Deadly Love (short story)

The rain poured down relentlessly, each drop a heavyweight champion striking the earth with an unyielding force. It was as if the very sky itself wept for the pair beneath it, their hearts as heavy as the droplets that pelted their faces. Geralt of Rivia, his features etched with a weary resignation, squinted through the downpour, searching the horizon for any sign of the elusive female ninja he seemed to encounter at every turn. He had no idea why fate kept throwing them together, time after time, in these brutal Mortal Kombat tournaments, but he couldn't deny the strange pull he felt towards her.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a flash of movement caught his eye. There, amidst the sea of green and gray, he spotted her: the female ninja, her dark hair plastered to her head, her clothes clinging to her body like a second skin. He felt a strange mix of relief and trepidation wash over him as he began to make his way towards her, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

When he finally reached her side, she didn't look up, her gaze fixed on the rain-slicked grass beneath her. Her shoulders were hunched, her hands clenched into fists as if she were bracing herself against some unseen force. He knelt down beside her, the wet earth soaking through his pants, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "It's me."

She turned her head ever so slightly, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment before darting away again. He could see the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, and his heart ached for her. He knew they could never bring themselves to take the killing blow on each other, no matter how much it might seem like the easy way out. And yet, here they were, stuck in this endless cycle of pain and loss.

Carefully, tenderly, he reached out and cupped her face in his hands, lifting it towards him. Rain dripped from his beard and mingled with her tears, but he didn't care. All he cared about was making her feel a fraction of the comfort he felt whenever he was near her. As their lips met, a shiver ran through them both, and for a moment, he could almost feel the weight of the world lift from their shoulders. But he knew it was only temporary. Soon, they would be back in the arena, fighting for their lives, and the pain would return. And yet, for this brief instant, they could forget about everything else and just be together.

Her hands slowly rose to his chest, clinging to his wet armor, and he could feel her heart racing against his own. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her warmth, her strength, her fragility. The rain continued to fall, a relentless drumbeat that seemed to echo their own desperate hearts. But for now, they were safe. They were alive. And in this moment, that was enough.