#he ain't a hideous void

[hexfloog]

07/16/2023

Overarching content warning for language and graphic violence. Accompanying illustration here.

Sorry, this one isn't on AO3 (yet) because there's still text to be written for the other half of this scene.

---

Heiji hefted himself onto his elbows, the fire licking greedily at his ankles. 

Tch. Now it looked like Kudo, but it still acted nothing like him.

Smoke choked his lungs, ash coated his throat, and he could barely see... but he saw the silhouette ahead of him, distorted by the heat, and dressed in familiar clothes... its face and the hideous, triumphant grin it wore framed by familiar shapes. 

The dolls lay sprawled before him, gracelessly thrown asunder by their desperate escape and now lit orange by the fiery glow which surrounded them.  As the estate burned, the scattering embers threatened to set them ablaze, too.  He dragged himself forward in an attempt to shield them as best he could, and in spite of his aching bones, reached out to collect them--

He screamed.  The crack of his fingers splintering underfoot rendered him incapable of anything but unending, primal wailing.  He felt sand touch places inside his fingers he knew should never feel anything, and through tear-stung eyes and clenched teeth, he saw the pretender's clawed hand scoop up the Shinichi doll before he could.

"How peculiar," it chuckled, its eyes shining bright with sadistic glee.  Heiji winced; its voice was Kudo's now, too, and even though it had a body to match, it was still wrong.  "Hattori Heiji starting his own little collection of dolls in secret... At your age, I would think you'd be more interested in blowing them up.  Does anyone else know about this?" it leered.

"It's okay," it laughed, its shark-toothed smile winking in the light of the hellfire.  "I'm good at keeping secrets, too.  I won't tell.  You can trust me."  With a low, self-assured purr, it wagged the real Shinichi at him and, pinching his felt limbs between its claws, made it dance like a child playing puppet theater.

Heiji grimaced, choking down his agony, but as he tried to crawl forward again, his eyes shined white; the world flickered against his will, and when the curtain pulled back again, he was greeted by a blinding light, devoid of describable shape but filled with the pain of his entire lifetime.  As distinct as a a swarm of insects, he could vaguely feel them in the light: two identical Kudos, one strangling the other, just feet away from the fire.

He panicked a little, yeah. There was still someone out there he needed to get to before it did. He still couldn't see a thing, but tried to heft forward again anyway; in response, the Kudo-thing applied more pressure to his woefully broken hand, and another scream filled the air.  It chuckled, amused, and visibly drinking in his misery, lifted its head to the destruction around them.

"Give it up, Hattori," it sneered.  "It's over.  You've lost."

Heiji suppressed a whimper.  Between his fucking hand and his godforsaken voids-for-eyes, he almost believed it.  Almost.  But in spite of himself, he scoffed at it.  "Yer still haven't-- haven't learned a thing, have you," he growled, turning his head so he was staring right at the spot where he felt the false Shinichi to be.  "I told ya... There ain't a force in the world more stubborn than K-Kudo an' me."

It growled right back.  Somehow, the noises it made were even more misplaced coming out of Kudo's mouth than it ever was from Conan's.  Heiji didn't whimper, but he gasped as he felt its cold hands slam up against his jaw.  The contrast was surreal, considering every other part of him was practically on fire.

"Big words for a dead man, Hattori," it snarled.  "Keep talking all you want, but you know it as well as I do: there's nothing you can do to change that I've won."

It pulled him closer.  Heiji didn't think it was possible for the light to burn brighter.  Its presence, just inches from his face, was overwhelming.  He'd felt its infernal power before, washing over him like the hot, stinking breath from some hulking beast, but it felt so much worse now that it was no longer hiding in the shape of a child.  There were things pushing against the veil, and even in his temporary blindness he still perceived teeth and a tongue and terrible red eyes, all pointed towards him like knives in the dark, and somewhere amidst it all was his friend, clutched in its wicked grasp. 

Christ, he hated how he couldn't-- fucking-- move.

But, he managed. 

“Yeah, ya idiot,” he choked.  “That’s what happens when yer don’t lose.  Yer win.”

Its temper flared.  He almost laughed, knowing he’d pissed it off.

But he blanched when it spoke again.  "I know you can see me, Hattori," it scowled, with a hint of amusement, "which means you can see them, too."

It dropped him suddenly and stepped off his crushed hand.  Somehow, he caught himself on his good wrist just in time to retch.

As he caught his breath, Heiji screwed his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to draw the curtain again.  But it was no use; the Sight still would not leave him and, to his horror, his consciousness began to taste another presence emerging from the smoke.  And another... and another... all closing in on him like a pack of wolves.

His first instinct was to leap forward and grab Ayumi, who was still lost in the void somewhere, but goddammit, everything hurt.  He pushed a few feet forward before stumbling and landing on his chest again, slowed by the sand and all the pain that rendered him immobile.  The fire, too, still licked relentlessly at every part of him.

Shit, he couldn't think.  Who were the others?  Where did they come from?  What the hell did they want?

For once, his resistance faltered and he tried to tap into the veil instead, his cognizance swimming into the sun in search of answers.  He expected to find more monsters like Conan, but instead he only found memories: faces he hadn't seen in years, vengeful faces he thought were locked up tight where they could never reach him or anyone he cared about ever again.  And there were many.

This time, he couldn't suppress his whimper.  There were so many of them.

He heard the pretender laugh, smirking down at the boy who knew too much.  "Now," it hissed, adjusting its tie, "you'll die like proper prey... won't you?"

#writing #dcmk #fanfic #evil conan au #kudou shinichi #hattori heiji #oops all evil cone again pt. 2 #queue

[assassinnovice]

Chapter 13: Stronger and Better

Disclaimer: I do not own Mortal Kombat, those rights belong to The Netherrealm Studio

Black.

Darkness.

That was all Kabal could see, the burning of his flesh from that strange creature she shallow and ragged breathing was his only company.

But a strange sound caught his attention, leading him out of the blackened void. It sounded like something or someone was tinkering with something.

But his breathing began to steady himself suddenly, his vision began to slowly come to as a familiar face stood over him, "Easy there, mate. You've had a rough one." the man spoke.

His vision cleared as it was Kano standing over him, "Kano?" he mutters, turning his head to him, the crime boss just laughed. "In the flesh," he answers and turns away from him.

"I was... on fire..." Kabal mutters to himself as he raises his hand to his head, pressing his fingers to his mask. "Burned to a crisp, you were. Good thing I found ya." Kano answers as Kabal feels at the mask on his face.

Realization hits him and clutches his fists, "I'm hideous..." he mutters to himself. "Shang Tsung's magic healed the rest of ya. But your lungs? Yessh." Kano informs him.

"Take it off." Kabal orders him, "Can't. It's permanent." Kano informs them. Kabal just turns to him. "What?" he questions. "No mask, no breathing," Kano warns him.

Slowly sitting up he pulls himself off the stone table, "I'm a freak." he spoke in horror. Kano raises the hooked blades off the table and examines them.

Then he turned to Kabal as he was looking over his burnt flesh that was held together with the technology. Kano walks over towards him, then flips them, holding the handles out to him. "Go on. Give 'em a whirl," he spoke as Kabal turned, looking at him, then down at the weapons in his hands.

"I don't use those anymore," he spoke, pointing at the blades in his hands, Kano just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you're all proper police now. The Black Dragon ain't the same without ya, mate," she spoke, lowering his hands for a moment.

"You should come back. We're in the money on this war," he tells him. It clicks as Kabal turns to him, "You should those monsters their firepower." she spoke.

Kano just grins to himself with a shrug, "Guilty as charged." he answers. Rage boils as Kabal lunches forward. "This is your fault!" he snaps.

Kano didn't like his tone of voice, "What're you on about, eh? You're here, ain't ya?" he questioned, dropping the hooked blades to the ground.

"I should be dead!" Kabal snaps, Kano grits his teeth as he leans back. "Now you're gonna be!" Kabal shouts and takes his stance.

Fueled by his rage, Kabal swung his fist, slamming right into Kano's face. The crime lord staggers back, Kabal is merciless with his punches, he then twists and slams his foot right into the side of Kano's face and he spins right off his feet.

Kabal just catches him by his shirt and punches him right in the face, knocking him back.

But Kano just flips back onto his feet and punches him right in the chest, nearly missing his chest plate as Kabal stumbles back. The crime lord then charges at him and strikes Kabal in the face.

Then fired his laser right into his face, Kabal cried out as the laser burned into him, then Kano kicked him right into the chest and knocked him back as he smashed onto the ground.

But Kabal twists back onto his feet and glares at Kano, then charges at him, unknowingly speed dashes right at him, slamming his fist right into his face.

And continues to slam his fist right at him, unrelenting, and reels his fist back once more and slams it right into his face, throwing Kano right onto the ground.

Kano lays on the ground, planting to himself as Kabal exhales "Now how do I get outta of here?" he questions. Kano just frowns at him as he props himself up. "Not so keen on being dead now, are ya?" he questions as Kabal picks up the hook blades off the ground.

But the former officer just aims one at him, "How do I get outta here?" he questions him again. Kano just chuckles. "Good luck. No one gets outta Outworld without Shao Kahn's say-so," he answers.

Kabal just aims the hook blade right at his face, "Outworld? Shao Kahn?" he questions him. "Shao Kahn's the big boss around here... and soon, Earth's new master," Kano answers again.

Kabal pushes his blade closer to him, "Where is he?" he questions him again. Kano just grins at him "Don't bother. You can't get near him." he informs. Kabal nods in agreement "No. but I'm guessing you can."

~8~8~8~

Mileena steps through the portal as she is followed by others as they carry a fallen warrior.

The others turn from their conversation to notice them, "What is this?" Shao Kahn questions, Kabal forces Kano with a dagger at his back as they stand in the throne room.

"Raiden has killed Motaro, with the assistance of Marina," Mileena answers him. "That's him? On the throne?" Kabal questions. Kano looks over his shoulder at him and grins. "You're a right genius, you are." he jokes.

Kabal just shoves the dagger at his back, "It's no great matter. I will go to Earthrealm. To finish Motaro's work." Sindel assures her Emperor.

Shao Kahn just looks at her and nods, "Yes. Shang Tsung." he shouts and the Sorcerer steps to him. "Yes, Emperor?" he answers.

"The Empress requires something of you." Shao Kahn informs, making him step closer and Shao Kahn shoots his hands out and the magic bursts as it gathers into the emperor's hand.

Shang Tsung cries out as his eyes glowed green and he hunches forward, withering away as the Emperor's eyes glow red as the magic seeps into him.

"See there? I'm thinking he's a bit much for--" Kano starts, but Kabal raises his fist that held the dagger and hits the back of Kano's head and the crime lord drops to the ground.

"I can take him," Kabal said with assurance, the power seeps and wavers from Shao Kahn's body as it slithers over his arm and he shoots his hand to his empress.

She cries out as she is infused with eminence power as it collides with her and melds with hers. Kabal marches out from the shadows, heading straight towards the Emperor.

Noob Saibot steps forward, noticing the marching masked man, as did Mileena and they both confronted him as Sindel exhales with ecstasy as she was more powerful than before.

"No one attack the Emperor!" Mileena declares as she and Noob Saibot take their stance.

Both come at him with fists flying, but he blocks their attack, stepping back as he stays in sync with them both.

Both were strong and skilled fighters, using their combined skills, to land a few strikes at him, he stumbles back, and the two twist and slam their heels right into him.

He went flying back, crashing into the wall, he fell onto his feet and staggered for a moment, catching his breath and looking at the two opponents that were striding towards him.

He pulls himself back, pressing his back into the wall and pants, looking at the two that glare at him. Mileena lowers her mask and snarls at him.

He flinches at the sight of her as she pulls her mask up. Kabal exhales and pushes himself off the wall and raises his fist.

But then remembers, he was moving faster. Really fast. An idea dings, making him look at his hands and back at the two.

Noob swung first at him as Mileena followed, but the two struck at air as Kabal dashes right past them, they turn and look at him in shock, but he just shrugs at them.

They both growl and swing at him again, but he dashes right through their punches and swing attacks them. Widdling them down, he takes one past powerful swing and knocks both of them off the ground and they fall flat onto the ground.

Kabel lowers his stance, as he glares at Mileena and Noob "And I thought I was the freak." he mutters, then looks out at the Tarkatans and cyborgs surrounding him.

"Quan Chi! Seal the portal!" Shoa Kahn orders as the minions close in a Kabal, who flicks his eyes at the closing portal. "Time to go," he spoke, then dashed right at the portal and jumped right through it.

~8~8~8~

Jumping through the portal, Kabal lands on the concrete grounds of the ruined city. The portal closes behind him as he takes a moment and sighs to himself.

Then he rolled onto his back and sat up, seeing he was back on Earthrealm. "This speed's incredible! Guess it's a side-effect of the Outworld's magic," he spoke as he stood to his feet, looking at the destroyed buildings.

"You are not authorized for portal use." a robotic voice calls out, Kabal looks over his shoulder, "Yeah? Says who?" he questions, turning to his next opponent.

"Sub-Zero. Unit L-K-five-two-O," he answers as his metal palms park with ice magic. But Kabal just huffs a laugh, "You say that like it means something." he states and faces his opponent. "As you will soon discover," Sub-zero reports and takes his stance.

Kabal dashes right at the cyborg, swinging his fist at him, but the cyborg just dodges the incoming strikes, catching Kabal's wrist and twisting it.

He cries out in pain and Sub-zero slams his fist right into Kabal's chest, making him slide back a few feet and stumble to a stop. He coughs and looks back at the cyborg, who just charges at him.

Kabal dodges the swings, then uses his hook black piece the incoming arms of sub-zero and flung him right over his head.

Sub-zero smacks onto the ground and Kabal slams his hook blades into Sub-zero's back and slides it right back with a twist.

Sub-zero slides with a tumble and then slides onto his feet, he glares at Kabal who comes charging at him, Sub-zero charges his ice and blasts it right at him.

Kabal froze in his spot as Sub-zero charged his ice, forming a blade, and swung it at Kabal. The ice breaks, sending Kabal flying back and hitting the ground.

But he props himself up, looking at the cyborg, and forces himself to stand. He charges at Sub-Zero again, dashing right at him, the cyborg spins out of control as Kabal slides on the ground, slamming his feet right into Sub-Zero's shins then dashes right behind him, pulling his hook blades and slamming them right into his back, and flung him overhead.

Sub-zero smacks onto the ground, the blow knocks him out cold. Leaving Kabal left standing.

Kabal smirks under his smacks as he lowers his fists, "Ha! Not as cool as you thought." he retorts.

He rotates his wrist, looking at the cyborg of Sub-zero, and then Sheeva strides towards him. "Why do you turn on your brother, Lin Kuei?" she questions Kabal.

Mistaking him as a cyborg, Kabal frowns and points at Sub-zero. "That is not my brother. He's a machine. I'm human." he informs her. She frowns at Kabal. "You do not appear human," she reports.

Kabal raises his chin high, "Don't let the mask fool ya." he snaps and takes his stance.

Sheeva pulls up her arms, blocking the incoming punches, but Kabal breaks through them and pulls his strength into the punches that he threw at the Shokan.

Sheeva charged a fire blast and shot it at him, making him stumble back, but he shook it off and swung at her again, she kept her fist locked in face guard, but he drew his hook blades and latched them onto her shoulders and with a twirl, she was spun in the air twice and slammed right onto the ground.

Sheeva just pulled herself back up and jumped high into the air as Kabal swung at her. He looked around for a moment until he felt something slam him right into the ground.

Sheeva pounds him into the ground. She jumps back as he picks himself back up, he dashes at her, taking her by surprise, and slides forward, slamming his feet right into her shins, then slides right behind her and slams his hook blades right into her back, and swings her right overhead.

The impact of the hit knocks her right out, places his hook blades away lowers his stance raises his hands, looking and flexing his fists, "Starting to feel like the old days. Only faster." he said with excitement.

He looks back at the cyborg as he cracks his knuckles. "Sub-zero!" Smoke and Kai Ming cried out as they hurried to the cyborg's side. Kabal takes a step back in surprise as the two kneel next to the machine.

Ming raises the machine's head and lays it on her lap, "Kaui Lang..." she whimpers, gently stroking his metal cheeks. "I told you, Raiden. This one is worthy." Marina spoke, Kabal turned and looked at the two gods that stood before him. "You have great power indeed, Kabal," Raiden informs as Kabal just looks at the two.

It clicks in Kabal's mind as he recognizes them, "Wait. You're that lighting guy and water girl. You helped Stryker." he spoke and his thoughts immediately flashed to his friend.

"Stryker! Is he--" he starts with worry, but Marina holds her hand up, stopping him in his sentence. "Safe and regrouped with the rest of Earthrealm's protectors," she informs him.

"He has joined us in the fight against Shao Kahn. We would welcome your aid also." Raiden informs him, and Kabal just lowers his hands. "Sub-zero!" Smoke calls out as the two look at them.

"Please, say something." Ming begs him, tears well up in her eyes as Smoke pressed his hand at the cyborg's chest "That which made him Sub-Zero no longer exists." Raiden informs them.

Marina smacks his shoulder making him look back at her as she just frowns with a pointer look, "You're wrong. His soul is still intact. I can feel it." Ming cries as she gently holds his head and looks down at him, "He's still Kaui Lang." she whimpers.

Smoke then looks at the three at stood before him, "He's my friend. What they did to him. It is... hideous." he spoke, looking back down at Sub-Zero, pressing a comforting hand at Kai Ming's back as the two gods look back at the family before them.

Kabal just flicks his eyes away momentarily, understanding then nods at them "You're right. We gotta help him if we can." he states and walks over to them.

Marina just smiles at Kabal as he kneels next to them, his eyes locked with Ming's tear-filled eyes, and presses his hand to her shoulder, giving her a nod.

She sniffles and nods back and they help pull the cyborg off the ground, in the hopes of restoring the human that was still inside. 

#Mortal Kombat #fanfiction #Mortal Kombat 9 #Video game #original character #Lord Raiden #Shao Kahn #Adventure #Timeline #Liu Kang #Shang Tsung #MK9 #Sub-Zero #mk scorpion

[carnivalsoration]

>:o(

#he ain't a hideous void #he's an endless font of affection and care and consideration #he's fuckin #so much #so good #a bright point in my life