98. Spirit
"So you're telling me that you can actually see ghosts that aren't like Wuya? Like GENUINE people that have passed on, dead people, from different millenia and so on?" Chase chuckled at Jack's exasperated question.
"Yes, why is that so hard to believe? I am a man who sold his soul to change his body into a reptilian monster for power. I have trapped warriors that have lost against me, into loyal feline companions that I use for my amusement and to fight for me. And… to top it all off, I used to be the Xiaolin Dragon of Fire… but you can't comprehend that I can see those who have passed on?" Chase tried so hard to laugh out right at Jack's expression, the redhead just seemed way too invested.
It wasn't like Jack was calling him out, yes Jack was very much the sceptical scientist and did in fact view magic as a type of science, which Chase could in fact understand why Jack thought that way, but most supernatural things he put it down to stories that could be debunked. However, there are unknown aspects of the supernatural that can't be explained, and this is what scares Jack. The genius often did get scared regarding creepy things.
"Is… there anyone here now?" Chase smirked, and wondered if he should tell him the answer to that. Jack looked up at him in awe, much like how he often does, but he was waiting for Chase to answer, like a toddler waiting for a magic trick to be explained.
"Why do you want to know? Or rather.. Who is it that you want to contact? Not every spirit tends to meander around, most tend to pass on. Only those with unfinished business or have severe emotions they can not let go, tend to stay." Jack looked to the floor with a look of forlorn. Chase almost felt bad telling Jack that.
"I… I'm just curious.." Jack deflected quietly, looking at the Warlord with a side look. Chase sighed and closed his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose. They were sitting in Jack's living room, both of them under a shared blanket, in front of the lit fireplace whilst drinking a glass of wine each. Cuddling was one of Jack's favourite pastimes. It was a romantic idea asked by Jack, a quiet night in. Jack sat to the left and Chase to the right. Jack was huddled up to the warlord's side. Chase could now never say no to those ruby eyes when they looked at him like that…
Chase chose then to speak.
"If I do this, will you stop asking? It takes up a lot of energy to focus on spectres and spirits, much like meditating to find your centre… except you are trying to find other powers within nature. Mortals, or in my case, immortals, shouldn't have the power to do so. Being around magic and the elemental training I did in the Xiaolin temple, allowed me to have access to this power. Those who claim to see do not really see like yourself, it's more like how does the aura around you shift and change, how does it make you feel. Opening up your other senses." Jack was always interested in topics Chase liked to monologue in. Jack always sat and listened to his voice, regardless of the subject. His voice was just… almost orgasmic.
"I do not really require it, as the dead should stay dead… although tell that to Dashi that pops his ugly bald head in every once in a while…" Jack giggled and nodded.
"I know, I don't even know how he even does it!"
"Like no Wu exists to do that and no one knows any spells.. Just poof!" Jack outwardly laughed at Chase's new vocabulary. The genius was trying to get Chase to act less pompous and more modern whenever he had to interact with the modern world. Chase was too posh and 'old-speech' it was obvious that he was more than 'just a bit' eccentric. As much as Jack LOVED the way Chase spoke normally...
They locked eyes and shared a smile between each other for a moment. They had come a long way for their relationship to get this moment.
Chase then chose to look past Jack to the right of his face. Jack followed his line of sight but didn't see anything there. He then realised that Chase had already honed into someone's energy and turned back straight away.
"A woman is here, that much I can tell." Chase then closed his eyes and Jack watched as some of Chase black chi started to smoke off of him in slow sizzling like wisps.
"She's not long passed, a few years ago. She knows you very well." Jack felt his eyes sting with tears and felt his body shake slightly.
"She says 'Stop worrying, I'm fine now.' Her aura is changing…" Chase opened up his eyes again and focused on the space beside Jack. "It looks like she's trying to hit you with something?" Chase lifted an eyebrow and looked back at Jack. Jack grinned through his tears.
"Her walking stick… Granny?" Chase made the connection and rolled his eyes in amusement.
"Are you going to take her advice?" Chase chuckled, Jack nodded and took a shaky breath.
"How's Grampa? Is he here too?" Chase shook his head in the negative.
"It's just her." He open his eyes again, this time he looked a bit drained, to which Jack took pity on.
"Say hi for me, Granny, I love you." Chase smiled and paused. He then chuckled.
"What?" Jack asked, curious to what Chase heard.
"Amusing. Fancy getting the third degree from a spirit… She told me she'd haunt me if I ever hurt you." Jack laughed, snorting as he breathed in.
"Sounds like her!" Chase grinned and sat back sluggishly, energy sapped out of him.
"Thank you, Chase. I needed that." Jack finished his glass and placed it on the coffee table. He turned to Chase and leaned over to kiss him. Chase didn't stop him and enjoyed the slow movements of lips against lips.
"You're very welcome." Chase whispered as Jack pulled away gently. Jack grinned and settled back under Chase's arm and into his side.
They watched the fire for a moment before Jack took Chase's glass before he dropped it. Chase looked more tired than he let on, and Jack placed Chase glass beside his own.
They cuddled up one more time and napped for a while, enjoying the warmth from the fire.
99. Heartbreak
"NO!" Jack screamed as he bolted up from his sleep. It had been like this for as long as he could remember. Jack sneered at the memories that cloudeed the forefront of his brain. He hated that memory. Jack growled as he remembered in detail the fall of Chase Young.
Those Xiaolin losers won and Chase was no more. Jack had sold his soul in order to help Chase, who had told him not to, becoming like Chase was. A slave to the Lao Mane Long soup. Jack was devastated when the four monks had used their elements to finally take down Chase.
Chase had coughed up blood and simply slumped to the floor. He layed there motionless and Jack had run over to shake Chase awake. He died in battle which was how he had always said how he had wanted to go. But Jack didn't want that for Chase. It wasn't his say so but he couldn't help it. He wanted more for Chase. He wanted Chase to rule the world.
Jack felt his heart break more and more at the thought of no more Chase. The feline warriors were no longer bound by their master and some chose to stay at the Xiaolin Temple while the rest chose to stick by Jack.
The monks he remembered had the audacity to look guilty at their actions, as if it made things better!?
Jack remembered the anger and rage he had felt and his new required inner dragon had roared at them to leave. Jack's very reason to be evil had died. Jack was alone. The rest, Tubbimura, Catnappe, Vlad, Le Mime… they all left the fight after hearing that Chase had been taken down. Jack had moved everything into the citadel to avoid anyone from taking Chase's belongings. Jack transformed it into a tech-wonderland whilst still maintaining its cool and tranquil setting. He tried his best to keep it as traditionally Chinese as possible.
But to what avail? Chase wasn't here.
Jack had grown so bitter and angry over the monks as the years had gone by. He spent most of his days trying to tear down the temple, the wu vault and the monks themselves.
He had succeeded. But at what cost? The nightmares of that day still plagued him. The final blow that Chase was hit with. The lifeless ember eyes that stared blankly at Jack. Chase's limp body…
Jack sobbed loudly just like he did that day. Every so often the pain would come in waves and tear Jack's heart apart. His idol, his lover, his forever person… torn away from him.
Jack felt his vision grow dark, almost like tunnel vision. He was hyperventilating through his pain and rage. His stress levels were rising. He forced himself to calm down. Not yet. He couldn't give up now..
Jack would not stop until the world was his.
At his mercy.
For all the pain everyone caused.
In the name of Chase Young.
Jack would let the world know not to mess with the likes of Jack Young. Jack took Chase's last name in his honour, to continue to remind Jack of his goal.
"I will do it for you Chase. The world will be ours. Soon."
100. Blunt
Chase scrunched his nose at the smell. He was no prude with drugs as he had his fair share of opium back in the day but mariuana was the most smelliest of all. It didn't appeal to him. Although he only used opium as more of pain relief rather than for recreational uses.
"You want one, Chase?" Jack said as he inhaled the blunt between his fingers, his eyes very much more red then they normally were. Chase politely declined.
"What on earth possessed you to do weed?" Jack shrugged.
"Dad had some stashed and I took a few grams. I don't do it often but being part of the drug trade I always pinch a bit. I take a lot just enough for a couple of days. Sometimes I get creative blocks. Weed makes my brain melt and shut down for a bit. Just relax and enjoy the whirlies hahaha!" Chase grimaced as he had to move from being down wind from where the smoke was blowing.
"It reeks of something foul, and I'm used to the scent of death following me…" Jack giggled, completely high.
"Really? Chasey-Wasey hates the smell of burnt grass? Hahaha!" Chase growled, completely offended by the shrewd nickname.
"Silence, Spicer, or I'll pull your insides out one by one!" Jack just laughed, the weed making it very hard to take Chase very seriously he normally would have.
"Relax already, I'm only playing. Besides I'm on my last blunt. I'll be ordering pizza later, if you fancy. Then we can talk then about why you are really here." Jack said as a matter of fact and continued to puff away, much to Chase's dismay.
Chase wondered why he really was even here, he couldn't remember. He felt oddly calm though… almost relaxed and he felt his head get slightly lighter..
Wait.
"I think I am getting… high through second-hand smoking." Jack giggled louder.
"Oh dear, what's the dragon man gunna do now…?" Chase glared at Jack and sat next to him.
"Pass it over…" Jack nodded and passed the blunt, all the while snickering to himself.
Chase was fuming… that conniving little insect...
He remembered why he was here now…
To make Jack HIS conniving little insect…
He wondered if he was making the right choice…
"I wonder if I could build a massive laser gun and take out Russia… That would be interesting… or even the USA? Nah World Wars aren't my thing.. What about a deadly virus..?"
Inhale. Pass.
"Already got Covid going round… no point in that one." Chase pointed out as he took a pull.
"How about global internet terrorism?"
"Anonymous, would throttle you."
"How do you know about them?! Ah nevermind… Death by unleashing some supernatural disaster by magic or wu or otherwise?"
"Probably more plausible."
Jack yawned as he passed the last of the blunt to Chase, who finished it and flicked away the end. Chase exhaled the puff of smoke and turned to Jack who then proceeded to almost piss himself with laughter.
"What now?" Chase asked, now bored of the whole thing.
"Yellow eyes… look more orange now!" Jack giggled.
Chase shook his head, luckily the feeling of the high never stayed in Chase's body for long as the immortal qualities of the Lao Mane Long soup would just burn it off fast. Jack grinned and laid back on his lawn deck chair, Chase in the one next to him.
"It's been nice to see you act a bit human, Chase. You know, rebel against what you know."
"Shut up, Spicer."
—-
Well! It's been a minute hasn't it?!
I've now found my love for writing again.
Hopefully, I will find more pairings to write about. I think it's time to say goodbye to my stories for Xiaolin Showdown.
I need a new wave of inspiration. I have a few ideas. One I said I was going to do that I never did. I started but never finished. Hm…
Spirit: To anyone who dabbles in that side of life, I am completely talking out of my arse! I know nothing about the auras and bla bla bla… I believe in it but I have no clue about it! Haha please don't hex me! *hides*
Heartbreak: Oh this hurt to write… erm.. We all wish for Jack to lose it but I just don't see it without something happening to Chase. I tried my ways, most things just don't sound right…
Blunt: I hate it, I hate the smell. If you dabble, that's your decision, nothing to do with me. You carry on! Lol But high Chase and Jack sounds hilarious, doesn't it?
You never know I might do a bonus chapter as a farewell to Chase and Jack . Stick around?