01

Kuai Liang had been in the middle of a bloody battle when it happened. Fueled by grief and anger, he had sliced through the horde, leaving nothing but a mess of broken bodies across the Netherrealm plains. Ahead, Liu Kang in his newfound divinity had already started storming the gate, blasting aside anything that got in his way.

There was no warning at all when it occurred—no bright light that heralded the coming doom, no loud bang or noise that could indicate that something was about to go wrong.

He had been spinning to avoid an attack, and when he brought his blade down at his opponent—it vanished. The lack of the expected collision caused him to stumble, and as he quickly caught his footing, he realized that the entire battlefield had grown silent.

He surveyed his surroundings, but found nothing but an endless stretch of land, and the Sea of Blood beyond it. The other end showed no sign of Kronika's Keep, nor the horde that defended it. His blood was still pumping from the battle, and he forced himself into a measure of calm so he could think about his next steps as rationally as he could.

It was obvious something had gone wrong, perhaps another reset by Kronika? Though why he was unaffected, he didn't know.

Whatever had happened, his next move was clear: he needed to find a way out of the Netherrealm, perhaps make his way back to the Fire Gardens, and regroup with his other allies. With no clear markers to follow, Kuai Liang picked one direction and started walking.

The Netherrealm was never the safest of places, and with the variety of demons that roamed, he was kept constantly fighting for his life as he crossed the plains.

When he was finally able to stop for a breather, the bright light of a portal appeared before him, with two dragons of fire circling its perimeter.

He readied himself for another fight, but when the figure emerged from the portal, Kuai Liang paused in his steps.

"Liu Kang?"

"Sub-Zero." The Fire God looked mildly surprised to see him. "We felt you appear, but did not think it was possible."

"What do you mean?" he asked warily. "You and Raiden are still bonded then? Has the fight with Kronika been unsuccessful?"

His face gave nothing away as he gestured behind him. "Come, I believe this discussion warrants a far better setting than this." He tried to usher Kuai Liang into the portal, but the cryomancer stood his ground. He had not just trudged across the Netherrealm plains, exhausting and injuring himself to reunite with his allies, only for Liu Kang to start avoiding his questions.

"Answer me," he demanded.

Liu Kang frowned at him, but his expression softened as he looked him over, obviously seeing his frazzled state.

"The realms are safe from Kronika."

"…But?" he prompted, feeling like the god was omitting something.

Liu Kang hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It is difficult to explain. But you are not where you are supposed to be, Sub-Zero."

Kuai Liang bristled in annoyance before taking a deep breath and calming himself. He nodded and allowed himself to finally be ushered into the portal. As they stepped out, he was greeted with an unfamiliar building, a place of worship that he had never known existed.

There were sculpted dragons wrapped around the columns of the pagoda, painted in warm shades of reds and oranges. Just past the entrance, lit braziers were arranged in rows, illuminating stone paths that he assumed, led to various other parts of the temple. He looked towards Liu Kang in askance, and the man—God—met his gaze solemnly.

"Welcome to the Fire Temple."

Liu Kang refused to answer any more of his questions until he was cleaned up and his wounds had been bandaged. He was given fresh clothes, and a decent meal of which he forced himself to finish, knowing his body needed it to heal. Once he was done, an attendant fetched him and brought him to Liu Kang.

Anxiety pricked at his senses, and his mind buzzed with possibilities. If Liu Kang was still a god, then he and Raiden were still merged. Could it be that they were simply not able to separate anymore? Or did it mean that a new threat, someone other than Kronika, was still at large?

And if Kronika was already defeated, then where was everybody else?

It did not escape Kuai Liang's notice that he had not seen any of their allies around the Fire Temple.

He entered the gardens and found Liu Kang seated before a stone table. The god gave him a short bow which he returned.

"Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

Kuai Liang took the seat across the table and met Liu Kang's eyes evenly.

"May I ask when you are from?"

It was an odd question, and one that made the Lin Kuei Grandmaster frown. "When?"

"We found you in the Netherrealm, what was happening when you were brought here?"

Kuai Liang sighed. He had come here to have his questions answered, not the other way around. However, he knew arguing would be counterproductive. "We sailed across the Sea of Blood and began our assault. I had just seen you push forward alone to Kronika's Keep. In a blink of an eye, everything simply…disappeared. Not even the demon I was fighting remained."

"Your situation is…unprecedented to say the least," Liu Kang finally said after a moment of contemplation.

"Speak plainly, Liu Kang," he said sharply, unwilling to keep dancing around the topic.

Liu Kang looked down for a moment before steepling his fingers and leaning on the table.

"When I fought Kronika, she used the power of the hourglass to turn back time, and the two of us battled across the years until we reached the 'Dawn of Time', for lack of better word. When I defeated her, and also Shang Tsung—,"

"Shang Tsung?"

"A story for another time," he promised. "But when I defeated them both, I obtained her power and became the Keeper of Time. She was erased from history, and she can never threaten the realms again. We are safe from her machinations."

Kuai Liang relaxed marginally at those words. "And what of you? Why are you and Raiden still bonded?"

"Raiden and I are no longer bound together. He has passed his mantle unto me; I have become the new protector of Earthrealm. He has become mortal."

"Mortal?" This news had Kuai Liang blinking in shock. "And where is he now?"

"He is at the Wushi Academy, not far from here. He trains the new recruits with Kung Lao."

Kuai Liang shook his head in vain hopes of dispelling his confusion. "And our other allies? How long have I been gone?"

Liu Kang gave him a sad look, which immediately brought his guard up.

"What is it?"

"When I defeated Kronika, the timeline was reset one more time. And as Keeper, I had the daunting task of rewriting history." The god's voice was very gentle as he spoke. "I am sorry to say that the world as you know it no longer exists, Kuai Liang."

Kuai Liang heard every word, but his mind could not stitch together the picture it was painting.

"What?" he could only whisper in confusion.

What did that mean for the Lin Kuei? For all his friends and allies he had yet to bury? His mind spun, and he was barely aware of his breathing turning shallow.

Liu Kang was speaking to him, but his voice sounded muffled, like it was coming from behind a wall. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and the touch was bracing. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing. When he had regained his senses, his hands were curled into fists so tightly on his lap that his knuckles had turned white.

Taking another deep breath, Kuai Liang opened his eyes to Liu Kang's sympathetic face.

"I am truly sorry to have to give this news to you, my friend."

"There is nowhere for me to go then," he said hollowly. He had planned to return to the Lin Kuei palace, create a memorial for his fallen brethren. And after, he would visit the Fire Gardens, and mourn his dear friend. None of that is possible now…

"It would ease my heart if you would allow me to bring you to the Wushi Academy. The monks there would welcome you."

Kuai Liang could do nothing but nod tiredly. What could he say? He could not show up at the Lin Kuei Palace and assimilate himself into this world's version of his clan. His home was barred to him, and there was nothing he could do at this moment but to continue moving forward.

"What do you wish to know about this timeline? Kuai Liang—,"

His ears started ringing, and he just knew that his mind could not take more of these surprises. He raised a hand to forestall Liu Kang and he shook his head.

"I cannot—," he managed to say before his words failed him.

The pity in the god's eyes threatened to undo him, but Kuai Liang figured he truly was a pitiful sight right now.

"Very well, my friend. Please take this time to rest; tomorrow, I shall bring you to Wushi and introduce you to Raiden and Kung Lao."

Liu Kang bowed and left him to his thoughts. Kuai Liang watched him go numbly, feeling absolutely lost.

The next morning, Kuai Liang had forgone wearing the clothes brought by the temple attendants, and suited up in his Lin Kuei uniform. As he strapped on his pauldrons and wore his mask, he felt more settled, more like himself. He felt safer—as if hiding behind his mask would protect him from the reality he would need to face in the coming days.

Liu Kang raised an eyebrow at his attire, but said nothing about it.

Wushi Academy's tranquil setting was a balm to his soul. The familiar sights of the monks and their students training brought Kuai Liang's guard down enough that he was taken aback when they found Kung Lao and he responded with vitriol to his presence.

"Lord Liu Kang!" He bowed, but never took his eyes off Kuai Liang. "What is he doing here?"

Kung Lao looked almost the same as his time-displaced counterpart Kuai Liang had met before. The other person beside him was also eyeing him warily, but he did not recognize him.

"Kung Lao, Raiden." Liu Kang greeted.

Raiden? Kuai Liang blinked in surprise. The young man before him bore no resemblance at all to the Thunder God he'd known.

"This is Grandmaster Sub-Zero, not as you know him, but of the previous timeline."

Kung Lao let out a mild, "Oh," while Raiden cocked his head and asked earnestly. "Previous timeline? Not an alternate one?"

"Yes, he is not one borne from the splitting of time, but he is the Sub-Zero from before I became Keeper of Time."

"So, can I assume that since he's with you, this one's not an asshole? Ow!" Kung Lao pouted as Raiden elbowed him. "Uh…welcome, I suppose?" he added, massaging his arm. Kuai Liang briefly wondered what his counterpart could have done to make them so wary of him.

Raiden seemed to be more perceptive, and his eyes filled with sympathy. He bowed to him, "I am sorry for your loss, Grandmaster Sub-Zero."

Faced with the young man's sincerity, Kuai Liang could only respond in kind. "Thank you, Raiden," but he could not help but add, "You may drop my title, I am a Grandmaster of nothing now." He had aimed for casual, but even he could hear the bitterness in his tone, and judging by the uncomfortable shifting of the two, they had sensed it too.

"Sub-Zero then…unless you would prefer for us to call you by…name?" Raiden asked hesitantly.

"You may refer to me as Tundra, if it makes it easier for you to differentiate me from the Sub-Zero of this timeline. I would prefer…not to hear my name for now."

He absolutely could not stand to hear it. If he heard his name spoken softly, with compassion or with pity, he thought he might just scream.

"Tundra, then." Raiden nodded firmly, and Kuai Liang could not help but feel appreciative of the young man and his kindness.

"I leave Tundra in your capable hands, Raiden, Kung Lao. There are time disruptions around Earthrealm that I must attend to. Tundra, if you need anything at all…" He placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a little shake.

"Thank you, Liu Kang." He nodded.

The three of them watched the god leave, before Kung Lao turned to him in bewilderment.

"You just casually call him Liu Kang?"

"It is…an adjustment. I am still unused to him being a god," Kuai Liang said honestly.

"Was he not always the God of Fire?"

"He was a Shaolin Monk. And the Champion of the tournament."

Both Kung Lao and Raiden gaped at him. "So instead of Raiden, he fought in the tournament with Outworld?"

"You fought in the tournament?" he asked in surprise. Kuai Liang could not reconcile this seemingly kind, young man, with an image of him battling to the death in Mortal Kombat.

Kung Lao visibly bristled. "And he beat all of his opponents, including General Shao and Princess Kitana!"

General Shao? This new timeline seemed to be much different from his own.

"Forgive me. My surprise was not due to his skill. Raiden in my timeline, has never fought in the tournament before."

Raiden frowned. "Was I not good enough?"

Kuai Liang had the fleeting realization that Liu Kang had not spoken in length about the previous timeline to any of them. But without the god's explicit instructions, he found no reason not to be honest.

"Raiden was Earthrealm's Protector, and the God of Thunder."

"God of Thunder!" Kung Lao squawked, hands coming up to clutch his hat.

Raiden looked overwhelmed by the idea. "I was a god? Like Lord Liu Kang?"

He inclined his head in assent.

"Huh, no wonder he had such faith in you," Kung Lao teased. "Seems like this timeline is a lot different from yours. Anything you want to know?"

Kuai Liang fell silent for a moment. The smart thing to do was to learn everything he could to ensure he would adapt to the new timeline more smoothly, but he simply…did not care. Did it matter? Did anything? This new timeline, whatever was happening, it simply didn't feel real to him.

"I do not wish to know."

"No?" Kung Lao asked in confusion.

He merely shook his head, unable to voice out anything else.

The two young men exchanged glances, sensing that his mood had dipped.

"Let us take you around to show you where everything is," Raiden offered, and Kuai Liang gestured for them to lead the way.

Throughout their walk, the two friends kept the chatter going, and Kuai Liang was grateful that they did not force him into the conversations and instead, let him decide to join in or not. They completed a circuit of the academy, and they ended the tour at an empty bungalow that had been prepared for him.

"Thank you, Raiden, Kung Lao."

"It is our pleasure, Tundra." Raiden smiled. "Is there anything you need? Or want?"

"I…only wish to be alone for now," he replied wearily and bowed to the two.

"Of course," Kung Lao replied uncertainly. "We'll leave you to it." They bowed in return and quickly left Kuai Liang to his new space. He sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath.

Distantly, he understood that he needed to work through his grief. When he'd regained his humanity, after years of being a revenant, there were many things he knew he had to unlearn—harsh lessons engraved into his very being as a Lin Kuei. While he was able to rebuild the clan into something better, he still struggled with his emotions, preferring to still keep it behind an impenetrable wall. Very few were able to pierce that icy exterior.

Bi-Han, obviously, by virtue of being his brother. Cold, but caring in his own way. Kuai Liang was not blind to his faults, but he had been one of the few things that kept him sane throughout his apprenticeship in the Lin Kuei.

Tomas, the only person he could call friend in the clan, had been the other. Their friendship had been born from shared pain, bloodshed, and tears. They had been through too much together, that forming some kind of camaraderie had been unavoidable.

Frost was another. His beloved, arrogant, idiotic student; her betrayal stung the most. He'd given her everything—his home, his time and patience, his love and care. And still, it was never enough. Allying with the time-displaced Sektor, Kronika, believing in their empty promises, all for what? Seeing her as a cyber unit had crushed him. His memories of when he was cyberized were some of his worst, surpassed only by his jaunt with the Kamidogu, and his time as a revenant. And now…this.

The only other to see through him was Hanzo.

Kuai Liang closed his eyes as the pain in his heart bloomed and throbbed. His dearest friend…how would he go on now?

His next few days were spent wandering around Wushi Academy in a daze. It was as if his body was on auto-pilot, doing just enough to keep itself alive, but nothing else. He followed a general routine for training, finding a small area where he could do his katas alone, often tiring himself out until he could drift off in a dreamless sleep. The monks watched him occasionally, though his one-word responses deterred them from asking too many questions. Kung Lao invited him to spar a few times, and he'd declined each one with a bow, and a vague promise to accept at a later date.

One day, as he was in the middle of his set, a flash of yellow appeared in his periphery, snapping him out of his kata. Time seemed to slow as he turned his head and was met with a figure clad in Shirai Ryu colors.

His very blood felt like ice in his veins.

Hanzo, a whisper flitted into his mind.

The man was masked, and he was too far away for Kuai Liang to see his expression, but he could not help but feel arrested by the other's gaze.

Only when Scorpion took a hesitant step towards his direction did Kuai Liang do something he'd rarely done before.

He fled.

Kuai Liang was not sure how he got there, but his next memory was just of him kneeling on the floor of his room, staring at his hands. He took a shaking breath, and he leaned back against the door.

His mind was fractured, that much he knew. It had gone through too much too quickly, and while his training with the Lin Kuei had uniquely equipped him with formidable if not questionable, compartmentalization, no amount of training had prepared him for what he'd gone through these past days.

Rebuilding the Lin Kuei, only to lose them once again? The anger and devastation had threatened to consume him. But he remembered the grounding feeling of Hanzo's hand on his shoulder, his solid promise of vengeance.

When the wraith Scorpion had appeared in the Fire Gardens and declared Hanzo dead, Kuai Liang had frozen in shock. His first response had been anger and disbelief, and he could think of nothing but ensuring the death of the one who dared to bring him such pain.

Then came the revelation with Raiden and Kronika—there had been too much happening for him to process. He had channeled his pain and grief into the battle that came. But now that there was nothing to distract him from the pain, how was he to accept it? The loss of Bi-Han and Tomas were old hurts that had not fully healed, but had at least scabbed over.

However, Hanzo's loss was a fresh, deep wound that only continued to fester as Kuai Liang found himself in this new reality.

A sharp knock on his door brought him out of his reverie.

"Tundra? It is Raiden." He heard from behind the door.

Kuai Liang sat still and didn't respond, hoping the other man would take the hint and leave.

"I simply wished to check up on you. I saw you earlier, and you seemed to be in…distress."

So his humiliation was complete then? He probably looked like a fool, fleeing and panicking over nothing. Hardly befitting of a Lin Kuei Grandmaster.

Then again, he was no longer Grandmaster was he? He thought bitterly, swirls of frost escaping his fists as he clenched them.

"Scorpion only wished to speak to you, I am sorry if he...startled you."

Startled, Kuai Liang could almost laugh if he didn't feel so empty.

"If…if you would like to talk about it—,"

Talk? What would talking accomplish? A sudden bout of rage overcame him.

"He is dead," he snarled, punctuating his sentence with a fist to the floor, cracking the tile. "They are all dead and there is nothing to talk about. Now leave!"

For a moment, Raiden was so quiet that he'd thought he had finally left. But then, he spoke again, in a gentle tone. "I am sorry. I cannot imagine the magnitude of your loss. It may not be my place to say this, but when you are ready to grieve them, I would like to be there to offer you my support."

Kuai Liang immediately deflated at his words. This version of Raiden was very sweet, not really naïve, but someone who just seemed genuinely good and pure. He did not deserve his anger…no one did.

"I…appreciate it Raiden. I will keep it in mind."

With that, Raiden finally left him alone with his thoughts. He wished he felt any measure of peace, but he could only feel the emptiness gnawing at the edges of his sanity.

Kuai Liang spent the next few days on edge, going out of his way to ensure he wouldn't encounter Scorpion in the open. He holed out in his room and left only to eat, sticking to the shadows and using all his skills in stealth to stay out of sight. As he passed the dining halls, he overheard Kung Lao and Raiden talking about him, and he paused in his tracks to listen.

"…haven't seen him since that thing with Scorpion. Is he all right?" Kung Lao sounded worried.

"As all right, I assume, as anyone who has just lost his whole world," Raiden said pensively. "Kuai Liang seemed very disappointed that they were not able to speak."

He balked at hearing his name. Raiden's assumptions were unwarranted—he'd said no such thing to the man.

"He departed quite earlier than expected. I'm surprised he left his lady love all to herself."

"Lady Harumi is more than capable of escorting me herself to the Fire Gardens. And though she does not need protection, I too, can fight, Lao." Raiden replied dryly.

Harumi? Did they mean…?

Footsteps behind him alerted Kuai Liang, though he was not quick enough to get out of sight. As he turned, he was met with a woman he did not recognize. Her delicate features were at odds with the severe glare she was sporting. She looked like she was sizing him up, and finding him wanting. Kuai Liang had never seen her around the Temple before, so he could only assume this was her.

"May I help you, Lady Hasashi?"

Her eyebrow rose. "You mistake me for someone else. I am Harumi Shiraiof the Shirai Ryu."

Shirai? Kuai Liang thought. He hadn't known she shared her last name with the clan.

"My apologies," he bowed, which he noticed, she did not return. He wasn't surprised; just because the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu had allied in his timeline, did not mean they were not still at odds here.

"I have been looking for you," she said plainly. "You are the other Sub-Zero."

"Tundra," he corrected. "What can I do for you?"

She cocked her head to the side as if trying to understand him. "Walk with me?"

Kuai Liang considered declining, but there was a challenge in her eyes that he found rather intriguing. And truly, he was curious about her, the woman that his friend had loved so dearly, and whose memory he'd treasured until the end of his days.

He inclined his head and gestured forward, and the two started to amble around the Academy. Kuai Liang led the way to the gardens, an area he deemed to be the most peaceful. They were silent all the way through, and when she did speak, her words were not what he expected.

"Bi-Han—," she began, but cut herself off when he recoiled in shock.

"How do you know that name?" Kuai Liang frowned. She had no reason to know his brother's true name. The Lin Kuei, at least before he reformed it, had gone to great lengths to ensure all assassins only ever used their clan titles. It was rare that even fellow Lin Kuei knew each other's names, let alone an outsider.

"Should I not? We were childhood friends."

If Kuai Liang had not been so flabbergasted, he would have laughed at the idea of Bi-Han having any childhood friends.

"It seems this timeline is far different from my own, indeed." He shook his head. "The Lin Kuei are reclusive assassins, and in our timeline, had no place for friendship in it. Especially as children."

She looked at him as if gauging his reaction. "The Lin Kuei used to be honorable defenders of Earthrealm here…until your counterpart decided to betray everyone."

Kuai Liang took a deep breath. So that's what his dark double had done. "That explains why Kung Lao thought I would be an 'asshole'."

A small huff of laughter escaped Harumi. "I have not heard you boast about your prowess, so it seems you and he are quite different."

"I endeavor to prove so."

She hummed noncommittally. "How do you feel about your brother?" she asked suddenly.

"My brother?" he asked in confusion. "Why do you ask?"

Harumi merely shrugged, but her eyes betrayed a deeper meaning to her question.

Perhaps she was curious about Bi-Han due to their childhood friendship.

"I loved my brother," he said, heart aching with the old hurt. "I know that he had the tendency to be cruel, but he cared for me, and I for him." He paused in his steps and took a deep breath. "Losing him had shattered me."

Harumi let out a small gasp at the revelation. There was sudden understanding in her eyes. "Oh, Kuai Liang…" she said softly. She seemed lost in her own thoughts, so Kuai Liang did not bother to remind her to use his title instead.

"Does that satisfy your curiosity?" he asked, not without a hint of derision. Perhaps it had not been her intent, but her questions had dredged up painful memories he would rather not think of.

"Yes, I apologize for prying," she said contritely.

Kuai Liang immediately felt a stab of guilt. "No, it is not your fault, I understand your curiosity."

The two sat on the stone fence, watching the wind ripple past the trees and flowers.

"So if we were not childhood friends, how did we meet?" Harumi asked.

"I have never met you," he said honestly. "I only know of you."

"Of me? From where?"

"As Scorpion's wife."

To his surprise, Harumi flushed and brought a hand to her cheek. "His…wife?"

The innocent gesture brought a small smile to Kuai Liang's face, likely his first since he was dropped into this reality.

"Yes, it is a love so pure and strong. He cherished you until the end of days."

"So you would approve? If we were to marry?" she asked almost shyly, a far cry from her previous demeanor.

"Of course," he said firmly, though not understanding why his opinion mattered.

She beamed at him, and he could not help but feel charmed by her. This was the calmest he'd been in a long time. Perhaps it was because he did not know Harumi personally. Or perhaps that was simply her effect on people.

"Tundra?"

"Hmmm?"

"Raiden has told me that you have taken to avoiding everyone since you arrived here." She inhaled deeply. "I know you do not know me, but I feel a certain kinship towards you. I wish to grow this friendship and hope that you will trust me one day to call you again by your name."

Hanzo was right, he thought as he glanced at her. She truly was an extraordinary woman.

"I would like that as well."

"I cannot hope to understand what you are experiencing. But I would like to offer you my support nonetheless. Is there anything I can do for you?"

He thought about his response for a moment. "Would you permit me to visit the Fire Gardens?"

Harumi met his eyes with a searching look. Whatever she found seemed to satisfy her, as she gave a sharp nod. "I need to coordinate it with the others, but I believe it is something I can do." She folded her arms. "What do you hope to find there?"

Kuai Liang was quiet for a moment, before he said sincerely, "Absolution."

His response surprised her, but her gaze softened, and she gave him another nod. "I hope you find it."

"Thank you." The Lin Kuei Grandmaster bowed to her deeply, showing his appreciation. Not just for the woman in front of him, but for the woman whom his dearest friend had loved and dedicated his life to.

His arrival at the Fire Gardens was met with a lot of curious stares. That he arrived with Harumi and Raiden likely encouraged the gossip, given the former's position in the clan, and the latter's reputation as Earthrealm's champion. Kuai Liang's blue uniform was in stark contrast to the sea of yellows all around him, making him stand out. He had considered dressing in something less…controversial, but he felt far safer in his uniform and mask than anything else.

Kuai Liang had steeled himself to face Hanzo; this was his clan, and it would make sense for him to greet them when they arrived. When they were met with apprentices instead, he was nonplussed, until Harumi caught sight of his expression.

"He is off on a mission for Lord Liu Kang," she answered his unasked question.

"If both of you had been away, whom did you leave behind to look after the clan?" he asked curiously.

"Tomas!" He heard Raiden greet someone, and when he turned to look, Kuai Liang froze.

He had prepared for his reunion with Hanzo, but never, in all his years, did he expect to see Smoke in the heart of Shirai Ryu territory. The man looked alive in a way Kuai Liang had never seen before—his eyes sparkled, and his mouth sported an easy smile. He looked so young and untouched by any tragedy.

He looked happy.

Kuai Liang's last human memories of Tomas were of him struggling against Raiden in a vain attempt to save him from the Cyber Lin Kuei, screaming his name in desperation. Tomas' was also the first face he had seen once he'd been reprogrammed. There were hazy moments of them being revenants, but he'd never seen Tomas again after his resurrection. He had been such a constant in his life that seeing him now, as he was, had hit him harder than he imagined.

Tomas gave Raiden a light hug, and turned to Harumi to bow to her. "It is good to see you back, Harumi. If it's all right with you, I'll take Raiden for a tour around the compound and get him settled."

He was making it very clear that he was ignoring Kuai Liang, and it, out of everything that he'd seen so far, hurt him the most.

"Tomas…" he whispered in agony, and the man paused for a moment before ushering Raiden away, not even deigning to glance at him.

Kuai Liang bowed his head and closed his eyes, his heart throbbing in pain.

"I am sorry about Tomas," Harumi said quietly. When he opened his eyes, he saw that she was watching him with concern. "He was affected greatly by Sub-Zero's betrayal."

He merely nodded, unable to speak, and gestured for her to go on.

Harumi took him around the compound. The Shirai Ryu did not seem to have the same numbers as the Lin Kuei had, but perhaps they were not all congregated in one stronghold. She led him across the familiar courtyard, and to the smaller rooms he knew they set aside for guests.

"Make yourself comfortable, Tundra."

"Am I free to roam the grounds?" he asked.

"Of course, you are my guest." Her tone was almost offended.

"Thank you, Harumi."

Harumi bowed, and left him to himself. Kuai Liang dumped his small pack in the room and took a walk.

The Fire Gardens always had an air of serenity around it every time he visited. His current one was no exception. The trees and foliage around were in shades of red and yellow. He held a hand out to caress a blooming flower, lightly touching its petals. Hanzo always took the time out to marvel at the sight of his restored garden.

"The colors painted by the setting sun, the smell of flowers in the air, the cool breeze on my skin…such are things that I took for granted when I was younger."

He came upon a low wooden table beneath the largest Japanese maple in the compound. The fiery red leaves slowly fell as they were taken by the breeze. Slowly, Kuai Liang folded his legs and took a seat by the table. This had been Hanzo's favorite spot, and always took Kuai Liang out for tea there when he visited.

For a moment, his mind had forgotten and automatically wondered where Hanzo was, before cruelly snapping him back into reality.

Hanzo was gone.

He would never drink tea with Kuai Liang ever again.

His breathing picked up, and he squeezed his fists against his thighs as he tried to center himself, but the pain was overwhelming. As he opened them, he was startled to find Tomas near the wooden fence staring at him, but quickly looking away when he was spotted.

He moved to leave, but Kuai Liang immediately stood from his seat and approached him.

"Tomas," his tone was pleading.

"I have nothing to say to you." He resolutely turned his head away from Kuai Liang. Tomas was not wearing his mask, and was still clearly unused to masking his emotions. There was a tremble in his lip that he was unable to hide.

"Why are you watching me, then?" he challenged.

"Don't read into it," he scoffed. "I'm simply surprised that Grandmaster Sub-Zero is showing signs of weakness."

Taken aback by his hostility, Kuai Liang felt a surge of anger. "You mock my grief?" he growled.

"You are incapable of it," Tomas spat back.

He advanced toward Tomas, and grabbed him by the collar, the younger man continued to struggle, giving him a ferocious glare.

"Do not speak to me of grief." The pained words tumbled out of Kuai Liang without him meaning to. "In a span of a few days, I have lost my clan, my closest friend, and then my entire world. I have no home to go back to. I have no memorial, no shrine with which to honor my fallen. No place to pick up my shattered life and lay it to rest."

"I have lost all I have cared about—my brother, my clan, my student, my friend, and…and you—," he took in a ragged breath. "You were one of the most important people in my life…" He shook Tomas by the collar. "And now you won't even look at me."

The weight of his emotions sapped his strength. He released Tomas and fell to his knees, his body heaving as he took several shuddering breaths.

Tomas stared at him wide-eyed, looking shocked and uncertain.

"I am sorry," Kuai Liang whispered hoarsely, hanging his head. "This—I am a stranger to you, and my burdens are not yours to bear."

"Bi-Han…" Tomas called out quietly, and Kuai Liang choked out a laugh.

"If brother were here, he'd be horrified at this display," he joked weakly.

Tomas was quiet for a while and when Kuai Liang looked up at him, there was a mix of realization and wonder in his eyes. He approached slowly and raised a hand to remove Kuai Liang's mask. Then, he brushed the scar on his right eye; Kuai Liang couldn't help but lean into the touch.

"…Kuai Liang?" he asked tentatively.

He flinched upon hearing his name, attempting to pull away, but Tomas' hand on his cheek stopped his retreat.

"It is Tundra."

"Kuai Liang!" he breathed incredulously. And in the next moment, Kuai Liang found himself enveloped in a tight embrace.

The immediate feeling of comfort surrounded him, and he involuntarily melted into the hug.

"I'm sorry, I'm here now." Tomas whispered to him, and his breath caught.

Then—

He broke.

Tears streamed down his face—for his clan, for his dear Hanzo, for all the friends he had left behind…for all the tragedies that he'd been forced to undergo. He hid his face in the crook of Tomas' neck and tried to muffle his cries.

"I'm so sorry, I'm here now." Tomas said thickly, and in the arms of his most cherished friend, Kuai Liang let go.

A/N:

Welp, I never thought I'd end up writing for the MK fandom ever again, but MK1 pulled me right back into it. This won't be a longfic, I had initially intended this to just be a one-shot but I just kept writing and next thing I knew, I reached 6k words and I wasn't even halfway through. So…expect another chapter. As usual, I just have no idea when I'll actually get to it lol