[For Sonya]

[get_over_here]

Island life was slowly becoming the norm for Scorpion. By now, he had accepted that he was human again. There was no guarantee for how long, but it didn't matter all that much to him. He'd take the unexpected opportunity for however long the powers of the island saw fit. But, what to do with himself?

With having forgotten his life as a human, he didn't remember what he used to do every day. Surely he had not spent every waking hour training and killing. He wondered if he used to have hobbies. It was hard for him to imagine himself collecting stamps or building model airplanes or gardening. Surely ninjas did not do these things. What ninjas did on their off-time was still a mystery to him.

So, Scorpion decided to go for a walk. He had been avoiding the general public more or less, but he thought today was special somehow. The sky seemed a little bluer. The breezes were fresher. The clouds were a bit puffier. Before he began to wonder why exactly he had been thinking about the puffiness of clouds, he saw a familiar figure headed his way. They made eye contact.

Comments

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I knew you were with the US Special Forces. It is a good job for someone with talent." He had seen her captive comrades executed before her. He hadn't quite the sentiment before, but he would gladly avenge Sonya upon Shang Tsung for this dishonor, or help her do it herself.

"Your brother was a twin. You must have been close. His death must have been difficult."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Uh, thank you." Sonya wasn't that good with accepting compliments as far as her career was concerned. It was just her life, and no one really gave compliments for something you dedicated your life to.

She nodded. "It was." For more reasons than just his death. It was when Sonya attended the military academy and received the news a week later, and she not only had to mourn her own loss, but her mother succumbed to alcoholism and seemed to push Sonya away. "It's in the past though."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion nodded. He was content to walk with Sonya for a short while with no conversation. He liked being with her. It gave him time to appreciate her. Everything about her was perfect. He tried not to look at her too much as to be disrespectful, but it was difficult.

Eventually, he asked another question. "What do you do on this island? How do you spend your time?" Scorpion could ask Sonya about herself all day. He'd even be interested in her favorite color. Every detail about Sonya was something to treasure.

He very much hoped that Sonya would not answer that she spent time with a significant other.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

It wasn't so much that he asked her about what she did, that in of itself was a common enough question. But to elaborate it..

She kept walking, but she was paying extra attention. "Before the attack, I taught some PE classes at the school and part of security at the Catscratch club," She could only imagine his expression when it was elaborated that she bounced at a strip club. "And I was part of the hunting crew-still am, just been out of commission for awhile."

Sonya stopped and looked at him. "You that bored with civilian life that you have to ask me about it?"

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

When she stopped and looked at him, Scorpion looked back at her. He felt as if he could lose himself in her eyes. He couldn't help a slightly dreamy expression.

"I suppose I am getting bored spending most of my time alone. And, I happen to find you very interesting, Sonya."

He was now on a first name basis with the most beautiful woman on the island, but he wanted more. He was sure he was falling in love. His challenge was to express this respectfully. The last thing he would ever want to do is to disrespect her.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

This time, Sonya actually took the time to study him and his expression-she had seen that exact same one whenever Harry spoke of Kitty (when he wasn't drunk of course).

Maybe she was just jumping to conclusions.

"I'm flattered you think so." she tried to keep her voice steady, but then she caught the use of the word 'alone'. "Scorpion, I'm aware that on the island your vendetta's kinda null, but why the sudden interest? We were never more than.."She thought of the best way to word it. "reluctant allies back home."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

The question seemed ridiculous, but then again, Sonya was humble. It was yet another wonderful quality that she had. And, maybe she was upset he had not held interest in her before.

"Sonya, when you met me during the Tournament, I was a creation of the Netherrealm. In some ways, I still am. I do not think I was capable of being more than a relcutant ally to anyone. Hellspawn do not...make friends. But, I am different now that I am here. Do you understand?"

Scorpion had said 'make friends' instead of anything more. It had taken some effort, because he wanted to shout his devotion to this woman from every corner of the island. But, he had to allow Sonya time to get used to the idea. He was confident she would return his interest if given time.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Okay, so he wanted to make friends, that was good, it was fine with her. And why not, Sonya knew firsthand how difficult it was to relate to people due to her own experiences in battle and the tournament. If he wanted to become buddies with her, that was fine.

"Yeah, I understand." To have someone around, that she wouldn't have to explain the tournament to, and they would know what she meant-that didn't sound like such a bad idea, actually.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion was very pleased with Sonya's reaction. He feared that she might be repulsed by what he had been. But, he would have to exert a lot of control over himself to keep proceeding slowly, for Sonya.

A very pleased smile crossed his features as he nodded and replied, "Good. I'm glad you do."

"So, Sonya," he continued. Saying that name was such pure pleasure. "How do you like living on this island?"

Perhaps her answer would reveal a small piece of her heart. And that heart was an object he passionately desired.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She could just barely hold back flinching at the question. Sonya wasn't an introspective person by nature, but the question did make her think.

"It has it's perks, real beds, hot water, hot and available food, and I'm not constantly fighting for my life." She paused. "If you ignore the occasional island madness, and the fact that we're trapped here..I like it well enough.

Did she really just ramble?

"Do you feel like moving into the shade?"

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Moving into a shady spot with the woman of his dreams? Ah, the Elder Gods have smiled upon Scorpion this day!

"Yes, please. How about there?" Scorpion had picked the nearest tree which had an appropriately sized shady area. It was big enough for two people, but it was small enough so they would not be too far from each other.

He started walking to the tree before waiting for a reply. Confidence mixed with genuine friendliness could achieve great things. And to head off any discussion of his choice of a shady spot, he asked, "But, you feel trapped here? This means you do not always like the island."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"That would do." She walked with him over to the shady area. It did feel better when the sun wasn't on them, and the branches provided a nice breeze.

"Well, yes." She said. "I have a duty back home, and as nice at it is over here. It's almost unfair that I'm here and my friends are still fighting against Shao Kahn."

She paused. "Also not to crazy about the island's tendency to mess with us.." She looked at him. "Scorpion, you alright?"

She didn't know him all that well, but there was something to how he looked at her. Not dangerous, far from it actually, but that admiring look, they didn't know eachother long enough for that.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion laid comfortably in the shade, eager to have Sonya by his side.

"You should not be too concerned about your duty. I fought along side you back in Earthrealm. It seems you will return at some point."

"And, I feel just fine. It's very good to talk with you like this. I should start acting more like a human, shouldn't I? I can not just lurk as if this were my lair in the Netherrealm."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

wow, someone was close.

Sonya had nothing about privacy, after all there wasn't much of it in the military, but with Scorpion being this close. She could feel something between them and she was sure it wasn't just the heat.

She remembered one of Easy mentioning the crazy timelines. It didn't help her feel any better, but she appreciated him trying.

Sonya did smirk. "You seem to have been doing a good job of lurking so far. I know as well as anyone that old habits are hard to break."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Sonya seemed to be enjoying the shade as much as him. This day was a very good day.

He looked downward and smiled at her comment, which was a very human reaction. "They are. But, I'm willing to try. I need someone to help me learn how to be human again."

As he said this, he leaned just slightly closer to her. He couldn't help it.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya tried to remember that she didn't know Scorpion all that well, for all she knew, he was like this as a human. He was part of a clan, maybe he wasn't used to not being part of one.

She still found herself moving a little way.

"Sorry, Scorpion, but if you want someone to teach you to be human, I'm not the sort." She said honestly. "I'm not that social, I can be a bitch to people without realizing, I suck at small talk and don't even get me started on tact."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't occur to Scorpion how out-of-character he was acting. Even with no memories of his former life, he normally would not have been this forward. However, today was a special day.

Scorpion eased back. He would not go further than what Sonya desired. That would be disrespectful.

But, he smiled at what Sonya said. "That sounds perfect. If I could get that far, it would be a great step forward from being a fiend from hell." He hoped Sonya would appreciate a bit of returned self-criticism.

"Sonya, we are both warriors. I respect that."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

He did have a point. "Suppose it would be a step up from killing people. It's far from perfect, even I have to admit that."

Sonya looked back at him, deciding to call him bluff. "Is this conversation actually leading somewhere."

She had a feeling it was, her experience with the island kept coming up, she just wanted to see if he brought it up.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Was this leading to something? Of course, it must! A love so powerful as this must be followed! Scorpion might have said, 'That is up to you,' but what he found himself actually saying was, "Yes, Sonya! Please forgive me if this is too sudden, because I am still not used to feeling emotions like this. But, I think I have fallen in love with you."

Oh, how he yearned that she would accept this, and that they could be together! That is the natural way humans should be, was it not?

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

If it were a cartoon and she not familiar with the island's ways, Sonya's jaw would've hit the ground. Instead she took a few deep breaths.

"You can't be in love with me, up until now, we've only spent maybe a few minutes in passing."

Oh dear lord, she spoke too soon about Valentine's Day.

"Scorpion," she spoke slowly, trying to keep her voice steady. "You remember me telling you of how the island sometimes messes with people. Maybe this is it, how else could you say you're in love with me."

"Not that I'm not flattered or anything, this is just too fast for me to think it's all you."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion rose to his knees, very concerned this could be leading to some kind of rejection.

"Don't say it's just the island, Sonya. I AM capable of love now. I am not the same Scorpion from the Tournament. I don't care about trying to explain just how it happened."

"Just spend one day with me, please." He would be very hurt if she refused him that one small plea. He was sure at the end of one day, he could get her to agree to two, tehn three, and so on.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I know you are, but this is too out of the blue. We're too professional to just rush into this."

Even if it were so..she couldn't help but think to Cameron and Web, even Jane. Suppose Scorpion was in love with her and she suddenly vanished? Still, it's only one day.

"Okay, one day. These things only last a day-three at the most. I just don't want us to wake up one morning and find that we've done something we'd regret later."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Good. Thank you." Scorpion sat back down and got himself more relaxed.

"I would offer to change into something more suitable for a date, but the clothes box you showed me is not much use for me. I've only found different versions of my uniform in it."

He was on a date with Sonya Blade. Those clouds really ARE puffy today.

"What would you like to do today?" Scorpion would be willing to do whatever Sonya wanted today. If she wanted to watch paint dry or wash her socks, he'd be there.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She felt herself able to breath. "It keeps giving me floral patterned clothing-you have to keep looking, you'll find something."

Wait..he said 'date', well, she supposed it might be a date, but atleast Scorpion was a proper age-and he wasn't that bad looking.

"I don't know actually. Lately, it's just reading, exploring as much of the island as I can-stave off boredom really."

She thinks a moment. The only places she could think of were the hub or the jazz club, and she could pay back when she goes back to work. "You ever visit the jazz club? They open up during the evening hours?"

See, this wouldn't be so bad, it's not a blind date anyway.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion suddenly thought that sitting around reading was not, in fact, boring, but fascinating and sophisticated. Sonya did it, so it must be so.

Exploring the island sounded like what he had gravitated to already. But, it would be a lot better to do as a couple.

The last idea was the best, however, for a date. And Scorpion wanted this to be as much of a date as they could have on this strange island.

"Ah, the jazz club. That would be great. We could, perhaps get dinner at the Winchester as well?" The restaurant sounded like a much better place to eat than the Compound. You could not have a date in that crowded place.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, Sonya never really had a real date. Even when she was involved with Lance, they never really went out on anything special, just spent time together whenever they were able to. She wasn't even sure how she really felt about this, suppose one of them left for back home-how the hell could she continue a relationship with a specter.

Damn it, she was suddenly sick of 'what-if's'. If this was a trick of the island, it could've been a lot worse: Scorpion was still well mannered, no matter how love struck. She just hoped he wouldn't do anything he'd regret later.

"It's a date then. Winchester at 6, Jazz club afterward?" It was fitting, after all the Winchester wasn't fine dining, which suited her, and there weren't any 'theme nights' planned for this evening at the club-thank god.