The young man entered the warm apartment from the rain-slicked fire escape, as he did most nights. Most would see this as an unconventional method of entering one's own home, but Kung Jin was an unconventional man. For a man was what he was now. The younger cousin of Earthrealm heroes Kung Lao and Liu Kang was now older than his cousins had been when they first began battling the forces of evil. The only evil Jin had faced was the criminal element of San Francisco. Well, there was one other.

At age fourteen, while defending Liu Kang's tomb from thieves-for-hire, Jin was struck from behind by an 'unknown assailant' who absconded with the body of Earthrealm's fallen champion. It later came to light that his attacker was Earthrealm's own Protector God, Raiden, whose attitude had taken a drastic shift after losing so many of his champions.

If anything, Jin felt that he should take the Thunder God's sneak attack as a sign that he knew he would need to incapacitate the tomb's defender to achieve his goal properly, and that he feared his chances against Jin in open kombat. Instead, he took his failure to defend the tomb of his cousin, a task assigned to him by his personal hero Kung Lao, as a sign that he was not ready to take on the forces of Outworld. He wondered if he might be now, after his pilgrimage.

He had left the Shaolin temple not long after, due to some... calling those circumstances 'unfortunate' would be an understatement. Master Wu had been the most accepting of Jin, out of all the masters at the Wu Shi Academy. Wu knew full well that his student was a homosexual, but he accepted him all the same. Jin's father, Kung Bo, had been killed in the tarkatan attack on the academy years prior, buying his wife time to escape with their son. Jin had been four years old at the time and Master Wu had become like a second father to him.

Master Wu was killed when Liu Kang's zombified body was first given life. It had been dispatched to eliminate the bandits around the academy's border. It had done so rather efficiently, showing exactly what Liu Kang would be capable of if he were ever to discard his respect for all life and stop holding himself back. After slaughtering the bandits, the soulless husk had then turned its attention to the Shaolin, seemingly interpreting their training as a threat.

Master Wu had believed Liu Kang's soul to be trapped inside the corpse, that this was all part of some necromancer's villainous plot. His attempts to get through to the man inside, only led to the corpse swinging a hook on the end of a chain into the top of Wu's skull. It had then pulled the man closer and used its other hook to slice his head clean off his shoulders.

Jin's arrows did little to slow the undead monstrosity. It managed to kill a number of other Shaolin, master and student alike, before Raiden arrived and took it away. At the time, no one knew Raiden was responsible for this massacre, believing he had simply arrived to reclaim the body and place it under his protection. It was only later that the truth of the matter came to light.

Before then, however, Jin was held responsible, despite his quickly-dismissed pleas that Raiden had been the assailant. It was Jin's failure to protect the body from the thieves that had led to this, many of the other masters had claimed. Jin couldn't help but believe them. Kung Lao spoke up to defend his cousin. And then, Master Ping dropped the bomb.

Jin's homosexuality was something he himself had only recently begun to discover and come to terms with. Only a handful of masters were aware of this fact. Lao and even Jin's own mother didn't know yet. This revelation may well have been what spurred so many of the other masters and students at the academy into placing the blame for the massacre on Jin.

He fled the academy soon after - fled the country entirely. He made his way to America, where he eventually became a hooded vigilante, defending the innocents of San Francisco from criminals and bigots.

Hearing a quiet ruffling behind him, he whirled around, bow drawn and bowstring ready to fire an arrow directly into the chest of the intruder. Then, he saw the man's face. Despite the new goatee and the only light illuminating his face being the pink neon sign across the alley, Jin would never forget that face. "What are you doing here, Kung Lao?" he asked in English, and kept his weapon raised.

"This isn't quite the greeting I expected, but I suppose it's not unearned," Jin's cousin responded.

"I said, what are you doing here?" Jin repeated, more aggressively this time. He kept his weapon trained on his cousin, only aiming slightly further away from his heart. Considering that Lao had broken Jin's heart, he was lucky his cousin didn't intend to skewer his.

"I came here to apologise, Jin," Lao said calmly, despite the very obvious danger he was in, just by being here.

"So I'll come back with you? Not a chance."

"I don't expect you to. The way I reacted; I wasn't... I don't have a problem with you being... you know-"

"Gay. Just say it. I'm gay. Christ, you can't even say it without getting uncomfortable and you expect me to believe you don't have a problem with it? Fuck off."

Kung Lao sighed deeply. "I understand how it may come across that way. But I was... surprised. I didn't know how to react. I'd never met a gay person before you came out-"

"Exposed. I was exposed. I didn't come out by choice. And why the hell would I? I was Chinese. Did you know gay sex was illegal over there until '97? Illegal. I should consider myself lucky I wasn't outed a year earlier, or I'd have been labelled as mentally ill! Hell, the Ministry of Health still considers conversion therapy a reasonable option! I wasn't gonna stay in a place that considers me a fucking degenerate because of the circumstances of my birth.

"And you know what the ironic thing is? I came to SanFran because I knew I'd be more accepted here. And yet, Buddhism was brought to this very city by Hsuan Hua, who publicly spoke out against gayness. And even the 'venerable' Hsing Yun, for all his talk of never teaching intolerance, once called homosexuality perverted. No matter where I go in the world, I can't escape the bigotry of my own people."

"Is it not possible that Hsing Yun's views changed? That his current preachings are a sign that even those with traditionalist mindsets can grow and learn to be more accepting?

"Maybe one or two can. But most people don't change."

"That may be so, but I have, Jin. I was ignorant and I should have been there to support you in such a tumultuous time."

"Yeah, you should've."

"It's too late to change what happened. All I can do now is assure you that I've changed and intend to do everything I can to support you and Huayin however I can."

"How is she?" Jin's tone softened a little for the first time in the encounter as he asked after his mother.

"She is well. Lonely since you left. I've done what I can to mitigate the backlash redirected towards her. Everyone knows that I was the one who gave you the task of defending the tomb, so I've managed to take the brunt of it since."

Jin nodded his acceptance of this offering. "How did she take the news?"

"I was the one who told her. I felt I owed you that, for a start. It took her a while to fully comprehend it, but she is supportive. She is the one who asked me to find you and gave me my first lead. San Francisco was a place you always wanted to visit, even as a child. And given the city's fame as a hotspot for homosexual activity, it made sense that you would come here to find acceptance when you were afforded so little back home."

Jin said nothing, but he did finally lower his weapon; though he kept the arrow touching the bowstring.

"Your English is impeccable," Lao said after a minute of silence passed between the two.

"Nightwolf found me not long after I came here. He taught me English and helped me refine my archery. I was on my own after he died in Edenia."

"Who told you about his death?"

"No one. He said he had to take part in the conflict in Edenia and that he might not come back. Then, news coverage of Shinnok's invasion described a Native American revenant in Shinnok's army. Who else would he revive except Nightwolf?"

"He is serving him still. As is Liu Kang."

Jin practically gasped at this revelation.

"We kept that out of the public to avoid a panic. Even if only from Johnny Cage's productions, people know what our cousin is capable of."

"And, what, you want me to come back and help stop him?"

"I wouldn't turn down the help, but no, not entirely. Your mother and I just want you to know you have a place to call home. If not for yourself, please do it for her."

"...I'm needed here. Even in a place like this, there'll always be scum waiting for an excuse to act on their fucked-up views."

"I saw the news reports of a mysterious vigilante defending the area from criminals and bigots. It almost seems like something out of a comic book. That is why we took so long to find you. You had found a purpose and we didn't want to take that away from you. You should be proud of what you've accomplished here, but there are threats looming on the horizon. Quan Chi and his revenants remain free, and Lord Fujin has no doubt he will attempt to revive Shinnok, now that he has no other allies.

"And then, Outworld is still embroiled in civil war between Mileena and Kotal Kahn. Kotal's alliance with Earthrealm is a fragile one, and Mileena will surely target Earthrealm should she emerge the victor. Even if just to help train the next generation, the White Lotus could use someone of your now proven skill and resourcefulness. I'll even teach you to use a chakram the way I use my hat."

"You really want me to come back?"

"No matter what anyone says, Jin, you are my family. What you are is far less important to me than who you are. I have faith in your nobility and your expert skill, both with the bow and without. And if anyone places less stock in what is in your heart than in whom your heart desires, be they master or even god, then they can go fuck themselves."

Jin couldn't help but laugh at hearing his cousin cuss for the first time.

"I would, but... I'm doing so much good for this community. How can I if I'm halfway across the world?"

"Then, what if we put together a team to continue your work here?"

"Huh?"

"There are quite a few martial arts schools in the area. We could find some students from those schools, spend a few months training them further and leave your work in their hands while you come back home with me? Unless, you have someone here you can't leave behind?"

"I don't... But a team of vigilantes keeping watch over this community doesn't sound half bad."

"Right? I can arrange for Kai to come and help us as well."

"Kai returned to the White Lotus?"

"After the battle in Edenia, yes. Our cousin's mentorship and his own spirit quest have made him quite the skilled master. Even Master Shujinko thinks so."

"Who?"

Lao chuckled. "There is much you need to be caught up on, it seems. So, are you ready to begin our new mission, Master Kung Jin?"

Kung Jin smiled at his cousin for the first time in years. "I am."


Three months later, the two Kungs finally set foot on Chinese soil again. Their team back in San Francisco would continue training under Kai, who had taken quite a liking to this mission and had opted to remain in America without Lao and Jin.

As far as Jin was told, Lao was taking him to meet with Fujin, before heading into a meeting with the masters, where the Wind God would assist the older Kung in putting the masters in their place. As such, he was unprepared when he was blindsided by the presence of his own mother, Huayin. Jin hadn't seen his mother in a decade, but she seemed to have barely changed at all, aside from the much fancier attire she wore to welcome her son home. He would almost have suspected she was Edenian, if he didn't know better.

Without a word, she walked up to her son, pulled down the hood that had been obscuring his face from prying eyes, and wrapped her arms around his torso. The last time Jin had been in his mother's arms, they had been the same height. Now, he was a full head taller; almost as tall as Lao, in fact.

"You've grown," she said, her voice uneven, but beyond happy. Jin could feel the fabric between her face and his chest growing damp from her tears.

"I... Yeah." Discussions with Lao on the way back aside, it had been a long time since Jin had held a conversation in a language other than English. Still, those discussions had brought his native tongue back into enough prominence in his mind to properly reply, "I'm sorry I left without saying anything." He was technically still fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and he knew some Matokan.

Huayin shook her head and looked up into his eyes. "You needed to find yourself. Did you?"

"I did."

Huayin smiled broadly. "Then, it was worth it."

"But, what about the farm? I left you to-"

"Cousin Lao has helped with the farming since you departed. His students as well."

Jin looked to Lao for confirmation. He nodded. He hadn't mentioned that part yet.

"A new harvest has just come in, actually. Come. I'm willing to bet you've not had a home-cooked meal since you left Nightwolf's care." Before Jin could begin to protest, his mother took him by the arm and started leading him to their family home.

"But... the meeting with the masters-"

"Can wait," his mother interrupted, softly but firmly. "After what those ingrates put you through, the least they can do is wait another hour or two. Right, Lord Fujin?"

Jin couldn't shake the feeling that the Wind God was intimidated by the woman, as he agreed with her and left to inform the masters. Lao's chuckle seemed to confirm Jin's suspicions.

"A-Are you sure," Jin asked, growing more flustered by his mother's oddly threatening insistence.

"They rejected you over their petty small-mindedness. You shouldn't have to deal with them the second you finally return home. You deserve to have a proper homecoming with someone who will never reject you. And someone who is sorry for his lapse in judgement," Huayin added, shooting Lao a look that allowed Jin to know Lao's reaction without even looking at him.

"So... you don't have a problem with-"

"How could I ever reject you?" his mother once more interrupted. She came to a stop not far from their home and fixed him with a serious expression. "You are my son, Jin. Any person who would reject their child for who they are doesn't deserve to be called a parent. I only wish I could have been more observant and been with you to guide you as you found yourself." Huayin's eyes were growing damp again.

Jin wrapped his arms around his mother and told her, "Just knowing you accept me is enough for me to call you my mother."

Kung Jin had not cried once since he ran away from the academy.

His mother had cried herself to sleep every night since.

They both now cried together.


This chapter gave me some trouble. Reworking Jin's backstory to no longer rely on Lao's death in Outworld was the easy part. Turning his fear of rejection for his orientation into actual rejection made sense, but does risk turning him into just "the gay one", which I want to avoid.

The trouble came in the timeframe. Originally, he was to be brought back by Lao in 2018, just in time for MKX. The problem there is that Jin would have been gone for 16 years; over half of his life. I wrote it that way with some time-specific events being referenced in Jin's tirade against China's attitude towards homosexuality. If I reduced Jin's time away, those references would have to go. Ultimately, I decided to move his return to around 2012 and change the references, which I think makes Lao and Huayin look less awful.

Here is the original version of the tirade:

"Exposed. I was exposed. I didn't come out by choice. And why the hell would I? I was Chinese. Did you know gay imagery isn't allowed on TV over there? Did you hear about that Weibo shit in April? I wasn't gonna stay in a place that wouldn't accept me because of the circumstances of my birth. And you know what the ironic thing is? I came to SanFran because I knew I'd be more accepted here. And yet, Buddhism was brought to this very city by Hsuan Hua, who publicly spoke out against gayness. And even the 'venerable' Hsing Yun, for all his talk of never teaching intolerance, he once called homosexuality perverted. No matter where I go in the world, I can't escape my own people's bigotry."