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1
Ever since Kuai Liang was a child, the one constant in his life from as early as he could recall was always his brother. Bi-Han was always there, watching over him with a furrowed expression.
One of the first memories he could recall was when he was only two years old, curled in his crib, sleeping peacefully with the morning sun filtering into the nursery as he stirred. His eyes had fluttered open, only to be met with shadows.
He could hazily recall the sight of his brother’s young face, only a few years older than him. His brows were pinched together, nose scrunched up. He reached down into the crib and poked at his cheeks, pinching as if testing to see if he was real.
And when he started to cry, Bi-Han grunted. “Hey- hey, don’t do that, stop crying,” he said immediately as if he were ordering a dog around. It must have been the early hours of the morning, before their parents were even awake. Instead of poking and pinching, he pressed a hand over his mouth for a moment until Kuai Liang quieted down into mere sniffles. “Don’t do that again,” he said simply, pulling his hand away after a few moments.
After that key memory, everything else was filled with Bi-Han, always being there, in the background or right by his side. He was always the one to train with him, insisting it had to be him instead of the other children in the clan. And of course Kuai Liang never argued. To train with his big brother who was a prodigy in kombat and wielding the ice powers that ran in their family was an honor. Or so they always said.
That was what he told himself at least, even when Bi-Han was rough. More often than not, his father’s sharp voice was the only thing that could get Bi-Han to back down when it came to teaching Kuai Liang a lesson.
“As a future member of the Lin Kuei, you need to learn to fight properly. I can’t fight your battles for you, little brother,” he had said, his tone as cold as the ice he wielded when they were out in the training yard after dinner when he was only six and Bi-Han had just turned ten. His lower lip was wobbling, anger and frustration welling up in his throat, scrambling to stand to his feet, clearly unsteady, knobby knees wobbling.
He was hit with another burst of ice, trapping his legs. “St- Stop doing that, Bi-Han!” He practically screamed at him, his face reddening and his entire body feeling hot with anger. His brother only frowned even more, a troubled look passing across his face and he just simply scoffed. “Fight back,” he said, practically ordering him like he was a grandmaster already. And that only angered the younger further and it felt like his insides were flames, burning hot and sweat beaded at his brow as he fought to stand his ground.
He could sense it this time, Bi-Han ready to hit him with more ice and he let out a snarl, sounding like a wild animal, fire bursting out of his hands suddenly. It clashed against the ice, immediately melting it. Bi-Han froze and his eyes were wide in shock. But a look of delight flashed across his face and for the first time ever, he smiled at Kuai Liang. At six years old, he just felt more confusion and anger, his eyes watering. He didn’t like it when he was mean like this. He just wished his brother could be nice.
“Why can’t you just be nice?!” He demanded, with as much anger as his little body could muster, barely feeling the pain of the flames licking at his palms as he lashed out, flames suddenly gathering around his brother’s feet. The sight of the tall flames that Bi-Han quickly rolled away from was jarring and his anger was quickly replaced with fear and confusion.
He fell back to his knees and looked to see flames were still surrounding his fingers. A scream tore through his throat and he couldn’t stop the stream of them that escaped him. And in his panic, he could only shove his fingers into the dirt surrounding them, in hopes to put out the flames. And Bi-Han, as he always did when they were risking getting caught doing something they shouldn't, was running to try and silence him but suddenly a wall of flames flared from the dirt, cutting off any chance for Bi-Han to touch him.
“Kuai Liang!” The voice of their mother cut through the night and his mother and father stood there, watching in horror. Bi-Han’s face fell, the manic glee in his eyes snuffing out immediately. He stepped back instinctively. Their father was the first to reach their younger son and with a single smack to the ground, the flames faltered into steam and Kuai Liang fell forward onto his hands, his fingers red and blistering. “I- I’m sorry- I’m sorry, papa,” he sobbed out, before he was gathered into an embrace.
Even with their father shushing him and soothing his tears, he could feel Bi-Han’s eyes glued to him. Even with their mother quietly scolding him for being too harsh, he didn’t seem to pay it any mind, focusing all his attention on his little brother. Like Kuai Liang was an animal he was spectating for a show, that dark glint still present, though it was slightly dulled now.
—————
Not long before his seventh birthday, their father had come home from a mission and had immediately summoned both brothers and their mother into his study. The first thing Kuai Liang noticed as he slipped through the door was the little boy hunched over, sitting close to the fire, little puffs of smoke surrounding his head. His brows furrowed and he exchanged a look with Bi-Han who was already gritting his teeth and scrunching up his nose.
“Who is this, father?” Bi-Han demanded and immediately from behind, their mother lightly cuffed him on the back of his head, silencing him. Their father hummed, not giving a reaction to his oldest. “This is Tomas,” he introduced the boy to them and the boy was still quiet, peeking over to them, with a look of shyness. “He was living on the streets, living off of scraps. And I thought that maybe we could offer him a better life here,” he said, exchanging a look with their mother.
He peeked up at her and saw her eyes were soft and gentle and she offered a smile, even though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “What a pleasant surprise,” she said softly. Kuai Liang could sense with how close Bi-Han lingered that he was not exactly happy, his fingers twitched at his sides.
Normally in situations like this, he would reach out and grip Bi-Han’s hand. But his attention was set on the new boy, excited at the idea of becoming an older brother. He moved forward with an eagerness and came to kneel in front of him at his level. “Hi,” he greeted, without any formal bow, only a wave. “My name is Kuai Liang,” he introduced himself with a gentle smile. He blinked at him for a moment, brows furrowing as if he was trying to understand. And with some hesitance, he spoke. “My name is Tomas Vrbada,” he said the name as if he had been practicing it. Kuai Liang bowed his head in respect to him. “Welcome to our family,” he said, reaching to grasp his hand tightly, completely oblivious to the daggers that were being thrown at him at that moment as his older brother lurked behind them.
With some coaxing, Bi-Han eventually introduced himself to Tomas and he sat in on their conversation, only adding in an occasional grumble or correction on the stories Kuai told Tomas eagerly.
By the end of the night, once they all retired to bed, Kuai was curled up in bed and half asleep when he heard his door creaking open. It had him stirring awake, but ever so slightly, blinking his bleary eyes open for only a moment before they fluttered shut again. Maybe it was just his mother checking in on him.
The feeling of cool arms wrapping around him was jarring and had him jolting slightly, eyes squeezing open. “Hmnn?” he managed out sleepily, blinking.
“Shhh,” Bi-Han said against the shell of his ear. “It’s just me, you’re okay, xiǎo dìdì,” he said, voice low and soft in a way that Kuai had never heard it before. He knew it was probably something Bi-Han shouldn’t do. His older brother had a tendency to do things their father certainly wouldn’t approve of. But he found himself relaxing into his touch for the first time ever it felt like and he wiggled to press back into his brother. He drifted off to sleep with a peaceful hum, lips curving into a soft smile.
2
Their mother died from a winter fever after Kuai Liang turned fifteen. And by that time, Bi-Han had established himself as a worthy member of the Lin Kuei. He joined their father on missions and they both had been absent when she had taken her last breath. Both Tomas and Kuai had been there at her bedside, due to her insistence. And her final words to Kuai were now forever engrained into his mind.
“Your brother, Bi-Han, please be patient with him,” she had told him, voice rasping at the edges with how much she had been coughing beforehand. She reached up to cup his cheek gently, caressing it in a manner that soothed him still. He felt like a child for a moment, having to blink back tears. “I try to be,” he murmured, nearly choking out his words. And she smiled, so gently. “I know, I know. He loves you, he does, he was just never taught how to show it under your father’s eye,” she said, as if she was telling him a secret. He took in every word, committing it to his memory, as a gentle reminder whenever Bi-Han frustrated him.
“In the end, it’ll be just you and your brothers, take care of each other, my sweet darling,” she said, with a gentle kiss on the forehead. And Kuai Liang couldn’t stop the tears from falling then.
By the time they had arrived home from the mission, the two younger brothers sat in front of the compound together, side by side and Kuai was sitting with his head buried into his knees while Tomas sat next to him with a hand on his back, curling around him closely. He could feel Bi-Han coming closer immediately before their father. “Brother, what happened?!” he demanded, his tone coming out a bit panicked. The closest he’d ever sound to it, probably. When he got closer, Tomas pulled back a bit out of instinct and Bi-Han was gripping his shoulders with a hold that borderlined too tight. Something he was used to.
He lifted his head and met his gaze, feeling his eyes welling up at the sight of his brother, seeming glimmers of their mother in him with her words echoing and pounding in his skull. “Oh, Bi-Han,” he breathed out, voice cracking uncontrollably, tears welling up in his eyes almost immediately and without thinking, he lurched forward, hugging him tightly. Bi-Han tensed for a second, almost on instinct before he relaxed into his touch and sighed softly, almost knowing. And maybe he knew what was going on. He was perceptive, usually. “They took her body away already, this morning,” he said, lifting his head up from his shoulder after a moment.
Something shifted in his features, eyes flashing with something unreadable before he shifted his gaze. “We shall plan for her funeral, swiftly,” their father eventually spoke, giving Tomas a tight hug and ruffle to the head. His words alone had Bi-Han’s thick arms flexing around him, squeezing him in an almost bruising grip. And normally, Kuai would be quick to smack at him, tell him to stop or shove him away. But this time, he welcomed it, nuzzling into his shoulder, unable to help his tears.
————-
When the funeral had come, they made their offerings and went about the usual traditions for their clan. But the only ones who cried during the ceremony were Kuai and Tomas, the two younger boys while their father and Bi-Han stood firm, as anchors for the two facing the uncertainty without their mother. And despite how stoic and cold he acted, he could see the way Bi-Han clenched his jaw a bit harder than usual and his hands stayed tucked behind his back but curled in fists. A part of him knew that he should comfort Tomas. He was the youngest after all.
But, a selfish, smaller part of him had shifted back closer to Bi-Han and he reached out to rest a silent hand on his shoulder. It surprised him, that much flashing across his features for only a moment before they morphed back into the stoic mask while draped in shades of navy. “You don’t have to pretend, brother,” he said softly, only for him to hear. His eyes went wide for a moment and he could hear the click in his throat as he swallowed thickly. And almost tentatively, he reached out to press a palm in between Kuai’s shoulders. It wasn’t much, but he could feel the coolness of his touch through his hanfu. And it was as much a brand as the faded burn scars on his hands from his own fire.
When night came, Kuai found it impossible to sleep. He laid in his room, staring up at the ceiling with the moonlight filtering in through his window, shadows dancing above him. Deep in his heart, the sadness was inescapable. He would forever carry a part of his mother with him, inheriting the pyromancy from her side of the family. But, as he laid there, alone, by himself for the first time in days, he only felt numb and empty. And that feeling alone was as frightening as the sadness.
The sound of his door creaking snapped him out of his wandering thoughts, throwing him back into reality and he turned his head. Of course, he thought to himself when he saw the familiar shadow of his brother slipping into his bedroom. He didn’t do it often.
The last time he had done it was when he had turned eighteen after his first solo mission alone. He had come back near silent and it was only when they were cloaked in the darkness of night in Kuai Liang’s bed, he told him every detail. How it felt to watch someone die in front of him, how he hadn’t felt horrified by the sight but how sinful he felt having someone’s blood on his hands that couldn’t even put up a good fight. Gone was the bravado, replaced with a hesitance and gut wrenching honesty.
And instead of being horrified or disgusted by all of the details, he had still embraced him by the end of it, kissing his forehead like their mother had always done with them as children. He told him how proud he was and they fell asleep together, intertwined.
Now, he slipped into his bed, almost silent. And he stared at Kuai, knowing he was wide awake. Kuai turned to face his brother, who had a much more unguarded expression illuminated by the moonlight. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there,” he said. Kuai raised a brow, admittedly surprised by his words. “You were working. That can’t be helped, Bi-Han,” he said, his voice coming out in a rasp, his throat raw from all the crying he had done in the past few days. Bi-Han let out a huff, that answer clearly not pleasing him. “I should have been here. I shouldn’t have left for a pointless mission,” he growled, sounding more frustrated. And Kuai knew well enough that the frustration wasn’t directed at him. It rarely was. Even when they were children.
He shifted on his side to face his older brother, reaching to rest a hand on his side, digging his fingers in hard, unconsciously. And Bi-Han didn’t wince or flinch away, if anything, he leaned in closer, ever so slightly. “You’re here now, aren’t you?”
Bi-Han was quiet but he nodded his head in an almost jerky motion. “I’m not going anywhere,” he assured, his own voice coming out a bit rough around the edges.
He knew it was a promise that Bi-Han would keep. Even if he was mean sometimes- most of the times- he was always a shadow that followed him throughout the compound. It was intimidating to the younger kids and trainees. But Kuai never minded, and had never thought to tell him to stop. If anything, it was a comfort, to know he was always there. Even if it felt suffocating at times. He never minded.
“She spoke of you in her last words,” Kuai revealed. “She reminded me that we need to stay together,” he didn’t reveal that Tomas had been included in that. It didn’t feel quite right to say that with how rocky their relationship was compared to Kuai’s relationship with him.
He saw a faint glimmer in Bi-Han’s eyes thanks to the moonlight shining in behind Kuai. But it was difficult to decipher at that moment. Maybe it was just his exhaustion finally catching up with him. Maybe, it was just something he couldn’t understand quite yet.
He let out a soft whoosh of a breath and he leaned in until his forehead bumped against Kuai’s. And it was probably the most gentle he had been in years. Kuai couldn’t stop himself from relaxing into it, his eyes fluttering closed. It was soothing, to have his brother, his cool touch soothing the heat that seemed to always be present, just right beneath his skin, like an itch always there.
“I won’t ever leave you behind,” he promised him, soft and sweet, so unlike his brother. It was glimmers of their mother bleeding through and by the elder gods, he wanted to cling to it and never let go.
“I know you won’t, I know,” he murmured softly, his exhaustion overtaking him and he tightened his arms around his older brother, burrowing closer to him before he drifted off to sleep.
3
When his eighteenth birthday came around, it was a colder winter, and Tomas was the first one to wake him up, all smiles and excitement. And it was always infectious, he couldn’t resist. It was his birthday after all. But in the back of his mind as they made their way to the training rooms, he was thinking about the trials he would have to face to prove he was ready. Bi-Han had been vague when he told Kuai about it. It had done very little to soothe his anxiety.
“Come on Birthday Boy, I brought out the special knife for this spar,” Tomas joked and Kuai raised a brow at that and snorted. “Wow, what an honor, brother,” he teased. And it was playful the entire time, even when his knife grazed his arm or side, Kuai laughed through it and was quicker and saw the move coming. He could never deny that Tomas had become his favorite partner when it came to training.
They had their mean streaks, had the vicious killer instincts that were instilled in them at a young age thanks to their father. But it was fun and easy. A welcomed breath of relief and reprieve from the usual training partners that were always rougher with them.
Their spar ended up with Kuai pinning Tomas down, straddling his thighs, with Tomas’ special knife stabbed into the mat right next to his head. Tomas’ gray eyes widened but then they both burst out into laughter simultaneously. Kuai let go of his hands and leaned back a bit, not moving from his spot on top of him quite yet. “That was so fast!” His younger brother praised, sitting up a bit, his weight resting on his elbows. He grinned widely down at him. “Thanks,” he said, eating up the praise.
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling and he whipped his head around to see Bi-Han was standing there. His features were blank and his arms were crossed over his chest. The only indicator of anything he got was the way his dark eyes seemed to blaze. And despite the fact that he was now eighteen, he felt younger, like a child getting silently scolded.
He quickly scrambled off of Tomas. “Bi-Han, I felt you coming,” he teased, offering him a tentative smile. Bi-Han came forward, head tilting a bit, curiosity flashing in his eyes. It was a glimmer of their mother really. Even if his face was usually stoic, he almost always could read his eyes. His eyes spoke things that he could never truly say. Something he had always seen in their mother, even as a child.
“Did you?” He raised a brow and Kuai closed the distance between them, hugging him, surprising both of his brothers. He had found that it was the best way to divert Bi-Han’s attention once they grew older and Kuai grew more and more closer to his size.
Bi-Han was slow to return the hug, giving him a brief squeeze. “Happy Birthday, little brother,” he murmured low, only for him to hear before he stepped back. “You need a serious spar if Father wishes for you to start your trials tonight,” he told him.
Kuai let out a sigh. He didn’t want to do the trials at all. But he knew it would be inevitable, that it was what he’d have to do if he wanted to stay by Bi-Han’s side.
He nodded his head. “That is why you’re here then- to give me a good fight?” He asked, raising his own brow. Bi-Han gave a solemn nod, lips curving into a slight smile. “Of course.”
They stepped apart from each other and Kuai bowed to him in respect and after some posturing, he lurched forward. Gone was the scared little boy that was always nervous to fight his brother. He moved with more confidence, getting down the skill of teleportation, moving around and dodging each ice spear Bi-Han tried to aim at him. It felt like a game more than anything, how they moved and in the end, Bi-Han had gotten him with a simple trip and he pressed a blade of ice into his neck, his knee resting on his sternum and knocking the wind out of him. He panted beneath him, eyes dilating as he looked up at him.
“It looks like I’ll have to train a bit harder, big brother,” he breathed out, lips curving into a smile.
Bi-Han stared down at him and flames of something flashed in his eyes. He looked almost hungry, leaning in closer, a few stray hairs falling free from his bun. It made something in Kuai’s stomach flip and he had to swallow down the sudden onslaught of emotions and desires that he had never let himself feel before.
The only thing that snapped him out of it was the abrupt sound of Tomas clearing his throat from his spot standing behind them. “Guys…?” he called out. It was like a jolt of ice through his veins and his limbs jerked and he was shoving Bi-Han. Bi-Han seemed to relent, his limbs looser than before. He rolled off of Kuai with a deep, throaty chuckle escaping him. It was enough to make Kuai bristle and give him a disgruntled look.
—----------
When dinner came around, it felt completely average, save for the baiju they were serving as a celebration. The three boys ate silently while their father sat at the head, chewing slowly and methodically. Kuai felt the life wilting out of him little by little, his shoulders slumping.
He recalled the night of Bi-Han eighteenth birthday, it was a grand celebration and an excited anticipation for his trials he would face the next day. But now- now that it was Kuai Liang’s turn, it felt completely unimportant.
“Tomorrow morning, I want you awake before dawn, down in the training yard,” he said, breaking the silence, voice calm, almost empty with no emotion. Kuai Liang looked up from his food and he nodded his head with a soft breath. “I will be,” he promised him, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. Maybe it was from anxiety and uncertainty.
He wasn’t sure but he drank a few more glasses of baiju before disappearing to his room that night, insisting to both Bi-Han and Tomas that he wanted to be alone. Even going as far as ignoring the lingering look Bi-Han gave him as he walked away.
—---------
By the end of the next day, every bone in Kuai’s body ached and he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to scream or cry because of it. They had sent him out into the woods, far out on their territory and he was surrounded by the animals, wild and hungry and he had to fight his way through them and eventually the soldiers all came. A couple at first, but then altogether at once and he was forced to fight his way through it.
They had all swarmed him, unrelenting, kicking and hitting, with knives and weapons aimed and ready for him. Their blades slicing into him would be a ghost to forever haunt him. And in a burst of fiery anger and irritation, forgetting the gentleness his mom had taught him, his power of flames practically exploded from his pores, an unrestrained feeling he hadn’t felt in years.
His flames had always scared him, it was something he had barely just learned to control. But now that the dam had been broken open, he felt a sick satisfaction, seeing the way they screamed in pain when he scorched them in flame and sliced through their vital organs with his kunai, jumping on those closest to him with flames bleeding out of his fists. He barely felt the severity and how hot his flames burned him and his opponents, something in his mind disconnecting in that moment. And survival was the only thing he could think about at that moment.
In the end, he lingered just a couple short meters from the forest line, his flames died down. His knees buckled while his bones screamed at him in a strong stabbing ache. Blood stained his hands and surely stained his face and clothes. And he couldn’t quite tell who it belonged to anymore. He let out a stuttering breath and pushed himself the rest of the way, gripping his kunai tightly as if it was the only thing keeping him grounded to earth.
When he made it out of the treeline, he made out the shades of blue and silver and knew that his father was there waiting with Bi-Han and Tomas.
He stood there for a moment, blinking and taking a breath, turning his eyes to meet their gazes, seeing the spectrum of feelings.
Tomas had a look of horror and concern, his gray eyes welling up immediately at the sight of him. While Bi-Han’s brows were furrowed as usual, a frown curving at his lips. And their father, standing in between them, was grinning, wide and proud. “Kuai Liang, you have passed,” he announced, stepping forward.
And when he said the words, Kuai didn’t feel anything. No happiness or relief, just mild horror. He looked down at his hands, seeing the burns blistering over and bleeding, mixing in with the blood of a man he was sure that he had killed. All as a part of a test.
He swallowed thickly and nodded his head, bowing slightly, unable to utter any words. He let his kunai drop down to the ground and walked past his father, dodging any attempt at a hug. He knew the man well and he would speak to him about this later, but right now.. He couldn’t… He couldn’t look at him, couldn’t look at Tomas and handle the way he cried.
Because crying wasn’t an option for them. Kuai had the striking realization of that in that moment. Was this why Bi-Han had avoided telling him the exact details? Did he know Kuai Liang would break from it?
Probably.
He wasn’t sure how long he had just stood in the privacy of his room, but eventually, he moved and forced himself into the bath, moving mechanically to clean himself up. The water hurt his hands and wrists where the flames had spread and he had to swallow back tears of pain as it rocked through his entire body.
He heard the door open and he didn’t have to turn his head to know it was Bi-Han. Of course he would show up in his weakest moments like this. “I should have warned you properly,” was the first thing he said to break the silence. And Kuai slowly turned to meet his gaze and he felt it was difficult to even react to that. “I should have expected it,” he murmured, feeling admittedly a bit stupid for not expecting something like this. “Father is proud of you for it,” he said and Kuai frowned at that, finding it hard to care about his father’s approval, though it was something he had fought for, for as long as he could remember.
Before he could force out any other words, Bi-Han came to crouch down by the tub, suddenly very close. He reached for one his hands gently and he worked on cleaning the wounds there. He moved gingerly which would normally surprise and unnerve Kuai Liang.
But now, he accepted it, pliant and unmoving, his gaze distant. He worked to apply a salve to his burns and it made them throb, but noticeably less than before. And he wrapped them up, the gauze extended to his mid forearm on both sides and even if his brother said their father was proud of him, he felt disgusting, like the lowest of scum in the food chain. “You can just wear sleeves to cover them from now on,” he told him flippantly, dismissing any worries. And all Kuai Liang could do was nod slowly in agreement. His thoughts were jumbled and mushy, at all once, coming and going like waves, making it impossible for him to hold onto a single thought for long.
All he knew was that he felt… impure, stained and horrible for something he had been raised for.
Bi-Han reached up to cup his cheek, tilting his head to force Kuai’s gaze upwards. Their eyes met and he felt like a child again, his eyes watering, afraid to face his scorn. But, Bi-Han surprised him, and he moved to press a kiss to his forehead. “I am proud of you, brother, you have earned the name Father has chosen for you.” The affection and praise coming from his older brother was new and he felt his stomach twist. It took him killing for his brother to offer him anything close to genuine affection. Because, of course that was what it took.
“What name is he bestowing upon me...?” he asked, voice rasping uncontrollably.
“Scorpion,” he said, pulling back slightly. “He wants to give you a mark for it as your reward.” Kuai’s brows furrowed for a moment at that. A mark to show his new name? A brand?
It all made him feel ill, truthfully. But he knew it was a moment to celebrate, that Bi-Han would scold him for not taking such an honor like this seriously. He nodded his head after a moment. “Okay,” he agreed, deciding it was better to not ask questions.
Something almost unreadable passed through his brother’s features, almost as if he was just as troubled by this as Kuai Liang and he leaned in to kiss his forehead again, running his fingers through his hair. “Worry not, brother. This is only the beginning,” he said lowly, offering words of comfort in a low rumble. It washed over Kuai Liang and he found himself speechless, his throat closing up with some emotions he couldn’t quite name. “We will be better together,” he insisted, firm and resolute, pulling away after a lingering moment.
It struck something inside of Kuai Liang that he couldn’t quite understand. It was almost too much- to have his brother suddenly so soft and sweet with him. But, he was stuck in a state of dull, detached acceptance, even with his fight of flight instincts fighting and clawing at his insides.
Later in the night when the hour was late, the four of them all sat gathered and Kuai Liang was leaning on a chair, letting one of the men from the local village ink his skin, forever branding him now as Scorpion. He could barely feel the pinpricks of pain as the needle dug into his skin, his mind easily drifting far away from here- from the moment and the people surrounding him, watching him like he was a show animal.
By the time the tattoo was finished and wrapped up, he dragged his eyes open. And almost immediately as he stood, he felt the exhaustion quickly replacing the adrenaline that had been pumping through his veins for hours on end.
Almost immediately, his eyes found Bi-Han’s across the room. And he immediately noted the way his eyes were set on the now covered tattoo. His lip curled ever so slightly, a sign of his disgust and disdain. And a part of him welcomed the look and was thankful for it. Perhaps his brother’s heart hadn’t changed that quickly after all.
4
When they met the Fire God Liu Kang, Kuai Liang was twenty two. Tomas had gone through his own trials and the three of them were now official members of the Lin Kuei, which meant they worked directly under his father as enforcers.
Bi-Han expressed nothing but indifference and scorn whenever their father gave them orders. While Kuai Liang and Tomas follow without question, swallowing down whatever emotion they may have because this was who they were. Raised killers. This was what they were taught to do and nothing else.
They had just arrived home from a mission, making their way to their father’s study, all three of them covered in grime and blood as evidence of their latest kills. When they heard a second voice, the three of them froze.
And of course, it was Bi-Han who stepped forward for them, knocking at the door without any hesitation. Instead of waiting like they were expected to, he barged in, cutting the men off halfway through their sentences. And suddenly a man, with iridescent, glowing eyes was turning to them. Kuai’s eyes widened and he couldn’t stop himself from taking a step back, hiding himself behind Bi-Han inadvertently.
Bi-Han bristled immediately in front of them, hands curling into fists at his sides, a scowl on his face. “And who the hell are you?” he demanded roughly. The man let out a low chuckle and stood, bowing to the three of them. And he felt Tomas’ fingers digging into his arm, as if that just made him more uneasy. “Forgive me, I am Liu Kang, Fire God and Protector of Earthrealm,” he introduced himself smoothly. “I was coming to speak with your father, to offer your clan a deal for the good of Earth Realm.”
Kuai’s brows furrowed and Bi-Han looked back, the two of them exchanging a look with each other and it felt like silent communication. Kuai wasn’t exactly sure what flashed across his own face, but whatever it was, it left Bi-Han with a resigned expression. The oldest nodded and simply turned his attention back to the strange man, eyes flicking to their father who came to stand next to the strange man with an unnerving gaze.
“What does this mean father? You’re a protector of Earth Realm, yet we have never met you before. Why is that?” Bi-Han demanded before either of them could continue and explain. Their father’s face contorted into a withering scowl, one that would usually make them cower when they were children. “Bi-Han,” he hissed sharply and Kuai could see the distinct tick in his brother’s jaw, the way he tensed for a fight. He was tensing up instinctively, as if he were preparing for a fight.
The tension was thick and Kuai felt a storm brewing- an icy chill in the air. A sign that he would be facing his father’s fury or Bi-Han’s usually. This time around, he was certain he would witness both of them snapping at each other.
And on instinct, he stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing firmly and gripping him tightly, borderline bruising to snap him back into place. “Bi-Han,” he said, his voice in a gentle whisper. “Let us hear him out,” he insisted.
It seemed to have the immediate effect, especially with the way Bi-Han’s body relaxed under his touch and his eyes flickered to meet his younger brother’s gaze. Their eyes were locked for a long moment and Bi-Han was searching for something.
Whatever he found, he seemed to accept it, turning to face Father and this man- Lord Liu Kang. “My apologies,” he said simply, letting out a forced breath, shoulders slumping a bit under Kuai Liang’s grip. He met his father’s stare for a moment and he seemed to take notice of the entire interaction, even down to the way his hand lingered on Bi-Han’s shoulder. Kuai swallowed under the scrutiny and eventually let his hand slip away from Bi-Han, only lingering close throughout the rest of the meeting with the strange man with odd tattoos and strange eyes.
—-------
They were now protectors of Earth Realm. Apparently. As the meeting came to an end, Kuai Liang along with Bi-Han and Tomas both left the library with nothing but confusion and apprehension bubbling inside of them. It was quite clear that the three of them were hesitant about it. But their father had agreed, exclaiming and telling his boys what an honor it was, for their clan to be in servitude to the Fire God.
“It means we are slaves and nothing more now, to this Fire God,” Bi-Han hissed in disgust as he led the way down the hallway towards their bedrooms that were all in the same wing. Kuai Liang was following close behind and his eyes flicked over to exchange a look with Tomas who seemed just as uneasy about the whole thing yet silent on his true opinions.
“Bi-Han-“ he eventually spoke up, cutting his brother off in the midst of his rant of fury. His head whipped around, meeting his little brother’s gaze with a scathing look and unadulterated icy rage. “It’s the truth Kuai Liang,” he griped and he could only sigh.
“Well… yes,” he didn’t want to necessarily argue with that point. Because it was a sudden shift for their clan as a whole. That was undeniable. But their father was still Grandmaster, they were to follow and obey. Bi-Han knew that better than all of them.
“But.. Father trusts this man. And if we are worthy enough to be considered protectors for Earth Realm....” He faltered a bit at the furrowed expression he got and he belatedly realized he was reciting the words their father had repeated to them earlier in the library.
Bi-Han’s scowl was something he had grown used to, growing up side by side with him. But it never failed in making him retract, slump his shoulders a bit in submission. “It makes us weak,” he snarled before he whipped his head back around.
His eyes met with Tomas for a moment and he had a pained grimace across his face, while he fiddled with his knife tucked into his belt. Kuai Liang knew him well enough to know he was biting his tongue.
“What do you think of it Tomas?” He spoke up despite his gut instincts telling him to not unravel whatever thin tether of a bond existed between Bi-Han and Tomas.
His eyes went a bit wide and he was ready to speak, but then Bi-Han cut him off. “As Father’s dog, he supports whatever idiotic choice that old man makes,” he growled. Tomas glared at the back of the older’s head for a moment before he just huffed silently. Him and Bi-Han had clashed enough times that the younger did his best to avoid confrontation outright.
Which irritated Kuai Liang to no end knowing that his younger brother had the family spirit in any other situations.
And maybe the tension was finally getting to him after that meeting that had dragged on for far too long. “He is our brother, Bi-Han,” he protested immediately and reached out, gripping his arm to stop him in his place.
Bi-Han froze and he turned his attention to him slowly. It made his stomach twist in a way he hated. His eyes traced over Kuai Liang’s face, almost in disbelief as if he couldn’t believe his little brother spoke out at all. Their eyes locked and Kuai clenched his jaw, standing his ground.
“He may not be our blood but he is Lin Kuei just as much as you or I,” he insisted, even as Bi-Han circled closer to him. Tomas instinctively stepped away, unable to get out any words of protest or agreement. He had the look of a scared child- reminiscent of the first night he had been brought home by their father.
And Kuai Liang bristled even more at that.
“Mother believed him to be! He was the one with me on her death bed,” he added before he could stop himself. That seemed to strike a cord and almost immediately he was slammed into the wall, with a blade of ice pressed against his throat before he had the chance to fight back. He let out an animal-like snarl himself and fought, squirming against his strength. “You cannot deny the truth, brother,” he spat.
Bi-Han’s eyes burned with an icy fire he had only seen when he had taken a life or was fighting a real fight. The cold seeped into his veins, originating from the edge of the ice digging into the thin skin of his throat.
“Do not ever bring her up again, brother, or you will regret it,” he threatened, an almost detached calmness in his words. And that in itself was more unnerving.
With that, the ice retracted. And all that was left was a thin slice of red beading tiny little droplets there. It was barely a nick, nothing more.
He watched as Bi-Han retreated- like a child that had been properly scolded and he felt an odd mixture of emotions welling up inside of him.
Hatred and disdain. But an aching need and sadness. He hated Bi-Han so much sometimes. But then the other times he was overly fond of him, ached to see the brother he knew existed underneath all this bravado and anger.
“You didn’t have to say all of that for me,” Tomas eventually spoke quietly. It snapped Kuai Liang out of his thoughts and he turned to him slowly. He offered him a gentle smile and cuffed him on the back of the bed playfully, ruffling his hair. “Yes I did,” he said simply. “Bi-Han… he is stubborn and angry, you know this, but I don’t think he always means the nonsense he spews.”
Perhaps that was naive of Kuai Liang to say it like it was some truth. Because most days, he couldn’t read Bi-Han as well as he thought.
—————-
It was only a couple hours later when he heard the creak of footsteps down his hall. He had cleaned up from the mission and was ready to retire for the night when he heard the door being pushed open.
He didn’t need to look up to know it was Bi-Han.
He spared him a look over his shoulder as he snuffed out his candles for the night. His brother was dressed down to sleep clothes, his hair down from its usual bun. He wore an expression of uncertainty, as if something was weighing heavy on him.
Kuai Liang was the one to break the silence. “It looks like you have much to say, Bi-Han, don’t go silent on me now,” he said, inviting him to lay into him. To say whatever he had to say in the privacy of his chambers, away from Father, away from Tomas- away from the rest of the world.
In the quieter moments like this, away from everyone else, Kuai Liang knew to listen, to leave himself open to Bi-Han. He hadn’t understood it before, but now that they were both grown adults, he understood it to be a moment of trust and vulnerability.
“You resent me,” he spoke, resolute and certain. “For my absence with Mother… with Mother’s passing.” Kuai Liang’s brows furrowed for a moment and he was silent, shifting his full attention to his brother.
“I don’t,” he said after a moment, having to ponder and truly think it over. “I think a part of you resents Father for it and you are angry with yourself that you followed his orders without thought,” he kept his voice even. Bi-Han blinked and the pained expression that flashed across his face was telling enough. “It is why you fight him so much now with every order. You shoulder the blame as if we are not trained to follow the Grandmaster’s orders no matter what from a young age.”
Bi-han took a few steps closer to him, closing the gap between them. And in a flash, he was suddenly down on his knees in front of his little brother. He looked like a man kneeling at the altar, head bowed, ready to pray. His forehead pressed into the top of one knee, sighing heavily.
“I wish you would not fight me in front of others,” he admitted and Kuai was stunned into silence. He felt like a fish out of water, gaping at his older brother for a moment, fingers twitching uselessly at his sides. It took him a moment before he reached forward and ran his fingers through his hair, gentle and sweet like he remembered their mom doing when they were younger.
Almost immediately, the tension seemed to drain out of him all at once.
“I know, I know, I do not wish to argue or fight with you either,” he told him, keeping his voice gentle, scratching lightly at his scalp with each pet. It was heady- to have him here and kneeling in his bedroom, vulnerable and open, trusting him.
“But you must not be cruel, especially as a future Grandmaster.” Bi-Han huffed and snuffed against the cotton of his sleep pants like a petulant child for a moment. “He is not our blood. I do not understand why you wish to defend him so often!” He griped, though the venom from earlier was absent. He just sounded… strikingly normal and it tugged at Kuai Liang’s heart strings more than it should.
Bi-Han’s always had a mean streak. That was undeniable. But he was also the same man who put himself in front of his younger brothers when it came to approaching a target. Whether that be from bravado and greed or the genuine desire to protect his siblings, Kuai would never truly know. He was also the same one who would commit the killing blow every time they were sent on a mission together.
Kuai Liang knew the cruelty he was capable of- had witnessed it all firsthand with an odd fascination when it was directed at a target of theirs. He was violent but swift, quick to slice their throat or stab someone through the heart with impeccable precision when it came time to.
Yet here he was, silent at the altar of his younger brother’s lap, melting under a gentle touch he had probably not received in years, since before their mother died.
“He is our responsibility,” he said firmly. “Perhaps… I see him as my responsibility. Much like you see me, your younger brother,” he added on as more of an afterthought.
If he squinted real hard, he was sure he’d see the tick in his jaw. He could practically feel him gritting and grinding his teeth together from where his cheek was pressed flush against his thigh now. “You are not only my responsibility. You are my blood, mine, mine to protect, to keep close.”
Kuai’s brows furrowed a bit at that. And something warm and unnameable swooped low in his stomach. A low, uneven breath escaped him and his fingers stilled in his hair, his open palm pressing against the crown of his bowed head. “And I will stay by your side, you can keep me, as long as you rule justly, do not let your temper guide you,” the promise had something welling in his throat and it felt almost acidic to promise such a thing.
But it was his brother. He had promised his mother- promised to take care of his brother- his brothers.
He loves you, he does, his mother’s voice drifted through his mind as the two of them drifted off to sleep together. They were wrapped around each other as if they were one. And Kuai Liang found he slept better for it, being one with Bi-Han- his cold staving off the fire that threatened to eat him whole when he dreamed too turbulently. He kept those dreams of blood and death and fire far far away with his cool, gentle touch.
5
Dead. Another parent dead, Kuai thought emptily. A part of him expected it when he found it was Lord Liu Kang returning with Bi-Han instead of their father.
Bi-Han looked more beat-up than usual after a mission, streaks of blood staining his clothes and his hands and he immediately wondered what exactly they had been sent into. But he stood behind Liu Kang silently, an almost venomous, resentful expression on his face.
And Kuai Liang knew his brother well- knew how to read him usually, he could not read him this time around. It all hit him at once. As soon as Liu Kang spoke the word dead, it felt like his head had been dunked under water and he couldn’t hear anything else.
It felt as if his lungs were on fire and being squeezed all at once. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe. Bi-Han was Grandmaster now and both their mom and dad were dead. It was all closing in on him and when he felt both Tomas and Bi-Han circling him, ready to jump at comfort, he had to get out.
He escaped from their grips before they could even touch them and he quickly made his way through the Compound and only stopped when he reached the gardens.
The Garden was upkept due to Kuai Liang’s insistence, knowing their mother would be furious if her beloved flowers and shrubs died right along with her. And while it brought him comfort usually- now he felt none of it. He felt nothing.
It was late summer and the sunflowers bloomed, brilliant yellow, facing the sun.
He remembered the numerous times his father had found Kuai Liang hiding away amongst the flowers. It had happened more often than not once he had gained his powers and was forced to train. He would crouch down next to him, guide his hand, uncaring of the fire he could wield.
He had told him once. “Fire and Ice need one another to exist, it is nothing to fear. Without fire, ice will be immovable and destroy slowly, and without ice, fire will spread, rampant and destructive rapidly until it is snuffed out by the other elements.”
It had sounded like gibberish to him as a kid, something he couldn’t wrap his head around fully. But now, he supposed it made sense. Without the fire of his mother, their father inevitably reached his self-destruction.
Would Bi-Han face the same fate now as Grandmaster if Kuai Liang was not there for him?
The idea terrified him. Perhaps his brother had been close to meeting his end with this mission. And that terrified him even further.
He reached out for a sunflower eventually and plucked one from its stem. He held it for a moment, like the delicacy it was, almost envisioning his mother’s smile as he looked into sunshine yellow petals.
It twisted up the gnarled pieces of his heart and in an instant, like he was a child breaking things without meaning to, the flower was caught up in flames and fell limply into his hands.
His eyes burned at the sight and he was overcome with the stifling melancholy and grief that came from missing his mother and her gentle comfort. He’d even take his father’s strict orders now if he could.
His mother’s reminder- that it would just be them in the end was a haunting thing. It was meant to be a comfort, he knew that. But now, it only felt like a taunt, a cruel reminder and weight around his neck now.
For the first time in what felt like many times, a shaky sob tore its way out of his chest and he instinctively squeezed his eyes shut. Weak, weak, weak, he found himself reciting in his head almost certain that if his father or Bi-Han found him like this, he would be scolded, laughed at even, he was sure. He ached for his mother’s warm embrace, her gentle fire stoking the turbulence he carried so heavily and tried to bury deep.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there with his knees curled into his chest, sobbing like a wounded child. The sun bled out to be overtaken by the moon, a full moon tonight.
By the time he heard footsteps, there was a distinct chill in the air with the paper white moon lighting the way.
He expected it to be Bi-Han or Tomas. It made the most sense.
But when he lifted his head to the intruder of the gardens. He saw the brilliant starlight glow of Lord Liu Kang’s gaze, even his tattoos seemed to glow in the moonlight. He blinked, slowly, almost in disbelief before he quickly remembered his manners. He jumped to his feet and scrubbed a hand over his tired, swollen eyes. He cleared his throat. “Lord Liu Kang,” he greeted and was halfway into a bow when the man chuckled.
It was a warm chuckle that vibrated through Kuai Liang. “No need for formalities Kuai Liang,” he assured. Almost immediately at that, Kuai let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Oh.. okay,” he had never spoken to the man alone and was unsure on what he could wish to discuss with him.
Liu Kang, as if he could sense the uncertainty and awkwardness radiating through him, offered him a gentle smile, eyes dimming as if he had the ability to do so. Perhaps he could, he thought for a moment.
“I only came to see how you are faring,” he explained. Kuai Liang’s brows furrowed unconsciously at that. “Both of our parents are dead now, before either of us have reached thirty years old,” he answered.
The man grimaced at the almost blunt honesty.
“If it is your brother you worry over, I assure you he will settle into the role of Grandmaster just fine.” Kuai watched the man for a moment, almost to gauge to see if perhaps he was lying and simply telling him what he wanted to hear.
“You have your doubts,” Kuai spoke bluntly after a moment of silence between them. Liu Kang laughed- a hearty, belly deep laugh and he stepped closer to him, pressing a hand between his shoulder blades to guide him through the gardens, further away from the main Estate grounds. “You know as well as I that your brother has a temper,” he started. His hand was warm, seeping into his veins through cloth and cotton. It was a touch reminiscent of his mother’s, gentle but all encasing- a reminder that he was not the only one to carry the power of quick destruction at his fingertips.
“Yes,” Kuai nodded. “I have done my best to tell him he cannot be so cruel to those who are important in his life,” he revealed and he bit the inside of his cheek, cursing himself for opening up so easily.
“And he listens to you,” Liu Kang said knowingly. “You are the reminder- the last of his true blood.” Kuai was hit with the truth of his words, something he had not yet comprehended in his haze of overwhelming grief. “There is Tomas as well,” he added though it was half hearted, because he knew how Bi-Han had felt. Even if he had valiantly tried to be more civil towards their silver haired brother, his true feelings could never be swayed, he was sure.
“You carry your mother’s spirit and the face of your father, it is the reminder of what once was. For him at least,” Liu Kang continued, their steps slowing down as he turned to him fully.
“It will not be easy for him to take the role as Grandmaster. Even if he is more than prepared to take the mantle, your clan may be hesitant after such a sudden death,” Liu Kang was resolute, absolutely certain like he had foresight. Kuai Liang frowned at that, brows furrowing in an almost petulant confusion, trying to understand where the man was going with all of this.
“I am sure they will be hesitant and mourning the loss of their Grandmaster, but Bi-Han was raised for this. The Clan knows he will rule just as well as our Father.” Perhaps it was naive to be so certain. But even with his own doubts, he knew if no one else were to have faith in his brother, then he would. He had to.
“They will, when they see the faith you have in him, they will follow,” Liu Kang reached a hand up suddenly to cup the side of his head. “You will inspire and reassert many of their faith in the mission, in the role as protectors of Earth Realm.” It was confidence, certainty in a way that was almost overwhelming. “It may not make sense now. But you must follow your role and stick by his side,” he said, voice lowering as if he were telling Kuai Liang a secret.
Kuai Liang leaned into his warm touch unconsciously, drawn in by the words almost. No one had ever expressed confidence in him for anything. He was a killer- and the middle brother that had been seen as weak by his older brother and many others in the clan whilst growing up.
Yet, here stood the God of Fire- the God of the element he wielded expressing faith in his abilities. It had flames of something confusing flickering in his chest and his lower belly and he could only swallow thickly. His eyes fluttered closed and he bowed his head, inadvertently leaning into him further.
“Thank you, Lord Liu Kang, I will not fail you,” he promised him softly, blinking his eyes open to meet his gaze.
“Kuai Liang!” A voice from behind him growled out like a snarling dog. And it snapped Kuai out of his daze and he jerked hard, spine going straight on instinct, turning to find Bi-Han standing there with icy fury burning in his dark gaze. “Bi-Han,” he greeted, feeling like a scolded child with the way his gaze darted between him and Liu Kang. “We were just speaking, Bi-Han,” Liu Kang spoke up, unwavering. And of course he wasn’t, a god would not flinch, even when confronted with the anger and fury of someone as dangerous as Bi-Han.
Bi-Han was quietly stewing, jaw clenching and hands curling into fists at his sides for a moment. His gaze lingered on Liu Kang for a moment before settling on his little brother. “Well, dinner has been served, you must eat, little brother,” he said firmly and he stepped forward and quickly yanked Kuai Liang towards him and away from the Fire God. It was fast enough that Kuai stumbled a bit. “Bi-Han,” he griped and with a bit of squirming, he smacked away the hand gripping his bicep. “You can join us as well, Liu Kang,” Bi-Han said, though with his posture still so stiff, he didn’t want to give the invitation.
“I would love that,” Liu Kang agreed and followed them out of the gardens. And the warm touch of Liu Kang was replaced with the familiar cool touch of his brother, his hand resting on the small of his back. It was an unfamiliar touch, one that had Kuai Liang’s muscles twitching.
—————
When night came, Kuai Liang’s limbs were heavy with exhaustion. But he found himself wide awake, staring at his ceiling. He felt much of nothing but also too much. The words of his mother and Liu Kang all bled together in his mind, like a taunt and an order. He also found the words of his brother melding into the mix of mush that his brain was. “You are mine to protect, mine to keep close.”
It all meant the same.
Am I my brother’s keeper?
It twisted like a knife to his gut, because why was this bestowed upon him? Why was this shackle wrapped around his ankle and threatening to drag him down when he was the younger brother of the two? It was his destiny now it seemed, that even a God was placing upon him.
The sound of footsteps creaked, louder than usual. And perhaps it was because Bi-Han did not have a need to sneak and hide now. As Grandmaster he could do as he pleased now.
The door creaked open and the footsteps, he could recognize anywhere. “You are louder than usual tonight, Bi-Han,” he remarked, his eyes not straying from the spot he had been staring a hole into on the ceiling. There was a brief pause followed up with a scoff. “It is only us in this wing of the Estate now,” he said flippantly.
His head throbbed almost immediately in response at the reminder. “Yes… I suppose we are,” he said softly, the words feeling acidic on his tongue.
Bi-Han was silent for a moment, simply watching his brother. The moment of silence hung heavy between them and Kuai didn't dare turn to look at him. His gaze stayed rooted on the ceiling, even when he heard his brother crossing the room to him.
The mattress dipped underneath the new weight and his brother’s face came into his line of sight, blocking off his view of the blank ceiling. His hair fell from his shoulders in a smooth waterfall of raven black and his eyes were dark, with a glint he hadn’t seen in quite some time. He looked almost playful.
His hands rested on either side of his head, his body shifting to cover him completely, thighs bracketing his hips.
He was close- so incredibly close. His eyes couldn’t help but widen under the sudden attention.
“You dare ignore your Grandmaster already?” His voice was filled with mirth, teasing him. He sounded lighter than he has in over a decade, Kuai distantly thought. He couldn’t recall a time that he ever sounded so… light, without the weight of their responsibilities weighing them down.
It was enough to have his heart skipping a beat and his face feeling much warmer. It was an unfamiliar feeling that had his skin prickling. His throat tightened and he let out a rough, uneven breath. “My Grandmaster is far too energetic and playful for this time of night,” he huffed.
Bi-Han’s lips curved into a grin. And it seemed almost genuine. The usual tense line of his shoulders was absent from what he could make out in the dark. “It is a time to celebrate, a new generation for our Clan,” he told him easily, leaning and bumping his forehead against Kuai Liang’s.
Half-expecting a headbutt, he tensed underneath the attention. Though when he just seemed to nuzzle into him, Kuai was shocked and wondered if he had some sort of whiplash. Or if maybe he had drifted off to sleep and was having a torturous dream of what he wished for most.
He felt his throat closing up and he was dizzy, his face feeling like it was certainly on fire. “We have lost our father, Bi-Han. We must mourn before we can celebrate,” he attempted to scold. But even that felt too half-hearted right now. Weak, weak, weak, he mentally scolded himself.
Bi-Han snorted at that, dismissive. “It has been a long time coming, with his age Kuai Liang,” he told him. “I have attended more missions with him than anyone else and can assure you he has gotten slower in the last few years.” Kuai was silent for a moment, his earlier thoughts creeping in on him. A slow destruction to his inevitable end whereas Mother had gotten sick and taken by Winter Fever quick and abrupt.
Before his thoughts could spiral further, Bi-Han’s hands clasped around his wrists, pinning them down into the mattress. It snapped Kuai Liang back to reality abruptly and a stuttering breath tore its way out of his throat before he could stop it. He was all the more aware of how close Bi-Han was. His thighs squeezed where they bracketed around his hips and they were chest to chest and practically nose to nose. They were sharing the same breath practically and Kuai Liang was confused- so confused and dizzy.
“Bi-Han-“ he breathed out, confusion coloring his tone.
“You are thinking far too much little brother,” he cut him off before Kuai could even think to continue. And all he could think to do was blink up at him, a bit dumbfounded. His lips were so close, only mere centimeters away from his own. It sent heat trickling through him and his lips parted in a soft, uneven breath. “You know I have to, for the both of us,” he managed to get out.
Bi-Han let out a laugh, a genuine, hearty laugh that was rich and deep and it resonated through Kuai.
Why was he so happy?
He was ready to ask, to demand what the hell was wrong with him. Why did he not mourn their father how he mourned their mother?
But he was suddenly leaning in and kissing his forehead in a swift sweep of his lips. Kuai felt his eyes were almost ready to bulge from his head. “We will be fine without him,” he said, one hand clasping around his wrist sliding higher until their fingers were intertwined. He squeezed Kuai Liang’s hand reassuringly.
And maybe he was truly weak- or maybe he just wished to believe and trust his big brother for once. “Okay..” he relented, giving into him, his body going slack underneath the warm press of his body, letting it fully encompass him. Bi-Han brightened, shining almost iridescently in the dark, his spirits higher than Kuai could ever recall seeing.
He felt both heavy and light with the realization. The realization that his father had been the shackle holding Bi-Han down and that now he had taken their father’s place truly. He had now become the shackle that weighed heavily around Kuai Liang’s neck.
He slept tucked close, wrapped around his little brother’s back, head tucked into the crook of his neck. And Kuai stayed awake, much longer than Bi-Han- laid there despite the exhaustion and tiredness weighing heavy on his bones. When he did eventually drift off in the early hours of the morning, cold, icy fingers dug into his hips underneath his sleep clothes, chilling him down to his veins. It was a curse, a promise, and a brand all at once.
He distantly wondered in his sleepy mind if this was how his mother had felt after marrying their father all those years ago.
+1
Looking back on it, Kuai Liang knew the close relationship he had with his brother was something to question. He knew his loyalty and naivety to believe he had good intentions was stupid of him. He knew that now.
He had married Harumi and had broken away from the Lin Kuei. Him and Tomas were now the head leaders of the Shirai Ryu deep in the countryside of Japan. A gift of sorts from Harumi, putting her trust in them to guide her clan, to let them become a part of it.
Even with Bi-Han’s insistence for the melodramatics at his wedding, she was still loyal and believed in him to guide and be the head of the Earth Realm protectors.
Some nights, he felt undeserving of such love and care from a strong and beautiful woman like her. Such understanding. It was something he had never gotten the luxury of whilst growing up. And maybe she could recognize that. The Shirai Ryu had once been a clan who worked on and off with the Lin Kuei. But that had all but tapered off once Kuai had become old enough to be one of the members, especially when Bi-Han became the Grand Master.
He wore his mark across his face and everyone who looked upon him looked at him with pity and a bit of fear. He was the man who wielded fire and the man who had braved the Khaos realm in order to save their own realm. But he was also the man who ran away with his tail tucked between his legs, the man who had been bested by Sub Zero and came back scarred.
Far too often, he found himself thinking about his time in the Khaos Realm and the state he had found Bi-Han in. It was horrifying, to hear his brother’s voice, but to see the skin of a wraith, darkened with rot, eyes vacant and empty whites with his chest glowing green with the disease of khaos.
He could have killed him, he should have killed him. But in the moment Sektor’s grating voice was tuned out and the soothing cadence of his mother came to the forefront of his brain when he looked down at Bi-Han.
“He loves you, he does.”
“Take care of each other.”
And even when Liu Kang had been kind enough to take Bi-Han in, to offer his assistance in restoring Bi-Han mentally and physically, the Fire God did his best to offer assurances. And Kuai Liang was quite frankly frustrated and too irritated to take it all to heart, to truly listen like he once had. He had his job and would continue to protect Earth Realm for the God, but everything that was promised. “You will inspire and reassert many of their faith in the mission.” It all felt useless and pointless.
He didn’t understand it before and he felt bitter to know he understood perfectly well now. He carried out the mission for Liu Kang, protecting Earth Realm, but in the process, he lost his brother. He lost the last of his blood to his selfish whims.
But then again… maybe Bi-Han had been lost many years before, maybe he was lost before he had decided to kill their father in cold blood.
That still sat like a lead weight in the pit of his stomach, like bile threatening to rise in the back of his throat. His loyalty, his trust- the genuine contentment and happiness he had felt working side by side with his brother had all been based on lies. It was all stained now with the cold blood of their father- the cold blood of betrayal and bitterness.
Looking back on it, he felt like a fool for trusting his brother. Especially seeing where his blind ambitions and ego had led him. He was now a creature of khaos, as rotten on the outside now as he was on the inside.
He knew he should bury it deep and forget about him. But most nights, he laid awake and stared up at his ceiling with a heavy feeling weighing on him. Harumi slept peacefully next to him, light and warm, filled with so much love and affection that Kuai Liang didn’t feel worthy of. He was still plagued by too much and cold nothingness all at once.
Of course, he knew Harumi wasn’t stupid. She was intelligent and could read Kuai Liang better than anyone ever could. And she doesn’t judge, she doesn’t speak of it. It felt like an obvious elephant in the room that they both don’t speak of. Kuai Liang knew it would hurt too much to truly speak of it, that the anger and sadness would burn through his veins until his fingertips and vocal chords were charred black if he spoke of Bi-Han and how much he missed him. How much he hated him and how much he loved him.
When he eventually decided to travel to China to visit the Fire Temple, Harumi didn’t question him. Though there was a knowing glint in her dark eyes as she kissed him goodbye and wished him safe travels. He was disgusted with himself, to go back to the place he had done so well in avoiding.
But the moment Liu Kang had contacted him and told him that Bi-Han improved every single day and he sounded much like himself, Kuai Liang had decided then he had to see him. He had to know for himself.
By the time he had arrived at the Fire Temple, it was late in the evening and thankfully after dinner had been served. He wouldn’t have to sit through an awkward, long drawn out conversation with Liu Kang and the other two he had been training.
He exchanged cordial greetings with the Fire God and Liu Kang watched him with a similar knowing glint in his iridescent irises, the same look Harumi had given him before he had left. It was almost… a sad look.
He just turned his eyes away like a scolded child, focusing on a random spot in the wall. “Please show me which hall he is in,” he said, remembering his manners, though it was forced, a please he had to bite out.
Liu Kang without another word guided him to the East Wing of the Fire Temple and nodded. “At the very end of the First Hall,” he told him. Kuai Liang nodded his head and left down the hall without another word. And when he reached the end of the hall, he was quiet for a moment, listening for any sign of which door to check.
And almost like a glowing beacon, his body gravitated towards the left and he turned the knob quietly, slipping inside.
The room was lit dimly with candles all close to the open windows that let in the cold night air. He took in the figure that sat knelt in front of those candles. The muscled plains of his back were familiar. The body that was half bare was one he had spent many nights sleeping next to since they were children. But it was all darkened, ruined with the intricate lines of khaos magic and death. His hair was down and looked the same, as dark as a raven’s wings, sliding down his bare back like dark spun silk. If he squinted hard enough, he could see glints of silver, reflections of the moonlight bouncing off each strand.
His brother was beautiful, Kuai let himself think, though the disgust he felt with himself only intensified.
“Leave,” the familiar low baritone growled, snapping Kuai out of his daze and sad admiration.
He looked up to see that he hadn’t even bothered to spare him a glance over his shoulder. His chest burned and his fingertips felt hot for a moment with childish petulance, an annoyance that his brother still acted so indifferent at times.
“Bi-Han,” he said, not moving from his spot.
The line of his shoulders tensed visibly and it seemed to register who was standing there in his chambers with him this late in the evening.
He slowly turned to face him and stood to his full height. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice still indifferent and hardened. Kuai’s hands curled into fists and he tensed instinctively, unsure if they would fight or not.
And even if he was angry, the other part of him was tired, too tired to want to fight with his brother. “I wanted to come see you,” he said simply, that being the only truly explanation he could manage out with his tongue feeling so heavy in his mouth.
Despite the obvious differences now, the lack of humanity in his eyes, he could see glints of his usual complexion around his neck and shoulders at this angle. His lips were pressed into a thin line, a look he had when he was irritated and uncertain. “I thought we’ve decided to be done with each other. You have your own clan while Sektor and I have the Lin Kuei.”
Something akin to jealousy immediately hit him right in his chest and without thought, flames flicker from his clenched palms, singing the arm coverings that were wrapped around his palms as well, meant to protect him from himself. “I do not wish to speak of that, speak of her,” he deadpanned and he took a few steps closer to him, closing the gap between them, flames snuffing out immediately in the closeness to the icy cold that was his brother.
He used to hate Winter time, even with how warm he ran, he hated the cold. But here he was, gravitating towards his brother, constantly sucked into his orbit since they were children.
“Why- Why Bi-Han?” was all he could manage out and his voice caught, rasping around the edges, rough and uneven now. Despite how inhuman he looked, something akin to sadness crossed his features, his brows furrowing and shoulders slumping. “Father was holding us back, he took and took, did not think of others, did not think about his own children,” he spat.
“And you were any better?” Kuai demanded roughly, so much building up in his chest all at once, stitches popping open, incensed to hear the same speech spewed with slightly changed words every single time. His jaw clenched and he instinctively turned his head, purposely trying to avoid looking at his brother while inching back, to put space between them. It was childish and had Kuai Liang burning with more- anger, sadness, irritation and the heavy desire to beg for him to see reason.
That was a lost cause, he knew it would be impossible for him to see reason. But, if Bi-Han was going to not waver in his resolve, he would have to look at his brother.
He reached out to grip his brother’s chin, yanking his head to look at him. Fiery brown met empty whites and Kuai’s lips curled into a snarl. “If you think you’re still better, look at me, look me in the eye,” he demanded in a growl. “Look at this-” he pointed to the scar that marred the right side of his face permanently now. “Look at what you did to your brother- your only blood that you once swore to protect, Grand Master,” he continued, spitting the title out with disdain and venom, feeling it all in the back of his throat, escaping him and weighing acidically on his tongue.
He half expected to get backhanded, for Bi-Han to bristle and for a fight to break out. But, surprisingly, Bi-Han looked at him, head on, and something crackled in the air between them. Perhaps it was the fissures of whatever relationship they had before finally breaking messily.
From the corner of his peripheral vision, he could see the bright green glow in his chest where his heart was, the gnarled ugly thing it was now powered by magic.
“You made your choice and I made mine,” Bi-Han spoke in a deadpan. “You have the peaceful life you wished for, beloved protector of Earth Realm with a wife,” he spat at him. And that… that cut through Kuai Liang unlike any blade of his ever could. He had been prepared to stay by his brother’s side, to be his loyal right hand man, like a dog loyal to their owner with a shackled collar around his neck.
Perhaps Bi-Han was right- perhaps Kuai Liang should be glad that he had the life that he was destined for in the end. The life that Liu Kang had told him he deserved.
Yet here he was, running back to his older brother like a child, demanding for answers that he knew would never come. He was running back to the stiflingly cold grip of his brother that would just weigh him down into a slow self destruction.
“I didn’t want it to be like this,” he said lowly after a moment, his fingers going slack around his chin, sliding down to rest around the base of his throat, wishing that he still had that thick anger and resentment from the Khaos Realm still, to just squeeze and squeeze until the bones and tendons in his neck gave way.
“I was ready to spend the rest of my days working side by side with you,” he continued, heartbreak bleeding out of his throat with the sickness and rot that had been weighing heavy in the pit of his stomach for so long now.
There was no reason for him to be here, to be telling his brother this. But he could see with the way he tilted his head ever so slightly that he had managed to blindside them. “You would’ve been just as unhappy as mother had been,” he deadpanned knowingly.
A bitter snort escaped Kuai before he could stop it. “You’re probably right,” he said knowingly, unable to argue with him on it. His hand eventually dropped down to his sides, fingers curling into fists. “You are like a poison, a weight wrapped around my neck, threatening to choke the life out of me at any given moment, you always were, even when we were children and you used to poke and prod at me like I was some wind up toy,” he revealed honestly.
“But, I loved you- I still do love you, you’re my blood and my only blood now. It was supposed to always just be us,” Kuai took a step back as he spoke, feeling bloody and raw, ribbons of his heart spilling out of his chest and past his lips.
Bi-Han’s hands curled into fists. “This is how it is supposed to be in the end, move on,” he barked at him, all teeth and bite, covering up what he truly felt. And Kuai Liang hated that he couldn’t read his brother as well as he used to. Maybe he had never been able to read him in the first place.
The weight of loss and grief weighed heavy on him, threatening to swallow him whole. He knew he couldn’t hold on forever, that he would have to move on, just like Bi-Han insisted.
Despite the truth of those words, his feet took him forwards those few extra centimeters and he threw his arms around his brother’s frame. One last final embrace to say goodbye. A part of him wanted to stay, wanted to feel him nestled into his back, breath fanning over the nape of his neck. The weight was a welcomed comfort when he slept.
Bi-Han was still for a moment, frozen in his spot. And after a few moments of just hugging him tight and clinging to him, the last semblance of his family and his past, he was ready to pull away, to accept the rejection. But before he could pull away, Bi-Han was wrapped his arms around his brother and hugged him back just as tightly. He let out a shaky, uneven breath and pressed closer until their chests were flushed together.
Kuai Liang wasn’t sure how long they sat like this with each other, time and everything else vanished for a moment and he just let himself bask in it, take what he needed for the moment. And it seemed that Bi-Han felt the same, the two of them clung to each other for a long time, hesitating to part and say the final goodbye.
Kuai knew coming here that he could probably never say goodbye completely. Just as well as Bi-Han did. This goodbye was a temporary one at best. A promise that they would find each other and in the light, they would continue fighting, if only to continue letting it all go and disappear in the darkness of the night like this.
Even with his new life and new path, he would still find himself dragged back to Bi-Han like a dog getting yanked back on their leash by their owner when they had been roaming freely for too long.