Le Mime stood glowering as he faced Jack in his basement, the laptop he'd shoved forward open to a villain's chat forum. Here Wuya had started the latest in gossip threads about Jack, but instead of discussing how inept he was or even how he might actually be worth teaming up with after all, it was about how he'd changed his allegiance from Heylin to Xiaolin.

A bit nervously, Jack responded to the demanding mime, "Heh heh...so you...heard about that, huh?"

Le Mime frowned deeper, eyes flaring.

Jack held his palms up in defense. "Hey, woah..! Yes, it's true, I've gone good. But that doesn't mean you wasted your time here or anything..! You can still work for me. I didn't really wanna have to move, so I could still use your protection powers, at the very least."

Cheeks puffing, Le Mime wasn't even sure he could properly convey the way he felt strung along. After all this time respectfully fearing Jack under the threat of death, being tossed out into the field to put his life on the line in other ways, up to fighting Chase Young, and performing what he'd call a rather decent, loyal job, Jack was just going to go and swap sides like this? Le Mime wasn't good! He didn't want to work for someone good!

Putting the laptop aside, Le Mime flapped his wrist forward and pinched his fingers like unfurling a sheet of paper at the other.

Brow quirking, Jack tipped his head and reached to take it, indeed feeling a sheet of paper there but not seeing it. Flipping it over uselessly, he noted, "...I don't get it."

Blowing Jack a harsh raspberry, Le Mime turned to a nearby table and slammed an invisible object down, then opening it and packing several other invisible items inside. Closing the lid of the now-apparent suitcase, the man in the striped shirt picked it up by the handle and stormed out the door in a huff.

Paling, Jack darted after. "Hey, wait! You can't resign like this! Being good doesn't mean I can't still vaporize you, you know..!"

Pausing only to turn back and look back at Jack with a tug of his lips, expression suggesting that's exactly what being good meant, Le Mime hopped into his tiny, invisible, one-person car and zoomed off into the distance.

Lips wavering apprehensively, Jack put a hand forward to test if his invisible barrier was still there. Feeling nothing, he swished his wrist in a double-checking sting of panic before concluding quite obviously that Le Mime had taken down his security shield.

"CYCLOPS!"

Hearing this distressed cry, Cyclops came thundering to meet it from the pit he'd been digging in the yard.

"HAUURR? MOUURRG?"

Immediately climbing the beast and clinging to his head once seated on his shoulder, Jack looked around in paranoia. "Just feeling vulnerable all of a sudden..." he explained in a thin voice. Then another thought occurred and he questioned, "Hey. You wouldn't leave me just for going good, right? Buddy? You don't hate me for doing that?"

Blinking, Cyclops wasn't even really sure what Jack was talking about. If he'd understood allegiances on the same terms, he would have suggested he felt like he fell more into the camp of chaotically neutral, but as he was, he could really only say that he didn't care where he was physically so long as he got to stay with his favorite human.

The way he chose to express that was to simply make a vague sound similar to an "aww" at Jack's clinging, and to lift one massive hand to pat the tiny being's head a few times in consolation. Whatever was making Jack upset, he wanted him to know it was okay.

Weirdly, this did seem to work. Still clinging to the beast, Jack let the way his hair mussed from such a large hand petting him go, just sighing in some relief as he reasoned that yes, Cyclops was like a dog more than anything. He didn't really have an inherent moral alignment. Jack was glad for this now, as it meant he hadn't wasted his own effort and time caring for and training the big lug. Nor would his feelings be hurt after coming to enjoy Cyclops as a pet of sorts.

Shortly, Kimiko found an icon in the middle of her screen, a call ringing to be picked up. She didn't hesitate to answer it, expecting it to be one of her friends from Japan.

Instead, Jack's face appeared onscreen. She quirked her brow to find the boy giving a sheepish wave, Cyclop's face in the background as the boy clearly sat on him.

"Uh...hi?" the girl in black pigtails greeted, "How did you get this device? My call app should have deleted itself."

"No, I isolated it. Reverse rooted you." As Kimiko blinked in an actual spot of mild impress, Jack pressed, "But uh...you know how you guys were asking about me moving in with you? For like, easier training and junk? I've decided you make a good point. Can we maybe do that? Now? Right now?"

Finding this odd, Kimiko couldn't help a small snort. "What's the matter? Getting too wonewy out there all by yourself~? Do you miss your boyfwiend~?"

Jack grunted in annoyance. "No! Missing any of you is a very small part of the decision!" Blinking in pause, he continued, "That didn't come out right. But the point is, you guys were right, it'd be way easier, and I'm feeling very exposed right now, so I would very much like you to come hold me! I mean move my stuff!"

Leaning her chin on one hand and shaking her head loosely at Jack's poorly-veiled insecurity, Kimiko couldn't help be amused. "Okay, keep your skirt on...we'll be over in a bit. We kinda figured you'd end up over here anyway, so we've got you a mat by Jermaine." In all reality, it did make sense to keep the Dragons together. She was kind of glad convincing Jack to relocate had resolved itself. A sly glance. "Omi hasn't shut up about all the stuff he wants to do with you living here, too."

Jack glanced away.

Within a couple hours, a ring came to Jack's front doorbell, the monks not entirely sure where Jack was putting the stuff he wanted to bring, and feeling it more polite than barging in like usual.

Luckily, this option seemed perfectly fine, the door opening within moments and Jack immediately bounding to wrap himself around Omi. It looked a bit ridiculous given that Jack was practically twice Omi's height, but even moreso as Omi wobbled to catch the other boy bridal style and fell onto his seat.

"You're here!" Jack professed jovially regardless.

"Indeed!" Omi replied, recovering from the stun of being pounced on and happily hugging Jack back as much as he could while supporting him, "Kimiko tells us you are feeling most insecure. I noticed the lack of barrier surrounding your house. Is this the reasoning?"

Twisting his neck, Jack shot Kimiko a sour look. She shrugged, "What? It was true."

Snorting while the other two boys snickered behind him, Jermaine pointed out, "You don't exactly look the most secure right now, either. Just sayin'. Cute, but not real brave."

Glancing to the boy who held him, Jack let out a short, gruff noise and stood. Crossing his arms, he stuck his nose in the air and declared, "Anyway, regardless of reason, I just think moving to the temple is probably the right move here. Especially since my ungrateful evil allies have abandoned me. And I guess, thanks for coming." A hand swirled vaguely as he tried to be mannerly.

Clay tipped his hat, finding that to be more like it. "Guess that's as close to polite as can be expected from ex-evil. Ain't nothin'. So what all're you fixin' ta bring, anyway?"

"Yeah, why'd you need all of us?" Raimundo shrugged, "I mean we brought Dojo in case of heavy lifting, but you're not like...expecting us to just pick the whole mansion up and bring it back with us, right?"

Dojo, sitting coiled around Clay's shoulder, huffed, "Is that all I am to you? Speaking as the preferred mode of transportation, I should point out how up to going on strike that could make a dragon feel."

"Relax," Jack breezed, putting his palms up, "No flying necessary. Maybe I don't need all of you, but I guess it couldn't hurt, either." Stepping back and opening the door to invite them in, he instructed, "If somebody could get the consoles out of the entertainment room, everyone else can just come downstairs."

Omi raised a hand eagerly as the others gazed around the spacious entryway in some awe, having never been in it. "Oh! I know where that is! I shall fetch the gaming devices!"

Sprinting off towards one of the many ornately-decorated hallways, the short boy yelled in startle as the many ancient suits of Chinese armor lining the walls came to life, shooting lasers from their eye sockets and moving to swipe at him with their swords.

Startling as well, the other monks reflexively poised in preparation for a fight, as well as shooting Jack a couple of accusatory looks. However, Jack had jumped just the same as the others and quickly ran forward, arms waving overhead. "Ahh! No, no! Not an intruder, not an intruder!"

Heads all turning to face Jack, the suits of armor relaxed their positions and turned to stand back at attention against the walls. As Omi sat and gasped with a hand to his chest to regain composure, Jack hopped to grab hold of one suit and remove the face plate, revealing a mess of circuitry underneath, with which he began tinkering.

"Sorry, they're set to go after anyone they don't see as a guest. Meaning without an escort. They saw you without me, and well..."

Calmer, Omi stepped closer to peer at the wiring Jack fiddled with. "I was wondering why this had not occurred previously."

Plugging one miniature jack into place, the redhead hopped back down and explained, "Well, that guy should be sending a signal to the rest to chill now, so you should be good."

"Hm. Jack Spicer not backstabbing us with a trap?" Kimiko chimed, "That's gonna be hard getting used to."

"Fair enough," Jack granted, "I'm not sure I'd trust me, either. But I really just forgot about those, okay?"

"I believe you," Omi granted in turn, patting Jack's thigh in assurance, "And I will be seeing you in the basement shortly."

Though slightly shaken, the group did split, and this bit of trust paid off, as Omi did return with the gaming equipment without incident. Jack had explained, meanwhile, that flying back and forth wasn't going to be necessary because he simply planned on using the Golden Tiger Claws to transport his things. But he would like help lifting some of it, like his favorite table, and having someone on the other end to help him relocate the items.

It was pointed out to him that monk living was supposed to be pretty basic, and bringing his entire basement with him was impractical, but he pointed out likewise that they'd said he could keep his lab. Besides, they claimed the temple wasn't backwards, right? Surely one little robotics lab wouldn't be the end of the world.

So, with the power of the Golden Tiger Claws, the group set about transporting and reorganizing nearly all of Jack's possessions, passing them through the portals and delivering the lab equipment to the spare room they cleared out for Jack's hobby, meanwhile his more personal items were sent to the humble room that matched theirs. Luckily for the sake of storage, Jack didn't really own much outside his work. His personal items did not struggle to fit in said curtained section of room.

What did struggle to fit was the army of Jackbots. This Jack did not want to just up and leave, but the others noted that it wasn't very Xiaolin to keep an army just hanging around in their yard. And those robots were something they really didn't have a place for. Reluctantly, Jack had to relent to keeping just his usual few, and in fact, came up with the idea of donating his leftover resources to the robot fighting club he liked to visit. Surely if anyone could make use of the supplies, it was them.

Omi was very proud of Jack for having a selfless thought on that level. The robot fighting club was stunned speechless to receive such a large donation, but also felt much more positively about Jack. Instead of simply creaming them every time he visited, he was now giving them the very same materials he preferred building with. It was most welcome, and they hailed the goth boy as the true king of robots. Jack had never felt so good about interacting with a group of near-stranger peers.

"Ah'm assumin' we're conglomeratin' all the wu, too, right?" Clay thumbed toward the final outstanding part of this move, the cabinet in which Jack kept his shen gong wu secured.

Rubbing the back of his head, Jack relented, "I guess...do I have to? I mean I think I just sprained my charity bone by using it for the first time in...ever. Am I Santa Claus now?"

Omi blinked. "Who?"

Meeting the silent stares of the others, Jack hung his head and gave a strained sigh. "Fine. I was gonna do this when I was evil, just in reverse, but I'll use the Claws to move my wu to the vault."

Raimundo quirked a brow. "Wait, if you were just gonna clean out the vault with the Claws, why'd you even chase after wu in the first place?"

Jack gave a breezy shrug. "I like the hunt." Had he not made it clear that he took pride in being so hands-on in the race to gather the wu? In being the most active villain in pursuit of them? Being noticed?

"Whoooo is this Santa Claus?" Omi insisted irately, "Is this person in some way related to the use of the Golden Tiger Claws?"

"Later, Omi," Jack assured, "That one's gonna need some visual aids."

Though tedious, Jack stood himself in the depths of the shen gong wu vault, reaching his hand through the rift time after time, pulling out a new item to hand off to Omi, who had kindly opted to accompany him in his menial task. The shorter boy placed the wu into its proper drawer along the underground spiral staircase before scampering back to accept the next item.

Lastly, after Jack had handed over the Tiger Claws themselves, he let a small safe extend from the helibot on his back, opening it to reveal the still-shrunken half of the Moby Morpher he'd been given. He took that out on his palm and offered it forward.

"I dunno if you still wanted this back, but..."

Omi's brow went up to even see that item again. But shortly, he smiled softly and looked back up at Jack, reaching to push the other boy's fingers to curl over his palm.

"I am pleased to see that you have kept it well. I trust you to continue guarding it safely." The fact that Jack had taken that job seriously, and hadn't even used his plan with the Tiger Claws to steal the other half for himself, was heartwarming.

Cheeks flushing slightly, Jack looked away and silently stowed the piece back where he'd been keeping it.

...

The first night the new arrival spent in his new location went uneventfully enough. He did have to be rudely awakened in the morning, Clay being recruited to make the floor itself surge and roll to fling Jack from his sleeping mat, but once he was up, the redhead relented to being awake.

He was the last to arrive to his first day of training with the others, the group almost wondering if Jack had fallen asleep in the bathroom and they'd have to drag him out, when the boy finally arrived. As he did, everyone including Master Fung startled in fright.

"Gooooood morning, everyone~!" Jack sparkled, giving a dainty twirl as he pranced onto the scene. His hair was well-sleeked in a neat, combed style, and he sported a blue sweater vest and crisp, white slacks. His chunky black boots were replaced with very nice loafers.

"Especially to all of my delightful new teammates! Who's ready for a swell day of perfect teambuilding to become the ultimate force of good in the universe?!" he trilled, moving to give each Dragon a hearty greeting squeeze.

"Oh no..." Kimiko blanched as she slowly backpedaled and held a staving hand up in horror, ultimately unable to stop the hug coming for her. "Good Jack..!"

Recovering from his own hug, Raimundo puzzled, "How in the..?"

Clay just marveled, "Dashi help us all..."

Getting his own hug, Jermaine's expression was a very grim shock as he was unable to process what he was experiencing, his cheek crushed against Jack's. "Okay, what is this..?" He'd never seen Jack in this state.

Even Omi seemed disturbed by this presentation. As he too sucked in breath to recover from the crushing hug he'd received, he looked at Jack opening his arms towards Master Fung and advancing in slow, predatory, sunny steps, and scurried forward to stop the boy by grabbing the leg of his slacks. Master Fung was stepping backward much in the way Kimiko had.

"I am most confused!" Omi pressed, sliding in front of the albino boy, "Jack, did you do this to yourself because you are afraid you cannot be good without submitting to such severe alteration?"

Behind them, Raimundo grimaced, "Or is this just how he thinks good people are supposed act?"

"What are you talking about?" Jack grinned innocently at them all. "You all know this is how my good half has always been! Now that it's official, I just figured I'd let him up to the surface! After all, who better to embody all of those good vibes we're going to share than Good Jack himself? Don't worry, you'll get used to it. In fact, with enough time and love, I'm sure you're all going to love me riiiiight baaack~..."

Clasping his hands by his cheek, his eyes widened into a creepy stare that bore right through the others as he tipped his head with an even bigger grin, one foot popping to complete his giddy pose. The Dragons scooted closer to one another in fear, clinging in a clump of uncertainty and unnerve.

Then, suddenly, Jack clapped his hands to his gut and gave a harsh cackle. As the others blinked, he wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of one eye and exclaimed, "Gotcha!"

As the others relaxed their posture and continued to stare at him, he flipped a careless wrist at them and adopted a much more casual stance that fit his regular demeanor. "Ahh, I couldn't resist. First day and all, I just had to show up as Good Jack. I mean really, did any of us think I could go good without being him before? Besides maybe Omi?"

With a breath of relief, but still a bit annoyed, Raimundo came forward professing, "Respect for the bold choice of pulling a group prank first day, but dude, you almost gave me a heart attack...!" He punched Jack's arm lightly.

Hand to his chest, Master Fung had to agree. "I am afraid I must side with Raimundo in this case..."

Not having intended to cause any actual health issues, Jack looked over his shoulder awkwardly and granted, "Oh...um. Sorry." The head monk had really been that traumatized by Good Jack's affection?

The general consensus seemed to be relieved chuckles now that it was revealed Jack had merely adopted the look to temporarily fool them all.

"I dunno anything about this whole look," Jermaine chipped in, "But man, that was freaky..!" He was extremely glad not to have been exposed to such a character before, and that he wouldn't be expected to deal with such a teammate for real.

"Welcome to our second future," Kimiko informed him, "I was so not ready to have to put up with that again." After the first time the future had been rewritten, and Jack had been stuck good, he'd been living with them as an unofficial teammate. Such a nightmare was an insufferable thing to imagine reliving.

Relieved as well, Omi worked it out for himself. "I see now. Jack takes advantage of our previous experiences to cause fearfulness! Most humorous!" A short laugh before he became quite serious and jabbed a finger for Jack. "But concern me like that again and I am afraid I will have to concoct severely dire consequences."

While Jack blinked in stun at this promise of retaliation, not having expected Omi to be worried, Master Fung took the opportunity to cut in.

"Well. As glad as I am that this was mere shenanigans, Jack Spicer, I am afraid that your attire does not lend itself to the purposes of training. Nor do your regular garments. If you will be staying with us, you will be required to wear monk's attire while within the temple walls."

Glancing down at his clothes and indeed finding it hard to imagine doing any fancy moves in slippery-soled loafers, Jack granted, "Fair enough. But just 'cause I'm on your side now, don't think I'm giving up my look..! Goth for life, baby!" A finger wagged at the elderly monk.

Sending his eyes glancing helplessly to the sky for a moment, Master Fung then returned with a sigh, "Not to worry, young Spicer. A warrior is not measured by their attire...no matter how unsettling."

"Thaaaat's right! Thank you," Jack returned smugly before startling. "Heyyy..!"

Containing a muted smile for his vengeful jab, Master Fung granted, "If you would please follow me, your stay being official means you should be granted your own set of robes. You will need to select your size from the store room. The rest of you, please take the time to consider how to best assist your new teammate while he gets changed. As he has no prior training, today we shall be focusing on acclimating him to the basics."

In reality, the other monks spent their time gossiping about how they thought Jack would do and taking a short spell to lounge around. Jack returned within a few minutes, hair returned to its usual swept back look, his widow's peaked forehead looking a little bare without goggles. He sported the standard red tunic, but had gone with black pants like Omi's, as opposed to the white ones the other boys wore. In Jack's opinion, the more black in a wardrobe, the better. Just as well, as the only difference in his outfit was that the sash he wore was black instead of the navy blue of the Wudai rank the others sported.

Presenting himself with loosely spread arms and shifting a bit to give himself a fresh once over, he judged, "A little light, but not bad. Still my favorite color combo. How do I look?"

The others gave a collective approving thumb up, and Omi added, "Like a true Xiaolin."

"Which Ah can still hardly believe is true," Clay chipped in.

"Well believe it, Cowpoke," Jack shot back, flattered and emboldened by Omi's comment, "Our first day as a real team is here! So what's the plan? Do I get to learn how to make a spike pit?" His hands rubbed together in prospective glee.

"Actually," Master Fung informed, stepping forward and offering a cloth to Jack, "The plan is for you to put on this blindfold."

Blinking at the thing in Master Fung's hand, Jack quirked a skeptical brow. Pointing at it, he voiced said skepticism. "What, is this like a hazing thing? Blindfold the new guy and leave him standing for hours? Walk me into the mountains? Throw tomatoes at me?"

"Hey, I like the way this guy thinks," Raimundo quipped, "Remind me to try that stuff out on him later."

He earned a stern look from Master Fung and put his palms up peacefully. "Kidding..!"

To Jack, Master Fung assured, "It is not for pranking. The first step on your journey will be to develop your reflexes. More specifically, to awaken your Tiger Instinct."

Perking, Jack noted, "Oh, hey! I know what that is!" He'd heard enough about it while Raimundo complained about Omi's perfectly-honed one.

"Good," Master Fung nodded, "Then you are already one step towards mastering it."

Still looking a little doubtful, Jack took the blindfold and tied it around his eyes. Yup, it was a perfectly normal blindfold. "Now what?"

"Now?" their instructor echoed, "Try to dodge."

Sharply, his elbow jerked back at shoulder height, and a formed fist flew forward to meet Jack's face.

"Huh?"

Jack did absolutely nothing in reaction to the incoming force, merely taking the fist sinking into his flesh at full force and flying like a ragdoll. He heard the others gasp as it felt like he flew in slow motion, performing a graceful lateral spin mid-air before crashing hard into the cobblestone and skidding a good few feet.

As he lay groaning, Master Fung returned to a calm stance and placed his hands into his sleeves.

"You did not dodge."

Pushing himself up to sit, Jack pointed irately towards the sound of the elder's voice and sniped, "Well, duh! How am I supposed to?! I knew it! You just wanna beat me up!"

"You were instructed to dodge," Master Fung countered patiently, "I am not to blame if you failed to follow my instruction." Looking to the others who were still gawping at the unexpected sight of their mentor punching Jack across the pavement, Master Fung offered, "Would someone else like to take the opportunity to instruct young Spicer on how to find his instincts?"

Looks were exchanged between the others. In the past, any one of them would have jumped at the chance to pummel a defenseless Jack, but they were supposed to be helping him here. Just beating him up would hardly make for a good first impression as teammates. They had a feeling Master Fung knew this as well. This was probably a test for them as much as it was for Jack.

"Yo, I got this," Jermaine piped up, and came forward to reach his hand for Jack. Jack did nothing in response to the hand trying to help him, so Jermaine reached even further and picked up the other boy's hand to help him stand. Once Jack was up he advised, "Just breathe, man. Senses take focus. Feel where I am."

Obeying, Jack did take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He tipped his head and blindly waved his hands out in front of him, causing Jermaine to wince as a thumb got dangerously close to going up his nostril. Grabbing Jack's arms and pushing them down, he corrected, "Um...not literally. I'd appreciate it if Omi's the only one you were on a nostril-to-know basis with."

Behind him, Omi nodded vigorously with crossed arms, clearly jealous of this handsy exchange, before Jermaine's words caught up with him and he instead tilted his head in grossed out puzzle.

"Um...okay, got it." Jack figured he could tell Jermaine was right in front of him by now anyway and pointed at him.

Leaning away from the finger still uncomfortably close to his nose, Jermaine carried on. "Okay, good. Now you know where I am, try to read my hit. I'll be sure not to be Master quick." A small smirking side glance to their superior, who returned a minute good-natured smile.

Still, as Jermaine threw a punch, Jack did nothing. The darker boy's fist connected with his cheek and he simply collapsed like a sack of bones.

"Ow..."

Blinking, Jermaine was perplexed. "What was that, man? I thought you had it..!" Crouching, he helped Jack to his feet again, the taller boy wobbling a bit and holding his sore head.

"You didn't say when..!"

A round of scoffs met this, Jack clearly missing the purpose here. Kimiko stalked forward and pushed Jermaine out of the way with a curt, "Move..!"

Facing the redhead, she said shortly, "Jack. I am going to punch your gut. All you have to do is jump back. Listen for it coming. Feel the approach. You're supposed to predict it. Ready?"

Grunting, Jack stood more firmly. He didn't need to be spoken to like a baby. "Ready!"

Kimiko struck, and Jack let out a breathy 'oof' as he doubled over in pain, arms crossed over his gut. Staggering, he fell to his knees and gasped for air.

"Jaaaack!" Kimiko wailed, "I told you to jump away..! You didn't do anything..!"

"I didn't...sense anything..!" Jack argued crossly through his gasps, "What am I supposed to be feeling?!"

Raimundo snapped his fingers. "Okay, I think I got the problem here." Coming to Jack's side and helping him stand once more, he tossed a casual arm over the other's shoulders and was willfully oblivious to Omi's disgruntle as he advised, "Jack dude, it's all about liiiittle micro changes in the air. Take it from an expert. Like this, you know?"

He swished his palm minutely, sending a small gust to breeze across Jack's slowly swelling face. "Only even smaller. You gotta use your chi and other senses to pick that stuff up. It's what predicting's all about. Of course, knowing your opponent helps a lot too."

A considerate finger curled to his jaw, Jack nodded along. "Okay...I think I got it." Forming a wider stance, Jack poised his arms and said with determination, "Come at me."

Grinning, sure his instruction was going to do the trick, Raimundo stepped back and aimed a kick to sweep Jack's legs.

Jack sprawled out onto his back with another choked, pained cry.

Palm to his forehead, Raimundo had no idea what had gone wrong that time. "Dude..! That wasn't even fast..!"

Having been observing, Clay came forward and said evenly, "Jack. Dodge left...now." He thrust a lazy fist forward as Jack obeyed, successfully getting out of the way of the massive fist. He let out a short, happy laugh, before Clay raised his other hand and delivered a small flick to his nose.

At this, Jack flinched and cried out in pain again, clasping his hands over his face. "Hey, you didn't say there'd be another one..!"

To the others, Clay noted, "Yeah, Ah'm thinkin' we need ta think outside the box here. Feller ain't got a tiger bone in his body."

"Well what do you expect?" Jack retorted, "I'm not a tiger! How would you all like it if I smacked you around without warning, huh?" Angrily, he flailed his fists around wildly, trying to hit someone. The others all had no problems dodging and jumping back from him as he tried to attack them.

Omi took this moment to scamper forth and grab hold of Jack's leg. "Please, calm yourself, Jack..! We are only trying to help..! We will find a solution to helping you discover your potential..!"

"Yeah? Well find it fast, Baldy. I didn't sign up to be the team punching bag." Huffing, Jack crossed his arms and pretended not to be consoled by his boyfriend's presence.

Unfortunately, no matter what the others tried, Jack found himself taking hit after hit. He did agree with them that experience was probably the best way to learn what he was supposed to be sensing, and as such turned down Omi's suggestion of trying hugs instead of strikes, but he was quickly getting frustrated when he simply ended up aching for his efforts. Even if he did manage to dodge a hit or two, which was encouraged with supportive cheers, he didn't know what he'd done right and ended up running right into another fist.

Eventually, the team felt they had to stop. If they didn't, Jack was probably going to suffer internal bleeding.

"Yeesh," Raimundo grimaced at the boy swaying in place, "If he wanted to make us feel guilty about whupping his butt for once, mission accomplished."

"Never thought I'd say it," Kimiko agreed, "But I feel sorry for Jack. He was so excited about joining us, too."

With a somber sigh, Clay turned for the redhead and admitted, "Sorry, Jack, but Ah think we've plum run out of angles to see this here problem from. Boy, you sure can take a punch, though. Ah'm impressed yer still standin'!"

First, Jack sagged in disappointment to hear the others were giving up. Then, he perked. "Take a punch...hey, wait! I think I got it! Someone, try to hit me again!"

Everyone hesitated. "Uuuuhhhm..."

Master Fung, having found this training session somewhat hard to watch, as he had never seen a Chosen One struggle like this with their first lesson, granted, "It is sometimes wise to know when to retreat, young Dragon. At least for the time being."

"No, I mean it!" Jack insisted, "I think I found the angle! I've been thinking way too hard about this!" Grabbing to his right, he clung to Clay's sleeve. "C'mon, Clay, hit me!"

Eyebrows raising to note Jack had found his specific sleeve to grab, the Texan supposed maybe Jack had picked up something about gathering a mental picture after all. "Well...if yer sure."

Placing his fists confidently on his hips, Jack confirmed, "Totally!"

The large blonde formed a fist and looked unsure at it for a second, but then did as he was asked and threw one last punch Jack's way.

"Ahh!"

All at once, his knuckles collided with an incredibly solid surface, Jack smiling complacently as he skidded backwards, covered in a silvery coating. Clay had just essentially punched a steel wall.

Holding his throbbing hand, he looked after Jack with an expression of stun. "What in Tarnation..?"

The shiny surface melted from Jack as he spread his arms with a triumphant grin. "You said I was supposed to use my chi, right? Well, why should I need to be fast enough to dodge if I can just use my element? Still stops me getting hurt!"

Looks exchanged between the others, some impressed, some merely stunned.

"Isn't that kind of cheating..?" Raimundo wondered.

"On the contrary," Master Fung ruled, "A strike was sensed, and Jack countered it. I would say much like Clay himself is versed at, Jack has simply found a simple solution to a complicated problem."

Beaming proudly, Clay agreed, "Always another angle." To Jack, he granted, "Sorry fer almost givin' up on that. Reckon Ah can't be too sore if a sore hand's all Ah got compared to you, either. When'd you pick up how to summon elements?"

Jack shrugged, though looking very proud himself. "Honestly? Not as hard as you guys made it look. Like I wasn't going to try messing with it after I got metal powers? Please."

Master Fung's brow went up. "Actually, summoning one's element from nothing is usually the most difficult part of controlling it a Dragon faces when starting."

"Yeah, y'know, unless it's air," Raimundo quipped, "Kinda never had to learn that one."

"Really?" Jack blinked underneath his blindfold. "Huh. Sweet."

"I suppose there is a uniqueness to your skill set," Master Fung pondered, finding it quite curious that Jack could have no trouble seemingly mastering his element by playing with it for a couple days unguided, yet could not muster up a proper Tiger Instinct with five other Dragons and a Xiaolin Master at his aid. "Would you perhaps demonstrate once more? To ensure it is not a fluke, of course."

Without warning, testing out of his own curiosity, the elder appeared by Jack's side and struck his head with the blade of his hand. He was met with the same protective shielding Clay had struck.

"Hey!" the silver boy bristled, rounding on Master Fung, "I thought we were done with the hitting!"

"...indeed." Returning to his modest stance, the head monk granted, "We were meant to go over forms and basic strikes, but due to unexpected time constraints, that will be all for today. Well done, Jack Spicer. You are all free to do with the day as you please." Turning, Master Fung took his leave as the youngsters jumped and cheered for their freedom. Only when sure they were paying him no mind did the elder take his hand from his sleeve and grimace as he nursed it. Jack's metal was quite solid indeed.

This was something the others were noting with impress. Jermaine knocked on Jack's arm, noting the dull clunk his knuckles made. "Cool, dawg..!" he awed, "You're like one of those living statue performers we got in Times Square. Only instead-a bein' covered in spraypaint? You're really metal!"

"Yeah, how do you move or...breathe?" Kimiko wondered, "Metal's not exactly a Summery cotton blend."

A shrug as Jack took the blindfold off. "Just do. I think 'protect me', and this happens. Like I said, not that hard." He seemed quite happy to be the center of attention. "Guess you could say I'm just a natural."

Some eye rolls there.

Omi beamed. "I am pleased you have found your own way. As always, your solutions prove to be most clever..! I was almost worried you would not even make it to beginner..!" Putting a hand to his cheek, he shook his head to accentuate the worry.

It was Jack's turn to roll his eyes. "And as always, your faith is highly comforting, Opi."

Another beam. "I am glad."

"Sarcasm, sweet pea."

"Oh."

"So anyway, who's up for a Goo Zombies speedrunning marathon?" Kimiko offered, "All seven games. Last to drop out gets out of chores the rest of the week?"

"Oo-ee, you know how to lay a gauntlet down..! You're on, Fire Girl," Jermaine accepted without hesitation.

Clay shrugged. "Ah'm not much of a gamin' feller myself, but Ah'll gladly watch you two duke it out for a bit."

"This sounds like a wondrous way to commemorate Jack Spicer's first successful lesson!" Omi approved, "With the recreational heat of virtual battle!"

The group started heading towards indoors, Kimiko pausing when Raimundo failed to say anything, finding he had indeed stopped as well, glancing at a likewise silent Jack, who was simply de-coating himself of his metal sheen.

"Rai? You coming? Goo Zombies is right up your alley."

Omi too stopped and looked back with some skepticism hearing Raimundo had halted.

"Yeah, totally. Be right there," Raimundo nodded to the pigtailed girl, "Just gimme a sec to catch up. Leader business."

Realizing the others had noticed his silence, Jack waved off, "What he said. I dig the Zombies, just need a minute."

Accepting this, Kimiko went on her way. Omi watched her pass, and gave the others a curious lingering look, but then turned to follow the others. If Jack and Raimundo needed to catch their breath, he supposed there was nothing wrong with that. Jack especially had had a difficult time. He would get to see him inside.

Seeing his suspicions proven right, Raimundo watched Jack walk to lean against one of the freestanding climbing walls and sink into a sit, letting out a breath. Rather than keeping to himself, the brunette walked over.

"Rough first practice?"

Opening his eyes, Jack stared at the other boy.

Offering a friendly shrug, Raimundo granted, "It's okay to say so. We're teammates now and all. We really didn't mean to beat you up that much. And you still passed! It's cool you found your own thing."

"Like I'm not used to you animals tearing me to shreds worse than that," Jack passed off.

Quirking a brow, the Brazilian went on despite the clear cue to cut him off. "Okay, so is somethin' else buggin' you? I can tell you for certain you're having a better first day than Jermaine if that's what you're worried about." A soft chuckle. "It's my job to make sure the new guy's welcome and stuff. So what's up?" He hadn't been friendly with Jack nearly as long as Omi, but he could still tell Jack was being oddly quiet.

"Nothing, I'm just...are you sure? About that?" An awkward beat. "This whole 'lesson' didn't feel real teambuildy, if that's a word. Even with the glowy glows, I'm not too sure I fit in. Now instead of a punching bag, I'm a shiny punching bag. Just kinda wanna...think about things, y'know?"

Eyes sliding to the side, Raimundo crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder against the edge of the flat wall. "Well, if we'd gotten to the forms part, there prob'ly would've been a lot less punching. Well, less punching you. But we'll get to that stuff tomorrow. No one's gonna hate you for taking extra time on this. You've got like no training, dude..! The rest of us were at least into some kind of fighting before Master Fung got us into Tai Chi."

A grim pause.

"And okay. I'm only telling you this because we're friends now? But-"

Jack's neck straightened. "We're friends?!"

"Uh...yeah? Thought that was obvious when we stopped calling you a gross, creepy nincompoop."

"Wow..! Friends..! It's just so nice to hear..!" Jack's eyes sparkled into space as he teared up wistfully.

"Yyyyyeah." Raimundo decided to pave over the discomfort and dive into a fresh batch of it. "Anyway, I just wanted to say, like...I can relate to being the guy who's behind. I'm sure Omi's bragged all about how I was the last one to gain the Apprentice title. I had a lot of doubts about my own path back then. I've only done it the one time, but those doubts are what caused me to switch sides too. It can be hard to stick to what's right and not feel like you should be doing more. Like you're not good enough. Or like evil is a freer path."

A moment of processing silence from Jack, hardly believing he was hearing something he could so easily relate to from one of the monks. Well, one of his fellow monks now. "...yeah."

"All I'm saying is, don't quit so fast this time. You had to have meant you wanted this if the Xiaolin magic believed you. Omi loves to talk about how great you are at putting everything into what you're doing. How about proving him right? 'cause all I can say is if you betray us now, you lose us for good."

Jack hunched at the strict promise. "No, I wasn't...thinking anything like that...much."

"Good."

"It just...still feels weird, I guess? I half-expect to wake up. Like wow. Here I am. I chose to go good. Who am I anymore? Will I really belong here?"

A stream of air slipped from Raimundo's nose. "Yeah, I get that too." Seeing Jack perk curiously, he elaborated with a nod, "That's how I felt after becoming the leader. I didn't feel like I deserved it all the time. Sometimes I was sure there'd been some mistake. I'm still not totally sure I deserve it after the things I did, but if I could prove myself and earn the title from so far behind, then what's to say you can't fit in too? I've got friends to support me, and Jermaine has made me feel really comfortable, always being there to talk. I know I can lead this team."

Jack tapped his thumbs together coyly. "Soooo, what you're saying is...I could be the leader?"

One of the tanned boy's cheeks pinched. "Weeeell, I dunno if I'd go that far..." He was pretty attached to his leader status, and he wasn't sure he was close enough to Jack to encourage usurping him in jest. "Honestly? Still not a hundred percent on the possibility of you going traitor for the millionth time."

Jack shrugged. "Understandable. I am a team player, though. So long as my team doesn't backstab me? We're good."

With a small smirk, Raimundo shook his head lightly. Bending down, he gave Jack's shoulder a quick, firm couple of pats. "Welcome aboard, Jack. Don't worry. You'll get used to us."

Silently, Jack watched the other head off after his friends. He let a small smile find him, knowing someone besides Omi wished to encourage him. Did they all feel that way? It almost sounded like it. What a nice thought, supportive friends.

Still, used to being alone to lick his wounds, Jack wasn't sure he was up for more group socializing after such a punishing early morning.

…

Sitting off to one side of the small set of steps inside the great hall, Jack had his eyes glued to a handheld gaming console. Peeking around a corner behind him, a small yellow figure then scurried to sit on the steps too, at a respectful distance.

Gaining no reaction, Omi turned his head to face Jack and scooted closer with an expectant smile. He adopted a meditation pose.

Still no reaction.

Peeking out from under one eyelid, Omi did not lose his smile as he repeated this, coyly scooting closer and closer, clearly wheedling for some sort of acknowledgment as he himself pretended not to have noticed Jack.

Finally, when they were side by side, knees touching, and Omi had still not seen Jack even flick his eyes from his game for a split second, the bald boy decided only one option remained. Like a cat, he crawled his way onto Jack's lap and held his meditation pose there.

"Hey..!" Jack certainly reacted now. His arms lifted awkwardly to try and keep playing as Omi nudged up under them. After failing to find a good angle with the smaller boy and his bulbous head taking up all of his lap space, Jack tried to nudge Omi's shoulder with his hand to give him a clue. "Trying to play here, Egozilla!"

With an explosion and a dreary music sting, his console informed him that he'd died.

Jack grunted. "Well I was..."

Sagging in defeat, his chin slumped forward to rest neatly on top of Omi's head, the bald boy grinning in victory.

"I thought you were off playing Goo Zombies," Jack finally acknowledged the pest.

"I lost~."

"Why do you sound so happy about it?"

A chipper giggle. "Because, when you did not follow Raimundo, I decided I would much rather enjoy your first day at the temple with you anyway. I am very happy to have you here, my redbud."

Jack's cheeks darkened rather promptly hearing such a sappy remark, but his flat expression remained the same.

"So I guess privacy doesn't exist with roommates, huh?"

Another giggle at the crack. "Not, how you say, so much. And I would like to say how proud I am of you for completing your first day of training. Never did I expect that we would be Dragon teammates..! We will see each other every day! Fight side by side together! Ahh, I am feeling so very close to you."

A soft tut. "Yeah, just think how awkward that'll be when we break up."

Omi's eyes bulged open. "What?! You are plotting to end our dating?! But...have I not been a most affectionate and fulfilling boyfriend to you, Jack Spicer?!" Scrambling around to face Jack, Omi gripped the other boy's tunic with wide, teary eyes and a trembling lip.

Jack snorted, quickly crumbling into cracking up as he slipped a loose hold around Omi's waist with his free arm. "It was just a joke, Omi..! Jeez, who knew you were clingier than me?" A pause. "Wait. That didn't come out right."

Switching suddenly to steamed, Omi pouted quite hard at the other laughing quite literally in his face. "Ohhh, Jack Spicer..! Do not joke about such terrible things..!" Seeing Jack's lips waver in another entertained smile, endeared by his upset, Omi gained a cruel smirk. "However, I notice you did not answer my question...well, Jack Spicer? Am I not a most fulfilling boyfriend?"

Lips thinning now, Jack looked away. Omi knew he hated talking about sappy stuff like that. The brat.

At this silence, Omi placed both palms to his own cheeks and pouted his lower lip tearfully again. "If you do not tell me, I shall perhaps have to assume the worst and begin the water workings all over again..!"

"Not buyin' it, Omi."

Folding his arms now, Omi pouted his lip more in displeasure this time. "Oh yes. My mistake. My tears bring you to laughter..!"

Crushing his eyes shut with a guilty grunt, Jack knew it was a trick to make him feel bad, but dang if it didn't work. Still looking away, he hugged the smaller boy flush against his front and grumbled, "Yu'r a gud boyfrun..."

Chuckling as he was once more nestled snugly under Jack's chin, Omi hugged back. "Are you most suuuure~? I am not quite catching your words."

Jack sighed, hating the words being dragged out of him, but finding it adorable when Omi was a sneaky weasel. "Yes, you're...fulfilling, or whatever. Love you."

Omi's brow went up and he pulled back to stare at Jack in a moment of stun.

Jack blushed and looked uncomfortable. "Wh-What..?"

Omi just let his face melt into a warm smile, a gentle touch running its way down Jack's cheek. "I...love you too, Jack." It felt so bright in his chest both to hear and to say that. It sounded like a slip, and might not mean something as deep as a love for the ages, but it was still so nice. And if Omi did not love Jack, then why did he desire to be so close, hold and kiss only him so strongly? He would like this to be a love for the ages.

Realizing what he'd said, Jack's cheeks burned brighter. Oops. W-Well...that was just a thing couples said, wasn't it? No big deal. "Good to know," he said bluntly, and leaned forward to give Omi a matching short peck. "Can I play my game now?" He was sure he'd delivered on sappy mush well enough.

With a very happy tut, Omi turned back around to sit in Jack's lap. As Jack held his console, Omi slid his hands over the other boy's and leaned a cozy slump to the side in the taller boy's arms so Jack could see. "May we play together?"

With a relenting hum, Jack shifted so he was holding one half of the controls and Omi could grab the other, his free hand once more finding its way around Omi's waist. "Not sure how well that's gonna go, but whatever. You move, I'll shoot."