“My Heart Is Stronger Now, Because You’re In It.”

“My heart is stronger now, because you’re in it.”

- The Secret World of Arrietty (Studio Ghibli) 2010

Eidolon

Chapter 1 : Pact

This will be a long-ish Scorpion x OC fic in honor of the new MK1 trailer. Really it’s just an excuse to use one of my favorite CDrama tropes: woman must disguise herself as a man for one reason or another (usually self-preservation), keeping her identity a secret even from the object of her affections. I have to set a little backstory so it’ll be slow to get going, but stick with it. Quick mention of Scorpion later in this chapter.

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12 YEARS AGO Tamm was alone in the gathering darkness of the leafy hilltop. Having trudged up it from the opposite side over brambles and sawtoothed rock, she was relieved to see a small inn tucked neatly at its sloping foot. She couldn’t afford to stay over for more than a single night, but still. She made to walk the rest of the way there when a loud crackle sounded behind her. Blade drawn, she turned to face it.

It was a portal, bright and gaping, and out of it stepped a figure straight from the pages of her fathers old history books. He was not so ugly as the illustrations would have her believe. In fact, he had a kind of angular, highborn face.

She felt a measure of fear, but it was dulled around the edges by pure exhaustion. The man was dressed in green and gold, and on his head, a horned and burgundy crown. He took a step toward her.

“Do you know who I am, child?”

His voice was pleasant enough, deep and imposing.

“You’re Lord Shinnok” she said, trying to sound grown-up and self-assured. “The God of Death.”

“Very good,” he said expansively. “And you are the daughter of a traitor.”

It was said so matter-of-factly that Tamm blinked at him in astonishment. Had he come to fetch her to the Netherrealm or…what?

“Oh, don’t look so surprised. It’s the reason you won’t stay in one place for very long, why you roam the countryside disguised as a boy, isn’t it?”

“How-How do you know that?”

“Warriors are scant few these days. I make it my business to keep an eye on the more promising ones. And you, girl, are very promising, indeed.”

Tamm frowned. It was true she had spent the better part of her life either training under the strict thumb of her father or evading the new Kahn.

“What do you want?” She demanded, though inwardly she quailed. “Say it plainly,”

He smiled at her as though she had asked the one question he’d wanted her to all along.

“Fight for me, and I will not reveal your identity. The Kahn need never know.”

“But…that’s blackmail!” she said angrily, forgetting her alarm for a moment.

“Yes, I suppose it is,” he drawled without remorse. He looked thoughtful but unbothered by the accusation. “You have nowhere to go, no home nor kin. I offer you both. Or would you rather spend the rest of your miserable life on the run?”

She thought for a moment. If she refused him, she would be sent to the flesh pits or worse. The future yawned frightfully before her. Could she really spend it with no place to lay her head?

They stood for what seemed like some time in silence. The wind sluiced over them both and across the grass in rippling, cool waves, rolling on and down to the inn. She experienced it all as if it were the last time. The dark was nearly on them when he spoke again.

“Well? What say you?”

Tamm felt like her entire life had shrunk to this solemn point.

“Alright,” she answered, feeling sick.

“Smart girl.”

“So, what now?” It was asked lamely and with growing dread. It was all she could muster.

“You will take this to your grave,” he began simply, through rows of animal teeth. “Reveal neither yourself nor our bargain to anyone, otherwise we’re both done for. Do you understand?”

Tamm could only nod, rendered speechless as he made a final promise.

“The Kahn will never hear of it from my lips, so long as you obey me.”

Shinnok fell silent. He was cast halfway in shadow, bone-white and deliberate. He had made the offer forthrightly, but Tamm saw a savage intent in his eyes. His expression changed suddenly to one of sly interest.

“How old are you, little one?”

“15.” she gulped.

“Ah, still a child. I predict you’ll grow into a raving beauty someday. You have the makings of one, even now.”

Tamm didn’t know why, but she misliked the way he looked at her. It was much too eager. Shinnok abruptly straightened, assuming the stance of a well-bred gentleman. He gave her an assessing look.

“When you are ready, truly ready, I will come.” he said, stepping back into the waiting portal. Tamm couldn’t know that in a few months time, he would do just that.

“In the meantime, I must continue to try and bring a very angry pyromancer into my employ.” Shinnok gave a stately bow as the portal closed over him in a violet haze, and the only words going around and around in her head were: What have I done?