Chapter Text
Johnny did not want to leave in the morning. Kenshi wasn't helping either, resting on Johnny’s chest and letting him play with his hair. They hadn't said much since waking up, just exchanged a few sweet kisses then settled back down. At least no one was expecting them anywhere, but they would miss out on breakfast at this rate. He didn't mind, not yet anyway, savoring the contact he had with him.
He knew once they left the room, this would end and they'd go back to being at odds with one another. Maybe. He still didn't want to give up on the Shadow after coming this far, but what would he even do with it? He could technically bounty hunt in any ship, and if there were no lower levels on the Shadow, there would be no brig and no place to hold the bounties until he could turn them in. The more he thought about it, the sh*ttier of a ship it seemed.
He had judged Kenshi for not using its powers but he had no clue what he'd do with them either. He wasn't trying to conquer empires like Shao Khan or trying to protect one like Princess Mileena. Who knew what Shang Tsung wanted with it, but he definitely had more purpose to obtain the Shadow than Johnny did.
Kenshi stirred and rested his chin on Johnny’s chest. “What are you thinking about?”
“Stuff.” He answered, realizing he had stopped messing with Kenshi's hair, probably the tip-off that he was distracted. Or asleep. He gently slid his fingers through his dark hair.
“Is it stuff you want to talk about?” He asked and leaned into the touch.
“Aw, look at you, caring about me.” Johnny teased.
Kenshi rolled his head and slowly sat up. “I'm just trying to be nice.”
“I know.” Johnny sat up too. He watched Kenshi stretch and try to find where they discarded their clothes. It was an open opportunity for him to stare at him in the warm morning light. “I was thinking about what you asked me, about the Shadow.”
“What about it?” He tilted an ear toward him.
“I don't want to give it up.” He said, continuing. “But I don't know what I would do with it.”
“You wanted it to get famous, right?” He successfully found a shirt, but running his hands over the neckline, he concluded it was Johnny’s and lightly tossed it to him.
“Something like that.” He said, catching the shirt and holding it in his lap. “I wanted to show my parents I could achieve something worthwhile. I could be somebody. The captain of the legendary Shadow seemed pretty good.”
He grunted, stooping to pick up the other shirt from the floor. “It wouldn't be worth it.”
“I know. You've told me about it. You did everything for your family, dedicated your whole life to them.” He watched Kenshi become still, his shoulders sagging. “But it took them from you.”
“Are you believing the curse now?” He asked and pulled on his shirt.
“Not fully. The family still sounds like a coincidence, but I don't think I'd like to see the rigging come alive and hang anyone around me.” He mirrored Kenshi and pulled on his own shirt.
Kenshi leaned down again, finding pants, both pairs. He handed them to Johnny, letting him sort out which belonged to who. “That's what I'm worried about.”
Johnny sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at him, passing him his pants. “What do you mean?”
“I think the Shadow will only punish me again when I return to her.” He just held his pants, standing beside Johnny with a painful expression. “I don't know what she will do to you.”
“To me?” He scrunched his brow and nose.
“Yes, you.” Kenshi followed Johnny's voice and touched his cheek, gently caressing it.
Johnny stared up at him, his face slowly becoming warmer. He did care. He did care about him. Or was he misreading him? “You think it would kill me?”
“I don’t know for sure.” He rubbed his thumb over Johnny’s cheek then pulled his hand away.
“There’s a lot you don’t know for sure about that ship.” He commented and stood up, trying to steer the conversation directly away from the feelings Kenshi seemed to confess to him. Directly away from the ones that squirmed in his chest and told him to hold onto the man. “You didn’t know it would grow legs and walk away from the cove.”
“It didn’t grow legs–”
“It slid into the water and started searching for you.” He pulled on his pants.
“We don’t know that.” Kenshi said, brows furrowing, like he was trying to remember something.
“Well, we also don’t know how it’s sailing with no captain.” Johnny put his hands on his hips and stared at Kenshi. “You know, other than you showing up out of nowhere, there really isn’t evidence that you are the captain of the Shadow.”
“Are you saying I’m lying?” He crossed his arms.
“No. I trust you.” He gently placed a hand on Kenshi’s arms, squeezing his wrist gently. Maybe it was an indirect confession, if Kenshi could understand it as one. Maybe neither of them were sure what they felt. “But I am trusting you a lot on only your word. And the fact that the Shadow stopped tailing us once you were on land, which either is a fantastic coincidence or it’s like Raiden said, it can’t track you on land.”
Kenshi shook his head and pulled his arms away, trying to return to getting dressed and figuring out which way was front for his pants.
“Question is, how does it track you? Why didn’t we see it between you appearing on the Sif and the cove?” He started to pace around while Kenshi finished dressing. He needed to do something to shake out the nerves. “If it knows where to find you, we should have crossed paths with it.”
“She doesn’t know where exactly to find me. I don’t think so, anyway.” Kenshi smoothed the front of his shirt. “It’s… Hard to explain.”
Johnny snapped his gaze to him, “Go on.”
“It feels like a pull.” He said, gesturing a little with his hands. “Like a direction, but you can only guess where to follow it until you stop feeling it and have to turn back the other way to find it again. I didn’t feel the pull when we entered the cove where I left it. I knew she wasn’t there before we entered. I didn’t want to believe she was gone, that’s where I intentionally left her, where I beached her.”
“I still would like to know how you accomplished that, too, by the way.” He interjected.
“I–” He frowned, rubbing his hands over his face. “I don’t remember. I just wanted to go somewhere safe, somewhere no one would find us.”
“And she just… Followed your will?” He asked, stepping back over to him. Maybe Baraka was right, maybe Baraka knew more than he let on. He was a merchant, after all, he's heard every rumor and tale.
“I guess.” Kenshi reached out to touch the bed then sat down. He put his face in his hands and sighed heavily.
Johnny looked down at him, studying his defeated form. “I think we need to get you back out on the water, see if you feel that pull again.”
“I don’t think Raiden will listen to me.” He muttered into his hands. “After the storm, I tried telling him that we should go a different direction, but he was set on Seido.”
“You have to ask him when he doesn’t have a destination in mind.” Johnny said, “Or when the other half of his sailing party isn’t missing.”
“If he listened to me, we would have found you and the Shadow.” He pointed out and rested his hands into his lap. “She was following you, right?”
“A little too close, but, yes.” He nodded. “This was still the better call, I think.”
Kenshi hummed thoughtfully and nodded. “You're right.”
“Pretty sure the crew wouldn't be all too happy about following some guy's gut feeling, anyway.” Johnny gently nudged him. “Especially not you, leading them to a cursed ship.”
He shrugged and nodded again, “I know.”
He watched Kenshi sit there then glanced at the door then toward the window, trying to judge the time. “Come on, let's get something to eat.”
Kenshi nodded. He didn’t move, though, sitting there pensively.
“Or I can bring you something?” Johnny offered, glancing around the room. He spotted the red blindfold, crumpled up where he had discarded it on the bed. He moved around Kenshi to pick it up then took his chin and tilted his face up toward him. The blindfold was carefully placed back on his face and tied in the back, Johnny taking his time to make sure the tail ends were roughly even. “You really need a new one.”
A small smile broke over Kenshi’s lips and he shook his head. His hands found Johnny’s and he held them for a moment, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles. The smile faltered again. He gently squeezed his hands and sighed, letting go. He stood and moved away from Johnny, “Let’s hope no one has questions.”
“What do you want to tell them, if they do?” He asked and trailed after Kenshi.
“I don’t know. You’re better at coming up with a story.”
Better at coming up with a lie, he meant. Johnny watched his back, trying to carefully pick out his words. “What do you want us to be?”
From this angle, Johnny could see the way Kenshi’s cheeks flushed. He could see him bite his lip until he turned his face away fully. He stepped closer to him, gently touching his back. “Kenshi?”
“We shouldn’t be anything.” He answered.
Johnny rolled his eyes, ignoring the sting in his chest. “That’s what you think we should be. I asked what you wanted.”
“I want you> to stay alive.” He said and half turned toward him, acting guarded. “I didn’t want to like you, I didn’t want to care about you. The Shadow is punishment, not a prize, and as far as I know, she will keep punishing me and you will be a casualty.”
“We don’t know that for sure–” His heart was beating hard.
“Do you want to test it?” He snapped.
“So, what? You want to stop looking for the Shadow?” He challenged back. “The demon ship that’s on the loose because her captain - you - isn’t on board?”
“I–” He rubbed his face, frustrated.
“If I was some cursed ship and I lost my captain, I don’t think punishing him again would be the way to get him back.” Johnny said. “Of course, I don’t know if that ship has a mind of its own–”
“It does.” Kenshi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Trust me, she does.”
He gave him a weird look then nodded, “My point stands. Why should she punish you when she wants you back? She follows your will, she is weirdly bonded to you if that pull thing you mentioned is anything to go by.”
“I don’t know!”
They fell silent. Kenshi was frustrated and Johnny was just staring at him, searching his face. His heart was still beating out of his chest and his question of what Kenshi wanted to be was still unanswered.
“Until we know for sure what she will do…” Kenshi breathed out and spoke quieter and softer. He touched Johnny’s chest, sliding his hand up to cup his cheek. “We shouldn't be anything, yet.”
Johnny leaned into the touch. “That sounds like a promise, Takahashi.”
“I hope so, Cage.” Another small smile. His thumb lightly brushed over Johnny’s lips before he pulled his hand away. “I think we may have missed breakfast.”
He chuckled a little and shook his head. His chest hurt. Everything hurt. It wasn’t an outright rejection and the affections given were more than enough to comfort him, but it still stung. It was confusing and frustrating and now he wanted to find the Shadow to either be fine and they could be something or to die somehow and no longer care. He couldn’t pretend he didn’t care, he was so bad at that with only friends. Maybe they could stay here for a little longer and he could drown himself in affections that meant everything. But Kenshi was already moving toward the door, pausing to wait for him.
Johnny followed him, pressing a hand on the door before he could open it. He stole a quick kiss from Kenshi, just while they were still in the privacy of his room. He felt him gently kiss back before they parted and left the room.
They had missed breakfast, which luckily meant none of their companions were lingering around to ask Johnny where he had been all night or to ask Kenshi how he slept. They were able to pass on through and out into the streets of Seido. Kenshi put his hand on Johnny’s shoulder to help him navigate among the strangers and unfamiliar streets. He stayed close to him, tensing whenever someone got too close to him.
Johnny kept checking on him. Whenever the hand on his shoulder tensed, whenever they skirted around a corner, whenever he felt him stumble a little. He stopped them when they reached the market, just to decide on food. Kenshi slid that responsibility onto Johnny, stating he didn’t really care, as long as it was edible. The temptation to mess with him and test that statement was strong, but the smell of fresh baked goods was stronger and Johnny bought them a couple pastries then found a spot for the two of them to sit in the shade, out of the main path of traffic.
“Can I ask something?” Johnny handed him the pastry then unwrapped his own.
“Sure?” He sounded weary, hands moving over the food to unwrap it then eat.
“What’s it like being blind?” He asked, “I know you weren’t before.”
He chewed for a moment then answered, “It’s hard. I was able to make it work in the cove, but it’s different here. There’s a lot of people and sounds and objects everywhere. I can’t take my time to familiarize myself before we’re moving again. I wish I didn’t have to rely on you or Kung Lao just to navigate.”
“How did you manage in the cove for all those years?” He asked, genuinely curious. “How’d you eat?”
“By lying about using the Shadow’s power.” He smirked a little. “It wasn’t much, though. I don’t think she wanted to give back what she took, but she allowed me to sense my surroundings to a higher degree. It took some getting used to but I was able to fish and such. In ways, I think it made up for being unable to see.”
Johnny stared at him, chewing a little slower. “Weird.”
Kenshi scoffed, not replying so they could eat in silence for a minute. He tilted his head, eating a little slower.
“Do you still have the senses?” Johnny had to ask.
“More or less.” He answered, still alert.
“So what all can you sense?” He was just curious now. He hadn’t considered the Shadow’s powers could be used for something so… Mundane. And non-destructive.
“When people are watching me.” He said, directing his attention down the path, Johnny followed the direction to see if he could spot who he was talking about.
Sure enough, they had been spotted. Lucky for them, it was friendly. Baraka was making his way toward them.
“I am glad you are still here, Cage. And you have reunited with your friends.” He made a small gesture to Kenshi, who still seemed a little uneasy but resumed eating.
“Yeah, we’ve just been resting and all that fun stuff.” He chuckled, “What brings you over here?”
“Your pay.” Baraka answered simply, reaching behind him to his bag.
“Pay?” He raised his brows, “Thought that was for Raiden or Liu Kang to hand out.”
“The Sif and her crew already received their portion.” He held out a small but full pouch to him. “This is for your help, specifically, on my ship, assisting and teaching my crew.”
“Oh, I was just doing what needed to be done.” Johnny said, accepting the pouch. “Thank you.”
“It is still appreciated and your work should be rewarded.” He rumbled, gaze shifting to Kenshi. “Have you heard of our run-in with your ship?”
Kenshi nodded, wiping crumbs off the corner of his mouth. “I did. I’m glad she did not sink you. I wouldn’t have wanted that.”
Johnny glanced at him and quietly noted Kenshi’s words. The Shadow could have run down the God’s Maw at any time, especially with the speed she disappeared. Was it because they avoided her path? Or was it because she knew what her captain wanted? It felt like a stretch.
“I am glad she did not, either.” Baraka rumbled, “I would have hated to lose the God’s Maw so soon.”
“What type of ship is she?” Kenshi asked curiously.
“A carrack.” He stated and straightened up proudly.
“Really?” He sounded impressed, sitting up a bit straighter himself. “I have never been on one, only seen a couple in my lifetime.”
“Would you like to visit her?” He offered, rather proud of his ship. “Once you are finished eating, of course.”
“Don’t tell him that, he’ll eat it whole.” Johnny joked and smirked at Kenshi, watching his excited nod to Baraka turn into a head roll and a tilt toward him. Only a minorly annoyed gesture, from the way he smiled a bit at the teasing. Johnny knew he had been doomed to fall in love with him for a while now and it felt worse after those soft confessions and now the stupid, affectionate smile he sent his way.
Baraka barked a laugh, “I respect the enthusiasm.”
Kenshi nodded and finished his food, just waiting for Johnny now.
“I can eat and walk.” Johnny assured and stood up. He waited for Kenshi to stand and put his hand on his shoulder again. He tried to ignore the smug look that glinted in Baraka’s eyes when he noticed. At least he didn’t ask or tease, just turned and began to lead them to the dock.
They walked quietly, Johnny focused on Kenshi and Kenshi focused on not tripping over something simple. They arrived at the God’s Maw with little issue and boarded. That was where Kenshi let go of Johnny’s shoulder, running his hands over the wood and following Baraka as he talked about the ship.
Johnny leaned back against the railing and watched them. Especially Kenshi. He saw him turn his face toward him once, accompanied with a small smile before he turned his attention back to Baraka. He smiled back, knowing Kenshi couldn't see. They were so f*cked.
He peeled away from the railing he was leaning on to walk around the deck, loosely following after the two. He paused on the side that faced the harbor and looked out over all the ships. A galleon was sailing - limping, actually - into the harbor when he looked out. He leaned on the railing to try and get a better look, glancing to his side when Kenshi and Baraka approached him.
“What is it?” Kenshi asked him.
“A galleon.” Johnny squinted at it. “She's in really bad shape, I'm surprised she's still afloat. I can't see her name from here.”
“The Harbinger’s Kiss.” Baraka spoke low, recognizing the painted blue hull. “Princess Kitana’s ship.”
“sh*t. What happened to her?” Johnny frowned. Hopefully the princess herself was alright, even though her ship was in such rough shape, gaping holes in the hull and near useless sails.
“I have a guess.” Kenshi muttered.
