Jack placed his new journal on the table. One of the best ways of ensuring that his story would be told was to write it himself. So he bought a journal, and planned on writing about his life, chronicling the past and present. He'd publish it when it was full. He grabbed a pen and opened it. He wasn't sure where to begin.
After taking a breath and thinking on the advice Kaz had given him, Jack began to write:
May 15, 2008
My name is Jack Spicer. I live in a mansion in China with my rich parents who are often too busy to spend any time with me and want me to be just like them. I bought this journal so I could tell my side of the story, no doubt those pesky Xiaolin Monks will cast me as an unredeemable heartless villain when they tell the story. Except maybe Omi, that Cheeseball won't stop trying to get me to join their side.
Jack wanted to stop there, but he kept going. Instead of writing a farewell paragraph, he poured his heart out. By the time he was done, his writing hand was badly cramped and covered in ink. Jack sighed, closed the journal, and put it away. That was enough writing for one day. He grabbed a comic and plopped down on the lab's couch.
When Jack finished reading, he noticed something. On the opposite end of the couch, laid Kaz, busily reading a magna. That wasn't unusual at that point in time, but what was, was how they were laying. Their right leg rested on his left shoulder, and their left leg was underneath him. Then Jack noticed that his left leg was under them, and his right was on their left.
"Well this is a compromising position." Jack thought. As he laid, he tried to figure out how to escape, but he also kinda wanted to make the most of it. His legs weren't long enough to reach their head, but they could reach their arms. His boots were off, so his socked feet could really get a grip.
With a smirk, Jack began to poke Kaz with his free hand and foot. They responded with a grunt, but didn't look up. Jack upped the ante. Finally, the half-dragon looked up.
"Hmm?"
"When did you get here?" Jack asked.
"About a minute ago." Kaz answered nonchalantly. They began tracing circles in Jack's leg, "Noticed you were busy reading and decided to join."
Jack hated being trapped, which is something Kaz knew and understood. "There's another couch in here."
Kaz pouted, seemingly hurt, "Don't you like me next to you?"
"Not when you trap me between your legs!" Jack all but yelled.
"Fair enough." Kaz replied. Then the two worked on untangling themselves. "Y'know, I'm not completely sure how we got this way. I was just trying to get comfy, and was too busy reading."
Jack sighed. He understood that. He knew he had a habit of doing weird things when he was busy focusing on something else.
"Wasn't that just sweet?" Came a voice.
"Wuya?" Jack knew her voice anywhere, but it's not like he expected her to come everyday.
"Su let me in." The Heylin witch casually stated as she exited the shadows.
Jack let out another sigh. The witch had somehow managed to trick the Spicer family, their associates and their staff that she was some sort of mentor, or long-lost relative. He was sure he heard his parents call her a cousin or some sort of foster sister before.
"I came to check on you. Chase is using his all-seeing eye for something, and won't give me back even the slightest bit of magic, so I came in person."
"Why would you check on me?"
Wuya rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Because I need to make sure you aren't being a disgrace to the Heylin."
"You know, you come by at least once a month." Jack stated.
"I told you, Chase has a kingdom to rule, and needs to make sure his authority isn't threatened."
Both Jack and Kaz smirked.
"Could it be... you care?" Kaz teased. Knowing full well the answer due to their powers.
"I care about reputations." Wuya annoyingly answered, "And I was freed by you, and was technically your mentor for a year."
"You stop by enough to be considered a family member." Jack remarked.
Wuya seethed. She was trying to be nice, and this was her thanks?
"Y'know, it's ok to admit it." Kaz told her.
Wuya glared at them. "There's nothing to admit." She lied.
"Y'know I can read minds, right?" Kaz reminded in a 'You should know' manner.
Wuya seethed again. Jack and Kaz couldn't but smirk.
When she finally managed to compose herself, Wuya stared at Kaz. "I know. And what are your plans for when Jack finally becomes competent enough to ensure he has a 50/50 chance of winning every Shen Gong Wu? Or if he starts to win more than the Xiaolin?"
"I'll still be his friend." Kaz answered, "And by then, I'll probably be too busy with royal duties to help much."
Wuya nodded. "You're neutral, correct?"
Kaz glared. "I know what you're trying to say." They gripped Jack's arm. "I'm not a backstabber." They wove their arm around his, "I like being with Jack. Just because he eventually won't need me to keep the balance, I'll still hang out with him." They gripped his hand, "We don't need training and Sheng Gong Wu to hang out. We like each other for who we are."
"And what is that?" Wuya asked.
"He's a fun loving genius guy who's into robotics." Kaz answered.
"And they're a fun loving half-dragon who likes robotics and has access to a lot of cool stuff." Jack added.
Wuya nodded again. "I see." She moved towards them, "But be warned." Wuya shoved her face in Kaz's and glared, "Don't ever break his heart."
Unfazed, Kaz replied, "I won't."
"Didn't know you cared so much." Jack teased.
Wuya quickly turned to him, "Well if I don't, who will? Sunday was a clear example that your mother doesn't care."
Jack slumped. Sunday was Mother's Day, one of the few times he got to spend nearly the whole day with his mom. After he turned 12, she started to become distant. Before that, she was seemingly always there. True not very supportive, but still there. But when he turned 12, that all changed, which wasn't good for his mental state. If it weren't for Su and Wuya, he'd probably be a lot worse. Also, thanks to them, he was getting better.
"She cares if I live up to her expectations." Jack countered.
"Which you don't." Wuya said.
Jack slumped harder. Kaz unwrapped their arm and pulled him in close. He needed comfort.
"You know Jack," Wuya said, gaining his attention, "you might not be living up to your parent's expectations, but you're starting to live up to mine."
Jack smiled. Something inside him told him that Su, Wuya, Kaz, and maybe Chase, were his real family.
"C'mon, Rai." Clay ordered his friend/team leader, "Don't be afraid to knock me out!"
"I could seriously hurt you!" Raimundo responded as he dodged a punch. Then he went for Clay's legs.
"I know." Clay replied as he stabilized, "But, there's a reason Kaz puppeted me." He went for Rai again, "And they'll likely do it again."
Rai blocked his friend, "I know, but you're still my friend." He knocked the blonde to the ground, "And just because you're the biggest, doesn't mean they'll always go after you." Clay thought it over as he got up. Raimundo continued. "Even if I do knock you out, they'll just go after someone else."
"Like me." Kimiko pointed out as she spared with Omi.
"Or me." Rai added.
"Or me." Omi added.
"Dude, we can easily beat you." Rai pointed out.
"Then how come I'm winning?" Omi pointed out as he dodged Kimiko's kick.
"You're good at dodging." Kimiko answered.
"Thanks." Omi replied with a smile. Then he was knocked to the ground.
The others smirked. Then Clay thought of something. "I wonder if we can dodge while under their control?"
"Probably not." Came an unfamiliar voice. The Monks looked around to see where the voice came from. Then a mysterious figure appeared from out of nowhere, "Unless they've gotten better."
The Monks stared at the stranger before them. They're face looked like Kaz's, but, there was something angelic about it. They were dressed in a warm gray dress-shirt, cool gray sweatervest, and neutral gray pants. They also had wings that were both bat-like and bird-like. The arms of the wings were covered in gray feathers, and the fine hairs on the skin of the wings looked gray and feathery.
"Who are you?" Omi asked, "And why do you look so weird?"
"Omi!" Kimiko scolded.
"It's fine, I get that a lot." The stranger answered, "My name's Gris Eagle Draki, they/them. But you can call me Eagle."
"Eagle?" Raimundo asked.
Eagle shrugged their shoulders. "I didn't name me."
The Monks nodded.
Eagle smiled. "I'm a Seer, and had a Vision of you needing me to help deal with my ex-partner Kazumi and their new boyfriend, who's caused my family much pain."
The Monks took this in.
"So, Kazumi's dating Jack?" Kimiko asked.
"Is that hard to believe?" Eagle asked.
The Monks looked at each other.
"Well... it's Jack." Raimundo answered, "He's not really a people person."
"On the Mary Contrary." Omi interjected, "I find him to be a great people person."
"It's just 'contrary', dude." Raimundo told the short monk, "The 'Mary' part is just from a poem."
Omi looked both confused and embarrassed. "Of course."
There was a bit of silence before Clay spoke. "So, what did Jack do to your family?"
"And why did Kazumi leave you for Jack?" Kimiko asked.
"To answer the blonde's question," Eagle answered, "one of Jack's exes left him for my brother," Eagle grimaced, "and Jack didn't take it well." Before the monks could ask for details, Eagle continued, "To answer the pigtail's question," Kimiko glared at them, "Kaz and I broke up before they even met Jack."
The other monks nodded in understanding.
Finally Kimiko spoke, "My name's Kimiko. She/her."
"I thought your last name was Tohomiko?" Omi asked.
"I'm giving them my pronouns." Kimiko answered.
Omi looked confused, then it hit him. "Oh, right."
"Moving on," Eagle stated, "I have a proposal for you. I'll teach you everything I know about Kaz, and help you defeat them and Jack, and in return, you will give me five Shen Gong Wu."
"Five?" The monks uttered in disbelief.
"It's not unreasonable." Eagle countered, "It's not like I asked for 30."
"We can't just give away Shen Gong Wu!" Raimundo exclaimed, "We worked hard for them!"
"Perhaps we should ask Master Fung?" Eagle asked, "Afterall, isn't he in charge?"
"Yes we should." Omi answered, "Although I do not think he will give you the Shen Gong Wu."
"We'll see." Eagle replied with a calm demeanor.