#fic: I Think I'm Bi

[unfinishedslurs]

aware of his bisexuality steve (steddie, buckingham)

“Is that a hickey?” Comes out of Steve’s mouth without permission. But there it is, bright purple and red against the slope of her neck. She’s been walking kind of funny this morning, too. He’d assumed her period came early, but… “Rob, did you—“

Eddie fumbles the coffee mug he was pulling down. Chrissy freezes, face turning white with fear. Robin whips around, face bright red, and slaps a hand over her neck. 

“Bathroom!” She yelps. “Bathroom now!”

“Wait,” Eddie says, setting the mug down with trembling hands. “It was me. Sorry, man.”

Steve stares at him, unimpressed. Why the fuck would he lie about—

He looks at Chrissy again, who takes a nervous step back, and it clicks. 

“Right,” he says, nodding quickly. “You. You gave Robin a hickey. Had totally awesome sex that she didn’t even tell me about.” He directs that last bit at Robin pointedly. He told her almost immediately when he lost his guy-ginity. Traitor. “Yep. Sure. Got it.”

Eddie blinks, confused. Robin buries her face in her hands. 

“Oh my god, calm down,” she groans. “That’s not going to work. Steve’s cool.”

“Cool?” Chrissy asks, still looking ready to bolt. 

“Super cool,” he assures her. “The coolest. So incredibly cool, even if my best friend didn’t even tell me when she lost her virginity.”

“Steve!”

“Sorry, sorry,” he says. “But I am going to need details, Buckley. We can go over what worked, and what needs more oomph.”

“Oh my god, can we talk about this anywhere else,” Robin groans, at the same time Eddie asks, “What, so you can get off on it later?”

“What,” Steve says. 

“You think two girls are hot, is that it?” He’s got a sneer on his face now, but Steve’s more observant than Dustin gives him credit for. Even if he wasn’t, it’d be hard to miss how hard his hands are shaking, the nervous tilt to his mouth. 

“Ew.” Steve’s face screws up. “Dude, no. It’s Robin.”

“Hey, fuck you,” Robin breaks in, from where she’s started comforting Chrissy. “You thought I was hot for at least a summer.”

His mouth drops open in betrayal. “We agreed to never talk about that again!”

“Can’t help being sexy,” she coons. Chrissy giggles wetly. “You wanna get married, Harrington? Have my babies? Stay home and raise six little nuggets while I bring home the bread?”

“I hate you,” he informs her. “Hate you so much. We’ll have a nice, heterosexual wedding and share a sad, heterosexual kiss, and you’ll carry me over the threshold of our nice, heterosexual house, and we’ll have boring, heterosexual sex that gives us nice, heterosexual babies, because we are so heterosexual and happy in our suburburban house in our nice little heterosexual town.”

He’s honestly kind of proud of himself for saying heterosexual so many times. Usually he fumbles words with that many syllables, especially after that many times in a row. 

Chrissy is outright laughing, now, endearing little snorts making their way between giggles. Eddie is looking between them like they’re a puzzle he can’t piece together. Robin grins.

“I’ll cuck you with the secretary.”

“Not if I cuck you first. You’ll be away all day in that office of yours, and I need someone big and strong to carry all the new furniture I ordered.”

“I knew it! I knew Timmy wasn’t mine!”

“Oh, but I couldn’t help myself,” he swoons. “Mark was just so sweet, with his bulging biceps and hand flexes, all hot and sweaty from helping poor little me while you were away! You know I’m weak to curly hair and brown eyes, Rob, how’s a man supposed to resist?”

“Fag,” she says, not without affection. 

“Dyke,” he shoots back. 

“Cocksucker.”

“Carpet—“

“Okay,” Eddie breaks in, clapping his hands. He and Robin both startle, and so does Chrissy from where she’s been watching them like a particularly interesting tennis match. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Robin lost her virginity and didn’t even tell me,” Steve says immediately, like he’s tattling to the principal. 

“Steve doesn’t seem to understand the concept of waiting,” Robin retorts. 

“I told you when I had gay sex,” he whines, and Eddie chokes. “I hate you. See if I ever give you tips again.”

“Oh, is that what you meant?” Chrissy asks. “Please don’t stop. They were good tips.”

Robin flushes all the way down to her toes. 

“You like boys?” Eddie wheezes. 

“Oh,” Steve blinks. “Yeah? I thought you knew.”

“You thought I—how would I know?”

The fuck is that supposed to mean? Steve’s been flirting with him for months!

“Robin always says we can sense each other! You sensed her.”

“You told him?” Eddie’s mouth drops open, and Robin looks sheepish.

“She didn’t have to,” Steve snarks. “You’re flagging in Hawkins, man. Was I supposed to miss it?”

“You know what flagging is?”

“Again, in case you missed it, I fuck men.”

“Fuck,” Eddie mutters. “Fuck! Christ, I can’t believe this. You’re, like, the epitome of heterosexual. I spent half of high school having to hear about how much pussy you were getting. Why are you not straight?”

“Wow, Eddie,” he deadpans. “Are you saying just because I like men and woman, I’m not queer enough? That’s kind of homophobic of you, man.”

“Yeah, Eddie, wow,” Robin says. “I thought you were better than this.” 

“Fuck off,” Eddie says. “I feel like I need to lie down. My entire worldview just shattered.”

“I have a couch?” Chrissy offers shyly. “Or a bedroom, if you need a minute away.” Fuck, Steve kind of adores her. Especially since she’s apparently vicious n bed, if the five other hickies he counts just from Robin bending down a little to whisper in her ear are any indication. Good for her.  

“Don’t worry, Eddie,” Robin says, with a glint in her eye that means he’s either going to love or hate what comes next. “If it helps, Steve’s never fucked a man in his life.”

Eddie’s brow furrows, looking between the two of them. “So…you’re just making fun of me?”

He looks a little angry now, and Steve can’t make heads or tails of this conversation because, “What the hell, Rob, yes I have—“

“Oh, so suddenly you’re the one doing the fucking?”

“Stop making fun of me for taking it!”

Eddie lets out an honest to god moan that he immediately slaps his hand over his mouth to cover up. “Right,” he says fervently. “Okay. I need to lie down, like, for real.” 

They watch him stride down the hall, so fast he’s almost running, and slam the door closed behind him.

“I could totally top,” he mutters to Robin as something that sounds vaguely like muffled screaming echoes down the hall. “I top girls all the time. It’s not my fault prostates are a gift from God.”

“Uh, you top because all the girls you fuck are from small town Indiana. If one of them brought out the strap you’d drop to your knees so fast—“

“That’s—I like topping!”

“Your favorite position is cowgirl. Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

“I will show Chrissy your baby pictures,” he hisses. Robin makes a face at him. Chrissy nods excitedly from where she’s still tucked under Robin’s arm. 

“Oh what’s that?” Robin practically shouts. “You like being pressed against walls and ravished? You want someone to tie you up and have their filthy way with you? Is that what you said, Steve?”

Another noise from the bedroom. He narrows his eyes at her. “What are you doing?”

“Helping,” she says sweetly. “You’re both hopeless.”

“I told you he’s shy!”

“Eddie?” Chrissy asks. “Shy?”

“Yeah, okay, I was confused too, but I figured it was the romance! He told me he hasn’t actually been in a relationship before, I assumed he was nervous to take that step.”

“Yeah, but dingus,” Robin says sweetly. “You’re missing a puzzle piece here. He thought you were straight. He thought he was flirting with his straight best friend he didn’t have a chance in hell with, and then he finds out that said best friend likes taking it up the ass and men with brown eyes.”

“Oh,” Steve says, realization dawning. “Oh, fuck. What if he doesn’t like me like that?”

Robin smacks the back of his head. “Why are you stupid?”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Chrissy says. “Like, really don’t have to worry about that.”

“I’m not coming over tonight,” Robin says. “I’m gonna stay with Chrissy again. Er…if that’s okay?”

“That sounds amazing.” Chrissy beams, and Robin turns red again.

“Yeah, I’m going to stay with Chrissy again tonight. You are going to invite Eddie to stay the night when he gets done with his little crisis, and then we’re getting lunch at the diner tomorrow and you can tell me about it before our shift.”

“Right,” Steve says. “Right, I can do this. I’ve invited guys over before, how hard can it be? It’s just Eddie. But that was hotel rooms, not my house and my bedroom with my shitty wallpaper. And it’s Eddie. Fuck, what if I’m shit at it? Robin, what if I’m actually bad at sex and everyone who’s ever said I was good was lying because they didn’t want to hurt my feelings? Oh my god, I’m totally bad at sex.”

“Woah, dingus, slow down. I think we took the mind meld too far, you’re turning into me.”

“If it helps, I don’t think you’re bad at sex,” Chrissy says. Steve and Robin look at her, and she flushes. “Because of the tips! Not because—I’ve never slept with you, but some of my friends did, and I got three orgasms out of last night, so…”

“Oh thank God,” he breathes. “I was worried for a minute.” Then he raises an eyebrow at Robin, and holds out his hand for a high five. She slaps it, begrudgingly proud of herself, and then takes the hand to pull him into a headlock that’s honestly more of a hug than anything. 

“You’re fine,” she whispers in his ear. “You’re great at sex, as you keep telling me. What’s more, you’re funny, charming, handsome, brave, caring—“

“Aww, Robin, are you getting sappy on me?”

“Plus Eddie literally moaned in front of you when he found out you bottomed. I really don��t think there’s a way to fuck that up.”

Steve grins. “He did do that. I’m going to make so much fun of him later.”

“So,” Eddie says with a smirk, “men with brown eyes?”

“Hey man, don’t look at me. Blame Jonathan.”

Now Eddie looks stunned, mouth dropping open. “Byers?” He says, sounding betrayed. “You have a crush on Byers of all people?”

Steve feels offended on Jonathan’s behalf. “What’s that supposed to mean? Jonathan’s a good guy!”

“I guess.”

“What do you mean you guess? He’s sweet, passionate, good with kids, nice eyes. Can pack a punch. I mean, what’s not to like?”

“Uh, didn’t he steal your girlfriend?”

He waves that off. “That was, like, years ago, man. We’re cool now.”

“Right, okay,” Eddie mutters. “Well have fun with Byers, I guess.”

It clicks. “Oh,” he says. “Oooh. You’re jealous.”

Eddie splutters. “Jealous? I’m not—I don’t—you’re jealous!”

“Oh, am I?”

“Yes,” Eddie says resolutely, not looking at him. 

“Right,” Steve agrees. “Well, if I am jealous, maybe I should know that I got over Jonathan years ago, and have since moved on to brighter, hopefully more attainable pastures than my ex’s ex.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“A different man with brown eyes?” He suggests. “Who is also good with kids, and passionate, and…” he trails off, suddenly realizing all those times Robin made fun of him might not be based on nothing. “Oh my god, I have a type. Shit, I have to tell Robin she was right.”

“I figured that was a common occurrence.”

“Shut up. Where was I going with this? I had a point.”

“You were telling me how awesome I am?”

“Oh, suddenly it’s you we’re talking about?”

“I mean,” suddenly Eddie looks shy, and Steve can’t help but think even with the change in context he might have been right when he told Robin Eddie was nervous about being in a real, romantic relationship, “isn’t it?”

He feels himself smile, slow and wide and probably more revealing than he means it to be. “Yeah,” he says, in a tone he knows Robin would call soppy, “it is.”

[lilacpaperbird]

maybe my most controversial headcanon is that I see dean as a straight man and sam is his only exception

[lunarharp]

more phoenix wright situations

[arntyoujustcute]

I belong to the small Sektor girlie population and I was wondering if you would do a second part or another One-shot with Sektor （人´∀`*)

Well, only because you asked so nicely (And I hit writers block on my Bi-Han longfic, so this was nice distraction)

"Me and My Girl"

(Prequel to my other Sektor fic here, Strange Manicure")

Being not just the Lin Kuei’s Master Armorer, but a talented machinist and engineer, one would expect Sektor to see the obvious crush her little assistant had on her.

She was not that intelligent, unfortunately.

Everyone could see it. You followed her everywhere around the clan, waddling after her even when you’re not needed. You say it is because you simply enjoy spending your free time with your superior, and Sektor pays no mind to your habit and doesn't tell you to stop. Sometimes the other engineers in the workshop try to call you over, saying they need your assistance with some random task and you just talk back and say that Sektor requires you more, as you merely hold a flashlight for her as she pokes around an engine. Even the Grandmaster and his brothers are starting to get suspicious of your little game, Kuai Liang and Bi-Han exchanging a look every time they call for Sektor and you come in right next to her. It’s like a supervillain and her ridiculous sidekick; Sektor giving orders to her fellow engineers while you hold everything she needs. It would be cute, if it also wasn’t pathetic.

Sektor has given no clue that she returns your sentiment, and you are centimeters from the breaking point. You never cease with bragging about your commander’s bright mind, and you always have a hot cup of tea prepared for her before she has even asked for it. Barely do you complain when she loses her temper and raises her voice, rarely because of something you did, but because some other fool in the armory has done something to raise her blood pressure. She apologizes each time, citing her growing anger with the Grandmaster’s slowness at approving her new plans for the clan (Bi-Han swears he has grown past his father’s views, but the minute Sektor showed him her ideas for technological advances in biology, he shot her down with ridiculous statements such as “Why would you want to replace parts of your body with robotics?” and “The Lin Kuei has no need for firearms of THAT caliber!”. The world is progressing, and the Lin Kuei will NOT be left behind), and you accept it each time. She is as close to a stubborn narcissist as one could be without reaching the criteria, and hearing her actually, meaningly, say she is sorry is enough to make you ignore her biting words.

After you come to terms with ‘Yes, she can mean but she is also pretty and somehow makes me happy’ and decide to come clean and admit it, the only issue that remains is how to say it. You’ve tried twice now to go up to her and just admit to your crush, but the first time your tongue twisted and the words refused to come out of your throat, and Sektor stared at you strangely until she told you to just speak, making you give up your plan. The second time, Bi-Han called for her presence and made her leave you behind, making you curse your Grandmaster’s name later that night. Now on attempt number three, you are ready.

You think…well, hope, you are ready.

You choose a night where it will just be Sektor in the workshop by herself. You even go so far as to get her flowers, a beautiful bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath, and a new toolkit with a lock because someone has been taking her open-ended and allen wrenches and now she is short three different sizes. You’ve let her borrow yours in the meantime until she puts in an order for replacements, and the barely visible thankfully smirk on her oil covered face sent your heart pounding. Her giving that look to anyone else is enough to make the wild animal in you pace it’s cage and want to tear someone’s head off, and it assures you that you have to come clean, or you might lose your brain in this love.

You poke your head through the door, making sure it really was just Sektor as the armory's lone occupant before you sneak inside. You can see her halfway underneath some recon vehicle, sparking flying from whatever she is welding underneath it, and you stalk closer to the unaware female. You hide the flowers behind some equipment just in case this all goes south and you can have some dignity intact before taking your life out of embarrassment; Sektor has never shown interest in anyone in the time you have known her, and not even before according to some of the more veteran warriors and builders- you are already prepared for her rejection. 

Despite your fear, you are Lin Kuei, and you have been taught that being a coward would get you nothing in life. You grip the new toolkit in your sweaty palms, and walk closer to the woman you’ve been hopelessly pinning months over.

You’ve been assuming she hadn’t noticed your approach with the loud welding gun and being under a car, so you are startled when she turns the machine off and calls your name. Your spine is straight when she rolls out, and you have to control the urge to go over to her and fix her soot speckled hair. She tugs off her safety google and cotton mask, and you want to smile at the oil outline the goggles leave on her face.

“How did you hear me?” You ask, watching Sektor as she lifts herself off the floor. Her work demands a strong figure, and you carefully look away from the little sliver of skin you see on her stomach when she stands.

“I recognized your footsteps.” She reveals nonchalantly, and you physically cannot stop yourself from overthinking about that statement. ‘Recognize? Do I walk that loud? Do my shoes squeak and I've never noticed? Do I walk in tune to something? Oh my Gods does she get mad when I-’

“My time is precious, speak your mind.  My father is expecting me to have this project finished by nightfall.” Sektor breaks you free from your rambling mind. She doesn't look annoyed that you dazed off, and you'll never know how her face looks when she watches you and takes notice of the brand new toolkit in your hands. She is not annoyed by your mind break, not all, it gives her time to look at you unnoticed after all.

“Sorry, it's just…I, well.” You stuttered, sweaty hands fidgeting with the toolkit. The armorer looks at you, tapping her foot against the metal floor. Her work is time sensitive, and as much as she enjoys you, you are pushing it.

“Just, promise not to be mad, and if you don't approve, we can just ignore all of this and each other. I will go back to my own private work, and you don't have to speak with me anymore.” You rush out, each syllable a struggle. Sektor says nothing, making you more nervous, but the tilt of her head is enough of an approval to get you to move.

“First, this is for you.” You walk towards and and hold out the toolbox. Sektor actually looks stunned at the gift, hesitating before taking it. The box is a bright fiery red, and inside all of the tools are a shining silver. Everything will eventually find use in her work, and she blinks up at you.

“You didn't have to do this, I still have that replacement order on backlog but they won't take long to come in.” She says, still processing the gift. This large of a set wasn't inexpensive to get, and she has no idea why you would go out of your way to get her this…unless.

“I wanted to, especially after the others kept taking yours after you told them to stop.” You beam at her. You've been with-well, known her long enough to tell when the engineer is in a good mood, and her wide eyes and lack of stress in her shoulders shows her equivalent of shocked joy. 

“That's not all.” You speak, moving backwards to where you got the flowers hidden. Sektor moves to put the toolbox down and follows, curiosity peaked. You take a deep breath and then another, the thornless rose stems digging into your palms before you give up and turn around, holding out the gift like a bridal bouquet.

Sektor’s eyes widen at the flowers, blinking rapidly like they are an illusion that will disappear.

They are still there, and so are you.

“I'm so sorry, I didn't plan for it to go this far.” You apologize, trying to hide your embarrassed face by looking down at the floor. “I thought if I ignored it, it would go away. Obviously it didn’t work, and now I’m just…well.” You shrug, looking up with wet and pathetic puppy eyes. 

Sektor is quiet, almost lost in thought- the most off guard you have ever seen her. With each second, you lose hope. In your hands, the flowers shake, and you’re about to apologize and run away and bury yourself alive somewhere in the forest. Your shoulders and head fall, but they come back up when Sektor speaks.

“In my office, I have been working on a letter.” She remarked, still looking at the dark red roses and pure white baby's breath bouquet. 

“It's the fifth draft, all of its predecessors not to the level I wanted it to be, not saying what I wanted them to say.” The armorer keeps going, walking towards you. It would be useless to run; Sektor is one of the clan’s best children outside of the Grandmaster’s family, and she would easily catch up to you. You stay still, heart pounding, when she is close enough to touch. You can smell the motor oil on her clothes, and you have grown to love the sting of it in your nose.

"I was about to start another one tonight, but it seems that I can finally rest from my pitiful word working." Sektor muses, and you hold your breath. Please, is she-?

“If you are proposing a relationship between us, I accept.” She answers, smiling happily for once. She hardly ever let the corners of her mouth rise, always emotionless, always hard to read. Here, for you, she is willing to show delight. 

With her more subdued glee, your happiness is a loud burst of sunlight in the workshop. 

“YES!” Laughter bubbling out of your mouth, the flowers are dropped to the floor in favor of running at your new love. Sektor catches you easily, not even stumbling as strong arms go around your waist and pick you up off the floor. You throw your limbs around her shoulders and hips, and one of her hands travels further down to your thigh and provides better support. Her firm grip sends shivers down your spine, her warm fingers gently caressing your leg through your layer of clothing. 

“Calm down, look at the mess you have made already.” Sektor tries to scold, but it comes off insincere with the big grin on her face. The flowers are scattered to the floor, and will need to be picked up before someone else comes in. Her dirty shoulder length hair shakes dirt down to the floor, but you still tuck some of the loose strands behind her ear.

“I’m sorry, I’ll get them in just a moment.” You chirped from your place in her arms. You two look at each, a scene from a romantic film if there ever was one, lost in one another. You had next to no hope of reciprocating, but the letter Sektor spoke of, the hardest project she has ever had the honor of working on and the countless hours she must have spent trying to figure out exactly what to say to you to win your heart makes you want to cry happy tears. She is so perfect.

“Can I kiss you?” You ask sweetly, making the engineer smirk with confidence. “Or is it too soon? I don’t mind wait-”

She silences you with her mouth, leaning forward and capturing your sweet lips with her own. Sektor tastes like coffee covered up with mint, almost like she was always preparing herself for this moment. It’s the best taste you’ve ever had. Your happiness is feelable even now, the armorer able to feel your smile as you lean forward to deepen the kiss. Oil and dirt from her face transfers to your, making it obvious who exactly has been kissing you to everyone. Your legs tighten around her hips, and her hand on your leg slithers forward, groping and searching for a belt to tug free.

Her father’s project might just be a little late, unfortunately. His favorite daughter has found a new toy to study and take apart, and it will take her hours before she is satisfied with her beloved plaything, touching here and tugging there, figuring out what each caress does and what music she can get you to make.

Lucky you.

[elisedonut]

just had the dumb thought of a time traveling Percy looking Penny dead in the eye and saying

Penny you are a lesbian. Thats why this feels so strange to you.

[cienie-isengardu]

MK1 fanfiction

EDIT: now all chapters will be collected under the title of Cracked mirror of black, cold soul

No one asked for it, but as I did not get enough Bi-Han & Shang Tsung interaction, I was forced to write about them myself. The first part is at least done, we will see if I managed to finish the second. Mainly written as a character study of MK1!Shang Tsung, a bit about his relationship with Damashi, General Shao and potential partnership with Sub-Zero post story-mode.

There was a time when Shang Tsung was nothing more than just a pitiful loser clinging to an even more pathetic life. All he could do to survive was to pretend to be someone else, someone better, wiser; someone worthy of trust, someone people like and listen to. Lying to people was easy. Lying to himself anyone would care if he died came much harder and harder with each passing day. 

Then came Damashi and offered him not only power but also kindness, a praise for making progress, be it for fulfilling her plans or for his own growing skills. He would gladly burn the world just to earn her smile, a good word, anything really. She made him for the first time in a long long time feel valued, appreciated, even liked despite who he was under all the polite words and charming smiles.

But that was a lie too. A lie he foolishly fell for, like a stray, hungry dog falls for a kind pat on the head and a little treat before the new owner will kick it for fun.

Shang Tsung was many things but definitely not a dog to be kicked, be it by Liu Kang or his Titan self. If none of the gods cared for him, he wouldn't care for them either. And now, after he ran away from prison and a terrifying storm washed him ashore on a deserted island full of magic secrets to unlock, he had time and means to repay each of his pursuers, to make all the realms if not respect his skills then fear them.

Since Damashi’s - his own Titan self’s - betrayal many days and nights have passed and with each Shang Tsung’s mastery of magic grew stronger, his knowledge deepened, his confidence restored and strengthened. He claimed the island as his new home, the impregnable fortress secured by the most wicked, devilish and brilliant traps he could think about and for the first time in ages, he finally felt like belonging to the right place.

It was as good a life as it could be. Not perfect, as Shang Tsung still needed to figure out how to secure his food supplies before he would tame the wild land, unused for years and maybe the animals lurking in the shadows could be useful too. A domestic cattle would be a great addition for sure, as it was the only type of animal he had any skill to maintain but then again, there was no way he would engage in tedious farming. He had no time nor patience for that kind of work yet he did not want any stranger on his island either. All he could do for now was to eat the catched fishes and some plucked from tree fruits while bringing all the needed ingredients and supplies from a quick trip to the land. Using magic portals was a tricky solution - magic brought unwanted attention and once used, always left some traits to follow but after the last storm he did not feel safe on a boat sailing through the open sea. On the land, he did run into some of his former allies, exchanged important news and some secrets here and there, never truly betraying where he was hiding. The General and his men treated Shang Tsung with suspicion, always demanding more than he offered. On the other hand, he and Quan Chi worked well in the past, but after the last betrayal, Shang Tsung couldn’t trust anyone anymore. Everyone blamed him for his Titan self’s lies, like he was the one lying to them all. The Royal Family wanted his head, the Earthrealm Champions hunted him too. It was a mess, amusing and irritating at the same time. 

He was going to deal with that matter too, when the right time came. For now, Shang Tsung enjoyed the new found magic - the power awaiting for those who will dare to reach out for it. A power he didn’t need to share with anyone.  

Everything would feel much better though if Sub-Zero didn’t somehow find a way to break into his new home like all the deviously set up traps meant nothing.

Shang Tsung should know something was off the moment he felt coldness creeping into his bones, but in all fairness, it was always cold here. He did not have yet an idea how to heat the interior of an abandoned fortress and as much as he liked to not freeze in his own sleep, luxury like that was not on his priority list. He should be more cautious, more focused on the change in the air about him than walking straight into his own room and then be dumstocked at the sight of Sub-Zero looking through his books as if he had lived here forever and Shang Tsung was the unwanted guest.

“Your security is shitty” was all he got as a greeting. Cold, sharp, uncaring words judging him as an incompetent idiot. The bastard did not even bother to look at him, just kept rummaging through the books like it was the only thing worth this attention.

Shang Tsung wasn’t sure what offended him more - being ignored or watching as his precious belongings were touched without his permission. He liked books way more than he liked people. 

In the last few years he killed people for less than that yet he smiled his most charming smile, the gears in his head working fast and furious on how to turn the unpleasant situation for his own advantage. The fact that Sub-Zero allowed him to see himself in the open instead of lurking in the shadows to cut his throat gave Shang Tsung a reason for a bit of optimism. As far as he heard from his former, maybe-still-maybe-not allies, Lin Kuei rejected Liu Kang’s authority and were on their own. It of course did not mean that Sub-Zero was his friend or ally nor that he wouldn't murder Shang Tsung at the end of day, either to reconcile with Fire Lord or to bribe the god to let the Lin Kuei be in peace.

Shang Tsung couldn’t blame Bi-Han for that - in this cruel world, everyone was looking after their own best interest, but the vision of losing his life did not sit well with him at all. He wasn’t afraid of fighting and he did beat down great Champions in the last battle, but out of all opponents, it was Sub-Zero's ice axe that was the closest to beheading him for good.

He did not plan to forget that anytime soon.

“What an unexpected surprise,” he said, all the soft, so sweet smile, velvet voice and sharp eyes analyzing the danger standing before him. “What can I do for you, my friend? Or did you just miss my humble company?”

He teased with feigned innocence because men hated when he said ridiculous stuff like that. Shang Tsung hated it himself, because he knew no one would miss him at all.  

“For one, drop the false politeness” came Sub-Zero’s cold reply, a mix of disapproval and command that Shang Tsung was so used to, because this was how people treated him, the real him, all his life. “We are not friends.”

There was a flare of anger in Shang Tsung now, the desire to prove himself the superior, not a pitiful dog anyone could kick and command - but he knew better than to allow this fire to burn inside him. Emotions were a weakness he couldn’t afford. Did the man even know how much he provoked the sorcerer with his cold disdain? Shang Tsung had no idea. He heard a lot of stories about Lin Kuei; even in the backwater hole from which he crawled out everyone heard the terrifying tales of Fire Lord’s secret army. Of the ice demons stealthier than shadows and more deadly than night itself and for a long time Shang Tsung did not think of them as living beings from this world.

Still… Sub-Zero was mortal, wasn’t he? A special one no doubt, with control over ice yet he could bleed too. Shang Tsung wondered for a moment what he could find under the fine, cold skin if he ever had a chance to look for the answer. An ice demon, human or hybrid of both?

“But we are still allies, aren’t we?” he asked, still polite and careful, yet walking up to the other man with his typical swagger. Not close enough to be in arm reach, but close enough to show he wasn’t that easily intimidated. 

The great military hero of Edenia always looked down on his movements; how he fought, how he gesticulated, how he walked. No self-respecting soldier would walk like some pleased prostitute after a well-paid job, the General said not once nor twice and all Shang Tsung could do then was to smile the brightest smile and thank him, like his disdain was the best praise he heard that day. The only thing they really have in common, beside the desire to take down Sindel’s regime, was being self-made men for both worked hard to be who they were. Yet General came from an old, aristocratic family with even older military tradition and everything that did not fit his narrow-minded idea of the world was treated with hostility and contempt. 

Shang Tsung’s skinny body, swagger, shrewdness, curiosity and wordiness unsurprisingly annoyed the great warrior and to say he took no pleasure in that fact would be a blatant lie. Even if it was childish and unproductive pleasure, it amused him to know how little effort he needed to test the patience of such a stern and manly man. 

Sub-Zero reminded him a lot of Shao and he suspected it was the soldier thing; the body built for fight and hardship, no-nonse attitude and the way both men moved - with deadly precision and confidence only a person that in fact killed an enemy in battle could muster. Even the way they spoke sounded similar, a barked command that everyone around instinctively wanted to obey, either out of respect or fear.

For that similarity alone, Shang Tsung expected the Lin Kuei Grandmaster to snarl at him some nasty remark about how his Titan self betrayed them all and thus how little he himself was worth of anyone’s trust. Anything to put the sorcerer down even a bit, to remind him what a failure he was.

“That is yet to be seen” was all the Grandmaster said, finally glancing from the book to Shang Tsung. 

It was hard to read anything from the man’s face, as half of it was hidden behind that damned Lin Kuei mask. All he could do was to rely on the move of a brew and the incantation of voice, each syllable, a moment of pause. It was a hard task, as the man showed no emotions and spoke so little so far. But the sorcerer knew there was anger, always lurking in each word spoken by Sub-Zero, but also… an excitement at finally being free of Liu Kang’s control. As Damashi foretold.

Shang Tsung couldn’t help but to think there was something much deeper about Damashi's interest in breaking Lin Kuei from Fire Lord than he ever suspected before. Back then the choice sounded logical - every action that would deprive Liu Kang of the advantage was worth taking so he did not question his benefactor. How could he, really? Now though? The truth burned him to the core and he learned the hard way that each of Damashi’s words had a hidden meaning, each action served a different goal than was promised; the victory he was in fact never part of. Yet… even the deepest shade of lie had a grain of truth. He knew that one well, for he lied all his life.

His Titan self for some reason wanted not so much the Lin Kuei itself as the Sub-Zero specifically on his side. Maybe more than Titan Shang Tsung even wanted his own younger self, corrupted by Liu Kang. 

The mere thought made him want to curse all gods alike. There was no difference for him between Liu Kang and his Titan-self, as both played him like some pawn, not even an important figure. Just pawn, to hold away from power, to sacrifice it when times would come. 

But there was more to it than just jealous anger and the never ending feeling of never being good enough. If Sub-Zero meant so much, if not in the grand scheme of things itself then just for personal satisfaction of Titan, then maybe he could be important to Shang Tsung’s own plans. Allies were hard to come by and these days he could use some, well, not protection really, he was done with living under someone else's wing but he wouldn’t say no to some partnership or at least casual support. The little favor here and there where things were still thick and troublesome to deal on your own. After all, freedom always came at some cost. 

Maybe Sub-Zero came to the same conclusion and his unexpected visit was just a reconnaissance. They were more alike than one would think, as similar desires drove them into this madness of Titans. To prove their own might and skills to all those that looked down on them their whole life. But above everything else, to be free and powerful enough to keep that freedom.

To his own surprise, Shang Tsung took comfort in that thought.

If they were meant to stay allies - or as close two stubborn outcasts with grudge against gods could rely on each other, some sacrifices were to be made. Shang Tsung did something he rarely did - he dropped the false politeness under which he hid himself for years.

“How did you find me?” he asked Sub-Zero directly, raising his chin challengingly. He was not afraid of Lin Kuei, just curious.

“You are not as careful as you think you are” Bi-Han answered with no less challenging stare, yet the flick of an amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. Shang Tsung knew the man was smirking under that damned mask and that thought alone made him puff in anger. 

The brown eyes shone even more.

Sub-Zero moved from his place, slowly walking from one bookshelf to another. His fingers traced books, never stopping at any particular volume, but always touching the book spines, like there was something interesting in their textures. The man did not pay attention to Shang Tsung and not really to books either. He was studying the room itself. The sorcerer couldn’t place why it bothered him so much but he knew better than to allow Sub-Zero to learn even the most trivial things about himself or his fortress. 

Damashi warned him against that the first day when she spoke about Lin Kuei. They are thieves, the mysterious being said, all grace and patience and praise for the unwanted Shang Tsung who drank in her words like the wisdom of gods, who will steal your fortune, life and secrets. Always be on your guard around them, especially around the one named Sub-Zero. If only he was smarter back then, less in need to please his generous benefactor, maybe he could hear in her sweet voice the longing for something, someone, that was not anymore. For the old partnership that was broken and defiled by Liu Kang’s peaceful vision of the world. But he was a fool who thought her yearning was for him alone. 

Shang Tsung was done with being played like a fool.

“Who told you about my island?” he demanded, voice still quiet yet no less burning with an old anger. He would get his answers, whatever kindly or by force.

A long sigh escaped Sub-Zero’s lips and frankly it took him out by surprise. Shang Tsung - or rather his Titan self -  knew the man was running on frustration for years, but that sounded as a whole new level of annoyance.

“I heard about it from Havik, who heard that from Rain, who heard that from Reiko, who heard that from Shao, who heard about it from Quan Chi. But the whole Sun Do is full of similar gossip.”

For a moment none of them spoke. Shang Tsung stared at Sub-Zero’s impassive, half-hidden face that still somehow emanated his disgust at their maybe-allies-maybe-not-but-definitely-idiots who apparently couldn’t keep a secret to save their own life. The feeling was mutual, because this was the reason why the sorcerer hated working with others. No one apparently could keep their mouth shut down if you didn’t help make that permanently. 

He closed eyes and rubbed his forehead, like that could ward off all the bad thoughts assaulting his mind right now.  His fingers were cold, too cold for his liking, unpleasantly stiff and numb. He did not like how the mere presence of a cryomancer affected his body, how it made him shiver and weak. He was an Edenian for fuck’s sake, and Edenia did not even know what winter cold was. He did not know that himself, until Damashi led him to a snow-covered fortress and he almost freezed there the first night. 

It took him a moment to realize something bad was happening. He couldn’t focus, all his senses dulled, body so clumsy and weak. As if his energy suddenly dropped to zero and fatigue was taking over. A flash of panic crossed his mind, but he was too tired, too cold to even be afraid for his life.

He had no idea how long he remained in the grip of this piercing soul frost. A few seconds? Days? He couldn’t even say. What mattered was that once the control of his senses came back, he was still alive and Sub-Zero gone.

And the fact the bastard stole a few of his precious scrolls and books.

***

The books showed up on his desk a few days later. There was no thank you or sorry about that note, not even the fuck you, loser. Shang Tsung both admired the man's boldness and hated him for it. Still he appreciated the books were returned in a good condition, as there was not a single scratch on any of them, not even a new page crease. He had no idea if that was some sort of weird Lin Kuei’s way to test him, disrespect or Sub-Zero took the books simply because he wanted to read them but he was a bastard with no sense of social politeness to just ask as any normal human being would. Damashi mentioned cryomancers were naturally difficult like that.

Shang Tsung had better things to do than to wonder what the check was wrong with Sub-Zero yet he was too curious for his own sake. Sadly, the titles alone did not say anything useful on the matter and even though he read each book just in case, there was hardly anything worth the time it took to finish them. No grand secrets revealed, no magic or military knowledge, not even historical value. Just some technical nonsense that bore him to death and if Sub-Zero was into stuff like that then no wonder the man lacked any social grace. 

The Grandmaster of Lin Kuei so far did not try to kill him and returned the books so Shang Tsung decided to give him the benefit of doubt and so he did not cross out the man from the list of potential allies. It did not stop him however from improving the traps just in case the man decided to return solely to steal again.

***

The scrolls showed up on his desk three days later. Their appearance actually worried Shang Tsung, not just because the trap again turned out to be useless. He was not worried even by the possibility Sub-Zero found some secret entrance he did not know about yet. No, what worried him was the fact he spent the whole morning in his chamber and walked out for like twenty minutes at best and when he returned, the scrolls WERE. THERE. 

That actually unnerved him much more than he wanted to admit. 

The scrolls turned out to be written in a language Shang Tsung did not even know and the implication that Lin Kuei could read it only added to the feeling of cold unease. There was however a note left on the scrolls; a small paper with only Royal Army searching the coast written in Shang Tsung’s own language. 

He was not afraid of empress Mileena’s army but he did appreciate the warning. Of course, the warning could be a fraud, a means to build trust only to betray him. The common sense advised caution yet there was a weird sense of peace within Shang Tsung. A hope or hunch, he did not know, but deep in his heart he felt everything was alright.

All he could do for now was wait to see if Sub-Zero will lead the enemy to his fortress or not. So he waited.

(The fact that another book disappeared with Sub-Zero did not surprise him much. Irritated, yes, but not worried. For some reason he felt everything was like it should be, like some almost forgotten memory of past life came back to him and the sense of deja vu was weirdly comforting.)

[phosphorus-noodles]

holding olis literal-bastard brother in. my hands. if treebark are his parents then this is the renfalse love child... or the solidwood love child... many such possibilities

YOU MAKE GOOD POINTS

[sunflower-eddiediaz]

What happens when Recently realized I also like men Buck meets Always known I just like people Eddie ? What then? Because this feels like a Unstoppable force meets Immovable object type thing, and I want that very much.

Edit: I might have wrote a little something 👀

[the-cookie-of-doom]

When Chay and Kim get back together in the 24/7 AU, Chay expects things to go back to how they were before, and is surprised when they don't. The whole point is that Kim wanted a lover, but didn't want to let anyone close. So he maintained this distance between them, using the D/S dynamic to do it. But now he doesn't need to, anymore. Chay can be on equal footing with him in this relationship. And sure, a little bit of that shone through towards the end, because Kim couldn't help himself, he was falling in love, and that distance became harder and harder to maintain (which made it easier to convince himself to cut Chay off entirely after the RevealTM).

Chay is not at all prepared for a completely, unrestrictedly in love Kim

[alfhildr-the-word-weaver]

Currently watching this very cliche (but still decently enjoyable) Christmas movie and it has this horse girl subplot where the older sister is falling in love with horses, but there are these long, lingering shots where she's looking at this female farmhand working with the horses, and she keeps talking about how great and cool that farmhand is, and I can't decide whether it's actually a burgeoning lesbian subplot or just a heavy accidental implication, but it really does feel soooo close to overtly romantic.

Anyways my hot new ship is these two. Time to build it from the ground up ;)

[buckleysdee]

i'm honestly kinda stuck on this whole "biphobia" thing cause like...is that even really a strong trope on tv nowadays?? it was in the past for sure (see glee ironically enough lol) especially with women but I feel like the bigger thing these days is bisexual characters just being subsumed into a 'gay' identity or their bisexuality being mentioned in passing but never explored

[luvbug724]

36 days.

i think we as a fandom don't talk about dan and renee enough aftg hitlist anon. i understand that renison and mattdan (?) prevail but we need to look at the sheer potential in that one short story about dan's recruitment alone. the sports rivalry turned hatred. dan only getting recruited because wymack came to watch renee. the strip club. having to unite in the face of misogynists. do you see the vision. do u see the vision aftg hitlist anon.

[necrotic-nephilim]

Fandom: Grayson (Comics) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Dick Grayson/Tiger Characters: Dick Grayson, Tiger (DCU) Additional Tags: Omega Dick Week (DCU), Omega Dick Grayson, Alpha Tiger (DCU), Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Forced Bonding, Mating Bites, Mate or Die, Porn With Plot, Oral Sex, Spyral (DCU), Ambiguous/Open Ending, Unrequited Love, Bittersweet, Intense Sex, Hurt Dick Grayson, Whump Summary:

Tiger does what he has to, to save Dick's life. Unfortunately, that just happens to be forcing a mating bite onto Dick. Together, they figure out the aftermath and find a mutually satisfying way to deal with Tiger's subsequent rut.

-

Omega Dick Week 2024 - Day 3: Forced Bond

[lunarharp]

hehe. almost christmas!

[longeyelashedtragedy]

wait wait--thinking again about how it was going to be just another "cursed lampards" story but wait--why not a universe that's just slightly off kilter? what if they actually are cursed, doesn't matter how, and curse others?

[essektheylyss]

I sometimes think that there is too much value put on greyace or demi characters learning how to recognize feelings of attraction in general, and it does feel a bit like a veil for the idea that those characters need to learn to experience attraction "normally" as part of their character growth.

Recognizing that a feeling they'd like to act upon is attraction is all well and good—and makes both for fun plot and also is interesting to see, as a demi person!—but it does often feel like an emphasis is placed upon recognizing any attraction for what it is as the next progression. In my experience, that's a genuinely futile exercise—attraction is nebulous and also often different person to person, so it doesn't feel like a useful tool for a reader to figure out if they experience attraction, and is it necessary to identify that?

But on top of that, it feels even more insidious because consistently propping it up as the next step suggests that it is necessary to quantify all attraction in order to be able to properly experience any of it.