Jack was hardly paying attention to the meeting he was currently sitting in. He'd skimmed the report already, far more interested in the outgoing numbers of tech than in the profit margin. In all reality, he did not want to be in a board meeting for his company right now. He would much rather be in the Land of Nowhere, specifically in Chase's-
"Mr. Spicer?"
"Hmm?" Jack blinked, casting bored eyes to the clean-cut man before him.
"Your thoughts on perhaps raising our prices to increase our profits? We have a place to restructure our payment plans that could really improve-"
"I've told you before, the prices stay."
"But sir, the other shareholders really think-"
"The other shareholders can have a say when they put in the work." Jack snapped. In this world, Jack Spicer was known to be generous, but extraordinarily strict. He never allowed others to push him around in the business world, as cut-throat as any mob boss and thrice as clever.
The Chief Financial Officer deflated slightly, nodding. "Of course, sir. But we are going to become stagnant soon if we don't do something…"
"Then we'll release the next piece of technology." Jack pulled a tablet from his bag, easily taking over the projector. "These nanobots are user-friendly and can be calibrated to most medical procedures. If we start the process now, we should be able to get FDA approval by next year."
The slideshow ran as Jack spoke, the rest of the board and management team watching in awe. It was disgusting how quickly their tune changed when he presented this, an instant and consistent money-maker.
An hour later found Jack at the train station. He checked his watch, standing close to the yellow line. Just a few minutes.
"Yo, Jack!" An angry voice shouted from behind. Jack turned, glancing to see Raimundo glaring at him as civilians gave him odd looks. The Brazilian didn't have his usual gang of monks, nor was he dressed in his Shoku Warrior robes. He was, however, clutching two Shen Gong Wu.
"Raimundo? What're you doing in New York?" Jack asked conversationally, eyeing the Wu. The Golden Tiger Claws, he was likely here alone and no one knew he'd come, and the Eye of Dashi, which meant he was certainly looking for a fight.
"I think you know damn well what I'm doing here, seu filho da puta." His green eyes were fiery and would not move from Jack. Raimundo started walking closer, ignoring the other people in the station.
"Se soubesse, não teria perguntado, idiota." The redhead shot back, crossing his arms. The rebuttal in his native tongue had thrown the monk off, just enough for Jack to adjust his watch.
Raimundo got over the shock quickly, "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to Omi and Kimiko!"
"What I did? Omi lost, fair and square, and Tohomiko attacked me. I merely defended myself." Jack took a step back, noticing the crowd that was starting to form around them. An audience. Perfect.
"Você cala a boca! I'll make you pay for hurting my friends!" The green-eyed man yelled before lunging forward. The crowd gasped as Raimundo made to punch Jack, swinging with his Wu-less fist. The albino dodged, running around and away from the tracks. The crowd kept away, some already trying to get the attention of police. Raimundo reached for the Eye of Dashi, pointing it at Jack.
"Hey! There are civilians here, Rai!" That seemed to be enough to make the Brazilian think twice, but it only made the hatred in his eyes burn brighter. He tucked the Wu away and leapt up.
Assisted by his Dragon abilities, Raimundo attempted to beat the living shit out of Jack Spicer. He was a whirlwind of rage, knocking people over left and right when he missed his intended target. Jack knew that, to the crowd, it seemed like this punk had started attacking him out of the blue. Just the way he needed it to seem.
After a minute or two of dodging, Jack stood back by the yellow line. The train was soon approaching and Raimundo was seeing red. The Shoku Warrior of the Wind finally landed a punch on his intended target, making Jack stumble backward off the platform.
Jack hissed, knowing he'd have bruises from the punch to his face and landing on the tracks. He pulled his arm up, not bothering to sit up as he heard the screams and the screeching brakes of the train. With a simple touch to his watch, Jack disappeared seconds before the train pulled in.
Raimundo stared, frozen. Had he…just murdered Jack Spicer? He felt his belt, his fingers trembling all the more when they came into contact with the cool metal of the Golden Tiger Claws. People were screaming around him, and there were police starting to come. Shaking violently, he grabbed the Wu and stammered its name, managing to slip into the portal amidst the chaos.
In the Land of Nowhere, Chase had been having a rather nice relaxing day. Had, being the operative word. Then, Jack Spicer appeared on the floor in his sparring room in the middle of a session. Both warriors paused immediately, Chase's annoyed frown quickly turning to one of concern when he spotted the colorful bruise that marred the younger man's right cheek.
"Uriel, go draw a bath." The immortal spoke at length, minimizing his spear. The knight he'd been sparring with bowed before shifting into his lion form and setting out to do as his master commanded. Once his minion had left, Chase knelt beside Jack.
"Spicer, what happened?"
"Hi Chase…can you give me a sec?" Jack managed a smile before closing his eyes and trying to slow his breathing. Chase noticed how fast the redhead's heart was beating, the light scent of panic over him as well as…
"Why do you smell of Pedrosa?" It wasn't a question, but a demand. Jack made a face, taking a deep breath and opening his eyes. He knew when Chase was pissed even when the man looked serene. Now was definitely one of those times.
"He attacked me in New York. At the train station."
"…in front of people?"
"Mhm. I don't think the other monks knew what he was up to, he wasn't wearing his uniform."
"I see."
"I'm gonna make him regret it though." Jack groaned as he attempted to sit up, his back protesting. "Fuck, that hurts."
"And how exactly did he beat you?" Chase asked, still squatting beside him and making no effort to help the other.
"I let him."
That caught Chase's interest. Finally, he helped Jack onto his feet, though there was much vocal complaining from the latter. He noticed Jack limped slightly as they started to walk toward the bathroom.
"Explain yourself, Spicer. What do you mean that you let him beat you?"
Jack let out a heavy sigh, managing to pull his tablet from his bag. Thank goodness for shock-proof cases. He noticed the twinge in his shoulders as he shifted and typed, easily hacking into the CCTV of Grand Central Station before handing it to Chase. The dragon lord frowned but took the device, watching the playback.
His brows crept up throughout the fight, watching Jack egg the Dragon of Wind on while masterfully dodging his blows. To the untrained eye, it looked like an unprovoked attack on an innocent civilian by an armed man. And then, Jack planted himself before the track, took the punch and fell onto the tracks.
Chase thrust the device back to his lover as the train pulled in, looking at the bruised but alive young man before him. Jack had taken this moment of opportunity and played it out quite well.
"You used your nanotechnology to get out in time."
"Yep, but they don't know that." Jack sighed, putting the tablet back in his bag. "I'm going to have to figure out how to explain that I didn't die to the company…and the government…"
"What about that robotic twin of yours?"
"RoboJack? He's been decommissioned for years, couldn't trust him."
"Sounds like a perfect scapegoat." Chase smiled, "Especially when they don't find a body…"
Jack gave a tired chuckle, nodding as they came to the bathroom. The redhead stripped off everything, setting them down carefully so as not to make a mess. He'd come to like a lot of the warriors here and didn't want to give them a hard time. Chase helped him with items that the bruises made difficult, his hands gentle and ghosting over the paper white skin.
There were two lines of bruises across Jack's body, an easy display for how he'd fallen on the train tracks. They disappeared quickly beneath the water as he climbed into the steaming bath with a sigh.
"Fuck, your tubs are the best." He glanced at Chase, smiling tiredly. The dragon lord had removed his clothes, dipping into the water.
"I desire nothing but the best." He stated, his hands pulling down a jar. Jack knew inside was a mild but fragrant soap with a foamy texture. Something old and natural. He moved closer, relaxing as Chase's hands started to work the soap over his skin. It was funny, in a way, to think that the hands that were currently so carefully washing him where capable of ripping boulders in half.
"Thanks, Chase." Jack mumbled, his brain shutting down from the exhaustion of his near-death experience. Chase held him, being careful not to be too rough. He ran a hand across the length of Jack's thigh, admiring the color difference. How he wanted to mark that pretty white skin, to make it all his…
Jack was so delicate, though. Even rough kissing produced the most spectacular bruises that lasted over a week on the young man when it came from Chase. As much as he wanted to take him, and he knew Jack wanted it too now, it was very risky. He would need to find a way to keep Jack safe during intercourse.
But first, he had some monks to pay back.