*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

[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."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I was in therapy for awhile, but the councilor vanished about a month ago." She resisted the urge to rub her hands together. "I've been doing much better lately, but I've also come to accept that it's going to be a constant uphill battle."

She nodded on what he said of Shang Tsung, but she didn't comment on it directly. She wasn't sure she could trust herself with any promise she made to him regarding Tsung.

"You think you're ready to do some more exploring about your family?" she asked, changing the subject. "I know it's prying, but part of me wonders how exactly you ended up 'dishonored'-I mean honor's a big thing in your book."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Sonya changing the subject was completely acceptable. It was a way to save face, in a way, and that was important. Embarrassing Sonya would not be acceptable to either of them, so he would show no reaction whatsoever, and follow the turn in conversation fluidly.

"Honor is important to me. I do not know how much I can really explore my family from this island in some other realm. But, I have had one realization. I think in English, not Japanese. I think I may have grown up in America, at least for a time. It would also explain why I speak English so well with no accent."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya thought on what he said.

"It could happen. Maybe the clan has 'branches' in America." She paused. "How old were you when you died?"

That would've made the difference. He looked to be in his late 20s, early 30s, which might place him just after the American Military occupation of Japan-it could've been possible that the clan would've 'leaked' into America to gain influence over a more weathly cliental. Or it was possible for his father to have moved to America to break off from the clan, and he would've moved back to be established there.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, I'm not sure. I would have liked to relearn my past while I was roaming Earthrealm. Perhaps I could have found a birth or death certificate, but the Outworld invasion demanded my attention. I believe I am somewhere in my early thirties? That didn't matter to me when I was immortal."

He furrowed his brow as he attempted once again to remember those vague images.

"I seem to have vague images of living in Japan, however. I must have lived there at some point. My guess is that I spent at least part of my youth in America, and at some point moved to Japan. It is something, but I think I still have a long way to go."

Sonya had made some good conclusions before, and Scorpion had not forgotten in the least.

"You seem to have a talent for piecing bits of my past together. Any sudden thoughts?"

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"It would surprise you to know, that Special Forces agents actually have brains and aren't all muscle." She said, good-humored.

She thought a moment before continuing. "Early 30s, that would place your birth year..sometime in the 1950s possibly, during the last years of the American occupation of Japan. If your father was part of the clan, he may've studied english to allow him to infiltrate American dealings and may've taught you the language."

"Actually, I'm thinking it's the other way. If your father didn't want any part of the clan, he would've possibly moved to America to raise a family away from its influence." She spoke slowly, half to him and half to herself, trying to voice out the pieces of the puzzle. "But..this is a clan and they may've not been so willing to let him go, especially if he has a son that could join them. So, he goes back to Japan with his family at some point, not joining them, but they would most likely keep an eye on him."

Like the Mafia or some such thing.

Sonya rubbed at her forehead. "This place sometimes brings items from home. You could hope for maybe a newspaper clipping or birth certificate, but considering said item usualy invokes some sort of mental trauma-I highly doubt you'll be that lucky."