Upon awakening, the first thing Jade saw was Kuai's face; deep blue eyes studying her. He was talking, clearly, because his lips were moving, but she couldn't make out the words. Blearily, she turned her focus for a moment, a half-drunk glass of red wine glowing in the winter sunlight; almost resembling a perfect ruby. She smiled slowly, enjoying this imagery, this thought; it struck her as being particularly romantic. It didn't hurt that soft violin music was filling up her mind.
"Will you please take these things off while I'm talking to you?" Kuai's voice finally broke in, cutting through the music and romanticism respectively. Jade looked up and saw that he'd removed her headphones, bringing the muted noises of the apartment into stark focus. She groaned.
"God, what time is it?" Sitting up, she stretched, enjoying the pops running up her spine; the lengthening. She'd only intended to close her eyes for a few minutes, but it would seem a few minutes turned into a few hours.
Throwing the headphones aside, Kuai sighed as he studied Jade's face; her disheveled appearance. She'd intended to take a shower before shutting her eyes but that had fallen by the wayside, and now the afternoon had completely gotten away from her. Taking note of the clock over the stove, she saw that it was already past 5; she'd slept for three fucking hours!
"I thought you were going to make something for the baby shower tonight," Kuai said, cocking a brow. "We promised Kitana. Remember?"
Jade rolled her eyes and stood, pulling down her shirt and not caring that it clashed with her hair. She also didn't care that it was the shirt she'd woken up in. Going into the kitchen, she plucked up a plate of Rice Krispy squares and held them out for Kuai to see, feeling weirdly triumphant.
"I even added chocolate chips," she boasted, pointing to the neatly cut squares, all covered over with plastic wrap and ready to go. Setting the plate back down, she leaned against the counter and covered her face with her hands, groaning. "Besides, I don't even want to go to this. You already know that."
Kuai was silent for a moment, but Jade could feel his eyes boring into the side of her skull. She could also feel his disapproval, which only furthered her agitation.
"You promised," Kuai replied, simply. "Not just Kitana, but me also. You promised me, too."
"It's not like any of this matters," Jade said, pulling her hands from her face and slumping a little, hoping that she was the very picture of misery. Kuai just stared at her impassively before he rubbed a hand through his hair, looking around.
"What did you do today?" He asked, unzipping his coat and opening it. "Anything?"
"I made those fucking Rice Krispy treats for a baby shower I don't even want to go to," Jade snapped, walking past Kuai and back toward her desk in the living room; pressed up against the large windows overlooking the town. She'd placed it there because she thought it might help with inspiration; so far, that had not been the case.
"I didn't mean it like that," Kuai said, softly. "I'm sorry if it came across another way."
"If you're asking whether I wrote anything, I didn't," Jade said, rubbing her arms and looking down at her laptop; closed up and essentially useless. It would've served more purpose as a paperweight at this point, but Jade was too proud to admit that. Too proud and too ashamed. Reaching down, she picked up her glass of wine and swirled it for a moment, staring into space; dust motes dancing through drafts of late afternoon sunlight.
"I'm sorry," Kuai repeated, though Jade knew he meant it in a different way; a way that only compounded his shame. Annoyed, she took a sip of the wine and made a face.
"Why do I have to be social anyway?"
"You spend too much time by yourself, Jade. It'll be good for you to get out and see other people." Kuai slid off his coat and tossed it aside, revealing his powder blue work shirt; bits of soil lodged under his nails. Jade's mouth moistened slightly as she watched Kuai's hands, knowing they were roughened and calloused from his job; the thought turned her on a tad even though she was on the fast track to becoming seriously annoyed.
"Like I want to see these people," she scoffed, finishing off the wine in her glass and rubbing her mouth. It was slightly sore from being so dry, her lips cracked even though she routinely drank a metric fuck ton of water along with her booze. "I still can't believe Kitana's being so cool about all of this, by the way."
"She's doing it for Sonya, mostly," Kuai replied, beginning to unbutton his shirt now. "She doesn't give a fuck about Johnny."
"Can't blame her for that," Jade said, her eyes sliding over Kuai's undershirt after his work shirt was thrown aside; muscular arms darkly tanned and impressive. Now she was really getting turned on, and she caught herself biting at her bottom lip, sore thought it was. "Nobody gives a fuck about Cage; that's part of the reason I don't want to go tonight."
"You care about Kitana, though," Kuai reminded her, slipping his undershirt off. Sighing, Jade could only stare at him for a moment, wondering if Kuai was trying to openly tease her, or did he just not realize how fucking hot he was? She was so preoccupied with Kuai's abs that she almost didn't hear what he was saying. Shaking her head, she tried to think pure thoughts, even though she could vividly imagine being bent over her neglected laptop and fucked while the sun continued to fall toward the horizon. She nearly sighed at the notion before coming back to the conversation at hand.
"Yeah, I care about Kitana, but I can't say I'm thrilled about some of the choices she's made," she frowned, worrying at the hem of her shirt as Kuai started to unbutton his pants. Okay, now she was convinced that she was being teased.
"It's all water under the bridge at this point, baby," Kuai said, unzipping his fly. "They're married, they wanted a kid, Kitana was cool and hooked them up...end of story. I'm gonna take a shower, okay? The party starts at 7 so we should probably leave around 6:45."
"You want company?" Jade asked, coming over and gently moving Kuai's hands aside so she could continue the delicate process of removing him from his pants. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached up and kissed Kuai's neck, his heartbeat picking up its rhythm. "We have time, after all."
Pulling away slightly, Kuai grinned down at Jade before softly pecking her on the nose; the action chaste and not at all what Jade had in mind. She was envisioning being pressed up against the slick tiles in the shower and fucked into oblivion; being kissed on the nose like she was a pure, woebegone maiden did not mesh with her fantasies at all.
"Maybe when we get home, baby," Kuai said, taking over the pants situation; his plaid boxers peeking through and openly taunting Jade. "I'm just so tired right now, you know? It was a really long day."
"Right, yeah, I get it," Jade pouted, taking a step back and almost shaking with need; realizing her response was dramatic but she couldn't help it. There was so much locked up inside of her, in her head, and she just wanted to be with her boyfriend; relieving the pressure somehow. Sometimes she felt like she was going to crack if she didn't have some sort of outlet, and more often than not Kuai was tired or just wanted to cuddle...but Jade needed something slightly more profound. She conceded, though, knowing she wasn't in any sort of position to make demands; at least not at the moment.
"I love you," Kuai said, brushing Jade's face with the back of his hand before retreating toward the hallway and the bathroom beyond. Jade could only sigh as she watched Kuai walk away, desire filling her up but becoming diluted by desperation and quiet sadness.
She plopped down on the couch, lifting a leg to rest his foot on the coffee table. A wine bottle, nearly empty, sat next to a stack of magazines and unopened mail; catching her eye. She studied it for a moment before the sound of the shower starting up caught her attention, and almost on auto-pilot, she passed up the booze; opting instead to snake her hand into her hands into underwear. Slowly, she began to play with herself to the thought of Kuai in the shower, slicked over with water and soap; dark hair plastered against her forehead. This thought alone, coupled with her longing, was enough to get her close to the edge before she was imagining herself in the shower as well, back cold against the tiles as Kuai made love to her; hot lips clashing as they furiously kissed.
"This is hardly the night to be having a party," Jade said as she looked out the window; the thick snowfall coming down in sugary droves. It was piling up and muffling the world, creating an insulated atmosphere that made sounds muted and far away. It made Jade lonely just to look at it; lonely and cold, but the sensation reached her bones, nearly hollowing her out. "It isn't safe to be out on the roads in weather like this."
Kuai just chuckled softly and reached over to squeeze Jade's thigh, taking care not to upset the plate of Rice Krispy treats on his girlfriend's lap. Jade wished he wouldn't just squeeze her leg for a fraction of a moment...she would've preferred that Kuai's hand lingered for the rest of the ride, but that didn't happen. As quickly as Kuai touched her, he was drawing his hand away and resting it on the steering wheel as he carefully maneuvered his truck through the wintry haze.
"Do I need to remind you that we live in the mountains? We've been dealing with this bullshit since we were babies and besides, this truck can handle anything. You know that. Stop trying to find an excuse not to go to this; we're almost there, anyway."
Rather than answer what was probably a very thoughtful, sensible response, Jade decided to turn up the music so conversation became an impossibility. As they rolled up to Johnny Cage and Sonya's lavish home, violin music filled up the car and transported Jade far, far away; to a place where she could write and think, where she could breathe. Just listening to Carnival of the Animals made her feel a pain in her throat like she wanted to cry but the tears just wouldn't come out, and she clutched at the plate on her lap until his hands ached.
"Don't you listen to this while you write?" Kuai asked, parking the truck and shutting it off. He looked over at Jade, his eyebrows raised. "Isn't it Joshua Bell?"
"I listen to him while I try to write," Jade muttered, turning away and studying the home laid out before them; sprawling and ostentatious. She rolled her eyes. Leave it to Johnny to have a ridiculously oversized home for two people; soon to be three.
"I'm sorry you're having so much trouble lately," Kuai said, softly. Reaching over, he squeezed Jade's leg again and this only reinforced the ache inside of her; drawing just a few tears to the surface. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, there is," Jade replied, swiping a hand across her eyes quickly. "You can stop apologizing all the time...it just makes me feel worse. I'm so pathetic."
"I'm not going to listen to this," Kuai said, taking his hand away and opening the door. "You aren't pathetic, Jade. You're just going through a rough patch."
Jade snorted, opening her door as well; albeit much more reluctantly than Kuai had. She slid a leg out, her covered foot coming to rest on gathering snow. She nearly shuddered, anticipating the wet snowflakes striking her skin and dampening her coat; God, she hated winter, and it seemed to get longer every year.
"This isn't a rough patch, Kuai," she said, stepping out while holding the plate carefully. "Rough patches don't last for two or three years at a time."
"Maybe they do for some people. Everyone's different."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Jade muttered, allowing Kuai to take the lead as they traipsed to the large front door. "Let's just get through this so we can leave, okay?"
Kuai sighed as he rang the doorbell, bumping Jade a little with his shoulder.
"Lighten up. You might have fun tonight."
"Doubtful," Jade replied, staring down at the desserts clutched in her hands. At least she'd accomplished one thing that day, though it wasn't even a complicated confection to make; but still...
After a moment, a slender, blonde-haired woman opened the door, her face more girlish than anything else; soft, blue eyes lighting up when she saw them. She smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, where a diamond stud glittered. It was almost as impressive as the wedding ring glowing on her finger.
"Kuai, Jade! I'm so glad you two could come!" She said, throwing the door wide and gesturing them inside. "It's awful out there, please come in so you can warm up."
"How's it going, Sonya?" Kuai asked, pressing his hand to the small of Jade's back and making her flush slightly; her social anxiety already beginning to kick in. She allowed herself to be led into a large living room where their friends had already assembled. The room was tastefully decorated in shades of cream and light blue, with large floor to ceiling windows that showcased the falling snow outside perfectly.
"Oh, we're stressed but so excited," Sonya replied, looking effortlessly elegant in a little black cocktail dress and kitten heels. She'd grown into a pretty woman with a soft-spoken nature, though she'd managed to retain her independent nature; even after marrying Johnny Cage. Jade had always had a certain amount of respect for her strong morals and intelligence, though she could never understand why she'd gone back to Johnny.
"That makes sense," Kuai said, nudging Jade toward the refreshment table where a myriad of dishes was already placed: cupcakes, chips and dip, meatballs, a bowl of punch. Feeling timid, she went to place the plate on the table when Kitana accosted her, almost looking like a wrapped present in her flowing maternity blouse; a large bow resting on top of her swelled, round belly.
"I was hoping you'd come," she smiled, touching Jade's arm for a moment. She was positively glowing in the soft lighting of the Johnny Cage' living room; the gold catching the flaxen highlights in her wavy hair. "Kuai told me you would, but I couldn't be sure, you know?"
"I know," Jade sighed, setting the plate down tiredly. "I haven't been great about getting out of the house lately, I guess."
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a homebody," Kitana said.
What about being a shut-in?
"Thanks," Jade replied, trying to smile but failing. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Kuai getting them some punch, her disarming, cheerful grin practically lighting up the room. Why couldn't she be that relaxed when they were out?
"I still can't believe you published a book while you were still in college," she continued, practically gushing now. "I just think that's so amazing."
Now they were straying into territory that had the potential to completely destroy Jade's mood, so she attempted to keep it light; responding with what she hoped was levity instead of outright hostility.
"Oh, please, Jade. It was just one book, you know? And I got incredibly lucky to be able to publish while I was still so young. It's not like I'm S.E. Hinton or anything."
She looked at her with vague confusion, one eyebrow raised.
"S.E. Hinton?"
She stared at her for a moment before collecting herself. She shook her head.
"You know, the author of The Outsiders? She published the story while she was still in high school. That's something to brag about...my accomplishments pale in comparison."
"Why are you always so hard on yourself?" She asked, bringing a hand up and running it over her belly. A wistful look passed over her face as she did so, her blue eyes softening along with her expression. "I read your book, Jade. It was wonderful and romantic and..." she trailed off, glancing over at Kuai for a moment. "It seemed so happy."
"Well, I was happy when I wrote it," Jade replied, shrugging. It was the truth, after all; she had been happy while writing that fateful book. If anything, her novel highlighted the happiest, brightest period of her life, when she and Kuai were falling deeper and deeper in love; when anything had seemed possible and the world was so open.
"What are you working on now?" She asked, rubbing her belly with both hands now. Wincing, Jade wondered if she was going to ask her if she wanted to feel the baby move or something; the idea making her acutely uncomfortable.
"Nothing worth talking about," she replied, honestly; just wanting this line of questioning to stop. Shifting gears, she decided to retaliate with a question of her own. "How are you feeling nowadays? You're pretty far along at this point, aren't you?" She gestured to her belly.
"Yep," she said, her expression becoming one of pride. "I'll be 38 weeks along in just a few days so I'm in the homestretch. I'm set to start my maternity leave next week."
"You're working at the urgent care clinic, right?" Jade asked, trying to grope through her mind for this bit of information. She was honestly surprised she remembered that much.
She nodded, her eyes brightening with a strange enthusiasm that made Jade slightly uneasy.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about that," she started, her focus flicking to a point behind Jade's shoulder, making her turn. All at once, Kuai was there holding out a cup of red punch to her. She rolled her eyes.
"Sorry it took me so long, I got caught up in conversation with Skarlet," he said, taking a sip from his own cup. "Something about hymenoplasties and genital mutilation in other countries."
"It doesn't take her very long to jump into the deep shit, does it?" Jade asked, wryly. She took another sip of punch, disappointed that it didn't seem to have any alcohol in it.
"We actually refer a lot of patients to her," Kitana interjected, nodding her head to Skarlet who was talking to Sonya now. She had grown into a striking beauty, her dark hair piled atop her head and dressed in a silver gown; her swan-like neck accentuated by a string of creamy pearls. If Jade didn't admire her so much, she would've hated her; for her success, for her confidence. "She's making huge strides in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries for women."
"Kitana, do you have to talk shop all the time?" Another voice rang out from behind Jade, and she almost shuddered to hear it. She'd know that voice in an instant, mainly because it was so distinctive; not to mention grating.
Turning, Jade took in the sight of Liu Kang, her stomach sinking to see him looking as dashing as Kitana was gorgeous; almost like the two could be complementing bookends. She'd always gotten the impression that they'd be a perfect match if Liu Kang wasn't so standoffish. Her eyes flitted to Sareena, who stood at his side, clinging to his arm and practically trembling; always on edge and delicate. Her fluffy black hair had been somewhat tamed for the occasion, but not by a lot; she still appeared to be always on the verge of breaking apart. She caught Jade's eye for a moment and smiled, a tremulous gesture that touched Jade's heart, mainly because Sareena seemed even more uncomfortable than she did.
"Excuse me, Dr. Kang," Kitana replied, quirking a brow. "I was actually trying to help you out right now, but if you're going to have that attitude..."
"What are you talking about?" Liu Kang asked, coming over with Sareena in tow; still clutching at Liu Kang like he was a lifesaver. Liu was dressed in a burgundy-colored suit complete with a Prussian blue skinny tie; impeccably styled long black hair swept off of his forehead. Sareena was looking sweet and fetching in slacks and a mint green shirt, her head not even clearing Liu Kang's shoulder.
"Well, you still need someone to replace me while I'm out," Kitana said, stroking her belly in a fashion that would seem she was emphasizing her point. "I was just about to ask Jade if she'd be interested."
"Wait, what?" Jade asked, completely taken aback by this statement; feeling blindsided. "Kitana, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Yeah, what are you talking about?" Liu Kang asked, giving Jade a dismissive look. "There's no way Jade could do your job."
"Hey, what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jade turned to him, her hand clenching around her cup of punch.
"Calm down, guys," Kitana broke in, rolling her eyes. Turning to Jade, she smiled kindly. "I'm going to need someone to take over for me while I'm out having this here baby," she stroked her belly again. "I thought you'd be perfect. You're so organized and you really pay attention to details."
"Hey, that sounds perfect for you," Kuai added, having stayed silent and watchful during this entire exchange. "You should do it, Jade."
"Hold up, you guys are moving too fast for me," Jade said, putting up a hand while trying to get a handle on her growing discomfort. God, he hated being the center of attention, especially now that her world had become so small and quiet. "I don't even know what you do, Kitana."
"She keeps my clinic running smoothly, that's what she does," Liu Kang said, raising an eyebrow in Jade's direction. "Takes care of the paperwork and the patients."
"Your clinic?" Jade asked, biting at her bottom lip; tasting blood after she'd managed to dislodge a piece of skin.
"Yeah, Liu Kang owns the urgent care center," Kuai supplied, softly. "You didn't know that?"
"Jade's too stuck in his own head to know anything," another voice cut in, making Jade's blood boil instantly. All at once, Johnny was there and smirking at Jade with open dislike; his smug face slightly flushed as he drew Sonya to his side. "Besides, she'd never been able to work with the public; she thinks she's too good for it."
"That isn't true," Jade seethed, managing to hold back the insult on the tip of her tongue out of respect for the occasion; a baby shower was hardly the place to unload a string of obscenities. "You don't even know what you're talking about, Cage, so mind your business."
"You're telling me to mind my business in my own house, during my own baby shower? I don't think so, Jade." Johnny kissed Sonya's cheek before reaching out and touching Kitana's belly, showing a staggering amount of softness for him. "Besides, tonight isn't about you...it's about little Michael here."
"Johnny, we've talked about this, we aren't naming the baby after Michael Jordan," Johnny said, looking at Kitana's belly fondly.
"You'll learn to love the name, babe; you haven't even given it a chance."
"Anyway," Kitana sighed, rolling her eyes as she turned back to Jade. "What do you think? I mean, I know you're usually busy writing but the job wouldn't be for very long; just a couple months."
Before Jade could reply, Liu Kang interrupted once again.
"Kitana, you don't even know if Jade can handle this. She's not exactly the most," he broke off, studying Jade for a moment; brown eyes looking her up and down. Just this gesture was enough to make Jade feel too hot inside of her clothes, and she began to squirm. "Welcoming person," he finished, pressing a kiss against Sareena's temple. Sareena, for her part, merely stared at Jade with wild curiosity.
"Like you're one to talk," Jade snapped, forgetting about her anxiety and discomfort in an instant. She wasn't about to stand there and be insulted by the most standoffish, unlikable person on the planet; Jade didn't give a fuck if Liu Kang was a doctor, he was still insufferable. Looking at Kitana, she made a brash, thoughtless choice, not even giving herself a chance to really marinate on her decision.
"I'll do it," she announced, giving Liu Kang a dirty look.
"Great," Kitana said, appearing so grateful and relieved at that moment that Jade almost had to take a step back. What the fuck had she just gotten himself into?
"Why don't you drop by tomorrow and I'll show you the ropes?"
"I guess I can do that," Jade replied, already kicking herself for being impetuous; God, why did she always get like this when people baited her? She was just so fucking easy. Glancing at Liu Kang, she flushed hot, noticing that he was watching her with his fathomless eyes, appraising her outright and making no attempt to conceal it.
"This is gonna be good for you, babe," Kuai said, wrapping his arm around Jade's shoulders and holding her close; smiling indulgently at her in much the same fashion Liu Kang gazed at Sareena. This thought, this similarity, only made Jade more irritable but she shoved it down, trying not to squirm under Liu Kang's scrutiny.
"I'll give you a chance," Liu Kang announced, almost like he was bestowing a gift of unimaginable magnitude upon Jade. "But don't get too excited, you don't have the job yet."
"I don't think I can do this," Jade said, softly. It was hours later after the party had ended and the revelry had been had; everyone congratulating Johnny and Sonya, and Kitana in equal measures; the crowd cooing over tiny baby clothes and sweet, precious articles. Jade had sat off to the side beside Kuai, clutching at her cup of punch and catching Liu Kang's eyes on occasion, a blush cresting her cheeks at the open challenge in them.
"Of course you can," Kuai replied, pulling Jade onto his chest and laying her head over his heart. They were lying in the hushed darkness of their bedroom as the traffic rushed by outside, the window opened a bit because Kuai loved the cold winter air filtering into the room; it always helped him drift off to sleep. Jade liked to hear the cars going by as they moved away down distant roads, going to places she could only dream of as she flitted between the waking world and the one composed of dreams. They'd both opted for an apartment in the heart of town, wanting to feel a part of things but not wanting to commit to anything too permanent.
Kuai started playing Jade's braid slowly, winding a thick lock around one finger.
"You need to keep yourself open to possibilities, Jade."
Jade snorted as she stared off into the gloom, breathing in Kuai's earthy scent as it became lost in the frigid wind trickling through the room. The combination was wild and made her melancholy even as she reveled in Kuai's unrelenting, reassuring warmth.
"I don't know why I should," she finally replied, feeling shame for her petulance but not enough to change her attitude.
Silence descended over them save for the distant traffic, but after a moment Kuai was pulling her closer and sighing against her hair. Jade contemplated trying to take things a bit further but she refrained, knowing on some sad level that Kuai wouldn't reciprocate; if she'd wanted something she would've made an overture by now. This knowledge made Jade even more morose, missing the days of passion that they'd experienced in the beginning; back when her writing had seemed like second nature. Those had been the golden days, she was starting to see, and she missed the most during times like this.
"We wouldn't be together if you didn't have an open mind," Kuai murmured, his voice thickening as he started to drift off to sleep. He always seemed to fall asleep long before Jade did. "You weren't exactly receptive to me when I first approached you. Remember?"
Jade couldn't help but smile at the memory, only able to accept it because they'd finally ended up together in the end. Reaching up, she took a hold of Kuai's hand and brought it to her mouth, kissing his knuckles tenderly.
"Yeah, I remember." She ruminated for a moment, knowing Kuai was going to be slipping into sleep soon, and then she'd lose him for another night; realizing she had to be quick with whatever she needed to say before the opportunity disappeared. "Fine," she sighed. "I'll go, and with an open mind, okay?"
"Good," Kuai sighed, his voice fading. "That makes me really happy, actually. You know how much I worry about you."
"I wish you wouldn't."
"I know, but I can't help it. You're all I've ever wanted," Kuai said, finally turning away and settling his cheek against the pillow. His breaths were evening out and becoming longer, much like the hours stretching ahead of Jade as she struggled to fall asleep as well. Before too long, she could sense the shift in the air and she knew that Kuai had fallen over the precipice.
Sighing, Jade managed to slide from Kuai's arms without awakening him, watching with all the tenderness she could muster as she covered him with a blanket. She stood for a moment in the darkened bedroom, shadows looming as her eyes adjusted to night gathering. For a reason she couldn't understand or articulate she suddenly wanted to cry, but she choked it back, opting to steal from the room on kitten feet; the sounds of Kuai's deep breaths sending her off.
Walking into the moon-glazed living room, Jade regarded her laptop for a moment, once again hating it and wanting it in equal measures. She just wanted to find the spring inside of herself that would enable her to write, to create again, but it kept eluding her; no matter what she did.
"It's just you and I again," she murmured, going to the wine bottle still on the coffee table. She lifted it and brought it to her lips, drinking deeply. A copy of Ethan Frome sat on the table as well, and she picked it up, going to a page she'd dogeared; mainly because it contained words that she'd always kept close to her heart, and always would. When she and Kuai had been in the dawn of their relationship and everything felt so raw, Jade had read this very book to her out loud; a little bit every night before they fell asleep in each other's arms. One line, more than the others, had always stood out to her because she felt like it encapsulated their relationship, their seemingly unbreakable bond.
Her thoughts were with Kuai as she read the words to herself, even as fear and an almost breathless curiosity rose within her. Jade couldn't help but remember the way Liu Kang had watched her for the remainder of the evening after she'd agreed to take over for Kitana, and she couldn't help but feel like it was predatory; almost hungry. Pushing the memory away, she repeated the words again, almost thinking of them as a talisman that would protect her from the unknown; even as she decided to break from her isolation and wander back into the world:
"They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in the winter woods."
"You could write something like that, you know," Kuai had said upon hearing the line for the first time. He'd been holding Jade tightly as he'd read, both of them naked after getting done making love. "You're amazing, Jade. You could do anything you wanted, honestly."
Jade had only smiled and pressed a kiss against Kuai's forehead, nearly euphoric just because she finally had him in the way she'd always wanted.
"You need to stop putting me on a pedestal, Kuai," she'd murmured, though a small part of her had believed Kuai's words at the time. After all, everything was so new, and there were just so many possibilities for them. "You'll only be disappointed."
"Never," Kuai had argued, turning his face away. "What we have is unconditional."