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kittflame · 3 months

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Old Wounds

Training had been cancelled weeks ago. There had been some ‘important’ meeting planned out that required Grandmaster Hasashi’s time. After yet another scare of the world ending, it was quickly rescheduled. Since the event passed, Hanzo had used every chance to occupy any training space available. He’d been at it for hours, pushing his limits tirelessly. Sweat was beading across his skin, and his hair became more dishevelled with each action. He’d not stopped longer than to replace broken equipment and weapons. Rage had burrowed its way back into the man. It was the cause of the outburst of energy. The only indication of restraint was the lack of flames.

Quan Chi was dead, and Shinnok was taken care of once more as well. It had done nothing but make anger boil inside of Hanzo. The pyromancer had gotten endless shit for killing Quan Chi, most notably from General Blade. She had tried to be reasonable with him before, and he’d broken her trust. She’d gotten personal in her scolding. Seeing as she almost lost her family as well, it had been warranted. However, that did not stop Hanzo from seething on his way out of the Special Forces base. He knew what he’d done, but he found it hard to regret on principle. Given another chance, he would’ve decapitated the man sooner.

Some guilt had come from disarming and restraining Kenshi; furthermore, he ignored his pleas. It hurt to betray his friend, but they both knew he’d accomplish his goal any way he could. Nonetheless, he was grateful Takeda had not been present. He wouldn’t be able to face his chujin if he were.

Once he’d returned to the Shirai Ryu Fire Gardens, there was some relief to be felt from it. However, when the sky turned a deep red, his satisfaction soured. Even once the darkness cleared, the feeling stuck. It worsened as days passed. A new wave of guilt struck him. Despite all his efforts, he’d freed Shinnok and put many in danger due to his impulsiveness. Every last person he could blame was dead. All but himself.

With each punch he landed, he became more conscious of the way his body ached. He revelled in the pain, using it as an escape. With his mind distracted, his hellfire stayed at bay. His focus was so strong, it seemed like a trance. Hasashi was unaware of the concerned looks his clan shot his way. Furthermore, in his focus, he completely missed as another joined him. The newcomer watched his hastened strikes quietly, intentionally not alerting his presence.

Hanzo paused once more to replace the shattered equipment. As he moved, his attention snapped behind him, hearing footsteps double with his own. He spun around and reached out to pin the arm that way outstretched towards him. His grip dropped in an instant as he saw who had followed him.

Kuai Liang stood in front of him, his gaze filled with concern. Hanzo was wide-eyed and panting. He’s not expected to see the cryomancer, least of all at that moment. He scanned the room to see if he’d missed anything else. He half expected to be scolded again. At the sight of the empty space, save for them, his shoulders relaxed.

He stepped back from his guest to resume his activity. Stress began to pull at his mind once more, but he disregarded it. Hanzo did not yet feel prepared to discuss his situation. It was clear to him that Kuai Liang had accompanied him for that exact reason, always one to reach out. But he couldn’t bear the thought. He gritted his teeth and continued the task at hand, forcing himself not to snap and push the other man away.

The cryomancer took the silence as permission. He leaned against the wall, watching once more.

An hour passed before Hasashi stopped, the strain on his muscles becoming too much. He stared forward, his eyes void of emotion. Exhaustion had taken over his body. He was unable to fight any longer.

“Quan Chi is dead.” Hanzo gave in and spoke through pants. He was certain the news had already reached the Lin Kuei, but it was as good of a place as any to start. That fact alleviated both of their worries but wounded them in other ways.

Kuai Liang rose from where he’d sat himself some time ago. He approached warily and placed a hand on the pyromancer’s arm.

“Harumi, Satoshi… How many times must I avenge them?” His voice filled with hurt as he frowned. It was more than only them; it was his clan, himself, and if Kuai Liang was truthful in his feelings, Bi-Han as well. He dared not mention his name. Despite all his effort, that guilt was still ugly.

“How many more times until I get my peace? Until they may rest.” His voice trailed off.

The cryomancer moved closer, holding his shoulders in concern. “They do rest, Hanzo. They have for many years.”

Hasashi’s frown grew, but he did not fight the words; instead, another point bothered him. “I promised us both I’d kill Quan Chi, but Shinnok-“

“Shinnok has been stopped.” He cut him off. He wouldn’t allow Hanzo’s self-blame to continue. “The Cage family is surprisingly resilient. Outworlders were conspiring against us for Shinnok’s reappearance long before any of us knew. You are not the sole person to blame.”

The other does not respond, allowing Kuai Liang to go on.

“You have done much to atone for the things you did under Quan Chi’s command. Your grief is longer to be used against you. The losses you’ve suffered have been honoured. Takeda has done nothing short of rave about your efforts.” He brought a hand up to the man’s cheek. Hanzo’s eyes met his in response to the gentle affection.

“The Shirai Ryu is rebuilt, the fire gardens stand once more, and most importantly, you still have family with you. That is no small task.” Kuai Liang kept his tone soft. “Harumi and Satoshi have not been forgotten; you carry them with you. They are loved. They rest, Hanzo.”

The words earned a sad smile in return. Hasashi couldn’t bring himself to cry. He was torn, and the old wound was ripped open once more. Yet Kuai Liang had a point. He did have family, albeit a bit small; it was all he needed.

“They would have liked you, Harumi, and Satoshi.” He mumbled as he leant into the hand familiarly.

Kuai Liang sighed sadly and brushed his thumb against the other’s cheek at the thought.

The Pyromancer was confident Kuai Liang would have liked them as well. He loved them so fiercely that it made his heart ache, even after so many years. He would always miss his wife and son, but he could no longer imagine his life without the other man by his side.

Taking advantage of the privacy they had, Kuai Liang kissed him softly. He smiled at the way his lover melted into it. They held each other for a moment to give Hanzo a chance to collect himself before they left. It was hardly a secret what they’d become over the years, but it felt nice to have time alone.

No argument was heard from either grandmaster as they pulled each other to Master Hasashi’s quarters. They both had things they needed from them, but they couldn’t find it in themselves to care. They could spare the rest of the day cuddling like nothing mattered.

#mortal kombat #mkx #mortal kombat xl #hanzo hasashi scorpion #hanzo hasashi #kuai liang subzero #kuai liang #subscorp #kuaihanzo #hanzo hasashi x kuai liang #hanzo x kuai #my writing

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kittflame · 3 months

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Long Path to Acceptance

The night was running on, far longer than Kuai Liang wanted it to. He had finished a mission with the special forces hours before and had returned to Arctika. Ordinarily, returning from weeks of physically demanding tasks with the army left him sated, but he did not feel that way once he felt the calm of the Lin Kuei Temple.

With his age, Sub-Zero was all too accustomed to violence. His body and mind craved it; it was second nature and his driving force. If he gave it much thought, he would meet those words with concern, but only if it were anyone but himself. It was his ‘normal’. Between Lin Kuei’s training and the brutality of Mortal Kombat, surely it was understood. It wasn’t very often a man got a second chance (or more) at life, and there was no productive life you could live after such an experience without violence. Jackson Briggs was one man who understood that but still made an attempt at another life. They were the ‘lucky’ ones, but still, so much was different despite what had happened. There was one man whom he confided in on the matter.

His fellow Grandmaster understood the way Kuai Liang’s skin began to itch if he was idle for too long as a result. He knew firsthand what it was like to be someone’s personal weapon, attacking on command as if he were a beast and nothing more. It left no room for his humanity. Years after Raiden restored them (it being an accident did not leave his mind), he was growing old and could not push away the fact that he felt more like a weapon than a man.

The initial conversation had made them feel far more exposed to each other than they were used to. Being at each other’s throats so many years ago made them feel less vulnerable. Hatred was ingrained in them. No bitterness had come from their honesty, despite the cryomancer’s fears. He’d dreaded it initially, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did.

Grandmaster Hasahsi was a little rough around the edges—not that the other man was any better, but he’d not been cruel to Kuai Liang in years. Everyone who knew of them knew of their history, but others who had not seen the initial rivalry were surprised. After the initial rockyness of the Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei alliance, Hanzo was an easy friend to keep. Despite his past as a fiery rage, he was patient and good-hearted. His hostility grew from fierce protectiveness, something Sub-Zero had not expected to be on the other side of. Those small moments changed his view of the other grandmaster. It was easier to trust that the Pyromancer wouldn’t use his words against him, not with how his actions spoke.

They often talked about how it felt to rebuild their clans after their possession. The recruiting, the training, and the rebuilding drained them. That conversation never showed any indication of retiring. Deep down, Kuai Liang knew Hanzo only settled into this life in the same way he’d settled into violence. He still grieved the losses and felt he had more he needed to do, even with Quan Chi dead. However, the years had softened the Pyromancer.

Perhaps some due to raising Takeda Takahashi. It had returned some of his humanity, proof that he was capable of more. Kuai Liang felt shackled to his title as Sub-Zero and the Grandmaster, only by his own doing. He had only received the titles as there was no one and nothing left, partly his own doing. It was his responsibility to change the clan and banish whatever else remained of the cyber initiative. He’d become so obsessive over the cause that nightmares of his past plagued him. He woke with the fears fresh in his mind; often, it gave him no choice but to run on pure instinctual violence.

He exhausted himself with blood-soaked weapons. It was the one thing he felt cleared his head, and he saw the way it frightened others. Those people had seen mass bloodshed and war, but they looked at Sub-Zero like he was a rabid wolf. His breathless panting and wild eyes were overshadowed by his calm demeanour. When Hanzo stood by his side in a similar state, he never wore that same pale-faced expression.Working alongside Hanzo eased how monstrous he felt at times. The familiarity with such violence was never questioned, and it never would be.

Since their alliance, they had sparred together, and when they sought some release of energy, it led them to discover how well they synced. Their motions were effortless, and it left them satisfied. They were a force together and undoubtedly each other’s equal. With the special forces, however, Scorpion rarely accompanied him.

There was nothing they could offer to hire him. Takeda had a purpose outside of the Shirai Ryu with his father. Despite being close to both, raising one and helping the other, it wasn’t his calling. Kuai Liang was the only one he’d made exceptions for. The other man acknowledged what that meant. He saw how Hasashi dropped everything when called. His actions, significance, and fierce loyalty were not lost on him.

Sub-Zero often regretted not calling on his ally to aid him. He was aware of the lengths they would go to for one another. Guilt had risen the more he asked for Hanzo’s time, as did an unfamiliar warmth in his chest. Kuai Liang relished in the bliss that came from fighting, so much so that he was disappointed with anyone else at his side. Not a single other warrior compared. He and Hanzo had skills and "chemistry,” as others put it, that couldn’t be matched.

It had been some time since they last spoke as well, having last met before the SF called on him.

Kuai Liang tried to settle his mind to no avail. He’d laid in his quarters for hours restlessly. Sleep never came easily to him, and he especially hadn’t once he’d gotten into his own head. He rose from the cot and dressed unceremoniously. The sun had not yet made its reappearance, but he paid little mind to that fact. There was a sharp feeling that built in his gut as he began his way through the temple. His motions were calm and practiced, hiding what was eating away at him.

At the door of the temple, it opened with a slight resistance, and he took a pause once it had. He watched as a hooded figure steadily approached, familiar yellow attire coming into sight. The sight brought the tension out of Kuai Liang’s shoulders as he moved to greet his friend.

“I got word you had returned. I saw it fit that I welcome you back.” Hanzo smiled comfortably. He looked well past the furs that obscured his figure. It looked as if he was expecting to be in the cold for a while, but his face was uncovered.

“It is good to see you, Hanzo.” He spoke warmly. Kaui Liang gestured for him to follow. They moved past the steps of the entrance and into the snow.

They fell into conversation quickly, as if there had been no absence at all. Talking came as second nature, and the topic of the cryomancer’s mission arose. After the initial explanation, he could tell his friend was fishing for more details. It was clear he knew more than he’d let on.

“And what were you doing at the door when I arrived?” Hanzo pushed, sounding far too innocent for what he asked.

Sub-Zero looked toward his friend to gauge his reaction. He sensed the words to be a trap of sorts. The pyromancer watched patiently as he awaited a response.

“What were you doing at my doorstep before dawn?” He countered.

The route they’d taken led them back to the light; the soft glow illuminated the temple’s doors. They paused before the steps and faced each other. Hanzo glanced up at the star-filled sky but settled his gaze back on his friend.

“I know all too well how restive you become. Without a good fight, you cannot relax. Can’t sleep.” The words are not harsh; they were carefully thought out.

Kuai Liang was reduced to stunned silence. He had not allowed someone to understand him, to listen, and to be empathetic towards him for years. There was no offence to be taken by his honesty, but he hesitated. If he were younger, he’d have met the words with disbelief and wariness. He was still apprehensive but pushed past the discomfort that bubbled. They acknowledged each other almost intimately, and he wouldn’t throw that away. Their trust had long been solidified. When his focus went back to the pyromancer, his brow was furrowed, and the silence unsettled him.

“You know me all too well, it seems.” Kaui Liang spoke to relieve his guest’s stress. With a small smile, he motioned to the doors as an invitation.

The other grandmaster’s expression softened, and he made his way into the temple. The warmth met his face first, and he could feel the colour returning to his features. He relaxed at the familiar temperature. Kuai Liang shut the doors behind them and took his friend's coat wordlessly. With the other man still on his heels, he made his way to a personal kitchenette. Knowing how much warmer Hanzo was than him, he set about making them both tea. There was something soft about the familiar motions. He could feel eyes on him as he set the water to boil. There was no secret that, as days grew calmer, such moments became more common. He wouldn’t admit it either, but he enjoyed the way Hasashi’s eyes crinkled on the edges in delight.

Before he could chase the thought, the kettle pulled him back to reality. He pulled the water off to steep the tea leaves.

After a few moments had passed Kuai Liang pulled two tea cups from the cabinets. He poured the tea and handed off one of the cups. It was taken with an appreciative hum. The pyromancer's first sip pulled a contented sigh from his lips. He expressed his thanks and settled into the heat.

“Thank you for humouring me.” Sub-Zero said, finally breaking the silence that had fallen on them long ago.

Hanzo glanced up past the cup in his hands, his eyebrow raised in question, and waited for some elaboration.

“For hearing my troubles and remedying my unease, I would not have asked that of you.” Kauai Liang clarified. He couldn’t place exactly how he felt, but he'd wanted to voice his appreciation.

“Too often you speak of yourself as something broken or damaged.” He spoke earnestly, having placed the cup down. “You are not a wounded animal being comforted moments before death. You are human and still hold importance.”

Kuai Liang frowned at the words. He knew not what to make of them. He’d not meant his words to be so tragic, but the response he’d gotten made him rethink. He thought himself to be a good judge of character, finding weaknesses and strengths in others. Having it turned back on him was unexpected. The words were blunt, but they still felt kind. Caring even.

While stuck in his thoughts, Hanzo reached a hand out to his arm. Sub-Zero snapped his head toward his friend. The touch startled him, but he pushed against the urge to flee. The touch grounded him. It was worth staying for. There was a gentleness in the way he was watched and held. His head felt light as a result. He struggled with what to say, worried he would scare the other man off.

Everything about it was wrong. A Lin Kuei and a Shirai Ryu could never tolerate one another. It was ingrained in him to hate. In that moment, however, he couldn’t find the ability to care. Damn the old Lin Kuei. They were long dead, and he was the last heir to remain. He found there was no point in hiding any longer. Truthfully, he’s been envious of Hanzo for having settled down. In that moment, an opportunity presented itself. Kuai Liang couldn’t see himself being properly domestic, but it was still a kinder idea than what he’d previously thought of himself. He was no beast, no monster.

His eyes flicked to Hanzo’s to acknowledge him properly; it was vulnerable. Understanding hit the pyromancer, and a surprised gasp left him. Without much thought, he moved and pulled Kuai Liang into an embrace. The other stood against him, stunned. It took him a few moments to reciprocate, but he raised his arms and grasped at Hanzo’s back. He relaxed into the touch with his eyes closed. All the remaining tension eased from his body.

They stood there awhile, too afraid to let go of the hold. It was new, completely uncharted territory. Something delicate for a change. When Sub-Zero pulled away, his eyes opened once more, and it was clear his lack of sleep had caught up to him. There was no denying it, and he’d exhausted all energy to fight. The other could see it as clear as day, as evident by the smile that tugged at his lips.

“Would you accompany me to my quarters? I believe we could benefit from talking privately.” Kuai Liang’s voice was quiet and could easily have been unheard. He bit his tongue and hoped he wouldn’t regret his offer.

The Pyromancer’s smile grew, and he nodded steadily. He took a step back to allow the other man to guide them. To his surprise, Kuai Liang had reached for his hand. There was no hesitation in the action—a newfound confidence.

They made their way through the halls with giddy feelings. It made them feel young again, despite their calm demeanours. They had sacrificed much in their individual positions, giving their entire lives to others. They’d more than earned the right to be selfish. The fate of the realm being placed on their shoulders would no longer shackle them. They could learn to be happy if it meant being by each other’s side.

#hanzo hasashi #kuai liang #hanzo x kuai #hanzo hasashi scorpion #kuai liang subzero #hanzo hasashi x kuai liang #subscorp #mkx #mk11 #mortal kombat #my writing

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