CinderJak(Jak x Ratchet)

🌺-4-🌺

Servants adjusted the last few things on the royal lombax, said lombax internally shaking in anxiety, he definitely didn't feel ready, but if it'll find him a partner in no time, then he was going to have to do it.

He will have to offer the first dance to the one most likely to be his lover, and after the ball is over, he will have to make his decision, unless he isn't able to make a decision, in such case he will be set up with a suitor. (why I'm explaining this again? I don't know)

-"How's my older brother holding up?" Rivet walked in wearing a pretty purple gown, leaning against the doorframe as she saw Ratchet's nervous look.

-"Well...uh- I guess you can say not that well" the blond lombax managed to say, Rivet chuckled, she assumed it would've been like this, she knew her brother like the back of her robot hand.

-"Do not worry, Ratchet, I got you something in case you need to let out some stress" Clank said pulling a little squishy ball, putting it into Ratchet's pocket.

-"Thanks, pal, I just...I dont know what's up with me, but I'll figure it out later" Ratchet spoke, looking at himself one last time, he was dressed in a black suit with some red and gold accents, gold shoulder pads, and a red sash, he knew people were definitely gonna swoon seeing him in it, of course he knew, it was no surprise, everyone loved the next king.

Jak came back home with the gown he got for Ashelin, the tie Keira gave him in his pocket.

-"Ash? The gown's here" he called for his step sister, who came walking down the stairs in her calm yet cold nature, the blond handed her the bag, seeing his step father also walk down the stairs.

-"Great.. Jak, help Ashelin get ready, I will get ready as well" Praxis said before Jak nodded and got to it.

Daxter on the other hand, did just a few more touches to something he was working on himself, the mice examined the finished product and nodded in agreement, the finished product was definitely a good one.

Once Jak was done adjusting the gown for Ashelin, he did her hair and a bit of her makeup, surprisingly, he was good at it, and Ashelin couldn't help but ask.

-"Jak?....where did you learn to do makeup?" the redhead got the question out, Jak paused a bit, hoping he hadn't messed up the eyeliner.

-"Well...I used to do my mother's makeup before...I dont know if you... caught me one time..." the male responded as he added a small touch to the eyeliner, making it look a lot better.

Once Jak was done, Ashelin nodded to the response she was given.

-"Right...now go, I should be going" Ash said causing Jak to nod and stand up, leaving the room to see Daxter.

-"Jak! Come on! I gotta show ya something!" the ottsel said practically dragging Jak to the attic, and what was waiting for them was nothing Jak imagined.

It was a royal blue suit, paired up with some nice shoes to go with it, Daxter hopped happily, letting out an excited "tada!" As he saw Jak stare at the suit in awe, it almost looked just like his father's when he got married.

-"Dax...when did you make this?" the blond asked approaching the suit.

-"Well some mice and I started this last week, but now you can go to the ball! You definitely deserve a break!" Daxter exclaimed excitedly, making Jak smile. "What are you waiting for? Put it on and go!" Daxter added as he left the room, waiting for Jak.

And so Jak put on the suit, adding the tie Keira gave him as well, this was perfect, he looked almost like his father, and that genuinely made him smile.
Coming out of the room, he saw Daxter give him a thumbs up and fix up a shirt collar and bowtie he was wearing, going up to his shoulder as usual.

-"Praxis!" Jak exclaimed as he went downstairs to see his step family about to leave, both turning to see him and Daxter. "I was thinking maybe we could go with you two?" he added, including his buddy.

-"You...really think you have a chance with the prince?" Praxis questioned, making Jak raise a brow.

-"I never said I did, I'm not trying to get with the prince. I just want to...get out you know? Get into a new environment for a while?" Jak responded with a small smile, hoping to dear life he'd be allowed to go.

Jak's step father slowly approached him and examined his outfit, only to suddenly grab him by the tie, startling the other three in the room.

-"I know you're planning to escape me, Jak. I can tell in your eyes you have something in mind" Praxis growled before harshly pulling on the tie, managing to rip it off. "You better know your place this time, you're only a servant, nothing more than that!" he added, this time grabbing onto the sleeve and ripping part of it as well. And finally, he grabbed the shirt collar. "You'll never leave, not now...not ever" he spat poison in his words following them with a punch, throwing Jak back. "Besides...it'd be an insult to take such a worthless being with us".

Jak was almost stunned by this, just when he thought he could finally have a chance to leave, he's put right back at square one, not even the patience he took from his father was helping, he wasn't going to let this man get away with having taken his freedom from him.

Before the father and daughter could leave, they heard a yell, Jak had gotten up and grabbed Praxis' shoulder, turning him around and swinging at him, but only being stopped by Praxis himself, grabbing Jak's fist and using his other hand to throw Jak at a wall, a faint "Jak!" Could be heard from Daxter.

The blond slid down the wall, already feeling drained and weak, only receiving a kick or two to the gut before Ashelin interrupted Praxis.

-"Father! Let's not waste time...we gotta go" the redhead spoke in her usual tone, but looking at Jak with a hint of worry, Praxis recovered his composure, looking down at the hissing blond on the ground.

-"You're right....I wouldn't be surprised if we came back to see a corpse in our house however...but atleast try to make yourself useful, Jak" the older man spoke before finally leaving with his daughter.

The ottsel hurried to his friend, luckly he wasn't bleeding anywhere, but he decided to take him to the garden to get some fresh air...