Tainted Love
Tomi Sama

Chapter 1:
Rumor has it…

Pairing: JackxRai
Warnings: Slash, fluffiness, and a jealous Chase Young.
Disclaimer: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown. If I did, Jack would have more airtime and Rai would talk more.
Request: Pleeeease Review.

Author's note: This isn't my best piece of writing ever, but I've been feeling slightly down lately and posting something makes me feel better. I've got more to this story, and I'll write more if anyone's interested. Just leave a review demanding more and I'll try to write more. I'm fueled on reviews.

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Kimiko heard and told Clay, who told Omi, who told Rai, that Jack Spicer, the Evil Boy Genius who was not yet currently living in the Temple with them, had a big concert date for Friday night with Katnappe.

And then Omi heard and told Kimiko, who told Clay, who told Rai, that Jack Spicer, the Evil Boy Genius who was now currently living in the Temple with them and his Evil Cat Girlfriend had broken up.

And then Clay heard and told Omi, who told Kimiko, who told Rai, that Jack Spicer, the Evil Boy Genius who had stayed at the Temple, and not stolen their Wu, was still going on said date, albeit alone.

To all three accounts, Raimundo crossed his arms, puffed his chest and looked away with a simple, "Why should I care?"

And the bringer of the news had shrugged and walked away, with a little grin on his or her face as they made the second part of the deal.

Kimiko heard and told Clay, who told Omi, who told Jack, that they were most excited that Jack was staying with them, and that they were sorry to hear about his break-up.

And then Omi heard and told Kimiko, who told Clay, who told Jack that they heard that he and his ex-lover had plans for Friday night to go see a few bands play.

And then Clay heard and told Omi, who told Kimiko, who told Jack that Rai, too, liked those bands. (Which might have been stretching the truth)

To all three accounts, Jack crossed his arms, puffed his chest and looked away with a simple, "So what?"

And the bringer of the news had shrugged and walked away, with a little grin on his or hear face as they hoped their scheme would work.

However, the three Xiaolin Monks were not just randomly blowing smoke with this scheme. Since the time Jack Spicer, Evil Boy Genius had been living with them, they had noticed that he and Raimundo, their Dragon of Wind, got along fabulously.

However, that might just be because Jack is a genius and he built a TV out of practically nothing, which he kept in his room watching Music Videos and talk shows.

No joke, Jack was a talk show freak.

However, when Raimundo went to Jack's room to play video games (it was a tradition now, after only one week. After chores and Raimundo's training and Jack's building they would play video games) he wasn't watching a talk show.

There was a thick beat, a good one. It was a dance one, kinda. But it was so familiar.

"Bum, Bum!" He heard Jack say along with the base.

He still could just barely recognize it, until the main part came on. It was a remake of "Tainted Love."

Raimundo looked in Jack's room. The door was open and the TV (and Jack's back) could be seen from where he was standing. There was a big black car and a guy in all black with make-up on and black hair got out of the car and was walking to a party, lead by a girl in a uniform and followed by a bunch of half naked, girls in leather bathing suits.

But still, Jack pounded his fist in the air and made the "bum, bum" along with the base until the singer started singing. Then Jack sang along, "Sometimes I feel I've got to… run away. I've got to… get away."

"Hey Spicer."

Jack screamed and jumped, whirling around and nearly falling butt first onto a robot. At the last second, he felt an updraft of wind and was on his feet again. He smiled at Rai.

"Thanks!"

"What are you listening to?" Rai yelled over the music.

"What?"

"What are you…"

"Hang on!" As Jack turned down the TV, the song turning into back music as he looked at Rai with a small smile.

"What was that?"

Jack smirked, "You've never heard tainted love?"

Rai watched the screen. The girls were now dancing and the geeky girl was now a gothic dancer like the rest of them. "I've heard the original."

"This is better!" Jack said, grabbing Rai's arm, pulling him closer to the TV as he turned it up a little more.

Rai didn't know what to think except that his was so Jack. He often wondered what Jack would do when he turned 18, figuring he was filthy rich and was losing interest in being an evil dictator by the day. It would make sense he would crash a party with his gothic fan club and do things like that.

"Do you like girls in leather?" Rai asked suddenly, a small ping of jealousy running through him. It was so stupid to think he'd get invited out with Jack when Jack just broke up with a girl.

However, Jack smirked and winked at him. "I like leather."

They were quiet for a little while, Jack's hand still around Raimundo's arm and Rai could feel it tightening, like Jack was growing tenser.

"Once I ran to you, now I run from you. This tainted love you've given, I give you all a boy could give you…" Rai heard Jack singing under his breath. But in the end of the song, Jack was nearly wailing with pain as he sang, "Don't touch me, please. I cannot stand the way you tease…"

Jack looked at Rai. "I packed my things and went."

"What?" Rai asked, suddenly realizing that the song was talking about packing and leaving.

"I came here after…" He looked down, and Rai had a feeling what he was going to say.

He came here to the Temple, willingly, saying he wouldn't steal anything after he and Katnappe broke up.

Rai felt like an idiot.

"I… uh… was actually given tickets to go see Marilyn." Jack said, gesturing to the TV. "In fact… er… Someone gave me them before we broke up… it was supposed to be my birthday present. Nice damn present… breaking up with me…" Jack started as he began to mope. However, feeling Rai's hand on his shoulder he remembered what he was getting at.

"Oh yeah… but… if you'd like… I know it's not really your thing… but… I do have two tickets… so if you want to come…" Jack put his hand on the back of his head, looking down with a soft blush creeping onto his face.

Rai thought about it. When he heard it was a concert, he was pumped. However, he somehow forgot to take into account that Jack would like way different things than him.

But now this, this wasn't a date. This was Jack, lonely, wanting to spend his birthday not alone. And if there were going to be gothic freaks, and Jack's music icon there… Raimundo was too nice to turn Jack down.

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

"And, I mean, Mari's not the only one who'll be there." Although he was obviously excited to have the company, he didn't sound hopeful that Rai was going to like it.

"Next time we'll see someone you like. I mean, sure I like Marilyn Manson but that doesn't mean I don't like… like… The Black Eyed Peas or…" He had absolutely no idea who Rai liked. "Oh! I like Gym Class Heroes."

Rai just shook his head and smiled.

"We'll figure that out when it gets here."

It was like the end credits on the first chapter of their lives. How it gets black around the edges after the implication of something starting. And like one character always does, he fights the black-around-the-edges-fading.

"No, really." Jack said as Raimundo got up and walked to the door. "I like musicals. I could sing you all of RENT, Moulin Rouge, Phantom of the Opera…"

Raimundo paused at the door, looking back at him. "And I'll sing you Chicago, Evita and the Producers."

Rai saw Jack's blush as he shut the door and walked down the hallway. For some reason, it struck him as odd that those were the three musicals Jack Spicer named. He could have named more macho ones, funnier ones… and yet, he picked the lovey-dovey ones.

Rai grinned at the thought of it.

End Chapter 1.

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Songs: "Tainted Love," "Sweet Dreams," "sAINT" and "Personal Jesus," all written or covered by Marilyn Manson. (I own none of them, obviously)

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Teaser for the next chapter:

"What the hell is this?" Rai said, holding it up. He knew what it was, but he was sure Jack would get the point.

"It's a skirt." Jack smirked. "And if you don't behave, you'll be wearing that."

"Why do you own a skirt?"

"It's leather. I like leather."