lt_blade | *backdated to the Febuary 26*

Entry tags:

scorpion

backdated to the Febuary 26

When Sonya first arrived here, she couldn't spend enough time outside. It wasn't just about no longer looking pale, but after spending weeks in a cell and in a place were it never got lighter than dusk, she felt she could never get used to seeing actual sunlight, or greenery or a blue sky. Still, the compound offered a sense of familiarity, as plain as it was and as annoying the clothing and jukebox were, it was similar to the barracks she was used to, and familiarity kept people sane-which Sonya at the time was in desperate need of.

But with Joe's disappearance and the holiday season, the compound started to seem claustrophobic even for her: it seemed that a change in atmosphere was what she needed-even if it was just in a hut instead of a different state or country. Then the psycho came and she needed six weeks before she could move because there was no way she could move her things with a broken arm. But now, she's healed, found a place, and after several days she's finally moved in. It wasn't fancy by any means, only furnished with a bed that needed airing, the trunk containing her weapons and books, and her clothes, but she was in the process of trading for a table, and on her way to really making it hers.

Currently, she was outside, her now shoulder length hair held back in a ponytail and using the frame of some young trees to weave together a throw mat from dried long grass and lemon grass. The work repetitive but satisfying and it was halfway done. She intended to see if she could trade it for anything, or use it herself, as the lemon grass acted as a natural mosquito repellent.

Sonya wasn't sure if she could call herself happy, but for the moment she could call herself satisfied.

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"Vengeance," replied Scorpion. "That is why my soul did not go to rest. I became what I am for one purpose, Sonya. Vengeance." He didn't specifically say what had needed avenging, but thought he would answer if Sonya continued in her curiosity. Scorpion did not volunteer information like this, but felt he had nothing to hide.

Why was she not surprised.

Sonya wanted to inquire further, but she figured that with her own answers, it'd lead to his.

"In that case, I'll tell you from experience that they'll never keep their end of the bargain. You're a skilled and deadly warrior, especially with your powers-do you seriously think they'll risk fulfilling their end of the bargain only to have you leave? They'll find reasons and ways to keep you 'employed."

"Neither of us know when we'll be sent back: I've known people who're still living here after three years, and those who left after being here for less than a year. Suppose you do leave at the moment you arrived, would you really still consider yourself to be in league with Outworld? If the case is no, then there's not much reason for me to worry. If 'yes', well," her voice became grim. "It's not like this is anything Tsung doesn't know already."

"In other words, it doesn't matter either way, except a warning against the island's tricks."

Scorpion paused for a moment to consider Sonya's words. Then, he replied.

"At one time there was a mortal human named Hanzo Hasahi who learned the ways of the Shirai Ryu and took up the code name Scorpion. Hanzo was killed by the original Sub-Zero. This Sub-Zero was a member of the rival Lin Kuei clan from China. But, that was not all, Sonya. The entire Shinrai Ryu was wiped out along with Hanzo's wife and son. This...this is unforgivable. And this is why Hanzo Hasahi agreed to become the specter Scorpion."

A hint of deep pain was now visible on Scorpion's features.

"I was aware of the risks. But, it does not matter what happens to me. Shang Tsung and Shao Khan can lie all they want. They told me some of my past, and I could tell what they said of my past was true. My memories have not gone forever. Some of them have begun to awaken. I only made allies as far as we were useful to each other, and that includes Raiden and you Earth warriors."

..Well, Sonya thought, her face stern and free from emotion. That would explain why he looked as he did when around Elizabeth and her son.

"If you're expecting me to be shocked." She said, after thinking a moment. "Can't say you've succeeded. I'm not a little girl, Scorpion-or do you want to be called your civilian name now-I won't suddenly break out in tears for what would already be expected between you and the rest of the Earth warriors." Her face was serious, but otherwise clear from expression. "You said so yourself that you're not really from Earth realm, so I can't really accuse you of treason, and in all honesty, I've met worse men than you, men that kill for the 'fun' of it, or use people like puppets without any compensation or empathy."

She thought a moment, her lips turning to show traces of a frown. "I will ask this, why are you telling me all of this? You call me out on telling 'vulnerabilities', but then none of the information about your family is on a file anywhere, so that makes it personal to you and yours to give out only if you wish. But then it does explain how you looked at when seeing Norrington and her son."

Sonya did feel genuinely bad about what happened to her family, and while she didn't say so-could she really blame him for what he did? 'Maybe', she thought. I've had family killed, but if it were to happen just after my death, I would atleast-I hope-be reunited with them."

Maybe that's what it really means 'to pass on', and Scorpion's grudge was so powerful that he couldn't.

Scorpion looked away for a moment, a bit shamed for being correctly called out on his feelings while talking to Norrington and Weatherby.

"I do not tell you these things to shock you or to get you to react in some way, Sonya. I only answered because you asked. Though I do not volunteer this information freely, I have no reason to lie or hide."

"Not everyone would have made the same decisions I made. I am aware of this. But, that is what I was. Coming here and being this..." He opened his palm and touched the side of his face briefly. "...makes no sense to me. Hanzo Hasashi died. What I am now is different from him, and from you. Though my body is human now, perhaps I've resided too long in the Netherrealm to really be human again."

That was the reason he had not mentioned anything to Sonya about dating outside of that strange Valentine's Day. Anyone worth caring about in that way should keep a distance away from him.

She raised an eyebrow. "I asked, yes, but I'm not interrogating you."

Sonya pulled a knee up to her chest and rested her hands on it, thinking. "You know...I don't think I entirely buy that." She said after a moment. "I'm not calling you a liar, but I don't think what you said is all together true and maybe you can't see it, or don't want to. A being from the netherrealm wouldn't feel such things at a visual trigger, unless he really was becoming human." She sounded neither hopeful or doubtful, merely saying as she saw it. "That's just my guess."

Scorpion let out a breath and smiled at Sonya's comment even though he intended it to come out as respectfully dismayed...

"Yes, perhaps, Sonya. I don't know."

Scorpion was too distrusting of the island and this new world to build up any hopes too high. He still also had his doubts as to whether this was a good idea for the long term. What if growing to become a human again would only make him more acutely aware of his own horror right before being cast back into the abyss?

She didn't remark on the smiling, it would've been hard to tell a comparison when he had his mask on.

Sonya thought of another question, one that she didn't want to ask but knew that putting it off wasn't an option.

"Another question." She took a deep breath. "That Monday, was what happened just the island's influence, or did it only act as a catalyst? I'm asking because of that weekend in May, when I wasn't myself: the feelings and memories were the same, but-different. That weekend I felt entitled and selfish against the army, even though I knew of the sacrifices before hand and was able to see the bigger picture. The feelings and memories were the same, but some were exaggerated or reversed."

She tried to keep her voice neutral. "I know it's something we'd rather not talk about, but I'd rather get it over with and in privacy." There, she said it-now he could make of it as he will.

The smile faded into a more serious expression. She was right. It was something they would rather not talk about. He looked downward, then made full direct eye contact with Sonya.

"Does it matter, Sonya? I am a condemned soul. How can something like that be healthy for you? Consider the wisdom of such a thing given that we know all will likely return as it was when we go back?"

This was as direct Scorpion thought he could get and still allow each of them an out. It would be too much to outright tell her he had feelings for her. He believed he was helping her assess the situation as he had after the magic had lifted. With saying it this way, she would not have to reject him outright.

He had some good points, and truthfully, she wasn't even sure of her own feelings for that matter.

"It matters in that I wanted an answer: I don't like playing such games or beating around the bush, I'm telling you that now."

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Here, you're not damned, hell, on occasion you even show moments of humanity. But you're right about what could come of it and if it goes there-the thought of one of us vanishing...scares me."

Oh that was putting it lightly, she wasn't sure how she felt about Scorpion, but to think of herself in that sort of relationship and knowing it could end on the island's whim-frankly it scared her.

Scorpion was usually all for directness, but sometimes Sonya was just so...American!

"At times, what you call 'beating around the bush' has a purpose, Sonya. I do not take such matters lightly. I think we at least need some time before we can discuss this further."

Sonya did not give him the impression that she had a firm mind of what she wanted from him. He still thought she needed to think about this further. If she was insistent on this point, perhaps they would find a way. Perhaps she was right about him and he would continue growing. At this point, it would seem rash, like a thing a pair of teenagers would jump into.

So that meant he also had no idea, well, that was what Sonya concluded from him anyway. Scorpion was normally blunt about such things.

She shrugged. The hell were they acting like a couple of teens for? That alone would've been a mistake, let alone anything else.

"You're right, but atleast we can both say we're on the same page?" She left it open, because while right now she wasn't sure if they were, or just going in circles. If they were indeed on the same page, it would be a start-since neither of them knew where to go with this: they could drop it, or see where it goes.

"Yes. We can say that."

Though he had apologized for it, Scorpion had considered that magic-induced day the happiest day out of the entire part of his existence he could remember. When he had woken up the morning after, he had seriously considered just continuing where they had left off.

But, the more he had thought of it, the more it seemed like a bad idea for Sonya. Scorpion had admitted to himself that a relationship with Sonya might be the best thing for him, but he refused to be selfish. He had to think of Sonya and where this would lead her.

How and when would he know the right thing to do? He did not know, but he thought it may become clearer to him in time. Scorpion looked at Sonya now and wondered how she was taking all of this.

And now for the big one.

"So what do we do now? Start over?" She really tried to not sound hesitant. "Or continue and see what comes of this?"

Sonya wasn't a romantic by any stretch of the imagination, but she couldn't help but stew over the possibility that maybe-just maybe-she could have start over and have a boyfriend. Yes, Scorpion was an assassin, but then Sonya had done her own fair share of killing, so she couldn't judge. She also couldn't help but feel relieved to have someone to talk to who knew of her own experiences and listened: he wasn't much of a talker, but then she probably did enough talking for the both of them. And he wasn't half bad looking.

The reality of the situation shut the other voice up. People disappeared on the island all the time and without warning. Sonya would've liked to think that she could handle such loss (she had done so before), but then back home she had the army to fall back on-it wasn't an option here. And Scorpion, he had already suffered personal loss before and it drove him mad. Suppose they had a relationship, and it went to far.

There were a lot of 'what-ifs' and 'maybes' to think about-and Sonya hated both words.

"I should think 'start over' would be best. I would prefer not to swell too much on that one day the island brought us."

As Scorpion remembered all of the sappy thoughts that had been going through his head, he shook it. He was just glad he still had enough self control not to let the more extravagant things not escape his mouth. He would have rather said some of those things on his own, without magical interference.

"I like your company, Sonya."

Coming from someone as anti-social as Scorpion, that was a genuine compliment and not one to take lightly. It wasn't really what she had met by 'starting over'-she meant to start before that whole fiasco, but this was just as good.

Sonya felt her lips turning up to an 'almost' smile. "I like your company, too-strange as it is." It was strange in a normal sort of way, almost expected, and on an island like this, any sort of normalcy was welcome.

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backdated to the Febuary 26

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