Just Like You

Kuai Liang glared from behind the bars of his cell. His friends and allies were safely secured and separated from him in another part of Shang Tsung’s laboratory. Getting the fearsome Scorpion alone was a priority. No pesky voices whispering in his ears and telling him not to listen to Shang Tsung’s offer.

Not that it would be an easy task to get him to listen without them, but everyone had a price, and Shang Tsung believed he knew now what Kuai Liang’s would be.

“Nothing you could offer would interest me,” Kuai replied defiantly, jerking his head up like he was challenging Shang Tsung to just try. Shang Tsung smirked to himself, as he reached his hand between the bars. His hand landed on Kuai’s cheek, though to his surprise the pyromancer didn’t try to pull away. His lips did draw into a disgusted scowl however.

“Oh, I think I know of at least one thing I can offer you,” Shang Tsung purred, tracing his fingers down Kuai’s face. “Or more exactly, I can offer you someone.”

Kuai’s eyebrow drew together in confusion, blinking a few times. Warily he asked “what are you talking about?”

“Your Father’s death really left its mark on you, poor boy.” He watched as Kuai’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped. “If you swear your service to me, I could arrange a little… family reunion.”

“You can’t offer that,” Kuai hissed between his teeth, shaking his head. “No one has that kind of power.”

“A sorcerer with training from the Netherrealm has.” Well. Quan Chi had claimed he was experimenting with such things. From what Shang Tsung had seen his success was varied, but it was getting closer to being perfected.

Kuai Liang didn’t need to know that though.

His face twitched in conflict. Excellent. That was exactly what Shang Tsung wanted. The consideration that he could get what he wanted if he just submitted. The seed of doubt that Liu Kang’s way would give Kuai Liang what he truly desired. If he just followed Shang Tsung, he could be reunited with his beloved father.

A bitter laugh escaped Kuai’s lips as he growled “anything that arrogant bastard could raise from the dead would be but a shadow of the man I knew and loved.” He leaned closer to the bars, braising himself against them with his hands. “I believe the dead should stay that way, Shang Tsung, for their own sake as much as anyone else’s.”

Damn. I really thought I was on to something there. He was so certain that Kuai Liang was enough of a daddy’s boy to accept such an offer. Oh well. I am sure there are other things I can exploit.

“Well, the offer will still stand, should you change your mind.” He pulled his hand away, intending to go and rethink his tactics.

“What is it about me that is making you go to such lengths to try and win my loyalty?” Kuai Liang asked, lowering his head slightly, but keeping his gaze squarely on Shang Tsung. “You have gone to great lengths to get me here, and to make sure I am alone. You have not gone to such extremes for anyone else, not even Bi-Han.” His head tilted slightly, grip on the bars tightening. “What have I done to catch your attention in such a way?”

“Other than that you would be delightful company?” Shang Tsung purred, looking Kuai up and down. He’d be lying if the man’s looks didn’t play some part in it, but to be honest, that was just a bonus. The cherry on top so to say. “We are very alike, Kuai Liang, regardless of if you wish to admit that or not.”

Kuai scoffed. “I am nothing like you.”

“We are both victims of Liu Kang’s god complex, my dear.” He placed a hand over one of Kuai Liang’s, and once again was surprised he didn’t try to escape the touch. He’s a little touch starved it seems. Interesting. “It is by his will that we were both denied the destinies we so rightfully deserved.”

“He may have changed my destiny, but he denied me nothing,” Kuai adamantly argued. Tsk, this poor fool. Still believing Liu Kang had any good intentions for him.

“You were destined to be a Cyromancer. You were destined to be Sub Zero. You were the one destined to be Grandmaster of The Lin Kuei, not your elder brother.” He reached a hand through the bars again, pushing a stray strand of hair from Kuai’s face. “He stole all of that from you, Kuai Liang. And you can lie to yourself, but I know that deep down inside you realise this life is not yours to live.”

“That’s not-“

“It’s the truth, Kuai Liang, and you know it is.” He squeezed the other man’s hand, while the other still ghosted his facial features. “Tell me, when you look at ice and snow, how do you feel? Sadness? Longing? Unease? Like there is something wrong but you can’t quite figure out what? And you never really understood why until you found out about Liu Kang’s deception.”

“How could you-“

“Because I felt those exact same things,” he whispered, knowing exactly what he was asking. “Every time I saw someone use magic, it was like there was a part of me missing.” He could see tears welling in Kuai Liang’s brown eyes. Ah. Maybe this was the angle he’d needed all along. Showing him that they were both screwed over when Liu Kang took control of the hourglass. “I understand you. Better than your brothers, better than your clan. I am the only one who knows exactly what you have been through.”

“Liu Kang’s actions were for the benefit of Earthrealm,” Kuai weakly argued, although the tone of his voice indicated that maybe somewhere inside him, he did not truly believe that.

“But how do they benefit you?”

The question lingered between them, Kuai Liang’s eyes darting around slightly, like he was desperately searching for an answer that he could not find.

“Oh.” Shang Tsung whispered, wiping away a tear as it rolled down Kuai’s cheek. “How is it fair that he expects you to suffer for the benefit of others?”

Kuai closed his eyes and violently jerked away, stumbling backwards in his cell. His eyes reopened, and he looked at Shang Tsung with such venom, even as he openly cried.

“I will not let you get inside my head sorcerer,” he growled, leaning back against the wall and grasping at himself like he was wounded.

“Oh, Kuai Liang. I’m already there,” he sneered, watching Kuai’s face drop, realising he was right. “I will allow you to think over my offer. I do hope that would will come to the correct conclusion.”

As he turned away, he just about caught Kuai sliding down the wall to the floor. He smiled to himself, opening the door to the chambers, Kuai’s sobs echoing behind him, loud enough they could be heard even when the thick wooden door closed again. It was a necessary evil, in Shang Tsung’s mind.

The sooner Kuai accepted how throughly fucked over he’d been, the sooner they could join forces to bring the architects of their misery to their knees.

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