A strange kind of tenseness sat in your shoulders as you walked up the stone steps to Kuai Liang's house. If Liu Kang demanded for Bi Han there was no doubt he also expected the other brother to be present.

And Tomas as well.

But as shadows danced along the soles of your feet, led the way up to the door that was like a second home to you, you couldn't help but falter.

If what would become truth what the flames had showed you'd end up with Kuai Liang instead of Bi Han. The only question that remained to you was why.

There was not a single shimmer of desire to be found in your heart for him. He was but a brother, a trusted ally. But the sheer thought of sharing a bed with him, let alone be close to him in a romantic way made your skin crawl.

The same counted for Tomas.

Your desires and heart had always belonged to Bi Han. And you feared it would always remain this way.

So what reason could exist for you to go from the older to the younger brother instead?

Perhaps the worst thing about fate was that it was possible to know what would happen but not how it happened, for what reasons.

If only there would have been a good explanation for this outcome. Or any kind of justification. But not a single reason would cross your mind.

Before you even realised it you stood in front of the door and blinked in surprise. You hadn't even noticed how your legs had carried you all this way.

The familiar scent of Kuai Liang's flames reached your nose. Warmth caressed your face as you placed a hand on the doorknob to enter.

In the village of the Lin Kuei there was no reason to lock doors unless very private matters were discussed. Or very private things were done.

Neither happened in the younger brother's house all too often so you just could set foot into the entry way without any issue.

As soon as you were inside, voices reached your ears. Bi Han and Tomas. Frowning, you turned away from where they were coming from.

It seemed odd that Kuai Liang didn't engage in the audible argument. He must have been somewhere else and somehow you felt the need to speak to him in private.

Too many things pressured your soul at the moment.

You found him in the room next door, a small office space that was attached to the bedroom. Papers were stacked on top of a table.

Small candles flickered as you stopped in the doorway.

Torn from a state of deep thoughts, Kuai Liang raised his head, his eyebrows lifted in surprise. His mind still seemed elsewhere.

A thin smile appeared on your lips.

"You're alone.", it wasn't a question since he would explain himself anyways.

He always did.

"I needed some time alone.", he said and gestured for you to take a seat in the chair next to him. "What makes you seek me out? Bi Han is right ahead."

For a brief moment you remained standing in your spot. Bi Han's voice reached the back of your mind. He lectured Tomas about something.

As always.

With a deep breath you sat down next to him. Your head came to rest on your shoulder. Strands of (H/C) hair fell into your face.

He noticed and immediately reached out to try and tug it back behind your ear. However you caught his hand mid air, smiled softly and shook your head.

As per request, he pulled back. You fixed your hair yourself.

How were you supposed to love this man any more than a brother?

He seemed so kind yet so unable to understand the true weight of companionship. He'd make a good protector. But you didn't need one. You needed an ally to stand by your side not someone to guide you down a path that wasn't yours.

A sigh rolled off your lips.

"Your brother can be a man hard to understand.", you said, a thin smile on your lips.

Kuai Liang huffed.

"I always wondered when you'd say such a thing.", he leaned back in his chair.

Candles flickered. The faint gleam touched his skin, made it shimmer like embers in the dark. Together with the softness of his eyes he looked like a proper Lin Kuei.

Your little brother had grown up. And yet you failed to see him as a man. Never before had you compared the two brothers to one another but in this moment you realised that you didn't even feel attraction towards Kuai Liang's face.

Just like Bi Han and Tomas he was handsome. But that was about it. You didn't feel anything as you made not of it.

Your eyes liked him. Your soul craved Bi Han.

Chucking softly to yourself, you let your eyes fall shut for a second. The fighting had stopped yet you didn't feel like this conversation was close to an end.

"Your father seemed to be quite confident in my patience with him.", you replied with a smile. "I don't regret being put by his side. And I don't resent it either."

Agreeing, he hummed and nodded.

"I respect this part of you greatly.", his eyes wandered over your face, a hint of hesitation in them. "But just like father I am of the impression that you could have been better off with someone else."

Now it was you who hesitated. Through narrowed eyes you examined the expression on his face.

"I believe we all get put on this earth to be connected to one in particular, however this connection might look like.", you did not dare tell Kuai Liang that it wasn't just loyalty but love that bound you.

He smirked sarcastically.

"You've never been one to believe in fate."

"I'm not. And yet we both know that your brother has been and always will be by me. With me. For me, even."

His expression turned thoughtful.

"Somehow I never doubted that. Father did."

Steps approached the room. Neither you nor Kuai Liang took note of them.

"He was wrong.", you looked away, thinking about the next thing you were about to say. "That being said... If it was fate that Bi Han has turned his back on me... Do you believe we would have been able to form the same bond as him and I?"

Kuai Kiang frowned.

"Why ask?", he tilted his head.

You shook your head.

"Fate has other plans for me than I do myself, I fear."

Someone stopped in the doorway.