Johnny Cage x Reader

Twenty

Confused, you sat at one of the tables in madam Bo's and watched as Kung Lao shovelled a bowl of noodle soup into himself.

You felt a little admiration. He could swallow faster than he could talk and that had to mean something.

"Here, eat some more, you're so cranky.", Madam Bo pushed a plate of stacked dumplings under your nose.

You glanced to the side to thank her with a nod and then looked back at Kung Lao. It felt criminal to miss out on this spectacle.

"Does he always eat so much?", you asked with a half-smile towards Raiden.

Unimpressed, he shrugged and shoved a slice of roast pork into his mouth.

"His mother is a very good cook.", he said dryly.

"If you want to grow big and strong, you have to eat a lot.", Kung Lao interrupted his eating and pointed at you with his chopsticks.

"Was that also a piece of wisdom from your mum?", Johnny asked with a shocked grin. "Reminds me a bit of my first really big film. My agents invited me to a restaurant afterwards, reaaaally fancy."

"Save the stories, Cage.", grumbled Kenshi.

The swordsman had only ordered a small bowl of noodles and steamed vegetables. Otherwise he drank a lot of tea.

"Hey, that's a really good story!", Johnny objected, suddenly fired up to tell everything again. "Could make a good impression on the big screen."

"Isn't that what's call a biography?", you asked with your mouth full.

The juice of hot broth and cooked vegetables spread on your tongue. A pleasant flavour, especially as you had never eaten anything like it before. As someone who had grown up in a very sheltered home, with your own master and little contact with the outside world, this was a small highlight.

You were surprised that Liu Kang had allowed you to go anyway. He was usually stricter.

While Kenshi and Johnny argued with each other about whether Johnny made good films and that Kenshi's story could be a box office hit, you let your eyes wander.

Madam Bo's restaurant was small, secluded in a village that smelled of water and green grass. A dragonfly flew over your heads and settled on a red paper lamp.

A gentle breeze blew and all around you people drank tea from porcelain cups without handles.

Curiosity stirred in you. Johnny had called this place a cow town when you arrived. But you had never seen anything like it, never been surrounded by so many people.

The urge to get up and explore overcame you.

You cast a furtive glance round.

The two brawlers had already forgotten everything but each other. Kung Lao was busy stuffing his face with food and Raiden gave the impression that he wanted to sink into the ground. Nevertheless, he couldn't hide the amused smirk on his lips.

"Excuse me...", you mumbled and grabbed a handful of dumplings as you stood up.

Johnny looked after you for a moment, but then decided to continue defending his old films.

Taking a mouthful of vegetables and soft dough, you climbed down the stairs into the inner garden and tried to sneak out of the restaurant.

Nobody was interested in you. Too many people were busy with themselves.

The gate was open, you could have left just like that. But suddenly a shadow crossed your field of vision.

"Where are we going, young (Y/G)?", Madam Bo leant up to you with an interested sparkle in her old eyes.

Startled, you flinched back. You swallowed. Hot vapour filled your throat and you had to cough. Tears filled your eyes.

"Madam Bo!", you gasped in surprise and patted your chest.

"Surprised to see me?", the old lady asked with a chuckle.

As if nothing had happened, she began to clean the ground in front of the gate with an old wooden broom.

"Er, no.", your gaze flitted through the gate to the sandy road that meandered through the village in front of it. "This is your restaurant. I would have expected you to be here, madam."

Unobtrusively, you tried to sneak past her.

She nodded in agreement and slipped into your path as if it had been pure coincidence. Her eyes travelled up your body.

Only now did you realise how small the lady actually was. So small that you could have mistaken her for a child if her hair hadn't already been grey, almost white.

"Where are you going so late?", she stretched her neck curiously.

"It's broad daylight?, you shrugged your shoulders.

"Hm, yes, that may be, but we both know that if you leave, you won't be back until dark."

"I just want to go for a walk."

"This is a village in the centre of rural China. You won't find much here. Cabbage. If you're interested in cabbage, you can ask Raiden. He knows a lot about it."

You couldn't suppress a snort. The thought of Raiden walking through the village with his hands full of cabbage amused you more than could be justified.

God, sometimes you had a really bad sense of humour.

You quickly cleared your throat.

"Madam Bo.", you tried to persuade the lady.

But she interrupted you with a raised finger.

"Save your breath, child.", with a quick movement she pulled a cigarette out of her pocket and lit it with a click of her lighter. "Bi Han warned me about you. He said you were a slippery thing."

You frowned in irritation.

"Who is Bi Han?", you asked.

She looked at you briefly. Grey clouds of smoke rose from the cigarette holder.

"The grandmaster of the Lin Kuei."

Thoughts crossed your face.

"The ninja in blue?", you asked. "Sub... missive or something?"

"Zero."

"Bless you."

She sighed.

"Sub Zero. That's his name."

"Ah...", you muttered to yourself. "Yeah, that adds up."

Chuckling, she shook her head and shooed you away from the gate with the broom.

"What does it matter?", she shrugged her shoulders. "Back to the table with you. Come on. Liu Kang won't be happy otherwise."

Admitting defeat, you raised your hands and sighed.

"As you wish.", you whispered with a grin, but stopped after a few steps and glanced over your shoulder. "How do you even know Sub Zero, madam?"

A smirk appeared on her small face. Her eyebrows raised conspiratorially.

"I used to be Lin Kuei.", she whispered, so that only you could hear.