Disclaimer: Mortal Kombat doesn't belong to me. I'm sure all MK fans out there are supremely relieved by that.
Grr. I apologize if this comes out worse than the others; Jax simply didn't want to get written.
LiuSubzeroSonyaJaxNightwolfStrykerKitana
Raiden solidified from his teleport, glancing left and right to ensure his privacy. No one was around, though an old lady was waddling up the street six doors away.
Choosing his garb carefully, Raiden stepped out into the sunlight wearing a trench coat and a modified version of his coolie hat, this one bearing more of a resemblance to a bucket hat.
Before too long Raiden came upon an elementary school yard, complete with seesaws, swings, and sandboxes. Arrayed by the swings were two boys and a girl, huddled together over a bin and whispering urgently. One boy, chubbier than the rest, frequently smacked the other two beside him upside their heads in conjunction with a, "We can't do that, you idiot!" The aura from this boy was strong and reminiscent of the previous Chosen Ones.
Alright, hopefully this turns out smoother than the last time. Raiden approached the children, and only gained their attention when the girl to the Chosen's right nudged him. They turned, the two on each side with touches of fear and meekness. The middle boy, however, looked up speculatively and challengingly.
Naturally, Raiden thought with a sigh, the boy couldn't be like his companions and regard me with respect and humility. No, he has to have defiance and apathy.
"Can we help you?" the boy asked demurely, though Raiden wasn't fooled; the boy's eyes were far too calculating to be innocent.
"I'm just curious as to why you children aren't in school," Raiden beckoned to the brick building. "Isn't that why your parents send you here?"
"School hasn't started yet," the boy retorted; his friends seem to take their cues from him, as they had said or done nothing. "We came early to get a head start on the rest. Got anything else, sir?"
Raiden blinked. "Well, you certainly are productive. Could I get the names of such efficient young men?"
The boy stuck out his hand, a small grin stretching across his face. "Five dollars, please."
That took Raiden aback. "What?"
"You want personal information, you gotta offer payment," the boy replied.
The thief! "You didn't charge me for the first question I asked," Raiden pointed out.
"One freebie for every customer. You gonna pay or are you okay with being left in the dark?"
Frowning, Raiden conjured a five bill in his pocket and handed it to him. "Satisfactory?"
The boy managed to keep a smug grin from his face, but his companions were less than adept at hiding their glee. The boy stuffed the bill into the bin and said complacently, "My name's Jax. That's Gemini, he's Red."
"And are you—" Jax made a noise, holding out his hand once more and making a gesture. Restraining himself from growling, Raiden paid the boy again. "Are you planning something?"
"We're just fundraising," Jax said, also stuffing that bill into the bin.
Fundraising for—ah. Clever boy. Answer simply what is asked, never elaborate. Because then they have to pay for the information. Clever. "I won't be asking you what you're doing with the money, for your information," Raiden told Jax with a small smile. "I'm a bit more intelligent than that."
"Are you sure?" Jax asked coyly, though the hope was still in his eyes. "It's reeaallly interesting."
"Positive. You'll have to make do with the ten you've already goaded from me."
"B-but," Jax pleaded, eyes growing bright with tears, "w-what if I'm t-trying to save my mother from c-cancer? I need money to pay for her t-t-treatment!"
Hmpf. "I'm not buying it," Raiden told him.
Instantly the tears vanished. "I bet you want to know what I'm gonna be when I grow up," Jax coaxed. "All adults want to know what kids plan on doing."
Hopefully you'll be a great fighter, who doesn't swindle money from poor, abused thunder gods. "I'm not terribly curious."
"Sure you are!" Gemini chimed in.
"Yeah!" Red added. "We'll even give you a discount! Three for the price of one!"
Raiden raised a brow. Either they're very close to whatever their goal is, or they just love irritating people. "Alright, fine. What is it the three of you want to do when you grow up?" But before Raiden could draw out a five dollar bill Jax intruded. "Ten dollars."
Glowering down, Raiden noted his unwavering determination. "I thought it was five dollars per question."
"It's a complicated answer," Jax replied. "Besides, it's still a bargain for you. I could ask for fifteen. We gotta think about our business, here. It's no good for us unless there's profit."
Rolling his eyes mentally, Raiden changed the bill's appearance and gave it to the boy. "Fine. Ten."
Jax smiled, folding the bill neatly and tucking it into the bin. "Well, I want to be a fireman."
"I want to be a police officer," Gemini added with a grin.
"And I want to be a para—para—paraplegic," Red stumbled over the last word.
"Not 'paraplegic,' Red, 'paramedic,'" Jax corrected gently.
"Oh, yeah, that!" Red nodded in agreement.
Hm, fireman. Brave soul. "I'm sure you will all do wonderfully in whatever you choose," Raiden told them, patting Jax's shoulder and sending a shock through him to mark the Chosen One. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go. Try not to extort money from anyone else, alright?"
"Sure, sir," Jax nodded with a grin, turning back to his friends. The boy grinned even wider as he added the twenty dollars to the previous sum. "Two hundred thirty-six dollars. I told you guys we could get the money. Now we can buy the Nintendo system."
"Let's go, then!" Red and Gemini headed off, but Jax lingered. He spotted a bandana on the ground and picked it up, letting the material slide over his hands. A black, Chinese dragon was centered in the large, red fabric. Tilting his head from side to side, Jax looked around for the old man. Deciding the old geezer had vanished, Jax wrapped the bandana around his head and took off after his friends.
Getting money isn't the only thing I can do. I'm gonna go far. I'll be the best man for any job, just they wait and see.