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cryptidbait · 2 days

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MK11 Kuai x Liu x Hanzo —Training

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Liu Kang’s brows furrowed in frustration. The new god felt frustrated. It felt as if everything was connected to him in some way. The bustling clan outside of the gardens, the birds chirping, the smell of the overwhelming flora, the humming of insects, the—

“Calm yourself,” a husky voice commanded. Liu’s brows relaxed at the sound of Hanzo’s voice. However, the fire god was still tense. Hanzo’s warm palm grasped Liu’s shoulder. It was incredibly warm, not burning to the touch, but it made Liu Kang’s stomach tingle and his ears burn.

“You’ll get nowhere if you do not focus,” another voice chimed in, much gruffer then Hanzo’s. It came from Liu Kang’s left, while Hanzo was on his right. Liu snuck a peak at Grandmaster Kuai Liang. The leader of the Lin Kuei was dressed down into casual wear, something that the fire god was not adjusted to seeing. Kuai had his eyes closed, brows and muscles alike relaxed.

“Do not focus on your breathing,” Hanzo advised. Liu Kang returned to attention, closing his eyes and facing forward once more. He could feel Hanzo’s gaze on him. “I know it is the way you were taught but it does not work each time.” Hanzo removed his hand from Liu’s shoulder and Liu could feel the immediate difference of the heated hand leaving his skin. Liu Kang held back a shiver.

“Focus on your surroundings. Focus on nature itself and allow it to guide you.” *How was Liu supposed to do that if that was what was overwhelming him in the first place?* Liu Kang took a deep breath, holding it in before puffing his cheeks and releasing it. Puffs of air came out and Liu Kang could hear Hanzo’s body shift.

The busy bodies outside of the garden seemed to grow louder the more the god tried to focus. He clenched his fists, which were on his knees. The bushes were shaking with the breeze and the birds were practically squawking—

“Try this,” Kuai Liang interrupted. Liu Kang opened his eyes, seeing the grandmaster thrust something in his direction. Liu Kang opened a fist and took the object from the other, older man.

Liu Kang looked at it closely. A flower. Burning red petals that gleamed in the sunlight. Liu Kang held it by the stem with easy fingers, trying to be careful to not squish it.

“How is this supposed to help?”

Kuai Liang looked at Liu with dark eyes. Liu thought his eyes were inviting, like a warm hearth after trekking in a snowstorm.

“Focus only on this flower,” Kuai Liang instructed. Liu Kang closed his eyes. “Feel the softness of it, focus on the smell and shape of the flower. Only on it. Nothing else matters right now.”

Liu Kang’s fingers trailed over the petals, rubbed against the stem. The fire god imagined the red, fiery petals and he inhaled. Sweet. He continued to caress the flower, envisioning the soft flora. With each detail he could feel along his fingers, Liu imagined a new part of the flower in his head. Liu Kang had no idea how long he was holding the flower, how long he was imagining the flora in his rough hands.

“Good job,” Hanzo praised. His voice caused Liu Kang to open his eyes. The flower in his hands burned to crisp as the fire for lost focus.

“Damnit,” Liu Kang griped. “I had it.”

“You did,” Hanzo mentioned with a small smile. Kuai Liang picked another flower and handed it to Liu Kang, who was flushed with emotion. “Now do it again.”