Chapter Text
Students listened attentively and observed as you demonstrated an attack on one of the training dummies. They were hypnotized by your agility, as you incorporated more difficult movements into your demonstration. It was amazing to witness the grace you radiated while performing some of the most ferocious attacks. The feel of a chill in the air was the only thing that broke you out of the trance.
“That is all for today. Tomorrow, we will work on confidence in our abilities.”
The children who idolized you were sad that their lesson had come to an end. It warmed your heart to know that they adored you just as much if not more than you did them. It was only a small class of six, but they were more difficult to wrangle in than the adults. The temperature continued to drop, signifying that the man who caused it was in a foul mood.
“Return to your homes, Little Ones,” you calmly say to hasten their departure.
Standing with your hands clasped together in front of you watching the last of the children leave, you could feel him behind you.
“The air tells me that you are angry,” you say while tossing a glance over your shoulder.
Bi Han seemed to be seething with uncapped anger while he glared at you. He did not move an inch when you turned and approached him. You knew that he was still adjusting to life within the new Lin Kuei. Bi Han had regained his soul, and the Lin Kuei was nothing like he remembered. Some of the changes that Kuai Liang and you had implemented did not sit right with him, but he agreed to stand by them as Co-Grandmaster with your husband.
Slowly, you raised a hand to his cheek and allowed him to melt into your touch. Your thumb traced back and forth over his jaw as his eyes slowly returned to their true hue of chocolate brown. Bi Han released an icy cold exhale that he had not noticed he was holding in.
“Are you alright, Bi Han,” you ask while withdrawing your hand from his face.
He often sought you out when he was frustrated. The man was wracked with unchecked guilt and grief. Those emotions often manifested in bouts of anger and aggression. Thankfully, your healing nature and desire to nurture helped your brother-in-law when he felt that he was at his breaking point. He would never admit that to you or anyone else.
“That Shirai Ryu scum is here!”
He still held contempt for Hanzo Hasashi on a level that you could not understand. Hanzo had long moved forward with his life. Bi Han was of no concern to him, and he was capable of being cordial with the cryomancer.
“He has apologized for his deeds. You are aware that he was simply a puppet?”
“That bastard killed me. He took me away from everything that I held dear.”
There was no talking to him when he was like this. When he was truly ready to face his demons, you would be there for him. For now, you could only soothe him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he grounded himself. While he focused, your eyes examined him from head to toe. You would be a fool to ignore that he was handsome. Something about the man always intrigued you. He had a sense of the world that you never possessed. Bi Han had been to many places and experienced many things, but he never experienced anything or anyone quite like you. The problem was, your heart belonged to his brother. Kuai Liang was the love of your life. Any feelings you may have had for Bi Han would never matter, and both of you knew this. That did not stop him from flirting with you. His friendship was enough for you, and he knew he would have to accept it as enough for him if he wanted to have you in his life.
“You are entitled to your feelings, Bi Han. Stop being ashamed of your emotions, and allow yourself to be human."
Those eyes of his flew open at your words. He was well aware that you were talking about his anger and not how he felt about you. If only there was hope. Truthfully, he would not act if given the opportunity. He may have been a monster before, but he could never betray his brother.
“Thank you for always knowing what to say.”
He gave you a smile that reassured you that he would take your advice.
“There you are,” came a familiar voice.
Both of you turn at the sound of Kuai Liang approaching. Bi Han almost cringed at the way your eyes lit up, and your smile widened at the sight of the man. He would never elicit such a reaction from you. His brother returned the adoring look and laughed as you threw yourself into his arms. He felt like home, and there was not another man in the world who was capable of giving you such joy.
“Where have you been?”
“Hanzo and I had tea,” Kuai Liang says while pulling you to his side, “Have you calmed down, Brother?”
“Clearly,” Bi Han stated.
You looked between the two of them. There was a lot of unaddressed tension between the two. Kuai Liang was angry, but he hid it well. Unfortunately for him, you knew him better than he knew himself. You placed a kiss just beside his lips as you held his hands.
“I will wait for you tonight. Don't stay away for too long,” you told him.
“As you wish, Snowflake.”
Letting go of your husband, you turned to your brother-in-law and hugged him.
“Should you need to talk, find me. I am here for you, Brother.”
Bi Han nodded in response. Both of them stared at each other until you were out of hearing range.
“Do you think me a fool, Bi Han?”
“Yes,” the older man immediately answered.
He made to leave, but Kuai Liang’s next words chilled him to the bone.
“Why my wife? You could have fallen in love with anyone else, why her?”
Bi Han spared a glance over his shoulder to see the betrayal etched across his little brother's face.
“Because there is no one else like her in this cruel world, Brother. Rest assured that she loves you and you alone. I am no threat.”
Kuai Liang was left speechless as Bi Han went to train alone. He already shared leading the clan with his brother. Kuai Liang could not fathom sharing his wife. He could not blame Bi Han for his attraction. You were the epitome of perfection. Unbeknownst to them, you had lingered just behind one of the storage buildings and observed them. You heard everything. If only they knew and accepted that you loved them both.