Nothing for the winner
Chapter 7
Jack stops eating and puts his food down.
"You cheated death." Chase says and he continues to speak, but the only thing that Jack can think about is toast.
That was good toast, crunchy but not too dry, equally toast in both sides and throughout the bread.
Not even Jack's personalized toaster could make toast of such quality.
"How do you toast bread?" Jack asks and Chase looks at him confused.
"...I don't care." Chase answers and looks at the file.
"I know you don't own a toaster -so how-" Jack tries to press the matter.
"Jack, do you think this is the moment to wonder about the weakest part of breakfast?" Chase asks actively trying to understand that Jack is a mortal and he might just be trying to avoid talking about his possible death, not that Jack is that much of an unbelievable fool.
"Well, is too early in the morning to be talking about my mortality!" Jack says and he picks up his food and stuffs it in his mouth.
"Is two in the afternoon. A little late to be morning." Chase says but he feels like Jack is not listening. The man sighs and wonders if he should try to comfort Jack, but how? He can't related to the fear of death...but he understands the fear of not having Jack alive.
But that is a different matter.
"You were aware of the danger when you started to fight the Xiaolin, and you understood the dangers when you joined the Heylin." Chase says and Jack slowly turns to him.
Sometimes Jack surprises Chase in small ways. Not with his inventions, knowledge or even his rare beauty, but the way he can be so stupid.
"I forgot I was going to die! Okay. I- I don't think about that stuff… " Jack explains. His voice small and almost shy.
"You are a mortal!" Chase says even though now that Jack had said it, he knows that he made the same mistake.
Jack didn't need to think about his own dismiss because once it happens, he won't had any control over it.
At the time of Jack's death time won't stop to allow the fanboy to reconsider his life choices. No, Jack most likely than not will die alike his impostor; too soon and too fast to allow anyone to try to save him. The next hours will come and Jack will no longer be part of the realm of the living.
Chase caresses the pale skin and sees little tears stuck on the white eyelashes.
"I know, I know. I keep saying that I was going to die, but I forgot what that meant. Like I am going to stop existing and that is fucking terrifying Chase." Jack hurries to say and by the end of that sentence he can barely understand what he is saying.
Chase lets Jack come closer and support his weight on him. The old warrior had never imagine what would it be if Jack stops to exists. He told himself that his fanboy will die but he never stop to consider what would that mean.
And it means that he would never see Jack again.
"I know." Chase says and he hates how much he means that.
The young man breathes deeply before separating himself from Chase. A thing he never thought he would willing do, but he had already shared with Chase in that small moment more than he had shared with his therapist over the last couple of years.
Chase wipes the tears from Jack's face, and decides that he won't live through Jack's death.
"I knew you care~" Jack says while fanning his eyelashes.
"You had to ruin it." Chase says and turns to walk away, he has work to do.
"No. It was a joke! I had no idea!" Jack says and hurries to follow the man.
"No. I had been too nice to you already. Go away and take a shower. You look like a groom that made one too many mistakes." Chase says, and Jack looks at himself. He is still wearing the suit he tried to 'killed' Chase, and then he sleeped on those cloths for a whole day.
"I would watch that movie." Jack says while nodding in agreement.
Melisa stands and waits to be given an order.
"Rest." Her master says, and he signals to Jack to follow him.
"Sorry, to make you...escort me." Jack says once he catches up to the other man.
"If it really bothered me, I would had sent you away." Chase states.
"Well, thank you for being such an awesome host...and forgetting that I just cried in your dining room." Jack says with a smile.
"Already forgotten. -though which of all the times you had cried on my dining room, at this point it is hard to keep track." Chase says.
"Can you forget them all?" Jack tries.
"That would erase an impressive percentage of our time together." Chase smiles and looks at Jack grins back at him.
"Well, I will forget what you said about toast. Because toast is the basis of a good breakfast!" Jack jokes.
"Toast is a joke, Spicer. And everyone knows it." Chase says with his serious tone, but Jack could tell he was playing as well.
"What toast did to you?" Jack asks but he stops walking.
A ghost lures through the halls.
Chase senses Wuya before Jack does, but the human had bonded too much with her spirit to not recognize her.
The ghost hurries to meet both men, and she tries in vain to hold the younger one's face.
"Stop it!" Jack says as he feels the cold licks of her non-existence arms.
"You are alive! YOU ARE ALIVE! You are a- WHY?" Wuya screams her mood quickly changes.
"It was but a farce." Chase answers and sees Wuya trying, once again in vain, to punch Jack.
"You little twisted piece of shit!" Wuya screams and Jack tries to protect himself from the hits, even though they go through him without any real damage.
"Let me explain!" Jack asks and he is too busy to see Chase disappearing.
Sure that Wuya would keep Jack busy, Chase leaves his home.
"I cried over your garbage body! I fucking cried over you -you worthless ass!" Wuya screams so loud she can feel her whole being shake with anger and relief.
"Wow! You cried?" Jack asks and soon he regrets to had made that question as Wuya move from words to ghostly shouts.
Chase leaves the two of them to talk and made up once again.
He informs his warriors who will fight if they need to, but if they don't then they will stay in place for the rest of the week.
And Jack is at his palace.
Last month that might had meant nothing, but the youth had just prove himself to be far more resourceful than Chase gave him credit.
The warlord walks through the doors of the temple, and he ignores the scare monks he encounters.
There a sense of urgency at the pit of his stomach and he can't be bother to even acknowledge their existence.
Chase continues to walk towards the meditation room, where he knows he will find the dragon appendices, and he burns the curtains that work as a door.
The four monks don't hurry to meet Chase, all of them observe from what they consider to be a safe distance. Chase suspected all of them would mourn Spicer, but he didn't believe they suffer too deeply -well, Omi would. But the red sober faces that the youths had made him laugh. They don't even like Spicer, not like he does.
"I did not think I would see you again." Omi speaks first. He stands strong, and at difference of his friends he is the only one with fresh tears.
Chase repeats that sentence on his mind and he considers it. Omi didn't say 'so soon' or 'we,' he said they would never see eachother again. And he was right, Chase doubts he would want to look at the small monk again -not if he killed Jack.
"Neither did I." Chase says and feels guilt still fresh on his mouth.
"What are you doing here?" Raimundo asks quietly, like he could keep the rest of his team out of the conversation.
"I'm here to make sure you won't get on my way." Chase says and looks at the tired faces turn to scowls. "I'll had the next Sheng go wu." Chase finishes, and see Dojo and master Fung hurried to reach the dragon apprentices.
The silence stays and Chase sighs understanding that he will had to continue to speak.
"The Wu is far too tempting to keep on the temple, and too powerful to allow in enemy's hands, except for mine. To me the Wu is useless." Chase explains and Kimiko tilts her head confused.
"Why you wanna it then?" She asks her quick mind trying to paste together a theory, but soon her heart forces her to continue to speak. "And you truly killed him for a fucking 'useless' Wu!" Her anger thick with each word.
Chase smiles as he remember the young albino who rests (actually fights a very angry and hurt ghost) safe at his palace, 'I didn't know you care~.' He might had like to come, and teased the monks about their long faces.
"No. I killed the impostor jack spicer for that useless Wu." Chase corrects and he sees all of their faces blink at him.
"What?"
"Jack is alive?"
"...are you … telling the true?" Omi asks while the rest keep asking question but not waiting enough for the warlord to answer them.
"Yes." Chase says and Omi stares for a whole minute before looking away.
"I saw his insides! He was alive!" Raimundo insists.
"It was very convincing. He even surprised me." Chase says and all pairs of eyes are once again drilling nails on him.
No one said it, but everyone thought it.
You thought you killed him.
"What are you planning to do with that Wu?" Master Fung asks breaking the heavy silence.
"It doesn't matter to you. You know what I won't do, and that's enough." Chase says.
Master Fung and Dojo look at each other.
"It is not." master Fung says but he doesn't push for more information.
"What does it do?" Clay asks Chase.
The other monks seem to notice they are missing this piece of information and turn to Dojo but the reptile just looks uncomfortable.
"What...what is the function of that Wu?" Omi asks again, and Chase smiles.
"It grants eternal life and youth to the wearer." Chase explains and the monks nods, understanding why Wuya and Bean wanted -and why Chase has no use for it…
"You are you going to...to give it to Jack?" Raimundo asks unsure, like it wasn't obvious, but it seems to surprise the monks.
"Yes." Chase answers sincerely.
"...you really thought you killed him." Clay says sounding concerned and ...relief.
"The Wu grants life and youth, but it can only be used once per life. As the day the wearer is separated it from the Sheng go wu is the same day they will die." Chase explains.
"It is strong temptation to had it at a temple and so every time the Wu resurfaces the Xiaolin monks -of that time had to find it, kill the user and hide it within another creature for the next monks to find." Chase explains becoming a little annoy that he had to educate the monks, he wasn't a teacher.
"Kill?!" Omi says horrified.
"Yes, Omi. Kill." Chase says ready to retire from teaching.
"It that a good idea?" Clay asks looking at Chase, the blond seem to spelled his judgment of the man with a look and it was becoming irritating very quickly.
"No. That's why I'll take the Wu this time." Chase says like it was obvious.
"Is it a good idea to grant Jack such a long life? No many creatures can hold their marbles when their whole entities had been elevated to immortality...you would freezed that boy in time. Is that a good idea?" Clay clarifies though he is sure Chase understood his question.
"That's not your problem." Chase gives as an answer and Clay stares a little longer testing his pacitance before agreeing.
"You're right. It isn't my problem; I won't live with the consequences." The young man says and moves back a few steps.
Chase reminds himself that he needs to make sure that he will get this wu, and that means keeping the monks on check with the most effective method.
"Had you consult Spicer of this very odd choice?" Omi asks.
"...So Jack is alway gonna look young?" Kimiko asks as she imagines a future time when each hair in her has lost its color, and Jack would still look 20s.
"Wait! Are you and Jack are gonna live together? Like married…? Are you two even dating?" Raimundo asks trying to pinpoint when the two heylin became an item or how Jack didn't told literally everyone.
Chase could kill them. That would keep them out of the way.
"You are all too noisy." Chase decides that the monks are useful to keep Wuya and Hannibal busy enough. Though the witch is dead and the other is missing…
Chase decides that they must hurry, he has a request to make to the albino.
"You had to tell us something!" Raimundo insists. "All we know is that Jack might be alive, and now you want to marry him." He states.
"...how did you misunderstood so badly?" Chase asks not bothering to explain any further, the monks don't really need to know anything else.
They didn't seem content with being left in the dark, but they knew better than too push Chase any farther.
"I'm not asking you for permission. I'm warming you; don't get on my way."
Jack rests with his back over the cold tile.
Chase has been gone for almost an hour and he is too tired to move or speak. The pain killer are wearing off and Jack is becoming aware of the true damage cause to his body. Wuya had finally return to speak words but not many thing were being communicated.
She moves across the hall and Jack looks at the pretty lilac color she leaves behind, it is almost soothing.
"If I could peed, I would had peed over you!" She hisses.
"Okay gross Wuya. That's gross!" Jack says and literally shivers at the idea. Now he really needs to find the bathroom. The albino pouts and wishes Chase had taken him to whatever the man went or at least point him in the right direction.
Now he is lost with an angry ghost.
Jack struggles to push himself of the ground but all his muscle feel sore and hot, he wishes he could clean himself before passing out of exhaustion this time.
"You are gross!" She retaliates.
"At least I'm not imagining peeing on people." Jack mumbles
The witch moves closer until she is floating over the boy -no, the young man…
Wuya stops her tantrum and wonders when did Jack got so ...old.
"You are a little shit." She finally breathes out and it was so satisfactory, she felt at peace for a second.
"I'm sorry...okay. Do you know where is the bathroom? 'cause you disgust me."
"...follow me." The witch answers and sees the young man struggling to stand.
"I'm really sorry Wuya." Jack whispers once she has turn, sure she can hear him.
Jack walks behind the spirit trying to ignore how his legs shake with every step. They reach a large white room with an overly complicated maze of pools, each a different size and depth.
"...I actually don't need to shower." Jack says as he imagines the effort to stay standing while cleaning himself or how would he get fresh dry cloths.
"But I'm disgusting?" Wuya complains.
Jack groans as he remember that he is wearing the suit he sleep on...for nearly ten days…
"I'm disgusting." Jack concludes and strips to his underwear. Though he doesn't appreciated Wuya's presence, he had grown used to her incapacity to respect his privacy.
The young man leaves his clothes on the floor and moves to find a warn pool with a sit or large step. It doesn't take long and he slowly lowers himself into the water.
The hot water engulfs his body and almost immediately loses his tired muscles, he can feel his eyes closing and his mind drifting.
"...are you peeing?" The witch asks.
"Eww! Why would? Okay, no more talking from you!" Jack points a finger while he secures himself at the edge of the pool.
"You were making an stupid face!" She justified herself and lets the strands of herself get loose within the pool.
"I was resting! I had an unbelievable day!" Jack says and looks at the water turn slightly lavender whatever Wuya touches it.
"Did you die?" Wuya asks and Jack laughs a little happy that they had move from the 'I hate your guts' part.
"I'll get you a new body." He promised and it was enough to quiet the dead woman.
It was easy.
Chase looks at the rat trembling on his hand. The animal seem to had lost all the fight it had in it, the rat didn't even squeak while Chase inspect it.
Chase looks at the rodent and quickly sends away for safekeeping.
The palace was quiet, even more so than usually with all of the cats unable to move. It made it easy to pinpoint Jack's location, Chase could had use magic to reach Jack faster but he opted to walk -he needs to think what would he say to Jack. How would he convince the boy to never die?
Chase lets out a tired sigh.
Once the whole mess is over, he won't complain of calm quiet times for a while.
He might even welcome some invitations to binge watch some show.
Chase walks by his dear throne room ...or what is left. The memory of Jack resting at his feet while the boy talked every little thought that passed through his mind and Chase not longer listening but watching the way Jack moves his arms when he talks about machinery. It is like he can't help but to act everything he imagens. The old man feels almost juvenile when he stopped constant one-sided conversations by lightly pulling on the red strands. The surprised in Jack's eyes.
Chase stops when he sees Jack half sleep in the pool, he stays in place rationalizing how time flew by him, and why he appears almost distract it.
"Spicer." Chase calls and Jack turns so fast he falls in the water. It makes Chase smile.
Jack hurries to pick himself up, but he seem to struggle with his own weight. Chase quickly notice the splashes of water and he leans over the pool and picks up Jack by each arm.
"Can you move?" Chase asks and Jack nods once and then he falls asleep.
The warlord brings the other man closer to his chest and ignores the way the water drips into his armor.
"So by that you meant 'no.'" Chase whispers.
"You got it! The Wu! Yes! Finally. You got IT!" Wuya exclaims as she flies circles in excitement Jack frowns but he doesn't wake up.
"Is not for you." Chase says and walks away taking Jack with him.
"What? WHAT?! What is that suppose to-" Wuya stops mid shout, and looks at the trail of water droplets and then to the man carrying the youth.
"Of course." She whispers bitterly before disappearing.
Chase doesn't notice or care. He should but he doesn't.
He walks towards the center of the palace and he can't help to laugh when a few cats turn as much as they can to look at Jack -worry somewhat express in their feline features.
"Muscle fatigue." Chase answers the unspoken question. He looks at Jack, his skin pink and irradiating warm from staying in the warm water for so long and his breathing somewhat shallow.
"You, machine, follow us." Chase orders a doc-bot nearby, and he continues to walk until he reaches Jack's (new) room.
He places Jack over the unmade bed and orders the robot to dress its master with a dry clothes.
Chase sits at the edge of the bed waiting, and wondering how long would he had to wait.
Jack, the little misunderstood genius, did put himself in a coma for a week. The light atrophy in his muscles is reversible with months of physical therapy, the 'skip' in his biological clock could take from weeks to years, and sincerely Chase isn't sure about psychological damage.
"Jack." Chase tries because even though he can be a very patient man, he doesn't particularly wants to. Magic can take care off all of Jack physical pain within hours.
The albino makes an intent to wake up, he twists and groans, and then he stops and slips deep into his slumber.
Chase glares annoy; they had important things to discuss. But maybe is for the best that Jack is unavailable at the moment.
The older man moves the younger one to make more space in the bed, he sits next to Jack and plays with the red wet hair. He tries to arrange it in a way that will be stuck on a awkward position -like does funny hairstyles from Jack's shows.
It takes him almost twenty minutes to accomplish the look he was going for, and he decides that it was a good way to waste time.
Chase looks at Jack and sighs. How is he suppose to ask Jack to give up his mortality?
Jack will accept if Chase asks him, that much the man is sure of.
But that means nothing. Jack would accept anything Chase asks him; even if he doesn't want to. Even if it could cost him his life.
Jack snores softly and turns, destroying Chase's hard work.
If someone else offers Jack immortality, then Jack would had rejected it. He has mature enough to know that he isn't meant to be eternal. No, Jack knows that he enjoys mortal life too much. The rush against time, the silent and loud pride he had learn to take on being the only mortal between magical beings, and the promised of an end…
Because no one wants to work forever.
Now, though, now Jack is scared. He had been forced to look at death before time, and he has learnt to fear it...someone using the right words and the right persuasion could make Jack take such a offer regardless of the price…
Fear is a funny dark thing; it can make you act as if you had no options.
Chase looks at Jack.
Fear can convince you that 'yes, you are doing the right thing' and blind you from all other options and yes 'this is the only way to keep him safe.'
To ask Jack to kill him had been selfish; Chase knew that Jack didn't find his games as entertaining as he did.
But to asks Jack to live for him...to ask him that now would be cruel.