"You are very kind," Ermac said to his friend as she handed him a plate of food. He didn't require food, but the gesture was nice.

"It's nothing," Misaki responded. She sat on her knees at the table across from him. He mirrored her and sat cross-legged at on the matted floor. She clasped her hands together, nodded her head briefly and began eating. Ermac just watched the ritual.

"What you are doing," he questioned, "Is it another religious custom?"

"More like just good manners really," she replied easily. He could tell she was either warming up to him, or she was getting better at hiding her fear. Well, she did invite him into her home, so it's probably the former.

"It is a strange position for us to be in." Ermac made small talk, "We have knowledge of most otherworldly traditions, but we know little of this land."

"About that..." Misaki hesitated.

"Yes?"

She looked determinedly at her lap "I mean... I know you just gave me an explanation, and I trust you and all, after..." She looked him in the eyes and continued, "I just want to know if you could tell me... a little... more? About yourself, I mean."

"Very well," Ermac replied after the briefest of pauses. "What do you wish to know?"

"Well..." she searched for a question. "You said that you have a lot of souls."

"Over ten thousand." Ermac confirmed.

"Well then, is there a dominant one?" she finished.

Ermac thought a bit. He never thought to ask that question himself. Whenever he commanded an action, the body obeyed. Whenever the souls start to become too rowdy, he puts them back into place. But was he Ermac or just a voice louder than the others? Regardless, he was controlling his body, and that is what matters.

"We are not sure. All we know is that we are in control of this vessel." He had trouble coming up with that answer, surprisingly. "The others are beneath us."

"Oh, okay," Misaki seemed unsure herself.

"Anything else you wish to know?" Ermac asked before silence could take over.

"Um," Misaki thought for a bit. "How do you do the things you do?" she came up with. "Like floating around and stuff?"

Ermac was used to answering this question. "It is spirit energy. The power of the souls in our body makes up our strength and gives us power," he explained, "To you, it would simply be called magic."

Misaki's brown orbs widened at that. "Really? You're like, magical?" she said eagerly.

Ermac was amused. "Do you doubt us?" he asked levitating cross-legged above the floor.

Misaki was in awe. "That's amazing! What else can you do?" she gushed.

While unique, Ermac's abilities weren't especially outstanding when compared to the Kahn's and Shang Tsung's magic in Outworld, so he appreciated the Earthrealmer's attention.

This in mind, he allowed himself to show off a bit.

Ermac gave a small smile and lifted his hand slightly. "Ready yourself," he said before a green aura surrounded Misaki and she was lifted into the air. She squealed a bit, but it was mostly in surprise and delight, for she was smiling. She was laughing soon.

"This is so cool!" she squealed. She was beaming at Ermac as he floated her through the air. Ermac gave her a small grin in response. There was a pleasant sparkle in her eyes when she smiled that he was captivated by. He tried to keep it there as long as he could.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked as he turned her upside down. She shrieked and grabbed at her skirt before it could flip up. Ermac turned his head slightly. "Oh," he said, "our apologies." He set her back down, right side up. She still smiled at him, albeit with a bit of red in her face.

"That was so fun!" she beamed at him, the incident already forgotten, "You're really awesome."

"You flatter us," Ermac responded, not really used to being called "awesome," of all things. However, somewhere, in the depths of his somewhat soul, he felt a bit of pride.

"It's true," Misaki insisted, "You must be really popular where you come from."

"We are not sure 'popular' is the word," Ermac replied, "but yes. We are well-known in Outworld." Ermac tried his first few bites of his almost-forgotten meal. Misaki was apparently experienced in cooking, the food was quite good.

"Hey, um, Ermac?" Misaki spoke up after a moment of eating her own food.

"Yes, Miss Misaki?" Ermac looked up from his food.

"Um," she looked surprised at his formality. "You can just call me Ana."

"Very well," he said, "Ana." It felt more natural than "Miss Misaki" for sure.

"And also," Ana went on, "Could you tell me more about where you're from? This 'Outworld' place."

Ermac considered for a bit. "Well," he began after a final bite of food, "It is certainly a peculiar place. But also quite similar to what we know of Earthrealm. Containing a plethora of environments. Deserts, tundras, and jungles. We, personally, are from the more desert-like area where the Kahn's palace stands. The Kahn is our emperor, see..." Ermac went on to tell her about the Kahn's palace; about Kotal Kahn, Mileena, and, eventually, Reptile, Ferra/Torr, Erron, and D'Vorah, as well. Misaki Ana listened attentively while occasionally giving a few comments. She thought Ferra was "cute." Ha ha.

"Wait, she killed him how?!" Misaki interrupted.

"To our knowledge, she skewered the heart and brain with her ovipositors, and crushed them together with her hands." Ermac explained one of D'Vorah's finest hours easily. "It is known as a Fatality. When one bests another in kombat and decides to finish them."

"Here, it's called overkill," Ana responded with a disgusted look. "You don't do stuff like that do you?" she asked.

Ermac hesitated before responding. "All too often." He then suddenly rose to his feet, levitating an inch off the floor. "It is late. We do not wish to bother. We thank you for you kindness, Ana."

But before he could even bow and say farewell, Ana was on her feet. "Wait Ermac!" she cried, "I don't, uh, particularly mind if you, uh, stay... here... for a bit." She looked at her feet. "I mean, you don't have anywhere to stay, so... I don't mind."

Ermac was dumbfounded. It was as though she genuinely wanted his company. Him, with his voice multiplied by the thousands of lives in his body. With his eyes and aura glowing green with soul energy. Even with his younger body, he expected his back story would throw any Earthrealmer off.

But at any rate, he didn't even think it an option to refuse. She had shown him great kindness and trust. It would be poor manners to refuse now.

And truthfully, he enjoyed her company as well.

"If you are absolutely certain," he hovered a little closer to her and she looked up into his eyes, her eyes once again giving him that feeling, "Then we shall accept."

Oh crap! Am I making an Ermac x OC work? Looks that way.

For the record: Ana is pronounced ah-nah. Don't forget, they're in Japan.

I feel like of all my characters, Ermac is the one that I'm going most in depth with. I'm gonna try to make it that way with all of the guys, but Ermac is just so damn fun to write.

@TotallyKotal is next so be prepared for when I (eventually) publish that chapter.

Till I see you again