Warning: Cursing, there's a very big chunk Kano hate (I know I have some Kano fans and I just wanna say that I wrote this when I very first got into Mortal Kombat!! This was made way before I started liking him!!)
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
CG Liu Kang & Kung Lao w/ Regressor Cole (Fic)
"You think they'll improve?" Liu Kang asked, swinging his legs, keeping the fire in his hand steady. Kung Lao and him were sitting on the ledge, a light night hangout. The fire was their only main source of light with how dark it was. "I mean, in time to fight for the tournament?"
"They better! They're like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off," Kung Lao huffed. ". . . Kanos a bitch."
"Kung Lao! . . . Yeah, he is," Liu Kang quietly agreed. "He's so- So cocky!"
"But he was able to open his powers first," Kung Lao admitted. "I mean, with some personal help, but still. I just had to set him in his place!"
Liu Kang rolled his eyes, "You didn't set him in his place, you belittled him."
"Yeah, yeah, hey if I hadn't, we wouldn't have gotten helped unlocked his-"
There was a shuffle behind him. Both men quickly turned towards the sound, making the person squeak in the darkness. Cole quietly walked out, looking a bit nervous and guilty for being up so late. Not that there was a set bedtime, which was why Liu Kang and Kung Lao were hanging out. But all three boys really should be asleep.
"Cole? What are you doing up so late?" Liu Kang asked.
"Couldn't sleep," Cole shrugged, huddled up in his blanket.
Kung Lao motioned him over. Cole quickly waddled towards the fire, smiling happily as Liu Kang put it close, although not dangerously close, to him. It was cold at the temple, mostly at night. Cole was happy he thought to bring blankey- He meant, his blanket, along.
Right now was a terrible time to slip. His training wasn't improving, he wanted to go home, Kano was so mean at times. Everything was piling up, one on top of another! If he was going to slip, he thought late at night would be the best. When everyone was asleep and couldn't make fun or laugh at him. Or, everyone was supposed to be asleep.
"Come, sit with us," Liu Kang said, patting beside him. He grew the fire in his hands, sitting in between Cole and Kung Lao so all three could share the fire. "Did you wake up from a nightmare? Or just tossing and turning?"
"Tossin' an turnin'," Cole said, huddling against Liu Kang. Liu Kang didn't mind, his body temperature was warmer than others. "Whatcha talkin' about?"
"Psh, Kano," Kung Lao rolled his eyes, receiving a glare from Liu Kang. "I mean, we weren't not talking about Kano!"
"Just about the fact he unlocked his power," Liu Kang corrected him, he watched Cole deflate slightly. He looked almost like a kicked puppy. "I'm sure you'll unlock yours in time."
Kung Lao laughed, "Yeah, maybe I'll have to make you angry too! Man, his face was so funny when he got mad, he-"
"Lao," Liu Kang lectured, motioning to a sad Cole.
"I mean, in due time, Cole," Kung Lao smiled. "First you must improve to defeat us in a fight! You'll have a good chance after that."
Cole stayed pretty silent after that, but his mood seemed to improve as they went to other topics. He didn't want to talk about fighting while he was small, or, not about him fighting. He liked the stories Kung Lao began to tell, of ancient heros and his own battles. Which Liu Kang would roll his eyes to and claim he was exaggerating.
Although Kung Lao and Liu Kang noticed small things. His speech patterns weren't as they usually were. He mostly gave small words, or struggled with some pronunciation. He also called Liu Kang, Liu. And Kung Lao, Lao. They weren't new to the nicknames, since they called each such titles. But both boys also used the names when they were small. They didn't take Cole for a regressor, but it was a good guess.
"Whatcha staring at?" Kung Lao, sitting forward. Cole had been staring at him for some time. And if he didn't think it was a child stare, one that usually indicates they want something, he'd probably be questioning him.
"Wanna touch it?" Kung Lao offered, unclipping his hat. He normally wouldn't let another person touch his hat, let alone someone regressed. But they were both supervising him, he couldn't get that hurt, right?
"Lao, he could hurt himself," Liu Kang lightly lectured. Cole deflated at the concern. Liu Kang was usually a sucker for puppy eyes. "Well- Okay, but we've gotta be really safe while holding it. It's really easy to cut yourself."
"He'll be safe, he has the Great Kung Lao helping him," Kung Lao rolled his eyes, moving and sitting at Cole's side, making the boy sit between them. "Here, let's hold it like this."
Cole awed at the hat, happily showing it to Liu Kang. He wasn't touching the sides, thankfully. Instead both his hands were under the hat, and Kung Lao kept a hand there too just in case. He didn't mean to act so childish around the two, he wanted to hide his regression from his friends. But neither of them looked at him funny. In fact, they seemed to encourage his playfulness.
"Wear it?" Cole asked, kicking his feet slightly. "Oh! Um, pease wear it?"
"Well you asked so nicely. . . Sure, want me to clip it on?" Kung Lao asked. Cole giggled happily, nodding quickly. "Alright, stay still you little monkey."
"I thought I was a monkey," Liu Kang laughed. Kung Lao was always great with regressors, more of the playful side. Liu Kang was also quite good at playtime, but he'd admit that Lao was always a bit. Although that might be biased from the amount of times they'd babysit each other.
"Eh, you're both monkeys," Kung Lao shrugged as he clipped the hat on Cole. "There! Now be careful where you turn your head, you could seriously hurt someone."
"Mhm," Cole nodded, seeming to try to be careful as he went to snuggle Liu Kang's arm.
"Woah woah! You can't hug my arm with the hat on," Liu Kang backed away slightly. "You might cut my neck, and that wouldn't be fun."
"Lao does," Cole pouted, holding onto Liu Kang's arm still. Although trying to keep the hat away from him.
"Well, Lao's been training with the hat for years," Liu Kang tried to convince him. "Plus you're too little to be wearing to anyhow. We really should have put the rubber protection on it."
"Noooo!" Kung Lao whined. "I hate that thing!"
"It's safer around regressors, Lao," Liu Kang shook his head. "Seriously, you act like such a child some times."
". . . More than Kano?" Kung Lao joked, causing both boys to laugh.
Cole tensed at Liu Kang's words. They knew? They both knew? No, they weren't supposed to know! No one was supposed to see him little. What if they told Raiden? He didn't really want to be here anyways, he missed his wife and daughter. But he wanted to prove that he was supposed to be here. What if they told Kano? He'd never let it go! And he'd be so mean and rude and call him name and-
"Too little?" Cole frowned. "I- I dunno what you mean. I'm not little, I'm very big- I mean-"
"Hey, we get it," Kung Lao lightly shook Cole's shoulder. "You're a very big boy, you're wearing that hat. Little ones shouldn't be wearing something so dangerous."
"Except you," Liu Kang teased.
"I won't share my food with you tomorrow," Kung Lao threatened, causing Liu Kang to eye roll. "It's getting pretty late, don't you think? Should we head in for the night?"
"It's not that late," Liu Kang frowned. Kung Lao motioned to Cole, and he quickly got the hint. "Actually, we do have a full day of training tomorrow."
"Don't pout so much, we'll tuck you in," Liu Kang offered, grabbing Cole's hand with the one that wasn't producing fire.
"Don't need to be tucked in," Cole huffed. Kung Lao laughed and grabbed Cole's other hand.
"Sure, sure, let's get you tucked in for sleepy time," he said. Cole grumbled, but let the two lead him back to the sleeping corners.
Cole didn't like Kano's snoring. Or how Sonya woke up as they passed by, only to grumble and fall back asleep when she noticed it was them.
But he did like how gentle Liu Kang and Kung Lao were. They knew, they so knew. But they were being very nice.
Kung Lao took his hat back, much to Cole's complaint. Kang Lao tucked him in. Liu Kang tried to help, but there was only so much he could do with one hand. He didn't want to burn Cole by accident. Cole felt incredibly sleepy, drowsy hitting him as he was tucked in.
"Ni ni, Lao," Cole yawned. "Ni ni, Liu."
"Sleep well," Liu Kang kissed his thumb, pressing it to Cole's forehead. Cole giggled at the action, looking at Kung Lao expectedly.
"Night Cole," Kung Lao smiled, repeating Liu Kang's action. "We'll see you in the morning, okay?"
Mhm," Cole hummed sleepily, struggling to keep awake.
Liu Kang and Kung Lao slowly, and quietly, left the room. The three would have much to speak about tomorrow.
"You think he's gonna cry?" Liu Kang frowned as they walked to their sleeping cordors.
"You cried when I found out," Kung Lao gently nudged him.
"I'll burn you!" Liu Kang threatened.
Both boys glared at each other before bursting into laughter.
The morning would be a fun conversation.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Don't like this one very much, but it's been in my drafts for a super, super long time (I wrote it before the Regressor Mileena w/ CG Tanya one but hated it so I put it in a file I never looked at).
I like the 2021 Movie though, it's pretty cool. So why not publish it? :3
