Chapter 18 - The Time Has Come

Cassie

I was in the middle of a nice shower and thinking about what just happened the other night. Vic had decided to reveal himself to be alive after ten years. So far, I've had no less than like fifteen people from high school blow up my social media page. I've got a few of those just to keep up with news and old friends but I don't necessarily live online. The one that surprised me was the message from…Lacey. She finally apologized for what she did to break Vic and I up for the first time and felt awful about it for years. Now, she was married with two kids of her own and wished Vic and I the best. I smiled when I remembered a lot of other messages basically saying that I was dating a superhero, little did they know that I had powers of my own. I ran my fingers through my hair and started to sing to myself.

"Da-da-da, un, da-da. Da-da-da, un, da-da. Da-da-da, un, da-da-da-daaa," I sang softly and repeated the melody twice. My eyes snapped open when I heard an all too familiar chuckle from behind me. I turned around a little too fast and slipped. Before my face smashed into the bottom of the tub, I was caught by a tattooed arm. I looked up to see Vic's slightly worried face staring down at me. My man was naked too. Hot. He helped me stand up and I splashed him with some water for scaring me.

"Jerk," I said before I wrapped my arms around him.

"You alright," he asked and kissed the top of my head. I sighed happily. I couldn't help it honestly.

"How'd you sneak up on me so quietly," I asked him as I positioned him under the water. He closed his eyes in comfort.

"De winds are at my beck and call chere," Vic answered in a Cajun accent. I loved when he did that to be honest. "Dey helped me sneak up on ya."

"And nearly kill me," I added. Vic's eyes opened.

"Well, that wasn't part of the plan," he said and ran a hand through his now wet hair. "I wanted to see if you'd be singing. Plus I didn't think you'd mind if I joined you." I looked away from Vic towards the floor. Why would he want to hear me sing? I wasn't good! Not in the slightest.

"Uh oh, I know that face," he said. I felt his finger lift my chin up. Instead of seeing a man judging me, I saw the smiling face of mySuperman.

"You're good Cass," he said softly and kissed me on the lips.

"Not…as good as…you though," I managed to say, resisting…urges.

"You don't need to be as good as me," Vic answered and ran his fingers through my wet hair. "The fact that you willingly call yourself my girlfriend is good enough. If you wanna know something you do better than me, you make some of the best cookies and other baked goods I have ever had! I can't do that at all. That or operate a motorcycle."

"You're just saying that because you want the last brookie in the fridge," I said slyly. What's a brookie you ask? It's half a brownie and half a chocolate chip cookie. Plus yes I know, cliche that I'm the baker of the two of us. Just how it worked out is all.

"NO!" Vic retorted. "Ok…maybe…I've been a good boy!" I placed a hand on his face and placed the other one…much farther south of that and squeezed lovingly. He inhaled sharply.

"Yes. Yes you have," I said and kissed him again.

Right…so…uh…yeah. *Ahem* The pair of us were drying off after a rather steamy shower. And I don't just mean the steam from the water. I was in the middle of drying my legs when I heard Vic go "Hey! Who's that handsome guy?!" I looked up to see him pointing to himself in the mirror. Then he pantomimed dialing a phone and said "Hello 911 emergency, there's a handsome guy in Cassie Cage's house…oh, heh, wait a second cancel that. It's only me." I smiled over at him. He did a double take in my direction.

"Hey pretty lady," he said to me. "You look pretty…I look pretty…why don't we go home and stare at each other?" I giggled. Everyday. Every fucking day. He reminds me how much of a dork he is under than metalhead exterior.

"As much as I would love that, you know what we have to do today right?" I asked and tossed him a towel.

"Lunch at Takeda's with Jacqui, right?" he asked. I nodded and patted his head.

"Good boy!" I said. "Jacq figured that you and I didn't need any more attention and suggested we double date at his place since he offered."

"Oh you drive me wild," Vic answered and finished toweling his hair. "What are we bringing? Booze?" I nodded.

"Rad," Vic said before I heard the Phil Collins song "Wear My Hat" start blaring from his phone. "Hmm, why's Uncle Ray calling me?" he muttered while I chuckled. Again, he's such a dork.

"Y'ello!" he said into his phone. I took the time to admire his butt. What?! Oh shut up! I know what I like!

"Yeah…I'm at Cassie's? Why?...Did I forget to leave a note again?! Dammit…Yep, that's my bad…I'll be over later after lunch…mhm, yep. Catcha soon," Vic was saying into his phone. He pressed the end call button and caught the pair of boxers I had just tossed to him with his other hand. I got dressed myself, opting for my more casual look. Jeans, graphic t-shirt and blue light jacket. I looked over at Vic who I saw had essentially dressed the same way. Minus the blue jacket.

"Well this is embarrassing," he said and folded his arms. "One of us is gonna have to change." I cocked an eyebrow at him. He mimicked me. Then we commenced the biggest stare down in recent memory…which I fucking lost. Hey, you try looking into the love of your life's face for an extended period of time without smiling! It's almost impossible!

"I won't make you change," I said and held out my arms. "But I do want a hug." Vic smiled back and walked over into them.

"Hey babe," I said.

"Cheya?" he responded.

"I've…I've been lying to you…" I admitted.

"About?"

"Well…you know how sometimes I tell you that I want a hug? Well, I only say that because I know that you're the one that actually needs one," I said. "Like right now." I feld Vic tense up and before I knew it, he was crying a little bit in my arms.

"Shh," I whispered. "It's ok. Cassie's here. She loves you so much."

"Do…do you…mean that?" he asked.

"Yes," I responded. "I mean it every single time I say it. I'm so proud of you. Of what you've done for everyone. Kimi is too and so are your uncles."

"I miss…I miss my mom…Don't…don't leave me again…" Vic whispered in the softest voice possible. "I can't be alone again…" I made him look me in the face and I wiped a stray tear from his cheek.

"I won't," I said. "Double promise."

At Takeda's

Vic had his arms around me as we had opted to take my bike to Takeda's seeing as it was a nice afternoon. A couple of people had done a double take at the pair of us when we stopped at a red light and said "Hey! Look! It's that Thrash guy with Cassie Cage!" So much for trying to avoid unwanted attention. I decided to shake off any stragglers by taking the longest way possible to Takeda's house in the suburbs. That worked. None of his neighbors came out of their homes when I pulled up into his driveway. Vic took out the two six-packs out of the storage compartment as I pulled off my helmet. He had gone out a while ago and purchased his own helmet as my old one was too small for him. As you would guess, it was decked out with stickers and mascots of his favorite bands. The most prominent being that skull guy from Megadeth and Drago from Draconic Charge.

"I'll never understand how you got so good at that," Vic said. "The bike thing I mean."

"Yes genius, I know what you meant," I answered. "Auntie Sonya taught me initially. Plus I got a lot of practice doing stunts."

"I hope I uh…didn't upend your entire career," Vic said as we started walking to the door.

"You didn't," I said. "There's been talks of another Fatal Risk movie and I have a feeling Kiera is gonna give me a buzz once it's greenlit. Doubly so now that everyone knows that I'm dating and very much in love with the heroic man named Thrash." Vic muttered something I couldn't fully make out but looked relieved when Takeda opened the door.

"Hey hey! It's the Dynamic Duo!" he said and stepped aside to let us in. Takeda's place was just about what I expected. Basic furniture with a couple of movie posters and a shelf simply full of them. Takeda must be a movie buff which I mean I guess that checks out with what Jacqui tells me. Speaking of Jacqui, she had made her way over to both Vic and I for greetings.

"Hey guys!" she said and gave me a hug. Her metal arms felt…soft? I mean…that was weird. Wonder what Kano whipped up over at OIA.

"How are the arms?" I asked "Still good?" Jacqui flexed her fingers a few times.

"Spectacular!" she said. "I feel like I've got my life back!"

"The Knights gonna take you back?" I asked tentatively. I knew Jacqui always wanted to play at the professional or Olympic level for basketball…but you know when a Black Dragon assassin slices your arms off, that dream could be altered.

"I thought about it," she said. "But I think my basketball days are over. I've had my fun. I've been working with your aunt in the tech lab at the OIA. Takeda too. We've managed to build him the laser whips."

"Dude! No way," Vic said. Cutie pie sounded like a five year old kid that was just about to get some ice cream. Takeda grinned.

"Downstairs Rattlehead," he said. "Jacqui wants me out of the kitchen while she cooks…even though it's my house."

"Keep talking like that and you don't get anything," Jacqui teased. Vic sniggered.

"That goes double for you Mr. Kent," I added and pointed an accusing finger at him. Both Takeda and Vic recoiled slightly before sharing a glance with each other and walking off.

I followed Jacqui into the kitchen expecting, yep, the smell that was hitting my nose was exactly what I expected. Cajun macaroni and cheese. Jacqui's speciality. Apparently, it had been her mom's before she started to do it. She tells me when she made it for her dad the first time, he cried in happiness as it tasted just like her mom made it. Jacqui started to mix the remainder of the ingredients in a glass serving tray and we began to chat.

"So tell me," she said. "How's it feel to be dating a celebrity again?"

"Again?" I asked.

"Oh come on. A lot of girls used to have a crush on him after they found out who he was."

"Right…yeah…I do remember," I said. A few memories unearthed themselves. Specifically one in seventh grade gym class when I overheard some girls say that Vic would never actually go out with that dorky Cage girl.

"Seventh grade memory again?" Jacqui asked and wiped her metal hands clean. They made a soft clanging sound as they banged together. I nodded.

"Remember what happened afterwards?" Jacqui urged. The memory came to me immediately. One of those girls had walked up to Vic, Jacqui and I talking at his locker and asked him to go with her to the school dance that following week. Vic actually laughed in her face and said "Yeah alright. I've heard what you call Cassie. Nice wish. That goes for all of you by the way. Actually, hey Cass, wanna go with the dance to me?" Don't tell him but I distinctly remember crying in happiness while we slow danced that night. I smiled when I remembered that as did Jacqui.

"Oh hey! Actually check out what I found. It's on the counter over there," she said as she finished up preparing lunch for the four of us. I walked over and saw that there was a Boon High School yearbook sitting there. It displayed the year I graduated from that place on the front along with the school mascot, a dragon. Bet you Liu Kang did that on purpose but anyway. I opened the yearbook and inhaled sharply when I saw the first page. It was a page dedicated to the memory of Vic. He had supposedly been taken from me during Spring Break during senior year. I remember being an absolute wreck for the remainder of it. The only people that talked to me were the teachers and Jacqui. I recall my English teacher, Mrs. Birch, telling me that I didn't have to do the final paper if I didn't want to because she knew I was hurting. The photo of Vic was one that I believe Kimi chose. It depicted the entire Harris family with Vic at the forefront. It was apparently taken a few weeks before the attack. Lauren's smile pretty much lit up the entire page while Vic and his dad could pass as brothers. I wiped a tear from my eye when the painful memories started to engulf me again but before I started to lose it entirely, I felt a cold hand on my shoulder.

"He's downstairs with Takeda," Jacqui said softly. "He's safe."

"I know," I said in a small voice. "But…but…I still remember the pain." Another more familiar hand rested upon my shoulder. I looked up to see Vic standing there with Takeda. He saw my expression and squeezed my shoulder lovingly.

"I'm here Cass," he said. "Need a hug or something?" I nodded. Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms. I snuggled right into them as I felt his familiar warmth. Except this time, I noticed that there was yet another presence that felt familiar…and on the winds no less. I almost felt that this presence was smiling at me.

"Huh…you made an impact on that school huh Vic," Takeda said, glancing down at the open page.

"He, Cassie and I were some of the more popular kids. We didn't normally go to the parties but we got along with pretty much everyone. You should have seen how many girls were jealous of Cassie. Even though I told her for literal years that Vic liked her," Jacqui explained. I huffed a little bit as Vic released me.

"This'll be ready in about half an hour. C'mon, let's see what else we can remember from this," Jacqui said and took the yearbook.

The four of us spent the following half hour telling stories from our high school dates. Takeda had a few interesting ones as he attended one in Thailand before moving here after graduating.

"So, have you three heard from your old classmates since a few nights ago?" Takeda asked after taking a sip of his beer. I nodded. Vic sort of shrugged.

"I only had a phone to keep in contact with Fujin the last ten years," Vic replied. "No one knows my number except for you guys and people back at my uncle's."

"I've heard from a few of Vic's old band mates, teachers and even that…girl that spread that horrible rumor," I said. Vic's head snapped over in my direction.

"She apologized, is married and has two kids. She won't be bothering us anytime soon," I answered. Vic nodded slowly then I watched his mouth mutter something. Didn't manage to hear what it was because Jacqui arrived with the tray of mac and cheese.

"Alright!" Vic said happily and picked up his fork. Jacqui however held up her hand.

"Oh no," she said. "I have a challenge for you." Takeda gasped.

"Oh come on, let's not actually kill him," he said. Vic looked a little confused as Jacqui went back into the kitchen and returned with another bowl of mac and cheese except this time it looked like it was covered in hot pepper flakes and hot sauce. Vic's eyes widened.

"Alright. Challenge accepted," he said and without hesitation, shoveled a bite of it into his mouth. He chewed for a few seconds and then swallowed. No reaction.

"Let's see…that takes like…jalapenos…some cayenne and Jake's XXXTra Hot Sauce right?" Vic said and took another bite. Takeda looked as though he had seen God.

"How," he said to me. I exchanged a look with Jacqui, who looked the same as Takeda. I had expected this. See, what a normal human perceives as spicy is not the same as what Vic deems as spicy. I've seen this man eat entire habanero peppers with his dad a few was only one time where the spice got to him once. Pizza date with Vic, myself and his dad. They ordered the super hot ones to split. Dante was fine, Vic was sweating bullets while I was hovering over the emergency call button on my phone. Thankfully, the staff handed Vic a small cup of molasses and a glass of milk. He was fine after that. Although he tells me he spent that evening curled up on the floor of the bathroom…

"I could drink that sauce Jacq," Vic said as he finished eating the small portion of mac.

"My eyes watered just looking at it when she opened it…" Takeda said. He sounded like he was in awe. Vic and I exchanged a glance as he spooned some of the regular mac on my plate for me. I wasn't going to kiss him with that amount of spice on his lips right now. I could eat a jalapeno and was able to stomach the buffalo wings at Beneath the Wings over on Dorry Street but I didn't have the tolerance the Harris men had. Lunch proceeded pretty much normally afterwards. But I couldn't help but feel that same presence from earlier. It was also telling me to watch over…her sweet boy. Don't worry Lauren. He's got me.

Back at Fujin's

Vic and I were poised to spend the night at Fujin's. If you ask me, I think Fujin is expecting me to ask Vic to move in with me at any time now. I'll be honest, I have been thinking about it but there was this problem at the time. Vic never graduated so how in the hell could he get any kind of job? I know he wouldn't just accept one from my dad. He would deem it as just a favor. Dummy. Vic sometimes has trouble realizing how special he is. Who else could form air constructs out of nothing? Who else could listen to a song once and be able to imitate it almost perfectly on the guitar? Who else had my heart? No one, that's who. As for where Vic was at this moment? Bathroom. He may like spicy foods but sometimes his stomach doesn't agree with him fully. I was currently in the middle of sparring with Raiden outside. He fought both similarly and differently than his brother. Fujin was a little more quick and graceful while Raiden was slower and powerful. I caught Raiden off guard with a Shadow Ball that I had tossed to one of my clones which caught it. While he hesitated, I managed to shove him back a few inches with a kick.

"Very good," he said and righted himself. "You seem to get better every day Cassie."

"That's my Punkin for ya," my dad said from nearby. He was there standing with Auntie Sonya and had apparently been watching me.

"What's your style?" Auntie Sonya asked me. "It seems to be a mix of something."

"Fujin says the moves you taught me were from a style called Jeet Kune Do," I said to my dad. "There's also a bit of Taekwondo in there too." They nodded in appreciation.

At that moment Vic reappeared looking a bit winded. He spotted us and walked over.

"You alright chief," my dad asked him. Vic nodded.

"Hot sauce didn't agree with me...It was a shirt off moment in there," Vic said. My dad laughed immediately. Guy was in his 50s but still laughed at jokes like that all the time.

"What brings you guys here?" I asked Auntie Sonya while my dad continued to act like a child.

"Uh…didn't you call us here?" she said. I shook my head. Auntie Sonya exchanged a look with Raiden. At that moment, Fujin, Ashrah, Sareena and Nightwolf appeared. All of them looked confused.

"Fujin says Vic summoned all of us here to witness something," Ashrah said. Auntie Sonya gasped.

"OH FUCK YOU!" she said excitedly to Vic. Vic however continued to look confused.

"What does this message say exactly," he asked his uncle. Fujin pulled out his phone and read the message.

"Gather everyone at the base of operations. I have something to show you all," he said. I raised my eyebrows.

"Is that what he sent you two?" I asked Auntie Sonya and my dad. They nodded.

"When have either of us referred to Fujin's as the 'base of operations'," I added. "We usually just say Fujin's."

"I know," Sareena said. "That's what struck me and Nightwolf as odd too."

"What the hell could this mean then," my dad asked the group. It didn't take long for an answer to be given. Something had appeared in the sky. Sort of like a big holographic screen. The screen flickered for a couple of seconds and then…Jarek and Kobra appeared on it. Both of them looked incredibly smug and had their arms folded. Vic and his uncles were staring at Jarek with complete and utter fury. I placed a tentative hand on Vic's shoulder. He didn't react to my touch. He simply kept staring at the man who attacked his parents. Jarek held his arms open in welcome and began to speak.

"Well, good evening friends! Some of you may not remember us as SOMEBODY decided that we needed to be eliminated off the face of this Earth but like your vigilante friend, we too have been brought back from the dead so to speak. My name is Zayne Jarek and this is my associate Kobra. We are the leaders of the Black Dragon, an organization dedicated to finding and controlling the power of the fabled Dragon King himself, Onaga. I'm sure that means nothing for a lot of you but I will say, get used to seeing my face on this screen when I become the supreme ruler of Earth once we find him. Now, I know that your friend Thrash has recently revealed who he really is but did you know that his mommy and I used to be really close? Like really close. I'm the reason you have even heard about the musician calling herself 'Amaterasu.' I took her away from her shit life overseas and settled in America with her. But she betrayed me. She took up with that fucking LOSER Dante Harris and had 2 little shits of her own. One of which you already know as I have just mentioned. Victor Harris, I now speak directly to you. You will assist us in finding the Dragon King in both Earthrealm and Outworld or Kobra and I will kill every single member of this city one by one in front of you. Your sister. Your friends. Your uncles. ALL of them. If you do not come to the abandoned quarry on the southern outskirts within the next three hours, I will personally kill your little girlfriend in front of you. The screams she'll make while I rip her limbs off one by one will be music to my ears. You have three hours Harris. Come alone, or suffer." The screen flickered off after a few seconds. I looked over at Vic's face. Oh no…NO! You actual son of a bitch! He's thinking about going alone! These people are going to rip him apart! There's no way he'll survive this! Vic turned his head to look at everyone. Immediately we all started to protest.

"Don't you even think about it, nephew!"

"Stop and think Vic! It's suicide to go alone!"

"Not on my watch chief! I'm not watching you die either!"

"I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU MAKE MY MUNCHKIN CRY RIGHT NOW!"

"Vic, we want to help too!"

"Victor. Please don't. You are my friend too."

"Think of how your sister would react to this. Would she abandon her allies like you are thinking?" I however made my voice the loudest. None of them loved Vic as much as I did.

"YOU ARE NOTGOING THERE BY YOURSELF!" I scream cried at him while grabbing his shoulders. "I FUCKING TOLD YOU THAT I AM NOT LOSING YOU AGAIN! I CAN'T VICTOR! I CAN'T WATCH YOU DIE! NOT WHEN I CAN HELP YOU THIS TIME!" Vic still didn't say anything. Instead he gently removed my hands from his shoulders and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"I know," he said. "You've figured out what the real plan is."

"What?!" pretty much everyone shouted. If you ask me, I think everyone in the area assumed that he was going to go fight Jarek on his own.

"I don't doubt that Jarek's going to kill me the first chance he got if I went alone," Vic continued. "Here's the thing, what he thinks is going to happen and what's actually going to happen are two different things." Both Fujin and Raiden smirked. He pointed at the pair of them.

"They got it," he said. "To fill you in, Jarek thinks I'm going to come alone. He believes that only Fujin and Cassie are my only allies. He doesn't know about the rest of you. I am going to go alone…" Vic had to hold up a hand to stop my protest. "But you guys are going to be right there with me."

"Now that's a plan!" my dad said.

"I'll call Jax. He'll want to help!" Auntie Sonya added and pulled out her phone.

"What about your friend with the metal arms Cassandra," Ashrah asked me. "And her boyfriend? Kenshi's son?"

"Oh YES! Kenshi!" Auntie Sonya added while still talking to Jax.

"I shall inform Kimi, Kurtis and Carlos," Fujin stated. Before he walked away, he placed a hand on Vic's shoulder.

"For Hikari," he said. Vic nodded.

"For my mother," he added. He turned to me. I embraced him for, what I hoped, wasn't going to be the final time.

"I love you. No matter what happens," I told him firmly.

"I love you too Cass," he responded. I felt him tense. It seems to have just hit him that this was it. The final battle. He would either avenge his mom or join her in the afterlife. We shared one more kiss before helping everyone make preparations and go over the plan one last time as everyone else started to arrive minutes later. That guy Taven even showed up…as well as Kitana, Li Mei AND Khameleon thanks to Raiden and possibly Liu Kang.

I'm ready to follow Vic into any challenge the world throws at him. Many years ago, he promised to be mine until the end of time. If time for us was about to end, I wanted to be with him when it happens.