#jinkeda

This is inspired by @novicedraws AU where Kung Lao is a member of the Red Dragon. It’s a really good AU and I suggest everyone that likes RaiLao and disaster gays in general give it a look. It’s really fun.

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Raiden let out a heavy sigh as he left the debriefing on his latest bout of undercover work within the Red Dragon. He managed to get in and out in one piece though not without being unnoticed. Kung Lao, one of the crime syndicate’s top enforcers, had found him out and confronted him. And it wasn’t the first time he had done so. The others didn’t need to know that though. Nor did they need to know about how most of their recent encounters ended, not in combat, but sometime far more intimate. He left all mention of Kung Lao out of his report. He didn’t need them knowing about his entanglement.

“You’re being careless.” A miffed voice huffed from behind him, nearly startling Raiden out of his own skin.

Whipping around he was faced with Takeda, Kenshi’s younger cousin, leaning by the door frame, arms crossed, eyeing him critically. An amused lopsided smirk found its way onto his face at Raiden’s reaction, causing him to look every bit the delinquent the others accused him of being. His eyes reminded ever piercing, however. Like a predator watching unsuspecting prey.

Raiden’s interactions with the younger ex-yakuza were few and far between, a few short missions here and there, an anecdote from Kenshi or Tomas, but every face to face meeting always unnerved him, reminding Raiden of why Takeda had been such a high rank amongst the gang, despite his young age. It was always because of his eyes. They were too knowing, too calculating, like he could see inside of Raiden’s mind and peel away whatever he pleased, leaving his soul completely bare. If the tattoos that painted his body didn’t give away how dangerous he was, his eyes certainly would. Even now, sitting beneath an amused glance, Raiden felt like a fly desperately struggling within the restraints of a spider’s web, venomous all seeing doom bearing down on him with fangs drawn.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Raiden tried in vain to shake his unease.

“Playing dumb, Zappy? Not really your style,” Takeda pushed himself off the wall and circled in front of the Shaolin, effectively trapping him, “I guess it makes sense though, you’re being a massive idiot.”

Raiden averted his gaze. Takeda took it as an invitation to step closer.

“He’s going to figure you out eventually, farm boy. It’s a miracle that prideful psycho hasn’t already. And do you really think you have what it takes to handle the fallout when he does?” Raiden could feel the intensity of the younger man’s glare as he spoke, “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

So he really did know about him and Kung Lao. He really was as observant as they say. No wonder Kuai Liang put up with him. It was a remarkable talent, being able to see through the lies. Akin to reading minds. A powerful tool to have in an ally, and terrifying to have turned against you.

“How did you know?” The heat burning Raiden’s cheeks with shame was unbearable.

“I’m not blind,” Takeda emphasized, “Everyone else sees you as this goodie-two-shoes. They can’t imagine a world where you’d pull a stunt like this,” Takeda backed off a little and Raiden lifted his gaze to find the assassin looking far less intimidating, a more playful energy briefly taking over him, “And Kung Lao of all people? Didn’t know you were freaky, or maybe forced celibacy at that monastery Liu runs has gotten you horny enough to fuck their top enforcer. Of all the dumb things I thought you were capable of, that wasn’t on the list. It’s not everyday I’m surprised by something so color me impressed by your bold stupidity.”

“You’re one to talk,” Raiden huffed, “Tomas mentioned the things you get up to. The guy you keep sneaking off to see, Jin, right? Isn’t he Kung Lao’s cousin or something? What does that say about you?”

“That I’m living up to expectations.” It annoyed Raiden with how proud Takeda sounded right then, “And I’m not sneaking, me and Kung Jin were a thing way before I joined your little hero squad, by force might I add. He’s not Red Dragon, just a petty thief. And don’t change the subject. This isn’t about the dick I’m riding, this is about the person riding yours.”

Raiden rolled his eyes at the “by force” part. After losing the fight against Kenshi and recovering at the Shirai Ryu, Takeda had been free to go, more or less. It was his decision to stick around and his enthusiasm that got them this far to begin with. He supposed it was just another quirk of the ex-assassin’s personality, pretending not to care when in reality he cared very deeply. It did raise concern about why he has gone out of his way to confront Raiden now. Either he really did see Raiden as a friend and was trying to get him to air on the side of caution, or Raiden was dancing so close to a raging inferno that even the shorter man’s sometimes questionable morality left him no choice but to intervene.

“I’m fine,” Raiden continued to insist with a sigh, “I appreciate the concern but there’s no need. He doesn’t actually care about me and this gets us closer to the info we need. I’m fine.”

Takeda looked at him for a moment, processing what he just heard, before shaking his head, something akin to pity in his eyes, “Never heard of a man whose fine have to say it twice. Look, I know this world and its people better than you do. I’ve been in the same room as Kung Lao more than once. He’s possessive and doesn’t like being slighted. He’ll kill you if he ever thinks for a second you’re a spy. And on top of that, he’s Mavado’s favorite, and if the rumors about those two are true, he’ll string you up for being a home wrecker.”

Takeda was right. Raiden knew this. He had far more experience with these high profile criminals than anyone else here, his older cousin included. It was common knowledge that he and Mavado had butted heads on more than one occasion, the main reason he remained with the Yakuza and was never brought into the Red Dragon’s main fold. He knew these people, sat at the same table as these people. If there was ever someone’s advice he should take it would be Takeda’s.

Even still though, he felt an immense connection to Kung Lao. It was a feeling he just couldn’t shake; that beneath all that bloodshed and bravado was something soft, something real. And he knew Kung Lao felt it too. Perhaps with time he could convince Kung Lao to leave that world like Kuai Liang had with Takeda. Maybe he could join them or perhaps they could figure something out and still remain together like Takeda and Kung Jin did. It was a nice thought, one worth exploring.

Raiden averted his gaze once more, unable to meet Takeda’s eyes. Takeda was right. He was being incredibly stupid. He was probably the stupidest person on the planet and this could probably blow up their whole operation. But he was in too deep now and he wanted to see this through to the end.

His gaze fixed onto the couch on the opposite side of the room where a plush toy of what Raiden recognized as the character Cinnamonroll lay. Raiden couldn’t help the chuckle that came out of him.

“Is that yours? It doesn’t look like something Hanzo would have. Did Kung Jin give it to you? You never struck me as the type to like cute things. Was he here just now? That’s why you weren’t at the meeting, Hu?” Raiden remarked.

The red hot blush that instantly painted itself onto Takeda’s face let Raiden know he was right on the mark. Instantly the cool persona the boy always wore shattered, and for the first time Raiden got a small glimpse at the real person underneath.

“W-Whatever! Fuck you! Fine! Get killed by your boy toy. See what I care!” Takeda began to storm off before pausing in the doorway, “Just… Be careful, yeah? If I figured it out, it won’t be long before he does too.”

“I appreciate your concern. Thank you. I’ll try to be more careful from now on.”

“Go fuck yourself.”