Work Text:
Seungmin was a mystery to Minho.
45.6 billion won is a lot of money, but joining these games was certainly the worst mistake Minho has ever made. He barely survived the first few games, but he really needed the money, Jisung was waiting for him at home, he promised he would come back.
Minho knew Seungmin before the games. He knows his face and his name has most definitely left Jisung’s mouth before. No matter now, he finds himself detached from everyone. There’s no point in being close to people if they could die the next day.
Minho met Seungmin properly in the third game, tug of war. The game could only be won with physical strength, so honestly he wasn’t the kindest to the lanky Kim Seungmin who Changbin dragged into their team. Truthfully, they would’ve lost if it weren't for Changbin and Chan, the two of them being the strongest out of the ten of them. Kim Seungmin is scrawny and looks like a dejected puppy, they were both constantly bickering with each other no matter the circumstances.
"Welcome to your fourth game. This game will be played in teams of two. Find someone you wish to play the game with. When two people agree to play as a team and shake hands, you become partners”
The fourth round of the games requires pairs. There weren’t many of them now, maybe around 30 of them left. Whoever was behind these games knew exactly what they were doing, eliminating massive groups in one round and now telling them to pair up. Surely this had to be a trap? He turns to ask Chan, but the other is already beaming at Changbin and shaking his hand, the signal for accepting their partnership.
Changbin and Chan both shook hands, and Felix was clearly enamoured by the long haired boy with long legs and dainty hands. He felt irritation bubble up in his stomach, if he doesn’t find a partner, will he die? Everyone was so quick to break away from him, he knew he wasn’t the most friendly person but something inside him still stung. Minho turned to Seungmin, to see the other man was already staring at him. He had been left by Hyunjin too, they’re both just the runt of the litter, aren’t they? He gives him a knowing smile, an invitation .
“ Kim Seungmin. ” he says, stepping closer and extending a hand.
“Minho hyung.” They shook hands, Minho has his partner, he’s one step closer to getting home to Jisung. That’s what he’s been telling himself for the past few days. Every game he wins and every drop of blood spilt, he’s one step closer to Jisung again. Han Jisung is the sun, he and Minho met in high school and have been close ever since. However, he fell sick and has been spending his days at home. Minho doesn’t recognise him recently, his eyes that once held stars were now dull, he is unable to walk at best and can’t stand up on his own at his worst.
The two of them scraped their money together to pay for treatment, but it wasn’t enough. He never seemed to get any better, and the guilt was eating him alive. Minho was now in great debt, his job at the dance studio wasn’t paying him enough to get by, so when a stranger in a suit presented him with stacks of cash for a favour of course he took it.
Now he’s here, fighting for his life and Jisung’s lives.
The players are then led to the arena, he watches Seungmin’s face soften at the scenery. It replicates one of the rural villages Minho used to pass, a soft and warm light emitted from fake street lamps. Seungmin looks pretty under this light, he looks at peace.
He feels slightly suffocated, the pink guards are quite literally breathing down everyone’s necks and are hurrying them to the centre of the arena. The floor is sand, it clings to the white shoes they gave him and he resists the urges to shake it off. The quiet is disrupted by the chipper voice of the announcement, the fourth game will be marbles.
“ You are free to play any game you like, only one out of the pair will be able to move on.”
Of fucking course. He hears shocked gasps echo around the large room, people paired with the ones they trusted most, he expected this. His heart sinks, he remembers his allies, only half of them will return.
Minho doesn’t feel as terrible as he thought he would about his own pairing, ignoring his own moral decline, he and Seungmin aren’t friends. It’s for Jisung, he tells himself. He looks at the other man’s facial expressions, nothing. There’s no furrow of an eyebrow and frown to show that he gives a shit, no, Minho won’t lose.
A guard with a triangle mask holds out two small bags of marbles, the announcement keeps going. “Your game will be watched by a guard to ensure there is no misconduct, you have 30 minutes.”
He hastily takes the light blue bag and empties it, ten marbles filled his shaking palm. “Well, this is unfortunate for one of us, isn’t it hyung?” Seungmin says, voice devoid of fear. He throws the bag up and down, not bothering to open what’s inside. “What game would you like to play?”
Minho scoffs, it doesn’t matter as long as he wins. “We don’t have to start now,” Seungmin keeps talking, “we have thirty minutes. There’s no need to rush.” Minho still doesn’t reply, he’s gone the first three games without killing anybody directly. Seungmin’s blood will be on his hands if he wants to survive. Seungmin’s blood will be on his hands, but that blood could save Jisung.
“Seungmin, why are you here?” he asks. Seungmin’s right, they have thirty minutes to play. He wants to understand this man before he dies. He obviously does want to survive, he has that determined glint in his eyes and he always seemed so far away, like he was thinking of somebody all the time.
“Not even going to sugar coat it hyung?” he sighs, plonking himself onto the side of a fake plant. It’s uncanny, the scenery. The plants are all a plasticky green and the dirt on the houses is too intentional, it’s all a ploy. They want to play with the player’s emotions. He doesn’t answer his question, he just buries his fist into a pile of rocks, placed underneath the plants.
“Is purple your favourite colour?” Seungmin asks, gesturing to Minho’s hair. He’d almost forgotten, he’d dyed it purple some time ago but it was surely faded by now. No, purple wasn’t his favourite, Jisung had joked about dying his hair and Minho took it a little too seriously. Purple wasn’t Jisung’s favourite either, it was just the cheapest they had, he needed change.
“No.” he said, curtly, running his hands through said hair. He felt a little grimey, the games didn’t actually provide them with showers, but it would all be worth it once he got out. After paying for Jisung’s treatment, he’ll buy them a better house, with a shower with hot water that always works.
He felt awkward being the only one standing up, so he took a seat next to Seungmin. “Oh, it’s mine.” Seungmin said. Minho could tell the younger was trying to make conversation, he could also tell that he knew he wasn’t interested in talking, he can’t guilt trip Minho into losing. “If I get out of this place, I think my first purchase would be a guitar.”
“Really?” Minho pretended to act surprised, but Seungmin had such firm hands that he could definitely see him playing a guitar, singing into a microphone on stage, or just in his own bedroom. What did his bedroom look like at home? Is his bed made? Minho thinks it would be, he seems like the type. When they were a lot younger, they went to the same school. Minho remembered seeing him out on the fields till the sunset, practicing baseball for hours. He wondered if Seungmin ever continued after he and Jisung disappeared.
He wondered if Seungmin even remembered him at all.
“I always wanted to play, but my eomma didn’t want me to pick up music. I think I stressed her out a lot when I was younger.” Minho almost laughs, imagining the prim and proper Kim Seungmin being a rebel child.
“I definitely stressed my parents out, they could never catch a break with me and my friend in highschool.” Jisung. His best friend. “I’d argue Jisung was the worst out of the two of us, getting into fights and arguing with teachers. He played the guitar too, was pretty fucking good at it.”
“ Was? ” Seungmin asked. Ah, Minho didn’t want Seungmin to think Jisung was dead or anything. He’s going home, and he’s going to survive and help him.
Minho’s heart hurt a little, he imagined Jisung in his room, tiny and afraid, “His illness took everything, I hardly see him leave his room anymore. That’s why I’m here, I’m here for him .” His eyes meet Seungmin, and his heart breaks all over again. The stars are in his eyes, just like Jisung’s.
“Ah, I see.” Seungmin’s eyes softened, “So, what else would you do with the money? Sure you’ll pay for Jisung’s surgery, but then what?”
The atmosphere is tense, they could both tell, so Minho decides on something simple, of course there’s truth behind it. “I’d get three cats. I’ve always wanted to look after them, me and Sungie would always pet the strays whilst walking home after school.”
“Ooh, any names?”
“Mh, maybe Soonie? ” he said. He'd heard the name at one of the shelters before and he’d never let it go, thirteen year old Minho saw the good in everything. He can’t say he does anymore, but that’s okay.
Seungmin quirked an eyebrow, “What about the other two?” Minho shrugged, and Seungmin hummed. “I’ll figure it out when I get out of this place. I have to get back to Jisung.” which means you’re going to have to die, he doesn’t say.
“That’s nice of you.” he said, “You’re so noble , hyung.” He couldn’t tell if Seungmin was mocking him or not. He wasn’t trying to come off as noble or anything, he really was just there for Jisung, who is probably cursing him for leaving this very moment.
Minho scoffs, “I’m no hero. I’m selfish, Seungmin.” Now Seungmin looks confused. “Selfish? How? You’re here because you want to help your friend.” And why are you here?
“Jisung doesn’t know I’m here, he told me he didn’t want me to leave, but I still did. Once I get out, I’ll make it up to him. We’ll split the money, get a better place than our shitty apartment and everything will be okay again.”
Seungmin stays quiet, playing with the bag in his hands. “Where would you go?”
“Seoul, I think.” Minho says, “Jisungie always wanted to live in the city, he wanted to perform gigs in those posh venues. I want to make that happen for him.” He would do anything for Jisung. He is doing everything for Jisung. He knows he is going to get Seungmin killed in the next twenty minutes, and now he actually may feel guilty.
“Mmh, okay.” he replies, as if he’s disappointed. “I think I’d like to go somewhere nice too, I’ll move to America, I think.” America? Why? “I know what you’re thinking, why? There’s nothing left for me here, except for maybe one person, but I don’t think he wants to see me anymore. Maybe in the USA I could really pursue singing, or even baseball.” He doesn’t feel bad, why would he?
“Maybe I’ll dye my hair pink too.” Seungmin added.
“Why pink?” he asked, purple was his favourite, wasn’t it?
“Why purple?” Ah. Always a clever tongue.
“Don’t be rude to your hyung, Kim Seungmin.” he scolded, no bite to it. Maybe in another life they could’ve met in better circumstances, and Seungmin would be able to call him hyung a little longer. Minho could’ve helped him dye his hair. They could’ve done so much, if they only had time. The clock ticks. “You’d suit pink. Maybe streaks of it in your bangs.”
“Ah, I’ll think about that if I leave.” he said, placing his bag down. Minho kept his marbles in his jacket pocket, he can’t entirely trust that somebody won’t try to steal them. He almost feels bad, at the lack of care towards Seungmin’s bag, it’s covered in dust from the plant pot and was carelessly strewn to the side. Minho could take them right now. He could win.
“You know, I haven’t really thought about what I would do with the money until a couple minutes ago. 45.6 billion is a lot.” Enough to pay for Jisung’s treatments. He could never forget.
“You didn’t answer my question, Kim Seungmin.” Why are you here? How did the all knowing Seungmin from his childhood go into debt?
“You’re going to kill me though, aren’t you?” Seungmin says, and Minho feels as though cold water has been thrown onto him. “It’s okay hyung, I’m not angry.”
“Y-you should be.” he sputtered, Seungmin knew he was going to try and win. “I do wish we met in different circumstances, but only one of us will live, Seungmin.” He tries to put on a brave face, he wants to win this in a meaningful way, he refuses to take a life without purpose .
“I know that. I won’t try and win, you know I won’t. Nobody is waiting for me at home, but Jisung is waiting for you. Isn’t he? Just because he’s angry you left now, that doesn’t mean he’ll be angry forever. I was angry at you, I’m not anymore.”
“What? Why were you angry with me?” Minho asked, surprised. Seungmin always seemed so indifferent, it irked him, so he just returned the sentiment.
“You forgot about me. We knew each other, I recognised you after dalgona.” he explained, as if he was embarrassed. Of course Minho remembered him. He’s been haunting his mind since tug of war, all night he tried to rack his brain and simply couldn’t sleep. During dalgona, he was simply too terrified to pay attention to others. He was always shitty at it, when they were kids Jisung would always manage to carve even the hardest shapes, but Minho was too heavy handed and cracked even the triangle.
He thought he was a goner when he received the star shape, taunting him. The stars that reflected in Jisung’s eyes would surely kill him now, right? Wrong. He was still here, now it’s the fourth game and he truly thinks he has a chance. The only thing standing in his way is Kim Seungmin, and he is telling him he won’t try and win.
The clock ticks, they have fifteen minutes. Minho doesn’t say anything, they sit next to each other in an awkward silence. A gunshot goes off, somebody has died. “Ah, hyung, that will be one of us soon.”
“Don’t be like that.” he says, no bite again because he knows Seungmin is right. “We should start soon, I’m sure that guard is bored of our tragic backstories.” Seungmin hums, and throws his bag up and down again. His hands are dusty from digging them into the rocks, Minho holds his bag tighter. Seungmin rests his head on Minho’s shoulder.
“Oh? What’s that for?” he teases halfheartedly. Another shot.
“Just let me have this, hyung.” Okay. He’ll let Seungmin lean on his shoulder during his last moments, he wants to puke. When did he become so apathetic towards human life? They sit in silence, and Minho watches as the clock strikes ten minutes.
“Okay hyung, what game are you thinking of?” Another gunshot, neither of them even wince . Minho doesn’t know, he never owned any marbles. He doesn’t want to visit other players either.
“I’m not sure.” He hears screaming, Chan, Chan is screaming. He is screaming Changbin’s name, Minho’s heart twists. At least he now has a chance, his sister needs him, all the way from Australia.
“That’s okay. We have ten more minutes, we can end it quickly. No harsh feelings?” Seungmin asks, too casual for their environment. Minho nods, they both stand up. He then notices that Seungmin has a decent bit of height to him, a good few inches. Usually Minho would opt for platforms, but of course their clothes were taken from them.
“Hyung, can I ask for two favors?”
“Depends, does one include dying?” he asks, he means it as a joke but given the current situation, there’s no joke to it. Seungmin shakes his head, “Go ahead then.”
“Can I have a hug?” What kind of sick fucking joke?
“Sure, Seungmin.” He found himself leaning into Seungmin, the younger wrapped his arms around Minho and he felt a wet patch on his shoulder. The jackets they were given were thin, the material sucked and Minho hated that specific shade of green, he found his mind wandering, searching for solace in this place.
Seungmin sniffled, he was slouching so they were around the same height. “I really hate these games, hyung.”
“I do too, but I’m doing it for Jisung.” Who are you doing it for? The question goes unspoken and unanswered, Kim Seungmin is a mystery, he always will be. Seungmin hums, he pretends not to hear him, he just nuzzles his face into Minho’s neck, like a dog .
“ Doongie and Dori .” Seungmin said.
“What?”
“The other two cats, their names.” Oh fuck this.
“Seungmin, we have eight minutes left.” Eight minutes and one of them will be dead, Minho refuses to let it be him, he has to get out, he has to leave for Jisung.
“I know, hyung.”
“Hyung, you said you would give me two favors, right?” desperation slowly seeped into his voice, “Please visit Yang Jeongin for me. Tell him I said I’m sorry.”
He kept holding Minho, the elder could feel his skin beginning to crawl. Who is Jeongin? It didn’t matter if they were both going to die. Seungmin wouldn’t let go of him, the hug felt suffocating and he wouldn’t play the fucking game.
“Seungmin. We have to play.” he pleaded, “If we don’t we’re both going to die.” Jisung needs him. Jisung is at home, he has to go home.
“Hyung, just trust me, please?” Seungmin asked, batting his stupid fucking eyelashes and giving Minho the biggest puppy eyes. He hated the way his heart jumped, but also felt like it was being ripped in half and bleeding. Seungmin took his bag of marbles out from his jacket pocket and held them in front of Minho’s face, “trust me,” he whispered again. Was this Seungmin’s plan? To kill them both?
Minho ripped himself away from him, how dare he. How dare he let himself get attached to somebody he knew he had to kill. How dare he get attached to somebody who is trying to kill him. How dare Seungmin pretend to act shocked.
“Hyung, listen, it’s okay,” he said, tears running down his face, “please, just promise me you’ll try find him, find Innie and tell him I’m sorry,”
“How can I?! We’re both going to die because of you!” he shouts, he knows the other players can hear him, he wonders if Chan is still in the arena, if Hyunjin and Felix were still there. He was consumed with anger.
“No, hyung, I’m going to die. You’ve won.” Won? How can he win if there was no game to play? With that, Kim Seungmin ran. He fucking ran . Minho watched the time, five more minutes. He refused to die like this. He ran right after the former baseball player, he saw red.
“Kim Seungmin!” he roared, Seungmin approached another guard, presented his bag of marbles. “What the fuck are you doing?!” he choked out a sob. He promised Minho he wouldn’t try to win, how dare he, how dare he give him a slither of hope.
“Minho hyung, check your pocket.” he said, as if the energy had been drained from him. He is no longer crying, probably because he’s letting them both die.
Minho scrambled to his jacket pocket, there’s nothing there except for his own bag of marbles. He opens them and quickly counts 10 marbles, all untouched. “What the fuck are you playing at?” he asked, venom lacing his voice. So what? Seungmin ran away with his own marbles, he tried to get them both killed.
“Your pants pocket, hyung.” he chuckled, as if their lives weren’t on the line. That’s when he feels it, marbles , in his pocket.
“S-seungmin? What? ” he croaked, in his palm were all of Seungmin’s marbles. The hug. The fucking hug. When Seungmin was holding Minho, he must’ve been carefully placing the marbles in his pocket so he wouldn’t notice. When Seungmin was digging through the dirt, he was replacing his own marbles to show Minho. “Why?” he sobbed, “Why would you make me think you betrayed me?”
“So you wouldn’t feel bad about my inevitable death,” he laughed , eyes blurring yet again, “I’m sorry, I tried to make this easier. Maybe if you hated me the bullet through my skull would’ve hurt a little less.”
“Stop talking like that!” Minho cried, he sounded like a fucking mess. “How dare you make me care!” Seungmin fucking smiled , he smiled at him.
“It’s okay hyung, you won. You have twenty marbles, and there’s only a minute left. It’s okay.” he said, Minho ran into his arms, the two of them stood in the middle of the fake village. “I always wanted to die somewhere nice, this is fine. It reminds me of home.” Seungmin was the one dying, but Minho was the one heaving. “You have to win, hyung. Jisung needs you.”
“Jeongin needs you! ” Minho said, pulling him closer.
“Innie doesn’t need me, I just need you to promise you’ll find him. Apologise for me, okay hyung?” Seungmin sniffled, burying his face into Minho’s collar. “I will, I will, I will,” Minho cried.
“You were right, I wish we met somewhere else, under a different sky. It’s okay, I’ll be okay.” he consoled Minho, rubbing circles on his back, “Don’t feel bad, you just wanted to survive. I just wanted it a little less. You won.”
No. You’re wrong. I didn’t win anything. I thought I’d be satisfied.
He doesn’t say anything, merely sobs into Seungmin’s shoulder the guilt swallowing him as the seconds ticked by. Seungmin took what would be his final breath, “Hyung, thank you for playing with me.”
A gunshot.
Minho’s hands are red, Seungmin’s blood soaked them. He
screams.