"What are you doing, wŏ de róngxìng?" Chase asked as he entered the room. This cavern had been converted into a workshop for Jack. It wasn't unusual to see him working on some gizmo or even completely rearranging the place for a fourth time in a week. But the place currently looked and smelled like a forge. And Jack was sporting all the equipment for a blacksmith.

The redhead looked up, welding helmet shielding his expression from Chase's gaze. He shifted the sword he had just been shaping back into the roaring green flame of the fireplace before flipping the helmet up. The look of pure evil glee in his eyes intrigued Chase.

"Spicer?"

"Chase, did you know it takes about 3600 pints of blood to forge a sword?!" The energy in that statement was palpable. The immortal calmly reached out, catching his lover's waist, and pulled him close.

"Is that right?"

"And there are around 10.5 pints of blood in the average adult human body." Jack's eyes were practically aglow, his arms already entwined around the older man's neck.

"I was aware of that fact."

"So it would take roughly 342.857 people to forge a sword from blood iron!"

"Jack. Did you kill 343 people just to make a sword?" Chase asked plainly, though there was a touch of amusement in his tone. Jack giggled and kissed the warlord. He reeked of blood and sweat and metal. The scent of a battle.

"What brought this on?"

"I was scrolling on Reddit and saw a forum." At the blank stare, he continued, "People were objectively discussing it and I got curious. I can basically extract the iron out of people's blood and I figured…well, I might as well take care of some problems for us…"

Chase pulled back a bit, staring at his lover. "What?"

"I mean…Kimiko didn't have much left in her anyway..." Jack gave a sheepish smile. "And, hey, wouldn't you know it, beans are actually pretty high in iron…"

"You…killed Hannibal Bean?"

"I don't know that I killed him…he's a magic talking bean. I do know he was really fucking lethargic when I pulled all the iron out of him. I did stab Wuya, though…I had some things to work out on her."

Chase didn't let go of Jack as he proceeded to info dump his killing spree on the immortal. The cracks in Jack's psyche started to appear. Cracks that had been working their way open for a long time. When the redhead ended by admitting to draining the blood from his ex, Jun Jie, he swayed on his feet slightly.

"How close is your sword to done?" Chase asked gently, glancing at the glowing metal. Jack tiredly glanced at it.

"I…I could probably pull it now and finish shaping it with my powers later."

"Mm, wise choice. I believe you need some rest."

"…you aren't angry?"

"Angry? Why would I be?"

"I…I don't know. I guess…not about me killing people…about me…going behind your back doing it?"

Chase looked him over, taking the helmet off him. Jack's big red eyes shone that air of innocence the man still had; despite the maturity he'd worked so hard for. Despite the murder and evil, there was still that curiosity, that needed to know.

"What you displayed was initiative. You found a way to keep yourself busy while I was preoccupied and took care of threats to our power."

Jack felt his heart beat faster at the word our. Our. He nuzzled his face against Chase's neck, smiling wide. They were partners in this, and he had done well.

"What were you doing, anyway?"

"Research."

"Mm. Vague."

"I was looking for a way to make this permanent."

"…what do you mean?" Jack looked up, brows furrowed and gears turning.

Chase smiled, seeing that the genius was thinking. How had he lived so long without this man?

"If I needed anymore proof that you are my perfect mate, Jack, this was a shining example. I was looking for a method to make you immortal as well, one that would tie us together." Red eyes widened. Chase really wanted him, forever?

"Wh…what about the Lao Mang Lone?" He asked quietly. Chase's smile faded, looking at Jack.

"You know what that will do to you. And there aren't many dragons left in the world…"

"I…actually came up with a solution to the dragon problem. I stole some of Ashley's research, and I can use my company's assets to clone dragons." Jack said, his tone becoming more business and mature. The warlord bit his lip, looking his lover over. Jack Spicer wasn't an innocent Heylin apprentice anymore. The man was a true Heylin warrior, a elemental of Metal, and a technological genius.

If Chase was honest, if the world kept advancing like it was, he would need Jack by his side to help him navigate. He wanted Jack by his side. With a hefty breath, he finally gave a nod. Perhaps, Jack would be okay. He wouldn't lose his mind to the beast like Guan had in that alternate reality.

Chase held the bowl out to Jack, his face stony. Jack took the warm soup with both hands, trying not to let his nerves show through. He'd seen what this liquid was capable of. Hell, he'd watched it firsthand, in another life. But here he was, once again offering himself up for Chase. Only this time, it wasn't a sacrifice, not quite. This time, it was for a brighter future.

"What, no garnish?" Jack joked, trying to hide his nerves. He let out a breath, looking at Chase one last time. "See you on the other side."

It was hot and gross, but the redhead choked the soup down. He had to get all of it down. He threw the wooden bowl to the floor, gasping for breath once he swallowed the last of it.

For a second, Jack thought Chase had given him the wrong soup. He looked to the man before the pain took hold. His nerves felt like they were on fire, his skin felt too tight. They were oddly familiar and yet strange sensations. He screamed as his bones cracked and twisted, reshaping and reforming. Arms wrapped around him, holding him as his limbs lengthened, as his screams turned into animalistic bellows.

What felt like eons was over in seconds, the pain fading. Chase looked down at the beast that now lay in his arms, breathing hard. He wasn't sure what else he could have expected, really, as he gently ran his hand through the snow-white fur of the man-sized monkey. Rather suddenly, Jack sat up. Ruby red eyes still present and sharp, looking around the room.

"Jack?" Chase asked cautiously, his body tensing in preparation to restrain the other. The monkey blinked, tail flicking as it took in Chase and its surroundings. Then it looked down at itself, hands moving over the clothing that seemed to remain intact.

"…I didn't change size." Came a slightly warped voice. Jack had maintained his mind. Chase relaxed, letting out a very relieved breath. His lover was of sound mind and now immortal. His smile was soft as Jack looked at his hands, turning them over.

"I should have guessed this would be your bestial form." Chase said, not holding the other back as he sat up and took himself in. Now that he wasn't curled on the floor, it was easier to see Jack. Indeed, the younger man hadn't changed in size, but his limbs had lengthened and his new tail twitched behind him.

A part of Chase, deep within, felt a pang of jealousy that his lover would not need guidance in becoming accustomed to this new form, like he had. He had spent years training to get used to having a tail, to the intricacies of being a humanoid lizard. But, if he thought about it, Jack had been training for this for years. They just hadn't known it.

"I guess all that time with the Monkey Staff paid off." Jack commented as if speaking Chase's thoughts. He grinned, the sharp teeth that filled his mouth making the sight all the more devilish. "Do I look like Sun Wukong's evil twin?"

Chase reached out, caressing the fur on his lover's cheek. A monkey noise escaped Jack and he melted into the touch. He smirked, pulling the monkey into his arms. Those eyes, looking up in adoration, made him feel so powerful.

"Why don't we go test this new form and your new toy?"

"Really?!" The volume of the excited screech was forgiven over the enthusiasm.

"Are any of the monks left?"

"Clay's still standing, I think. Seemed like he was heading out when I was at the temple. I think the other little yellow one went back to France before I got there."

"Why don't we pay a visit to Boris first, then?" Chase grinned, starting to transform himself. Jack's eyes shined brighter, glowing red. He had an entire arsenal of new Heylin powers to try out along with his ferrokinesis. And what was more romantic than getting to commit acts in the name of evil with the love of his life?

It was going to be a fun eternity.