#@maagspies

[maagsy-art]

Hey it's me Maagspies, this is my new account :)

[somerakaptilo]

Siren Kuai Liang from my fic “The Siren”

His appearance is very much based on fanart that @maagspies did for me.

[seventhstrife]

SubScorp 2021 Day 1: First Kiss

These Grandmasters have ruined my life and I am SO GRATEFUL to the wonderful, brilliant minds at @subscorp-week for making this event!!!

I don’t really post my stuff on tumblr, ever, but I wanted to shamelessly pad the subscorp tag with new content lololol

If you want to read it on AO3, the link is here.

Fic under the cut!

The sudden weight against his upper arm and shoulder startled Kuai Liang and made his hand jerk, dangerously close to dropping the tablet he held.

He glanced sharply to his side and stilled, eyes wide, to see Hanzo slumped against him.

For a brief moment, he thought the worst—that Hanzo was injured somehow, or poisoned, no matter the fact that they had been sitting in companionable silence for the better part of two hours. But he noticed the deep, slow breaths that swelled Hanzo's chest, the smooth, calm set of his features at rest, and knew the truth was far less sinister:

Hanzo had fallen asleep against him.

The realization drew Kuai Liang up short, made deep affection and gratitude swell fit to burst in his chest before he mastered himself and pushed back the sudden, fierce tide of emotion.

Carefully, Kuai Liang set aside his device and reached over to pluck Hanzo's from his limp grasp in his lap to place it on the table before them. They had been going over reports from their clans, compiling the information so that they could compare it against those from General Blade, and they often met to do this; it was dull and mind-numbing at times, but easier to accomplish with company, they'd found, and they were both less likely to procrastinate the work if they did it together.

It wasn't uncommon that such tedious work would stretch into the long hours of the night, and this night was no exception. But this was the first time Hanzo had succumbed to his exhaustion.

And he'd done so in Kuai Liang's presence, no less. The swell of pride could not be wrangled, nor the way he relished this simple, profound display of unthinking trust. It spoke to a level of peace and contentment Kuai Liang had never thought to gain from him, a man who had once been his enemy, a man who had once wished him dead. The ink had dried on their treaty long ago, but it felt as if only now it had cemented.

Kuai Liang cherished every new facet of Hanzo he saw in the days since their alliance, and this proved to be no different. He'd seen Hanzo meditate many times, had even joined him, but he'd never seen him truly in repose.

He knew he should wake Hanzo, call their meeting to a close and encourage him home, but Kuai Liang never claimed not to be a selfish man. It was wrong, undoubtedly, to knowingly linger in a moment of Hanzo's vulnerability, but the warmth of his body pressed close, the soft brush of his hair against his shoulder—he was too compelling.

He had half-expected Hanzo to stir when he'd plucked the tablet from his grasp, but he truly seemed dead to the world. Kuai Liang, hesitant and curious, carefully brought up his arm, gently brushed a lock of hair from across Hanzo's face back over his shoulder where it had come loose from the bun—and still, Hanzo peacefully slumbered on, undisturbed.

A smile twitched on Kuai Liang's lips, a private one of unbearably plain affection. He would never be caught with such an expression, but here, alone in the small hours of the night, he allowed himself this moment.

Hanzo's hands, open and limp in his lap, were another temptation altogether—but he did not dare. He had been lucky, thus far, but he would not be foolhardy.

Only this, Kuai Liang told himself. Such a rare moment of reliance from the normally so disciplined Grandmaster—only extreme overwork and exhaustion had pushed Hanzo this far, and once he woke, Kuai Liang knew this incident would be the only one of its kind.

His heart ached in his chest, bruised and bittersweet, but Hanzo's friendship was something he would not give up for the world.

But the knowledge this moment may very well be the only one that he would ever experience Hanzo's closeness—outside of, perhaps, a spar—gave him courage. Enough that he pressed his lips—just the slightest bit of pressure—to the top of Hanzo's head; his first and last confession.

He regretted the motion the instant it was over. Immediately, he felt the change in the air, the sudden tension in Hanzo's body as he stiffened. It made Kuai Liang respond in kind, utterly still, face drained of blood.

For a moment, they both lingered in that horrible stillness, the silence screaming with panic and dread.

Then, very, very slowly, Hanzo raised his head from Kuai Liang's shoulder. His dark eyes were difficult to meet, but Kuai Liang would not balk, not even from this.

Aside from lifting his head, Hanzo did not move, did not burst into flame or send Kuai Liang crashing through the wall as he half-expected. Yet it was almost worse, somehow, the way he stirred, brows furrowed, expression dark and wary.

Slowly, voice still sleep-roughened, Hanzo spoke.

"...Did you just kiss me."

There was no question, only a flat, emotionless statement that filled Kuai Liang with dread and made him wish dearly for the blow he'd expected.

Mouth dry, already seeing their friendship dissolve before his eyes, Kuai Liang said, just as quietly, "Yes."

Hanzo's eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't expected the confirmation despite knowing the truth.

He blinked. He searched Kuai Liang's face, but if he was seeking doubt or teasing, or even a lie, Kuai Liang had nothing of the sort to show him, only brutal, unvarnished honesty.

Hanzo glanced away and Kuai Liang braced himself for anything—a gentle rejection, a reprimand. Perhaps only a burst of flame and scorch marks left behind in the spot Hanzo sat.

A quiet breath, and Hanzo met his eyes, the set of his features determined and impassioned.

"Do it again," he commanded.

Kuai Liang was like a mountain, so absolute was his stillness. It was his turn to search Hanzo's face for deception, but there was none to be found, only fire, only a dark smolder—familiar and foreign at once, a dare, a challenge, a promise.

Kuai Liang did not dare try Hanzo's patience with indecision. He forced himself from the tight draw of his body, reached out, fingertips whisper-soft against the short hairs of Hanzo's beard.

"Yes, Grandmaster," Kuai Liang murmured.

For all that he'd longed for a moment such as this, Kuai Liang was unwilling to rush, eager as he was. He pressed his forehead to Hanzo's, soaked in the brush of their noses, of Hanzo's warm breath on his lips, the exquisite expectation that hung in the air, that made his heart slam against his ribs and his hands tremble with the repressed urge to snatch Hanzo close and never let him go—before he came to his senses and realized what he had asked for in his surely sleep-addled state.

But the anticipation compromised years of disciplined training and impatience won out. Kuai Liang tilted his head, just slightly, and kissed Hanzo.

One touch, and Kuai Liang understood why the Lin Kuei had once forbidden attachment. The swell of desire, of aching, near-obsessive addiction, was swift and all-encompassing. Hanzo's lips were warm and dry, just as tentative as his own as they met and parted and met again. And when Hanzo's touch came, one strong fist grasping at the fabric across his chest, Kuai Liang could not stop the tide of fierce, craving want.

Hanzo sucked in a sharp breath when Kuai Liang suddenly surged forward and pushed him back, but he did not resist being pressed to the floor. His arms wrapped around Kuai Liang's shoulders, helped erase even the illusion of distance as their chests met and they sank into one another. Their lips grew bolder, the kiss grew deeper, and it was as if the only air to be had was only what could be found in the other.

Kuai Liang could conceive of nothing more entrancing than the slight hitch of Hanzo's breath when their tongues touched, no sound more seductive than his quiet moans, coaxed out by Kuai Liang's own hands, by his own touch. Nothing had ever enthralled him like the sensation of Hanzo's body, strong and pliant and laid out, willingly, beneath his, nor the silky caress of Hanzo's long hair when he dragged his fingers through it.

Kuai Liang did not regret the reformation of his clan, but for the first time since he'd become Grandmaster, he reflected on the old ways with new understanding. Because this? This bottomless desire, that coaxed all reason from his mind and consumed him absolutely? It felt too good not to be forbidden.

At long last, the annoying, persistent need to breathe pulled their lips away, although they barely strayed more than a few inches as they panted.

Kuai Liang could not drag his eyes away from the rosy flush of Hanzo's skin, the soft flutter of his eyelashes when he opened them, so swept in their passion and only now brought back to reality.

They watched one another a moment, the only sounds to be heard their harsh breaths and the mad thunder of Kuai Liang's heart.

Then, slowly, Hanzo smiled. Pleasure warmed his face into an expression of quiet, almost shy happiness Kuai Liang had never seen before—a smile Kuai Liang had caused.

And when he pressed his lips to Hanzo's again, amidst his low chuckles of happiness, Kuai Liang was smiling, too.

[heamatic-archive]

Drew unmasked Bi-Han for the amazing maagspies! They’ve been nothing short of a gem and just all out incredible! Also if you haven’t checked out their art yet, DO EET! It’s some of the best I’ve seen! Go go go!

[ apologies from the repost but it seems it didn’t even make it into the tags the first time :| ]

[laismoura-art]

Officially my Final Prompt for the @subscorp-week!💙💛

This one is for the amazingly talented @maagspies' Bonus Prompt: Crochet!💛💙

As you may know, Kuai Liang is a Batman fan (He is, it's canon)! What you may not know, it that he truly likes capes, like superhero capes, and he always wanted to wear one, but never actually had one.

So when Hanzo brought him his old cape (which the ninja hated deeply, for being too long and making him stumble and get stuck everywhere) and told him he could have it, as long as they both worked to fix it, Kuai Liang did not hesitate.

Even if the Lin Kuei had zero skill regarding sewing, as it was forbidden for Lin Kuei men to learn such things, he was willing to put it all behind him and learn with Hanzo!

The result? One beautiful cape for our beloved Cryomancer:

Guys, this week was sooooo amazing! I loved being part of it, creating content for this wonderful ship and you, wonderful people is always a delight to me!!

So thank you so much to our hosts! You guys are angels!💛💙💛💙

Ps: My Fic, Gods of Winter is officially finished, feel free to check out!!❄

[sareenademon]

Two Demons in Love🖤

Art by @thecitybee

Inspiration for Bi Han’s design came from @maagspies art on him.

(This is Bi Han after he came back from death but kept his shadow powers.)

Sareena’s happy because her edgy bby came back from his mission safe.😌

[umbrclflame]

Headcanons: Bi-Han, umbral cryomancer.

I figure I should at least explain where my interpretation of Bi-Han and his verse originates. 

To expand on what I have posted in my bios, Bi-Han isn’t an undead in my default verse for him. He is a former Lin Kuei assassin (now Lin Kuei grandmaster alongside his little brother) who was wrongly blamed for the annihilation of the Shirai Ryu, which he had no part of and was entirely Quan Chi’s doing. 

In using a body double to substitute for himself in the hands of Scorpion, Bi-Han discreetly leaves behind the Lin Kuei and subsequently Kuai, Smoke/Tomas, and Cyrax, seeking out whoever was responsible for blaming him for this bullshit that almost got him a major case of the dead with extra burnt parts. Of course, this leads to a whole slew of emotional consequences later for the idiot, but that’s for later. 

Eventually, Bi-Han comes upon Quan Chi, who offers to teach him dark magic (to cover his ass and under the assumption that Bi-Han would never question him, since which idiot would arm the one that they almost got murdered?). Under his tutelage, Bi-Han becomes accustomed to wielding shadow based powers that eventually resulted in the creation of Saibot, who originally lingered on the back of his mind. 

As a result, my Bi-Han’s powers are a combination of his cryomancer abilities and his powers as Noob Saibot. He cannot summon shadow clones like Noob can, but Saibot is still a formidable force to be reckoned with and absolutely can kick ass. He and Saibot can also double team their target similar to their combo chains in MK11, save for that summoning a single shadow portal drains much of Bi-Han’s energy so that he only uses it sparingly now. Or in other words, he is nowhere near as powerful as Noob, but he’s definitely no slouch and can and will commit murder. 

Oh and his face is changed as a result of it, namely being his icy blue eyes and his skin resembling those of a corpse that died of hypothermia. His full appearance beneath his mask (without that cowl and instead uses a hood, as he wears the armor worn by Joe Taslim in the movie) is based on his appearance as headcanoned by @maagspies. 

[solar-bear]

I know I have a history of not liking Sareena or Bi-Han x Sareena media but lately I’ve been thinking it would be more fun to have like Sister Wife arrangement with her. Me/Sol don’t have a ton of friends so it would be nice to have a companion and we all know Bi-Han is more than horny enough for two wives not to mention Sol and Sareena can go on cutesy girl dates together. Like going to cafes while the kids are in school, get their nails done together, pick out lingerie they know Bi-Han will like. Yeah, I think I’m doing this. I don’t know that I’ll necessarily include her in my RP-ing or really much in smut (if this damn writers block will ever go away) but I think it’s a cute idea and I pretty much blame @howdypink and @maagspies amazing art of Sareena for changing my mind on the kharacter. I’m curious what my friends will think of this idea but so far I kinda like it. It’s already a weird poly time traveling self ship, might as well add her into the mix.

(That’s the best gif I could find for the occasion lol Sareena has black hair and mine’s pink so just go with it 🤫)

[evasivaardilosa]

People I’d like to get to know better

1. Alias / Name: C or Eva

2. Birthday: September 15th

3. Zodiac Sign: Virgo

4. Height: 1,62 m

5. Hobbies: Writing, crochet

6. Favorite Color: Purple

7. Favorite Book: A Series of Unfortunate Events

8. Last Song: The soundtrack of Shrek 2, probably

9. Last Film / Show: The Fear Street trilogy/I think AHS:Hotel, which I was casually watching with sis, counts

10. Recent Reads: there's only fics, some being: Ice in the Netherrealm by Michael_Young_History, From the daily life of Noob Saibot and LK1V1 by JervisCrane, Heat in the Fire Gardens by subscorpsupremacy **Check warnings on fics before reading**

11. Inspiration: Lots of ladies, both that I know and that I only heard of, that achieved their dreams even with all the obstacles, or that did great stuff even when it went unnoticed. And in fic writing specifically, every fan creator that stays true to what they want to create even if it's super self indulgent, has no known target audience, is considered "cringe", or receives harsh criticism or hate or is the butt of malicious "bad fic" jokes.

12. Story Behind URL: I think I first picked EvasivaArdilosa for my MK twitter, which I use to get tips for MKM. "Evasiva Ardilosa" is a title from one of Jade's feats of strength in MKM, I don't know what exactly it is in English but translating it back it's "cunning evasive". I used it for a long time in MKM because I like how it sounds and specially because, since Portuguese is gendered, I must use titles that use feminine words.

13. Fun Fact About Me: I am a morning person and I used to wake up early every morning because I liked to, but then we got a new dog and I would stay with her in the mornings, I found it cute when we were sitting on the couch and she would fall asleep so soon enough I started sleeping with her too, and now here we are, I wake up early every morning just to sleep again with my dog (we now moved to my bed because she doesn't fit the couch anymore).

tagged by @bastardsunlight

Tagging: @seventhstrife @maagspies @original-jade @subscorpsupremacy

[summerwritesfics]

🔍For Anyone But Me, Your Private Eye, Prologue - Hey, Brother, What You Thinking?

Pairing: Hanzo Hasashi/Kuai Liang Chapter Rating: Mature General Warnings: Detective Noir AU, Mentioned/Referanced Murder, Mentioned/Referanced Child Murder, Mentions of organised crime

For Anyone But Me, Your Private Eye Masterlist

Notes: So a while ago I wrote a short fic called "Private Eye". This is basically a full expanded fic from that short! Massive shoutout to @maagspies who inspired me to write it ;__; Anyway, my plan is 18 chapters + prologue & epilogue. I have the whole thing pretty much mapped out with I guess a bit of leeway should things happen while I'm writing. :0 So enjoy the adventures of Private Detective Hanzo Hasashi and his Femme Fatal Kuai Liang. <3

He stepped back from the cork board, surveying his work.

It had been 7 years since the murders of Harumi and Satoshi. A long torturous 7 years and so far nothing seemed to ease that pain. The police had been useless, having declared it a cold case without so much as attempting to find who was behind it. Years of battling tooth and nail for them to fucking do something, anything, to find the killer.

7 years too long.

It was time for him to take things into his own hands. He was a detective after all, he'd solved murders before, the only difference was how extremely personal the resolution would be this time. He'd suspended all other investigations, his focus solely on this case. He had already been through his archives, searched for every scrap he could find that could lead him to an answer. He'd even contacted a local newspaper, hoping that news of his reopening of the case would reach the masses and someone would come forward with information.

He was broken from his thoughts as the phone started ringing. It was either someone trying to hire him or someone who had seen the article. He didn't want to risk missing the call if it was the latter, so walked over to his desk, and picked up the receiver.

“Detective Hanzo Hasashi speaking,” he greeted, gut twisting slightly in anticipation.

“Hanzo...” He let out a breath when he realised he recognised the voice.

“Hello, Kenshi,” He sighed, rubbing his temple with his hand and willing himself to relax again. It wasn't the breakthrough he had hoped for, but at least it wasn't some desperate soul he would have to turn down. “Do you need something?”

“Johnny tells me there's an article in the newspaper about you,” Kenshi replied with a sigh. Hanzo clicked his tongue, here we go. “I know you want answers, and trust me you deserve them, but do you really think investigating this yourself is a good idea?”

“I am tired of waiting for someone else to start taking this seriously,” Hanzo said with a growl, running his hand down his face as he turned to look at his board again. “In one week I've gathered more information than the police got in 7 years.”

“Look, if you really want to do this, you know I won't stop you. But...” Kenshi paused, Hanzo heard the man huff in a way that indicated he was trying to think of the right thing to say. “I do worry that obsessing over this isn't going to do you any good.”

“I've been obsessing over it since it happened,” He replied, reaching to the photograph of Harumi and Satoshi he had pinned to the board. He traced Harumi's face with a finger, a lump forming in the back of his throat as memories of the day she died flooded back. There was so much blood. She had already been cold to the touch by the time he found her, Satoshi tucked in her arms. There was nothing he could have done for either of them. “I feel like I've lost my grip on my life. So I'm taking back control, and once I find the answer, I'll finally have peace.”

There was no reply, and for a minute Hanzo believed they'd been cut off, until he heard Kenshi grumble something unintelligible before he stated, “Okay. Okay, but just know I don't want you to get yourself hurt or in danger over this alright?”

“I'm in no more danger than I am investigating any other murder case,” Hanzo assured him, although the strangled alarmed noise Kenshi made told him this statement was in no way reassuring.

“Fine,” Kenshi conceded, before asking “Have you got any suspects yet?”

“Actually, I do.”

It hadn't escaped his notice that around the time of the murder, he'd been hired to investigate a crime ring known as the Lin Kuei. They were your standard affair when it came to gangsters, the sale of drugs and illegal weapons was their main source of income, and turf wars being a common occurrence. It was clear to him that his investigation into the Lin Kuei hadn't gone undetected, and they were definitely the type of organisation to use murder to send a message.

Hanzo had scoured his archives, looked through his research on the Lin Kuei to narrow who within the gang had the means to commit such an act. Then he'd worked out where those men had been the night of the murder. It had taken a lot of piecing together scraps of information but he'd managed to put together an alibi for all of them bar one. This one single person who's name he found had kept cropping up in his previous research.

Everything he'd put together so far all pointed to one man; Song Bi-Han.

“And it's about time I tracked him down.”

Kuai Liang paused in the doorway, watching as his brother hastily threw his belonging's into a suitcase. Bi-Han seemed unaware that Kuai was watching him. There was something strange about this situation, but Kuai couldn't put his finger on it.

“Going somewhere?” Kuai finally asked, getting Bi-Han's attention. He slowly sauntered into the room, observing the objects Bi-Han was packing. It was mostly clothing, but there were a few other personal belongings that Kuai recognised. Thing's Bi-Han likely wouldn't be taking unless he was going to be absent for some time.

“I'm... Going away for a while,” Bi-Han stated. Kuai observed him for a few seconds, Bi-Han was refusing to meet his gaze. Something's really wrong here...

“Where are you going?” Kuai asked. Bi-Han ignored the question. “Is this a Lin Kuei thing?” He tried instead. Bi-Han opened his mouth as if to reply before stopping himself and then just shrugging instead. “Well, how long are you going to be gone?”

“I... I don't know,” Bi-Han admitted, closing the suitcase and finally looking at Kuai. “Look, I can't tell you where I'm going, how long I'll be gone or even why.” Kuai had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Bi-Han, what's going on?” He knew his brother, usually Bi-Han didn't keep secrets from him. If it was Lin Kuei business, Kuai would have been informed about it. This was something else. His brother looked panicked, his vague answers as to him leaving only adding to the sense of urgency. “Bi-han?”

“I'm sorry, but the less you know, the safer you are.” Safe? Safe from what? Bi-Han wasn't making sense, and Kuai was trying so hard to not let it show how distressed it made him. Bi-Han reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. “I will warn you though, in the next few months, you may be approached by this man.”

Bi-Han handed him the photograph. The man in question looked fairly inconspicuous if Kuai was honest. Good looking though, if Kuai met him in a bar he'd definitely invite him back to his room for the night.

“You're telling me a handsome man might approach me, and that's somehow a bad thing?” Kuai replied, trying to act upbeat about the situation, even as he felt a part of him breaking inside.

“He's a private detective,” Bi-Han explained, “Name's Hanzo Hasashi, and he might come sniffing around to ask you questions. Like I said, the less you know, the safer you'll be.”

“A detective? Why the hell is there a detective after you?” Once again, Kuai's question went unanswered. Yes they were criminals, but they usually dealt with the threat of cops after the entire organisation, not private detectives after a specific individual. Frustrated, he reached to touch Bi-Han's shoulder. “Bi-Han, what the fuck have you got yourself into?”

“I can't tell you,” Bi-Han growled, grabbing Kuai's wrist and pulling his hand off him. Kuai froze. Slowly a hint of regret shone through in Bi-Han's eyes. Bi-Han hesitated, letting go of him, before sighing. “Please, understand that this is not what I want, but I need to get away and the easier it is for you to plead innocence the less likely you are to be dragged into this shit.”

Kuai felt his mouth go try, his throat constricting as he asked “Is it really that bad?”

“Yes.” Such a simple blunt answer that really did not help with Kuai's growing fears.

He shook his head, trying to think of things that had happened lately that could make Bi-Han want to bolt like this. “Is... This related to that argument you had with Sektor? Or... Or that thing you did for the White lotus? Or that Sareena woman... or-”

“Kuai,” Bi-Han warned, and Kuai stopped.

“Sorry,” He whispered his eyes dropping to the floor. “I just... Don't understand.”

“I know.” Bi-Han reached forward, gently tilting his brother's chin upwards. “And I'm sorry that it has to be this way. I'll be back for you, I promise, I just need to get away for a while until things have calmed down.”

“Okay,” Kuai agreed softly, any other questions he had dying on his tongue. It was clear now that Bi-Han would not answer them anyway. “When do you leave?”

“I'm going tonight, under cover of dark, hopefully slip away before someone notices,” Bi-Han explained, his hands reaching to grab Kuai's shoulders instead. “Just, promise me you'll stay safe, alright?”

“Only if you promise the same,” Kuai said back, knowing it wasn't exactly a promise either of them could keep. Bi-Han's resigned sigh indicated he realised that too.

They said no more, even if there were so many words Kuai wanted to say. Even if he wanted to beg Bi-Han to stay and find another way to deal with whatever was happening, or to plead with him to at least take Kuai with him, not leave him alone in the Lin Kuei. He kept those desperate thoughts to himself, instead allowing his brother to continue packing.

That evening, he shared one last drink with Bi-Han, trying to keep the illusion that nothing was wrong, so not to draw suspicion to themselves. The word goodbye never left either of their lips, just a brief hug and wishing the other sweet dreams before parting ways.

By the time the next morning came, Bi-Han was gone.

And Kuai Liang was stuck with the fallout his brother left behind.

≛❀≛ Next Chapter ⋟

[subscorpsupremacy]

@evasivaardilosa here you go

1. Alias / Name: Steven

2. Birthday: won’t say

3. Zodiac Sign: won’t say

4. Height: shorter than the reported canon height of Sub-Zero and Scorpion

5. Hobbies: Writing, drawing

6. Favorite Color: Blue and Yellow

7. Favorite Book: none

8. Last Song: I listened to? good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo

9. Last Film / Show: Mortal Kombat Scorpion’s Revenge

10. Recent Reads: subscorp fics

11. Inspiration: for my bara art and writing? macho juice, ka55kett, joecalzon, f0-star, Danny (moya komnata), tashastrawberry, maagspies and summerwritesfics

12. Story Behind URL: Sub-Zero and Scorpion deserve to be happy with each other and they have hot sex every time.

13. Fun Fact About Me: nothing

[seventhstrife]

SubScorp Week 2021 Day 4: Lust 2/3

I literally don’t even want to talk about this, I’m still so mad it got so long LOL

Read it on AO3

Part 1

Raiden's hand glowed a cool, piercing blue as he passed his palm over the length of Kuai Liang's body in a slow, pensive motion. His eyes were narrowed in concentration and Hanzo, pacing just far enough away so that he would not disturb them, did not like the frown that was slowly growing on Raiden's face.

Kuai Liang was stretched across a small bed, one of many that lined this room in Raiden's temple. It was one used for the sick, and the lingering scent of medicine made Hanzo's skin crawl—though he made himself stay. Clean as it was, he could not help associating the scent with death, for often people found their end not on the battlefield, but later, quieter and painfully and without dignity, trapped in their own bodies as it failed them.

He wanted Kuai Liang gone from this place as soon as possible.

His fears that a simple healing would not be enough were confirmed when Raiden finally retracted his head and gave a small shake of his head.

"I have never seen magic like this," Raiden began. He met Kuai Liang's narrowed, glassy eyes squarely. "Skarlet indeed has crafted something that is as unique as it is deplorable."

"You can not help him?" Hanzo all but demanded, scowling. Once more, the thunder god's machinations cared not for the casualties left in their wake.

Raiden looked over at him, expression grim and apologetic.

"I can not. This magic was created to serve a specific purpose and tampering with it in any way may only increase its adverse effects." Raiden dropped his gaze back to Kuai Liang. "I am well aware of the practices of your clan, but there is no other solution. You must allow this to run its course."

Kuai Liang stiffened, face pinched tight with distaste—though Hanzo alone could also detect the faintest flash of...fear...in his eyes.

"You can not mean—"

"Without a partner, the poison will not abate. And should you ignore it for much longer, the heat will boil your blood until it bursts—a very slow, very painful death, Sub-Zero."

The harsh grinding of Kuai Liang's teeth was audible. "There must be another—"

"There is not," Raiden cut in, as brutally blunt as Hanzo could remember. But he was not unkind, and understanding could also be seen in his expression. "There are many here who would gladly assist one of Earthrealm's defenders."

Hanzo...did not want to hear this, he realized. Raiden was offering to find Kuai Liang a partner, a partner who would aid him while he suffered the effects of an aphrodisiac—the implications of that could not be mistaken, and he was no fool. And while it would have been uncomfortable to hear any ally experiencing such a thing, with Kuai Liang, it burned worse. His mind shied away from even the thought of Kuai Liang with another in that way. He hated it.

Kuai Liang bore an expression that plainly said that he felt the same. He raised himself up so that he sat on the edge of the cot, every visible inch of skin flushed, arms trembling ever-so-slightly—not with fatigue, but pain. Even now, a kaleidoscope of red bloomed just beneath his skin, as if the burning roil of his blood would burst at any moment.

"I will not," Kuai Liang grit out. Even with his voice slightly shaken from smothered pain, his tone brooked no argument.

Raiden's frown deepened.

"This is your life, Sub-Zero. And in service of that life, a compromise must be made."

Kuai Liang winced as if Raiden's words were barbed.

"Bedding a stranger, using them in such a way—it is disgusting," and despite himself, a note of pleading bled into Kuai Liang's voice.

It made Hanzo wince in turn, heart going out to his friend who had not asked for this, who he knew would ultimately endure such a coupling but hate every moment of it.

Hanzo dug his fingers into his upper arms, hard, where they were crossed. He stared at the marble stone beneath his feet, to better master the urge to speak. He had no say in what Kuai Liang chose to do.

Raiden made some noise of understanding and from the corner of his eye, Hanzo saw how he gently clasped Kuai Liang's shoulder, voice pitched low in understanding.

"It must be done," Raiden told him. "But they will be discreet, you have my word."

And Hanzo thought he could do this, could keep his mouth shut and quietly support his friend, even if that meant waiting at Raiden's temple as he bedded another, but he proved to be his own undoing when he saw the look on Kuai Liang's face, pained all this time, yet only now suffering, only now, did the poison truly seem to take hold.

Quiet despair and resignation dimmed his eyes and slumped his shoulders with defeat—a look he'd never seen Kuai Liang wear before and would give much to erase.

Kuai Liang opened his mouth. "...Very w—"

"What if it was someone you knew?"

The words felt as if they were coming from another person, and Hanzo was half-tempted to look behind himself when Raiden and Kuai Liang's heads snapped to him.

The urge to blush was almost as great as the sick fear that seized his heart, but he owed Kuai Liang at least this much, at least an offer. Anything that would wipe that look from his face.

Hanzo uncrossed his arms, straightened from the wall he'd rested against when Raiden's conversation had begun in earnest. He looked at Kuai Liang and Kuai Liang only.

"If you trusted this person," Hanzo continued, barely able to hear his own voice over the riotous clamor of his heartbeats, "Would it be easier?"

"I..." For the first time in memory, Kuai Liang seemed genuinely lost for words. He stared at Hanzo as if he'd never seen him before, brow furrowed, body still wracked with jerks and shivers as the poison progressed. Kuai Liang licked dry lips. "Are you...You would...?"

Hanzo bowed his head, grateful he would not have to offer himself so plainly. "I would."

Kuai Liang blinked, shook his head and turned his head away with a deep frown. "I could not ask that of you—"

"And you are not," Hanzo said firmly, drawing Kuai Liang's gaze back. "I am offering."

Kuai Liang appeared so conflicted and his hand tightened into a fist over the fabric of his pants. Indecision warred plainly on his face, and Hanzo suspected it was not on his own behalf.

Quiet and calmly, Hanzo said, "I will take no offense either way," he assured.

He knew, from time and observation, that Kuai Liang, much like himself, was a deeply private person. While others would suffer no qualms having pleasing, ultimately meaningless sex with another, for Kuai Liang it would be a form of torture. Vulnerability, of any sort, was anathema to his very being, and Hanzo knew how much it would hurt him, to have to compromise his self-control in this way.

And if there was anyone else, Hanzo would have retrieved them and brought them to Raiden's temple already—but there was no one else. Hanzo was Kuai Liang's closest and, truly, only confidante.

But the bonds of friendship did not necessarily mean Kuai Liang would be willing. With his offer, Hanzo hoped to at least soothe—if not all, then some of Kuai Liang's worries. It was his hope that the trust they had forged in their friendship would help ease Kuai Liang's guilty conscience for having to expose himself to another.

Kuai Liang was silent for a long moment as the red marks across his arms and face shifted and writhed like living things. He stared at Hanzo, panting, but his expression was difficult to decipher. He was clearly unhappy, but Hanzo had no idea of what his true thoughts were, whether he was dissatisfied with Hanzo's offer, whether he found the idea distasteful or not, or if he was still wrestling with the concept of having to lay with anyone, period.

"Then..." Kuai Liang bowed, as best he could from a sitting position and wracked with pain, "I accept."

It was difficult not to flinch—but Hanzo did his best to school any shock from his expression. The offer was freely made, and meant, but it was more than a little surprising that Kuai Liang had...accepted.

Raiden, whose face had displayed clear surprise at Hanzo's offer before he'd quickly assumed an expression that was carefully blank, stood.

"Then it is decided," he said, tone firm and business-like. His eyes held a spark of curiosity as he looked at Hanzo, but he did not speak of it. He placed a hand on Kuai Liang's shoulder and held out his other to Hanzo in a beckoning motion. "We are running short on time. I will take you to a place you will be undisturbed."

There was a flash of light and a cacophonous clap of thunder, and Hanzo found himself in a clearing, the trees a pale birch where they skirted the boundaries of a small building, a single-story made of white stone and topped with vibrant red clay tiles that sloped into elegant, pointed tips. It bore a sharp resemblance to Raiden's temple, though on a much smaller, humbler scale.

"This once belonged to an old friend who tended the gardens of my temple," Raiden said. He dropped his hold from their shoulders, eyes going distant as they traced the clearing and whatever phantom memories he saw with his ancient eyes. "But it is within the bounds of my influence and thus, under my protection. You will be safe and undisturbed here."

Raiden appeared to visibly pull himself back from his thoughts. He looked between Kuai Liang and Hanzo and whatever he saw on their faces made him incline his head decisively.

"I will ensure my people are aware that this area is off-limits for the time being." He bowed one final time. "I shall leave you. May the Elder Gods protect you, and should the poison worsen, do not hesitate to call on me."

Raiden raised his fist and in a blinding crash of lightning that nearly deafened them, he was gone.

In the ringing silence he left behind, Hanzo stared at the scorched earth as a slow, creeping anxiety grew, just waiting to swallow him whole as he realized exactly what would happen next—what he had volunteered himself for.

And Hanzo was not a religious man. Not since his clan had been brutally murdered, their cries to the gods answered not by those above, but by cold, merciless blades.

But he found himself calling on them now.

Kuai Liang met his eyes once he forced himself to look away from the place Raiden had vanished from, and though pain tightened Kuai Liang's features and furrowed his brow, flushed his skin with a thin sheen of sweat, Hanzo could feel his heart skip a beat, felt an answering clench in the pit of his stomach that betrayed his true feelings in a way that shamed him.

And the way Kuai Liang looked at him—he was close to this man, had fought countless times at his side, knew him better than perhaps anyone else, but that dark look in his eyes, unreadable but watching in a way Hanzo had never seen before—he was not unmoved by that, either.

...Elder Gods. Have mercy on me.

[laismoura-art]

And the Final Day of the @subscorp-week has arrived!💛💙

And with it, I bring you the Final Chapter of my Fic, Gods of Winter!

The Winter God and his fierce Detective face powerful, evil and monstruous enemies in order to rescue the Elder God of Winter!

Will they succeed in this dangerous mission?❄

Enjoy!

Also, that's not my last work for the week! Don't forget to check out @maagspies' Bonus Prompt!!💛💙

[umbral-fantome]

While I default to hcing Bi-Han (now) looking like how @maagspies depicts him, every time I watch Kris Phillips, he just gives off HEAVY Bi-Han vibes.

[bihansthot]

@maagspies if you’re still having problems with yours

Get yourself un-shadowbanned That post seems to be going around a bit but not the reblog on how to fix it, so here’s another

Go to postlimit, put in your blog name, TAKE A SCREENSHOT

Go to tumblr support and file a support ticket. Category: Blog incorrectly marked explicit. Details: posts hidden from search results. Attach the screenshot. Do this even if you’ve already filed a support ticket N days ago without a screenshot. Make sure the relevant blog is chosen and you have the right contact email address.

They got back to me within an hour.

[seventhstrife]

SubScorp Week 2021 Day 4: Lust 1/3

I AM SO MAD ABOUT THIS PROMPT!!! IT GOT RIDICULOUSLY LONG!!! LIKE, AN UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF FIC WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS PROMPT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EASIEST ONE!!! WHY IS MY BRAIN LIKE THIS!!!

Special shoutout to all of the wonderful, lovely, ridiculously patient people on discord who weathered me complaining about my stupid hellbrain lolol

Only part 1 tonight since I literally spent all day writing nearly 10k words, and there’s no way I can edit it and also sleep before my shift LOL

Read it on AO3.

Part 2

It would have been kinder, perhaps, to simply announce his arrival, but Hanzo had grown so fond of being amused in recent years and he could not resist the urge to indulge.

Gathering a handful of small stones, Hanzo climbed the nearest building and darted across the sun-baked clay of the rooftops, careful to remain unseen as he trailed his target.

A smile curled his lips beneath his mask. He waited until he was sure he was completely concealed, then let loose one of the pebbles in his grasp—a direct hit to the back of Kuai Liang's head.

The sight of Kuai Liang's flinch, as well as the sharp snap of attention and his dark expression of annoyance and suspicion through the crowded, dusty streets of the road, stretched Hanzo's smile into a grin. He bled into the shadows, knowing he would have to be swift if he wanted to stay ahead of Kuai Liang's attention.

He only managed one more stone's throw before Kuai Liang wisened up and scaled the nearest building. He was no fool, and tracing the stone's trajectory was a simple thing. Hanzo was forced to duck behind any cover he could find to avoid the Lin Kuei Grandmaster's thorough, careful scrutiny of his surroundings.

His next throw would be his last, he knew. He would have to make it count if he did not wish to be caught.

Hanzo crouched low and waited for his moment. The instant Kuai Liang turned, still scanning his surroundings for any movement, he sent his last stone flying.

He saw the beginning motion of Kuai Liang's whip-fast reaction, hand darting up in a flash to catch the stone, but Hanzo was already gone, swallowed in hellfire, and before Kuai Liang's fist fully closed around the rock, Hanzo appeared directly behind him.

Hanzo didn't hesitate. He tackled Kuai Liang to the roof, perched atop his chest before he could react.

Blinking in the harsh sunlight, Kuai Liang's scowl of deadly promise melted away into shock.

"Hanzo?"

Hanzo smirked. "Is this the standard of Lin Kuei assassins?" Hanzo shook his head. "Perhaps I should reconsider allying myself with a clan that is so soft."

Kuai Liang's eyes narrowed in a glare, but it was lessened by the reluctant smile that tugged on his lips, as if against his better judgment.

"I think I am the one who should be reconsidering my allies, if they are so eager to attack me on the streets," Kuai Liang pointed out, and Hanzo chuckled, finally stood and offered his arm.

Kuai Liang took the offered hand and absently brushed himself as he stood. His dark eyes, pleased and curious in equal measure, peered at Hanzo with confusion.

"What brings you to Outworld, Hanzo? And to me, specifically?"

Hanzo crossed his arms, gazing across the sand-dusted streets and modest abodes of the city, half of it hollowed out from the bright red clay of a mountain.

"I had received word that you accepted a mission from the Thunder God." Hanzo's face darkened with a grimace. "I would be neglecting the conditions of our alliance if I did not aide you."

"My mission is one of reconnaissance, Hanzo," Kuai Liang said, brow furrowed. "My life is hardly in danger."

"No mission from Raiden is as simple as he makes it seem," Hanzo said darkly. The loss of his clan—again—still burned. "If my presence is an insult, I beg your forgiveness," Hanzo continued, and he bowed. When he rose, he met Kuai Liang's eyes dead-on, determined and stubborn. "Allow me to accompany you, if only to set my mind at ease."

Kuai Liang had appeared taken aback at first, but understanding quickly bled onto his expression, and no little guilt. His own memories of the Kamidogu, and the manipulation he'd suffered, did not appear to have been forgotten either.

"...I accept your offer, Hanzo. Thank you." Kuai Liang said, and he returned the bow. "Shall we?"

The Thunder God's power had sent Kuai Liang to an Outworld city, but Kuai Liang's true destination laid deeper in the forest. An ancient temple, Kuai Liang informed him, long abandoned, had been rumored to have worshippers once more. Raiden merely wanted confirmation of such a thing, to decide his next move. The worship once practiced there had been forbidden, one steeped in ritual sacrifice and practices so brutal and cruel that even Outlanders shunned it, and if some sort of revival was in the making, Raiden suspected it would only be a matter of time before the cult spilled into Earthrealm and claimed the inhabitants there for their depraved rituals.

A simple mission, but one that did nothing to abate the uneasy feeling that had overcome Hanzo from the moment he'd learned of Kuai Liang's undertaking. He had not lied to Kuai Liang for his reasons for being here, but he had neglected the full truth: that, more than anything, he worried for his friend and what might happen to him when caught up in another machination of a God.

Once Kuai Liang had debriefed him, they fell into silence, traveling the forest with their ears peeled for the slightest sound that stuck out: voices, a footstep, anything that would confirm Raiden's suspicions. But caution and vigilance would only help them so much if Raiden had sent them into some sort of trap.

Hanzo pushed the worry from his mind. Nothing will happen to him. I will ensure it, he vowed.

The temple emerged from the trees when they were nearly on top of it. If it had been recently re-occupied, it did not show on the outside. The forest had been allowed to encroach upon it, nearly to the doors, and lichen and vines covered the side of the crumbling stone building as nature reclaimed it.

Hanzo and Kuai Liang knelt side by side as they observed the building, but it truly seemed abandoned.

"Shall we take a closer look?" Kuai Liang asked once it was plain they were quite alone outside.

Hanzo repressed a grimace; telling Kuai Liang he had a 'bad feeling' was out of the question, unless he wanted to make Kuai Liang think he indulged silly superstition and thus, lose his respect forever.

Hanzo nodded. They took a closer look.

Their steps were slow and cautious as they climbed the sun-bleached steps. Cracks and fissures stretched across nearly every surface, and while the stains were very faint, Hanzo still recognized the dried blood dotted across the stone.

It only took a few minutes to carefully sweep the temple for signs of life, and they met in the dusty temple's center once they were done.

"It appears abandoned," Kuai Liang observed, dark eyes lingering in a dark corner for one last check before he finally looked at Hanzo.

"I agree," Hanzo said, crossing his arms. "I hope the Thunder God has promised you something worthwhile for this waste of time."

A small smile tugged on Kuai Liang's lips; Hanzo pretended he did not find the sight incredibly gratifying.

"The terms of a contract are confidential, Hanzo."

"So, nothing," Hanzo surmised with a nod. "Unsurprising."

Kuai Liang's smile grew, amused. "Your time was wasted as well," he pointed out. "Will you demand compensation from Raiden?"

"Do not tempt me," Hanzo warned. He could do so without shame or remorse. After what the Thunder God had put them both through, it was the least he deserved.

Kuai Liang opened his mouth, eyes dancing with mirth—

But then his eyes shifted, just slightly, and he tensed, all over.

Hanzo barely had time to react before Kuai Liang was shoving him with a rough shout of, "Get down!"

His balance was upset but Hanzo recovered, quickly rolled to his feet in a crouch, one arm braced on the floor, the other already unsheathing his dagger.

"Jussst asss my hunger growsss, what ssshould I find but fresssh blood in the unlikeliessst of placesss?"

Skarlet ascended the last steps of the temple, an expression of satisfaction and interest on her features. She held a single hand aloft where an orb of thick, viscous blood twirled idly.

She came to a stop some distance away and widened her stance. Her fingers curled into claws and she stretched the blood like a scarf between her palms. Her eyes flashed between the two of them.

"My lucky day," she rasped slowly.

Hanzo frowned heavily, though it was almost a relief to finally face the inevitable complication he had been expecting this entire time. He darted a quick glance at Kuai Liang.

Kuai Liang was much in the same position and appeared unscathed as he leveled Skarlet with a heavy frown. A smear of blood shards streaked across the space they once stood.

"What are you doing here, Skarlet?" Pure, icy contempt dripped from his tone.

"I am the one who ssshould be asssking the questions, Sub-Zero." Skarlet arched a single thin eyebrow. "Asss the Outworlder, I am not the one who doesss not belong here..."

Hanzo rose and Skarlet's gaze cut to him, wary and deadly. He unsheathed his second dagger and gave them a spin.

"You are outmatched, Skarlet." He pointed at her with a blade. "You would be wise to leave."

Her mouth was hidden behind a crimson mask, but her smile was only too obvious in her tone.

"I am trembling with fear," Skarlet said mockingly, and barely before she'd finished drawing breath, she moved her hands in a quick sweeping motion that sent a wide arch of blood, suddenly crystallized, straight for them.

Kuai Liang had his ice to defend himself with, so Hanzo did not waste a moment summoning a ring of fire, nose wrinkling as the blood met his flames and burst on impact. A power based on draining the life from another—it was barbaric.

Hanzo's words had not been an idle boast—together, he and Kuai Liang were formidable, and years of fighting at one another's side had only fostered a deadly alliance, one of devastating power and precise, efficient strategy.

Barely minutes into the fight, Skarlet was showing signs of unease. She was smart to keep her back to a wall at all times, to better prevent them from flanking her, but the ceaseless assault of ice and fire was clearly wearing on her.

When Kuai Liang froze her leg, just long enough so that she caught a fireball to the chest, she staggered, fell to one knee as her harsh breaths echoed through the ancient temple.

Tales of her cunning and deadliness had not escaped them, however, and neither man allowed their guard down, approaching slowly, fists raised.

"Thisss," Skarlet panted, glaring at the two of them, "Isss hardly fair, isss it?"

"You chose this fight, Skarlet," Kuai Liang said pitilessly.

The way her eyes narrowed at Kuai Liang—that earlier feeling of unease rose within Hanzo once more.

"I did," she agreed. "And it isss time I evened the oddsss..."

Skarlet thrust the hand—that before had been clutching her side—at Kuai Liang, and a small disk of blood, no doubt razor-sharp, shot towards him at an incredible speed.

Too fast to deflect it properly, Kuai Liang raised his arm, and Hanzo only caught a glimpse of how it burst moments before impact, hovered in the air in dozens of pinpricks of needle-thin blades, before crashing again. As Kuai Liang dropped to a knee and ducked, shielding his face from the worst of it, Hanzo was already backing away as Skarlet flew at him in a sudden burst of deadly fury.

"I can already tassste your blood," Skarlet said with relish. The blade of her blood dagger locked with Hanzo's and their faces hovered close. Her eyes shined with wicked triumph. "I will enjoy gorging myssself in the daysss to come."

Hanzo only glared back, disgusted. Between them, a sudden light grew and Skarlet glanced down with wide eyes to see her dagger glowing-white hot to match where it met Hanzo's as his arms caught fire.

An instant later, the blade, warped, shifted, and burst. Skarlet cried out, backing away as the blood singed her and the hands she shook out were bright red from the blistering heat.

"You will only taste defeat," Hanzo swore, summoning his kunai.

The low thump of a body hitting the ground drew his attention away, however, and it was with dread that Hanzo clapped eyes on Kuai Liang—teeth gritted in a grimace of pain, hands clawed against the stone as if he might crumble the stone at their feet.

He raised glassy, straining eyes to meet his.

"H-Hanzo," Kuai Liang managed, and then he shuddered, hunched over, and a low grunt of pain escaped him.

The sight and sound of him chilled Hanzo to his very core. Kuai Liang had been trained, practically since infancy, to withstand incredible amounts of pain. Anything that made him cry out like that—

Hanzo looked to Skarlet and he had no problem recognizing the sheer relish and satisfaction of her expression.

The hellfire, always kept carefully maintained, overflowed into instant, black fury.

Faster than she could ever predict, Hanzo flew across the room, seized Skarlet by her neck and did not stop until he slammed her against the opposite wall. Her strangled choke—brutally cut off by his hands, pressing deep—only incensed him further because this one cry of pain was not enough.

"What have you done to him?"

Skarlet strained against his grip, but she could not touch him, not when he burned so hot. She quickly realized she could not escape, but she only laughed, a reedy, raspy thing that made Hanzo see red.

"It—It isss a new concoction," she hissed, throat working harshly beneath his fingers. He barely loosened his grip so that she could speak, despising every moment he was not killing her. "One I-I have been..." She swallowed. Her heels scraped against the stone wall for purchase. "Very eager to try out."

Hanzo tightened his grip once more and Skarlet's eyes grew larger, panicked and desperate.

"WHAT. HAVE. YOU. DONE."

With each word, flames licked Hanzo's tongue, eager to escape. The temptation to release the flames on Skarlet's wretched head, to burn away her smirk until only bone remained, was nearly overwhelming.

But Kuai Liang's life hung in the balance. He could not give in to anger.

He allowed Skarlet breath, and she finally spoke, "That blood wasss poisoned," Skarlet hissed and Hanzo tensed.

"Where is the antidote," he demanded, and Skarlet laughed again.

"It isss not that sort of poissson," she said. "Thisss one was made for...ssspecial occasssionsss..."

Hanzo narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"

Skarlet looked into his eyes and victory shined in her dark, mad eyes.

"It isss a powerful aphrodisssiac," she purred, and Hanzo tensed. "If he is not sssatiated, his blood will boil."

Alarmed, Hanzo glanced at Kaui Liang. It looked as if he was already feeling the effects, if the way he clutched his abdomen meant anything. He ground his forehead against the filthy stone floor and even a short distance away, Hanzo could see the red welts rising from his skin, as if he were burning from the inside out.

"It would be bessst," Skarlet continued, able to speak more in Hanzo's moment of distraction, "If you left usss here." Her eyes darkened with desire and twisted eagerness. "I am more than up to the tasssk of helping him, and I am sssure he will find me very sssastisfying."

Kuai Liang would rather die, Hanzo knew.

Slowly, every line of his body a taut line of repressed violence, Hanzo allowed Skarlet to slide back down the wall so that her feet touched the floor.

Her eyes brightened with victory—and then Hanzo yanked her close, so that they instead widened with surprise and a quick flash of fear—for he had not released her yet.

"No," he simply said, and then he shoved Skarlet back.

Her skull cracked against the stone and she went limp.

Hanzo let her drop carelessly, turned his back on her, and quickly made his way to Kuai Liang's side. She would not die, he was sure of it, and though he dearly wanted to make her pay for poisoning Kuai Liang, there was still a chance she would be needed in the future, should her words prove false and some sort of antidote could only be procured through her repulsive blood magic.

Hanzo fell to his knees at Kuai Liang's head, hands hovering or unsure.

"Kuai Liang..."

Shakily, Kuai Liang raised his head. Hanzo didn't hesitate to clasp his hand when it was raised and his eyes widened to feel the heat of him, hot enough to rival his own skin.

"Hanzo..." Through his fierce grimace, Hanzo saw the flicker of uncertainty, the worry and anxiety brought on by this sudden vulnerability.

"I have you," Hanzo assured him and he squeezed his hand tightly. "We will fix this, I promise you."

Kuai Liang stared into his eyes for a moment, panting, face beginning to bead with sweat.

He sagged with a nod, weary and pained.

Hanzo swallowed them both in hellfire, and only the scorched stone and Skarlet's crumpled form marked their ever being in Outworld.