"You know I don't know why I've never asked this, but... uh...", with his hands on his hips and his shoulder stretched Johnny threw a glance back at you and let out a soft laugh. "... what's our record at this tournament?"

Immediately, your skin crawled. And not without reason because Liu Kang's cold, shimmery gaze fell right onto you. His eyebrows rose and a smile appeared on his face, so thin that it was barely noticeable.

"Earthrealm and Outworld have long been evenly matched.", due to your family's involvement as Earthrealm champions, but he didn't add that. "But Outworld is gaining strength. Should it win, its more militant factions will be emboldened."

Not a single word was dedicated directly at you, yet you could read the message on the gods face. He wished for you to succeed against the others so that his mind could be eased and he wouldn't have to worry.

After all, who expected the descendant of a long line of champions to fail?

No one. That was the bold yet true answer.

Liu Kang put all his faith into the blood that ran through your veins. And that didn't help to make you want this more.

In fact, you could feel a certain kind of disgust scratch at the back of your throat.

"I thought you admired Outworld.", Raiden noted.

"It is a place of great knowledge, wealth and beauty.", the god of  fire took the few steps down to be on the same level as all of you, did a gesture and walked on. "But our realms do not share goals and beliefs. We coexist peacefully because Outworld respects our strength."

He threw a glance over his shoulder, directly at you.

With a soft growl, you curled your lips and squeezed yourself into a space next to Johnny.

"I get it.", you muttered. "No need to keep pushing."

Confused, he frowned next to you.

"Did I do anything wrong?", he asked, squeezing your hand.

Torn from your thoughts, you looked up at him with surprise.

"No. Not at all."

Liu Kang had already turned his gaze forward again. Yet there remained this feeling of his eyes that stuck to your skin.

"Should we show weakness...", he continued. "... our rival become our enemy."

Something inside your chest tightened. All of a sudden it felt harder to breathe.

"I will not lose, Lord Liu Kang.", Kung Lao was quick to voice his eagerness to participate.

You were sure that he'd made a good champion. Although he was still a little full of himself and relied on the fact that Raiden had never managed to beat him.

You weren't sure how good of a standard that was.

"First you must win the right to represent us.", Liu Kang reminded and took a seat in a wooden chair. "Whichever one of you outlasts the others will be chosen. Raiden, step forward."

Relief loosened the shackles of expectations that caused your fingers to cramp.

As asked of him, Raiden took the stage and bowed to the god, one fist pressed to his palm.

Johnny laughed, slightly teasing, slightly mocking. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest and didn't seem to think anything could happen.

You loved him for his laid back attitude but knew very well that he had a tendency of being clueless. This moment was one of them.

He had no idea what was coming for him.

"Good call.", he said with his chin raised. "Cull the weak first."

A gentle breath escaped your nose as you closed your eyes and shook your head.

"You shall face him, Johnny Cage.", Liu Kang said drily.

"Ready for your close-up?", Kenshi asked and you believed to catch a smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"A movie set related joke out of your mouth?", you asked with a tilt in his reaction. "I never thought I'd see the day."

Curling his nose in a victorious manner, Johnny shrugged and turned to face Liu Kang for a bow.

"All right, let's do this.", in a challenging manner his finger rose to point at Raiden warningly. "But remember, farm boy, I'm a global martial arts icon. I don't think you can handle this much boom."

It was hard to tell if it was embarrassment or loving mockery that filled your chest at the sight of Johnny, who had his arms spread and this smug expression of confidence on his face.

What you know however was that it made you smile so broadly that Kenshi only rolled his eyes in response.

"He's going to get his ass kicked.", he muttered under his breath as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Chuckling softly, you crossed your legs and leaned against the trunk of a tree for support.

"Probably.", you admitted.

"Aren't you supposed to root for him?", Kung Lao asked with one eyebrow raised and a smirk.

"I really like him, okay? But I'm not delusional."

"Funny. I could have sworn one has to be delusional to even come close to liking something like that.", Kenshi pointed at Johnny with his thumb.

"By that you mean everything about him?", you asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Obviously."

You couldn't help snorting.

"You're quite wrong, tattoo. I don't just like it. In fact, I'd say I've grown fond of it."

"I'm about to throw up...", Kung Lao gasped with bated breath.

"Swallow it! Or I'll let you lick it from the ground."

"You're so cruel..."

"I never said otherwise.", you shrugged.

"How did I even end up here?", Kenshi asked himself with a shake of his head, frowning.

"Desperation, probably.", you snarled. "Aren't we all a little desperate for something?"

"I wasn't.", offended, Kung Lao crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I was happy where I was."

"You were a farmer.", you noted.

"It was a good life."

"How happy can cabbage make a man?", Kenshi asked to your surprise.

It wasn't often that the swordsman decided to be on either you or Johnny's side. But when one of the very few occasions arose, it was over for whoever had the displeased of being on the other side.

Talking about displeasure, all of a sudden a groan cut through the conversation.

Goosebumps chased across your arms. You knew this sound very well.

It was the kind of gasp that Johnny made whenever he was hit.