Chapter Text
Kitana didn’t know what had gotten into her, but as those words left Raiden’s mouth she found herself undoubtedly taken with the earthrealmer.
His smile was kind and soft and her eyes scanned him, up then down. Underneath her decorative mask her face felt hot and flush.
Kitana had been eyeing the champion since he arrived in Outworld; he appeared sweet with an excitement she didn’t see in many other Earthrealm fighters. She was amazed by his fighting ability, and his incredible manners. Most fighters she had seen in her past were cocky and boasted about their status as champion; Raiden was the exact opposite.
Through Johnny Cage talking her ear off at their dinner, she would steal glances at him from across the table. She wondered if he chose the seat across from her on purpose… Perhaps these feelings that were bubbling up inside of her were also stirring in him. If Mr. Cage had not taken her side, would Raiden have been the one?
Kitana silently cheered as he beat General Shao and a sigh of relief escaped her as she did not have to see him beaten and bruised by their brash military general.
When she heard the Earthrealmers were leaving she knew she needed to make a move or perhaps it would be another century before she saw the champion.
With a pit in her stomach and her heels clicking rapidly against the stone floors, she made her way to find Raiden.
She found him just as he and his friends were getting into their carriages with Li Mei back to the portal area. It was incredibly embarrassing having all of their heads whip around at the sound of her quickly approaching.
Kitana bit her cheek to distract herself as she slowed her pace to stop right in front of the champion.
“Princess?” Raiden said in a confused manner. “Did you need something?”
He was so kind and sweet, Kitana was considering just turning back around and booking it back to her room. Why had she decided to risk her dignity to talk to a man she barely even knew? Curse her soft heart.
“I was… perhaps wondering, Raiden, if when all of our Outworld festivities are over for this tournament would you… Would you like to show me Earthrealm sometime?”
Raiden’s face dropped, and so did everyone else’s in his party.
Kitana was unintentionally frowning, as the sight of the human’s shock made her want to crawl inside a dark hole and live there for the rest of eternity.
He stuttered endlessly as he struggled to get the words out of his mouth. “Me?”
She nodded carefully.
The Earthrealmer appeared as if sick. “I would—really? My gods—I—Yes!” He finally blurted out, taking Kitana by surprise.
She jerked back at his loud response.
“I’m sorry—I would love—not love, I mean of course love, it’s just I’ll—” He took a deep breath as his companions behind him were snickering. “I’d really like that, Princess Kitana.”
She gave him a small smile. “We should be done in a week or so, I can arrive through the portal to meet you.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I shall meet you then.”
She gave him a small bow of respect and as did he before she turned around to leave. The sounds of Raiden’s companions jumping out of the carriages and bombarding him was not something she could keep a straight face for.