He tasted of herbal tea and peppermint.

A strange thing to think that he had taken a mint before coming here but still. It was a very subtle taste, almost like the breath of a leave that you squeezed between your lips to make it whistle.

Your hands twitched as he bend to the side to deepen the kiss. His warm breath caressed your cheek while the sharp presence of his deodorant made you think of a set full of people.

How would it be like to have an affair with a movie star?

No, you quickly shook off that thought. This was exciting yet not something you felt like it should turn out to be a priority.

You hardly knew anything about him. Although it felt like your soul connected to his on a deeper level. It made you feel like you've known him for ages, could read the expressions on his face and guess how he felt like.

There was the same unfulfilled desire in his eyes that filled your chest. And at the same time he seemed to be pushed down by a weight that was unbearable.

You could relate to him.

But would that be enough?

Gently, you pushed against his chest.

Almost immediate he caught the hint and broke the kiss. The loss of his soft lips on your made you whimper.

"I- I'm sorry... I-...", he took a deep breath and stepped back to give you space if needed. "I didn't want to take you by surprise."

His eyes wandered over your face, waiting, begging for a response, anything at all that would have told him how to proceed.

But you couldn't. It felt like a bolt of electricity chased through your blood and made it boil in every single vein of yours.

The hairs in the back of your neck tingled. Your eyes fell on him, gazes locked. And then you couldn't help but smile shyly.

"I'm not mad.", you quickly said to ease the tension which was written all over his face. "I'm really not. I- I'm just... uh..."

"At a loss for words?"

"Yeah? Pretty much."

"Damn, I'm really that good."

"Johnny!", you couldn't contain the laughter that his stupid comment planted in your heart.

"Yeah, uh, about that... I just...", sucking in a sharp breath he squeezed his eyes shut, threw his head back and sighed so loud that it made his chest tremble. "I'm sorry."

"You're fine.", smiling gently, you grabbed his face on either sides so that he was forced to meet your gaze. "I was surprised."

"Me too, honestly.", his eyebrows rose as he smirked. "I just... all of a sudden I wanted to kiss you. Like a creep, ya know. Not very 2023 of me."

"Aren't you lucky that you're handsome?", you asked sarcastically.

"We love a good double standard.", some of the tension fell off of him and for a brief moment he seemed to think. "So... you're not mad?"

"No.", you shook your head. "Buuuuut..."

"You don't want me."

"Wow. Quick to judge."

"Am I wrong?"

Your lips pressed into a thin line to hide a smile that was more than enough to answer.

"It's not that I don't want to. But look at us.", you gestured between you and him back and forth.

"Yeah, suuuuper famous martial arts star and some hermit who grew up locked away in a house.", he threw his hands up in a playfully offensive manner. "Don't see how that's not gonna turn out to be a great comedy romance."

A snort made your nose crunch.

"Chaotic evil.", you agreed.

"C'mon, we're not that bad. Chaotic neutral at least."

"Maybe...", you huffed but immediately felt how the usual weight that pressed down on your shoulders returned. "Look, Johnny I-... I like you. I really do."

"I get it.", his usual smug grin returned. "Liu Kang would HATE us together."

"Oh, definitely. But it's just that...", you sighed. "I don't know what I want to do with my own life. I don't have any goals and I don't know anything at all. I want to see things and figure shit out for myself."

A soft sigh made his face falter. Now he looked so much more human and less like he needed to keep a mask up to entertain everyone.

This was just a simple man standing in front of you. And he only had one simple desire.

A desire he knew he wouldn't be able to get.

"You don't need a distraction from yourself right now.", he nodded, so understanding that it almost frightened you. "I get it. I won't push. Just know that Jonathan Carlton is waiting for you. In case you needed someone to pull some shenanigans on the god of fire."

Confused, you smiled at him, eyebrows drawn together.

As equally confused by your reaction Johnny frowned in response. His head tilted to the side to ask a silent question.

"Who's Johnathan Carlton?", it suddenly blurred out of you.

Realising his error, he smacked his lips and looked you deep in the eye.

"Look, I need you to be real strong for me, okay?", he said, so serious that it made your skin crawl with fear.

"Okay?"

"Johnny Cage isn't my real name. It's a stage name."

Silence.

Just staring. Eyes looked across his face, a smile of disbelief froze on your lips.

"Seriously?", you asked with a huff.

"Dead serious."

"Johnathan Carlton?"

"Hey, careful, that's the name of your future husband. Your future name."

"Ha!", you pulled away from him, spun on your heel and walked off. "Absolutely not."

"C'mon, baby, gimme me a chance.", he chirped and chased after you. "You'd be surprised what magic the Carlton does."

"Jesus Christ!", tears of laughter filled the corners of your eyes as you started to run from him.

Laughing viciously, Johnny threw his head back and picked up the chase. As he did so he didn't realise he forgot his shades.

Calmly, they rested at the edge of the lakes shore, bedded on soft moss and would remain there, untouched, for years until nature consumed metal and glass to make it become one with the very spot on which you've first kissed.