Hey Everyone! Chapter 4 time!
Big thank you to MoonHeart and Nineneko for their reviews :). It brings a smile to my face!
So this chapter is kinda short, but don't worry, because the next chapter is a little longer! Minor JackKim fluff here (veeery minor). But don't worry, the fluff starts in a few chapters and then just keeps coming!
So I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please do leave a review if you think of something you'd like to say! I like encouragement and criticism all the same!
The Xiaolin Dragons, true to their word, arrived at Jack Spicer's house the following day. To Jack's surprise, they knocked at the front door. He took a deep breath and put on his best 'indifferent' face before opening the door to greet them.
"Good to see you used the door today" he said bluntly.
"Oh Jack! I am most excited to hear your answer! I am heels over my head in anticipation!" Omi beamed
"That's head over heels little dude" Raimundo said with a roll of his eyes. "He's got a point though, Jack. Have you got an answer?"
Jack looked at the four standing in front of him. "Yeah, whatever. I'll come be your 'Dragon of Metal'. But I've got some demands to make."
"Hold on there partner, there was nothing in the deal about making demands." Clay objected.
"Look. If you need me as badly as you say you do, you'll let me have my way."
Omi, Kimiko and Clay looked to Raimundo for guidance. Raimundo squinted at Jack "Exactly what do you have in mind, Spicer?"
"I'm glad you asked. Firstly, I don't want to wear those stupid robes you all wear. They're weird."
"Jack Spicer! They are a symbol of our coming together as a team! They are most honouring to wear! They are part of the Xiaolin tradition!" Omi said wide-eyed. It was clear he was more than slightly offended at this notion.
"Yeah well. That's your problem. I'm not wearing the robes."
Raimundo, to the shock of Omi, simply said "Right. What else?"
Jack had not expected to get out of wearing the robes so easily. Trying to hide his surprise, he continued in a monotone voice "I want to keep my black marks." He said pointing under his eyes "I also want to have my own place near the temple."
Raimundo's eyebrow shot up "What makes you think you can have your own place?"
"Because I'm not sleeping on a mat in a temple without electricity" he replied simply.
"And exactly how to you propose you get a house built near the temple? We don't know how long we've got until the Elementalists are released." Raimundo argued.
"My Jack-bots will take care of that."
Raimundo, with one eye twitching, reluctantly conceded. "Alright Jack. You win. For the sake of the world, you can have your own place. But, you know, we have our own terms as well."
Clay grinned widely "That's right!" He drawled
"Oh yes! You must give us your Sheng Gong Wu and pledge your allegiance to the Xiaolin side!" Omi chirped
"And you can't steal our Sheng Gong Wu either" Kimiko added.
Jack paused for a moment at the thought of having to give up his beloved Monkey Staff. He weighed up the decision in his mind, and finally nodded. Jack saw these as fair conditions, considering the gravity of his. "Fair enough. You have my word."
An awkward silence ensued as the new Xiaolin team realised the meaning of this situation. It was broken by Dojo leaning in the doorway "Come on guys! We don't have all day. We gotta get back to the temple, Jack has to start his training right away! Master Fung's orders."
The five nodded and wordlessly walked out of Jack's house. As they were getting on Dojo's back, Jack took one more look at his house, and pressed a button on his wrist.
"What's that do?" Raimundo asked, a certain distaste to his question
"I'm sending the co-ordinates for the Jack-bots to make my new house. And also to bring enough of my clothes."
The four original monks turned to look at Jack.
"I thought you only had one pair of clothes. I mean, you wear the same thing almost all the time" Kimiko stated.
Jack looked at them with a mixture of disgust and confusion "What are you, stupid? I'm the same as the other guys, I just have copies of my clothes."
Kimiko crossed her arms and harrumphed. Jack realised his mistake and gently touched her shoulder "Sorry, I'm an ass."
Kimiko whipped around, with one raised eyebrow and a grin on her face. "So. You're a Jackass then."
Jack rolled his eyes, as the monks laughed.