Jake mindlessly watched Spud skateboard down the half-pipe.

If one were to ask, either one of them would've said that Jake was staring off into space. In a way, neither Trixie nor Spud would be wrong if they responded with that; he was staring into space while his eyes followed his friend. It wasn't that he was bored or uninterested, he was having fun with them, but his mind was just in other places at the moment. Not that he told anyone what they were, of course, not even to his best friends.

Jake just didn't know how they would react to it yet. Sure, they knew about the magical world existing alongside mankind, they knew he was the American dragon, but they didn't know about his feelings towards a certain someone. He knew he shouldn't feel that way whatsoever, it was considered wrong considering it was his grandpa, Luong Lao Shi, but he couldn't care any less if it was right or wrong. It felt right to him, and he was sticking to it. If one were to tell his younger self that, Jake would've thought it was a joke for a minute at first before reacting with complete disgust.

Jake wouldn't be able to say when it began, only that he slowly fell in love with him within the time he was being trained, although he hadn't made a move whatsoever yet. The only issue he had was how he wasn't too sure how Lao Shi would feel about any sort of advances like that. He tried to find any hints that he might feel the same way, but there was nothing he noticed that could lean for or against it. As much as he wanted to make a move, Jake knew that the moment he did, it could make things awkward between the both of them and he didn't want that.

Due to that, he was staying put for now. Not that he minded it, he still got to be around him almost every day. That was enough for him at the moment, even if Jake hated doing some of the things his grandpa made him do and being yelled at.

"Yo, Jakie," Trixie snapped her fingers in front of his face, which caught his attention, "you doin' alright man? You've been spacin' out and smiling like a damn idiot for several minutes now."

"Oh, uh yeah I'm fine!" He told her. "I'm just thinking, that's all."

"Rose?"

"Yeah." Jake looked away as he scratched the back of his neck.

She just crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. He couldn't tell what she was thinking, but he could take a good guess. Either that, or he's way off and she was doubting him.

Suddenly, his text ringtone went off and he felt his phone vibrating. Jake took it out of his pocket to see who it was. A smile crept onto his face, just as he was thinking of Lao Shi too. He needed to go to the shop again, whether it was dragon duties or if it was shop-related. He put his phone back into his pocket.

"Yo, I gotta go, Gramps needs me," Jake informed.

"Aight, if you need any help, you know where to find us."

Jake nodded and ran off as fast as he could without looking back. Spud got back up to the top of the half-pipe. He stood next to Trixie as he watched Jake run out of their sights.

"He been spacing out again?"

"Yeah. I swear, he actin' real strange lately." Trixie said. "Is it just me, Spud?"

He shook his head. "Nope. It's almost like he's nervous about something, or maybe he's lying."

"Him, lying about Rose?"

They looked at each other for a few seconds before laughing.

"Nah, no way. Jake would tell us if somethin' was up."


Lao Shi watched Jake from the other room.

Every time Jake looked in his direction, Lao Shi looked away. His heart raced fast, even if he didn't want it to. It felt like his heart was gonna burst out of his chest, despite how calm he seemed to be. Every little bit of his body screamed in a way he hated and it lasted from every minute of the day to every week of the month. Lao Shi didn't know how, he didn't know why, but he hated himself for how he was feeling.

He'd been fighting his feelings for him for the longest time, but despite his attempts, it stayed; in fact, those feelings got stronger and stronger over time. It killed him on the inside, having butterflies in his stomach every time he was around. Even if he couldn't control it, he should've been able to prevent it. He was his teacher, his grandfather, yet here he was, looking at him like he did with the women he loved before.

Even if he wasn't either, Lao Shi couldn't let himself distract Jake from his dragon duties; that was more important. Getting distracted could get him killed, and that was the last thing he wanted. Because of that, Lao Shi was keeping his distance, but just enough so it wouldn't arouse any suspicions.

"I'm takin' it's about the kid?"

Aside from Fu Dog, of course. He didn't tell him, he wouldn't tell anyone about it, but somehow Fu Dog figured it out by himself. Lao Shi only hung his head as he looked away from the dog.

"Figures," he said, "why dontcha just tell 'im? The kid feels the same way, y'know."

Lao Shi looked at him with widened eyes. His eyes were going to pop out from his sockets from the mere suggestion.

"No, no way!" Lao Shi got up as he rejected it. "These feelings will pass in due time, Fu Dog, they come and go."

Fu Dog cackled. "And how long have they been there?"

Lao Shi opened his mouth, but no words came out. Regardless if he spoke, he knew where Fu Dog was getting at.

"Thought so," he smirked. "Just go for it. Nothin's gonna happen if ya keep this up."

"But-"

"No buts, this time! I'm tired of seeing you pining from afar and trying to fight it at the same time! Besides, I got a bet to win and I ain't losin'."

Lao Shi started cursing him out in Chinese. Something about not placing bets on personal love lives or whatever, especially theirs, he didn't know the specifics; Fu Dog didn't pay much attention to what he said. He was yelling at the dog loud enough for Jake to poke his head through the doorway.

"Yo Gramps," Jake took one of his earbuds out and Lao Shi stopped speaking, "everything alright? I heard ya yellin' through the music."

Lao Shi grumbled as he left the room.

"Everything's fine, Young Dragon, don't worry about it." Lao Shi replied before he looked at Jake, "now get back to work."

"But I got everything cleaned! What else am I supposed to do?"

Because Jake said that, Lao Shi looked around the shop, checking everywhere Jake was supposed to clean. After a few minutes, he confirmed that he did clean everything, not to mention it was better than last time where he basically half-assed it just to get it over and done with. Needlessly to say, Lao Shi was satisfied.

"You're free to go until you're needed again." Lao Shi answered.

Jake nodded slightly in response. Before either of them knew it, Jake pressed his lips against Lao Shi's. The older dragon froze in response, trying to register what was happening. After a moment, Jake pulled away from the kiss. Lao Shi kept staring at him. Jake realized what he just did and wiped his mouth, clearing his throat.

"I'm uh, sorry about that- I gotta go!"

Jake ran out of the shop. Once Lao Shi snapped out of it, he ran after Jake. When nobody was looking, the two transformed into their dragon forms. Fu Dog, who was watching from the other room, sighed and picked up the phone. He took out his notebook as well.

"Hello, Marty? Yeah it's me. You were right, the kid went for it first." Fu Dog started. "Oh, don't you rub it in!"


Holy fucking shit, he was trembling from that.

Jake wondered about what he did and why he even did that. God, he just knew it was gonna be weird and awkward between the two now. It was like he acted on instinct, he didn't even mean to do that. He didn't know what to do because of that. Maybe he should run off, never tell anyone where he's going, and maybe stay there forever. Jake didn't know, all he knew was that he trembled and his stomach twisting and turning.

What he needed to do was calm down first, then figure everything else out from there. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before he could exhale, he felt something touch his shoulder and he jumped back. Jake readied himself for battle, but the moment he noticed it was just Lao Shi, he became nervous again.

"Oh, uh, hey G, funny seeing you here!" Jake nervously laughed. "I totally don't have the hots for you or anything!"

Lao Shi raised his eyebrow, completely unconvinced. Jake could only sigh in response. He sat with his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them.

"...I ain't foolin' anybody, am I?"

"Certainly not, Jake," he sat down next to him. "It's not unnatural to feel that way about one's mentors. However-"

"We shouldn't go for it, right? Something like that?" Jake interrupted as he faced away from him.

"That is correct."

Jake sighed as he smacked himself in the forehead.

"I knew I shouldn't have done that…" He groaned. "You probably wanna stay further away from me now, huh?"

"Further away?"

"...Heard you talkin' with Fu. Ya feel the same way, but you're tryin' not to. I know you won't go for takin' a chance."

"I don't want you to get hurt, and it would get in the way of-"

"Who said you can't protect me and be in a relationship with me?" Jake interjected, looking at his grandpa. "You always keep me on track, even if I ain't wanting to at first. Ya know what you're doin'. If something goes wrong, we can stop, can't we?"

Lao Shi looked away, trying to think of what to do. Jake stood up and sighed.

"Maybe think about it? If you do wanna go for it, then you can lemme know. If not, then that's okay too." He said, turning around. "I just… I dunno."

"...Okay."

Jake's eyes widened. He didn't expect a response that quickly.

"You may go home, Young Dragon. I'll… Think about it."

Jake smiled hopefully before leaving. Once he was gone, Lao Shi only sighed, wondering what he got himself into. It felt like the point of no return now. He hated himself for everything he was thinking of doing tonight.

He returned to the shop for the evening.