Chapter Text
Jacob was exhausted, physically and mentally, but he had to keep running.
His body ached, especially his legs and arms- especially his right shoulder, damn it General Shao- but he had to keep running. Even if it meant he'd collapse on Glenn's porch.
If he didn't see him again, Jacob genuinely thought he'd die.
With a final burst of energy, he threw himself in front of Glenn's front door, making a thud against the wood. He knocked on the door loudly even though it was around three in the morning.
He heard something from inside the apartment, and he prayed to the Elder Gods that his boyfriend would open the door.
"Please, open the door before I pass out," he muttered breathlessly, and he crossed his arms. A light shiver managed to escape his lips.
Hope filled his heart when he heard the door open and saw the one man who had occupied his thoughts since the moment he left-
"Oh, Glenn," Jacob said in a soft chuckle of disbelief. "Thank the Elder Gods-"
"What in the actual fuck?"
Even though Glenn sounded upset, Jacob couldn't help but rejoice at the sound of his tired voice- a dumb grin across his face accompanied his tattered clothes and shivering.
"Jacob-" Glenn ushered his boyfriend inside, quickly rousing himself from sleep. "-where the hell have you been? What happened to you...?"
He examined Jacob's clothes; a red and gray tactical suit, boots, and some lightweight armor plating. All of which had definitely seen better days, along with Jacob himself.
Glenn practically yanked him inside and threw him on the couch.
Jacob, however, gave no resistance. He was too tired to, and besides, even if he wasn't, he wouldn't put up a fight. He hadn't seen Glenn in what, a couple months? He expected a lecture.
And a lecture is what he got.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Glenn repeated. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? How many nights I couldn't sleep because I was up late thinking about what trouble you could've gotten yourself into? I mean, Jesus, Jacob, you're always on your goddamn phone I thought you might at least send me a text or something." His voice wavered as he spoke, as he paced, his mind reeling.
"I know, and I'm sorry-"
Glenn paused, and he turned to look at Jacob. "Don't- just..."
He sighed.
"Just tell me what happened."
And he sat next to Jacob on the couch, glancing over his body, and wincing in response to what he saw.
"You should see the other guy," Jacob quipped to try and lighten the mood. Glenn wasn't having it, and Jacob peered away.
"You look like you've been through a wood chipper," Glenn mused, tilting Jacob's chin so he'd get a good look at his face.
A cut above his lip, across his eyebrow, and on his cheek. Various bruises on what parts of his body he could see...who knew what lie beneath his clothes.
"What are these for?" Glenn was referring to the bandages around Jacob's knuckles and wrists.
"I, uh..."
"Were you in a fight?"
The question made Jacob think- because yes, he was in a fight, but not the kind his boyfriend would expect. Glenn had already seen him after a match at his local martial arts gym, but this was much more than that.
"Jacob?"
Slowly, almost hesitating, Jacob took Glenn's hands into his own calloused ones, and he gave them a firm squeeze. Eyes closed, he took a deep breath and then, he met Glenn's gaze.
Glenn was a little scared at this point. "Jacob..." He blinked rapidly, trying to do away with the tears that pricked his eyes.
"I'm okay," Jacob said, softly. He ran his thumbs over the back of Glenn's hands in a slow, calming gesture. "Don't cry. I'm right here, I'm okay. It's a lot to explain."
"Please, just tell me."
Jacob brought his hands up to cup Glenn's cheeks and wiped a stray tear with his thumb. "I will," he said, nodding, "I'm going to."
His arms encircling Jacob's waist, Glenn pulled his boyfriend into a hug and let his head rest on his chest. The sound of Jacob's racing heart put him at ease. Jacob held him closer, protectively, almost, and pressed the gentlest kiss to the top of Glenn's head.
For what felt like forever, or maybe not long enough, they pulled away, and Glenn got up to grab a first aid kit. Hopefully whatever he could do at the apartment would be enough. Neither of them were up for the long drive to the E.R.
He poured some disinfectant on a small cloth and pressed it to the cut above Jacob's eyebrow, which cause him to hiss in pain.
"Sorry, sorry," Jacob mumbled.
"It's okay, just try to stay still. Why don't you tell me what happened?"
"You've just gotta trust me."
"I do."
"Alright, well..."
-
"I didn't marry Johnny Cage!"
Jacob heard the words of his mother as he peered out of his room, having overheard his parants' arguement.
"I married John Carlton." Cris snatched her purse from off the couch. "And I'd do anything to have him back." Tearfully, she began on her way out, despite Johnny's protests.
"Cris, honey- come back! Come on, Cris, where are you going?"
He heard the door of the mansion slam shut and exclaimed, "fuck!"
Taking his glass from the side table, Johnny made his way to his stash of expensive alcohols and poured himself another serving. "How you like that, Mr A-List?" He grumbled as he took a sip.
When he noticed Jacob standing in the doorway, he almost choked on his beverage. Though, to his delight, Jacob had his earbuds in and was typing away on his phone- so maybe he didn't hear as much as he thought he did.
"What's going on with you and mom?"
Damn it.
"Ah...nothing," Johnny said, trying to wave it off. He'd rather not talk about it, not yet anyway. He sighed and took another drink, an indicator it wasn't just nothing.
But Jacob wasn't one to pry. "Uh, okay, then," he said, and he sat on the couch, chuckling at a message he'd recieved.
"Who're you talking to?" Johnny asked curiously, trying to change the subject.
Jacob responded with a quick, "Oh, no one."
"It's not no one, you're always texting that one guy....uh, what's his name..."
"Glenn."
Johnny smiled smugly. "You like him, don't you?"
"About that-"
They both perked up at the sound of the door opening, and Johnny went to go see who it was, clearly thinking it was his wife having returned, and in his head, a thousand ideas of how to make it up to her (preferably without spending much money, because that's what they were arguing about in the first place) running through his mind like a movie, before-
A mysterious man wielding a katana stalked inside, eyes narrowed as he stared at Johnny, gaze cold.
"Dad?" Jacob asked as his stood up, alarmed. "Who's that?"
Johnny didn't reply. His eyes were fixed on the man. Tattoos decorated his hands, though he wore a suit, oddly formal, Johnny thought.
"Where's my wife?! What did you-"
"Your wife left," the man interjected. "She's fine. You and your son will be too, if you cooperate."
"What do you want?"
The man pointed his blade to the katana on the wall, cased and in pristine condition. "Sento."
"You some kind of hired gun? Or do you know Sento's history?" As Johnny spoke, still keeping his voice strong, Jacob slowly made his way behind his father.
"I know it. It's my family blade."
"No way you're Taira clan," Jacob said, with a roll of his eyes.
"They've been dead for centuries," Johnny added.
"Not dead," the man clarified, "Hiding. With Sento in my hands, I'll lead us out of the shadows."
Holding the hilt of his sword with both hands, the man entered a fighting position- and so Jacob took his behind Johnny.
"I've got your back," Jacob affirmed. Johnny nodded, and raised his fists.
"That's a great plan, stranger. But just one thing. Sento's ours. And we won't give it up without a fight."
-
Glenn had applied bandages to the cuts on Jacob's face, and now was undoing the bandages wrapped tightly around his wrists. Nothing much there thankfully, just some redness and maybe bruising if he squinted.
"So this Kenshi guy just strolled in like it was nothing and tried to steal the sword?" He asked, rubbing some ointment into Jacob's skin.
"Sento," Jacob said. "And, yeah. After my dad and I took care of him, we tied him to a chair. My dad asked him some questions, yada yada- then the doorbell rang."
"What happened then?"
-
"-and that's Malibu's Finest." Johnny rose from his seat across from Kenshi and strutted toward his front door. "Great story." He chuckled and glanced back at him. "Bullshit...but great. You should seriously consider becoming a screenwriter."
Expecting Cris, he swung the front door open and was surprised to find-
"What in the actual fuck-"
"Good evening, Johnny Cage."
-two ninjas and a monk? Those must've been some damn good costumes because...woah.
The monk, with glowing eyes- Johnny needed to get him some contacts like that- bowed slightly in respect.
"I am Liu Kang, Protector of Earthrealm. May we enter?"
Liu Kang saw Jacob standing behind Johnny, looking absolutely bewildered, which made him smile a little bit.
"Uh. Nothing's being shot here tonight," Johnny said, glancing over the trio. "You sure you're in the right place?"
"Yes. We come on a matter of grave importance. We must speak to you, your son, and your guest."
"What?" Johnny leaned closer. "How do you know about him?"
Liu Kang's voice no longer held that tone of slight amusement, but now, it lowered, and became serious to match the growing tension. "Because I am the God of Fire."
-
"God of Fire? Jacob, no way-"
"I said you have to trust me!"
"I do, but this sounds-" Glenn laughed in disbelief. "Are you being serious?"
"Just let me finish! We let Liu Kang and the ninjas- Bi-Han and Kuai Liang- inside, and Liu Kang seemed to know...just about everything. All about the fight, about why it happened. My dad and I didn't believe him either. My dad insisted it was a prank. Bi-Han broke dad's Hichuli-"
"What the hell is a Hichuli?"
"An expensive glass staute. Anyway, he broke the thing, and they ended up fighting it out. Liu Kang broke it up, and that's when we realized."
-
"Enough!"
Liu Kang's shout and the burst of flames from his arms that set off the fire alarm left everyone- Johnny and Jacob especially- speechless.
"...that's no special effect," muttered Jacob, and he couldn't help but marvel at the sudden display of fire powers. "Are you a Fire Bender? Like in Avatar: The Last Airbender?"
Liu Kang glanced at him, but didn't answer. He was unsure of what to respond with. "Kuai Liang?" He motioned for the ninja to release Kenshi from his binds, and the man did as he was asked.
"Okay, okay- let's go back to one here. Who are you again?" Johnny questioned, raising an eyebrow at Liu Kang. He was listening now. For once.
"Lord Liu Kang. Protector of Earthrealm. God of Fire."
"That last one seems accurate," Jacob added. "What's an Earthrealm?"
"All will be explained, Jacob Cage. For now, what is important is that you both have been chosen to join its champions"
"Why him?" Johnny pointed at Kenshi, but then...
"Or Jacob?"
His son was an experienced martial artist, that's for sure- just like his old man. But he just couldn't imagine him fighting for an Earthrealm or becoming a Champion or-
Not because he didn't believe in him. But because...
Sometimes, Johnny still saw Jacob as the small little boy he adopted after his parents were killed in a tragic car accident- trembling and scared, but melting into Johnny's embrace the moment he saw it was him who would be taking care of him.
They were actually cousins, and had known each other prior. Johnny felt lucky to call Jacob his son.
It frightened him to think about Jacob in that type of situation.
"Jacob's young, I don't want him in danger-"
"I could handle it," interjected Jacob, meeting his dad's eyes. "Besides, if you're going, I'm going too. I can't leave you to fight by yourself." He looked at Liu Kang. "We're a package deal."
The Fire God couldn't help the small smile that played on his lips when he saw the young man's insistence.
"I know you are. I have faith you will all rise to the challenge. And because your service will change the arcs of your lives."
-
Glenn eyed Jacob curiously, suspiciously, taking in what he had just said. Fire gods? Earthrealm? Champions?
"Jacob, if this is some sort of elaborate prank-"
"Glenn!" Jacob said firmly.
"Okay, okay. I believe you."
He finished reapplying bandages and had moved on to Jacob's bare torso. There was a nasty bruise on his shoulder, that spread down to his back, along with other scars and bruises that dotted along his back and some on his chest.
Speaking of his chest, the first thing Glenn noticed was that it was much more...defined. Along with his arms. And his abs.
Oh, man.
He did catch himself staring, but then focused on the task at hand.
"Is that how you got so beat up? By becoming a Champion of Earthrealm?"
"Sort of," Jacob said. He shrugged and then immediately regretted it due to the sharp pain it sent through his body to even move his shoulder.
"We trained at the Wu Shi Academy in China, with the other Shaolin monks. We got stronger, more disciplined. One afternoon, we had a short competition to see who would represent Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat tournament against our rival, the realm of Outworld. It came down to Kung Lao and Raiden. Raiden won."
Glenn held an ice pack to Jacob's shoulder. "This Raiden must be pretty strong."
"Strong, and humble. Lord Liu Kang gave him an amulet to use the power of thunder, said it would help him in the tournament. We won, but it wasn't over yet."
-
The tournament had ended in a victory for Earthrealm, which put all those fighting for it at ease. But that certainly wouldn't be the last battle the champions would face, because Shang Tsung was in Outworld- and Shang Tsung was bad people.
Liu Kang had recieved word from his right-hand man and guardian of the Hourglass, Geras, that Shang Tsung was up to no good.
Kenshi, Kung Lao, Johnny, and Jacob had gathered on Liu Kang's order for a special mission.
Holding the delicate charcoal drawing of Shang Tsung and making sure the others could see, Kenshi asked, "so, we find him in Outworld and bring him for questioning?"
"Yes," Lord Liu Kang replied, "if what I fear happened, he is a grave threat to the Realms."
"Anything else?"
"Shang Tsung is a master of deceit. Do not trust a word he utters."
"Sounds like your first agent, dad," Jacob said.
"It's a tricky mission," Kenshi said as he glanced at Jacob, then at Johnny. "I trust the boy, but I'd rather have Raiden go along than this one."
"Hey!" Johnny exclaimed in protest. "This one is up for the job."
Jacob shook his head, half amused and half annoyed. Liu Kang, on the other hand, was as calm as always despite the weight of their mission.
"This mission must be done quietly. I am breaking my word with Empress Sindel, by sending you into Outworld without her knowledge. Due to the tournament, Raiden is now a familar face there. Sending him will only increase your chances of getting discovered."
He reached into his back pocket and retrieved a talisman, with a glowing red arrow encased in gold and glass.
"This tailsman is attuned to Shang Tsung's chi. Follow it to him."
Kenshi took the tailsman.
"Be careful," Liu Kang added. "May the Elder Gods protect you."
-
As Glenn wrapped some bandages around Jacob's shoulder, effectively ensuring a trip to the store for more medical supplies in the morning, he listened to his boyfriend explain, remaining quiet the whole time.
The more Jacob went on, the more Glenn found himself believing what he would've previously thought to be impossible. Like Jacob's father had said- bullshit.
"We went to Outworld and ended up in the Tarkatan Colony, where people infected with Tarkat disease were exiled." Jacob paused. "It basically makes people stronger, but gives them incurable bloodlust. There's no cure."
He sensed Glenn's unease and quickly added, "don't worry, Earthrealmers can't get it. We're good."
Glenn relaxed.
"Baraka, one of the tarkatans, helped lead us to Shang Tsung. We found him in the palace of Edenia. We thought he was hurting Princess Mileena- infecting her with Tarkat, and her people were in on it. Turns out Mileena already had Tarkat and the royal family trusted Tsung to cure her. Mileena transformed and gouged out Kenshi's eyes."
"Jesus," Glenn muttered.
"I know," Jacob said. "It was terrifying. To make it worse, Shang Tsung lied and said we were trying to bring up a scandal by revealing Mileena's illness. He captured us, and threw us in a cell in his laboratory."
He didn't even want to think about the laboratory. The sights of rotting bodies, the smell of decaying flesh and chemicals from experiments...
"I thought we were going to die," he said, his voice now hushed, as he was deep in thought. "Trapped in that cell, with no way out..."
He shook his head. Now wasn't the time for musing over his thoughts.
"Anyway, we were able to escape with the help of Shang Tsung's former slave, Syzoth. On the way home, we met a woman named Ashrah. Then we got into it with Quan Chi, this sorcerer, who was working with Shang Tsung. And..."
"And?" Glenn asked. Now that he was done with the medical supplies, he was cleaning them up and packing them somewhat neatly into their carrying case.
"They were planning on attacking Earthrealm. Starting a war over the Hourglass and the timelines." He almost forgot Glenn didn't know exactly what he was referring to, but it was a whole other story, and he decided he'd explain that later.
"We ended up gathering warriors from other timelines to fight in what Liu Kang called the Second Battle of Armageddon. I don't know what happened in the first one. Wasn't there. But this one, we won. The timelines are safe."
There was pride in Jacob's voice. He had given his all to fight for the timeline itself- and now he was definitely feeling the effects of his efforts.
But there was one thing he couldn't deny. And that was what he had done after the battle.
"The war just ended not too long ago."
"What?"
"I wanted- needed to see you. I practically begged Lord Liu Kang to send me here. I just couldn't spend another second wondering if you were okay or not. And I felt horrible for just leaving you behind-" Jacob took Glenn's hand, and he held it tight. "I still do."
It was still up in the air about everything else- but that was something Glenn truly believed, from the bottom of his heart. That Jacob was sorry.
"I thought about calling or texting you, but the service there was terrible, and then I was so busy, I-"
Jacob shook his head.
By the Gods- Jacob was just happy to be sitting next to Glenn. Holding his hand. Gazing into those pretty eyes that made him feel at ease, no matter when or where. To know he was safe.
Safe, right here, with him...
"Oh, Glenn..."
With the last of his self-restraint snapping, Jacob took Glenn's face into his hands and pressed a slow, languid, but heartfelt kiss to his lips. His arms went around Glenn's waist, as did Glenn's around Jacob's shoulders, being careful with the wounded one.
They both tilted their heads to deepen the kiss, and when Glenn felt Jacob's tongue gliding against his lips, asking for more, he let his lips part without any further thought.
He moved closer (if that wasn't even possible)- but then there was a knock at the door.
The couple hoped they could just ignore it, but then came a knock.
"Is this the right apartment?"
"I'm sure it is!"
"JACOB! You in there?"
"Kung Lao, hush! There are people sleeping."
"Oh, shush, Kenshi."
Upon hearing the familar voices, Jacob pulled away rather reluctantly, and he stood up.
"I'll get it," he mumbled, and he opened the door, but only enough for those outside to see him. Glenn was right behind him, peering over his shoulder, and that's when he saw...
"Is that Johnny Cage?!"