Jack awoke to a pair of strong arms holding him down fiercely. But he did not feel an anger behind them. It took some effort, but he managed to dislodge himself from his captor, and faced him with great trepidation. Chase stared at him with a surprising mixture of his usual iciness and just the smallest traces of hurt. While shocking and disarming, Jack did not trust this look. The last time Jack had trusted Chase...
"Good morning Spicer," Chase almost purred, "I'm sorry for the discomfort, but I couldn't have you running off again, not in your condition."
Jack, still exhausted from his ordeal, but also weak with sleep, just replied hollowly.
"You did this to me."
Chase paused a bit, and stroked at Jack's hair, carefully separating the red and white locks from each other. "Yes, I brought you back."
Jack let tears flow freely; Chase had created a monster out of him, and would use him like a tool. And that's when the unexpected happened. Chase buried his face in the two-toned mess that was Jack's hair and breathed deeply.
"I missed you," Chase murmured into the silken strands, "I'm so sorry for this."
Jack struggled to be free of the Warlord, hurt and confused by Chase's advance. This wasn't supposed to happen; Jack was a monster, a zombie, nothing better. He pushed off of Chase with all the force he could muster, but in his tired state, it wasn't much. All he could do was stare at Chase with large mismatched eyes full of sorrow and defeat.
"You didn't miss me." Jack replied dully, "you missed having an easy target."
Chase looked at Jack with genuine hurt in his eyes, yet his face did not falter from the small soft smile he had gained while cradling the genius in his arms.
"I did miss you Spicer," he replied, "sometimes you don't realize what's in front of you until it's gone, and I realized that I had something special in front of me for the longest time."
Jack narrowed his eyes and his face soured. "I'm not special; I'm just a weapon to you, another tool in the war on Xiaolin."
Chase arched and eyebrow and responded in a droll tone. "Jack, you were a tool at my disposal before, now I realize that you've always had true potential. I want to make things up to you, but first, do you know what I want?"
Jack looked at Chase with an expression of purest puzzlement before realizing the intention of the seemingly innocuous phrase. With hurt and resignation bearing down on his person, he nodded and began to move his head towards his former idol's nether regions...
Only to have his movement stopped by a gently cupped hand to his cheek, raising him up into a chaste kiss. With eyes half lidded with lust, Chase then began to massage the youth, inspecting the musculature for severed strands or any unseen damage from the fall. His hands kneaded and glided across Jack's pale expanse of skin, skimming over stitches and scars with tender care. He stroked his cheek up and down the column of Jack's neck, appreciative of the sound of a heartbeat heard coursing through the youth's veins.
He returned his intent gaze to Jack's eyes, now slightly glassy with pleasure and delirium, just as Chase had intended. He lifted up the release-lulled albino into his lap and began to speak in a soft, calm voice.
"Spicer, I want to strike a bargain with you, because even though I brought you back to life, and that ishould/i give me control of it, I feel as if it is my fault you died in the first place, making that claim null and void in my eyes. However, I do wish to keep you here, not as a slave, not as a tool, but here nonetheless. I'm sure I'll find use of you soon enough." He said, his whisperings honey-sweet and filled with the breathy air of someone who could charm the angels out of heaven with just a simple and seductive beckon, "I propose a challenge. A test if you will."
Jack's interest, which had grown foggy from the incredible ministrations and Chase's calm and seductive tone, was piqued by the proposition of a possible bid at freedom.
"What sort of test?" Jack asked warily, feeling safe, but still not trusting Chase to the fullest.
"Just a simple game of hide and seek," Chase replied casually, chuckling slightly as he did so, "nothing incredibly thrilling or dramatic, not even one in the form of a Showdown, just a simple game, devoid of magic for the most part. It will take part in the castle and inner gardens, I vow on my life and honor that I shall not leave these walls. I will hide, and you shall seek. If you manage to find me before midnight tonight, you are free to choose your fate. If you fail, you will stay as my guest for the remainder of your life, or as I see fit."
Jack was skeptical. "What happens when I win?" he asked, a hand to his jaw, eyebrow raised.
"If you win, Spicer, you are free to walk out that door and never return," Chase replied coolly, "However, I must warn you. As you are legally dead, when you leave these walls, there is no fortune nor family to return to. Save perhaps your Grandmothers in Europe, who have recently become privy to your resurrection due to your grandmother Gretchen's snooping, how she managed, I'll never know. If you leave, you'll have to start your life over from scratch, a new name, a new home. You will never be allowed back into the Conflict, for your own safety, and I will have no more to do with you."
Jack's eyes went wide for the briefest of moments, but dawning recognition soon replace that expression, only to be replaced once again by firm resolution.
"Alright Chase, I accept your terms."
"Excellent, the game will begin at six a.m." Chase replied, rubbing his hands together in mild anticipation, trying not to appear overly-excited, "I suggest we shower and dress before then."