Author's Notes:
I do not own Xiaolin Showdown, but I do love both of the series. I do own Gloria, who is Jack's daughter in fanfiction; she will be a recurring character throughout the story and I hope you will all like her.
Much to my embarrassment, I realized after looking up a list of Shen Gong Wu from the original show that I have been misspelling the word this whole time. From now on, it will be spelled correctly; though I have no intention of going back to fix it in the previous chapters unless I am asked specifically to do so.
No, Kimiko and Jack are not going to be a couple. Jack is just protective of her because she could have actually died by choosing to save his daughter, but thankfully did not.
He also knows that she can handle herself, but at the same time is already tired of the way Raimundo has been treating her. I might do something later to show that they're still friends despite ending up on different sides… no promises though.
Standard warning: There will be yaoi (male x male romance and intimate scenes) at some point in this fanfiction. Thus, if you do not like that sort of thing or are just uncomfortable by it then I would suggest that you do not read this fanfiction.
Chapter Six:
"I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you Jack, but I would like to discuss your sudden appearance in today's challenge. Despite you not having been there willingly, I can imagine that you understand that it was a surprise to my apprentices to see you there. It was also a surprise for me to see Clay carry you into the temple and to be told by Kimiko about everything that happened in today's challenge." Master Fung said in a patient tone to Jack.
"Yeah, I understand that. I'm happy to explain part of why I was there, but you'll have to forgive me if I'm a little hesitant to go into full details." Jack said with an understanding nod, though also glancing at his arms, where there had once been track marks from his multiple forced injections but now was smooth skin.
"Understandable, Jack. Please feel free to only share what you are comfortable with." Master Fung said in a kind tone, earning a small smile of appreciation from Jack.
"I was supposed to have died two years ago during a New Years party, but unfortunately my monster of a father-in-law killed my wife instead. He then tortured me in front of my daughter at a special facility with the intent of killing me in front of her; only to discover, as I'm sure you've been told, that I can control metal under stress." Jack began explaining in a tired tone, though continuing before Master Fung could ask.
"After realizing I had special powers, I basically became the bastard's lab rat in exchange for being allowed to run my company remotely and more importantly, the promise that my daughter would be kept safe. By the start of my second year in captivity things changed and one of the people who worked for him came in, asking about my past and the challenges, and Shen Gong Wu." Jack explained, briefly stopping for a moment and sighing.
"Most people are skeptical upon hearing about such things, unless they have prior experience with it. I am surprised they believed you if I am honest." Master Fung commented with a slightly surprised expression.
"So was I to be honest. I was even more surprised to be asked if I could make a Sheng Gong Wu detector." Jack said with a frustrated sigh as he remembered everything that had happened to him after the completion of the Wu Detector.
"Jack? Are you alright?" Master Fung asked in a legitimately concerned tone.
"I let myself be tricked when I should have known better. I mean before I finally agreed to make the detector for them I had been forced to make things like a mind control collar. I should have known when I was promised privacy after finally agreeing to willingly make a detector that plans had been made for me." Jack explained with a sigh, feeling like an idiot.
"Given how much you had been through before that moment, I can hardly blame you for lowering your guard when being offered privacy." Master Fung said gently to Jack.
Jack couldn't help but give a soft smile at this comment, though he'd had his struggles with apprentice Monks in the past he couldn't help but feel grateful that they had brought him to the safety of their temple and that their master was now being so kind to him. Regardless, a small part of him felt uncomfortable by the kindness and wanted him to leave the temple and prepare to get his daughter back from Chase's lair.
"Not to be rude, Master Fung, but is that all you wanted to ask me about?" Jack asked, somewhat fidgeting while seated, both due to being uncomfortable and the urge to get his daughter.
"I have only one more thing to ask you Jack, then I promise you may…" Master Fung started to say kindly, when he was interrupted by a very frustrated sounding tone.
"I still say that you're letting him go too easily, Sir. His newly discovered abilities make it…" Raimundo started to say in an irritated tone as he came into the room holding Jack's shirt, when this time it was he who was interrupted, though not by Master Fung.
"And Master Fung has told you that Jack isn't our prisoner! We're not just going to force him to stay, especially not when Shadow took his daughter to Chase's lair!" Kimiko said in an extremely frustrated sounding tone as she came into the room after Raimundo.
"Look, I get him wanting to go get his daughter! But what makes you think that Chase will even give her back to…" Raimundo started to say in a frustrated way to Kimiko, almost finishing his sentence but stopping as a very dark laugh cut him off.
Jack didn't even realize that it was he who was doing the laugh until he realized that Kimiko and Master Fung were now staring at him in concern, upon this realization the twisted smile that unknowingly formed on his face fell and though he tried to sound normal; he could hear how dark his tone was as he said:
"If you think after seven years of being away and having opened my own company that I don't have ways of dealing with Chase Young long enough to get my daughter away, then you still see me as the foolish preteen you knew in the past."
"So you're going to storm Chase's lair with what… your Jackbots?" Raimundo asked skeptically.
"Well for one thing, they're called Spicer Tech Bots now; and for another thing, these are not the same bots that you knew from seven years ago. Now that I'm out of harm's way I'm happy to give you a demonstration if you're so determined to keep me here by force." Jack explained with an eye roll at first, though becoming much more serious as he said this last part.
"That will not be necessary, Jack. As Kimiko has said, you are not our prisoner." Master Fung said in a heavily reassuring tone.
"Thank you." Jack said, trying to calm himself down enough to sound reassuring.
"You're welcome. Now then, Kimiko would you be kind enough to bring Jack the Shen Gong Wu he won in the challenge?" Master Fung said with a polite bow of his head towards Jack and then turned his attention towards Kimiko.
"I already brought them all here actually, figured that you'd ask for them." Kimiko said as pulled a previously unseen bag from her back and placed it in front of Jack.
Despite the urge to leave, Jack was admittedly curious about what he had won exactly; especially since aside from the monks Wudai Weapons, Jack didn't remember them using Wu in the challenge. With this thought in mind, it was almost surprising as he pulled out the Fist of Tebigong, the Golden Tiger Claws, the Orb of Tornami, the star Hanabi, The Sword of the Sword of the Storm from the bag, the Third Arm Sash, and a hammer like Wu that he didn't recognize.
"Sorry that I wasn't able to grab Bean or Wuya's Wu. Unlike Shadow, they weren't honorable enough to leave theirs behind." Kimiko said apologetically, seeming to think that Jack's surprise was due to the lack of two Wu.
"It's fine Kimiko, I didn't enter the challenge because I actually wanted to. Tell you what, I'll return all but the Golden Tiger Claws, as those will come in handy thanks to my helipack being destroyed." Jack offered, sliding over all the other wu, including the hammer.
"Are you sure Jack, the Handy Hammer here can…" Kimiko started to ask in a questioning way, though got cut off as Raimundo clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Raimundo! I understand you're hesitant to allow Jack to take such a useful Wu; however, preventing Kimiko from being honest with him is not appropriate." Master Fung said in a slightly scolding tone as he forced Raimundo to release Kimiko.
"It's fine, just keep the hammer, all I need is the Golden Tiger Claws." Jack said in an appreciative way as he carefully stood up.
"Oh, there is one thing before I go." Jack added, looking specifically at Raimundo as he spoke.
"Yeah? What is it?" Raimundo asked curiously.
"Be nicer to Kimiko… or I'll come back and take her from you." Jack warned in a heavily serious tone.
"Oh please, you'd have to fight me before I let…" Raimundo started to say with a roll of his eyes, but was cut off as the taller Jack grabbed him by the collar of his monk robes.
"I'd be happy to fight you Raimundo, all Kimiko needs to do is call me and I'll be her for her… I owe her that much for saving my daughter from that helicopter." Jack said in a firm tone to the apprentice dragon of wind as he dangled the shocked Raimundo in the air.
"Jack… That's really sweet, but you don't owe me anything." Kimiko said in a gentle tone, lightly touching Jack's still bare arms as he continued to dangle Raimundo.
"Yes Kimiko… I do. And I'm serious, if you need anything you call. I will give you my private number right now." Jack said as he unceremoniously dropped Raimundo to the floor due to not wanting to upset Kimiko.
"Put your shirt on and follow me then, I'll need to go get a piece of paper and write your number down." Kimiko said in a semi sarcastic tone as she threw Jack's shirt at him, though Jack could tell she was relieved that he had let Raimundo go.
"Sounds good, lead the way." Jack said with a smirk, quickly slipping on his slightly baggy black shirt and gesturing for Kimiko to start walking.
"Thank you for your hospitality, by the way. No matter what happens in the future, I will always appreciate it." Jack said to Master Fung in a serious and grateful tone.
"You are welcome Jack. And thank you, your promise to protect Kimiko is appreciated." Master Fung said with a nod, though glancing down at the still stunned Raimundo when was laying on the floor.