˙⋆✮ it starts off as competitive banter before anyone realises feelings are involved.

˙⋆✮ joseph insists he’s not jealous, while actively keeps a score of how many times caesar makes you laugh throughout the day.

˙⋆✮ caesar acts composed and gentlemanly around you… until joseph interrupts one too many conversations and suddenly he’s challenging him to races, training matches, and ridiculous dares to try and one-up him.

˙⋆✮ neither of them would confess first because they’re both convinced the other already has your attention. meanwhile, you’re obsessing over both of them and struggle daily on which one to choose.

˙⋆✮ joseph flirts with you through teasing, cockily saying “you know, if you wanted to spend more time with me, you could’ve just said so.”, when you ask him to practice training with you once.

˙⋆✮ caesar flirts like he’s in a black-and-white romance film, always complimenting you and asking you on dates. the contrast was good, but it only made you doubt more.

˙⋆✮ training only became more and more unbearable since joseph tried to show off, and caesar was naturally impressive. you were constantly trapped between the both of their arguments that just never seemed to end.

˙⋆✮ lisa lisa notices immediately and absolutely refuses to intervene, only rarely sending you a look of sympathy.

˙⋆✮ joseph becomes unexpectedly attentive when you’re tired or injured. he acts casual, but always remembers details.

˙⋆✮ caesar becomes softer around you than anyone else notices. he adjusts your gloves, fixes your posture, quietly checks if you’ve eaten.

˙⋆✮ if you compliment one without the other then joseph would celebrate, caesar pretends not to care, yet both of them think about it all day. all whilst they secretly worry you’ll choose the other.

˙⋆✮ the turning point is usually when one of them stops treating it like a competition and actually asks, “what do you want?”

· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · · ⋆. 𐙚 ˚❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·

the training courtyard was too warm. not because of the weather, but because somehow, against all odds, you had ended up between joseph and caesar for the third sparring session in a row.

“you’re holding your shoulders too stiff,” caesar mumbles, stepping behind you and adjusting your stance.

joseph immediately scoffed at his action, straight to defend you as always. “oh, come on. she was doing fine.”

caesar raised an eyebrow at him, matching his unimpressed facial expression. “your standards are low.”

“my standards are realistic.” joseph instantly retaliates, the pair of them now stood with their arms crossed at eachother.

you sighed for the fourteenth time that night, “you know i can hear both of you?”

they ignored you, as usual.

joseph stepped closer, his hands now falling into his pockets before he turned to you. “alright, new idea. train with just me instead.”

caesar of course would not be having that until he dies. “and learn bad habits?”

joseph’s scoff sent you over the final edge, finally turning to face them.

“you both realise this stopped being about training like… a week ago?” you spat, but only received silence.

for once, joseph looked away first, followed shortly by caesar suddenly finding the sky fascinating.

“don’t look at me like that.” jojo finally blurted out first, his skin itching from the tension.

“you’re jealous.” you cocked an eyebrow at him, amusement laced through your tone, causing his eyes to widen.

“i am not jealous.” he instantly retorts. caesar, clearly picking up on his eagerness, made a thoughtful noise.

“that was fast.” was all he had to say for joseph to round onto him.

“YOU don’t get to say anything.” he blurts, and caesar blinked once. then smiled.. too calmly.

“why? because she talks to me?”

joseph opened his mouth to retort, but closed it. you just stared. neither of them denied it?

and somehow.. that was worse. you couldn’t help the small laugh that came from your mouth, and not because it was funny, but because this was ridiculous.

“you two act like i’m some trophy.” you shook your head at them, causing both of them to immediately answer at the same time.

“i don’t.”

“i wouldn’t.”

then looked annoyed they’d spoken together.

“then stop competing! i feel like a cow at auction.”

caesar’s expression shifted softer first, then joseph’s followed. the courtyard slipped into silence as joseph rubbed the back of his neck as he shot caesar a glare, in which he completely ignored him.

“you’re easy to want around.” caesar continued quietly.. which joseph whispered an agreement to.

your face instantly grew warm, which was unfair, because now neither of them were being annoying.

“…then maybe stop trying to beat each other and actually ask me out.” you smiled softly, finally accepting their peace.

joseph recovered first, of course, his grin returned instantly. “oh. oh! i can do that.”

caesar exhaled through his nose, then offered his hand out to yours. “would you join me for dinner?”

“n-no- that’s not what i meant-“ you attempted to protest, but joseph immediately shoved his own hand in to the mixture of yours and caesars.

“no no, that’s boring. come with me instead.” you looked at both of their much larger hands entangled in yours, before a great idea came across your mind.

“depends who complains less.” you said, rather proud of yourself at the peaceful quiet. yet somehow, the competition started all over again.

Pre-relationship:

Bi-Han wasn't very interested in you. Like. At all.

After he became Grandmaster, he had better things to pay attention to then you, a Lin Kuei recruit!

Though after enough of purposefully messing up to get his attention, he had started to keep a close eye on you!

It had annoyed Bi-Han incredibly, and he was mean to you.

"You're a dumbass. You need to focus harder, or what use are you to this clan?"

He'd stated rudely, crossing his arms as he looked at you.

He started taking your flirting seriously, angrily telling you to stop it.

Relationship:

You have no idea how you and Bi-Han got together. And he doesnt either!

He set strict rules. Like NO physical affection in public. Pda? Nada!!!!

He has a good reason—if people find out about your relationship, it could be used against you both or against the clan as a whole!! We dont want that, do we?

But in private, he doesnt mind kissing. He isn't the biggest on physical affection, but he'll let some things slide when it comes to you. Though he isn't comfortable with big bursts of affections.

He'll give you words of affirmation, that's absolutely his love language. He'll glance at you after a long day, and sigh, before telling you "you did well today."

I can also see his love language being acts of service? Just hear me out on Acts of Service Bi-Han. Maybe it's just me im sorry

But maybe he'll help you with a few things! He'll help do a couple of chores when he's free and stuff.

Bi-Han would love having you in his arms after a long, long day being the Grandmaster. In bed, you in his arms, your body laying ontop of his as he exhaled quietly..Might be one of the only times you'd ever seen him this relaxed. Though he isn't really relaxed. He's still tense. You're never fixing that.

Though, even with your love, he'll always hate on Tomas and Kuai Liang ESPECIALLY Tomas. Even if you tell him no or encourage it he'll just be harsh

Aftermath:

After what happened with his brothers, I doubt he'd pay much attention to you anymore. While your relationship still existed, yes, he focused more on his clan then his lover.

He'd spend his days talking with Sektor about the "Cyber suits", as he called them.

"We must make y/n a suit as well. We will make the more important people get the suits first. You and Cyrax will test them."

He'd explain to Sektor, unknowing of your presence from behind the pillar, listening in.

Though he tried to show he still loved you in small gestures, it wasn't the same as before. You got less and less attention each day.

You tried to help him through this, though. What were you if not a willing lover?

But your support seemed to mean nothing to him. With his increased ego, he thought he seemed unstoppable.