“These Are The Things I Will Pass On. That’s What I Live For.”

the pink soldier watching front man in his pookie era will never not be funny to me because look at this shot right here lmaoooo he’s literally like “are you okay boss” 💀😭😭😭

*pained expression intensifies*

the metal gear solid legacy.

what i’m going to talk about is a video game franchise -- the video game i loved the most, and made a big impact in my life. this franchise made me learn about the effects of war, teamwork, and a lot more things (i couldn’t put it in words, there’s a lot that i learned about this franchise!).

the story line of this franchise will get you hooked up. i won’t tell the whole story line of this franchise because honestly, explaining the story line would take me an hour or so to explain (or even a day!) for you to understand the whole story line, so it’s best if you play the franchise itself.

first, i’ll give you a list of what made hooked in this franchise, and the best parts in this franchise.

SOUNDTRACKS!!! -  i swear to the boss, the soundtracks of each games in this franchise makes me so emotional. these soundtracks got stuck in my head while playing these games (i even want to sing every soundtrack on stage). 

easter eggs - the easter eggs in this franchise were hilarious, especially the johnny part and ~ posters ~, if you know what i mean. 

the one where they let you view their perspective by clicking “R1″ (i used PlayStation my whole life so i don’t know much about Xbox).

truth to be told, the snake family, big boss, liquid snake, and solid snake (yeah let’s add solidus snake), are actually attractive. admittingly, when big boss has an eye patch, he looks sexier than he was before. okay, this may be getting out hand, but i can’t help but have a big crush on them. i even have a crush on EVA, The Boss, Quiet, and Meryl! i’m pretty damn sure every gamer has a gay crush on every character in a video game they play.

yeah, that’s all the lists i could come up to. i know there’s a lot, but i can’t put them into words, they’re too good. 

anyway, let’s head on to the main point. what do i think of all the games in this franchise? what are the best parts in every game in this franchise?

i could give you a list my fave games, and writing this excites me.

Metal Gear 

tbh, i don’t really know much about this game. i only played the first part in this game because it was kinda hard for me. i played this on my PS3, i guess i just wasn’t familiar with the controls in this game. this was originally played in a MSX2, and i’ve never gotten my hands on one before, so yeah.

Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

all i know about this game is Solid Snake in Zanzibar Land. just like Metal Gear, i only played the first part. i also played this on my PS3 since the game we bought, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, also have it inside but they can only be accessible in one of the games in the collection, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Metal Gear Solid

I never got the chance to play this game since this game was released in 1998 and it was originally played in PS1. i watched the gameplay in youtube instead, thank god for youtube. this game was remastered as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, where the graphics improved and the game could be playable in PS2. when the graphics improved in PS2, i was excited to see liquid’s face since i was curious on how he looked in an improved way, and boy, guess who just had a crush on him? me. (his accent are plus points.) the original game can be now playable in PS3, it’s either you buy the game on PlayStation Store or buy the legacy collection in a video game store. solid snake’s character was so flirty in this game, and you could feel the love between solid snake and meryl.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

there comes raiden! actually, this is the first metal gear game that i played. i played this when i was like 5 or 6 or 7, and i gotta admit, it was hard for me at first. but when i was like 11 or 12, i finally found no difficulty in playing the game. it made me understand the story line more about this game. the VR missions in this game are also my favorite. i usually play that part whenever i finish the whole game. there’s also a demo theater (fun fact: you could achieve a trophy in this game while watching Rose and Raiden have a sword fight, which Solidus and Raiden are the original characters there) where you could watch some cutscenes from the game and you could change the characters, if you wish to.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

the one that started it all! there goes the camouflage and foods (and by foods, i mean snake eats animals from the jungle). he is guided through radio by major zero, the boss (who defects to soviet union in the gameplay), para-medic, sigint, and later by EVA throughout the game. the easter eggs in this game were hilarious as hell. the radio conversations with para-medic were fun to listen to, especially when they about movies. sigint was also fun to talk to, you’d always get into a funny conversation with him. oh and boy, don’t get me started with EVA. who later becomes the lover of snake throughout the series. the boss was such a badass! she deserved better though.

WHAT A THRILL~ SNAKE EATEEEEEEER~

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

this is probably the saddest game i’ve ever played, and also one of the best. all remaining characters who are still alive were all here. playing this game will give you nostalgia if you’ve been playing the MGS Series for a long time. (spoiler: solid snake or should i say, old snake, goes back to shadow moses.)

i won’t leave some more spoilers, it’s better if you play the game itself.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

i didn’t finish this game, honestly. it was still hard for me. i’m stuck on a mission where big boss would defeat the pupa flying around the sky. i always run out of supplies. but the game is great, i gotta say. i don’t know much about this game honestly, but i’ve watched some cutscenes in youtube.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

i also don’t know much about this game, but i’ve watched some cutscenes in youtube. i think this a good game, even though the voice of snake was changed. nothing beats to david hayter’s voice as snake’s voice, honestly. however, kiefer sutherland did a good job, i’m just disappointed how big boss didn’t speak that much through MGSV and there was no codec. 

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

same with mgsv: ground zeroes. i only know about big boss’ phantom, i also watched some cutscenes in youtube. there were some feels in this game, especially when zero visited big boss in a hospital when big boss was in a coma for nine years. overall, i think the game is great. i’d play this game if we’d buy PS4.

here are my fave soundtracks from all the metal gear franchise.

“The Best Is Yet To Come” - Rika Marunaka (MGS1)

Metal Gear Solid Main Theme (MGS2)

Can’t Say Goodbye To Yesterday - Carla White (MGS2)

Snake Eater - Cynthia Harrell (MGS3)

“METAL GEAR SOLID” Main Theme (MGS3)

Old Metal Gear (MGS3)

Sailor (MGS3)

Salty Catfish (MGS3)

Don’t Be Afraid - Elisa Fiorillo (MGS3)

Pillowtalk (MGS3)

Surfing Guitar (MGS3)

Way To Fall - Starsailor (MGS3)

Debriefing (MGS3)

Calling To The Night - Natasha Farrow (MGS:PO)

Old Snake (MGS4)

Love Theme - Jackie Presti (MGS4)

Metal Gear Saga (MGS4)

Heavens Divide - Donna Burke (MGS:PW)

The Man Who Sold The World - Midge Ure (MGSV)

Sins Of The Father - Donna Burke (MGSV)

Quiet’s Theme - Stefanie Joosten (MGSV)

there would be one day where i won’t communicate with other people because i’m busy playing my fave franchise ever, Metal Gear. 

that’s a lot for now. thanks for taking your time to read this. this sure is long.

Look at this beautiful man

Who’ll be playing some Blops Zombies tonight?

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

"F.N.G."

Credenhill, UK

Sgt. John 'Soap' MacTavish

22nd SAS Regiment

SEEING THIS ON HIS IG LITERALLY MADE ME SCREAM

Peekaboo.

CHAPTER 18 - once you go in, there's no turning back (hwang in ho x reader)

>> MASTERLIST

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——

The weight of the silence between you was suffocating.

In-ho’s eyes were still locked on you, his gaze unreadable,  his body tense as if he were forcing himself to stay still. Then, his voice cut through the air.

“Since when?”

You swallowed hard, your fingers curling into your palms. “I… I don’t know exactly. I started feeling different a few days ago, but I confirmed it last night.”

You noticed In-ho’s jaw tightened. You could feel his mind racing, trying to piece together everything at once, but then his gaze sharpened, something dark flickering in his eyes. “And how does Gi-hun know?”

“He… noticed,” you hesitated. “He’s been watching me. He figured it out before I could even say anything.”

In-ho let out a sharp breath, almost a bitter chuckle. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his entire body becoming rigid, like a man standing on the edge of a breaking dam,

You took a careful step toward him, reaching out as you wanted to close the space between you. “In-ho, please—“

But the moment, your fingertips barely brushed against his sleeve, he jerked away. Without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed towards the exit.

“In-ho!” You called out, moving after him as you followed him down the halls of the facility as he marched toward your private suite. “Please just stop — talk to me!”

But he didn’t even glance back.

Then, the moment he entered the suite, the tension snapped. You barely had time to step inside before he grabbed the first thing within reach — an empty glass on the kitchen counter — and hurled it across the room. The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed against the walls. You flinched, your breath hitching.

But, In-ho wasn’t done. His hands gripped at the edge of the counter, his breath heavy and erratic.

“Where is it?” His voice was low, shaking with barely contained frustration.

Your stomach twisted. “What?”

“The test,” he snapped, his eyes burning into yours. “Where the fuck is it?”

You couldn’t answer. Instead, you felt your body tremble, overwhelmed by the sheer force of emotions crashing over you. In-ho let out a ragged breath, his frustration boiling over as he grabbed a nearby lamp and sent it crashing to the floor. 

Tears welled in your eyes, your chest tightening painfully. “In-ho, stop!” Your voice cracked.

But he wasn’t listening. His hands tore through the room, opening drawers, and shoving things aside as he searched. You felt a sob build in your throat, raw and aching.

Then, he stopped.

Your breath hitched as you watched him reach for your robe, the one you had worn the night before. His hands searched through the fabric, his movements slowing and becoming eerily calm. Then, his fingers curled around something inside the pocket, pulling it out.

The pregnancy test.

The room fell into a deathly silence. You could hear nothing but the shallow rise and fall of your own breathing, the erratic thumping of your heart inside your chest. In-ho just stared at it, but he didn’t move or speak. He just stood there, staring at the little piece of plastic in his hands as if it held the weight of the entire world.

His lips parted, his voice barely above a whisper. “This is real?”

Tears slipped down your cheeks as you nodded. His grip tightened around the test, his knuckles turning white. His shoulders trembled, his breath uneven.

You didn’t know what he was thinking. You weren’t sure if he was angry, if he was scared, or if he was mourning the life he had before this moment.

All you knew was that he was breaking in front of you.

In-ho’s grip on the pregnancy test trembled as his shoulders tensed, his breathing continued to be uneven and sharp.

But then, he broke down.

A shuddering breath escaped him, and before you could even react, his knees buckled slightly, forcing him to lean against the nearest wall for support. His fingers curled so tightly around the test that you thought he might break it in half. His head lowered, dark strands of hair falling over his eyes, but you could see the way his entire body trembled, the way his chest heaved as silent sobs wracked through him, the tears slipping down his face.

“I should have been the first know,” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. “I should have been the first to know about this.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but he wasn’t done. His mind drifted farther until his voice was no longer meant for you, but for someone who no longer existed.

In-ho had been running late that day. The hospital corridors felt suffocating, the air sterile and thick with antiseptic. The doctor stood in front of him, a clipboard in hand, a carefully controlled expression on her face.

“We ran more tests,” the doctor said. “And… there’s something else we need to inform you of.”

His stomach twisted. “What is it?”

“She’s pregnant.”

The words crashed over him, stunning him into silence. He felt his heart stutter, his mind scrambling to process and understand it. 

His wife. His love.

But the doctor’s expression remained grim. The weight of reality hit him before she even said the next words. “She didn’t want you to know… yet,” the doctor admitted softly. “She wanted to tell you herself, but… she didn’t get the chance.”

His breath caught in his throat, knowing she didn’t get the chance because she was already sick and slipping away. The time he had left with her was already running out.

In-ho’s breath hitched as he returned to the present, to the cold walls of the Overseer’s suite, to the woman standing before him — the one carrying his child now. 

But it wasn’t his wife this time.

It was you.

The one who had kept this from him. The one who had told Gi-hun before telling him.

“Why… why did I have to hear it from him?” In-ho’s voice cracked, raw with pain as the ache in his chest was unbearable. “Why did you let him figure it out first?”

You understood his pain. You understood why this hurt him so much. But that didn’t mean you weren’t angry.

Your hands curled into fists at your sides, your own emotions bubbling to the surface. “That’s what you’re worried about?” Your voice shook, not from sadness, but from pure, simmering rage. “That you weren’t the first to know?”

In-ho flinched.

“You haven’t even asked how I feel, In-ho!” You took a step forward, your anger now burning hot in your veins. “You haven’t asked if I’m okay, if I’m scared, if I—“ your voice cracked, but you pushed forward. “All you care about is that someone else found out before you.”

His eyes widened, guilt washing over his face. “That’s not what I meant—“

“Then what did you mean?” You cut him off, your heart pounding against your ribs. “Because right now, it sounds like you’re more concerned about your own pain than what I’m going through!”

The words hit him like a bullet. He opened his mouth then closed it. For the first time, he had nothing to say. Your breath was heavy, your hands trembling from the sheer weight of your emotions.

In-ho reached for you, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry.”

But you took a step back.

Your voice wavered, but the fire in your eyes didn’t dim. “Do you even hear yourself, In-ho?” You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to meet his gaze despite the tightness in your throat. “Do you know how much it hurts to see you care more about when you found out than what this actually means for us?”

You noticed his jaw clenched, but you continued to speak, stepping back as the weight of everything crushed down on your chest.

“If you don’t want this child, just say it.”

In-ho’s entire body stiffened.

“I can live with that,” you continued, your voice thick with emotion. “I can raise this child on my own.”

Frustration bled into his expression, his brows furrowing deeply. “That’s not fair.”

“Now you want to talk about fairness?” You let out a hollow laugh, shaking your head. “You know what’s unfair? It’s unfair that I had to go through this alone because I was scared of how you’d react. It’s unfair that instead of asking if I was okay, you made it about yourself. It’s unfair that I had to hear you break down over the fact that someone else figured it out before you rather than you asking me how I felt about carrying your child.”

In-ho rand a hand through his har, his frustration bubbling over. “You don’t get it, Y/N.”

“No, I do,” you said, your eyes burning as you stared at him. “And maybe that’s the problem.”

A heavy silence fell between you. 

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, you asked the question that had been clawing at your chest for so long. 

“Do you see her when you look at me?”

In-ho stared at you, his breath hitching.

“Is that why you chose me?” Your voice trembled, but you forced yourself to keep going. “Because I remind you of her? Because I happened to walk into your life at the right time? Because I gave you something to hold on to?”

His eyes darkened with hurt. “That’s not—“

“Then prove me wrong.”

He stepped forward, his hands twitching as if he wanted to reach for you. “You’re not her,” his voice was low and insistent. “You never were.”

“Then love me for who I am, not because I remind you of someone you lost.”

“I do,” he said immediately, desperation clinging to every syllable. 

But you didn’t buy it. Your heart ached, your mind spinning, your emotions raw and exposed. And then, you turned on your heel and stormed out of the room.

You didn’t stop when In-ho called your name, even when you heard the sound of something slamming behind you, his own frustration boiling over. 

You just kept walking because, at that moment, you weren’t sure if you could bear to look at him anymore.

——

The next few days felt as if the air between you and In-ho had become suffocating, weighed down by everything left unsaid. You fell into an unspoken rhythm of avoidance — one that neither of you openly acknowledged, yet both of you adhered to. 

In the control room, you made sure to keep your focus on the screens, never lingering too long in the same space as him. If he walked in, you found an excuse to leave. If he spoke, you kept your replies clipped and professional, just enough to acknowledge his words without offering anything more.

During meetings, you sat across from him instead of beside him. Whenever he directed questions at you, you answered without looking at him directly. The once seamless coordination between the two of you now felt forced and fragmented.

You had been seeing the facility’s medical team more often — not because you wanted to, but because In-ho had made it happen. You overheard the rders he gave to the guards, low and firm.

“Make sure she gets regular checkups.”

The first time you caught wind of it, irritation burned in your chest. He wouldn’t talk to you, wouldn’t ask how you were feeling, but he was ensuring that you were being monitored.

You could have refused, but you knew better. The guards had their orders and there was no point in arguing with them. So, you endured it. You let the doctors examine you, take your vitals, and run tests — all while resentment simmered beneath your skin.

The nights were even worse. You’ve been sleeping on the couch, much to In-ho’s dismay.

The first night you did it, he stood by the bedroom door, watching you with an unreadable expression. He didn’t say anything or didn’t order you back into bed. But you saw the flicker of something in his eyes, something along the lines of hurt and frustration.

After that, it became a routine.

Every night, you would curl up on the couch and In-ho would hesitate. You could feel his gaze on you, heavy with things he wanted to say but never did. More than once, he lingered in the doorway, debating whether to wake you or at least sit with you. But you always made sure to finish your tasks early, retreating to the couch before he had a chance to do anything. 

The small gestures didn’t stop though. You started to notice the little things.

A warm blanket draped over you when you woke up. Your favorite tea was placed near your work station everyday. A chair subtly pulled out for you before meetings. A selection of nutritious meals appeared on your desk, all tailored for pregnancy.

In-ho never mentioned them or even took credit. But you knew. Yet each time, you dismissed it. 

Because kindness wasn’t what you needed from him right now.

Then one night, everything shifted. You had been working late, caught up in monitoring the latest developments in the games. By the time you finished, exhaustion clung to your limbs like a heavy fog. You made your way back to the private suite, your steps slow, your mind clouded with fatigue. When you pushed open the door, you froze.

In-ho was already there, but he wasn’t in the bedroom.

He was on the couch, his long frame stretched out, one arm draped over his eyes. His breaths were steady and deep, indicating the quiet rhythm of sleep.

Your chest tightened at the sight of him already falling asleep there. For a moment, you just stood there, taking it in. It wasn’t like him to fall asleep outside of bed. He was always composed and controlled. Yet here he was, exhaustion pulling him under in the very place you had chosen to isolate yourself.

And for the first time in days, you wondered if this hurt him just as much as it hurt you.

——

The phone rang twice before a quiet click sounded on the end. Gi-hun leaned against the desk in his private quarters, staring at the closed door as he lowered his voice.

“It’s me.”

A beat of silence. Then, the voice came through, hushed but sharp. “Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”

Gi-hun smirked dryly. “I could say the same to you. You’re the one still breathing in their walls.”

A sharp exhale can be heard on the other line. “I don’t have a choice.”

“No,” Gi-hun agreed. “You don’t.” 

The silence between them was thick, stretching over the static hum of the secure line they had managed to establish. A stolen moment in the middle of a war they had yet to declare.

“What do you have for me?”

Gi-hun hesitated. Then, in a voice lower than before, he finally spoke. “She’s pregnant.”

“What?!”

“You heard me,” Gi-hun leaned his head back, staring at the ceiling. “He already knows. Things are going to change. We can use this.”

“You’re not going to use her as leverage.”

“I don’t plan to,” Gi-hun muttered. “But you and I both know she complicates things.”

“Gi-hun—“

“Listen,” Gi-hun cut him off, his voice sharp. “I’m not heartless. I’m not going to put her in harm’s way. But don’t act like this doesn’t change everything,” he paused for a moment, then continued. “She’s carrying his child. That’s a weakness whether he admits it or not.”

Another exhale can be heard on the other line as Gi-hun sensed the conflict in it. “I need you to swear to me, Gi-hun. No matter what happens, you don’t kill her.”

Gi-hun closed his eyes. “I swear.”

“They’ve increased security in the lower sectors. I think In-ho knows something is off. We need to move carefully.”

“I know,” Gi-hun’s grip tightened around the phone. “We need proof. Something undeniable. When we strike, it has to be final.”

“Then we wait.”

Gi-hun nodded to himself. “We wait.”

----

The city was suffocating. After months of breathing in the sterile, artificial air of the island, stepping back onto the grimy, bustling streets of Seoul felt almost foreign. The neon lights blurred through the car’s tinted windows, the chatter of pedestrians muffled by the hum of traffic.

Gi-hun sat in the backseat, his gloved fingers gripping the mask resting on his lap.  He hated it, but it got him here. It got him past the organization’s watchful eyes long enough to set things in motion.

The car came to a stop in front of a dimly lit alleyway. He exhaled slowly, reaching for the handle, stepping out into the cold night air. 

Jun-ho was waiting. He was dressed in civilian clothees, the detective lingered near the entrance of an abandoned shop, his cap pulled low over his eyes. The moment he saw Gi-hun, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“Thought you were dead,” Jun-ho muttered.

“Thought you were smarter than that,” Gi-hun shot back, stepping closer. His voice was quieter now. “We don’t have much time.”

Jun-ho leaned in, trying to listen.

Gi-hun took a deep breath. “I have a plan.”

Jun-ho raised a brow. “A plan?”

“I need you on the island,” Gi-hun said. “Inside. Getting evidence.”

Jun-ho’s jaw tightened. “You want me to go back? Are you out of your mind?”

“You were there once,” Gi-hun pushed. “You know how things work. I can get you in. But this time, you’re not sneaking around blind.” He leaned in slightly. “This time, we do it right.”

Jun-ho crossed his arms, skepticism clear in his sharp gaze. “And what’s your role in this? You’re their damn Frontman now.”

Gi-hun’s stomach twisted at the title. “I’m playing the long game,” he admitted. “I take orders. I follow protocol. I act like I belong.” He exhaled sharply. “And I wait for the moment we can tear them down from the inside.”

Silence stretched between them as Jun-ho searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation. “You sure you’re not just becoming one of them?” He finally asked, voice laced with warning.

Gi-hun’s blood ran cold. He knew he wasn’t and he couldn’t. 

But before he could answer, Jun-ho sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “You already have a way to get me in, don’t you?”

Gi-hun nodded.

“Fine,” Jun-ho muttered. “Let’s do this.”

The island was just as Jun-ho remembered as he stood stiffly in the corner of a dimly lit locker room, adjusting the red jumpsuit over his body. The mask in his hands felt heavier than before.

He glanced at the reflective surface of his mask, a hollow, empty shape staring back at him. He was one of them now. Gi-hun stood beside him, already back in his Frontman uniform, the dark mask covering his face.

“This is your only chance,” Gi-hun murmured lowly. “Get what you need. Photos. Documents. Recordings. Anything.”

Jun-ho nodded once, slipping the mask over his face. They stepped into the facility’s endless halls as they made their first step into their plan — taking it all down.

——

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A/N: What did you think about the turn of events of this series? I'm very excited to see where this series is going. Now, I'm already plotting the epilogue as I've finished drafting the remaining chapters. Please feel free to leave out your thoughts here, and I'll gladly interact with each and everyone of you. 🫶

Don't forget to leave a comment in this post to be tagged in the next chapter! ✨

TAGS: @machipyun @love-leez @enzosluvr @amber-content @kandierteveilchen @butterfly-lover @1nterstellarcha0s @squidgame-lover001 @risingwithtriples @fries11 @follows-the-life-ahead @goingmerry69 @plague-cure @theredvelvetbitch @cherryheairt @voxslays @thebluehair23 @coruja12345 @alliyah-ll @spiritualgirly444 (p.s. if i forget to you, please let me know)

CHAPTER 20 - once you go in, there's no turning back (hwang in ho x reader)

>> MASTERLIST

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——

The conference room was cold, as always. The walls were bare, the air thick with the ever-present scent of sterile metal and quiet tension. You sat at the head of the table, eyes scanning over the documents in front of you — the final preparations for the next round of games.

Gi-hun entered moments later, his black mask tucked under his arm. His eyes flickered to the papers, then to you. “You look well-rested,” he noted, settling into his chair. “That’s rare for someone in your position.”

You smirked faintly, about to counter when his gaze landed on your hand. Silence stretched between you as Gi-hun’s eyes locked onto the engagement ring on your finger. His expression was unreadable at first, but then he let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he muttered. “Didn’t think he had it in him.”

You glanced down at the ring, your thumb brushing over the band. “Surprised?”

Gi-hun exhaled through his nose. “Not surprise that he asked. Just surprised that you said yes.”

You raised an eyebrow at him. “And why is that?’

Gi-hun leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly. “Because you don’t strike me as the type to settle for a man who keeps too many secrets.”

The words cut deep, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you straightened your shoulders, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. “I know what I’m doing.”

Gi-hun studied you for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. “If you say so.”

There was something else in his eyes, something unspoken — but you didn’t press. Instead, you moved forward with the meeting, discussing the final arrangements for the games. Gi-hun played along, but you could tell his mind was elsewhere.

Though he never said it outright, you knew he was already calculating his next move. 

The air inside the management sector of the facility was cold, sterile, and suffocating in its silence. The hum of monitors and the faint shuffling of masked guards moving with precision added an eerie rhythm to the stillness. You had grown accustomed to the controlled chaos, the weight of responsibility that came with overseeing the very machine that dictated life and death within the games.

Working alongside In-ho had been a test of both your discipline and your patience. He was methodical, a perfectionist in execution, yet he had an unshakable presence that commanded respect without the need for raised voices. You had learned his habits — the way he tapped his gloved fingers against the table when he was in deep thought, how his sharp eyes scanned over the daily reports with meticulous attention, and the way he adjusted the high collar of his coat as if shielding himself from the weight of his own conscience.

He relied on you, not just as a fellow overseer but as someone he trusted. He never said it outside, but you could see it in the way he glanced at you when a decision needed to be made, in the way he shared information with you that others would ever be privy to. You were his equal in this twisted empire, the one person who stood beside him rather than beneath him.

But the work was relentless.

In order for the games to work, the contestants should be constantly monitored, the staff required strict adherence to protocol, and the VIPs demanded entertainment that bordered on madness. The games would be starting soon and everything had to be perfect.

One evening, as you made your way through the dimly lit corridors of the management sector, something unusual caught your attention. The sound of voices — low and urgent, hushed yet unmistakable. Your footsteps slowed, heart rate quickening as you recognized one of them.

Gi-hun.

That wasn’t unusual. He was the Frontman now, stationed here like you. But the other voice sent a chill down your spine.

You edged closer, ears, straining to catch the words. The cadence, the sharpness — it was familiar in a way that made your stomach drop.

“…If we time it right, we can take out the surveillance feed for at least an hour. That should be enough for extraction.”

“Are you sure about this?” Gi-hun’s voice was quieter, laced with doubt. “She’s part of it now. There’s no telling what she’ll do.”

A pause.

“She deserves to choose.”

Jun-ho.

You stepped forward, your breath caught between disbelief and anger. The moment you emerged into the dimly lit room, both men turned sharply to face you. Gi-hun stiffened, guilt flashing across his face. Jun-ho’s expression was unreadable behind the circle mask he wore, but you could feel his gaze boring into you.

The room felt colder. The weight of their words sank in.

“You,” you whispered, eyes locked onto Jun-ho.

“Surprised?” He asked, his voice steady.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to regain control. “How are you here?”

“That doesn’t matter,” his tone was unreadable. “What matters is that you have a choice to make.”

Gi-hun exhaled sharply. “They’ve been keeping things from you.”

Your fists clenched. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but betrayal isn’t one of my games.”

Jun-ho stepped forward. “Then why do you still hesitate?”

Your lips parted, but no words came.

“You still have your humanity,” he continued, his voice softer now, less like an accusation and more like an offering. “You can feel it, can’t you? This place hasn’t completely taken you.”

Gi-hun chimed in, voice laced with something close to desperation. “You think this is control? That you have a say in anything? The games don’t stop. They never will. Unless someone does something.”

You swallowed, the weight of their words pressing into you like a vice. Jun-ho took one final step forward. “You can either keep lying to yourself or you can decide to change things.”

The choice hung in the air between you, heavy and suffocating. For the first time in a long time, you felt truly, painfully alive. 

——

The walk back to the private felt heavier than usual. Each step echoed against the polished floor, your mind burdened with the weight of what you had just witnessed. Gi-hun and Jun-ho had given you a choice — a choice that shouldn’t have shaken you as much as it did. 

But it did. 

For the first time in a long time, you felt something stir inside you. 

Humanity or whatever was left of it.

Your fingers twitched at your side as you hesitated at the entrance, exhaling sharply before pushing the door open. You expected silence. Instead, you found In-ho already there.

The sight before you made you pause. He sat on the edge of the bed, his back slightly hunched the dim glow of the bedside lamp casting soft shadows across his face. But it wasn’t just his presence that caught you off guard — it was what he was holding.

The small fabric of infant clothing was delicate in his gloved fingers, and beside him, meticulously arranged, were items you hadn’t even noticed before — warm blankets, a baby bottle, small things that would be insignificant to anyone else but to you, they meant everything.

A glimpse of fatherhood.

You didn’t realize how tightly you were holding your breath until you forced yourself to exhale. The sight was so different from the composed, calculating man you worked alongside everyday. Here, in this moment, he was just In-ho. 

Not the Frontman, not the overseer of the games, not the enforcer of death and order. Just a man staring at the fragile reality of the life growing inside you.

“You’re here early,” he murmured, but his voice lacked its usual authority. He didn’t look at you, still fixated on the small piece of cloth in his hands.

You swallowed, stepping further inside. “You weren’t at the conference room. I thought you were still occupied.” You sat on the bed, watching as In-ho knelt in front of you, gently placing his hands over your stomach. His fingers traced delicate patterns over the fabric of your robe, his expression unreadable yet undeniably tender.

“I still can’t believe it,” he murmured, more to himself than to you.

You tilted your head. “Believe what?”

“That there’s… life inside of you,” he admitted. His voice was softer than usual, filled with something rare—wonder, maybe even fear.

You reached down, placing your hand over his. “Does it scare you?”

In-ho hesitated before shaking his head. “No. Not in the way you think.”

“Then how?”

He exhaled, eyes flickering up to meet yours. “I’m scared of failing you. Of failing… them.” His gaze drifted back down to your stomach, his hands warm and steady. “I never thought I’d have this again.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat, gently threading your fingers through his hair. “You won’t fail,” you whispered. “Not this time.”

In-ho leaned forward, resting his forehead lightly against your stomach, his arms wrapping around you as if trying to shield you from the world.

For the first time in a long while, the weight of the organization, of the games, of everything—faded away. And in that quiet moment, In-ho wasn’t the Overseer.

He was simply a man who wanted to be a father.

Silence stretched between you both, unspoken words lingering in the air like ghosts. Your eyes flickered to the items on the bed again before you found yourself asking a question that’s been lingering on you.

“What’s left of you, In-ho? What humanity do you even have left?”

His expression shifted — subtle, but enough for you to notice the flicker of something deep within his gaze. Something almost vulnerable. His lips pressed together, placing the infant clothing down with deliberate care before turning fully toward you. “I could ask you the same thing,” the countered, voice low. “You tell me, what humanity is left in you? After everything we’ve done?”

You inhaled sharply, but you didn’t look away. “That’s why I’m asking. Because… I don’t know. I was just reminded that I still have it — no matter how much I tried to bury it under power and necessity.”

In-ho’s shoulders tensed. He turned his gaze to the floor, as if searching for an answer he wasn’t ready to admit. “Humanity is a weakness in a place like this. It gets you killed.”

“Then why do you still keep things like this?” You gestured toward the bed where the baby things were placed. “Why do you still hold onto this if you believe we have nothing left?”

He was silent. The question settled deep within him, unraveling something he had kept tightly wound for so long. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, almost hesitant. “Because I still want to believe that there’s something beyond all of this. That despite everything, I still have a reason to keep going."

Your chest tightened. "Then you still have it," you whispered. "You still have your humanity, In-ho. You just buried it under all the hardship."

His fingers curled into a fist against his knee. "And you? Are you ready to dig yours back out?"

You hesitated, then finally sat beside him. "I don’t know. But I think I’m starting to remember what it felt like."

The room was filled with an unfamiliar quiet—one that neither of you had allowed yourselves to experience in a long time. And for the first time in years, you and In-ho weren’t discussing the games, the organization, or the next strategic move.

You were just two people who had lost themselves along the way, trying to figure out if there was still anything left worth saving.

——

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A/N: A bit of a short chapter today as I want to give my all on the last ones. I'm curious if y'all want a sad ending or a happy ending? Or do y'all want alternative endings? Please feel free to leave out your thoughts here, and I'll gladly interact with each and everyone of you. 🫶

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“There’s a clocktower in Hereford where the names of the dead are inscribed. We try to honor their deeds, even as their faces fade from our memory. Those memories are all that’s left, when the bastards have taken everything else.”