Chapter Text
A group of Tengu assassins trekked through the forest, using their swords to cut away at any scrubby and branches in their way. It was surprisingly warm out, allowing only a thin layer of snow on the ground. The leader, Wu Lae, walked in front of the group, taking each step slowly and deliberately.
“You were right, the Lin Kuei are weakened,” One of the Tengu commented smugly. “They won’t notice us unless we walk through their temple door.”
“You really think that” a voice replied in Mandarin.
Wu Lae looked around, seeing nothing there.
A snapping branch alerted the group, and they all turned toward a tree. A red armored warrior reappeared out of thin air in front of it. The Lin Kuei tilted his head, glowing blue eyes bore into the leader, “That you are capable of barging into our territory without us noticing? Don’t make me laugh.”
“They would have chicken out before they reached 100 yards of our temple, no doubt,” A matching yellow armored warrior jumped from above and landed next to her red counterpart. Despite the Mandarin, her accent sounded different compared to her companion and the Tengu.
“I have heard about you,” Wu Lae murmured, seeming unfazed by the interruption. He even boldly stepped toward them, “Sektor and Cyrax.”
“Only good things I hope,” Cyrax quipped, resting her hands on her hips.
“Let’s cut the chitchat,” Sektor rolled his shoulders, “Leave. You have no business here.”
“You will have to forgive me,” the Tengu Leader rested his hand on his chest, “We were only curious if the rumors are true.”
“What rumors?” Cyrax inquired, cocked her head to the side.
“If the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, Sub-Zero, has been weakened due to dark magic. That he can barely form ice. And his two remaining best warriors have Cybernetic suits,” Wu Lae boasted, pleased with himself as he eyed the two. “Which I can see that is true. Which means-.”
“Our Grandmaster is fine,” Sektor snapped, his voice came off as defensive.
“I am pleased to know, but are you surprised? These rumors popped up shortly after losing favor with the Fire God and the creation of the new clan, the Shirai-Ryu,” he continued, studying the pair of Cyberntic warriors carefully. “We were merely concerned whether or not the Lin Kuei are no longer the stronger clan.”
“Rest assured, we still are,” There was a tinge of annoyance in Cyrax’s voice. She raised her chin toward the leader. “And if you do not leave…then we will show you the way out.”
A warrior behind their leader bristled, hands reaching for the hilts of their swords. The Tengu Leader held his hand up. “Just because you have enhancements does not mean you will win.”
Sektor growled under his breath, huffing, “You think you can survive fire.”
Cyrax held her hand up in the air as she stepped between Sektor and the Tengu leader, “There is no need to fight. Leave our territory.”
“Are the Lin Kuei so afraid to fight for their land?” Wu Lae taunted, “And here I thought that you have a new powerful assassin to rival that of Scorpion. I had looked forward to meeting him, what’s his name…Sabotage?”
Cyrax paused for a few seconds before turning her back and walking forward, waving her hand, “No need, he has been here the entire time.”
The Tengu Leader froze for a second, searching around frantically. His eyes darted to the trees. He didn’t see anyone else with Sektor and Cyrax.
A spear shot out of nowhere and pierced through the guy’s head, the one who stood next to the leader. Wu Lae jerked around as his men scattered in different direction, feeling a flicker of panic and fear within his chest.
Then he felt his head being yanked back and a kunai pressed against his neck. His eyes shifted toward his attacker, seeing nothing but pale white eyes and a mask that resembled a demon’s mouth, one of the mask’s fangs poked into the leader’s cheek.
The man said something in Japanese. It couldn’t have been good as the demonic man laughed after he finished talking.
“Attack him,” The Tengu Leader begged, feeling more fear pour into him.
“That isn’t a good idea,” Sabotage disagreed in English, “You have no regard for your men.” He cocked his head, his eyebrows furrowing. He sounded almost amused by the situation, “I could kill them all with a thought, you don’t believe me?”
The demonic ninja lifted his free hand and a burst of fire formed around them in a circle.
Wu Lae heard his men scream in fear. He heard their footsteps running away from him. He watched as Cyrax rushed out of sight.
“My Grandmaster would love to see you,” Sektor laughed as he eyed the leader.
Hanzo knew he was very good at playing certain roles. For Bi-Han, he would happily play the role of a demonic ninja. He knew how to be intimidating.
He wrapped the chain of his kunai around the Tengu Leader’s throat and pinned Wu Lae’s hands behind his back. From the corner of his eyes, Hanzo saw Sektor and Cyax round up the rest of the Tengu men before tying them all to a tree using one of Cyrax’s nets.
Hanzo nudged the back of The Leader’s leg with his foot in order to get him to move. Wu Lae eagerly moved forward. Hanzo rolled his eyes. He had his fill on cowardly men when he was still a young nimja in the Shirai-Ryu. They were always the same. They talked about a big game, but when it came to it, they turned into obedient cowards after a mere threat.
They walked further into the forest until they got to the midway point. Hanzo teleported them to the rest of the way. It was easier to keep the exact location of the Lin Kuei hidden. And it was quicker.
The guards let them through, talking through a couple of earpieces.
Wu Lae grunted, but he kept walking forward when Hanzo shoved him forward, bringing out the kunai and teasing the blade against the man’s throat.
They trekked through the village until they reached the Temple. When they reached the main hallway, Sektor pushed open the door and stomped to the other side of the room, stopping before a small case of stairs, bowing and resting his hand over his heart. On the top of the stairs was Bi-Han who was sitting on a throne. He wore a light blue hanfu and his Sub-Zero mask.
To most people, Bi-Han dressed formally to give off the aura of someone in power, but Hanzo knew it was to hide how much weight he had lost. To hide his persisting pale skin and black veins. To hide the tremor in his limbs as he walked.
The young Grandmaster eyed the people below with a mixture of annoyance and callousness. He wrapped his fingers along the throne arm. He tilted his head, “What have you brought me?”
“The Tengu have gotten too confident,” Sektor announced, pacing in front of Bi-Han. “They really think that they can just waltz into our territory and claim it as their own.”
Bi-Han arched an eyebrow before standing up and walking down the stairs. He rested his hands behind his back as he stared down the Tengu Leader, “Do you think I am weak? That my clan isn’t capable of protecting our territory.”
“You’re still that little boy trying to act tough,” The Tengu leader snapped back, his voice became raspy due to the chain pressed against his throat.
“Sabotage,” Bi-Han merely replied, anger flashing across his face.
Hanzo chuckled evilly; he knew how to play the part. He tightened his hold of the chain spear.
Wu Lae gasped, prying at the chains.
“Get him on his knees,” Bi-Han commanded, raising his chin.
The spectre obeyed immediately, kicking the back of the Tengu Leader’s leg with enough force that Wu Lae fell to his knees, struggling to breathe as the chain slowly strangled him. Hanzo lowered it slowly, letting the man breathe properly.
“You only live because I haven’t decided yet if I should be merciful,” Bi-Han told him, looking up at the ceiling. He appeared disgusted. “You dare come onto my clan’s land which have belonged to the Lin Kuei for centuries. And you think that I will have nothing to say about it? That none of my men would have stop you?”
“No-.” Wu Lae stammered, his cowardness overtaking him.
“Enough,” Bi-Han interrupted him, raising his hand, “I have no patience for excuses.”
He turned to face the Leader, his eyes briefly meeting Hanzo’s gaze. He leaned forward and said, “I’ll let you live only because you need to be alive to tell your people how quickly your plot failed. That my warriors had you trembling before my feet.”
“Thank you,” The Leader’s voice cracked in nervousness.
“If I see you on my territory again, then Sabotage has permission to burn you to a crisp. Don’t think I won’t know, I always know,” Bi-Han went on to say, turning his back on Hanzo and Wu Lae. He walked up to the throne and sat down into it, crossing his legs and cocking his head to the side, “Sabotage, get him out of my sight and out of my territory.”
Hanzo forced the man to his feet and teleported them out of the room.
Once Hanzo teleported out of the room, Bi-Han plopped down on his throne. His joints ached. He felt lighthearted, but he pushed that aside. It was a part of his normal list of grievances at this point. He nodded his head toward Sektor and praised, “Those cameras have been useful.”
“I told you,” Sektor retracted his mask, smirking. He folded his arms over his chest, “I think we will no longer have the Tengu to worry about.”
“My father allowed them to get too comfortable with pushing boundaries. He was content to ignore them and pretend they didn’t exist,” Bi-Han recalled with a snort.
Cyrax retracted her own mask, arching her eyebrows, “Though the rumors about you being weakened by dark magic certainly didn’t help.”
Bi-Han’s eye twitched and he huffed, “I suppose not.”
He then let a sigh before asking, “Cyrax, are you able to finish up with the Grandmaster duties for today?”
“Your symptoms worse today?” Cyrax questioned. When Bi-Han nodded, she placed her hand over her chest, dipping her head in a slight bow, “Then it will my honor.”
“Thank you, I shall be in my room,” Bi-Han told her before dismissing himself. He hated how weakened he was after being Noob Saibot. He was mostly better, but it had taken a toll on his body. It took more energy to do what was simple for him to do in the past. He was barely able to train and fight because his body felt like it was caving in on itself. Even standing to oversee missions and training, he could only do for a short period of time.
He headed toward his room, albeit slowly. He pushed open his door and walked in, immediately stripping off layers of his hanfu. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, pinching the fabric and wrinkling his nose at how loose it felt. As part of his ritual, he glanced over at the mirror within his onset bathroom. He hated how thin he was, how his muscles were less refined. His skin looked marginally healthier, but it was still sickly pale, and there were still some faint traces of black veins.
Bi-Han needed to be kinder to himself. He was still healing. It was a slow process. A very slow process. He wished he was just better already.
“I see that I was too late to see you change,” Hanzo’s voice broke him out of his thoughts.
Bi-Han’s lips curved upwards and he turned around to meet his lover’s eyes. He raised his chin, “Is that how you speak about your Grandmaster?”
Hanzo tugged down his mask, a grin plastered onto his face. “It’s how I speak about the love of my life.” He took a couple of steps until he was able to wrap his arms around Bi-Han’s waist, leaning down for a kiss.
Bi-Han met his lips halfway, resting his hands on Hanzo’s chest. He curled his fingers into the fabric of Hanzo’s ninja uniform, pulling him close until their bodies were flushed together.
This was Bi-Han needed. He wanted to be normal. He wanted to be with someone who loved him. He deepened the kiss between them. His hand travelled further up Hanzo’s arms and then chest, leading Hanzo closer to the bed. He tugged Hanzo to the bed, bringing the other ninja down on top of him.
Bi-Han let his hands rest on Hanzo’s hips, keeping his lips connected with his boyfriend’s lips. He felt Hanzo’s hands run down his body as well.
The cryomancer felt like he was on cloud 9, his body was abnormally warm and flushed. His heart pounded in his chest. Hanzo pulled away from his lips, using them instead to travel down Bi-Han’s cheekbones down to his neck.
“H-Hanzo,” A small moan slipped past Bi-Han’s mouth.
Then there was a knock on the door.
Bi-Han attempted to ignore it
“Bi-Han? Your brother is here,” Cyrax’s voice echoed behind the door.
That is certainly a mood killer, Bi-Han groaned in annoyance, hanging his head back onto the pillow. Kuai Liang always had awful timing. Once again, he debated either to ignore his brother and declined the visit, but he knew his brother would be persistent in seeing him. After the events of Titan Havik, after Kuai Liang found the truth out about their father, getting rid of Kuai Liang was near impossible.
Hanzo pushed himself off of Bi-Han and climbed to his feet.
Bi-Han reluctantly sat up on the bed, running his hand over his hair in order to hide how dishevelled it probably was.
“Let him in,” Bi-Han said loudly.
He watched as the door slowly opened and was instantly met with the sight of his brother. Kuai Liang stepped inside. His expression was neutral…thankfully. Bi-Han would rather take his brother’s neutral expression than the one of distain and anger. It still shocked him that Kuai Liang didn’t seem to hate him anymore.
Bi-Han glanced over at Hanzo, seeing that his lover’s expression was very guarded. Hanzo kept his gaze trained directly on Kuai Liang. Bi-Han wondered why that was. If it was the fact that Kuai Liang carried the mantle that Hanzo used to have and suffered under? Was simply some protectiveness toward Bi-Han.
“Do you want me to stay?” Hanzo asked even though they both knew the answer.
“No, we’ll be fine,” Bi-Han answered.
Hanzo gave a nod and began walking out of the room.
“Harumi is downstairs. She wanted to come with me this time,” Kuai Liang said, turning his head to look back at Hanzo.
Bi-Han felt a flicker of jealousy within his chest. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Harumi. His brother’s former girlfriend and a version of Hanzo’s dead wife. He had to remind himself that Hanzo could be trusted. Hanzo chose him after all.
Hanzo’s eyebrow rose slightly, but he didn’t say anything else before he left with Cyrax.
The cryomancer readjusted his body, resting his back against the pillows.
Kuai Liang sat down on the edge of the bed, “How are you feeling?”
“Exhausted. Achy. But that’s normal now,” Bi-Han admitted honestly, looking down at his hands. He glanced up at his brother, feeling like he should say something, “How is the Shirai-Ryu?”
“Good. Mostly been focused on training new members. Things have quieted down since well you know,” Kuai Liang told him. He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“I can’t really complain about the quietness,” Bi-Han murmured. At least it had been allowing him to heal.
“That doesn’t sound like the Bi-Han from over a year ago,” Kuai Liang commented.
Bi-Han snorted. He was so antsy for an actual purpose and mission back then. Bi-Han felt so strongly that Lin Kuei were being wasted. Now, he was content resting in the meantime, “I’m not in good enough shape to go around fighting enemies.”
“True, that will still take time,” Kuai Liang agreed.
They were quiet for a bit.
“I got a surprise for you,” Kuai Liang said, sliding a bag off his shoulder. He pulled out a small box. It was familiar to Bi-Han, recognizing the Chinese symbols on the lid.
“Where did you find mooncakes?” Bi-Han raised his eyebrows.
“I made a stop on the way here.”
“Is it Autumn already?”
Kuai Liang snorted, “Tell me already.”
Bi-Han watched as Kuai Liang opened the box and ripped open the package of one. He then pulled some napkins out of the bag before cutting the mooncake in half. He slid one half onto the napkin and handed it over to Bi-Han.
“Thank you,” Bi-Han whispered, poking the piece of it with a plastic fork that Kuai Liang gave him a moment later. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but he didn’t want to deny his brother. He scooped a piece of it and popped it into his mouth, savoring the sweetness of the red bean paste. He hadn’t one of these in years. Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival was one of the few enjoyable things in his childhood. He remembered his mother celebrating with them before she disappeared. Kuai Liang and Bi-Han carried out the tradition for a few more years after that, until they grew too busy with their training and Bi-Han grew too bitter to want to take part in it.
“I miss celebrating,” Kuai Liang admitted, looking down at his piece. There was a deep sadness in his expression.
“You should celebrate it,” Bi-Han said, thinking that his brother was a fully grown man. There was nothing stopping him now, “Doesn’t Japan have something similar?”
“I-,” Kuai Liang swallowed thickly, “It won’t be the same.”
Bi-Han gave a small nod. He didn’t really know what to say. A part of him felt guilty because he did drive Kuai Liang away, but he wasn’t expecting his brother to go to another country. It was starting to seem that Kuai Liang felt lonely being away from everything he had known.
It was silence between the brothers once again.
Kuai Liang cleared his throat, “I was reading more of Father’s journal.”
Bi-Han immediately exhaled a deep breath. He was expecting this topic to come up eventually. It always did. Every time his brother visited. He still had mixed feelings over Kuai Liang knowing the truth about his father. He knew it would unravel his brother completely like it did with him. Which it did. Kuai Liang wanted to talk about everything in it. He wanted to analyze everything. Every conversation. Every one of Bi-Han’s injuries that he lied about. Every training session.
Kuai Liang must have heard him as he said, “Bi-Han, I want to know more.”
“I know,” Bi-Han said. Despite everything, he knew his brother well. Kuai Liang wanted to know every detail. He was thinking too much about his own experiences with Father, changing his perception about each and every conversation and reaction he had.
Bi-Han picked at his mooncake and chewed another small piece.
“Every time I read it, a part of me is shocked that Father was capable of doing something like that, but it also makes sense. I always thought he was hard on you because you were the heir,” Kuai Liang murmured softly, looking down at his lap, at his neatly cupped hands, “He put so much pressure on us.”
“He did. I always worried that he would change his mind about me being the Grandmaster and make you his heir. That he would start turning against you,” Bi-Han confirmed. He felt surprisingly numb about the experience. He felt like he talked so much about it with Kuai Liang and Hanzo recently that he was just reciting his experience like he was reading a script. “Then I was putting so much pressure onto myself about proving him wrong.”
“When he took me onto those father son solo missions, he always wanted me to train me all day until I proved myself to him. I felt like I couldn’t disappoint him. I always had to be perfect. I always have to follow his traditions and his rules, otherwise I wouldn’t be well…Scorpion. I had to be the honorable warrior because what else did I spend my life training for?” Kuai Liang ranted, his voice exasperated.
Bi-Han’s expression softened. He did feel guilty for assuming that Kuai Liang wouldn’t understand their father’s treatment of him. That he wouldn’t understand Father’s cruelty. However, Kuai Liang experienced his own personal suffocation, and no one realized until now.
“I didn’t know how much father’s behavior affected you.”
“Still, it’s nowhere near what he did to you. He hit you. He tried to kill you,” Kuai Liang’s voice went up a pitch. He was getting more and more annoyed.
“I don’t want to go into depth about that,” Bi-Han admitted.
“It seems like you don’t want to talk about him at all,” Kuai Liang countered.
“I don’t.”
“Aren’t you mad? Shouldn’t you still be mad? You don’t have to keep it yourself anymore. You can be livid. I’m livid. I feel like my whole life-.”
“Kuai-,” Bi-Han interrupted, tilting his chin in the air.
“Now that I know the truth, I’ve been so angry. And now you have decided to stop being angry, how come? I was the last to know-.”
“I’m trying to let go of my anger because I was going to get myself killed. I almost did die,” Bi-Han burst, squeezing his eyes tight. He was trying to find the words himself. He had to. He couldn’t snap at his brother, but he also needed Kuai Liang to understand. “I spend so many years, letting my anger and frustration burrow inside. I’d become so full of hatred that I was losing control. I hurt you. I betrayed EarthRealm. I almost became a demon. My body is filled with poison because I allowed it to fester in me, all because of my feelings toward my father.”
Kuai Liang was staring at him with wide eyes. He looked like Bi-Han’s baby brother from a couple decades ago. It reminded Bi-Han of why he wanted to protect his brothers in the first place.
“I had allowed myself to project that onto you. Onto Tomas,” Bi-Han continued to say, “I’ve spent so much time being angry. I’m so exhausted of being angry. I am so tired.”
He reached forward and squeezed Kuai Liang’s shoulder, “I understand why you’re angry. I understand that everything you know about our father is tainted now. I just can’t give you that energy back because I’ll lose myself again. I can’t afford to, not when I’m healing.”
Kuai Liang closed his eyes and looked away in shame, “By the gods, I’m sorry. I should have-of course.”
“Don’t. I needed to tell you. I’m still working on telling you things instead of hiding them. Promise me that you’ll let go of your anger soon. Don’t hold onto it, don’t let it stay for years.”
“I won’t,” Kuai Liang promised, forcing another smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Bi-Han gave him a small smile. “Father always tried to pit us against each other, but because of him, we were stronger than ever.”
“Yeah, we are,” Kuai Liang admitted. “Thanks.”
“Sometimes I have the wisdom of an older brother,” Bi-Han huffed mockingly.
“I would not go that far, brother,” Kuai Liang snorted. He perked up as if he suddenly remembered something. “In a week from now, the Shirai-Ryu is hosting a Tsukimi Festival, it is their version of the Mid-Autumn Festival. I was hoping you would come; it would show everyone that there is no longer animosity between us.”
Bi-Han didn’t want to go. He wasn’t sure if he could face everyone back there. No doubt that Liu Kang’s chosen warriors wouldn’t have the nicest words for him. He didn’t want to face the Shirai Ryu who most undoubtedly held a grudge about Bi-Han’s earlier attack against them. Could he spend a few hours within their judgement. However, he did eventually need to show everyone that he was no longer an enemy.
“I’ll think about it,” Bi-Han answered.
Hanzo knew it was important for Bi-Han to spend some quality time with Kuai Liang despite the awkwardness between the two. However, he hadn’t expected to step through the door and come face to face with Harumi immediately. He stepped back, blinking several times.
“Don’t be so shocked to see me,” Harumi grinned widely, holding her hands behind her back.
Even with Cyrax warning him a few seconds later, he was still shocked. This was the first time Harumi had showed up to the Lin Kuei. Which made sense since she had no reason to go into the belly of the clan that attacked her village not too long go unless it was specifically for him.
“You don’t tend to come all the way over here,” Hanzo replied.
“I wanted to talk to you. I only ever see you and Cyrax during Bi-Han’s treatments,” Harumi admitted with a shrug.
“I am included in that?” Cyrax sounded generally surprised.
“What can I say…our time together during the battle holds a secret place in my heart,” Harumi told her, her lips twisting up onto a smile.
Hanzo couldn’t help himself but study her face. Harumi appeared happier now compared to when he first encountered her. He liked seeing that. He had only ever wanted to see her happy.
“How is your village fairing?” Hanzo asked, trying to make small talk.
“Lovely now that we aren’t getting attacked by demon ninjas and cryomancer,” Harumi prompted, some mischief within her eyes.
Hanzo snorted. Harumi was always one of the few people that he allowed to tease him endlessly. Listening to her felt like falling back into an old habit. Back before they started dating and Harumi would linger around him during his training sessions.
“That’s good to hear,” Hanzo bobbed his head.
“You know that you’re always welcome to come by the Shirai-Ryu,” Harumi pointed out, cocking her head to the side.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hanzo answered.
“Why not?” Harumi arched an eyebrow, “Just because you weren’t born in this timeline? You will always be Shirai-Ryu. I know you recognize my village as your clan, would it hurt to know them in this timeline too?”
Yes.
Hanzo knew he was a factor in his own clan’s destruction. It was because he failed. He died during his mission. He was still afraid that he would be the factor if it happened again, even though he wasn’t this timeline’s Scorpion. That he knew better not to make the decisions he made in the past. He needed to be different. He chose differently.
Harumi sensed his conflict. She didn’t even need to say it out. She gave him a small reassuring smile, “You always will be welcome there.”
“Thank you,” Hanzo nodded, rubbing his hand over his forearm,
“I was going to ask you…we were having a Tsukimi festival next week. Both Kuai Liang and I decided to invite you, Bi-Han,” She glanced over at Cyrax, “And Cyrax.”
Cyrax perked up. She once again genuinely surprised that her name was even mentioned.
“It’ll be good for you, especially if you plan on staying in this tiemline.”
“I’ll see what Bi-Han says,” Hanzo told her.
“It’ll be good for him. And Kuai Liang,” Harumi murmured, looking off to the side. “I worry for him sometimes”
“Kuai Liang?”
She didn’t answer directly, but her next words confirmed it, “He won’t be my betrothed anymore, but he’s still my friend. A lot of these changes have been hard for him.”
It didn’t help that he was kept in the dark for so long.
“If he is anything like the Kuai Liang I knew, he will get through it,” Hanzo told her, trying to be encouraging. He did see some glimpses of the old Kuai Liang within the pyromancer. However, there were also plenty of times where Hanzo couldn’t recognize his former ally in this version.
Harumi dipped her head, “Then I hope so.”
“You trust my judgement entirely too much,” Hanzo commented dryly.
“Shouldn’t I trust the judgement of the man I married in another timeline,” Harumi raised her eyebrows, tilting her head. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if daring him to disagree.
Hanzo opened his mouth and blinked a few times. He was focused on rekindling some sort of friendship with Harumi that he temporarily forgot that she knew about their history. That Hanzo used to be married to another version of Harumi.
“Fair point,” Hanzo didn’t know what else to say. He was still afraid of saying too much. To give Harumi some hope. He couldn’t give himself to her. He proceeded to dodge meeting her eyes directly, wanting some sort of the wall between them.
At some point, he could hear Cyrax strike a conversation with Harumi, thankfully breaking the awkwardness that lingered because of the silence.
Finally, Hanzo heard the door open and glanced up.
Kuai Liang stood in the doorway; his expression was guarded. It usually was. Hanzo supposed regardless of the backstory, Kuai Liang always had this stony expression.
“How did it go?” Harumi asked, grabbing the fabric of her dress at her waist. She tilted her head, noticing that Bi-Han wasn’t behind his brother.
“It went well,” Kuai Liang responded.
The group of them started to walk back to the exit of the Temple.
“I can see that he is doing better,” Kuai Liang admitted after a couple of minutes. He was just waltzing behind Hanzo who was leading them out. “I think that I was used to seeing Bi-Han so angry and frustrated constantly, it is new to me to see him not be.”
“He is no longer hiding it from everyone,” Hanzo replied. He felt satisfied that he was the one that caused the change in Bi-Han. That for once, he did something good for Bi-Han rather than kill and ruin his life.
“I suppose you have something to do with it,” Kuai Liang’s tone came off as a little accusatory, but when Hanzo turned to look at him, he was greeted by Kuai Liang’s flat expression.
“I like to think so.” Hanzo said, still staring at him.
Kuai Liang stared back at him, raising an eyebrow.
They reached the main door.
“Thank you for allowing me in,” Kuai Liang said, his eyes shifting back between Cyrax and then back over to Hanzo.
“You’re welcome. I had to convince Sektor not to shoot you on sight,” Cyrax responded, giving him a cheeky grin, dipping her head.
“Noble Cyrax,” Harumi rested her hand on Cyrax’s forearm, sounding genuine about it. She matched Cyrax’s smile before pulling away from the Lin Kuei warrior. She went over to stand beside Kuai Liang, turning her attention back toward Hanzo, “It was nice to seeing you. I expect you both at the Shirai-Ryu next week.”
“Agreed,” Kuai Liang nodded.
As soon as the duo left the ground. Hanzo teleported to the front of Bi-Han’s bedroom door and pushed it open.
Bi-Han was sitting up against the bedframe, looking exhausted.
“If he said-,” Hanzo immediately spoke up, puffing up his shoulders.
Bi-Han waved a hand dismissively, snorting, “The visit was fine. I am tired, I’ve been tired all day. You were just distracting me before.”
Hanzo let himself deflate and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge. “I was invited to the Shirai-Ryu next week.”
“As was I,” Bi-Han admitted.
“Are you going to go?”
“I don’t know,” Bi-Han studied Hanzo’s face, “But you should. That was your home back in your timeline. It would be good for you.”
“Do you really mean that?”
Bi-Han’s lip twitched up in the corner of his mouth, “I am trying to.”
Hanzo let himself smile as well. “It would be good for you too. Have a night having fun with your family.”
“I suppose, we’ll see,” Bi-Han exhaled, his chest puffing in the process.
Hanzo nodded his head in agreement.
“Now, stop sitting away from me and come join me,” Bi-Han demanded, flickering his hand rapidly back toward himself.
Hanzo shuffled closer to Bi-Han and planted himself next to the cryomancer’s side. Bi-Han leaned against him, causing Hanzo to wrap his arm around Bi-Han’s shoulder. “Anything for you.” He kissed Bi-Han’s temple.