Mortal Kombat x Reader

Scorpion x Orphan Child Reader

The night sky is lit by embers and clogged with smoke as you run through your village. Everything is on fire. People are screaming all around you. Demons had attacked your village, burning down the houses. Smoke is burning your lungs as you run into a back alley.

You see a figure jumping and running along the rooftops, too fast for you to see if it was human or another demon.
You're terrified. Where are your parents? Are they okay? Did they make it out?
You hiccup, coughing slightly from smoke inhalation.

You're too weak to keep running, and end up passing out.
You feel someone carrying you and having your head rest on a person's chest. Their heartbeat is soothing to listen to.
"You're awake..." A man's raspy voice states.
Opening your eyes, you see a man with clothing like a samurai glancing down at you with white eyes.

"Who...are you?" You cough. He sighs, holding you closer as he keeps walking through a bamboo forest.
"My real name does not matter. Call me Scorpion."
He sounds a little mad. Not at you, but at himself.

"Scorpion?" You echo back.
"Yes. I saw you passed out near a fire. I had the urge to get you away from there."
"Where are my parents?"
He looks down at you, the golden mask making his expression hard to read. "They....did not survive." He states reluctantly.

"And my home?" You ask.
"Gone. Burned to cinders."
"Where are we going?"
"To the Shirai Ryu Temple. My temple. I'll keep you safe."
The sight of red/orange leaves fluttering down catch you by surprise as Scorpion carries you to his place.
You take note of the lack of people.

"Only I live here. You'll be safe, trust me." His voice softens, sounding caring. Wind chimes sway in the breeze gently as Scorpion sets you down.
"Come. Let me get you something to eat." You follow him up to the temple and he holds open the door.

He ends up making you fried rice with strips of meat, which you eat happily. While you eat, he takes off his mask and hood, revealing black hair tied in a ponytail and a beard.
"What is your name?" He asks, watching you eat.

"(Y/n)." You answer.
"(Y/n)," he repeats is, a small smile on his lips. "That is a nice name."
"What will happen now?"
"I watch over you. You still seem rather young to survive on your own. How old are you?"
"Nine."
Scorpion nods, then looks outside towards the cherry blossom trees. "I assume you have no other family?"
"I don't."

Another nod. He looks at you, white eyes looking sad. "What if I adopt you? I'll take care of you, I promise." You finish off your rice, then stand up and walk over to him. You end up hugging him, your face buried in his abdomen. He kneels down and hugs you back. "It's okay, little cherry blossom...."

His grip is warm and strong. "You are covered in ash and soot. Come with me. I have a hot spring you can use." He leads you over to the back of his temple, then motions to the small pond of hot water.
"I will come back in a few minutes with fresh clothing. Just try to clean yourself as best as you can."

You end up doing just that, the warm water relaxing your tense muscles. After drying yourself behind the privacy of the bamboo wall, you put on the yellow kimono and walk back to the temple.
Now that your nose is clean from the steam, you smell the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, and see Scorpion sitting under the tree, polishing his katana.

He sees you walk over. "Come here, little blossom." His voice is gentle. You sit next to him, looking out at the setting sun. He pulls you close.
The gravity of the whole situation finally sinks in and you cry. Some sort of instinct kicks happens in Scorpion and he cradles you like a young child.

"Shhh. It will be all right. Nen, nen korori yo, Okorori yo.
Bōya wa yoi koda, Nenneshina

Bōya no omori wa, Doko e itta?
Ano yama koete, sato e itta.

Sato no miyagē ni, nani morōta
Denden taiko ni, shō no fue."
(Japanese Edo lullaby.)

You have no idea what Scorpion just sang to you, but you roll with it, and end up falling asleep in his grip.
Yeah, things aren't going great currently, but in Scorpion's grip, you feel safe.