So I've been getting quite a few requests for a Jack/Lula story. I've mentioned it before, but I'm not a fan of romance, but ya'll are awesome and their relationship is just begging to be written, so I'll give it my best shot. This was supposed to be a lot shorter, but it got away with me. Hope you enjoy!

NOW YOU SEE ME 2 SPOILER WARNING! There are minor spoilers in this piece. They are not huge and give absolutely nothing away (in fact, the scene I directly mention was released as a short clip before the film even came out) but just in case you haven't seen the second movie and have been avoiding all spoilers, here is your warning.

Category: Romance
Setting: Post-NYSM2
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Lula
Rating/Warnings: K+, minor spoilers for NYSM2
Summary: Jack and Lula have an ongoing challenge to see who can steal the other's wallet the most.

Disclaimer: Neither Now You See Me or its characters belong to me.

The Game

It all started at Iong's. Jack had to admit he was impressed that Lula had managed to steal his wallet (and the peanuts he had stolen…and his belt…), but he was positive it had been a fluke. After all, he was the sleight on the team and he had done his best to insure that none of the others could match him. He prided himself on his sleight of hand and his card throwing, and as much as he liked the other Horsemen, he wanted to make sure he stayed the best. So having the new girl show him up and steal his wallet (and his belt…how had he not realized she was taking of his belt?!) had been a bit embarrassing.

Don't get him wrong. He liked Lula, liked her a lot. Ok, he liked her a lot more than a lot when it came down to it, but that didn't mean he could just stand by and let her get away with it (even if he did like how close she had to get to steal his wallet…and his belt…). So he did what had gotten him in trouble in all of his previous relationships: he stole her wallet. It was too easy, really, and Jack was actually a bit disappointed. He had hoped that Lula would have proven to be more of a challenge. So to say he was surprised when she dropped his wallet on the couch beside him before plopping down and using his lap as a footrest would be an understatement.

"Cute attempt," she had smirked, eyes all but calling him out. "But you have to do better than that, Jackie-boy."

Grumbling, Jack had handed her back her wallet and replaced his. Neither mentioned the pickpocketing again, but each knew that the gauntlet had been thrown and both were determined to win. The chalkboard appeared on the fridge of the rented house shortly after. None of the older Horsemen were quite sure when it was placed there, but stranger things had happened. When the quickly scrawled columns labeled "Jack" and "Lula" appeared with a quickly growing amount of tally marks, they didn't even question it. They had learned better in the few months they had all lived together then to question anything the two lovebirds did because they more than likely did not want to know. Sure they were curious, and once Merritt almost brought the subject up, but a stern glance from both Daniel and Dylan stopped him short. None of them had forgotten the cake incident (the horror of all that flour over the couch…they all still refused to sit on that couch.) So the older Horsemen simply sat back and hoped that whatever challenge was going on wouldn't get out of hand and lead to any more incidents.

The challenge was simple enough: for each time they stole the others wallet, a tally would be added below their name. Belts and watches were worth two tallies, and any other jewelry or clothing was worth three. If the pickpocket was caught in the act, then a point would be added to the other's score. The game started simple enough: Jack quickly swiped Lula's wallet and her watch, earning him an easy three points. With her prey now on the alert, Lula took her time and was careful when she stole Jack's wallet, phone, and a pack of cards he had tucked inside his jacket for a score of seven. And that was when it all began to go downhill. Neither had realized exactly how competitive the other was, and before they had realized exactly how far their little game had gone it had deteriorated into all-out war.

Within a three days, a second chalkboard had joined the first and was already nearly full with tally marks. By the end of the week, however, the score had stalled with Jack sitting only two points ahead. A day passed with no additional tallies and the older Horsemen were beginning to grow concerned (whether for their teammates or for themselves they weren't quite sure.) The stall came because neither Lula nor Jack would so much as remain in the same room together. Usually inseparable, it was actually a tad unnerving for the others to watch as one would enter a room, only for the other to bolt as quickly as possible. The first time it happened, Jack had rammed his leg against the coffee table and nearly fallen into Daniel's lap, but had saved himself at the last second and half-sprinted, half-limped to his room where he slammed the door closed.

And none of the other Horsemen had any idea what had gotten into the youngest members. Daniel was betting on a lover's spat while Merritt placed his money on them being children. Dylan (rather wisely, he thought) stayed out of it, though he did make sure to keep an extra eye on both. It wasn't until after nearly two days of no tallies that the three older Horsemen learned why the two were so eager to scurry away from the other. Merritt was engrossed in a book while Daniel and Dylan were pouring over blueprints and trying to ignore Lula who insisted on channel surfing with the television as loud as she could get away with. They could have heard Jack coming from a mile away as he practically leaped down the stairs and into the living room. With a triumphant shout, he dropped a wallet on the coffee table and grinned down at Lula who just stared from him to the wallet and back, the television completely forget ton (as where the book and the blueprints).

"Hey, rooms were out of bounds. That does not count!" Lula protested, swiping her wallet off the table.

"That wasn't a rule." Jack grinned. "Just face it, Lula, I win."

"No!" Lula got to her feet and if it hadn't been for the table between them would have been in Jack's face. "Rooms were so out of bounds and that steal does not count."

"Rooms weren't out of bounds the other day when…" Lula cut him off.

"That doesn't count. You were there too. I was not there when you took this."

"You don't know that."

"We're never in my room together!"

"You still make it a rule that rooms were out of bounds, so this counts, and I win."

"Oh you do not win!"

"I hate to break this soap opera up," Merritt interrupted loudly. "But would someone like to share with the rest of the class?"

Jack and Lula glanced at each other in confusion. Lula caught on first.

"We never explained, did we."

"No you did not." Merritt glanced over to where Daniel and Dylan were paying close attention. "And Danny and I have quite the bet on what is going on between the two of you, so if you would be so kind as to explain…"

There was a moment of silence as Jack and Lula looked at each other. Lula motioned for Jack to explain and the sleight shrugged and blushed slightly.

"It was just a game. I'd steal her wallet, she'd steal mine. Whoever had the most steals by the end of the week won."

"Won what?" Dylan asked, barely hiding his amusement.

"Bragging rights." Lula answered. She turned to Jack. "And that steal does not count because you did not take it from me."

"But I did have to unlock your room, so I did still have to use my skills to get it, so it counts." Jack folded his arms triumphantly. "Besides, it's the end of the week and I'm two points ahead regardless so I win."

"I demand a rematch!" Lula cried, reaching across the table to shove Jack's shoulder.

"Do you really want to do that?" Jack teased, stepping around the table.

Lula stepped around as well.

"Oh you are on, Wilder."

"Well then," Jack paused and held up the wallet that had been in Lula's pocket. "I guess I better go mark this then."

Lula stared at the wallet and stammered for a few seconds. Jack just leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek, before dropping her wallet on the table and moving around the couch. Lula pulled herself together and snatched her wallet up.

"You are going to pay for that, Jack!"

She took off and, laughing, Jack made a run for his room with Lula on his heels. The laughter faded as a door slammed closed, leaving the remaining Horsemen sitting in the living room. After a moment, Merritt turned to face the other two and smirked.

"I would say that counts as them simply acting like children, wouldn't you Danny-boy?"

Dylan laughed as Daniel just muttered a curse under his breath, dug a five dollar bill out of his wallet, and crumpled it up to toss to the mentalist.

"I thank you for your business." Merritt grinned and unfolded the bill cheerfully. "Better erase that chalkboard. My bet's on Jack. Any takers?"

Daniel just muttered under his breath and went back to studying the blueprints. Dylan chuckled and glanced up the stairs to where Jack and Lula had disappeared before looking back to Merritt.

"I'm in. How much?"

"Five?"

"Make it ten."