#aboutscorpionmeta

"I will not." He folds his arms and lifts a brow, the corner his lip curling with disapproval.

"You totally will, dude; it's a dare," says Johnny, appearing as if from nowhere. "Now c'mon, call Chillmaster on over here and let's see what kinda mushy bullshit you got."

If Scorpion thought he could growl and get away with it, he would be doing it right now. "I do not have a nickname for Liang," he says, "I..."

"You super do, though." Johnny catches sight of the grandmaster in question. It is only by coincidence that all three are in the same place at one time, a relatively rare occurrence. He waves the kryomancer over and, delayed only by a few words with one of the cyberized Lin Kuei--Cyrax, by the color of his armor--the man heads over, suspicious, but clearly not offended by the summons.

Hanzo's countenance softens as the other man approaches and likewise, the perpetual ice about Kuai Liang's heart thaws. He bows, and Scorpion returns the gesture. Heedless of Johnny--they are both accustomed to him by now--Sub-Zero clasps his former rival's hands.

"What is it?"

"It is nothing, my Heart... Cage is playing pranks. Again." The side-eye Johnny receives from Scorpion is all the warning he needs to keep his phone stowed and his mouth firmly shut.

"I would be unsettled if the case were otherwise, my Fire," responds Sub-Zero without missing a beat. "At any rate, we have much to discuss and you did say you would join me for tea." The kryomancer's blue eyes fall on Johnny. "You are welcome to join us."

His tone says otherwise and Johnny raises a hand. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks anyway, fellas."

"Bi-Han was his brother," explains Hanzo quietly, "and I killed him."

The answer is simple in words, but not so in concept. The murder had been just that, a murder, and a mistake, as Bi-Han had not been guilty of the crimes of which he'd been accused. Scorpion had not known at the time, of course, because the blighted sorcerer, Quan-Chi had taken the man's form and let the Lin Kuei to slaughter the Shirai-Ryu, warrior or otherwise.

Tundra has bade him stay. No,Hanzo thinks to himself, not Tundra. Never again. The young Lin Kuei warrior has helped the Shirai-Ryu win many decisive victories against his former clan. The least courtesy would be to allow Kuai Liang his name. He has requested of the grandmaster that he watch over his sleep… night after night he has requested this until watching over, becomes joining. Hanzo draws Kuai Liang to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around the younger man and absorbing the cooler temperature of the kryomancer’s body. On a hot night, Hanzo-sometimes-called-Scorpion must admit, Liang makes for an excellent bed partner.

Actually, he does most nights, but of course for varying reasons. A content smile finds its way to Hanzo Hasashi’s lips and he sinks into dreamless sleep with the kryomancer’s face pressing hard into his chest, a content, blissful sigh rising from Kuai Liangs lips as he follows the Shirai-Ryu grandmaster into slumber.

“I do not cloud my mind with questions of the future; the present has enough with which I might concern myself. I can only… what is it Johnny Cage has said in the past? Plan for the worst and hope for the best.” Scorpion pauses, pursing his lips. “Liang has given me hope… were I to lose him, I… might lose the last bit of myself worth keeping.”

it is the old warrior's way of saying that he does not know and does not like to think about it.

“Then it is lucky,” Scorpion responds, leaning into him, “that I am equally enthralled.”

Liang has always had the gift of speech. Hanzo would be foolish to deny this, and to deny that he loves it. The way the Lin Kuei warrior speaks sets his heart ablaze as his kisses and touches and strikes do. Everything about Sub-Zero is similarly enrapturing to the Shirai-Ryu grandmaster. He would fear this power if, as Kuai Liang had just pointed out, he did not have the same effect. Does it balance them? Certainly.

Scorpion opens his mouth to respond, but is struck utterly dumb by the ferocity of the statement. He has never been warned in this manner; in fact, the wraith is accustomed to being the one to issue such ultimatums. Placing a hand over his heart and bowing deeply at the waist, he speaks: