Bi Han "Sub-Zero" x F!Reader

Thirty-Five

Liu Kang stopped dead in his tracks. Surprise could be seen on the gods face. And confusion. A strange thing to see, considering that he was a literal god.

Almost nothing seemed to slip his attention. He even knew about your situation with Bi Han, a secret that both of you had kept for a long time.

Not even Kuai Liang knew that the late grandmaster's older son and you had been in a kind of romantic relationship with one another. And around the time he had still been alive the grandmaster had only made speculations about it.

To the rest of the Lin Kuei you simply were Bi Han's most trusted. A friend he had grown up with and thus placed great trust in.

No one knew that there had been feelings involved. At least you had thought so.

"Interfered?", Liu Kang frowned, light and shadows mingling on his face to give it a golden taint. "What do you mean?"

Shivers crawled down your spine. Something wasn't right. And yet, as your eyes fell onto the flames again you didn't feel surprise.

Just calculated disgust.

Sand seemed to seep from Geras' hands as he formed the fire new. Four figures appeared, two male, two female. One of them was unmistakably Shang Tsung.

So the other must have been Quan Chi.

Only the two women, one and the same person, remained a mystery to you.

"Both sorcerers were visited by this person.", Geras face didn't show a sign of surprise, neither did Liu Kang's as he examined the scenery made of flames. "It is her intervention that bent the arcs of their lives."

"Who is she?", it surprised you to hear that this time the god of fire was at the end of his infinite knowledge.

So there was something that could even be kept hidden from him. For a brief moment you thought. Perhaps it was worth a try anyways.

If he knew so much and only so little could slip past him you had to risk it and ask for a favour once this was all discussed.

"Unknown. Her identify has been obscured from the Hourglass.", Geras crossed his arms in front of his chest.

You frowned at this expression. There were many things that the god of fire didn't explain to his subjects. Neither his chosen nor the Lin Kuei.

You knew of Outworlds existence since the clan was Liu Kang's extended arm to gather information about the world and its inhabitants.

And you knew that the Hourglass existed. However it was unknown to you what purpose it served or which powers it held.

But judging by the frown of Liu Kang's brows it seemed he was surprised that this woman remained unknown to the Hourglass.

"Who could have that power?", he asked, eyes narrowed before his eyebrows rose in realisation. "Is it Kronika, somehow resurrected?"

The name of Kronika was also unknown to you. However, like many secrets that were kept by the god of fire, it couldn't have meant good.

"Impossible. Titans, once destroyed, cannot be revived.", Geras said, though a hint of doubt could be seen in the shimmer of his eyes.

"Then someone must have survived the previous timeline...", Liu Kang concluded. "Someone with a vendetta against me."

"It is the only possible theory."

The woman named Kronika walked amongst the flames with a kind of pride that only someone of great confidence in her powers could possess.

Even the figure that resembled Shang Tsung seemed to be swayed by her. Or the promises she must have whispered to him.

Either way, this was a foe, no doubt about it.

"You must determine its validity, Geras. The fate of the realms may depend on it.", Liu Kang's gaze fell upon you.

Out of reflex, you straightened your back and lowered your head. Magic tingled between your fingers. Perhaps this was the moment it had wished for.

Finally there was someone to ruin until nothing was left of them but ashes. No restrains, no feeling of guilt. Just pure rage.

Even though you had come from a line of many wielders of magic, the gift that the former grandmaster had hoped for wasn't so much but a gift.

It was destruction. A weapon without a shadow of a doubt. The only question that needed to be answered was if you were with or against the goals of Earthrealm.

Against Liu Kang. Or with him.

Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes. No, Liu Kang was never part of this. In truth you had never been with him but with Bi Han. Your loyalty lay with him.

And yet. Hesitation tied your throat. Again and again he seemed to be against you while you wanted nothing more but to be with him.

And his priorities seemed to shift as well. He had shifted. Only thing was you weren't so sure into which direction.

With Earthrealm or against it?

If Bi Han was to turn his back on Liu Kang for treating the Lin Kuei as nothing but servants, would you leave with him?

The answer was a blurry whisper in the storm of your thoughts, ideals and feelings. No clear line was to be found, nothing to hold onto and hope for everything to end soon.

You'd have to fight for your own way. Although you weren't sure where it would lead you.

"I assume this is the time to call for the grandmaster and his brothers.", you said as your eyes opened again.

Geras nodded. But Liu Kang's gaze seemed to burn a hole into your flesh.

"Before you leave to fetch him, is there anything that burdens your mind?", he asked. "Many things are to be done. Some not so pleasant."

Itching spread through your hand. This time it didn't feel like magic but your nerves giving in.

"The grandmaster.", you took a deep breath. "Bi Han. It seems he is the one who decides to wander with fate instead of against it. Against me. Why?"

Geras frowned.

"For many timelines a weight of balance has been lacking on the scale that measures the existence of the Lin Kuei.", he said. "You are what has been missing. Fate has been written by another for the two of you. However, if he decides to go against this written fate, perhaps he has a reason of his own."

You swallowed hard.

"How frustratingly little that explained.", you bowed to them. "Excuse me. I will fetch the grandmaster now."