Mortal Kombat Ages: The Fires of Youth

[Gothicruby]

There was no pinpointing when Liu Kang finally succumbed to sleep...but Raiden's promise may well have tipped the scales. Sure enough, the young monk was as putty his daddy's arms.

All his life, Liu had been regarded as a rather light sleeper. The slightest shift of gravel could wake him, or even just a flicker of candle light...but the more Raiden rocked and hummed, the deeper into sleep he seemed to fall.

Liu had no concept of his heavy body right now; how his hips were being lifted and his bottom settled onto a thick layer of cloth, nor the crinkle of a baby blue covering with little fires coming to cover it all.

For the first time in well over twenty four years...Liu Kang was at rest.

At least...for now.

Like in any deep trances, there were bound to be shadows...and given Liu's past, he was going to have many to face.

"Mmm..." A tiny mewl eventually bubbled from Liu's lips, hands coming to instinctively settle beneath his chin. In his mind's eye, he could feel that something was changing...he was remembering something...

"Mmn-nn...?" His legs kicked slightly, one hand grasping out at thin air.

'Daddy...' his dream-self mewled; where was his daddy?

Had he left him all alone...? But he'd promised that he wouldn't...? The thought pervaded the blissful state of mind, like a set of gold, glowing eyes through a dark room.

Liu's peacefu little face crumpled sharply as another, more desperate whine bubbled out.

He could feel those eyes, sharpened in hunger, watching his every move. Terror shot down his spine like ice. Suddenly he was all too aware of how alone he was...how naked and vulnerable. His fists balled tightly at his chin. He was on guard, ready...Daddy wasn't here now, he was on his own...

Just like before, back at the rooftop, when the lightning struck, when his revenant had him captured, and when Kronika had him at his knees, and...and...!! Something flew out in front of his face. A strike landed in his gut.

"No...!?" Liu Kang yelled out as his entire body jerked awake with a flail. Sweat clung to his brow as his chest heaved with every breath.

"Wh-wha...?" How long had he been asleep...? What...? His head was spinning--he could barely think straight!

[Babygabrial]

Raiden had stayed by his side for the most part. For days he held Liu Kang. At times he would step away and bring a bottle of divine spring water to feed his little one. Of course with the water circulating through his body, he would need to release. When he did daddy was there to clean him and change his beloved little one. When he felt his little needed something a bit more solid he would feed him herbal water. The plant minerals allowed him to have a healthy digestive cycle. It was no replacement for real food, but it would do while he slept.

And he slept. Feeding, changes, cuddles. Day and night. Day after day, and night after night. Raiden cared solely for Liu Kang, and he loved every second of it. Occasionally, he would have to step away from the temple to handle his responsibilities as an elder god in a hands on manner, but to not break his promise, he would leave a magic circle behind with Liu Kang so that he may know where he is at all times. This went on for eleven weeks. On this day, Raiden stepped away to make his little one a fresh bottle of divine spring water. He returns speaking to what he believes is a still asleep Liu Kang. "My beloved, the waters are quite warm today. I think you will enjoy your feedings especially in the coming days." He comes and standards over Liu Kang when he sees some movement. "Awww well hello, I believe our eyes are going to open soon." He says as he sits down and pulls Liu Kang in his lap, and presses the nipple to his lips. "Drink up my baby. It's good for you." He coos to the 24 yrar old.

[Gothicruby]

"H-huh?"

Liu's gaze snapped up towards the familiar voice. Yet, even as he saw Lord Raiden, the young fighter only stared at the elder god as if he was a complete stranger.

"L...Lord Raiden...?" His voice croaked unsurely, dry and sore from disuse "Wha-what're you--?"

But the question was quickly cut off. For a few seconds, Liu Kang only continued to stare out in bewilderment at...hell, he had no idea what this was. He didn't even realise what he was drinking from until he'd taken a few much needed suckles...!

"L-Lord Raiden...!" He whined out at once, shoving the bottle away with a wild and uncoordinated hand. A stream of water streaked down his chin, he couldn't seem to quite stop it "What--What's going on?? What're you doing??"

His legs tried to flail out, but he found himself wincing out at the effort.

"My legs...! My arms...??" Gods above, everything was so damn stiff! "What...What happened? Wh-why...??"

A loud crinkle at his backside caused his heart to nearly cease. No.

No.

Surely not?

And yet...he couldn't bear to look at what he suspected he was wearing...

"Lord Raiden...?" Liu Kang's voice was tiny, but measured "Wh...Why am I wearing a...a...?"

He couldn't bear to say the word.

[Babygabrial]

"You seem to have forgotten. Relax, settle down." Raiden's soft yet commanding voice tole Liu Kang. He pulls the confused monk into a firm embrace and held him. Just reminding him of the warmth. Of the comfort. Of the love. Raiden knows Liu Kang's heart will speak. He just gives him time with large amounts of coddling to feel the truth. "It is fine. I am right here. As promised, I have not left your side." He stated with a calm smirk resting upon his face.

Raiden did not know how much Liu Kang did remember before his long nap, but he brought the warrior up to speed. "I have been caring for you as we both adjusted across these past 11 weeks. I have fed you, cleaned you, kept you warm, and enjoyed every moment of it." He stated. I made sure you would know my every movement, to keep you at ease. So you would not be alarmed at an absence. I am working to keep my word. As I have failed to before. It is a slow process, but a road I shall continue to walk upon." He vows.

[Gothicruby]

It took a minute for Liu to really heed the gentle command...and even that wasn't totally by choice. Just a few of seconds of soft kicking seemed to have his legs already cramping and yearning for rest. By the time Raiden had him pulled to his chest, the poor boy was already out of breath.

And yet, as his ear settled over the elder god's chest, Liu Kang found whatever will to wriggle away beginning to drain out of him. The tender beat of Raiden's heart sounded like a soothing drum through the monk's confused mind, almost grounding him.

But still, he looked upon his guardian with such quizzical gaze, even as he heard the explanation.

"W-Weeks?" Liu's jaw dropped slightly at the thought. He'd never even over-slept in his life, much less been more or less unconscious...! And that was just the first hurdle to cross, to to speak.

No wonder his body was all weak...and who knew how long it'd take him just to get himself back to a basic level?

"B-but..." Liu swallowed down a dry lump as he struggled to piece together all of this information "But...wh-why didn't you just wake me up, Lord Raiden...?"

He fidgeted slightly, trying to push back just enough to meet the Elder God's gaze...but even that was proving difficult.

"I-I thought you said we had more work to do? Why did you let me sleep so long? Why..." but his question was cut off by a sharp, mortified cringe. He'd just tried to shift his hip over...and the plastic pants cinched around his waist had crinkled rather loudly.

His cheeks burned as he finally noticed the bulk of plastic and cloth between his legs. Worse, he noticed how utterly babyish the design was, even if it was intended for someone his age.

"L-Lord Raiden...?" Liu did a poor job of keeping the whine out of his voice "I...I don't understand?"

His legs kicked some more, and with it made all the more noise from the sodden--oh gods, he realised it was sodden--cloth.

"I-I'm not a baby?? You didn't have to...to..." He doesn't really even know how to describe it "...Do all this??"

[Babygabrial]

Raiden chuckles and pats his head. "Just relax. You have no worries. Here there is no judgment. You have no need to be concerned. Here, you will have time. You will have time to train. Time to relax. Time to ease your thoughts. So we may plan, so we may make preparations. The fact of the matter is Kronika likely knows that we have gone back, and will search for either of us to make the same mistakes. However, I have pondered this greatly. Kronika's biggest weakness is her arrogance. She believes her schemes have brought her closer than they have. That is why you and I shall come together." He brushes any strand of hair from Liu Kang's face. "We will prove her arrogance unrewarded." Raiden speaks with confidence, piss, and vigor.

Speaking of piss. He feels Liu Kang's diaper within his plastic pants and determines "It is time for a change." He smiles more. "In more ways than one." He chuckles and unties his plastic pants before pulling them down. The paternal thunder god lays Liu Kang across his lap and brings over a basin of water. He unpins the wet cloth and proceeds to gently wipe his crotch clean. "You have soaked it nicely little one." He says. Once he is cleaned. Raiden rubs herbal oils into his skin, and sprinkles powders ground from the finest flowers. He then tapes on a disposable diaper onto him.

[Gothicruby]

"B-but...?" Liu Kang's lip pooched quizzically at the explanation "But I still don't understand? How is this s'posed to help with any of that...?"

He frowned slightly at the childish little slip in his tongue there. There was no denying that Liu Kang had always seen Raiden as a strong and powerful figure...but laying here, like this, helpless in the thunder god's arms...? Suddenly Liu was how aware of just how small he could be made to feel...

And though part of him knew he should probably take this as a lesson in humility...a bigger part of Liu Kang was feeling defiance. Anger, even?

He wasn't sure yet, and he didn't have time to think on it.

"Lord Raaaii-iiden?" Liu Kang squeaked out at having his diapers checked.

'His diapers checked.' Gods above...! Uncoordinated hands flew to cover his ever reddening face.

"N-no...! No, wait...!" The boy whined out when he realised what was happening. Lord Raiden, Elder God of Lightning and Thunder...was about to change his diapers! The thought alone made him want to crawl into a hole...!

"N-no, Lord Raiden...! Please?" he whined and wiggled throughout the change--but it was then Liu Kang realised just how helpless he was right now. His legs had no power and his arms hardly ever went where he wanted. All he could do was stare up in mortification as Raiden commented on the state of his wetting.

"I-I didn't mean to..." Liu fussed some more, legs kicking weakly as he was expertly oiled powdered "It...It was an accident...I'm not a baby, Lord Raiden, I-I don't need diapers...! I'm a big boy...!"

But even Liu Kang had to cringe at yet another childish turn of phrase.

Was this treatment already beginning to affect him?

[Babygabrial]

"Shhh there there my little one. There is no judgement here. You are safe my beloved." He coos calmly but firmly. As if speaking the law. He plants a firm kiss on Liu Kang's cheek to settle him before rolling him onto his tummy over Raiden's lap, and rubbing his back. His free hand gently gives love taps to his bottom. "You shall receive only the upmost tender, loving, care within this temple. You are my child, and I shall place your health, be it physically, mentally, emotionally, and Spiritually above many things." It was less of a statement, and more of a declaration.

Raiden continues to rub his back, and pat his bottom. To add on to the care, he hums softly. Settle him back down. Of course he does not expect him to fall asleep again, though if he does, than Raiden will allow it. It is apart of Liu Kang's healing. Either way, Raiden is given time to ponder more, and gain better clarity. Liu Kang is his chosen champion, and his time will come. However, what is that to mean? Does that mean he should be the one to falter every evil that dare disrupt balance? What does it matter who does it. Liu Kang may play a role similar to his own. In fact, if Liu Kang were to achieve godhood, than it would only make sense. He will likely defeat Goro and Shang Tsun again. He may very well defeat Shao Khan once more. What then? Does he have to falter Khan a third time? Why not he confront Sindel and prevent may beings deaths. Raiden himself can take Shao Khan down for good, or anyone else able to can do so. The idea of one hero has been proven wrong across several timeliness. So why stick to that path. That is where Raiden went wrong the first time. These are thoughts that flow through his mind.

[Gothicruby]

At the tender kiss, Liu Kang feels the mortified grimace ebbing off his face in favour of a quizzical little pout. He's no less humiliated, of course, but something about Raiden's adamant confidence over the matter...it reminded him of when he was truly a small child. For a moment, he wanted to just...melt into that, almost? Wanted to reach and be lifted up so that he might listen to Raiden's heartbeat some more...

But the strict training that he'd endured since childhood quickly chased such thoughts away, like a sharp slap on the wrist by a bamboo staff.

So, as Raiden rolled him over onto his tummy, all Liu Kang could do was let out a confused little whine.

"Lord Raiden...!" He whined again, legs kicking in tender protest...but only for a moment.

Truthfully, Liu realised rather quickly that there wasn't much he could do here. He was too weak to fight to back and Raiden seemed hell-bent on this path...

The best he could do right now was mull it over with a pout.

This was because of his defeat at Kronika's hands, he realised, it must be! Why else would Lord Raiden want to make such a point? Had he proven himself such a disappointment?

The young monk felt his throat tighten at the thought. Was Raiden doing this because he didn't feel him capable anymore? Was this some elaborate way of calling him a big baby for nearly crying at Kronika's feet?

His fists balled tightly into Raiden's robes at the thought. Given the absolute tenderness that Raiden was treating him with now...that was actually a heartbreaking thought?

Worse still, he found he was actually beginning to enjoy the gentle patting against his back and bottom.

"Mmmm..." Liu whined softly, wriggling just enough so that he might fix Raiden with a pout.

"Wanna get up..." He whined quietly, padded bottom wriggling slightly beneath the patting hand.

[Babygabrial]

Raiden smiled and obliged Liu Kang. He stood tye monk up, and made sure his feet were firmly planted, but also her held him by his hips. It was easy to tell that the eleven weeks of rest did excellent work calming Liu Kang's soul, but that came at the expense of his physical control. The tender care Raiden provided luckily kept him from going through a muscular deficiency. Him now being awake will lead to greater health. "There we go. You still stand, even with assistance, you stand tall." Raiden coos to him. "Just be careful. We are both working through a process." He says.

Raiden has come to grips that he and Liu Kang need each other. That may not be as. Clear to Liu Kang, but why would it be. Gods do not meddle, they send their chosen mortal to do their bidding. How foolish. It makes the elder gods look weak and pathetic. They are not all powerful beings. They have been bested numerous times. They cheat just as much as Kronika. That is how they stay in power. Raiden sees that now, and knows that it is not the way to peace and balance amongst the relms.