Work Text:
“We should go fishing.”
In-ho looks up from where Ji-cheol is lounging on his luxurious couch, worn out after a day of slapping people on the subway and handing out invitation cards. He tosses two ddakji envelopes into the air and catches them with a light chuckle. The recruiter’s always persistent in taking vacation time, but this year’s games are only two months away. When it gets to that point, In-ho always sequesters himself in this dark office, giving up precious hours of sleep to ensure that everything runs smoothly. It’s only his third year as the Frontman, but he senses that the VIPs are antsy, disgruntled with the last two games. He refuses to admit it, but he’s terrified of their reactions.
“Now?’ In-ho asks. “We’re almost - ”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Ji-cheol admits, waving a dismissive hand. “But come on, boss. You’re either tired or frustrated. And that never bodes well for the other guards. You need to relax and let loose. We haven’t gone fishing in weeks! It’ll do you some good to get fresh air.”
Hee-soon speaks up from his corner, where he’s busy looking through files of potential players for this year. He sighs, rubbing his forehead. A half empty bottle of whiskey sits beside his desk with an ashtray full of cigarettes.
“Neither of us are going anywhere until we get these recruitment numbers up,” he points out with a stern frown. “Look at this, it’s a disgrace. I’ve never seen us get below 300 at this point of the year.”
“Oh, come on!” Ji-cheol says, sitting up straight. “It’s an exhausting job! You try slapping people around all day or try convincing them to sign up. Dealing with trash like them? It’s so fucking annoying!”
“Shut it,” In-ho interrupts before they can get into a fight. “Try another train station next week, ok? Head to the parks or something. But get those numbers up. Understood?”
Ji-cheol heaves a sigh, “Aish, fine. Whatever. So - can we go fishing, boss? Are you still in touch with that sea captain, whatever his name is?”
“Park? Yeah, I have his number.”
“Then let’s do it! A three day fishing trip, right?”
In-ho sighs, dropping his own thick files on the table. He takes off his dark glasses to devote his full attention to his most trusted coworkers.
“Do you remember the last time we went fishing? The weather was terrible and we barely got anything. The fish weren’t biting. It’s boring and we could spend these last two months doing something worth our time. We still have to coordinate the fourth and fifth games for this year.”
“And it’s boring,” Hee-soon adds. “So fucking boring.”
“Agreed,” In-ho replies. “Sitting around all day with the stench of fish in the air?”
“Let’s do a new thing this time,” Ji-cheol grins. “Something we haven’t done before.”
In-ho frowns before taking another sip of whiskey. “Like what?”
“Let’s get an escort.”
A stunned silence fills the room before the awkward tension is immediately replaced by raucous laughter. When their brief moment of amusement dies down, In-ho is surprised to see the recruiter with an annoyed expression on his face. His heart skips a beat, realizing that he wasn’t joking.
“Oh - you’re dead serious?” Hee-soon asks. “An escort, really? On the boat?”
“Of course I am!” he shoots back. “Just a pretty little thing we can pass around when we get bored.”
In-ho sighs, “You’ve forgotten that - ”
“No, I haven’t,” Ji-cheol interrupts. “No discussions of work while we’re on the boat. That’s the first rule. And that includes when we’re with Captain Park.”
Hee-soon frowns, shooting a glance at the Frontman. “I don’t have a problem with that, but him? You’re expecting him to shut up and stay quiet about the games?”
“Even if we do talk about them,” In-ho points out. “Who’s he going to tell? And who will believe him? The police?”
“Fine, whatever,” Hee-soon grumbles. “Just don’t expect me to join in.”
“Oh, just you wait,” Ji-cheol chuckles, reaching for his phone. “I’ll find one and he’ll be irresistible. You won’t be able to keep your hands off him.”
“For three days, though?” In-ho points out. “Where can we find a guy like that?"
They scour the deepest corners of the internet until In-ho finds a panderer on the dark web with plenty of good looking, downtrodden people. After searching through several pages, he keeps coming back to one person. Seong Gi-hun. A middle-aged man around their area, his smiling face gracing his profile with his favorite kinks and sexual activities listed on the side. He groans in pleasure, calling that number the following morning. Fuck, he wants to break him down and ruin him until he’s a sobbing, dripping mess before passing him onto his friends.
His panderer - a guy named Mr. Kim - agrees with his price and promises to deliver him to the docks. Despite his initial confusion, the man agrees to give him up for the weekend. Furthermore, he wants all the cash upfront, so In-ho withdraws the price and writes it down as a business expenditure, refusing to touch his own money from his games in 2015. Ten million won feels like an exorbitant amount for an escort, but he’s already dead set on this guy. He vaguely wonders if old Il-nam’s ghost will haunt him for wasting funds meant for running the games.
Captain Park agrees to take them fishing by the island near his home. They schedule their trip for Friday and decide to resume work on Monday. In-ho hasn’t taken a weekend off in ages, so it feels strange to pack up supplies and clothes for the trip. Ji-cheol and Hee-soon meet him at their rendezvous spot by the docks. Seagulls squawk above their heads as the stench of fish grows more unbearable as others bring in their hauls for the day.
Then, In-ho locks eyes on Gi-hun’s face and nearly falls to the ground.
He’s gorgeous. Way too soft and pretty. The pictures failed to do him justice. He’s dressed in a white shirt and shorts, wearing a hat and sunglasses against the heat. In-ho waves him over as his friends clap him on the back in approval.
“Good choice,” Hee-soon points out.
Ji-cheol grins in a predatory manner, “Oh, he’s perfect.”
Gi-hun looks very shy while meeting them, casting his eyes to the sands at their feet. In-ho heaves the cash-filled duffle bag into his panderer’s hands as Mr. Kim lays down a few ground rules for them.
“As I explained on the phone, I need him back by Monday morning at 10,” he explains in a harsh tone. “No permanent marks on him. You can bruise him up all you like, but nothing else. Don’t brand him. You can cut him, I suppose, but don’t let him bleed out to death. He’s a little loud, so feel free to gag him all you want. I put an IUD inside him, so don't worry about birth control. And he cries too much, I’m warning you now. You sure you don’t want to sample the goods before you pay? And I’m charging extra, because you’re sharing him with two other guys. I’ve got others if you want them.”
In-ho shakes his head, his eyes never leaving Gi-hun’s face. “No, he’s fine.”
Mr. Kim shrugs, “Whatever then. See you all.”
When he leaves, In-ho places a hand on his back. Gi-hun jerks away like a skittish foal, his beautiful doe eyes looking up at him and biting his lip. The other two chuckle in amusement at his reaction.
“Please, sir,” he whispers in a pleading voice. “Don’t hurt me.”
“I won’t, I promise,” he reassures as he grows harder in his pants. “Let’s get you settled into a room.”
Captain Park’s boat only has four cabins, so he takes the largest one and places Gi-hun there. The beds aren’t too shabby, but he knows that they’ll probably have sex in other places too. The escort falls silent as he unpacks his bags and takes off his sunhat. Gi-hun bends down to pick up a fallen article of clothing and he stifles a groan behind his fist. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give to rut against him right now. But no, he has to wait until they weigh anchor and leave port. An awkward tension settles into the air as In-ho finally breaks the silence.
“You ok?” he asks. “You sure you know what you’re getting into? Did your panderer explain everything?”
Gi-hun nods, refusing to make eye contact. “Of course, sir. I’ve done this before. Oh - but never for three days straight! My goodness, it’s all so much to take in.”
In-ho grins at his honest confession, “Have you ever been fishing before, baby?”
He laughs, his bright voice echoing across the cabin, “No, never. I’m too impatient for that, Mr. Hwang.”
“In-ho, please. And that’s what we’ll be doing for the whole weekend. Captain Park won’t be bothering us. He usually lets us do our own fishing. And don’t worry, he doesn’t require your services, so I won’t share you with him.”
“Ok, thanks. So - what’s the deal with you three?” Gi-hun asks. “Friends? Coworkers?”
“I’m their boss,” In-ho explains. “We’ve got a big project in two months, so we’re making good use of this nice weather and they convinced me to go on a fishing trip. I didn’t want to leave work, but they talked me into it.”
“Sounds like you’re a workaholic,” he grins. “Oh - and please introduce me to your friends. I can’t wait to meet them.”
In-ho feels a sinking sensation in his stomach as they climb back onto deck. He wonders if he’s made a terrible mistake in promising to pass him around to his friends. But he pushes those feelings aside, reminding himself that Gi-hun’s just an escort. This is his job, after all. He’s supposed to pleasure them with a happy smile and serve all their darkest desires. A soft giggle escapes his lips when he shakes hands with Ji-cheol and Hee-soon. Captain Park asks them to weigh anchor and they set sail in the clear, blue ocean. Choppy waves hit the boat, but they smooth out within the hour as they take out their fishing poles and pick the best bait in the buckets. Once they reach the best spot for catching halibut, the captain weighs anchor and they settle into a familiar routine.
Gi-hun looks confused, wondering when they’ll request his presence. Then, Ji-cheol speaks up, addressing him in a sweet voice that promises sinister intentions.
“Don’t mind us, baby. We’re not going to touch you yet. Just sit there and look pretty for us,” he grins. “Got anything slutty to wear in that bag of yours?”
He nods in agreement, heading back downstairs and changing into a thin black bikini. The sheer fabric exposes nearly every inch of his skin, so he grabs a bottle of sunscreen and his hat for the warm weather. When he goes back on deck and settles onto a chair, the atmosphere on the boat shifts. In-ho, for one, looks downright stunned and he can’t even take his eyes off him. Gi-hun only smiles back and waves, laying down on his stomach with his legs in the air.
Fortunately, neither of them speak up for the next hour until a fish nibbles at one of their lines. Then, the distraction grows each one of them manages to haul in multiple types of fish. Gi-hun watches them with a careful eye as they skin and gut the creatures for their evening supper. When darkness falls on the first day of their trip, he’s very impressed at their catch of the day. He changes into a pair of tight booty shorts and a sheer shirt. The captain fries the crispy, seasoned fish on a small burner and puts them onto different plates.
In-ho pulls him into his lap and feeds him small bites of fish with vegetables. Gi-hun moans in delight at the taste, grinding down on his hardened length. In-ho softly curses under his breath, placing a hand on his bare hip.
“Behave yourself,” he warns in a stern voice.
“Sorry, sir,” he giggles. “You’re just too kind. Thank you for the food.”
“Guess you’re our good luck charm, baby,” Ji-cheol chuckles, reaching over and patting him on the ass. “We haven’t had a good catch like this in months! Hee-soon, what do you think?”
He frowns in his direction, “He’s fine.”
Gi-hun’s practically shaking in anticipation as the sea air cools down and the boat weighs anchor for the night. A full moon illuminates the night sky with stars sprinkled across the heavens, since they’re far away from the city's light pollution. They head back into the communal dining room, trying his best to ignore the way that the three men are looking at him now. He takes off his shirt and tosses it onto the couch, so he’s only wearing his tight shorts, claiming that it’s too hot. Ji-cheol pours them all several shots of soju, but most of them end up drinking straight from the bottle. Their voices grow more slurred with each passing minute.
“The weather was nice,” In-ho muses, his hand trailing up Gi-hun’s soft back as he settles him into his lap again. “And a perfect haul too. Think we’ll have that kind of luck tomorrow?”
“Let’s hope so,” Hee-soon agrees, opening up another bottle of soju. “Does anyone want this flavor? Grapefruit?”
“Oh, I’ll take it,” Ji-cheol says before turning his attention to Gi-hun. “Want some, baby?”
He shakes his head, “No, thank you, sir.”
“Come on, just let loose tonight,” he smiles, pouring him a shot and placing it near his lips. “Open up, you pretty little thing.”
Gi-hun squirms on In-ho’s lap, but he quickly obeys and drinks the entire thing in a single gulp. The sweet alcohol burns his throat, so he coughs as his eyes begin watering in pain. The other two laugh at his reaction. Ji-cheol pats his cheek in approval, but with his calloused hands, Gi-hun feels like he’s been slapped. He winces in pain, whimpering softly.
“Relax,” he sighs, reaching over to grope his pert ass. “If that’s too much for you, then you can’t handle what we have in store. Maybe we should return you to Mr. Kim tomorrow and get our money back.”
“No!” Gi-hun shrieks. “Please - I mean, I’ll behave, I promise.”
Hee-soon blinks in surprise before chuckling in amusement, “Wow, I’ve never seen someone so desperate before.”
In-ho cups his face, lifting his wet eyes up to his gaze. “What’s the matter, baby? Do you really need the money?”
He nods sheepishly, “I’m in debt. Of course I need it. I’ll do anything you all ask, I promise.”
“He sounds more eager now,” Ji-cheol grins, standing up to unbutton his pants. “Put him on the floor there. I want to see what he can do with that mouth of his.”
“I’ll take a turn next,” Hee-soon speaks up. “When you’re done with him.”
“I thought you didn’t want him?”
“Shut up, I changed my mind,” he grumbles.
Ji-cheol laughs, “I told you that you would.”
Gi-hun’s breath catches in his throat when In-ho gently sets him on the ground, delivering a soft kiss to his forehead. After a whole day of waiting, it’s finally happening. Then, the other man pulls out his hardened cock and presses the tip to his lips. Immediately, a sense of muscle memory takes over his instincts. He’s done this a thousand times with other clients, opening his throat up to accommodate their lengths. Some were rough, while others pretended to be gentle or care about his well-being. Gi-hun steels himself as the man grips his hair in a tight manner, pushing his length straight down his throat. He doesn’t gag, though. He’s been trained so well over the years that he can deep throat anything at this point. He hums around the cock, sending delicious vibrations as his nose presses against the man’s crotch.
“Fuck,” Ji-cheol groans, throwing back his head in pleasure.
“Good?” In-ho asks, crossing his legs as he watches the show.
“The fucking best I’ve had in years,” he admits. “Let him touch you too.”
Gi-hun watches him from the corner of his eye as he takes out his own cock. He blinks in surprise. Oh, he’s way too big.
He reaches out and strokes In-ho’s length, adopting a sultry expression as he continues to suck the cock in his mouth, hollowing out his cheeks. Then, the other guy comes over and unzips his pants. He’s overwhelmed by the three bodies crowding around him, murmuring dirty praises for his talents. His knees grow sore on the ground after a while, but he pushes those thoughts away as he tries his best to bring his clients to their peaks. He pulls his mouth off the cock in his mouth and strokes him with a wet hand. Then, he leans to the other side and wraps his lips around In-ho’s length instead, moaning in pleasure as he maintains eye contact. The other two men groan as he strokes them from root to tip.
“Looks like he has a favorite,” Ji-cheol winks at In-ho. “Go on, fuck his face and come on his tits.”
Gi-hun gasps out in a choked voice when In-ho takes hold of both sides of his head, pushing his cock deep down his throat, his fingers tangled in his messy hair. He sets a rhythm that feels impossible to keep up with, while he also services the other two men with his eager hands. He slowly falls into that familiar headspace where nothing else matters in the world, except for being a good, obedient slut for these men. Minutes pass until In-ho groans and pulls his cock out before spilling his warm, wet release across his face and neck. Gi-hun giggles, sending a flirty wink in his direction.
“So good,” he whispers. “Thank you, sir.”
“Clean up your mess,” In-ho orders in a stern voice, settling back onto the couch.
The man’s eyes never leave his face, which feels very unnerving and creepy. Gi-hun scoops the mess onto his finger and presses it into his mouth, moaning at the salty taste. As he licks the rest of his release from his skin, Hee-soon also comes with a deep groan, shooting his come onto his hardened, perky tits. Ji-cheol chuckles, pushing his cock back into Gi-hun’s mouth again. He accommodates the length more easily and sucks deeper, his cheeks hollowing with his eagerness.
“So filthy,” he growls, burying his hand in his hair as he keeps thrusting into his mouth. “Fucking good - fuck!”
He groans and spills his release down his throat before pulling out his length. Gi-hun swallows a little, but most of it seeps out from his lips and drips down his throat. He struggles to regain his breath, wondering if they’ve all had their fun for the night. He continues putting on a show for his three clients, licking up the releases with his fingers as he moans at the combined taste of all of them. It’s very intoxicating to be wanted by so many people. His shorts still remain buttoned up, serving as a reminder that they haven’t gotten to fuck him yet. Then, In-ho speaks up.
“I’m tired, let’s turn in for the night.”
“What’s the matter?” Ji-cheol asks, rolling his eyes. “You’re too old, man. It’s like - nine o’clock.”
“Exactly, we need to be up early. We’re going to new fishing grounds in the morning,” he explains. “Go on.”
They reluctantly agree, so Gi-hun’s left all alone in the room as he slowly rises to his feet, grabbing his discarded shirt. He wipes the remainder of the mess against the fabric and mutters a curse under his breath.
“Goddamn it, they could’ve at least fucked me,” he whispers.
“What was that?”
He turns on his heels, spotting the old sea captain putting out the lights for the evening hours. He shakes his head.
“Nothing, sir. I’ll be heading to bed now,” he says. “Thank you.”
He doesn’t miss how his eyes linger on his ass as he walks downstairs to wash up in the small bathroom before heading to his cabin. Inside, In-ho is still awake. His eyes light up with joy when he spots him and he immediately reaches out, tugging at his wrist to pull him into the small bed. Gi-hun falls into his lap with a soft gasp as he manhandles him, pressing his face to the pillows and shoving the tight shorts off his legs. He groans with appreciation when he’s finally naked, his soaked, dripping cunt in full view from this position.
“Fuck,” he growls. “You’ve been keeping this away from us?”
Gi-hun shrieks when he delivers a harsh slap to his right buttock before grasping his hips so tightly, he knows he’ll be bruised by tomorrow morning. In-ho buries his face between his legs and licks a wet stripe up his clit, causing him to shriek. Then, he spanks him again.
“Quiet,” he orders. “I don’t want the others asking for a turn. Stay still for me.”
Understanding dawns on him as Gi-hun nods in agreement. He wasn’t tired at all. In-ho just wanted him all to himself. His soft moans get muffled by the pillows as In-ho continues tasting him, while he squirms in anticipation. He sucks at his clit and even enters him with two fingers, stretching him out for a better look at his pussy. When he comes, he claps a hand over his mouth to stifle his cries, squirting his release over his face. In-ho only chuckles in amusement, kissing him on the small of his waist and murmuring praises for how good he tastes. Then, he unbuckles his pants and pushes himself deep inside. Gi-hun clutches the headboard as he thrusts against that perfect spot. It’s not long before he spills his warm release once more and his fingers circle his clit until another orgasm hits him without warning. Boneless and tired, Gi-hun allows himself to accept his gentle embrace as he rests his head on his broad chest, while he slowly falls asleep.
When morning arrives, he discovers that the bed is cold. In-ho’s bag is still on the nightstand, but he restrains himself from looking through it for the moment. He freshens up and puts on another pair of tight shorts with a sheer white shirt. The others are already eating breakfast and he’s the last to arrive. Ji-cheol and Hee-soon both wear dark sunglasses and only drink cups of bitter, black coffee with burnt toast, grumbling about their hangovers from last night. In-ho doesn’t look worse for wear like them, because he only had a few shots of soju. Gi-hun sits in his lap again, allowing his client to feed him sweet strawberries and thick slices of honeydew melon. He moans in delight at the taste, which only makes him happier. Once they’re feeling a little better, Ji-cheol addresses Gi-hun and brings up an idea called free use sex, but before he can explain, someone else enters the room.
Captain Park stops by to tell them that they’ve arrived at a private stretch of beach for fishing.
The other men look ecstatic at the prospect of bringing a good haul. Unfortunately, most of the day is spent complaining about the lack of mackarel in this region. Once in a while, a fish will nibble at their lines, but they all struggle in vain to catch one. It becomes a competition between the three of them at some point, while they discuss plans for tomorrow’s fishing trip. Gi-hun distracts himself with a long, spicy novel that day, laying down on a beach towel again, dressed only in his shorts. Then, Ji-cheol drops his fishing line in the sand and makes his way over to him. Gi-hun’s heart skips a beat when he spots his expression. He sits on the towel and rests a hand on his back, tracing it towards his waist.
“Mind if I take a turn, baby?” he asks. “You don’t have to do anything. Just enjoy it.”
He nods, his breath catching in his throat when In-ho’s eyes lock onto him from a distance. But he casts those thoughts aside, ignoring his possessive nature as the other man pulls down his shorts and spreads his legs, revealing his wet pussy. He fingers him for a moment before he grows impatient and sinks deep inside him, his hands tightening on his waist.
“So good,” he groans. “Wish I fucked you last night. Why don’t you sleep in my bed today?”
Gi-hun ignores his comment and pretends to keep reading his book, but it’s impossible with a long, thick cock stretching him out and his walls fluttering around the length. He bites back a moan, his face burning in shame at the thought of someone else seeing them. But since this is a private beach, the chances are slim. He vaguely wonders how rich these men are. Nobody could afford such a luxury unless they worked in a lucrative job. Gi-hun makes a mental note to ask them about their company later. When he comes, he shoots his release against his back and pats him with a gentle rub, groping his pert ass with a hum of approval, slapping his right and left buttock a few times. Ji-cheol sighs in pleasure at the sight of his wrecked expression.
“Good pet,” he grins. “You’re so compliant.”
After that, they have much better luck. They start hauling in more fish and comparing sizes, even taking out a tape measure to figure out who caught the biggest one. Gi-hun rolls his eyes at their ridiculous behavior. When the sun sets, they head back to the boat’s large, communal room and they open up bottles of whiskey this time, pouring him a generous glass with several ice cubes. His eyes widen at the exorbitant price tag on them. Holy shit, who are these people? He has a vague inkling that they’re involved in something illegal, but he’s a little scared to ask.
He’s not surprised when In-ho takes his wrist and guides him back into his lap, kissing him on the cheek with a soft sigh before he asks him to unbuckle his pants. In-ho orders him to keep his cock warm as they discuss the day’s haul, his tone brokering no argument. Gi-hun lines himself up and moans as he feels the wide, delicious stretch, his legs straddling his waist on the couch. His pussy’s walls clench tightly around the familiar length, wishing he could thrust inside. The others watch him with avid interest, their eyes dazed with lust as they wait for their own turns. In-ho keeps a firm, possessive grip on his waist as he takes a sip of whiskey, daring his coworkers to question his first dibs.
“The weather forecast isn’t looking good for tonight,” Hee-soon points out. “Storm front in this area.”
Ji-cheol raises an eyebrow, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Seriously? I checked it the day before yesterday.”
“Well, it’s changed now,” he grumbles, tossing his tablet onto the futon. “Guess we can’t fish tomorrow.”
“How did you get internet access? It’s a dead zone here.”
“I brought a hot spot for emergencies,” he explains before turning to In-ho. “Got an important e-mail and I forwarded it to you. It’s about the supplies for the project.”
His curt, mysterious tone only makes Gi-hun curious about the nature of their work. Before he can ask why they’re so rich, In-ho speaks up.
“We’ll discuss it on Monday,” he replies immediately, thrusting up into his wet, warm heat. “Come on, baby. Ride me now. You’ve teased me long enough.”
Gi-hun takes hold of his shoulders as he rides him without abandon, his soft moans echoing across the room. His legs ache from the sheer force of keeping himself upright. In-ho’s hand reaches for his chest, sucking lightly at a hardened nipple. When he comes, he groans as his warm release floods his insides. Before Gi-hun can recover, Ji-cheol walks over and pulls him off his length and tugs him into his own lap. He takes another cock with less enthusiasm, allowing him to do most of the work. He squeals when he slaps him on the ass again, groaning in pleasure. His cries only grow louder, while his face grows warm in humiliation as Hee-soon also rises to his feet and unzips his trousers.
“Go on, use your hand like you did yesterday,” he growls. “Get me ready to fuck you.”
He nods in understanding, biting his lip as he jerks off the other man with a wet hand. After another load of release is shot deep inside him, Ji-cheol collapses onto the futon. Hee-soon presses him against the couch and pulls his hips upwards, his ass high in the air, before burying himself in his soaked core. Gi-hun winces at the third cock inside him that night, his face contorting in pain at the soreness of his body. His strangled gasps echo across the room. Luckily, the man comes pretty fast and empties his warm release with a heavy groan. When he pulls out, Gi-hun takes a second to catch his breath and wipes the sweat off his forehead. His hand slowly reaches for In-ho’s wrist, locking eyes with him and his expression begs for a break. If he was ten years younger, he could go another round, but he’s exhausted now. The combined release of all three men seeps out of his core, making a mess on the couch, as he collapses onto his back. He watches the others as they pull their pants back up and finish drinking their expensive whiskey.
Suddenly, the door opens and Captain Park walks in.
“I’m making preparations for the storm that’s - oh, sorry,” he apologizes, turning his gaze away from Gi-hun's bare ass. “I wasn’t aware that - ”
Ji-cheol speaks up, “You can take a turn with him too, Captain. We don’t mind.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, go on,” Hee-soon says. “He’s ready for you.”
He squeaks in surprise when the older man walks up to him, his heart pounding in fear. Before he can begin to touch him, In-ho suddenly breaks the silence.
“Stop it,” he orders, throwing a protective hand over Gi-hun’s waist. “He’s tired, ok? We’ll have time tomorrow.”
Ji-cheol chuckles, “You’re growing soft, man. He’s just a whore.”
“We don’t want to break him,” he points out, gathering his tired body up in his arms. “If we do, we’d have to pay extra.”
“Hey, he should sleep with me tonight,” he whines. “Please?”
“Or me,” Captain Park adds.
In-ho doesn’t even consider their words as he takes him to his cabin and cleans him back up with wet towels. He allows him to dress him in a warm shirt and pants for bed. Gi-hun’s feeling more sleepy by the second as he watches his careful ministrations. The small lamp at their bedside flickers, casting shadows on the walls.
“Aish, why do you care about me?” Gi-hun asks in a drowsy voice.
“I - I just do,” he admits, his eyes growing more somber. “Go to sleep, baby. I’ll be here when you wake.”
He drifts off in his arms once more, feeling safe and protected in a strange way.
When Gi-hun wakes up, a sharp clap of thunder explodes across the sea.
He bolts up and In-ho reaches for his hand, pressing a kiss to his knuckles.
“Just a storm,” he explains in a gentle voice. “It’ll pass by us, I promise. We won’t get hurt. Just keep sleeping, ok? I’ll bring your breakfast here.”
Gi-hun dozes off once more, refusing to look at the clock. After everything that happened yesterday, time makes no sense. Logically, he knows it’s Sunday and he’ll be serving another client that Mr. Kim procures soon, but he can’t even bother to think of the future right now. When he wakes again, it’s still drizzling and cold, lightning flashing across the stormy, dark skies, so he pulls on a heavy black robe. He washes his face and brushes his teeth, wincing at the purple bruises against his hips.
His footsteps echo as he climbs back onto deck to the dining room. Outside, the storm on the sea continues raging on as the wind howls like a frantic, dangerous ghost. Suddenly, he hears tense voices shouting at each other.
“...if we can’t get those damned supplies, then what are we going to do for the fourth game?” Hee-soon is saying.
“It’s just going to be delayed, that’s all,” In-ho explains. “The guards will work overtime to finish it in these last two months. The incinerators need to get fixed first. How else can we get rid of the bodies?”
Gi-hun’s eyes widen in horror, his heart pounding in fear. No, this has to be a bad dream. He didn’t hear that right, did he? Bodies? Are they part of the mafia? Or some other criminal enterprise? Do they make their victims play games before killing them? Before he can go back downstairs and pretend to be asleep, Hee-soon continues talking and scrolling on his tablet.
“Fuck it, you can’t even plan this out right. I could do a better job than you. I told you that we should have gotten the organ donation thing approved this year - ”
“Is that so?” In-ho asks. “Go take it up with management then. Or the VIPs. I’m sure they’d love to hear your complaints on their system. Don’t forget, I can easily take you out like I did to that guard last year. The one who pulled off his mask.”
He grumbles more curses at his boss under his breath as Ji-cheol tries to calm him down.
“Look, it’s not a big deal, right?” he points out. “When I was a guard, I noticed several last minute changes to games - ”
“Oh, fuck off,” Hee-soon interrupts. “You’ve got it easy. All you do is walk around town all day. You don’t even watch the damn games. And you harass those homeless people on your days off too.”
He raises an eyebrow in surprise, “Really? You’re seriously saying that to me? The guy who recruits the trash that plays the games?”
“Yeah, I am. You got a problem with that?”
Gi-hun’s foot stumbles on the top stair as he struggles to regain his footing. Their voices suddenly fall silent.
Shit. Fucking shit.
He turns around, but the damage is already done. Hee-soon stalks over to his hiding spot and grabs his arm in a fierce grip, tugging him over to the center of the room. He spots In-ho and Ji-cheol’s shocked expressions as he’s pinned to the wall. Hee-soon grips his throat and tightens immediately, prepared to suffocate him to death. Gi-hun whimpers in pain, crying out for help. Tears drip down his cheeks.
“How much did you hear, you slut?” he yells.
“I didn’t!” he shrieks, his hand clawing at the man’s arm. “I’m sorry! I won’t tell anyone, I swear! I promise!”
Hee-soon growls, “You know what they always say? Dead men tell no tales. I should toss you overboard and let the sharks feast on your corpse. Such a worthless bitch.”
He keeps fighting until In-ho grabs the man by the shoulder, tugging him off with a fierce shove. Hee-soon nearly falls to the ground from the force of his attack, his head knocking against the table. Blood spills from his split lip, dripping down his chin.
“Enough,” he orders, laying a protective hand on Gi-hun’s shoulder. “We’re not killing him.”
He spits out another curse, “You’re fucking weak, boss. All this over a whore? Says the man who runs these games and kills without mercy?”
In-ho growls, “You’re crossing a line there. Shut your - ”
“Weak,” Hee-soon repeats, wiping the blood from his mouth. “And fucking pathetic. Simping for a cheap slut like him - ”
He never manages to get another word out. In-ho slams a fist against his cheekbone as they fall to the ground, scrabbling at one another, while delivering more loud insults. Ji-cheol tries to pull him off the other man, yelling at him to spare his life. Gi-hun stares in horror, wondering what he should do. He winces when he touches the bruise on his throat. Another clap of thunder jolts the ship as a flash of lightning explodes in the heavens.
Captain Park shows up a second later in a raincoat, soaked from head to toe. He sighs in annoyance, as if the three of them fighting is a normal, everyday occurrence.
“Hey, break it up, gents! Break it up!” he yells. “Back to your corners!”
His words manage to bring some semblance of civility between the three. Gi-hun slowly lowers himself onto a couch, wishing that he could disappear from view. Luckily, aside from a few bruises and cuts, they don’t look harmed at all. But the revelation that they’re participating in criminal activities? He can’t shake that thought from his mind. All the expensive whiskey and access to private beaches makes sense now. But he refuses to learn more about it.
They all ignore him for the rest of the day, stewing in anger in their own cabins. Eventually, In-ho comes over to him with a strong glass of whiskey and seasoned, crispy fish. He refuses to take a bite as he keeps checking the clock, wishing for tomorrow to arrive, so he can leave this boat. His hunger eventually wins out after a few minutes, so he takes the plate and devours the fish.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you,” he starts. “I should have told you the truth about our - ”
“It’s fine, I really don’t care,” Gi-hun interrupts, waving a dismissive hand. “I should have known.”
“Known what?”
“That you only pretended to worry about me,” he says, fiddling with his robe’s hem as he casts his eyes to the ground.”
“I wasn’t pretending,” In-ho insists, brushing a lock of hair away from Gi-hun’s eyes. “I do care for you.”
He scoffs, “Sure, of course you do.”
“I’m serious!”
“Did you really have to beat your coworker up over me?” he points out. “You’ve got some severe, dangerous anger issues. Ever heard of therapy? No wonder you’ve killed so many people.”
His honest words hold a profound effect as In-ho falls silent. After a few awkward minutes of tension, he speaks up again.
“You have no idea about the things that I’ve been through,” he whispers in a haunted voice. “I was a victim once too. Of those games - ”
“I really don’t care,” Gi-hun says, crossing his arms. “It can’t help me pay off my debts. And the police won’t care if I tell them. You guys are too rich to be jailed for your crimes.”
“Then let me pay those debts off,” In-ho insists, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. “How much do you need?”
He laughs, setting his plate down on the coffee table. “You’re not the first client who’s said that. And you won’t be the last either. But you think that’ll fix your guilt for all your crimes or something? That’s cute.”
"I want to help."
"Really? Then stay away from me."
His voice breaks, "Gi-hun, I'm - "
"No, I'm serious. Don't come looking for me. After this weekend's over, pretend like you never knew me in the first place. I never want to see you again."
In-ho's hurt expression only makes him feel a vindictive sense of pleasure. Gi-hun rises to his feet when night falls and heads back to his own cabin. The other men refuse to even make eye contact with him, which is a real win in his book. When they’re passed out from too much liquor that evening, he sneaks into their rooms and grabs the most valuable things he can find.
As the sun rises, he dresses in a comfortable jacket and pants, packing up his bag. The ship makes port and Mr. Kim’s already there. Ten o’clock on the dot. He bids goodbye to the crew and even hugs the captain, only to make the others annoyed.
As he steps into his boss’s car, he reaches into his bag and clutches three heavy wallets. Gi-hun smirks to himself. It isn’t the first time he’s done this, but he enjoys the thrill each time.
Now, let’s see how much their credit card spending limits are.
Later on, as they’re packing up to leave, Hee-soon speaks up first.
“Have any of you seen my wallet?”
“Mine’s missing too,” Ji-cheol points out, checking his pockets.
In-ho only chuckles, shaking his head. It takes a few seconds for the other two to realize the truth. They curse his name in unison.
“That fucking bastard.”