Bi Han "Sub-Zero" x F!Reader

Thirty-One

"Don't look at me like that.", you said with a smirk on your lips as Baobao carried you on his back through the Wu Shi Temple. "I'm fine."

Shadows danced across the stone ground. The leaves rustled in the midday wind.

Your body felt much better after the long sleep in Bi Han's bed. And after what had happened last night, your soul had also recovered somewhat.

Nevertheless, that uncontrollable tingling remained in your fingertips. Magic boiled in your veins, screaming for blood. You preferred to live gently until the last whisper had gone out.

Bi Han followed you silently, while the panda trotted lazily down a few steps as usual. Kuai Liang's house was further inside the Lin Kuei village, which took up part of the temple.

Unlike his brother, he didn't have the privilege of being available every waking second. He had capitalised on this and looked for a place further away. Tomas had been just as clever after his adoption. His house had been built next to Kuai Liang.

Silently, you and the grandmaster passed a sentry who bowed his head politely. The black of the Lin Kuei must have been horrible to wear on a day like this, because the sun was high in the sky and there was almost no wind.

The air smelled dry. It wouldn't rain for the next few days. Humming, Baobao stopped in front of a tree. The branches bent under the weight of ripe fruit.

Sighing, you swung your legs off the animal, dust swirling under your feet as you stepped up. With two swift movements, you climbed onto one of the branches below and picked a few ripe apples.

So high up in the mountains there were few insects, most of which were more helpful than harmful. Thus the fruit grew large and plump, with a skin without blemishes.

At the sight of the fruit in the shining light of the sun, Baobao sat up excitedly and raised his paws in the air to show you a trick. He always did that when he wanted something.

"Sometimes I think you stole it from a circus.", muttered Bi Han, leaning against the trunk in the shade of the tree.

Smiling with amusement, you threw the panda an apple. Delighted, he caught it with both paws and squeezed the whole thing with stem and seeds.

Crunching filled the silence. The sweet smell of apple juice filled your nose. With a whistle, you threw him a second apple before plucking another one from the branches.

Your legs were dangling in the air, not far above Bi Han's head. If he had wanted to, he could have grabbed you by the ankle and pulled you down to him.

Instead, his eyes followed the smooth movements of your feet. And sometimes they moved a little higher, to your bum, which was also sitting on the branch not far above it.

Chuckling to yourself, you leaned back against the tree trunk and bit into the apple. The skin was hard and a little waxy. Juice oozed out, wetting your fingers.

As you licked it clean, his eyes followed this movement too. You looked down at him teasingly, a mesmerising expression in your eyes.

"Don't get any bad ideas.", you whispered with a smile. "Or do... when we're alone."

Inhaling sharply, he closed his eyes but you could see him toying with the idea of risking it. A light breeze rustled through the branches of the tree.

"I still don't know what father was thinking.", mumbled Bi Han suddenly.

His words were so softly spoken that they were swallowed up by the rustling.

"What did you say?", you leaned halfway over the branch, your face now hovering over his while your legs were in the air on the other side.

Wood pressed into your stomach. When he looked up at you, the brown of his eyes was like liquid gold.

"Father had a strange image of you.", he finally said.

You frowned with a grin.

"Tell me more, grandmaster.", you stuck your tongue out at him.

The corners of his mouth twitched upwards briefly. It wasn't easy to make him smile, but when he did, it was like a unique experience. He never smiled the same way twice, never for the same reason. Nevertheless, every time was meant from the heart.

Crossing his arms in front of his broad chest, he lifted his chin to get a better look at you and stretched out his back. Now he was so close that the tip of his nose was almost touching yours.

The gentle warmth of his breath tickled your cheeks. Goose bumps ran down your spine. But this time it wasn't because you were cold or he scared you. It was the kind that made you giggle like a little girl realising for the first time how cool the boy she grew up with was.

A strand of black hair blew around his head. Bi Han hadn't bothered to tie his hair into a knot that morning. Before leaving for Outworld, Liu Kang had left no instructions.

The clan was thus freed from its duties for the time being and the ninja were allowed to spend their free time as they wished. Bi Han often took such days as an opportunity to loosen his tight-fitting equipment and the hairstyle he always wore for battle.

From the branch you could now see clearly into the loose neckline of his blue uniform. Tanned skin and taut muscles shone in the few rays of light that fought their way through the leaves.

You felt like an animal, but the sight of it made you swallow hard. Heat coursed through your body. Suddenly you wanted to drag him back to bed. He noticed the stare. Rolling his eyes, he flicked two fingers against your forehead.

"Quit it.", he said, shrugging his shoulders.

The muscles in his arms tensed as he moved, and with them the blue bands that tied a silver coin to both of his arms. Tomas also wore one of these on his left bicep.

Swallowing hard, you shook your head to get your thoughts back in order.

"You wanted to tell me about the late grandmaster.", you reminded him and yourself.

His eyebrows lifted and with them the corners of his lips. Brown eyes fell on your lips and stayed there.

"Did I?", he asked, smiling softly.