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You knew Subong since you were kids, before you even got to school and even before his interest in rap. But despite this, you always had an on and off friendship over the years. Constantly arguing and separating only to come back to one another after some time.
His extravagant personality could often clash with your introverted one, and things got even more unstable between you two when he started his rap career and it got only worse with drugs.
He never asked you for money though, even after he lost everything, knowing you too had money troubles.
You didn’t expect to see him here, you knew he had lost all his money because of that YouTuber, but you didn’t think that man would’ve gone after your friend. You felt a bit relieved to see someone you knew, though the last time you saw him, you two had a fight. It was your fault. You said, a bit too tactless, that ‘it was stupid in the first place to listen to some random guy on the internet and trust him with all your money.’
He had only appeared for a few seconds on the giant screen, putting his vape in his mouth, before it showed someone else. You looked around you, trying to make yourself a path to find him amongst the hundreds of people in the room. You spotted his purple hair and called him, as he turned around and saw you, his eyes widened.
“My man !” He exclaimed, raising his hands in the air, walking toward you. “What are you doing here ?!” He asked, grabbing you by the shoulders, shaking you and then hugging you.
You weren’t really surprised, you’d often argue and leave mad only to see each other the next day and act as if nothing happened.
Since then, two days had passed, and by the third you were at your limit. The mingle game was over, Namgyu and some other player walked out of their room while you and Thanos walked out of yours.
“Welcome back, my friends.” Thanos said loudly, and Namgyu followed with a “Skrrt.” as he joined you two.
You sighed as you looked at all the blood splattered on the floor, you noticed a few players slipping on the puddles, making you sick to the stomach.
You all walked back to the lobby as they announced the imminence of the next vote.
While you waited, Thanos was sitting next to you, talking animatedly with Namgyu who acted just as energetic as him, you could tell the pills they had both taken were still doing their magic and the more you heard them talk about what the next games could be, the more you zoned out, spiraling.
There were three games left, and so many people were alive. Sure, a lot of them would die, but it won't be enough, right ? They surely won’t let a large group of people out of this place, so the games will probably be deadlier, and you know you won’t survive three more games.
You were the only one on the side of the room who had voted X, it was on your chest since the first vote. You looked at Minsu who eyed player 380, you knew he wanted to vote X like you, but he seemed too scared of Namgyu and Thanos to do so. Minsu seemed to look up to her, maybe he she voted X he would too ? But how could you make her vote X ?
So many people have voted O and all of them were dead set to keep on voting the same thing.
You felt even more trapped than you already were. Your heartbeat was increasing as you frantically tried to find a way out of here, to win, to escape somehow, looking around at whoever. Would he vote X ? And her ? And them ? No, maybe him ?
Namgyu saw you looking everywhere and gestured to Thanos who placed a hand on the back of your neck, stopping your thoughts.
“What’s going on my brother ?” He asked loudly, voice devoid of any stress or worry.
All eyes slowly turned to you. You looked at Thanos, the blue O on his chest. He never got mad at you for voting X, knowing you wouldn’t change your mind, you were as stubborn as him.
‘We’re all gonna die’. You wanted to say, but nothing came out. Instead your breathing got louder as everyone’s focus remained on you. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. You’re never gonna get out of here alive.
“Bro ?” Thanos called, his other hand going to your cheeks, squeezing them in hope for a reaction. “You there ?” He leaned closer, his eyes scanning yours but instead of giving him a reaction you just stood up and left, walking and climbing to your bed before hiding under the thin blanket.
Thanos looked at the others, they were as surprised as him but said nothing, they had already caught on what was going on.
“The fuck ?”
After a few minutes you heard someone approaching, climbing on your bed and laying next to you. You already knew who it was ; Thanos.
“What’s wrong, man ?” He asked, shaking you slightly. “Sleeping your anxiety away ? You’re still doing that ?” He laughed, remembering the time you admitted why you took so many naps.
You don’t respond.
“Come on, what’s going on ?" He nudged you again and with the lack of response he wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer just to annoy you, he knew you wanted space, but he wasn’t going to give it to you.
“What’s bothering you ?” He held you tightly as you shifted, trying to pull away.
Finally, you gave up and poked your head out from the sheet, looking at him with a glare.
“Subong, we’re gonna die.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Woah, full government name.” He chuckled.
“It’s not, and I’m serious. It’s logical, so many people are still here, 001 kicked your ass in a second and he’s still alive with his group, with two marines, we can’t all survive, why would they allow that, only a handful if not just one is gonna survive and it’s not gonna be-”
“I’ll protect you. Don’t worry.” He said with a smile, confident in himself as he patted your head.
“You really think you can win.”
“It’s the rules, if we survive, we’re free. And debt free.”
“What if the rules say we have to make teams of two ?”
“I’ll help you win. I went with you in the mingle game, remember ?”
“But then we have to play against one another and the loser of the two dies.”
He stared at you before smiling and replying.
“Well, I guess you die.” He wiggled his eyebrows and booped your nose with his finger.
You rolled your eyes, unamused and turned away.
“I told you, I’ll protect you.” He added, snuggling closer to you. “We’ll survive, you’ll see.” He closed his eyes, relaxing with a smile.
“Can you let go of me ?”
“No.”
You rolled your eyes, moving your foot to kick him, only for him to kick you back.
“Shhh, accept the affection of the great legend Thanos.”
“Yucks.” You replied with a chuckle.