Work Text:
Being in the games was truly a mistake, one he couldn't help but make. He didn't feel any particular excitement about being a player, his mind was on something else. If someone were to ask, he could just say he was doing his job. And he was; he managed to disguise himself as Player 001 to gather information just in case any player decided to do something they shouldn’t and to keep an eye on a specific player. Enjoying the games was not part of the plan, but he was not going to deprive himself of that.
"I pressed the O button because of you," the thought of those words made him feel dumb. But they served as a friendly reminder that just catching a glimpse of the man by his side made it worth being here. He felt uneasy at his own heartbeat rising, as if he were doing something he shouldn’t—which, in fact, was true.
"Which are you good at?" Gi-hun asked, pulling him out of his thoughts as the man’s eyes met his.
"Well..." he declared, pausing for an instant as he pushed this warm feeling back into his heart. He needed to focus on the current task, as they had just been told the rules of the current game. "I'll play whatever you pick for me, Gi-hun." He meant it. He felt confident putting his life in this man's hands. For him, it was more of a privilege than giving an advantage to the other man, though he would never know that.
"You know my name?" Gi-hun asked, with a bit of fear and discomfort painted on his face. He felt as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown at him just by looking at his expression. The question brought him back to the reality he came from, serving as a reminder of how far apart their worlds were.
"Oh..." he mumbled, pointing at the player with the number 390. "Your friend was calling you by your name, so I thought I’d try it." He was quick to answer, but he didn’t feel relieved yet. "Does it bother you?" he finished, now feeling a bit more confident that the other would think he was just trying to be friendly.
Gi-hun shook his head, and he felt his shoulders release from an invisible weight. "No, it's fine," the man finally said. He couldn’t help but trace the movement of the man's lips.
"So, Gi-hun..." he started, feeling goosebumps rise at just saying his name freely. "Which one are you good at?"
He couldn't believe it himself for actually enjoying being here. Chanting with the whole room, singing words of hope, sharing their excitement, and wishing that the other teams and players would make it out of this round. All for the final teams to get into their racing positions. He took his place next to Gi-hun; not a coincidence, of course. Feet tightly together as they held each other's hands. They were so close he could feel the warmth from the other man as he was sweating and nervous.
"I believe in you guys," he couldn’t help but say those words. He felt confident that his team would make it out alive, though it shouldn't matter to him. He looked to his right and watched Gi-hun, amazed at his words. "Plus, we have the previous winner with us," he said. He smiled and traced the other's lips; a habit he was starting to develop.
The rush and hype everyone on the team had was something to write books about. They managed to complete their first three mini-games on the first try! They had plenty of time as they approached the next one. It was his turn now; all he had to do was roll the string, throw the toy, and they’d make it to the final stand. Gi-hun looked at him, and he stared back. His eyes met and he smiled. It was his chance to show his team that he-
He failed.
But they had plenty of time. HHe was cheered up by his team as they picked up the toy for him and headed back to try again. He did it all over again. He positioned himself, threw it, and spun it-
And failed again.
This time, even worse. He was starting to feel so nervous because he was actually trying. He grabbed it one more time, threw it again, and-
He failed once more.
"What the hell is wrong with me?!" He asked out loud. He was at his limit. He yelled, again and again. He slapped himself, but that didn’t make him feel any better as they had so little time left. So he slapped himself again, and again, and again. He kept going and shouting out loud until strong hands grabbed him and stopped him from hurting himself.
"No one is blaming you!" Gi-hun screamed at him. "All right. Take a deep breath, okay?" he said.
He was now feeling ashamed. He knew what he had to do, but he wished he had more time to breathe properly. Reassuring words kept coming, and so did several tender touches; That's all he needed. He stood again and wrapped the string. He took a breath and threw the toy, and-
He did it.
The team roared as they make it to the last task. Gi-hun managed to made four kicks and with his help, he made the last one. They launched to the end and finished on time. They had made it once again. All thanks to Gi-hun. He had a lot to think about that night.
He remembered every single thing from that day, and it made his chest warm with the excitement and happiness he and the rest of his team had felt at that moment. Now, it was nothing but a distant memory. His heart ached at the feeling of nostalgia, even though it was only days apart from the present. How did they end up like this? How did it change so drastically? He blamed Gi-hun, but that only made his heart hurt even more. Was it really his fault?
No, it was.
If only Gi-hun hadn't come up with the idea of raising guns to take down the pink guards. If only Gi-hun hadn't been so obsessed with stopping the games. If only Gi-hun hadn't trusted him with his last AMMO. If only-
It was always "If only.." but never something he could truly change. Now, he had to think. Leaving his Frontman mask on the desk next to his bed, he sat down to take a moment to think. It was only after his little break that solutions came by themselves. He asked to continue the games as scheduled and started the preparations for the next game.
He felt a bit of relief after receiving confirmation that all things were ready for the VIPs to enjoy, including filling the missing staff positions left behind after the fight. Everything was solved in the blink of an eye, except for one thing, or rather, one person.
He asked the guards to gather the players into the arena prepared for the next game and order them to start the game at his signal. With everything set, he went to his usual seat, where a screen was ready to display the game for him. Before he could take a seat, he put his black mask back on and grabbed a set of keys placed next to his bottle of whiskey. He examined them and took the smallest one, his mind focused and his heart racing. He took just a few steps before facing a black closet with a golden lock. He put the small key into the hole and turned it until he heard a click. The small doors opened for him to take a look inside. And there he was...
Gi-hun was blindfolded with a black cloth to keep him from gathering any information from his surroundings to know exactly where he was. A white fabric covered his mouth, and his hands were tied behind his back. His feet were also tied up, but the rope continued above his knees, firmly securing his whole legs. He was resting on his right side, with his head touching the wall. He didn't seem to care that the door had just opened.
In-ho took his time to admire the view in front of him. He examined every single feature of the man, as if it were his only chance to do so. He felt goosebumps moving through his body. The excitement grew bigger and bigger. A faint smile escaped his lips, followed by a small giggle. The sound made Gi-hun wake up from his daydream.
"Feeling comfortable, Gi-hun?" he asked as he approached the man. He put one knee on the floor and touched the man's cheek, making Gi-hun back away for an instant. He took his time to take the blindfold off the man; he liked teasing the tallest one.
Once the man was able to see again, his expression changed. He went from bewilderment to anger. The hatred the man felt for him was something you could almost taste in the air. But that only made In-ho smile even more.
"What do you want?" Gi-hun spat, not joking around.
"There's no need to be so defensive," he said, trying to deescalate the man's anger. The comment made Gi-hun let out a small laugh.
"You killed my best friend right in front of my eyes!" Gi-hun roared at him.
"I just want to have a talk," he said, ignoring the man's fury.
"What more do you want from me?" the man asked with genuine pain painted on his face, his voice lowering at the end of his sentence.
"Let's just talk," he asked again.
"How could I possibly trust you?!" Gi-hun yelled at him, tears starting to form in his eyes.
He knew the man was very unstable at the moment; it didn't matter how many calming words he could say, he would get screamed at. Though, there was a way. He didn't like the idea at all. It was the only thing he kept insisting on getting into his staff's brains, and now, he was about to break that one rule. He let out a helpless sigh as he started taking off his black mask, almost regretting all his life choices at that moment.
He lowered his face until he finally took off his mask. He lifted his head, facing the man in front of him. He forced a smile that tried to come out after seeing Gi-hun's bewilderment. The man's face twitched in horror, his eyes full of pain becoming the source of a never-ending waterfall. Sob after sob, the man lost all strength left in him.
"Young-il...." Gi-hun started. "Young-il... why?" The man stopped as he tried not to choke on his own tears. "How could you?" He sobbed once more, even louder.
In-ho kept an emotionless expression. He just watched the man's breakdown in complete silence. It wasn't long until a smile started forming on his face. A warm feeling forming between his legs made him almost lose all control, but he kept his composure.
"Gi-hun..." he said, but then hesitated on his words, not sure how to continue. "Gi-hun, we must go," he finally said. That seemed to calm the man, as he now looked at him with curiosity.
"Go?" he asked between sobs. "Where exactly?"
His question went unanswered as In-ho approached him carefully. He started unwrapping the robe from the man's feet. Sobs were still being heard, though they were fewer and fewer each time. In-ho made sure not to completely untie the man's legs. He freed the knees and below them, making sure he would be able to stand up and walk but not run. He grabbed the man's arm, close to the armpit, and pulled him up to make him stand on his feet. Gi-hun seemed impressed by his strength; he made a mental note about that.
Now, with the two of them standing, he let go of the man's arm. He glanced at him before walking to the couch. He did not need to look back to know that the man followed him. Once they were both in front of the black seat, he turned to see the tallest man.
"How can you still do this?" Gi-hun asked, not looking at him, as he now had his eyes glued to the big screen where the games were being played, guards gathering the players like a herd ready to be sacrificed.
"You mean them..." he started, and Gi-hun turned his face to watch him closely. He smiled as he now had his attention. "They were the ones who decided."
"Decided?" Gi-hun said, anger invading him again. "You call 'deciding' manipulating people into thinking they've got no other option but to give their lives away in this game? You think they would've done this if you hadn't made them believe this was their only choice?"
"Haven't they shown you that?" he was quick to answer. He had no interest in starting a fight with the man. He didn't want to hear him lecturing him about a non-existent human kindness. He was over it. He grabbed the radio that was inside his coat pocket and brought it close to his mouth. "Begin the games," he said, gaining a horrified expression from Gi-hun.
"No!" he yelled. "Stop this! Please!" Gi-hun begged, his eyes again full of pain and on the brink of tearing up. But In-ho was over it. He put his right hand in his right pocket. In the blink of an eye, he took a pocket knife and stuck it into the man's stomach.
The action was so fast that the other man was not even able to react in time. He stood there as the knife was pulled out of him. He was speechless, with trembling hands and an expression of perplexity on his face. His body was intensely shaking as he mumbled something very quietly.
On the other hand, In-ho was in a whole different world. He was also shaking, but out of excitement. His stomach and chest felt a never-before-experienced warmth. Something stirred between his legs, a feeling that he had never felt. Like adrenaline, he wanted more. His hand gripping the knife began shaking uncontrollably, as if it had a life of its own and was asking him to stab the other man again.
And he did.
He grabbed the man's shoulder and made him sit on the couch. The knife was still in his stomach. Gi-hun looked at him with horror. In-ho kept eye contact as he pulled out the knife again, enjoying the man's pain-filled expressions. He was about to place it back in before he was stopped by a voice.
"All players must step behind the line. I repeat, all players must step behind the line. The game will begin soon." A voice came from the screen that showed all players preparing themselves for the next game. In-ho had truly forgotten about it for a brief moment.
"Stop it!" Gi-hun screamed, looking at the big screen. He didn't seem to care that his own life was being taken; he could only care about the other players.
"You tried to be the hero... now, watch the consequences unfold right in front of you," he said, but they were once again interrupted as the voice coming from the screen spoke.
"Attention all players. The rules of the game are the following: each player will hold a bucket full of water. Once the green light signal is given, they must carry their bucket throughout the obstacle course. They must not spill water, or else they will get eliminated. When the red light signal is given, they must stop. If the players move during the red light period, they will get eliminated. They will win once they cross the finish line," the voice declared. The faces of the players reflected that what they had just heard was almost a death sentence. "Attention all players. I will repeat the rules of the game: each player will hold a bucket full of water. Once the green light signal is given, they must carry..."
"Stop it!" Gi-hun yelled, not wanting to keep hearing the cruel speech again. In-ho turned his face back to him, watching closely.
"The games must continue. You don't seem to understand after all..." he said, disappointed by Gi-hun's persistence.
"You can't do this," he spat, his green uniform now stained with a big dark-red blotch of blood. "How will they win? How on Earth will they be able to not leak a single drop of water? Have you heard? That's impossible!" he declared.
"And so?" he asked. He got even closer to the man and, without him noticing, slipped a hand into his wound. He clenched his fingers in the wound. Gi-hun screamed loudly in pain, but that only made him grip the wound tighter. "Tell me, Gi-hun," he started, ignoring the man's loud screams. "By being here, how are you going to help them? You can't even help yourself. How do you expect to help others? Have you heard yourself?" he said, finally letting go of the man. Gi-hun took a few seconds to finally breathe properly.
In-ho stared at him, still waiting for an answer. Gi-hun slowly raised his head, facing him. And just as if copying his quick movements from before, he sent a strong kick to his stomach with great force, despite his legs being tightly bound. In-ho fell onto his back and hit the floor as air left his lungs.
That gave Gi-hun enough time to stand up in a fighting position. But, on the floor, In-ho quickly grabbed a hidden pistol from under the couch and pointed it towards him. He smiled as he stood up, still pointing his gun towards the tallest one.
"Now..." he said. "Now what?" he finished, waiting for Gi-hun to speak.
The man didn't dare to speak. In-ho smiled and didn't speak either. He signaled Gi-hun with his gun to take a seat. The man did as asked and sat in the left corner of the couch. In-ho followed him right after, sitting on the opposite side. His gun was still pointed towards the man. They both remained silent as the games were about to start.
"You will have 15 minutes to reach the finish line. I repeat, you will have 15 minutes to reach the finish line," the voice called for the players, as the game was only a few seconds from starting.
"Stop!" Gi-hun couldn't help but scream again. "Please! There's gotta be—"
"A way to stop the games?" In-ho interrupted. "You don't seem to understand, no matter what..." he sighed.
"All players, step behind the line with your buckets. The game will begin soon," the voice called again.
"No!" Gi-hun yelled. "I'll do anything! If there's something—anything you want from me!" he begged.
"I told you. The games won't stop. No matter what," he calmly answered.
And he really meant it. He was not stopping the games. He hadn't done it before, so why would he do it now? The games must continue. That self-imposed rule would never be broken. The players must participate in the next game. Gi-hun couldn't help them in any way. There was nothing keeping them from... He realized something. A big smirk came naturally. Gi-hun looked at him, confused by the sudden reaction. If Gi-hun was so persistent on self-sacrifice, he would teach him a lesson. He pulled out the radio and called.
"Pause the game," he said. Gi-hun couldn't believe it; his eyes widened and his mouth opened. "Wait for my signal to start the game," he instructed as he turned his face to look at Gi-hun. He lowered his gun and got closer to the man.
"You..." Gi-hun tried to speak but was interrupted.
"I'm not stopping the games," he firmly declared, making Gi-hun tense. "But I can give the players an advantage," he added, grabbing his radio again before speaking. "Rules changed. The players can spill water, as long as they keep half of their bucket full." He made a pause to look at the man's expression. "Begin the game," he said without removing eye contact with Gi-hun. "I did as you pleased, but you will pay for it." His words made Gi-hun turn serious.
He didn't care; instead, he turned his gaze to watch the games. His action was followed by Gi-hun, who decided to stare at the screen too. They both listened as his instructions were repeated by the voice explaining the rules. The change in the air was visible as many players showed their relief and some even celebrated. Others, didn't like the idea, since it meant they'll be more winners this round. In-ho guessed that even though he helped them, this would only cause more players to sabotage each other. Maybe that could show Gi-hun the reason the games keep existing, as long as there are people like those players.
They both remained completely quiet while watching the games. Once in a while, In-ho would glance at Gi-hun whenever a player got eliminated. The tallest man would close his eyes firmly as he turned his head down. The man was so intriguing and a whole new world In-ho wished to discover.
Once the game finished, the remaining players were exhausted. Sweating and barely breathing, they left the yard as a congratulations message was displayed for them. As he predicted, there were several players who pushed others in order to get them eliminated, leaving not so many winners.
Gi-hun remained silent as if waiting for an order. In-ho knew that the man wanted to know what he would be asked. The thought of having the man all to himself made his smile grow bigger. That only made Gi-hun tense up even more. That's when he remembered that the tallest one still had a bleeding wound on his stomach.
"Wait here," he ordered, making it clear to Gi-hun that he was not taking no for an answer.
He came back a few moments later. The man was still sitting on the couch. He smiled and placed a white box on the small table. He opened the box and took out bandages and some gauze from it. He also opened a bag of small disposable towels to grab some. He stopped in his tracks and gave Gi-hun a glance.
"Take off your shirt," he said. Gi-hun knew exactly why he was being asked that and decided not to make a fuss about it, simply obeying. Naively, he started to take his shirt off, not a trace of suspicion about In-ho's true intentions.
In-ho remained focused on his task, avoiding too many glances at the exposed chest in front of him. As he gathered his supplies, he thought this might be the perfect moment to introduce his 'payment' idea. He knew he had to proceed carefully; otherwise, the man might kick him again.
With gentle touches, he began cleaning the blood dripping from the wounds. The man shivered slightly as the towels felt a bit too cold. He enjoyed the thought of having the other so vulnerable at his mercy. He took his time wiping the blood, using more towels than necessary just to prolong the moment.
He finished, leaving the wounds clean and exposed. As he raised his head, he was surprised to see the man watching him closely, discomfort etched on his face as his hands remained tightly bound behind his back. He gave a sly grin and picked up the gauze, carefully placing it over the wounds. He firmly secured the gauze with bandages, taking advantage of the moment to touch the man's waist more than necessary as he dressed the wound.
He leaned back and began putting away the supplies. Knowing the man wouldn’t dare run, he calmly left the couch to return the box to its place. When he came back, Gi-hun looked exhausted, his head resting against the back of the couch, eyes closed. In-ho approached slowly, careful not to disturb the fragile tranquillity.
“Say it,” Gi-hun suddenly muttered, catching him off guard. His eyes remained shut, his voice calm yet tinged with an almost imperceptible pain. “What do you want?” he asked coldly, as if resigned, believing there was nothing left for In-ho to take from him.
Ignoring the question, In-ho sat beside him. His eyes flicked briefly to the table, annoyed to see Gi-hun occupying the side of the couch where his whiskey bottle rested, making it inconvenient for him to grab a sip. He sighed, shifting his gaze back to the man.
Gi-hun turned his head slightly, meeting In-ho’s eyes. He rested against the right side of the couch, his posture weary yet defiant. Something stirred within In-ho at the sight—a fleeting sense of domesticity, as though this moment belonged to a different world. But the stark reality of the bloodstained bandage on Gi-hun’s stomach shattered the illusion, reminding him of the chasm between them.
In-ho leaned his back against the armrest of the couch, claiming the spot reserved for resting arms. Stretching his legs out, he defiantly placed them on Gi-hun's hips, clearly trying to provoke him. He lifted his arm and, with a swift motion, cut through the ropes binding the man's arms, leaving only those around his legs intact. He leaned back once more, adopting a facade of complete relaxation. He wiggled his feet slightly and shot Gi-hun a smug look.
"Take them..." he began, pausing for effect. "Take my shoes off," he ordered.
Gi-hun's expression twisted in bewilderment, just as In-ho had hoped. He relished the opportunity to toy with him.
Though the command unsettled Gi-hun, he complied in silence, slowly removing the black leather shoes. In-ho watched with satisfaction, flexing his toes as they were freed. His feet, now clad only in black socks, shifted slightly as he sat up, locking eyes with Gi-hun. A smirk crept across his lips—he held all the power, just as he had always desired.
"Come here," he said. Gi-hun offered a hesitant, almost innocent smile. His naivety was so amusing that In-ho burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. Gi-hun stared, confused, failing to grasp the humor in the situation.
As In-ho's laughter subsided, he made a beckoning gesture with his fingers, simultaneously patting his hip. That was when realization finally dawned on Gi-hun. His eyes widened, and his mouth formed a perfect "O" of disbelief. In-ho only smiled wider, patting his hip again with more insistence.
Reluctantly, Gi-hun edged closer, hesitating as he approached.
"Here..." In-ho said softly, his voice lowering as Gi-hun leaned closer, almost lying on top of him. Without warning, In-ho grabbed his head and guided him firmly down, forcing him to rest against his chest. Gi-hun's ear pressed against him, the steady rhythm of In-ho's heartbeat reverberating in his head.
Finally, the moment he had been waiting for so long... He caressed the man's back, slowly and tenderly. He could still feel the man's stiffness—hard as a rock, refusing to relax even for a moment. Letting out a sigh, he continued with his gentle touches. One hand patted the man's head, while the other ventured lower and lower.
His hands moved to the man's sides, slowly making their way to his crotch. The man stiffened, almost paralyzed at the touch. Gi-hun whimpered, perhaps out of fear or perhaps out of pleasure. He didn’t care as his hand ventured further and further.
Quiet sobs escaped as his touches grew rougher and rougher, disregarding the man's discomfort and focusing solely on his own pleasure. One hand traveled up to grip the back of the man's neck, pressing his face against his chest. The hand gripping Gi-hun's inner thigh pulled him up from his crouch. A pained sound escaped the man's lips, gaining a chuckle from In-ho.
Now, with Gi-hun’s head resting against his neck, he could feel the man's nose brushing his skin. A rush of pleasure overcame him as his hands began caressing Gi-hun's sides, tracing over his ribs. But suddenly, as if guided by instinct, he grabbed the small knife he had held moments earlier and plunged it into the man's side. His other hand firmly held Gi-hun's neck, keeping him from moving.
Whimpers and quiet sobs were the only sounds In-ho heard. He let the knife fall once he pulled it out, the metallic clang echoing as it hit the cold floor. His fingers moved on their own, tracing the fresh wound. He caressed the gash before slipping one finger inside.
Gi-hun clenched his fists, struggling to endure the pain. This only encouraged In-ho to push in two more fingers. He could almost hear the skin tearing further, the faint sound sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine. Urged by desire, he explored the man's insides with his fingers, tracing every contour. The warmth of Gi-hun's insides was enough to drive him to his climax.
The dampness between his legs seeped into Gi-hun's pants, further arousing him. The thought reignited his desire, even as the other man struggled to pull away. A swift embrace held him in place, drawing him even closer—if such a thing were still possible.
He rested his arms for only a few seconds before placing them on Gi-hun's back. Clasping his hands together, he interlocked his fingers, forming a firm hold that kept the man pinned on top of him, unable to move or escape. His neck was damp with the tears that dripped from Gi-hun's eyes. He let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes.
Relishing the moment, he allowed sleep to overtake him, completely indifferent to the man's suffering above him. For Gi-hun, it was nothing but the worst nightmare a man could endure. But for him, it felt like resting on the softest cloud imaginable. He even wondered if this could compare to the childhood fantasy he once had of sleeping atop a sheep—what he had imagined to be the greatest comfort in existence. Happiness held him tightly as he smiled, drifting into a well-deserved nap.
His eyes slowly opened as he regained consciousness. He stretched as much as he could, considering there was still a grown man on top of him. Even then, he felt like he had never slept so well in his entire life. It was as if he had truly slept for the very first time. A smile escaped his lips as he relished the warmth coming from Gi-hun, like a living blanket.
He lowered his head as much as possible to take a glimpse of the man resting above him. He watched as Gi-hun's fingers were locked tightly into fists, so tight that they had a yellowish hue from the pressure. The man was awake but seemed too scared to move a muscle. He kept his face hidden in his chest, his body stiff as he did his best not to move.
"You're awake?" he asked, receiving no response. "Don't feel like talking?" he asked again. Low sobs were the only reply.
He didn’t care about the man’s unwillingness to answer. His eyes wandered around the room, briefly scanning the screen displaying CCTV footage. The small nightstand with a bottle of whiskey seemed undisturbed. It was the gun he had left earlier that stood out—unmoved, in the exact position he had placed it. He wondered what kept Gi-hun from taking it and shooting him. It wasn’t fear. He could only guess that the other man believed killing him wasn’t the answer, knowing that he could be replaced, and that someone else would take his place as the Frontman.
His fingers began to send tender touches along the man's back. He felt Gi-hun shivering softly on top of him. Ignoring the man's fear, he held him tightly, his hands still interlocked in an embrace. With a swift motion, he turned to his left. Now, their positions were reversed, with Gi-hun lying behind him. He used his arms to keep from fully resting on the man, maintaining a small distance between them. Gi-hun's eyes met his, and both remained silent for a few seconds.
"Well..." he began. "Shall we—" he was cut off by a sudden movement.
Gi-hun's right arm shot up so quickly that In-ho almost got punched. He soon realized that wasn’t the man’s intention. Gi-hun’s arm reached for his neck but ended up landing on the top of his shoulder instead.
A cold sensation on his shoulder made him realize what had just happened. His eyes landed on the spot where Gi-hun's hand still rested. A single, thick drop of blood fell from his shoulder, landing on the man's right cheek. Silence once again filled the space, but it was Gi-hun's attempt to attack again that ignited an all-out fight.
In-ho tried to stand, only to be kicked right in the chest. He managed to shield himself with an arm, but the force still sent him flying backward. His back now faced the taller man. Gi-hun turned to his right and managed to sit up. In-ho lunged toward him, aiming for the small knife, but let the man overpower him, nearly pinning him down. He started laughing.
Gi-hun gave him a confused look, but the cold press of metal against his neck froze any further movement. In-ho held a gun to the man’s neck, his finger brushing the trigger as if toying with the idea of pulling it. He raised his free hand toward Gi-hun, showing his open palm towards the man’s face.
Gi-hun hesitated but ultimately surrendered his weapon. He stared at In-ho with eyes full of defeat. The tension in the room eased as In-ho now held both weapons. He gestured for the man to sit again, confident he would finally stay still. Gi-hun complied, raising his arms in surrender and following the order.
His limbs were now free, allowing him to move unrestrained. In-ho guessed that Gi-hun had managed to free himself from the ropes while he slept—definitely not his smartest idea. But the man did not give up. He launched himself at In-ho once more. This time, both fell to the ground, with In-ho's back slamming against the floor.
Weaponless, Gi-hun threw as many punches as he could. Annoyed by the man's persistence, In-ho raised his gun without hesitation and shot directly at the man's right arm. Gi-hun let out a scream and collapsed to his right. Unsatisfied, In-ho fired again. This time, the bullet struck the back of Gi-hun's left leg, close to his knee.
Moans of pain escaped Gi-hun’s lips as he struggled to hold himself up, refusing to lie completely on the floor. But In-ho had reached his limit. He fired a final shot, this time at Gi-hun's left leg near his foot, sending another wave of unbearable pain through the man.
Out of bullets, he threw the gun aside, only holding the small knife. A wide smile spread across his face as he lowered himself to the floor near Gi-hun. Resting on one knee, he grabbed the man by the hair violently to make him face him. Weakened by the wounds inflicted on him, Gi-hun was powerless to resist as much as he would have liked. In-ho grinned at the thought.
Without warning, he shoved Gi-hun onto his back and pulled his knife aside. As the man lay on the floor, In-ho positioned himself on top of him, tightly pinning his hands down. He pressed his knees against Gi-hun's legs, applying enough pressure to make the man shudder in pain. Small moans of agony escaped Gi-hun's lips, his body trembling under the weight and force.
He grabbed the man's hands with only one of his own, using his free hand to yank down the man's pants violently. He also removed the man's shoes, leaving him in nothing but his socks. Once Gi-hun was stripped of his green uniform, In-ho brought his hands to his own crotch, unbuttoning his pants with an urgency that unsettled Gi-hun. Yet, weakened and defeated, he was too powerless to resist. The sadness in Gi-hun's eyes seemed to stir something in In-ho’s heart.
He slowed down, no longer rushing. Lowering his head, he leaned in, attempting to kiss the man's lips. His approach was so slow it gave Gi-hun enough time to turn his head to the side. In-ho's lips landed on the man’s cheek instead. Unbothered, he continued, offering soft and tender touches to Gi-hun's face and neck. Leaving a trail of kisses along his skin, he explored every inch of Gi-hun's face, neck, chest, and abdomen. His lips hovered near lower regions, gaining small shivers from Gi-hun.
In-ho inhaled deeply, taking in the man's scent, tasting every detail. His lips eventually found their way to Gi-hun’s inner thighs, earning soft, intermittent sobs from the man. He traced his lips along Gi-hun’s legs, leaving marks on nearly every patch of skin he could reach.
He finally stopped in his tracks and backed down, taking a few seconds to admire the view behind him. Before Gi-hun could catch his breath, he placed his hands on the man's body, claiming it as his own. He began with gentle touches, his hands fully exploring the other man. Slowly, he started massaging with deliberate and deep motions.
After a brief pause, he pressed his fingers against the man's entrance. He lingered for a moment, observing the man's reaction. Gi-hun clenched his fists tightly, struggling to contain his emotions. Noticing this, In-ho gently guided Gi-hun's hands to his shoulders. Gi-hun gripped them firmly, shutting his eyes as if bracing himself for what was to come.
Taking this as a signal to proceed, In-ho carefully introduced two fingers into the man's entrance. Slowly but steadily, he moved deeper until his fingers were fully inside. He began caressing with deliberate movements, exploring tenderly. Gi-hun's muffled sobs and soft moans broke the silence as he tried to stifle the sounds.
In-ho adjusted his movements, spreading his fingers to stretch the man's entrance. Gi-hun shuddered at the sensation. Without much warning, In-ho withdrew his fingers briefly before adding two more, now inserting four. He allowed little time for Gi-hun to adjust as he pushed his fingers in again. Once inside, he moved each finger individually, exploring with precision. Gi-hun moaned louder this time, quickly covering his mouth with his hand, as though embarrassed by his own reactions.
Both of them grew hard as their bodies instinctively reacted to the situation. In-ho decided it was time to move forward and carefully withdrew his fingers. He lowered his own pants, kneeling slightly closer to the ground. Positioning himself, he took hold of his length and teased Gi-hun's entrance, gently brushing against it without fully entering.
He paused for a moment, locking eyes with Gi-hun, before finally pressing himself inside. He moved as slowly as possible, allowing Gi-hun to adjust. Even so, Gi-hun shivered at the sensation. In-ho continued to feel the tight embrace of the man's warmth, the heat wrapping around him almost enough to push him over the edge. Yet, he persisted, sliding deeper until he was fully inside. He placed his hands firmly on Gi-hun's sides and began moving his hips in steady, deliberate motions.
Soft sounds filled the air as his thrusts became faster and deeper. In-ho soon abandoned his initial tenderness, driven by raw passion, each thrust hitting harder than the last. Gi-hun moaned loudly, his body struggling to keep up with the pace. In-ho, lost in the moment, let his own moans escape as he kept up his rhythm.
After a while, In-ho slowed down, opting for deeper, more deliberate thrusts that reached new depths. Gi-hun's body trembled, his shivers signaling how close he was to his climax. Sensing it, In-ho delivered one final, powerful thrust, causing Gi-hun to release. The white liquid spilled onto his stomach, the intensity leaving Gi-hun gasping for air.
The sight of Gi-hun undone beneath him pushed In-ho to his own climax. He buried himself fully, filling Gi-hun completely. The warmth of the release made Gi-hun tremble once more. Slowly, In-ho pulled out, leaving traces of white fluid dripping onto the floor and even staining his own clothes. He offered a faint smile, his eyes lingering on Gi-hun's state—still breathless, still recovering from the overwhelming sensation.
Both of them struggled to catch their breath for a few moments. In-ho was the first to make a move. He tucked his cock back into his pants and buttoned them up, adjusting the fabric while keeping an eye on Gi-hun. The man, still on the floor, was completely naked except for his socks. In-ho took a final glance before standing up.
Now on his feet, he approached Gi-hun's head, crouching slightly. He grabbed the man's arms and helped him sit up. With a firm grip on Gi-hun's armpits, he pulled him up. Gi-hun, weak and unable to resist, allowed himself to be lifted. In-ho carefully carried him a few steps and gently placed him on the couch, adjusting his legs to ensure he was comfortable.
In-ho looked at Gi-hun for a moment, feeling a warmth in his chest. He removed his coat and draped it over the man, then tenderly stroked his face before planting a passionate kiss on his lips. Gi-hun's eyes snapped open in surprise. In-ho smiled at his reaction, then turned and walked away.
He left the room, giving Gi-hun space to process everything, while he directed his steps toward his guards. Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, he felt more motivated to prepare for the next game, knowing he had something to look forward to after each one—a 'reward' for every game from now on.