Bi Han "Sub-Zero" x F!Reader

Thirty-Two

The smile on his lips lasted so long that you didn't quite know what to do next. Even you weren't used to seeing him so gentle. Happy and not full of anger.

But that had only been the case since the visit to his father. Now that he started talking to you about it, the pieces fell into place like a puzzle.

Perhaps it wasn't anger that made Bi Han frown and criticise his brothers, but bitterness. His father had thought highly of Tomas and Kuai Liang.

And both were very attached to the old teachings. Even though Kuai Liang would never have questioned his brother, you knew that he had not entirely agreed with the new rules.

He had wanted to uphold many traditions that Bi Han had abolished shortly after his father's death. This included the law that the grandmaster could arrange marriages if they served the good of the clan. So the possible engagement between you and him had never materialised.

Strangely enough, Kuai Liang was particularly unhappy about this. Until today, it was not entirely clear why.

You both looked at each other for a moment. The brown of his eyes seemed to hide so many words, so much love and the desire to keep you with him forever.

Even all those years before, you had never seen anything like it. In that brief second, he was like a completely different man. And yet he was Bi Han.

Your Bi Han.

He leant forward slowly, the tip of his nose rubbing yours. You didn't notice his hand, which he slid down your neck. Fingers closed around the fabric of your collar.

Before you could react, he had pulled you off the branch. Surprised, you reached out, your arms swinging around his neck and pressed against him as hard as you could. He caught you without much effort, even smirking slightly when you gave him a dirty look.

"A sneaky attack, grandmaster.", you growled with a reproachful expression. "First information is withheld from me and now I'm supposed to break my neck. What have you got to hide?"

Shaking his head, he rolled his eyes, but as you tried to jump out of his arms, he didn't let go. Instead, he held you tightly against his chest.

His breath pressed into your chest, your heartbeats merged into a song. A soft rustling of the wind made the petals sing. Smiling teasingly, you patted him on the shoulder.

Bi Han reluctantly lowered you, but still didn't let go when your feet touched the ground. A hand came to rest on your back to keep you close.

Seriousness returned to his face. Black strands framed his angular face like wood in an oil painting. Even though it had been obvious since early childhood, it was only at that moment that you realised how handsome Bi Han was.

Smiling, you put your chin on his chest. Or at least as high as you could, his shoulders were still far away from you.

His eyes travelled over your face.

"Father thought you were easy to tame. Gentle and completely submissive to duty.", his free hand lifted to tuck a strand of your (H/C) hair behind your ear.

Then he let his thumb caress your cheek. The touch left flames on your (S/C) skin, made you hold your breath.

Was that love?

Suddenly you wondered what it was like to be loved by Bi Han. The answer gleamed in his eyes. And only you could read it. Words were worth nothing compared to the expression he gave you.

Closing your eyes, you leaned into the feel of his hand on your cheek, gripping his arm with both your hands so he would never leave. Blossoms rained down on you like glass and light.

"I wouldn't have fulfilled every duty.", you whispered, for fear that this moment might shatter into a thousand pieces. "But... sometimes you are prepared to make compromises. If the conditions are right, you can rearrange them to your advantage."

Suddenly his finger froze.

A wind was blowing again, much colder this time. Almost icy.

When your eyes opened again, your heart almost stopped in your chest. Bi Han looked down at you thoughtfully. His eyes were clouded with thoughts. He thought for a moment.

Then he slowly pulled his hand away and closed his eyes with a deep exhalation. He didn't want to look at you. Couldn't look at you.

"Why?", it suddenly slipped from your lips in a whisper.

His eyebrows furrowed, he let out a huff. He shook his head again, black hair falling around his jaw. This time he seemed to doubt. Or to hesitate.

"Wasted hope.", his voice was rough, raspy and so full of bitterness when he looked at you again.

You frowned.

"Talk to me!", you hissed.

Anger boiled up inside you. Then desperation. The hardness in his eyes softened again.

Now there was only regret in them.

Or was that pain?

You didn't know what that looked like with him. He had never shown so many emotions before. A lot of things were new, even for you. Especially for you.

"Mûdān.", this time there seemed to be a bitter-sweet longing in his touch as he stroked your cheek. "It was all to give you a choice. A way out of the compulsion. But if your choice is still the same, then I will accept it."

Your fingers twitched, reaching out towards him. But he had already taken a step back. Now he was Bi Han again, the grandmaster. No longer the man you had spent the night with. Something tightened in your chest.

"A choice?", your voice trembled with anger, the (E/C) of your eyes darkened. "But I made my choice. Years ago! And it was always the same. I never doubted it."

A shadow flashed across his face. There it was.

Pain. It was definitely pain that he felt.

As if he had heard exactly what he had never wanted to hear.

"Then so be it.", he bowed his head, respectful like one of his ninja and left.

You couldn't call him back. Something shattered inside of you.