for Sonya

[get_over_here]

Scorpion had left the Earthrealm warriors after their victory over Shao Khan. He wanted to roam Earthrealm once more before the realms ceased their merging, and he would be returned to the Netherrealm. But there was one more thing on Scorpion's mind. He had done all of this before, and it had been on his wanderings in which the inexplicable journey to Tabula Rasa had happened to him. And, at the very same point, at the very same time, it happened once more.

But instead of finding himself standing at the top of the large waterfall, he found himself in bed with Sonya. Hanzo's eyes opened, and he sat up. He pressed his hands to his face and felt living human flesh once again. He felt a heartbeat in his chest. Then he let out a breath. Blinking, he sat in silence trying to come to terms with what had just happened. The contrast between what he had been in the dream, and what he was now was so stark. But which was the dream and which was the reality?

Hanzo reached a hand to gently shake Sonya awake.

"Sonya..."

Comments

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Hanzo's first inclination was to say he was fine. Stoicism came naturally to both of them, but he wanted to be more honest. Plus he didn't want to separate himself from his feelings. That had already been done for him.

"It was... disturbing.. to return to what I was. It's been so long..."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya nodded.

"It was strange, seeing you like that again."

She slowly stood up, her muscles stiff, before heading over to the sink and pouring them two cups of water.

"Here." She gave him one of the cups before taking a slow dring for herself. As thirsty as she was, she knew from experience that forcing it down would only make it come right back up.

After a few moments, she was ready to speak again. "Everyone thought I'd taken one too many hits to the head-trusting you like that."

Maybe she was, but better to have him as a 'sort of' ally than an enemy.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Hanzo nodded.

"They wouldn't be able to imagine this place, and what it has done for me. For us. I'm sorry you had to go through that. The invasion was not a good time for any human."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She returned to her seat and shrugged.

"Let them not be able to imagine. I've always been the one with the trust issues, Jax knew that if I could trust you as a specter then he could as well-to an extent."

It was always 'to an extent' with Scorpion.

"As for the invasion, atleast now I have an idea of what to expect. Already knew there was going to be one, so I can't say I'm surprised."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"It's hard for me to think about the invasion now. This was the second time I experienced it, and both times I was unmoved as I watched so many souls get captured. So many families slaughtered without warning."

Hanzo narrowed his eyes.

"I had always thought myself clever for pushing the bargain I made to retain my free will. But it's hard to think of how inhuman I had let myself become."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"It was hard, but the silver lining was that I was too worried about other things to really focus." She laughed a little. "If anything, I was just glad you were fighting for us, and atleast we know I can take 'not' being married to you anymore."

She reached out and covered his hand with hers. It still hurt, but she was right-it was something she could deal with.

"It was just as well you weren't moved-it wouldn't have helped us in any case. I'm a soldier, and as much as I still have anger issues-emotions do get in the way of the task."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion would have completely agreed with Sonya. Fighting a war required efficiency. Distractions were weakness that could be fatally exploited. But Hanzo took the hand she had extended into both of his.

"Sonya, I don't want you to lose your emotions. It's the only thing that separates you from Shao Khan and Shang Tsung. Don't become what I've become. You need to feel. It's a strength, not a weakness."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Never thought I'd hear that from a ninja-even a retired one." She actually felt herself choke back a sob.

She managed to hold back.

"Thanks for finishing off Shang-I don't even know how I was able to even stand after that fight, let alone finish him off."

She was no longer injured, but the 'phantom ache' still lingered.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Sonya."

Hanzo took her gently by the shoulders and made strong eye contact with her.

"Sonya, I couldn't abandon you. Even as a heartless beast, I still cared for you. But I was so cold and empty. I'm afraid, Sonya. I'm afraid of going back to that. Tell me how you feel."

Hanzo was afraid of being how he had been. He didn't want Sonya to just let herself ignore her feelings. They had just gone through a lot of trauma, and he could tell she wanted to just shrug it off. But it wasn't nothing.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

If there was any other proof of Hanzo's seriousness with her-that was it. A man like him would've never admitted to fear unless it was to someone he really and truly trusted and saw as family.

The shock of it, and the degree of his question made her hesitate a moment as she tried to find an answer.

"I feel.." She began, placing one of her hands over his. "Relieved that you're still here. But back home, I can't deny that I was also a little scared, for many reasons. The future isn't set in stone, and I couldn't live knowing that even in a dream we couldn't defeat Kahn. I was also scared of my trust in Scorpion-as him, you hold no allegiance to anyone, and I was worried that given the right incentive you would turn on us."

Was she wrong? After all, he wasn't really one of them, and his desire for revenge was strong even after death.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I can't say it wasn't possible. Vengeance was still my main goal, and if I could have accomplished that another way, perhaps. But I remembered the island, Sonya. I remembered you. I think it changed me somewhat. I was having thoughts I never would have before. But, no matter what, I would have always done my best to protect you."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I would've settled for an ally, not a protector." She said, though it was more out of habit. He had seen her fight, know she was capable of holding her own, but the word 'protector' came with the implication that she was helpless-something that never sat right with her.

Sonya's ipod sat attached to its speaker next to their bed, doubling as an alarm clock and calender. As much as she didn't want to, habit and routine were inbedded in her system, and she also wanted to see just how long they'd really been 'asleep'.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from her husband and reached over, frowning at the time and even more so when she switched to the 'calender' option.

"We've only been out of it for a few days. It's Monday now and we 'fell asleep' on Friday."

Monday..ITF training..and she had to get to it pretty soon.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"The island can do what it wills. I'm amazed sometimes at the power of this place."

Hanzo paused. This dream had shaken him, and it took much to do that. He normally was not such an emotional person.

"Sonya, lay with me a while longer. You can afford to be ten minutes late for training after something like this."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya doubted it. She'd have a feeling that Thrace would give her hell for this, but then it would take a little longer to recover from something like this. The last time she had recovered from the 'coma', she spent the rest of the day with fatigue.

On an emotional level, it was even more draining.

She nodded slightly and went back to the bed, laying down against him.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Hanzo just laid there and made himself relax. He and Sonya were fine now. He needed to calm himself and reflect on the experience later. He was silent as he laid there with his wife.

With one deep breath, he felt himself ratchet down a notch of anxiety.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

He didn't need to say anything, but being this close to him, she could feel her husband try to relax. Sonya understood that the transition back to specter, then back to human was a shock, but up until now she didn't know how much it shook him.

Without turning, she reached back and gently stroked his hair.

"How about we spend the day together after training-just, something like a short, second honeymoon." After what happened 'back home', Sonya felt they needed it.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Hanzo turned to Sonya and looked closely into her eyes.

"That would be great, Sonya."

In fact, that sounded like a perfect idea. That was likely all he could do in any case. Just live as long as he could this way and enjoy Sonya's company while he still had it.