Imagine Book 2

Impressed- Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat 1)

Fem Y/N

𝕾𝖒𝖚𝖙 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌

Johnny Cage strutted into the gym, his designer sunglasses perched atop his perfectly coiffed hair. The scent of his expensive cologne mingled with the usual odours of sweat and rubber mats. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on a woman executing a flawless series of kicks against a punching bag.

Y/N moved with grace and power, her form impeccable as she unleashed a barrage of strikes. Johnny watched, genuinely impressed but unable to resist the urge to make his presence known in his typical over-the-top fashion.

"Now that's what I call a show!" he announced loudly, clapping his hands. "But if you really want to see some action, stick around. Johnny Cage is about to grace this humble establishment with his star power."

Y/N paused mid-kick, turning to face the newcomer with a raised eyebrow. She'd heard of Johnny Cage, of course – his films were impossible to avoid if you had any interest in martial arts. But the man before her seemed more caricature than a fighter.

"I'm good, thanks," she said coolly, turning back to her workout.

Johnny blinked, unused to being dismissed so casually. He sauntered over, flashing his most charming smile. "Come on, sweetheart. Don't you want an autograph? Or better yet, how about a private lesson from yours truly?"

Y/N stopped again, fixing Johnny with a look that could freeze lava. "First, don't call me sweetheart. Second, I don't need lessons from someone who learned his moves from a choreographer."

She walked away, leaving Johnny standing there with his mouth agape. He watched her move to the weight area, a new determination settling over him. Johnny Cage never backed down from a challenge, especially when it came to impressing a beautiful woman.

Over the next hour, Johnny tried every trick in his repertoire. He performed a series of flashy moves, complete with unnecessary flips and exaggerated sound effects. Y/N steadfastly ignored him.

He attempted to lift an impressively heavy barbell, only to struggle visibly and nearly drop it on his foot. Y/N didn't even glance his way.

Growing desperate, Johnny decided to showcase his famous split punch. He positioned himself near Y/N, took a deep breath, and launched into the move. But in his eagerness to impress, he misjudged his surroundings. His fist connected solidly with a nearby rack of dumbbells, sending them clattering to the floor.

Y/N finally looked at him, concern briefly flashing across her face before being replaced by exasperation. "Are you okay?"

Johnny, cradling his hand, tried to maintain his bravado. "Never better! Just, uh, testing the equipment's durability. Yep, it's durable alright."

Y/N shook her head, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Part of my charm," Johnny quipped, wiggling his eyebrows.

To his surprise, Y/N laughed. It was a genuine, warm sound that made Johnny's heart skip a beat. For the first time, he found himself at a loss for words.

Y/N studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Look, all this showing off isn't necessary. If you want to impress me, just be real. Show me what you can actually do, without all the theatrics."

Johnny blinked, considering her words. It had been a long time since he'd approached martial arts without the veneer of Hollywood glamour. But something about Y/N's directness made him want to try.

"Alright," he said, uncharacteristically serious. "How about a friendly spar? No fancy moves, no special effects. Just honest technique."

Y/N looked surprised, then nodded. "You're on."