hey-michael-young-history

[hey-michael-young-history]

Hello my wonderful friend!!! Hope you are well ^_^

Given that we are in the spooky month, I was wondering if you have a favorite horror/scary movie ? Or a Halloween themed movie ? ( if horror is not your thing )

Thanks for your time friend!

Hello!

Hmmm! I really like Nightmare on Elm Street but I don't find it scary 🤔 I really like that the climax wasn't Nancy running from the problem, but confronting it.

The original Jacob's Ladder isn't really what a lot of people consider horror, but I do and it's one of my all time favorites. It really changed the way I think about life.

I liked Perfect Blue! It's one of those movies that I need to take time and rewatch though. I like surreal/atmospheric horror.

These aren't movies, but I really like the Candle Cove creepypasta. And Ted the Caver left me awake and staring at the ceiling many a night.

One of my all time favorite stories by anyone is actually from r/nosleep. I LOVE storytelling that takes advantage of the medium it's on.

[hey-michael-young-history]

I'm just going to say it. MK11 is the best Raidens ever looked imo. His range of expressions. The cosmetics. From gentle to angry. The details. His face in general. He's such a DILF/GILF.

He's so well-spoken, and Richard Epcar has and always will be my Raiden 🩵. I don't really have anything against the new Raiden, he just doesn't do it for me. Too... deer-in-headlights. Naive. He plays out like a Disney character.

And yall only liking him now that he's young and naive are posers. /j but seriously, give my stoic old man some love, too.

[hey-michael-young-history]

Bi-Han lovers, are you here? 🫢

[hey-michael-young-history]

Short but sweet cageblade snippet

Johnny’s grin softened a bit and he smelled… he felt… like the warm cup of hot cocoa that her father would put in her hands on cold snowy days. He’d tell her that they’d share it as he bundled them up in blankets, like a mini nest. He never minded when she ended up drinking the whole thing herself.

Daddy. For a second, Sonya could see Johnny holding Cassie, after bundling her so securely that only her little eyes and nose could peek out, and looking out at the snow with her. And it was… nice.

“You know ‘Cage’ isn’t my real last name, right?”

“What?” Thank goodness he broke her out of that daydream. She almost started purring.

Johnny chuckled and cautiously put his hand on her shoulder. “‘Cage’ is my cool ass stage name. My real last name is ‘Carlton.’”

“I…” Of course she knew that. That’s why it was Cassie’s middle name. Jax had suggested “Cassie Blade Cage” but that suggestion was exactly why she chose to give birth without an epidural. To shoot down suggestions like that. “You said that you changed it.”

“I was gonna,” Johnny said. “But you have to actually show up in person and between medical school and filming–”

“Wait, wait, you were in medical school while you were acting?” Sonya asked.

Johnny laughed. How she missed his laugh and his pheromones and just talking to him. “Babe, I know that it’s hard to believe considering how shockingly brilliant I am, but I had to do the whole tour. Medical school, residency, specialization. I just got busy. Had to put it on the backburner until… you know.”

Jax. Tears built behind her eyes and she angrily turned from him. It still wasn’t fair that she came so close to losing him and had to rely on someone else, an Alpha of all things, to help.

“But… as soon as we get back to America, I'm changing it.”

“You don’t have to.” She wasn’t going to cry. She didn’t need his stupid comforting pheromones.

“Yeah, I do. I can’t have my girls out there with a different last name.”

“What are you–” she turned and stopped short. He was on one knee, sunglasses off, and the most hypnotic smile she’d ever seen. He took her hand and kissed it.

“Sonya Blade. Will you marry me?”

CageBlade Week is over but I have this fanfic of a fanfic that I really like 🙈

It's part of a bigger omegaverse story, the kombatants are still kombatants but in this AU, Johnny is a famous movie star, a badass defender of Earthrealm, and also studied biotechnology to help Jax recover and win Sonya's heart

I love CageBlade, I just don't get to write them much.

A Lover of Beautiful People

"He's... nice."

Johnny Cage sat up and made space as Sonya Blade eased herself on the futon. “I understand now. Why you wanted to see him again.”

God, has she always been so beautiful? The answer was yes, of course, but the postnatal afterglow was making her radiant. Ethereal.

A goddess.

Her hair was so thick that she couldn’t comfortably tie it up in her typical ponytail. It cascaded, caressing her face, brushing her shoulders, hugging her waist. And her pheromones. A gentle musk that pulled Johnny in without him even realizing. He couldn’t imagine the effect they had on Bing-Yun.

“It’s actually refreshing how honest he is,” Sonya continued. “And he really likes you.”

“Yeah,” Johnny said, unsure of what else he could add.

“And he trusts you. It was interesting. He wanted to see pictures of Cassie.”

“Did you show him?” Johnny asked.

“Just a few,” Sonya said. “It’s not like I have a lot.”

Same old Sonya. But God help him, he loved her just the way she was. “He loves kids.”

“Did you learn that when he was your patient? Or when he became your fuck buddy?” Sonya asked.

“Hmm. Maybe while you were in labor with the child you told me you weren’t having,” Johnny quipped.

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re seriously going to hold that over me? Like you were gonna just give up your Hollywood lifestyle? Johnny, you couldn’t even come to the first appointment.”

“We were cleared to shoot months ago. But I told you, I’d call break–”

“If I wanted, you said, huffing and pouting. Like it was a fucking chore. The poor, scared Omega can’t bear to go to a fucking doctor on her own,” Sonya snapped.

“Yeah, sorry if I was still a little freaked out. I just found out that I was having a kid with the one person in the world who ghosts me after a date,” Johnny snapped back.

“The one person in the world who doesn’t fall to their knees to swallow your self absorbed bullshit.”

Johnny grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the house. She pulled away, but he kept walking. “I don’t want you waking Sleeping Beauty. He’s still recovering.”

“Wow. So you aren’t just fuck buddies, you actually–”

He turned and faced her. “It’s not. At all. He’s my patient.”

“Jax was your patient too and you weren’t fucking him,” Sonya accused.

Johnny laughed. “It’s okay for you to tell me to fuck off and never come back but if I actually do move on–”

“Get off it, Cage,” Sonya scoffed. “I was doing you a favor.”

“Well, do me another and stop assuming you have me all figured out, okay?”

“What’s there to figure out?” Sonya asked. The pleasant maternal pheromones were starting to sour. “You came, you saw, you conquered the one Omega who has the nerve to turn you down.”

“Jesus, Sonya, you are the only person who gives a shit about your secondary sex!” Johnny yelled, throwing his hands up.

“Fuck you, Cage,” Sonya spat back. “Don’t you dare act like you know what my life is like as the fucking weak sexes! Especially when you’re a fucking male Alpha fucking another male Alpha!”

Same old same old. A month ago, Johnny would have given his left nut to get a chance to talk to her. And now he was screwing it all up, just like the last time they spoke.

What would Bing Bong say if Aibing was this pissed… he had to suppress a smirk. He couldn’t even imagine Bing-Yun raising his voice. “You’re pissed because the guy I’m helping is the exact opposite of you. Tall, dark, male, and an Alpha.”

“You said I was your type,” Sonya protested and Johnny could see, beyond the curt finality of her tone, that it was a statement rooted in hurt. “And I fell for that bullshit.”

“It wasn’t bullshit. Johnny Cage is a lover of beautiful people. I’m kind of shallow like that,” he explained, giving her a cheeky grin.

Her lips twitched as she shook her head. “I can’t believe I ever…”

“Hey, if you never fell for me, we wouldn’t have cute little Cassie Blade,” Johnny pointed out.

Sonya closed her eyes and sighed. “Her last name isn’t Blade.”

“Cassie… Briggs?” Johnny guessed.

“My God.” She tented her hands over her eyes. “It’s Cage. Cassie Cage.”

Johnny stared off in the distance as a grin crept across his face.

“Okay, before you read too much into that, you have no idea how aggravating it is to be unbonded and pregnant. I thought Jax taking me to the hospital would help but apparently bonding makes you smell like your partner so everybody knew he wasn’t my Alpha. Giving her your last name was the only way to get everybody off my back.”

[hey-michael-young-history]

I hope you're having a good day. Can you give some spoilers about ''While I breath I hope '' because I'm dying for an update like why noob is working with their father even though he is stronger or how did bing yun became alive is he a revenant? Thx for your hard work

Like Hanzo, Bing-Yun refused to truly die.

As he wandered the Netherealm, Noob came across a soul that was mostly faded, but still fighting. Still, mercilessly clawing at any demon who got too close.

And as those wild, vicious eyes locked with his, Noob realized they belonged to his father.

Having skimmed some of Quan Chi’s writings and witnessed his depraved acts of dark magic, Noob had taught himself how to create a Revenant.

So he brought his father back.

Why exactly? He couldn’t tell you. He had no family, shared blood or not. Perhaps it was perverse, morbid curiosity. Perhaps, he was merely bored.

Regardless, he failed to cast the enchantment properly. He was unable to humanize Bing-Yun’s cybernetic parts and more pressing was his utter lack of control over the new revenant.

Noob Saibot may have been night eternal, but in death Bing-Yun became the Vortex he was named for in life.

He was untamable.

And he had a proposition.

Noob could have refused to join him. Let him wreak havoc, weaken potential enemies in his mad quest.

But he found himself agreeing with his father’s schemes. Searching for something he often failed to find in Bing-Yun’s frigid eyes.

Because maybe…

Maybe, Bi-Han wasn’t done with his father.

[hey-michael-young-history]

Also

I love that most of the subscorp (kuanzo) fics I’ve read always mention Johnny and he’s always all bestie vibes

I’ve grown to love those three so much I’m devastated there’s no fics of the three of them 😔

[hey-michael-young-history]

[hey-michael-young-history]

Facing the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei was the most dangerous part of this mission and the most crucial.

Grandmaster Sub-Zero.

His stomach clenched as soon as he saw the man himself. This, he was not prepared for. The rumors were… no one outside of the Lin Kuei lived after seeing the grandmaster. He was the grim reaper, a harbinger of death, and his presence meant the end of an outsider’s life.

Hikaru was prepared to fight for his life. He was always prepared to take down any Alpha who stood in his way. But this man was no normal Alpha.

He sat on his throne, a towering presence punctuated with folded arms that displayed thick, solid muscles. There was a chill emanating from him that invaded Hikaru the closer he got. Though his face was obscured by the hood he wore, Hikaru saw that this man was blue. His skin was a rich, dark blue and when he lifted his hood, Hikaru was almost stopped by the most stunning discovery of all.

He had the eyes of a god.

[hey-michael-young-history]

Some Dreamworks & Disney characters fan art I drew in the past couple of years. The most recent one is the Dr. Facilier art >:)

Who do you like the most? I have more Hades & Eris arts UPD - added Puss in Boots art. Actual Puss can be found here :) UPD - added new Moses and Tzipporah art!

[hey-michael-young-history]

Thank you for sharing your talents with us 🙏🏾 The fashion AU picture of Hanzo and Kenshi is forever etched into my brain ❤️

It is time for me to say goodbye.

I have had so much fun on Tumblr through those years. I am so glad I went on this journey, made a lot of friends and had fun with all the OCs, both mine and of other people.

But a lot of things have change past 2-3 years. I am now a working adult. I have chores and responsibility for myself. I have little to no time for my own passions and hobbies. Or I am usually just too tired to do anything. Not to mention lack of inspiration.

I feel like I have nothing to add anymore. So for now I am leaving Tumblr.

I have been toying with a thought of making a side blog or discord group for my own stuff with no pressure to fit into any fandom or to do fanart. Just to get back in the game and have fun with it and maybe help other people as well to get that must-create stress off the shoulders.

But for now, I am not going to be really active on here anymore. I still do have discord for any case.

[hey-michael-young-history]

I'm trying this your visual novel game. I like it very much, but it ends in chapter 2.

I want more chapter

Try it, u will love this

https://michael-young-history.itch.io/fire-in-heat

Hello! Thank you for trying it and saying so ❤️❤️❤️❤️

It's another one of those "one of these days, I'll finish this" to do lists. I was halfway done with Chapter 3 when I stopped 🤣🤣

[hey-michael-young-history]

My idea how about the next chapter is about the past bi-han, kuai liang and smoke transfer to the present and meet the future self. For the first time scorpion doesn't to relationship with past kuai liang after that scorpion and past kuai liang relationship was better scorpion want to protect past kuai and past kuai want to protect scorpion.

Hello!

Is this an idea for a future story? 🤔

[hey-michael-young-history]

Who is time keeper/titan in this timeline?

Hello!

Raiden has taken over as Keeper of Time and is totally hands off with mortal affairs. He relies on Fujin and the new guardian of Earthrealm.

Who is... drumroll please...

LORD KUNG LAO

[hey-michael-young-history]

I'M MELTING

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS LOVELY, LOVELY MESSAGE. I THINK I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH THE REST OF THIS WEEK AND PROBABLY MY LIFE

@hey-michael-young-history @mcbethins

I’m just showing appreciation to the ones that inspire me as a reader!! Let’s BFFR these two are the goats!!! Michael single-handedly popularized omegaverse GIVE CREDIT!!! Mcbethins can write with her eyes closed that’s how talented she is, they get all the flowers from me! Michael’s omegaverse is one for the books!! “Fire in heat” “ice in the netherrealm” and “ further risks and Complications are all flawless in my opinion. That’s why history is in her name, because her fics will definitely be remembered and will go down in history, they are so well thought out and amazingly well written!! Mcbethins “But my heart wants a warmer chore and rushes down a course that spells your name” her “Marionette” series and “if not for you sequel” and “blue, gold, & green” fics are all fantastic need I say more!? They inspire me to start writing and I will always credit them for their lovely contributions to the subscorp community it would NOT be the same without them. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO!! We as readers NEED to show more appreciation to writers! They keep the community alive and our fantasies fulfilled!

P.S. they have waaayy more fics to name that are absolutely breath taking I didn’t name them all but, that’s definitely a foundation I laid for a newer reader to start with. I reread them all the time!

[hey-michael-young-history]

Hotline Bling: Another Excerpt

I have given up hope of ever turning this mess of 30,000+ words into something readable lol

But it has a LOT of good, including this part, where Johnny and Hanzo have an unexpected understanding

Hanzo placed a hand on Kuai Liang’s forehead. “... he has been conditioned by the people around him, to believe the sum of his worth is how useful he is to others.”

“Then we need to show him. We gotta remind Blueberry Ice just how big and bad he is,” Johnny decided. 

“We?”

“Hey, like it or not, I'm his Alpha too. I've known him longer and I've got more experience with Omegas than you. So hate me all you want, but you gotta admit that I can help.” Johnny steadied himself and stared Hanzo down. This was the most dangerous Alpha he knew, one that could literally drag him to hell if he was so inclined. 

The old Johnny would have either recognized the threat and moved on to the next one… or beat his chest in a show of bravado, too proud to back down even if he was going to get his ass kicked. 

But this Johnny had suffered. He had never felt as helpless as he did when Cassie returned from the Netherrealm mission. She had broken down and cried, just as she had done many, many times as a little girl. Crying for her mother, who would not come. 

Just as he had done, many many times. Crying for his wife, who had slipped through his fingers and disappeared. 

“I never understood you. Not when Cassie was born, not when Sonya divorced me, not even when we were finally one big happy family and Sonya was taken from us. I thought I did, but…” The tears were hot in his eyes but no one saw Johnny Cage cry. No one. And the first person to see it was definitely not going to be an Alpha with such a disdain for him. “...I wasn't there. I should have been there. I’m supposed to protect her… both of them and I…”

Never had a hand on his head felt so comforting. Never had another Alpha’s pheromones make him feel safe. 

This man has premium big dad energy. Wait. Shit. Do I have a daddy complex!? Johnny’s heart dropped. Shit, shit, shit, does that mean–

“The pain is no less severe,” Hanzo said. “You change. You grow.”

Johnny looked up but Hanzo's eyes were on the bed. God, why was he getting punished like this?

“So what is your plan?”

[hey-michael-young-history]

HELLO SWEET BABY LOOK AT HER FACE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The ribbons in her hair are such a great detail 😭😭😭😭

You should give yourself more credit, my friend 🙏🏾 First of all, you can draw FINGERS. I can't even fathom. Not just that, but there is so much depth in your colors, everything looks so polished without looking "shiny"

I am so honored and look forward to seeing your art 🎨🖌️

The girl is all grown up.

(I have no idea what age I was trying to go for here)

This will unfortunately be the last portrait I do of Li Yan since these take too much time, which is a damn shame because I was hoping to one day put her in other outfits, like in a Manchurian Qizhuang, or a kimono, but fancy hairstyles and clothing have slowly become the bane of my existence. I want to do more art for Harumi, and maybe even Satoshi (and then actual subscorp, as a treat).

[hey-michael-young-history]

Sunlight

Some subscorp soft drabble i wrote for my boo @mcbethins

Kuai Liang was a ridiculously deep sleeper. 

Hanzo Hasashi was fine with that. It meant that his Omega was comfortable and knew that his Alpha could protect him, during his most vulnerable moments. 

Though this particular Omega would never admit that. 

Hanzo had gotten used to waking up to Kuai Liang’s handsome face, relaxed in the calm moonlight. For the most part. His night terrors had mostly calmed and when they did surface, he knew to wake Hanzo so that he didn’t have to be alone. 

Waking up first and touching Kuai Liang’s face, listening to him breathe, smelling the pleasant, content pheromones that he didn’t even know that he was releasing.

It was the best part of his day and he was grateful for every morning he got to experience it. 

Today was not one of those days. 

Hanzo awoke to a burning citrus scent. He sat up immediately to see Kuai Liang entering the room with a tray. 

He frowned. “Is something wrong, Hanzo?”

“Are you well?” Hanzo asked. 

“Yes.” Kuai Liang relaxed. “I woke up early to make you breakfast.”

“Oh.” Hanzo smiled. It was so odd how easy it was to smile now. How I have missed having an Omega. “Thank you, my treasure.”

“You always make breakfast for me,” Kuai Liang explained, setting the tray on his Alpha’s lap. 

“I…” Hanzo looked down and smiled fondly. 

It was simply tea and toast, but it was perfectly prepared. The bread was toasted just the way he liked and the tea smelled divine. “Thank you, Kuai Liang.”

“Yes,” the Omega said. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked down. “I will keep working… to improve.”

“Your efforts are appreciated,” Hanzo assured him. “I very much look forward to your tea.”

“I prepare it by hand,” Kuai Liang answered, finally looking up at him.

Hanzo smiled again, remembering the first time he watched Kuai Liang prepare tea for him. He had moved so carefully that, at the time, Hanzo smugly assumed it was out of fear. Now he knew that that was simply how Kuai Liang approached everything. Carefully. 

Hanzo set the tray aside and patted the spot next to him. “Come. Have you eaten?” 

Kuai Liang looked up at the skylight and closed his eyes. “No. I am not hungry.”

“That’s fine,” Hanzo assured him. “But I would still like to have you next to me.”

It wasn’t fine, but arguing with his Omega about proper eating habits was always a losing battle and a quick way to get shut out from his feelings for the rest of the day. A lifetime was already wasted on that. 

Kuai Liang didn’t move. Anxiety buzzed along their bond, but he still needed time to process it. Hanzo busied himself with enjoying his view; his strong, silent partner, who was was pure and sinless, even if his own mind said otherwise. 

Kuai Liang acquiesced wordlessly, going back under the covers and resting his head against Hanzo’s side. It could almost be mistaken for cuddling, the Alpha thought. 

“You're laughing,” Kuai Liang observed, closing his eyes again. 

“I am marvelling at how my life has turned out,” Hanzo answered, inspecting the toast. A spread would have paired nicely with it, but the tea would have to do. 

Kuai Liang remained quiet, but a touch of rainfall polluted his scent. As much as Hanzo wanted to ask, he knew that acknowledging it would only make his Omega uncomfortable. 

He put his arm around Kuai Liang and sifted through his hair as he bit into the horribly dry toast. How the cryomancer managed to remove any trace of moisture from the bread was far beyond Hanzo’s understanding. But he finished the toast and drank the tea, thankfully pleasing in both quantity and taste. 

By the time he finished, he realized that Kuai Liang was drifting off into sleep, purring contently in his lap. Hanzo smiled and ran his fingers through Kuai Liang’s unruly hair. It was a shame that the Alpha had lived so much of his life without this hair to pet. “You must have woken up early to prepare this for me. Thank you.”

His eyes opened but easily rolled back up and closed again. Such a fearsome warrior. Also a large housecat. Hanzo smiled fondly and continued petting him. 

“Stop,” the cryomancer murmured. 

“The more I touch you, the louder you purr,” Hanzo teased. 

“I should be… touching you.” He grabbed Hanzo’s hand and squeezed it. 

“You should be enjoying this,” Hanzo retorted. His other hand slipped into Kuai Liang’s night shirt and found his heartbeat. He laughed when he felt the pace quicken. “I am flattered that my touch excites you.”

Kuai Liang didn’t say anything to that. He remained silent as Hanzo continued to explore, palming his chest and pulling and playing with his nipples. 

“What a pleasant start to my day,” Hanzo sighed. 

That finally got a smile out of him. Small and faint, but a smile nonetheless. Enough for Hanzo to feel when he leaned down to kiss those lips. 

“You are such a good Omega,” he continued. “I am forever blessed to have been accepted by you.”

They kissed again. Hanzo enjoyed the way Kuai Liang’s sweet but frigid pheromones warmed and blossomed around them. To be gifted with his smile, his pheromones, and his purr… it was the best omen that Hanzo could ask for. 

“Something good is coming,” he murmured before kissing Kuai Liang again. 

“It's already here,” the cryomancer purred as he pulled Hanzo’s face back to him. 

He couldn’t agree more. 

“Let me.”

The simple words of Kuai Liang’s request as he stepped into the shower, where Hanzo had begun washing his hair. 

“Are you certain? You tend to get lost when you touch my hair,” Hanzo teased, combing through his long, silky locks with his fingers. 

“Please.” 

Hanzo turned, allowing the water to flow with his hair. It didn’t take long for him to feel Kuai Liang’s fingers. He was, as always, careful. 

The Omega didn’t fight the purr that rumbled through the air as he set out to work. With the shampoo came a massage that added years to Hanzo’s life. 

He imagined them in a tub where they could be enveloped by the warmth of the water and Kuai Liang could relax. Relax. That was always Hanzo’s goal, to get his lover to relax. 

“Your hair shines, even in low light,” Kuai Liang observed. 

“I keep it pinned up most of the time,” Hanzo chuckled. “It is far more healthy than it ought to be. I have been considering cutting it short, like yours.”

That was a lie. Hanzo would never even entertain the idea, for he knew that Kuai Liang loved his hair just as much as Harumi did. And just as he did with Harumi, he liked to hear Kuai Liang say so. 

“It would be more practical in battle…” His fingers curled against Hanzo’s scalp. 

“Yes, I agree. I will arrange for it to be cut as soon as you finish washing it.”

Suddenly, he was facing Kuai Liang, who’s face was furrowed in concern. “It would be more practical in battle, but… I…”

He exhaled and rested his arms around Hanzo’s shoulder. A magnificent man. Few others put as much thought into their words as Kuai Liang did. His thinking face was beautiful. The way his nose furrowed. The way his eyes were set alight as his mind worked…

“I like your hair as it is,” he finally said. “I would like you without it. But I like you with it.”

“I don’t believe you,” Hanzo said with a cheeky smirk. 

Kuai Liang looked absolutely crestfallen. The grandmaster laughed and pulled him closer. “Can you think of a way to convince me?”

He felt the cryomancer’s hands in his hair as they kissed. Hanzo suspected that these shower kisses were his favorite. It was when Kuai Liang easily yielded to him, pushing his body against Hanzo’s like he was solving a puzzle. He locked his arms around Hanzo’s neck and tugged at his hair as he opened his mouth and their tongues met. 

It was always a sacred act but for Kuai Liang especially, Hanzo treated this permission to know his Omega’s body as an inviolatable ritual. Kuai Liang had never trusted anyone with his body— in his own words “pieces were stolen from him.” It was Hanzo’s honor to replace whatever “pieces” Kuai Liang thought he was missing and teach him to recognize the beauty of himself. 

His pheromones were always so strong in the shower, yet another sign that he was relaxed. He worked so hard to contain them, but the slightest disruption triggered them and released them for all to consume. 

“Do you require more convincing?” Kuai Liang asked. 

“I think that I do,” Hanzo confessed. 

Hanzo didn’t think of the Fire Gardens as his. Not his property, anyway. It was his responsibility. The safety of everyone who lived there drove Hanzo to remain vigilant and protect it. 

With Kuai Liang here now, he felt even more dedicated to protecting his paradise. 

The sight of the man, not in rigid armor, but a soft, comfortable kimono, observing the lotus flowers as they walked along the trails, was absolutely enchanting. 

Hanzo had the sudden urge to pick one and tuck it behind his ear, but he decided against it. His Omega enjoyed the smell of flowers but he didn’t engage with them. They had their place in nature, their job to perform, and Kuai Liang did not like disrupting them for his own selfish pleasure. 

Even to the flowers, the man was courteous. 

Yes, “courteous” was the word, not to be confused with “polite,” as he certainly was not that. 

He wasn't a rude man. Kuai Liang went out of his way to always do the right thing, even at the expense of his comfort. He struggled with the regularness of life, the idle minutia that made up the rest of the time where Earthrealm was safe. 

He was content with simply observing others. The discomfort always began when they tried to engage in any way with him. Kuai Liang never shrank away or became belligerent but his pheromones still carried the anxiety of…

He is shy. The word was so unexpected that Hanzo almost laughed out loud. Kuai Liang did not dislike people. He simply did not know how to engage with them. Even his attempt at brokering peace by making tea for Hanzo was a rather clumsy, overly formal ritual. 

Knowing that he was shy and not simply asocial weighed on Hanzo’s heart. Even in private, when it was just them, Kuai Liang hesitated. Hanzo was the only one who he'd engage in playful banter. 

It could be helped. If he wanted to engage with others—

“I know a poem,” Kuai Liang said, as they approached the bridge that ran across the pond. “If you would like to hear it.”

“Of course.” Hanzo always, always wanted to know what was on Kuai Liang’s mind. 

“When I awoke this morning and saw you… I thought of it, for the first time in years,” Kuai Liang explained. He looked out over the water. “Moonlight reflects off the front of my bed. Could it actually be frost on the ground? I look up to view the bright moon. And look down to reminisce about my hometown.”

Hanzo took his hand, enjoying the relief that cooled his Omega’s scent. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

They stood in silence, listening to the water move and the frogs sing. Hanzo pulled Kuai Liang closer and asked, “Am I the moon?”

“No.” Kuai Liang looked towards the sun. “The moon is the homesickness and melancholy that the poet feels.”

“You are not the poet?” Hanzo asked. 

“The poet who wrote it was from the Tang dynasty…” Kuai Liang sighed. “The moon means nothing when the sky is always black. When there is no home to return to. Hanzo. You are far greater than the moon. You are the sun, lighting the sky so that I can see what is ahead, not what is behind me.”