My Heart is to You

Soft Heart, Cold Hands

Xuē let out a soft breath, which came out as a small cloud from her dark mask. Her ice blue eyes lingered on the door, then back to the windows, which poured out the soft yellow light, signalling to her that her targets are still very much awake. But that was fine. The young assassin was fine with waiting, as her training prepared her for it. She could feel her companions shift behind her, uncomfortable in the bushes they occupied. But they never mattered to her, despite being fellow Lin Kuei. Except perhaps her lover, Hydro. But this was a mission, and she had to pretend that he meant nothing to her. The 23 year old woman adjusted herself, her legs beginning to cramp up as she had been kneeling for hours.

"How much longer?" The taller man, Hydro, hissed. He may have been the eldest, but Xuē was in charge of the operation. She would decide when they attacked, or if her companions would stay behind. And she was lingering towards the latter, especially if who the target was is really whom it was. Her father, Zhang Wei.

He was a prominent member of the Lin Kuei, and son of the infamous Sub-Zero, Xuē's grandfather. He was to fight his father for the title, but seemingly vanished shortly before the fight to the death. So the honor went to Xuē on her 20th birthday. And while difficult, she ended up the victor, thus earning the title of Sub-Zero for herself. It was unheard of, since the likelihood of a woman becoming a warrior was nigh slim to none. But her cryomancy gave her an edge above the competition, and her bloodthirsty nature was not one to be trifled with; her grandfather made sure of that. But because of her father's betrayal, she made it her personal mission to end his life, to punish him for betraying the Lin Kuei. And more importantly, for abandoning his daughter when she needed him most. It was more insulting to find out he had a new family, with two boys and a young wife.

"You will stay here and provide back up." She replies coldly, not looking back at him. "I will signal you if needed, but this is my mission. I shall be the one to eliminate Zhang Wei and his new... Family." She added the last part venomously, making her feelings on the matter very clear. Hydro held his tongue, choosing not to correct his lover on the matter of showing emotion.

"Of course Sub-Zero." He replied robotically, glancing away from the younger woman's back and to the quiet house. The lights flickered off, causing Sub-Zero to let out the softest sigh. She waited a half an hour, giving her targets time to fall asleep before she crept forward, and disappeared through an open window. She surprised a tongue cluck, but rolled her eyes at her father's stupidity. Perhaps being away from the Lin Kuei softened him. Either way, it made her job easier. She looked around the dark room, an ice dagger forming in her fist. It must have been the living room, as it had two squishy looking couches, a blue arm chair, an ugly wooden coffee table and a rectangular tv that was on, the volume turned to a low hum. A sitcom of sorts, but that was no concern to the female assassin.

She made her way down the dark hallway, quiet as shadows. She found one of her targets curled in bed, Zhang Wei. Smiling sweetly, she covered his mouth with her free hand, revelling in the fear as his eyes bugged open. No words needed to be exchanged as he seemingly recognised her. But that was all he got to do before she plunged her knife into his throat and removed her hand from his mouth. She enjoyed the way he gurgled and choked on his own blood before falling silent, eyes still wide and staring blankly at the ceiling. Carefully, she pulled the dagger out.

"You deserve this." She whispered to his corpse. "You deserve worse." She heard a sharp gasp to her right and looked up, staring down a horrified young woman, no older than herself. The woman opened her mouth, vaguely reminding Xuē of a fish. But no scream came out, as she quickly threw the dagger, burying the blade into the woman's forehead. She moved quickly, catching the woman before she hit the floor. "Unfortunate." She tutted. "If only you didn't marry him, you might've gotten to live much longer. Oh well." She tucked the woman into bed, making it look as though she were sleeping. Grabbing the hilt of her dagger, she yanked it out of the woman's skull with a sickening squishing sound.

Sub-Zero moved into the room nearby, the room of a baby. A boys room, she guessed. It had the name 'Liang' in cute little wooden letters on the door. A crib sat near the window, bathing the baby boy that slept in it with moonlight. He couldn't be any older than a few months, a pacifier tucked into his mouth. And he was tiny, even for his age. Pale skin, and already starting to grow dark hair. The assassin moved to his side and positioned her blade, holding it over the baby's heart. She sucked in a deep breath, ready to stab the child when he seemingly opened his eyes, staring at her with the warmest pair of chocolate brown eyes she had ever seen. And it hit her like a sucker punch, leaving her almost breathless. The baby studied her, before smiling behind his pacifier and cooking up at her, reaching up to the assassin. Letting the dagger melt, she gently reached down and picked up the baby, her cold skin hardly bothering him. He let out another cooing sound, reaching up to grasp her mask, squirming in her arms happily.

Emotions shot through Xuē that she wasn't familiar with. And that scared her. This baby, this infant.. He had never met her, yet he stared at her so adoringly, like she was his number one. "Liang." She whispered. And it hit her. She couldn't kill this baby. No, Xuē wanted to keep this baby. So innocent, so helpless. He made her feel something. She heard shuffling behind her and turned, staring down a 7 year old boy. He had shaggy black hair and piercing icy eyes. The boy stared at her, dumbfounded, mouth wide open. Instinctively, Xuē kneeled before him, clutching Liang close. "Hello." She whispered. The boy was just silent, fearful of her. "I'm not here to hurt you." Sub-Zero added, pulling down her hood and one handedly removing her mask. She gave the boy a gentle smile. "I'm Xuē, your sister." Recognition flashes through the boys eyes, though he didn't move closer. "Father mentioned you." He finally whispered back. "He spoke fondly of you."

Xuē nodded, still smiling a little. "Father asked me to take you two in." The boy tilted his head, confusion and angst crossing to his face. "Why?" He croaked out. "Doesn't he love us? Why would he want us gone?" Xuē shook her head. "No, that's not it. He wants you to join the Lin Kuei, to become strong. And he thinks that it's best with me. I will explain it more later, okay?" The boy looked just as confused, but slowly nodded. "Okay.." that bought Xuē more time to think of a story, and to speak with her companions. Carefully, she put her mask and hood back on. "Climb on my back and don't let go." She whispered to the boy. He nodded, moving behind her. Once his legs and arms were secured around the assassin, she stood up and left the home, returning to her companions. She shot them looks to remain silent as they teleported back to the temple. Leaving Hydro to give the report, Xuē went to her room, laying the infant onto her bed mat. "Go to sleep." She whispered to the boy. "I'll be back, I promise." He nodded, curling up next to his brother, watching Sub-Zero as she left, waiting outside her closed door. Sure enough, Hydro came by, mask gone, revealing an annoyed look on the older man's face.

"Want to explain what is going on?" He demanded, crossing his arms and glaring at her, though his expression lacked the anger. Shifting, Sub-Zero sighed and looked at the wall. "I.. I couldn't do it." She confessed. "I couldn't kill the baby. I.. they're my brothers.." Hydro huffed impatiently. "Zhang Wei was your father, yet you were eager to kill him." He pointed out. Xuē glared at her lover, sneering a little, though her mask covered it. "That's different." She growled. "The boy, Liang.. he's innocent. I looked into his eyes and I knew.. I knew I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill him. And I won't let anyone else kill him either." She added firmly, though she knew he wouldn't dare suggest it. "I.. I'll make them my responsibility. I'll train them to be Lin Kuei warriors. And if I can convince the grandmaster of their potential as cryomancers, he'd be a fool to kill them." Hydro's cheek twitched as he studied the young woman. There was so much he wanted to tell her, but only nodded. "I will help. You may be skilled with taking lives, but can you take care of them just as well? No. It is difficult." Xuē grumbled, then sighed. "You're.. ugh. I know you're right Faolan. But.." she sighed, taking her mask off. "I just.. let me do something that doesn't involve killing." The older man clucked his tongue, pulling her closer. "Of course A Mhuirnín. I'm here for you. Is brea liom tú." He murmured, kissing her forehead. He held her close, knowing that's what she'd want, even if she hardly voiced it.

And they stayed that way until they had to part and sleep in their respective rooms.