Bi Han "Sub-Zero" x F!Reader

Twenty

Grumpy and extremely hungry, the panda trotted down the stony paths of the Wu Shi temple while you sat on its back with heavy eyes.

Burying your fingers in his soft fur, you sighed, let yourself fall forwards and pressed your chest against his neck. A grumble escaped him and then he shook himself in protest.

Your gaze jumped to Bi Han. With his usual discipline, he walked alongside the panda, his eyebrows drawn together. But his mouth seemed relaxed, the corners of his lips even curled upwards slightly.

He looked down at Baobao disapprovingly as he led the way down the stairs to the ponds.

"You brought him up badly.", he growled.

You laughed.

"You two have a lot in common.", you scratched Baobao's neck and he wiggled his black ears with relish.

The Grandmaster frowned.

"Are you trying to insult me?"

Smirking, you sat up straight, your legs still too numb to walk, and glanced over your shoulder at him.

"Why do you always have to criticise everything?", you asked, tilting your head.

Strands of your (H/C) hair danced across your cheeks as you moved. His eyes immediately caught it, glued themselves to it.

He stared, sometimes because he was lost in thought and sometimes because he particularly liked looking at something.

"How could it be good to be compared to an animal?", he gave Baobao a narrowed look.

The panda returned the dislike with a snort. You laughed softly. A burning sensation spread through your lungs. But it disappeared faster and faster.

Your body recovered. Even if not as quickly as you wanted. It would be a few days before you could move freely again.

Until then, you would have to trust that Baobao felt like carrying you everywhere on his back. The panda idly strutted down the last steps of the long staircase.

A gentle breeze travelled through the branches of the trees that greened the temple. Flowers danced with every breeze. Small waves drifted across the surface of countless ponds.

As the three of you walked past one of the ponds, Baobao was distracted by a shoal of koi. With a grumble, he tried to catch one of the fish.

"Baobao!", you reprimanded him.

But hunger seemed to be more important to the panda. Water splashed up as he swatted at the fish with one paw.

Scoffing, Bi Han lifted his chin and crossed his arms in front of his chest. An expression of satisfaction could be seen on his lips.

"Badly behaved animal.", he just said.

Giving him a fierce look, you tried to stop the panda from emptying the whole pond. Growling, it raised its head, water dripping from its mouth as it held a koi between its teeth. The fish was still wriggling.

"No!", you patted him on the back of the head.

Growling, he shook himself and you almost fell off his back. But in the end he let the fish fall back into the water. Thin threads of red threaded through the blue and danced with every wave.

"You're both far too big and fierce to be so adorable.", you muttered with a sigh.

"Hmph!", Bi Han's eyebrows rose, almost shocked that you had called him kind.

The sight made you laugh.

"How long has it been since I've seen you like this?", you asked.

The surprise turned to silent restraint. His lips pressed into a thin line, he turned his eyes away.

He didn't even ask what you meant. Deep down, you both knew that a lot had changed. You had grown up. Bi Han seemed colder since his father passed away.

Sorrow washed over you. The former grandmaster had been a good man, like a second father to you. He was the one who had long made sure that you and his sons grew up close to each other.

Perhaps he had been trying to keep your relationship as close as possible for a long time so that a later wedding would seem less repulsive.

Again, you couldn't help but sigh at the thought. The question was already burning on your tongue when Bi Han caught your gaze. Something gleamed in the brown of his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened his shoulders and began to head back in the direction where Liu Kang's champions seemed to be. With slight emphasis, you ordered Baobao to follow him.

Silence spread between the two of you.

A wind blew through your hair. In front of one of the ponds, Bi Han suddenly stopped in the shade of a blossoming tree. Ripples curved the surface of the water.

Your eyes travelled over his face. He seemed thoughtful.

"Did he ever tell you?", you suddenly asked into the silence.

The wind rustled the leaves above your head. Goose bumps grew over your arms. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Hm.", he looked at you again, this time as if he wanted to test whether you knew something. "Who?"

You rolled your eyes. Lazily, Baobao settled down on the ground and you had to lift his legs so that he didn't crush them under his massive body.

"You know who I'm talking about. The old grandmaster."

"Father.", a shadow flashed across his face.

He looked away again. Almost as if he didn't want to look at you. He couldn't.

"He had big plans for you. And your brother.", you watched the waves dance.

Exhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

"He was old-fashioned.", he finally said, a hint of bitterness in his words.

You frowned.

"Traditions don't always have to evolve."

"But there is no reason to hold on to traditions if they do more harm than good."

You listened up at these words. It was rare for him to be so critical of something. Sure, Bi Han had introduced many innovations after taking over the clan, but he had also kept many of the things his father had once built up.

Talking so badly about him now didn't seem appropriate. Even though Kuai Liang had been more like his father, Bi Han had never harboured a grudge. He had simply been his mother's son.

Something that had made him a strong leader.