Disclaimer: I don't own Xiaolin Showdown.

Warning: Hints of homosexuality.

He couldn't believe he'd actually admitted it.

He'd told his long-time crush how he truly felt about him.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Jack repeated the steady mantra in his head.

Jack sighed heavily into his pillow, feeling like he was going to be sick. He knew he'd never be able to live this down.

All in all, he felt a little bit lucky that Chase hadn't killed him after his confession.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar scratch at the door.

"Speak of the devil…" Jack thought as he lifted his head from the pillow. He found it strange that Chase didn't just walk in since his tail could easily reach the doorknob. Maybe he was being polite for once?

"Come in," Jack mumbled as he buried his face in the pillow once more as he didn't have the guts yet to look Chase in the eye.

He heard the door open and close before the bed dipped down and he felt a presence looming over him. Jack still had the Tongue of Saiping in his hands and was waiting for Chase to speak.

Luckily, he didn't have to wait in anticipation very long.

"Spicer?"

"Yeah?" Jack squeaked timidly.

"I am confused."

The goth lifted his head up a bit to glance over at Chase, but found himself staring at the dragon's backside. The warrior wasn't looking at him and for that, Jack was grateful.

"Why?"

"How could you 'love' me?" Chase inquired. "I am a monster."

Jack looked away, still embarrassed from earlier. "Well…yeah."

Unhappy with this blank statement, Chase rumbled, "Spicer, look at me."

Slowly, Jack brought his eyes upwards so that they could meet Chase's golden, reptilian ones.

"This is my true form, Spicer. Even if you did love my human form, you could never truly love this hideous creature. No one can."

Suddenly, Jack felt anger wash over him He shot up in bed, glancing at Chase furiously. "Who are you to tell me what I can and can't feel?! Who says I can't love all of you?!"

Jack immediately shut his mouth, trying to make sure he didn't say anything else stupid. Chase's gaze softened slightly.

"But how?" the dragon asked. "What do you see in me?"

Jack scoffed, which opened his mouth once more, prompting him to babble as he always did.

"C'mon, Chase. You're the greatest warrior who ever lived. You're the most brilliant person I've ever met…well, besides myself. You're the handsomest man that ever walked, not to mention the most charismatic."

"But what about—"

"Your dragon form is supposed to be hideous, Chase. It's meant to strike fear into the hearts of all people and yeah, I'm scared of it. I'd have to be blind, deaf, and stupid if I wasn't. At the same time, though, I think it has its own form of beauty."

Chase cocked his head to the right. "How so?"

"Think about this," Jack said as he shifted onto his knees and sat back on his heels, deciding subconsciously that it was now or never. "Your scales and stripes shine really brightly, especially when out in the sun. Instead of a regular six-pack, you've got a freakin' twelve-pack!"

The young man's embarrassment was now practically non-existent, since he was being so brutally honest.

"Your eyes are one of my favorite parts, though," the red-head admitted, staring into said eyes.

"Why?" Chase questioned softly as he stared back into Jack's red ones.

"It shows that it's you; who you really are. Both ways. When you're a dragon, it shows that you were once a devastatingly handsome man and when you're human, it shows there's a might dragon hiding beneath." Jack then sighed roughly. "So, how long are you going to hold this over my head?"

Chase blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"

"How long are you gonna hate me for having a thing for you?"

The dragon blinked again. "Why would I hate you?"

"Well, if you don't hate me, you're probably pissed at me."

There was a slight pause before Chase confessed, "I'm not angry at you, Spicer, nor do I hate you."

Jack covered his eyes with his right hand. "God, this is so embarrassing…"

Chase moved a little closer to the youth and said softly, "Spicer…you are either more intelligent than me or just luckier."

Jack uncovered his face to meet Chase's gaze. "What do you mean?"

The dragon hesitated. Then, he said, "You have your feelings for me in order. My feelings toward you are…strange."

The teen waited patiently for Chase to continue.

Finally, the dragon confessed, "I feel…something for you. It's not bad…but it's strong."

Jack's eyes widened at the words and he asked, staring at the other, "Can you elaborate?"

"I don't seem to mind it when you touch me as you might have noticed lately. I…actually seem to enjoy touching you as well, especially when you are upset or in pain, so that I may comfort you."

"So…are you saying you care about me?" Jack asked warily.

"…yes. I care very much about you."

Jack could already feel the heat rising to his cheeks in the form of an awful lush.

"I have grown to respect you, Spicer. You are still the same annoying, evil genius that fell into my arms at our first meeting, but you've grown up. You are wiser and much more trustworthy now."

A few moments of silence passed before Jack asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you? Y'know, I'm not the best with, y'know, feelings and stuff, but maybe I can help you figure out, umm…what you're feeling."

Chase glanced back at him, a strange look on his face. Then, he made a noise that resembled a purr. "You're amazing, Jack. Truly amazing."

The redhead narrowed his eyes, sensing he was being made fun of. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chase stared at the goth for a moment before he dipped down and nuzzled his snout against Jack's neck. "Always so helpful. All you do is help me. So much devotion."

Jack's blush grew worse, but he did not try to push Chase away. "Wh-what are you d-doing, Chase?"

The dragon merely continued to nuzzle against him, feeling the goth's soft, white skin. Finally, he lifted his head back up to stare at the young man, baring his teeth slightly in the form of a smirk. "I believe that I am attracted to you, Jack Spicer."

Jack shook his head in confusion. "…say what?"

"Well," Chase began casually, "At first, I found your body attractive—"

"When?!"

"Not long after we met," Chase answered.

"…seriously?!"

Chase merely nodded. "However, besides your seemingly boundless energy, your personality was incredibly irritating and difficult to deal with, so I discarded you and your services as impractical."

If Jack was at all offended by this statement, he didn't show it. "And now?"

"As I said, you've proven yourself to me. From the moment I met you, I knew you had potential. Now that you are older, you have improved at making adult decisions and, as you have so aptly proven because of this incident, you are loyal to me."

There was another long pause.

"So…" Jack began to ask hesitantly, "You don't 'love' me, though."

"No, I do not love you," Chase answered stiffly, shutting his eyes.

Jack felt his heart drop a bit at the words, but it immediately shot back up when Chase stated, "However, if you are willing, once this dreadful curse is dealt with, I can begin training you. In that time, I believe deeper feelings for you will come."

"You…you mean it's a possibility?" Jack asked, his voice becoming slightly high-pitched from excitement.

Chase nodded, opening his eyes again and looked back up at Jack. "A strong possibility, I believe."

"Wow…" Jack breathed out as he glanced down at his lap in disbelief.

The dragon smirked again and resumed his nuzzling against Jack's neck. The goth glanced back at him before cautiously lifting a hand up and began to softly stroke Chase's head. His dragon companion emitted a growling purr of pleasure and snuggled closer to his number one fan.

A/N: And now, the discussion. DUN-DUN-DUN! As you can see, Jack is not going to die and Chase doesn't have a stick up his ass anymore. :)