The gold ore peeked out of the rock set in front of Jack. He bit his lip, his arms crossed as his gaze flicked from the stone to his new teacher. Chase was standing patiently beside the workbench, hands clasped behind him.

"…So…I'm supposed to pull this gold out. With my mind?" Jack asked, hesitant. He knew it was more than that. Hell, he understood the science behind the Wudai powers better than anybody! And yet, in regards to himself…

"You need to connect with your element on a deeper level. You are already comfortable with metal, a talented craftsman with it, but you need to be able to feel the energy it gives off and bend it to your will."

"I get that, but how?" Jack uncrossed his arms, leaning on the workbench and looking at the ore. "Understanding the science and applying it are two separate things."

"We need to look at it from a less scientific standpoint. Elements are connected deeply to the core of your personality, to what makes you you. In the case of Tohomiko, for example, it is her passion that drives her ability to command fire."

"Okay…" The younger man furrowed his brows, trying to think. What had Chase told him about the element of metal and its correspondents? The color white. West. Persistence. He frowned. "How are persistence and progress going to get this ore to move?"

Chase chuckled, starting to walk a very slow circle around the workbench and his new apprentice. "Metal is also associated with determination and ambition, Spicer. So, how badly do you want this?"

Something clicked. Persistence and ambition. That's what Jack was at his center. The moment he wanted something, he put everything, his entire being, into getting it. And right now, he wanted this power. The things he could do, the things he could create if he could will metal itself into whatever he wanted!

Jack reached out, his hand hovering over the rock. Gold was an excellent conductor of electricity, so he was familiar with its properties. This ore was roughly 4 inches, and it was easy to see a multitude of veins peeking out. He didn't question how Chase had managed to get his hands on a piece of Bonanza grade ore.

"Come on…" He murmured, closing his eyes. Jack could feel something. He flexed his fingers, drawing his hand up as he concentrated on his desire to make the soft metal in the ore move. Something cool touched his skin, it warmed quickly though, and felt almost liquid.

Chase had the most wicked smile when Jack opened his eyes. Ruby irises moved from the warlord to his own hand. The white flesh was coated in a layer of gold. Jack stared as he hesitantly moved his fingers, finding his range of movement unlimited. He twisted his hand, willing the gold to move up his arm and was amazed to see it obeyed.

"I…I'm doing it. Chase, I'm doing it!"

"Excellent, Spicer." The dragon lord walked closer, examining the movement of the metal. Jack's excitement was radiating out and, for a moment, Chase could see a glimpse of that young fifteen-year-old boy that'd fallen into his arms. A touch of child-like wonder in the adult form Jack had worked hard to cultivate himself into. "Now, we need to refine your skills."

In the excitement of his newfound abilities and becoming Chase's apprentice, Jack seemed to have forgotten about Jun Jie. This made Chase rather smug with himself, to say the least, having gotten rid of the poor look-alike. In the couple of weeks that followed, Jack's abilities had grown exponentially. He was able to control and shape all kinds of metals and pull them from his environment at will.

The looks Chase received from him certainly stroked the immortal's ego as well. The albino would look to him after every exercise and practice, that familiar gaze of hero worship having returned, if to a lesser degree. But Chase gave him the praise he earned, learning quickly that Jack was willing to work all the harder when his efforts were acknowledged.

This happy arrangement was interrupted by a visitor one day, on a training day. Jack and Chase were in the garden, holding staffs. They were going over techniques, Chase dressed down from his usual armor to allow easier demonstration for stances and movements. A JackBot whizzed out to them, stopping a short distance away to keep from being struck by the men as they when through various movements.

"Master, you have a visitor."

"Not now JB-28. Training."

"It is Young Mister Cao."

Jack's stance faltered, though he was quick to recover. He glanced at the bot, brows furrowed. Chase glanced over, forcing his face to be neutral despite the venom he felt at the name.

"What does he want?"

"To speak with you, Master. He is quite insistent.

"Shouldn't he be back in Boston?" Jack mumbled, looking at Chase. The immortal was surprised by the annoyance that the younger man was exhibiting. He smirked slightly.

"Let him in. You may speak while we practice." Chase said, shifting into the next stance. Jack raised a brow, looking at him wearily but gave his robot the command. The bot whizzed away to retrieve the visitor.

Jack didn't get a chance to ask what Chase was up to before Jun Jie was hurrying up to them. He looked like he hadn't slept.

"Uh, hi Jun Jie." Jack moved into the next stance.

"Jack, I…what is he doing here?" Jun Jie looked at Chase, scowling immediately upon seeing the other man. Chase looked over and smirked behind Jack.

"He's teaching me some self-defense moves. Why are you here? Don't you have class?"

"Summer break is almost over and I didn't want to go back until we cleared up things between us. Please, Jack. I've given you weeks to think it over…" Jun Jie stepped closer, reaching out.

Jack lowered the staff he was holding, shifting his weight into a normal standing position. Chase did so as well, frowning as he looked at the interrupter.

"Spicer, should-" Chase started before Jun Jie shot him a glare.

"You stay out of this, Yong Chénglóng!" He spat, staring daggers at the immortal man. His anger and jealousy blinded him to the unnatural spike of his hair and the points of his ears. Chase hadn't bothered with an illusion spell this time, as he was dressed in just his tunic and trousers. Jack glanced at Chase with a confused expression before looking back at Jun Jie.

"I think it's time for you to go." The albino said, pointing back towards the front gate.

"No, Jack, please. He's turning you against me!"

"What, the fuck, are you talking about? You come onto my property uninvited, after I told you I needed time from you breaking my heart, and then you start verbally attacking my guest?" The tone of Jack's voice was dark and a little vicious. There were no crocodile tears this time, just anger.

"Jack, listen, he threatened me! I don't think Chénglóng has good intentions towards you. Please-"

"SHUT UP!" Jack waved his hand, a gesture for Jun Jie to back away. But the anger, the sheer determination on his face, was quickly replaced by shock when the frantic mortal was knocked back.

There was a moment of silence as Jun Jie leaned up from his new position on the ground. Chase was staring, trying to figure out what had happened. Jack hadn't touched the man, so what had caused him to be knocked back? The silence was broken by the redhead with a breathy laugh.

"…holy shit." He looked at Chase, a glint of gleeful wonder in his eyes. "I can control iron."

"Yes…that is a metal…" The dragon lord said at length, raising a brow to indicate he wasn't following the line of thought.

Jack merely grinned, a look that indicated that he would explain later. He glanced back at his ex. "Jun Jie. It's over between us. If you continue harassing me, I will get the authorities involved. Now, get out."

Jun Jie didn't speak, unsure what had happened. He said the triumphant look the sleeker version of himself wore as he picked himself up. He wanted to punch the man, to win Jack back but…that would only make things worse. Without a word, he was escorted back out by a bot.

Once he was gone, Jack pumped his fist in the air. His voice had gotten too deep to really squeal but he still managed to make a series of delighted noises. Chase allowed him the display before using his staff to knock the redhead's feet out from under him.

"Now, care to explain yourself, Spicer?"

"Right, sorry," Jack took the hand offered and was pulled back to his feet. "I knocked him on his ass."

"Yes, I saw. How?"

"With the iron in his blood!"

Chase didn't catch himself in time. The look of shock was plain on his face and Jack was grinning again. The redhead had been able to control the iron in Jun Jie's red blood cells? That was more than he had expected. Before Chase could make a comment, the young man turned back to him.

"So, who's Yong Chénglóng?"

"Pardon?"

"Yong Chénglóng. That's what Jun Jie called you."

"Ah. The last time he barged in, he attempted to be cordial with me. I told him that was my name."

"Why?" Jack arched a brow, "Why not give him your actual name?"

Chase considered him a moment, seeing that any more training today was likely not going to happen. The gears in Jack's mind had been triggered and the younger man was incessantly curious.

"It was my name, at one point." There was a clatter. The staff Jack had been holding had fallen to the ground as the redhead stared. "You didn't really think Chase would be a name given to a child born during the Tang Dynasty, did you?"

"Well, no…not when you…put it like that…" Jack murmured, "But…Guan and Dojo only ever call you Chase."

"I had already adopted the moniker by the time I joined the Xiaolin Temple. It was shorter, easier on the tongue, and made it feel like I had a courtesy name."

Jack watched as Chase snapped his fingers, his armor rematerializing onto his body. Trying to imagine Chase as a child was difficult, but, having seen the good side of him, it wasn't impossible. Chase had always strived for greatness, regardless of the side he was on, so the idea of him creating a courtesy name for himself wasn't a stretch.

"That makes sense. And you shifted to a more Anglicized version of your surname-"

"When I started traveling around Europe more. It also made an amusing quip for myself: Chase Young, chasing youth."

"Huh…that makes a lot of sense, actually. But Chénglóng? Dragon of success? Was your mother a psychic?"

Immortal gold eyes slid over to his apprentice. Jack was dressed down in simple black clothes, his hair pulled back into a low ponytail. His smile had a hint of the usual mischief but was genuine. Jack Spicer had never looked quite so inviting as he did right now.

And yet, Chase didn't reach out to claim him. Not yet. There was still too much work to be done, he had to make sure that he wouldn't lose this man. Chase wasn't sure his black heart could handle not having all of Jack; body, mind and soul.

"Perhaps she was, Spicer. Perhaps."