Note: This chapter will spoil Lady and The Tramp.
While Sonya and Nary were walking out of the champions' living quarters, the latter tried to persuade the former to reveal Jax's plan for dinner.
"Sorry Nary, I promised him I wouldn't say a word and I'm sticking to it." She told her friend.
"Fine, but can you at least give me a little hint?"
"…Well, I know for a fact that you and the cooks in the main kitchen haven't made these dishes yet."
"Ooh, that rules out any East Asian and North American cuisine; I am officially intrigued."
"As you should be. Jax has made these dishes for me before and I promise that you'll ask for a second helpin-holy shit!" The blonde said once they came upon the fight pit.
"What is it?" Nary followed her stare and was stunned, "Kano, he's actually..."
Liu and Jax were sitting on the ledge; the latter spoke to the ladies, "Taking his training seriously, I'm as shocked as you two are."
"He's actually listening to us and he's a good student." Liu proudly admitted to Nary.
The Aussie's back was facing the trio as Kung Lao showed him how to do a proper low roundhouse kick while using Cole as a "dummy". Even though she could only see the back of Kano's head and body, Nary saw him nodding and mimicking Kung Lao's footing. She took a moment to process what was happening. Her mouth briefly twitched up.
Sonya leaned her head towards Nary, "It looks like he took your words to heart."
"Um, yeah, and that's really good for him and us," she nodded, "I don't wanna distract him so we should get going."
"Hold up, I'm coming too," Jax turned around and got to his feet.
Liu told them, "We'll join you after we finish today's training." He nodded and grinned as they walked away from the fight pit.
Using red hair clips, Nary sectioned off Sonya's wet hair while Jax sat on one of the dark brown couches to their left.
"Nary, I'm gonna cut to the chase," Sonya said as she looked in the full-length mirror before them and locked eyes with her friend, "Do you wanna be with Kano?"
Her head pulled back, "I've already answered that question."
"No, I asked you if you were attracted to him. Things have clearly changed between you two since our first girls' night."
Jax backed up Sonya, "Yeah, he's obviously sprung. Aw shit, now I sound like my Uncle Khalil."
Sonya and Jax both chuckled as Nary lightly scoffed.
She then looked at the soldiers and thoughtfully considered their comments, "We've gotten close and he's a good friend. And yeah, we have a lot of fun together but I'm not-I'm not naïve. Things wouldn't work between us because, come on, you've seen how he talks about his job. He loves his life as it is. A life with me, where I'm working nine to five and he's not a mercenary… that would be dull for a guy like him."
Nodding, Jax commented, "I hear that. My last girlfriend ended things because she wanted me to take an office job at Platinum Force Security, that shit isn't for me."
Sonya agreed, "Tell me about it. I've been told by my exes that the only thing I give a shit about is my job. I don't know if there's a guy out there who could deal with my shit on top of me being gone a lot."
Nary gripped the blonde's shoulders, "Aww, there is. You two just haven't found each other yet."
Her lips curled up, "You're such a romantic which is sweet and amazing considering how hard dating is."
"It's not easy but I see what my parents have and I know there's someone out there for me." She nodded as she started to cut the unpinned section of Sonya's hair.
He then shared, "After we win the tournament, I'm gonna take a break and put myself out there again. My mom and aunties are always trying to set me up, I'll give them another shot."
When Kano came within two feet of the salon, he stopped in his tracks once he heard Sonya say, "Are you fucking with me, Nary? You've only slept with four guys?!"
His ears and eyes perked up, he moved closer to the salon's entrance laid his back flat against the wall and listened in.
"Yes, I'm selective. Three were relationships and I had a brief friends-with-benefits situation with one guy from med school. We only had sex three times before I called it off."
"What happened? Was he already in a relationship but was too chicken shit to tell you?" Jax asked.
"No, thank god. He was flirting with other women and I knew we weren't exclusive but I didn't want to share him with anyone else. And honestly, I've never been open to doing that in any of my romantic relationships. I refuse to share my man with anyone else because I'm a greedy bitch," she laughed along with Sonya and Jax.
Kano barely managed to stop himself from snickering.
"Seriously though, I prefer focusing my time, energy and love on one man. So, the next guy I sleep with has to also want a long-term, steady, monogamous and committed relationship."
Before he could let her words register, he heard voices and footsteps approaching; he ducked into a nearby storage room. Kung Lao and Liu passed by without noticing him and went into the salon. He waited a few seconds before following their lead.
Liu was getting the left side of his hair trimmed as he spoke, "I owe a lot to Master Bo Rai Cho. He's a good teacher, mentor, cook and brewer but I do not miss the bowl haircuts he used to give me."
"Neither do I!" Lao shook his head, "We looked like walking mushrooms!"
They all laughed along with the Shaolin monks.
Kano chimed in, "That reminds me of the time when I got my first haircut without me mum. She had to work overtime so Uncle Jack took me instead. I was eight and all my mates were getting mullets so-…"
Sonya didn't hide her disgust, "Ugh, of course you did!"
"Keep your tits on, I'm not a sheep! I got something better, edgier, classier…a rat tail!"
A mix of groans and laughter came from his fellow champions.
Nary asked, "And how did dear mum react to your new look?"
"She was so fucking pissed! Uncle Jack got an earful but mum knew how to play me. There was no way she was gonna talk me into getting it cut off. The next day, she got me a big tin of Tim Tams. Then Rocco, my barber, got rid of the tail and right after we went to Keith's Pies for lunch."
"Well, she sounds like a wise woman, Kano." Cole told him.
"Yeah, she really was…"
He noticed the Aussie speaking of her in the past tense and saw a flash of sadness in his eyes, "My mom's gone too; she passed a few months before Emily was born."
The Aussie leaned slightly toward Cole, "Yeah, mine died when I was ten. It fucking sucks that she's gone and I miss her, but I'm grateful for the time I did have with her. We were both lucky blokes, mate."
"We are and thanks for sharing that with us." Cole grinned when Kano patted him on the back.
With shocked and confused eyes, Sonya watched the exchange and looked at an equally stunned Jax who simply shrugged at her.
Kano continued speaking, "Anyway, there has to be some special type of mum gene. Whenever I tried to hide biscuits or lollies in my room, kitchen or even the loo, she would always find them!"
Cole agreed, "You're definitely onto something! I was either sixteen or seventeen, I had a party at my house, it was stupid because I did it to prove to my friends that I wasn't so strait-laced. I threw it when she was out of town for a business trip. She didn't come back early but as she used the key to unlock the door, I had missed one bottle of Smirnoff during cleanup! I hide it the bay window's secret seat compartment which I NEVER saw her use. So um, the next day I came home from school to see her sitting in the living room with the Smirnoff in front of her. I was scared shitless! All she said to me was that I was grounded for six weeks."
Nay said, "Good moms are always up in their kids' business. I only managed to hide my journal from mine because our maid let me put it in a secret compartment in her room."
Nodding, Sonya said, "Yes and that's why I never had a diary…although I was caught sneaking in after breaking curfew. My mom tore down the trellis that I climbed on. And she grounded me for a month but the party I snuck off to was crazy and fun so it was worth it!" There was a small smirk on her lips.
Jax said, "Your old man must have been pissed!"
"He was overseas at the time and came back six months later," she shrugged.
Nary used a thick small brush to sweep away loose hair on off Liu's neck, "And you are done!" She unclasped the black salon cape from his neck and upper back.
"Thanks Nary!" Liu smiled at her as he stood up.
Jax turned to Sonya, "Blade, we better get started on dinner." He stood up and waited for her to do the same.
"We should. It would go quicker if we had more help." Sonya got to her feet and eyed Cole, Liu and Lao.
Liu offered as he stood up, "I'll help!"
"Me too!" Kung Lao tipped his hat at her.
Holding up his hand, Cole said, "I can make dessert."
A small smile was on Jax's full lips, "Looks like I got a real crew tonight. Let's head out! We'll see you two later." He pointed at Nary and Kano, she waved while he nodded at Jax.
Kano headed to the shampoo station, "Sweet Pea, it's just me and you! Not that I'm complaining!"
She placed a new salon cape on him, "Yeah, Kano, about last night…if I sounded like I was preaching or was being pushy."
He waved her off, "Love, you weren't. You simply gave me a good and much needed kick in the ass! And now, I've learned a few new moves that me enemies will never see coming!" He eagerly shook his head.
Nary's dark eyes looked at him in disbelief, "So, you're actually grateful for what I said to you?"
He lightly gripped her shoulders and spoke to her in a serious tone, "Of course! And I want you to know that I care about you too, Darling. Thanks for letting me know."
Nary's lips quirked as she placed her hand on top of his, "You're welcome…now um, let's get started."
"Buttercup, I'm all yours!" He settled into the black leather chair, reclined it and placed his head in the black porcelain shampoo bowl. Once she turned on the warm water and used the sprayer on his head, he released a slow satisfied sigh. When she began massaging shampoo into his slick hair, he closed his eyes and moaned at the feel of her skilled fingers on his scalp, "Ooohh, that's uh, that feels really fucking good, Peaches…"
A gentle smile stretched across her face, she eyed the dragon marking on his neck, "I've been meaning to ask you, is there a story behind your black dragon tattoo on your arm or did you just get it because it's the name of your crew?"
He opened his eyes and waited a beat, "You gotta promise that this stays between us."
Her perfect brow arched, "Of course, now talk!"
"I, eh, I got the tattoo after a job where I was paid three million dollars for the first time, it was a retrieval mission and I did it alone."
The confusion in her eyes matched her voice, "Why do you wanna keep that a secret? It sounds pretty run-of-the-mill in your line of work."
"Eh, the client was some spoiled brat heiress who divorced her husband. He kidnapped their.."
"Child?!"
"Not exactly. He kidnapped their dogs, Binx and Jaco. And his house was a fucking fortress so it took a week of surveillance and recon for me to figure out a way to get them out."
As she started rinsing his hair, she stated, "OK, I still don't get why you-…"
With a loud grunt, he admitted, "Those little fucking furballs were black and white Pomeranians!"
The image of big bad Kano running out of a house with two small fluffy dogs in his burly arms caused her to burst into laughter.
Seeing her chuckling face above him brought a smile to his face, "Yeah-yeah, laugh it up Sweetheart!"
"It's just so funny and precious! Did they bite you?"
"No, their mum gave me a scarf of hers, it had her scent and dogs have always loved me! I used to feed the strays who lingered in my neighborhood."
"That's very sweet…so why a black dragon tattoo?"
He took a breath, "I became a fan of dragons after Uncle Jack and I read The Hobbit when I was eleven. So, after the princess paid me, I went to a tattoo parlor and showed the artist, Kira, a sketch I made of a black dragon. It took her weeks to finish it and during those sessions, I found out that she was a pretty good fucking fighter and thief. After that, she quit her job and she joined me crew!"
Her interest was sparked. It was the first time he mentioned a woman from his past who wasn't his mother. "I'm done. Are you still in touch with her?"
He sat up and shook his head, "I haven't heard from her in over a year. Our last job, things suddenly went to shit. Kabal was in rough shape but the cops were closing in on us; we couldn't go back for him. The rest of us separated with our share of the money but we haven't seen or spoke to each other since that night."
They walked over to the hydraulic barber chair, "I see. Do you miss them?"
Kano shrugged and sat in the chair, "We had some good times and a million close calls. Sometimes I wonder about Kira, she was all right and Kabal was a decent guy...but it's not like what we have," he pointed to himself then her.
"So, you're not even friends?"
"Well, I uh, I supposed we were work mates. But I've talked about things with you, Aladdin, Speedy and almost everyone else here that I've…I've never shared with my crew." He cleared his throat and looked down.
From behind, she gripped his shoulders and smiled when he looked at the mirror meeting her gaze, "I guess that's one of the main benefits and differences between being an Earthrealm champion and a member of the Black Dragon clan; friendship!"
His lips pulled into a smirk, "Don't forget, there's also good food, movie and game nights, haircuts and you're really nice to look at," he winked at her.
She rolled her eyes and giggled, "Anyway, your hair's not that long but your beard-…"
He warned her and narrowed his blue eyes, "Don't even think about it, Sweetkins!"
"I was going to say, it could use a trim not a shave. There's some beard oil in the drawer in front of you. I picked it up during my last shopping trip."
Kano opened the drawer and removed three small amber glass bottles with droppers in their twist-off caps, "Fuck, this is the good stuff!"
"So, how about it?"
With a contemplative tip of his head, he told her, "First, fix me hair and then I'll decide whether or not you can trim this beauty!"
"All right, just sit back and relax, mate!" She grinned at him.
After cutting his hair, she used a dab of matte gel to shape his locks into their usual style. She made sure to apply pressure to the tips of her nails. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her pampering him; he became putty in her hands. Kano quickly allowed her to trim his beard and massage the mint scented oil into his face.
"All done!" She stepped to the right and allowing him to look at his reflection in the mirror.
"Fuckin' hell, I belong on GQ!" He stroked his face and turned it from side to side.
"You do clean up real nice," she nodded at him.
Wiggling his brows at her, he remarked, "I knew it, you want me!"
"Ugh, it's a compliment not a come-on. Anyway, we better get going, we don't wanna be late for dinner!" She removed the salon cape from him.
When Kano and Nary entered the lounge, they were hit with the delicious aroma of herbs, spices and a sweet rich familiar aroma coming from the kitchen.
Jax warmly welcomed the pair and explained the dishes on the table, "My college girlfriend was from the Bronx but her parents were Trinidadian! So, here's chicken pelau, baigan chokha, doubles and pholourie!"
Cole proudly pointed to a blue ceramic casserole dish, "This is a triple layer brownie, the top layer is a regular brown, the base is chocolate chip cookie dough and the middle is made of Oreos! It's Emily's favorite."
Nary was beaming, "Guys, everything looks and smells fantastic! And I've never tried Caribbean cuisine so let's dig in!"
By the time dessert came around, Jax talked about his mother and grandmother. He mentioned how he missed their cooking and couldn't wait to enjoy their food again once the tournament was over.
His words prompted Kano to inquire, "That reminds me, after we save the fucking world, I'm gonna go back home for a bit too and hit my old stomping grounds. How about the rest of you?"
Cole answered first, "I haven't really thought about it but I'm gonna try to get into more matches now that I've learned more moves and techniques."
Sonya answered, "I'm gonna take a vacation, spend time with my family and just relax for once."
Kung Lao replied, "Liu and I haven't seen Master Bo Rai Cho for a long time now. We should go on holiday and see how he's doing."
"I look forward to it. He's always so happy to see us. But don't forget, we must bring him a bottle of wine or else we'll never hear the end of it." Liu added.
"I know; the last time we visited and forgot to get him a bottle, he made us sleep outside for the night!" Lao said with a small laugh.
Nary giggled and commented, "I'll make sure to get a bottle of Shiraz for him on my next shopping trip."
Kano asked, "Love, what are your plans?"
She remarked, "Travel for a few weeks and then, I'll start working at the Fitz-Simmons urgent care clinic. They provide free medical care to people without insurance or are underinsured. They have facilities all over the US and a friend from med school is going to open one in a few months, it's near where I live."
He tilted his head, "Angel, why aren't you going back to your old job at the hospital?"
She slowly shifted in her seat across from him, "Uh, I loved my co-workers and I don't regret my time there; but I need a new environment with a slower pace and steady hours."
Cole remarked, "Before Allison got her job, we used to go to that clinic, they do incredible work. They're lucky to have you."
Her lips slightly curled up, "Thanks Cole but I consider myself the lucky one."
After dinner, everyone went their separate ways for the night. Kano was in his suite when Nary walked out of hers. He poked his head into the corridor, "What ya got there, Darling?" He eyed the Blu-ray disc in her hands and grimaced, "Really? A fucking Disney cartoon? Hard pass, Puddin'."
"Lady and the Tramp is a classic and Kano, I didn't invite you to watch it with me. So, have a goodnight." She gave him a small nod.
He crossed his arms, "Oh come on, you'd miss me."
"Uh-huh, I'll see you in the morning." Nary continued on her way and kept her face forward but smiled when she heard him curse, complain then quickly catch up to her, "Kano, if you plan on bitching and ripping apart this movie, I won't hesitate blasting you into Netherrealm, got it?"
"Fine…but I get to drink!"
"I'm cool with that but I bet you won't even get through one beer; this is a classic love story for a reason."
He cackled, "I've never seen it but come on, two dogs eat spaghetti, live happily ever and all that fairytale bullshit."
With an annoyed sigh, she said, "There's more to the movie than that, Kano."
"Come the fuck on, it's Disney! It's all the same rosy cookie cutter shit they've been putting out for ages!"
She didn't hold back her smirk, "You have no idea what you're in for and I love it!"
"Yeah-yeah Kitten, let's just get this shit over with!" He rolled his eyes.
Right after settling on the lounge's sofa, Nary kicked off her slippers, crossed her ankles and groaned.
With a bowl of sriracha popcorn in his hands he sat down next to her, "Something wrong, Pumpkin?"
"My feet feel a bit achy; I need to get new work/doctor shoes."
He couldn't fight the wicked smile on his face, "Remember Peaches, I give really good foot massages!"
With a look of irritation, she told him, "That's gonna be a big no from me. I'm starting the movie so hush!" She grabbed a handful of popcorn then pressed play on the remote control.
After watching Lady's first night home with her new "parents" he blurted out, "Holy shit this is fuckin' adorable! She's so cute!" He quickly cleared his throat, "Never ever repeat what I said to ANYONE, got it?!"
A soft grin was on her lips, "What happens in the lounge stays in the lounge."
"Oh it better!" He threw popcorn into his mouth then gave her a fake glare.
She scoffed and returned her attention to the movie.
As the film came to its conclusion, Kano turned to her with an astonished look on his face. "There's lot to unpack here, Dumpling! Like, it's the classic trope of a rich girl falling for a guy from the wrong side of tracks and of course he's a total slut with a heart of gold! They fuck on their first date, he knocks her up, she gets arrested because of him and she gets embarrassed when she finds out that he's a slut! Her Bloodhound and Scottish buddies offer to marry her to make sure that her puppies weren't bastards. But then Tramp ends up redeeming himself by saving her humans' baby from that fucking nasty rat. They all live happily ever after with their four pups! And people call this a fucking kids movie?!"
Nary couldn't help but laugh at his colorful commentary and dumbfounded reaction, "I told you that is a classic and now you know why! It has something for everyone, cute lovable dogs for the kids and a relatable and mature love story for the adults. Although it does have its problems with the cats' Siamese song and fuck Aunt Sarah, she was the worst!"
"Oh she was a piece of shit who needed to have her ass kicked!"
They both chuckled at their agreement.
He asked her, "Cupcake, I gotta feeling you chose this movie to make a point with me…"
She folded her arms, "Kano, you invited yourself. This wasn't premediated."
"Really? You just happen to choose a romance about a mongrel who came from nothing yet is crafty, resourceful, charming and handsome as fuck," he pointed to himself, "and he falls for a sweet, beautiful, blue blood cutie from the fancy part of town," his finger then landed in her direction.
"You're seriously reading way too much into this Kano-ah!" Nary winced when she moved her right foot.
He lightly slapped his lap with both hands, "Enough of that! Put those pretty little piggies right here and I promise, you'll feel much better, Sugarplum."
With a skeptical arch of her brow, she asked him, "Kano, have you ever given a foot rub and not expected it to end with sex?"
He froze, "Well, eh, there's a first time for everything, Dollface!"
"Hard pass."
His fingers snapped then pointed at her, "Kira! I gave her one-although it was before she told me that she was a lesbian but she said that it was the best foot massage she ever received! So, that's gotta count for something, right?"
"I don't know…"
"Earlier today you took care of me. So, as a friendly gesture let me return the favor and pamper you…" He held out his hands and wiggled his fingers, "And I promise I will behave meself, I'll be a total gentleman!"
She scowled while she pointed at him, "If you get fresh with me, I'll blast you into another galaxy!"
"And you'd have every right to! But you won't need to because I'll be a good boy, promise." Using his right forefinger, he drew an x over his heart.
After a beat, she placed her bare feet on his closed thighs. Starting with her right foot, he began with her toes and slowly work his way towards her heel. He knew the exact pressure points to work. A wide smile came to lips the minute he heard a pleased whimper escape her lips. Kano looked up and enjoyed the image of her relaxing and taking delight in his touch.
There was a conflict going on in Nary's mind. She hated that he was right but she loved how his hands made the pain in her feet slowly melt away. Her head lolled back when he began massaging the gap between her toes. The young doctor barely managed to stop herself from breathing out his name once he started to work his way down her soles. However, she couldn't fight the whimpers and content sighs that came from her lips. Keeping her eyes shut, she continued to savor the moment without having to see the smug look on his face.
Hearing the sounds coming from her pleased and tortured Kano. He was thrilled to see affect his touch had on her and how the soft skin of her feet felt amazing against his calloused hands. Pressing his mouth shut, he didn't want to push his luck by bragging about his skills or saying something crude. The Aussie was also struggling to fight the stirring in between his legs. Despite his baser instincts pulling at him, he had no intention of breaking his promise to her.
When he suddenly pulled his hands away from her feet, Nary's eyes snapped open, "Wha-why did you stop?"
With innocent eyes, he replied, "Nothing, Love, I'm done. Unless you want me to keep going?" He could see the gears in her mind turning.
She bit her bottom lip and with apparent hesitation pulled her legs back then sat up straight, "I'm-I'm good. Thanks for doing this, Kano."
"You're very welcome, Sunshine. If you ever need anything else, I'm here." The outer edges of his mouth lifted.
"I know and thanks. Um, it's getting late." She stood up and saw him mirror her action.
Before she went to sleep, Nary glanced at her feet then at her knife on the nightstand. Tonight was a close call for her but she was grateful that Kano pulled away first. She was stunned at the restraint he showed and how he listened to Kung Lao in the fight pit. Despite what she told Sonya and Jax, she couldn't deny that her feelings for Kano were growing. Even though she had loved James, her bond with Kano was different and infinitely stronger than her relationship with her first love. She then convinced herself to push aside her feelings and simply enjoy their time together, as friends. The young doctor feared that if she allowed herself to want Kano as a lover and partner, it would lead to heartbreak. A long sigh left her body; when Nary first arrived at the temple, she thought her only concern would be discovering her arcana. With a dry laugh she yearned for that simpler time as she rolled over and turned off the lamp.
After closing his door, Kano kicked off his boots, sat on the side edge of bed then rested flat on his back. He stared at the stone ceiling as what Nary said in the salon went through his mind, "Long-term, steady, monogamous and committed." Every word she said couldn't be used to describe his past dalliances. Then again, he never spent much time with those women. They were either one-time hookups or business transactions with prostitutes. What he experienced with them paled in comparison to how incredible he felt whenever he was with Nary. Granted, his past conquests were exciting and so was she. But what made her different from those other women was how comfortable, safe, ecstatic, valued and loved he felt whenever he was around her. Despite spending most of his free time with the Nary, he could never get enough of her. A deep groan came from him, he didn't know if could be the man that she wanted and deserved. As he headed to the shower, he tried to decide what he should do next.
A day later, Cole, Kano and Jax were in the middle of their morning training session in the fight pit. Sonya and Nary were sitting on the ledge watching them. After Kano successfully flipped Liu onto his back, he clasped hands with the champion and pulled him up. His eyes then went to Nary who was softly clapping and wearing a pleased grin on her pillow lips. Without missing a beat, he winked at her then blew her a kiss.
A bashful smile came to her mouth as she looked down. Nary never blushed in her life but she came close at what Kung Lao said next.
"Kano, stop flirting with the pretty girl and focus on your training!" He folded his arms and gave the Aussie an annoyed look.
"Keep your tits on Slice n' Dice, I was just having a bit of fun!"
Nary chuckled then noticed the intrigued look on Sonya's face, "What?"
The blonde soldier kept her voice low, "I can't believe I'm about to say this, especially about him…you should talk to Kano about your feelings and what you want in a relationship."
Her content expression turned into discomfort, "Sonya, I-I know you mean well but I can't. I don't wanna take him away from what he loves."
"You told him to consider the options that he has and Nary, he should know that a wonderful life with you, is one of them."
Before she could respond, Lord Raiden walked up to the ledge, "Good morning, Sonya and Nary."
They politely greeted him then Nary told him, "After breakfast, I need to go into town and pick up a few things."
He simply nodded at her then looked at the fight pit, "Kano has progressed nicely. But I am concerned about Cole and Jax."
Sonya replied, "Is there anything in the library that could help? They're both working their asses off."
The thunder god shook his head, "Unfortunately, I have yet to find anything in the ancient texts that will help them. It looks like I'll have to turn to unconventional methods."
"Like what?" Nary asked.
"I'm not sure yet but Kano unlocking his arcana gives me some hope that I will come up with a solution before it's too late."
"Here's hoping, Jax already feels guilty for not finding his yet." Sonya said.
"As long as he doesn't lose hope and keeps training, I will do everything I can for him." He assured her.
The soldier gave him an appreciative grin, "I'll make sure that he doesn't and thanks."
He simply tipped his head at her and excused himself before leaving them.
"So back to our conversation; Nary, what if he told you that he'd give up his criminal rogue life to build a new one with you?"
She hadn't imagined that scenario and took a moment to answer, "In that highly unlikely situation…then of course I'd be with him but that's not happening, so please drop this, OK?"
"Fine…but you'll never know where he stands until you talk to him."
"I know but right now, I'm gonna focus on something easier and has zero heartbreak, breakfast! Do you wanna help?"
A small smile formed on her mouth as she wrapped her arm around Nary's shoulders, "Sure, but don't forget what I said."
After giving her a small side hug, she replied, "I won't, now let's get going!"
Cole and Kano were the last ones in the lounge to finish breakfast. As Cole began rinsing the dishes and cups, Kano opened the washer.
"Cole?" The Aussie asked.
He paused and let his brain adjust to being called by his actual name, "OK, this must be serious."
"It is, mate, but it stays between us, got it?"
"Yeah, of course. What's on your mind?" He handed Kano some dishes.
"When did you know that your missus was…was it for you?"
He looked into the mercenary's eyes and grinned, "After our third date."
With a skeptical scoff, Kano said, "Bullshit! Really?"
Nodding, he explained, "It was so easy to talk to Allison about anything and um, I could actually be myself around her. Wherever she was, it's where I wanted be and that's still true. And I know that no matter what we're going through, I look into her eyes and I know that everything's gonna be all right. It wasn't like that with my other girlfriends."
Everything Cole said rang true for Kano. He could also see how earnest the younger man was and said, "…That's all it took for you?"
"Yes. Someone once said that 'Love is friendship set on fire' and it's true."
Kano saw the warm wistful smile on Cole's face, "Mate, you'll be with her again."
"I know and that day can't come soon enough…So, did Nary say something to you?"
He glanced at the door making sure they were alone; he then answered, "I uh, I overheard her saying that she wanted to be in a serious relationship."
Tipping his head to the right, he responded, "That's not a surprise and she deserves it."
"She does, but this is new for me, Cole. I never gave a fuck about relationships until I came here. And I've never had a real girlfriend before."
"I figured as much, but that doesn't mean you're incapable of being a good partner. Kano, you need to figure out if you want and can be the man that she deserves."
He slowly nodded letting his friend's words sink into his mind and heart.
Note: Kira is from one of the MK video games but I created my own backstory for her. Please leave a review (guests can do this too, an account isn't needed) or place this under your favorites (only members can do that)