Bantering and something more for Kitana...

Chapter 5: From now on…

“No, that definitely won’t suit him.”

The voice came with a soft chuckle as Jade's arms crossed, not defensively, but out of pure habit. Even with her newfound status, the former assassin still carried herself like a bodyguard watching for threats.

Some instincts simply refused to die. Despite that she felt strangely calm, a warm serenity.

Beside her stood Mileena, leaning casually against one of the massive black columns that surrounded the throne hall. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the spectacle unfolding across the chamber.

Mileena tilted her head slightly, studying the scene across the room before letting out a small giggle.

“Why not?” she asked. “I think he might actually look cute in it.”

Jade snorted softly.

“That,” she said, gesturing vaguely toward the scene before them, “is exactly the problem.”

A grin curved beneath her mask as she continued. “He shouldn’t look cute.”

She paused thoughtfully.

“He should look… royal.”

The word came out uncertain, as if even Jade herself was still adjusting to the idea.

Mileena hummed in amusement, resting her chin against her knuckles as she watched the man in question.

“Well,” she said lazily, “I wouldn’t mind if he looked like that more often.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly with playful interest.

“We deserve the view, after all.”

Jade chuckled quietly. She would never admit it out loud, but Mileena wasn’t wrong. Fenrir was handsome, in both ways of the word.

Across the chamber stood the new emperor of Outworld, Fenrir Blackmore, currently enduring what could only be described as a royal interrogation disguised as a tailoring session.

Jade studied him thoughtfully. Tall, Broad-shouldered.

Standing completely still like a soldier awaiting inspection.

He looked profoundly uncomfortable.

“Look at him,” Mileena whispered with amusement. “He’s standing there like he’s about to be executed.”

Jade’s shoulders shook slightly with contained laughter.

“To be fair,” she murmured, “I doubt Shao Kahn ever stood still long enough to be measured for anything.”

Mileena grinned. “That’s because father preferred armour to fashion.”

Across the chamber, the unfortunate subject of their entertainment shifted slightly.

Immediately a dramatic voice snapped at him.

“Do not move!”

The command came from Ammit, the legendary tailor of Sun Do.

The elderly craftsman circled Fenrir like a predator assessing prey, a measuring ribbon hanging around his neck while assistants carried fabrics and parchment.

Ammit tapped Fenrir’s shoulder critically. “Your posture is wrong.”

Fenrir blinked. “My posture?”

“Yes.” The tailor adjusted his stance without asking permission. “Stand straighter.”

Fenrir straightened.

Ammit squinted.

“No, less like a warrior.”

Fenrir frowned. “…I am a warrior.”

“Exactly.”

The tailor sighed dramatically. “You must learn to stand like an emperor.”

From a few steps away, Reptile observed the entire ordeal with surprising seriousness.

Arms behind his back, he watched as though this were a matter of military importance.

Fenrir sighed again as Ammit tugged on the sleeve of a half-finished garment.

“Too narrow,” he expressed, returning to work.

Nearby, a tall robed figure stood silently observing. The glowing eyes of Ermac followed the scene with unreadable intensity.

After a moment, the fused warrior spoke in his usual layered voice. “This behaviour is… unexpected.”

Reptile glanced at them. “You wouldn’t be the first to notice it.” He said “In what way?”

Ermac tilted his head slightly. “The Shao Kahn ruled through domination.”

Their gaze returned to Fenrir, who was currently arguing with a tailor about sleeve length.

“This one allows himself to be corrected by a craftsman.”

Reptile considered that. “…Is that bad?”

Ermac paused. “We do not yet know.”

He continued watching.

“The souls within us are… curious.”

“His shoulders are too practical,” Ammit muttered, jotting something down.

Mileena burst into quiet laughter behind the column. “Too practical? What does that even mean?”

Jade covered her mouth to hide her grin.

Ammit circled Fenrir again.

Fenrir sighed. “Can’t I be both?”

The tailor stared at him as he had just committed a cultural crime.

“…We will see.”

Behind the column, Mileena leaned closer to Jade.

“I like him already.”

Jade chuckled at that, agreeing with the sentiment. She placed her hand on her chin “Hmm, maybe a silk crimson tunic or a leather dark jerkin above a linen cotton shirt with dark laces…”

Mileena hummed in reply, picturing him in that attire “It could work, although I do believe they are too formal for his liking. He’s a warrior after all.” She added teasing.

Jade made an agreeing gesture, “Well, he’s technically a demon hunter.”

Mileena looked puzzled at that, yet amused. “Why would someone, an earthrealmer precisely, hunt demons? Seems… suicidal.” Beneath her words, she was widely impressed at his audacity.

“Beats me.” Jade expressed matching Mileena’s reaction, “Yet he’s skilled in his field of work. I don’t think we should be allowed to judge if that’s the case.”

“Well said.” Mileena bantered back with a chuckle.

At that moment, the doors to the throne hall opened quietly.

Kitana stepped inside, scanning the chamber. She had come searching for Jade regarding palace matters.

Instead, she froze.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. Jade… and Mileena… standing together?

Laughing?

For several seconds she simply watched.

The sight was… strange, Unfamiliar.

Once, long ago, she might have called Mileena her sister without hesitation. As children, Kitana had accepted the girl’s strange Tarkatan features with little question. She had convinced herself it was simply the result of their father’s bloodline expressing itself differently above her mother’s.

Outworld blood and Edenian blood, it had made sense to her then.

But that illusion had died the day she learned the truth, that Mileena was not truly her sister at all, but a construct created by Shang Tsung under Shao Kahn’s orders.

A twisted replacement.

Even now, the memory still stirred bitterness within her.

Yet…Kitana frowned slightly.

The Mileena she saw now was not the same creature she once despised.

And Jade…Jade looked genuinely amused.

That alone was unsettling. Shaking off the thought, Kitana approached.

“Jade,” she called. “Have you seen Barong? I need to send a raven to Lei Chen, and I cannot seem to—”

She stopped mid-sentence. Both women were staring past her.

“—find him,” she finished slowly.

Neither responded. Kitana raised an eyebrow.

“What are you two—”

She turned to follow their gaze. Then she blinked.

“…You cannot be serious.”

Jade chuckled. “Oh, it’s real.”

Kitana stared across the chamber in disbelief.

“Is he…” She squinted. “…being measured for clothes?”

Mileena nodded enthusiastically. “That appears to be the case.”

Kitana blinked again. “How did he even contact Ammit?”

Then she paused.

“…Wait.”

Her voice rose slightly. “How did he even know Ammit exists?”

Jade and Mileena exchanged identical shrugs.

Neither had an answer. At that moment, a quiet voice spoke beside them.

“He asked me.”

All three women turned.

Standing calmly beside them was Skarlet, her crimson eyes observing the scene with mild interest.

“I guarded his chambers last night,” she explained evenly as she began retelling the events.

---

The hallway outside the emperor’s chamber was silent, too silent.

Skarlet stood alone in the dim corridor, crimson eyes resting on the closed door before her.

She had not moved in several minutes.

His words echoed in her mind:

“Does it get better?”

“It does… but only if you allow yourself to change.”

The blood sorceress lowered her gaze slightly.

She did not understand why those words lingered in her thoughts.

They should not matter.

She had been created for one purpose, to serve Shao Kahn. Purpose, loyalty and obedience.

That had always been enough.

But now Shao Kahn was dead, and the man sleeping behind that door… had shown her something she had never been offered before.
Understanding.

Skarlet shifted slightly, leaning against the wall beside the chamber entrance.

“Why am I still here?”

She could have left, no one had ordered her to remain.

Yet she did.

She told herself it was duty, the emperor required protection.

That was all…Nothing more.

Her eyes drifted again toward the door wistfully.

“Nothing more…”

A few minutes passed in silence.

Then, The door creaked open.

Skarlet straightened instantly.

Fenrir peeked his head out from the room, looking slightly awkward. “Actually…” he said, scratching the back of his neck.

“There’s something you could help me with.”

Skarlet turned fully toward him.

Her voice was composed, though faint curiosity slipped through. “Yes… what is it?”

Fenrir hesitated.

For a moment he looked strangely uncertain, like someone about to ask a very stupid question. “…Do you happen to know a tailor?”

Skarlet blinked. “…A tailor?”

“Yes.” He gestured vaguely toward himself. “I only have combat gear. I don’t think that’s exactly… emperor material.”

Skarlet stared at him for several seconds.

Then she nodded once.

“I will arrange it.”

Fenrir smiled faintly with warmth. “Thanks.”

The door closed again.

Skarlet remained motionless.

“…A tailor.”

She turned slowly and walked down the hallway. A dumb smile started to grow in her lips because of him.

Duty… nothing more.

---

“So, after that,” Skarlet finished calmly, “I located our Zaterran friend.”

She nodded toward Reptile, who still stood beside the tailoring operation like an extremely serious consultant.

“I asked him to retrieve Ammit at dawn.” She folded her arms. “An hour later, the tailor arrived.”

The three women beside her turned again toward the spectacle across the chamber.

For several seconds they simply watched.

Kitana’s eyes narrowed slightly in amusement.

“I must admit,” said Kitana, “he surprises me more by the minute.”

A faint smile hid beneath her mask.

Beside her, Jade chuckled softly. “Yes… he does.”

Her gaze lingered on Fenrir longer than she intended.

Across the room, Ammit was currently measuring Fenrir's shoulders while muttering disapprovingly while Reptile gave his input on Fenrir's request.

“Too symmetrical.”

Fenrir frowned. “…Is that bad?”

“Very bad.” He retorted, with no malice.

Jade’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter.

Kitana tilted her head slightly. “…Why is Reptile acting like a member of the court?”

Indeed, the Zaterran stood beside the tailor with arms behind his back, observing the process with unsettling seriousness.

Mileena snorted. “I think he’s guarding him.”

Skarlet nodded.

“Partially.” She explained measured and poise, yet beneath that she was enjoying the scene as well.

“But I believe the emperor requested his opinion.”

Kitana blinked. “…His opinion.”

Mileena grinned. “Perhaps he trusts the lizard’s sense of fashion.”

Jade laughed quietly.

Kitana shook her head. “If he wanted advice, Ermac would make more sense.”

Mileena raised an eyebrow. “That’s a terrifying thought.”

Jade smirked. “Ermac would probably recommend robes woven from the souls of fallen enemies.”

The humor faded slowly as their gazes returned to Fenrir.

Kitana watched him carefully.

Then she spoke quietly. “…Shao Kahn would have killed a servant for speaking that freely.”

Jade nodded slowly. “He would have.”

Across the chamber, Ammit snapped his fingers impatiently.

Fenrir sighed but obeyed, wanting for this ordeal to end faster.

Jade smiled faintly. “He asked for the criticism.”

Mileena tilted her head thoughtfully amused. “He even listens to it.”

Kitana crossed her arms. “That alone makes him different.”

There was a quiet pause between them.

Different, perhaps dangerously so.

But… not unpleasant.

Skarlet inclined her head politely and stepped away from the group, resuming her watch of the room.

The three queens remained where they stood.

After a moment, Mileena spoke again. “Well then.”

She stretched slightly.

“Now that we are discussing our dear husband…”

She loved using that word. Mostly because it made Kitana visibly uncomfortable and annoyed at her teasing.

“…has anyone actually investigated him?”

Kitana resisted the urge to sigh. “Not yet.”

Her voice remained controlled.

“But I intend to.”

She glanced toward the throne hall doors. “Perhaps a visit to Earthrealm would be informative.”

Jade considered that. “Or we could simply ask him.”

Both women looked at her.

Jade raised her hands defensively. “What? He said he would respect our voices,” she continued. “That implies honesty.”

Kitana narrowed her eyes slightly.

“And what makes you think he will tell us the truth?” She added wary, He didn’t earn her trust…yet.

Before Jade could answer, Mileena spoke. “He doesn’t strike me as a liar.”

Kitana scoffed lightly. “You seem very confident.”

Mileena grinned beneath her mask.

“If it wasn’t for you also being cautious,” Kitana added dryly, “you would already be warming his bed.”

Mileena burst into laughter.

“Well…” She leaned casually against the column.

“…he is rather appetizing.”

Kitana’s eye twitched.

“You should try it sometime, sister,” Mileena continued sweetly. “You look terribly stressed.”

“You Bitc- “

“Enough.”

Jade stepped between them immediately.

Her tone was calm but firm. “Must you two ruin every peaceful moment?”

The two sisters huffed and crossed their arms like irritated children.

After a moment, Kitana sighed.

“I know two things about him,” she said reluctantly. “He is a demon hunter… and he carries powerful weapons.”

Her gaze drifted towards Fenrir.

“That sword he used during the tournament… it felt unnatural.”

Jade nodded thoughtfully.

“Yes, it felt… demonic.”

Mileena hummed.

“Speaking of weapons…”

Both women looked at her.

Casually, without warning. Mileena reached into a nearby satchel and pulled something out.

A revolver, Fenrir's revolver.

Both Jade and Kitana froze.

“Mileena!” Kitana’s voice dropped to a sharp whisper. “…How did you get that!?”

“Relax,” Mileena replied casually. “I asked Reptile to retrieve it for me.”

Jade stared at her. “You asked him to steal the emperor’s weapon?”

Mileena shrugged. “I promised him a favour later.”

She spun the revolver slowly around her finger.

Even inactive, the weapon felt… strong.

Faint crimson symbols flickered along the barrel like sleeping embers, the cylinder hummed softly with contained power.

Jade’s eyes widened. “…Do you feel that?”

Kitana stepped closer.

The air around the weapon felt warmer, like restrained fire.

“It’s infused with magic,” she murmured.

Mileena pointed it forward experimentally, mimicking the stance Fenrir had used during the tournament.

“You feel strangely strong with it,” she said with a playful smirk. “As if I should be afraid of myself.”

Jade quickly lowered the weapon.

“Do not aim that at anything.”

Kitana studied the revolver carefully. “It reminds me of the weapons Kano once traded to Shang Tsung.”

Jade nodded. “Yes… but far more intricate.”

“And far more dangerous,” Mileena added.

Kitana felt the faint pulse of energy inside the weapon. It was not simple machinery; it was something else entirely. It felt alive, as a living cage of hellfire inside each bullet.

She handed it back to Mileena. “Earthrealmers should keep their toys.”

Her tone was firm.

“Return it to him.”

Mileena tilted her head.

“Afraid?”

Kitana crossed her arms.

“…I simply prefer not to discover how angry he becomes when someone steals his hunting tools.”

“Ugh, you are no fun, Kitana.”

Mileena tucked Fenrir's revolver back into the satchel with exaggerated disappointment.

“So,” she continued casually, folding her arms again, “sister… what do you think our dear Fenrir should wear?”

Beside her, Jade chuckled softly. “I am curious as well.”

She leaned slightly forward from behind the column.

“Come now, Kitana. We are listening.”

Kitana rolled her eyes, though the gesture lacked real irritation.

She followed their gaze.

Across the throne hall, Fenrir still stood in the center of Ammit’s tailoring ****, enduring another round of measurements.

Kitana studied him, carefully.

At first it was simply observation; Posture, presence and physique.

The things a ruler would naturally analyse.

But slowly… her attention drifted.

Fenrir shifted slightly while Ammit adjusted the measuring cord around his shoulders.

The movement pulled the fabric of his shirt tight across his chest.

Kitana’s eyes lingered, she immediately felt warmth creep into her cheeks.

“Gods…” She thought.

She straightened slightly, attempting to regain composure. She blushed a little subtly, a warmness crept through her body noticing that she wasn’t just inspecting him cordially.

She was checking him out.

His build was unmistakably that of a warrior; broad shoulders, strong arms, the subtle tension of someone accustomed to combat.

Yet there was something else about him, something softer.

Not weakness, but humanity.

And that made him handsome, in a beautiful way. The way that could make someone fall for another.

Her gaze drifted downward, towards her abdomen first…his toned abs. Then even lower to his pants; the muscles that were part of it, the speed that came from them… and the bulge in between them. For a moment before she realized exactly what she was doing.

I am staring.

She quickly looked away.

Across the room, Fenrir laughed suddenly at something Ammit said.

The sound was warm and genuine, the unexpected laugh snapped Kitana out of her thoughts.

She blinked, refocused.

“Compose yourself.”

Still… she could not deny the truth.

He was handsome.

Not simply beautiful, like the refined grace of Edenian nobles. He had that grace, but there was something different.
Rougher, more dangerous yet heroic.

More… appealing.

Kitana bit her lower lip beneath her mask.

She studied him for a little longer, wanting to keep that image in his mind for safekeeping… maybe for later when she was alone at night.

She felt warm this time but lower in her body, closer to her thighs. She liked the view…her body was telling her so. “Gods there’s no way I’m truly giving Mileena the reason… I’m not pent up! He’s just good looking that’s all…yet that’s all…” She thought to herself, but deep down she gave in a little to her growing aroused mentally.

“I am not proving Mileena right.”

Absolutely not.

She **** herself to speak.

“A surcoat.”

Both women looked at her.

Mileena tilted her head. “A surcoat?”

Kitana regained her regal posture immediately, hands resting behind her back.

“Yes.”

Her voice returned to its usual composed tone. “Not a military one.”

She gestured toward Fenrir.

“The colors of his current attire already form a distinct palette. Crimson, dark tones… strong contrasts.”

Jade nodded thoughtfully.

Kitana continued. “He should keep the chainmail beneath it. It reminds the court that he is still a warrior.”

Her gaze returned briefly to Fenrir.

“…Volcanic Aurum or white steel would provide protection while allowing freedom of movement.”

She spoke like a strategist now.

“Black hose and armoured boots to complete the silhouette.”

Mileena hummed in approval.

“I like it.”

Jade smirked knowingly.

Her friend had always secretly loved fashion, Kitana simply pretended otherwise.

“I can see it,” Jade added. “Very imperial.”

Kitana allowed herself a small smile.

Several minutes later, Ammit stepped back dramatically.

“I have what I need.” He snapped his measuring ribbon closed. “The emperor’s new attire will be worthy of his station.”

Fenrir exhaled in relief.

“Finally.”

The tailor departed with his assistants, already discussing fabrics and measurements with alarming intensity.

Fenrir rolled his shoulders slightly.

“Well,” he muttered, turning toward Reptile, “that was interesting.”

He gave the Zaterran a grateful nod.

“Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.”

Reptile blinked in surprise.

“…You are welcome, Emperor.”

His tone carried genuine confusion.

Behind them, Ermac observed silently from the shadows.

After a moment, the collective entity spoke quietly.

“This ruler thanks his servants.”

Reptile glanced sideways. “…Yes.”

Ermac’s glowing eyes flickered. “He’s… Interesting.”

Fenrir turned around, that was when he noticed them.

Three queens.

Standing behind a column, staring directly at him.

He grinned immediately. “Well… that’s interesting.”

He approached with a relaxed stride while Reptile instinctively followed a few steps behind.

Fenrir stopped in front of them.

“Were you three watching what I was doing?”

The answers came instantly.

“No.” Kitana said, her cheeks faintly warm.

“No.” Jade added just as quickly.

“Yes.” Mileena answered with a cheerful chuckle.

The three women turned and stared at each other.

Fenrir laughed softly.

“Well,” he said, “I guess the cat’s out of the bag.”

He gestured vaguely toward the throne room. “I needed clothes. Shao Kahn’s wardrobe fits me about as well as armour on a shaolin monk…Thoughts?”

Kitana raised an eyebrow.

“As in?”

“The clothes,” Fenrir replied. “What else?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “I have no idea what people wear here in Outworld.”

He squinted slightly.

“…Please tell me it’s not kilts.”

Jade laughed softly. “Well…”

She stepped forward slightly.

“We may have a few suggestions.”

For the next few minutes, the three queens explained their ideas in detail.

Fenrir listened carefully, allowing them to speak freely. Something that had been unheard of during Shao Kahn’s rule.

When they finished, Fenrir nodded thoughtfully. “Those are good ideas.”

Then he turned.

“Reptile?”

The Zaterran froze.

Fenrir tilted his head.

“What do you think?”

The question hung in the air.

Reptile blinked, slowly.

“…My opinion?”

“Yes.”

Fenrir folded his arms casually. “You were watching the whole thing.”

Reptile hesitated.

Speaking freely before the emperor was… dangerous.

Yet Fenrir waited patiently.

Finally, Reptile answered.

“I believe Queen Kitana’s design would command respect in public audiences.”

He paused.

“But for private court… Queen Jade’s robe or jerkin design would be more suitable.”

Fenrir nodded. “And the colour?”

Reptile straightened slightly. “Crimson suits you, Emperor.”

Fenrir smiled. “Then that’s the route we’ll take.”

I gave Reptile a silent gesture commanding him to give us space, he bowed respectfully returning to the shadows invisible.

“Are you three busy tonight?” I asked nonchalantly.

The queens exchanged glances.

Kitana answered first. “…No.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Why?”

Fenrir grinned. “Well…”

He began walking past them toward the throne hall exit with a grin at them. “Spoilers. At evening come to first floor at the dining hall, I have a surprised plan for you three.”

They repeated the gesture, Jade shrugged at Kitana confused like she was.

I turned my head around slightly stopping at the exit of the throne room. Giving them a warm grin. “Don’t be late.”