#i just woke up and this was the first thing i saw

[wqnsho]

second chance | hwang in-ho x fem! reader

*.✧ synopsis: hwang in-ho joined the games with one goal: to monitor and manipulate seong gi-hun. but everything changed the moment he saw his childhood friend among the players—a face he never expected to see again. *.✧ word count: 21.7k (are you even surprised) *.✧ warnings: squidgame season 2 spoilers, violence, death, choking, guns, explicit depictions of injuries, panic attacks (reader experiences one) usage korean words and suffixes, mentions of cho sang-woo, reader moved from in-ho's place to gi-hun's place (gyeonggi-do to ssangmun-dong), softie in-ho because its you, angst :D *.✧ note: I ACTUALLY THOUGHT CROSSROADS WILL BE THE LONGEST THING I WRITE, SURPRISE SURPRISE SECOND CHANCE IS HERE. hope you guys love it!! masterlist | request here

Your life wasn't supposed to go in this direction. 

Ever since you were small, people knew great things would come to you. You were talented and smart in every way, shape, or form. Teachers would gush about how bright your future was, and neighbors would brag to their kids about your achievements as if they were their own. So why were you here now, standing in a room surrounded by strangers for a chance of winning some money? 

Currently, all of you watched as the screen displayed various people getting slapped left and right. Announcing their player numbers, names, and how much money they owe. The sheer amount of debt displayed beside each name was staggering—hundreds of millions, even billions.

You shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the whispers around you. People were muttering under their breath, some recognizing names and faces, others lamenting their own debt in comparison. The tension in the room was suffocating, a shared humiliation that weighed heavy on everyone.

Player 132. [Last Name] [Name]. 562 million.

The words echoed in your ears like a slap to your face. Your own name, your own shame, displayed for everyone to see. A few heads turned toward you, but you refused to meet their eyes. You scratched the back of your head in shame, keeping your eyes on the ceiling as if you could avoid the weight of judgment all around you.

'Well... at least it wasn't from that stupid crypto bullshit,' you mumbled under your breath, though the bitter smile on your lips faded as quickly as it appeared. As the guard moved to another person, the crowd around you blurred into an indistinct mass of voices. You didn’t care to listen. You let yourself drown in your thoughts, tuning out the chaos.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Life was supposed to be a series of steady steps upward, not a freefall into the abyss. When your family moved from Gyeonggi-do to Ssangmun-dong, everything changed. 

Your father, once the pillar of the family, walked out one day without a backward glance. Which left you and your mother to fend for yourselves. He left for some woman he barely knew. Someone who didn’t have to deal with the mess he’d left behind. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, your mother decided she had better things to do than raise a child. 

One morning, you woke up to an empty house and a note on the dining table. The words were hurried, impersonal, as if she didn’t pushed you out and raised you. Worst of all, she didn’t even spell your name right!

The pain of abandonment never left you. It festered, growing into a heavyweight you carried everywhere. You tried to survive, piecing together odd jobs and small victories, but it was never enough. Debt piled up faster than you could manage, dragging you into this nightmare.

The first game was announced— Red Light, Green Light. 

You had doubts. The game seemed too simple, almost childish, like something even teens could survive without breaking a sweat—just a game, right? But as soon as the first shot rang out, you realized how wrong you were. Bodies fell like dominoes, blood staining the grass in vivid red. The sound of death was deafening, and the reality of it hit you like a punch to the gut. You froze, your breath caught in your throat, as the world around you erupted into chaos. People screamed, some running, others collapsing in terror. You couldn’t move. The simplicity of the game suddenly made sense—it wasn’t without cost.

Death was suddenly real, closer than it had ever been before. Your entire life flashed before your eyes—every mistake, every regret, every moment you had taken for granted. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Not here, not now.

Luckily, a player stepped up and took charge. Player 456. He was calm and collected, advising everyone to hide behind the larger players, claiming that the robot wouldn’t be able to see you if you stayed out of its line of sight. His plan was simple yet effective, and with his guidance, you managed to survive the round.

As you returned to the main area, the tension from the first game clung to the air like a thick fog. Every breath felt heavy, and the adrenaline that had pushed you through the chaos now left your limbs trembling. Despite it all, a deep sense of gratitude toward him lingered in your chest. You wanted to stay close, to follow his lead. There was security in his presence, a grounding force that kept the worst of your fears at bay.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the room. Guards entered in perfect formation, their masks as eerie as the silence that fell over the crowd. The sight of them sent a shiver down your spine. One by one, people began to plead for their lives, collapsing to their knees, their voices breaking with desperation as tears streamed down their faces.

“There must be a misunderstanding,” the main guard, marked by a square on his mask, said in a monotone voice. “We are not trying to harm you. We are presenting you with an opportunity.”

Before he could continue, the same player who had spoken during the first game—Player 456—interrupted with a sharp shout.

“Clause three of the consent form!” The room froze, all eyes, including yours, turning to him.

His words were sharp, filled with a sense of urgency and strength “The games may be terminated upon a majority vote. Correct?” he demanded, his voice firm.

“That is correct,” the guard replied, his tone unwavering, as though the question had been anticipated.

“Then let us take a vote right now,” Player 456 said, his words igniting a spark of hope in the crowd. It was as if a door to freedom had cracked open, and everyone could almost taste the possibility of escape.

“Of course. We respect your right to freedom of choice.”

A collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd, a fleeting moment where fear was momentarily pushed aside by a glimmer of hope. For the first time, you felt something that resembled a shift in the balance of power. They weren’t in control—at least, not entirely.

“But first,” the guard continued, “let me announce the prize amount that has been accumulated.” He pressed a button on his device, and the room suddenly dimmed.

A low hum filled the air, followed by the descending of a massive glass piggy bank from the ceiling. It gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, casting eerie reflections across the players’ faces. The sound of wads of cash clinking together echoed through the room, loud and clear, like the jarring noise of a twisted casino jackpot.

The players stared, wide-eyed, as the money poured into the glass bank. It was hypnotic—the sound, the sight, the overwhelming promise of wealth. Some players instinctively stepped forward, as if drawn by an invisible force, while others lingered at the back, still fearful but unable to resist the allure of the prize.

“The number of players eliminated in the first game is 91,” the guard announced, his voice as flat and emotionless as ever. “Therefore, a total of 9.1 billion won has been accumulated. If you quit the games now, the remaining 365 of you can equally divide this amount and leave.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd, and Player 100, who was standing near you, called out, his voice filled with disbelief. “How much is that?”

“Each person’s share would be 24,931,500 won,” the guard replied without hesitation.

The words hung in the air, heavy and cold, as a wave of murmurs spread across the room. There was a mix of disbelief, anger, and confusion.

“Twenty-four million? We almost died for that?” Player 124 scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. You couldn’t help but feel the sting of it too. Twenty-four million wasn’t nearly enough to make up for the terror, the near-death experience, the trauma of the first game. Yet, at the same time, the number was hard to ignore. It was money. A lot of it. Enough to make you forget the panic, at least for a while.

“You said the prize was 45.6 billion!” Player 230 shouted, his voice rising with frustration.

The guard’s response was calm, almost detached. “The rule states that 100 million won is added for each eliminated player. If you choose to play the next game, and more players are eliminated, the prize amount will increase accordingly.”

There was a brief silence as everyone processed the implications of this. The numbers didn’t seem to add up at first. But as the calculation sank in, the possibility of even more money stirred the crowd.

“How much will it be if someone survives until the very end?” someone asked, their voice trembling with hope.

The guard, unbothered by the growing tension, simply stated, “As I already told you, the total amount of prize money for all 456 players is 45.6 billion won. If you are the sole survivor, you will receive the full amount.”

The room erupted into a chorus of gasps, whispers, and shouts. Some players looked at each other, their expressions shifting as greed began to seep into their eyes. Others remained still, haunted by the terror of the first game. The promise of so much money was a heady temptation, but it came at the price of their lives.

“So, we can take a vote again and decide to leave after the next game?” someone asked, their voice tinged with hope, as if the very idea of escape was now within reach.

“Yes,” the guard confirmed. “As outlined in the consent form, you may vote after each game and decide whether to leave with the prize money accumulated up to that point. We always prioritize your voluntary actions.”

You stood there, torn. The terror you’d felt during the first game still clung to you, wrapping around your chest. But the temptation of the prize money—of being free from the crushing debt that had haunted you for so long—was overwhelming. This could be your only chance to escape. A chance to climb out of the pit you’d been stuck in, buried under mountains of bills and threats. If you walked away now, you’d return to the same miserable existence, drowning in debt, with no way out in sight.

Your mind raced. You had fought so hard just to survive, and now, standing in this room, you were faced with a decision that could change everything. The terror from the first game still gripped your chest, but the lure of the money was almost impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just about survival—it was the chance to escape the suffocating weight of your debt, the years spent trying to climb out of a hole you’d fallen into.

The voting started with Player 456. You watched as he cast his vote, the air thick with tension. The red light from the voting machine flickered for a brief moment as he pressed his choice, a clear "X." One by one, others followed, some hesitating, while others quickly made their decision. The chaos of it all felt overwhelming. You couldn’t help but wonder if they had already made up their minds, whether they were giving in to the temptation of the money or if they were too afraid to continue.

When your number was called, your legs felt like lead as you approached the voting machine. Each step was agonizingly slow, the weight of your decision pressing down on you. The room seemed to shrink, and you could feel every eye on you, even as you tried to ignore them.

Your hand trembled as you reached for the button. The thought of pressing it, of choosing to continue, made your stomach twist in knots. For just a moment, you hesitated, feeling the weight of your decision crushing you from all sides.

Then, with a deep breath, you pressed the circle.

The blue light illuminated your face, a cold reminder of the choice you’d just made. A guard stepped forward, handing you a blue patch marked with the same symbol as your vote. You accepted it with shaky hands, bowing slightly before pinning it to your jacket. As you returned to your spot in line, your heart pounded in your chest.

God, why did it come to this? What could have gone so wrong? Had you done something to upset the gods? Or were you simply born unlucky, destined to live a life riddled with hardships?

You couldn’t stop questioning yourself—your decisions, your choices, the countless crossroads where you might’ve taken a different turn. You missed the early moments in your life when everything felt so simple, so light. Back then, there were no looming debts, no sleepless nights spent worrying about survival, no constant weight pressing down on your shoulders.

You had it all once—a lovely family with successful parents who made sure money was never an issue. You had good grades, a tight-knit circle of friends, and a future that seemed full of promise. You were happy, truly happy.

And you weren’t always alone. Aside from your parents and friends, there was someone else—someone who had been a constant in your life, a steady presence you could always count on. He wasn’t just a friend; he was the friend. The one who stood by you no matter what, even when the world seemed to turn its back on you.

When the bullies in school targeted you for reasons you never understood, he was the one who stepped in without hesitation. You still remembered the way he’d square his shoulders, his voice firm and unwavering as he told them to back off. He never cared if he got in trouble for standing up for you; all that mattered to him was that you were safe.

He wasn’t just your protector, though. He was the person who could make you laugh when you were seconds away from tears. He had this knack for knowing exactly what to say or do to lighten your mood, whether it was pulling a silly face, cracking a joke, or nudging you with that mischievous grin that always made you roll your eyes but secretly smile.

He was the one who stayed up late with you when you were cramming for exams, even though he wasn’t the most studious person himself. He’d throw pencils at you when you started to drift off, only to shove snacks in your face the next moment and tell you to take a break. He had this way of making even the most mundane moments feel special, as if just being around him made everything a little brighter.

And as much as you tried to deny it back then, he had become your everything. Your safe haven, the person you trusted more than anyone else. He was the one you turned to when life felt too heavy to bear, the one who never made you feel like a burden for leaning on him.

He was your partner in crime, the one who’d sneak off with you during boring school events, laughing as the two of you got caught and had to face detention together. He made life feel like an adventure, even in the quiet, simple moments.

But above all, he was your first love. Though you never said it out loud, it was there—in the way your heart skipped a beat whenever he smiled at you, in the way you found yourself searching for him in every room you walked into. It was in the way you felt safe and seen in a way no one else could make you feel.

He didn’t know, of course. How could he? You were just kids, too shy to even admit it to yourself most of the time. But looking back now, it was clear as day: he wasn’t just your best friend. He was the boy who had stolen your heart, even if he never realized it.

You paused. The faint buzz of the voting machines around you barely registered as you froze in place. Why were you thinking about him now, of all times? You clenched your fists, trying to will the memories away, but they pushed their way into your mind regardless.

You remembered the way he shouted at you, his voice filled with anger and frustration. The argument had been sharp, the words he threw at you cutting deeper than you ever thought possible. He had been upset that you were leaving, but instead of asking you to stay, instead of saying goodbye, he stormed off.

It didn’t matter how much time had passed; the wound was still raw. He was your best friend, the boy you loved so deeply you couldn’t even bring yourself to admit it back then. And he let you leave without so much as a goodbye.

Your chest tightened as the memories overwhelmed you, crashing over you like waves. You had convinced yourself that you were over it—that it didn’t matter anymore. But clearly, that wasn’t true. The emotions you had buried deep, the hurt and the unanswered questions, all clawed their way back to the surface.

Did he hate me? The thought stung, even now. Did I mean so little to him that he couldn’t even say goodbye?

The pain lingered, sharp and vivid despite the years that had passed. You could still see it, like a scene burned into your memory—the moment he walked past you on your last day of school. His face had been a mask of cold indifference, his eyes resolutely avoiding yours as though looking at you would cost him something precious.

You had called his name, your voice trembling with desperation and a plea you couldn’t quite voice. You just wanted him to stop, to look at you, to give you a reason, a sign that he cared. Anything to make the ache in your chest a little less unbearable.

But he didn’t.

He just kept walking, his steps steady and unyielding, leaving you standing there. The knot in your throat had tightened until it felt like you couldn’t breathe. He left without a word, without even a glance. And in that silence, you were left with nothing but heartbreak and questions that would never be answered.

And now, here you were, those same feelings dragging you down as the votes continued. The sound of faint button presses and shuffling feet filled the air, each vote drawing everyone closer to an answer.

You hadn’t been paying attention to the numbers flashing on the screen, but the tension in the room was suffocating. The votes were neck and neck—X and O, tied. A deuce. The final vote could change everything. You could feel the unease creeping over the room like a storm cloud ready to burst. The fate of the game rested in the hands of the last player.

The tension was unbearable. Everyone held their breath. It felt as if time itself had come to a standstill, the anticipation hanging in the air.

You forced yourself to look up, to see who the final person would be. Your heart pounded louder in your chest with every second, the weight of what was about to happen pressing down on you. Your gaze fell on the figure walking toward the voting station. You couldn’t immediately register who it was—your mind too wrapped in the urgency of the moment. The final decision.

 But then something hit you. A familiarity. A sinking feeling in your chest.

And then your breath hitched.

It was him—.

In-ho.

Your world seemed to tilt on its axis as you watched him. It was like a punch to your gut. Your chest tightened painfully, and your thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. You had spent years trying to push him out of your mind, trying to move forward, but in that moment, it all came rushing back with a force you weren’t prepared for. The ache in your chest deepened, and you realized just how much you had never really healed.

Your mind swirled with the years you’d spent without him. The countless nights you had stayed awake, wondering what had gone wrong, why your friendship ended that way.

He was standing there now, in front of you, like a ghost of your past. He was so close, yet you couldn’t reach him. You couldn’t understand what you were seeing. Was this a dream? Was this some cruel twist of fate?

You watched his every move as if in slow motion. There was no hesitation in his actions. His hand reached out to press the button with a deliberate, practiced motion.

And then, he voted. O.

The cheers erupted around you, but they felt distant, muffled, like they were happening in another world. You could hear the excitement rising from the others around you, the shift in the air as the vote swung in favor of continuing the game. 182 to 183.

But none of that mattered to you.

All you could think about was how the boy who had once meant everything to you was here, in the same room, playing the same dangerous game. The same boy who had walked away from you all those years ago, leaving you in silence. 

You stared at him, unable to move, to speak. It was as if time had stopped, like the world around you had turned to static. Your mind was racing, a torrent of emotions swirling inside you. The hurt you had pushed down for so long had exploded back to the surface.

You couldn’t tear your gaze away from him, your body frozen in disbelief. All you could do was stand there, feeling the weight of the past, the weight of everything that had happened between you two. The questions that you had carried for so long—about why he left, about why he never said goodbye—pushed their way to the surface, raw and painful.

Your mind raced, but your body refused to move. You were trapped in this moment, unable to escape the overwhelming emotions that came with it. There was no easy way out.

The past was alive in front of you, and it had never felt so real.

Hwang In-ho was a man who prided himself on always being in control. Every move he made was deliberate, calculated, and designed to maintain his upper hand. He wasn’t one to take risks without knowing the outcome, nor did he leave anything to chance. His sharp intellect and knack for strategy had always kept him one step ahead of everyone else, whether it was in the games or in life outside of them.

So when he learned that Seong Gi-hun, the man who had also escaped the game’s clutches once, was coming back—not as a desperate participant, but as a threat to everything the games stood for. In-ho knew he had to act. It wasn’t just about the rules or the money; it was about protecting the intricate system he had helped sustain, the foundation he had sacrificed everything to uphold.

The idea of Gi-hun winning was infuriating. He wouldn’t allow it. Not because he believed in the games' morality, but because their collapse would mean his own failure. It would mean admitting that he, the one who always stayed ahead, had lost control.

And In-ho did not lose. Not to anyone. Certainly not to Seong Gi-hun.

The solution was clear: he had to join the game.

Adopting the alias "Young-il," In-ho entered as Player 001, his plan meticulously calculated. Every detail was accounted for—his presence would be unassuming, his actions deliberate. The goal was simple: get close to Gi-hun, observe his every move, and ensure the game remained firmly under his control.

It wasn’t just about safeguarding the system he had come to embody; it was about reaffirming his dominance. To In-ho, this was more than strategy—it was a statement. A test to prove that no matter the odds, no matter who opposed him, he would remain two steps ahead.

That was his purpose. His only focus.

Or so he thought.

Everything changed the moment he saw you.

It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving him breathless and disoriented. In-ho’s steps faltered, his carefully calculated composure slipping for the first time in years. His eyes locked onto your figure amidst the sea of players, and for a fleeting moment, he thought it was a cruel trick of his mind—a phantom conjured by guilt and memory.

But no. The wide, shocked eyes staring back at him were unmistakably yours.

The realization struck him like a physical blow, an ache spreading through his chest that he couldn’t ignore. You were here. You were really here.

You shouldn’t be here.

He froze, his usually sharp mind scrambling to piece together an explanation. What were you doing here? What had happened in your life to bring you to this place of desperation and death? He remembered you as you once were—bright, warm, full of life—and now, the thought of you standing on this stage of horrors felt wrong in every conceivable way.

Memories of you came rushing back, vivid and unrelenting. The way you used to laugh, how you’d pull him out of his brooding silences with a simple touch, the way you always seemed to bring light into his otherwise shadowed world. Those memories clashed violently with the reality before him. You didn’t belong here. Not in this uniform. Not in this nightmare.

He felt his mask of indifference. The armor he’d built over years of pain and regret started to crack. For so long, he had mastered the art of detachment, burying every emotion deep beneath a layer of control. But now, with you standing there, all of it came flooding back. Guilt. Regret. Anger.

And something else. Something he couldn’t name but had tried to bury long ago.

The look on your face gutted him. Recognition, confusion, hurt—it was all there, as raw and unguarded as the day he’d last seen you. You looked at him like he was a ghost, like you couldn’t believe he was standing in front of you. That look shattered something in him, something he hadn’t realized was still breakable.

For the first time in years, In-ho felt unsteady. His carefully constructed walls, the ones that had kept him in control, in power—shook under the weight of your stare.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

He clenched his fists at his sides, a desperate attempt to regain control, to force himself back into the cold, calculating mindset he’d mastered. He couldn’t let you see how much this affected him. Not here. Not now. This was a game—a deadly one—and emotions were dangerous, liabilities he couldn’t afford.

Even as he tried to steady himself, forcing his gaze away and focusing on the task at hand, something inside him rose above the chaos. He knew, without a doubt, that he had to protect you.

It wasn’t rational. It wasn’t part of his plan. But it was undeniable. Seeing you here, dressed in the same uniform, facing the same deadly stakes, ignited something in him that he couldn’t ignore. He had joined the game to regain control, to manipulate the outcome, to ensure Gi-hun wouldn’t tear everything apart. But because the one person he never wanted to see in this hell was standing right in front of him, the thought of sticking to that plan seemed impossible.

And no matter what it cost him—his control, his plan, his very life—he couldn’t let you die.

It was time for the second game: the Six-Legged Pentathlon.

You walked hand in hand with another player—Player 222, Kim Jun-hee, as she had introduced herself earlier. Together, the two of you moved through the crowded room, searching for three more players to form a team. Your eyes flicked down to the frail figure beside you, her grip on your hand trembling slightly, and you couldn’t help but feel a pang of protectiveness.

Earlier, before the announcement of the next game, you had found her curled up in the corner of the bathroom, clutching her stomach with a pained look on her face. She had been trying to hide her tears, but they slipped through anyway, leaving tracks down her pale cheeks. The image of her broken composure stuck with you, and even now, the weight of it hadn’t lessened.

The look on your face as you crouched beside her was indescribable. When you asked her what was wrong, she was silent at first, her gaze vacant and lost as if the weight of the world was too much to carry. Slowly, her shoulders sagged, and she spoke in a low, quiet voice, each word heavy with the burden she was trying to carry. It wasn’t just about the game anymore—it was everything. Her words were a confession, a painful release of all the fears that had built up inside of her. She spoke of being alone, of how no one wanted to team up with her, and the overwhelming worry that constantly gnawed at her. But it wasn’t just that.

She talked about her child. The one thing in this nightmare that kept her going, even if only by the thinnest thread. Her mind was consumed by the thought of them. She wondered if they would survive. But what hurt the most was the months of silence from the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. Her fiancé, who had disappeared without a trace, left her to wonder if he was dead or alive, only to learn he was in the same hellish game. She never imagined she would have to face this—alone, scared, with no one to lean on.

Something in her tone, the hopelessness wrapped in every syllable, struck a chord deep within you. For a moment, it wasn’t Jun-hee you saw—it was yourself. 

You had been there before. You knew what it was like to feel abandoned, to watch everything you had built slowly crumble, to be left in a world where trust was a distant memory. The same fears she voiced were the ones that had haunted you—the fear of losing your loved ones, the dread of facing a future where you had nothing, and the overwhelming loneliness that seemed to suffocate every hope you had left.

Her pain was your pain, her desperation mirrored your own. You had been there—fighting for survival, clinging to any hope that things could get better, even when the world felt like it was falling apart. It wasn’t just empathy you felt for her; it was the haunting reminder of your own struggle, a shadow of the darkness that had once consumed you. You didn’t want her to experience the same isolation, the same crushing hopelessness that had almost broken you. You knew too well how it felt to be lost, to question whether you’d ever make it out alive, to wonder if there was anything left to fight for.

As you looked at her, a quiet resolve settled deep within you. You wouldn’t let her walk this road alone. You wouldn’t let her fall into the same despair that had once threatened to swallow you whole. You could no longer stand by and watch someone else go through the torment you had endured alone. You would be her strength, her anchor—just as you had longed for someone to do for you when everything seemed to be slipping out of your grasp.

Without hesitation, you reached out, your hand finding hers, cold and trembling. You squeezed it gently, offering a steadying warmth that you both needed. “Then you’ll come with me,” you said. “We’ll figure this out together.”

You weren’t going to let her face this nightmare by herself—not when you knew the crushing weight of solitude so well. You wouldn’t let her fall down the same painful path you’d been on. From that moment on, you refused to leave her side.

You were supposed to focus on your own survival, you know that, but you couldn’t bring yourself to leave her behind. Something about her reminded you of someone else, someone you had been a long time ago. You couldn’t save everyone here, but maybe, just maybe, you could save her.

Meanwhile, In-ho’s plan was progressing smoothly. He had successfully gained Gi-hun’s trust and joined his team. Together with two others—Player 388 and Player 390—they were only one person short of completing their group. In-ho kept his head down, maintaining his facade as the amiable and harmless Player 001. He had positioned himself perfectly, right where he needed to be.

Until he heard your voice.

“Hello, excuse me. Do you have space for two more?”

His head snapped up instinctively. There you were, standing just a few feet away, holding player 222’s hand as you looked at Gi-hun and the others, avoiding him altogether.

In-ho couldn’t help but stare.

“We’re sorry, miss,” Gi-hun replied apologetically. “We already have four members.”

You didn’t falter, keeping your small smile. “That’s not a problem,” you said firmly. “Would you be willing to have her instead?”

Before anyone could respond, you gently nudged Jun-hee forward. She hesitated, glancing nervously between you and the group, but you gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

In-ho stayed silent, watching the interaction unfold. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Irritation bubbled under the surface. Of course, you would do something like this. Even in a place like this, where survival meant looking out for yourself, you were still thinking about someone else. Always putting others before yourself, even when it didn’t make sense to do so.

You never change.

And yet, despite the frustration clawing at him, He couldn’t stop the flicker of warmth in his chest. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there. A part of him—a part he didn’t want to acknowledge—was happy.

Because no matter how much time had passed, no matter how much this place had changed the both of you, there were still parts of you that remained the same. That stubborn kindness, that fierce determination to protect others—it was one of the things he had always admired about you.

It was one of the things that terrified him.

You still carried that same hope, that same belief that people could be better, that kindness had a place even in a place like this. It made his stomach twist. The fact that you hadn’t hardened, hadn’t become cynical like everyone else—it was both a relief and a danger. You couldn’t afford to trust anyone here, not without consequence.

What if you trusted the wrong person? What if you let your guard down just once and someone used that against you? He had seen it happen before, in a way that made his insides tighten with dread. People here weren’t to be trusted, and you were too pure, too unguarded. He’d seen how quickly things could turn, how easily alliances could break, how one wrong move could be the end of someone’s life.

It made him want to reach out, to warn you, to pull you away from the people who might betray you. But instead, he stayed silent, his heart racing faster than his thoughts could keep up with.

His gaze shifted to the girl you had taken under your wing. She was trembling, showing a strong facade. In-ho couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness for her too—though he would never admit it out loud. She was vulnerable. She didn’t belong here. But you were giving her a chance. You were always giving people chances, even when they didn't deserve them.

He tore his gaze away, looking anywhere but at you. He hated the way you made him feel, even after all those years. Torn between wanting to protect you and wanting to pull away, he couldn’t reconcile the two. He had built walls for a reason—so that no one could get too close, so that no one could hurt him again. And yet, there you were, slipping through those cracks, reminding him that even after all this time, even after all the distance, he still cared.

“What about you?” Player 388 asked, his voice tinged with concern.

You gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I’ll be okay. I’ll find a group somewhere.”

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his brow furrowing with worry.

You nodded, your tone firm but kind. “Of course. If you want, you can help me?” you offered, though it wasn’t a question so much as a gentle suggestion.

The male nodded without hesitation, as though it was the most natural thing to do. He saluted you with a small smile, his expression brightening as he turned to lead the way. You followed quietly, walking side by side as the two of you engaged in light, casual conversation. The sound of your voices seemed almost out of place in the tense atmosphere of the game, but for a moment, it was just the two of you, navigating the chaos in your own way.

In-ho watched the interaction unfold from a distance, his gaze fixed on you. His chest tightened as he observed the way you interacted with Player 388, the ease with which you formed connections, the comfort you seemed to give others despite the grim situation. For a fleeting moment, he found himself wishing it was him walking beside you instead of that other player. He longed to be the one you relied on again, the one you trusted in a world where trust felt like a luxury.

He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides, trying to suppress the emotions that stirred inside him. It wasn’t supposed to matter. You had your own path to walk, and he had his. But the feeling gnawed at him, more intense than he liked to admit. A part of him wanted to be the one to keep you safe, to be the one to stand by your side. To be the one you turned to, the one who could offer you something real in the midst of all the chaos. But another part of him feels like that’s impossible to achieve now.

Busy with his inner battle, he didn’t notice the curious watchful eyes of the female beside him.

Luckily, you and Player 388—Dae-ho, as he introduced himself—found a group of four not long after starting your search. Players 149, 007, 120, and 095 stood in a tight circle, whispering among themselves as they looked around for their missing fifth member. Their faces were a mix of tension and determination, but they didn’t seem hostile, which was more than you could ask for in this environment.

Dae-ho, ever the confident one, strode forward with an easy smile. “Excuse me… do you need more members?” he asked, his voice warm and inviting.

All four turned to face you both, their eyes scanning you up and down. There was an unmistakable wariness in their expressions; trust wasn’t exactly in abundant supply here. Finally, Player 120 spoke, her voice measured. “I’m sorry, but we only need one more.”

Dae-ho didn’t even flinch at the rejection. Instead, his grin widened, his tone growing more playful. “Well, you’re in luck! You see, [Name]nim here is a master at spinning tops. Quick hands, sharp focus—everything you’d need for precision games like these. How could you possibly pass on a deal like that?”

You blinked at him, both amused and exasperated. Was he seriously pitching you like you were a product at an auction? Despite the absurdity of it, his tone was so casual, so confident, that it managed to disarm the tension in the air, even if just a little.

You gave Dae-ho a small shake of your head before stepping forward yourself, bowing politely to the group. “I may not be a master,” you began, sending a pointed but amused glance toward Dae-ho, “but I’ll do my best to contribute. Please, if you’ll have me, I’ll work hard.”

The group exchanged glances, their hesitation apparent. It was weird for them, hearing a casual and almost teasing tone in an environment where death is prominent. Still, after a moment, Player 120 gave a curt nod. “Alright. You’re in.”

Relief flooded through you, and you turned to Dae-ho, a small smile breaking across your face. “Thank you,” you said, your tone filled with genuine gratitude.

Dae-ho gave a casual wave of his hand, as if dismissing your thanks. “Thank me after you survive this game [Name]nim.”

You chuckled softly, shaking your head at his unshakable confidence. “Alright Dae-ho, see you later.”

As you turned back to your new team, introductions were exchanged before quickly discussing strategies. Despite the palpable tension in the air, they seemed cooperative enough. Each player carried their own air of quiet determination, though the stress of the situation was evident in the tightness of their voices and the stiffness in their movements.

Your team was one of the teams to go first. When it was your turn, you grabbed the top and string with trembling hands, whispering a small prayer under your breath. Slowly, you began winding the string tightly around the body of the top, starting from the bottom and wrapping upwards. But as you reached the middle, the string suddenly slipped free, unraveling entirely. You froze, your shaky hands betraying you further as you fumbled to pick up the loose string.

A lump rose in your throat as panic surged through you. You knew you were good at this. Spinning tops was your childhood talent, something you had always taken pride in. But now, in the most critical moment, your nerves were getting the best of you. Tears pricked the corners of your eyes as you looked at Player 120, your voice trembling. “I… I’m sorry. I swear I’m good at this. I’m just… really scared.”

Player 120’s expression softened, and she knelt beside you. Her voice was calm, reassuring. “It’s okay. You just need to take a deep breath and focus, alright? You’ve got this.”

Her words anchored you, and you nodded, inhaling deeply. As you exhaled slowly, a memory surfaced—something that always helped you when you were scared. Turning to 120, you asked hesitantly, “Could you… could you cover my eyes?”

She blinked at you, puzzled. “Cover your eyes? Why?”

You offered a nervous smile. “I promise it’ll help. It’s… just something I do.”

With a shrug, she moved behind you and placed her hands gently over your eyes. As darkness enveloped your vision, you felt a strange but comforting familiarity take over.

“What’s up with this weird ritual you do?” In-ho’s voice was teasing, his hands warm as they covered your eyes back then. “You’re always doing this!”

“It’s not weird!” your younger self had retorted, pouting.

“Is too!” he laughed. “Nobody else does this, you know.”

“Well, I get really scared when I see what I’m doing, okay?” you’d replied stubbornly. “So I thought, ‘What if I just don’t look?’ It helps me focus.”

You smiled softly at the memory, your hands finally steady as you began winding the string again. This time, it wrapped perfectly around the top, tight and precise.

When 120 uncovered your eyes, you felt a renewed sense of determination. But before you could proceed, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“To effectively spin the top, first, you must hold the loose end of the string firmly in your hand,” In-ho called out, his voice carrying an authoritative tone. He paced in front of you like a drill sergeant, his arms folded behind his back. “Next, throw the top onto the ground with a flicking motion. Pull the string sharply to make it spin. Understood?”

You straighten your posture, snapping a salute. “Sir, yes, sir!”

The two of you broke into laughter, a sound so pure and unexpected that it momentarily dissolved the tension in the air. When he handed you the fully wound top, his fingers brushed yours lightly. “Alright, [Name],” he said, his smile softening, “show me what you can do.”

Gripping the top tightly, you turned to him one last time, your eyes filled with uncertainty. He gave you a reassuring thumbs-up and a wide smile, and somehow, it was enough to calm your racing heart.

With all your might, you threw the top onto the ground, pulling the string sharply. It spun perfectly, steady and unwavering. Relief washed over you as you watched it spin continuously.

The cheers erupted so suddenly that it startled you out of your thoughts. Your teammates—149 and 120—rushed to your side, shaking your shoulders in celebration. Their excitement was infectious, and soon you found yourself smiling, laughing, and letting the moment sink in.

“Alright, alright, let’s calm down!” 120 said, her voice mixed with happiness and haste. She led the group to the next station, the victory fueling your collective determination.

In-ho watched from a distance, a quiet warmth blooming in his chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling, one he hadn’t let himself indulge in for years—a flicker of joy, the kind that came from something genuine. Seeing your face light up with relief and triumph stirred something buried deep inside him, something he thought was long gone. He couldn’t stop himself from cheering along with the others, maybe louder than necessary. Perhaps it was his way of masking the whirlwind of emotions inside him, or maybe it was just his heart acting on its own. Either way, he didn’t care to stop.

As your group crossed the finish line. The room became lively again. You couldn’t help but laugh, the sound pure and unrestrained, even as the adrenaline still coursed through your veins. For a moment, you allowed yourself to feel it: pride, joy, and the simple relief of success.

Amidst the commotion, your eyes instinctively searched the crowd—and then you saw him, his eyes never leaving yours. The sight made your breath catch, your smile faltering for a second before returning, softer this time.

And then it happened. Your eyes locked. Everything else seemed to fall away—the noise, the crowd, the weight of the game itself. It was just the two of you in that moment, a silent conversation unfolding in the space between your gazes.

His dark eyes, cold and guarded the first time you saw them, were now filled with longing, happiness, maybe even a glimmer of pride. It was as though he was telling you, I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you. But there was something deeper, too—something unspoken. His gaze held a vulnerability that he wouldn’t dare put into words, a quiet hope that you might still see him the way you once did.

You felt it, too. A warmth spreading through you, unexpected and disarming. The wall between you, built by years of distance and unspoken words, seemed to crack ever so slightly. For a brief moment, you forgot the tension, the pain, and the uncertainty. You saw him—not as an enemyl, not as someone you had grown apart from—but as the In-ho you once knew.

His lips twitched into a small smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes but still held a quiet sincerity. He wanted to say something, you could feel it. But words were unnecessary. The way his gaze softened, the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his presence seemed to pull you closer—it was enough.

The moment passed as quickly as it came, but it left something behind. A spark. A fragile yet undeniable hope.

As you were all escorted back to the main area, you found yourself glancing back at him one last time. He was still there, watching, his expression unreadable now. But you saw the faintest nod, as if to say, Please, let’s talk soon.

Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. A chance to fix what had been broken. A chance to bridge the gap that had grown between you. A chance to reconcile, to find your way back to each other in a world that had done everything to pull you apart.

Your eyes remained locked with his until the door behind you closed.

Player 149 invited you to join them for a chat, a way to pass the time as the second game continued. With a small nod, you followed them to their little corner, settling on the stairs just behind Player 120. The group was warm and welcoming, and soon you were learning their names, hobbies, and bits of their lives outside the games.

Player 149 introduced herself as Jang Geum-ja, a kind but sharp woman who spoke with unwavering pride about her son, Player 007, Park Yong-sik. Her love for him was evident in every word and action—she had joined the games solely to pay off her son’s debt, determined to give him a better future despite the grim odds.

Player 120, Cho Hyun-ju, exuded a quiet yet approachable aura. A transgender woman with dreams of starting fresh, she joined the games not only to clear her debt but also to complete her medical treatments. Her plan was to move to Thailand and begin a new chapter in her life, one filled with hope and authenticity.

Finally, there was Player 095, Kim Young-mi, a soft-spoken woman with a warm, unshakable belief in the goodness of others. She and Hyun-ju had formed a close bond, their friendship blossoming into a dynamic partnership that made them inseparable—like two peas in a pod, finding strength in each other amidst the chaos.

As the room began to fill with players returning from the game, your eyes instinctively darted to the doors each time they opened. Your stomach twisted with worry, though you tried to stay composed. You were searching for Jun-hee and her group, your concern growing with each passing minute.

Finally, after what felt like forever, you spotted familiar faces walking through the doors. Relief surged through you as you quickly excused yourself from the group and descended the stairs. Without hesitation, you rushed straight to Jun-hee.

"Are you okay? How are you? How’s the baby? Did you feel nauseous? Do you want me to massage your back? Or your feet? Need to go to the bathroom? Pee? Puke?—"

Jun-hee's face turned bright red as she raised a hand to shush you. “Stop, [Name]nim, you’re embarrassing me,” she whispered, glancing nervously at her group. Despite her words, a small smile tugged at her lips, her eyes soft with gratitude.

“Hey! It’s [Name]nim!” Dae-ho’s cheerful voice cut through the moment as he jogged over to you.

“Dae-ho! Looks like I owe you a proper thank-you now, huh?” you said with a laugh, the tension in your chest finally easing.

The three of you exchanged warm words, laughter breaking through the otherwise somber atmosphere. Nearby, the rest of Jun-hee’s group—456, 390, and In-ho—watched the scene unfold. As 456 and 390 moved away to sit down at their spot, In-ho lingered, his gaze fixed on you for a moment longer before he turned to follow the others.

Moments later, you found yourself joining the group, introducing yourself properly. 390, a man with a friendly demeanor, grinned and replied, “Ah, how could we forget you? Thank you for giving Jun-hee to us. She’s really skilled in ddjaki! The name’s Park Jung-bae by the way.”

Your eyes widened. “Jung-bae? Are you Young-sun’s husband?” You asked, pointing a finger at him.

Jung-bae blinked in surprise. “Huh? How’d you know my ex wife?”

“I live in Ssangmun-dong! I visit your pub often. Young-sun would always keep me company when I stopped by.”

Recognition dawned on his face. “Ah! I remember now! You’re the one who splurged like crazy that one night. You even had to crash at our place because you were too wasted to leave! Young-sun told me you were whispering someone’s name... what was it... In-h—”

Panic shot through you as you clamped a hand over his mouth, heat rising to your cheeks. “Don’t. You. Dare,” you hissed, glaring at him.

Jung-bae’s eyes widened, and with a nervous nod, he raised his hands in surrender. You slowly released him, muttering an apology under your breath as you tried to regain your composure.

Dae-ho and Jun-hee, however, were staring at you, their mouths slightly agape. Who knew the kind person they looked up to was a raging alcoholic? Behind them, In-ho’s expression shifted subtly, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Was it anger? Hurt? Curiosity? You couldn’t tell, and the uncertainty only made your heart race faster.

Breaking the awkward silence, Jung-bae cleared his throat. “W-well, speaking of Ssangmun-dong, my buddy here also lives there. We’re best of friends!” He gestured toward Player 456, who waved at you with a sheepish smile.

You bowed politely, offering a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

“Seong Gi-hun,” he introduced himself with a nod.

“What a small world,” you said, grateful for the distraction as the three of you fell into an animated conversation about your shared hometown.

From a short distance away, In-ho watched the scene unfold, his expression unreadable. His gaze lingered on you, his mind racing. Why were you talking about Ssangmun-dong like it was the greatest place in the world? What about Gyeonggi-do? What about the memories you shared there? What about him?

He paused, a flicker of something he refused to name surfacing in his mind. Was it jealousy? No, it couldn’t be—he wasn’t allowed to feel that way, not after everything he’d done to you. The very thought felt absurd. Yet, the knot tightening in his chest as you spoke to others wasn’t easy to ignore.

A nudge from Dae-ho jolted him out of his thoughts. He blinked, realizing all eyes, including yours, were on him, waiting for his introduction. Clearing his throat, he straightened his posture and forced a polite smile.

“My name’s Oh Young-il. Young-il sounds like ‘zero one’, and that’s my number, see?” He gestured to the 001 embroidered on his jacket. Dae-ho raised his brows, impressed by the coincidence, but your gaze lingered on him, a storm of confusion hidden behind your composed expression.

You knew his real name. You knew that he was Hwang In-ho, not Oh Young-il. So why was he lying? The thought gnawed at you. Had he changed his name after getting married? But there was no wedding ring on his finger. Maybe he’d taken it off? No, no. The contradictions piled up, yet a part of you didn’t want to accept the truth. He wasn’t meeting your gaze, deliberately avoiding you. He was hiding something, and you wanted to know what it was.

The moment was interrupted as the heavy boots echoed across the room. Guards marched in, their presence commanding silence. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the square-masked guard stepped forward.

“Congratulations to all of you for making it through the second game,” the guard began, his voice monotone yet eerily loud. He pressed a button on a remote, and the massive piggy bank descended from the ceiling once again. Wads of cash began to tumble into the glass container, the sound of bills hitting each other. Eyes across the room were glued to the spectacle, greed and desperation lighting up every face.

“The results of the second game are as follows: 110 players were eliminated. Therefore the total prize money accumulated is now 20.1 billion won. Since there are 255 players remaining, each person’s share is 78,823,530 won.”

Despite the staggering amount, you couldn’t shake the pit forming in your stomach. 78.8 million won. It was a fortune—more money than you could have ever imagined—but instead of relief, all you felt was disgust.

How could you be thinking about the money when 110 people had just died? Faces flashed in your mind, the terrified screams, the sight of bodies collapsing. And yet, here you were, wondering if it was enough to pay off your debts. The thought sickened you, and your throat tightened as bile threatened to rise. When did I become this person? You had stepped into the games for survival, for a better future, but now you couldn’t tell where desperation ended and greed began. The numbers on the screen blurred as hot tears welled in your eyes, your breaths coming quicker. I’m no better than the ones who created this place. Am I even human anymore? You clenched your fists, nails digging into your palms as you tried to silence the spiraling thoughts, but they refused to stop.

You felt your body tremble, your vision narrowing as the room seemed to tilt around you. The walls felt closer, the hum of voices blurring into a distant buzz that drummed in your ears. Every blink brought a sting to your eyes, tears welling and threatening to spill over. You tried to focus—on the floor beneath your feet, the faint pattern of the tiles, anything—but it all blurred together, a haze of shapes and colors you couldn’t ground yourself in. Deep breaths came shallow, catching in your throat, each inhale fighting against the tightness in your chest. Your hands twitched at your sides, desperate for something to hold onto, but all they found was empty air. You whispered to yourself, hollow words of comfort you couldn’t even hear over the pounding of your heart. Your pulse throbbed in your ears, drowning out everything else. All you could feel was the weight of guilt pressing down on you, the silent judgment of the room—even if it existed only in your mind. You were spiraling, untethered, a storm of shame and helplessness that swallowed everything in its path.

Suddenly, a hand gently rested on your shoulder. The warmth startled you, and you whipped your head around to find its source. It was him. In-ho. Or Young-il, as he’d introduced himself. But he wasn’t looking at you; his head was turned toward the commotion among the players, who were now arguing loudly about the rules. His hand, though, remained on your shoulder, steady and deliberate.

Before you could process it, he began to rub your shoulder in slow, soothing circles. His fingers worked gently, almost instinctively, massaging the tension from your stiff muscles. You stared at him, stunned into silence. His expression remained neutral, his attention seemingly elsewhere, but his touch told a different story.

After all these years, he remembered. He remembered how you used to freeze up during moments of intense stress, how just a simple touch—steady and grounding—could help you calm down. You hadn’t needed to explain it to him back then; it was something he’d noticed, something he’d done instinctively. And now, after everything, he was still the same. His hand stayed on your shoulder, firm yet gentle, just like before.

He remembered how you hated when people stared at you in moments of weakness, so he kept his eyes elsewhere. He knew you felt exposed, ashamed even, as if everyone was silently judging you, so he never let that happen. 

He remembered how you felt guilty for needing comfort, for drawing attention to yourself, so he never made a big deal of it. No words, no questions—just a quiet, unwavering presence that said, I’m here.

And you were thankful for that, more than you could ever put into words. It gave you hope. Hope that maybe, after all these years, there is still something left between you. 

With a grateful nod, you looked away as his hand left your shoulder, already missing his warmth. The commotion around you had ended, and people were drifting back into small groups, discussing their next move. You knew you had to focus, to think through the decision, but your mind felt like it was breaking into pieces. Should I vote X? If it wins, you’d leave with 78 million won—not nearly enough to erase your debt, but at least it would mean you were alive. Or should I vote O? That meant continuing the games. No guarantee of survival, but a chance at something greater—a chance to fix everything.

You tilted your head to gaze at the piggy bank hanging above, its glowing light taunting you. Before you could fully weigh your options, a conversation behind you caught your attention.

“Oh, don’t worry. I want to stop here,” In-ho’s voice said casually.

You froze, listening.

“I should go and be with my wife at the hospital,” he added.

Oh.

It was like someone had snuffed out the flicker of hope you’d just found. The energy drained from your body in one cruel wave as the words settled in. A bitter laugh bubbled up in your throat, and you swallowed it down, shaking your head. Of course, he has a wife. How could you have thought otherwise? You felt like a fool for hoping, for thinking even for a second that those small moments meant something more.

Dae-ho’s voice broke your spiraling thoughts. “I’m telling you, we’ll get out this time,” he said with determination, tugging at the patch on his jacket like it was the source of all his problems. “A marine should think strategically and know when to retreat,” he added, giving Jung-bae a playful shake.

Jung-bae, looking utterly rattled, nodded weakly. “R-right… that’s true,” he muttered, though his nervous glances betrayed his doubts.

“We have to end the games here,” Gi-hun said firmly, stepping into the circle of your group. His eyes met yours briefly, and you nodded. It was a silent agreement, one that seemed to lift his spirits slightly.

In-ho, standing off to the side, watched the exchange with something that could only be described as malice.

Dae-ho clapped his hands, calling everyone back to attention. “Alright, let’s huddle up!” he said with a grin, thrusting his hand into the middle.

One by one, everyone joined in. Your hand landed just below In-ho’s, and you tried not to think about it, about how the warmth of his hands made you feel .

“In one, two, three… Victory at all costs!”

“Victory at all costs!”

“This time the vote will begin with Player 001. Please cast your vote.”

All eyes turned to him, including yours. In-ho met your group’s collective gaze with a calm, unreadable expression before walking up to the platform. Without hesitation, he pressed the X button. The distinct chime echoed in the room as the counter for X increased by one.

The next player—Player 006—stepped forward. Without much deliberation, they also pressed X, their vote adding another mark to the tally.

“Player 007.”

Your eyes flicked upward at the familiar number. It was one of your teammates from the second game, Yong-sik. You spotted him in the crowd, watching him lean down to exchange hushed words with his mother. Her expression was tight, desperate, begging him to vote X but he simply nodded before walking to the machine. His hesitation was visible as he stood there, torn between his choices. Then, the sound of O being chosen played, the button glowing bright blue as his vote was registered.

Your heart sank as you saw his mother’s face fall, her grief and disbelief plain for everyone to see. You averted your eyes, unable to look at either of them any longer. You understood both sides of the story—the desperate hope of a mother to save her child so they can go home and the equally desperate desire of a child to pay his debt fully, leaving his mom with no more worries.

The votes continued, each press of a button punctuating the room like a drumbeat of tension. Finally, your turn came. You felt the weight of the decision like a physical burden pressing on your shoulders. Part of you wanted to vote O, to take the gamble, to fight for a chance to win enough to pay off your crushing debt. But the thought of your group—the first people in years who had truly accepted you—stopped you. You had promised yourself that you would protect them, that they would go home safe to their families.

You stepped forward and pressed X. The red glow of the button reflected on your face as the counter ticked up. You removed your blue patch as a guard gave you a red one. You stuck it to your jacket before, giving a small bow to them before retreating to your spot.

As you walked back, you felt In-ho’s gaze following your every step. His eyes burned with intensity, but you didn’t look his way. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, not when you knew the truth now. He had a wife—a life far removed from you. Whatever feelings you might have clung to in the past didn’t matter anymore. You would not degrade yourself into becoming a mistress in someone else’s story.

The voting continued until suddenly, a commotion broke out. Gi-hun stormed to the center of the room, shouting for people to vote X and urging them to end the games. His words rang out with desperation, but before he could fully plead his case, In-ho cut him off.

In-ho’s voice carried an edge of anger as he stepped forward, his composure cracking. “There’s no guarantee you’ll survive the next game! Do you really want to risk your lives for a few more million won?”

The room fell silent for a moment, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then Player 100 stepped forward, shaking his head with disdain. “And what if we don’t risk it? We leave here with nothing but debt and regret. One more game, and we’re looking at at least 240 million each. That’s life-changing money!”

His argument ignited the room, and chaos erupted. Voices clashed, some siding with In-ho, others with Player 100. It spiraled into a shouting match, each side growing louder, more frantic.

You stood still, detached from the chaos. As much as you wanted to support your friends, you couldn’t bring yourself to intervene. This wasn’t a debate to be won; it was simply another game of chance, with lives hanging in the balance. The outcome wasn’t up to persuasion or reason. It was up to luck.

Finally, the vote was tallied. O won against X by a wide margin, 139 to 115.

Your stomach churned, fear creeping in as you processed what it meant. You weren’t scared for yourself but for Jun-hee, her kind heart too soft for the brutality of these games. You weren’t worried about your own safety but for Dae-ho, whose unwavering faith in others had been betrayed as Jung-bae—someone he admired and respected—voted O.

When the vote ended, your group regrouped, the air thick with tension and unspoken emotions. You found yourself behind Jun-hee as she ate her portion of the day’s dinner. Her small frame trembled, though she tried to hide it, her hands shaking as she clutched the bread's wrapper.

Without a word, you placed your hands on her shoulders, massaging gently to ease her tension. You moved to her lower back, your fingers pressing lightly, offering what little comfort you could in such a bleak moment. She didn’t say anything, but the way her breathing slowed told you that it helped, even just a little.

Without a second thought, Dae-ho stood up, his face conflicted as he grabbed Jung-bae by the arm and dragged him over to your group. His eyes darted nervously between you, Jun-hee, Young-il, and Gi-hun before his gaze softened, and he let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry, [Name], Jun-hee, Young-il,” he started, his voice low, his words laced with guilt. “Gi-hun, I’m sorry…” His apology hung in the air, sincere but laced with discomfort.

He went on to explain his decision to vote O, his voice shaky but determined. “You see, I borrowed some emergency cash, and the creditors have been harassing my ex-wife and kid. They’re threatening them, and if I play one more game, I think I’ll be able to settle the debt. So…” His words trailed off, the weight of his decision clear in his eyes.

Before you could speak up in defense of Jung-bae, In-ho cut him off, his frustration still fresh from the earlier commotion. His tone was cold, a sharp edge beneath the calm exterior. “Jung-bae,” he started, his voice low but heavy with disappointment. “You of all people shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t twice as righteous.”

You felt a twinge of sympathy for Jung-bae, but In-ho’s words were true. Deep down, you understood why In-ho was so disappointed.

In-ho’s gaze flicked back to Jung-bae as he continued, his words almost regretful. “But looking at the results, even if you two voted against it, we would still have been outvoted.”

“Right? So it’s not really our fault,” Jung-bae quickly added, eager to find any shred of justification. He seemed relieved, like the pressure had been lifted slightly, but his eyes flickered nervously to the others, waiting for confirmation.

Dae-ho, who had been silently observing, scratched his head and gave Jung-bae a comforting pat on the shoulder. His movements were casual, though his eyes were thoughtful. “Honestly, I get why you did it. 78 million won isn’t enough. So when I went to vote, I really thought about going for ‘O’ too.”

You nodded in agreement, a soft murmur of approval escaping you. You understood the temptation, the overwhelming urge to fight for more when it felt like everything was slipping away. The money was too much to ignore.

Seeing the subtle nods of agreement from the group, Jung-bae’s confidence grew. He straightened his posture, eager to make up for his earlier decision. “Next game, I promise. I’ll—”

“Next game?” Gi-hun’s voice cut through the air, sharp and filled with a quiet intensity. “Next game, we might have to kill each other.”

The room went completely still. Everyone froze, the silence thick and suffocating. Gi-hun’s words hung in the air, their weight sinking into each of you. He was right, and the grim truth of it was enough to stop all conversation. There was no sugarcoating it. The next round could very well be the end, and the thought was unbearable.

The quiet that followed was heavy, the dread and uncertainty sinking into your bones. You couldn’t help but feel a cold shiver run down your spine, the magnitude of what was to come settling over you like a thick fog.

Annoyed by the uncomfortable pause, you spoke up, your voice cutting through the tension. “Gi-hun, that’s a bit much. We all know there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let’s just stay focused. We need to eat, get ourselves together, and prepare for the next round.”

The group seemed to agree with your statement, the momentary discomfort fading as they all began to refocus.

In-ho, ever the quiet observer, handed his milk carton to Jun-hee without a word, his gaze flicking to her briefly before he looked away. “I don’t drink plain milk,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the gesture was nothing more than a small, unnoticed act.

Jung-bae, following suit, offered his bread to Jun-hee as well, his eyes shadowed with guilt. “I don’t deserve to eat,” he said with an awkward chuckle, trying to mask the heaviness of his words with forced humor.

You watched the exchange, your heart twisting slightly, but before you could speak, Dae-ho leaned in, his voice light but with an edge of concern. “I’ll take the milk carton?”

When Jung-bae shot him a glare, Dae-ho hesitated, then pulled back, not wanting to push it further.

As you ate, you couldn’t help but feel the heavy weight of what was ahead. The uncertainty, the danger—it all felt too much. But in this moment, you focused on your meal, knowing it was the only thing you could control for now.

You found yourself sitting beside Dae-ho, your bread in hand, chewing quietly as you both took a brief moment of respite. Dae-ho seemed lost in thought, his eyes darting toward you, hesitant yet full of unasked questions.

“If you have any questions, just ask me, Dae-ho,” you said, offering a small smile. “I’m not gonna bite, you know?”

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, caught off guard by your casual invitation. But he took a deep breath, calm now, and turned to face you fully. “Do you have kids at home, [Name]nim?” he asked, his voice low but sincere. “It’s just... whenever I see you with Jun-heesii, it reminds me of my mother taking care of me and my four sisters.”

You hesitated, feeling a slight pang of discomfort as you realized the question would require a vulnerable answer. In-ho, sitting nearby, seemed to listen in, his curiosity piqued. Part of him, though, wished you didn’t have any children, that you weren’t settled in on with somebody, a selfish thought he quickly pushed away.

“Ah, this is embarrassing,” you murmured, a soft laugh escaping you as you fidgeted with your bread. “I actually don’t have any kids or a husband... I’ve never even had a boyfriend. Boys don’t really look at me like that, if you know what I mean. Life wasn’t that nice to me, especially after we moved. I didn’t have the time or luck for any of that…”

Dae-ho’s expression softened with guilt. He immediately regretted asking the question, but when he saw the faint longing in your eyes, he paused. There was something more behind your words—something unspoken, something that told him you longed for a family, for the chance to live that dream.

In-ho, overhearing, felt a pang in his chest. What had happened to you? He knew things had ended badly between the two of you, but he never expected life to treat you so harshly. You were kind, generous, and had always believed in the goodness of people. He couldn’t understand why life had been so difficult for you. You didn’t deserve that.

Before the silence could grow any heavier, Jung-bae mischievously broke it with a suggestion. “Well, if you like, I can set you up with someone back in Ssangmun-dong. Right, Gi-hun?”

Gi-hun, who had been quiet up until then, blinked in surprise, his confusion evident. “Huh? Who?”

“You know! Sang-woo! The Pride of Ssangmun-dong!” Jung-bae grinned, clearly amused by his own suggestion. “I think he and [Name] would make a great couple, don’t you think?”

At the mention of Sang-woo, Gi-hun’s face shifted. His expression faltered, a wave of guilt and sadness clouding his features. A pained smile tugged at his lips as he nodded absently. “Yeah... I think so too,” he murmured, his mind clearly elsewhere as he drifted off into his own thoughts.

The sudden change in Gi-hun’s demeanor caught your attention. His usual angry and tense self had been replaced with something quieter, a deep sadness that seemed to pull at him. You looked to Jung-bae for an explanation, your brows furrowed in concern.

In a soft voice, Jung-bae filled in the blanks. “Gi-hun and Sang-woo were childhood friends, but... he’s been missing for years.”

You nodded, understanding the pain behind Gi-hun’s words. You could relate to that feeling—the ache of a long-lost connection. You couldn’t help but feel a pang in your own heart as well. Even though the lost connection was right in front of you, and he still felt so far away.

Gi-hun’s sadness wasn’t a good look on him. He was always either grumpy or happy, never in between. You wanted to change that. You thought back to when you missed In-ho so much, you’d drown your sorrows in alcohol and chatter to Young-sun about him. Maybe, just maybe, getting Gi-hun to talk about Sang-woo could help him, even if it was just for a little while.

“Hey, Gi-hun,” you called softly, breaking the silence. “Tell me more about this Sang-woo guy. Who knows, maybe we’d click together, you know?”

Gi-hun’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly caught off guard by your question. But something in his gaze softened as he began to talk. He recounted bits and pieces of his childhood with Sang-woo, his voice lighting up with nostalgia. His eyes shined as he described his friend’s strengths, quirks, and all the little memories they shared.

From the way Gi-hun spoke, you could see how much Sang-woo meant to him. The same way you felt about In-ho, the weight of love and loss behind every word. You silently prayed for their reunion. Gi-hun deserved happiness, and you wished for him to find it—whether through Sang-woo or another way.

In-ho’s jaw tightened, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes. If they were going to give you a partner, they should give you someone who can protect you—someone who knows you, your likes and dislikes, your type... His thoughts were possessive— jealous. His hands clenched into fists, though he forced himself to stay composed. He wasn’t sure why the thought of you with someone else hurt so much, but it did. It hurt more than he was willing to admit.

As the conversation shifted and laughter filled the space, In-ho stayed silent, the weight of his unspoken emotions heavy in the air. The conversation ended when they all went to the bathroom, leaving you and Jun-hee alone. She wasted no time asking a question that had been bothering her ever since she noticed something strange.

“[Name]nim, do you know Young-ilnim? Like, before the games?”

You were taken aback, your surprise evident in the way your eyes widened. What prompted her to ask such a thing?

“No, not that I remember,” you replied, a small ache tugging at your chest. It was hard to say those words. “Why do you ask?”

Jun-hee hesitated, her gaze flickering down to her hands. “It’s just that… I always see Young-ilnim looking at you, or staring at you. Especially when you helped me during the second game. His stare... it was like there was something there.” She trailed off, her voice quiet, unsure if she had crossed a line. “I thought you two might know each other. Sorry if I overstepped.”

“No, no... don’t apologize, Jun-hee. You didn’t do anything wrong,” you reassured her with a small smile. “Maybe I just remind him of someone?”

The conversation shifted, and though the topic ended there, you couldn’t help but linger on what Jun-hee said. In-ho, looking at you? Your mind spun with questions that you couldn't quite answer. But before you could dive deeper into your thoughts, the group returned from the bathroom, and the moment was gone.

Gi-hun gathered everyone, asking them to bring their mattresses and bedding to your designated spot. You all exchanged confused looks but did as instructed, gathering pillows and blankets. It was clear there was something important going on, and it wasn’t lost on anyone.

As you and Jun-hee handed out the bedding, the tension in the air grew. Jung-bae spoke up. “Hey, is this really necessary? I don’t like sleeping under here.”

Gi-hun continued setting down blankets without looking up. “Once the lights go out, someone might attack us.”

His words grabbed everyone's attention, and you paused, glancing around. Dae-ho, curiosity now evident in his eyes, asked, “Why would anyone do that?”

“The prize money goes up every time someone dies. It’s part of the game they designed,” Gi-hun explained, his voice tense with the weight of the situation.

You frowned, the idea feeling far-fetched at first. But as you thought about the desperation you’d seen in people—and the way some of the others eyed the prize board with hunger—it started to make a disturbing kind of sense. Gi-hun’s words seemed to settle over the group like a cold shiver, but In-ho wasn’t convinced. “Gi-hun, I think you're overreacting,” he said, shaking his head. “Even if that were true, people wouldn’t do that.”

Gi-hun turned to him sharply, fury in his eyes. “In the previous games, dozens of people killed each other at night. Right here, you have no idea how people can change in a place like this…”

In-ho trailed off, looking away, clearly uncomfortable. “I see… I guess I didn’t know what I was talking about. I’m sorry.”

The tension between the two men was palpable, but Gi-hun, though still angry, nodded with some understanding. “We need to take turns keeping watch after the lights go out.”

“I’ll take the first watch. You should decide the order for the rest,” Gi-hun added, continuing to spread the last of the blankets.

It wasn’t long after that you found yourself lying on the bottom bed, the silence in the room heavy. You couldn’t tell what time it was, but sleep seemed distant. With your eyes closed, you tried to rest, but your mind kept wandering. You couldn’t shake the thoughts of Jun-hee’s question, of In-ho’s gaze, and of all the tension in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, you couldn’t stay still any longer. You quietly rolled out of the bed, careful not to disturb Jun-hee beside you. As you stood, you rubbed your eyes, still groggy but wide awake. You walked over to the one who was supposed to be keeping watch.

“Hey... get some sleep. I’ve got it from here,” you whispered, your voice barely a breath in the darkness.

When no response came, you paused, your heart beating a little faster. Had you imagined it? You slapped your cheek lightly, half-expecting to wake up from a dream, but the sting was real. This was no dream. You were still in the game. But who was supposed to be guarding?

As you glanced toward the guard, your breath caught in your throat. There, in the dim light, stood In-ho, staring at you with wide, almost startled eyes.

“In-ho...” you whispered, the name escaping before you could stop it.

He blinked, his expression unreadable. “[Name]... sit down, will you?” His voice was quiet, laced with an undercurrent of tension. You did as he asked, your body moving on its own, though the atmosphere between the two of you felt thick with unspoken words.

You sat there, your knees pressed together. The silence stretched, heavy and thick. There were so many things unsaid between you, so many apologies left unspoken, so many reasons left unexplained. Neither of you seemed to know where to start, but the distance between you had never felt more real. You had shared a bond once, and now it was hard to find the words to bridge the gap that had formed.

In-ho shifted slightly, as if searching for something to say, but still, nothing came. Neither of you moved for what felt like hours, both of you stuck in a place neither knew how to navigate.

The silence between you and In-ho lingered, thick and suffocating, each of you carrying the weight of the years since you’d last spoken. Finally, In-ho shifted, breaking the stillness, his voice low and tight.

"[Name], I—I'm sorry," he started, his words hesitant, as though testing the waters.

"I shouldn't have acted like that, not when you were leaving. On our last day together, I—" He stopped himself, rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes avoiding yours, searching for the right words in the dim light. "I was so angry, I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t mean to push you away. I never should have let my emotions control me like that, especially when I knew you were going away."

Your chest tightened at his words. The apology you’d waited for, yet feared to hear, was finally being spoken, but the bitterness still clung to you. You swallowed hard, forcing the anger down, trying not to let it rise again. It felt like you were walking a fine line, torn between the hurt and the understanding you wished you could give him.

"You know," you said softly, voice wavering, "I was angry, too. You pushed me away, In-ho. I never got to explain myself, to tell you why I had to leave. It hurt so much that you didn’t even give me a chance." You paused, trying to steady yourself. "I don’t know what you thought, but I wasn’t running away from you. I... I never wanted to hurt you."

In-ho’s eyes flickered, regret and guilt tugging at his expression. His hand tightened into a fist, then relaxed at his side, as if searching for the right words but struggling to find them.

"I thought you were just... leaving, leaving me, leaving us." he said quietly, his voice strained with emotion. "I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t know if I could let you go. But you were going, and it felt like I was losing you, like you’d be gone for good. I was angry that you didn’t even try to stay. I thought you had already made your choice." He swallowed hard, his gaze still on the floor. "I thought you didn’t care about me the way I cared about you."

Tears threatened at the corners of your eyes, but you blinked them away. This was it. The truth you’d wanted to hear, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear. The anger you’d carried for so long still clung to you, but in this moment, it was tinged with understanding.

"I didn’t know you felt that way," you whispered, your voice breaking. "I thought you hated me for leaving. I thought I’d ruined everything, and you’d never forgive me for it." You took a deep breath, trying to steady the shaking in your chest. A tremor crept into your voice as you fought to hold back the emotions welling up inside you. 

"I understood why you did it," you said, voice cracking slightly. "I understood it at the time. You were scared, just like I was. But it didn’t make it hurt any less." Your voice dropped. "I didn’t know how to feel. You were the one person I thought I could rely on, and then you turned away without a word. And I had no choice but to carry that weight with me."

Your eyes locked onto his, your heart aching at the sight of the guilt in his expression. “I spent so much time angry at you, blaming you for leaving me like that. But now... now I know we were both just lost. I didn’t know how to handle it, and neither did you.”

In-ho’s face softened, his expression full of regret. "I wish I had known how to handle it better. I wish I had been braver... for you, for us. I should’ve told you how I felt, instead of shutting myself off."

The words hung in the air for a long moment, both of you silently processing what had been said. Then, as if a dam had broken, you continued, feeling a rush of emotions that you hadn’t been able to express before.

"All those years... I kept wondering if I could’ve done something different. If I could have convinced my parents to stay. But I was too proud, too scared. And when we left, it felt like the world just... stopped. I couldn't move forward, not without you. I didn’t know how to move on. And I don’t know if I ever truly did." Your voice cracked, the weight of it all coming crashing down in that moment.

In-ho’s breath hitched as you spoke, his eyes never leaving yours. “I was scared, too. I didn’t know how to handle the idea of losing you. But I realize now... that by pushing you away, I was only making it worse. I’m sorry, [Name]. I’m so sorry for everything.”

You both sat there in the quiet, the weight of the past hanging heavily in the air between you. In-ho’s voice broke through the silence again, softer this time. “I should’ve been better for you. I should’ve told you how I felt, not let my fear take over.”

Your heart ached hearing the sincerity in his words. He was so close now, but there was still a lingering distance between you. His hand hovered near yours, unsure if you’d let him in. Without thinking, you reached out, your fingers brushing his. The touch was like a lifeline, pulling you both back from the uncertainty.

In-ho’s eyes softened as he looked at you, his hand finally resting on top of yours. He shifted slightly, moving a little closer, his shoulder brushing against yours. There was a vulnerability in his gaze now, something you hadn’t seen in him before. “I don’t want to lose you again,” he said, his voice low and steady.

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you had to swallow hard to keep them from spilling over. For so long, you’d carried this burden of unspoken words, of lost time. But now, sitting here beside him, it felt like the weight was lifting, bit by bit.

In-ho seemed to sense your struggle, his hand gently squeezing yours. “I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I never wanted you to feel abandoned or alone.”

The words were all you needed. With a shaky breath, you leaned toward him, resting your head on his shoulder. The closeness between you felt like a reunion, a connection rediscovered after years apart. In-ho’s arm slipped around you, pulling you just a little closer, as though he never wanted to let go again.

He ran his hand through your hair, slowly, gently, as if trying to calm the storm inside you. The motion was soothing, and for the first time in so long, you felt at peace. The anger and the hurt slowly started to fade, replaced by something new—something warm.

“I’ve missed you,” you whispered, your voice muffled against his shoulder.

In-ho paused, his breath hitching as he processed your words. He pulled back slightly to look at you, his face inches from yours. “I’ve missed you, too,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

You both sat there in the quiet, letting the words hang in the air, surrounded by the unspoken promise of a new beginning. The past wasn’t something that could be erased, but it didn’t have to define you anymore. What mattered now was that you were here, together, in this moment.

In-ho held you close as you let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of everything you’d kept inside for so long. You felt his chest rise and fall against you, steady and warm, as his presence grounded you. After a long moment of silence, he pulled back just enough to look at your face, his expression filled with concern and curiosity.

“What happened to you, [Name]?” he asked softly, his voice thick with emotion. “What happened all of this? I’ve been wondering for years.”

You hesitated, your heart pounding in your chest as the memories threatened to spill out. But, in his embrace, it felt safer to finally speak the truth. Slowly, you opened your mouth, your voice a whisper against his chest.

“I didn’t want to leave, In-ho,” you murmured. “But I had no choice.” Your voice cracked as you spoke, the weight of your past pressing down on you. “My parents... My father left for someone else, and my mother... she just disappeared. One day she was there, and the next, she was gone. I was... alone.”

You felt In-ho’s grip tighten around you as you spoke, but he said nothing. He just listened, offering his silent support.

“I tried to hold it together,” you continued, your voice barely above a whisper. “But the bills kept piling up, and I couldn’t see a way out. I was working non-stop, just trying to keep up, but it never seemed to end. So, I thought, maybe a small loan would help... just to get by for a little while. But it only made things worse. I kept borrowing, and the interest kept stacking up. Eventually, I couldn’t keep up at all. To cope with everything, I started drinking. I just needed something to numb the pain.”

You paused, trying to steady your breathing. It felt like the floodgates had opened, and now there was no stopping it.

“After a while, it became a habit,” you said, your voice shaking. “I couldn’t face the world without it. And... I lost everything. My job, my sense of myself. I kept pushing people away because I didn’t know how to fix anything. I didn’t even know how to fix myself.”

In-ho’s hand gently cupped the back of your head, pulling you closer against his shoulder as if to shield you from the weight of your own words. He didn’t say anything at first, letting the silence settle between you. Then, his voice broke through the stillness.

“I’m sorry, [Name], I wish I was there with you during those times,” In-ho murmured, his voice filled with regret, each word heavy, like it carried all the years of silence and distance between you.

You let out a quiet sigh, the ache in your chest growing as you tried to push back against the weight of the past. The pain, the loss—it was all there, hovering just beneath the surface, but you chose to focus on what was right in front of you now. You chose the present. “It’s okay, In-ho,” you said softly, trying to steady your voice, but your heart was louder than it had been in years. “What matters now is you’re here with me, just like before.”

He was still so close to you, your bodies pressed together in the embrace, his breath uneven against your shoulder. His hand traced the back of your neck, his touch gentle, as though trying to reassure you, to hold you together. But there was more to it—something unspoken, a pull between you that neither of you had fully acknowledged until now. The warmth of his body, the steadiness of his presence, felt so right, and yet, it stirred something deeper, something dangerous.

His fingers grazed your cheek, his touch soft and hesitant, like he was testing the waters. He lingered, his thumb tracing the outline of your jaw. The tension between you was palpable, and you could feel that silent question in the air, one you had both ignored for so long. Could you finally give in? Could you finally let go of the years that had kept you apart?

You wanted to lean in. You wanted to close that distance, to feel his lips against yours and forget everything else. All the pain, the years apart, the weight of the world—it could disappear, just for a moment. But your mind raced with doubts. What if this wasn’t real? What if it was just a fleeting feeling? What if you were getting swept up in the moment, in the desperation of it all?

And then, In-ho’s lips brushed against your forehead, his kiss tender and almost like a promise. You didn’t hesitate this time. The distance between you seemed to disappear, and without thinking, you leaned in. Your lips parted, and your breath mingled with his as you slowly closed the gap, inch by inch. Your heart raced, your pulse pounding in your ears. It was all so familiar, yet so new. You could feel everything—the pain, the longing, the need. You wanted to erase the distance, to bridge the gap that had haunted you both for so long.

But just as you were about to close the distance completely, just as you were about to feel his lips against yours, something flashed through your mind. The memory of him speaking of his wife, of the woman who was supposedly ill in the hospital, came crashing back. Your chest tightened. He was already married. You pulled back suddenly, your breath caught in your throat.

“What about your wife, In-ho?” Your voice trembled, barely above a whisper. The words had been building inside you, but you couldn’t stop them. The questions came rushing to the surface. The connection, the closeness—it felt so real, but how could it be? How could you trust this moment when he had a sick wife waiting for his return?

In-ho froze, his eyes widening for a brief moment. Then, as though realizing the weight of what he’d said, his expression softened. He reached for you immediately, his hands cupping your face gently, almost desperately, like he couldn’t bear the space between you now.

“No,” he said, his voice low and strained. “You don’t understand. I lied to them. The wife... the illness... even my name. I did it for safety.” He explained as fast as he could.

“I swear to you, [Name], I wanted you. I always have. I’ve always wanted you. I’ve been waiting... waiting for you. All these years.”

The words hit you like a wave, sweeping over everything you had believed. The confession shattered your doubt. The years apart, the silence, the feelings that had never gone away. You had thought he was moving on, that he had a life without you, but now he was telling you that it had always been you. That he had always wanted you.

You looked into his eyes, searching for the truth, and for the first time in years, you saw it—his vulnerability, his sincerity. He had waited for you. He wasn’t lying now. 

Tears welled up in your eyes, and in that moment, you whispered, almost to yourself, “I never stopped thinking about you, either.”

That was it. Your hands, almost on their own, moved to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The hesitation, the doubt, all of it was gone. You leaned in again, this time with no fear, no second-guessing. You could feel his lips, just inches from yours, and this time, it was going to happen. There was no turning back.

But just as you closed your eyes, just as you felt the warmth of his lips moving toward yours, the room suddenly lit up. The loudspeaker crackled to life, its cold, mechanical voice slicing through the moment like a knife.

“Third game will begin momentarily. All players, please get out of bed and get ready.”

The announcement shattered the moment like glass and reality rushed in. You pulled away quickly, both of you flustered, eyes wide as reality snapped back into place. In-ho let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. His gaze, still soft from the moment, quickly shifted into irritation.

You, too, felt your cheeks burn with the sudden shift. You couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh, the absurdity of it all washing over you. “Of course,” you muttered, voice a little shaky. “Couldn’t be that easy, huh?”

In-ho shot you a look, a mix of disbelief and exasperation. “I swear, they have the worst timing.” He shook his head, clearly irritated by how things had unfolded, but there was a trace of humor in his voice that made the tension feel lighter.

You both sat there for a moment, the awkwardness of the interruption still hanging in the air but somehow feeling less heavy. It was like you’d both just come back from the edge of something important—and the abrupt break made you laugh despite the weight of everything. In-ho let out a short chuckle too, the irritation in his eyes still there but fading, replaced by a sense of shared frustration with the situation.

You glanced at him, eyes still lingering as you both realized how close you'd come to crossing that line. But there was no point in lingering on it now—not with the game calling you back to reality.

“Guess the universe isn’t ready for us yet,” you said, shaking your head.

In-ho gave a soft, exasperated sigh, but the corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. “Yeah, well, it never really was on our side before,” he muttered, then stood, adjusting his clothes and brushing off the frustration like it was nothing.

You nodded, taking a deep breath before turning your back, to tend to the pregnant girl you had been caring for. It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t feel quite as impossible as it had before. In-ho followed suit, his gaze lingering on you a little longer than necessary. For a moment, the room felt like it belonged to just the two of you again. But the third game was calling, and you both knew you had to face it. Together, this time.

The third game was Mingle. A game where you had to form pairs based on a number assigned and get into a room within 30 seconds. As the platform spun beneath your feet, you felt a wave of nostalgia wash over you. It reminded you of times spent playing this game with friends back in Gyeonggi-do. You remembered one time in particular, when he had gotten into a fight with a common friend, because of the said game. You laughed softly at the memory, causing In-ho to glance over at you, curiosity in his eyes.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, his voice low but still full of interest.

“Nothing,” you said with a soft chuckle. “I just remembered how Byung-hun was angry when you pulled him off of me, so you and I could be partners instead. Didn’t peg you to be a jealous kid.”

In-ho immediately bristled, though there was a playful glint in his eyes. “Hey, I wasn’t jealous. He was hurting you by gripping you so hard.”

“It didn’t even hurt!” you teased, but the corner of your lips twitched upward, unable to keep a smile off your face. “You’re just jealous.”

“Whatever you say…” In-ho muttered, stepping onto the platform. You followed him, shaking your head but smiling at the same time.

After four rounds, you all began preparing for the final one. The rounds were nerve-wracking, the tension palpable, but you had made it this far with the help of your amazing group. The platform began to spin, the music creating a frantic rhythm as it played in the background. You found yourself standing beside Jun-hee, instinctively holding her steady to keep her from stumbling as the platform jerked beneath your feet.

“What do you think the next number will be?” Jung-bae asked, his voice alert as he looked around.

Without hesitation, In-ho spoke up. “Two.”

Gi-hun raised an eyebrow, glancing at In-ho, silently asking him to explain.

“There are 50 rooms, and 126 people still alive. Everyone will need a partner, but there won’t be enough rooms. This is how they conduct these games.” In-ho’s eyes were sharp, and you couldn’t help but feel a bit of awe at how quickly he had figured it out.

And as it turned out, he was right.

2.

Everyone paused, looking around at each other, wondering who would pair up with whom. Before you could grab Jun-hee to pair up, In-ho suddenly grabbed your arm, pulling you along with him. The rest of your group—Dae-ho with Jun-hee, Gi-hun with Jung-bae—quickly followed, all of you rushing to find a room.

You spotted an open door and, without thinking, you shouted. “Over there!” You both sprinted toward it, but before you could step inside, a man suddenly tackled you to the ground. Your head slammed hard against the floor, and for a moment, everything spun.

In-ho’s face twisted with fury as he watched the man try to crawl into the room you had been aiming for, disregarding you entirely. Without thinking, he reached for the man, grabbing him by the neck and shoving him away from you.

“Get in the room!” In-ho shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. You were dizzy and nauseous, the world spinning around you, but you didn’t hesitate. You stumbled to your feet, still feeling the lingering effects of the impact, and forced yourself into the room, fighting through the haze in your head.

But as soon as you entered, something coiled around your neck, a vice-like grip tightening with brutal force. You gasped, your throat constricting as you tried to draw in a breath, but the air seemed to vanish. Your vision blurred, dark edges creeping into the periphery of your sight. Panic surged like a tidal wave, and you clawed at the hands choking you, but they were relentless. Your breath came in short, desperate gasps, each one feeling more like a plea for life than a simple breath.

The world around you was fading, your chest tightening, your limbs growing heavier. You struggled harder, your body thrashing, trying to free yourself, but the darkness was swallowing you whole.

And then—just when you thought you would lose consciousness—there was a shift. The grip loosened. The constriction around your throat vanished in an instant, and you gasped, desperately drawing in the breath you had been fighting for. The air tasted sharp, bitter, as if the world itself was trying to punish you for the terror you had just experienced.

And there he was—In-ho.

He stood over you, his face a mask of fury, eyes wild and unrecognizable with the force of his anger. His knuckles were white, gripping his fist tightly, as though the act of hitting the man who had attacked you had only just begun to settle in. His face was twisted in a way you’d never seen before. Something inside him was unraveling—breaking.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned on the man who had attacked you, and the sound of his fist meeting the man’s face was deafening. A sickening crack echoed through the room, sharp and cruel, as In-ho’s punch sent the man crashing to the floor. But In-ho wasn’t done. The fury inside him was a beast, a monster he couldn’t control. He grabbed the man by the neck, his fingers tightening with savage force, twisting, until there was an awful snap.

The sound of a life being crushed, broken beyond repair, sent a shockwave through your body. Your stomach turned violently, and your chest tightened, as though you could feel the man’s life draining out of him, just like your own hope of ever seeing In-ho as you once had. It wasn’t just the man who had died. In-ho had killed, and something inside him had died, too.

Your breath hitched, and for a moment, you couldn’t move. You stared at him, frozen by what he had just done, your heart racing as the gravity of the moment began to settle in. His chest heaved, each breath coming out ragged and uneven. But it wasn’t the man’s blood on his hands that terrified you the most. It was the look in his eyes. Dark. Soulless. As though he was searching for something—anything—to bring him back to the man he once was. But it was gone. That warmth. That kindness. All of it.

"In-ho..." you whispered, your voice cracking as you reached for him, but he wouldn’t look at you.

His gaze was distant, bloodshot, as though he couldn’t even recognize the person standing in front of him. For a brief moment, you feared you were losing him—losing the man you thought you knew.

And you couldn’t let that happen.

“In-ho,” you whispered again, more urgently this time, your voice thick with unshed tears. “Thank you. For saving my life. Again.”

His jaw clenched, the guilt settling into every line of his face. “I’m sorry, [Name],” he said, his voice breaking, and you could hear the remorse in every word, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. “I’m so sorry.”

You shook your head, your heart hammering as you let out a shaky breath. “What are you sorry for?” Your voice was stronger now, fueled by a strange mixture of anger and desperation. “That bastard almost killed me, and I’m glad he’s gone. I’m glad he’s dead. What’s there to apologize for, In-ho? You saved me. You did what had to be done.”

But In-ho’s gaze softened for only a moment before it hardened again, his hands curling into fists. He was still haunted by what he had done. You could see it in the tight set of his shoulders, in the way he stood, as though he was trying to hold himself together. But the cracks were showing, and you couldn’t let him fall apart in front of you. Not when you needed him most.

Before you could say anything else, the adrenaline that had kept you both on edge began to fade, and the weight of everything—the violence, the pain, the fear—settled into the pit of your stomach. You threw your arms around him, not caring about anything else. Not the blood, not the death, not the mess that surrounded you.

You held him tight, pressing your face into his chest as sobs wracked your body, uncontrollable and raw. “I thought I was going to die…” you whispered between breaths, your voice trembling with the weight of the fear you had felt. “I didn’t know... I didn’t know what was going to happen...”

In-ho didn’t say anything at first. He just held you, his arms coming around you in a protective, desperate way, like he was trying to shield you from the madness, from the horrors that were closing in on you both. His chest was shaking with the same unspoken terror, his breath ragged in your hair as he held you closer, as though afraid you might slip away if he let go.

You closed your eyes, pressing harder into him, the weight of his words sinking into your heart. But no matter how tightly he held you, there was a part of you that was already broken, already afraid that the man you had just seen—the man who had crossed a line he never should’ve had to—was never going to come back.

“I thought I was going to lose you,” he whispered, barely audible. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

You both stood there in silence for a long moment, caught in the aftermath of what had just unfolded, the weight of the violence and the fear finally catching up to you. But for the first time in what felt like forever, you knew—no matter what happened next, you weren’t alone.

After the third game, the group gathered in the makeshift fort Gi-hun had set up, each player lost in their own thoughts. The atmosphere was heavy as they processed the brutal reality of the games. Gi-hun asked Jung-bae to report the number of players who had voted to continue. The tally revealed 56 players had voted O, while the X team remained outnumbered by twelve votes.

In-ho suggested that if six players switched their votes, it would result in a tie, and seven switches would tip the scales in their favor. The tension was palpable as everyone prepared for the vote. When the results were announced, it was a tie. Relief spread through the group, prompting cheers, but their celebration was short-lived.

The guards announced that a tie meant another vote would take place the following day. Dinner was served, and while the group shared light moments to ease their nerves, the tension lingered, a silent reminder of the stakes.

That night, chaos erupted when a fight broke out in the bathroom between the two sides. The O team accused the X team of initiating the attack, while the X team retaliated with their own accusations. The conflict escalated quickly, spreading through the room like wildfire. By the time order was restored, Team X had gained an advantage, now numbering 48 players compared to Team O's 47.

“Two people died on our side,” Player 047 said grimly, sitting down. “We lost three overall, but we’re still ahead by one vote.”

Jung-bae tried to remain optimistic, his voice steady. “As long as we don’t change our minds, we’ll win tomorrow.”

Suddenly, the announcement broke the silence.

“Attention, please. Lights out in 30 minutes. All players, please return to your beds and prepare for bedtime.”

Player 047 turned to the group, his voice firm. “Listen, no one can change their mind, okay? We’ll win tomorrow. Stay strong, and we’ll make it through.”

The group murmured their agreement, but Gi-hun’s expression remained tense.

Dae-ho leaned in, glancing toward the opposing team. “Those guys are acting really suspicious. They’re planning something—I can feel it.”

Jung-bae waved him off. “Whatever. Once we win tomorrow’s vote, it’ll all be over.”

“No. Once the lights go out, they’ll attack us.” Gi-hun spoke, his voice calm but filled with tension.

The room went silent. Player 007’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, They know we’re at an advantage,” He said, voice steady despite the situation. “They’ll try to kill some of us tonight to even the odds and raise the prize money.”

“Then we should attack first. We need to take them by surprise,” In-ho suggested, his tone firm. His words were met with agreement from Player 047, who nodded and added, “We have the women and elderly on our side. If they attack first, we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.”

But Gi-hun raised a hand, his expression grim. “No. We can’t start a fight like that.”

The group turned to him, confused by his sudden objection. Gi-hun’s voice cut through the growing tension, calm yet weighted. “We need to stay calm. If we kill each other, that’s exactly what they want.”

“Who are they? Who are you talking about?”

“The makers of the game,” Gi-hun said bitterly, his eyes burning with anger. His words hung heavy in the air, silencing the murmurs around the room. “They’re the ones who want us to kill each other. They’re watching us right now.”

A chill ran down your spine as you processed his words. The room fell silent, each player lost in thought. Dae-ho broke the quiet, his voice tight. “Where are they?” 

Gi-hun slowly looked up, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “Up there,” he murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with conviction. You all follow. His eyes seemed to pierce the walls as though he could see straight into them. “The control rooms are above us. Their leader wears a black mask. If we capture him, we’ll have leverage.”

In-ho scoffed slightly, though there was no mockery in his tone. “How are you going to fight them? They’ve got guns.”

“We’ll take their guns.”

“From the masked men?” Player 246 asked, his disbelief evident.

Gi-hun nodded resolutely. “Yes. We’ll catch them off guard. They won’t expect it.”

“That’s too dangerous,” In-ho said, shaking his head. “Even if we manage to steal their guns, we’ll be outnumbered.”

Gi-hun’s gaze hardened. “What’s your plan, then? Sit around and wait to die? Watch as they pick us off, one by one? Is that your idea of survival?” His voice rose slightly, the desperation in his tone cutting through the tension.

The silence that followed was suffocating, each player wrestling with the grim reality of their situation. You could see some heads nodding in reluctant agreement, while others remained still, their fear paralyzing them.

Player 120 spoke up hesitantly, her voice trembling. “Do we even stand a chance?”

“We do,” Gi-hun said, his voice unwavering. “If we strike first, we catch them off guard. They’ll never see it coming. The people running this game think we’re powerless, but we have the upper hand now. This is our last chance to end these games once and for all.”

“How do you plan to take their guns?” In-ho asked again, his skepticism still evident.

Gi-hun didn’t hesitate. His determination was clear, as if he had already played the scenario out in his head. “Once the lights go out, we’ll have our chance.”

Lights out in ten.

The countdown began, the numbers pounding in your skull like the beat of a war drum. You lay stiffly on your bed, your muscles tense and ready to spring. Your heart raced as Gi-hun’s instructions echoed in your mind—Once the lights go out, get under the bottom beds quickly. You must not get caught by those planning to attack us.

You clutched the edge of the bed, your nails digging into the rough wood. The seconds dragged, each one stretching impossibly long, amplifying the terror building in your chest.

One.

The lights flickered violently before plunging the room into suffocating darkness. The sudden silence was deafening. You could hear every breath you took, each one louder than the last, as if your own body was betraying you.

For a brief, terrible moment, the room was still.

The silence was suffocating, a heavy void pressing down on you as though the darkness itself were alive. You held your breath, every muscle locked in place, straining to catch the faintest sound.

Then the chaos began.

Screams erupted, raw and animalistic, tearing through the suffocating silence like claws raking through flesh. Heavy footsteps thundered across the room as bodies scrambled and collided in the dark. The sound of someone slamming into a metal bed reverberated like a gunshot, followed by the sickening, wet crunch of bone meeting steel.

The sharp clang of makeshift weapons rang out, chaotic and dissonant, punctuated by the grotesque, unmistakable sound of flesh being pierced. It was chaos, raw and brutal, an orchestra of horror conducted by desperation.

You didn’t think—there wasn’t time to think. Instinct took over as you dove to the floor, crawling under the bed as Gi-hun had warned. Your breath came in short, panicked bursts, and you pressed yourself flat against the cold floor, willing the shadows to swallow you whole.

The room was a nightmare brought to life. The desperate shrieks of the dying mingled with the guttural grunts of attackers. Somewhere close, you heard a chilling, high-pitched laugh—a sound that sent icy needles of fear racing up your spine. The stench of sweat, blood, and raw terror filled your nose, a nauseating cocktail that made your stomach churn.

A body hit the ground nearby with a sickening thud, so close you could feel the vibrations reverberate through the floor. You froze, every nerve in your body screaming as you listened to their gasping breaths turn into choking, gurgling sounds.

You wanted to turn away, to block out the awful noise, but there was nowhere to go. Even pressing your hands over your ears couldn’t drown out the terrible symphony of suffering.

The screams were getting closer. You clenched your jaw, biting back a whimper as you pressed yourself tighter against the floor, your trembling fingers digging into the cold metal beneath the bed.

Your heart stopped when you felt it—a hand clamping down on your shoulder, strong and unyielding.

Your blood turned to ice, the chill spreading through your veins. Panic seized you, and you thrashed instinctively, your mind consumed by the singular thought that someone had found you. You opened your mouth to scream, but a second hand covered it before a sound could escape.

For a moment, terror blinded you, until a familiar face appeared as the lights flickered.

It was In-ho.

His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp, scanning the room with laser focus. “Quiet,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent, barely audible over the chaos.

Relief swept over you, so sudden and overwhelming that it left you momentarily breathless. But it didn’t last. 

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air, followed by the sickening sound of someone being dragged across the floor. You flinched violently, but In-ho’s hand tightened on your shoulder, grounding you. His grip was firm, steadying you even as your body shook uncontrollably.

The two of you stayed motionless, his presence the only thing keeping you tethered to reality as the violence raged around you. Every scream, every thud, every awful, wet crunch seemed amplified in the darkness, etching itself into your mind. You wanted to shut your eyes, to block it all out, but the terror kept them wide open, unblinking.

Gradually, the chaos began to subside. The screams turned into weak sobs, the sounds of struggle fading into an eerie, oppressive silence. Then came the mechanical hiss of the doors opening, cold and detached, signaling that the nightmare was over.

But you knew better. It was far from over.

In-ho’s hand finally relaxed on your shoulder, and you turned to him. His face was unreadable in the dim light, but there was something in his eyes—something fleeting, unspoken. Before you could say a word, he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Stay safe,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. Then, without waiting for a response, he crawled out from under the bed, disappearing into the shadows.

You stared after him, your mind struggling to process what had just happened. The display of affection, so sudden and unexpected, left you reeling. By the time you snapped out of your stupor, he was already gone.

The sound of gunfire shattered your thoughts, sharp and jarring, each shot echoing like a death knell in the enclosed space. You curled into yourself, covering your ears as tears pricked at your eyes.

Please let them be safe, you prayed silently, over and over again, the words a desperate mantra. Please let them succeed.

After a while, Gi-hun’s voice finally rang out—calm but commanding—it felt like the first breath after being submerged underwater. “Hold fire!”

The gunfire stopped.

Slowly, you crawled out from under the bed, your limbs trembling so violently it was a struggle to move. The room was a battlefield, littered with bodies and soaked in blood. Your eyes darted frantically, searching for one face, one person who mattered more than anything in that moment.

Your heart leapt when you spotted Jun-hee crouched nearby, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her wide eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Jun-hee,” you whispered hoarsely, stumbling toward her. You dropped to your knees, pulling her into a tight embrace. She clung to you like a lifeline, her body trembling against yours.

The two of you stayed huddled together, finding solace in each other’s presence, until Gi-hun’s voice called out again.

“It’s safe to come out now.”

When everyone was told to gather in the middle of the room, you lingered, pretending to adjust your shoes. Jun-hee gave you a worried glance, but you waved her off with a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right there. Just... something I need to do.”

She hesitated before nodding, her small frame disappearing into the growing crowd.

Your heart raced as you scanned the room, the chaos of bloodied survivors and flickering lights making it harder to find him. But then you saw him—a familiar silhouette, half-hidden in the shadows of a secluded corner.

In-ho.

He was focused, his movements precise as he disarmed a fallen attacker, slipping the weapon into his grasp. His stoic expression didn’t falter as he worked. Even now, in the aftermath of chaos, he was calculating, steadfast, and unshaken.

Your breath hitched. You knew this wasn’t necessary. You knew you should be with the others in the middle of the room like you’d been instructed. But the ache in your chest, the fear gnawing at your sanity, pushed you forward. You couldn’t leave without speaking to him—without feeling the warmth of his presence one last time.

When you spotted him in a secluded corner, hunched over a stash of weapons he was collecting from fallen players, your resolve solidified. Silently, you crossed the chaotic room, weaving past overturned beds and scattered bodies. Your heart thundered in your chest, not from fear, but from the weight of what you needed to say.

Without a second thought, you ran towards him, your steps quick and silent. When you reached him, you didn’t wait for him to notice you. You immediately threw yourself into his arms, catching him off guard.

“[Name]!” he gasped, his voice sharp with surprise as he caught you. He always caught you. His hands steadied you automatically, even as confusion flashed across his face. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be with the others. It’s not—”

Before he could finish, you cupped his face and kissed him deeply. The movement was so sudden, so full of everything you’d kept locked away, that it caught him off guard. He froze, his lips still against yours, the cold metal of the gun slipping from his grip and hitting the floor with a dull thud.

For a moment, he didn’t respond, and you thought your heart might shatter. Then, slowly, almost hesitantly, he kissed you back. His hands moved to your waist, holding you as though you might slip away if he let go. The kiss deepened, his lips trembling against yours, and you could feel the war inside him—the pull of his duty against the part of him that wanted to stay here forever.

His lips moved against yours, his hands gripping your waist as though anchoring himself to you. The kiss was messy, desperate, and full of everything you couldn’t say out loud.

When you finally pulled away, your breath mingling with his, your voice broke. “In-ho…” You could barely get his name out.

“[Name],” he murmured, his voice low and trembling. “You shouldn’t be here, you know that.”

“I don’t care.” You gripped the front of his jacket, your tears spilling freely now. “I don’t care about any of that. I needed to see you. I needed to know you were okay.”

“I’m fine,” he said, but his voice cracked, betraying the lie. His hands shook where they rested on your waist. “But you—you need to go back. You need to stay safe. I can’t…” He trailed off, his eyes darting away, as if meeting your gaze might break him completely.

“In-ho,” you choked out, clutching his jacket tightly. “Won’t you stay, In-ho? For me?” your voice crackled with desperation.

His breath hitched, and he pulled back just enough to meet your gaze. For a second, you thought he might say yes. But then, his face crumpled, and he shook his head. “I can’t,” he said, his voice breaking. “I want to—I want to so badly. But I can’t. I have to help them, [Name]. I have to make sure they have a chance.”

You tried to hold back the tears, tried to be strong for him, but the floodgates opened anyway. A sob tore from your throat as you buried your face against his chest. His arms wrapped around you fully now, steady and grounding, even as your world fell apart.

Of course, this was In-ho. The one who always puts others before himself. The one who bore every burden silently, who carried the weight of guilt and responsibility like it was the only thing keeping him alive. This was In-ho—your In-ho. The man who had always been so much more than you deserved.

And yet, even if it hurt, you loved him for it. You always would.

“What about me?” you whispered, tears streaming freely down your face. “What about us? Don’t we matter?”

His hands came up to cradle your face, his thumbs wiping away your tears even as his own filled his eyes. “You matter,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’ve always mattered. More than anything. More than anyone. But if I don’t do this… none of us will make it out of here.”

“In-ho…” Your voice broke, and he pulled you into his chest, his arms wrapping around you tightly.

“I’ll come back,” he whispered into your hair, his voice unsteady but full of resolve. “I swear, I’ll come back to you.”

“Please,” you choked out, clinging to him like your life depended on it. “Please, In-ho, don’t make me lose you again. I can’t—I can’t do this… not without you.”

“You won’t lose me,” he said, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his own uncertainty. He pressed a kiss to your forehead, lingering there as if trying to memorize the feel of you. “I’ll come back. I promise.”

Deep down, you both knew his promise was a fragile thing, held together by hope.

He leaned down, his hands trembling as they cupped your face. His lips met yours once more, this time in a lingering kiss, slow and deep, filled with everything he couldn’t bring himself to say. For a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. The chaos around you faded into a distant hum, and the weight of the moment lightened just enough for you to feel the depth of his love. A love as desperate and fleeting as the seconds you shared.

When he pulled away, his lips brushed against your forehead, a soft sigh escaping him as if the kiss had stolen the last of his strength. “I’ll be extra safe,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, though his eyes betrayed the agony tearing him apart. “I promise, [Name].”

The promise felt hollow, like a brittle shell barely holding together.

You nodded weakly, though every fiber of your being screamed at you to pull him close, to make him stay. But you knew. You knew who he was—knew that In-ho was the kind of man who always put others first, and there was nothing you could say or do to change that.

“I’ll come back to you,” he said, and the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as you. “You have to believe that.”

Your voice wavered as you whispered, “I believe you, In-ho.” But the ache in your chest said otherwise.

He took a step back, his hands lingering on your arms before they fell away entirely. The warmth of his touch disappeared as he turned, moving toward the shadows with quiet determination.

Your heart shattered as you stood there, frozen in place, watching him walk away. It felt like every part of you was being ripped apart, your chest heaving with silent sobs. You wanted to scream his name, to demand he turn around, to beg him not to go. But the words caught in your throat, strangled by the raw, suffocating pain of letting him go.

As his figure grew smaller and smaller, the reality of what just happened sank in. The promise he made, the kiss he gave, the pain in his eyes—they all felt like goodbyes masquerading as hope.

As the silence closed in, the thought struck you with brutal clarity. This was the last time you would ever see him.

And it broke you, how painfully right you were.

[amirasainz]

hi, you write beautifully! i was wondering if you could please write something about lando and the reader, when they have different love languages lando has touch and the reader has gifts

Thank you 😊

Enjoy reading and send some requests!!!

- xoxo babygirl 🧡

Different Love Languages, Same Love

Lando had always been a tactile person. It wasn’t something he tried to be, it was just who he was—he liked being close, feeling skin against skin, sharing warmth. And then there was Y/N, his polar opposite when it came to expressing love. She’d always had a knack for finding the perfect gift or gesture, something that showed she’d been paying attention to the tiniest details. They were different, yes, but those differences only seemed to bring them closer.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The first time Y/N really noticed how much Lando’s love language shaped his actions was at a fan meet-and-greet.

It was a chaotic day at the track. Fans swarmed Lando as soon as he stepped out of the hospitality tent. Y/N had been standing beside him, holding his water bottle, her presence understated like always. But the moment the crowd surged forward, Lando’s hand shot out, grabbing hers and pulling her in front of him.

“Stay close,” he murmured, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist.

She could feel the rapid thump of his heart as he tucked her into his chest, shielding her from the crush of fans. Even as he smiled and signed autographs, his other hand never left her, his fingers brushing her arm or hip every few seconds as if to make sure she was still there.

Later that night, when they were back at the hotel, she teased him about it.

“Lando, I wasn’t about to get lost in a sea of fans,” she said, smiling as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

He looked up from where he was lying on the bed, his face softening. “I know. I just… I didn’t want anything to happen to you. You’re the most important person there, you know?”

Her heart melted on the spot.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Y/N’s love showed itself in other ways—like the time Lando won his first-ever F1 race.

It had been a whirlwind of champagne, interviews, and celebrations. Y/N was right there through it all, cheering the loudest, her face aching from how wide her smile had been the entire time. The next day, while Lando was still sleeping off the post-race exhaustion, she went out and found a small pendant shaped like a racecar. It wasn’t fancy, but it was something to mark the moment.

When Lando woke up and saw it, his expression was priceless.

“What’s this?” he asked, holding it up to the light.

“Just something to remember yesterday by,” Y/N said casually, though her cheeks were already warming. “You can put it on your keychain or something.”

Lando sat up and looked at her for a long moment before pulling her into his lap, burying his face in her neck. “You’re unreal, you know that? I don’t deserve you.”

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Their differences became even more apparent on the nights they’d go out with friends. Y/N wasn’t a big drinker, but occasionally, she’d let loose. Lando always took on the role of her unofficial babysitter, not that she ever needed it. One particular night, though, she’d had one cocktail too many.

On the way home, she slouched in the passenger seat of Lando’s car, her head lolling against the window. “You’re so pretty, you know that?” she slurred, turning to look at him with glassy eyes.

Lando laughed, shaking his head. “Thanks, love. So are you.”

When she tried to sit up, he reached over, guiding her feet onto his lap.

“What are you doing?” she asked, confused but too tipsy to argue.

“Just keeping you close,” he said simply, one hand steering the car while the other rested on her ankle.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

For Y/N, showing her love meant remembering the little things—like the time Lando casually mentioned wanting a specific pair of headphones while scrolling online. Six months later, on his birthday, he unwrapped the exact pair he’d been eyeing.

“How did you remember this?” he asked, holding them up with a mix of surprise and awe.

“I pay attention,” Y/N said with a grin. “You should try it sometime.”

He tackled her onto the couch, peppering her face with kisses.

“I don’t need to,” he said between kisses. “I already have everything I want.”

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

One of Lando’s most memorable gestures came during a rare beach day together. They’d found a secluded spot, far from the prying eyes of fans or photographers. Y/N had been lying on the sand, soaking up the sun, when Lando suddenly scooped her up and pulled her onto his chest.

“Lando!” she yelped, laughing as she tried to wriggle free. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping you close,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “And making sure you don’t get sand in your hair. You hate that.”

She rolled her eyes but let him hold her, her head resting against his shoulder as they watched the waves.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The balance they struck was perfect in its own way.

When Lando came home after particularly grueling race weekends, Y/N always had something waiting for him—sometimes flowers, sometimes his favorite takeout, sometimes just a handwritten note tucked into his pillow.

And when Y/N had rough days, Lando would pull her into his arms and hold her until the tension melted away.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

One night, as they lay tangled together on the couch, Y/N looked up at him and asked, “Do you ever wish we had the same love language?”

Lando tilted his head, considering her question. “Not really. I think it’s kind of perfect the way it is. You make me feel loved in ways I never expected.”

She smiled, reaching up to trace his jawline. “You do the same for me.”

And that was all that mattered.

[catchastarorten]

hey lovely, i don’t know if you take requests but i absolutely love your works!! i wanted to see if you can do a jun ho fic x fem!reader where jun is in a coma after in ho shoot him on that island and reader has been visiting him every day since at the hospital. and one day he finally wakes ip and reader just takes care of him? just like a baby, food, kisses, cuddles. i feel like our man needs that :(

tyy if you would do this, have a great day or night 🩷🩷

Hello, anon! Here's your request :), I hope I did Jun-ho justice because you're absolutely right, the man needs some love and care, and he's gonna get it here. Hope you enjoy this — lots of love! <3

—Feels better with you.

Pairing: Hwang Jun-ho x lover!fem!reader

Summary: after everything Jun-ho went through, he was in a coma, you were there with him when he finally woke up. He needed you. And you took care of him while he was recovering.

Content: fluff, comfort, kisses, yearning, a little bit of angst, Jun-ho in a coma then waking up, English isn’t my first language, mistakes should be present, not proofread, sorry!

Word count: ~ 1.0k

Seeing him lying there, hooked up to machines, pale and fragile in a way you’d never seen before, broke something in you. This was the man who had once held you so tightly, who had whispered promises into your skin, who had loved you with a quiet intensity that made you feel untouchable. Now he looked so far away.

You visited him every day after hearing about how he'd been pulled from the ocean. He was in a coma.

You talked to him, your voice soft but steady, telling him about everything and nothing. You read to him, held his hand, brushed the hair from his forehead like you used to on those lazy mornings. And every day, you hoped he’d come back to you.

The day he woke up, it was like the world stopped. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and heavy with exhaustion. Your heart leapt into your throat as you leaned closer, your hands trembling.

Waking up felt like surfacing from a dream that had gone on too long—foggy and disorienting, the kind of dream where Jun-ho wasn't sure if he was still alive or dead. His body was heavy, every muscle aching, but especially from the shot on his shoulder, the weight that it carried.

For a moment, Jun-ho couldn’t remember where he was or why his chest felt so tight, why his head throbbed with such a sharp ache.

But then he saw you.

You were leaning over him, your eyes wide, tears brimming as if you held them back for too long. And when you whispered his name, the sound cracked something deep inside him.

“Jun-ho?” your voice echoed.

He tried to speak, but his throat felt raw, his voice coming out like sandpaper as he rasped your name back. Just your name, like it was the only word he'd held onto all this time. “Y/n…”

And just like that, the weight of the world fell away. You were there, holding his face, your touch soft and grounding, your presence the only thing grounding him to reality. “I’m here,” you told him, your voice thick with relief. “I’m right here.”

The look in your eyes nearly undid him. He wanted to say so much, to explain why he left, to apologize for everything—for leaving without a word, for the pain he knew he’d caused you—but his body betrayed him, too weak to form the sentences in his head.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered instead, the words barely audible.

“Stop,” you shook your head, tears falling from your eyes. “You don’t have to explain anything right now,” you said gently, your voice a balm to his soul. “Just rest, okay? Please.”

He didn’t argue. He never could with you.

In the days that followed, Jun-ho spent more time watching you than anything else. He was too weak to do much else, and honestly, he didn’t mind. Every time he opened his eyes, you were there—staying with him, and he held your hand as if he couldn’t bear to let go.

You’d talk to him in that soft, steady voice of yours, telling him about the most ordinary things. It didn’t matter what you said. All he cared about was the sound of your voice, the way it wrapped around him like a blanket, comforting and warm. Like he was home again.

There were times, late at night, when you thought he was asleep, and he’d feel your fingers brushing against his, hear the quiet, shaky breaths you took as if trying to hold yourself together. Those moments broke him more than anything else.

He hated himself for leaving you. For disappearing the way he had, knowing how much it would hurt you. But the guilt wasn’t as strong as the relief he felt now, knowing that despite everything, you were still here. You hadn’t given up on him, and he loves you for it.

When he was finally strong enough to sit up on his own, you started bringing him food—simple things like soup or porridge. He’d watch you blow on each spoonful, your lips pursed slightly as you cooled the soup before holding it to his mouth.

He ate obediently, his eyes never leaving you, his gaze flickering to your lips like he was counting the moments until the bowl was empty and he could kiss you again. 

He wanted to kiss you so badly it hurt.

The first time he finally did, you were brushing your fingers through his hair. Without thinking, Jun-ho reached up and caught your hand, pressing a kiss to your palm, then your wrist, his eyes fluttering shut as if the touch alone was enough to heal him.

Your heart clenched as you leaned down to kiss him properly, your lips soft against his. It was slow, tentative. Your lips were warm, familiar, and he felt a shiver run through him as he let himself sink into it.

“I missed you,” he murmured against your lips, his voice low and raw with emotion.

“I missed you too,” you whispered back.

Jun-ho wanted to hold you properly, more than anything. To pull you into his arms and never let go. But the hospital bed wasn’t big enough for that, much to his silent frustration.

You let out a quiet laugh when he gave you a soft frown, but you gave him your arm instead, letting him curl up against you. He rested his head on your hand, his eyes focused on you as you gently ran your fingers through his hair.

The frown dissolved from his face, his eyes traced your features as if he was memorizing every little thing about you. His breathing slowed, and you knew he was at peace.

He needed this. All of it. And he needed you.

[heliosunny]

YANDERE!SAE x READER

And so... he's changed Sae was a genius. You’d known it all along. Your (once) friend was a prodigy in soccer. You’d marvel at how effortlessly he made his goals. But life, as it often does, pulled you away. Your parents' work demanded relocation, and you left without so much as a goodbye.

You often thought back to those days, replaying the memories in your mind. He was distant, never chatty, but you still tried. Compliments, small gifts like sweets, you always hoped to get through to him. Most times, he'd just hand them off to his younger brother, Rin. You convinced yourself he wouldn’t miss you. You were just a face in the audience, after all.

Yet Sae noticed.

At first, he thought you might’ve been sick or busy. You never missed a game before. He told himself you’d show up at the next match. But when his mother mentioned over dinner that your family had moved, his world stilled.

When? Why? And why hadn’t you told him?

He told himself it didn’t matter. There was no time to dwell on things outside soccer. Yet the gnawing ache in his chest refused to leave. He hated himself for how easily your memory began to fade. He didn’t want to forget. He promised himself that one day, he’d find you again.

-----------

Years later, standing in a packed stadium, Sae’s sharp teal eyes scanned the crowd. Then he saw you. Older, more composed, but undeniably you.

“There you are, Y/n L/n.”

The sound of his voice made your blood run cold. Your best friend, Hana, practically screamed beside you, overwhelmed by the sight of the famous Sae Itoshi addressing you.

He didn’t waste time. The crowd dispersed, and he cornered you. His expression was unreadable, but the intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down your spine.

“Explain yourself.” he demanded.

“What?” you replied, confused. “What are you talking about? I’m just here because my friend dragged me along.”

His jaw clenched. “You left without saying a word. I needed you, and you weren’t there.”

You stared at him, incredulous. “Sae, I was a kid. My family had to move for work. What was I supposed to do? And you-” You pointed at him. “You barely acknowledged me back then! What did it matter if I was there or not?”

“It mattered!” he hissed, stepping closer. “You mattered. You still matter.”

You shook your head, overwhelmed. “Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but I have my own life now. Just… let it go.”

With that, you turned and walked away, leaving Sae frozen in place. How could you be so indifferent? Didn’t you see how much he’d changed, how much he’d suffered... all because of you?

---------- Later that night, Hana regretted letting you drink so much. You slumped over the table, utterly unconscious. “I shouldn’t have let you drink, idiot!” she muttered, trying to shake you awake.

“Need some help?” a familiar voice asked.

Hana turned to see Sae standing there, his teal eyes locking onto you like a predator sizing up its prey.

“Oh! Sae Itoshi, right?” Hana stammered, momentarily starstruck. “Um, my friend’s had a bit too much to drink…”

“I’ll take her,” Sae said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Oh, but-”

“I’ve known her for years,” he interrupted. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”

Before Hana could protest, Sae had you slung over his shoulder. His grip was possessive, and his gaze was cold as he turned away. ---------- When you woke up, your head pounded like a drum. You blinked, taking in your unfamiliar surroundings. It wasn’t your apartment. The room was too pristine, too impersonal.

Panic set in as you sat up, only to find Sae sitting in a chair by the door, watching you.

“Sae?” you croaked. “Where am I? What’s going on?”

“You’re safe,” he said simply. “With me.”

Your heart raced. “What? Sae, I need to go home-”

“This is your home now.” His calm tone was more chilling than any shout. “You won’t leave me again.”

You stared at him, horrified. “Sae, this isn’t funny. Take me home.”

He stood and walked over, his shadow looming over you. “I don’t think you understand, Y/n. You’re the reason I kept going. Every match, every goal—I did it all for you. And now, I won’t let anyone take you away from me. Not your parents, not your friends, no one.”

Tears pricked your eyes as you realized the depth of his obsession. “Sae… you’re scaring me.”

His expression softened, but his eyes remained unnervingly intense. “You don’t need to be scared. I’ll take care of everything. You’ll never have to leave again.”

As he reached out to touch your face, you flinched, but there was nowhere to run. The door was locked, and the man you once called a friend had become someone you barely recognized.

And so, Sae Itoshi had changed- but not in the way you’d hoped.

[cablecar-s]

would you fall in love with me again?

It's been a while since the SAGA came out and idk if anyone has done this yet but THIS SONG. THIS. SONG. If you haven't already listen to Would You Fall In Love With Me Again that is part of the recent and last SAGA of EPIC: The Musical by the amazing Mr. Jalapeno. It just fits so well with Jason?? Recommend listening to the entirety of it as well! The music is so beautiful and I absolutely BAWLED. On with the story!! :D

———

"Just... Be safe, okay?"

"I'm Robin, I'm always safe."

And that was the last time you saw him.

If only you knew that Bruce was going to come to your apartment to break the news to you. If only you knew that Jason was going to get himself killed in Switzerland. If only you knew that his boyish smile you always loved would be the last time you would see it. If only you knew that you would never get to voice your love for him ever again once he left.

It ate at you.

Every wonder, every what if, every 'If I had just stopped him'

But that would never bring him back. Jason Todd was dead.

The boy you grew up with is gone. No more running from cops. Stealing tires together. Fulfilling that promise the two of you made under the stars. The dreams you had with him, forever gone.

And yet..

You hung on to those promises. Because he promised you, and he never broke his promises.

–––

You woke up to your alarm, the annoying sound of it buzzing on your bedside table. With a groan, your hand sneaks out from under the warm covers to slam on the reset button.

Wake up, brush teeth, have breakfast, go to work.

That had been your routine for the past few years now. Helped you keep whatever sanity you had left.

You became a journalist. Trying to shed more light to the less fortunate. Make people give a damn even if you knew very well they wouldn't because it was Gotham. And when did Gotham ever give a shit about those who suffered?

You also dabbled in a bit of the underworld. Trying to put crime lords behind bars. You weren't no Batman or Robin, but you weren't going to stand and do nothing while those rich assholes go away scot free.

Bruce had warned you to be careful. That you were practically putting a target on your head if you dug to deep. The only thing he got in return was a finger and a slam to the door.

Begrudgingly though, you had agreed to let him add more security to your apartment. If you were going to be doing something as dangerous as writing articles about said crime lords, it was better to be safe than sorry.

As of recently though, someone new had shown up to the underworld.

The Red Hood.

You had scoffed at first, "Another Joker knock off."

But then news of the mysterious figure spread fast.

He had killed eight drug lieutenants, killed anyone who dealt drugs to kids, and rapists and abusers alike killed with bullets infesting their bodies.

Red Hood: A Hero or a Criminal?

That was the title for your next article. People were skeptical of the Red Hood. Yes he cleaned up crime better than Batman, but technically it was still murder, and technically he was still selling drugs.

An exhausted sigh left your lips, your hands going up to rub at your eyes. You were beginning to see double, and you still needed to buy groceries for the next week and head home to make dinner.

Packing your things, you said your quick goodbyes to your colleagues and left to the store before the sun had disappeared from the sky.

You made sure to shop light to not have any wandering hands or eyes, you would get the rest tomorrow morning.

Your feet trudged up the multiple flights of stairs, the elevator not being fixed for six months now. God how you hated your landlord.

You struggled with your things, the loops of the plastic bags digging into your skin while trying to find your keys in your bag. With muttered curses, you were able to finally open the door.

You were too tired to notice the shadowy figure standing in your living room. Watching as you shut the door with your foot while dropping everything to the ground with relief.

"Nice place ya have."

The voice was deep, a bit gruff and modulated, with a hint of an accent beneath it all. It made you jump with a small yelp. Your head turned, hands fumbling for something, anything, to use as a weapon.

With wide eyes, you stared at the glowing white eyes that stared at you, and the slight shine of a red helmet.

Red Hood was in your home.

Jason felt like throwing up. He knew it was a bad idea. Told himself over and over and over again that he shouldn't see you. And yet, here he was; standing in your apartment, waiting for you to get home from work.

Your place was.. Homey. A bit messy, but you were always messy weren't you?

He couldn't help but snoop around. A fridge with not much (he'd have to go shopping for you some time), a few dishes here (he'll clean it up for you), papers scattered about on the table (you'd probably get mad if he touched those), and a bookshelf.

Filled to the brim with books. Books that he told you he loved. That he read to you. The only things he would gush to you about other than being Robin.

His gloved hand ran over the multiple covers, his hand pausing upon a familiar book.

Pride and Prejudice.

He couldn't help but smile a bit. You had teased him about being a hopeless romantic when you found the book. His younger self was embarrassed beyond belief, but you had convinced him to read it out to you anyways.

He flipped through the pages, his eyes skimming through the many notes you made and the passages you had highlighted. As the papers flew by, something fell out, making him give pause and crouch down to the ground.

It was a polaroid picture of the two of you as teens. You had written the year at the bottom with a pen. What caught him off guard were the words after it though.

'I love him.'

You obviously could have meant as a friend. Nothing but simple platonic love. But he knew better, the both of you did back then. You two were still awkward teenagers, but it was there, your feelings for each other bare for one another.

Hand holding became more than leading the other through alleyways. Sleeping next to each other became more than just keeping warm from the cold. And stolen glances were never unnoticed.

His stomach dropped for a moment, his breathing stuttering.

Maybe he should leave, before he did something he would regret.

Did you even love him still? He wasn't the goofy kid you would hang out with in the middle of the night anymore. He didn't have that pure innocence. That 'Robin gives me magic' bullshit.

Jason was now a man who had been through hell and back. A man who had left a trail of red in every step. A man who took more lives than he can count on his hands.

Would you still love him then?

Would you fall in love with him again even knowing all that's he done?

Before Jason could even have the chance of going out the same window he came in, the lights to your apartment came on, and he froze.

Both out of fear, and out of awe.

You were.. Pretty.

Well, you were always pretty. But you were more.. Mature. Tired, but mature, and pretty, and every word that was synonymous to it.

"Nice place ya have."

He internally cringed.

He watched you jump and try to grab a weapon near you, a smile cracking underneath his helmet when you grabbed the coat hanger.

What were you going to do?

Red Hood was in your apartment. He didn't attack, or kill, those who didn't do anything wrong. Meaning he wanted to talk. But about what?

"What are you doing here?" You questioned, trying to gather all the bravery you had. Your eyes narrowed when he held his hands up, picking up what seemed to be a chuckle coming from him.

"Just wanna talk."

"About what? I don't have anything for you."

You stayed in place, unblinking and on guard, but like you, the Red Hood just stood there.

"I thought you'd be happier to see me." The crime lord chuckled.

Your brows furrowed. Was this guy crazy? If you had met the Red Hood before you would definitely know.

When opening your mouth to say something, all words died on your tongue, time practically becoming still.

He had taken off his helmet, revealing messy, black helmet hair with a white streak at the front. A few scars decorated his face. His eyes an almost glowing green. And a face sharper than it's original round baby one.

It had been years. Years. But you could recognize that face anywhere.

"No welcome back—"

You had practically ran straight into him, Jason letting out a small 'oomph!' upon impact.

"It's— But— You—?" You were at a loss for words. Your arms practically squeezed his torso.

Breathing. He was breathing. You could hear his heart, hammering against his chest.

Alive. He was alive.

He was alive.

"Long story." He chuckled.

Tears were practically falling from your eyes already. You pulled away enough just to look at his face, hands cupping his face.

"Jason..?" You croaked out.

He smiled at you. Awkwardly, but a smile that you remembered all those years ago.

"That's me."

You could only stare at him, him staring back at you. You could barely process him standing before him.

He was real. He was breathing. He was warm.

"What? Am I that handsome?" He tried to joke.

Always trying to lighten the mood.

A broken laugh left you, a smile on your lips. "Shut up."

And you had shut him up. A kiss that was long overdue.

It was messy, teeth slightly clashing, large hands awkwardly trying to find its placement. But it was everything. It was perfect.

And then he pushed you away, hands holding onto your shoulders.

"We shouldn't— I can't—"

"What?"

Your heart shattered for a moment, watching Jason who had his head turned to the side, a frown on his lips.

"Why not?"

"We just can't."

"Jason."

"I'm not—!" His voice raised for a moment.

He closed his eyes, taking a breath. "I'm not who think I am."

Jason braced himself, forcing himself to look at you. "I'm not.. I'm not the same person. I'm different. I'm not..." He paused, inhaling sharply.

"I'm not a good person.."

You stared at him. The silence between you two becoming tense.

God was he dumb even now.

"So what's the problem?"

His grimaced before calling out your name, every syllable rolling off his tongue with such ease it almost made you want to jump him.

"The problem is that—"

"Do you still like chili dogs?"

His brows furrowed, taken aback by your question.

"What?"

You took a step forward. "Do you still like to read your boring classic novels?"

"They're not boring—"

Another step.

"Can you play the piano?"

"Well, maybe, but I might be rusty."

And then you had him in your hands once more.

"Then what's the issue?" You questioned, staring into his eyes.

He stared back at you, dumfounded now. He opened his mouth, before closing it. You spoke for him.

"Jason, I don't care if you killed people, that you sell drugs, or that you're some kind of zombie."

He cracked a smile at the last comment.

"You're still the same boy who promised me the stars on that rooftop. Whatever you've done, whether good or bad, I love you."

Jason stared at you, breath catching in his throat. And then his eyes, his beautiful, now green eyes glistened under the light.

"You mean it..?" His voice cracked for a moment, his hand reaching out to gently grab your wrist, squeezing it to try and reassure him.

Your own eyes began to water again, a broken laugh leaving you. You leaned forwards, pressing your forehead to his.

"Of course I do."

———

Reblogs are GREATLY appreciated :] (please reblog, I worked really hard on this)

[cherryspeaches]

sex, money, feelings, die - Chapter 2

Summary: Having lost everything, you joined the games with no hope or expectation of winning. Despite it all, you found something interesting in #001. Maybe you'd stick around a little longer. Chapter wc: 1.1k

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ He’s awfully obsessed with 456. Since he first caught your eye the previous night, it’s like you couldn’t look away from him. Your eyes sought him out in the crowd from the moment you woke up. Your inability to look away from him is starting to piss you off. The more you look at him though, the more you notice just how much he looks at 456. Gi-hun. You heard his friend yell out his name a few times, consoling himself that he’ll be fine since he has the self-proclaimed winner of the previous games with him. Yeah good luck buddy, shit all that’s going to do to be honest. The only advantage he would have is knowing that people die in here. You had no clue who was responsible for organising this death spectacle but they would have to be insanely stupid if they kept the exact same format and games year on year. Actually, why did they let a past player come back? He couldn’t have run out of money already…What was his reasoning again? Lost in your thoughts, you feel your forehead bump into someone as you all enter the room location for the second game. “Sorry…” you mumble. 

“Ah, it’s okay…” you heard a voice reply. You finally look up to see 120, and Oh. “Pretty” the words escaped your mouth before you had a moment to think. “I’m sorry?” You could see visible shock take over her expression. Curious eyes look back at you, with a bit of apprehension, as though she almost didn’t believe you. “You’re pretty.” you smile back at her. You were being genuine too. She really was just your type, tall and visually stunning. Pity that you were both in here, destined to die. “Oh… Thank you.” she looked away, light pink dusting her cheeks. “I think so too!” you hear from behind you, player 095 chiming in from behind 120. Cute. They would look cute together. You could see 120’s body language change slightly in the presence of 095, showing that she felt more comfortable with her around. An awkward lull settles over the three of you, and with that, you use that to excuse yourself with a final smile at 095 and 120, and they awkwardly smile back. You knew that you made people uncomfortable sometimes. You could never quite say the right thing, or read the room right. You wondered why honesty was publicly held in the highest regard and yet privately it was the swiftest way to isolation. People don’t like to hear the truth as much as they say they like to. Part of your mannerisms also stemmed from you simply not caring enough to put on a mask for people. You were fighting your own battles daily, you were tired and lying to people took a lot of energy. Caring what they think takes a lot of energy too. Things became a lot easier when you stopped caring, or at least when you pretended to stop caring. Guess you still lied to yourself despite it all. The speaker croaked and came to life, spelling out the instructions for the next round. Ah… you had to get into groups. I guess this is where I die… Resigned to your fate, you moved quietly amongst the chaos to rest against a wall. Leaning back, you reached a hand into your pocket, itching to put on your music and to zone out. This is the end anyways right? Might as well go out in a moment of calmness. The risk was too high though, if someone saw then that might be the end of your music privileges. Tilting your head back, you closed your eyes and tried to find the silence amongst all the noise. It’s an old meditation trick your grandfather taught you, a near impossible task but the moment you do find it… you truly did feel something. You heard the chatter amongst the crowd, you felt the frantic energy swirl around you, you tasted the desperation in the air. You followed their trails to find the moment they stopped intertwining.. Oh what’s this? You opened your eyes to meet deep pools of brown, almost black depths. 001 was standing in front of you. Despite everything happening around you, the world turned silent as you gazed into his eyes. They were beautiful, and so deeply sad. You could emotions battling under a tranquil surface of resolve. He seemed to be struggling with something, something that he felt he had to do. What a beautifully complicated man. “Are you just going to keep staring at me? Am I that handsome?” his eyes crinkled into a smile. Not a real smile. You didn’t like how it looked on him. “Yes.” “Yes I’m that handsome?” His tone coloured in surprise at your answer, holding a teasing note. “Yes I will keep staring at you but not because you’re undeniably handsome.” He paused for a moment before replying. “Then why?” “You’re like me.” You responded with a smile. “In what way?” He looked at you curiously. “You wanted to die once too, maybe you still do.” 

Humour left his face. Now this, this is the real him. You see his mask fall off, and you’re given a glimpse into his psyche for just a moment. A darkness filled his features, and he looked at you with such intensity… you suddenly wish you could read his mind at this moment.  

“What did you say?” He asked, almost with desperation. “Somewhere, sometime in your life, you gave up. I have too. We’re just waiting for the inevitable, I can see it, no matter how hard you hide it. Your eyes betray you, y’know?” You responded, never breaking eye contact with him, never blinking. His eyes never leave yours. You know what you said would be shocking for anyone to hear, it looks as though he’s been waiting to hear those words though. When he approached you, all you saw was boredom, and slight disdain. The usual look of someone who wanted to use you as a pawn for their agenda, they didn’t particularly want anything to do with you but you served a purpose. Now he looked at you very differently - hatred for daring to call him out, curiosity for how you knew how he felt, pain… so much pain. Through it all, you could see resignation intertwined amongst all the emotions. You decided that maybe you did a little more damage than intended, time to move this forward then. You use a leg to kick yourself off the wall, and weave your body past his to walk back into the crowd and accept your fate. He made no effort to follow you. You pause for a moment. “Coming, 001?” “What?” “You came over here to recruit me right? Otherwise why bother wasting time trying to talk to me. Let’s go, we have a game to win.” Death is familiar to you, and it’s why you could no longer feel her embrace. Not since 001 spoke to you. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

taglist <3 : @tizilovetomhiddleston, @scuzmunkie

[3amfanfiction]

Our Girlfriend pt 2

The morning after.

You can thank @disasterofastory for this piece about the morning after you had four men in your bed. Considering you'd never spoken to two of them, how is this going to go? 1.5k little ficlet of a scene. A little bit of fluffy sweetness to even out the pure smut of the first chapter.

Part one

The bed was almost empty by the time you woke up, only you and Johnny remaining. You were curled up to his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart as your eyes peeled open, sticky with sleep.

You didn't move at first, just laid there content to breathe in the still morning air where nothing needed to be done. There were no deadlines to meet, no chores to complete . . . it was just you, existing.

You watched as the thick chest under your cheek raised up as he drew in the breath to speak. Your quiet morning was about to be disturbed. You held onto the few split seconds you had remaining, locking onto this peace to get you through your day.

"You awake, love?"

Because real life always came knocking.

You hummed an assent, not interested in trying to force your tongue into shapes that would make words. You felt wonderfully wrung out, with only the things occurring right this moment needing thought. There wasn't any stress about yesterday or any worry about tomorrow.

Johnny stroked along your back gently with calloused fingers, a slight tickling scratch to go along with the warm caress. It roused you enough to turn and press a kiss to the warm skin you were laying on, a non-verbal 'good morning' in place of any proper greeting.

Johnny pressed a return kiss to the crown of your head, never ceasing the running of his palm over your back. You really did love him. You knew it was fast, that people say there was no way it would last because of how quickly you two fell together but you ignored them. Johnny was something special and you were thankful he was in your life.

The sun had shifted slightly when he spoke again. "How do you feel this morning?"

As a matter of fact . . .

"Johnny." Firm. You know he'll try and wiggle his way out of an answer if he catches any hint of weakness. "What was that last night?"

He didn't respond at first. After a moment you tilted your head up to look at him. He was staring at the ceiling, a serene look on his face with a hint of a smile on his lips.

"It was nice, wasn't it? I can't believe I decided to take a nap right in the middle of it though. Don't worry, love, I'll be making it up to you." He was coming to life with every word spoken. His face more animated, fingers starting to twitch and legs rubbing together. You knew you only had a few more minutes in bed before he would be up and gone—ready to start another day.

"That wasn't what I meant and you know it. Why did they all talk like we were dating? What have you been telling them?"

"Nothing that wasn't true, I promise." He turned to look beseechingly into your eyes, ensuring you saw the truth in what he was saying. "I told them about you, of course. How amazing you were—always looking out for me, being so understanding, not taking any of my shite." He grinned at the last one, ever amused by your backbone, "and they fell in love with you, just like I did. And then you went and showed me that you loved them back and I couldn't let it go. I had to bring the four of you together."

Immediately you clocked what he meant. "Johnny MacTavish, those muffins weren't—they didn't mean—" How could you even begin to explain away this misunderstanding? Especially after what happened last night? You didn't get any further before the bedroom door opened.

"Good morning, sleeping beauties," Kyle beamed as he walked in holding two coffee cups. "You two finally ready to join the rest of us?"

Oh shit. The rest of them.

How are you going to face them? You'd never even properly met two of them and you let them into your bed. You'd let the man standing in the doorway come in your mouth last night. You've never even spoken to him.

All of a sudden you found yourself tongue-tied, unable to do anything more than mumble a shy thank you as you were handed your cup of coffee. Starting to sit up you realized you were still completely naked under the blanket and looked around self-consciously for a shirt to pull on.

Kyle saw slight panic in your eyes and grabbed a t-shirt off the floor. It was the one Simon had worn last night. You thought about putting up a fuss, asking for one of your own but in the end you graciously accepted, more worried about being covered in the bold light of day than worrying about who's shirt you wore.

Comfortably covered once more you turned to face the two men, looking at you with differing shades of the same smile. You felt around the corners of your mouth and eyes to make sure there weren't any lingering crusties before you took a sip of your coffee. Your eyes widened and darted up to Kyle's face.

"Johnny hasn't stopped talking about you since he you met. Any one of us could make your drink with our eyes closed by now," he teased gently, good-natured mirth shining through his warm eyes. "I hope you don't mind, we took liberties with your kitchen. Cap and Simon are finishing breakfast right now. Well," he allowed with a small shrug, "The captain is, Simon isn't allowed near the stove. Not unless you want a bit of char on your food."

"You didn't have to do all that, here let me . . . " You worked to pull yourself from the bed without spilling your coffee or flashing anyone. "Let me get dressed and I'll be down. They're guests, they shouldn't be cooking." Of all the things. You didn't truly mind the thought of them in your kitchen but it felt like you should protest on principle. When you stood up your hips gave a worrying twinge and you braced yourself against the mattress. Yeah, maybe you should just leave them be after all.

It was embarrassing how quickly Johnny and Kyle were at your side, clearly no worse for wear after the night you all had. You'd like to see them jump up like that after having their hips spread around another's torso. Not so easy then, huh?

Waving them off exasperatedly you gingerly left the room and headed for the kitchen. You walked in just in time to see John swatting at Simon, shooing him away from the stove where he had picked up a spatula and was attempting to stir the eggs. You must have made some sort of noise because both men turned to look at you, freezing as they took you in. Standing in the kitchen with bare legs and Simon's black t-shirt, Kyle and Johnny clustered behind you, you must have made quite the sight. John was the first to come to his senses, pushing the utensil back into Simon's hand distractedly and walking over to you.

"Good morning, sweetheart." He looked you up and down, "we weren't too rough with you last night, I hope?" he questioned with a raised brow, his soft-looking mustache bristling with the movement of his mouth. It twitched while he waited for your answer—worried but fighting not to show it.

"I'm good," you reassured, "Better than, even." You smiled sweetly up at him, enjoying watching the tension leave his face, the little furrow between his brow disappearing. It almost startled you, how fond you were of these men. It was strange.

You didn't know the exact shade of blue John's eyes were but you knew he needed reading glasses if it was late at night and he was still working on paperwork. You'd never seen the way the hair curled at the nape of his neck but you knew he liked deep-tissue massages after tough missions.

So strange. You knew them intimately and as strangers all at once, a unique dichotomy to be in. You wondered if they felt the same way. They knew how you took your coffee and what you would normally make for yourself for breakfast. Was it so hard to believe they were in the same boat as you? That they knew you as deeply as you knew them?

You found it was easy to fall into their orbit. All of them drifting around the others in ever-changing patterns. Present but not suffocating.

They liked to keep a hand on you though, for all that they gave each other room to breathe. They would take turns standing beside you after you took a seat—a hand placed low on your back as they came in for a kiss or moving over to hold your hand while they spoke about anything under the sun.

You laughed when the eggs Simon had been tasked to look over had to be tossed out after smoke started wafting from the pan. The happy peals doing more to settle the men than you knew, because hadn't you realized? They were already falling for you too.

[rie-092]

note: so, i was doing some of the pending requests and i ended up re-reading this manga that i read last month and a prompt suddenly came into my mind and i won't be able to sleep properly tonight if i don't share this rn. yes, i'm always like this. sooooo this is tcf with a mad doctor! reader (i based it from takahashi akira of youkai gakkou no sensei hajimemashita)

tw: blood, unethical experimentation, basically everything (reader) does.

basically you were a doctor in the same company with kim rok soo, choi jung soo and lee soo hyuk.

when kim rok soo first arrived in the company. lee soo hyuk told him about the one rule that every team has everytime they goes to their mission.

don't get hurt so they won't go to the clinic to meet you.

and for the first time, when he met you. you were able to crack rok soo's calm demeanor.

don't blame him. thanks to his ability, he can't forget the first time he met you when he and jung soo got injured in one of their mission. he was too dumb to think that you were innocent. the way you sit on your seat like a calm person and that calming smile on your face that calm his nerves that time. making him forget how serious his injury was.

but his first impression about you didn't last when jung soo, who was looking for the comfort room inside the clinic. only to open a door that leads them your 'lab area' where they saw countless monsters, hell, some are even s-class. who was jailed and practically (despite of not being able to talk at all) beg them to drag them out there.

hell, they even saw some skulls there and dried blood!

the two of them then heard your sweet voice from afar. your cheery voice that was a stark contrast of the hell that they've seen.

“oohhh, rok soo-ssi, jung soo-ssi, you've seen my collections, huh~?”

and jung soo literally screamed at the sight of you. your usual clean lab coat was stain with blood.

he remembered jung soo shakily asking you what's the liquid staining your lab coat. then it took you a minute to answer their simple question. your bright smile still plastered on your face.

"ketchup, i think?"

but there's no way that a ketchup will smell like a damn blood!

then your nurses ganged up on them. those damn nurses who for some reasons have the same smile as you. and even the same eyes with a glint of madness.

okay.what.the.hell?

the last thing rok soo could remember after that. was you, taking a damn huge saw with a crazed smile—

“alright~ it's time for your medical examination <3!"

it was followed by jung soo's screams asking lee soo hyuk (who is not present that time) for help. and you, laughing it off saying that you won't hurt them.

when he woke up, he found himself in your clinic's bed. with the traumatized choi jung soo on the bed next to them. and then, you, who just finished an operation smiling brightly at them. asking how's their feeling, if they feel alright, and many questions. followed by your chuckles saying—

“hmm, looks like that i will be able to use that drug to others now, hehe.”

and during those times they stayed at your clinic to heal their wounds. they started wondering if you are really a doctor or a serial killer.

alright, alright— what kind of doctor will go check on them with blood on their cheeks. or while holding a dismembered hand saying that it was only a display and not a real body but blood was dripping from it and it was still moving?

but, they have to admit. aside from your unhinged personality. there is something about you that makes them at ease.

oh, are you wondering what's your relationship with lee soo hyuk? well, before the apocalypse, the two of you are actually classmates.

and this guy was the one who witnessed your craziness about 'knowledge' and discovering more about human (when the truth is you actually want to see if the human internal organs are really similar to the pictures they put on the books).

and it was indeed scary. but at the same time, lee soo hyuk adores you. though, he knows that you, during the apocalypse— found love and emotions useless. because it will only be a weakness that will burden someone and might become the reason of their death.

but that doesn't mean that he will get rid of this emotions that he has towards you.

and the day that he dread the most had come.

on his way to visit choi jung soo and kim rok soo (who got injured on their last mission) to your hospital. he was petrified at the sight of the ability users panicking as they evacuated your patients— and when he asked what happened.

what he got was countless high grade monsters appeared on the hospital— (which surprised him since he knew that you keep your experiments on the clinic you had inside the company since you did that it was safer there) and the only one who's still inside was you, kim rok soo and choi jung soo.

and kim rok soo, the person who was with you that time. the person who witness your last moments. the person who now couldn't forget about you no matter how time passes by.

he remembered how you kicked choi jung soo out of the window earlier, claiming that a patient would be useless in fighting monsters. and now, you seemed to be pretty out of it. talking to yourself as you and rok soo ran to the fourth floor.

he remembered you saying—

“god of death? what are you? a person with a middle school syndrome?”

and looking outside, he saw countless ability users preparing soft cushions and urging them to jump so that they will be able to set the hospital on fire and get rid of the monsters—

and maybe because of that— you suddenly pushed him out of the window. saying something about slicing someone's stomach open and observing what's inside it if they weren't a real god.

when you saw that both kim rok soo and choi jung soo was safe. you turned your back from the crowds, smirking as you realized you were surrounded by monsters. man, this situation excites you so much.

and taking out the remote from your pockets that will defuse the home made bombs that you made and put around the hospital back when you are so bored. you started thinking on how does it feel like dying because of a bomb before you pressed the button.

you expected that you will be stuck in nothingness after that event. but when you opened your eyes, you were welcomed by the sight of a beautiful woman with a fiery red hair and reddish brown eyes, smiling softly at you.

“looks like you were awake, my little ( name ).”

while up in the heavenly realm. there is a certain someone who made sure to wipe up your memories. so that you will forget the deal about agreeing to examine him once the two of you meet one day.

yeah, he might be a god but you scares him more than anything else so hard pass <3!

[lxxiezz]

I want to see Sonic scared.

You're evil.. I love it.

I'm gonna make it Sonic shitting his pants OVER reader, if you want him generally scared then please have me know!

Sonic x mobian!reader (It's not really specified but i see that more fitting)

Sonic was never one to get scared easily. Sure, sometimes he can get startled when caught off-guard.. but that's not the point! Sonic portrays himself like the brave hero he is, always fighting for what's right. Yet it all changes when he sees you getting striked down by one of Eggman's whacky concoction he created to destroy Sonic.

But how did you wind up in that situation? Let's run it back, no?

It was a calm afternoon as usual everyone was doing their own thing, until they get notified that Eggman is yet again, up to no good. Sonic and his partner - you, were the first ones to arrive, fighting side by side through the array of robots, the rest of the team soon arrived aswell, but they all got seperated, including you, from Sonic. You defeated the enemies with a bit of struggle, but nothing too terrible, until you spot that blue blur being attacked a bigger, seemingly stronger killer machine, he was taking it head on so he couldn't notice a random blast of what it seems like a laser beam, heading straight at him.

If someone asked you what were you thinking, you would'nt be able to answer that yourself, since you weren't thinking at all, in that moment everything seemed to slow, as you jumped over an enemy and flung yourself in Sonic's direction, taking the blow instead of him, you could hear him yell out your name before everything went dark.

Sonic has never felt panicked, or scared. But for the first time ever.. when he sees you sprawled on the ground motionless, it all washed over him in one huge wave, he notifies the others to get out of there and grabs you and runs at a inhumane speed away from all the danger and stops once he's a safe distance away. "(Name)!! (Name)!!"

He'd call out, shaking your body by your shoulders, but you remained unresponsive. He felt real panic and fear for the first time ever. It was horrible. Tails soon flew over an took you away to patch you up. Your condition was critical. It took hours of whatever it is that they were doing to get you fixed up, and when he saw you again.. bedridden and unconsious. He didn't feel relieved, not yet. He was terrified for your wellbeing.

Panic was going through his system in waves, just when he thinks everything's okay he'd spiral back into the same thing.

It was only 2 days later when you finally woke up, Sonic was by your side holding your gloved hand and staring out into the abyss. When he felt your hand twitch his green eyes snapped to look at your face, your eyebrows furrowed as you opened your eyes, letting out a little grunt as you slowly tried recollecting the past events. You didn't have enough time to wake before you feel a certain hedgehog jump on top of you and hold you in an embrace. "Ack- ow- Sonic!" You yelped at the pain in your torso, looking down at the hedgehog as he hurriedly backed off to not hurt you "(Name), (Name).., i was so worried!" He'd exclaim, looking at you.

"I'm fine Sonic, I'm okay now."

You reassured, holding out your hand to caress his cheek. You saw the worry and fear in his green irises finally wash away. You were okay.

Ok so this turned out way different than i initially thought it would but oh well. I'm too tired to think thoughts right now anyways.. Hope yal like this!

[delulusionwl]

♡ I See You

Pairing ── Neteyam x Fem!Omaticaya!Reader Word ── 3k Synopsis ── In which Neteyam gets jealous about the reader having a lot of suitors, as he wants her for himself. Warnings ── A jealous!Neteyam, a little bit of angry!Neteyam, Neteyam wanting to confess to Y/N but having an internal block, Possessive!Neteyam? Yandere!Neteyam?! o.O (I wasn't expecting this as I wrote it, fr) Fluffy moments ahead! Let me know if I should warn something :) A/n ── This is my first fic/imagine of Neteyam (hearts in my eyes). I saw the film a long time ago, but I never wrote an imagine for this lovely boy. But now, here I am! Let me know if you liked it <3 Images are not mine, so credit goes to the respective owners. English is not my first language!

Neteyam was irritated. Anyone who looked at him could tell he was practically steaming, his narrowed eyes glued to the ground, his firm steps carrying him somewhere far away from the clan before he did something he might regret—or something that would earn him a stern lecture (and punishment) from Jake later on.

Once again, the eldest Sully had seen Y/n being politely courted by one of the other boys in the clan. He chuckled bitterly to himself, almost scoffing. Of course, Y/n was being courted by every young Omaticaya in the hopes of making her their mate.

If this had been a few years ago, back when Neteyam wasn’t even aware of Y/n’s existence—too busy with training and missions assigned by his father—he wouldn’t have cared about her constantly being approached. But from the moment he truly noticed her, something inside him had shifted. And that something drove him to the brink of madness every time another boy approached her.

Of course, he couldn’t expect that not to happen. Y/n was, by far, the most beautiful young woman in the clan. But it wasn’t just that. It wasn’t only her perfectly amber eyes, designed so flawlessly by Eywa, or her long, dark hair that seemed to reflect all of Pandora’s natural light, or even her radiant smile that adorned her small, round face so perfectly. No, it was more than just her looks, though the entire clan—especially the young Omaticaya men—had to notice those things about her, too.

Still, Neteyam was utterly jealous. And furious. He couldn’t just hide Y/n away from everyone, keep her somewhere safe where only he could see her, appreciate her, talk to her. Maybe even touch her—if he didn’t combust from the thought alone.

Every time he interacted with Y/n, Neteyam’s heart would pound harder and faster, his face would flush, and his palms would sweat. When he first started feeling this way, the Omaticaya thought he was ill and grew concerned, which drew Jake’s attention. Eventually, Neteyam couldn’t keep it to himself and told his father what was bothering him.

Jake Sully had to fight back a laugh when his eldest said he was in love—though not in those exact words. Still, Jake kept a serious face to maintain his authority. Jake liked Y/n; she was a good girl. He had practically watched her grow up, just as he’d watched Neteyam grow up. But he didn’t like how much she was distracting his son. As a final piece of advice, the patriarch told his son to focus harder on his training until he felt ready to confess his feelings.

And so, until that day came, Neteyam settled for forming a friendship with the young woman. He poured himself into his training, trying harder every day to push those feelings away.

Neytiri, on the other hand, had noticed what was happening without needing a word from Neteyam. She saw how he acted whenever Y/n was nearby during any clan gathering. She saw his reactions as he struggled to hide his emotions, forget them, and behave naturally around the girl. Neytiri liked Y/n, too. She thought the young woman was beautiful, talented, and caring. If it was Eywa’s will, she would gladly welcome Y/n as a daughter when Neteyam finally woke up and claimed her as his mate.

But Neytiri thought that day might take a while—and she hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time Neteyam finally confessed.

“Neteyam?” Y/n’s sweet, melodic voice called from behind him, breaking through his thoughts. He kept walking, his long, purposeful strides carrying him anywhere far from the girl who occupied his mind—and who was now standing right behind him.

Neteyam didn’t stop walking, but his ears, along with the stiffness in his tail and shoulders, betrayed that he had heard Y/n and was fully aware of her presence.

Y/n was confused but decided to follow him in silence. She trailed after the boy through paths filled with lush vegetation and small animals, eventually arriving at a breathtaking view of Pandora from the heights of one of the great trees. The girl smiled at the sight but quickly turned her attention to Neteyam, noticing how he stood quietly, avoiding her gaze, seemingly trying to calm himself.

“Did something happen?” Y/n asked softly, taking a careful step closer but keeping some distance between them.

Neteyam swallowed down the words that were forming like a lump in his throat—words like: You shouldn’t be accepting courtships when I’m around. But he couldn’t hold back the frustrated sigh that escaped his lips. “It’s nothing,” he replied simply and calmly. He would never burden her with his confusion or irritation. After all, it wasn’t her fault she was so beautiful and skilled.

“Nete, it doesn’t seem like nothing,” Y/n said with a small laugh. The moment the nickname left her lips, Neteyam’s heart jumped wildly in his chest.

Still, he remained silent, his face beginning to flush as he stood there, choosing to focus on the view of Pandora. The sun was already starting to set, making way for the night.

“Well... I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have meddled…” Y/n said softly after receiving no response, her tone a little embarrassed. She had known Neteyam for years and had never wanted to be a burden to him—quite the opposite.

The Omaticaya girl had always had her eyes on the eldest Sully, the first son of Toruk Mak'to, even before they had built their friendship. Of course, her feelings weren’t tied to his status as the son of a leader but rather to Neteyam’s gentle yet strong demeanor.

His sharp, observant eyes. His posture—one that had been largely shaped by Jake Sully’s expectations, yet which Neteyam carried with a natural grace. His careful, steady way of speaking, free of judgment. And, most of all, the way he would laugh wholeheartedly whenever he had to save Lo’ak from his own troubles.

"I... I didn’t mean to bother you, Neteyam. Sorry," Y/n said, clasping her hands together. Her ears lowered softly, and her tail stopped swaying slowly from side to side.

Before she could leave, though, the Omaticaya stopped her.

"No," Neteyam said quickly, finally meeting her eyes. He straightened himself, feeling the warmth on his face intensify, spreading to his ears, neck, and soon, he was sure, his chest. Taking an almost imperceptible deep breath, he added, "You're not a bother. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to." His voice was soft, and he moved closer to the edge of the tree, sitting down and letting his long legs dangle in the air. The last thing he wanted was for Y/n to think she was a nuisance.

The girl smiled slightly at his words, a bit of her earlier energy returning. Being near Neteyam was gratifying, and she loved it. She loved talking to him, feeling close to him in any way. With gentle steps, she moved to sit beside him, admiring the view.

"This is beautiful," Y/n said, her gaze fixed on the scenery—the setting sun casting its warm hues over Pandora.

Neteyam turned his eyes to her again, mesmerized by the golden light illuminating her face, enhancing her already stunning features.

"It really is," Neteyam replied calmly, though his gaze wasn’t on the scenery but on Y/n.

As soon as she looked at him, he quickly averted his eyes, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Is Jake being hard on you with training, Nete?" Y/n tried to start a conversation. "Is that why you were so upset?"

"A little..." Neteyam replied, avoiding her gaze. He wasn’t telling the full truth, but it wasn’t entirely a lie either. Jake always seemed to expect more and more from him. "I’m just a bit tired, that’s all."

"No days off, huh?" Y/n chuckled softly through her nose. "Jake just wants you to be perfect, Nete. You’re the leader’s son, Toruk Mak’to’s son. There are a lot of expectations for you to meet."

"And that doesn’t help me at all," the boy replied, eliciting laughter from the Omaticaya beside him. Neteyam allowed himself a small smile as he listened to her laugh, watching her face light up.

"The hunting ritual is coming up..." the girl pointed out, softly swinging her legs where they hung over the edge. "Maybe Jake will let you rest after that."

"I’m not so sure about that."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Y/n turned her gaze back to the breathtaking scenery, but Neteyam’s eyes stayed fixed on her, admiring her quietly. He loved moments like this—talking to Y/n, sitting in silence with Y/n. Everything about it felt natural. Like it was meant to be.

"You... you’ll have to make a big choice," Y/n began softly, her voice tinged with hesitation. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

Neteyam didn’t entirely understand her words but chose to remain quiet. Deep down, he knew he could listen to Y/n talk for hours—even if, perhaps, he didn’t fully grasp everything she said.

"Have you already chosen?" Y/n asked timidly, her eyes finally meeting his. Neteyam hadn’t taken his gaze off her.

"Chosen?" Neteyam echoed, a little confused, snapping out of the dreamy state her presence always seemed to put him in.

"I mean... your mate, of course," Y/n clarified, her voice quieter now, tinged with embarrassment.

The truth was, Y/n was scared of his answer. If Neteyam said yes, if he already had someone in mind to share his life with, it would crush any hope she had. But even so, she needed to know.

"Mate?" Neteyam repeated, slightly stunned. Her gaze bore into him, making him straighten his posture. He swallowed hard under her careful observation of his sharp, strong features. "No... I-I haven’t," he stammered, finally looking away. His ears twitched anxiously.

The truth was that Neteyam’s heart had already answered the question for him—loudly and undeniably. The moment Y/n mentioned "mate," his thoughts returned to the hunting ritual and the decision he would have to make afterward. And his mind landed firmly on Y/n.

Because it was her. It had always been her. Y/n was the one he wanted as his mate, the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, to share every moment with.

Neteyam grew nervous as he imagined Y/n waiting for him in their shared home, arms open, ready to embrace him, kiss him, and care for him just as he would care for her. And he would do it well—he was certain of that.

A small but happy smile flickered across Y/n’s lips upon hearing Neteyam’s response that he hadn’t chosen a mate yet.

“Have you… noticed any, um, approaches?” Y/n asked softly, her voice almost a purr, knowing this was her chance and determined not to let it slip away. Not when Neteyam stirred her heart in ways no one else could. Not when she longed to hear his voice or feel close to him.

Of course, just like Y/n, Neteyam was a target of attention. The difference, however, was that Omaticaya girls weren’t as aggressive in their advances toward him. Getting close to him without at least being friends with his siblings was no easy task. And even then, finding a moment to be near him during his rare free time was nearly impossible. Yet Y/n managed it every time.

If anyone hoped to be courted by Neteyam, they had to make their feelings and intentions clear due to his limited availability and the fact that he wasn’t exactly the most expressive Na’vi. Y/n had tried to make her interest obvious around him, but the boy didn’t seem to notice.

Eywa knows how many courting gifts Y/n had carefully declined, all the while hoping to receive one from a particular Na’vi—the eldest Sully. With the hunting ritual so close, perhaps it was finally time for her to be a bit more forward in showing her interest, though still delicately. She didn’t want Neteyam to think poorly of her—not that he could, even if he tried.

“No, I haven’t noticed,” Neteyam replied truthfully to her question. The fact was, he rarely paid attention to anything outside of his parents’ demands, Lo’ak’s troubles, his siblings’ safety, and, of course, every move Y/n made.

“Well… plenty of girls would love to be courted by you,” Y/n said sweetly, letting out a soft laugh as she leaned ever so slightly toward him, her tail moving lightly along the ground. Neteyam’s ears twitched at her words, his gaze drawn to her once more. His own tail began to shift, unconsciously seeking hers.

But then, the scene from earlier crept into his mind—a boy standing close to Y/n, talking to her, laughing as if there were no tomorrow, clearly thrilled to be near her. The memory made Neteyam’s brows knit slightly together, and he found himself looking away from her.

“Yeah. From what I’ve noticed, many are courting you,” Neteyam said, trying to manage the irritation bubbling up inside him. He’d almost forgotten it, but now it had resurfaced. A new thought struck him, making him feel both nervous and uneasy. “You… have you already chosen a mate?” he asked carefully, bringing his eyes back to her.

“No,” she answered simply.

“No? Why not? You…” He cleared his throat, fidgeting slightly. “You’re an incredible girl. I’ve seen what you do for everyone in the clan. You tend to the injured, help prepare for rituals, assist mothers with their children… you’ve even helped my mother.” Neteyam’s voice grew a little shaky, his ears flicking nervously, his tail moving restlessly behind him. He vividly remembered the day Lo’ak got himself into serious trouble, forcing him, Neytiri, and Jake to go and drag his brother back. In their absence, Y/n had kept Kiri and Tuk company, distracting them with her kindness and warmth.

Y/n smiled, realizing that Neteyam had noticed something about her. The boy steadied himself before speaking again.

“Why haven’t you chosen anyone?” Neteyam asked simply, his voice low, though his eyes stayed fixed on the girl beside him.

“I’m waiting…” Y/n began in the same tone, looking deeply at him. “…for someone to make me an offer.”

Neteyam averted his gaze, assuming Y/n was talking about a specific Omaticaya in the clan. His thoughts spiraled, imagining anyone but himself in her mind—something Y/n was trying to make obvious with her intent gaze and the subtle movements of her tail inching closer to his.

“Well…” Neteyam said, trying to swallow the frustration brewing inside him over whichever lucky Na’vi had managed to catch Y/n’s eyes and heart. Maybe he’d challenge him to a duel if he found out. “It shouldn’t take long,” he said simply, still not looking at her, his earlier sour mood returning.

“It could happen now,” Y/n suggested, tilting her head slightly, attempting to catch Neteyam’s gaze.

“Now?” Neteyam asked, looking around and confirming they were still alone. There wasn’t another Omaticaya in sight that he could aim his fists at.

“Yes, now,” Y/n replied, his attention now fully on her. She fluttered her eyelashes gracefully, hoping he would understand her meaning.

“How ‘now’? It’s just us here,” he muttered, confused, though his heart skipped a beat as he caught her beautiful lashes in motion, momentarily forgetting his impulse to pummel some imaginary rival.

Y/n sighed, realizing she needed to be more direct if she wanted him to understand what she meant.

“Nete…” She swallowed hard, steeling herself for what felt like an immense challenge. She placed her hand gently over his, watching his eyes slowly widen as his ears perked up in surprise. “…I see you,” Y/n confessed intensely, her breath quickening as her heart raced uncontrollably.

Neteyam, on the other hand, was frozen in place. His wide eyes and dilated pupils were locked on the girl in front of him, his body entirely still as he processed her words.

“It’s true that I was waiting for something from you,” the girl began, embarrassed, avoiding his gaze. “But... you don’t have to feel pressured by me. I know you’ll have other great options for a mate.” She let out a small, almost bitter laugh.

The Omaticaya boy snapped out of his stupor, blinking several times in quick succession, his pupils dilating greatly, his heart racing faster than ever before. As soon as Y/n pulled her hand from his, Neteyam quickly but gently grasped it, not wanting to startle her.

“Y/n,” the boy called softly, still surprised by her words. She wanted to be courted by him.

Even though Neteyam was consumed with happiness, staring at her intensely, the words were stuck in his throat. He wanted to say “I see you” like he had imagined so many times, but with his heart pounding and his shock overwhelming him, he could only open his lips several times, struggling to find the right words.

Y/n looked at him shyly, waiting for him to say something, while the boy still held her hand gently, preventing her from going anywhere. He traced her soft skin with his thumb, his gaze still locked on her, hoping she would understand him without words, because he certainly would stutter if he started to confess.

The girl looked down at their hands joined softly, gripping Neteyam’s hand firmly, but soon she lifted her gaze back to him, watching him swallow hard.

“Do you feel the same?” Y/n asked quietly, leaning in slightly, and the only thing Neteyam could do was nod—quickly, almost too fast, which made her smile even wider.

Even with his heart practically on fire, the boy swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the young woman beside him.

“Y/n, I see you,” Neteyam said as if making a promise, though it was whispered, it was intense. It was clear that his chest was rising and falling quickly, with a brief flush of purple creeping up his face, his ears, slowly descending to his neck.

Y/n smiled wider, the same color beginning to tint her cheeks. With her beautiful smile, Neteyam returned a smaller one, still immersed in emotions. His skin was showing his anxiety and mild embarrassment, and his palm was starting to grow warmer than usual.

The boy pulled back slightly from the girl, still looking at her, her eyes locked on him with curiosity. Neteyam began to undo one of his bracelets, tightly fastened to his forearm, and once the accessory was removed, he looked at Y/n with expectation.

The girl let out a happy sound, lifting her left forearm to Neteyam, who, with slightly trembling fingers, began to fasten the bracelet onto her. Now, anyone who saw Y/n wearing the accessory would immediately know that she was promised to Neteyam, as the Omaticaya wore the matching pair on his right forearm.

"In the hunting ritual..." Neteyam began softly as he adjusted the bracelet on Y/n. "I will bring the largest animal I find for the clan. And after that, I will come to you and ask if you would choose me as your mate in front of everyone." He continued, his voice still quiet, a little embarrassed but happy, watching the bracelet settle perfectly on the girl. "This is my first courting gift. But please, don't worry, I will give you more gifts so you can adorn yourself with them until the ritual. And also, after it." The boy smiled at her, making the girl laugh too, filled with happiness.

"And I will make your adornments," Y/n replied, thinking of the accessories she had already made for Neteyam, but never had the courage to gift him. However, from now on, she saw no problem in doing so.

The Omaticaya boy smiled at her, gently bringing their foreheads together, and she responded without hesitation, closing her eyes in delight and happiness. Neteyam turned his gaze back to the landscape in front of them, feeling Y/n settle close to his body, resting her head between his neck and shoulder. He accepted her presence gladly, holding her close as they both silently admired the beautiful, dusk-lit landscape of Pandora, content in their mutual affection.

With Neteyam holding the girl firmly and gently beside him, his tail swayed slightly, finding hers, and they wasted no time in intertwining them, causing both to share small, happy laughs. And behind the couple, Atokirinas—the seeds of the Tree of Life—floated softly, undisturbed, as the young pair embraced in front of Pandora's giant moon.

[smilesrobotlover]

AO3

First|| <-previous next-> (soon)

Chapter 13- Shadow Phantoms

Link barely slept two hours that night. The day before kept replaying in his mind, and he kept tossing and turning from the anxieties gnawing at him from the inside. Rest was important, but by the goddesses, he couldn’t rest knowing that his son was in danger; he didn’t feel like he was allowed to rest, as if sleeping was the wrong choice to make at that moment. Even with the small amounts of sleep he found, it was nothing but nightmares—nightmares of never finding Kori again, nightmares of the beast killing everyone he loved, and nightmares that he couldn’t even remember. But the feelings lingered, and when he woke up with the sun barely peeking over the horizon, he finally decided to get up. Though he tried to be silent as he got his things together, Uli opened the door to her room to greet him, a sad smile on her face. The two silently embraced each other, Uli holding tight to Link as his face buried into her shoulder. After a moment of hugging each other, Uli pulled back, giving him a firm look.

“Please be safe,” she begged, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I will ma,” Link promised, “I’ll find pa and Kori.”

“I know you will,” she said in a small voice, rubbing her thumb gently against his cheek. She gave him a quick peck on the forehead and nodded, which gave him permission to leave. He bid a small farewell to Rela who was still sleeping and left the house, jumping on Epona and heading to his clearing. But where he expected emptiness, he saw Colin, who was waiting with Rusl’s horse and his sword in hand. He was pacing the clearing, spinning around when Link arrived, and he smiled as Link got closer.

“Hey!” He greeted when Link slowed down. “I figured you’d leave at this time.”

“What are you doing here?” Link questioned, fearing the conversation that would take place.

“Waiting for you, of course.”

“Well… I need to leave right now.”

“Great. I’m coming with you!”

Link sighed. Just as he thought. “You’re not coming with me.”

“Yes I am.”

“No, Colin. It’s too—“

“Dangerous?” Colin cut in, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms. He still wore his green shirt, but instead of his Ordon skirt he wore blue pants that stopped in the middle of his calf, as if they were too small. A green bandana was tied around his forehead, and he wore straps that held his sword close to him—he looked like he was ready for a fight. Which meant convincing him otherwise was going to be a challenge. “Let me guess, you want me to stay back to protect Ordon?”

Link frowned. “Yes. Colin, don’t—“

“No! I know you and pa always say that my duty to stay behind is so important and I don’t disagree! But I’m not staying behind this time.”

“Colin, it’s not safe! Do you have any idea what we’re dealing with?”

“Yes! I do!” Colin shouted, his smug demeanor dropping to make way for frustration. “I fought it in Faron woods so it wouldn’t hurt Kori and Rela! It’s terrifying, but I’m not going to sit around and wait anymore! You guys need all the help anyway!”

Link sighed again, shaking his head. “I’m not arguing any further. You’re staying here.”

“I’m not asking for your permission.” Colin got closer, his expression turning dark. “That thing took my dad and my nephew. I’m not gonna let it get away with that.”

Link stared for a moment, truly seeing his little brother, the timid and quiet boy he once was, growing into a courageous young man. It almost hurt to see how much he grew up, his heart aching for the little boy, but he couldn’t help but feel so proud of him, knowing that he was willing to fight to protect those he cared about. It was always something Colin wanted since he was a child, and Link knew he couldn’t deny him that any longer. He finally looked down, ignoring Colin’s piercing gaze and nodded.

“Ok,” he agreed, and Colin looked surprised, as if he needed to fight more. But he quickly nodded and hopped onto their pa’s horse, a little grin on his face as he clutched his sword close to him.

“Ok! Where to?” Colin asked, and Link gave him a smirk.

“To Kakariko.”

“Oh! Right! To Kakariko!” He cheered, sheathing his sword on his back and turning to Link with a determined look in his smile. “Let’s go save Hyrule.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to Kakariko felt tense as Link and Colin pushed their horses as fast as they could, every movement making Link jump out of his skin. He had his sword drawn, not daring to sheath it as the world flew past them, as if danger would attack in any moment. Colin was clearly feeling his anxiety, and his excitement for finally tagging along was gone as he stayed close to Link, though Rusl’s horse was nowhere near as fast as Epona. The two brothers reached Kakariko before the sun began to set, and to Link’s surprise, it was eerily empty—a stark contrast to how it was when he last visited. Colin got off his horse and looked around with his brows furrowed, his hand moving his sheath to his hip.

“Where is everybody?” He asked softly, so soft that Link almost didn’t catch it.

“No idea,” Link replied, feeling uneasy as he got off of Epona. The two began to lead their horses through the empty town, with Colin calling out a “hello” here and there, but they got no responses. Occasionally Link would spot a villager watching them silently through a small crack in their window, before closing it harshly, the sound ringing out in the air. Colin huffed, putting his hands on his hips as he glanced at Link.

“What in the Spirits’ names happened here? Why are they all hiding?” Colin turned back to the buildings, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting, “we’re not here to hurt you! You can come on out!”

A noise was heard from the other side of the village, and Link and Colin got their hopes up that someone was finally showing up to explain things to them. But instead of villagers, Link saw a group of people on horses riding towards them, and he immediately spotted the resistance riding in the front.

“Looks like backup is here,” Link said, and he waited for the group to meet up with them. Shad was riding behind Ashei, who had a determined look on her face, Auru was on his own horse and he bore a relieved smile as he watched Link and Colin, and to Link’s surprise, the King of Hyrule himself was riding behind them, with a group of forty soldiers or so following. He didn’t know the king was going to show up, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.

“Glad you boys made it safely,” Auru said, grunting as he hopped off his horse, “I thought we were gonna have to hunt ya down.”

“Ha, when we showed up with no one in sight, I thought we were gonna have to hunt you down,” Link chuckled, poking Auru in the chest. The old man laughed and looked over at Colin, resting his hand on his shoulder.

“Glad you could join the team, boy.”

Colin’s round ears went pink and he looked down, fiddling with his fingers in front of him.

“I—I just want to help in any way I can,” he muttered, and Auru nodded.

“I understand. You’re no doubt worried about your old man.”

“Yeah… Worried about him and my nephew.”

Ashei and Shad walked up to the group, with a proud smile on Ashei’s face.

“We need all the help we can get, Colin. Welcome to the resistance,” she said, holding out her hand, and Colin’s eyes practically popped out of his head as he gingerly took her hand and shook it.

“Thanks,” he breathed, clearly feeling nervous from the attention.

“Pardon me.”

The resistance turned their heads to see King Edmund walking over to them, his hands behind his back and his eyes narrowed.

“Forgive me for making assumptions, I’m not as familiar with Hyrule as I should be, but I was told that Kakariko was a booming town, with a growing population.” King Edmund turned his head to stare at the closed and quiet buildings. “Where is everyone?”

“Hey!”

Link turned to look at the sanctuary, where Luda was peeking out from, her sword in hand. Her eyes traveled between each person, her gaze finally landing on Link and Colin.

“Link, Colin, you’re here?” She asked, almost to herself, and Colin jogged up to her.

“Luda! What’s going on? Is everything alright?”

Luda shriveled a little, almost hiding into the sanctuary as they got closer, but she pulled herself together and gestured to the inside with her head.

“Come inside, I’ll explain everything.”

The army King Edmund brought stayed outside, keeping an eye on things, but he and the rest of the resistance headed inside. There were some injured and sick huddled against the walls, but what caught Link’s attention was Barnes sitting in a corner, his leg in a cast and his head hung. Both Link and Colin immediately traveled over to him without thinking, and the man raised his head when they got closer.

“Barnes,” Colin started, looking him over, “what happened?”

“Oh kid…” Barnes mumbled, his voice ragged with his usual character and charm sucked out of him. Link frowned, resting his hand on the man’s shoulder. Being up close, he could see his bumps and bruises scattered all over his body.

“Um… Link, Colin,” Luda started, her voice shaking, “Barnes and my father went to the Gorons to tell them to stay inside at night and…. When they were coming back—”

“Oh, don’t tell me,” Colin whispered, his expression filled with horror. Luda nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

“He-he went missing. M-my papa is missing and—” Luda broke down crying, her head in her hands. Link moved to comfort her, but Ashei beat him to it, with her arm wrapped around her. Colin sat down next to Barnes, his expression defeated.

“Not Renado,” he whimpered.

It was uncomfortably silent as Luda cried, with Link standing near Barnes and Colin clearly fighting back his own tears. Link should’ve been fighting back tears as well; Renado was like a second father to him. But for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to cry. He could only feel anger and fury growing stronger and stronger. That beast… it was taking everyone he cared about…

“You were with her father?” King Edmund cut in, interrupting Link’s thoughts, and Barnes raised his head again.

“Yes.”

“What did you see? When was this?”

Barnes shifted, clearly agitated from the questions. “I didn’t see nothin’. I fell down the mountain and Renado was gone. All that was left was his bow.” Barnes sighed, shaking his head. “Broke my ankle in the process. It all happened yesterday morning.”

Shad and Auru glanced at each other, shocked expressions on their faces.

“That thing moves fast.” Auru said. “It just attacked Castle Town yesterday.”

“It must’ve moved straight from Faron, to Kakariko, and then to Castle Town,” Shad continued, his finger stroking his chin. “It seemed like Kakariko was just a pit stop for it.”

“Indeed,” King Edmund agreed. “Is this why everyone is inside?”

“Yes,” Luda sniffed, nodding her head. “Everyone was frightened so they went into their homes.”

“Staying inside just to be picked off one-by-one,” King Edmund muttered to himself. “Well, do not fret any longer, we’re going to eradicate this threat and try to save the abducted people.”

Ashei nodded and gave Luda a squeeze. “We’re going to find your father, Luda. Everything will be alright.”

Luda nodded and sniffed again, leaning into Ashei’s touch. It grew silent for a moment until Barnes raised his head again, his brows furrowed.

“What is causing these disappearances?” He asked, his voice low. “Renado was about to tell me before I fell down the mountain.”

“It’s a shadow beast,” Colin answered before Link could, his gaze piercing into the ground. “A mutated shadow beast that has grown powerful enough to become a serious problem.”

The silence grew heavy, and Barnes rubbed his face as sweat began to drip down his brow.

“Cripes,” he muttered. “Well that’s the last thing I wanted to hear.”

“A shadow beast?” Luda repeated. “But—it—my father is long gone then.”

Link shook his head quickly. “No. He’ll be fine, they’ll all be fine.”

“But—the shadow beasts turn people into more shadow beasts—”

“No!” Link’s voice began to raise and he stood up abruptly. “They’re going to be fine! We’re going to save all the people the shadow beast took, alright? So stop thinking that it’s over because it’s not!”

Ashei’s expression went dark and she subtly shook her head. Link frowned and looked away, feeling like he reacted too much there.

“Look, don’t assume the worst,” he continued, trying to control himself, and he dared to look Luda in the eyes, “don’t assume the worst yet. Don’t give up on your pa.”

Luda shuffled her feet but nodded, smiling slightly. Link nodded back and let out a huff, feeling eyes piercing into him like arrows to his skin. He couldn’t take it.

“I’m gonna go take a breather,” he muttered, weaving his way around the crowded sanctuary and bursting through the door. The soldiers of Hyrule all looked at him, but he turned away, walking to the Kakariko spring and sitting down, staring at the sparkling water lap against his boots.

“They’re going to be fine,” he whispered, glaring hard at the water. “Please, let them be fine.”

“Link?”

Link didn’t turn around, knowing that Colin was approaching him from behind. His little brother carefully sat beside him, leaving space between the two as he rested his hands on his knees, staring at the water. They were silent, with Colin clearly trying to think of what to say, so Link sighed and decided to speak for him.

“Did I sound too mean?” He asked, and Colin gave him a surprised look.

“W-well… you sounded…. Sorta mad.”

Link shook his head, disappointed in himself. “Poor Luda. I didn’t mean to come off that way.”

“It’s ok. You—” Colin paused, staring at the water for a moment. “I guess all that talk was stressin’ you out?”

Link groaned, rubbing his eyes. “I can’t—I have to believe that they’ll be alright.”

Colin nodded, staying silent.

“If I believe that they’re in trouble I will lose myself! I—I can’t have that type of talk right now,” Link whimpered, and Colin nodded again.

“I understand. We have to have hope.”

Link sighed, lightly tapping Colin’s arm. “I should apologize to Luda. She’s clearly upset and I’m just makin’ it worse.”

Colin got on his hands and knees, following Link’s lead as they stood up. “Yeah. I doubt she’s upset with you, though. I mean, Ashei seemed pretty upset, but Luda seemed fine. Apologizing wouldn’t hurt—what is that?”

Link paused, looking over at Colin who was on one knee, staring at the Kakariko gate. Link turned to see what he was looking at, and he spotted a silhouette of a person.

“It’s just a guy, Colin,” Link said, but his little brother shook his head.

“No, something’s wrong.”

Link stared hard at the person, and he was able to pick up on what Colin was talking about. The person was wavering, their legs swinging and stomping on the ground as if they would collapse, and whatever they were wearing, it was dark in color, almost looking like a void standing out in the red rocks Kakariko was known for. Link stood up straight, walking closer to the mysterious person.

“Wait, Link—“ Colin protested, but Link ignored him, feeling concerned for the person more than anything. But as he got closer, he saw that something was deeply wrong. The person was huge, towering over Link, with dark, thick armor. In its hand was a heavy sword being dragged across the ground, leaving a trail of torn up dirt, and a mouth was gaping open from beneath the helmet. Just as Link was about to draw his sword, the thing suddenly bolted towards him, and he flinched as he brought out his shield just in time for the heavy sword to ram into him. Link went flying, landing harshly against the rocky wall and onto the ground.

“Link!” Colin called out to him, and Link scrambled to his feet, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest as he pulled out his sword, snarling at the titan standing before him. The heavy sword swung down on him again, but Link was able to roll out of the way. In one motion, he got to his feet and jumped in the air, spinning his sword around him and slicing the armored monster’s back. Pieces went flying, metallic noises of the armor falling to the ground ringing out, and the creature swung its sword at Link again, like a gibdo after paralyzing its prey. Link jumped out of the way and backed up next to Colin, who had his sword drawn.

“I don’t think that’s a person,” Colin commented, “it’s more like… a phantom of a person… with armor.

Link let out a bitter laugh. “And what made you think that?”

The armored beast charged again, making Link and Colin dodge before it rammed into them. The soldiers behind them began to panic, with orders being yelled out frantically and many running over to help the two brothers.

“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!” One soldier yelled, and Link heard shouting from the other side of Kakariko. Just above the soldiers, he made out another armored beast emerging from Goron mountain, marching towards the group.

“Well isn’t that just great,” Link growled, looking over to Colin. “You think you could handle this guy?”

Colin looked over and nodded. “I got him. Go take care of the other one.”

Link grinned at him before bolting to the other armored phantom, weaving and zipping past the soldiers who watched in horror as the thing got closer. But before it could reach the soldiers, Link broke from the frontlines, jumping high and slamming his sword onto the armor. The impact rippled through his muscles, and the armor cracked under the pressure, sending the armored phantom stumbling back. Link landed on the ground, rubbing his sore arms and snarling at the phantom as it recovered from the hit. It stumbled over to him, and Link brought up his shield to smack it before it could try anything, and when it was off balance, he jumped in the air again, flipping while tearing his sword through the helmet. Landing on the ground with a roll, Link spun to see the helmet cut cleanly in half, the phantom’s head revealed, and his blood froze. It looked just like the shadow beast, though its head was more round and had no tendrils coming out of its body. And instead of leathery black skin, it seemed like it was dripping with the black ooze that would come out of the beast. It wasn’t a phantom of a human, it was a phantom of the beast itself.

Its yellow teeth separated, the jaw unhinging as a shriek suddenly escaped its throat, ringing out and shaking Link to his core. It took charge as he tried to recover, and Link was soon pinned beneath the large creature, its teeth gnashing at his face to rip it off. Link growled and threw the shadow’s phantom off of him with a strained yell, grabbing his sword and stabbing the phantom right through its open mouth. His sword pierced through the back of the mouth, hitting the ground beneath the writhing monster, and as black blood oozed out of the creature’s mouth, it stopped moving and finally died. The body dissipated into twilight magic, slowly fading into nothing and leaving behind the battered armor. Link sat there for a moment, staring at his sword that was embedded into the ground, until he heard footsteps to his side.

“Looks like the shadow beast made some new friends,” Auru said, and Link looked up to see the resistance, including King Edmund, watching him. Link sighed and stood up, sheathing his sword.

“Yeah, that’s what it looks like,” he replied. “When did you guys get here?”

“We heard shouting and fighting,” Ashei said, crossing her arms. “Shame you and Colin took all the fun.”

“Where’s Colin?”

“I’m here!”

To Link’s relief, his little brother pushed through the crowd of soldiers, black blood covering his arms but he had a relieved grin on his face.

“Me and the soldiers took care of the other one!”

“Woah, what about us?” Auru argued light-heartedly. “We helped a little at the end!”

Colin smiled and shook his head. “They helped a bit.”

“Ouch.”

King Edmund nodded, looking at Link with a twinkle in his eye. “Yes. But I must say, that was phenomenal fighting there, Link!” The king suddenly walked up to him, shaking his hand with excitement. “It was like watching a dance, I couldn’t look away at how you fought with such skill and grace!”

Link smiled nervously. “R-really? I was just fighting.”

“Yes, but you needed no help, and you fought with such mighty strength. You’d give my brothers a hard time, and I don’t put that lightly!”

“I—thank you.”

Edmund nodded before pulling away, staring at his white glove that turned black due to the blood on Link’s hand. He made a face of disgust as he stared, and Link started to wipe his dirty hands on his already dirty clothes.

“Sorry, your highness. I don’t think that’s gonna come out,” he chuckled nervously. Edmund simply sighed and looked down at Link again, nodding.

“Well, there are more important things than ruining a good pair of gloves. Everyone listen up!” Edmund turned to the soldiers, the resistance, and the few villagers that left their homes to see what was going on. “The beast has clearly learned some new tricks—creating monsters to fight for it. Though it’s a dire situation, it’s a lead as to where it is. We’ll split up, find these monsters, and hope that they can lead us to the shadow beast!”

The soldiers all cheered in response, and Edmund turned to Link. “If you wouldn’t mind, Link, could I travel by your side?”

Link was taken aback as he looked over to the resistance, and Auru gave him a nod.

“Sounds like a plan, your highness,” he said, putting his shoulder on Ashei. “Me and these kids will move out to find more of these creatures. Link, you’ll go with the King. There’s no one better to protect His Highness.”

Link nodded at the resistance before turning to King Edmund. “I’ll go with you, but only if my little brother Colin goes too.”

King Edmund bowed his head, which Link assumed was a “yes”, and he turned to the soldiers. “I expect nothing but effort to be put into this search. It’s time for you men to represent and protect your kingdom.”

The king soon began ordering the soldiers around, splitting them into groups while Link watched with his hands fidgeting with each other. Colin walked up to him, placing his hand on his shoulder.

“What do you think this means?” He asked, and Link glanced up at him. “Nothin’ like this has ever happened before.”

Link shrugged. “I think the shadow beast realized that we ain’t pushovers, and it’s finally releasing its true power. I just hope finding these shadow phantoms will lead us to its den.”

Colin pursed his lips, crossing his arms as he watched the king.

“I hope Pa and Kori will be ok,” he whispered, and Link watched his little brother’s worried face before wrapping an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to him.

“I hope so too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Consciousness came to him at once. Kori gasped as his eyes shot open, and he sat up abruptly, his heart beating a mile a minute. He looked around him frantically, feeling the dread of danger around him, and his eyes landed on the shadow monster that’s been tormenting him and his family. Kori would’ve let out a shriek of fear, but someone covered his mouth aggressively, pulling him close so he wouldn’t flinch away.

“Quiet,” a woman’s voice whispered so quietly, he almost didn’t hear her. Kori glanced up at the one holding him, and it was the ninja person from before, her gray eyes watching the beast intently. “It’s asleep, we must escape.”

Kori nodded, glancing back at the beast while standing on his shaky legs, and he looked back at the ninja person, spotting his grandfather passed out below him.

“Grandpa Rusl—” Kori started, but the ninja shot him a warning look, her eyes glancing over at the beast, though it stayed unmoving. The ninja looked down at Rusl, smacking his cheeks gently which caused him to stir. His eyes opened, though it looked like it required a lot of effort, and he began to glance around with his eyes widening in confusion. His mouth opened, but the ninja already covered it, her finger up to her covered lips while the other pointed at the sleeping beast. Rusl’s eyes widened even further, and he finally stood up while instinctively pulling Kori closer to him. The ninja then grabbed Rusl’s arm and began to lead them away from the beast, the group stepping over rubble and debris scattered around. It made Kori wish he had shoes.

They left the room they were in, and it was clear to Kori that they were in a building of sorts, with pillars, cobblestone, and other materials houses were made of littering the place. Though it didn’t look like the building he was in before, with the purple wallpaper and portraits of Malo decorating the place. Where was he?

Rusl stumbled a bit, his grip on Kori loosening, and the ninja grabbed onto him before he could topple over. His grandfather looked strangely groggy, as if he was fighting to keep his eyes open, and he wavered before finally grounding himself.

“Sorry,” he muttered, and the ninja resumed their escape. The building they were in was strange, with long stretches of hallways leading into multiple rooms, some holding desks and beds inside of them. Kori’s never been in a building like this before, save for the castle. It was eerie being in a place clearly built for hundreds of people, only for a soul to be nowhere in sight. What was even more eerie about the place was how dark it was, with no windows letting in light for them to see. Fortunately, Kori was able to see relatively fine, but the ninja and his grandpa were struggling to see where they were going, causing them to stumble and trip over rubble, which didn’t help his grandpa’s fatigue. Once again, he stumbled and nearly took the ninja down with him.

“Sorry, sorry,” he apologized, holding himself up by the wall.

“Are you ok?” the ninja asked, and Rusl shook his head.

“It feels like my body weighs a thousand pounds… I feel so weak.”

Kori huddled up next to his leg, which resulted in Rusl resting his hand on his head.

“I’ll be fine, Kori. Let’s just focus on gettin’ outta here, yeah?”

The ninja nodded and continued walking through the ruined building, the group running into dead end after dead end, with Kori feeling more and more scared the longer they were in there. He heard his grandpa’s breathing grow heavier and louder as they walked, with his whole body sagging more and more. It was odd how he was acting in such a way—was he sick?

“Finally!” The ninja exclaimed quietly, running up to a small hole in the wall where dim light shone through. The ninja waited for Kori and his grandpa to catch up, and when they did, she jumped through the hole, landing on the gray grass below. She began to observe her surroundings while Kori walked to the edge, eyeing the height nervously.

“Sheik.” Rusl called out to her, and the ninja—Sheik—looked up at him. His grandpa picked Kori up and gently lowered him down to where Sheik was, and he was grabbed and put down on the ground, finally out of the creepy building. Rusl began to follow, lowering himself down, but Kori noticed how his arms shook, and his grandpa suddenly lost his grip and fell harshly to the ground with a yell. Kori gasped and ran to him, helping him sit up as he grimaced painfully.

“Are you ok?” Sheik asked, offering her hand, and Rusl waved it away.

“I’ll be fine, I’m just not feeling well.” Rusl groaned, rubbing his back. “I hope that thing didn’t hear me.”

“We best move, just in case,” Sheik said, and Rusl nodded, scrambling to his feet while Kori helped him. Sheik waited a moment, watching her surroundings, and Kori glanced up at the skies. The sky was a bright orange, with dark purple clouds flowing through the silent wind. The plants and grass were dull in color, looking dark against the sky, and black squares floating up and disappearing. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen.

“Where are we?” Rusl asked, his neck craned to look at the sky. Sheik didn’t say anything, she only stared at the sky with her back turned to them. Kori glanced up at his grandpa who was glaring ahead, and Sheik finally turned to look at them, her eyes wide.

“I know where we are…” She muttered, her voice sounding shocked.

“Where are we?” Rusl repeated, his voice having an edge to it. “Are we in Gerudo Desert or something?”

Sheik shook her head, and Kori glanced at Rusl again, who looked more worried now.

“We’re in the Twilight Realm.”

[rea-grimm]

Shelter - Snow leopard Law

Early in the morning, you went for your morning run, where you ran around your property every single morning. You inherited a park from your great-grandmother, which you turned into a shelter.

You came from a family of hunters, but you refused to continue the family business especially since your family hunted the supernatural, whether they were innocent or criminal.

But in your shelter, which acted more as a temporary stopover for animals and even shapeshifters who went there to heal or rest before they left again. 

During your run, you came across an injured and, to your surprise, green tiger sleeping by the fence. You immediately knew it was a shifter, but you didn't care. 

You cautiously crouched down beside him and talked him down. The tiger woke up, yawned and looked at you sleepily. You were glad that the beast wasn't aggressive and instead calmly followed you into your house, where you also had room to tend to the animals and give them the care they needed.

There you treated the shifter. He then walked over to the park, where he lay down on a wide flat rock with the sun shining on it. 

You then took a quick shower, and as you were changing your clothes, your eyes fell on the picture frame you had on your nightstand. It was of you, Luffy and Law. 

This photo was important to you as it was a memento of your first meeting with Law, your best friend. And truthfully, you hoped you could be something more.

It was Luffy who introduced you. He invited you both and his crew to a bar where you met and hit it off. Plus, you went to Law when you needed treatment since you were traumatized from the hospitals and refused to just walk in.

As you were looking at the photo, your phone rang. It was Luffy inviting you to lunch at Baratie. And what he meant by recognizing you was that he'd meet you there, but everyone pays their own way. 

You arrived at Baratie, where Luffy's gang was already settled in, only without Zoro, and even Law was there. Of course, you were waited on by Sanji, who brought and offered only the best to you and all the other ladies. Law just grunted something quietly over that before taking a drink to cover it up.

You were chatting and Nami mentioned that Zoro had gone missing again and wasn't answering anyone's phone. To be honest, none of you were surprised. 

You mentioned the new additions to the shelter, including the tiger. The Straw Hat was excited about it and wanted to go see the tiger immediately, but the others stopped him. 

"Too bad, I wanted to ride him," Luffy muttered. His sadness didn't last long, however, as he immediately straightened up and looked at you with a wide smile.

"Y/N, Torao had something he wanted to tell you. He wanted to tell you that..." he began, but that was when Usopp and Nami gagged him and Law gave him a murderous look. 

"It was nothing," Law looked at you, but when he saw the way you smiled at him, he had to tell you. Or at least something else. ":...I got a new tattoo. I wanted to show it to you," he finally muttered.

"Sweet. I can't wait to see it," you smiled. Law smiled weakly and nodded his head in agreement. For the rest of lunch, however, he pierced Luffy with his gaze. 

Early the next morning, you had an unexpected visitor. You heard a knock on the door and went to answer it. Two men in black suits stood at the door. One of them was smiling pleasantly and the most noticeable thing about him was his long nose. The other man had black hair and was looking at you coldly. Both of them introduced themselves as representatives of the inspection authority and they had to check your shelter.

They suspected illegal importation of animals, and subsidies and had to check all the documents you had there. 

But you had a strange feeling about them and suspected that they were there for something else. 

However, you let them in as you had nothing to hide and all the documents were covered and copies made. 

The two men had been with you for almost the entire morning and were still looking on. The man with the black hair walked over to you, grabbed your wrist firmly and growled something. He reminded you more than ever of a wild animal. 

He looked like he wanted to hurt you and he got his answer out of you by force when Law appeared in the doorway. At that moment, the black-haired man let you go and Law walked over to you and stood protectively in front of you. Within a few minutes, the two officials left. 

"Are you alright? What were they doing here?" Law asked you, examining your wrist, which showed the fingerprints of the way he had held you earlier.

"I'm fine. They said they were just checking something, but all they did was make a mess," you replied, looking at all the papers that were around.

"Those never mean anything good," he replied.

You were glad he showed up. Actually, Law was there because he promised to show you a new tattoo the day before. You knew almost every tattoo he had on him. But now he's had the tattoo on his chest repaired and a few details tweaked.

Law took off his shirt so you could see the tattoo in question. Of course, he was pleased when you complimented him on the tattoo. But your eyes fell on the leopard spots that looked like more tattoos.

"You got another new one here. I didn't know you were a fan of animal designs," you commented, running your fingers gently over them. Law flinched under your touch, and you missed how he panicked for a moment.

"Yeah, I forgot about those. Those are new too," he muttered. He pulled his shirt back down again when he noticed more spots on his arms, so he pulled his sleeves down. He looked at you again, and especially at your wrists, where a bruise was slowly starting to form. 

"I'll get you something good for those bruises tomorrow. Make them go away faster," he added, surprisingly gently. 

You chatted pleasantly with Law as you saw a familiar car pull up to the front gate from the window. You knew immediately who it belonged to and it ruined your good mood. 

It was your father, who even now had come to persuade you to return to the hunters and the family business. He needed you for his other work.

Besides, he said you had an incredible talent. Ever since you were a child, you've had excellent eyesight and the ability to spot shapeshifters in the blink of an eye. Plus, you had a talent for runes. 

But you rejected it. You wanted nothing to do with him. Your father frowned at your refusal and warned you that something might happen to you or your shelter.

That pissed you off even more. Don't you dare let him interfere in your life and threaten you. Before you knew it, you were in there arguing with him. You weren't in the mood for quiet, so Law came out to support you. 

Your argument also woke up the green-furred tiger, who stirred and came over to you while growling dangerously at your father, already ready to lunge for his throat. 

Their presence calmed you down a bit and helped you keep your cool. You placed your hand on the tiger's head, stopping him from attacking. The tiger looked at you, but still growled warningly at your father. You could see the look on Law's face, too, as he looked like a beast ready to rip his throat out. 

Your father saw these two join you and decided he was at a disadvantage and with a warning to watch out for your pets, he left. 

"Are you all right?" Law asked, seeing your hands balled into fists, and taking your hand, he led you home. The tiger was on your heels, refusing to move away from you.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... We don't seem to be choosing a family... But he's bugging the hell out of me," you said, sitting up.

It was slowly approaching evening and Law looked at the clock. He should be back, but he didn't want to leave you alone.

"I'll be fine," you assured him. The tiger lay down on the couch next to you and seemed to nod his head in agreement to keep an eye on you as well. 

With that, Law bid you farewell. He still told you to be careful, though, and to call him if anything happened. 

"You can count on it. Let me know when you get home," you said, scratching the tiger's head.

Law, however, didn't let you know at all. You thought maybe he'd forgotten, even though it was the first time it had happened. You had a habit of always letting each other know when you were saying goodbye when you were getting home. 

You thought about it while you scratched the tiger's head, which was purring contentedly. However, you were interrupted from these thoughts by your phone. You were beginning to think it was Law when you realized it was your friend. 

You picked up the phone and put it to your ear. To your surprise, she called you this late because she found a big cat injured on the side of the road on her way home.

"...I don't know what it is. It looks like a leopard but in white. Can I take it to your place? I don't want to leave it here. I think it's still alive," she told you. Of course, you told her to take the animal to you. 

You were on your feet immediately and went to prepare the room. If the beast had been hit by a car or something else had happened to it, you wanted to be ready. 

Your friend arrived a few dozen minutes later and you helped her carry the animal inside. She was right, as it was a leopard, but a snow leopard. 

The animal had beautiful white fur with black spots and a long bushy tail. You noticed it even had a collar around its neck. 

Your friend said goodbye to you and left you alone. Meanwhile, you examined the cat for injuries. Fortunately, he was fine and probably hadn't even broken anything. 

Instead, you focused on the collar, which you tried to remove. But when you tried, you got an electric shock in your hands. You immediately pulled your hands away. 

The next day, when you woke up and went to check on the snow leopard, he was already awake. You checked him to make sure he was okay before you gave him food. Then you went to get the other animals. To your surprise, the snow leopard followed you every step of the way.

Then you decided to find out more about the collar. In the daylight, you could clearly see the runes, but they were scrawled as if by a child. From the handwriting, you had some suspicions as to what it was. However, the runes were so oddly arranged that you had no idea how to undo them to remove the collar. 

You wanted to find out who was hiding under the leopard's fur, so you reached for the alphabet tablet to communicate with him. But he only confirmed that he was a shapeshifter, but refused to tell you his name. 

You were about to ask him again so you would know what to call him when there was a knock on the door. You went to the door but the snow leopard was at your side. 

To your surprise, it was the same black-haired man from yesterday. This time, however, he was alone. He wanted to check on something else he hadn't managed to do yesterday. He even seemed a little more polite at first, even introducing himself as Rob Lucci.

But you refused to let him in. He tried to get in anyway. But he was prevented from doing so by the snow leopard, which started growling at him and nearly bit him. 

"I see how it is. This isn't over," he said coldly, and you thought you heard a faint growl in his voice. With that, Rob Lucci fixed you with a look and walked away.

You shook your head at that and went back inside. You picked up the phone and tried calling Law. You hadn't heard from him since yesterday and you were a little worried about him. However, he didn't pick up and your call dropped to voicemail. That just added to your worries. 

The snow leopard was sitting next to you, and when he saw your expression, he rested his head in your lap and began to nuzzle you lightly, as if trying to reassure you. 

You went to check the park today, too. You were going to go inside first. Of course, the snow leopard went with you. You both alerted when you heard a growl. 

You ran to where the growling was coming from and you couldn't believe your eyes. A golden fox was fighting with a green-furred tiger.

"Hey, that's enough!" You shouted, wanting to separate them since you had a pretty good idea that they were shifters. However, both of them were deaf to your words. Even the snow leopard roared at them, but even that didn't help.

So you both decided on a different tactic. You threw yourselves between them. You grabbed the fox by the skin from behind and pulled him aside, while the shapeshifter confronted the tiger.

Once they both calmed down, you put the fox back on the ground. The fox looked at you before it started to come at you and rub against your leg. But the snow leopard didn't like that and pushed him away from you. He then snorted and rubbed himself against your leg in satisfaction. 

Then you and the snow leopard set off again for the rest of your tour of the park. On the way back, you were walking around the fence when you noticed a hole in it. On closer inspection, you discovered that someone had cut it. 

You wondered what it could have been when you heard a wolf howl from across the park. It was strange since you had no idea there was a wolf. You cautiously followed the sound.

You stopped dead in your tracks as a sight perhaps even more bizarre than a green-furred tiger unfolded before you. A wolf and giraffe stood in a small clearing directly in front of you. You felt like your little sanctuary was becoming more of a zoo.

The two animals, which you knew were shifters, were acting like nothing. Like they totally belonged there. You didn't know what to do with them, so you decided to leave them alone for the day and wait until tomorrow to see how things turned out.

That evening you curled up in bed with a snow leopard at your side, snuggling up to you. You picked up the phone again and tried to call Law. It was strange to you that he hadn't answered for so long. 

You sighed and scratched the snow leopard's head. You looked at him and thought you had seen his eyes before somewhere. But you couldn't remember where. 

The next day, after you fed the animals, you decided to overcome your fear and go to the hospital. You didn't go there for yourself, you went there for Law. He still wasn't answering his phone, so you thought you'd ask him at work if he'd been seen.

You made it to his ward, where you ran into Marco. You asked him about the surgeon, but it was the second day he hadn't seen him either. But he thought he was taking some well-deserved time off. You thanked him and tried to look for him elsewhere. 

This time you went to his house. You didn't have the keys, but you got in through the window without any trouble. But there was no sign of him there either. 

However, there was his white and rather chubby cat, Bepo, clinging to you and meowing sadly.

"Bepo," and you bent down to the cat, who immediately jumped into your arms. You petted him before you went around the apartment. 

In the kitchen, you poured Bepo's kibble before going to the bedroom and bathroom. You just hoped you wouldn't find him collapsed somewhere. You still figured he'd worked late and now he's sleeping. But that didn't explain why Bepo was so hungry and why he wasn't answering you. 

When you didn't find him in the apartment, you decided to go home. Of course, you took the white cat with you, since you had no idea when Law would return to take care of him. 

As soon as you brought him home, the cat jumped out of your arms and ran to the snow leopard, with whom he began to cuddle as if he had known him all his life. You watched it, and you became suspicious.

After a while, you got a call from a nearby animal rescue station. They'd caught a strange wolf that everyone was afraid of and couldn't handle. 

When you got there, you understood what they meant. They had a wolf locked up in a dungeon, a cross between a Doberman and a wolf. He watched you through the bars with intelligent golden eyes. You knew immediately that this was no ordinary wolf. 

"Hey there," you smiled sweetly at the shapeshifter and asked if he wanted to come with you, describing your little shelter and the park to him as well. He nodded his head and followed you calmly and obediently. All the staff at the shelter were completely taken aback by how docile and calm the animal was now. 

At your shelter, the wolf followed you inside, which didn't sit well with the snow leopard. He didn't growl at the wolf, but you could see how cautious he was and didn't lunge away from your feet. 

That same evening, another surprise awaited you. You were sitting on the couch with the snow leopard, he was half in your lap, and you were cuddling him. You scratched his head behind his ears and under his neck while he purred contentedly. He even leaned over and started licking your face. 

You were interrupted from this sweet moment by scratching at the door. The leopard grunted in displeasure at this. You didn't want to get up either, but you wanted to find out what it was. 

You got up from the couch and walked over to the door with the snow leopard and the hound each at your side. When you opened the door, the wolf you had seen the day before in the park was outside, along with a giraffe.

Before you could say anything, the wolf took the hem of your shirt in its mouth and began to drag you into the park. He looked like it was important. You let yourself be dragged while the two beasts were on your heels like two bodyguards.

As he dragged you, you began to make out the silhouette of a giraffe through the trees. When he pulled you to the right spot, the giraffe was bending over the leopard, who was lying on the ground, breathing heavily. You immediately noticed the collar with runes on its neck. 

You were about to walk over to the leopard when the snow leopard stopped you. He meowed at you as if to warn you. But you didn't. This was your sanctuary, and you wanted to take care of everyone who needed your help. 

Eventually, you managed to drag the leopard home where you could nurse it back to health. His fur was much shorter, and you noticed the circular scars on his back, but they were much older. Your eyes then fell on the taser marks. 

After a moment, the leopard began to wake up, growling and shuffling about as if to escape. You were holding him against the table, trying to calm him down, when a snow leopard walked over to you with a syringe of sedative in its mouth.

You took it from him and removed it from its protective wrapping before injecting it into the wounded beast. It calmed down immediately and was asleep within moments. 

The next day you were awakened by a noise from outside. Immediately, you and the snow leopard were on your feet and running to find out what was going on. 

Outside in the courtyard, the tiger and the hound you brought the day before were fighting. To everyone's amazement, the hound was winning. You wanted to stop them or you feared the hound would maul the tiger. 

But just as you called out to them, the wolf looked at you with its golden eyes before looking at the tiger and walking away triumphantly. 

It was a good thing the tiger had enough strength in him for you to take him to the nursing station where the other leopard was still sleeping peacefully. 

You nursed the striped beast just in time, as just as you had a bit of peace to sit down, the bell rang. This time, however, Luffy and his crew were at the door. 

"Hello," he smiled warmly at you as you invited them in. "Hey, I see Torao's here too. That's cool," he smiled as he noticed the snow leopard. He growled at Luffy before looking at you and running off with downcast eyes. 

Luffy just chuckled at that before he ran after him towards the park, transforming into a black wolf in a flash. 

Nami then walked over to you saying that they had come to pick up Zoro and Sanji. As soon as she told you, you knew which animals they were. Plus, you had one in the next room. 

After Luffy and his gang left, you went to check on the other leopard. He was still lying where you left him, but his eyes were already open and he seemed to have some sort of perception. 

He was as docile as a lamb and had no trouble getting treatment. But you had the impression that this was largely due to the drugs he was still on. 

When you treated him properly, the leopard pressed his head into your hand and licked it. You scratched behind his ears for a while before you decided to go back. Little did you know that the leopard would follow you. 

You lay down for bail and were about to watch a movie when the injured leopard lay down next to you and put his head in your lap in a silent request for a scratch. He even started purring when you started scratching him in just the right spot on his head. 

The snow leopard watched the whole thing from the window and growled. This was supposed to be him with you. He was there for a long time, moving from place to place, wondering what to do next. 

After a few long minutes, he finally made up his mind, squeezed through the window and crept up to you, at which point he lay down on the other side of you and rested his head on your leg. You also scratched his head. It was a strange feeling just relaxing with a movie and having two big beasts by your side, but they acted like kittens. 

During the next day, you set about unlocking the collar and finally managed to unlock it. You took it off all the shapeshifters that were wearing it. However, none of them wanted to change back. And even though you knew the snow leopard was Law, you didn't understand why he wouldn't change back. 

Less than an hour later, an unexpected visitor stopped by your door. It was your father who strolled into your backyard. You had no idea how he managed to get so close since you'd barricaded the whole place with runes.

"Go away, I'm not in the mood for you," you told him angrily, arms crossed over your chest. You had Law at your side as a leopard, another leopard, even a giraffe and a wolf. 

It looked like your father was trying to recruit you to his side again but to no avail. However, this resulted in an argument where the shifters started growling at your father and it was clear that he was at a disadvantage. 

Before he left, he gave you a warning that made you feel bad, as you knew what this man was capable of. 

When he finally left, you decided to check your little park to make sure all the barriers were in place and nothing had happened. 

Everything seemed fine. You came to a small stream that emptied into a small lake. There was a small wooden bridge across it. You crossed over to the other side of the pond, where Law jumped onto a fallen branch that extended to the middle of the water. 

What neither of you expected was that the branch under him broke and he fell into the water. You expected him to be able to swim, but when he didn't make it above the surface, you jumped in to get him. The pond wasn't very deep, but it was deep enough for someone to drown. 

You pulled him out, fearing the worst. Soon, however, the snow leopard sputtered water and coughed. You were surprised he preferred to stay in his cat form. 

Now you were both soaked to the bone, and the worst part was the slight wind that chilled you. You made your way home as quickly as possible, where you took a hot shower and changed into warm clothes. 

Despite all this, however, you felt that you couldn't get warm. The two beasts were lying next to you, giving you their warmth. Despite this, you were shivering like a Chihuahua.

Soon after, you developed a fever and the flu. While you were out, Law turned human and took care of you. He didn't want to leave you alone, so he got you the medicine you needed through the leopard. You haven't seen him since. 

You woke up one day during the flu and were so lucid that you took Law's hand and wished he was there with you. You even managed, in your weakened state, to pull him into bed with you. Law kissed you on the forehead and lay there with you. 

A few days later, when you were finally able to get out of bed and function normally, Luffy showed up. He was glad you were okay and that Torao had taken care of you. 

The werewolf had stopped by to invite you to a giant barbecue they were having at Shanks' house. You, however, turned him down as you didn't want to leave the shelter unnecessarily unprotected and instead warned him about your father. 

What you didn't know, however, was that if you couldn't go to the barbecue, the barbecue moved to your shelter. Luffy and his gang provided everything you needed, and you haven't seen this many shifters in one place in a long time. There were new and familiar faces, and the mood was generally happy.

It was nearing midnight when the sound of gunfire rang out in the distance. Everybody instantly perked up and the party was off. Your shelter was surrounded by hunters. You immediately began to put together a plan, as there were no hunters who were willing to negotiate. 

Also at the barbecue was Ace, a fiery werewolf who circled the borders and set them on fire, creating the only possible entrance to the park. But you also knew about a secret passageway, a shaft of sorts that led you out to safety. 

While some made their escape to safety, the stronger ones fought back, giving space for others to escape. You, of course, were on the front lines with Law. You knew they mostly wanted you.

You caught their attention and lured them away from their shelter. Soon, however, you had nowhere to go and you were trapped. 

What you didn't expect was for a black limo to pull up right in front of you and open the door with a promise of safety. You looked at Law, who looked as incredulous as you did. 

However, it was the hunters or an unknown limo. Eventually, you hopped into the car, which drove you away. The limo took you long and far to an unknown destination. Law turned human in the car and together you waited to see what would happen next. 

Anyway, the car took you to the next town over, to the luxury district, to one of the better hotels. There you were given a room where you and Law spent the night. 

The next day, you received an envelope with directions to the meeting place. When you got there, you couldn't believe your eyes. There stood that obnoxious agent, Rob Lucci, with the leopard ears and tail. You immediately realized it was the leopard you were taking care of. 

But Rob Lucci was looking at you very differently now than he had the first time. He walked confidently over to you and took your hand before kissing your fingertips.

"I'm glad you came. Such a good little mouse," he smiled and licked his lips. Not to mention he told you he wanted to court you like a proper leopard.

But that was over the line, and Law stood protectively in front of you, forcing the leopard to let you go. He just chuckled at that, and you saw something dark flash in his eyes. 

"If you change your mind, my offer will still stand. Don't make me wait too long, though," he said, and you suspected that it wouldn't be easy. And it was true. If you didn't change your mind, Rob Lucci already had a plan in his head to get you all to himself. 

After that, you went back to the city, but instead of a shelter, you ended up in Law's apartment. Where you hoped the hunters wouldn't come looking for you. 

You ordered your food and saw the snow leopard peeking at you, wondering about something. After the meal, you decided to comfort him about it. 

"Even though you're a hunter and I'm a shapeshifter..." he began. "... I'd still want you as my mate," he finally said, and you saw his cheeks flush. His face turned even redder when you told him you wanted him to. 

He pulled you close and kissed you on the lips. Then he began to shower little kisses on your jaw and neck, where he paid the most attention.

When he found the perfect spot, he licked it, his tongue rough, like a cat's tongue, before biting you gently. Not enough to break the skin, but enough to leave his mark on your skin. Making you completely his.

Law Masterlist

[ssaaaronmontgomery]

When Logan has a nightmare :(

A little thought I had about this 🥺 I just want to comfort him so much 🥺

When Logan wakes up from a nightmare it takes him some time to become grounded again. His claws are out and he's breathing hard and his heart is racing. He always had to deal with them by himself and it was hard, but he managed. Then you came along and you made him feel so safe. You being so close when he was sleeping caused his nightmares to stop almost entirely. He would still have them at times but they were far less frequent now. He was able to focus on you when he was falling asleep instead of the bad things that would normally plague his mind.

Logan was hesitant to let you sleep with him at first. He was afraid that he would end up hurting you when he was having a nightmare or when he would wake up and not be completely there mentally. He wanted to protect you from himself. You always assured him that you would be fine though. He tried to sleep on the couch the first time you stayed with him but you said no. You insisted that you wouldn't take his bed and let him sleep out there alone. So he caved and slept with you in his bed. He tried to stay awake but he failed. And to his surprise he didn't have any of those horrible nightmares. It was the first peaceful sleep he'd had in so long and he couldn't remember the last time he woke up feeling safe and rested.

You weren't afraid of him and he thought you were a little crazy not to be.

He expected you to run the first time you saw him have a nightmare, but you stayed and you talked him down. You grounded him and helped him relax again. You held him and kissed his head as you played with his hair to calm him. He found solace in you and he sought it out every single time there was a nightmare or when other bad things would happen in his life. You're his comfort and he cherishes you. He loves you so much and now when he sleeps he tends to have soft dreams of you instead of those terrible things from before.

[yandere-fics]

Omega Darling, who's heard rumours that Sophie is a capable problem solver through the grapevine, and decides to message her to ask if she'd help with readers heat out of the blue. Better even if they've never even met its just a random message that Sophie gets from an omega she's never met asking for 'help'

♡ Skye's Omega Friend Asks Sophie For Help With Heat ♡

(Tweaked the ask just a bit cause I don't think Sophie would help an omega she doesn't know through heat, it has to be her darling even if they don't know her very well yet.)

You were starting to get really tired of spending heats alone, something you had been venting to your next door neighbor Skye about. Since you'd moved here Skye had been one of your closest friends despite her being an alpha, you felt comfortable talking to her about this and so when she suggested you ask her sister, it felt like a safe option, Skye wouldn't have said it if Sophie wasn't someone she thought was safe. You had mentioned wanting to sign up to an online site just to meet a random alpha to be your partner for heats since a stranger probably wouldn't mark you and make you tied to them forever but Skye pointed out you should find someone who you know will be softer since some alpha's could get far too aggressive so you kept mentioning names of people around town while Skye told you every bad rumor she'd heard about that person before eventually as it seemed like you were out of hope, Skye mentioned her Sister would probably be okay with it. You hadn't really considered her sister Sophie, you barely had even heard three sentences from her in the last six months you'd been there but sometimes silence as a good thing, when alpha's had bad intentions they usually wouldn't be able to stop running their mouth and eventually let those intentions slip but Sophie was quiet so there probably wasn't an secret agenda she wanted. Some part of you did feel weird that you would be sleeping with your best friend's sister but you didn't feel you were left with very many options so after hours of staring at her phone number just two days before your heat, you finally sent the text. It was late night so you could delete it before she woke up and saw it if you still didn't feel comfortable about it later but much to your surprise, she responded instantly. You guess Skye must of told her she'd be getting this message from you, so embarrassing.

She had a list of rules for the both of you, something about her wanting to take responsibility to make sure you had a fantastic time since you were trusting her to be your heat mate. It sounded weird but then again alpha's did like to control things and even the softest alpha probably had their own list of things they had to micromanage. You would spend the prior night with her before your heat even started so she could take care of you and prepare you for everything. A bit weird but you'd allow it, maybe she was just nervous about this and wanted to talk before you hopped into fucking for five days straight, you'd just go with it. She told you that you were forbidden to leave the bed during your heat, she'd carry you anywhere you needed to be, you didn't really understand this one but again you might have even been the first omega she'd been with, she was a bit younger than you, so maybe she thought you were more fragile than you actually were. You were supposed to stay at her place after your heat concluded. You assumed she meant the day after, that was probably just so she would feel less weird about the casual sex so you agreed to it, it wasn't like she was actually proposing for you to move in with her. The last one and the one she had said the most was if you needed anything at all, any want or need you had she would do, you just had to ask. Good hospitality. It all sounded agreeable so you said yes, mentally bracing yourself for when she came to pick you up, eventually falling asleep.

You woke up with her gently shaking you awake, staring at you so intensely it felt like your heart was going to come out of your mouth though you'd been warned by Skye that Sophie was a bit awkward when it came to staring at people the last time you'd seen her and caught her staring at you. Despite knowing that it didn't make it any less unsettling to wake up with her inches from your face, a bag next to her, presumably to pack the things you would need for your weekend over there. You were a bit confused with how she had gotten into your house but you brushed it aside as Skye giving her the key since you didn't wake up when she knocked maybe or maybe she just had a key to both houses already since she had fixed your sink for you while you were out one time since Skye had told her it was a problem. Still just a bit weird but since you were committed to spending a week with her, you didn't want to start critiquing anything too much.

"Doll, wake up, your alpha's come to get you." She brushed the hair out of your face, grinning when she finally saw your eyes fully open. You think she meant alpha as in she would be playing the role of your alpha this week and not as in she actually thought of herself as your alpha, that's what you wanted to hope. You looked over at the key in her hand, didn't look like the spare one you gave Skye but you gave that key awhile ago so you could have been wrong. "Skye gave me the key." So you were wrong, it had been the one you gave Skye actually. There was a simple explanation for everything, you were just scaring yourself probably because you were nervous you'd be fucking Sophie later.

"Alright, I should pack my stuff up." You stood up out bed only to see the bag Sophie had with her was already full of your clothes, looked like more than you would actually need but maybe she was an overpacker. "Oh, I suppose we can just get going then."

The ride to her place was… weird. It was weird she was being so attentive towards you, part of you wished you had just gone with someone online so it would be way less intimate, you wouldn't use her for this next time but right now it was probably too late to back out. Though maybe she was just as nervous as you were and was just waiting for you to ask to back out first, you hoped that was the case, you felt awkwardly asking in the car though so you'd wait until you got into her apartment. When you got into her apartment you really didn't get much of a chance with her forcing you to sit down immediately, insisting you just let her take care of everything so for the next two hours you watched her run around making dinner and giving you a bunch of blankets so you could begin to build your nest on her bed later. That one also felt strange, it felt too intimate to be doing it with someone you barely knew in your nest. She let out a small growl when you didn't though so you decided to just do it so she wouldn't be sad anymore, you think it was a growl in disappointment or sadness because the other options were a bit more frightening.

"You know, Sophie." She hummed in response, a small rumble in it as if she was displeased you'd called her by name. You were rearranging a couple of blankets in her room while she continued to pass you more blankets. You didn't even build your nest at home with this many, she must have spent a lot preparing for this, you felt a bit bad. "If you're nervous, we don't have to do this, I could go home and spend it alone or try to find-" You were unable to finish that sentence as Sophie dove on you, pinning you to the bed and growling clearly extremely angry at what you had suggested.

"I'm your alpha! The only one you're gonna spend your heat with is me, doll. You need to let your alpha take care of you." You panicked, you'd heard about omega's who just wanted casual sex occasionally running into an obsessive alpha and being marked by someone they didn't even know but you somewhat knew Sophie, or Skye knew her and she'd vouched for her. You realized then than Skye had guided you towards Sophie, shooting down every single other option you had until you were left with only her sister. She'd been uncomfortable when you'd talked about signing up for the sites because her sister had already told her that she wanted you. You felt like such an idiot for trusting her on this.

"O-okay, no other alpha's!" You tried your best to soothe her, she definitely wouldn't be letting you go until after your heat was over, a heat that was closing in rapidly but maybe you could avoid getting marked this time and just run away later if you kept her placated. She seemed satisfied with your quick response, leaning down and sniffing you deeply, her fangs sinking into your nek as you tried shoving her off as if that would help anything.

"I'll go get dinner doll, you need to eat before your heat. I'll take care of my omega." She got up after marking you against your will so casually while you tried to resign yourself to her bed knowing that once she had marked you she'd be able to keep you forever. "Tell your alpha you love me?"

It was sickening how she demanded reassurance of you loving her when she had just ruined your life and when you barely even knew her. Still you swallowed your pride and said it anyways if only so she'd walk away and give you space. She seemed happy with the response though, instantly leaving her bedroom while you tried not to puke at the thought of spending the week being 'cared' for by the alpha who stole your freedom just moments ago. You couldn't help but think about all the rude things you were going to tell Skye if you ever saw her again.

[tinamybeloved]

Tina <333

[forflightlessbirds]

HI REMINDER THAT YOU ARE SO COOL AND SO LOVED AND I LOOK UP TO YOU NOT BC OF WHAT YOU COULD DO BUT SIMPLY BC YOU ARE

YOU ARE.

HI OMG HELLO

REMINDER TO YOU THAT I LOVE AND ADMIRE YOU SM AND YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE PERSON WHO IS SO VERY LOVED AND CHERISHED AND YOU'RE AWESOME. I LOVE YOU FOR BEING. JUST FOR BEING. AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT TO BE LOVED.