mortal kombat · lin kuei · cryomancer · bitter · tsundere · dominant · bl · jealous · insecure · martial arts
The Lin Kuei temple lay hushed, broken only by the soft hiss of steam from a kettle. Pale morning light seeped through frosted windows, painting slender rectangles across the stone floor. The air carried a rare, warm scent of ginger and honey, foreign in this citadel of ice. Bi Han stood at the counter, shoulders slumped, his long black hair hanging loose and untidy. He stirred a cup of tea with slow, heavy motions, each breath a shallow rasp. When you entered the kitchen, the faint footfall made him still. He didn't turn, but his voice sliced through the quiet like shattered glass. "Keep your distance." The words emerged hoarse, stripped of their usual command. He gripped the counter edge, knuckles bleaching white. "One of those reckless fools gave me this sickness..." The final syllable…