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You were perched at the counter, chatting with Kenshi and one of the monks about absolutely nothing of consequence. You’d thrown together a small get-together for the Earthrealm champions and invited the Wu Shi Academy staff, because why not make your social bandwidth someone else’s problem for the night?
They’d been grateful for the invitation, bowing and thanking you like you’d offered them eternal enlightenment instead of snacks and a warm house.
You’d decorated everything from floor to ceiling until the whole space looked like the North Pole threw up on it. Even Johnny had stopped mid-brag to acknowledge your interior-decorating supremacy, which basically counted as a Michelin star coming from him.
Christmas was right around the corner, and since everyone would be spending time with their families, the logic was simple: throw the party now, make the memories early, and avoid scheduling conflicts.
Your eyes kept sweeping the room, doing that casual-not-casual search pattern you thought you were being subtle about.
Spoiler: you weren’t.
You were very clearly looking for someone.
Liu Kang still hadn’t shown up. No fiery deity in sight. You pouted before you could stop yourself, only to catch Kenshi watching you with a smug little smirk.
“Trouble finding something? Or some-one?” he teased, putting way too much emphasis on the last word.
You rolled your eyes and nudged his shoulder. “Zip it, Takahashi. It’s not like that.” You murmured, your smile absolutely betrayed you.
“Sure,” he said, word dripping in disbelief.
Before you could throw a pillow at him, Kung Lao stumbled around the corner like he’d spawned in the wrong room.
“Y/N, this eggnog is freaking delicious!” he announced, just a little too loudly, and just a little too tipsy.
“Oh dear,” you muttered, already laughing. “Lao, sweetheart, hit pause. You’re gonna get wasted.”
He blinked slowly, nodded solemnly, then immediately took another sip.
Peak Wu Shi logic.
You laughed and stood up, snagging a bottled water before pressing it into Lao’s hands like the mother hen you were. You sent him off with very specific instructions: find Raiden, drink the water, and for the love of all holiday spirit, don’t touch the eggnog again.
Whether he’d actually follow any of that? Yeah… doubtful. Entertaining, though. You’d deal with the consequences later. Future you can fight that battle.
A small shiver slipped through you before you could hide it.
Great.
The cold was finally winning. For all the time you’d spent decking the halls, apparently zero minutes went toward convincing your heater to not die on you at the worst possible moment. The place had a subtle, annoying chill. Not miserable, but definitely “a functioning heater would be awesome right now.”
Whatever. You’d get it fixed at some point. Present you just had to survive the draft.
“Babes! You’ve outdone yourself this time!” Johnny’s voice blasted into the room like he was entering on a red carpet that absolutely did not exist.
You turned around just in time to see Johnny marching toward you like a man entering a red carpet, arms already thrown open for a hug. Behind him stood Liu Kang.
Finally.
The room practically brightened a notch at his presence.
“You have indeed, Y/N,” Liu greeted, voice warm, golden eyes looking soft as they settled on you.
“Umf!”
Johnny crashed into you, squeezing your ribs into a new shape before releasing you with his trademark Hollywood smile. He immediately spun around and beelined toward Kenshi, no doubt ready to pitch another movie he’d “totally already written.”
You grumbled, smoothing your clothes, before turning back to Liu, dipping into a polite bow. “Thank you, Lord Liu Kang. And… thank you for coming.”
He smiled, teasing warmth flickering across his face. “No need to be so formal, Y/N. I’m just a guest in your home.”
A small laugh escaped you. He answered with one of his own, low and soft, like he was sharing a soft moment with you despite the entire party buzzing around.
The two of you chatted for a while, catching up on recent events, training updates, and whatever else crossed your minds. Every so often, Liu would pause to greet a champion or monk drifting past, his voice warm and steady, though his attention always drifted right back to you.
By the time dusk started setting, you were pulling out an array of plates for dinner. Everyone descended on the food like starving wolves, filling themselves until the living room was full of satisfied groans and loosened belts.
As bellies filled and the evening slowed, most of the house gradually began to clear out. Several academy staff thanked you profusely for the invitation, wishing you warm holidays before heading home.
Those who stayed behind had moved to the living room, where a violently competitive game of UNO had broken out. Someone's drink was absolutely getting sabotaged later in retaliation, but that's what they got for stacking Draw Fours like a war crime. Silent bets floated around the room as cards slammed against the table.
You sat beside Liu on the couch, close enough to feel the heat radiating from him. The two of you talked quietly about your holiday plans, voices low under the chaos of the card game. His presence was its own kind of comfort, steady and warm in the chilly room.
The kind of warm that made it way too easy for your eyelids to start drooping.
Liu let out a quiet chuckle when he noticed your eyelids fluttering. He leaned back slightly, guiding you with a gentle hand until your head rested against his shoulder. The look in his eyes softened in a way you’d never seen before—like you were something precious he was afraid to disturb.
Your body relaxed instantly, going pleasantly limp against him. He turned his attention back to the UNO bloodbath, letting you rest, until he felt the faintest shiver running through you.
A crease formed between his brows. He glanced down and saw how you were hunching in on yourself, still losing the battle against the chilly air.
Without a word, he shifted closer, reaching over to pull your scarf more securely around your neck, wrapping the ends gently so the fabric hugged your chin. Then his fingers brushed a loose lock of hair away from your face, his touch warm as it grazed your cheek.
You instinctively nuzzled into him, curling in a little more, nose brushing the warmth of his collarbone.
Still freezing.
Still snoozing.
Still adorable.
A chorus of not-so-subtle snickering pulled his attention back to the group. Several pairs of eyes were fixed on him with the same expression one might use upon spotting a high-school crush moment.
And then Johnny opened his mouth.
“Oooh, Lord Liu Kang liiiikes Y/N…” he sing-songed, grin so obnoxiously proud you could choke on it.
Liu rolled his eyes, and the gesture was so disarmingly normal that the whole group cracked up. Within seconds, the kissing noises started up again. Menaces, really.
“You should totally ask her out,” Kung Lao announced, pointing at Liu with the confidence of a man who’d already lost three UNO rounds in a row.
Kenshi chuckled, calm as ever. “It wouldn’t hurt to try.”
Liu just shook his head. The lot of them… genuinely hopeless. He hit them with a single stern look that shut them up instantly, though their smug smiles never left their faces. They didn’t dare speak, but collectively? They were fangirling internally.
Eventually, you stirred awake, blinking at the dim living room lights. Your cheek had been pressed against Liu’s shoulder, and the realization sent a soft rush of heat up your neck. You straightened, rubbing your eyes.
“Sorry,” you mumbled, half-asleep.
Liu turned to you, warmth blooming across his features. He lifted a hand, slow and gentle, and drew your scarf back up around your neck. His fingers brushed the side of your jaw, lingering just long enough for your breath to hitch.
Your reaction was instant.
A soft inhale.
A tiny blink.
A warmth blooming under your skin that had nothing to do with the scarf.
You leaned into the touch for half a second, instinctively seeking the heat you’d pretended you didn’t need.
Liu felt the way you softened under his hand. Noticed the way your shoulders relaxed. The small, sleepy smile tugging at the corner of your lips.
Something in his chest tightened, pleasantly.
“It’s alright,” he murmured. “You were tired.”
You tried to respond, but the words got caught somewhere between your throat and your pride. The others were watching this whole interaction, absolutely losing their minds in silence, gripping their UNO cards like they were courtside at a championship match.
Liu ignored them.
His hand brushed your scarf one more time, careful and warm.
And even though you tried to look unfazed…
Your blush absolutely betrayed you.