A/N: Thanks for the awesome reviews! I love reading them~

Rated: M

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I watched as Sub-Zero pulled the chair to its customary spot beside my bed. The Edenian nurses – or whatever they were called here – had just left after changing my bandages and taking my dirty dishes away.

A few more days had passed since I'd first woken up here, and I was recently allowed to sit up on my own. According to the surgeon, my stitches were looking fine. Still hurt, though.

The Lin Kuei sat and gave a small greeting. "You look bored."

"I'm losing my mind," I replied tonelessly.

The healers told me emphatically that I needed to rest to heal the torn muscles in my side. At first it had not been a problem. But the more I healed the more I was itching to train. To spar. To do something!

And enough as I hated to admit it, Sub-Zero was the only thing now keeping me from going completely stir crazy. He visited me for a few hours every day, updating me on anything interesting going on in the castle. Or if he had nothing to report we simply sat in companionable silence.

I tried to stray from any personal topics—after I had carelessly told him my true name. And Sub-Zero didn't pry or bring it up again.

I was…grateful.

There, another reason I needed to get out of this room. I was becoming soft—even enjoying this fool's company. But I would tolerate no other.

Though, nobody else attempted to check in on me.

"Johnny Cage would have come to see you," Sub-Zero had told me one day. "But he was too afraid that you might murder him for intruding."

The thought made me smirk.

And it seemed to be the same with The Others; they were too frightened of me to bother me, or just didn't care enough about me. I didn't care for any of them either.

I had taken to calling Raiden and his Earthrealm Defenders, 'The Others'. They were people I had no interest to associate with unless the need called for it. And I couldn't bring myself to think of being in the same group with them when Sub-Zero and I talked about them. He had started referring to them as The Others as well, something that made me chuckle.

Today, Sub-Zero crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Raiden left this morning," he said.

"Hm." So what?

"Don't you care to know why?" he asked, annoyed.

I shrugged. "No. Not if it doesn't concern me."

"And here I thought you were bored…"

"Tch. And you think I'd find anything to do with Raiden interesting?"

Sub-Zero frowned. "It concerns all of us. Actually, The Others aren't all that worried about it either. It's starting to piss me off."

"Why?"

"Because Raiden told us about this Shinnok being... I guess he's the one that gave you life. He used to be an Elder God."

I felt my eyes go wide. "Really?"

"Yes, but… He went mad with power. And now rules over the Netherrealm. Shinnok is a very powerful, and very evil sorcerer. Lord Raiden left to seek council with the Elder Gods and figure out what's going on. I don't like any of it."

So…a Fallen Elder God gave me life? This couldn't end well.

I know it was to make me weaker, and to tell the truth, I missed my elemental powers. But I was far from weak. If this Shinnok was a threat to us, why hadn't he done any damage? Why not attack us here?

"Have you ever heard of him in the Netherrealm?" Sub-Zero broke me from my thoughts.

"No," I replied. "Never heard of him before. If he had any dealings with Quan Chi or Shang Tsung, I was not aware."

Sub-Zero brought his hand to his chin, thinking.

Well, there was nothing we could do about it now. Let Raiden handle this mess.

"Are there any portals to Earthrealm here?" I asked.

Sub-Zero laughed in surprise. "How can you just change the subject like that?"

"What?" I gave him a curious look. "I think it's a damn important subject."

He sighed. "According to Kitana's people there are many. They just have to open them. It's been awhile, but - like all things in these realms - magic is a big part of their lives. Or at least used to be, before Shao Kahn…"

I could feel the anticipation crawling through my skin. I could finally get out of here and back to my home realm. That's all I wanted.

Well, mainly my family back and Quan Chi's head on a spike… But I could handle baby steps.

"You don't look excited at all," I pointed out.

I caught a flash of sadness in his eyes, and that surprised me.

"I am eager to go home," he said. "Of course I am. I just…don't know where 'home' is anymore."

"Ah." I had momentarily forgotten that Sub-Zero was no longer part of the Lin Kuei clan.

Perhaps I should stop referring to him as one…

I had nowhere to go either, but I could handle being on my own. Sub-Zero on the other hand, has always had a clan to rely on, and now that he's left them they'll be hunting him down. Nobody leaves the Lin Kuei alive—that I know for certain.

The Shirai Ryu were never that cruel. We were even allowed to have families. To have celebrations. It was as normal a life an assassin could have.

I found myself feeling sorry for Sub-Zero.

"Don't worry about me," he assured. "I'll be fine. I always am."

My face flushed with heat. "Who said I was worried?"

He laughed at me again. "You're much easier to read now that you have a face."

I was angry and horrified at myself. He was teasing me! How had I allowed someone to become so comfortable around me?

"So when can I get outta here?" I asked grumpily.

"You mean out of this room or—"

"Out of Edenia!"

"It's hard to say," smiled Sub-Zero. "The Others are content to stay here for a while. They're all acting like this is some kind of vacation. But I'm sure by the time you're able to walk around, the Edenians will have opened a portal or two back to Earth. They still want to throw us a party, you know."

"They don't have to wait for me. I have no desire to attend a party."

"Well, that's up to you."

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. "Are you going?"

"Yes, most likely. I didn't plan on it, but honestly Scorpion, I do consider most of The Others to be my friends. And if they're going, then I will too. It might even be fun."

Fun? I couldn't see any fun hanging around bothersome strangers.

"You should go," he finally suggested. "They have a really good rum-type drink here. You might like it."

"I don't want to have to deal with the people here. Do you not get that?"

Sub-Zero glared at me. "So, what? You're going to hide out in here for the rest of our stay?"

"Hide?" I blinked. "HIDE? I am not hiding! I was stabbed remember? Right here." I pointed at my bandages.

Sub-Zero rubbed his face in his hands. "Fine. You do what you want."

"Uh, I will. Thanks for your permission."

"Stop it," he snapped. "You're acting like a child."

"You're acting like a child."

"Scorpion, I'm only trying to help you."

I scoffed. "I don't need your help. Or anybody else's for that matter."

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, maybe you would have preferred to stay bound in chains by Mileena."

"Maybe I would have loved it."

"Okay, now you're five years old."

"You're five years old."

"No I'm not!"

"No you're not!" Wait. Damn it!

Sub-Zero doubled over in laughter. I waited for him to regain his composure, seething quietly to myself.

He stood up, still smiling wide. It made him look so young. And I found the corners of my mouth involuntarily turning up in a grin in return.

"I've upset you," he said good-naturedly. "I should let you rest."

I nodded slowly in agreement. I was tired.

He walked over to the door and hesitated before leaving the room.

Finally, he turned back to me, his hand resting on the doorframe. "You know, Scorpion. I didn't like anyone else in Raiden's group for a long time. Except for Smoke—he's my best friend, so that goes without saying. And I thought that was good enough. But it's not so bad having other friends. They're all good people. And I think they all mean well. They would accept you more readily if you made an attempt to talk to them. And I would be your friend, if you'd let me."

I lowered my gaze in thought as I heard Sub-Zero leave the room.

Maybe he had a point. I remembered how he had said that no one else had wanted to come after me in Outworld.

But he still failed to realize that I did not WANT any friends. And I had no need for them.

Perhaps having allies would be beneficial to me. But he couldn't see that it hurt me. And I hated that.

I was afraid. And angry. All my loved ones…my friends…were dead. Slaughtered.

I couldn't form words to explain that I never wanted to go through that pain again. There would never be anyone who could replace what I had lost.

I felt weak, hating myself for feeling fear. For feeling lonely.

I carefully slid down on the bed till I was lying on my back. I sighed and stared at the ceiling.

My heart had been torn open so much, and it had taken a long time to fill it with hatred and thoughts of vengeance. That was the only important thing now. To hold it together until Quan Chi was rotting in the deepest parts of Hell.

I pushed any thoughts of my wife and child away for now. Otherwise I might go completely insane.

Closing my eyes, I could hear Sub-Zero's voice inside my head; the last thoughts before I fell asleep.

"I would be your friend, if you'd let me."

A/N: Somebody needs some huggins. Hope this chapter wasn't too short, haha

Sand Dun: Yes, Hanzo Hasashi is Scorpion's official real name from the games. :)

Xelly-chan: Thank you! What a great compliment.

And thank you to all that review! I read them all and survive off of them!