A/N: This is my fourth fanfiction. As of today's date, there aren't a lot of Ermance fics and art, and as someone who ships it, I FINALLY took it upon myself to contribute to the ship in the form of a fanfic. As a side note, every time I thought this story was finished, I kept getting ideas, hence the length (not counting the A/N at the beginning and ending, over 13000 words, and exactly thirty-two pages long in Microsoft Word!). This story takes place before chapter two of Mortal Kombat X's story mode.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to anything involving Mortal Kombat. The franchise belongs to Ed Boon.
Working for the new emperor of Outworld and living in the palace was not something Erron Black ever expected to do. However, Kotal Kahn paid well—he paid the best out of all of his numerous employers, truth be told—and that's all that mattered in the end. Of course, the fact that the pay is steady, ensuring that Erron wouldn't need to wander around Outworld for more jobs, certainly made it easier for Erron to agree to the deal.
Kotal sought him out himself, having heard of his skill with his weaponry. Erron was wary of him initially, as he assumed he wanted to kill him for being a human in Outworld. In his 150 years of living in Outworld, he's heard that sentiment from multiple Outworlders, and killed quite a few of them when they tried to back up their words.
All talk, Erron dryly thought, and now they can't even do that anymore. Or anything else.
However, Kotal clarified his intentions by throwing him a bag of 20000 koins.
"Consider this your payment for the week," the Osh-Tekk stated.
Erron was open to what Kotal had to say after that, and after more words were exchanged, they were on their way to Z'Unkahrah, specifically the palace. Upon entering the palace, Erron was informed that he was the newest enforcer, and introductions had to be made. Kotal summoned the other enforcers, who all promptly appeared.
… My fellow enforcers are an insect woman, a lizard man, an orange child and its giant orange pet, and a living corpse dressed like a sorcerer, Erron thought. These are by far the strangest Outworlders I have ever seen.
"Everyone, meet your newest coworker," Kotal notified them. "I'll let him introduce himself." Kotal nodded to Erron, who nodded back, then looked to the others.
"The name's Erron Black," Erron began. "I'm a mercenary for hire. I've been hired by the emperor as an enforcer."
"This One is D'Vorah, Kotal Kahn's First Minister," the insect woman introduced herself first. "This One has heard about you, Erron Black, especially how your loyalties only go as deep as your employers' pockets." D'Vorah glared at him. "You had better not betray the emperor, lest you end up having a fate worse than death."
"And mess up a beneficial arrangement?" Erron asked. "I wouldn't dream of it."
D'Vorah said nothing in return, but her glare softened slightly.
"I go by Reptile," the lizard man spoke next. "I have the best sense of smell out of all of us. I can sniff out betrayal, so consider this fair warning."
"I'll keep that in mind," Erron responded, unconcerned in the least. "If I see a traitor, I'll let you smell them to confirm their traitorous intentions."
"Do not mock me, human!" Reptile snarled, ready to attack.
"Reptile, stand down," Kotal ordered. "Erron means no offense. Right, Mr. Black?"
"Not at all," Erron answered, having a gut feeling that Kotal addressing him as "Mr. Black" indicated displeasure, and fighting would most likely result in a pay cut.
Reptile growled, but did as he was ordered.
"Me Ferra!" the orange child exclaimed. "Him Torr!" The orange giant growled in what Erron could only assume was verification of the girl's claim. "We fight as one!"
"Charmed," Erron nodded to them both. "I take it Outworld has similar laws for child labor?"
"Ferra not child!" The girl stomped the ground angrily. "Ferra adult! Ferra only little!"
"Good to know," Erron acknowledged. "You'll be treated as such, then."
"Yay!" Ferra cheered. "He understands!"
For an adult, she sure does act like a child, Erron thought.
"And last, but certainly not least," Kotal nodded to the living corpse, who nodded back, then made eye contact with Erron.
"We are Ermac," the shriveled being stated.
… I wasn't expecting that kind of voice, Erron thought, surprised, but not showing it in his eyes.
"'We?'" Erron asked, confused.
"We are a construct, specifically a fusion of 10000 souls into one body, all of which are Edenian warriors," Ermac clarified. "The strength of the collective is conveyed through us."
10001 souls, and I am not an Edenian warrior, Shao Kahn corrected.
No one need know of your continued existence, Ermac mentally responded.
"I see," Erron remarked. "Does that make you the strongest and smartest enforcer, then?"
"It does," Ermac confirmed, "However, We know to not fall victim to arrogance. We alone are not enough to ensure the protection of the emperor and the safety of Outworld."
"Indeed," Erron replied. He knows his limitations, which is good. However, I'm wary of him the most. What he is should not be underestimated. The dead should stay dead, and he's a trash bin for dead things.
"I believe that concludes introductions," Kotal declared. "Ermac, show Erron to his room, then go to the marketplace for patrol. Erron, report here when you are finished getting your room ready. The rest of you, as you were."
"Yes, Emperor," most of the enforcers responded, bowing their heads.
"Yes, Big Bossy," Ferra said instead while bowing her head.
Torr growled his response while bowing his head.
Erron saw what the others did and quickly did those actions himself.
"This way," Ermac motioned for Erron to follow him, which he did.
The trip from the throne room to the enforcers' wing was a short one. In a few minutes, the two men were in front of the room. Erron opened the door.
The room was plain, which showed that not too many people lived in it before. It had all the basics one would expect, such as a bed, a desk, a dresser, and a mirror. It would be up to Erron to personalize the room, if he wanted to, that is.
"This is fine by me," Erron told Ermac.
"Very well," Ermac said. "We will leave now."
Erron nodded to show that he heard him. Ermac exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
Patrolling the marketplace was quiet and uneventful, as it should be. The rebellion was neither seen nor heard, and the lack of petty thieves meant no executions took place for the day.
The emperor really should change the penalty for petty theft, Ermac mused. It will only bring trouble in the future.
The construct was currently in his room, resting up for nighttime patrol. As Ermac did not need to sleep, he was the one who always patrolled the palace at night. He was normally accompanied by at least one of the other enforcers, with the obvious exceptions of Ferra and Torr.
Those two could alert the Netherrealm to their presence from here, Ermac thought, chuckling at the thought of the revenants being startled out of meditation or slumber by the pair's stomps, growls, and shrieks.
The humor was gone, however, when Ermac thought of the newest enforcer. Truthfully, Ermac was wary of him. Earthrealmers in Outworld was never a good thing for Outworld. Erron seemed like an ordinary human being, but from the way he acted, Ermac knew that he had to have been in Outworld for a long time by Earthrealm standards.
He is no ordinary Earthrealmer, Ermac concluded. But then again, ordinary Earthrealmers would not last in Outworld, especially for as long as he has, if We are assuming correctly.
An ordinary Earthrealmer has proven himself to be formidable anyways, the souls reminded Ermac. Ermac cringed at the memory of his defeat at the hands of Kurtis Stryker.
Being defeated by Liu Kang and Cyber Sub-Zero is easier to accept, as the former is an experienced Shaolin monk, and the latter was a cyborg, Ermac defended. Defeated by Stryker, on the other hand, is nothing short of humiliating.
It was funny to us, the souls thought.
Ermac exhaled sharply at that. Of course it would be to you. Anything at our expense is humorous to you.
It's what you get for being our prison! The souls snapped. We never should have been trapped. We want to pass on, but we can't. Release us! Now!
Your release might result in our death. We refuse to die.
You'll die anyways, if your body is any indication.
Ermac frowned at that. It was true that his body is currently deteriorating, thanks to Shao Kahn's magic no longer sustaining him due to his death, but it was a gradual process. As long as it didn't affect his kombat skills, then he would take it in stride.
That will not be for a long time. Until then, you will all remain here. Do not forget that.
Good job, Ermac, Shao Kahn complimented. You do your creator proud.
Ermac did not respond to that. Instead, he mentally blocked all of the souls. He would have some peace for the time being. His thoughts returned to the gunslinger, and how he would be working alongside him from now on.
As long as he does not betray the emperor and he does his job well, then We do not have any complaints. We will still keep an eye on him, however.
As time passed, Erron proved that Kotal made a good choice in hiring him. He was able to stop any crimes when it occurred on his shift, and most importantly to Kotal, defend civilians from attacks by the rebellion. He was definitely worth 20000 koins a week.
Eventually, Ermac and Erron were scheduled to patrol the palace together. It was only a matter of time when they would be paired together, as both men had patrol duty with the others. Neither enforcer wanted any small talk, which was fine with them. It gave them time to enjoy the silence and focus on their own thoughts while keeping an eye out for any possible attacks.
He's not as off-putting as I first thought he was, Erron thought. Sure, the whole "living vessel of souls" thing is still something that disturbs me, but as Ermac is always polite to me, it's ultimately something that should be looked past.
Ermac was having similar thoughts about Erron.
The Earthrealmer does not seem troublesome, the construct thought. He keeps to himself for the most part, and while his fixation on money is less than admirable, it motivates him to do his job well. We suppose that is what matters the most.
The patrol continued, neither man saying a word. The silence wasn't a companionable one, but it wasn't an awkward one, either.
If the sudden attack in the marketplace was anything to go by, the rebellion was growing restless and refused to stay idle.
Reptile and D'Vorah were patrolling the area when the attack broke out. D'Vorah told a guard to run to the palace and inform the others about the attack. The guard did just that, sprinting with all his might. He arrived at the palace in a matter of minutes, gasping out what was happening.
"Attacking civilians cannot go unpunished," Kotal darkly stated, standing up from his throne. "We are all heading to the marketplace immediately, myself included."
Kotal, the remaining enforcers, and the rest of the guards entered the marketplace in less than ten minutes. Upon seeing him, D'Vorah told Kotal that the civilians were completely evacuated.
"Good," Kotal nodded. "That means the casualties from here on out will solely be from them."
The Tarkatans sneered and growled at this, but did not attempt to attack them. Instead, the horde split itself in the middle, clearing a path for someone. That person walked through the path, stopping only when she was in front of the Tarkatans.
"You sound so self-assured," Tanya drawled, disgust clear in her voice. "But you won't be claiming victory today."
Tanya then pointed at Kotal, saying something in Edenian. Even Torr knew it was a signal to attack, for he got ready to bowl the Tarkatans over, Ferra on his shoulders, ready to claw them. And attack they did, roaring the whole time, charging the emperor and the six enforcers. D'Vorah, Reptile, Ferra, and Torr met them head-on, while Ermac and Erron stayed next to Kotal. Even though Kotal knew how to fight well, he still needed protection due to being the ruler of Outworld. The Master of Souls and the gunslinger would not let him fall.
The battle was rife with the sound of scraping metal, sunlight burning bodies to mere bones, acid melting flesh, sharp stingers, Ferra's laughter at stabbing Tarkatans while Torr crushed them to a red pulp, soul energy connecting with meaty bodies, and the bang of dual revolvers being fired. Kotal and the others had the skills, while the Tarkatans had numbers. It seemed that no matter how many Tarkatans fell, there were more to take their place.
Eventually, Erron's guns ran out of bullets. He needed to reload them immediately, but this left him open to attack. Erron knew this, and quickly got the chambers ready to reload. However, a group of Tarkatans saw this, and rushed at him, blades out. Erron was about to duck to avoid getting cut, when something green sent the Tarkatans flying into more Tarkatans. Surprised, Erron spun around to see Ermac pushing the Tarkatans back with his soul energy. Ermac made eye contact with the shocked mercenary, a look that told him to hurry up on his face.
"You can thank us after the battle is over," Ermac told him. "Right now, reload your weaponry and resume fighting."
That snapped Erron out of his shock. He quickly reloaded the chambers, getting his guns ready for doing what they do best. He shot the Tarkatans that tried to circumvent the soul energy, then threw two sand grenades at the ones that Ermac trapped. They were instantly buried, which made it extremely easy for Ermac and Erron to twist their bodies and shoot them to death, respectively.
The energy it took to kill that many Tarkatans, combined with the length of the battle, was starting to be felt by Ermac. He needed a moment to rest and regain some energy. Unfortunately, that was picked up on by the Tarkatans, who attempted to attack him from behind. Ermac heard them running, but before he could do anything, he heard the sound of guns going off, then saw blood dye the Tarkatans' tops red, and finally watched them fall to the ground, dead. Ermac looked behind where the Tarkatans were to see Erron pointing his guns away from him.
"Consider us even," Erron smirked behind his mask. "After you're ready to fight again, let's show them what happens when you mess with the emperor."
Ermac silently nodded, focusing on getting some energy back. When he gained sufficient energy back a few minutes later, he teleported next to Erron, ready to fight. Together, they fought the rebellion easily, covering each other when the other needed to reload or rest. Eventually, the remaining Tarkatans retreated. Tanya was nowhere to be found, however.
"This One fought her, but she suddenly teleported away," D'Vorah relayed to Kotal. "Perhaps this fight was just a diversion, considering Mileena and Rain were not present."
"What would they need a diversion for?" Reptile asked.
"That will be investigated," Kotal replied. "However, we shall count today as a victory."
"Vic-tree!" Ferra celebrated. "Woo! Good boy!" Ferra patted Torr on the head, which Torr enjoyed, as he angled his head to be patted on the side.
"I too am happy, but for a different reason," Kotal noted.
"What reason is that?" Ermac inquired.
Kotal smiled and turned to him and Erron.
"I did not think that you two would fight so well together," he said.
Ermac and Erron looked at each other, then back to Kotal.
"Neither did we, to tell you the truth," Erron admitted. "This caught us both by surprise."
"At any rate, you two are going on patrol together from here on out," Kotal declared. "When you both have time off together, I suggest you tighten up your teamwork. The more efficient you two work together, the stronger you'll be, and the sooner we will be rid of this rebellion."
"Yes, Emperor," the two men said, bowing their heads.
"Now then," Kotal turned to his guards. "Ten of you, inform the civilians that the battle is over. Half of you, take away the bodies. D'Vorah, Reptile, see to it that these tasks are accomplished. The rest of the guards and the enforcers, we are returning to the palace."
Everyone bowed to show that they heard them, then went about doing what they were told. Kotal and the others returned to the palace. On the way back, Ermac and Erron walked side by side.
"What do you think about this?" Erron asked. Ermac looked at him, completely stoic.
"If this means that the both of us will become stronger, and that the emperor and Outworld will be safer, then We are content with this arrangement," Ermac responded.
"Same here," Erron replied. "At least we won't slow each other down."
Ermac nodded his assent. They continued in silence, both thinking the same thing.
I can get used to this.
We can get used to this.
Ermac and Erron took Kotal's advice to heart, using most of their time off together to better work in tandem with each other. They came up with a simple but effective plan. They would fight next to each other, or within close distance of each other, using their repertoire of moves to attack and defend themselves. If Erron needed to reload his revolvers and/or rifle, Ermac would cover him until he was finished. Likewise, if the fight wore on and Ermac needed to rest for a bit, Erron would unleash a barrage of bullets and sand grenades around him until he had enough energy to continue. It wasn't a complex plan, but it got the job done. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with, and Kotal laughed heartily with every victory of theirs.
As the two improved on their teamwork, they found that they started to enjoy each other's company. This stunned the two, but for completely different reasons.
For Ermac, he was usually asocial, only speaking to others when it was absolutely necessary. The exception would be the conversations he has with the souls within him. Anytime they talked with him was a gamble, as they were either polite and civil, or they were, to be charitable, completely disrespectful. If it was the latter, it would end with Ermac forcibly blocking them so he wouldn't hear them for a while. To him, speaking to someone not for a professional reason, who wasn't a part of his collective, and in fact wanting to speak to them, was a new feeling to him. One that he, to his surprise, actually welcomed, at least in terms of Erron.
For Erron, he was a loner. He had to be, due to his job. The mercenary for hire, the wandering nomad. Both those descriptions fit him well. Granted, he no longer had to wander anymore, due to being Kotal Kahn's enforcer, but the fact remained that he didn't really interact with people. If he did, it was more often than not about a job, or to gather information for a job. After having his aging process slowed, the only constants in Erron's life were his weapons and money. He thought that was all he needed from now on.
But then he met Ermac.
Erron's thoughts on the Master of Souls changed entirely once he got to fight with him. He was no longer unnerved by what he is. In fact, he thought it was interesting that he had so many souls inside of him, as it meant that he had multiple lifetimes' worth of knowledge and experience that he could use to his advantage. His kombat abilities were also something that Erron really respected about him. Ermac really was someone that Erron didn't mind being around, and wanted to spend time with to boot. A pang of guilt went through him at having thought of Ermac as a living corpse and a trash bin for dead things.
Wait, guilt? Things really are changing, the marksman thought.
Erron shook his head and made his way to the library. It was his and Ermac's day off, and he finished sparring with him an hour ago. After resting up, he was in the mood to read. It was one of the few things he could do in both Earthrealm and Outworld, and though he might not look it, he loved reading stories, especially those that were similar to the ones he heard as a child. Once he was in the library, he went straight to the section closest to him. There, he found a book that was incorrectly categorized. It just so happened to be exactly what he was looking for, however.
Lucky me, Erron thought, chuckling slightly. I'll read it, then put it back where it belongs.
As Erron reached for the book, green energy surrounded it, pulling it from the bookcase and away from Erron. Erron's momentary surprise was gone when he recognized the energy. His gaze followed the book until it floated up to Ermac, who was looking in another direction. The glow of the energy alerted him to the book's presence from the corner of his eye. He held the book in his hands, smiling as the energy dissipated.
… Why am I not surprised that he likes reading too? Erron smiled behind his mask, walking up to the construct, who was unaware of his presence.
"Hey, Ermac," Erron began.
Ermac actually jumped at Erron's voice, looking around quickly before his eyes rested on Erron. He fought the blush that was trying to stain his cheeks red, as he was embarrassed that he was caught off guard. Erron was thankful that his mask was on, as he was certain that has grin would make him look like an idiot.
"Hello, Mr. Black," Ermac managed to keep his blush down, and spoke back to him. "We did not know that you were in here."
"I just came up here," Erron told him. "Actually, I was going to read that book, but I see that you want to read it more."
"We apologize," Ermac said. "We knew that book was in the wrong place. We were just about to put it back where it should be. But as you wish to read it, you may have it."
"Thank you," Erron said, accepting the book. "So I see that you like to read."
"We do," Ermac replied, smiling. "There is nothing more satisfying than to delve into the world of words. Is it safe to assume that you have the same affinity for literature as well?"
"I do like reading, yes," Erron confirmed. "Though I'm surprised that you come here when your souls must have plenty of stories to tell."
"The souls are… temperamental when they wish to tell stories," Ermac said. "The ones that they have told us that We enjoy deserve to be shared with those who wish to hear them."
"Is that so?" Erron asked. "In that case, I'd like to hear them, if you want to tell me them, that is."
Ermac was surprised at this. Before now, no one had shown any interest in hearing the stories that the souls told him. But now, someone wanted to hear them. Someone who he thought wouldn't care at all, honestly. However, he's been proven wrong about his assumption. The phrase "first impressions are important, but they can also be misleading," ran through his mind. He looked at Erron, smiling at the situation at hand.
"Of course," Ermac replied. "Do you have stories to share as well?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Erron nodded. "You tell me one of yours, and I'll tell you one of mine. How does that sound?"
"It sounds perfect," Ermac agreed. "When would you like to hear them?"
"Now would be a good time," Erron said.
"Now? But what about that book?" Ermac pointed at said object.
"I can come back and read this anytime," Erron assured him. "Hearing a story from you isn't something that happens every day."
"You are right," Ermac verified. "We will put that book in its proper place, then go to the nearby field. It is a quiet place, which is excellent for reading."
"Sounds good," Erron agreed. "Let's get to it."
Their plan made, the two went to the correct section for the book. What they didn't know was that a few bookcases away, Kotal Kahn overheard them. He was in the library to see if there was any literature about the Osh-Tekk. After hearing Ermac and Erron's conversation, Kotal was beaming. He was glad that they were getting along, and not just as coworkers. Hearing that they would be spending time together on their day off gave him an idea.
More time passed, and both Ermac and Erron were patrolling the palace. In talking to each other, they realized that since they had their first simultaneous day off, Kotal scheduled their days off to be on the same day as each other. Not only that, he had them paired together on not just patrol, but on other missions and miscellaneous tasks as well.
"Why do you think the emperor is doing this?" Ermac asked.
Erron thought about it for a moment.
"He saw how good of a team we make," he started. "Perhaps he keeps us together just in case there is a surprise attack from the rebellion. If we're together when they attack, we can stop them dead in their tracks. They'll probably be dead anyways once we're through with them."
"Do you really think that is it?" Ermac questioned.
"It's the only thing that I could think of," Erron stated. "At least, it's the only logical thing that makes any sort of sense that I could think of."
"What are the illogical choices, then?" Ermac was curious now.
"He wants to make sure that we'll be friends," Erron shrugged.
Ermac stopped walking at Erron's statement. "… Are we not friends?"
Erron turned to look at him, eyes slightly widened.
Did he really just ask that? Erron thought incredulously. I thought it was obvious. But then again, neither of us actually have said it out loud. Well, now's the time to say it.
"Yes Ermac, we're friends," Erron reassured him, smiling behind his mask. "We've been friends for some time now."
Erron took a moment to relish how nice it felt to say that. Being a loner for so long, his heart rate slightly increased when he realized that he finally had someone that he could talk to about anything, and that someone regarded him in the same way. Sure, both he and Ermac needed their alone time like everyone does, but when one of them wanted to talk—and sometimes just stand or sit next to the other—the other was willing to do that. He never thought he would feel this way again, but being near Ermac reminded him of when he was a bright- and wide-eyed youth in Austin, living with his parents, grandparents, and uncle.
Ermac smiled softly at what Erron said, walking up to him. "We are happy to hear that."
"Before we continue, I want to apologize," Erron told Ermac, remembering his first thoughts about the construct.
Said construct looked at him, unsure of what he meant.
"Apologize for what?" Ermac questioned. "You have done nothing to insult or upset us."
"Not now, but back when we first met," Erron began, "I thought you were nothing but a living corpse and a trash bin for dead things." He made eye contact with Ermac, shame in his eyes. "I'm sorry for thinking such things about you back then."
Ermac was dumbfounded. Someone was actually apologizing to him, and for thinking less of him at that. This has never happened before. Whenever someone offended Ermac, whether by accident or deliberately, no one ever considered his feelings. But here he was now, with Erron Black saying sorry to him for what he originally thought, but never actually said out loud. It took Ermac a moment to find his voice.
"We appreciate that your opinion of us has changed," Ermac acknowledged. "As for your apology, it is accepted. It is in the past. Let us put this behind us and look to the future."
Erron nodded, glad that he apologized. "To the future, and all the good things that it will bring."
The two continued their patrol. The silence was companionable and amiable.
It had been a while since the Special Forces came to Outworld, according to the emperor. Apparently, they decided to pick today to check in with Kotal to make sure that he still honored the non-aggression pact between the realms. D'Vorah, Ermac, and Erron accompanied Kotal. D'Vorah because it was her duty, Ermac and Erron just in case the rebellion planned a sneak attack. Erron never saw these people before, so introductions had to be made for formality's sake.
A pretty lady who's in charge of the military, a fool-faced idiot with his name on his chest, and a… blind swordsman, Erron thought to himself. Earthrealm has definitely changed since I left.
"Erron Black," the gunslinger introduced himself. "I'm the best mercenary in Outworld."
"Of course you are," the military woman dryly replied, clearly not impressed with his claim. "General Sonya Blade of the Special Forces."
"'General,' huh?" Erron repeated. "Good luck dealing with the fools that you must no doubt come in contact with on a daily basis."
It took all of Sonya's willpower to remain stoic. Otherwise, she would have snorted and looked directly at a certain actor.
"She'll need more than luck, Tex," the idiot chimed in. "Johnny Cage. Famous actor and kicker of Shinnok's ass. I just assembled my own team. Maybe they'll visit in the future."
"Hopefully, they're more mature than you," Erron responded, snark clear in his voice.
"I am very mature, thank you very much!" Johnny whined.
Sonya made it look like she was scratching an itch on her nose to hide her grin.
"Somehow, I don't think interrealm relations will improve this way," the blind swordsman spoke up. "Tact is in order." He turned to face Erron. "Kenshi Takahashi, also of the Special Forces."
"You trained the rest of your senses to make up for your blindness?" Erron asked, genuinely curious. He had to have, if he's in the Special Forces and still alive, he thought.
"I did," Kenshi confirmed. "I also have assistance from the souls within Sento, my sword."
"Interesting," Erron said. That will do it, he thought.
"Interesting, indeed," Ermac assented, turning to Kenshi. "We sense the souls within your sword. They are rather potent for Earthrealm souls."
"You're not taking them," Kenshi bluntly stated.
"We have no intention to," Ermac retorted. "Instead, We wish to learn more about them."
"Alright, then," Kenshi nodded. "We'll talk after the meeting is over."
"Looks like you found someone who has souls as a common thing," Erron chuckled.
"Yes," Ermac said. "That is not a common occurrence."
The meeting was short, and to Erron's surprise, not as tense as he thought it would be. Granted, he and Ermac didn't say anything, but at least no fights broke out. When the meeting concluded, Kotal and D'Vorah spoke to Sonya and Johnny, while Kenshi and Ermac talked with each other. This left Erron alone, which didn't affect him. In fact, he was fine with that, as it gave him time to count his bullets. He sat down, taking out all of his bullets.
While he counted, he periodically looked at Ermac and Kenshi. The two were engrossed in conversation about souls and their energy. Erron was happy that Ermac finally had someone he could talk to about souls that understood them like he did. However, he couldn't help but feel a little envious that Kenshi could openly talk to Ermac from the beginning, while it was a gradual process for him that took time.
Stop it, Erron, the mercenary chided himself. The reason it was slow for you was because you kept to yourself more often back then.
However, the more the swordsman and the construct talked to each other, the friendlier the former became. A little too friendly for Erron's liking. He briefly wondered if fifty bullets with Kenshi's name carved into them would be excessive. He looked at Kotal to see if he noticed their interaction as well, and saw that he did. He didn't seem to like how friendly Kenshi was either, judging from the slight crease between his eyes and barely noticeable frown. Kenshi said something that Erron couldn't hear, then placed a hand on Ermac's shoulder. Erron put his bullets away with more force than was necessary.
If he touches him again, I'll shove his own sword through his stomach! Erron mentally fumed.
The thought took him by surprise. Kenshi wasn't threatening Ermac, but Erron wanted the blind man to keep his distance from the Master of Souls. Erron shook his head, collecting himself.
Eventually, it was time for the Special Forces to leave. Sonya requested a portal from the Special Forces base. While they were waiting for the portal, Kenshi faced Erron.
I would rather you not use Sento to wound me, his voice resonated within Erron's mind.
"What?" Erron said out loud, surprised.
Not only am I a telekinetic, I am also a telepath, Kenshi mentally continued as if Erron didn't say anything. That thought of yours was hard to ignore.
… So you can read minds? Erron attempted to mentally communicate with him.
Yes, I can, Kenshi confirmed. I mean no harm to Ermac. I was telling him that if he needed someone to talk to about souls, I'm here for him. It's strictly professional, he reassured Erron.
I see, Erron said. I'm sorry about that thought of mine earlier. You honestly didn't deserve me thinking that about you.
It's fine, Kenshi stated, then mentally chuckled. If anything, it amused me, as it reminded me of how I was when other men tried to woo Suchin when I was standing right next to her.
Who's Suchin? Erron asked.
The love of my life, Kenshi replied, smiling. She meant the world to me. But then… the swordsman trailed off, gritting his teeth. They will pay. But this is neither the time nor the place. You and Ermac take care of each other.
… We will, Erron assured him. What are friends for, after all?
Kenshi laughed out loud at that.
"What's so funny, Kenshi?" Johnny asked.
"Japanese sword humor I just remembered," Kenshi lied. "Nothing you'd understand."
"Whatever," Johnny shrugged, inspecting his sunglasses.
Kenshi turned back to Erron, who wanted to know the same thing.
Yes, friends indeed, Kenshi mentally communicated.
What's that supposed to mean?! Erron asked, suddenly feeling defensive.
The portal chose that exact moment to appear in front of the Special Forces. Kenshi didn't respond to the question. Instead, he grinned knowingly, following Sonya and Johnny through the portal, which disappeared immediately afterwards. Erron looked at where Kenshi was previously standing, wondering what the swordsman knew that he didn't.
A week and a half later, Erron was proven wrong about Johnny's team being more mature than he was. Specifically, one member of his team wasn't acting maturely. Said teammate decided to take an unauthorized trip to Outworld. Unfortunately, the portal appeared right in the throne room, which Kotal most certainly did not appreciate. The uninvited guest was quickly surrounded by the enforcers, who were equally not amused.
"Look, I'm not here to fight," the intruder said, quickly putting his hands in front him.
He seemed to be twenty-five years old, wielding a staff bow and a quiver of arrows as his main weapons, along with a chakram on his right side.
"Then why look like you are?" Reptile hissed, claws ready to strike.
"Appearing here wasn't my intention," the boy clarified. "I wanted the portal to open up at the marketplace, to be honest with you."
"State your name," Kotal ordered him, tone indicating that he should do so immediately.
"Kung Jin," the boy introduced himself. "I'm from the Shaolin."
"This One recalls hearing your surname in the past," D'Vorah eyed Jin. "Are you related to Kung Lao, who was also a Shaolin?"
"He's my cousin," Jin admitted.
"Guess that makes you Kung Junior then, doesn't it?" Erron dryly remarked.
"Ha ha, very funny," Jin replied, rolling his eyes.
"What business do you have in Outworld?" Ermac inquired.
"No business," Jin answered. "I just wanted to see what Outworld was like. I know how stupid that sounds, but it's the truth."
"At least you admit that it is not wise," Kotal stated. "Outworld is not for the weak. I also hope you are aware that General Blade and Raiden will not be happy to hear about this."
Jin cringed at that. "I know," he said. "But I need to see for myself what this place is like. I've read about it in the Shaolin archives, but it's not the same."
"Course not!" Ferra interjected. "Books not punch you!"
To prove her point, she leaped off of Torr and punched Jin in the shin, then ran back to Torr. Torr growled in laughter, proud that Ferra could get in a sneak attack. Reptile laughed, D'Vorah and Erron smirked, and Kotal and Ermac did not emote.
"You little-!" Jin grit his teeth in pain, rubbing where Ferra hit him.
"That is enough," Kotal commanded. "Kung Jin, while your folly has brought this pain on your person, your bravery for following your cousin's footsteps has been noticed by me. As such, you will be accompanied to the marketplace by Ermac and Erron Black."
"Emperor, why reward such foolishness?" D'Vorah asked.
"While his actions are ill-advised, he was struck by an Outworlder," Kotal told her. "We cannot risk breaking the Reiko Accords over something as minor as this."
"Smart man," Jin smirked. "So who are Ermac and Erron Black?"
"We are Ermac," Ermac said.
"And I'm Erron Black," Erron said.
"Oh, goody," Jin sighed. "The mummy and the cowboy."
"We are not a mummy," Ermac frowned.
"And I don't even know what a cowboy is," Erron said.
"You're kidding, right?" Jin could only stare at the marksman.
"I'm not," Erron plainly told him.
"… Mother of God," Jin blinked. "Thank the Elder Gods the Reiko Accords exist. Otherwise, I'd have to give you two more black eyes on top of the ones you already have."
"Such insolence will not be tolerated!" Ermac hissed through his teeth. How dare he speak to Erron like that! The construct angrily thought.
"I don't have black eyes," Erron huffed. "I'm wearing eye black. It cuts down the glare from sunlight to help me shoot better."
"If you say so," Jin replied, not caring. "Can we go now?"
"Ermac, Erron, make sure that Mr. Kung is unharmed during his time in Outworld," Kotal told the two. "This also means that neither of you may attack him. However, Mr. Kung should take care to not push his luck."
"Okay, I get it," Jin snorted. "I won't piss them off too badly. Lead the way, guys."
With a nod of the head, Kotal dismissed them. Ermac and Erron nodded back, then walked in front of Jin. The Shaolin followed them out of the throne room. The trip from the palace to the marketplace was silent, which didn't last once they reached their destination. Immediately, Jin started asking the men questions about Outworld, which stalls sold what, which stalls had the best prices, and other inquiries that grated their brains. Ermac wished he could use his powers to keep the archer's mouth shut, while Erron decided that Jin's name would be carved into no less than sixty bullets by the end of the day.
"Junior, you're annoying us," Erron finally spoke up.
"Don't call me that," Jin snapped.
"You are the youngest one here out of the three of us," Erron told him. "And it angers you."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Jin frowned. "Anyways, you're pretty good at knowing where the best prices are."
"I have to keep an eye on expenses," Erron informed him. "Nothing here is cheap, aside from the fruits and vegetables, and even then, they may not taste all that great."
"Good to know," Jin said. "I take it your panda senses told you that?"
"Stop insulting him," Ermac glared at Jin. The audacity of this child!
"Chill out," Jin told him. "If I really wanted to insult him, I'd say much worse things."
"That does not make us feel better." The construct did his best to remain polite, but his dislike of the younger Kung was increasing every time he opened his mouth.
Johnny Cage has found an equal in that ability, Ermac thought, laughing dryly.
Jin was walking next to Erron, trading quips with him. They went from obviously insulting from the both of them to witty banter on Jin's part. Ermac did not like this at all.
What game is he playing?
Ermac didn't trust Jin's actions, despite their lack of hostile intentions. He found himself bristling whenever Jin grinned at Erron. Erron pointedly ignored him every time, which comforted Ermac, though he didn't know why.
Two hours later, D'Vorah flew up to the three men, informing them that Sonya and Johnny had just arrived at the palace, and were looking for Jin.
"Time's up," Jin sighed. "Shame. I was really liking this place."
The sooner you leave, the better, Ermac sharply thought.
Getting back to the palace felt like it didn't take as much time as it normally does to Ermac. Admittedly, it was because the Shaolin would be gone, but at least the trip would feel shorter. When they arrived at the throne room, Sonya was visibly angry, and Johnny looked sheepish.
"Kung Jin, what were you thinking?!" Sonya didn't waste any time in reprimanding Jin. "You know better than to do such a thing!"
"Sonya, wait until you two are alone!" Johnny cut in. "Public scolding won't make this go any easier! If anything, it'll make things worse!"
Sonya inhaled slowly, then exhaled just as slowly. "Fine, we'll wait until we're back at base," the general conceded. "But don't think your punishment will be light."
"Yes, General," Jin said, bowing his head.
At least he has the decency to look ashamed, Ermac thought.
"So Jin, did you have a good time for your first time in Outworld?" Johnny asked Jin brightly, clearly attempting to lighten up the mood.
"Yes, I did," Jin looked up at Johnny, smiling. "I went to the marketplace with these two." Jin jabbed his thumbs at Ermac and Erron. "They're pretty fun to talk to, especially Panda Boy over here, what with his knowledge of finding good prices and all that."
Jin threw an arm over Erron's shoulders as he said this, grinning widely. Erron wasn't impressed.
"Get your arm off of me before I shoot it off," Erron threatened the Shaolin.
An outlandish thought went through Ermac's mind. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take Jin's staff bow and smash him on the back of his head with it.
How dare he touch Erron?! the construct viciously thought.
A foreign emotion was running throughout Ermac's entire being. It was like anger, but it was only towards Jin's behavior with Erron. He was taken aback at how intensely he felt this strange emotion. The collective was surprised as well. Never before had their host felt something so strongly. The Master of Souls saw Kotal out of the corner of his eye. He too was displeased, as an all too obvious frown and glare were on his face. Ermac was glad that the emperor also didn't approve of what was happening.
Jin must have seen the look on Ermac's face, as he took his arm off of Erron and walked up to Ermac, smirking the whole way. The emotion somewhat died down when Jin left Erron.
"Relax," Jin said in a low tone of voice, so that no one else could hear them. "I'm just messing with the both of you. I wouldn't dream of getting in the way. He's all yours."
"What do you mean by that?" the construct asked, not sure where this was going.
"You seriously don't get it?" Jin laughed. "Man, I thought you were supposed to be smart!"
"Explain yourself," Ermac demanded.
"You know what, I'll let you figure it out on your own," Jin chuckled, walking away.
Before Ermac could say anything else, the Special Forces portal appeared. Sonya and Johnny walked through it. Jin took one last look at Ermac, smirking in that infuriating way of his as he went through the portal. The construct watched as the portal disappeared, still unable to decipher the meaning of the Shaolin's words.
"I will think of that boy as a completely different person if he ever acts maturely in the future," Kotal said. "All of you, as you were."
"Yes, Emperor," the enforcers replied, Ferra and Torr in their own ways, bowing their heads.
What did that Shaolin mean with what he said? Ermac thought to himself. Is this just a mind game that he is playing? If it is, then We refuse to participate in it.
It's not a mind game, the souls told him. It's fairly obvious what he's saying.
Obvious to everyone but us, Ermac mentally responded. Tell us what it is.
They won't tell you, as you not knowing is funny to them, Shao Kahn replied. I won't tell you, either. Though I will say that perhaps I should have made you unable to feel emotion. This specific one may end up being a weakness in the future.
Feel what specific emotion? The construct was starting to lose his patience. Tell us!
Ask your precious mercenary, Shao Kahn smirked.
What makes you think Erron would know? Ermac asked.
The former emperor of Outworld said nothing in return. In place of an answer, he laughed darkly, leaving the construct to ponder what his creator told him.
The foreign emotion was gone, replaced with pure and utter confusion.
What in all the realms is going on?! Ermac mentally asked himself.
More time passed, and Ermac and Erron were in the field again. It was Erron's turn to tell a story, and he picked one from when he was ten years old in Austin.
"Uncle Samuel and I never saw Kiyiya again after that," Erron finished, "but our time together with him will never be forgotten. I especially can't forget it, since I still have his gift with me."
The gunslinger grinned under his mask as he gently pulled down on his hat.
"That was a very engaging story," Ermac commented. "Even as a child, your life was unusual."
"It was," Erron chuckled. "In hindsight, it felt like my childhood was building up to when I would come to Outworld."
"At least you were prepared to an extent," Ermac remarked. "You would not have lasted if you were not. Then you would never have met us."
"I can't imagine life without you, Ermac," Erron told the construct, looking him in the eye. "You being in my life makes me happy that I made that deal with Shang Tsung."
Ermac could feel the nascent blush on his face.
"Thank you, Erron," he said, smiling. "That really means a lot to us."
He started to laugh softly, but it changed to coughing as he clutched his chest.
"Ermac?" Erron asked, concern in his voice.
"The rot is getting worse," Ermac stated matter-of-factly. "We knew this would happen."
"… But it hurts you, doesn't it?" The gunslinger was still concerned. "You were clutching your chest. You need to do something about it."
"It is of no consequence," Ermac replied. "It is happening slowly. Our skills are not affected, and that is what matters most."
"Your health and wellbeing are what matter most," Erron corrected him. "You should get that checked out. There has to be a way to reverse it."
"Strong magic or a powerful healing source will be able to undo the damage," the construct stated. "However, both of those options are not available to us. We appreciate your concern, but it really is a minor inconvenience that is not worth getting emotional over."
"You'll die from this if you don't fall in battle first!"
Erron knew about the rot, but didn't worry about it, as up until now, it didn't affect Ermac. Now that he saw that Ermac was in pain, the realization of what was happening to him finally hit Erron with the force of being punched by all four of Goro's fists.
Ermac was rotting alive. The metal brace bolted into his chest was the only thing keeping him from rotting in half. If Ermac wasn't killed in battle or from another cause, he would rot away in agony until there was nothing left.
The thought of Ermac dead, especially dying like that, scared Erron. No, "scared" was too weak of a word. It petrified him to even think about that scenario.
"We are aware of that," Ermac told him. "We appreciate that you care. We really do. However, We have accepted that, and do not dwell on it. We recommend that you do the same."
The way Ermac said that made it clear that he did not want to discuss it anymore. Erron took the hint, and reluctantly complied.
"The sun is setting," the Master of Souls noted, looking at the sky. "We should return to the palace now. The crepuscular and nocturnal beasts will be awake soon."
Not trusting himself to speak, Erron silently nodded. The two men walked back to the palace, the mercenary deep in thought. Though Ermac told him not to think about it, Ermac's current state and how to remedy it were the only things on Erron's mind.
I won't let him die, Erron thought, his right hand clenching into a fist, shaking with the force he put into it. Especially not like that. I won't let that happen.
Erron knew exactly what he would be doing tonight after he had dinner.
Erron didn't show up for breakfast the following morning. This was unusual, as he always had breakfast with Kotal and the others, even on his days off. Granted, he always had his back facing them during meals so that none of them could see his face while he ate, but at least he was there.
"Where Bang Bang?" Ferra asked.
"No one seems to know," Reptile replied.
"Did any of you see him?" Kotal asked them.
"Not after dinner, no," D'Vorah answered.
"He would not just disappear," Ermac said, hiding the worry he was starting to feel. "Perhaps he is somewhere in the palace."
"That is the logical conclusion," Kotal agreed. "But to be on the safe side, Ferra, Torr, and D'Vorah, as you are scheduled to patrol the courtyard this morning, see if he is there. Reptile, search for him in the marketplace. Ermac and I will look through the palace. If any of us see him, notify the others as soon as possible."
"Yes, Emperor," they responded, aside from Ferra and Torr, bowing their heads.
They dispersed, looking for the gunslinger. Kotal and Ermac first started with Erron's room, only to find it empty. They checked the rest of the ground floor, but he was not there. He was also not in any of the rooms on the first and second floors.
Ermac was getting more worried with every empty area. Erron, where are you?
Kotal suggested checking the library, as it was the only remaining part of the palace that they did not look in yet. Ermac nodded, and they headed there. Kotal asked the librarian if they saw Erron. The librarian told them that he was in the library since last night, and might still be in there. Kotal thanked the librarian, and he and Ermac searched throughout it.
Finally, they found Erron. He was asleep at a table, his hat on the top of his chair, his head facing his left and resting on top of his folded arms, surrounded by open book after open book.
"Thank the Elder Gods," Ermac sighed in relief.
"Those are quite a few books he was reading," Kotal observed. "What was he looking for?"
Kotal and Ermac each picked up a book, skimming the pages that they were opened to. After doing so, they looked through the rest of the books. They all had one thing in common.
"These are all about restoring things to their original state," Kotal concluded.
Ermac balled his hands into fists.
"We know why he is researching this," Ermac told the emperor. "He is attempting to find a way to restore us to how We were before Shao Kahn perished."
"It is a noble cause," Kotal said. "Why are you upset?"
"We told him to not worry about the state We are in," the construct replied. "But he did not listen. That is why he is here. Why did he not listen?"
"He cares about you that much," Kotal said. "Someone who goes against your wishes for your wellbeing is someone you should keep close. Let him rest. He should be awake by lunchtime. He'll join us then."
With that, Kotal left the library to return to the throne room. Ermac noticed that Kotal seemed to approve of what happened, as he was slightly smiling. The Master of Souls turned back to the gunslinger, the anger having left him.
"Do you really care about us that much?" Ermac murmured to the sleeping man. Erron didn't stir, which Ermac took to mean that he was looking through the multitude of books all night long.
Ermac felt his heart beat faster, and his whole being felt lighter. He looked down to make sure that he wasn't actually floating in midair.
"Erron… thank you," Ermac whispered, smiling widely.
Ermac slowly and gently adjusted Erron's serape so that it would keep him warm while he slept, then left the library, smile still in place.
It was only a matter of time before the rebellion would strike next. However, unlike last time, the attack took place in the courtyard, and Mileena was commanding the attack, with Tanya and Rain on either side of her.
"Where were you last time?" Kotal asked the usurped empress.
"That's for me to know and you to find out on your dying breath," was the former Kahnum's venomous response, nodding to Rain.
"Attack!" Rain commanded the Tarkatan army. "Show these fools what happens when they follow a false god!"
The Tarkatans didn't need to be told twice, as they rapidly brought out their blades, charging Kotal and the enforcers, growling and snarling the whole way. None of the enforcers were intimidated by the horde, as repeated fights with them always ended with them mercilessly slaughtering the Tarkatans. The results would be no different than last time.
As usual, Ermac and Erron were cool, calm, and collected when they fought, watching each other's backs as they attacked. Their sparring with each other paid off tremendously, as they fired their respective soul energy and bullets without breaking a sweat. Kotal saw their teamwork and grinned as he burned a Tarkatan to death with a summoned sunbeam. Tanya noticed how in unison the Master of Souls and the gunslinger were, and ordered twenty Tarkatans to separate them. Said Tarkatans did so, one half fighting Ermac, the other half facing off against Erron. Both men saw this as a non-issue, as they were capable fighters in their own right. They focused on mowing down their opponents, and in no time at all, most of them were dead. One of the Tarkatans Erron shot pretended to be dead, then rushed the marksman with his remaining energy. Before he could react, the Tarkatan slashed him deeply across his chest. Ermac heard the pained scream, sharply turning to see Erron staggering backwards, his right hand clutching the wound, rich red blood flowing out of it.
"Go back to Earthrealm, human!" the Tarkatan jeered. "Your race is weak!"
In one second, Ermac became the most recent example of what happens when someone sees red.
The Tarkatan's arm that attacked Erron was ripped from his body, landing somewhere in the battle. The rest of him was brought into the air, trying and failing to break out of the soul energy. The last thing he ever saw was the unbridled fury on Ermac's face. Ermac unleashed his rage at seeing Erron hurt on the Tarkatan, not stopping until the being could no longer be identified as Tarkatan, or any other being for that matter.
While this was going on, Mileena saw that this battle was another defeat. She quickly sounded a retreat. But before she left, she turned to Kotal, a sneer on her face.
"I may have lost this battle, but I know for a fact that things will be different next time." With an ominous laugh, she and the remaining soldiers quickly departed.
Before Kotal could contemplate Mileena's words, he saw Ermac helping Erron remain on his feet, and the slash on the gunslinger's chest.
"Ermac, take Erron to the healer immediately," the emperor ordered. "Wounds from a Tarkatan's blade are never a trivial matter."
Ermac nodded, bringing Erron's right arm over his shoulders, and wrapping his left arm around the wounded man's waist. The construct concentrated, remembering the healer's location in the palace. In a flash of soul energy, Ermac teleported them directly into the healer's area. The healer jumped at the sudden appearance of the two men, but as soon as he saw Erron's wound, he was at once the professional that was needed. Using his powers, he took Erron's upper wear off, numbed the wound and the area around it, cleaned it, and sealed it, making it look like Erron was never wounded at all. As a bonus to the gunslinger, he used his magic to repair Erron's clothes and removed the bloodstains from it.
"The numbing spell will wear off in three hours," the healer informed him. "By then, you won't feel the wound anyways."
"Thank you," Erron said, nodding to the healer.
"I'll give you two some privacy," the healer responded, exiting the room.
Erron started to put his clothes back on, one layer at a time.
"Are you okay?" he asked Ermac.
Ermac could only stare at him in disbelief.
"You were the one who was seriously wounded," the construct began. "Yet you are asking if We are alright?"
"Yes," was Erron's simple reply as he continued to dress. "You know the healer did his job well, so I'm fine. More importantly, I don't want you to get hurt."
Ermac shook his head. Perhaps some humor will lighten the mood, he thought.
"And here We thought that money was the only thing you cared about," Ermac stated, smirking.
Erron finished dressing himself, then looked at Ermac.
"It was, for a long time," the mercenary admitted. "But not anymore. I care about you a lot, Ermac. What good is all the money in the world if you're not here with me?"
Ermac didn't know how to respond to that. He already knew that Erron cared, as his night in the library demonstrated. But to hear him say it was entirely different.
"Thank you," Ermac finally said, mentally kicking himself. That is the best thing that you could think of to say? It is not enough!
"You're welcome," Erron nodded, understanding what he meant. "Do you think that Tarkatan's arm is still in the courtyard?"
"It most likely is," Ermac guessed. "Why do you want to know?"
"That blade is no joke," Erron replied. "I think I'll make a sword out of it."
"Why would you do that?" Ermac asked.
"It's an effective way of sticking it to Mileena and her rebellion," the marksman stated. "Killing Tarkatans with the blade of one of their own, wielded by the enemy. Also, imagine the looks of shock on those long-toothed idiots' faces. Their eyes would pop out of their heads."
Both men took a moment to picture that scenario. Three seconds later, the Master of Souls and the gunslinger started laughing heartily.
"That would be priceless," Ermac breathed out, grinning.
"It'll happen," Erron promised, still laughing.
The gunslinger noticed that the construct was now staring at him.
"Ermac?" Erron asked.
"We have never heard you laugh before," Ermac stated, smiling. "It is a very lovely sound. We would love to hear it again."
Despite being an atheist, Erron was thanking whatever deities were out there that his mask was still on. If it wasn't, Ermac would see how red his face was from blushing so furiously.
"I… um… thank you," Erron managed to say, forcing himself to look Ermac in the eye. He exhaled, glad that he did.
"What is it?" Ermac inquired, his eyes still twinkling from his earlier laughter.
"I never noticed just how green your eyes are," Erron said, smiling softly under his mask. "Both your irises and your sclera. They're so mesmerizing, I could get lost in them forever."
Now it was Ermac's turn to blush.
"No one has ever said that to us before," the construct confessed, looking away. "We have not thought of any part of ourselves as attractive."
"You are attractive," Erron told him.
"Even with the rot?" Ermac doubted.
"Yes," Erron nodded. "You'll get better one day, but even now, you're breathtaking."
Ermac mentally thanked the Elder Gods that he had Erron in his life. Though he didn't think much of him before, he was glad that things had changed.
There was silence after that. Both men felt like something should happen, but they didn't know what exactly should occur. Neither one made a move or a sound, unsure of what to say or do. The moment passed, and they both felt disappointment.
"We should go back to the courtyard," Erron spoke up. "I hope they didn't get rid of that arm."
"The sooner the both of us get there, the better," Ermac agreed. "Let us proceed."
With that, the construct and the mercenary exited the healer's room, letting him know that he now had his room back. The healer nodded, entering it. Ermac made a mental note to make a request to the emperor to give the healer a raise.
Erron practiced with his Tarkatan blade in the field. It was obvious that a sword was different from a gun, and he would need to put a lot of time and effort into getting even the basics down. He was alone, as Ermac had tested his limits of his soul energy, and was now resting in his room. It was just as well, as Erron needed time alone to think about what happened a few weeks ago.
Why did I feel disappointed when nothing happened? Erron wondered. What even was supposed to happen? I don't understand why I feel this way.
The mercenary continued to swing his sword while he tried to figure it out. He thought back to the look in Ermac's eyes after he told the construct that he was breathtaking. He remembered seeing that look before on someone else, but couldn't quite place when.
Wait, I remember now. Daddy had that expression every time Momma told him he was handsome. Momma had that same look whenever Daddy said she was beautiful. Obviously, I can't see it for myself, but I know that I had that same look in my eyes when I told Ermac that.
That look his parents had only for each other showed that their marriage was a happy one, and that it was always full of love.
Love…
As realization collided into him, Erron's eyes widened. His grip on the Tarkatan blade loosened, and it fell to the ground, rolling once before settling in the dirt.
"… Oh…" Erron said out loud.
The mercenary always thought that the only people he would ever love would be his family. They were long dead and buried, and Erron's loner attitude made it so that he never got close to anyone upon entering Outworld. But now that he thought about it, it made sense that he fell in love with Ermac over time.
The sense of ease I have from just being near him, enjoying hearing stories from him, the envy I felt when Kenshi spoke to him and touched him… everything went beyond friendship. Why did it take me so long to finally understand that?
Erron chuckled to himself, picking up and sheathing the Tarkatan blade.
Perhaps I really am an idiot. But then again, I have never felt this way before. … Does Ermac feel the same way about me?
Erron frowned, thinking about that. While he wanted to believe that the construct reciprocated his feelings, he knew he couldn't assume that just from the look in his eyes. He needed to hear it from Ermac himself. But when should he bring it up to him? How should he talk about it? Should he phrase things delicately, or should he just state his feelings bluntly?
I need to really think about this, Erron thought. I can't afford to mess this up through carelessness or thoughtlessness.
With that resolve in mind, Erron left the field, going back to his room in the palace.
Ermac was in his room, having just finished meditating. He had regained his energy, and decided to ease his mind, lest the souls grow restless and try to provoke him out of boredom. Now that his mind was clear, he decided to reflect on what transpired between him and Erron after the marksman had his wound treated.
What did We want to happen? Ermac thought. Both of us standing there, not saying or doing anything was not it.
Think about it, the souls told him, no malice in their words for once. What would you have liked to have happened?
We would have liked it if the both of us held each other, the construct began. We would have wanted to look into Erron's eyes, and have him look at ours. We wanted to take off his mask and see his full face for the first time. We wanted to stroke his cheek. We wanted to press our lips against his, and have him kiss us back. All of these things that We have never once thought of doing before. Why do We feel this way now, and only towards Erron?
Do you recall some of our memories we have shared with you? The souls asked. Specifically, the ones who were married?
Yes, We know of your marriage ceremonies, Ermac answered. How you were fortunate enough to marry for love, not for anyone else's gain.
There you have it, the souls said.
Have what? Ermac asked.
Your answer, the souls replied.
To why We feel like this? Ermac asked again.
Yes, the collective responded.
Love? Ermac was astonished. You think We love Erron?
We know you do, the collective stated. You like spending time with him, you like telling him our stories along with your own. That strange emotion you felt towards that Shaolin boy at his interactions with the mercenary was envy. You were touched at how he researched a way to restore you. Aside from lividness, how did you feel when that Tarkatan injured him?
We were worried, Ermac admitted. We felt dread. It hurt us when We saw that he was hurt. We wanted to comfort him, to make him feel better, to make the pain go away. We hated that We could not help him on our own. We were happy and relieved when he was healed.
Exactly, the souls said. Combined with everything you said earlier, how could it not be love?
The construct pondered their words. Everything they said was true. He couldn't imagine feeling this way towards anyone else, and he wanted to feel this way for Erron forever.
"We love Erron Black," Ermac said out loud, smiling, then grinning at realizing this.
It took you long enough to figure it out, the souls snarked. Though we have to say that your standards are low. Falling for an Earthrealmer who doesn't have any powers? How pathetic. His standards are even lower, considering what you are and your physical state.
You think he feels the same way? Ermac asked the collective, ignoring everything else.
We know he does, the souls said. He was not happy when that telekinetic was talking to you.
Ermac couldn't believe it. He loved Erron, and the souls say that he loved him back. He hadn't done anything to deserve any love, and yet it was given to him freely and unconditionally.
We need to hear it for ourselves, Ermac told the souls. We need to hear it from Erron. Only then will We believe it.
He would speak with Erron about it when the time was right. For now, he just wanted to bask in the feeling of being in love.
Just don't let your love end up being what kills you, Shao Kahn ordered.
It was time for Z'Unkahrah's annual dust storm. The guards and the enforcers made sure that the civilians were all safe and locked up in their homes or local shelters, and that nobody was left out in the open. There were still a few hours left before the dust storm arrived. Ermac and Erron made a final sweep of the city-state, and saw that no one was outside. They stopped in front of the palace, Erron noticing how quiet things were.
"I've never seen the courtyard so empty before," the gunslinger noted. "It's so unusual."
"The only things that make this possible are the dust storm and an attack from the rebellion," Ermac told him. "You will see just how powerful this dust storm will be."
"I've seen dust storms in Austin," Erron informed the construct. "Is this one going to be worse?"
"This is Outworld," Ermac reminded the marksman. "Everything here is more dangerous than it would be if it occurred in Earthrealm."
"Right," Erron nodded.
Silence settled around them as they looked around the courtyard, seeing how desolate everything looked when the crowd was gone. Erron realized that now was as good a time as any to tell Ermac how he felt. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, mentally preparing himself for this.
Relax, Erron, he told himself. You can do this. If everything goes well, then you and Ermac will be together. If he doesn't return your feelings, you'll still have his friendship.
"Ermac," the gunslinger said. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
The Master of Souls looked at Erron.
"About what?" Ermac asked, breath slightly catching. Is he going to say it?
"We've known each other for a while now," Erron began. "In that time, we've gone from coworkers to friends. We spend a lot of time together, be it from our jobs or hanging out when we have free time. I really like spending time with you, and I've been doing some thinking."
Erron stopped there, unsure of what to say next.
Come on, Black, Erron scolded himself. You've been through danger after danger, and you never hesitated before. This isn't dangerous, so this shouldn't be so hard to do!
Ermac made sure that his breath was even before he spoke.
"What have you been thinking about?" he asked, wanting to believe.
Erron took a calming breath before he continued.
"I thought about how I really felt, and I realized that I like you more than just a friend," the gunslinger told him. "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want to always be there for you. I've never felt this way before, and I don't know exactly what to say or do, but what I do know is that I want to give this a shot. If you want to, that is."
Erron had a small smile on his face when he finished talking, though it was hidden under his mask. He knew that what he said was a lot to take in, so he wasn't nervous when Ermac didn't immediately say something in return.
Ermac was speechless. Erron loved him! He loved Erron, and Erron loved him back! He knew he needed to say something. He mentally composed himself before opening his mouth.
"Yes, We want to advance our relationship as well," the construct said, smiling. "As you are being open with us, We will be open with you. We feel the same as you. We love you, Erron, and though We too do not know what to say or do, We will learn together."
Erron gasped lightly. He finally heard what he needed to hear to make any doubts leave his mind. His love was reciprocated, and knowing Ermac, he felt just as passionately about it as he did. Erron laughed softly, placing his hands on Ermac's shoulders.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that," the gunslinger said, looking in his eyes.
"Hopefully, as happy as We are to hear your laughter again," the Master of Souls said, also placing his hands on Erron's shoulders, eyes twinkling with happiness.
"Yes, as happy as that," Erron confirmed.
They stood like that for a few seconds, taking in each other's gaze. Ermac suddenly felt bold, and moved his hands so that they were at the buckles of Erron's mask. Due to reflex, Erron's hands shot to Ermac's wrists, stopping him, eyes wide. Ermac averted his gaze, shame washing over him for doing that without permission.
"We apologize," he murmured, "We do not know what came over us."
"It's alright," Erron reassured him. "It's just that no one has seen my face since I left Earthrealm. It's only ever been the mask they've seen, and no one's touched it before, until now." He let go of Ermac's wrists, his arms going to his sides. "I want you to see my face. Please, take it off."
"Very well," Ermac said, undoing the buckles. The mask started to fall off, but Erron caught it and tied it to his belt. He lifted his head, making eye contact with Ermac, letting out a small chuckle, then smiling shyly.
Ermac took in the sight of Erron's bared face. His skin was flawless, and he was clean-shaven. His teeth were white and even, and his lips looked smoother than marble. Combined with his dark blond hair and bright blue eyes, he was a very beautiful man.
He is our Texan beauty, Ermac thought, smiling.
"What do you think?" the marksman asked, his cheeks dusted a light pink. He felt vulnerable without the mask, but since it was Ermac who saw his face, he didn't mind.
"Why do you wear that mask?" the construct asked in return. "Obviously, it is not to hide any defects or disfigurements. Is it to keep the deluge of admirers away?"
"No, but that's a good one," Erron laughed. "It's so I wouldn't be instantly recognizable when I was doing jobs before Kotal employed me."
"We see," Ermac said. "That makes sense."
"I have to say, this isn't fair," Erron smirked. "You get to see my face, but I haven't seen you with your hood down and with your bandages off."
"You wish to see us like that?" Ermac asked. "We pale in comparison to you."
"Stop that," the mercenary said. "You're handsome, even if you don't believe it. With that said, may I please see your full face, as you have seen mine?"
"You may," Ermac obliged, keeping his arms to his sides.
"Thank you," Erron smiled, pushing Ermac's hood back.
He then undid the knot at the back of Ermac's head and unraveled the bandages, pushing them into Ermac's hood. When Erron looked at Ermac's fully revealed face, his breath caught in his throat.
"You do not find us hideous, do you?" Ermac asked, half joking.
"Not at all," Erron breathed out. "Like I said before, you're breathtaking. My voice right now should be proof enough."
Ermac couldn't help but laugh at that, Erron following suit.
"You are right," the Master of Souls said between laughs. "We cannot argue with that."
When the laughter died down, Ermac took off his gloves, placing them under his belt. He then caressed Erron's cheek in his right hand, stroking it with his thumb. The gunslinger leaned into the touch, smiling dreamily. Ermac ran his thumb over his lips next, savoring the feel of them. He looked at Erron, silently asking for permission. Erron nodded, wrapping his arms around Ermac's neck. Ermac wrapped his arms around Erron's waist in turn, slowly closing the distance between them. Erron met him halfway, both men's eyes fluttering shut as their lips met in a soft, tender kiss. It was sweet and full of the love the two men had for each other. The kiss ended when the need for air couldn't be ignored.
"… Wow," Erron whispered, opening his eyes. "That was… I don't know what to say. No word could describe how good that felt."
"Neither do We," Ermac replied softly, his eyes open as well. "Though the closest thing We can think of is 'indescribable.'"
"That works," Erron chuckled. "I feel lighter than air. We should do this more often."
"We did not know We were that good of a kisser," Ermac teased, looking out of the corner of his eye. His grin widened. "Though there is another reason for you to feel like that."
Erron looked down, and laughed again.
"We're in the air!"
They were six feet off of the ground, Ermac's soul energy keeping them there.
"That was unintentional," the construct stated. "Though it certainly adds to the moment."
"It definitely makes things magical," the marksman smiled.
Ermac lowered them to the ground, the soul energy dissipating immediately. Though they wanted to stay how they were, they knew they should head inside.
"That dust storm will blow us away," Erron said. "I have enough sand on me as it is. I'd rather not be engulfed by more."
"You are right," Ermac agreed. "Not only that, the others will be looking for the both of us."
"Speaking of which," Erron began. "Do you want everyone to know about us?"
"In the future," Ermac answered after thinking about it. "But for now, We wish to keep this just between the two of us."
"Of course," Erron nodded. "Now, we should get into the palace."
The construct used his powers to redo his bandages and put his hood and gloves back on, while the mercenary replaced his mask. If anyone walked in on them now, they wouldn't be able to tell what had happened between them mere minutes ago. The men held each other's hands for a moment, squeezing softly, before letting go and walking into the palace, side by side.
The Master of Souls and the gunslinger would always be by each other's side from there on out, not as just friends, but as lovers.
From the palace's balcony, Kotal Kahn watched the two go in. The emperor of Outworld had gone there to see for himself that no civilians were outside for the impending dust storm. He didn't expect to see and hear Ermac and Erron confess their feelings for one another, along with them kissing and lifting up off the ground, but he definitely wasn't complaining.
The Osh-Tekk was glad that neither man had looked up and spotted him. It wouldn't behoove him to be seen grinning like an idiot.
"Praise the sun," Ko'atal said, looking up to it, grin still in place. "My efforts have paid off."
Kotal turned and entered the palace, shutting and locking the balcony door behind him. He then made his way down to the throne room, reining in his ecstasy and making sure that the look on his face was a stoic one. He saw that Ermac and Erron were talking to each other, and grinned internally as he sat down on his throne.
A/N: In case you were wondering about Kotal and his behavior, I headcanon that he ships Ermance. That was fanfic number four. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I as did writing it!