Jack stood at the mirror and stared at himself. His red hair, which had actually grown to about his shoulders was loosely held back by an elastic. His face had its signature eyeliner. No way in hell he was giving that up. Though his face itself had become much more mature, carrying a regal streak with high set cheek bones and large rubies for eyes. His neck had become a muscular column. Nowhere near Raimundo or Chase, no. But it was impressive to the young man. He was strong in his own right. His chest had become wide and defined. His arms were muscular as you could see the albino's white skin stretching over well-toned muscle from his shoulder to wrist. His hands were still large, but calloused with work. Jack was about one hundred and seventy pounds with a height of six foot, two.

He sighed as he looked at his clothes.

The first time in history that a female, besides his mother, was entering his domain willingly and all he could muster was a ratty Black Veil Brides tank, littered with holes after years of enjoyment and torn up jeans. His feet were bare.

So not happening. And Jack could care less how gay it sounded.

Jack ran up to his room went to his closet. He pulled out a Fall Out Boy t-shirt and a nice red over jacket. He grabbed a random black-wash pair of jeans and his normal combat boots.

His hair was quickly brushed and put right back in it's elastic, where it was kept these days.

As he walked downstairs he heard a motor that was undeniably a Harley and he felt his heart pound.

He walked out the door to see Angel, the fifteen and a half year-old that should really have more supervision come off her bike with a grin. Her hair was the same as earlier but her clothes had changed. A My Chemical Romance tank top and those popular spacey leggings with purple high-heeled boots coming halfway up her thigh.

"Hello, beautiful," said Jack as he walked over to the deep, midnight blue bike with and admiring whistle, "What a bike you got there!"

"Yeah," Angel said, "but I'm not a chick for looks alone. She got one hell of a motor."

"I fucking heard you from all the way inside," Jack commented, "I knew you had something nice. But I gotta ask...How the hell are you doing all of this. Tattoos, motorcycles...How the hell does that work for a fifteen year-old."

Angel's eyebrows raised at the question, her green eyes shimmered with what might have become tears if hadn't learned self-control.

She laughed bitterly. "My parents don't give a rat's ass. I turned ten and mom tried to get me married to my uncle. A whole bunch of tradition bullshit. I refused. They sent to an orphanage to get grateful and that kinda mushy shit and...I've never gone back. I do what I want and sometimes..." she looked Jack pleadingly, as if begging him to understand. She hugged her self as she picked back up, "Sometimes it's still not enough. I wish my parents loved, but...They don't..." she whispered brokenly. Jack's heart suddenly hurt. That never happened unless he was lamenting his own situation. What was happening to him? He was going to be the Overlord of Darkness one day! What the fuck was going on!?

Now, Jack had one of two options here.

One (Most Sanely): Leave this bitch behind! He had world domination to attend to and had no time for a little underage consort or some shit! Besides, he wasn't...good for anyone. He was no companion. What did they care anyway!? No one ever took the time to meet him. They drew conclusions. But, Angel, she was different. Normally people laughed when he said anything about his lab. That had been his test earlier. But she didn't even question it. She believed him. She trusted him. But was that enough?

Two (Absolutely Insane): He lets her tag along. She seems cool with anything, and unlike him, she seemed like great company. A sense of humor, an inspiring spark. Every villain needs that. A shoulder. She understood him. He could sympathize with her. They could be the perfect force.

Jack was...torn. Though the pros outweighed the cons, he had to do something he had never done before. Open himself. Become truly weak.

Yes, compared to martial arts masters, Jack seemed weak. But in the real world, he could take care of himself. And yes, Jack was seemingly open when he praised Chase Young. But that was, and is, the only person he ever really looked up to.

Now, what was he going to do? Jacked looked to Angel and saw the fear in her eyes and stance. It was really like looking in a mirror in the metaphorical sense.

"...Mine, too," said Jack, finally, "They send to America for school every year then ship me back to China for the summer so that I can play their punching bag in every way possible."

Angel looked at him for a moment and just hugged his neck. Jack could feel the warm tears streaming down her cheeks as her shook with tremors of relief.

"I'm so sorry, Jack," she said genuinely, "I understand. I'm so glad that found someone..."

She leaned back and looked at his face. She knew it! Tears ran down his face with his eyeliner. Pure shock was in his eyes as his mouth remained slightly gaped.

"...that can finally understand."

Jack's mouth twisted into a smile as he blinked out as few more tears.

"Yeah...I fucking know the feeling."

Suddenly, the two awkward goths laughed in the driveway of Jack's American mansion.

Yeah, thought Jack, she'll make a nice partner in crime...