Bi Han "Sub-Zero" x F!Reader

Thirty-Eight

Back to his old ways, Bi Han walked up and down the room in which Liu Kang had asked you to wait.

Next to you, on a bench made of red wood, sat Tomas. Kuai Kiang had taken a seat on the headboard of it, feet placed on the surface of the seating area.

His father had hated this way of sitting. He had tried to lecture it out of his younger son but ultimately had failed. And now there was no one left to care since Bi Han had little room to lecture his brother about something that he sometimes did himself.

Your skin tingled while your eyes followed the flowing blue strands of the grandmaster's uniform. Metal chirped with every step he took. Or perhaps it was just ice that grew and shattered every few seconds.

Whatever it took to calm his mind for the moment.

"How long are we expected to linger?", he finally asked, visibly displeased by the time of waiting.

Kuai Liang gifted you a glance. It seemed he expected you to calm his brother's mood, just how you usually did. But you didn't feel like it and just turned your eyes to the ground.

"Patience, Bi Han.", he tried to calm him instead. "There are many demands on Liu Kang's attention."

Next to you Tomas shifted in his seat. He had his hands popped onto his thighs, sat as still and disciplined as it was expected of a Lin Kuei.

As an adopted member of the family the poor boy had to put in twice as much effort as anyone else. Even you and you weren't even considered a part of the grandmaster's lineage, just a very close childhood friend.

"Were he here, father would advise us to wait without protest.", Tomas reminded his brothers.

Your eyes moved to catch a glimpse of Bi Han's reaction. Something flinched in his eyes. A muscle on his jaw twitched.

"But now he is gone and I am grandmaster.", he hissed, his voice surprisingly subtle in volume as he turned to face the grey ninja.

You exchanged a glance with Kuai Liang. Confused, he shrugged unnoticeably before turning to address his brother as well.

"His teachings did not pass with him.", he said, one eyebrow raised. "They should still guide us."

Your fingers curled in such a way that it made your nails dig into the flesh of your biceps. Small marks remained, itching with a mixture of pain and magic.

You could feel how the blood rushed through your veins, how it carried the power that started to whisper in the back of your mind again.

There was only one of you throughout many realms and even more timelines. However there were many different versions of all three Lin Kuei brothers.

What were the odds that you had come to exist in a timeline in which Bi Han rejected you despite everything?

You could have sworn there had been feelings on his end as well. He wasn't a good person by no means but he wouldn't have taken years to fool around with you only to turn his back on you now that the time seemed ideal.

His father was gone and wouldn't be able to object against a relationship. Not even a marriage. He wasn't able to betroth you to another to pass on your abilities.

Although Bi Han would have been a good option for that as well. Nothing truly made sense.

Even less the fact that Bi Han pulled a face of resentment as Kuai Liang and Tomas mentioned the teachings of the late grandmaster.

For a brief second his brown eyes jumped to look at you. You fought back the urge to meet his gaze and just kept staring into the night outside the window.

As he looked away again the thoughts still tortured you.

If he didn't want you, why did he act so hurt?

As if you had been the one to reject him. The thought came to you that a small yet very important detail seemed to be missing in this puzzle.

It seemed to be so unlikely that he hated the thought of an arranged marriage to you. Not only was it odd that he complexly withdrew himself from your company, he also seemed to resent his brother in this moment.

Almost as much as his father.

Lost in thoughts you threw a at Kuai Liang from the corner of your eyes. He had never been distant with you but every now and then you had noticed him be a little too friendly, a little too close.

And everything had started around the time Bi Han had changed. The younger brother knew something. Probably the same thing as Bi Han.

Annoyance made you swallow a sound.

How was it that everyone knew more than you?

It was awfully inconvenient. Especially because it affected your life a whole lot more than anyone else's. You made a mental note to confine in Kuai Liang once this audience with Liu Kang was over.

But before you managed to sort your thoughts further Bi Han continued with his bitter criticism of his father.

"Guide us, yes.", once more his brown eyes fell onto you. "Shackle us, no."

Upset, Tomas leaned forward.

"We can't abandon tradition!", he said.

This time your gaze lifted. And there it was. Bi Han's brown that shimmered in a way that said you knew. He hated certain traditions, had abolished them in your favour. And for some reason you had chosen them.

If only it would have been made clear what exactly you had chosen in his eyes.

His mood disturbed by many different factors, the grandmaster turned to address the adopted brother.

"Mind your place, Tomas.", he sounded especially persistent about his stance. "Father may have taken you in, made you one of us. But your blood will never be Lin Kuei."

Surprise appeared on Tomas' face. And a hint of hurt. A shiver chased down your spine.

"Enough.", your voice cut through the room like a blade through flesh. "I am tired of hearing you yap. All of you."

Bi Han was about to reply something as two men stepped into the room.

Raiden and Kung Lao bowed to greet you three.

"Lord Liu Kang can see you now.", said Raiden.

He had changed into different clothes that seemed better fit for Outworld's environment. Kung Lao wore something that could have been destined as a leather uniform and a metal hat made of blades.

"It is about time.", you were the first on your feet.