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Kung Lao and Raiden's wedding was very lively. With a traditional Chinese theme and their social status changing to be higher, the wedding which was intended to be simple had to be changed to be quite luxurious in order to entertain important guests and the people of Fengjian who were proud of their two heroes.
With sincere heart, Kung Lao made a sacred promise to Raiden that he would accompany him throughout life and death. Raiden also returned the same promise. His gentle voice was like an angel's choir in Kung Lao's ears. His heart blossomed. There is no happiness equal to his marriage, even if he is chosen as Earthrealm champion or wins in the Mortal Kombat tournament.
As soon as the sacred ceremony was finished, Kung Lao carried Raiden in bridal style. He liked it when the champion of Earthrealm panicked and gripped his shoulders reflexively as soon as his feet were in the air. It feels like Kung Lao is gaining control over Raiden who is always above him. Finally, the desire to surpass his rival was realized. Not about strength, but about their marriage status.
Reminiscing about those times made him feel victorious again. Because now Kung Lao has retired from being a Shaolin master. He was too old to train the same enthusiastic young blood he once had.
After Shujinko succeeded in winning the Mortal Kombat, Raiden decided to stop and choose to live a quiet life enjoying his old age in Fengjian. In accordance with his hopes since he was young, namely to remain in his peaceful homeland.
To be honest, Kung Lao, even though he is no longer young, he still has the enthusiasm to guide the academy. However, he remembered the incident when Shujinko became a problem under his training to the point that Liu Kang had to erase the young man's memory and train him again from scratch with Raiden's help.
That's when Kung Lao realized how arrogance could be such a dangerous thing.
In the past, he was not much different from his student. He was a proud young man because of his legendary lineage. He also gifted with talent from there. Who is not proud of the privileges he has?
Of course the answer is the person who always accompanies him.
Raiden had just eaten a steamed mantao. His face was as cool as the morning dew today. The face that used to be very sweet, now full with wrinkles and sagging old skin, adorning the face that Kung Lao always touched with affection.
Kung Lao too have the same looks. His eyes became increasingly narrow because his eyelids is loosen. His eyesight is also no longer alert, but his reflexes are still not affected by age.
Aging is a fate experienced by humans. One of the beauties of life is growing old and dying. It's a circle that can't be avoided, unless you're a god or people of Outworld. They can live hundreds of years like Kitana, Mileena, and others.
Immortality made Kung Lao amazed. Just imagine, he can continue training to the point where he can no longer be defeated, aka on the way to perfection. But again, Raiden's simple and humble thoughts will definitely contradict with him. He prefers to live as he is as a human, even though he knows that death will be the end line.
Kung Lao who never satisfied and Raiden who always grateful, like yin and yang. But fortunately, they can live together.
Usually Raiden is the one who follows whatever Kung Lao wants. But the events of Mortal Kombat changed their dynamic a bit. Raiden becomes stronger and stronger, including in his relationship with Kung Lao. He was no longer the passive man Kung Lao knew. He has changed into himself. A resolute Raiden.
But Kung Lao is still Kung Lao. Under the shadow of strong self-doubt, he managed to learn from his mistakes and become a better person. That's why he was able to propose to Raiden, making him his loyal wife.
Kung Lao chuckled at the thought of his colorful past.
"Why are you laughing, Lao?" Raiden asked, curious when his husband laughing for no reason.
Kung Lao look at the man beside him, "We've been married for 53 years, but it still feels like yesterday."
Raiden make a faint smile, showing more wrinkles on his cheeks.
"Time flies so fast. Isn't it?"
Kung Lao nodded.
"At that time I was still handsome, and you..." the man put his hand to Raiden's cheek, "you haven't changed. You're still as cute as you were young."
"Hahaha... Your flattery is unreasonable, Lao."
"That's true, Rai! To me, you are like a diamond. Never change."
Raiden touched Kung Lao's hand which was still stroking his cheek. A reddish blush appearing on Raiden's face. Ah, Kung Lao wants to kiss him right now.
It's true, Kung Lao will not hesitate to kiss Raiden every time the man gives a funny or sweet reaction. In the past, they could kiss or even have sex several times a week, where their stamina and bodies still supported that.
Now? Their sexual drive decreases considerably. At this age, it feels like one of those primal pleasures is no longer important even though they still do it sometimes.
The last time they had sex, Kung Lao felt like his waist was going to break. He also came out quickly. Not much sperm were produced. Meanwhile for Raiden, the man immediately found it difficult to walk normally and felt sore all over his body. That's why they rarely have sex now.
They understand their limits about no longer be the mighty young couple like in the past. However, they are not disappointed and are reluctant to return to those times. Both Raiden and Kung Lao wisely accept the circle of destiny as earthlings.
"Raiden, if one of us has to go. Then I will die first." said the husband.
An unhappy expression suddenly came from Raiden's face.
"No, Lao. I can't live without you."
'I know.' Kung Lao replied in his heart.
Kung Lao eats the mantao and then drinks tea to get rid of dry in his mouth.
"You still have Fengjian. People here worship you as a hero, but me?" he paused, "there is nothing I love more than you, Raiden. You are more valuable than even the academy or my dreams..."
Kung Lao's words got stuck in his throat.
"I can't afford to lose you."
Kung Lao feels guilty for making Raiden sad, but as a husband, he has to think about what might happen in the future. But Raiden was unable to catch Kung Lao's meaning. Now he furrowed his eyebrows, angry.
"I also can't imagine when you leave me. If we have to die, then I want to die with you."
"You can't do that, Rai." Kung Lao protested. "Fengjian will be sad if you—"
"Fengjian is my home, but you are my world, Lao!"
The champion raised his tone, snapping at the shocked Kung Lao. Guilt pierced Raiden when he saw his husband's reaction. He looked away at the terrace of the house.
"I don't like how this conversation is going." Raiden scowled.
Kung Lao sighed, he better end this topic.
"I'm sorry, Rai. I just want to discuss about future." The tan-skinned old man turned again to his husband.
"Don't ever think about leaving me again." he said, still disappointed with Kung Lao.
The former Shaolin master grabbed Raiden's chin, kissed his lips gently like their first night in their younger days. Raiden's fingers slipped into Kung Lao's dark brown hair that had turned grey, wanted to vent all his worries through kissing and Kung Lao let him. They made out for a long time until the need to breathe separated them both.
Their eyes met and Kung Lao kissed Raiden's lips lightly.
"Okay, Rai. We will stay together if that's what you want."