#𝟎𝟎𝟓.

★ ⋆ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐯𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭? ⋆ ★

★ ⋆ ━━ After Liu Kang had explained all there is to the tournament being held in outworld for them and among them, that there will be a champion to put face on earthrealm. Jessie became more excited. Along with what the monks told her over the months, outworld seemed so exhilarating, yet so dangerous. Knowing they have their own gods and hell, Jessie just couldn't keep her excitement in.

   She smiles, her eyes squinting so much it looked like her eyes were closed. Her happiness was only for so long until what Liu Kang says to her when he takes a seat. "Jessie, you, will fight Johnny Cage as our first competitors. Whoever wins, will fight the next, Raiden." He aims his hand at Raiden.

   "Excuse me?" She questions. Jessie had lessons among the monks and her fellow candidates but Johnny's fighting style from what she's seen wasn't predictable. He has his owns swag fusing with his martial arts. It was hard to differentiate what was trolling and what was actually fighting. She stands right in front of Liu Kang while Johnny stands next to her. Raiden on her left and Kenshi on Johnny's left. Kung Lao was on Raiden's right.

   Jessie folds her arms and tremors her left leg. "No disrespect to you Mr. Kang but," She laughs with uncertainty. "Johnny's fighting style is different compared to mine, how are we to compete?"

   "Well," She watches as Liu Kang's white eyes bounce back and forth until he redirects his eyesight to her. "Do not summon your sword, if you truly want to even the odds. I know what you're capable of Jessie, a mere sword without, wouldn't render you defenseless."

   She hears Johnny groan, watching as he stretches his arm out. He then latches an arm around her smaller frame, making him lean against her. "Don't worry Jess, I won't go hard on you- if you want." He gives her a playfull wink.

   Jessie was quick to push him away, letting the flirtatious comment fly over her head. "Somehow I doubt that-"

   "I would advise you not to Johnny Cage," She looks towards Liu Kang, his hands holding together. "All of you are deserving to be here. Do not conjure any guilt for wanting no bodily harm towards Jessie. But you must give it your all, the champion must emerge for earthrealm."

   "Ugh- fine," Johnny agrees with a huff. He then starts walking to take his place on the other end of the concrete.

   Jessie timidly follows Johnny but walks to the other end. She looks to where Kenshi stands and smiles. Kenshi awkwardly gives a thumbs up to her. She grins at his discomfort and continues on. Johnny and Jessie get in a fighting stance ready to compete but not without saying a few words first.

   Johnny eyes Jessie up and down, licking his lips in curiosity. He flicks his head to the side, his brown combed hair was parted to one side, it bounces lightly when he moves. "Your martial arts don't even compare to mine Jess. I trained on set and off set, you just cant handle this hotness," He stretches his arms, swinging then side to side. "Tap out Jess, it'll save you the embarrassment. " Johnny taunted, with pouted lips.

   Jessie laughs, mindblown at his stupidity. She unconsciously moves a few hair strands behind her ear, rolling up the sleeves of the makeshift monk clothing. Ever so slowly at that, wanting to make Johnny see that she wasn't afraid. "I've known you for most your life Johnny, so I've handled that ass for five years and counting. The only thing your tapping in this fight is tapping out," With her hands on her hips she stands as tall as she could and looks at Johnny from an upwards angle. "Ready ?"

   "Oh," Johnny seductively bites his lip, cranking his neck. His unapologetically checks her out. "It's on Jessie Messi."

.⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆.⛓ 🎬 ⛓.⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆.

   Blood, sweat and too much touching. More than Jessie thought was normal in a fighting sequence, but maybe it's was just Johnny...maybe. He was gentle with her even when doing strategic maneuvers, somehow made the fighting, intimate. She shivers at her unholy thought about her boss, friend, teammate? What the hell is he to her anyways?

   Though as intimate as he was, he was still beating her ass. Jessie has to think of something to bring him down. What could she do?

   This is gonna be fucked up.

   She decides to use their friendship to the next level. As Johnny was hitting her with jabs, crosses. She puts her gaurd down and lets one hit her directly in her face. Yeah, it'll hit her harshly but it will work out for her in the end.

   3...2...1...She takes her hands away from her face slowly just so it seems she didn't do the action on purpose.

   Bam!

   She felt the punch connecting to her cheekbone, a stinging was resonating on her skin. Falling backwards, she faced away from him and held onto her check, exaggerating the pain more than it hurt. She makes incoherent noises to sound her pain.

   As she did this, Johnny had thought he won. He jumps in place and faces Liu Kang, who held a smirk, sitting undisturbed. "What I tell you Liu Kang? Ain't no one beating this fine piece of meat-" The sounds of Jessie groans halts his victory. He turns and sees Jessie in actual pain. His eye went wide, he knew he didn't hit her as hard as he should...did he? Johnny looks to the trio who slightly watch with the monks, who did nothing. "Pfft, so much for hospitality." He says with distaste.

   He urgently makes his way to her and touch her shoulder. Hearing her groan in pain hurt him more than finding his Hichuli in pieces on the floor at his mansion. "Jess did I hurt you? Shit, I didn't actually mean to- waaa,"

   Jessie swipes his feet from under, kicking her foot from behind her and side wiping it to one side. She hears the thump and feels it vibrate beneath the ground.

   She stops her fake exaggerated pain and stands up. Dusting her shoulders as if the fight was a walk in the park. "Johnny, Johnny," She slowly bends down to his eye level and plays with a strand of his hair. "Catching you off gaurd for a second time? Wonder what'll happen on the third...cheapskate."

   Johnny watches as she places her hand on top of his head, his eyes following. The face his made was too similar to a kawaii type face just without the cringe.

   He leans on his elbows, which makes his upper body more closer to her than before.

   Two can play at that game...Johnny thought.

   "Cheapskate huh?" Johnny said. He raises his left hand and reaches across his body. Touching her hair as she did his, he slowly gravitates down her face then to her neck. With slow movements, savoring the moment and how Jessie face flushed in shock.

   She grab his wrist from moving anywhere else. Keeping it where he stopped it. "What- what are you doing? I said I won."

  Johnny smacks his lips, soothing her neck. "Nu-uh, not in my book you did. Think fast-"

   Jessie didn't have time to register what happened in the quick seconds. She felt wet lips on her cheekbone. In shock she looks away from Johnny while remaining on her knees, frozen. Which was enough time for Johnny to push her by her shoulders and throw her to the ground.

   She grunts as her back hit the gravel ground. Looking up, she saw Johnny blocking her view from the sky. His legs straddling hers, squishing them together. Both arms on each side of her head, tangling with her hair. His face mere meters away from hers. She could practically smell his scent of Cologne.

   "I win. Told ya, no one can outsmart Johnny Cage. Not even you, sweetheart."nJohnny congratulates himself.

   As they look in eachothers eyes, Johnny suddenly became silent. His eyes mixing with curiosity and fear. The only thing between them was their irregular pace of breathing, which only added to the questionable tension.

   Jessie was as puzzled as one can be, where did the cocky Johnny go all of the sudden? Not breaking eye contact with him seems to give the wrong impression, he slowly starts to get closer to her face. Jessie didn't know what to do, was he gonna kiss her, or do something completely different. She didn't know, but she didn't want to find out.

   "Uhhhh, what you doing?" Jessie asks as she raises her hands in front of her, pushing on his chest. His loose strands of hair were the only thing that met her face.

   Her voice seemed to have brought him back to reality. "Oh- uh there's a- uh a bug! Yeah, a bug on you face you don't feel it? here-"

   She watches as he picks at her face and threw something off to the side, he quickly gets off of her and helps her up. "A bug, really?" She somehow doubts his words.

   "What?" He says. He breaths hard as he sprung out his arms at her. "Can't care for my friend?"

   "No, it's just- was so out of place. You sure it was a bug?" Jessie questions. She honestly has no idea what was going on with Johnny today.

   Johnny wipes his face full of sweat and fixes his hair as he looks to Jessie. "You think I'd give an excuse just to touch your face-"

   "Get a room!" Kung Lao's voice interupts.

   "Oh shut it!" She loudly speaks to him and looks to where the men wait. She had completely forgotten about them. She couldn't even imagine what was going through all of their heads.

   Making her way over she bows to Liu Kang and spoke. "My apologies to have wasted time. Got carried away. Johnny won."

   Liu Kang laughs, making everyone quickly turn their heads at him. "It's alright, you and Johnny reminded me of someone...but enough of reminiscence. Johnny if you please."

   Johnny came and waits on the next step. He avoids eye contact with Jessie as he came closer.

   "Raiden, step forward." Liu Kang asked.

   Jessie watches as they both were getting ready to fight one another. She walks behind the seat monks and stands by Kenshi. As she watches Johnny and Raiden fight, she felt eyes starring at her. Looking to her left, she finds Kenshi looking at her with a smug look. "Good god, what is it man?" Jessie said with irritation, she sorts her hair, untangling it.

   Kenshi shrugs. Crossing his arms, his Yakuza tattos showing underneath the white long sleeve shirt he has beneath the monk outfit. "You two are so complicated, do know how awkward it was to watch you two?"

   Jessie scoffs. "Put yourself in my shoes. How awkward it was to be underneath Johnny like that."

   "I don't doubt it, but please refrain from doing it public. Indoors please." Kenshi jokes to Jessie.

   "Oh my gosh, I'm not into Johnny like that." She was at one point in highschool, but why would it spark now? Of all times? She wouldn't even dare to because of his recent break up with Cristina. Jessie thought she was a good woman who unfortunately fell for the wrong guy. Was Jessie going in the same boat. Only time will tell....