#sub-zero x oc

[klowns-oc-sthuff]

Li - Mortal Kombat X Wiki

“Completely distraught and broken by both her brother’s and husband’s deaths, Li found herself at her lonesome and trapped within her depression, forced to relocate in her brother’s crippling island with none other home to go to. Yet her heart began to weight less upon meeting Fujin, who gained her trust and companionship slowly over years, growing a close bond with her as she did to him. In recurring misfortune, the sorcerer’s island began to prove itself unstable, forcing Li to accept Fujin’s offer of refuge in the Sky Temple under his supervision. Despite the support and dedication, both Raiden and Fujin are aware of the Thunder God’s grim & sinister vision of the sorceress becoming a reality.” - Official Description

General Information

Real Name: Shang Li

Alias: Apex [former], Li

Gender: Female

Status: Alive

Origin: Earthrealm (China)

Resides:

Current: Sky Temple

Former: Outworld (Shang Tsung’s island)

Species: Bengal Tiger & Human hybrid.

In Mortal Kombat

Affiliation: Shang Tsung, Fujin, Raiden, [unknowns]

Occupation: Fujin’s companion

Powers/Skills:

Current: Advanced level intellect, Master martial artist (Snake style), Dark sorcery: Vocal magic, Intimidation, Immortality, Bengal tiger & human hybrid.

Former: Master martial artist (Tiger style), Shapeshifter.

Crimes: Mass murder, Manslaughter, Trespassing, Assassination, Theft, Abuse of power, Sabotage.

Alignment: Evil

Storyline

[This will only narrate her inclusion & mentions in the various chapters & acts + her own chapter.]

Chapter 1: Johnny Cage

Seen at the Sky Temple fighting alongside Fujin & Raiden bearing a new appearance alongside unknown sorcery; it is seen to be activated through singing vocalizations which causes opponents to either be severely harmed or be gifted a slow death, yet she herself continues to practice her martial arts alongside this sorcery. In addition, she is seen to fight primarily alongside Fujin, the two acting as duo amidst the battle as it is obvious she mainly follows his flow as opposed to Raiden’s. Upon Quan Chi’s arrival, Li finds herself unable to contain her rage & utter hate toward the man upon his mockery toward herself and her late family, vocalizing a melody which causes Quan Chi to slowly fall to his knees as he begins to gasp for air, failing to summon his own sorcery to retaliate; still taken over by rage, Li shifts to vocalize once more, causing a green aura to exude from the sorcerer as she is seemingly initiating an extraction of some sort, yet Fujin breaks the dark spell through a summoned wind current which pulls her backward toward him. Angered, Li pushes Fujin away and turns to gaze at him, yet Fujin only returns a stern look to Li with the words ‘The consequences are not worth it…’, causing a silent understanding to break her anger. Shifting back their attention to Quan Chi once he stands, he mocks Li for allowing anger to overtake her, yet a deep panic is seen within the sorcerer’s eyes, despite his bravado, as he is unbelieved by her newfound powers.

After such, she is not present nor mentioned for some time.

Seen once more alongside Fujin & Raiden fighting off the revenants’s attacks, her gaze falters back to Quan Chi as part of her attention falls upon the man, distracting her and weakening her attacks as a consequence, a pained yelp leaving her lips as Sindel’s revenant kicks her toward the nearby wall, dazing her shortly as she takes a hard blow to the back of her head, yet she is seen on her feet once more after extensive seconds as she rushes to help Fujin recover from Sindel’s revenant attacks, the two exchanging a nod. Blasted into the wall and nearly sucked into the amulet with the brothers, Johnny Cage’s intervention prevents such, causing her to begin to stand up yet only to be knocked down alongside Fujin, sending the pair on the ground near each other, incapacitated alongside the Wind God. Seen once more alongside Kenshi & Fujin, Fujin signals Li to come along with him and his brother, which she follows through with no question.

After such, she not present nor mentioned for the rest of the chapter.

Chapter 2: Kotal Kahn

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be with Fujin, her state alive and well.

Chapter 3: Sub-Zero

Seen fleeing from the Lin Kuei temple gripping a bag filled with unknown items, she quickly escapes the scene upon noting the previous commotion ended; with a handful of Lin Kuei assassins taking note of her intrusion from the outskirts of the temple, Li quickens her pace as she grips the bag tighter, escaping from the premises before Sub-Zero can take notice.

After such, she is not present nor mentioned any longer in the chapter, being chased down by the Lin Kuei assassins.

Chapter 4: ‘Apex’

Sharp breaths escaping her as she flees, she finds her running beginning to be halted the more she nears her destination, knowing well she cannot have especially Lin Kuei strangers know of her private life; halting and shifting to face the small group, Li begs them to turn away and leave as she does not wish to harm them, yet the assassins persistence at capturing her give her no choice but to battle them as to drive them away.

One by one at first, she defeats them surprisingly easily, giving the hushed comment of ‘The assassins were this weak even back then?’ the more she fells as the battle presses on; as expected, Li wins the fights against the assassins, now encouraging them to leave the premises as she does not wish a worse fate to fall upon them. Painfully and painstakingly, the assassins gather their bearings and leave the scene, some hanging their heads low in shame while others grumble in anger; gathering her own bearings after watching the group depart, Li checks the bag and assures that all its item are within it before retaking her leave toward her destination, drinking healing potions along the way in order to ease her aches and wounds.

Landing within the Sky Temple, Li is quickly accosted by Fujin who wastes no time in questioning where she had been upon seeing her snow covered clothes alongside the mysterious bag she carries within her grasp; Li, although, is quick to dismiss the Wind God’s worried questioning as she rushes to her private chambers, the bag tight within her grasp. Upon reaching her chambers, Li empties the bag upon her bed and tosses the empty bag aside, gazing down at its contents in a sorrowful manner; a blue and black mask, a thin black belt with a simple silver buckle, a black box containing a golden wedding band and a framed picture of a smiling couple. Suspected to be her husband’s belongings at first glance, so is confirmed upon her sorrowful whisper of his name as she gazes down at the picture, the couple in question being her and Bi-Han.

Her heart skipping a beat upon hearing a soft knock at her door, Li is quick to retrieve the bag she tossed aside and refilling it with her husband’s belongings, hiding it away before she answers the intrusion; giving a faux smile upon locking gaze with the Wind God, Li does her very best in dismissing her earlier behaviour, yet Fujin is able to see through her rather easily, unwilling to take her lies upon her wellbeing. His worried manner toward her eventually break her act, a small string of apologies as she explains what she had done; how she had broken into the Lin Kuei temple and stolen as many of Bi-Han’s belongings as the bag could carry, speaking ‘I cannot be expected to have nothing of his! Even memories fade, Fujin!’. Yet her moment of immense sorrow calms down slowly but surely once Fujin gently embraces her, letting her bury her face within his shoulder.

Pulling away from one another, Li gives a grateful smile and a final pat on his shoulder as she thanks him for assisting her in such a dark moment; yet she finds herself surprised once she notices his expression shift to a more serious and somber one during seconds of silence, her heart skipping a beat in anxiety upon his sudden shift. Patiently waiting for him to break the silence while placing both her hands upon his shoulders and gazing up at him within his eyes, the Wind God recalls what she had done to Quan Chi time ago, giving somewhat of a plea to never perform such a spell upon anybody again as its consequences to it are of a caliber she cannot handle. He finds his heart weight lesser and a small smile to his face once Li continues his words, a phrase he often spoke to her these past years; ‘Vocal Magic is never meant to coexist with other dark magics, as it will corrupt its holder’, yet despite her knowing of such, Fujin is well aware that the sorceress loses reason when confronted with her grandest enemies, vengeance for her husband’s killing weighing heavily upon her heart. Despite her knowing of such as well alongside the fact that both Fujin & Raiden had scolded and warned her of such ever since she attempted the spell, Li cannot help but apologize for her unwise actions as well as vowing to take more caution, just as she has always done once the topic is brought up to discussion, yet she adds the new comment of ‘He and his master deserve that fate and so much worse. I will be the one to end their meaningless existence’ before the end of the confrontation; while he agrees of her rightful hate toward them, he once more tells her to take caution. In the end, he assures her that no matter where she’d be, he’d find his way to her with the comment ‘The wind is always with you, Li’ to which she gives a fond and grateful smile of, knowing well he means that wholly.

Chapter 5: Kung Jin

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be back in the Sky Temple, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 6: Sonya Blade

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be back in the Sky Temple, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 7: D’Vorah

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be back alongside Fujin, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 8: Takeda

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 9: Jax

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 10: Scorpion

While not present nor mentioned at the start, she is seen briefly later in the chapter.

Seen to stalk Sub-Zero & Scorpion during their meeting, to then drink her invisibility potion and stalk further on the two men as they venture further in, silently listening & witnesses all which occurred; revealed once more as the potion’s effects fade away, her face is filled with further rage and hate upon learning the entire truth of the situation, especially once Kuai Liang forgives Hanzo for his actions. Ridden with rage upon it all, she quickly flees.

Seen to be hidden away in the shadows as she lays her gaze upon Quan Chi & Scorpion, Li watches sadistically as Scorpion ends Quan Chi’s life; a grin upon her lips with widened eyes that shine with twisted pleasure. She flees the scene once the crowd disperses, knowing her presence would cause too much of a stir.

After such, she is not present or mentioned in the chapter.

Chapter 11: Raiden

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 12: Jacqui Briggs

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state confirmed to be alive and well.

Chapter 13: Cassie Cage

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state unknown.

Epilogue

E.:

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, yet she is believed to be alongside Fujin, her state unknown.

Relationships

Family

Shang Tsung (brother)

Sub-Zero [Bi-Han] (husband)

Sub-Zero [Kuai Liang] (brother-in-law)

Allies

Shang Tsung

Fujin

Raiden

Enemies

Shirai Ryu

Scorpion

Kenshi Takahashi

Takeda Takahashi

Lin Kuei

Sub-Zero [Kuai Liang]

Sektor

Cyrax

Sereena

Smoke

Johnny Cage

Sonya Blade

Cassie Cage

D’Vorah

Ermac

Erron Black

Ferra/Torr

Jax

Jacqui Briggs

Kano

Kitana

Kotal Khan

Kung Jin

Kung Lao

Liu Kang

Mileena

Quan Chi

Reptile

Goro

Tanya

Jade

Tremor

Bo Rai Cho

Shinnok

Kurtis Stryker

Kabal

Nightwolf

Ending

“Shinnok’s downfall gave the sorceress little security of the Elder God’s defeat, aware of how temporary an Elder God’s death is. In attempt to rid all realms of Shinnok’s evil, Li takes the decision to absorb Shinnok’s essence, severely overestimating her prowess amidst her selfless and angered act. Quickly realizing her grave error, the sorceress’s attempts to halt the merge proves futile as Shinnok’s darkness fuses with her own, quickly breaking her down into a spiral of pure insanity, feeling every inch of her body and mind taken over from the corruption, too weak to resist its influence. Fujin and Raiden intervene without hesitation, yet it proves a poor and deadly mistake: void of all reason, Li’s overwhelming power tears through the brothers’s own with no struggle, striking them down with ease as Fujin’s pleas fall deaf to her heart. Satisfied with her work, the sorceress flees once incapacitating the brothers, her high-pitched, hysterical cackle fills Raiden’s mind and Fujin’s heart with pure despair: no matter their efforts, no matter Fujin’s affections toward Li, Raiden’s vision couldn’t be prevented.”

Trivia

- It is stated that the necklace around her neck with a golden ring charm is her husband’s wedding band; she crafted the necklace once she stole the ring from the Lin Kuei compound, such confirmed upon her model change after her chapter is completed. She herself no longer wears her own wedding band.

- After Bi-Han’s death, Kuai Liang has made no effort in integrating Li; it is known that Kuai Liang has refused for her to set foot within the temple, reason of which Li resorted to steal Bi-Han’s belongings that were left stored away within the temple.

- Kuai Liang’s reason for Li’s dislike, even near hate, still remains unknown.

- Despite it seeming as if Li has forgotten her brother, she deeply mourns him; within her chambers, she has made a small altar which she speaks to each night she is there, carrying his green gem upon her belt every time.

- Vocal Magic is one of the most deadly dark magics to have ever existed as it is prone to corrupting its holder if it comes in contact with another type of dark magic, its holder losing complete sense of self as they turn deep into darkness and evil, selfishness and gruesomeness as a consequence; through a simple vocalization of a melody, anything the holder thinks toward a specific target(s) comes to reality as a gruesome spell. Such is seen in chapter 1 upon the opposition’s gruesome ends as she is battle-focused toward ending their lives.

- Upon Li’s acquiring of Vocal Magic, she shed her past identity in every manner she could; ridding of her shapeshifting abilities, suppressing her tiger nature she once so adored as well as shedding her name ‘Apex’.

- Li’s snow patterned tattoo upon her right leg is gone as she has refused to have her leg’s skin healed, fearing it would restore the tattoo.

- Upon her corruption, it is assumed Fujin fell victim to a spiral of sadness; watching the woman he holds so dear to his heart succumb to such a fate broke him. Alongside him, Raiden cannot help the self-blame he puts himself through. Both brothers are aware that now Li is their enemy, something that harms Fujin deep to his core.

- It is known that Li gifted Fujin the headpiece he wears; upon her corruption he couldn’t bring himself to wear it, yet he never disposed of it.

MKX Shang Li character wiki!

More built up for her!

This took me months to complete ;-; I had such a block with MKX and I’m lost to why, but at least know it is completed!

This is fully completed but slight modifications could happen if I decide to change my mind bc Im kind of a scatterbrain.

Again, this wiki belongs to ‘Shang Li’ and not ‘Apex’.

I’ve plans to post the full wikis for all planned and then post fully written, more detailed chapters.

Excited to see how she develops more? Stay tuned for more wikis and stories for her!

[fictionbyafangirl]

Tundric Heart

//Hi, all! After becoming absolutely *obsessed* with the new Mortal Kombat movie, as well as being a fan since the games began, and being a fan of JoTa since I saw The Raid: Redemption when it first came out and since then, I decided my flagship fic shall involve Bi-Han/Sub-Zero. This takes place prior to the film, having nine tournaments been fought. This is a POV-shifter and involves our favorite chilly boi with an original character. Naturally, I own no rights to the franchised character and only write out of my own fun.  I hope you enjoy!\\

Nothing phased him anymore. Bi-Han had lived many centuries, each reinforcing his growing lack of humanity toward the world, whether it be Earthrealm or Outworld. Due to his “gifts”, Bi-Han had become a favorite champion for Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat tournaments, successful in more than not and ultimately becoming an attack dog at the sorcerer's will. Despite Bi-Han wanting the Lin Keui to be free-agents once again, himself, primarily, he obliged, knowing he owed Shang Tsung his fealty for the many favors he performed for him in the past. The Lin Keui had been an elite group of assassins for those who could afford them. Either born into the organization or kidnapped as a youngling for the cause, its numbers were always plentiful. Bi-Han and his brother, Kuai Liang, had served the clan well, rising through the ranks. Bi-Han, though, had become the face of the group. The fierce fighter had gained notoriety for defeating the one and only Hanzo Hasashi, as well as the Shirai Ryu, a noble competitor clan in their world of crime. Over four hundred years had passed, yet a looming whisper of a threat still hung in the air from the very fatality that put Bi-Han on the map. Ever the paranoid ruler, Tsung tasked Bi-Han with finding the last remaining Hasashi blood heir and executing them. To the cryomancer, there was simply no point in doing so. He had ended the lineage himself many lifetimes ago. The Hasashi family fell to his hand, and he knew it, first-hand. Still, the soul-eater feared the prophecy of the uprising of Earthrealm defenders to thwart the imminent takeover, if the last tournament should be victoriously won by the mortals with an arcana gift. Nine circuits had been finished in the favor of Tsung, only needing two more to claim supremacy over the mortals. Begrudgingly, Bi-Han found himself in his home-realm on a reconnaissance mission to find out if the myth was true. One thing the warrior loathed was to be undermined, especially by Tsung. His employer had a knack for sending in the reinforcements if the smallest of setbacks occurred. Bi-Han was more than confident in his skill and ability to successfully fulfill his duties. To send in those that were inferior to him was simply a slap in the face. Not a day went by that the assassin didn’t think of a world where he no longer served Tsung.

The man was ageless as he sat across from a run-down diner, concealed in darkness. Darkness had always been his friend, even in the glory days of the Lin Kuei and the chaos they inflicted on their world. Darkness cloaked him in secrecy. Darkness gave him advantage against his opponents. Darkness felt almost as familiar and second nature to him as the cold. It had been a rainy evening, the spray of dingy gutter water spraying up from beneath the tires of those driving muddled the sidewalk. Bi-Han, looking not a single day older than he had when he terminated Hasashi, watched the neon sign that indicated that the diner was “open” flicker against the night. Dressed in black athletic jogger pants, a black zipped-up windbreaker jacket and a black hat with the bill curved and pulled down low to conceal his other-worldly eyes, the man watched from outside an abandoned building that sat adjacent to the diner. Arguably, the only physical trait that had changed about him was the hue of his eyes, shifting from a deep brown to a starkly bright  blue so pale that it nearly looked like ice had formed in his irises. These were the attributes of a cryomancer, and bastard Edenians, alike. Those of Edenian nature aged much slower than humans, living so long that tens of thousands of years was still considered to be in one’s youth. His hair remained raven in color though his skin did grow more pallid as though encrusted in frost, but not. The cryomancers had been banished from Edenia long before Bi-Han’s birth, but the genes that descended from the gods still carried on through himself and his brother, Kuai. Down the block, a group of young men were approaching the corner door of the diner, rowdy and raucous as they walked before ducking into the establishment. Taped hands rose from Bi-Han’s sides to bring the hood of his skim jacket up and over the top of his head, further obscuring his identity. He waited a few minutes to allow them to settle into their normal places to not rouse suspicion before crossing the slick city street. In all of the years of Bi-Han’s life, he had tuned his tracking abilities to be imperceptible.

His intel told him that a group of men, one that bore the mark of the dragon, frequented the very location nightly, as though a ritual amongst the friends. Bi-Han’s head never lifted as the bell on the handle of the door jingled to alert a new customer, and luckily, neither did theirs. His gaze remained to the lower-half of the room to not allow his face to be seen. The fluorescent lights that lined the ceiling in panels glared harshly in contrast against the natural darkness of the night he had waited in. Slipping into a corner table, the plastic-covered stuffing of the seat gave out a subtle hissed as it depressed beneath his weight. The group of men continued their merry occasion, joking and talking with elevated volume. The more attention they brought to themselves and detracted from himself, the better. It didn't take long for the waitress on shift to approach them, seemingly having a report with them as she used their names, engaging in banter with them as they shamelessly flirted with her. Her kind and clever rebuffs and deflection to their order inquiries showed that this was an occasional thing they did. She clearly wasn’t in the business of seeing any of them casually, yet they pushed the envelope with hope. Their nonchalance toward her left little disgust in Bi-Han’s mouth, but still, he surveyed. The fighter spared a moment to take in the new environment. The faded color scheme and furniture showed that the restaurant had not updated in some time, clearly struggling financially to keep afloat to bother with aesthetics. The tables were uneven as they stood and the seating creaked under pressure. The artwork that laid scarcely among the walls were drab and unappealing. Virtually everything that had been a polished metal before now rusted with weak infrastructure. The location was dying out, most likely kept in business by the nightly patronage of the subjects he followed in. 

Bi-Han focused all of his senses on the men, discreetly, as to not be noticed. He eavesdropped on their conversations, watched as they removed their outer-layers for any sign of the marking. He even committed bits of things they said to memory in the off-chance that it would aid him in his mission. His focus was solely on the group and everything they did. His gaze, though hidden beneath the bill of a hat, was fixated without any breaks, that is, until the image of an apron filled with pens and order tablets slid into his view. Bi-Han held his breath as the tell-tale spiel was about to be given to him. 

“Hi, there! I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. My name’s Jill and I’ll be your waitress on duty tonight. What can I get you?” No matter where you went, every restaurant had the same, generic greeting. 

Holding his breath for a moment to consider his response, Bi-Han decided to play it cool, not wanting to garner any awareness of his existence. The woman was polite enough for him to not care about the disruption. While she had been tending to the object of his assignment he had been able to get a good look over on her. She was attractive with cream-like skin and smoky hazel eyes and hair the color of maple that sat in delicate, loose curls that cascaded down the sides of her face. She dressed semi-comfortably in a baggy button-up flannel shirt that she tucked into the waistband of her tapered jeans that clung to her ankles and simple shoes with her apron and a name badge in place. She kept her makeup natural and modest, which was a pleasant thing to come across with women. With an errant hand, Bi-Han, without tipping his face at all, flipped the menu on the table over to quickly peruse the refreshments section. Quickly, his eyes settled on his selection before speaking it aloud to her, though in a low, hushed tone.

“Green tea. Iced.” His tone was short and cold, as per usual with him, and he offered no opportunity to continue the conversation. He was there for a reason, after all.

With a curt nod, Jill fished a dense book of ordering tickets from her apron and a pen to scribble down the table number and order to keep her tabs in-line. Bi-Han could hear the sound of the ball-point pen against the paper, attuning himself to his surrounding once more.

“Iced green tea, coming right up. What’s uh… a name I can put on this order?” The waitress inquired with an arched brow as her teeth found the corner of her lips, nibbling gently in a nervous gesture. Bi-Han took another moment to contemplate his response. His true, given name was something that was well-known. Instead, he improvised.

“Brian.” He was blunt again, cutting to the chase without any inflection to invite casual conversation.

“Right. Iced green tea for Brian, coming right up.” Jill relayed before bouncing away from the table to fulfill his request. She caught on to his tone quickly and read it loud and clear.

Naturally his order was the first one to be completed. Jill returned with his drink in-hand, along with a wrapped straw and a saucer of potential add-ins for the beverage. Bi-Han offered a small nod to thank her, fixating his senses back on the group of men across the room. Absently, he unwrapped the straw and slipped it within the glass, taking absent sips through it to not reveal his face. The preparation in the States certainly didn’t do the authentic drink justice as it did in his native China, but still he managed to swallow it down as he kept his eyes on them. Although the drink had ice in it, it didn’t suit him. His hand reached around the cylinder, his fingers releasing their icy powers to chill it even further, finally making it satisfactory to his liking. Bi-Han sat with his back pressed against the glass window that separated himself from the outside world. The rain continued to fall, pelting against the window pane. He could just as easily end the waiting and watching. He could turn every plunging bead of water into a lethal bullet to litter all of the men in holes, taking care of every lead. Still, he blended into the foreground, motionless and silent.  He wasn’t sure how long the men would lounge in the diner but he would be observing for as long as they would be. Someone was bound to slip and reveal themselves, reveal their arcana… something. If Bi-Han was anything, he was patient.

[darkpanik]

As I mentioned before, I can be HELLA EXTRA with my OCs...so of course I scribbled out a comic of Shi-Han. I have another, longer comic, planned but I’m going to hold that one off for a bit. It’s 10 panels... XD

Next fanfic update will be...no idea. It’ll happen when it happens.

[klowns-oc-sthuff]

Apex - Mortal Kombat 9 Wiki

“Twin sister to Shang Tsung, Li always has been her brother’s biggest support much like he has been hers. Much changed between the twins upon Li’s accidentally meeting of the cryomancer Sub-Zero——Bi-Han——during a failed hunt of hers, who wasted no time in aiding the unconscious tigress on a blizzard-ridden evening. Coming back to her brother after horrid days of her untraceable absence, Shang Tsung grew overbearing on his twin as he feared her sudden bond with this mysterious——and seemingly hostile——man, who he only grew to dislike more as years passed by, Bi-Han returning the sentiment that only grew stronger upon putting Li in his dangerous endevours. Despite her happy marriage with her husband and faltering relationship with her brother, Li is aware she would one day find herself without her beloved husband, yet finds bitter joy her twin’s promise of never losing him by her side, despite his dark and deadly path.” - Official Description

General Information

Real Name: Shang Li

Alias: Apex

Gender: Female

Status: Alive

Origin: Earthrealm (China)

Resides: Earthrealm (Arctika, The Lin Kuei Temple)

Species: Bengal Tiger & human hybrid

In Mortal Kombat

Affiliation: Shang Tsung, Lin Kuei, Raiden, Fujin

Occupation: ‘Member’ of the Lin Kuei, Shang Tsung’s right hand

Powers/Skills: Advanced level intellect, Master martial artist (Tiger style), Shapeshifter, Tiger hybrid, Immortality

Crimes: Mass Murder, Assassination, Manslaughter

Alignment: Neutral/conflicted/influenced

Storyline

[This will only narrate her inclusion & mentions in the various existing chapters & acts + her own chapter.]

Act I

Chapter 1: Johnny Cage

Walking alongside Shang Tsung, Apex stays silent and merely observes her twin’s interactions with the guests, giving her own wordless greeting as Shang Tsung introduces her as the second-to-last challenger of the tournament. Feeling angered on Johnny Cage’s insult to her brother, Apex attempts to attack him, only to be calmed by Shang Tsung as he assures her of the Earthrealmer’s sure defeat in the upcoming fights; she merely gives him a displeased snarl at her brother upon Cage’s victories and grows increasingly annoyed at the man’s uncompliance to ‘finish’ Baraka. Cockily, Johnny Cage gives Apex a light taunt upon seeing her utter anger to his victories, to which the tigress, bearing her sharp teeth and slit eyes, shouts an angry loud roar to the man, causing Cage to quickly shut up upon the display, commenting ‘I don’t feel like being mauled today’ under his breath. Being unable to keep to herself, she overhears the Earthrealmers conversation, her expression twisting in disgust at Cage’s preference to visit Sonya Blade which causes her to angrily growl ‘Incompetent idiots’ to both Reptile & Baraka, still unbelieved by Cage’s triumph in the last fight.

Chapter 2: Sonya Blade

Arriving moments before Sub-Zero’s defeat, Apex wastes no time in aiding her husband, to then roar & snarl a loudly to the lieutenant and threatening her heavily for wounding Sub-Zero; the Lin Kuei assassin gives his attempts of calming down his wife, yet to no avail as she gives him a low growl of warning that does not phase the cryomancer and only causes him to grab her shoulder in order to hold her back. Interrupted by Raiden’s intervention, Apex takes the opportunity to flee elsewhere as to aid her husband of his wounds.

Stalking Blade after her battle with Kano, Apex ambushes the lieutenant immediately after Kano’s & her brother’s departure; charging at her, Apex downs the tired lieutenant easily and buries her teeth in her side as well as deeply scratching various parts of her body. Once satisfied with her attack, the tigress pins the lieutenant on the nearest wall by her neck to the comment ‘Not even the Elder Gods can save you from a wife’s wrath’ before she tosses her harshly to the ground, fleeing from the scene with satisfaction of her work. Raiden, Liu Kang & Johnny Cage, upon spotting Blade in her injured state, rush to her, the Thunder God using his magic to heal both Blade & Briggs.

Chapter 3: Scorpion

Elsewhere for that day’s tournament, Apex is mentioned by Nightwolf upon challenging Scorpion who speaks that he should find other ways to find peace instead of seeking revenge as he could risk inflicting his same pain upon the tigress if Scorpion kills the cryomancer. Accusing Nightwolf of dishonoring his own kind and putting down Apex with his harsh comment of ‘May she burn in Hellfire for her sinful marriage with Sub-Zero!’, Scorpion defeats the shaman. After the fight, Raiden senses a vision of more dangerous & unstoppable threats arising if Scorpion kills Sub-Zero & Apex, he speaks to Scorpion & pleads him to spare the couple’s life on the condition that he will ask the Elder Gods to resurrect the Shirai Ryu if he does so, to which Scorpion reluctantly agrees to.

Walking in with Sub-Zero & giving a snarl of agreement to her husband’s taunt toward Scorpion, the pyromancer drags both Sub-Zero & Apex to the Netherrealm to engage in 2-on-1 kombat; upon the Lin Kuei couple’s defeat, Scorpion honors his agreement with Raiden & spares their lives, watching as Sub-Zero does his best to aid his wife. Distracted by Quan Chi’s vision of the Lin Kuei’s destruction of the Shirai Ryu as well as both Sub-Zero’s & Apex’s vision of them murdering Harumi & Satoshi, Scorpion quickly grows enraged; Sub-Zero & Apex alike plead Scorpion’s mercy as they tell him of the falsity of the visions, failing upon Scorpion removing his mask. Ignoring Apex’s pleads to not kill her husband, Scorpion attacks Sub-Zero as he ignores the cryomancer’s comment of ‘Kill me if it pleases you! But pease, don’t harm my wife!’ to which the pyromancer responds with ‘You both will meet in the lowest circle of Hell!’ to then kill him; shifting his attention to a desperate Apex, the pyromancer attacks her as well yet grows further enraged & displeased upon finding out of her immorality, no matter how fatal the wounds are. Quan Chi, equally displeased and surprised, curses the tigress with a painful spell, further sending Apex in a painful state.

Chapter 4: Cyrax

Upon Scorpion’s arrival with Sub-Zero’s charred skull & spine, Scorpion summons Apex, causing her unconscious & wounded body to appear to then leave soon after. Shang Tsung furiously accuses the pyromancer of his sister’s state under his breath, unable to mask his worry for her as he holds her; worried for the tigress, Cyrax & Sektor waste no time in rushing to her, proposing that they take Apex in their care as to allow the Lin Kuei healers to cure her, which causes Shang Tsung to curse at them and depart with his sister in his arms, furious at Scorpion for harming his sister.

After such, she is not seen nor mentioned in the rest of the chapter, being left in healing care by Shang Tsung’s most trusted healers.

Chapter 5: Apex

Waking up in her old room on her brother’s island, Apex proceeds to examine her various wounds on her body as she begins to self-medicate on the ones left uncovered; the tigress chooses to ignore her brother’s arrival, keeping her focus on her medication, giving a mere dull hum at her brother’s words of ‘How are you feeling, sister?’. Seeing her state, Shang Tsung gives a sigh, shifting to aid his sister and sitting her down, giving her a gentle yet firm look of care as he takes over her self-medication, remarking her as stubborn, which causes Apex to give a soft and quiet chuckle at his brother’s playful mockery to her, to then speak up with a mere grateful remark for his assistance, causing the sorcerer to give a simple hum of acknowledgement to her words.

Finishing his medication on her sister, Shang Tsung shifts to sit beside her after seconds of her remaining unmoved from her seated position, giving her a gentle nudge to her shoulder with his own; mere seconds later, Apex shifts to lean her head on his shoulder and close her eyes with a sorrowful expression, the sorcerer responding by leaning his own head on her own as to give her comfort, shifting to wrap her in a side-hug upon hearing her broken and meek words of ‘He ripped him to pieces and forced me to watch…’, wiping her tears away as the tigress begins to sob, recalling & recounting the events of her husband’s killing to her brother. Upon her somberful rant ending with her brother simply listening and offering comfort, Apex gives a shaky sigh followed by the words ‘Promise me you won’t leave me alone, Tsung…’ to which the sorcerer responds with ‘It always was my plan, sister…’ which causes the tigress to smile at her brother’s words.

With time passing as Apex remains on the island, she is seen turning her head to a specific direction, her demeanor a careful & alerted one as she begins to inch toward her pointed direction; hiding from sight upon arriving close enough to observe the situation, she finds herself falling into surprise as she sees herself locked in an argument with both Cyrax & Sektor as they exchange words regarding her coming to the Lin Kuei temple as she would find herself more comfortable there, only for herself to reject the two’s words, a fight againts Cyrax beginning to then another fight againts Sektor beginning once she defeats Cyrax with ease, defeating Sektor with ease as well. Upon the two Lin Kuei’s defeat, she speaks ‘Leave, before my brother finds you…’ which causes the defeated Liu Kuei to reluctantly depart, understanding that they’ve mettled far too much. Revealing herself once the two Lin Kuei leave, she addresses her own image with ‘What have you done, brother?’ Ain a frustrated manner with a dull undertone, causing her image to shift into Shang Tsung’s who retorts with ‘You may trust them with your well-being, but I do not. Their well-deserved wounds are not my issue given their stubbornness in ‘wishing to help you’.’ to which Apex answers with her own scolding remark of ‘You could have simply spoken with them. They never gave me any reason to fight them.’ to which the sorcerer answers with a crossed arm scoff as he gazes at her, responding with ‘Now they have.’. Giving a sigh, Apex pauses for seconds, to then cross her own arms as she gazes up at her brother with the words ‘I could have dealt with them.’ which causes Shang Tsung to retort with ‘And you believe I would have let you, given your state?’ to which she answers with ‘Must you always be so overbearing on me when it comes to the Lin Kuei?’ in a rather frustrated manner. At her words, Shang Tsung finds himself stung by offense by them as he answers with ‘Since when is a brother protecting his incapacitated sister overbearing?’ in his own frustrated manner, causing Apex to retort with ‘I need no protection!’ in a stubborn nature, which causes Shang Tsung to retort with ‘Given your state, you do…’ to which Apex gives a growl at him, to then turn her heel and depart, casing Shang Tsung to give an exasperated sigh followed by ‘Always the injured temper tantrums…’ with a shake of the head.

Upon time passing once more, Apex eventually locates her brother once again, looking at him with stubborn silence as he gazes back at her with expectant silence, merely raising a brow, giving a soft & small smile at her apology of her actions; pinching her cheek & gently tugging at it, the sorcerer accepts his sister’s apology and ushers her off to get back to the healers.

Chapter 6: Liu Kang

While she is not present in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing, she is mentioned several times by various people, more so by Shang Tsung.

The sorcerer mentioned his sister often as to excuse her absence in the tournament whilst lying about her reason for her absence with ‘She is out on family matters, none else is your concern’ to those who question him of her.

She is mentioned by Raiden’s champions in idle chatter, especially through Kung Lao’s words of ‘At least it’s one less champion to defeat’ followed by Liu Kang’s ‘Would it kill you to show sympathy?’ accompanied by a nod of agreement to Liu Kang’s remark from Jax.

She is mentioned by Raiden later in the chapter, who questions the sorcerer of her condition upon seeing his revitalized condition, not revealing to the sorcerer of his recent visions he had of the tigress, yet the sorcerer’s answer to the question remains the same, irritated by the Thunder God’s instance of wishing to know her condition.

After such, she not mentioned any longer in the chapter.

Act II

Chapter 7: Jax

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing.

Chapter 8: Smoke

While she is not present in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing, she is mentioned several times by various people.

Smoke & Tundra mention the tigress after they speak of Sub-Zero, stating ‘Is it safe to leave her with the sorcerer?’ by Smoke, to which Tundra answers with ‘You should be glad she is no longer an obstruction to us’, causing Smoke to give a rather exasperated sigh at the younger cryomancer, expecting such an answer. After seconds of silence, Smoke speaks up on the manner once more with ‘I understand you’re not fond of her, but have some compassion, even if little’ which causes Tundra to retort with ‘She was my brother’s wife, not mine. I’m under no obligation to like her’, leading to Smoke to retort with ‘Compassion is human, Kuai Liang, not linked to relations’, causing Tundra giving him a narrowed-eyed scoff which leads Smoke to drop the matter with a suppressed sigh of irritation. Their irritated silence is dissipated once they split apart and begin their mission.

Once encountering Shang Tsung with Kano, Smoke demands both Sub-Zero’s & Apex’s whereabouts, leading to a fight against Kano upon his offering to take care of him without charge, to which Smoke defeats him quickly. Confronting Shang Tsung again with the same question, Shang Tsung morphs into Sub-Zero, Reptile joining the sorcerer’s side; once defeated, Shang Tsung gives a scoff, morphing into Apex and fighting Smoke once more, yet being defeated by Smoke just as beforehand.

After such, she is not mentioned any longer in the chapter.

Chapter 9: Sub-Zero

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing.

Chapter 10: Kitana

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing.

Chapter 11: Jade

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter as she is stated to still be healing.

Chapter 12: Kung Lao

Much to everyone’s shock, Apex is seen spectating her brother’s & Quan Chi’s fight againts Kung Lao, yet leaves in silence upon Kung Lao’s victory; while still wearing her Lin Kuei attire, her unbandaged injures & bandaged ones around the entirety of her body, as well as her dull dead-like demeanor causes worried murmurs & silent gazes of pity to all around her. After her departure, she is no longer seen in the rest of the chapter, but is mentioned by Quan Chi to Noob Saibot once they find themselves at their lonesome with ‘Recall the female Lin Kuei? Steer clear of her without fail…’ without any explanation on his words, yet nonetheless Noob Saibot gives a nod of approval to his master’s words, not questioning him.

After such, she is not mentioned any longer in the chapter.

Act III

Chapter 13: Stryker

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter as she is stated to be recovering/training.

Chapter 14: Kabal

While not present at the beginning of the chapter, she is seen with Shang Tsung, amongst the others, who listen to Shao Kahn.

As dull & dead-like as she has had when seen beforehand, such a demeanor breaks once Shao Kahn kills Shang Tsung, causing her to call out for him in distress and pleading Shao Kahn to stop, only to be silenced by the Kahn. Once Shang Tsung is entirely killed, the tigress begins to grow more distraught; with a look of pure rage and hate, Apex begins to charge at Shao Kahn as she shouts graphic & brutal threats at him, only to be halted by Noob Saibot who holds her back the best he can, placing one hand over her mouth & nose and managing to put her in a sleeping state, to then gently lay her on the ground.

Upon Kabal’s intervention, Noob Saibot drives the man further away from the unconscious Apex, urging the fight further away from the tigress; once the fight is concluded with both Noob Saibot’s & Mileena’s defeat at Kabal’s hands, Apex is seen awakening after Kabal’s departure; a gaze of pure sadness & rage is all that fills her expression, to then take her leave.

Upon being known of Noob Saibot’s action toward Apex, Quan Chi grows angered by them & by his direct dismissal of his orders, plotting further to make sure Noob Saibot would not dismiss such orders again.

Later in the chapter, Raiden gains another vision of Apex, much the same one he had time ago.

After such, she is not mentioned nor seen any longer in the chapter.

Chapter 15: Cyber Sub-Zero

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, her state & location in this chapter is generally unknown.

Chapter 16: Nightwolf

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, her state & location in this chapter is generally unknown.

Chapter 17: Raiden

Not present nor mentioned in this chapter, her state & location in this chapter is generally unknown, yet she is believed to be, somehow & in some way, dead.

Epilogue

E.:

While she is not present in this chapter as her state & location in this chapter is generally unknown, she is mentioned several times by various people.

Much like he grieved the others, Raiden grieved Apex as well, yet failing to locate & assist her, only giving a pray to the Elder Gods for them to look for her in his place given his inability to do so, yet unsure if they would ever able themselves to do so.

Mentioned by both Quan Chi & Shinnok, the fallen Elder God finds himself pleased by the tigress’s severely weakened state.

Relationships

Family

Shang Tsung (brother)

Sub-Zero [Bi-Han] (husband)

Sub-Zero [Kuai Liang] (brother-in-law)

Allies

Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung’s allies

Lin Kuei

Sub-Zero [Bi-Han]

Sub-Zero [Kuai Liang]

Smoke

Sektor

Cyrax

Fujin

Raiden

Enemies

Sereena

Shirai Ryu

Scorpion

Liu Kang

Kitana

Kung Lao

Jade

Raiden

Kenshi

Ermac

Johnny Cage

Sonya Blade

Kurtis Striker

Kabal

Nightwolf

Jackson Briggs

Ending

“Shao Kahn’s defeat did not give the tigress the closure on her family’s death as she had hoped. But it did further warn Raiden of her wrath and misery: she’s a threat to herself in this state, becoming an unstoppable threat to all the realms. Concerned, the Thunder God called upon and tasked his younger brother, Fujin, to her aid. The Wind God accepted the task, yet was alien to the tigress’s heightened senses. Discovered, Apex wounded Fujin with the intent of killing him. With no desire to wound her, Fujin simply asked for her patience in listening to his words. Upon sensing the honesty within his person, the tigress realized her mistake. Apologizing, she nursed him of his wounds. Upon hearing the Wind God’s offering companionship, the tigress understood and eventually agreed to it, slowly growing a bond with the Wind God. Growing guilty and ashamed of the one-sidedness of their companionship, Apex expressed her guilt of burdening the Wind God so while voicing her desire to a more equal-sided closeness. Fujin assured Apex of her unburdensomeness to him, agreeing to her desire while secretly sharing a similar such desire himself.”

Trivia

- While unclear of the entire timeline of her relationship with Bi-Han, is it stated that the two became a couple & married before the game’s events.

- It is implied of Kuai Liang particular dislike to Apex, yet his reason for such remains unknown, even to Smoke.

- While unsure, it is speculated that the Lin Kuei Elders have never appreciated Sub-Zero’s love for Apex, yet found themselves needing to remain accepting of it upon Sub-Zero’s & their often heavy clashing on the manner, leading to declines for the clan which costed everyone much; given this, is it also speculated that Apex herself proposed to Sub-Zero for their relationship to be broken if it caused too many problems, to which Sub-Zero strongly refused, stating of their marriage occurring wether it was appreciated by the elders or less. It is speculated to be one of the only times that Sub-Zero went against the clan’s Elders.

- While twins, Apex & Shang Tsung do not share abilities; with Shang Tsung being a sorcerer & Apex being a Tiger hybrid & shapeshifter.

- Apex is the only one who often call Shang Tsung ‘Tsung’ as well as ‘brother’.

- Apex is only called ‘Li’ by Bi-Han & Shang Tsung.

- While resident of the Lin Kuei temple, Apex is not an official Lin Kuei member, yet the reason for such is unclear.

- Apex has a snow-pattern tattoo on her right leg to Bi-Han she got done once they married; Bi-Han has a tiger-pattern tattoo on his left leg, yet is never seen.

- While often appearing human, some of Apex’s behaviors & hobbies are tiger-like, such as tiger vocalization (growls, snarls, etc,) & hunting.

- As Noob Saibot, Bi-Han remembers his wife, yet finds himself unable to show it give Quan Chi’s orders to steer clear of her; once he breaks his master’s rules, it is seen that Noob Saibot is generally gentler with handling her as opposed to any other.

- Raiden had a recurring vision involving Apex; such a vision the Thunder God recalls is Apex turning into a powerful sorceress wielding unstoppable & unrivaled power, such a power that not even an Elder God can rival.

- Often described as ‘dull, dead-like demeanor’ upon Bi-Han’s death, such a behavior remains overall consistent yet also fluctuates, such as seen with Shang Tsung—who she is open and honest with—and Fujin—who she is seemingly gentler and more honest with as well; another is Shao Kahn, who she turns deadly aggressive to once he kills Shang Tsung.

Mk9 Apex character wiki!

Made the decision to build up to Mk11 Shang Li as to give more context as opposed to simply placing Mk11 Shang Li with no explanation of who she used to be.

This is fully completed but slight modifications could happen if I decide to change my mind bc I’m a bit of a scatterbrain (T-T).

This wiki belongs to ‘Shang Li’ and not ‘Apex’, so, no, it is not an accident.

I’ve plans to post the full wikis for all planned and then post fully written, more detailed chapters.

Excited to see how she develops more? Stay tuned for more wikis and stories for her!

[klowns-oc-sthuff]

“Grandmaster of her clan and Sub-Zero’s cherished wife, the Xie Bao and Lin Kuei have been allies for generations, finally bonding them as one upon the two clan heir’s marriage, despite the concerns from the fellow Xie Bao.

For years, the two clans have stood as one; sharing their missions, assisting one another without fail, always standing as one, keeping united…

Despite her loving loyalty, unending adoration and utmost care for her husband, Apex’s feelings begin to falter into conflict upon Sub-Zero’s unprecedented moves, causing an unwanted drift between the two, a drift that harms both of their hearts deeply…”

◆ Apex

◆ Xie Bao Grandmaster

◆ Hope

Redesign of MK1 OC!

Stay tuned if you’re interested in her story!

[fictionbyafangirl]

Tundric Heart

Most shifts that Jill worked were uneventful. The co-workers that she shared shifts with were always the same. Clark was the cook, and if need-be, the bouncer. He was a large, middle-aged man that had served in the army for a few decades. Burly when he had to be, he could be intimidating, but to Jill, he was just the sweetest. Typically, the waitresses had around an hour or two of overlap, which usually meant Trina, a woman who worked three jobs while finishing up college. She was honestly an inspiration and Jill admired her hard work. Trina always set the brunette up for a successful shift.  Her regulars were there nightly, without fail. 

“Can I get you gentlemen a refill?” She’d usher coffee to Glenn and his brother, Jack, as they wrote up itineraries for their senior’s club right at the bar. The eldest brother, Glenn, preferred his coffee black and straight up. It was amazing how he could swallow the piping-hot liquid just as soon as it was poured. Jack, on the other-hand, liked a bit of sweetness and cream to his, a stack of half-and-half cups usually towered next to his saucer that housed his brew. 

“Maybe one more before we go,” Jack mused aloud before placing a sticky note down in his planner. “It seems like a chilly night and I’ll need all the warmth I can get when I leave.” He was cheeky, and Glenn’s chuckle showed that he agreed. Jill topped their mugs off with her customary smile before saddling the pot once more to make her rounds.

“How are you doing over here, Miss Bernice? Need any refills or can I put in a to-go order?” Bernice, and her binder of papers scattered all across the table, did the books for her local church congregation.  She had been born in the city and lived her entire life, practically knowing everyone that lived in the area. Her strawberry blonde hair had shifted to a pearlescent white over the years, with one streak of her natural color still weaving its way through. 

“You know, I would love another glass of sweet tea, if you could, dear?” Bernice was sweet, grandmotherly in her nature as she smiled with her whole face, her eyes nearly disappearing behind the pleats in her matured skin.

“You got it,” Jill winked before departing from the table to her station with the glass in hand. With ease she punched the addition to Bernice’s order before finding the massive pitcher of sweet tea that Trina had stored in the fridge at the end of her shift. Within a minute, she had the refill back to the woman, glancing to her next table to tend to.. “All set, dear.”

Holliwell, or as she would become known as: Holli, would sit in her booth, solo, to work on her graphic novel. She wasn’t much of a talker, but was kind enough. Jill and Holli mostly stuck to a series of nods and hand gestures, particularly a thumbs-up, for their communication after initially serving her what she normally ordered. The gang of college guys that lived together always had their dinner at the diner, and they always were Jill’s source of entertainment. The group consisted of Matt, Jerome, Steven, Jared and Paul. They were lively, comedic and good-natured. The young men were roommates that rented a house a few blocks from the diner. As typical, collegiate bachelors go, they weren’t blessed in the culinary department and often found themselves at their usual spot with two tables pushed together. They inflicted some harmless flirting onto her, to which she respectfully declined and they would carry on with their stay. 

The night would always entail the same, expected things and Jill was comfortable with that as opposed to the opposite. She had worked in a rowdy bar once while trying to make ends meet in her own school days. Between sports nights and events held at the bar, she was constantly having to take care of conflict. She had been thankful for bouncers and speedy policemen before she couldn’t handle the chaos anymore. Simple and quiet suited her as she grew in age, and nonetheless, she loved the relationships she had built with her regulars. Whether it was hearing about their prime or just simply what they had done that very day, she was a welcome ear to chat at. That evening that she worked, everything had been happening like clockwork, that is, until he walked in. 

The moment he walked through the door, Jill couldn’t help but to keep an eye on him, subtly watching him take his seat. She hadn’t been the only one who’s attention was grabbed by him. Instantly, Bernice’s watchful eye was on him the moment she heard the chime of the door, casting her eyes back to the array of numbers she balanced, though occasionally checking on him. He was clad in all black like a walking mystery shrouded in secrecy. He was a mixup from her typical shift. Since he shielded his face with his hat, she wasn’t sure if she should approach him, but her better judgement told her to treat him as if he were any other customer. Jill topped off Glenn’s coffee, almost forgetting to pay attention as her focus was pulled elsewhere. 

Thankfully, she regained her rights and made sure her current customers were taken care of before making her way to the mob of young adult men who were particularly rambunctious this night. She overheard garbled conversation of advancing to the state playoffs which filled in all the gaps she needed to know. With her order booklet ready, she made rounds. They typically didn’t venture from what they frequently ordered, which made Jill’s life a tad bit easier.

“Hey Jill, when are you going to let me take you out of this place to a real restaurant?” Paul smirked at her, having given similar variations of the same line to her in the past. The blonde man with brown eyes was a football player for the local college, hoping to make it big. In fact, they all played for the football team. Paul had always been the most vocal about his flirting, clearly having not been turned down in his hometown very often. Jill didn’t know if his jaw could drop any faster than it had the very first time he asked her out and she declined. He recovered quickly and played it off as though he had only been half-serious, but she could see he had been slightly jilted with the word ‘no’. 

“When you can afford me, so… never?” She was quick and clever when it came to shooting them down. The boys had never gone beyond playful, to which she was thankful for. “So, who is next? Who’s gonna shoot their shot now?” Jill gestured for the next grab, though it was evident that she was being lighthearted with them. All were hysterical, always prompting laughter from the waitress’ lips. They varied in the degree of their attempt, Paul usually being the worst and Steven being the gentlest. Matt was from the Northeast with his evident accent that he swore he didn’t have. Jerome was from the south, vowing to make his mother proud with his grades and athletics scholarship. Jared was from the Northwest, a country boy that tended to the family farm but broke off with bigger aspirations in life. Steven was a lean Asian man that defied his family to play football. They had planned his life for him, which he didn’t dream of. Jill was proud of him for standing his ground to live his own life. He was, by far, the sweetest of the bunch with his pickup lines, which the waitress surmised was just to fit into the situation. Everyone else was doing it, so he figured he would, as well. It almost made her want to accept his proposal just to mess with his friends, but almost wasn’t enough to convince her of doing so. She addressed each one, waiting for the playful pickup lines before shutting them down with grace, poise and a smile on her face. It was flattering that they found her attractive despite having ten-or-so years on them. She took pride in how she kept herself together, applying extra effort when need be, but she took care of herself and apparently it showed. 

As she jotted down each meal order, Jill couldn’t help but to feel as though she were being watched by a spectre in the corner. He had been so silent, so still the entire time. It was eerie, yet she wanted to see his face, which was beyond her. She wanted to find out the reasoning behind the masking. She wasn’t sure what to expect beneath the hat, nor did she know if she’d even get that far. Finishing with the young men, she took a minute to go pin the checks to the order wheel, momentarily shielded by the walls that formed the cook’s alcove. Using a small mirror, she used her fingertips to give her hair a tousle and re-apply her lipstick, a warm nude color, rubbing her lips gently together. The man was new to the diner and it was her job to ensure he had a pleasant time to return. Jill’s boss had confided in her the troubles the diner had hit so any customer was a step toward keeping the doors open. 

Jill drew in a long breath that rooted itself in her stomach, her chest raising and falling as though weighted down with an anxious feeling before walking out toward the table that sat the cloaked gentleman. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out why she was so curious and intrigued about him. For all she knew he could have been a homicidal maniac just moments from breaking out in a murderous rampage. Yet something nagged at her, drawing her interest to him as her feet, quite literally, brought her physically closer to him. Each step was heavy in its placement, a specific destination lying ahead of her. The diner was typically kept at a pleasant temperature, with the exception of days with colder weather, such as the evening she was working, that the staff would dab the thermostat up a bit. With the cook’s ovens and burners constantly blazing and the hot coffee brewing into stainless steel carafes all day long, Jill always found the climate within the diner to be suitable for how she dressed. She had chosen the comfortable flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up after checking the weather before her shift,  though she noticed as she neared the lone table against the glass that she seemingly became colder, a chill dancing atop her flesh. Bringing her hands briefly to rub over the top of the sleeves of her shirt to warm herself, Jill continued on her path. 

The waitress pulled a deep, reassuring breath through her lips before approaching the table. The bill of the man’s hat had been pointed in the direction of the opposite side of the diner, never moving once he settled in. Without thinking, Jill took the few extra strides to move in front of his view, her hands moving to perch on the curve of her waist before speaking as she smiled though his face never once glanced up to acknowledge her. She could practically feel Bernice’s prying eyes boring into her back, shielded by the waitress.

“Hi, there! I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. My name’s Jill and I’ll be your waitress on duty tonight. What can I get you?” Jill added a bit of pep to her voice, her one hip subtly cocked out to place most of her weight on the corresponding foot. She tried, for the life of her, to figure out why she wanted to hear what his voice sounded like so badly in that very moment. Perhaps it was the classic trope of the good, innocent girl and the bad, mysterious boy but he was such an enigma to her. Her eyes followed his hand as he fumbled with the menu provided, but still, he didn’t move his head a single inch. She anticipated hearing him speak. She could see from his nose down to his chin and neck, which from what she saw was more than appealing, but he remained in the shadow of the bill of his hat. Jill wasn’t sure if hearing him speak would alleviate her curiosity or add to the mystery, but she still waited to hear him. 

“Green tea. Iced.” His voice was low, yet smooth. A mixture of a whisper and coarseness. Jill felt every hair on her arms raise in reaction, her flesh prickling as a small shudder swept over her. His voice was far different than what she had imagined in her mind, but it wasn’t different in a bad way, based on her body’s involuntary response to three simple words. Yet, those three words, watching them leave his mouth, watching the details of his lips as he formed them was enough for her to forget for merely a moment where she was and what she was doing. Blinking hard to bring herself back to reality, Jill fumbled with her hands to grab her order pad and pen, giving one blunt nod before scrawling down his request. 

“Iced green tea, coming right up. What’s uh… a name I can put on this order?” The waitress hoped she recovered nicely to not expose her nerves. Why on earth was she so timid and coy when it came to this man that she didn’t even know? Confusion didn’t even begin to touch the way she felt inside, knowing that this elusive man was simply another customer, yet still, there was a strange, baffling draw toward him. Jill’s teeth found the inner-edge of her lips, gnawing as the tension of the moment flared. At least she’d have a name for half of the face.

“Brian.” Faint and subdued, just as before, though she did detect a hint of an accent. More curiosities swirled around in her brain as she then began to wonder about where he was from, what brought him here, of all places. What he did.  She just simply wanted to know him… though finally, she had a name. She thought of asking more, but instead, she kept her professional distance. If he had the capacity to peek inside her mind he’d surely be out of the door in an instant. Still, she wasn’t a moron as he definitely made it known through his demeanor that he surely didn’t want to be bothered.

“Right. Iced green tea for Brian, coming right up.” Jill held the book of paper and pen to her chest before twisting around on the balls of her feet, her hair swinging listlessly as she made the turn. Despite her wanting to keep in his company and continue asking him whatever popped in her mind, his disposition made her better judgment kick in. 

Jill found herself at her work station, entering her credentials into the kiosk. She gripped the edges of the table and bent over to release a long, shaky breath as it loaded the program on the screen. Her eyes closed briefly, unable to pinpoint exactly what in the hell was up with her that night. She never lost her cool, and more importantly, never felt so compelled to a stranger. ‘Get a grip, Jill. Snap out of it’. She was glad her brain still had a semblance of rationality. Bringing herself back, she lifted her head to punch in the order for the table before suspending it to make the tea. It wasn’t ordered often in the diner, but the task had seemed simple enough. She placed the tea bags into the cup, pouring half of the water from the heated spigot to allow it to steep. While she waited for the essence of the green tea to infuse with the water, she prepared a saucer with an array of sweeteners and a straw, making sure each placement was precise and to her liking in a circular fan-shape. She couldn’t figure out why on earth she was putting so much thought into it but still, she strived to make a good impression. Once the tea was ready, she added the rest of the cold water and ice to top it off. She placed the glass in the center of the display of paper packets and ushered it over to his table, swallowing hard as the distance between them closed. 

“Enjoy, Brian... “ Jill smiled as she sat the tea down on the table beside him, though he couldn’t see her expression through the thick material of his hat, opting for a slight nod instead. Jill lingered for just a moment before pacing backwards slowly away, turning on her heel to check in with Holli, then next Bernice, and finally to check on the group of guys, occasionally casting a glance Brian’s way in hopes to catch a glimpse of his full-face. He was stoic as he sat, his hand only moving to take idle sips of the tea, opting to drink it plain. She hoped she had prepared it well enough to his liking. 

He never ordered anything else. The entirety of his stay he nursed that tea and made it last throughout it. Jill had said her goodbyes to Glenn and Jack, sending them off in their usual manner before closing their tab and setting aside the same allocated tip they always left on their bill. It wasn’t much, but it was a nice gesture. The meals of the college students were ushered out swiftly. Next came her duties of refilling condiments, prepping for the next shift that would relieve her. It was all about helping out. She cleared Holli’s table after she had left, though Holli only ever ordered appetizers, keeping her table free of obstacles as her pencil was constantly on her sketch pad. 

“Anything else I can get for you, or are you packing up for the night?” Next was the bookkeeper’s turn as she helped Bernice gather her things and return them to her orderly nature. The bookkeeper was growing older in age and appreciated all the help she could get.  Jill crouched down to the elder woman’s level as she leaned in close, one defined brow among her wrinkly complexion arched in suspicion as she glanced toward the massive pane of glass. 

“No, I’m doing just fine. But have you seen that fellow over there? I don’t know about you, but he seems up to no good… So very odd.” The woman’s voice was gravelly, yet quiet. Her deep, blue eyes fixated on him as though she were the watch-person for the diner. Truth be told, she was a nosey woman who loved to impede where she could. Shifting on her feet, still crouched, to cast a glance at the man in black. She couldn’t help the chill that trickled down her spine in the most exhilarating way. She captured her plump lower lip between her teeth, gently biting down in thought before turning back to the matronly woman.

“Oh, stop that, Bernice,” she said teasingly to her customer. “That doesn’t seem very becoming of you to judge someone you don’t even know. Besides, he’s probably just passing through and you’ll probably never see him again. Maybe he’s waiting on a car repair and has nothing but time to sit and relax? You just don’t know.” Jill was right and Bernice knew it. Her pride made the older woman turn her nose upward, her chest puffed as though she would rather appear courageous in her accusations than recoil in defeat. Jill gathered up the clutter after assisting the woman, though after Jill’s remark, she managed to finish cleaning up her things on her own. Pride could be unbecoming for some. 

Jill brought the dirty dishes to the back to throw in the washer in her off-time before it was time to close out the group of friends and their order. She collected all their payment methods and returned with their corresponding receipts. They had always been kind tippers, despite being college students. Their mothers would be proud. She said her goodbyes, wished them safe travels and told them she’d see them the next night, just as though it were second nature. Her smile was bright as her eyes followed them toward the door, noticing Brian had left already without a trace. Jill’s eyebrow quirked as she made her way to his table to clear the untouched saucer and glass. He had finished the beverage completely. Lifting each item, she noticed the bill tucked beneath the condiment holder. He had left a fifty dollar bill to purchase a two dollar drink with free refills. The edges of Jill’s lips twitched upward in a smirk as she picked it up. She was more than flattered but knew she was undeserving of such a tip. As her eyes lifted to peer through the glass into the dark and rainy evening, they settled on the abandoned building outside, seemingly in a daze of hoping she’d left a good enough impression that he’d return. 

Jill put the remainder of Brian’s money into an envelope to stow in her locker in the employee’s break room. If he’d come back, she’d kindly remit it back to him. She’d give it a month before accepting his generosity, though it was hardly something she expected with how impersonal he had been with her. Despite that, she still looked forward to his presence, should he show again, more than she should have.