Chapter Text
"Johnny!""
...
"JONATHAN!"
Damn... why won't they just leave him alone with this hot rich piece of ass he's dancing on?
"WHAT is it Tomas?"
"The boss wants to see ya. It's probably a new job by the looks of it."
He gets up without a word and starts going for the door to get out of the private room, not even minding the rich bastard calling out his name to come back. The asshole had paid him 400 bucks just to watch him dance on his lap.
Johnny Cage is the one and only star of the Wilde's club. Being the most wanted striper and dancer. Anyone who takes a look upon him and his ass WILL want him on their cock by the end of the night. But whether they get it or not, depends on how much money they are willing to pay.
Not caring about any of the hot glances that the customers of the club are giving him while he is walking amongst them, he finally reaches the door to the Wilde's club basement and enters it.
...
The club's basement is actually an office to deal with Shang Tsung's businesses. Not a lot of people are allowed inside. Over the years his drug dealing and sex trafficking business has grown into one of the greatest empires in the States. It started with him alone, killing his way to the top. Now he's so busy that other people will willingly do his dirty work.
Shang Tsung was the one who found Jonathan Carlton and made him to be Johnny Cage. As a genius who dropped out of high school, (it's not his fault that everyone else is so dumb.) Johnny had no hopes for life or becoming an actor for that matter. It all seemed like a distant dream. Until one day, Shang Tsung found him, smoking on a bench in a park and there it was.
Shang Tsung's empire wasn't the empire that it is today. it was a lot smaller back then.
It was Shang Tsung's day off. He sat next to Johnny And they started talking and he figured that the boy sitting next to him has a lot to offer. Such potential should not go to waste. He could see it in the boy's eyes. He wanted to be more. Wanted to have more. He wanted everybody's eyes on him.
He couldn't give the boy his dream of becoming an actor, but, he could give him a lot more than the fame and money that acting would ever bring him.
Jonathan, the boy that he was, wanted to know more about this mysterious man. Maybe luck had finally decided to knock on his door. Maybe, this was his chance to become someone even greater than he ever imagined himself becoming. He had nothing to lose. How could this man give him all of that? he wanted to know. So he followed the man.
That was when Johnny was 16. Perfect age for being Shang Tsung's puppet. He never planned on having kids. And he didn't plan on making Johnny his kid. But shaping a young man to his liking, to be whatever he couldn't be at his age, making him capable enough to do whatever he wants to never be dependent on someone else, sounded appealing.
By Johnny's appearance, it was clear that he works out and is almost in good shapes.
Almost.
So from then on, Shang Tsung took him to one of his early clubs, personally trained him in kombat and guns and literally everything you need to know as a killer.
Johnny couldn't be happier. He was a quick learner. He mastered all that Shang Tsung taught him and it only took him 2 years. Even after that he didn't stop getting lectures from the man. Every time Shang Tsung gave him a name and address, he got all excited like a puppy and headed out to kill the poor bastards he was assigned to.
He didn't give a damn about their past or who they were. Nothing mattered. As long as he got to kill them in whatever way he wanted, he was okay and would laugh about it like a maniac.
In his early days of becoming a killer, he cut the fingers of his rich victims. The ones that had pretty rings on them. He wasn't in the mood to just take the rings out of their fingers. Cutting them was a lot easier and noisier. He liked to hear them while he cut their fingers off.
He got tired of fingers after a while.
...
"It's Johnny." He knocked twice on Shang Tsung's door.
"Get in." Johnny entered. Shang Tsung was pouring himself some tea. Even though they were in a club, Shang Tsung refused to drink. He didn't like drinking at all, Johnny figured in his early days of knowing the man. Shang Tsung turned to Johnny and offered him a cup. Johnny shook his head politely and sat down on a chair.
"Spill the tea Shang Tsung. What's the job?" he says with a small frown starting to appear in the middle of his forehead. He hasn't gone out for any mission in nearly two months. He was getting sick of just shaking his ass for money. He wanted to feel the adrenaline surge through his veins by chopping someone to pieces again.
"Impatient aren't we?" Shang Tsung says with a chuckle. He sees that Johnny is in no mood for jokes. "of course you are. Well, I'll just cut to the chase. This guy," he throws a photo out of his pocket on the table. "You should kill him by the end of the month."
It's currently January 1st. Johnny picks the photo up and looks at it. The person he sees in the photo is the most peaceful guy ever, literally surrounded by colourful different kinds of flowers. He even has a white flower crown. It seems like they took the picture in the early afternoon.
Johnny looks at Shang Tsung. "What the hell did he do? Bet he hasn't hurt an ant in his life from the looks of it."
"Not your concern, boy. Like always, You'll be given a name and address. Have fun, Finish the job and receive your payment."
Johnny's confused. Their gang didn't kill civilians. Unless... the guy in the photo isn't just some random, normal dude. This must be his cover. Huh. Almost fooled him. He chuckles. "The bastard's smart. No one would suspect a goddamn florist with a cute flower crown to be a criminal. Jokes on him. got me fooled for a sec." He eyes Shang Tsung.
"Yes... he is smart. Took us long enough to find him." He sighs.
"How's that even possible? I thought we had eyes all over town. You're getting rusty Shang Tsung. Let me replace you as the boss so you can retire and go to one of those houses old people go to when they wanna die." Johnny said with enthusiasm and literal sparkles in his eyes. Trying to soften the older man.
Shang Tsung eyed him and they stared at each other for a sec and then he laughed so hard his tea cup almost fell from his hand. He put it on his desk to avoid further tea from getting spilled on his suit. He wiped a tear at the corner of his eye. "Like always Johnny! I am caught off guard by your silly silly ramblings. And hey! I am NOT going to grow old and pathetic, I would rather die than let my skin look like thin cramped paper. You from all people should know that I take good care of my skin. I'll never be old! " he touches his face with his finger tips mockingly, a smug expression on his face.
Johnny laughs. "Alright. Fine, whatever you say boss. What's the poor bastard's name? " he gets up from his seat.
Shang Tsung eyes the picture and then looks at Johnny with seriousness. "Kenshi Takahashi."
...
Back when Johnny was 22, already a master killer, he met Sonya Blade at a party.
One of his targets was at that party. He finished his job in one of the rooms of that house, left the body under the bed, then went down stairs to have fun with the party.
No one was in their right mind that night. They were either high or drunk. No one would even imagine that a cold blooded killer (who is also drunk) is amongst them. Dancing, drinking, smoking with them.
Sonya, 23 of age, was drinking her sorrows away. Being recently cheated and dumped by his boyfriend, she felt like hitting the shit out of someone. And Johnny just happened to be there.
After a fierce fist fight, the two ended up having sex in the same bedroom where Johnny had hidden the body of his victim, but Sonya didn't need to know that. The fact that the person he'd killed that night was under the bed they were having sex on, made him even more turned on. He laughed. Sonya asked why. And he'd just laugh harder.
Sonya woke up the next morning, feeling Johnny's absence. great, Another meaningless shag, she thought.
She got up and went back to her small condo. She sat on her couch and sighed.
"I made you some omelette. Come on and eat before it gets cold." a voice called out from the kitchen.
At first, Sonya jumped at the sound, But she recognised the voice. She wasn't scared. She didn't have anything of value in her house.
"How did you get in?" Sonya asked calmly.
Johnny came out of the kitchen with two plates of omelette and a smirk on his face. "I think we better eat first then talk. I'm starving."
Sonya agreed and they started eating in silence. After a few bites, she asked again. "Alright. You gotta tell me how you got in or I'm calling the cops. Your omelette is shit by the way."
Johnny swallowed. "Where do you think I got in? Through the door, woman. AND my omelettes are top notch. You just happen to have a very bad taste."
"I'm sure it was locked."
"No, it wasn't." he said looking Sonya straight in the eyes and it made Sonya doubtful. Had she really locked the door?
"Okay, well, even that doesn't give you the right to just enter my house. And hold on! How did you even find my house?" Her eyes had gone round. Had he followed her? Was he a stalker?
"Yeah that part was tricky but... I have my ways around here. I know it's creepy but trust me I'm not a stalker. I'll leave right now if you want me to."
Sonya didn't know why, But she believed him. She looked at him and, next thing they knew, they were making out on the couch.
After a quick make out session, they talked. Johnny wanted to know her better. No girl would just let him stay at their house after breaking in and making omelettes. Sonya was special, maybe even the one, that's what a 22 year old Johnny thought.
They started dating, which was mostly sex at her place but it worked for them.
Sometimes, Johnny brought her jewellery. And not just some cheap thing you buy at a gift shop. Really expensive ones.
"Johnnyyy you gotta tell me where you get these at!" She didn't really care. Just curious.
Johnny was texting someone on his phone. "I killed their owners." He said with a bored tone, not even bothering to look at Sonya.
"..." he's not serious. Is he? "Haha that's rich coming from you. But honestly, tell me the truth. I don't care even if you stole them."
He looked up from his phone. "No im serious! I killed them. Then took their jewellery. But, don't worry! They were awful people. They deserved the ending they got." He said to ease her mind. But wait, that's not what you say when you wanna ease someone's mind! What if she calls the police? Ughhhh stupid Johnny. Talking before thinking it through again!! You ruined this. Now you have to kill her too. Fuuuckkk!!!
"So... you're a cop?" Sonya asked.
"No."
"Ah... right. I... I think I get it. Your job I mean. The police can't always be there to do what needs to be done."
"Yes. That's why people like me, exist!" He picked an apple and bit at it. "We do the dirty work, and get paid. There's nothing bad about it honestly, It's all fun!" She took it way better than he expected. Maybe she can join him? He knew from their previous conversations that she was also a skilled Marshall artist. She could be useful. Shang Tsung would definitely take her in. "Would you like to... um.. join me?"
"Can i?"
Johnny jumped on his feet and threw the apple on the ground. "Of course!! I'll be back in a day or two with an invitation from my boss!"
He came back. Only ten days later.
"Uh... hey."
"Johnny!!" He had come in from the window and was standing behind her. "I told you not to sneak up on me! Where have you been?" He looked... tired.
"Uh... well I might as well just spit it out, Or else I'll never tell you this." He took a deep breath. "My boss... he... can't accept you to the gang. Unless you wanna be a striper at one of his clubs?"
"What!? No! I will never- ughhh Johnny..."
After that day, Sonya started thinking. What if she became a cop, but worked on Johnny and his gang's (his boss's?) Side? That could surely help them a lot. All of the cool gangsters on tv shows and cinema have a man inside. She could be that man.
She had a distant uncle that could help her get in the police. She called him as soon as she had the chance.
...
A year and a half later, Sonya and Johnny already lived together. Like a married couple. Johnny even suggested they get married for real, to which Sonya disagreed. Indicating that they were young and that there was no need to rush things.
Sonya's boss, Liu Kang, was a kind police officer, serious at times but very understanding. (Sometimes chatty even. Lecturing them in literally everything.)
Raiden was a young detective that she met in her early days, they didn't really hang out much, or even talked, but he was the only person around her age. He was annoying like, ninety percent of the time, but listening to his ramblings made time go by easier.
After almost 2 years of being with Johnny Cage, she had gotten used to all the weird things he did. But she could never get over the chopped fingers in their fridge.
Why couldn't he just throw them away? He never told her. He would just turn away from her, and grin to himself.
She was annoyed but she left it at that.
Days turned into months, as she got older and deeper in the police's system. At the station, she could see what Street criminals and gangs did to people. At first she tried to deny them. Thinking, they deserved it. Like Johnny had said.
But the more she saw, the more she realised, that she couldn't take it. Police worked their ass's off to make people feel safe. What Johnny did...
She then realised, they haven't been on the same side for a long time. This whole thing, her relationship with Johnny, everything. But how could she get herself out from Johnny's grasp? He'd probably kill her. Oh god. She was panicking.
She finally went home. She knew Johnny would be there, waiting for her. He was on a break from his... job.
Sonya finally reached her house and opened the door. "Johnny?"
"Here baby doll." A wide smile on his face.
The moment she saw him, all of the thoughts, all of the doubts she felt during the day, were swept away.
She could fix him.
The next week, Sonya came back from work, tired, grumpy and hungry. She went to the kitchen to eat something.
The moment she opened the fridge's door, a god awful smell got out of it that was so bad, it made her close her eyes. When she opened them to see what it was, she screamed.
There was a severed head in the fridge, staring right at her. Suddenly Johnny grabbed her shoulders from behind and screamed in her ear. She jumped and screamed as well.
"Ahahahha that was hilarious!! Your reaction was pure gold. I wish I'd caught it on camera. Damn it."
"Wait. You did this," she pointed at the smelly head in the fridge slowly. "Just to prank me?" Her voice was shaking from rage.
"Uh... well, I see. that didn't work out the way i wanted it to. I'm so sorry baby doll." He approached her slowly, wrapping his hands around her waist. "Will you forgive your silly Johnny?" He knew she's angry. And Sonya wasn't Sonya anymore when she got angry. It was like she turned into a completely different person. Johnny didn't wanna admit it but he got a bit scared of her when she got angry.
"Get out."
Johnny was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts. "What?"
"Get.the.fuck.out."
Johnny was in no mood for fights. She didn't wanna talk? Fine by him. He went out, thinking that she'll be fine after a day or two and will call him to come back.
A week passed and there were no calls. So he went to her house.
"I hope you're here to pack your things." Sonya said. She was reading a book, not even minding Johnny.
That kinda hurt. Whenever he came home she welcomed him with a warm smile. Or a hug. Or, literally just noticed him there. Now, she didn't even bother to look away from her book. "What? What things?"
Sonya closed the book she was reading. "Your belongings." She looked at Johnny with cold, dead serious eyes.
So, this is it. Johnny Cage, fucking it all up again. "Can we at least talk?" He knew it was over. So he wanted to make sure that he didn't have to kill her. Cause, you know, she knew who he was and did for a living. But he really hoped that she didn't give him any reason to murder her.
"Don't worry. For the sake of all the fun we had, I won't call the cops on you. But just leave."
Johnny nodded. He quietly packed his belongings, and headed out.
A few months later, he was sitting at a bar. Just finished another job in some downtown neighbourhood.
As he drank, he thought, even if she did call the cops, he'd have no problem killing her. He figured, his job and identity came first. The attachment he felt towards her was just... for sex. His youth and inexperience made that unclear. He thought it was maybe, love.
The thought makes him laugh now.
He was drinking when he noticed a man staring at him for the past thirty minutes. He eyed the man and he got the message.
He sat up from his seat and headed towards the mens room. Five minutes later the other man entered the bathroom. Johnny didn't give him a chance to talk and grabbed his face and started kissing him, hungrily. The man responded in the same manner. Johnny moaned in his mouth, his eyes slammed shut. Clawing his hands in the man's hair and collar.
After a quick blow and hand job, he went back to Shang Tsung's club and made his way straight to his office.
"Come in please." Shang Tsung said after Johnny knocked on his door twice. He entered and sat on one of the chairs with a sigh. He looked tired. "What is it Johnny boy?"
"I'm bored. Give me a name."
"I don't have one at the moment. Why don't you go have fun with one of the stripers?" Shang Tsung pointed out. This always cheered him up.
"Na. Already had a quick session with someone at another bar." Then an idea struck him. "Hey, how about I become one of your male stripers? That could be fun." He said out of the blue.
Shang Tsung's eyes were round from shock. "Uhhh... hehe... where did that come from?"
"I told you. I'm bored. Give me a job. This is also one of the jobs you can provide for me. So, a new experience could be fun." He paused. To look at Shang Tsung. "So... what do you say?"
"I'm... if that's what you want, then I have no say in it. You're free to do whatever you want around here. do what's best for you. "Then he went over, to sit next to Johnny. "But don't let it get over your head and distract you from your main job, alright?"
Johnny smiled to himself. "You got it boss!" He got up and left Shang Tsung's office. Tonight's gonna be his first night as a striper. He hasn't been this excited since... the day he started training with Shang Tsung. He laughed to himself. This club's gonna be hosting Hollywood's newest star, starting tonight.
...
Kenshi Takahashi, Johnny thought. What a mouthful name. Is it Korean? Na... Chinese maybe? Aghh whatever.
He looked at Kenshi's photo again, he couldn't help but think the guy is handsome. Even Pretty.
That night he spent his time with a stranger at the club, who again, had paid him over price just to be with Johnny. But Johnny's mind was elsewhere.
He thought, he'll pay this Kenshi Takahashi a visit before he murders him. He had to buy some flowers anyway, for mothers day, and give them to Shang Tsung.