Chapter 1: The Second Fiddles.
The sunset over Outworld is a beautiful sight and everyone takes a moment to admire it. Usually. Kung Lao sighed as he slowly walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the beautiful sunset in front of him. These past few days weren't exactly as exciting as it would be, well not since Kronika has been defeated.
After the Time Goddess's defeat, Liu Kang, with Raiden's help, restored the timeline to the present and helped undo the Time Merger, though with some additions and changes throughout the timeline by the new Time Lord.
One, he managed to erase Sonya Blade's death at the Netherrealm as a favor to Johnny Cage and his family, where the actor gratefully thanked the Shaolin and promised him to return the favour, though Liu Kang insisted that it was unnecesarry and that their friendship is more valuable to him.
Two, he also undo Hanzo Hasashi's death, for his efforts in bringing Kharon to their side where the Shirai Ryu Grandmaster swearing his loyalty to the Time Lord but then again, he declined as such. Though he promised to locate D'vorah and incinerate her for all that she has done.
Three, he brings back the past selves of his allies back to their timeline while he himself remained along with a few others such as Kung Lao, Kitana and a few others. He also undid Kano's lie to Kabal, preventing the Black Dragon operative to continue his crimes and instead, left the organization to become a policeman at Deacon City, partnered with Kurtis Stryker.
It wasn't an easy task, and the Fire God had spent much of his time modelling it into a more peaceful and stable timeline. As such, the future Special Forces members are now with the past selves of the Shaolin and the Outworlders.
Then to the surprise of many, Liu Kang returned his godly powers back to Raiden, whom he requested to watch the flow of time and ensure peace within the timeline. Though Raiden was unsure about the task Liu Kang was giving him as he saw his future self made several blunders, he accepted the task, on the pretense that he will not interfere with the timeline and that he can continue his role in protecting Earthrealm alongside Fujin, though the two were also searching for Cetrion, who had been freed after Kronika's death.
Kung Lao allowed that information to go into his head.Though he was admittedly envious of Liu Kang and his feats, he cannot deny the weight that his best friend had, and that his choice to give up his power made Kung Lao realize that his best friend is indeed above him, not in terms of skill, but of humility and selflessness. The hat-wielding monk made a vow to Liu Kang that even though he is above him, he will not stop proving himself to be his equal, something that Liu Kang encouraged out of pride of his best friend.
Now the reason of his stay at Outworld is simple, Liu Kang acted as Earthrealm's diplomat at Outworld on Raiden's request, with Kung Lao acting as his bodyguard, something that the flaming fist monk happily accepted though the hat-wielding monk teased him that it was because he wanted to see Kitana again.
Now, not that he didn't like to be a bodyguard, Kung Lao felt that he needed to train further to surpass Liu Kang or at least match him in terms of skill but he is his best friend. Sure he is envious but he will not let his jealousy ruin their friendship, and sure enough, the other monk likewise done the same with his status as the Chosen One. Right now, the hat-wielding monk took some time for himself in the middle of the night.
On his right, he noticed a little tavern. "Hm, maybe this'll be good." He thought out loud. Feeling like he could use a drink, he walked in. Sure drinking would be a violation of their Shaolin principles but he was still a man. It wouldn't really kill him to drink. Well, would it?
'I guess Master Bo Rai Cho's influence got the better of me', he thought, remembering the times Bo Rai Cho jokingly offered Rice Wine to the monk.
"Why, hello lad! Anything you need?" The jolly bartender greeted him while polishing an empty glass. He had brown hair, a beard, and had on simple shirt with an apron along with black pants. "What can I get for ya?" Kung Lao took a seat on a stool and pondered for a moment.
"I'm not sure," Kung Lao replied shrugging his shoulders. "What's the strongest thing you have?"
"That would be a little something called Blackout. Hell, it's the strongest drink in all of Outworld."
"I'll have one of those please." Kung Lao nodded.
"One Blackout coming right up." The bartender went to go make the drink, but paused when he saw someone be the entrance. "Ah, the General of Outworld!" He called out to the woman that just entered. Kung Lao was slightly surprised to see Jade at a bar of all places. "Welcome back. How's the new position?"
"The same as usual, Fenix." Jade sighed in response.
"So what can I do for you? The usual?" She nodded. "Alrighty, one Blackout coming right up." He left to go make the drinks. Jade walked up and took a seat next to Kung Lao.
"I thought Shaolin aren't allowed to drink", she said.
Kung Lao smirked, "And I thought the General should be training the soldiers."
The emerald assassin merely rolled her eyes, having been used to Kung Lao's witty retorts at times. "Even I have my own time for myself."
Kung Lao nodded, "I'm kind of surprised to see you here."
"I visit here occasionally, but not often. Sometimes everything about being the General of the Outworld Army can be very stressful so I come here every now and then for a drink. What about you?"
"I was just wondering around the city all day an-" Kung Lao responded but was interrupted by the bartender.
"Two Blackouts!" The bartender shouted as the two drinks slid down the bar and stopped in front of the Shaolin and the emerald assassin. They waved their hands in thanks and took the glasses in their hands. "My replacement arrived. I'm clocking out, have a good evening." He said as he walked away.
Kung Lao hesitated taking a sip. The drink looked like thick black tar. He looked over and saw Jade drink half of her drink in one gulp so he assumed it was safe and took a sip himself. Despite its sludgy appearance it went down like water. It burned the back of his throat but in a good way, and it left a honey aftertaste is his mouth. A nice blend of bitter and sweet.
"So anyway," Kung Lao continued. "I was just walking around the city, noticed this little place, and thought that I could use a drink myself. These past few days haven't been the best." He took another sip and sighed. "Ah, you don't need to hear about my little problems.", he said as the emerald assassin was not known to have liked of what he says.
"Actually, you can continue." Jade insisted. Kung Lao raised an eyebrow. "In all my experience as an assassin, I can say that it's not good to keep your troubles from the inside. It's better to let it out, usually by talking to a friend. So please don't think of me as another stranger, just think of me as a friend who is willing to listen."
Kung Lao slightly widened his eyes, this was the first time she actually asked him to continue. He remembered all those time where she would just brush him off, compare him to Liu Kang and even threw verbal acid on his face. "That's new coming from you"
Jade sighed. "Kitana has also asked me to know you a little better since I've been...less polite ever since the war had ended", she said.
Kung Lao nodded. Ever since the war had ended, he was with Liu Kang's side and it didn't take long for the Kahn to be in friendly terms with him, as on Liu Kang's suggestion to know him a little better. Ever since the two were on good terms, and the hat-throwing monk adapted a lesser cocky and egotistical stance ever since.
"Well, that's new, so sure". Kung Lao said a moment later. He was honestly surprised to see this side of Jade. Sure she had a reputation of being a cold hardass, and also having an ego herself due to her being Shao Kahn's finest assassin, but he knew that deep down inside, Jade is often curious and caring towards others who had their own troubles.
"Mmm hmm." Kung Lao mumbled mid sip. "I was assigned to train the younger generation of the Shaolin., I won't go into detail, but long story short we encountered a lot more than we initially thought were there, and I made a lot of bad calls that got several students that got badly hurt." His shoulders slumped.
"I can't seem to recall everything from the report from memory, I went through a lot of them, but I thought that my students were released only after a day in the infirmary with casts on their arms, so their injuries couldn't have been that sever."
"True, they weren't as bad when we got back. But that was only because before help arrived arrived we poured whatever medicine we had left into them to try and heal the wounds and bandaged them in a panic. We didn't know if they were going to make it at the time." Jade grimaced and was about to respond but Kung Lao continued to speak.
"And then I began to realize that my own pride and my own lack of self-control had endangered my students. For years, I thought that I would be making my family proud by carrying his name with pride, not caring to those that I hurt. And since then, I needed to my own inner peace."
"So the next day, which is today, I figured that I needed time alone frok Liu Kang so I left his temporarily and spent most of my day wondering around Outworld thinking about everything they said."
"And what have you come up with after all this time of thinking?" Jade asked curiously after taking another sip of her drink.
"I've come to the conclusion that yes, they were right about most about what they said." Kung Lao said, causing Jade to frown. "But I'm not going to let it bring me down, any more." That last part was barely above a whisper. "I'm going to take my flaws and I'm going to fix them. I'm going to prove them wrong. I don't know how yet, but I'm going to try."
"Kung Lao," Jade said, "That reason right there is why I consider you as my friend."
"Friend?" Kung Lao skeptically raised an eyebrow. "That is okay with me but I need to get stronger to fight alongside him, so that I can help him and not the other way around. I know that a lot of people looked down at me because of my pride but that won't matter to me, because even though I cannot envision myself at surpassing Liu Kang, I will not stop trying to stand beside him and aid him of whatever comes next."
Jade's eyes widened with admiration. She was impressed on how Kung Lao took it to heart. That while he may be prideful, his loyalty to his best friend is his best trait. A parallel to to Kitana and herself. Suddenly enough, a small pang of guilt went through her, remembering the times she looked down on him and insulted his ego. She sighed as she looked at him.
"I will admit, I did look down upon you because of your ego and your arrogance. " Jade said. Kung Lao's eyes widened a little. "While you weren't the Chosen One, you stood with Liu Kang at all time and you are willing to help him at every turn. Just like you did now, you acknowledged that you had flaws and what they were. Unlike almost everyone else who would just shrug it off as me bickering from all time times we met. But overtime, you learned and adapted, and have improved greatly because of it. That's why I consider to look at you as a friend."
"Thank you Jade. That means a lot to me." Kung Lao thanked. A small blush formed on his cheeks from the compliment, and from Kung Lao now noticing that the moonlight's ray reflecting off of Jade seemed to make her glow with beauty.
"It's fine, Lao. I'm here if you need counseling." Jade said with a smile. "Excuse me, can I get another another Blackout please?" She called out to the new bartender.
"Same here too, please." Kung Lao called out after he finished his drink in one gulp. The bartender came over and took their glasses. After a few moment of silence Kung Lao spoke up. "So what about you?"
"I'm sorry?" She asked.
"We'll, we're both here because we're stressed out by our problems, right? You were kind enough to listen to mine, so it's only fair that I listen to yours. That's what friends do."
Jade thought for a moment. Not an ounce of his cockiness or arrogance was laced on those words, maybe he has changed at least in a little way. Ever since she called off her relationship with Kotal, she felt empty and adding to her duties as Outworld's General, made her even more stressed. Due to Kitana having her own duties as Kahn, she couldn't speak to her about her troubles.
And yet, the Chosen One's bodyguard was here willing to hear her side of her story. She knew better than to spat out insults about his ego but at least she was willing to give it a chance, maybe he is just a friend whom she hasn't met yet.
"Two Blackouts!" The bartender called out. A second later, both drinks slid down the bar and stopped in front of the pair. Jade took her glass and nodded at Kung Lao.
"Let me tell you something," she paused to take a sip, "Kitana is the head of the military in name only. Everything else is all me."
Over the course of the evening and into the night, Kung Lao and Jade continued to drink, talk to each other, share stories, and laughed with each other. The bartender didn't pay attention to their conversation, he knew it wasn't his business. After a few hours, he went into the back room and came back to the front to see that the two left.
They racked up quite a tab and seemed more than tipsy when he last saw them, but he trusted that they knew their limit and knew what they were doing.
Besides, they're warriors, people who dedicate their lives fighting. What's the worst that can happen?
AN:
Yep new story but will be a short one. This was actually inspired by several drunk fics that I read, and I kinda decided to experiment what these two were ate their place. Spectre, signing off!