A/N: The more adult parts of this will be on A03, under Twilight_Rose. Didn't think I could put it on here. It isn't too much, but, didn't want to get in trouble.
"You keep possessing me. It frightened me at first, but, now? I don't want it to stop. Don't ever let it end. You're the only thing that tethers me here".
Three months later
Kotal found Kara in Erron's 'watering hole', as he so eloquently put it. Not taking her for the drinking sort, seeing her 'drowning sorrows', (again, as the gunslinger phrased it) disturbed him. The woman he had spoken too did not give him the impression of someone intent on wallowing if something had gone awry in her life.
It had. After almost dying multiple times, she'd grown weary, cynical. 'Viper' tipped her over the edge, her ass firmly planted on the ground. The grass certainly was not greener there, much to her annoyance...
"Emperor? I take it this isn't your 'commoner' look?" She smirked, taking hold of a shot glass, holding the chosen carnelian vice near her lips. "Careful. With all those holes in your face, your detractors may use you as a pinata if they got hold of you".
She continued, after receiving no reply. "I nearly died several times. My soul was used to create an abomination that terrorised people, flinging herself around by the vagina. Even now, I see some looking at me, staring, judging, all cause I look like her. I am celebrating life, living a little. That's all. Don't treat me like I am dumb. I'm sick of it. I can do what I want with my existence".
Kotal's eyes flashed blue. a warning or something else, she could not tell. It wouldn't hit her until later what the glint was. The word 'existence' stuck with him, vivid memories came to the fore of her, lying on cold stone, unable to move, even uttering words failed her.
He kept up his Emperor guise, but felt stress gnaw away inside his gut.
"Kara. I merely worry for you. After what has happened, I only wish you well. Please don't act like a child".
Kara spun around. "Oh, don't", she spat. Other patrons looked in her direction, the sudden outburst drawing their attention. The woman flushed, lowering her tone. "I get it. You're perfect and the rest of us aren't".
Kotal used a hand to order what she had in front of her. The barman gulped, nodded, and bowed before scurrying off towards the bottle rack.
"If you continue to speak to me as if you are a scolded child, I will continue to treat you as such". The small glass placed on front of him was picked up, and swiftly drunk.
The sweetness hit him first, too much for his palate. He swallowed. Kara looked up from her stupor, tilting her head curiously.
"Too much? I thought you'd be able to imbibe anything".
Kotal swallowed the last of the beverage.
"Too sweet".
Kara smirked. "It counteracts my bitterness".
Kotal smirked in return.
"You aren't bitter. Merely..."
The woman cut him off.
"Young? Foolish?" Her smirk deepened. "Drunk?" She signalled for another drink, but a hand stopped hers from raising. The barman walked away, continuing to clean a glass.
"You will be, if you go on".
Kara drawled out her reply, childishness colouring her words.
"Awwww, but, I'm fun drunk".
"You will fall, if you continue. Falling isn't 'fun'".
Kara let out an odd huff.
"What about fawning? I can do that, if that works better for you".
The Emperor took aback, processing that word.
"Obsequious?" She looked smug with herself. "That's a good one".
"That's a, big word".
Kotal said quietly. Kara glowered at first, that phased out to laughter.
"Just let me have some time away from the chaos. Please?"
Her tone changed to that of sadness, her eyes giving off soft struggle. She was pleading with him.
"Why ask permission of me?"
"Well, I am old enough not to have to ask my parents, but, you? You're a different story". She grinned, unable to hide it. "It almost feels like I'm cheating, being in here, talking to other guys, maybe a little flirting here and there".
"You're implying something is there".
Kara nodded, no hesitation.
"I'm implying just that. Both of us know it, we just haven't said anything. There is something, but", she swivelled to face him, "you aren't a mere man. I can't just screw you. It wouldn't be, proper".
Kotal had heard enough smutty language from taverns and in his youth to know exactly what Kara was implying.
"If I wanted to you under me, you would be".
Kara blushed, red ever darkening by the passing minutes.
"Under you? No, honey. If we do that, I'll be on top". She tapped her head. very thankful the light bulbs clearly hadn't been replaced in a while.
Remember. I can touch you, do whatever I want to you, without physically being be there, so...
"I always have the upper hand. You got the weight advantage, I have the sneaky bitch mind tricks".
Kotal leaned in.
"Try it".
The intonation was clear, laid bare, stripped of contrite. Kara blinked, taken off beat. Kotal was trying to wrestle control of the rhythm. Kara's flow was not his to control.
No matter how much a part of her wanted to give him control. She could already feel herself wriggling on the stool, certain tilts of her hips giving rather pleasant frissons. She was giving in, but wanted him to catch up to her.
"What? Really?" She feigned shock. "You and I, rutting like teens who've just discovered how utterly brilliant sex can be? Be still my heart and loins".
She laughed. Kotal's look ceased that. That glint, honeyed bronze oozed from it. Kara shifted, the gaze powerful but inciting. Inside, she felt heat, blossoming from somewhere she'd long assumed was dormant. Not many guys had her squirming.
Not many guys had her body want to give in so quickly. It felt like her body was separate from her mind at the point. It craved physical contact. Her mind didn't know what to do. It panicked, scattering thoughts about the space.
However, she knew one thing. If she continued to shift any further forward, she'd either let herself give in to wanton relief, or fall off the damn stool...
"Okay". She put her hands up. "You got me". She signalled for the bartender. "I'll need another drink for this, Dutch courage. Bottoms up".
Kotal shook his head.
"If you are inebriated, it would not be proper, Kara. I am not taking advantage of what you are offering".
Kara wasn't sure whether or not to be offended by 'offering'.
"I did not mean offering in a derogatory sense. I meant it as in your body is telling me much more than you know".
Kara stood up abruptly.
"Okay". She closed her eyes. "Not gonna try and stop this anymore". Wide pupils gave Kotal all he needed to know. "Lets get back to the palace, I'd die of embarrassment if we did anything here, of all places". She shook her head and said 'yuck' for good measure.
Kotal chuckled, put koin on the bar, slid it towards the bar man and let Kara walk before him.
The rest of Outworld matters could wait. All that existed was Kara and just how she made him feel.
Two months ago
Earthrealm, Military Kamp
"What the?" Jacqui looked at the far east end of the kamp. "Why am I seeing who appears to Kara here? Isn't she resting in a different reality to this one?"
Cassie walked out of the tent, her Mother following. Both were far too tired to care, until they saw the figure. It swayed, all over the place, falling, bracing itself against crates.
"It can't be. I was just getting ready to go to the Jinsei chamber, inform Raiden we'd found all the bodies or the revenents, that Tiama can reunite them with their souls. Now, this? No. It can't be. We found all the revenents".
Sonya said in disbelief, stress thick in the air. Cassie chimed in, but not as her Mother thought she would. She thought the Sergeant would make a jape, giggle and pop her gum.
What she actually said did not anger her, despite the colourful choice.
"The fuck? She looks drunk almost. Not in the fun way either. Like almost spark out drunk".
Sonya would have questioned her daughter, if her ex husband hadn't appeared, alongside Kenshi.
"That is not Kara. Her aura is off, completely maligned. I sense, rather, see red around her".
Johnny cursed.
"Aw shit. Shinnok, right? Asshole. Poor Kara. She doesn't deserve any of this. How did she get out though? Surely Tiama would have detected another presence there?"
Sonya frowned, grabbing a holster and gun.
"She's tired, Johnny". She sighed. "We all are. Right, suit up, get ready for a possible fight. We must let Tiama know about this. Okay?"
Her family and friends snapped to attention, running off to get their gear.
Sonya sat on a crate, sadness in her heart. The thing before them needed putting down, but the fact it looked just like her friend was making that fact much harder to swallow than it needed to be.
"Guys?"
Sonya's head shot up, pulled from her daze immediatley. Cassie and Jin ran out of the hub tent.
"Kara? The hell is going on?"
Cassie spat out her gum when the figure moved towards them, skin grey, saggy, wrinkled. It's body looked half the age of it's skin. It wore shapeless rags, almost looking like hessian sack material. It made it look even more gaunt, ghastly. The blond suddenly felt ill.
"The fuck is wrong with her?!"
The figure responded by skipping forward. Sonya drew her gun, as did Cassie. Jin readied his bow staff. It stopped, dead in it's tracks.
"Fuck this". Cassie shook her head, worry plastered on her face, panic in her eyes. "I can't Mom, I can't watch this".
Skipping formalities didn't warrant care at present. Sonya nodded.
"Its okay Cass. It'll be okay. We'll get rid of this, 'thing', and get Kara back. Kenshi can keep her in flux, separate the souls".
"Cassie?" The figure whooped. "S'up?"
The voice was low in pitch, angry, loud.
"I said, S'UP?"
Cassie and Jin jumped, the voice screeching, ear splitting. The General went pale.
"I'm Viper. That's what he calls me. My other half".
She whistled a disjointed tune.
"Shinnok? Stop this. Damn well leave Kara alone. She's more than you'll ever be, she means a lot", she looked around, "to all of us. She is one of us. You aren't".
Jin stepped up.
"That means fuck off".
Viper's foggy eyes blinked, unfocused, glints of purple giving hope to the group. The skin sagged on its bony arm as it reached out to touch the monk. He stepped back, putting his staff in front of his face.
"Cute, REALLY. Fuck you, silly little boy, masquerading as a man. Who do you think you are? You're talking to a...", it doubled over, grey matter leaving it's nose, "Kara".
Johnny ran outside, stopping dead nefore the form.
"Oh, shit", his eyes widened, "Jesus frickin' Christ. Kara? We know you're in there".
I can hear her.
The swordsman's voice gave more than a glimmer of hope to the group.
It isn't her. She cannot control Shinnok.
He laughed, throwing the others off guard.
She's apologising...
Despite the situation, the group laughed.
Sonya?
Kara frantically waved her 'arms' around, trying to garner attention. Shinnok stopped her.
Cassie?
She looked at herself. She looked disgusting, like a starving, ancient beggar. She quivered.
I'm so sorry. I swear, this isn't me. I wouldn't harm any of you.
Kara?
She looked up, a smile forming.
Kenshi? I'm sorry! Please, forgive me.
Kenshi nodded.
It is not your fault. Your heart is still pure, your mind is merely Shinnok's pawn. I can free you, but you need a host.
Kara shook her head, trying to manifest before the swordsman.
I need a crystal.
She, frazzled and in pain tried to think of what to do, more grey goop coming up her, their throat.
Get...Mom, Dad, Raiden even. Get someone, please...
She just got that got before retching, nasty, thick sewage tasting fluid burning her mouth...
The day before
Outworld Market
"What is this?"
Kotal pointed to a shrunken figure in the shadows, clutching at the fabric around it, eyes squinting from the sun's rays.
"Is this, Kara?"
The witnesses around the Emperor nodded.
"Aye, Emperor. She looks like the Lin Kuei girl, but deathly ill".
Kotal snapped back.
"Kara. Her name is Kara. And, this is not her, but a pale imitation. A spectre, a thief". He glared at the being, body heating up, runes preparing his body for battle.
The citizens shrank back, visibly afraid. "No matter. I will protect you all. Stand behind me, women and children first".
Several women, some holding babies, others with their hands linked with their children scurried behind the God. Their husbands, fathers and brothers walked behind him next.
"Come!" Kotal bellowed. "Come out of the shadows!"
"Emperor?"
Kara's voice came from the being, raising faith in the leader.
"Emperor...".
Shinnok's voice eliminated the faith, replaced by dread.
"Be silent, fiend. You are not welcome here. Go back to whence you came, and return what you stole".
Grey slop left the thing's nose, the same colour as its eyes.
"Help me".
Bile erupted from the creature's nose. Kotal grimaced.
"SILENT. Leave, now". He did not wish to spook the people with his power. If they saw him burn the 'thing', burning the building down around it, a family run tavern, they would despise, revile him. He had worked too diligently for one slip up to be his ruination.
"How momentous. I get to kill the 'revered' Kotal Kahn with the guise of the very woman he loves".
A collective gasp sounded. Kotal's brows lowered, lip curled into a scowl.
"How dare you. How very dare you. You use Kara against me? I will murder you can retrieve her soul". He looked the thing up and down. "And, how dare you insult Kara. You look nothing like her. You are a disgusting wretch".
"And she is a disgusting wench, throwing herself at you as a prostitute would for koin. I'm willing to bet your coffers would keep her happy".
Kotal had heard enough. He could not risk summoning fire. He saw Erron arrive with a garrison of sixty men.
"Kill it. Kara's soul will be siphoned into this, but we will need a medium to channel her. I will burn up Shinnok's soul".
Erron nodded. He readied his revolvers, taking aim and shooting the creature. It doubled over, howling, two voices heard. The first put everyone in a state of unease. That was Kara screaming, screechy in pitch, a high, horrid note.
The second was gruff, short. A quick flare of pain.
"Erron! What did I say? Don't make me a pinata. Besides", her voice shifted, "this one would rather rip you to shreds". It grabbed onto barbed wire from a broken fence, the wire gouging deep welts into it's hands. It hit bone by the time Erron balked.
As he crouched down, taking deep, heaving breaths, he saw grey drips on the ground. He, foolishly used a hand to gather some on a finger. It stung after a few seconds. He bit back a groan, sniffing the substance. It was caustic, smelt bitter. He knew that smell.
"Kotal? This is poison. I was almost killed with it a long time ago. That's what she", he backtracked after a sharp blue eyes stare, "it is bringing up. That's what is killing it, hence why it's extremely thin, weak. If we wait, it'll soon die. No need to burn it. We just need a medium".
Kotal stared at the entity, but spoke to the cowboy.
"And who was your medium?"
Erron sighed, wiping his hand on the ground.
"Shang Tsung. It'll be after his well. That's what saved my life. Shinnok thinks it can bring him back, since he no longer has a body. Like Ermac, with enough souls, a body will form".
A squeal pierced the men's conversation, Kara's voice again. Her hand was bleeding, metal embedded in her skin, barbs ripping flesh. Shinnok did not care, the pain irrelevant. His goal was clear. Erron knew where the soul well was, and would yield to him. Kara protested, Kotal smiling as he saw her aura grappling with the other. Glittering scarlet tried fusing with magenta, but the pink was moving away. The being fell onto its knees, the tattered, filthy robe covering its form shifted, its nude chest exposed. Kotal looked away, seeing ribs, ridges of its spine, concave stomach, drooping grey skin and limbs so thin, they looked like twigs. He couldn't bear to look any longer.
The crystal!
Kara had given him a crystal the first time they met, as a way to contact her directly.
"Erron!" The man spun around, standing up. "The crystal in my chamber, on the nightstand. Return to the palace and bring it to me. We can use that to siphon and contain Kara's soul until her parents arrive".
Erron nodded, sprinting off towards the portal temple.
Kotal looked at the sky whilst he waited.
My fellows, he bowed his head, clasping his hands together in respect, assist Erron in his role. Quicken his pace, for his job is vital.
The being shifted in and out of view, beginning to 'die', as Erron had predicted.
Kotal had the residents return to their homes, taking his eye off the figure for what must have been a minute.
A very long minute.
Too long a minute.
He missed the form vanishing from existence. Confusion hit him first, then paroxysm, a fit of fury. How could it just disappear?
It wasn't corporeal, nor spiritual. He had no idea what it was. A medium would need to be called upon still, explain the wretched mess that had just occurred.
Kotal wished he wake up, or that he'd blink, and everything would be normal, as it should be.
He wanted to wander the palace, find Kara in the library, scanning chapters with inquisitive eyes, and maps with fascination.
This wouldn't be the case, unless he could get her back. The her he knew.
He scoffed. If he'd have voiced that to anyone, they'd have laughed.
'She's just a girl', they'd say.
Not a girl, the Emperor's mind corrected, in answer to an unvoiced question, a woman.
A warrior.
The next day
Earthrealm Military Kamp
"Shit", Jin side-stepped, "don't get this stuff on you. It's acid".
Takeda shook his head.
"No, I think its poison. Viper, huh?" He tch'ed. "Yeah. Poisonous alright".
Jacqui cursed. "Poisonous bitch".
'Viper' lay, vomiting 'poison' onto herself. Kenshi stayed a ways away, scanning her over. He moved back, head in a hand.
"Dad?" Takeda stood, walking to his Father, concern in his tone.
Takeda smiled upon hearing the term, now used as one of endearment, not said hastily in vitriol.
The poison was used on Suchin. It was created by Shang, he attempted my life with it, before blinding me with the soul well.
Takeda gasped, water rushed to his eyes.
Shit. Dad?
Takeda shook, needing someone to lean against. His Father felt the same, and was all too willing to hold his son.
"Tiama is on her way. Stay well away from 'Viper', I can't stand for anyone else to get hurt".
Sonya shouted at everyone to stop staring at the form. It writhed, weakly coughing, weeping softly. The sounds appeared to be Kara. The thought had the blond smiling.
Kara was fighting back...
Three months later
Z'Unkarah
Kotal's Palace
Her heart pounded, all sound phased out, the only thing she could hear were her hitches of breath. She nuzzled the Emperor, nerve-fuelled but wanting to let him know what page she was on. That she'd at least picked a page, painted index nail upon it. He was on the same page, hand upon hers. Kara, out of reflex got onto her tiptoes. Balance was not her primary focus. Throwing herself off, she wobbled, equilibrium not quite right. A little blush covered her cheeks, an honest smile in response from the man before her made the colour darker. She was a tad embarrassed, the arousal she felt prior clouding her mind. She coughed, trying to stay calm, focused.
"May I?"
Arms opened, at Kara's sides but not touching her body. Kotal wasn't about to make her feel pressured to let him into her space. Kara blinked, looking at the limbs, nodding quickly. Warm hands steadied her, just above her hips, arms wrapped around her waist. Kara felt light, her heart fluttering, the wings within her stomach joining along in quiet chorus.
Not quite sure what to do with her own hands, she stared at them, as if they'd turned green.
"May I?"
She thought, words said in haste, voice quivering. A smaller, knowing smile graced the Emperor's face now.
"Yes".
She smiled in return, placing one arm around his middle, attempting to cuddle his much wider frame, the other hand on his chest, below his shoulder. The tension that was present earlier began to rear its head.
"How long do I have to fight this, before I rip my clothes off?" She looked away. "I;m sorry. I am trying to be demure and innocent, but, I'm far from either. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want you..."
She trailed off. Kotal turned her head to face him, thumb and forefinger caressing her cheek.
"That you're a whore?"
Kara flinched, that word lanced through her brain like a knife through butter.
"Yes. No! I, I just feel like throwing myself at someone makes me dirty somehow. Hell, its been so long, I'm gonna look desperate if I just strip and sleep with you. You, of all people!"
Kotal gave a wry grin.
"Me, of all people?"
Kara used his chest to knock her head against.
"Yes. You", she huffed, laughing gently, "you, God, you, Emperor. Someone far beyond my right to think about in that way".
The Emperor's face softened.
"You are nowhere near a 'wanton whore'. You're a bright, intelligent woman. A light, that helped guide me through constant pitch blackness. You want intimacy, not just a 'fling', or 'fuck', as mortals would call it. How uncouth".
Kara spurted out laughter, looking up at the God's chin.
"Did you just swear? Oh Gods", she squirmed, feeling the rumble as he spoke that forbidden word, "say it again".
Kotal moved down to her ear. He didn't say it again. He bit her earlobe, kissing under it.
Kara couldn't keep it caged any more. She'd kept the key to that cage close to her chest, practically glued to her skin, just in case someone tried to force it open.
The man, the God before her let her remove the key from her heart, unlock her heart and cradled it, alongside his own.
He was letting her into his world, and she would fall willingly...
Kotal moved back up, hands on her waist, his voice low, enjoying her squirm at the tone.
"Fuck".
A muffled squeal came from the woman as she pulled his head down, kissing him with gusto, passion flowing from her. He returned that and more in spades.
Kara pulled him down as she fell into an abyss she didn't wish to be freed from. She'd stay here for as long as she could, suspicion or not.