Can't You Feel It Burn Deep Down Inside?

He could hear the fire roaring around him, and over that, his own screams. Clawing at his face, he could feel his skin begin to melt from his body. He should have never taken his brother’s place in this tournament. If only he’d known ahead of time that his brother’s sins would catch up to him at this place. Only Bi-Han wasn’t here, and Kuai Liang was suffering in his place.

He saw Scorpion looming over him, watching his handy work intently. Kuai’s vision began to black out, as he desperately gasped for breath. All he could think was; Lord Raiden, please help me, I don’t want to die!

“This is… unexpected.”

Kuai’s eyes shot open. He was no longer burning, but the pain still ghosted over his body. He didn’t understand what was happening. Shouldn’t I be dead?

He felt a hand roughly grab his face and tilt it upwards, being met with a pale face staring down at him. Kuai blinked in recognition, it was Quan Chi. He’d been at the tournament, he was the one to show Scorpion what Bi-Han had done to his wife and son. But, why was he here?

“What is unexpected?” A chill went down his spine and he felt bile in the back of his throat. That was Scorpion’s voice. Clearly he hadn’t actually managed to kill Kuai Liang the first time, and was here to finish the job.

Quan Chi clicked his tongue, moving Kuai’s face side to side as he growled “you got the wrong person.”

“What?” Scorpion roared, and Quan Chi was suddenly pushed aside. Scorpion stared down at him, despite the spectres eyes being cloudy, the rage still burned within them. He suddenly grabbed Kuai by the neck, squeezing it hard and making Kuai choke. “What is this? You are not Sub Zero!”

“P-Please,” Kuai wheezed, his hands reaching up to pathetically grab Scorpion’s arm. “Mm. Please.”

“Enough, Scorpion,” Quan Chi ordered, this time it was his turn to push the spectre out of the way. With Scorpion’s hand removed, Kuai felt himself hungrily take in breaths. Quan Chi pressed his fingers into Kuai’s jaw again though. “He’s right however. You are not Bi-Han. Who exactly are you?”

“T-Tundra,” Kuai whispered, trying to move, but his body ached far too much for that. “Kuai Liang,” he added, since this man seemingly knew his brother’s name anyway. “Bi-Han’s brother.”

“Bi-Han… Has a brother?” Scorpion muttered, his eyes wide as he shook his head in disbelief.

Quan Chi however hummed, running his fingers along Kuai’s skin. He looked like he was deeply contemplating something. Before finally, he began to smirk.

“This could benefit us greatly, actually,” Quan Chi stated, moving slightly to hold onto Kuai’s arms and pull him until he was sitting up. Like this he could finally see his body. He was naked, with large strange burn scars all over. Looking at them, there was no way he could have survived his injuries. Quan Chi was a necromancer, did he have something to do with this? “You are aware that your brother has betrayed you, aren’t you?”

Kuai turned to look at him, feeling his head spinning as he did. No. Bi-Han hadn’t betrayed him. What did Quan Chi even mean by that?

“Let me illuminate the truth for you.” Quan Chi ran the back of his hand along Kuai’s cheek, and how he resisted the urge to pull away he wasn’t sure. “It is clear your brother knew what awaited him at the Mortal Kombat tournament. He knew his end was near and Scorpion would take his revenge.” Quan Chi’s eyes narrowed as he hissed, “he knew, and like a coward he sent you in his place to suffer instead.”

“N-No.” Kuai felt his lip wobble, as he shook his head in denial. “No, Bi-Han wouldn’t do that to me.”

“You aren’t that naive, are you?” Quan Chi’s fingers began to dig into Kuai’s arms. The pressure against the burns made him hiss in pain. “Why would they choose you, out of anyone within the Lin Kuei? And why would they make you use the Sub Zero title when it’s clear you have your own?” Kuai felt his resolve falter. He had wondered why they’d wanted him to go, there were far more experienced warriors who could have gone in Bi-Han’s stead. And using the title Sub Zero? He’d just been advised by Sektor that it was for the best that he did so. He hadn’t put much thought into why. “It’s because you’re similar enough to him that everyone would mistake you for him. They wanted you to die.”

Kuai hiccuped, trying to think of an argument against that, but he just couldn’t. Quan Chi was right. Once they’d donned uniforms and masks, it was hard to tell the brothers apart, most only realising due to the rather pronounced height difference between them. But no one at the tournament would know Kuai was around a foot shorter than Bi-Han. Therefore, nothing would seem amiss when Kuai rolled up, claiming to be Sub Zero.

It was devious.

It got him killed.

Kuai looked at Quan Chi desperately, whispering “Bi-Han betrayed me.”

“I am afraid so,” Quan Chi said in what sounded like an attempt at sympathy, but the grin on his face betrayed him. “But luckily for you, I was able to recover your soul and rebuild you in death.” So, he was right, he had died. “And I can help you get your revenge.”

Before Kuai could ask how, Quan Chi pulled away. He met Scorpion’s gaze for a moment. It made Kuai’s heart sink, yet despite the other man’s face mostly being hidden, he looked almost regretful about something.

“I need to return to Outworld, find out what Shao Kahn’s plan is.” Quan Chi began to walk away, creating a portal. He paused and turned to Scorpion before adding “prepare him. Once you are done, both of you are to report to me in Outworld.”

“Understood,” Scorpion replied, watching Quan Chi disappear into the portal and for it to close behind him.

Kuai didn’t move, just stared at the spot Quan Chi had been, trying to get his head around everything. When he saw yellow suddenly come towards him, he couldn’t help but raise his arm as if to protect himself. It felt pathetic. He was a Lin Kuei warrior, so he shouldn't be scared. But right now, he was still in pain and had no clothes or weapons. Even if he were to try and fight, he knew the odds weren’t on his side.

“Kuai Liang,” Scorpion spoke, his gruff voice softer than it had been during their earlier encounter. “I realise that you have no reason to trust me, given what I did to you. I make no excuses. You were not the target of my rage, and you did not deserve the death I forced upon you.”

Kuai slowly lowered his arm, looking up at Scorpion, nervous but optimistic.

“Your brother has hurt us both,” Scorpion continued, before holding his hand out. “Come with me. Together, we can be avenged.”

Kuai stared at the hand. There was still a part of his chanting that Bi-Han wouldn’t do this. His brother may have been ruthless and serious to a fault, but he loved Kuai Liang. He was sure of it. Bi-Han could never say it, but it came through in his actions rather than his words. How he tried to shield Kuai from the worst of the Elder’s wrath, how he’d sneak food to him, how he’d stay up and heal his wounds.

But if Bi-Han loved him, why would he let him march to his death?

At the very least, he deserved an answer to that.

Kuai Liang took Scorpion’s hand. He didn’t trust him, didn’t even like him. But maybe with him there was a chance for Kuai to figure out the truth.

And if Bi-Han really did send him to die?

Well… Big brother always did like to say that revenge was a dish best served cold.

≛ AU-Gust 2024 ≛ Next Fic ⊱
⏎Return To AU-Gust 2024 Masterlist⏎