A/N: The First of Three Prompt Responses to ease myself back into writing now that school has started up for me again. Keep an eye out as the other two responses will be out in the next few days.

The Star Crossed Lovers Prompt (Pitched by: Salty)

Goal: Using an OC, write with someone you'd consider to be their Star Crossed Lover.

Pairing: Yao and Psylocke

Verse: Street Fighter x Marvel Comics

The Scene

"Those Karate moves of yours ain't bad. Eh, what's your name again?"

"Yao, Wolverine. That was intense for friendly sparring. If I didn't know any better, you were trying to kill me," I answered while trying to catch my breath.

"Don't take it personally, bub. Words aren't my strong suit, and that fight told me everythin' I needed to know about ya."

Wolverine shook my hand as some of the other X-Men watched on.

I chuckle. "You remind me of a friend of mine back home. He always stated 'the answer lies in the heart of battle.'"

"You sure hit hard, bub. For a medicine store owner."

"So you say, but it felt like I was punching raw steel every time I landed a clean hit on you. But I'll take the compliment."

"Have you ever encountered Iron Fist, Yao?" Professor X asked telepathically.

"Danny? Yeah, we had lunch together in Chinatown and sparred to sweat the food off."

"Who won?"

"We called it a draw after almost destroying the Thunder Dojo during the match." I bow at Professor X. "But thanks to our chance meeting, I can let the Old Lady know that you're all good folk. I should go before it gets dark."

"Nonsense, Yao. You may spend the night here at the X Mansion. Logan will show you to your room."

"Logan?"

"Me, bub."

"Oh, heh. You didn't tell me your actual name."

"I'm tellin' you now."

"Alright, everyone. Back inside now that Combat Instruction is over."

Wolverine nudged my arm clicked his head in the direction of the entrance. "I'll show ya to your room, bub. This way."

After a brief tour of the mansion (including a tense conversation with Emma Frost), Logan showed me to my room, nothing extravagant but comfortable for an overnighter. I start getting settled but hear the door close behind me along with the locking sound.

"Hello, Yao." A feminine voice greeted me before I felt lips behind my neck, causing my spine to shiver.

Turning around, Betsy Braddock came into my view. Despite the subtone of this conversation, I smile and greet her back. "Hi, Elizabeth. You're tall."

"You may call me Betsy." She erased the physical gap between us, prompting me to take a step back. "Me being tall can't throw you off. You're a tall Asian, too."

"Yeah, but I never thought I would meet another o- mmph!?"

My response was cut off by Betsy giving me a lustful kiss. Submitting to how good it felt, I let her push me against my bed but regained my composure and break the embrace off before she straddles me. That night with Chun taught me that if my head hits the bed at a time like this, I won't be sleeping tonight.

Betsy's face was inches away from mine, and thankfully she didn't meld our bodies. (A losing battle on my end should it happen) Though she began to crawl towards me like a prowling cat.

"What's wrong? I thought you preferred Asian women?"

"I do, Betsy. But I can't see myself being intimate with you."

Her face turned into a combination of confusion, sadness, and anger. "Why not? We get along well, and I know you must sense the chemistry between us. So why not push the relationship further?"

"Well... I don't want you to invade my mind since I have no defense for it," I joke.

Betsy caught on with a cute chuckle but wasn't very happy with my evasive answer while caressing my face. "But seriously, Yao. Why do you think us becoming one is a bad idea?"

I stand back up from the bed, causing her to do the same. "My heart wants to love you, Betsy. Hell, that is what I want. But I can't bring myself to become romantically linked with a woman who has been mentally, emotionally, and physically been through so much pain. Not again."

"Again?" Betsy stood in disbelief. "You've been with a hurt woman before?"

Reluctantly, I nod. "She was hurt to the point where it drove her into becoming a closet sociopath. Through meeting and becoming intimate with her like us, I had to rehabilitate and help her mental wellbeing. And though it worked, and she and I are close friends, it nearly cost me my life multiple times over. Your case is much worse than hers, Betsy. I'm actually lucky to be alive."

The room's natural light is doing a phenomenal job of presenting a counter-argument.

I clutch her soft hands in mine as the crushing truth intermixes in the air. "I don't think I can do the same for you, Betsy."

"You wouldn't know because you haven't tried. And if I don't make you mine, Emma will take advantage. She won't fail if the chance arises," Betsy commented.

So Emma was flirting with me. I thought all along she was making regular conversation. Need to be more careful around her.

"I..." Betsy looks away. "I know I have some emotional baggage since my physiology changed. But I want someone to help me with the stress it brought. You can be that person, Yao." She admitted before tearing up in front of me. "Please give me a chance. I'll even come with you on your travels. Just please don't leave me..."

"Betsy, I..."

No, Yao. You have to remain firm in your resolve. No woman is worth dying over. Juri's mental state taught you that.

I break eye contact. "I'm deeply sorry, Betsy. I... I can't. Maybe if I met you first."

She gave me the sincerest hug I've ever received, which I gladly returned despite her sadness. It was hard as hell swallowing all the regret this experience evoked even as I kiss her cheek.

"I understand. But, can I….." She began but couldn't finish.

"Can you what, Betsy?"

"Have you for tonight? Before you leave New York?" Betsy shyly pleaded.

"O- Of course, Betsy. I'd be heartless if I didn't give you one over Emma."

Her face brightened as the moonlight enhanced Betsy's gorgeous facial features. Almost enough to make me change my mind. (Yao may regret leaving if he feels this way)

"Thank you..." Besty jumped into my arms again, the force pushing me until I landed on my back against the bed. "I'll make sure you'll never forget this night,"

Besty's lips melded against mine as she embraced me once again, moans escaping us both. Damn, her sultry undertone combined with her returning lust made it impossible to resist. This is making me rethink my decision to leave.

Buddha, what should I do...?

Additional Comments

Y'know, I didn't have any idea on who to use after pitching. About four pairings came to mind after settling on one. Before expressing my thoughts on the scene itself, I'll briefly tell you who the other pairings were.

Yao x Litchi Faye-Ling, Kim x Baiken, Koga x Vanessa Lewis (the most intriguing one out of the four, IMO), and Xan (GbNF Take) x Setsuka.

When I started writing the response and found a general direction, I didn't want to do it anymore. (I understand. These scenes are sometimes tear-jerkers and take an emotional toll on a writer) I do not like writing sad pieces of literature; the Despair Prompt is an indication of that. But I regained my composure and found my pocket before finishing. Kinda makes me want to do an actual happy scene with this pairing, or at least one with Yao and Emma Frost. (Why not for a different prompt?)

The Star Crossed Lovers Prompt (Editor's Response)

Goal: Using an OC, write with someone you'd consider to be their Star Crossed Lover.

Pairing: Jai & Tanya

Verse: Mortal Kombat (Alternate take from Jade x Jai)

The Scene

"Handsome."

Jai turned around at the eerily velvet voice of a flirtatious woman. Even now, it brought upon a mixture of varying emotions and feelings on his face, though his expression stayed neutral. Not one overrode the other, and it frustrated him beyond comprehension. This was the same person who had stopped at nothing to have him to herself - damn any other females harbored the same thoughts.

Tanya, the woman in question, sauntered toward him with an air of sophistication and arrogance while maintaining an elegance few others could match. Her hips swayed in time with her shoulder-length ebony hair following each motion. Those dark eyes tinged with sauciness accompanied by that same smile.

Instantly, Jai soured at her presence as she genuinely didn't understand the meaning of boundaries. Not that it ever stopped her in the past. She was the most persistent humanoid Jai had ever encountered.

"You again..." the young man muttered.

"That's no way to greet your beloved, now is it?" Tanya ignored Jai's quick dismissal and slithered up to his side. "C'mon, lighten up."

Her words followed a kiss that didn't budge Jai in the slightest despite her lips' softness. The supposed affection could be seen as venom to poison the victim, as Tanya was famous for. It felt as though he was caught in a no-win scenario with her as the last person he wanted to spend his self-imposed exile with. Her current employers were even less savory.

But what choice did he have?

All of Edenia had turned on him for crimes he wouldn't dare commit, let alone dream of doing. Murders of young and old citizens alike were placed on his head, and no one within the land believed in Jai's account of those unfortunate events. Not the people, some of his classmates, nor a few of his friends granted him a semblance of reprieve. The benefit of the doubt was stripped from him without a second thought.

And the closest friend of all stripped Jai of that.

"How did your meeting with Daegon go?" Tanya spoke coyly. "He knows of your plight and wishes to make better use of your talents than Jerrod or Sindel ever did."

"I see you have a vested interest in what his opinion is. I wonder if you planted a little bug in his ear for an added effect."

"You know me so well, darling. How else can I ensure you stay on the side that will appreciate you better than they ever could?" Tanya guided him into her private quarters, prompting him to sit on the edge as she sat in his lap, arms around his shoulders. "They were quick to burn all bridges with you for something out of your control. That doesn't seem fair at all. Jerrod himself even contemplated execution had we not broken you out during the trial."

Jai eyed her cautiously. "Much to my good fortune, I suppose."

Tanya showed a mock pout. "Aw, don't be so modest, Jai. We were more than eager to cause mayhem. What we weren't counting on was for you to end up in Outworld and in that commoner's village."

Staying with Li Mei and her village people wasn't the worse thing to happen to Jai. He enjoyed every moment with them, leading to opposing Kotal Kahn for his brutal practices concerning taxes and similar favors. Laughs and good times were shared amid his harsh circumstances. Yet, Jai knew he was a fugitive wherever he fled. Edenia and Outworld's rulers would hunt him for differing reasons, no matter the cost.

"What genuinely troubles you?" Tanya palmed his face to get Jai's eyes to gaze into hers. "Might it be what we did the past two nights?"

Shudders rocked Jai's body at the mention of those impromptu rendezvous. The way Tanya had seductively goaded him into her bed without much effort as he reeled from having his life upended. His mind screamed at him to not conduct himself in this manner, to not allow her wiles to overpower him.

His flesh had other carnal ideas.

It would've been foolish of Jai to deny that Tanya was pleasing to look at in person and even better in her bedroom. A dark complexion mirrored his own with a body any man would commit the most heinous atrocities to lay with at night. Of course, Tanya wasn't shy about sexual relations with either men or women, neither a preference. So long as they could live up to her lofty standards. Jai apparently had managed to exceed Tanya's expectations with ease. Still, he often wondered if she sincerely cared for him or if this was all a ploy to throw into her main adversary's face.

Neither option was out of the possibility.

Jai took a mere glance at his bedmate. "Nothing."

"Don't take me for a fool, Jai. You should know better than to deceive me."

"What does it matter? It's unimportant to you and myself, honestly."

"I say it is important when you won't even look me in the eye." Tanya was growing impatient with his demeanor though she had tolerated it the majority of the time. "Are my techniques not arousing enough for you?"

A roll of the eyes was Jai's response. "Not my words. I'm just thinking..."

"Obviously. Hmm... perhaps it's about a certain green harpy."

"Hmph. Your ego never ceases to amaze me concerning her. Even when someone mentions her name, you scowl with contempt."

"Yet here you are daydreaming about Jade rather than enjoying me, Jai!" Tanya shouted. "Do you remember what she did to you? Took you into custody for crimes she couldn't prove that you were the perpetrator? Lied about protecting you? Even hunting you down throughout Outworld?"

"And why does it matter to you!?" Jai snapped, rising out of his seated position with visible anger. "I made it clear that I hated what she had done to me!"

"But not hating her! What I don't understand is why! You claim to hate Jade for what she's done, yet before me, she plagues your every-" Tanya paused, a realization coming over her. "You still care for her, don't you?"

Jai couldn't hide his expression of disbelief. "And why would you care?"

Tanya lit both of her palms on fire. "Answer me, Jai!"

"If it makes you happy, yes. I still do... even after everything. And if I had to guess." Jai pointed his finger at her. "You... you, Rain, and Daegon. It all makes sense now." The fury burned in Jai's gaze. "YOU SET ME UP FOR THOSE MURDERS, YOU WITCH!"

The pyromancer's eyes widened in surprise as he figured out the plot that cost him damn near his entire life. Now that the truth was revealed, there was only one thing to do.

Flee.