Everything was spinning the moment my eyes shot open. I was laying on something soft and incredibly plushy...something that wasn't my bed. Uh oh. Did I run away from home in a sleep-walking fashion? I lifted my head and saw different surroundings. A silky gray blanket was covering me, an oversized gray pillow governed my head. The walls were adorned with symbols of something that looked awfully familiar...as my eyesight adjusted, I saw the Lin Kuei symbol.
...Why was I looking at the Lin Kuei symbol? Surely this was all a dream. Yeah, that's what it was. Just a dream. I would wake up and return to my shitty life soon. I closed my eyes, lay my head back on to the pillow, and tried to drift off to sleep.
"I don't know who she is. She somehow arrived here."
My eyes shot open once again and darted towards the grand double doors.
"Well, find out once she wakes up."
...Holy goodness, who was that?
"Fine. Anything else, Sub-Zero?"
...No freaking way...
"Not at the moment, Smoke. I apprieciate you taking her in to your room though."
"Yeah, yeah."
I gasped and tightened up my muscles, making sure they couldn't sense my movements. I was laying in Smoke's bed? The Smoke? Mortal Kombat Smoke?
"You should get her something to eat. There's no doubt she'll be hungry. Besides, we don't know where she hails from, she may not have eaten for days."
"Yes, Sub-Zero. I actually have the chefs preparing something for her now."
...Aww, Sub-Zero was concerned about my health! And Smoke had already ordered food to be prepared for me! This was the best dream EVER!
"Check on her now. She may be awake."
I shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep. The grand doors opened slowly, gentle footsteps approached me. My heart began to race, every part of my brain screamed, "Look! It's Smoke from your freaking favorite video game!"
I heard him sigh and sit where my head was at. His soft hand touched my forehead, and I melted. He was touching me. Ugh, I didn't want to wake up and face reality; I wanted to stay here, in Smoke's bed, with Smoke touching my forehead with his warm, soft, gentle yet dangerous hand.
"Mmph. She's warm." He murmered lightly, removing his hand.
No, keep your hand there, Smoke!
He got up, his footsteps traveling to the other side of the massive bed. He opened his nightstand cubby, his hands rustled around looking for something, and he gradually closed it after grabbing something from it. His footsteps traveled back to where I was, and he sat once again. His hand returned to my forehead and I tried my hardest to fight off a big fat grin. Suddenly, I felt something incredibly cold. Sub-Zero cold. And I wasn't happy about it. I shot up, gasping. Smoke watched me, his gray eyes danced over my dark brown, souless ones. I couldn't believe it...I was staring at Smoke...Mortal Kombat Smoke...
"Oh, you're awake," he chuckled, putting one of his hands behind his neck. "Sorry about that. Your body heat was warm enough to roast a chicken, I had to cool you off."
...He was talking to me. Right? I looked behind me, saw no one, then faced him. He cocked an eyebrow and turned his head to the side with slight bewilderment.
"What is it?" He asked calmly. "Are you alright?"
I kept staring in to his alluring gray eyes.
'Say something, you fool!' my conscience cried out.
Instead of speaking, I nodded quickly. Smoke slowly approached me, and I backed away from him. He was very sexy, but I've played as him before. His fatalities are brutal.
"You don't have to be afraid. I won't hurt you." He promised, his hand extended towards me.
I stared at it, then back at him. He was sincere. Every part of him showed me that he meant what he said. Especially his eyes. I hesitated slightly.
'He's offering you his hand. Take it. Take it!'
I closed my eyes and placed my hand in his. His warm, long fingers curled around my small, pudgy hand and as I opened my eyes, he smiled. Oh. Oh my gosh, he smiled.
"There. See? Not a scratch on you." He encouraged, pulling me towards him.
He was a charming son of a bitch. In the game, he's ruthless, killing when necessary or unnecessary. But here, he was smiling, chuckling, holding my hand.
"This is the best dream ever..." I whispered, my eyes plastered on his hand.
"Dream?" He asked, leaning his head closer to me just so he could hear me clearly. "What dream?"
Wait. This wasn't a dream?
"...Yeah...I should be awake shortly. I-I fell asleep p-p-p-playing this video game c-c-called M-M-Mortal K-Kombat and apparently, h-here I am!" I stuttered.
His gentle gaze turned in to one of abashment. "Video game?"
"Y-Yeah...see, you're a c-c-character and...oh jeez."
My eyesight began to turn fuzzy and I collapsed lightly.
"Whoa," Smoke said in a worried tone of voice, catching me swiftly and holding me in his arms. "Take it easy."
I blushed and bit my lower lip. "Sorry...I just...I don't know where I am and-"
"You were locking your knees," He added with a casual smirk. "Relax. You are at the Lin Kuei Palace."
I loved his arms wrapped around me. It felt nice, comforting, warm. For the first time, I felt protected.
"Are you alright to stand on your own?" He asked.
"Y-Yeah..." I sighed, disappointed.
He stood and I stood alongside him. He released me and I took a couple steps away from him.
"Did this...video game...bother to introduce me?" He asked, placing his hands on his hips in that manly manner.
I blushed and smiled. "Yes. You're Smoke."
He chuckled and smoothed his smoky gray hair. "Damn, it beat me to the punch. And who are you, young maiden?"
Young maiden? That made me feel beautiful for the first time. Ha, there really is a first for everything!
"I'm Ama...Ama Haruki..." I replied bashfully, blushing again.
He tilted my head up so that I could look in to his smoky gray eyes once again. "A pleasure to meet you, Ama. Would it be alright if I just called you that?"
My blushing deepened. "S-Sure..."
"Good." He grinned as he let go of my chin.
A solid knock on the door startled me and made Smoke turn briskly.
"Come in." He commanded with the strictest-sounding voice I had ever heard.
A young, build man entered with several trays of food.
"Your food, sir."
"Place it on the nightstand." Smoke demanded.
The young man bowed, placed the large tray on the nightstand, then turned towards Smoke's direction.
"Anything else, sir?"
"No, not at the moment. Thank you." Smoke replied, gently this time.
The young man bowed once again and quickly hurried out of the room. Smoke looked back at me, then stood and walked towards the tray of food.
"You must be hungry."
My stomach growled audibly and I tried to cover it as best I could to stop the shaming sounds. I didn't eat anything the other day but a bit of a bagel and some orange juice to wash it down. Smoke only burst in to a beautiful laughter and brought the tray over to me. I stared at everything in awe... a dish of baklava, small bowls filled bits of calamari, chopped eel, eggs benedict, and fish tacos. Another dish had philly cheese steak, wasabi peas, paella, and sushi. SUSHI. For dessert, I could see pistachio ice cream, s'mores, a root bear float, key lime pie, funnel cake, and a chocolate milk shake. My beverages consisted of a regular club soda, water, and white wine. I almost drooled as Smoke handed me a napkin.
"Enjoy."
Without any kind of shame, I automatically dug in. I grabbed an empty place and filled it with a little bit of everything, except the desserts. Those would wait till later. Smoke watched me and sat back on a big, plushy pillow.
"What happened to the left side of your face?" He asked collectedly.
I stopped stuffing my face for a moment and looked up. I swallowed, drank a bit of the club soda, and placed the fork to my side.
"I...I was struck."
Smoke's eyes danced around me with concern. "By who."
His protective tone made me blush-again-and I blinked back the incoming tears very quickly.
"It was...nobody. Don't concern yourself over it.." I breathed out, staring at my plate of food.
"Like hell I'm not," Smoke said fiercely. "Tell me."
I fumbled with pieces of the paella and blushed as I replied, "My mother."
"...What?" He questioned. "What kind of mother would smack her child that violently?"
"Mine..." I whispered with a slight sniff.
Smoke's eyes never left me, and I felt his hand on top of mine. "Hey, it'll be alright. You're away from her now, right? Where do you live?"
"In a small Japanese town called Anto..." I answered.
"Hmph. You are a part of Earthrealm then. Either way, your town is several miles from where we are now. Honestly, I've never heard of it, but if you are of Japanese descent, then you are obviously a citizen of Earthrealm."
"Earthrealm...wait, I've been living in Earthrealm this whole time?!"
He nodded, slightly curling his fingers around my hand once more.
"You're safe here, for the most part."
"What do you mean...for the most part?"
"Well, as I've told you. You are in the Lin Kuei Palace. This place is surrounded by men, and men only. No woman has lived here, except for one, but that was ages ago."
"...Frost?"
Smoke raised his eyebrow. "How do you know about Frost?"
"The Mortal Kombat games..." I gushed.
He gave out a frustrated sigh, then smiled at me. "You have to show me this...video game...sometime."
I blushed and threw a stray piece of the abomination called my hair out of my face. "I'd love to."
He smiled genuinely, then continued. "You will have to stay with me, or Sub-Zero for the most part. As I've said, this place is surrounded with men. Men who haven't seen breasts in ages and who plan to reach out and touch them the moment they present themselves in their presence."
Sub-Zero? The Sub-Zero?! I was so excited, I thought I'd pee myself! That was basically the only thing I heard him say!
"Understood?" He confirmed, his voice demanding.
"Y-Yes. I understand, Smoke."
"Excellent. Now, finish eating what you can."
I looked back at my plate, then glanced up at Smoke.
"I'd love it if...if you joined me..."
He looked at me, then at the tray of food.
"Ah, what the hell. I haven't eaten in a couple days anyhow. Stop taking all the sushi, would ya?"
"Yes, Smoke!" I giggled, giving him some sushi.
I couldn't believe it...I was eating with Smoke! Mortal Kombat Smoke! And according to him, this really wasn't a dream! I was just so excited that I found myself stuffing food in to my mouth, chomping ungracefully. Smoke would chuckle every now and then while he sat with his legs crossed in that criss cross applesauce form, eating the exact opposite way I was. This was amazing...more than I had ever hoped for. And I was meeting Sub-Zero next!
After half an hour of chatting and bits and pieces of food remaining on the tray, Smoke stood and offered his hand. I grabbed it without any kind of hesitation and he pulled me up.
"Right. Before we meet Sub-Zero, allow me to put some ice on the left side of your face. It's been swelling up the moment I found you, and it's bothering me."
"Found me?" I questioned. "Where did you find me?"
"You were right outside the palace gates. Thank the Elder Gods I was the one who found you. The other Lin Kuei members and novices would have already had their way with you by now."
The image of Lin Kuei member stripping me naked and me screaming wasn't a pleasant thought. "Gee, thanks..." I mumbled, rubbing my arms.
"Stop thinking about it. Give me a minute, I need to retrieve some ice."
"Wait, we're going to Sub-Zero, right?"
He turned towards me. "Right."
"Sub-Zero is a Cyromancer."
Smoke blinked.
"Sub-Zero can just touch the side of my face, and the swelling would go down. Right?"
"...Right. Damn, you're a clever young thing, aren't you?"
I blushed and covered the right side of my face. "I try."
