*backdated to Saturday the 24th*

[lt_blade]

Theme nights on Saturdays at the club made bouncing all the more interesting. Not that she had much to complain about, it was something to do and she got to listen to some nice music while doing it.  

The job wasn't nearly as stressful as some of her others, but somehow her hair was still a little messy even held back in a tail. She stretched her legs and she collected the bag containing her dress from the ball, kept in the back for safe keeping.  Due to the distance, she was compelled to change from the dress to her uniform in one of the dressing rooms of the second floor-an act that made Sonya glad that she wasn't so modest about such things.

She promised Scorpion they'd meet after the club closed for the night, and he finished helping Jane clean up. Why Sonya promised in the first place, she knew that well enough: she was only at the ball for an hour or so, and after all the time teaching Scorpion to dance and only to rush things. But why she felt guilty in the first place, and why she seemed to blush afterwards, was what she'd like to know for herself. Yes, she was being honest with Webster when she said it was nice to have someone who seemed to understand where she was coming from, but that wasn't enough to really mean anything beyond comradeship.

She shook her head  and stepped outside the club: she was probably just making a big deal out of nothing. It felt good talking to him, that's all.

Comments

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion exchanged an amused look with Sonya.

"Likewise. I doubt I would have even bothered talking to you. You were irrelevant to my purpose. You were not in my way, and you would not be of any help."

"Now, you are the most relevant person on this island. Who knows? Perhaps all of these other people belong in other versions of Earthrealm."

Someone he had danced with. Was there supposed to be some meaning the the fact that he and Sonya were the only two people present from the Tournament?

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

It was only a matter of will that Sonya kept walking, but she was glad that in the firelight of torches, he couldn't see that she turned red really quickly. She remembered how he spoke that day after Valentine's day, and while he was telling her something (she couldn't help reading between the lines), this time it was more honest.

Breath Sonya, she thought. You're probably just reading too much into this.

"Thank you." She tried to keep her voice steady. "I guess I'm just glad to have someone who..who knows what I went through in the tournament. It means a lot to finally have someone I could talk to without having to explain myself."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Was it his imagination, or had there been a slight change in Sonya's gait? He dismissed the thought.

"Yes. I think this is good for you. The Tournament is merciless and harsh. I had the advantage of not being human. The experience would have been altogether different if I had been mortal as you were. Considering how much of Shang Tsung's personal attention you attracted, it's quite impressive that you were as successful as you were. Most others would not have survived."

He was simply stating facts. Scorpion respected Sonya.

There was more to it than that, but it was not to be stated.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I was no stranger to death prior to the tournament, Scorpion. I saw it in my own family and my team, and I've done my own fair share of killing before the tournament. It's so much that there was killing in the tournament, it was because outside of defending Earth, it's basic design was for the entertaiment and power of a sick and twisted bastard of a sorcerer."

She ran a hand through her hair. "You could thank my training for that. If it wasn't for my training in the Special Forces, I wouldn't have lasted for so long."

Without it, she would've possibly been pregnant with Tsung's child by now. She tried to not think in that direction though, as doing so made her feel ill.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion furrowed his brow as she humbly explained away her great victory.

"True, but even Special Forces training does not necessarily mean you would survive. The Outworld warriors are anything but normal opponents. There is the pressure of being brutalized before death if you failed to win. There is the pressure of a power-crazed sorcerer who wants you for his own sick desires. There is the pressure of the fate of your comrades. There is the pressure of the fate of Earthrealm. I think you vastly understate yourself, Sonya."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

That was true, otherwise her men would've still been alive.

She frowned. "No, but I'm sure it gave me an advantage. You're right about all of the pressure, but the training gave me an idea of what to except, how to try and resist their attempts at brainwashing." She paused. "At some points I even managed to hold off Tsung from reading into my head." She should've been proud of that-except that it only made Tsung even more fascinated with her.

"As for Earthrealm, what else could I do but keep fighting. If I gave up I wouldn't be of help to anyone and it would be one less enemy for them to fight against."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion cast Sonya an impressed look when she said she warded off Shang Tsung's power like that.

"But, not all people are capable of Special Forces training, especially women, who are not encouraged to do such a thing. And not all could put that training to good use against Shang Tsung. It takes great levels of aptitude and effort. If training was all that was necessary, then the Shaolin monks would not have lost nine Tournaments straight. You could have chosen to leave the fate of Earthrealm with Liu Kang. Perhaps he would have succeeded with one less ally, or perhaps not. Many brave warriors would have fled at the sight of Prince Goro."

Scorpion turned to Sonya and smiled.

"It appears that I am determined to respect you."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She mulled over what he said. It was true about the monks and training. It gave her an edge, but then a lot of soldiers were given an 'edge' and that didn't necessarily mean they'd survive-it just meant she was lucky.

She found herself smiling back at the last comment. "You're a skilled warrior yourself, so that means a lot."

"I couldn't leave Liu Kang. Even if he was the Chosen One and didn't necessarily need my help, it would've been cowardly and selfish to just abandon the team like that. Goro scared me, but I was more concerned about Sparky and Catsclaw's safety."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that was quite a different existence from this one. Now I live in a hut and fish for a living. It is a much simpler life."

He walked for a moment in silence.

"I've started making a few spears for myself. I also have begun working on sushi. The bookshelf can be useful."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Judging from the distance, they were half way there. The tourches, stars and moon offering enough light.

"Actually, I'm more impressed about you learning to make sushi." Spears she expected from him, cooking, or just preparing food in the kitchen was something else.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I am working on it. I have to get it right before I start serving it to others. Save being impressed for when I perfect it."

Scorpion's sushi was actually passable, but he would not be satisfied until it was much better. He wanted it to be professional, and not just something one whipped up.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Okay, fine." She gave him a playful pat on the back. "But you realize that I'm used to army issue food, so as long as it doesn't make me sick-I'm still going to be impressed.

It was about time they move onto something less serious anyway.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

She had amused him, so in a joking manner, he replied, "Ah, such low standards! And after such high praise, see how quickly she sinks into dishonor..."

He gave Sonya a light push away with his hand.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She laughed even as he gave her a light push.

"Hey, after 15 years of my mom's cooking and army chow, you'd feel the same way. Why do you think it's called 'chow' and not actually 'food'."

"Dishonor has nothing to do with it."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Ah, now I know the secret as to how Sonya Blade became so tough. I will do my best to hone my skills so you can eat some real food for once in your life."

Scorpion glanced over to the woman walking next to him and realized that his life on the island would be drastically different without her.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya found herself laughing in earnest.

"You forget, Scorpion," She said once she managed to compose herself. "I've been here over a year, I've had that much longer time to get used to real food."

She found his sense of humor rather enjoyable, considering how reserved he was. It was almost an honor to exchange such bantering and joking around with him since he was usually so serious around people.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I would not call everything they make in the Compound 'real food' by any stretch of the imagination."

Yes, there were many on the kitchen crew who were skilled cooks, but there was one woman in particular who seemed to be mentally unstable. Scorpion did not know her, and had wordlessly helped himself to other food.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Alright, so some food in the pantry is process, but at least we can name all of the available food sources-whatever they gave us in the army was so processed it could probably survive a nuclear attack." Actually the thought allow made it less then appetizing.

She snickered. "Seriously? That sounds like something Coraline would say-only not so polite, and to her if it sounds like a 'recipe' she won't go near it."

She was still wondering what the girl would do if the microwave in the kitchen broke.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

After some further talk along the way, the pair reached Sonya's hut. It was very late, but, thankfully Scorpion did not have as busy of a schedule as Sonya did. He could sleep and wake at his leisure.

As the hut neared, Scorpion said, "This has been a very good evening, Sonya. I think I am feeling more and more... normal. I think this is a very good thing."

And it had. He had been to a party, socialized a bit, volunteered to help clean up, and danced. He was slowly integrating himself into this island society.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She almost regretted them reaching her hut, as immature as the feeling was-she was enjoying their time together.

Sonya paused, part of her wanting to open up, but feeling hesitant. "It has..it's actually been awhile since I've really enjoyed such an evening. Usually I try to just make myself too tired to really care."

She smiled faintly. "Honestly, I prefer you if you don't end up 'completely' normal." It feels less lonely, she added mentally.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion turned and looked at Sonya.

"In that case, I'll do my utmost to pace myself." He smiled and let out a huff of amusement.

"Sonya, I do not see why you don't enjoy yourself more here. You finally have a chance to not worry about defending Earthrealm. You have no enemies here. Let the past go for a while and look around you. It has its oddities, but Tabula Rasa is not so bad."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya looked over at him, letting out a breath.

"I know I should. I've been in therapy for months because.." She tried to think of how to explain it and not seem like she was whining. "I know I should be able to relax, but it seems like I can't just 'let go'. I've been in the military for years-roots like that are hard to shake."

She looked over at her hut, then back to him. "I don't have anything planned for tomorrow. Would you mind staying awhile?"

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

He replied with a nod.

"I can stay as long as you like."

Scorpion paused a moment to collect his thoughts as he looked across the night sky.

"Sonya, it is acceptable for you to admit your experiences have affected you. As strong as you are, you are not immune. It is a good sign that you hurt. It means you are still alive inside. The only way to be immune to such things is to be as I was, or as Shang Tsung and Shao Khan are. That is not for you."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She motioned towards the porch in front of her hut: he would know of such things, considering how he ended up a specter.

"I've no reason to complain though." She said when she took a seat. "Yes, I have enemies, but that should be expected in the Special Forces: I've lost loved ones in the army but so have others. Hell, if you compare my career with those from Easy company, it's not nearly as bad."

She looked at him and smiled weakly. "It's sometimes feels like I'm becoming numb inside-that can't be good, can it."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion met her look and regarded her seriously.

"We must all learn on our own how to adapt to challenges. Some amount of numbness is necessary. But, do not allow yourself to just give in. Even as I was, I still was not completely numb. I told you of my decision to defend the younger brother of Sub-Zero as atonement."

There was s slight pause before he continued.

"You've done very well, as I said, but maybe you should use this time here to recover. If you are unable to cope, then it will become a weakness that Shang Tsung will surely discover and exploit."