lip and slid her hands from Jak's shoulders to the back of his neck. Ignoring his hitched breathing, she leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead.

Jak's shoulder's sagged and he finally relaxed his death grip on the couch cushions. Slowly, hesitantly, he brought his hands up to touch her shoulder blades. Keira scooted closer to him on the couch to rest her head on his shoulder. For a moment, Jak looked completely out of his element, but then he relaxed. He turned his head and furtively breathed in the scent of Keira's soft hair.

When the sun finally peeked over Haven's walls, Keira had fallen asleep. Jak stared out the window, absently running his fingers over her bare shoulder. The lines had been drawn. There was no going back from this. He realized that Keira would always be the same – the optimistic, strong, loyal girl he'd always known. The thought scared him, but he decided that it was what he loved about her.

I felt like this conversation should have happened in some form throughout the course of the games. Keira might have been less harsh on Jak if she knew what he was going through. Please review and let me know what you think, positive or negative – that will get the next chapter up all the sooner!