Xiaolin Showdown does not belong to me.
"If my strength is that of the universe, then yours is that of the sun!" cajoled the stoic man in a mocking merry manner.
The boy hung on his every word with mischievous glint in his serious, never quite playful eyes. "What about my friends? They're strong. They've beaten you before."
He chuckled condescendingly at the memory of being beaten by children as he tapped the eager lad on the nose-the boy whined, but he beamed blindingly at the almost 'friend-level' gesture. "I let them win, but think about it, young monk, if your strength is strong, like the sun, then they are as strong as the planets."
He pouted as he turned away from the man of slinky-sneaky-slightly dastardly smiles. "Don't infant me, Chase Young! I know their strength is more then that!" he huffed as he crossed his arms stubbornly.
"That's 'don't baby me', Omi, and I'm not-I'm just saying the truth. Their strength is great, the dragon of the wind's greater, but yours is greatest and with a little more training, you could become as strong as me."
He couldn't help but puff out his chest when he said that, much to his dismay because future evil overlords do not take pride in the simple task of manipulating a gullible boy.
Chase Young's muttered honey words caused the young warrior's tiny toes to curl. He liked to hear that he was strong and fast and clever, but deep down he knew his power was a hissing newborn kitten in comparison to the sly blending-into-darkness shape-shifter's might. The man was offering to train him day and night, rain or shine and so very nonstop to make him a worthy warrior to all that is good and beautiful.
Oh, boy. Here it comes again.
The all not so real silver-tongued words chipped away to show the all too real steel-tongued words underneath. It was all a trick, a trick of the light, meant to pull him into something icky and fickle.
Chase Young really is the master of all things that lie to stupid boys.
"My strength is like the sun… I could become stronger under your training…"
The never aging man nodded as he patted the boy's smooth shiny head. "You'll become stronger under my training."
"Stronger," Omi echoed dramatically.
"Powerful."
"Powerful," the boy repeated solemnly.
"You'll be as strong as the universe," he coaxed with a voice like lulling rocking waves.
The monk flashed a sugar smile. "On my own, though."
Chase Young's hooded eyes widened just the teensiest fraction. Omi imagined that he could practically hear the eye muscles straining. "On your own?"
Omi nodded slowly. "Yup-on my own," he repeated, but he paused and smiled an almost mocking grin, "Or with Master Fung's teaching…"
The lord of wickedness scoffed as he leaned back against the wooden door and moments later, barked out a harsh laugh of blistering scorn. "You won't learn anything from that old man anymore. He's getting older. I'm not."
"Master Fung's good. You're not."
Chase shook his head and shrugged his shoulders like the teenager he never was. "Doesn't matter what side you're on, strength is strength."
"Liar."
The man grudgingly allowed a stiff smile. "Yes. I am, but lying got me to where I am."
Omi crossed his arms again while he stared down the half-dragon. He knew the man didn't really lie at all, sure he manipulated, but never outright lied. "Then, I'll get to where I have to be without lying."
"Good luck with that."
The monk nodded. "Thank you."
"It'll take you years and years to become as strong as me. You'll be too old to show off by then."
He shrugged as he fiddled with a little hidden decorative button on his little black shoe. "I'm a fast learner."
"I've lived for centuries."
Omi, frustrated, tugged on his spick and span robes. "You've lived for centuries and you don't have any friends?"
The man blinked.
"I have friends-with them, I could become stronger then you."
Chase Young rolled his eyes at that. Corny line-idealistic brat. If he didn't know any better, he would say that the boy watched too much T.V. "You're impossible. I give up."
Omi's face brightened and fell at the same time. An odd combination. "You'll leave me alone forever?"
"Nope, just for tonight."
"Oh."
The pale-like-flour man grinned as he poked the boy sharply on the chest. "Don't worry, I'll come back. I'll convince you to leave everything."
"Not going to happen."
Chase gave the boy a curious sidelong glance. "We'll see about that."
He waved casually as he prepared to leave their little meeting place of dark corners and dim lights.
The man gave pause when he heard the too soft, too quiet voice speaking defiantly to him. "You're wrong, you know. My friends are as strong as the sun."
The man with icky hopes and dreams puffed out a breath of air. "Then you must have the strength of the universe!"
The boy flashed him a smug little grin. He sat there with the rigid cockiness of someone who knows they're right and flaunts it.
Chase Young gave him a lopsided grin. "But if you are the universe, then I must be more then that."
Aww, the Chase and Omi 'friendship' makes me giggle and/or wibble.