tws: aggression, violence, b!00d
one shot type: angst
a/n: bear with me i haven't wrote anything in a while ._.
~
"Ya know I was complaining at first but I feel like it's not as bad here as I thought."
Johnny said sitting criss cross on his bed.
"Wouldn't even be here if you'd just gave me what I needed which you still have yet to."
Kenshi remarked Johnny rolled his eyes.
"Tattoo please, Liu Kang said this would change the arks of our lives! So maybe what happened before was met to happen? Quit whining."
Johnny said pulling out his phone and watching the scenery that he's taken around him so far.
Kenshi scoffed.
"Whining is your specialty and stop calling me that."
Kenshi combed his fingers through his hair letting out a tired sigh.
"Okay...tattoo..."
Johnny smirked glancing from his phone towards Kenshi who just groaned ignoring the man and walked over to his own bed.
"Go to sleep and don't play those random ass videos at night they're annoying."
Kenshi complained even more shutting off the light without a warning.
"Well okay father you're such a downer."
Johnny said closing his phone and set it aside.
It was silent in the room,
something Johnny cannot stand but for the sake of fighting with Kenshi he forced himself to try and sleep.
"Night tattoo,
love you."
The words slipped from Johnny's mouth and Kenshi froze in his bed.
He stared into the darkness dumbfounded by Johnny's words.
Kenshi remained silent acting like he never heard anything and tried to sleep but there was something in the back of his mind that night forming,
he couldn't quite understand.
Other the past couple of days Johnny had kept saying those "love you" or "I love you." whenever they'd part ways, whenever at dinner at Wu Shi Academy, even before bed like that night and Kenshi could not take much more of it.
Johnny wouldn't say it around people though,
Kenshi also didn't understand that.
Kenshi would not respond to him,
wouldn't even look his way.
He was conflicted.
didn't know what to think of those words because what does johnny even mean by that?
They hated each other.
been like that ever since they first locked eyes in that mansion.
He was convinced Johnny was just toying with him, saying it just to piss him off or maybe he kept doing it because Kenshi showed no reaction.
Kenshi would usually have a comeback ready aimed at Johnny but for this,
always at a lost of words.
Johnny would just stare at Kenshi each time wondering why the man wouldn't say anything back.
It's just a couple of words...
right?
that's all it is.
Kenshi didn't like the feeling every time he's heard those 3 words recently,
he loses track of his thoughts, can't focus on anything.
He's always pushed those feeling aside acted like they're not happening because he doesn't understand why he's feeling them.
He gets angry.
so angry he just walks away from johnny the culprit whose causing all of this turmoil inside.
He can't stand it.
It's like picking the same scab over and over again but it keeps reappearing.
scarring.
Next morning came around and both men seemed to have rested well and Kenshi took notice rather quickly that Johnny was pretty talkative today.
He was already getting annoyed at the man just from his voice.
"Do you ever shut up?"
Kenshi said looking over at Johnny after he had spit out toothpaste.
Johnny shrugged.
"Maybe you should make me?"
Is this man seriously flirting with me right now?
Kenshi sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.
•
"Kenshi,
Johnny.
come forth."
Kenshi and Johnny moved forward and bowed to Liu Kang
"Kenshi will be first to fight Johnny."
Liu Kang stated taking a seat in the throne like chair in the middle.
"Begin whenever you are ready."
Kenshi glanced harshly at Johnny walking to the side grabbing his sword unsheathing it.
Johnny kept a blank expression until he met eyes with Kenshi, he smirked.
"Ready for your close up?"
Kenshi taunted getting into position with his sword.
Johnny scoffed.
"Sure,
Liu Kang called the weak first after all."
Kenshi took that as an insult instead of a tease.
Johnny jumped a bit back and forth raising his wrapped fists.
Kenshi was first to make a move quickly swinging his sword towards Johnny but making sure he was using it safely.
Johnny ducked and raised up into a side kick aiming at Kenshi stomach.
He managed to hit it causing Kenshi to back up a bit then charged at Johnny again with aggravation.
He got a couple hits in and clashing with his sword until Johnny had hit him again,
Johnny was pretty fast, Kenshi was more subtle with his movements but made good impact when he did succeed.
Kenshi huffed an annoyed groan.
This continued with the two becoming more intense with each other.
Kung Lao & Raiden began to notice.
They glanced at each other than to Liu Kang who was observing the fight closely.
It was clear that Johnny was winning.
Kenshi was only getting more aggressive.
Both were beginning to sweat.
Johnny was still making sure his punches and kicks were not to hurt Kenshi but he noticed that Kenshi's were starting to become painful to him.
They clashed again and Johnny stared into the man's eyes in front of him.
"Not backing down without a fight I see?
You seem upset, all this love teasing got you distracted huh?"
"Shut up."
Kenshi said lowly.
What is Johnny trying to do?
"You must reallllyy love me now right?"
Johnny teased with that stupid smirk on his face and Kenshi had enough.
Anger washed through him with that feeling coming back.
He quickly brought his knee into Johnny's stomach so hard that Johnny let out a gasp.
Kenshi sword went flying to the right as he threw it he grabbed Johnny by his shirt and slammed him onto the concrete beneath them.
"Say something like that one more time Cage."
Kenshi said in a growling tone.
"I've had just about enough of you."
Johnny felt like he couldn't breathe, Kenshi hit him so hard he got the wind knocked out of him and his back began to hurt pretty bad too from the impact he almost smacked his head on the ground as well.
all he could hear was a slight ringing in his ears and Kenshi's intense breathing until he suddenly heard his and Kenshi's name being called he glanced over to Liu Kang seeming disappointed and a bit angry meanwhile Kung Lao and Raiden look rather concerned and confused.
He felt dizzy.
"Kenshi here now."
Liu Kang said loudly.
Kenshi let go of Johnny just as aggressively as when he was grabbed.
Johnny felt the sweat droplets beginning to run on his forehead.
he groaned finally able to catch his breath as he stared at the blue sky above hearing foot steps hurrying his way.
"You have over stepped a boundary that I clearly stated before with any battle practices which was no serious injuries or extreme aggression. You have broken that rule having wounded Johnny."
Kenshi didn't even realize how badly he hurt Johnny until he looked over seeing Kung Lao and Raiden helping him up seeming to have a pained expression on his face.
"You are emotionally unfit for today.
Pent up anger is not to be shared on the people around you.
I'll send someone to get you for dinner but other than that you're done, go."
Liu Kang said in a disapproving tone
Kenshi huffed a sigh mumbling an "I'm sorry" to Liu Kang as he bowed.
"You are apologizing to the wrong person Kenshi."
Liu Kang said.
Kenshi sighed before going over to grab his sword,
He felt ashamed.
"What is wrong with you?"
Kung Lao asked angrily at Kenshi.
Kenshi looked at him then glanced at johnny who had been silent.
"Come you three,
the monks will tend to him."
Kenshi heard Liu Kang's voice fading away as he made his way to the shared room of his and Johnny's.
He was now angry at himself.
he sheathed his sword then tossed it onto his bed.
He decided to take a shower to wash away the sweat and anger within his mistakes made.
•
Kenshi was trying to mediate as he heard a knock on the opened doorframe.
"Um...hey...it's dinner time if you're ready."
Raiden stood there in the doorway.
Kenshi thought for a couple seconds.
"I'd rather eat in here."
He stated.
Raiden nodded.
"I thought so,
I'll uh I'll grab it for you."
"You don't have to-"
Raiden was already gone.
He could tell Raiden was upset with him but he always tried to keep his cool he controls his emotions very well something that Kenshi has been admiring about him and rather jealous as well.
Kenshi was good at it but not with anger,
It takes over with such force he can't help himself at times it's always been like that.
And unfortunately today Johnny got the bitter end of the stick because of it.
Kenshi was lost in thoughts until he smelt dumplings and what seemed to be Jajangmyeon.
"Here.
Eat, rest and think about your actions today."
"We have a very important mission tomorrow, you've missed everything."
Raiden stated immediately walking out after.
Kenshi sighed and looked down at the food he ate in silence and did in fact think about his actions.
Johnny didn't deserve that obviously.
He just poked and poked and poked and Kenshi couldn't take it anymore.
Johnny lights a certain fire in him that he cannot explain.
Kenshi soon finishes his food and as he's getting ready for bed he hears footsteps walking into the room.
He glanced over and saw Johnny walking in he immediately looked away.
Johnny was silent.
Kenshi was silent.
Johnny laid down in bed immediately covering up and turning to his side.
Kenshi stared at him for a couple seconds before heading to his own bed silently turning off the light.
•
"This talisman is attuned to Shang Tsung's Chi follow it to him and be careful.
May the Elder Gods protect you."
Kenshi grabbed the talisman and glanced at Johnny before they set off to their destination.
Johnny was becoming increasingly annoying by the second and Kenshi really wishes Raiden was there instead.
He didn't physically attack the man again but he did verbally when Johnny mentioned his clan and the Yakuza.
The journey was all foggy to Kenshi's brain at that point until they made it to Shang Tsung's laboratory.
There they saw empress Mileena seeming to be experimented on by Shang Tsung in which the three acted quickly to stop him.
The fog set back into Kenshi's mind until he heard yelling and growling...
He faced a monster Mileena seeming to be infected with Tarkat disease and she was not backing down he watched as she launched at Johnny.
It all happened so fast,
Mileena jumped onto Johnny screaming inhumanly and bit a large amount of Johnny's neck causing blood to pour viciously.
Johnny screamed in pain.
A scream that made Kenshi's heart pump violently his mind froze in place but his body sprung in action running towards Mileena and ripping her off of Johnny just in time for Shang Tsung to jump in and inject her with the bone marrow to reset the disease within her.
"Johnny!"
Kenshi yelled and ran to his body.
Johnny was barely breathing coughing up his own blood.
"No no no Johnny."
Kenshi was panicking applying pressure to the big wound but there was no use crimson blood poured out in large amounts too quickly to be handled.
"I...I'm...d..I'm dying ken...Kenshi."
Johnny managed to spit out as more blood trickled down from his lips to his chin down to his neck.
For the first time in years Kenshi was feeling heartache paining the heart within his chest tears began well up in his eyes as he let his guards down,
His vision blurred until he blinked.
tears began to flow down his cheeks and some falling onto Johnny's blooded face.
"No Johnny p...please."
Kenshi cried.
"I...I...I love you too."
Kenshi managed to get out but it was too late.
Johnny was gone.
•
Kenshi awoke in a cold sweat breathing heavily and looking around frantically.
"Woah there Kensh."
He immediately looked at Johnny.
Johnny?
Johnny...
Right there in from of him
alive, safe.
"I think you were having quite a nightmare,
I woke up to yelling almost screaming and you were just about hyperventilating I tried shaking you even calling your name but nothing worked.
You're sweating so badly."
A sleepily Johnny explained to the best of his ability.
Kenshi was still trying to understand how the man was standing there,
alive heart pumping and all.
He almost allowed the tears welling up in his eyes to fall,
almost.
Johnny took notice of that and came closer to the bed.
"Try to take some deep breaths okay? I'm not sure what happened but you're okay
you're safe we're at Wu Shi Academy remember?"
Johnny was being so sweet to him,
Even after all Kenshi had done just many hours before.
Kenshi took his advice and breathed in then out and repeated the action.
"Good, feel a bit better?"
Johnny asked,
Kenshi nodded not saying a word.
"You want the light to stay on?"
Johnny asked after staring at the man for a bit.
Kenshi shook his head and slowly laid his head back down onto his pillow that seemed to be a bit damp from sweat.
It was all a dream?
a nightmare.
well that was one hell of a nightmare.
Kenshi breathed in and out again in a slow rhythm.
"If you need anything uh,...just wake me up..."
Johnny said into the darkness,
Kenshi didn't respond.
Kenshi couldn't sleep after that,
he tossed and turned all night listening to Johnny's soft snores until he eventually saw sunlight beginning to peak through the small windows in the room.
Kenshi gave up and decided to just get up take another shower and brush his teeth.
It wasn't his first time pulling an all nighter but man did he feel tired.
All his energy collided together and drained him from the intense fight with Johnny yesterday, all the anger he released and the horrible nightmare he had all at once mixed in with lack of sleep it was definitely already straining his mind and body.
Didn't Raiden say yesterday they had a mission today?
Kenshi sighed heavily as he had finished what he was doing dressed into his suit,
the same suit he wore when he planned to rob Johnny of Sento that day.
He heard some shuffling and turned to see Johnny slowly waking up.
He slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Oh...hey..."
Johnny said quietly.
Kenshi said nothing to the man.
"You might wanna change into that armor suit Liu Kang sent all of us from day one.."
Johnny suggested groggily.
"What?
Why?"
Kenshi questioned.
"We have a big mission today I'm sure Liu Kang will explain more when we meet him."
Johnny said getting up and walking past Kenshi towards the bathroom.
Kenshi glanced into his closet looking at the armored outfit.
"What kind of mission are we being sent off to?"
Kenshi whispered to himself grabbing the suit and changing.
At breakfast Johnny seemed to be in a better mood Raiden had asked him how his back was doing which johnny responded with better than yesterday that's for sure.
"What about you Takahashi? How was your sleep after what happened?"
"Didn't."
Kenshi simply replied drinking some water.
Johnny's eyes widened.
"Kenshi that was like at 3am you haven't slept since then? No wonder you look so tired.
maybe you should-"
"I'm fine Cage."
Kenshi interrupted in a sudden annoyed tone.
Now he's showing even more concern for me?
Kung Lao and Raiden were very confused about whatever the two were talking about.
"But Kenshi-"
Kenshi interrupted Johnny again by simply getting up from his seat grabbing his food and going to sit elsewhere.
Kung Lao turned to Johnny.
"What did you do to get him so mad?
He literally attacked you yesterday."
Johnny shrugged.
"Exist."
Kung Lao scoffed and shook his head glancing over at Kenshi now at a different table entirely.
Something was definitely off with him recently he usually doesn't get too upset at Johnny's teasing but he's noticed he's been getting on his last nerve.
"He's being an asshole."
Kung Lao muttered in an angry expression.
Raiden lightly punched Kung Lao's arm.
"Quit."
Raiden understands Kung Lao's just still angry at Kenshi for yesterday, he doesn't like someone hurting his friends emotionally and physically or any way in that matter.
Johnny began silent and kept glancing at Kenshi.
He tried to read the man so many times but he just can't pinpoint how Kenshi is.
"Maybe he'll kill me just to make me shut up."
Johnny joked and Kung Lao hummed into a chuckle.
"I wouldn't push it too far Johnny me you and him have a mission together today."
Johnny just about choked on the food in his mouth.
"W..what?"
He turned to Kung Lao who giggled at him.
"Don't you remember?
Or is your brain too stuck on Kenshi?"
Kung Lao teased making Raiden roll his eyes.
"Shut up! I just forgot."
Johnny defended himself.
Great,
more time with Kenshi.
•
"So we find him in Outworld and bring him here for questioning?"
Kenshi asked stating at the drawn picture of Shang Tsung
"Yes, if what I fear has happened he is a grave threat to the realms."
"Anything else?"
Kenshi asked.
"Shang Tsung is a master of deceit do not trust a word he utters."
Liu Kang warned.
"Sounds a lot like my first agent."
Johnny smirked
meanwhile Kenshi rolled his eyes.
"It's a tricky mission I'd rather Raiden go along than...this one."
Kenshi said glaring at Johnny.
Johnny seemed offended.
"Hey! This one is up for the job!"
"This mission must be done quietly, I am breaking my word with empress Sindel by sending you into Outworld without her knowledge."
"Due to the tournament, Raiden is now a familiar face there sending him will only increase your risks of being discovered."
Liu Kang explained.
"This talisman is attuned to Shang Tsung's Chi follow it to him."
Kenshi froze watching Liu Kang place the talisman in his hand.
These words...he swore he's heard them before
"And be careful.
May the Elder Gods protect you."
Kenshi's stomach dropped.
His nightmare.
the calm before the storm.
"Are...are we going Kenshi?"
Kung Lao said looking at Kenshi who seemed stuck staring at the talisman.
"Um, yeah."
He said quietly,
He felt very...dizzy.
He tried to shake it off.
Johnny looked confused.
Kenshi began to walk but his legs felt numb his heart pumped into his ears as he caught himself onto Kung Lao.
"Kenshi?"
Kung Lao said rather quickly as he grabbed ahold of the man.
Damn lack of sleep.
"Are you okay?"
Johnny asked getting closer to Kenshi.
Kenshi nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine.
let's go."
Both Kung Lao and Johnny were unsure but didn't say anything more as the three began to their destination using Kenshi's talisman.
The places they past,
where they were at the moment all were in Kenshi's dream
he felt sick.
"Ugh, are we there yet?"
Johnny complained behind him the same words from Kenshi's nightmare.
Therefore, Kenshi replied the same as he did before.
"Again? How old are you, 5?"
"What can I say? These boots weren't made for walking."
Kung Lao sighed quietly he wondered why these two always argued around him.
"If that is the most pain you feel today, consider yourself lucky."
"Oh I'm already lucky, I've got Sento strapped to my back."
Johnny said cockily
Kenshi sighed aggravated.
"I will reclaim it Cage."
Kenshi said not facing the man.
"Got 3 million? It's yours."
Oh so this is why Johnny has kept it.
For money.
I should've known better.
"You know I don't have it."
Kenshi said now bitter.
"I bet your Yakuza pals can come up with it oh that's right, you blew em off."
What the hell is Johnny trying to do here?
Get under his skin for the millionth time?
Kenshi was getting angry.
even without that feeling.
"Ah if there's one lesson Hollywood taught me is to never burn bridges, you never know who can help."
Kenshi had enough he turned around and stomped up to Johnny flashing his light in his face.
Johnny felt fear boil in his stomach for a moment he thought Kenshi's was going to attack him like yesterday.
"The Yakuza are leeches bleeding out those too weak to resist. I grew up in that life and I never understood it why my gain required others' pain."
Johnny moved his head away from Kenshi for a moment, he definitely felt like he was the asshole now.
"I got out.
I need my clan out too we can't be part of their crimes any longer so you wanna keep talking about something you think you know everything about but don't huh Johnny?"
Kenshi spat staring into the man's eyes with pure anger.
Johnny shook his head his eyes were burning from the flashlight in his face but it was nothing compared to the shame that he was beginning to feel.
Kenshi glanced down at the talisman then turned away from Johnny to keep walking, Johnny stood there.
Kung Lao came into view only to shine the light in Johnny's face just to mess with him.
Even though, if Kenshi was to attack Johnny again in that moment Kung Lao wouldn't have hesitated to have fought back.
Johnny sighed heavily and grunted out loud as he followed the two in front of him.
•
The three continued their journey meeting Baraka and befriending him as he took them to Shang Tsung's laboratory.
Just like Kenshi's nightmare he knew it was playing out he was becoming more and more nervous.
Just like before Kenshi saw the same scene and knew they didn't have to stop Shang Tsung but he didn't wanna sound like a crazy person to Johnny and Kung Lao besides they wouldn't even believe him if he said that Shang Tsung was trying to help Mileena.
So, he went along with the plan.
Up until when Mileena formed into a monster is when Kenshi was terrified of what was to come he fought her but it was no use he saw her launch herself onto Johnny just like before.
"No.
He's not dying this time."
Kenshi said quickly to himself and ran up to her pulling her off of Johnny but unlike his nightmare Shang Tsung wasn't there to inject her with bone marrow instead Kenshi watched her grabbed two knifes and fly down onto him and then everything went black as he felt the most pain he's felt in a while.
He screamed out loudly as blood poured out of his eye sockets.
He felt more and more dizzy and then he hit the floor.
Johnny felt like everything was in slow motion he watched Kenshi get his eyes gouged out by Mileena.
His heart dropped to his stomach.
blood splattered onto his own face.
Kenshi's blood.
"Kenshi!"
He yelled feeling helpless as he watched the man fall over onto the floor.
He quickly ran to him.
"Fuck, Kenshi!"
Johnny yelled not caring about anything happening around him anymore.
Is Kenshi dead?
No, he can't be.
Johnny was almost afraid to even touch him.
Next thing Johnny felt was a harsh punch to his face which knocked him out quickly.
•
Johnny felt his head pounding as he slowly awoke.
"Ah this hangover."
He said then turn to his right and saw Kenshi leaned over.
"Kenshi!"
Johnny whispered yelled and quickly crawled to the other man.
He grabbed onto Kenshi's arm.
"How bad's the pain?"
He said feeling his heart racing,
This was his fault.
"Excruciating."
Kenshi said in a pained voiced.
"Fuck im so sorry Kenshi so so sorry."
Johnny said quickly.
"You saved me.
I won't forget that."
Kenshi couldn't understand why Johnny was apologizing but the man was speaking too fast for Kenshi to process at the moment.
All his thoughts were directed to his pain.
Darkness.
"I can't see Johnny,
everything's so dark."
Johnny's heart ached.
"Well I'm right here Kenshi.
I'm not leaving."
Johnny said tightening his grip on Kenshi's arm.
"Here this should help."
Kenshi heard what sounded like a tin can or metal opening and then he felt Johnny placing a makeshift blindfold gently around his eyes tying it in the back.
Kenshi suddenly felt relief.
It seemed to be some sort of numbing cream.
"Thank you."
Kenshi whispered.
Johnny stared at the man feeling tears pooling to his eyes.
What?
Johnny hasn't cried since he was a child,
Johnny Cage does not cry.
"You know I met it right?
every time I said it..."
Johnny whispered.
Kenshi grew more confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I..."
Johnny sighed looking down feeling a tear drip down onto the ground.
"I love you,...Kenshi."
Johnny said quietly.
Kenshi froze.
that feeling creeped back into his heart like a wave crashing onto the shore.
Just let it out Kenshi.
Just Say It.
"I...I love you too,
Johnny."
A/N: oh my GOSH im so sorry this was so long i tried to rush through the actual dialogue of the story because i didn't wanna add too much of it but it fit into the plot nonetheless i hope you've enjoyed my first one shot! this came from my own brain ha idk if anyone's done this idea before but i enjoyed writing it!
if i had any spelling mistakes or anything lmk i usually proof read but im lazy rn.
feel free to vote and comment!
and leave requests! (preferred in requests chapter so i can keep organized but here's okay too!)
thank you for reading :)
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