A/N: Well, this was a thing. It had been for a while, but I felt it wasn't good enough. I took a while to get this to where it is now. This should be back on track now. Thank you so much for the explosion of favourites/follows and lovely messages on this. It made me grin. You guys are awesome. :)
Revelations
After almost a month, with no sign of Raiden, in which Kara almost tore her hair out, she finally saw the man again. And what she saw caused anxiety to sweep in and quickly.
He looked like death. Skin paler than snow, his gait now reminded her of someone elderly...even his eyes seemed to have dimmed. No longer brilliant, gleaming white. Now they took on more of a light grey. No flickers of bolts, no sparks resided within them. Nothing.
To say she was worried was an understatement.
"Lord Raiden? I'd ask if you are well, but clearly you aren't. What's going on?"
Raiden spoke bluntly, terse."We are losing, I cannot foresee any other outcome. We will lose".
Hazel eyes widened, the grip she had on the teapot handle increased. She put it down, lest she break it.
"What? How?! Quan and Shang have been defeated before. Shao's only stronger because of them. Remove them from the picture and the Emperor will lose".
Raiden frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It isn't that simple Kara. If it were, we would have used that strategy by now". He sighed. "We cannot get anywhere near him. It isn't just the sorcerer's we have to contend with anymore. Scorpion's wrath is preventing us from getting near Quan, so we cannot take him down. Shang has hidden himself behind many differing guises, and as we cannot see past those, until the last second, he evades us too".
Kara had fully recovered, and was waiting for an invitation to join the tournament. She figured Earthrealm could use all the help it would get, and was all too willing to fight.
Kara perked up. "I could see that. I haven't been pitted against someone like Shang, but I think I could get inside his head, see what he is planning. Also see past his disguises". She looked up, and held her breath. "Let me help the fight".
Raiden was silent. An invitation wasn't on his lips, in his thoughts. She raised a brow.
"Lord Raiden. I can help. Mother helped me regain some of my abilities, and I honed them. My mind is sharp, my fighting style quick, fluid". She walked a little closer to the god, plea in her eyes. "At least let me try".
Raiden's bright white eyes crackled, blue lightning darkened them for a moment. His face said nothing, impassive stone, grey in pallor.
But his jaw? His jaw was set. He did not agree with her.
"You almost died once. A few months recuperation and training isn't enough to aid Earthrealm in winning the kontest". He looked Kara in the eye for a mere second before focusing his gaze on the raindrops, gliding down the window.
Kara squinted, mouth open wide in disbelief. "What was that? Indecision?" She marched up to him, determination fueling her steps, and stirring a brew of anger within her. "I may not be a powerful fighter, but my telepathy could be a valuable asset here. I could find out what Shao's plans are, and Quan's, and Shang's too"...
The Elder God cut her off, his words coming out in a harsh exhale, harsher than he intended.
"They could also use you as a powerful asset, against us Kara. If Quan wished to pull your soul from you, you wouldn't be able to stop him. None of us could. He's proven how much he can bend and twist someone's will, crush their spirit, steal their soul, and any trace of humanity they had left".
He felt rage course through him, like Fujin had hit him with a vicious torrent of wind, subsequently winding him, and taking his strength with it.
"You don't understand Kara". His thoughts turned to Scorpion, and how he had been treated by Quan. Tortured, beaten, bloodied, kicked down.
And worst of all, in Raiden's opinion? The man was stripped of his humanity, any trace of the man he was before had all but gone.
That would not happen to Kara. He wouldn't let it. By the Gods, he wouldn't.
If he had to cage her, something that dampened his rage, soaking it with sympathy, then he would.
Tiama would hate him for it, but he couldn't bare to see someone else be a victim of the sorcerer's insatiable wrath.
The young woman standing beside him would never be a victim again, he would make sure of it...
Kara tried to read Raiden's mind as he was silent. But the man had many centuries to hone the ability to shield it from the likes of her. She disliked this, and wanted to know what he was thinking.
From his shifting expressions, she gauged he wasn't having pleasant thoughts. This compelled her to help him, and as she felt pain tug at her head, she realised he was suffering greatly. The pain was coming from him, in waves, almost nausea inducing.
Ignoring what had just occurred between her and the god, Kara stepped forward boldly and placed a hand near his left temple.
"If you won't let me join the fight, at least let me heal you". She waved that hand over his form, and pursed her lips. "You're injured", she pointed to Raiden's right shin, "And don't think I haven't noticed the blood there, sticking the fabric of your pants to your wound. That has to sting".
She quickly devised a plan, before the man could escape his home, and return to the fray.
"The onsen. I'll prepare it for you".
She wasn't taking no for an answer. It had been far too long since she had seen him last, and his frail form, drooped eyes and pale visage worried her.
She tried to reason with him, biting her cheek as she did so, to keep from letting a childish outburst out.
"An hour? Just take an hour out from all the fighting and stress. You take on everyone's stress, you look out for everyone, except yourself. Your own well-being matters too, Lord Raiden. If you fall...".
Raiden huffed out cloudy white smoke from his nostrils. "I will not fall".
Kara begged to differ and called his bluff. "Didn't you mention a vision, where Shao struck you down? All the kombatants were dead too? Only you remained alive, until Shao snuffed out your life".
She swallowed the lump in her throat, formed from frustration, hurt. Raiden saw her throat bob, and shook his head.
"I'm sorry Kara. I just cannot stand idly by whilst Shao's forces continue to beat us down". He sighed. "I did not mean to make you upset or worry".
Kara 'tched. "Oh? Didn't you? Because you're doing a f...", she caught herself before she swore, "damn good job of making me do both". She sighed in resignation, but not defeat, yet. "Ten minutes? You can't deny that the onsen's healing properties will help your body relax, and the water will help relieve your stress. I can rid you of your headache too".
She tugged on the collar of his robes, and got him to face her.
"Would you rather go back to the fight wounded and stressed, or partially healed and not as stressed?"
The Elder God couldn't argue there. As he moved, even the slightest movement, his body reminded him just how sore it was.
He did catch the little smirk on Kara's face as he left for the onsen however, and wasn't sure whether to squint his eyes in suspicion, or chuckle at her little 'victory'...
Kara ran upstairs, and into the bathroom to grab some towels. She then got out a fresh pair of robes for Raiden to wear after his soak. She headed downstairs, and to the onsen room.
"Are you decent?"
Raiden was puzzled.
"Decent?"
Kara snickered. "Dressed. I'm not coming in if you aren't. That wouldn't be proper". She stopped laughing, and tried to be serious. "Ahem. I have some towels and a fresh change of robes for you".
The white haired god opened the door, and he was indeed still dressed. A little of his chest poked out from his shirt, but other than that, his body was covered.
"Here". Kara handed him the items, and gestured to the room.
"Shall I heal your headache now or after? I feel like now would be better, but your head may not hurt so much after your bath", she paused, tilting her head, "It's up to you really".
Raiden nodded. "After". He smiled, Kara raised a brow, before smiling back cautiously.
"Why do I get the feeling you are up to something, Lord Raiden?" She squinted and laughed. "Enjoy your bath. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me".
The Elder God kept his smile, and nodded gratefully.
"Thank you Kara".
Kara's eyes widened. She nodded, and left the room, shutting the door as she did so.
Raiden undressed, placing his dirty, tattered, bloody robes on the floor. They were no good anymore, he saw no point in putting them in the wash basket, in the corner of the room.
He slipped into the water, and hissed as the hot water scalded the raw skin of the cuts and grazes on his body. The pain from the bruises on his arms and abdomen had lessened considerably, and the steam from the bath helped clear his head too.
Kara was right. He felt better almost immediately, and was reminded that even the simplest of pleasures could be of great help, in times of need. Without the onsen, the Elder God would have to just put up with the blood oozing from cuts, the tattered, scrapped skin on his knuckles, the bruises on his legs and forearms. He could take quite the amount of pain, without having much trouble. But in his vision of being utterly battered and defeated, by Shao Kahn, Raiden had never felt agony like that. The Emperor had crushed most of the bones in his body, that he was sure of. He didn't witness his own demise, or feel the last breath leave his mouth, before he was killed. The vision had ended before that part.
Convenient. I would rather see my own destruction, then see up until the last second, before the vision whisks off somewhere. Likely embedding itself in the darkest corner of my memories no doubt.
He tried to shift his focus from the day's events, and focus on feeling the onsen's healing waters doing their magic.
And he managed this, until he heard a faint clicking sound. His gaze fell upon his amulet...
Another crack had formed in it, and all Raiden could do was hope he wasn't thrown violently into another vision.
Though with this new crack, he knew he soon would be. And likely? It would be when he was trying to rest.
And he sorely needed that. He couldn't bear another night of disturbed sleep...
Half an hour later found Kara, in her dressing gown, sitting on Raiden's comfy chair, with a mug of herbal tea in her hand, and Farren on her lap. The fat cat was purring away happily, and kneading the gown.
"Tea?"
She sensed Raiden before he had walked into the room. He shook his head.
Kara smirked, though in the candlelight, she doubted he could see it.
"Something stronger?"
She moved forward a little, whilst trying not to jostle Farren too much.
She pushed a tumbler in the God's direction.
"It's Dad's brandy. I borrowed it".
Raiden raised a white brow and snorted.
"You mean you stole it".
Kara moved back into the chair, and waved a hand.
"What, am I THAT obvious?" She snickered. "Yes, I stole it".
When Raiden spotted the bottle in the on the counter, he noticed it was half empty. He sighed.
"When did you take that? And how much of that have you had?"
The young woman rolled her eyes.
"About a month ago. And it was almost half empty when I took it. I have only had two glasses of it". She glanced back toward the kitchen.
"Oh, and I made ice if you want some".
Raiden nodded, so Kara opened the fridge with her telekinesis, and took the ice-cube tray out of the freezer.
"See? I think my abilities are coming along nicely. Dad's been helping me regain some strength, and we've been working out too, hence why I look less like a fat person now".
She put the tray on the table, and heard a low hum in response. When she looked at the man, he snorted again, and picked up the tumbler and tray. He deposited two ice cubes into the dark liquor, before taking a sip.
"Yes, because you were fat".
Kara pouted. "I was fat. Now I'm not".
Raiden disagreed. "Farren is fat. You aren't. You never were. There's hardly anything to you, I know from when I carried you".
The woman felt her cheeks heat up. Embarrassment? Unease? Something else?
Dammit. He had her at a loss...
...Again.
She shook her head. "Anyway". She put the tray back into the freezer, and shut the door.
"How have you been?"
Raiden's sudden question took her by surprise. Kara thought they'd been in a poignant silence.
"I've been okay. Doing much better than I was previously though. Training is coming along nicely, Farren's been my tubby hot water bottle for when the days and nights get cold".
Raiden couldn't help a chuckle. "She's taken to you quickly".
Kara shrugged. "Eh, I feed her. That's all it is. She just wants food". She gently prodded Farren's belly. Green eyes looked at her, and she did not look amused. Kara burst out laughing. "Any more food and you'll look like you have a bowling ball in your belly, missy. Someone needs to be put on a diet. It's Spring time after all. Time for a change".
A clicking sound reverberated in the room, and shut Kara's laughter up rather swiftly. She located where the sound came from, and stopped smiling.
"That was the amulet again, wasn't it? Another vision?"
Raiden shook his head, his face glum. "I haven't had one for a few days now, yet the cracks persist. I do not know when the next vision will come".
Kara shifted Farren off her lap, and brushed the excess fur off her gown.
"May I see it when it happens? So I have a scope of what you are seeing".
Raiden shook his head. "No. They are unpleasant at best. I will deal with when it comes, on my own".
Kara rolled her eyes. She stood, and craned her neck. "I gathered that. I didn't believe for a second that they were pleasant, skipping around in a meadow or something ludicrous like that". A throb in her head made her groan. Again Raiden was the source of it. "Your headache".
Raiden ignored her, and began walking out of the room.
Kara tried again to convince him to let her try to assist him.
One last ditch attempt...
"Lord Raiden. You do trust me, right?"
This confused the Elder God, who turned and nodded.
"Have I ever lied, or let you down?"
Again he shook his head.
"Then let me see the vision. I won't manipulate it, or toy with your mind".
Raiden was past the point of giving up, and walking away.
"No Kara"
He was halfway up the stairs, when shuffling behind him had him struggling to hold back a groan.
"Why not? I can handle it".
The man turned, clenching a fist as his side as he did so.
"No, you cannot".
Kara went to speak, but was cut off.
"Because the last vision I had? I saw your Father being murdered, cut down by Shao Kahn. That is why I will not let you see inside my visions. They are mine and mine alone".
He walked into his room, and shut the door softly. He didn't hear anything from Kara, so he couldn't gauge how she reacted to his sudden coldness, the revelation that her Father may be slaughtered in the oncoming battle. The ensuing conflicts would claim many lives, and that bitterly stung the Elder God's insides.
No matter how many centuries he lived...losing fighters? It would forever haunt him, his dreams, his soul.
Even he succumbed to nightmares, what he saw devastated him. His nightmares brought him nothing but anguish and horror. They were his to bear however, and he wouldn't inflict them on upon anyone else.
Kara included...
He drained the rest of the tumbler, and set it down on the nightstand.
He knew in his mind that Kara could and would be useful in Earthrealm's battle against Outworld. But he what he did not know for certain was whether she would survive the conflict. After witnessing her, so close to death on the floor once before? He did not wish to see that again.
Perhaps he was underestimating her. Perhaps she could take on more than he thought possible. She was a skilled fighter, her Capoeira and Tiger styles were swift, decisive. Her telekinesis was fairly strong, she could lift objects much heavier than herself, with relative ease.
Did he doubt her because he didn't think she was strong enough?
No. He doubted himself. He wasn't protecting people like he should be. He was supposed to be a pillar of strength, a trainer, a God. Now, he felt like nothing more than a mere man, standing alone, on a battlefield, with several thousand men opposing him.
No...
He just didn't to see someone else he cared for in a crumpled, beaten heap, dying in front of him again. He wasn't sure if he could deal with that...