It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, contemplating her father and fiancée with a look of contrition, not when the scumsucking skid mark was gloating over the horizon, his diabolical plans aligning perfectly (or so he thought); it was almost unspeakably cold-blooded to even look upon the man that raised her since birth, aware that the necromancer's time was winding to a grim, Shakespearian close... But unforgivingly harsh as felt in that dismal spotlight, it was a bearable pain because for once things were finally going right - Scorpion finally knew the full truth about her, so now they could start a life together, and...
"You had us worried," Quan Chi peered down his sharp nose first at the conscience-striken woman kneeling before the high-backed throne, her begrimed nose practically grinding against the brisk stone, and then at the shinobi standing stoically behind her, one hand still upon her shoulder as if to prevent her from running away again, no secrecy in the sorcerer's words amongst 'friends', "my daughter. I trust that you're alright now?"
The beggarly female bowed her head respectfully - all the loose hairs falling from both slender and elephantine braids and into the sullied face, obscuring exercised saffron eyes - speaking to both the magician and her groom, sorrow dripping in every other word, "I didn't mean to cause any concern... It's just that everything was happening so fast, I couldn't keep up, and I had to go out on my own to sort everything out. I promise, from here on in, you won't have to worry about me again - I will play my part without a fuss."
Noob, having noticed that although he kept a firm grip of the female, that lowly Shirai Ryu bastard was keeping his distance from the pawn, smirked down at the woman, if that's what that mud creature even was, pleased to see that she had finally learned her lesson. Obedience was all he asked of her, not much of a tall order. "I'm glad to hear that you've finally come to your senses. Now go get yourself cleaned up - you reek."
Fist trembling furiously, Evren nodded curtly, ascending from her crouching position. "You're too kind to me." It was hard to miss the constriction in her throat as she spoke, but it was shrugged off as Noob and Quan Chi conferred amongst themselves, blabbering on about the guest list, the father of the bride disagreeing with the bridegroom about having invited nearly everyone of importance, even those that normally might have been counted as enemies. Chancing a cautious peek over her shoulder, the demoness nodded at her lover, speaking loud enough for the others to hear her, "I guess I'll be going then."
"Wait," Quan Chi motioned for his dear daughter to stop, "Evren, before you get ready for your fitting, you should get some rest. You look tired, child." Even beyond the layering of muck and bruising, the conjurer of cheap tricks could see the signs of exhaustion plaguing her frame, sinking into her very bones. He swore, if Noob was not so necessary to his own plans... Well, no matter. Quan Chi knew that everything would work itself out in the end, and like always, he would be the one coming out on top...
The reluctant occultist nodded in acceptance of the request, pivoting away from her living nightmares to head for her comfortable abode, the guardian wraith following her every step, never once ceasing the part of the muted warden. The shadow-man and his master paid the duo no heed as they left to her chambers, neither thinking a thing of it. To prevent any slip-ups in the charade, Hanzo and the hellion remained silent as the grave from which they came, avoiding the other as much as possible, even in hallways void of any other signs of life... at least they did, until they were alone in her room.
The minute the sturdy door closed, clicking quite loudly as the wilting flower locked the door behind them with an antiqued silver key that almost always remained in the lock, there was a collective sigh of relief from breathless bodies. While Evren had the utmost faith in Hanzo and his abilities, and he only grudgingly had faith in her plan, they had been expecting more backlash for her disappearing act, but apparently the hour was dawning too close to lose it at every little thing, and besides, just because it was glossed over now did not mean that there wouldn't be a consequence later. Of course they were glad for the fact that there wasn't any current ramifications, but unfortunately by this point, the couple was used to things falling apart at the seams, the thread snapping with every stitch, so it felt strange to be able to catch a break. But it was a welcome kind of strange all the same.
Grinning over at the yellow clad ninja, the mud cast realized that while this wasn't the first time that they had been alone in her room - granted a majority of that time the wondering spirit had either stood just outside of the door, or Bi-Han or someone else had been present as well - but this was different, because now everything was out in the open. Somehow, it was suddenly embarrassing, golden orbs roving self-consciously over the scattered contents poking out of half-open drawers, a parchment scroll literally rolling from the top drawer of her nightstand, the end trailing over the plush carpet. More than that, it was really intimate, the soft lighting of her hovering candles seeming all the paler, their bodies so close in the empty space, nothing standing between them anymore...
He was not oblivious to this, either the atmosphere or the facts, chuckling softly at her, sensing their nerves playing its bitter, spine-tingling song in the both of them, but this was one area in which he had some experience at least, which was more than she could say. "You're blushing."
Reaching up for her cheek subconsciously, glancing through the earthen cracks at her reflection in the gilded mirror, the succubus dully noted that she looked like shit; flesh covered in her own blood, mud dried from the oceanic rains, chilled in a burning sweat, the ashes of eternal embers smeared here and there, and Elder Gods know what else. Flushing, the bride-to-be retorted, "Shut up..."
Relinquishing his hold of her shoulder, subsequently brushing the length of her arm in the process - not minding the various thing she was covered in - Scorpion pulled the filthy female even closer, enveloping her stained waist, burying his face in her greasy, unkempt hair. Chastely, he kissed the side of her head for a prolonged period, indulging in the unadulterated feeling of holding her in his arms, basking in the simple sensation of feeling her body against his own. After everything, he needed this moment of adhering so sweetly to his other half, knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was his woman, that she loved him. They had been through a lot together already, and it was far from over...
It seemed as if hours passed, and who knows, maybe it was even longer, the time blurring by in sheer revelry, but it was only a matter of time before the enchantment was ended. "...I have to get ready." She clearly didn't want to say it, but they both knew that a lot was at stake, that there was not room for so much as a single error. Starting for the master bath, their fingers still connected yet strained, she looked over her shoulder at him, sly and demure. "Care to join me?"
It was true that the wraith had gotten himself nearly as coated in guck as she was, in no small part thanks to cradling his demoness, but wouldn't that look a little strange if he were to come out of her room, cleaner than when he had went in? Even if there weren't any run-ins with any major players in their game, there was still a sizable number of servants that could have seen the suspicious departure (her room itself being teleportation-repelent, which on some levels he was grateful for), and therefore spread the word. Rumors had a way of circulation, often times with an undertone of believability, and that was exactly the kind of stupidity that had to be avoided at all costs...
And yet...
On the verge of declining the most generous offer, milky orbs wistful as they parted, the door open a rather voluminous sliver as she began to disrobe, the apparition watched as the stiff piece of cloth fell from the curvature of her shoulder as she untied it, observing distantly as it fluttered down, catching at the elbow. Glancing over at her paramour, the demoness quickly averted her gaze, the other side of her shirt falling off in hot pursuit of the first, but at the very last moment, she caught it, holding the fabric closed just over her breasts, turning to face him. "It would be easier if you got undressed first, but either way, your clothes are going to have to get wet." Her face fell, worry setting in as she asked, "You are getting in, aren't you?"
It was nice to see that she had a plan to cover this tryst, that they were just going to make it look like some kind of an accident, assuming of course that their fears became reality in the first place. Having a plausible alibi changed everything. "And miss a chance to get you wet?"
Quirking the corners of her lips in a risqué smirk, Evren turned back around, continuing to get undressed in an unseemly fashion, going as seductively slow as she possibly could. Being the proper gentleman that he was, Hanzo came up behind her with all the stealth of his trade and namesake, looping his arms through the space between her shirt, encircling her waist. Leaning in the negative, he teased the nape of her neck with his lips, hands roaming over her chest, earning a purr of approval.
It was with great lack of enthusiasm that she informed him of her last minute decision, "It isn't that kind of shower." The devil frowned. "I need to know that we can spend ten minutes together without you trying to fuck my brains out." He scoffed indignantly, earning an eye-roll and a correction form the demoness, "Fine, I'm the one that can't keep my hands off you... But can you really blame me for that?!"
Not really, no. Scorpion knew he was fine, damn fine at that. "Have it your way."
Wishful and involuntary, the yellow shinobi abandoned his fondling, looking on as she rolled her hips out of her pants, stripping the clingy, ruined fabric away. Standing there in her lace panties, a ribbon of blackened eggplant running along the the top, he stood rooted to the spot, watching the curve of her back as she bent over to draw the opal tap, the dainty fabric riding as she brought her ass high into the air, waving it unconsciously in a hypnotizing pattern as she moved back and forth. As if that wasn't bad enough, his mind jumped straight back to her mouth around his manhood as she lowered herself to her hands and knees, pouring a faint lilac potion into the negative space of the surface-level oval, the shape cut out of a pale tile. No, he thought firmly to himself, he had to restrain himself, for her sake. She had asked him to hold back, and hold back he would... Hopefully...
Dipping a finger into the water as she stirred it around, crystalline bubbles bursting to life in the rapid torrent, the demoness must have determined that it was perfect because she slide herself back from the edge, curling up to a kneeling position once more, finally standing. Gazing back at him innocently, she laughed, realizing that he must have been watching her this entire time, as opposed to getting ready to join her. "You know that you're still clothed, don't you? I wonder if you don't need help with getting naked...?"
He mock laughed, "Haha. Just give me a damn moment!"
Snickering once more, Evren did away her panties for good, kicking them aside, "I'm going ahead - I don't wanna waste this warm water and the bubbles." And indeed, she got into the bath, almost disappearing completely as she submerged herself, not resurfacing until all that remained on her skin were the fading blemishes only time could heal. "Hanzo?"
Poking her head up, not really for air as that was wasted on the likes of her, the hell flower happened to get an eyeful, watching in wonder as he chose that exact moment to be finished undressing, descending just as she did the reverse. Oh well. Ducking once more under the water, the tub more of a small pool, she rubbed off a smear of something on his second face, beaming as she did so. Holding her wrist in his hand, capturing the extremity before she had the chance to retract it, rubbed some of the soil off of her skin with the back of his thumb, bringing the fresh skin to his lips.
Pointing up in delay, she indicated that they should return to the surface, so they did, Evren reaching for a small basket at the side of the tap that he did not notice earlier. Amongst conditioners and various other products he did not recognize, there was a bright red loofa, and next to that a bottle of something vaguely sherberty that he took to be an herbal wash she had made from her flowers. Not wrong about that, she handed him the sponge, dabbing on a touch of the soap. With both hands free, she grabbed her hair and held it over one shoulder, sitting on a shallow shelf that was almost completely invisible to the naked eye. Waiting for him to sit on the tiered cut-out by her side, she noticed something fairly sizable and purple poking out from next to a selection of bubble-baths, so she quickly hid the cylindrical device, but not quickly enough...
"Really?" He sniggered as she scrubbed away the remains of the past, their past, both separate and together, not imagining that she would have something like that. "So is that what you do in your free time?"
Blushing a rich crimson color, skin brighter than the markings twisting all over her frame, the demoness cursed her luck for leaving it out like that - not she she would have expected to ever have company in in this part of the bathroom, "I have needs... Had. Have? Sh-shut up!" Her face continued to grow darker as she stuttered. "It was before we even met..."
Teasing her was a rather interesting way to keep himself preoccupied from staring at the supple mounds quivering mere inches away, and kind of fun to boot, "Been fantasizing about me have you?"
Evren looked away, sighing, "You were the reason I got it in the first place..." That sobered the mood rather hastily. "Believe it or not, but I really could have cared less about things like sex - I mean who could have enjoyed it when your father was the one..." Shaking her head, the woman chased her demons away, back into the dark, "Anyways, it wasn't my favorite part of the day, suffice it to say. But when I saw you for very first time, I don't know, it was like something just kind of clicked into place. You were the first guy I've ever seen in the Netherrealm that wasn't completely horrible." She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood back up, "Anyways, I guess in some ways, I really do owe you." She saw the lost look on his face, so she went on to say, "Its not like it stopped, but at least when I found someone else to think about, it was manageable. You really helped me through, even before I knew your name..." She looked over at him. "But I guess that that was probably a story I should have kept to myself, huh?"
Mentioning briefly in the past about what Quan Chi had done to his own daughter, Hanzo hadn't stopped to really think just how far reaching the psychological trauma must have went, and then to add in the ordeal she had to undergo with B-Han too... To say that he was impressed by her would have been an understatement, "...Evren, I..." He didn't even know what to say, or how to commend her for surviving the trials she had to suffer on her own, likely without a single soul to back her up in her time of need.
She gazed at him, curious to know what was running through his mind with a confession like that, if maybe she had strayed a little too close to the likes of Mileena, "...Yes, Hanzo?"
"You..." He really had no idea how to convey what he was feeling at that moment, not in any adequate terms, "You're amazing. Really." Really, he was an idiot. Out of every possible thing that could have come out of his mouth, every possible compliment that he could offer, that was all that he could manage to get out? He wanted her to know just how much he respected everything that she had to overcome just to be standing here in one piece, and that was what he had said to express it!
However, she got exactly what he had meant. Sure, she might have used contextual clues like the furrow in his brow, the set of his shoulders, or even the tone he had taken, but she didn't have to analyze any of that, because she knew him, and she could just tell that what he had said meant more than just the simple words themselves, "I'm no survivor... If anything, I'm just a lucky fool in love. Lucky, to have lived as long as I have, merely killing the time until we could meet, a fool for all the many mistakes I've made on the way to you, and strong only in the sense that I am guided by what I feel, my love for you the only thing to sustain me during this hell."
"I love you." He pulled her into his lap, sitting her on his thigh so that they could face each other better, and partially for another albeit lower reason. Despite whatever she had said earlier about minding their personal space, not knowing what he was planning on doing, she didn't fight him, more than obliging as she curled her hand around his forearm, slipping it down to his hand. He laced his fingers through hers, whispering in her hair, "Forever."
And she knew that he had meant every word. Leaning her head against his chest, inhaling his scent, dedicating it to memory, the demoness returned the sentiment with all of her heart, breathing lightly, "No, even longer than that. Unwrite history and wipe away the stars, and our love will still be there, shining."
After that point, the rest of their bath was fairly uneventful, unless you count Evren slipping back into the draining water as she tried to get out of the tub, skin wrinkly and pressed with strands of bleeding starlight. Fortunately for her, Hanzo had been there to catch her, bringing her back to a paradoxical steady, her head swimming amongst the clouds still. But she wasn't dizzy from it, amazingly, which she assumed was because of her anchor, her lover. Always touching her in some way, there seemed to never be a break in their contact, their glow even more constant than the eternity promised.
But finally, at one point, Scorpion did have to let her go, and the blissful dream had to be put on hold as he summoned a maid to call for Blaanid and Serik, to let them know that the bride would be ready for her fitting soon, so then all they had to do was await their reply, when they were ready to see her. The homely maid with an hourglass figure had nosily inquired as to why he was soaking wet, as predicted, and he simply fed her some bullshit story about having fallen into the tub when assisting the bride-to-be out. He knew that the story would find someway to evolve, but considering that there was an element of truth to it, he had faith that it wouldn't be questioned too much. Satisfied with the tall tale, the maid went out, searching for the demons as instructed. He deduced that they would be waiting for awhile.
Task done, he returned to find Evren sitting at the edge of her bed, braiding the lower half of her hair while she waited. Looking at her form from behind, he thought for a moment that she was still not dressed, but he quickly realized that this was not the case, that she had simply put on a semi-sheer periwinkle halter dress, the silvery lining almost blending flawlessly with her pallor. Finishing, she looked up at him, beaming.
Snuggling next to her, Evren leaned her head against his shoulder, her voice betraying just how tired she really was, "It won't be much longer now..." Despite her best efforts, she yawned, the warm water finishing what was left of her energy, "until we're free..."
"What do you think..." Scorpion paused, looking over at her from the corner of his eyes, realizing that she had fallen asleep. He had been about to ask her what she thought was going to happen after the wedding, but that could wait. Tenderly, he put her in her bed, covering her with the blankets. "Goodnight, Evren."
About to turn away to stand guard over her, he froze, her hand wrapped around his wrist. "Stay?"
Looking back over his shoulder at the door, he knew that if he fell asleep too they would probably be caught, but he couldn't help himself, nodding at her. Crawling into the other side of the bed, Scorpion laid on top of the covers, looking at Evren. Just before she completely was taken by sleep, she rolled over so that she was staring into his eyes, her hands in his hands. She fell asleep with a glowing smile...
A/N: This entire chapter wasn't in any part of my plans, but I really liked it, giving them a moment to show the more innocent side of their relationship. Well, that actually was one thing I wanted, unofficially, to show that it wasn't all just angst and sex, but I had originally wanted them to be just laying in bed... I dunno, some of you might view this as a kind of undoing, or completely off base, but I don't see it that way - to me this is a type of metamorphosis, a turning point, a defining moment. Call it what you will, I stand by it. I was so tempted to put in a reference to Resident Evil: Zero, and it was a temptation I could not pass up. For those of you not familiar with the series/game, the moment is when the two protagonists (Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen) first meet. Here's the youtube link, if you want to check it out. I think I did it right...
watch?v=YeKqsDEsnIo
Resi was my first game, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Anyways, I hope that you liked the chapter, and that you'll review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Kombat. That honor goes elsewhere. Like (but no limited) to Netherrealm Studios, the WB (or whatever they're calling themselves over at Warner Brothers), and Ed Boon. There might be more, but I'm no lawyer, and I'm certainly not versed in ownership rights, so I don't know exactly who owns what. I can, however, lay claim to Evren, Blaanid, Serik, and all the other minor nameless characters, and I do.