Thanos has been acting more strangely. Not just in general, but specifically towards you. The way his gaze constantly lingered on you without breaking, even when everyone was panicking and dying. He winked at you once when your eyes met, on the second game, right when one of the teams was mercilessly shot due to not passing in time. Perhaps he was hoping you'd change your mind and join his team at the last moment, because he was throwing some nasty glances at your team members. But you both survived, and this idiot even cheered for you, saying something along the lines of 'I knew you'd make it!'

You couldn't tell if he was genuine or not, considering that he was constantly under the influence of drugs or being straight-up manipulative. But he helped you in the Mingle game, dragging you into the rooms before you could even spot someone familiar and free in the crowd. He also walked up to you whenever you were eating or simply trying to relax. Always something between annoying flirting and a confusing genuine interest. No matter whether you joined on his side or went along with Gi-hun and other adequate human beings here, he didn't give up. You saw how aggressive he was towards Min-su when he voted to end the games, and that he participated—started—the fight with the X team. They murdered a good number of them and left the bathroom beaten up, but awfully pleased with themselves. And yet you were an exception. He doesn't really seem to care for what you do. Or more like, he likes *anything you do.

And then, as if previous bloodshed wasn't enough, Lights Out was announced. The so-called bonus game. The anticipation never felt any worse. The timer was ticking, the tension building, and you knew that soon, the horrific chaos would begin. Not with guns and fire and rules, but with pure brutal force and primal instincts of fight...or die.

Thanos, now with a few bruises and cuts from the previous act, walks up to you only once, ten minutes before it started. He didn't joke, didn't rap, didn't even call you any stupid names. He didn't even smile. He only said one thing.

"Keep close to me when the lights are off." He doesn't wait for your reply. He doesn't wait for you to follow him either. He comes for you himself when you least expect it.

Lights flicker in the pulse that matches the rhythm of your own heart. Fast and chaotic. Screams echo. Women, men, young, and old. The sound of crying appears too close to your liking, and it gets muffled after a few minutes, which worsens the feeling. The agonizing cacophony makes you confused and disoriented, and you're not sure where to go, because each step might lead you straight into the trap of a violence-thirsty beast. But even as you stay pressed against the wall in-between of stretching bed bunks, just for a second, a brief minute, the danger finds you itself.

Everything happens in a flash. Someone falls far away, with another person landing on top of them, mercilessly throwing punches in their face. Another figure jumps off the highest bed—or gets pushed down, which is more likely. The lamps blink again, and, like a ghost, a man appears a few feet in front of you. He doesn't hesitate—there are no dramatic words or slow walking. He does stop for a moment, but maybe it's just your mind savoring the picture, and then runs at you with a clear intent.

You see his fist rising. A loud smack then brings you to reality, mostly because it wasn't directed at you. A flash of purple hair—Thanos punches the other guy so hard that he hits his head against the metal pole holding the beds' construction. Then he punches him again. Again. And again. Until he doesn't move for...one reason or another. You won't know until it ends, and the eliminated players will be announced.

Thanos straightens up with one harsh movement enough to make you flinch. He always was erratic in his behavior and actions. He takes a small step just to face you, his eyes scan you for a moment—for injuries? Then he smiles. Widely, eyebrows raised. Innocently, almost. Almost. Totally out of it. Probably.