Archive of Our Own ^beta

Thanos’ jaw stayed tight as they swept through the hallway, checking every damn room for those blue-vested top dogs.

Nam-su giggled beside him, bouncing playfully as he walked. MG Coin followed silently behind them.

He still couldn’t wrap his head around why the fuck Nam-su brought this guy along. They didn’t need him. They were already a solid duo. And of all people, MG fucking Coin. The same asshole who tanked his bets from millions to goddamn billions down the drain. Fucking asshole. He still hadn’t forgiven him for that.

Thanos rubbed the side of his nose hard, then sniffed. Useless. Didn’t help. His skin felt like it didn’t fit right on his body. Itched under his shirt. Every step pissed him off. His body kept begging for something it couldn’t have anymore.

“This one?” Nam-su said as he opened a door and peeked inside, “Huh. No one. Or maybe this one?” He skipped to the opposite side and opened another door. Again, nothing, “Oh, okay. Maybe this one!” he chirped, trying yet another door.

MG Coin scoffed behind them. Thanos heard it. Heard it loud. If only the fucker was wearing a blue vest, he’d be Thanos’ first fucking target.

But what was stopping him, really? There weren’t any rules saying a red-vest player couldn’t kill another red-vest. Besides, they’d already passed the round. At this point, they were just killing for the prize pool, to stack the money even higher.

“Or mayyyyybe this one!” Nam-su sing-songed, opening another door. He pouted when he found it empty again, his shoulders slouching. “Aw… None again,” He turned to Thanos. “Hyung~ where’d all the blue people goooo?” he whined.

“How the fuck should I know?” Thanos snapped, “Let’s just hit upstairs. This floor’s dead as hell.”

Nam-su’s eyes lit up, “UPSTAIRS!” he shouted, then bolted out.

That damn junkie.

When they hit the upper floor, the first thing they saw were those fucking blue vests. Thanos and Nam-su locked eyes before lunging straight at those bastards.

Damn, Thanos might be crazy, but Nam-su? Fucker’s on a whole different level. The guy used to be clingy as shit back in the club, always in somebody’s face, always buying him a drink, begging for attention. Ain’t shit changed. Still, it caught him off guard.

Thanos sniffed hard. His nose wouldn’t stop running. He wiped it again with the back of his hand after he finished his kill.

He turned around, and there was Nam-su, sitting on some old lady, stabbing her over and over like he was trying to hit the floor through her chest.

Nam-su was giggling, eyes wide and twitchy. Gave Thanos the fucking hibbie-jibbies.

“Stop that,” MG Coin finally spoke. “She’s already dead.”

Surprisingly, Nam-su actually obeyed. He stopped stabbing and stood up, staggering a bit. He pouted at MG Coin and pointed his bloody knife at him. “You’re no fun~”

MG Coin let out a sharp exhale, his face unreadable, then turned away without a word.

“Ya! Where are you going?” Nam-su called out.

“None of your business.”

Nam-su scoffed. “Tch. As I said, you’re no fucking fun!”

Thanos watched as MG Coin completely split off from them, his back disappearing around the corner.

His head snapped back toward Nam-su when he heard the bastard laugh again. The freak was opening his necklace, slipping another pill under his tongue.

“Aish,” Nam-su mumbled, clickin’ it shut. “Told him he’d feel better if he just took one…”

Then his eyes met Thanos’.

He wiggled the necklace. “You sure you’re done with all this? Still got a few left.”

Thanos sniffed again, wiped his nose. “Nah, I’m good.”

He was already feeling the edge of withdrawal creeping in, but fuck it. He’d handed over the last of the good shit to Nam-su earlier. Figured it was better to get clean now while he still had a grip.

Better to get sober early than wait ‘til the end of the games, if there even was an end. Besides, he’d done this before. Cold turkey wasn’t new. Pain wasn’t new. Shaking, sweating, sleepless nights? Tuesday.

Sudden withdrawal was nothing to him.

And it wasn’t Thanos who was gonna suffer once the drugs ran out anyway.

It was Nam-su.

Before Thanos even knew it, Nam-su was already walking away from him. Or more like, heading in the same direction MG Coin disappeared to.

“Yo, where the fuck you think you goin’?” Thanos called out, but ended up following anyway.

“Myung-gi,” Nam-su replied simply, not turning around.

“Who the fuck is Myung-gi?”

Nam-su glanced back with a playful smile, then leaned in like he was about to whisper a secret. “MG Coin,” he said softly.

Thanos’ face immediately soured. He stopped walking, “Oh, hell nah. I’m done being on the same team with that motherfucker.”

Nam-su tilted his head, making sweater paws, tugging at the sleeves of his tracksuit. “Why not? He’s fun to be with.”

“Fun?” Thanos scoffed, “What the hell happened to you, man? Thought we agreed we’d make that bastard suffer till he paid us back.”

Nam-su just laughed and waved him off, already turning to keep walking without him. “Past is past, hyung.”

Past is past...? The fuck?

Thanos turned around, storming off in the opposite direction. “Well, fuck the both of you then! I’m outta here!” he shouted, flipping his middle finger high in the air to make sure Nam-su saw it.

That bitch. Acting all high and mighty just ‘cause he had the necklace now. Tch. Thanos hoped the damn thing ran out sooner than later. Let’s see how cocky he’d be then.

He headed toward another stairwell, checking every hallway, every corner, every room. Searching for anyone in blue who was still breathing.

He found two on that floor. Didn’t waste time. Put ‘em down quick. Real quick.

After that… nothing.

Guess they’d already wiped out the last of the Blues.

Thanos wiped his blade clean on his red vest. Man, he wondered if he could off MG Coin next.

A cry.

His eyes blinked.

He might be half sober, half floatin’ somewhere high, but he was still fucking half sober. His ears weren’t playing tricks on him. That sound was real.

That was definitely a baby’s cry.

Thanos squinted hard, rubbing his eyes, as if that would make him hear better.

How the fuck did a baby get in the games? He had so many questions.

“I-It’s a girl!”

There. That door at the very end of the hallway.

That’s where the sound was coming from.

He marched toward it.

And when he stopped at the door, his palm stayed on the doorknob. The baby’s cries were clearer now. There were people inside, whispering to each other and trying to shush the baby.

Oh, Thanos was curious.

He opened the door.

At first, his eyes landed on three women, two of them in blue vests. One wore nothing but a t-shirt, blood covering her legs. But all that was forgotten when his eyes dropped to the baby, wrapped in a green jacket in the old woman’s arms.

...A baby.

There really was a baby.

Before he could even get a better look at the baby, the tall woman in a blue vest stood up. Her face was all tight, brows pulled down, lips in a hard line, and she was staring daggers at him.

She shifted into a fighting stance, fists raised.

Then it hit him. He must’ve looked like a threat to them. Wearing a red vest and all.

Thanos raised his arms slowly. “Whoa, calm down, señorita. I’m already done killin’, alright?”

Didn’t work. The tall woman didn’t budge. Still locked on him like a guard dog about to pounce. The tension in her shoulders said she wasn’t buying any of his crap.

He let out a sigh, slow and annoyed. He waved his left hand, the one holding the knife. The tall woman stiffened at the sight of the weapon.

“Relax,” he muttered, then tucked the blade into his waistband. He patted down imaginary dust from his shirt and opened his arms wide. “There. Gone.”

“Please, young man,” the old woman finally spoke, her voice shaking a little, “Spare this innocent baby and her mother. The baby’s done nothing. She didn’t ask for this.”

The crying didn’t stop.

He watched as the tiny girl, the one who had just given birth, quickly took the baby from the old woman’s arms. She pressed the kid close to her chest like she was trying to shield her with whatever strength she had left.

Seriously? He already surrendered his weapon and all, and they were still suspicious of him? Well, he didn’t really surrender it, but it wasn’t like he was gonna use it. Like he said, he was done.

“I’m not gonna fucking do anything,” his tone came out rougher than he intended, making the three women flinch. “I heard cryin’ and got curious, that’s all.”

The three women shared a glance with each other.

Tch. Women. They always do shit like this, communicating with eyes and stuff.

But now that he had a better look, something clicked. He knew this tiny girl.

She was that pregnant chick. MG Coin’s girlfriend.

Did MG Coin even know his girl just popped out a baby in some room mid game like this? Where the hell was he?

Thanos tilted his head, eyeing her closer. She looked like hell. Bloody and sweaty, lips dry and cracked, breath coming in shaky waves. Then his eyes dropped lower. Her left ankle was all fucked up. Purple, swollen, bent weird.

Dang, he knew no shit about moms and women, but how was she still alive after all of this? Must be a hella strong woman. She’s tiny as hell, looked like she could get blown over by wind, and yet she was sitting there with a whole newborn in her arms.

He didn’t even realize he’d been staring that long ‘til the old lady spoke up again.

“Y-Young man? By any chance, have you seen a man, also in a red vest, with glasses? He has curly hair.”

Thanos pressed his lips together, eyes flicking to the old woman, “Nah, didn’t see nobody like that, old lady. Sorry.”

She nodded to herself like she expected that answer, “I-It’s fine…”

Then it got quiet again. Thanos didn’t mind. He used the silence to keep looking at the baby.

The crying stopped. She was chill now, resting in her mom’s arms.

…A baby.

A literal baby, in this shitshow of a place.

Thanos couldn’t help but be curious.

Maybe it was the withdrawals messing with his head. Maybe it was just him being weird. Whatever. Didn’t matter. They were all stuck in the same hell anyway.

The three women let him stay in the room. Maybe they were still scared of him. Maybe they just didn’t have the strength to kick him out. Either way, he sat near the door, one knee up, foot tapping against the floor.

He just… watched the baby.

None of the women bothered to speak to him. They were busy taking turns holding the little one, cooing, whispering soft words, giving her whatever comfort they could.

He was supposed to be out there killing right now. If it ain’t someone in blue, it’s red. Money was money.

But here he was, sitting still, not even sure how to act around a goddamn baby.

Fucking hell. He was losing it.

He should’ve popped a pill one last time.

Then realization hit the tall woman, they still had to find an exit to pass the game. Since she was the most stable one so far, she got up and left, leaving Thanos, the baby, the tiny girl, and the old lady in the room.

The oldie was just telling the tiny girl everything she needed to know about raising a baby, because apparently, the tiny girl never had parents and had no idea what to do.

It wasn’t that long before the tall woman came back.

But something was wrong this time.

Thanos finally stood up and watched her. She was drenched in sweat, even more than before. Blood streaked across her cheeks.

“I... I found the exit,” she said to them, smiling.

Dang. Her ankle was messed up now too. Swollen and red, probably twisted or worse, but she was still standing. Barely.

The old woman quickly moved to Jun-hee and helped her to her feet. “Come on, darling, slow and steady now.”

Jun-hee winced as she stood, still weak, her legs trembling. But she stood.

Once she was up, the old lady gently took the baby from her arms, cradling the infant close to her chest.

They were ready. Ready to leave.

But they didn’t even get the chance.

Because MG Coin happened.

It happened in a blink. MG Coin stabbed the tall woman in the back. And right beside him, Nam-su, grinning like a damn fool.

The old lady gasped, clutching the baby tight.

Tall woman hit the floor hard, body twitching. Her eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. The life slowly slipped out of her.

The tiny girl’s eyes, though...

She was angry.

Oh, she was mad. Furious, even. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them away.

MG Coin, on the other hand, looked confused. Like he didn’t even recognize who he had just killed. He didn’t seem to care either.

His eyes were locked on something else entirely. The baby.

Nam-su peeked into the room, peering over MG Coin’s shoulder, “Hyung?” he called, surprised.

MG Coin’s eyes immediately snapped to him. His face twisted in disgust, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Thanos raised a brow. Didn’t say anything.

MG Coin’s eyes darted to Jun-hee, then back to him. His grip tightened around the bloody knife.

“I asked you!” he shouted, pointing the blade directly at Thanos. His voice cracked with rage. “Answer me, you piece of shit!”

“Stop it!” Jun-hee screamed suddenly.

MG Coin froze. His head turned slowly, eyes locking on her, “Jun-hee...”

The tiny girl, Jun-hee, glared at him. “Stop it,” she repeated, calmer this time. “Move. We’re gonna find the exit on our own,” she spat, full of venom.

MG Coin quickly moved away from the doorway. Nam-su followed along, trailing behind him.

When Jun-hee and the old lady stepped out, Thanos came out last. He glanced up at the timer, two minutes left on the clock.

It was either those two would find the exit in time… or not at all.

Suddenly, MG Coin grabbed Thanos by the front of his tracksuit and slammed him hard against the wall near the door.

“We’re not done,” MG Coin spat. “What the hell were you doing inside, huh?”

Nam-su was quick to pull MG Coin off Thanos, or well, at least tried to. “Ya, the hell are you doing? Let go of him, man! What’s wrong with you?”

MG Coin barely budged. His grip stayed firm, fingers curled into Thanos’s collar. His whole face looked like it was glitching, like rage and confusion were trying to speak at the same time and neither one could form a sentence. His eyes were glassy, wide, like he wasn’t even really here.

“You better get your goddamn hands off me,” he growled, “Touch me again, I swear to fuckin’ God, I’ll break both your wrists.”

MG Coin hesitated for a second… then finally let go.

But not without one last hard shove, slamming Thanos against the wall again. “Stay the fuck away from her,” he said through clenched teeth before storming off down the hallway.

Thanos raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. He adjusted his crumpled tracksuit, brushing it smooth with a scoff.

Nam-su shut his eyes tight, grabbing fistfuls of his hair with both hands. He let out a frustrated noise. “Crazy fucker. He’s lost it.”

Thanos turned to look at him. “He’s the baby daddy of that kid.”

“Yeah, no shit. How could I not know? That bitch was the only name he ever dropped every damn time we killed somebody.”

Later, when they were escorted back to the dormitory, Thanos didn’t pay Nam-su much mind. The guy was busy causing a scene in front of the pink guards. Apparently, he lost his remaining stash during Hide and Seek. Fucking dumbass. Looked like he was gonna have to learn the hard way.

As usual, the current prize money was announced. It had gone up a lot, thanks to them. Thanos watched the giant glass pig fatten up on the ceiling. Thing was stacked. Probably enough to pay off all the shit he owed and then some.

But he wasn’t going nowhere. Not yet.

There was nothing left for him outside anyway. At least in here, the rules were clear. Kill or be killed. So if he had to die, might as well be here. At least it made sense.

Then came the vote.

When it was his turn, he didn’t hesitate. Slammed the circle like always.

Nam-su went up next.

Guy looked shaky as hell. Sweating, twitching, rubbing his neck. Then pressed X. Motherfucker voted to leave.

Caught Thanos off guard a bit. Not ‘cause he didn’t expect it. Nam-su couldn’t do shit without the drugs numbing his nerves. No way he’d survive another round without getting high.

While the votes went on, the old lady completely broke down. She went from player to player, begging them, pleading with everyone to vote to leave this place.

But it didn’t work. No one listened. One by one, the players walked right past her.

Thanos shut his eyes, blocking out the cries as best he could. He didn’t need that noise in his head.

The voting ended. Soon after, the pink guards handed out food and water. Thanos took his share and sat down on his bunk. Another fucking potato.

At this rate, they weren’t even gonna die in the games, they’d starve before that.

He felt like puking just looking at it, but forced himself to eat anyway. He needed the strength. Tomorrow could be anything, Hell, maybe they’d just toss them into a pit and see who climbs out first.

“Hyung,” Thanos looked up to see Nam-su crawling toward his bunk.

He forced himself to swallow the dry-ass potato. “What?”

Nam-su didn’t wait for an invite. Just dragged himself onto the edge of the bed, holding a potato in one hand and an empty water bottle in the other. Dude was all twitchy, fidgeting.

“I-I’ll trade you my potato,” he said, voice shaky. “Just… just give me some of your water. N-Not all of it, just a little. When you’re done.”

“You already that damn thirsty?” Thanos raised an eyebrow.

Nam-su nodded quickly, inching closer into his space. “P-Please, hyung… I-I need it. I’m not even hungry. I just—need more water…”

Thanos looked him over. Dude was a damn mess. Shaking, sweating, eyes all wild. Honestly? Thanos saw this shit comin’ a mile away. He warned him, too. Still… hard not to feel a little sorry for the fool.

He set his half-eaten potato down beside him, unscrewed his water bottle, and took a good swig.

Nam-su watched every move like a starving stray.

“Hyung…” he whined softly.

Thanos paused. He glanced at the bottle, then back at Nam-su. He’d only drunk about half. After a beat, he twisted the cap back on and tossed it over.

Nam-su caught it fast. He didn’t say anything, just unscrewed the lid and drank like his life depended on it.

When he was done, he left a little water inside. Then he looked at Thanos, held out the potato with both hands.

“T-Thanks, hyung.”

Thanos waved him off. “Nah. That’s yours. You eat, yeah?”

“But hyung… I can’t—”

“Know it’s hard and all, but you gotta choke it down,” Thanos said. “I mean, that’s what I’m doin’ right now.”

Nam-su looked down at the potato in his hand. After a moment, he nodded, “I-I’ll try, hyung. Thanks again.”

Fucking Nam-su woke him up in the middle of the night. Said he needed to pee.

“The fuck you wake me up for then?” Thanos’s voice rose, making Nam-su flinch. Can anyone blame him? He was just getting into good sleep, and now some junkie on withdrawal was shaking him awake because it was dark and he didn’t want to go alone. “Can’t piss by yourself?”

Even in the dark, Thanos could see Nam-su chewing his lip, that nervous tic he always did. “Please, hyung?”

“Tch. This all ‘cause of that water earlier,” 

Nam-su only whimpered.

Thanos sighed hard through his nose. Had no choice. Got his ass up and dragged himself toward the damn door, half-asleep, full pissed.

As they neared the metal door, they spotted a small girl standing by it. She wasn’t loud, just muttering something. Probably had bathroom business too.

Nam-su quickly tapped his shoulder to get his attention. “Hyung, Hyung… ain’t that MG Coin’s bitch?” he whispered.

Now that he said it… yeah. That’s the same chick from earlier.

She must’ve sensed them coming, because she turned around, tense and alert.

She was carrying the baby in her arms, wrapped in her own jacket. Her grip tightened when she realized it was them standing near her.

Nam-su raised his hands. “Woah, calm down. We want none of that. Trust.”

Tiny girl didn’t have the ounce of strength to fight back against Nam-su’s words. Instead, she focused back on convincing the pink guard.

Thanos watched as she continued to beg, saying she needed to use the restroom too.

But the triangle guard just wouldn’t budge. Even Nam-su started talking to the guard now, probably ‘cause the man looked two seconds away from pissing himself.

Thanos looked at the baby again.

Her eyes were still closed, but she was definitely awake.

“Oi,” Thanos began, stepping between Nam-su and the tiny girl to face the pink guard through the small circular window. “Game’s already unfair and shit, now you tellin’ me a girl can’t even use a restroom? She just pushed out a whole baby, man. Show some fuckin’ decency.”

Silence.

Thanos scoffed. He kicked the metal door so hard it echoed around the dormitory. The baby started crying, scared by the noise.

The remaining sleeping players woke up at the sound and started groaning and complaining.

“Shut that damn baby up!”

“Let us fucking sleep, goddamn it!”

Thanos heard the tiny girl panic as she tried to quickly shush her baby, but it didn’t work.

“Listen to me, you pink freak,” his voice was low as he stepped closer to the small circle window, basically face to face with the guard, “If that baby shits and this whole fucking dorm starts smellin’ like ass, I’m coming for you. You hear?”

Nam-su chuckled from the side. “Yeah, man. Just let us go. And let the poor bitch use the restroom.”

There was a pause for a moment. Thanos was about to kick the damn metal door again but stopped when they heard a click.

“We’ll be accompanying you,” the triangle guard finally said.

The door unlocked, and the tiny girl quickly slipped out between them.

Nam-su rushed out first, muttering something about not being able to hold it anymore.

Once the dormitory door shut behind them, he noticed at least two pink guards trailing closely. Thanos’ eyes drifted to the baby mama ahead, and damn, she was walking kinda funny.

Right. Her ankle was still messed up. He remembered now. But this time, it looked worse. Even with her pants covering most of it, he could still catch a glimpse of the purplish swell creeping out above her shoe. It looked like someone had stuck a bruised plum to her skin. Swollen and angry. Shit looked nasty.

She was moving slow, shaky even. Every step she took made Thanos wince a little, and he wasn’t even the one hurt. He wouldn’t be shocked if she dropped the baby right then and there.

Thanos didn’t know why, but his body always moved before his brain could catch up.

He slowed down until he was walking beside her.

She looked up, eyes wide, not expecting him. 

“Wanna…” Thanos gestured to the baby awkwardly. “Dunno. Need a hand or somethin’?”

She hesitated. For a second, it looked like she might actually consider it. But then her eyes turned cold, the same way she stared at MG Coin earlier.

“I don’t need your help,” she said sharply. “I can do this on my own.”

Thanos snorted, letting out a low, half-amused laugh. His eyes darted to the two guards tailing them from a distance, “Look, señorita, me loving the fire and all, but you one bad limp away from droppin’ that kid on the fuckin’ floor.”

Her jaw clenched. “I said I got it. Back off.”

“Damn,” Thanos smirked. “You’re really somethin’ else. I’m offerin’. Don’t waste good charity.”

She didn’t respond right away. Just kept limping forward in silence, hugging her baby a little tighter. Her eyes stayed forward. But then, she slowly glanced down, at the baby in her arms.

She was thinking.

Thanos noticed. Her grip changed. Not tighter, but… reluctant.

“…Fine,” she muttered.

Thanos blinked, “Wait, for real?”

She stopped walking. So did he.

She adjusted the baby in her arms, all serious, “Carry her.”

“Oh, yeah. Right, right.” Thanos moved quickly, bending down to her level, “C’mere, little one.” he whispered.

He positioned his arms. No way he’d let her do all the work, not when she’d just pushed out a baby and had a messed-up ankle.

The handoff was slow. The girl hesitated before letting go, but she did it. Gently. Carefully.

The baby barely stirred. She was bundled up tight in her mama’s player jacket, tiny fists near her chin. When Thanos finally had her, his arms tensed automatically. Like they were trying to remember how to hold something that fragile.

She was warm. Light. And so damn small like her baby mama.

Thanos held her like she might break if he even breathed too hard.

“Be careful with her,” the girl said, already limping toward the restroom.

Thanos followed, still staring at the baby.

“She pooped herself. That’s why I need to wash her.”

Thanos’s stomach sank. What the fuck? She couldn’t have said that before handing her over?

He peeked down at the bundle in his arms. She didn’t stink. Not yet, anyway. Didn’t look like she just shat all over the jacket. Or maybe he was just too distracted by how small and cute she was.

Soon as the girl pushed into the women’s restroom, one pink freak stepped in his way.

“Men are prohibited from entering the women’s restroom.”

Thanos opened his mouth, but the girl cut in fast, “He’s with me.”

That was all she said, like that explained anything.

But for some reason, the pink guard stepped aside. Thanos gave the guard a quick nod and walked in.

The girl shut the door behind them. “Follow me,” she moved stiffly toward the row of sinks, limping on that bad ankle.

He trailed after her, and when they finally reached the sink, she slid her arms under his, “Give her to me,” she said softly.

He didn’t argue. He stepped in close and passed the baby off. She took her gently, her hands instinctively checking the baby’s neck, head, back, just to make sure she was okay.

She laid the tiny bundle down on the counter beside the sink. The baby fussed a little at the cold surface beneath her, but didn’t cry.

Thanos stepped back slightly, watching as she peeled off the green tracksuit jacket she’d been using as a blanket.

Yikes.

Thanos made a face. There’s the damn bomb.

The girl didn’t react. Just turned on the faucet and plugged the sink drain. She let it fill halfway.

Thanos finally broke the silence, pinching his nose, “You seriously gonna wash her here? You know people use this shit to wash their face, right?”

She shot him a blank stare.

He sighed and dropped his hand from his nose, glancing between the baby, the mess, and the sink.

“…Aight. What you need me to do?”

The girl turned back to the baby. She dipped her hand into the sink, checking the water first. Warm. Not too hot. Just right. With one quick glance around the dirty restroom, she spotted the only thing they had, one of those beat-up soap dispensers stuck to the wall near the mirror.

She pumped a small amount of the pinkish goop into her hand, no more than a dime-sized blob, then dipped it into the water, swishing her fingers until it mixed in and the water turned a little cloudy. She leaned closer and smelled it, too strong. So she added more warm water, stirring gently until it was light and thin.

Then she turned back to the baby.

She cupped the soapy water in her hand and slowly poured it over the baby’s bottom. Her fingers worked softly, tracing around the tiny folds of skin, making sure she didn’t miss anything.

She didn’t have a cloth or towel, so she did everything by hand, slow strokes, rinsing with her cupped palms, using the cleanest parts of the water each time. 

The baby squirmed a little but she didn’t cry. She trusted the hands holding her.

Thanos stood a few feet away, arms crossed, just watching. He didn’t say anything this time.

The girl supported the baby’s back with her hand, using the other to wash down her belly and tiny legs. When she got to the toes, she gave them an extra wipe, rubbing off whatever had stuck there. 

Once the water got too dirty, she reached down and pulled the plug with her fingers. The water drained away with a soft gurgling sound.

“...Do you,” the girl’s back was still to him, wet baby in her arms. But Thanos could see her face through the mirror, “Do you still need your jacket?”

Thanos blinked.

Then he peeled off his player jacket like it was nothing. Gave it a quick sniff, “Still smell fresh,” he muttered with a shrug.

The girl turned around. Her eyes softened for a moment, Thanos saw it, just a flicker, before her usual blank expression returned. Together, they carefully wrapped the baby in his green jacket.

“I can hold her,” Thanos offered, already cradling the baby against his chest. “You gotta piss or sumthin’? Go ahead. I got her.”

The girl paused, unsure, then gave a small nod and limped her way into one of the cubicles.

Thanos looked down at the tiny bundle in his arms. Shit, he ain’t never held a baby before. Didn’t even know if he was doing it right. He just hoped he wasn’t screwing it up.

Curiosity got the better of him. He shifted the baby gently in one arm and offered his other hand to her. Slowly, he let her fingers brush against his.

Everything about her was so damn small.

He flinched a little when the baby suddenly latched onto his index finger with a tight grip.

“Shit,” he muttered. “You got grip for someone who just popped out.”

He tried to pull back gently, but the kid wasn’t letting go. He ain’t wanna yank it and break something, so he let her hold on.

His eyes dropped to the jacket wrapped around her. The number printed on the front: 230. His jacket.

The toilet flushed. He heard the cubicle door unlock. The girl stepped out and walked toward them slowly, still limping.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“No problem,” Thanos replied. “You done?”

She nodded.

“Let’s bounce then. I’ll hold her ‘til we get back to the dorm.”

She gave him a small nod in reply.

When they stepped out of the restroom, Nam-su was nowhere in sight. Just the two triangle-masked guards standing nearby. Motherfucker must’ve gone to bed without him.

Thanos kept his eyes closed even when he heard that ridiculous sound they used here as an alarm. He only had a couple hours of sleep. A little minute wouldn’t hurt.

But then came the stomping, lots of footsteps, and that sharp beep sound. Guards.

With a groan, he finally dragged himself upright, rubbing his face.

“Hyung, hyung,” Nam-su whispered quick beside him. Since when the fuck was he there? “Look… that gift coffin’s back again.”

Thanos cracked an eye open, brow raising. Another live body in there? Like that stunt 456 pulled?

Then he heard a cry.

“Shit,” even Nam-su looked disturbed. “Old lady finally offed herself.”

Oh.

The old woman from yesterday had hanged herself using a blanket on top of the bunks.

“This wouldn’t’ve happened if she didn’t kill her own son,” Nam-su mumbled, licking his dry lips, watching how the pink guards slowly untied the blanket.

“Killed him?” Thanos echoed.

Nam-su nodded. “Yeah, heard it from MG Coin himself. That’s why she was losin’ it yesterday. Cryin’ and shit. Her son was gonna go after the pregnant bitch.”

Thanos’ eyes locked onto the crying girl.

“Now, she’s all alone...” Nam-su clicked his tongue.

Once they were escorted out of the dormitory and returned to the pastel staircases, Thanos moved in silence, his mind elsewhere, until something caught his attention in the corner of his eye.

The girl. The tiny one.

She was handing her baby off to the old man, 456.

Nam-su slammed into his back, “Shit, hyung, what the hell?” he hissed, rubbing his forehead. “Why are you stopping—” He shut up quick once he saw what Thanos was looking at.

“That bitch again…” Nam-su sneered. “What, she got you too now?”

Thanos didn’t say anything. He just gave a small scoff through his nose and started walking again.

He also noticed MG Coin staring from a distance.

Was he really the baby daddy? Then why the fuck was he just standing there looking useless?

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, fuck.

Nam-gyu died.

Dumbass fell off ‘cause he got tricked by Min-su.

Thanos looked down from a hundred feet. Nam-gyu was down there. Dead.

For the first time in a while, he felt shaken up. He almost reached for his nonexistent cross, like old times. Like him and Nam-gyu used to do. Pop a pill, kill the shake. 

He swallowed hard, turning his attention back to the game. The old man, 456, carried the baby toward him, Thanos’ own jacket was wrapped around the little thing

He looked at the tiny girl. Her eyes were hopeful, still nervous. That was her baby right there. Her baby’s fate depended on that old man.

After a few stumbles from the jump rope, they finally managed to cross. Old man 456 held the baby up for the tiny girl to see.

She gasped in happiness. Thanos realized he’d never seen her smile until now.

The players, seeing that, got inspired and started crossing the jump rope again, except for him, Min-su, and MG Coin.

Thanos glanced at the timer. He still had time. This wouldn’t take long. If he died right now, whatever. If he lived, good for him.

But right now, every part of him was screaming to fucking live.

Min-su finally swallowed his fear and stepped onto the bridge. Thanos raised a brow at how weird his little Min-su was acting.

Should he cross now? What the fuck was he waiting for? He was just about to step onto the bridge when MG Coin shoved him to the side, hard.

Thanos was about to say something but shut his mouth. Who the fuck pissed him off now? He was this close to pushing this motherfucker to death right here.

Just as he was about to jump back onto the bridge, the old man, Player 456, shouted, “Jun-hee! Wait for me, I’m coming for you!”

“Stop it, Gi-hun-ssi!” Jun-hee screamed, making Thanos pause. “Y-You can’t go back. I will only slow you down.”

But Player 456 didn’t listen. “I’m not leaving you behind!” 

“No, please no!” Jun-hee cried out, her sobs choking the rest of her words, “I’m just happy to see my baby safe. I know you’ll take care of her. I know you would. I trust you, Gi-hun-ssi.”

Thanos watched her.

Fuck, was she not gonna cross? What the hell was wrong with her?

His eyes dropped to her ankle. Looked like it was ready to snap in half if she took one more step. That damn ankle.

Before he even realized it, his feet started moving on their own.

Jun-hee looked up, surprised.

“Get on my back.”

Silence.

“I said hop on. I’ll carry you.”

Thanos saw it, the way Jun-hee’s eyes filled with hope again, only for it to drain right out. She shook her head.

“No?” Thanos said. “Why not, huh? You gonna let your baby live without her fucking mother?”

Her eyes watered again as she kept shaking her head. “I can’t... so many people already died because of me.”

“People die every damn day,” he snapped. “Ain’t on you. Never was. That was their fuckin’ choice. Not yours. And not that baby’s.”

She hiccupped but said nothing. The rope slammed down again, louder and faster this time. The timer on the wall blinked.

“We’re gon’ die right here if we don’t move,”

She bit her lip, “…I’m heavy.”

Thanos looked at her like she’d grown three heads. Was she out of her mind? Heavy? Heavy where? She might as well be as light as the baby.

They couldn’t waste any more time. He crouched and turned his back to Jun-hee. “Get on.” he demanded.

He felt his back get wet, must’ve been her tears. She slowly slipped onto his back. Thanos helped her, pulling her slim arms over his shoulders and around his neck, then secured her weight with his hands.

“You good?” Thanos asked, turning his head just a little to check on her.

He could barely see her face. She gave a tiny nod, “Mn.”

He adjusted his grip, feet steady. The rope swung past again, close enough that he felt the wind slap his face. It was big. Way bigger than it had any right to be. Thick as a damn tree trunk, moving so fast it blurred. If it hit them, they’re fucked.

Thanos smirked anyway, breathing hard, “I got you, alright? I swear on your baby. I’ma get you outta this shit. So hold on tight.”

He glanced ahead. MG Coin was already on the other side. Watching.

Thanos couldn’t even tell what kind of face that scum was making. Angry? Disgusted? Whatever it was, he didn’t give a flying fuck.

Let him watch. Let him choke on the sight of Thanos carrying the girl he ditched like a coward. Because MG sure as hell wasn’t man enough to step up.

Behind him, Jun-hee buried her face into his neck. He felt her breath hot, and the wet patch where her tears soaked into his skin. Her arms clutched tighter around his shoulders.

He approached the bridge. It was narrow, just two planks wide. 

He counted in his head. The rope had a rhythm. Swing, slam. Swing, slam.

Thanos looked down just once. Big mistake. The wind felt colder when you saw the bottom.

He gritted his teeth, “Fuck it.”

He jumped.

Air rushed past his ears. For a second, he didn’t even feel her weight. The rope whipped under them, close enough he thought it might graze his shoes.

They hit the next plank hard.

His right foot slipped. His knee smashed into the hard railing. Pain shot up his leg like fire.

“Shit!” he hissed.

His body tilted.

Jun-hee clutched him tighter, arms trembling around his neck. That brought him back. Her grip helped him steady himself. He pressed forward, limping now, but still moving.

No time to stop. The rope was coming again.

Another swing. Another jump.

He grunted, legs screaming, arms locked under Jun-hee’s thighs. Her weight wasn’t much, but fear added fifty pounds.

“Don’t you fuckin’ let go,” he gasped as they reached the middle, the gap.

One missing plank. Just air below.

A hundred feet of open nothing.

He didn’t think. Didn’t look. He leapt again.

The landing was brutal. His knee slammed into the rails again, pain ripping up his leg.

“Fuck!”

But he held on.

But the rope was still coming.

“One more, just one more, baby,” he panted through clenched teeth.

He stood up, legs shaking. His palms were slick with sweat. His grip on her thighs slipped slightly, but he grabbed on tighter.

The final swing came.

He jumped.

It wasn’t graceful. His foot clipped the edge. He landed heavy, skidded forward, barely stopped himself from tumbling face-first onto the platform.

But they made it.

They were on the other side.

His knees hit the floor, chest rising and falling fast. For a moment, he couldn’t move. He just sat there, still carrying her, heart slamming in his chest like it was trying to break out.

Jun-hee didn’t say anything.

She lifted her head slowly. Her face was red, soaked with tears, but her eyes were wide. Still scared. Still shaking.

Thanos tilted his head, looking at her sideways, “Told you I got you,” he said between breaths.

Jun-hee looked like she was about to cry again, her lips pressed thin, stifling the sob threatening to escape.

“…Thank you.”

He tried to smirk, but it came off more like a grimace. “…Let’s never do that shit again.”

Walking back to the dormitory was weird.

There were only a few of them left now, Jun-hee, old man 456, him, Min-su, MG Coin, and a bunch of other old bastards.

And Nam-su was gone.

After the game, Jun-hee hadn’t left his side. She didn’t say much. Just kept one hand clutched at the back of his shirt, like if she let go, she might fall apart. Her limp made it impossible to walk right anyway, so Thanos just carried her again. Slung her gently onto his back like before, while old man 456 offered to carry the baby. She didn’t resist. Just rested her head against his shoulder, quiet.

MG Coin said nothing. Yet. But Thanos could feel it, that stare. Like lasers burning into the side of his face. Like someone praying for him to drop dead.

When they reached the dormitory, the place looked almost unrecognizable. Empty. Almost dead. Only a few beds were left.

Old man 456 and Thanos placed Jun-hee and the baby on the same bed.

She sat up slowly, wincing. She pulled the baby into her lap, arms wrapping around her protectively. 

“Are you okay, Jun-hee?” the old man asked, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed beside her.

Jun-hee nodded, looking at the baby in her arms. The kid was asleep, even after everything that just happened.

Thanos stood nearby, arms crossed, trying to ease the pressure off his knee. He didn’t want to sit yet. Not while MG was still lurking somewhere.

“The prize money should be big enough for everyone,” the old man continued. “That should make everyone vote X in the next round.”

Jun-hee stayed silent, then slowly looked up at Thanos, “…You’re gonna vote to leave, right?”

That made old man 456 turn toward him too, his face hopeful.

Thanos sighed and nodded.

Both their faces lit up. Jun-hee let out a breath she’d been holding. Her shoulders relaxed. The old man gave a soft chuckle and patted her shoulder.

Thanos leaned back against the white wall. His head tilted up, and he closed his eyes for a second.

Yeah… it was probably time to leave. He had enough money to pay off his debt. He could invest the rest, do something smarter this time. No more crypto bullshit though. Hell no.  

A vape shop maybe. T-shirts. Or maybe… just maybe… he could get back to music. Get back on stage. Use what happened in here as fuel. Tell the story through music. Real stuff this time.

His mind wandered. He thought of Nam-gyu again.

His Nam-su.

Damn, he missed that dumbass.

He was gonna do something for him. Something proper. A tribute. Even if there wasn’t a body left, he’d get an urn. Put it in a nice columbarium somewhere. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere real. Yeah… that’s what he was gonna do.

He was still thinking about that when someone said his name.

“…Thanos.”

His eyes snapped open. Jun-hee was looking at him.

That had to be the first time she actually used his name.

“Is your knee… alright?” she asked softly.

He looked down at his leg. Truth? Hell no. It hurt like a bitch. Every walk ached. It was probably swelling up by now, maybe even bleeding through his pants. But he wasn’t gonna tell her that.

Thanos smirked and pointed to it, “What, this?” he said, “No problem. All good, señorita. Nothin’ I can’t handle.”

She gave him a look like she didn’t believe a word of it.

The pink guards came back not long after, handing out boxes with ribbons on them, fancy-looking, but still shaped like coffins. Freaked the hell out of Thanos all over again. If this turned out to be some chopped-up hand from a past player, he wouldn’t even be surprised anymore.

“A suit,” old man 456 said. He was staring straight into the open box in front of him, “They’re gonna make us experience luxury one last time.”

Thanos raised an eyebrow. He sat on the edge of his bed, grabbed the pink ribbon, and pulled it loose. He opened the box. Inside, folded neatly, was a suit with his player number stitched on it. He reached in and ran his fingers across the fabric. It felt expensive.

“Luxury?” Jun-hee hadn’t opened her box yet. It sat behind her as she quietly fed her baby, nursing her with one arm while adjusting Thanos’ jacket around the child with the other.

“They’ll do a buffet,” the old man explained. “Make us eat expensive, tasty food, an all-you-can-eat spread.”

Thanos tilted his head, thinking it over. “Well, shit. Not bad.”

But the old man didn’t smile. His jaw stayed tight. Something was clearly bothering him.

“They should’ve made us vote first,” he said, “Before handing us these suits.”

Jun-hee gently shifted the baby into a more comfortable position. “Is something wrong, Gi-hun-ssi?” she asked softly.

The old man’s grip on the box tightened. “The last game I was in… they did this too,” he said. “Gave us a buffet. Let us eat like kings. They give you one nice thing before the end, to mess with your head, to make you stronger for the final round.”

Thanos scoffed. “But we ain’t doin’ another game. We’re voting to leave, remember?”

He glanced at Jun-hee. She looked back at him, her expression unreadable.

“We’ve got enough money,” Thanos went on. “You said so yourself. Everyone here can walk out happy. So what’s the problem?”

Gi-hun didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the far side of the dorm.

Thanos followed his gaze.

On the other side of the room, the remaining geezers sat together, talking to one another. Among them were Min-su and MG Coin.

“Min-su…?” Thanos muttered.

Jun-hee let out a shaky breath.

“If they all press circle… we’ll be outnumbered,” she said, the realization sinking in.

Thanos’ eyes snapped toward MG Coin, who met his stare from across the dormitory.

Oh, he was so fucking next.

“Go change, the two of you,” old man 456 said with a nod, holding the baby gently in his arms. “I’ll watch over her.”

“C’mon,” Thanos said, stacking her box on top of his and carrying both with his arms. 

Jun-hee gave a small nod and finally turned her back to the old man.

“Can’t walk still?” Thanos asked, glancing at her ankle as they walked slow.

Jun-hee shook her head. Then she slid her arm through his and leaned in, pressing herself against his side, “It’s just a short walk.”

Thanos blinked, caught off guard for a second. She was definitely not okay, but whatever. He wasn’t about to argue.

“…Aight,” he muttered. “You say so.”

They reached the hallway, stopping in front of the women’s restroom. Right across from it was the men’s.

Just as they approached, the door opened.

MG Coin stepped out, already dressed in his suit.

He paused the moment he saw them. His eyes scanned both of them slowly, then settled on where Jun-hee’s arm was linked through Thanos’s.

His jaw tightened.

Without a word, he turned and walked away.

Thanos and Jun-hee both turned slightly, watching him disappear down the hall.

Jun-hee let out a quiet scoff, “Dumbass.”

Thanos looked down at her. With how small she was, he could only see the top of her head. 

He smirked. “Couldn’t agree more.”

Thanos helped Jun-hee into the restroom. She was the last woman left in this whole damn place, it didn’t feel right leaving her alone. Too risky. So yeah, screw it, he changed in the women’s restroom too.

Wasn’t every day he cleaned up like this. Suit and all. And of course, it had to happen in a damn death game.

He thought they’d give Jun-hee a dress or something. But when she stepped out, she was wearing a suit too. That made more sense anyway, no way she could play anything in a skirt and heels.

They headed back to the dormitory right after, only to find that the so-called buffet was already set up.

The tables were arranged into a giant triangle, made from a bunch of rectangle tables pushed together. The harsh white hospital lights overhead were gone, replaced by warmer, yellow lights that actually made the room look expensive.

Damn. This was his first time seeing something like this. Real fine dining. Fancy plates. Napkins folded like fans. A chandelier-type light dangling above like it was some hotel ballroom.

Would’ve been perfect if Nam-su was still here. That motherfucker would’ve lost his shit. 

They spotted two empty seats next to old man 456. But before heading over, Jun-hee moved toward the crib where her baby was.

The kid was lying there, still in Thanos’ jacket, being fed formula by one of the circle guards. Thanos blinked. Where the hell did they even get baby milk? Or the bottle? Or the crib?

He didn’t ask.

Once Jun-hee made sure everything was fine, Thanos pulled out the chair next to the old man.

Jun-hee looked up at him and gave a small smile. She took the silent offer and sat down.

Once she was seated, Thanos leaned in and gently pushed her chair closer to the table. She was so damn small. No way she’d reach without scooting up. They should’ve given her a booster seat or something.

He dropped into the chair next to her, stretched his legs, and finally let out a breath.

And then? They ate. Like starved beasts.

All this time, the motherfucking pink guards had been feeding them nothing but bread, milk, and some sad boiled potatoes, like that was supposed to keep them alive.

Now? There was steak. Fish. Soup with weird names he couldn’t pronounce. Plates full of food that actually had flavor. He wasn’t gonna question it.

Ain’t no telling when it was gonna end, so he ate like it was his last damn meal.

He really wanted to enjoy his food. He really did.

But it was hard to do that with MG Coin staring him down like he wanted to stab him through the damn steak. Fucking weirdo. Thanos swore, if he got his hands on him next round, that bastard was done. Dead for real.

Voting came right after.

And Jun-hee was right, they were outnumbered.

Even Min-su voted to keep playing.

Thanos looked over at the kid. Same as always, fidgety, shaking in his seat. And when their eyes met, Min-su flinched like he got caught. He looked away fast.

After the fine dining and the voting, the old geezers shuffled back to their beds like the whole thing hadn’t just happened. They knocked out quick, snoring already.

It was Gi-hun’s turn to help Jun-hee with the baby. The little one had made a mess, and Thanos noticed his own jacket was gone. In its place was Gi-hun’s jacket, 456.

Gi-hun was crouched by the mattress, tucking the baby in. Careful like he’d done this a hundred times before. He whispered something soft. Words Thanos couldn’t hear, but he knew the tone, those kinds of things dads said to their kids when they were trying to calm them down without waking them back up.

Then he felt the bed shift. Jun-hee.

She held out his folded jacket. Thanos just stared at it.

Jun-hee actually chuckled. For the first time.

“Don’t worry, it’s not dirty,” she said. “I was really careful. It still smells the same.”

Thanos blinked. He took the jacket and gave it a quick glance. He didn’t smell it or anything, just stuffed it under his pillow, “Let’s keep it. The baby might still need it later. Who knows.”

Jun-hee nodded.

Thanos laid back down, arms folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

Jun-hee didn’t leave his bed. She didn’t say anything about it either. And neither did he.

Time passed. Maybe twenty minutes. Maybe an hour. Hard to tell anymore. None of them spoke, but they didn’t fall asleep either.

Eventually, Thanos got bored.

He sat up with a sigh, slow enough not to startle her, but Jun-hee still flinched a little when the bed moved. Just a small jerk of her shoulders.

He turned to the side, saw Gi-hun already asleep with the baby beside him. Peaceful, even in this hellhole.

Then he turned back to Jun-hee, who was already staring at him.

“Dang,” he said. “No wonder you can’t sleep. Is he the mom or you?”

Jun-hee gave a small smile. “It’s alright. Gi-hun-ssi has a daughter too,” she said. “I trust him.”

Thanos hummed. “What, so you ain’t gonna sleep?”

She shook her head.

“Wanna sleep next to me then?” he offered, casual.

Jun-hee didn’t even look surprised. If anything, she looked like she was thinking it over.

Yeah. That had to be it. She was probably scared. Can’t blame her, she was surrounded by crazy-ass finalists. And that included him.

“I’ll get you out of here,” Thanos said suddenly, making her stare at him, “You have my word.”

She didn’t answer right away.

Thanos looked up at the piggy bank hanging above them, almost full now. Couldn’t even begin to guess how much was in there. Nam-su was inside that.

“Why?” Jun-hee asked softly.

He turned to her, waiting.

“Why do you help me and my baby?” she asked.

Thanos shrugged. “It’s either we make it out, or only the two of you do. One or the other.”

“But why? I don’t even know you.”

Thanos leaned forward, “My life outside was already fucked,” he said. “Even if I make it out with the money, knowing me? I’ll just waste it on dumb shit. Booze, drugs, whatever the fuck. Ain’t like I got some big-ass dream waiting for me out there.”

He was born doomed. He already accepted that.

He looked up at the piggy bank again, jaw tight, “But I didn’t come all this way just to die for nothin’. All the games I played, the shit I’ve seen... Nam-su.. That better mean somethin’. So if I die tomorrow, I just don’t want all that to be for nothing. If not me, then at least you and your kid should make it. At least it wouldn’t be a total waste.”

Jun-hee stayed quiet, eyes glassy.

“And if I die,” he added, voice quieter now, “I just want you to do one thing for me.”

Silence.

“Make an urn for my bro Nam-su,” Thanos said. “Put him somewhere decent, yeah? You don’t gotta make one for me. I don’t give a shit.”

For a second, he didn’t sound like himself.

Fuck. This wasn’t like him at all. Never let that kind of weakness slip out. He sounded like he was giving his last will. Like he really wasn’t gonna make it.

He hated that. Hated feeling like this. He remembered standing on that fucking bridge again.

He wished he had his cross necklace right now. Something to hold, something to bite down on.

His tongue pressed to the roof of his mouth, dry. He could still remember the taste of the pills. Bitter. How fast they used to melt. How everything used to slow down after. Like the world finally stopped yelling at him.

Now it was yelling again.

Fuck.

He dragged his hands over his face, hard.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Thanos…”

He didn’t move.

“Protect me and my baby,” she demanded. “And I’ll keep your promise.”

Thanos finally looked.

Jun-hee was crying.

Thanos clicked his tongue, leaned over, and patted her shoulder, “Of course. Stay by my side, you’ll be safe.”

He meant that. Meant every word.

They weren’t even on the final platform yet, and all the other finalists were gone, pushed to their deaths. MG Coin’s fault. RIP to his little boy, Min-su.

Thanos was starting to like that idea Player 100 geezer had, about making that lunchbox. But MG Coin and the old man, 456, just had to ruin it. Now they were out of options on who to sacrifice.

They were just about to cross to the final platform when MG stepped in and blocked the way, pointing that huge-ass pole straight at them.

Jun-hee was holding the baby, always on Thanos’ side the whole game, never dared to leave, just as he told her.

“I said give me the baby, goddammit!” MG shouted from the other platform.

Thanos scoffed. Knew it. He was always right about this guy. His gut never lied. Being tied to him was a fucking mess from the start.

Gi-hun looked torn. “If we don’t cross right now, we’ll be eliminated,” he said.

Jun-hee’s grip on Thanos’ sleeve tightened. His jaw clenched. Fuck.

“We have to make him move away,” Gi-hun said.

“What? What are you whispering about over there, huh?!” MG screamed. “I said give me my baby! That’s MY baby, you fucking bastard!”

Gi-hun stared at Thanos and Jun-hee, eyes wide, “I thought you were the father..” he said.

Thanos didn’t look offended, “Nah. He is.”

“W-What do we do?” Jun-hee asked, panicked.

“...We could still vote to end the game,” Gi-hun dropped the bomb. “It was written in the contract. If all remaining players vote to stop the games, the game ends.”

Jun-hee’s eyes shot open. “Then let’s vote!” she said, desperate.

“But…” Gi-hun hesitated.

“But it’s possible that we won’t get the money.” Thanos cut in.

Jun-hee shook her head. “Who cares about the money? I’ll figure it out. I can raise my baby without it. We could—”

Thanos grabbed the hand clinging to his sleeve.

Jun-hee stopped talking, stared at him, horror in her eyes.

He gently removed her hand away.

“Thanos—!” she screamed, trying to grab him, but Gi-hun held her back.

Thanos started walking toward the edge of the platform, where the bridge was.

Where Myung-gi was, waiting on the other side.

“Thanos!” Jun-hee cried, “Please, don’t! Don’t go near him!”

“Ya!” Thanos yelled. “It’s me you fuckin’ want, yeah?! Come on then, you pussy! You always wanted a shot, take it now!”

Myung-gi glared, hands gripping the pole tighter.

“It’s always been us, ain’t it?” Thanos shouted. “Me and you. When you gon’ feel bad for after scamming half the country dry?”

“I didn’t fucking scam anybody!” Myung-gi shouted back. “I told you, the market crashed! The coin dropped! That’s what happened! You think I wanted this?!”

“I don’t give a flying fuck,” Thanos sneered. “I’m’a end your ass right here. Don’t care if she hates me after, this shit’s over, now.”

Jun-hee choked out a sob behind him, “Thanos, please!”

Myung-gi’s face twisted, manic. “Oh, I see,” he spat. “So that’s how it is. You got yourself a new shield again? Huh? Jun-hee?” His voice cracked with bitterness. “What, he’s the next guy you’ll let die for you?”

“You fuckin’ asshole,” Thanos growled, taking a step forward. Myung-gi flinched, stepped back a bit, “Ain’t you embarrassed enough, huh? You couldn’t even look after your own damn daughter!”

Myung-gi’s eyes flickered, caught off guard.

Thanos let out a cold laugh, “...Motherfucker, you didn’t even know she was a girl, did you? You got no clue who she is. And now you tryna play daddy? You’re a fuckin’ joke.”

“Shut the fuck up, junkie!” he screamed, snapping. “You’re dead! You hear me? Fucking dead! Say goodbye to Jun-hee!”

Then he charged, ramming the pole until it reached into the platform Thanos stood on.

“Thanos!”

Thanos quickly grabbed the end of the pole, gritting his teeth as he shoved back hard.

Myung-gi stumbled. Thanos could take him easy. He’s fought on streets, in alleys, jumped by five, sometimes six motherfuckers at once, this? This was nothing.

But somehow, Myung-gi was pushing back. Hard. And it worked, Thanos stumbled a step backward. Not enough to fall, but close.

Fuck. His knee. Not now. He clenched the pole tighter, jaw locked. Then yanked it back hard.

Myung-gi wasn’t ready. He lurched forward, caught off balance.

And then, Thanos shoved it back with everything he had, ignoring the stabbing pain in his knee.

Got him.

Thanos now had full control of the pole. Myung-gi crashed onto his back, hard.

“Cross!” Thanos barked. “Fucking cross now!”

He tossed the pole aside, the sound of it clattering echoed as it dropped from over a hundred feet high.

Gi-hun didn’t waste a second, he grabbed Jun-hee’s arm and helped her across the narrow, shaky bridge connecting the giant platforms.

The second Jun-hee stepped off, Thanos bolted, sprinted to the bridge, feet slamming hard. The damn thing started to slide.

“Fuck—!” he swore, barely crossing before the bridge collapsed into nothing.

“Thanos!” Jun-hee cried out, stumbling toward him. Her limp was worse now, but she didn’t stop. Gi-hun stood behind her, holding the baby tight.

Thanos breathed hard. His face was damp with sweat, but he walked toward her. This time, he was the one closing the distance.

Jun-hee reached him first. “Thanos…”

He gave her a lazy smirk, wiped sweat from his brow.

But then his smile dropped. Something moved behind her. Behind Gi-hun.

His face hardened. He grabbed Jun-hee by the waist and shoved her behind him.

“Back up,” he growled. “This ain’t over yet, señorita.”

Myung-gi was still there. Bloody as hell, face busted, but still on his feet.

The fucker just wouldn’t quit.

He stumbled as he rose, blood dripping from his nose, smearing across his mouth as he wiped it with the back of his hand. His eyes locked onto Thanos with pure hatred.

Then the baby started to cry. Thanos glanced at the baby once, then turned to Jun-hee again. 

He didn’t say a word. Just stared at her.

Jun-hee stared back.

Then, without a single tear, she nodded.

That was all he needed. Thanos gave a slow, crooked grin.

“All right,” he muttered, peeling off his blazer. He tossed it aside without looking.

He rolled up his sleeves, exposing the tattoos and old scars on his arms. Cracked his neck.

“Let’s finish this shit.”

Myung-gi spat blood onto the floor.

Thanos stepped forward. “Round two, motherfucker.”

Then he ran.

He launched himself at Myung-gi, tackled him by the shoulders, trying to shove him straight off the edge of the platform.

But Myung-gi was ready this time.

He held his ground. Fought back.

The two of them twisted, fists flying, feet skidding across the rough floor. One wrong step, and either one could fall.

Thanos grunted, Myung-gi had grabbed his shirt and yanked him sideways.

He fucking slipped, half a foot off the edge. Almost went down.

Jun-hee gasped, “Thanos!”

“Shit—!”

But Thanos reacted back fast, shoving his knee into Myung-gi’s gut. Myung-gi bent forward in pain, and Thanos slammed his elbow down onto the back of his head.

“Fuckin’ DIE already!” Thanos roared.

Then, with everything he had, he grabbed the front of Myung-gi’s shirt, and shoved him into the edge, hard.

Myung-gi’s eyes flew wide.

His hands clawed at Thanos’s chest, grabbing anything he could, fingers shaking, slipping. 

Blood spilled from his mouth as he coughed, spit, then forced out, “Y-You think she’s gonna stay with trash like you?”

Thanos just stared at him, eyes dead cold.

“She’s just using you like she used me,” Myung-gi went on, wheezing. “You’re nothin but a fucking junkie. A dog she feeds when she’s bored. That’s all you are.”

Thanos grinned down at him, teeth bared, “Yeah? Then I’m gon’ make sure your daughter’s named after me.”

Myung-gi’s eyes went wide with horror.

“Ya think Soo-bin will fit her?” Thanos asked. “Su-bong… Soo-bin… sound close, don’t it?”

“...Y-You..”

“Too bad you won’t be ‘round to see Soo-bin grow,” Thanos leaned in, “I’mma be the only face she knows. Only arms she cries for.”

He tilted his head, smirking, “A year from now? She won’t even know you existed.”

Myung-gi’s jaw clenched, eyes shaking with rage.

Thanos whispered one last thing, “Dead men don’t get remembered.”

Myung-gi’s face twisted, “You motherfuck—!”

Thanos shoved.

Myung-gi’s scream cut off fast.

He fell.

Over the edge. Down into the darkness.

Thud.

Thanos stood there, panting hard, fists clenched. Didn’t say a word for a second.

Then he turned around. Jun-hee was already limping toward him. He caught her without a word, wrapping an arm around her.

Gi-hun stepped up too, the baby in his arms.

Thanos looked between them, cleared his throat. “Aight, uh… don’t mind all that shit I said earlier. I talk wild when I’m pissed off, y’know?” he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

Jun-hee slowly pulled away from the hug, looking up at him with a soft smile, “Soo-bin, huh?” she said, then glanced down at her baby. The crying had stopped, like she already knew the worst was over.

Thanos looked off to the side, shrugging. “Tch… told you to forget it. I was just talkin’ shit.”

“I like it,” Jun-hee said gently. She walked over to Gi-hun, cradling the baby with care. “Soo-bin,” she said again, smiling down at her.

Thanos coughed into his fist, trying to act cool. His ears were just a little red.

Gi-hun chuckled. “Soo-bin’s nice. Got a ring to it. Fits her.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Thanos grumbled, waving a hand. “Ain’t that deep.”

Then he blinked, suddenly remembering.

“Fuck. I forgot to press the damn button.”

Jun-hee and Gi-hun exchanged a glance before Jun-hee smiled at him, “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I did.”

Thanos let out a long breath, shoulders dropping, “Shiiit,” he muttered, almost buckling to his knees. “You saved my dumb ass again…”

He walked over, eyes landing on the baby, “Let’s just go,” he muttered, walking toward Jun-hee and looking down at the baby. His baby. Soo-bin.

“We all should hit the hospital after this.”

One year later.

The girls squirmed away, waving him goodbye from the glass door, “B-Bye, Thanos!” they all said, before hurrying to leave.

Thanos gave them a short nod, watching as they hurried off, their laughter echoing faintly outside.

He could fucking tell those girls only bought half his vapes ‘cause it was him selling. But he didn’t care no more. Long as the money’s moving, he’s good. Whether they used it or not, ain’t his problem.

And for the first time in a long time, he was stable. Peace of mind was a luxury he could finally afford. His debts were all paid off. Every last one of them. That alone felt like a weight had been lifted from his back.

He ran his own vape shop now, walls dyed in purple, shelves lit just right. It wasn’t fancy, but it had character. His.

The shelves were lined with neat rows of vape kits and e-liquid bottles. He’d even started a little section at the back where he sold T-shirts with his own designs printed on them. Most of them were simple, bold words, rough sketches, but they sold better than he expected.

Music, too, was crawling back into his life. Not in a big way. He hadn’t released anything new yet, hadn’t even recorded. But he was writing again. Scribbling lyrics on the backs of receipts, humming beats under his breath while cleaning the shelves. It wasn’t easy finding the time. Running the shop took up most of his day, and he was usually too tired by the end of it. But still, he was trying. 

He glanced at the wall clock. Shit. It’s almost lunch. He had opened the shop earlier than usual today. Wanted to close up ahead of schedule.

He leaned down, slid open the glass case beneath the counter, and picked out one of the vapes. The grape-flavored one.

Before he forgot, he reached down and grabbed the purple paper bag he'd tucked away yesterday.

Then he went around turning everything off, the music, the TV, the soft violet lights, until the place was quiet again.

And just like that, he shut the shop.

Thanos knocked.

“Wait a sec!”

The door opened.

He blinked, “Where’s the birthday girl at?” he asked, peering past her shoulder.

Jun-hee smiled and stepped aside, opening the door wider, “See for yourself.”

Soo-bin screamed in excitement as soon as she saw Thanos. She couldn’t walk much yet, but she did her best to crawl toward him. And boy, she was fast.

“Ta-ta! Ta-ta!” Soo-bin reached him and slapped her tiny palms against his shoes before trying to climb up his leg. Thanos smirked and quickly switched the purple paper bag into his other arm, then scooped her up with ease.

“Happy birthday, baby girl,” he said, cradling her against his chest. He kissed one chubby cheek, then the other, then did it again just to hear her laugh. “Damn, you gettin’ heavy, huh?”

Soo-bin let out a loud giggle, her small hands grabbing at his jaw as if to pull him closer. 

Jun-hee watched them, a fond smile tugging at her lips. “She acts like she hasn’t seen you in years,” she said, half-laughing.

Holding Soo-bin in one arm, Thanos stepped inside the house. Jun-hee closed the door behind him.

“Don’t blame her. A week’s like a damn decade for her. Right, Soo-bin?” he cooed.

Soo-bin clapped her hands and kicked her legs again in response.

Jun-hee folded her arms, “She really misses you. Every morning, she crawls to the front door, waiting for you.”

Thanos raised a brow, looking down at the kid in his arms. “For real?” He tilted his head. “You missed me that bad, huh?”

After that, they sang Soo-bin a happy birthday, Jun-hee clapping along as she helped the baby blow out the candle, while Thanos stood off to the side, phone in hand, filming it all with a proud grin.

Soo-bin giggled with frosting on her nose, reaching out to grab a handful of cake, which Jun-hee had to stop before it ended up on the floor. They laughed, cleaned her up, and sat down to eat the food Jun-hee had been cooking since that morning. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it hit the spot. Thanos finished his plate without saying much.

When they were done, he handed Soo-bin her gift. She let out a tiny gasp when she saw it, an interactive stuffed dog that barked when you touched its nose. Thanos had no idea what it was called. He just saw it wag and thought, that’ll make her laugh.

And it did.

She got all worked up playing with it, laughing, crawling, squealing, until she wore herself out completely. Ten minutes later, she was snuggled up on the couch with the toy tucked under her arm, knocked out cold.

From the kitchen, Thanos heard the tap water shut off. He looked up from his phone and saw Jun-hee drying her hands, hair pulled into a low bun now, sleeves rolled up, skin still dewy from cooking and cleaning.

He set his phone down on the dining table, “Cake’s great, by the way,” he said. “Not too sweet.”

Jun-hee rolled her eyes, sitting across from him. “That’s what stood out to you? Not the actual food I made?”

Thanos shrugged. “It was edible,” he joked.

Jun-hee sighed, a smile playing on her lips. “So? How’s everything going for you?”

Thanos was about to answer, but then he remembered something. He grabbed something from his pocket and tossed it toward Jun-hee for her to catch.

Jun-hee caught it mid-air, looked at it. “A vape? Seriously?”

“Don’t bullshit me. You do vape,” he said, grinning, “That’s your favorite, right? Grape.”

Jun-hee looked at it again, then let out a small laugh. “Thanks. How’d you know?”

“Just take the damn thing and chill. Ain’t that deep,” he waved her off, “But you better not be hittin’ that ‘round Soo-bin. If I catch you puffin’, I’m takin’ that shit back.”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

Thanos raised both hands. “Just making sure.”

Jun-hee leaned forward slightly. “Have you visited your friend?”

“Nam-gyu?” Thanos nodded. “Yeah. Pulled up yesterday, brought flowers, lit a candle.. Couldn’t even focus though, hella girls out there eyein’ me.”

Jun-hee gave him a look. “You got fans at a memorial park?”

“Beats me.”

“Well, you are Thanos,” Jun-hee said. “And you’re kinda famous. You brought this on yourself.”

Thanos just groaned.

There was silence between them, the soft sound of the radio filling the room, because Soo-bin couldn’t sleep without music.

“Su-bong.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks... for everything.” Jun-hee’s eyes were soft.

Thanos scratched the back of his neck, looking away. “Damn, there you go again. You always sayin’ that shit when we hang out. Don’t make it weird. Even used my government name. So uncool.”

Jun-hee laughed, hugging her legs up on the chair. “I don’t care. I’ll say it forever. I feel like I can’t thank you enough.”

“Look, just seein’ Soo-bin happy like that? That’s enough for me. Don’t be actin’ like you owe me or somethin’, alright?”

Jun-hee nodded, smiling, “Okay.”

“Good. We cool now.”

A month later, Soo-bin started calling him papa.

He was stable, sober, and a dad now.

Life couldn’t get any better.