Jack whipped around to the corner of the room. "What the fuck do you want, Chase?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing. There, on his floor, wrapped in his blankets with all those lights and the space heater, was Chase Young. Many years ago, Jack would have loved a visit from the Everlord. He had looked up to him. Chase Young was his all-time hero. But, time had worn away the luster of a visit from the powerful Heylin Elite.
"I've not come for fun, but out if necessity. I merely require temporary residence." The dragon rolled over to face Jack. His amber eyes bore right into Jack's. He really did look stupid wrapped up like a mummy though.
Jack burst out laughing. Chase shot up tripping and falling on the lamp cord. "What?"
"You need a place to stay, and you choose me? After everything you did to me, you think I'll take you in? You'd better have a good excuse and rent money."
"The witch and that wretched Bean broke into my citadel about a week ago. They used one of Dashi's toys to destroy the place. There isn't even a volcano left. Worse yet, they've taken my pets from me. Most of my powers are gone. I only have fire and transformation left. No more control over my warrior cats, no more spying from afar, I have no way to rebuild."
"So what? That's not my problem anymore! I gave up on the showdowns." He turned away. Wuya and Chase both had constantly betrayed him. He didn't need to get involved in their fights. Besides, Hannibal Bean was creepy.
"Yet you kept the Rio-Reverso, Mantis-Flip-Coin, and the Monkey Staff." Chase moved towards him, reverting to his human form. Jack noticed him shiver slightly without the blankets.
"I won them fair and square!"
"You stole them."
"I wasn't caught. I won."
"Fair enough, in evil terms. May I stay?"
"No! Leave now, unless you can pay half rent and grocery. Besides, you're killing my heat and electricity. I pay utilities in this set-up."
"It's January." Chase was shivering quite a bit. It was almost sad. Jack had never thought about Chase being a lizard meaning he really was cold blooded. It would explain why he chose a volcano to call home. "Are you cold blooded? Like, for real, not just evil mastermind cold blooded?"
"Yes!" He hissed fire as if he'd been insulted by the question. "Isn't it obvious?"
He tossed a beer to the Warlord. "How about a deal. You get one week. If you don't have a job and start paying for rent and groceries by the end of the week you have to leave. Heat is expensive. Is that agreeable?"
"I suppose I can agree to such simple terms. How does one go about getting a job these days?"
"We read the newspaper or use the internet. But, I don't have a computer right now. I will soon though! I'm building one with parts from the junkyard. Then, I'll be able to run diagnostics on what's left of my Jack-bots."
As Jack spoke, Chase moved back into the corner, once again taking on his dragon form. Jack assumed it was a sleeping habit for the Everlord. He began laying down house rules and explaining the rent and laundry situations. It wasn't long before they both were asleep.