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There was a cold wind that bitterly broke and tore the open wounds on his skin, ice had never been to his liking but it ran cruelly through his veins and he could not escape the storm that it created.
Whether he was still breathing or not was difficult to tell, perhaps because his panting was so loud and fast that he wasn't actually breathing any oxygen, the frigid wind around him not even allowing him to see properly. He held the blue leather of his armor tightly, tired and fed up with the coldness that his own hands brought.
He had managed to get to a safe place, or so he thought before he had to flee, running with everything his already tired body could. The Cyber Lin Kuei was relentless, unlike him they didn't get tired, they didn't need to take breaks, so when Kuai decided to take one they caught him.
Or well, almost.
He ran as long as his injuries allowed him to, moving was difficult, he had no energy, he has not eaten or slept, the terrain full of trees doesn't help him either, he is surrounded and he knows it, yet he does not give up. The dull noise of something exploding near him is accompanied by a burning pain in his side, there is no ground under his feet at the moment his body hits one of the logs, when he falls to the ground scraping his already bruised skin he knows well that he can't get back up, he still tries to fight.
When a metallic hand grabs the back of his neck and forces him to his knees, he knows his options are limited.
— Give up, Tundra — he had heard that phrase a thousand and one times, a harsh, tactless voice of something that is no longer really alive, using the old name in a derogatory way, under the gaze of these monsters he was not Sub-zero, he was still being Tundra, a rebellious brat and unworthy of being called a Lin Kuei, perhaps the moment they can eliminate his piety and rebellion by melting his flesh into cold metal they would finally see him as another Lin Kuei. They squeeze the back of his neck and smash his head against the tree trunk, the force was enough to make him even more dizzy as he felt blood running down the side of his face.
His brother had always told him that he should never let the ice in his veins out carelessly, he could see the horrible terror in Bi Han's eyes every time they had to train, the brutality and cruelty in each blow forced him to take care of the disastrous hurricane of ice that lived with him, he faintly remembers the calm look that Bi Han gave him the day he managed to create his first weapon without losing control, he trained hard for years to avoid accidents and unwanted damage, the Lin Kuei punishments left worse marks than any battle, years and years perfecting every minute detail of his cryomancy, making sure it flowed with him when fighting, all of this just dor him to be forced to forget all his training and explode.
The ice storm that follows is enough to freeze everything in its path, it has none of the usual elegance or precision of its movements, there is no control nor the harsh discipline that was instilled in it with blood and violence, there is nothing more than destruction and a cruel grip that breaks and freezes everything in its path.
The raw cold bit into the metal, the joints screaming in protest at their inability to move, each part denying the slightest movement and breaking in the process, small cracks growing and joining together until it can't hold any more and breaks into a thousand pieces, the oil and liquids inside the machines solidified and embedded in the iron like daggers, destroying the machines from within.
Kuai Liang pushed the frozen robot that was holdgin his neck with his hands covered in ice. When it fell to the floor, it broke into unequal parts, as if it were a simple fragile vase and not a murder machine, there was nothing left of what must have once been a man, like the rest, no one could survive the low temperatures in a metal suit.
In the midst of the disaster, unable to contain the chaos, the wind passed like strong blows, like an invisible avalanche and no robot was lucky to simply be frozen like a statue for the rest of its existence, there was blood, oil, wires and ice mixing in irregular parts that melted into the snow and dry branches, breaking the wood of the trees and killing all life around.
Kuai Liang couldn't control anything at this point, this was the Lin Kuei's greatest fear, his and his brother's greatest fear, the reason why his training was so brutal from such a young age, the jagged and angry marks on his skin burn at the thought that all that punishment simply resulted in this. He coughed heavily, breathing was difficult, there were tears that could not come out without the ice claiming them and joining it to the mess of wind and ice, rushing through the furious gusts as if they were bullets.
This was not the beautiful dance of snow and breeze that he once did for Tomas, none of the gentle snowfall that he presented for Johnny and the little blonde girl in his arms, this was none of the controlled and majestic ice that he learned from Bi han, Even when his brother was more aggressive he had never reached this extreme, and Kuai Liang knows that this level of brutality was not even useful, it was just a disaster, a chaos without end or beginning in which he would die.
His own blood froze to his skin and it embraced him with cruel claws, his own ice going to tear him apart and freeze him.
The man's weak sobs were drowned out by the aggressive whistling of the wind. Is this how it would all end? He didn't want it to be like that, but did it even matter? When was he given a choice anyways? Why would he be given any option now? Kuai Liang huddled in the snow and ice, feeling the little warmth that still remained in his body, as a small comfort, he wished he could really have something that would give him at least a little peace, some calm for the anguish of his last sobs.
Then his mind went to a certain ninja in yellow.
Oh, right, Scorpion.
What would become of him now? The man- Demon? The Shirai Ryu who had promised to take care of him as a form of redemption, Kuai Liang had no say in that decision but he would never say that he didn't appreciate Scorpion's help. Maybe it's because he was dying but his mind travels to fresh memories being close to the yellow ninja, a strange warmth fills him every time his mind wanders to the Shirai Ryu.
A little affection was born in his hurt heart since Scorpion didn't seem to leave his side, at first he actually felt terrified and angry. But was he really upset? The truth was that he was sad, it was difficult to understand why he felt so damaged just by seeing the specter, but painful memories came to him when he saw him. As the months passed, Scorpion never tried to cross any limits, if Kuai did not want to talk he would never say a word, if Kuai asked him that he did not want to see him for a few days he would disappear until Kuai gently called his name, Kuai knew the man was still there, for some reason that gave him a strange comfort. Then he understood that his horror of being alone made him appreciate Scorpion's company.
When he invited him to eat with him, the specter denied the food but as Kuai requested, he stayed to keep him company while he fed. Scorpion did not need to sleep, however he always stayed at night, once Kuai fell asleep against his shoulder and when he woke up the man was still there, more than once he wondered if Scorpion only saw him for hours while he rested or perhaps meditated, an alternative to sleeping that the specter had told him he had.
Kuai calmed down around the specter with every small interaction, the only constant in his daily life had become this undead man who watched over his safety day and night.
Now that he doubted he would get out of this alive, he wondered what Scorpion would do once he found out that he died from his own ice. He's not stupid, he's seen emotions in those white, affiliated eyes, there's fire and anger but he can also see the worry with which Scorpion sees him when he gets hurts, every night those milky eyes seem to burn more into themselves when they focus on every bruise or cut on Kuai's skin, he knows that there is real concern and care when Scorpion takes care of his damaged skin.
Kuai Liang murmured something into the wind, a cry full of sadness and despair.
.
He had lost sight of the young Sub-zero minutes ago.
He spent the last few months following the young cryomancer carefully, avoiding being noticed while doing his best to eliminate every threat that tried to touch Kuai Liang, at least that was how it was at first, before small moments of interaction between the two began to occur, there came a point where he couldn't refuse to simply sit near the cryomancer because he asked him to, he blamed the man's tender, tired eyes for it.
Today he had been in charge of melting robot after robot, he growled with rage when he saw the broken humanity in those machines, a feeling of sympathy grew in his hollow heart every time he had to be taking care of Kuai Liang from these abominations, this was his own clan seeking to cruelly take and deform the life of this young man, because the only thing they seek from the man is his power to control ice, simply one more weapon to that Grandmaster's heartless and disgusting collection.
Kuai Liang was unlike any member of the Lin Kuei he had ever known or heard of, they were reputed to be the most ruthless and cruel killers in existence, but he could see compassion in the man, one he had not seen in years from a warrior as strong as the cryomancer is, Kuai Liang was worth any sacrifice and the specter would make sure to take care of that little grain of hope for this shit-filled clan.
A few hours ago he had made sure that Kuai Liang was safe in a hiding place to go see the surroundings, more than once he had come across more of those machines searching for the young Lin Kuei.
Just like other times he came across a group of them, smaller than other times, there were only three, and it didn't seem like they were the only ones, of course they weren't, he saw a few moving through the sky, they saw him but they ignored him, something peaked in the back of the spectrum's neck, something was wrong.
It was a trap? Maybe it was, they already knew that Kuai should not be alone, that Scorpion was watching his back, they separated him from the young Sub-zero long enough to attack him at a moment where he was vulnerable, he heard the noise of a fight, the noise of the Cyber Lin Kuei while they were chasing Kuai Liang through the forest, he immediately ran to try to find Kuai and get him away from the danger, the young man barely had any energy when he last saw him.
It seemed he wasn't fast enough, a huge storm grew and flooded the entire forest, the tearing touch of the ice and the wind were like knives digging into his skin. He narrowed his eyes ready to move forward.
Since the fire of hell had decided to settle inside him to fill the gaps in the body of an undead man full of rage, the cold had never been a problem, a cryomancer like Kuai could still freeze him, yes, but it was much easier freeing himself from the frozen prison, he didn't even seem to mind having been literally frozen. It has been years since he feel the need to shiver in the cold, however now in the midst of the storm his flames seemed to cool and his hands trembled.
This was no ordinary storm.
He had seen Kuai Liang create storms before, more than once he stayed under the snow to appreciate the soft fall of the snowflakes, soft and beautiful, he had never really liked snow, but Kuai's creations seemed to carry with them the same charm of the cryomancer. This, however, was nothing like that, the wind roared with such pain that it would be impossible for a mortal to breathe properly, the ice cut and tore mercilessly and there was no liquid that did not freeze and cruelly embed itself in whatever it found in its path.
Scorpion forced himself to go faster, to raise the flames into a fire to counteract the raw pain.
He had to get to Kuai Liang.
There was a trail of chaos that led him to the eye of the hurricane, parts of frozen and broken machines mixed with pieces of meat, oil and blood that no longer made sense, the closer he seemed to be to the beginning of the massacre, the more frozen the air was and his flames grew with the force and rage of a volcanic explosion.
It was difficult to see at this point, there were no trees to give him a direction, but there was something in the middle of all the snow, something blue, a small wisp that trembled among all the chaos.
— Sub-zero! — he shouted, competing against the noise of the wind, he shouted once more as he advanced, praying to the gods that the cryomancer could hear him.
— Kuai Liang! — he shouted more desperately, there was no response and the man was stained in blood and ice.
Finally his hand reached Kuai Liang's.
He drew the frozen man into his flames, and the ice melted at his touch, steam leaping where the skin touched, there was no way he could help him if every time he melted the ice it formed again.
He hugged the young man tightly, there was a horrible fear growing in his chest, there was little sign that Kuai was even alive yet, the terror of knowing that the life he swore to protect was slipping through his fingers wanted to make him vomit, his mind shut down into itself, wanting to scream in frustration at not being able to protect Kuai and running in violent turns, wallowing in his own anger and sadness.
He held the cold body tightly, letting the flames surround them, thus going somewhere safe.
.
Scorpion was hysterical, to say the least, furious even, and worried more than anything. A few hours ago he had arrived at a small hut that he found years ago, a refuge from the outside, as cozy as a gloomy castle forgotten by time could be.
Kuai Liang's presence made this small place look more like a home tho.
He sighed exasperatedly, terror seeping into his voice. He had managed to unfreeze Kuai Liang but he didn't dare move away, sitting next to him, keeping his hands close to warm Kuai. He lit a fireplace, prepared blankets (he had to steal some from a village that could still remember its location, since what was in the hut was not enough to keep Kuai Liang warm), accommodated the young man as best he could, and after a few hours the natural color had returned to Kuai's cheeks.
He was able to sigh with some relief as he saw Kuai approach his hand as he gently cupped his cheek.
He had spent months looking out for the good of this man, there was a need in himself to hold Kuai carefully, to treat him with a gentleness that no one in the Lin Kuei should have given him, a lot of sensations inappropriate for a specter motivated by revenge.
Thinking that he once tried to hurt this man filled him with a putrid feeling, seeing him now, resting, even in this state he looked worried, Scorpion did not understand when he began to feel this need to take care of the man like a treasure. At what point did it start? to want to hug and hold Kuai Liang with the affection of a lover? Perhaps the more time he spent having small interactions and seeing him from a distance, the more his non-existent heart began to fill with the image of the young man.
There was something special about him, beyond his compassion, that called Hanzo to caress and touch, seeking to care rather than harm, wanting to kiss the man gently and calm him.
They had interacted more than once before, at first there was clear hostility between them, then one night Scorpion had appeared to heal an injured Kuai Liang, just like now, he held him carefully and cared for him until he woke up.
Kuai Liang started talking back to him after that. There was more ease in his posture and he even once asked him to keep him company, and how could he deny something to this man? Scorpion couldn't just say "no" to the most beautiful eyes he has seen in years, soft, light blue eyes that shine slightly as if they were two sapphires, as if the sky itself had left two drops in the eyes of this man, who at the same time, just as the sky, could be beautiful and terrifying, a true spectacle that stirred his nonexistent organs from top to bottom.
Scorpion stroked the black hair, it was slightly longer than the last time he was able to touch it, a few weeks ago, when Kuai fell asleep on his shoulder and Scorpion took the opportunity to caress and comb the dark strands.
There was a slight hint of a beard trying to start growing on the cryomancer's face, the fatigue under his eyes was more noticeable now that his skin had a healthier color. He traced the man's eyebrows, relaxing the boy's face in the process. He had seen him with this expression once before, with thick, relaxed eyebrows marking blue eyes full of life.
That night Scorpion had helped Kuai Liang escape from the Cyber Lin Kuei.
Raiden asked the young Sub-zero for his help, Scorpion questioned why of all the warriors still in Earthrealm the god specifically chose the man who couldn't be in more trouble (if Scorpion could directly ask Raiden something he was sure a question wouldn't be enough to question the god, because he didn't help Kuai Liang. Perhaps he trusted that Scorpion was enough to keep him alive and take care of the Cyber Lin Kuei? he had no idea) the thunder god sent Kuai, and indirectly Scorpion, to look for a relic called Kamidogu.
Raiden gave an entire history class before sending Kuai Liang for Earthrealm's Kamidogu.
— I fear that Quan Chi is determined to gather the Kamidogus, he has been making suspicious movements throughout the Netherealm — the sorcerer's name made the specter tense with rage, the last thing he knew about Quan Chi was that he was in the depths of hell, in one of the lowest rings the Netherealm could present, he had no idea how he had escaped that abyss, or if he had even fully emerged from the torture that is the Netherealm, but if he dared to make a move against Kuai Liang, he would make sure to rip off his head.
— If so, I ask you to keep an eye on Scorpion — that was the last thing the god said before teleporting Kuai to the territory where he could find the Kamidogu. Scorpion narrowed his eyes at the god. What did he mean by that?
For now he was not going to question him anything, the reason why he came out of hiding and stood face to face with Raiden was to get the location of Kuai Liang from him, whether by reason or force.
— I was hoping to see each other again, Scorpion — Raiden sounded calm, as if the god was already waiting for him to appear, perhaps it was predictable, because where Kuai Liang was going, a trail of fire would also follow him.
— Where did you send Sub-zero? — he wasn't blunt. Direct and rough like he used to act even when he was alive. Raiden watched him for a couple of seconds that only fueled the specter's rage.
— I thought you had heard our conversation.
— I know why you sent him, but not where, tell me where he is — The pyromancer pressed, he was restless, he was not worried that Kuai was alone, he was worried about not knowing where he was, if he lost sight of him now because of the god it would take weeks to find it again, because that's how it was at the beginning, Kuai Liang was a Lin Kuei, stealth is almost like his main nature, finding a pearl in an ocean might seem easy until you remember how deep the water is.
There was no need to draw his weapons or summon his flames to convince Raiden to send him to Kuai Liang, what he took away was time.
He doesn't know how many hours he waited for Raiden to finally let him go to the Kamidogu temple, but it was enough for Kuai Liang to end up in trouble.
Two weeks had passed without the Cyber Lin Kuei finding them, almost a record. Now they were there following the cryomancer, Kuai Liang had barely managed to put the relic in the bag that Raiden gave him when the robots caught up with him and forced him to flee.
The entrance to the huge chamber where the Kamidogu was kept was blown up by one of the red missiles, Sektor had always been an annoying piece of shit. More explosions echoed through the large room, Kuai dodged as best he could all the debris that was falling due to the missiles.
The intentions of Sektor and his two companions were clear, they sought to bury him alive, and the moment the rubble broke his bones and crushed his organs they would only have to remove his corpse from the ruins to take it to the Lin Kuei, in addition to taking a little extra gift for their clan.
A hole opened up in the ceiling and Kuai knew that was his oportunity, he moved forward freezing one of the robots trying to move towards his only exit on an ascending ice slide, Sektor reacted quickly enough to knock him down, Kuai sought to find his footing on another piece of ice, sliding down and hitting his abdomen until he was hanging from the ice, he quickly stabilized himself to launch a flurry of ice blades that impacted the second cyber lin kuei.
Sektor launched another missile that hit close to where Kuai was, too low for it to have actually been a mistake.
Then a pillar fell, taking Kuai with it to the ground and crushing half of the cryomancer's body.
Kuai Liang screamed in pain, he had reacted quickly enough to create a solid layer of ice on his abdomen, thus preventing his organs and bones from being mashed, Sektor lowered himself until he was in front of him for a few meters, and before the robot could speak a kunai lit on fire pierced the red robot's shoulder.
Kuai Liang opened his eyes in surprise, a dead weight seemed to release his heart.
Scorpion fought Sektor, falling into a numerical disadvantage when one of the Cyber Lin Kuei returned to the scene, the kunai finishing the job Kuai's ice blades had started on the second robot and the hellfire collide with Sektor's flamethrowers, forcing him to try another strategy and finally having to resort to retreat because the entire site was falling apart due to the constant explosions, and if they continued like this they would end up under stones and earth as well.
— Don't think it ends here, Tundra — even when Sektor's voice was robotic and harsh, he could hear the contempt and anger in it.
The debris was removed from his body at some point, Kuai Liang was staying focused on the internal ice armor while Scorpion rushed to take them both out of the temple with his flames.
— Don't move, calm down — The specter's voice was firm but soft as he laid him on the ground, checking with gentle touches that the man had no broken bones.
Kuai Liang put his hand to his bag, the artifact was still there. He sighed finally letting the ice on his torso melt, the pain of the blow still registering in his nerves and muscles, he complained slightly, Scorpion put his hands on him immediately, he checked every space and didn't leave his side even when Kuai was fine.
— Can you take me to Raiden? —he asked after a few minutes, there was a painful rasp in his voice, at some point his throat had been crushed.
— First I'll make sure you're okay —The low growl of Scorpion's voice implied that there was no room for discussion, but Kuai Liang was difficult, refusing to waste time he tried to move, Hanzo's arms surrounded him, taking him to the ground again — Rest first — the specter insisted. Kuai Liang grunted out of pain rather than frustration, his hands gripping the yellow fabric on the Shirai Ryu's back.
They both stared at each other for a while, holding each other's arms and regulating their breathing with each other's, a contact that felt intimate and sweet, relaxing the Lin Kuei heart and pain for seconds, when distant noises alerted Hanzo to danger, he pulled Kuai Liang close to his own body protectively, he has used his own body as a shield for Kuai before so this is not really a surprising action for the younger man.
Sektor's red silhouette with his angry voice failed to reach them as Scorpion engulfed them in flames.
That was the first time that Scorpion took Kuai to that hut, he didn't say anything, none of them did when Scorpion held him carefully until he let him rest on the only bed in the humble home, they didn't separate much after that, with Hanzo looking for taking care of Kuai's state and Kuai gently seeking Scorpion's warmth.
The fireplace was lit with a few movements of Scorpion's hand, the specter made sure he got what he needed to take care of Kuai Liang in the time he stayed in that small space.
There wasn't much talking, but there were too many looks, too many touches, too many hands holding and caressing each other's bodies. Scorpion was careful, remembering his days when it was common to heal an injured comrade, what was to cook or prepare tea for someone who meant the world to him, Hanzo Hasashi stirred needily under the specter's mask with every little thing he did to help the cryomancer, holding him softly like once he did long ago with a lover.
Scorpion sat on the edge of the bed, leaning down to gently cup the cryomancer's face, he caressed the bruised skin and Kuai shivered at the touch.
It was not the first time that his warm hands had made the cryomancer tremble with gentle caresses, the man was hungry for the slightest display of soft and sweet affection, but he did not seem to be aware of his own need, Scorpion moved forward carefully, touching as far as the cryomancer would let him touch.
When Kuai Liang was finally able to get up and move without problems, Scorpion brought him before Raiden to finish his mission, the god watched him with something indescribable in his bright gaze, aware of something that Kuai and Scorpion seemed to ignore.
He accepted and thanked the Kamidogu, leaving Kuai to go back to his fate.
Kuai decided to return to Scorpion, they returned to the hut holding each other's hands, they ate something together and Kuai Liang got up to continue his escape.
Before Kuai walked through the door, Scorpion held his hand to prevent him.
— Why don't you stay here?
— Sorry?
— You can stay, this is no one's home, no one knows about this place but me — Kuai Liang turned to look at the specter, the white eyes seemed to shine with what was supplication and hope, there was something trembling in them too, a fear to the rejection that caused a painful lump in Kuai's throat.
— I would put you in danger — he murmured, somewhat illogical considering that Scorpion himself was the one who put himself in the line of fire by following Kuai.
— That matters? — Scorpion frowned, anger growing in his eyes as he squeezed the pale hand between his warm fingers.
— Yes… I care — Kuai responded in a whisper, looking directly at the fire that was the specter.
— I'm not even alive.
— You can still die.
— While hell burns alive, me too, and I will return from the depths, but- you can't… — Scorpion's voice is strangled at the simple and unsaid idea.
— Still, I wouldn't like to see you hurt — Kuai whispers sadly, Scorpion growls slightly at him, the Lin Kuei assumes that the specter also doesn't like the sight of his body covered in constant more tones and wounds.
— I can't stay, Scorpion — Kuai's voice was soft, an apology and a plea.
Then they both fall silent, Kuai brings his other hand closer and they both hold and entangle their fingers in each other's, there is a strange sensation in both of them, a doubt that melts into a fondness kept in ice and chains.
Kuai Liang stays to rest until the next morning, asking Scorpion to sleep with him, and the specter's arms provide him with more warmth than any campfire or blanket ever could. They tangle their legs below the blankets and fingers move gently on each other's skin, Kuai's head sinks into Scorpion's neck, as if looking for warmth or a hiding place, a safe place where he finally settles and sleeps soundly, his breathing is calmer than usual.
Scorpion stays awake observing the cryomancer's every small movement, even when he stirs slightly in his sleep, throughout the night he never tried to get away from the arms that held his waist.
The next morning they ate again, Kuai looked lighter around him, well fed and rested, he looked happy and for a moment he managed to see calm invade his normally stoic face.
Scorpion would kill to go back to that small moment when he caught Kuai's soft, shy smile as he ate the small breakfast.
— Kuai Liang.
— What? — Scorpion narrowed his eyes in clear confusion, the Lin Kuei looked back at him with calm eyes.
— My name, it's Kuai Liang — he explained, complete calm in his features.
It was not common for the Lin Kuei to confide their real name to someone just like that.
Scorpion could swear his non-existent heart started beating again.
— It's beautiful.
Kuai smiled again.
And at the end of the day Kuai Liang left.
.
When he opened his eyes he felt as if he had died and come back to life. His last memories of consciousness could be bought to live seconds in hell itself, and now he was in what seemed to be heaven, he doubted that if he were dead he could still feel pain, he also doubted that he would still be lying in the middle of the forest hallucinating, so he must be in a different place.
It was somewhere soft, comfortable, safe, but above all warm.
— Kuai Liang? — the cryomancer's eyes went to the figure near him, ah right, that's where the feeling of warmth came from, Kuai Liang smiled foolishly when he saw the specter, a joy pumping his heart irregularly.
— Hello… — he greeted with a broken voice, but it was soft, drowsy, like what a partner's voice should sound when greeting you as soon as you woke up from a comforting night, as if Kuai had not been on the verge of dying hours ago.
— gods, Kuai… — Scorpion whispered with relieved pain, the soft voice, the beautiful look in his eyes and the bright crooked smile touched his wounded heart and bathed it in honey, he approached to hold the man's cheeks with shameless affection.
He pressed their foreheads together and breathed in the same air, steam coming out slightly from between them, Kuai's still swaying hands rose to come out from under the blankets to take hold of the gold skin, he stirred gently seeking more contact.
Scorpion pressed his cheeks together, then Kuai slithered down into the pyromancer's neck, bringing his hands to the back of the body above him.
— You still need to rest —Scorpion whispers, lowering his hands to caress the Lin Kuei's waist and neck, the younger man's breath hitched and heaved at the soft contact.
— sleep with me? —He asked softly, Scorpion didn't have to think it twice.
Kuai Liang sought Scorpion's warmth as soon as their legs and arms tangled in each other's, blue eyes meeting white ones, there were whispers between them, shy promises and burning affection that burned the skin and made the steam rise. raised until he touched the stars, Scorpion tightened his grip desperately on the cinched waist, Kuai watched him with barely understood pleas between his lips, the blankets hid the kisses and sighs that followed.