Pain drowned the world before your eyes. Magic screamed in your veins, burning like lava.

It hurt.

Everything hurt.

You could feel the blood filling your body with life. And this life tried to fight you. Gasping, you clutched your chest. Your heart was beating like crazy.

Hands placed themselves on your shoulders. Muffled words came through the ringing in your ears.

"Mûdān!", that was Bi Han's voice.

He sounded worried.

Or maybe panicked?

It had been so long since you had heard anything other than anger from him. A tingling sensation spread through your fingers as he wrapped his arms around you.

Magic wanted to devour him, begging to inflict pain. Trembling, you clenched your hands into fists. The screeching faded to a muffled plea.

Exhausted, you let your head fall to the side. A strong shoulder caught him. You could smell winter. Coldness filled your body and numbed the pain.

Sighing, you let your eyes fall shut and allowed Bi Han to carry you until he finally stopped. A room appeared before your eyes, blurred and slightly distorted.

You recognised the ceiling. Bi Han's bedroom.

He slowly laid you down on the bed, soft sheets and pillows nestled against your burning hot skin. Your breathing was heavy.

"Mûdān.", he sat down next to you on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on your cheek.

Ice grew and again you sighed as the heat subsided and the pain subsided.

"I don't want your pity, Bi Han.", your lips were dry from trembling. "Just an honest answer."

His eyebrows drew together. Then he shook his head slightly as small flowers of ice grew over your legs to cool them.

"Would you have been happy with this tradition?", he asked, thoughtful and a little hurt.

But why?

Why did that thought make him sad?

Tired, you closed your eyes. Cold mist filled your lungs.

"We are Lin Kuei, you said softly. Born to serve. If this had been my duty... if only I could have served like this... then I would have done it."

Your eyes were still closed, so you couldn't see it, but pain exploded all at once on his face. He looked like a man who had lost everything in one fell swoop.

"We could be so much more than servants, Mûdān.", his knuckles gently stroked your cheek.

You smiled tiredly.

"Are you reaching for the stars because you hope for power? Or just because they look beautiful from the ground?"

He exhaled so deeply that his breath brushed against your hair.

"If we help run this world then you wouldn't think the way you do.", his eyes travelled over your face and lingered on your lips.

For far too long, he just stared at her. The desire to kiss her shimmered in the brown of his eyes. Without thinking about it, he bent over you.

His shadow fell over you. His lips stopped just a hand's breadth away from yours. You could feel the warmth emanating from him.

"That sounds like you're pitying me.", you smiled softly to yourself.

He shook his head. Strands of his black hair brushed across your nose. It tickled. Chuckling softly, you wrinkled your nose and turned your head away.

He found the sight of you so cute that he had to smile.

"Pity is the last thing you'll get from me.", he said so quietly, his voice so rough that it tickled the back of your neck.

"What's it then?", your eyes opened a crack.

The (E/C) sparkled with curiosity. Your eyes met. He swallowed hard at your sight, so weak, helpless lying before him.

And that smile. If there was anything between Earthrealm and Outworld that would manage to melt the ice around his heart it would be your smile.

"I want you to have a choice.", he replied honestly. "And if you still choose the way you do, then it's my duty to respect that. But if your answer is different... then it's good that I sacrificed-!"

He paused in mid-sentence and pulled away. You frowned in confusion and reached out a hand towards him. But he moved away, got up from the bed and just looked at you.

Reaching out for him, you tried to stop him from leaving again. You didn't want to be alone. Not at that moment. Not after he was closer to you than he had been for a long time.

And indeed.

His eyes fell on your outstretched hand. As he intertwined his fingers with yours, a soft sigh escaped your lips. Ice grew over your fingers, down the back of your hand and up to your elbows.

It was a soft frost, flowers and small crystals. Lost in thought, he looked at your little fingers in his hand before exhaling deeply and closing his eyes.

"I have to go.", he said and breathed a kiss on your knuckles. "Rest. Otherwise you won't wake up next time."

The thought seemed to hurt him so much that he trembled slightly. Tired, you let go of his fingers and sighed.

"It's getting harder and harder to wake up.", you said.

All of a sudden, the argument was forgotten. Maybe it was because he had calmed down. Or that he cared about you. But the anger had shrunk and all that was left was dull disappointment.

His idea of the future seemed to be closely interwoven with you. You appreciated that he wanted to change so many traditions just to give you more freedom. But you were happy with life as Lin Kuei. It wasn't bad, just a bit knitted.

"Be careful.", he put a hand on your forehead and let ice grow again to cool you down.

The last bit of pain evaporated.

"Thank you... Bibi."

"If the price gets too high, it would be better not to use it."

You smiled tiredly.

"Is that an order, grandmaster?", you asked teasingly.

The corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards.

"If you want to serve your grandmaster then stay alive.", he retreated again, this time completely. "Liu Kang has gathered all his champions. He will soon be setting off with them to Outworld."

"Are we going to go with you?"

"Not you. Kuai Liang, Tomas and I will keep an eye on the festivities."

Understandably, you nodded.

"Then allow me to sleep...", your eyes were already closed when he hummed in agreement.