#bilao

“As you know, Titan Shang Tsung’s attack against us last year has revealed a few weak points in our defense,” Liu Kang stated, pointing out spots on the map bordering the academy. “I propose that we set up a night watch here…and here.” He placed a small figurine at three spots on the map. Bi Han nodded along, but his traitorous mind kept wandering to Liu Kang’s sculpted arms and shoulders as they moved. He seemed oddly tense today.

“I have some warriors who have already volunteered for the task,” Bi Han said. “I will give the order once I return.”

Liu Kang smiled. “Excellent. If the Lin Kuei should require anything, you need only ask.”

“That should not be necessary,”Bi Han scoffed. Liu Kang simply gave him a knowing look. “As always, your assistance in this matter cannot be understated. You have my gratitude,” he said.

“Perhaps we ought to thank Titan Shang Tsung for forcing us to up our game,”Bi Han replied. Liu Hang let out a soft exhale of a laugh, a smile creeping up on his tired face. “We wouldn’t want our own Shang Tsung to get jealous, now would we?” He retorted playfully. There was a subtle glint of deviousness in his eye, one that only Bi Han could notice. Suddenly, the changes in Liu Kang’s body language began to make sense. There was something distracting him, but what? The grandmaster felt a strange warmth flood his senses as his blood rushed to his face. When was the last time he had laid with any of his partners? Usually if Liu Kang needed some intimate time, he would simply ask. But lately, he had been acting shy. It was so unlike him, it had Bi Han concerned. Perhaps Liu Kang knew that he was busy and did not want to bother him? Bi Han decided that he must rectify this later, but for now, he had a job to do.

As he made his way across the courtyard, two familiar figures caught his eye. Raiden and Kung Lao were playfully sparring under the cherry blossom tree. The energy between them seemed light and carefree as Raiden met Kung Lao blow for blow. “Just you wait!” Kung Lao said haughtily, “One of these days, they’ll be calling me the chosen one.” Raiden simply laughed and shook his head. “You never change, do you Lao?”

Bi Han approached them quietly, watching their match. Kung Lao had improved significantly since the tournament, yet his movements reflected the same flair and grace that Bi Han had witnessed during his training. Raiden caught a kick from Kung Lao, and then paused. He turned around to face the presence he had felt, poised for an attack. Once he saw Bi Han, however, he immediately relaxed. Kung Lao let his foot fall back to the ground. He crossed his arms and smirked at Bi Han. “Look who decided to show up!”

“Bi Han! It’s been a while,” Raiden said, face flushed and beaming. A soft animal part of Bi Han preened knowing that his absence did not go unnoticed. “Kung Lao and I have some down time, so we decided to spar. Would you like to join us?” Raiden suggested. “Indeed, but I must return to the Lin Kuei. There is business there that I must attend too,” Bi Han said. A look of disappointment flashed over Raiden’s features before being smoothed over with his usual polite smile. “Of course. Maybe next time?” Raiden replied.

“You better take a break at some point. All work and no play makes Bi Han a grumpy man,” Lung Lao teased. Bi Han rolled his eyes. “I will let you know if it gets to that point,” he said. Satisfied, Kung Lao and Raiden went back to sparring, though without the same vigor that they had before. Bi Han crossed the courtyard to him and his brothers’ quarters. Right when he opened the door he could feel someone watching him. His muscles tensed, preparing for a fight as he quietly shut the door. The lights were off. Only the light coming through the window illuminated the space, casting dark shadows in each corner. A quiet snicker could be heard from behind him. Bi Han immediately recognized the voice and allowed himself to relax. A pair of arms gently wrapped around him.

“Hey Frosty,” Johnny finally spoke up. “Long time no see.”

“I have been busy with clan affairs,” Bi Han said. “How many people have you accosted accidentally before I got here?”

“Just Kuai Liang,” Johnny admitted sheepishly. “And he knocked me on my ass for it.” Bi Han let out a deep chuckle. He felt Johnny smile against his shoulder.

It was unfortunate then that Liu Kang had called him and his brothers out to the Wu Shi academy because now Bi Han faced a smirking Kung Lao across the sparring ring. Kung Lao was tilting his bladed hat like an idiot, and his stupidly handsome face had a look that had Bi Han’s stomach twisting into knots. Growing a blade of ice from his hands, Bi Han focused on the cold that emanated from his hands. He was here to train Kung Lao, not ogle at him. With a deep breath, Bi Han faced his opponent and prepared to fight. He would not let this imbecile win this time. Kung Lao just smirked and blew a kiss toward the assassin. Bi Han felt his cheeks grow hot and his heart sing for joy. It was embarrassing how his body reacted so strongly to this stupid overly-confident man in front of him. He had to control his body. He was Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. He will not let his emotions sway him.

Leaping towards Kung Lao, Bi Han sprung a flurry of attacks towards Kung Lao, trying to catch him off-guard, pin him to the ground, and wipe that smirk off his face. Unfortunately, it seemed his advances only egged on Kung Lao. The man would simply leap out of the way just in time, effortlessly avoiding his blows and leaving Bi Han growing angrier and angrier. By the time Bi Han was out of breath, Kung Lao would have seemed completely unfazed if it weren’t for the rapid heaving of his chest. Not that Bi Han was looking at Kung Lao’s chest.

“Oh, is that the best you got there? I thought it would be harder.” Kung Lao had a teasing edge to his voice, and Bi Han growled. In a quick movement, Kung Lao appeared in front of Bi Han suddenly, and the Grandmaster had to move off of pure instinct to avoid the blows. Kung Lao fought aggressively now, landing blows every which way on Bi Han’s body. Everytime Bi Han tried to grab onto him, Kung Lao would slip out of his grip. At some point, Kung Lao took off Bi Han’s mask and put it on himself. Bi Han did not like the way Kung Lao looked in his mask. He looked good, and it sent Bi Han’s mind down into a spiral. Kung Lao would look good in the Lin Kuei. He would look good wearing Bi Han’s clothes. The grandmaster dug his fingernails into his palm to bring him back to the fight.

Kung Lao moved like water against Bi Han. Fluid and strong. Kung Lao was also wearing down Bi Han’s patience faster than Smoke, and in a brief moment when Kung Lao pulled back, the Grandmaster sprayed ice down onto the ground, causing the man to yelp and fall down.

Bi Han followed Kung Lao to the floor and pinned him down. He held the man’s wrists with one hand, and the grandmaster could feel the other wriggle around trying to free himself from Bi Han’s grip, and so he sat his weight down on Kung Lao.

“Yield.” Bi Han said. Kung Lao had stopped wiggling about, instead breathing heavily and staring up into Bi Han’s eyes with those beautifully stupid brown eyes of his.

“I yield.” Kung Lao said. Bi Han smirked and plucked his mask off Kung Lao’s face only to be met with Kung Lao’s very red cheeks. Bi Han admired Kung Lao. First his brown doe eyes, then his plush lips. His very full and biteable lips.

“Ya gonna get up, or are you going to keep straddling me?”

Bi Han got up in a hurry, letting go of Kung Lao’s wrists and getting off the man’s hips so fast one might’ve thought he had touched something repulsive. Kung Lao stood up and rubbed at his raw wrists. For some odd reason, the grandmaster still couldn’t get his eyes off of the man. He looked good doing anything, even if he was just rubbing his wrists.

By the Gods, Bi Han rubbed his face, trying to bring himself down to reality. He did not like this man that he had just sparred. Kung Lao was arrogant, much too confident for a simple farmer. He ate like a starved man, and he probably slept like a fool. Kung Lao probably slept in some odd position that left him open to attacks. His hair would be down and soft. And Bi Han could run his fingers through and-

No! Bi Han put his mask back on and stalked up to Kung Lao.

“Stop making me feel this way.” Bi Han hissed and shoved an accusatory finger into Kung Lao’s muscular chest. The other man smiled even as Bi Han tried his best to send the message that he very much wanted to commit a murder with his eyes.

“Make you feel like what?”

Bi Han didn’t answer. How was he supposed to say that he wanted to kiss the man in front of him? To run his fingers through his  hair and bring him back to the Lin Kuei headquarters and ravish the man until they were both satisfied. And Bi Han was a hard man to satisfy.

Bi Han turned on his heel to walk away when he felt Kung Lao wrap his arms around Bi Han’s waist. The assassin stopped in his tracks, trying to control his heart as it stuttered.

“I like you too.” Kung Lao mumbled the words into Bi Han’s back, and the grandmaster’s mind short-circuited for a moment.

“Are you sure?” Bi Han turned around slowly to face Kung Lao. The man nodded, and Bi Han tore off his mask and crushed their lips together in a violent kiss. Kung Lao was going to be the death of him.