Dae-ho had been shaking. He was good at gonggi, after all he always beat his older sisters when they were kids— he was more worried about you.

Thankfully, you had gone before him, Dae-ho had the pleasure of seeing your excitedly relieved face as you walked out of the game room and back to the dormitory.

He remembered the fear he felt when he laid eyes on you, his fiancé. It was just after the first game. You had told him you had taken the Salesman’s offer to help him pay off his debts, and Dae-ho, despite the intense love he felt for you in that moment, had been terrified.

Everything rested on Gi-hun now, their eyes trained on him as he kicked the Jegi once, twice, thrice, quarce and then he stumbled. Young-il, as he knew him, had thrown his leg forward to catch the fifth kick.

And then they had won. Dae-ho had practically sprinted back, catching you into a hug and twirling you around. Another game you had won with your life, another game he had you in his arms.

Dae-ho was still trembling, kissing your cheek as he whispered reverently. He had backed you up to his bunk, and laid down with you cuddled as close to him as he could manage. He needed this. Needed to unwind after the turmoil and stress of the pentathlon they’d just struggled through. Needed you.