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It was cold. Though, cold may have been an understatement. Freezing—a harsh chill breezing past too pale skin though they seemed unaffected. Bi-Han couldn’t remember a life before this, if he even had one. Memories seemed shrouded, covered in smoke and mist almost like a snowstorm blocking his way. How ironic.
Snow flurries fell to the ground slowly, covering the ground in snow that seemed to stretch on for miles. Everywhere Bi-Han turned or averted his gaze, he was met with more snow. His bare feet made indents in the snow as he walked, his powder blue and white robes trailing behind him, the sleeves slipping off his shoulders.
Though the cold did not bother him. How could it when he was one with it?
He walked with grace, opening his hand out and watching as snowflakes fell into his palm. They did not melt. His skin was cold enough to keep snowflakes whole. This was all he’d known… but sometimes he still surprised himself.
His eyebrows furrowed as he continued to walk, one foot in front of the other, in an almost hypnotic motion. Winter was in full bloom but once spring came he would cease to exist until the first snow made itself known again. He had to make good use of his limited time. It annoyed him but he made it work. The fleeting time made it all the more worth it.
The snow underneath his feet seemed to grow ever colder, freezing completely underneath him as he continued on. He closed his eyes, letting the snow guide him. He may have been human once, though he wasn’t sure.
He could recall bits and pieces. Long black hair, dark brown eyes. He sighed, it was futile anyway. His hair was as white as the snow around him and his eyes milky white, almost as if they were clouded over. Like he was dead. He almost stopped as that thought passed but carried on, there was no time for stopping now.
Finally, he seemed to arrive. Carefully, he trekked up the stairs, noting how they were made of ice. His robes slid across them easily. He felt warmth, something that even after all this time felt foreign. He hesitated, knotting his eyebrows together as he felt it but relaxed slightly as he remembered.
As he made it up the steps and into the icy cavern, he saw him.
Ah.
Him. Liu Kang , slowly turned his head, turning his body slightly to see Bi-Han. Despite Bi-Han’s abrasiveness he held a soft spot for the god in his cold, cold heart. He let snow gather in his palm, letting it materialize into a silken white fan which he opened with one swift flick of his wrist.
Liu Kang came closer, a smile ever present on his face. His eyes were almost as white as his own though they held much more warmth. His shirt was unbuttoned and open but he never seemed bothered by the bitter cold. It didn’t matter, though.
Bi-Han shyly hid his face with the fan. If he could blush, he certainly would be.
Liu Kang chuckled, his voice sending shivers down Bi-Han’s spine.
“Ever the timid one around me?” the fire god teased and Bi-Han had to restrain himself from hitting Liu Kang with his fan. It wouldn’t do much anyway.
Bi-Han huffed. Even if he was right, he still wasn’t privy to teasing. He was normally confident in himself but all of that melted away in Liu Kang’s presence.
Liu Kang circled behind him, strong hands holding his waist as warm lips pressed against his neck. It almost burned but Bi-Han could take it, they could only have these encounters occasionally.
“I missed you,” Bi-Han whispered, sighing as Liu Kang nuzzled against his neck, humming.
It was doomed from the start. Someone like Liu Kang loving something like Bi-Han was unheard of. They only had so much time, only a few months of the year give or take. It didn’t help that no matter how gentle the fire god was with his touches, Bi-Han was still burned.
But he endured.
“Does it hurt?” Liu Kang asks suddenly, already knowing the answer that’ll squeeze painfully on his heart.
Bi-Han rolls his eyes as an answer to which Liu Kang sighs in amusement at.
Liu Kang circles back in front of Bi-Han, gently taking his hand, whispering an apology as he watches him flinch and kisses the back of it.
“I’m sorry.” is all he whispers.
Bi-Han gives a pained smile, carding his cold fingers through Liu Kang’s hair, pressing his icy lips to his forehead.
Time was fleeting.
“When will I see you again?” Liu Kang asks, his voice just bordering on desperation as Bi-Han loosens from his touch.
Bi-Han closes his fan, using the tip to lift Liu Kang’s head up by his chin, an amused and sly smile on his face—but there was a sadness to it. A finality.
Bi-Han slowly leans in, his cold lips barely brushing Liu Kang’s.
He says, “Wherever the snow falls.”
And in the next moment he’s gone.