Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero's Student

Chapter Thirty: Tame The Beast

-Bi-Han's POV- I hear Kuai openly sobbing behind his closed door. He's been in there for an hour now.
Just...crying....
"Do something!" I chastise myself. Hanzo has left to look after Kana, said the boy would be safer away from all the stress. I suppose he's right.

"Kuai," I knock on his door softly. "It's me. Please open up. We need to speak." With a click, Kuai opens his door, letting me inside his room.
His bed is a mess, sheets crumpled up and the mirror is still broken.
"Hanzo is gone, he has Kana. They are both safe."
Kuai remains silent, rubbing one of his bloodshot blue eyes.

"Just say something, baby brother. This silent treatment is making my stomach twist in knots."
Still nothing. "Then listen," I whisper, sitting on his bed and pushing the sheets away.
I pat the space beside me, which Kuai reluctantly lays on. His bruised fingers toy with the polar bear fur blanket as he lays on his stomach. Anything to get his attention away from me, I guess.

Kuai sighs beside me, continuing to mess with the blanket. I reach out and rub his back, feeling him slightly relax at my touch. "Do not blame Hanzo for how he acted earlier. He was scared. He has never seen a person lose control and demolish everything in their path just to get to their goal."

"Big brother," His voice cracks and he clears his throat. "Forgive me..for making you worry."
His face crumples as he begins crying again.
"No, no," I hoist his sobbing form up and wrap my good arm around him. He sniffles in my chest as I try my best to hold him close.

"As your brother, I have to worry about you. That's my job. I only wish I could have been a better sibling. But the past is behind us."
"B-but," he faces me, looking like an absolute wreck emotionally. "I broke your arm!"
"My arm will heal," I reassure him gently, kissing his forehead again.

"What if I lose control again?" He sputters, lowering his head in shame. "What if I hurt you or Hanzo worse? What if...what if..." I cut him off by placing my finger on his lips, silencing him.
"Shh.." I croon. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen, okay? I love you, Kuai."
"I love you, too." He whispers, pulling me into a hug. I hug him back, whispering reassuring things into his ear.

I feel his panicked breathing begin to relax as he tires himself out. Soon enough, he's asleep leaning against me. I try my best to smooth his messy hair with my hand, causing him to moan in his sleep.
"Relax, Kuai. Just relax and sleep. You still look very tired."
****
-Kuai's POV- I slowly open my eyes, feeling someone place a blanket over my body as I lay in bed. I groan, causing the person to pause and brush their fingers on my cheek. "I'm here, baby brother." Bi-Han's thumb strokes my cheek.
"How long was I out?" I yawn, brushing my fingers against his.
"A few hours," he explains, walking over to the fireplace to put more wood in there. "Do you feel any better?"
"A little," I smile, getting out of bed and stumbling forward. Bi-Han is immediately at my side, steadying me with his good arm.
"Take it easy. Here, let me help you walk."
I glance at his right arm in the cast and blush in shame.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I blurt out before I can think straight. Bi-Han stops, his arm still slung over my shoulder. He refuses to look at me, instead looking forward. "Because I want to make up for how I treated you so long ago."
"But why keep up with the name calling? The brotherly kisses?" I whisper.

"Because you're the only family I have left, Kuai." His gentle tone sounds somewhat irritated, like he is stating something I should already know by default.
I fiddle with the loose gauze on my right hand, the dirty white and light red of it a stark contrast to my purple and green bruised fingers.

"Will we be able to see Hanzo and Kana?" I ask hopefully. Bi-Han doesn't answer, just continues walking and leads me to a chair near my bookshelf on the other side of my room.
He sits me down of the large reading chair, then his face twists in pain as he sits in the other one.

My older sibling looks at me, scanning his tired-looking eyes up and down. He opens his mouth to say something, but stops and rubs his temple.
"Whatever you're going to say, just spit it out."
He inhales sharply. "Kuai, I have thought about what you said....about how you look down on yourself. I know that I am partly to blame for your...self beastliness. That desire of wanting to get stronger. To impress the Lin Kuei. I was stubborn like that once. But know this, Kuai." He leans forward.

"You may have looked up upon me at your youth, but I went down a path of which you cannot follow, understand? Go down the stubborn path I took, and you may end up hurt...or worse." His voice cracks towards the end, with grief twisting his face.
"Ever since I saw you as a machine back then, I swore to protect you with my life. And I will continue to do so."
"Brother," I sniff, toying with the bandage in my hand again and wincing at the deep breath I take. Looks like the icy pain in my lungs hasn't gone away yet.

"I don't know what to say."
"Then promise me you won't go down the same road I did. That is all I ask."
"I promise, cross my heart."
This causes Bi-Han to crack a smile and chuckle.
"What?" I tease.
"You haven't kept a promise by crossing your heart since you were ten! I find it adorable that you choose to do it now." He laughs.
"Well, I gotta cheer you up somehow." I grin.

Bi-Han's tone is suddenly serious. "Have you heard that voice again? Or at all?" Him mentioning the voice that sounds like icicles breaking sends shivers up my spine. "Not recently, no." I answer, causing him to nod.
"Good. If you hear that beast again, let me know immediately."
"I understand," I nod as well. "But Bi-Han, you should get some rest. You look exhausted."

He sighs, rubbing his face. "I was afraid you might say that. I'm okay, Kuai."
"But you've been taking care of me this whole time. I feel like I should return the favor."
"Kuai, I said I'm—"
"Please?" I beg, clasping my hands together and look at him sadly. "I will get on my knees and beg, Bi-Han. Don't make me embarrass myself any further." My forced sad tone of voice cracks as I begin laughing.

"Okay! Okay!" He snorts out a laugh. "I'll rest! Just stop staring at me like that! It's kind of freaking me out. But, what will you do as I rest? Won't you be bored?"
"Are you kidding me? I have a whole row of books here that I haven't read yet! You know how long it's been since I read anything that isn't a book aimed for kids? I miss reading real novels."

Bi-Han gets up and ruffles my hair in a playful manner. "Have fun with that, Kuai."
"Rest well," I smile, already reaching over and pulling out a random book.
I feel him kiss the top of my head. "I will. If you need anything, don't be afraid to wake me up. I love you."
"Heh. Love you too." I hear him walk out. Once he's gone, I sigh, looking at the glowing fire that's keeping me warm.

"I...just hope Hanzo and Kana are okay."