ros

okay i’m gonna write this from the perspective of you liking it/being in the community and him being your bf 🙂‍↕️

i think it’d already be in his character to tickle you sometimes? at least maybe early on in the relationship but due to his super sense he could basically feel how startled you were each time he did so he probably decided to lay off

little does he know all that nervousness and spikes in your heart-rate are due to how much you like it

actually telling him that you like it and explaining your feelings would be sooo hard because he’d be so EARNEST in his interest i’m crying he’d be nodding with a serious expression like he’s fr listeningggg

he’s accidentally making you more flustered because he finds it all so adorable so he can’t help the adoring, dimpled smile that he flashes you as you speak or the soft coo of that leaves his lips when he hears you say something especially sweet

he’s can’t help it!!! he thinks you’re so cute and this is especially cute

plus he also just loves making you laugh already so now that he has more excuses to do so he’s super happy about it

okay now. as a ler? he’s somehow very soft and gentle despite his crazy kryptonian strength, he’s ridiculously good at making you laugh yourself silly

if you’ve seen the movie you’ll see how he enjoys a back and forth and he can be pretty snarky himself so his teasing consists of observations and compliments mixed in with smug little jabs

“oh my gosh, you’re so ticklish here?? have you always been this ticklish??” (he’s gonna ask you this like every week because he can’t believe how sensitive you are)

“you’re adorable- did you just snort?! oho i have to get you to do that again.”

“y’know earlier? was that you were saying about my costume looking stupid again? nonono repeat it, what did you say?” and he’s grinning whilst wiggling his fingers under your arms so you literally can’t

“your cheeks are so warm, are you embarrassed? am i making you flustered?” he KNOWS damn well

i also think sometimes he doesn’t tease through words? like he’ll make cooing sounds or let out amused chuckles god it’s SO AWFUL

he doesn’t have a particularly favourite spot, any spot that makes you laugh the hardest or giggle the sweetest are usually his go to BUT. BUTTTT

that being said

i feel like he’s a fan of the ribs idk

something about pinning one of your hands above your head with ease while counting each one of your ribs as he gently rakes and wiggles his fingertips between the spaces until you’re throwing your head back in hysterics…. it appeals to him

he also rarely pins you too

any stray punch or kick from you feels like a feather to him so you can squirm and thrash however much you want because it doesn’t really make a difference to him

plus he thinks it’s cute to see you curl up and move this way and that to try and get away even though you don’t really want to

just looking at his face is enough to make the experience 10x more embarrassing because he looks SO FONDLY at you whilst reducing you to a giggly mess, the sheer amount of love in his eyes is ridiculous

he defo laughs with you

he finds laughter, especially yours, to be sooo contagious so he really can’t help himself

i also think he has a habit of kissing you whilst tickling you too

he lovessss peppering your face with kisses as well as kissing your lips and feeling the vibration of your giggles against them as he gently spiders his fingers across your stomach

and if kisses in ticklish areas get to you? yeah you’re doomed

he’s incessantly pressing his lips wherever he can reach now

humming & chuckling against the skin of your neck and abdomen as he showers you with featherlight kisses everywhere

he defo has a soft spot for pressing a long smooch to the area righttt behind and under your ear because he knows how badly it tickles

if you act out or be playfully rude to him to get tickles? yeah it’s so over.

he’s really good at fixing you with this amused, ‘oh really?’ look whenever you do

as soon as he quirks a brow up?? yeah it’s game over wrap it up he’s gonna get you

now.. i know i yapped a lot about him as a ler but i also think he’d be very cutesy as a lee

i think the cutest part is that he’s literally superman?? he has all this strength and power so for this to happen he has to let you do this to him

the imagery of clark’s hair being all disheveled as he tosses his head back while you skitter and dance your nails around his sides??

his cheeks the prettiest shade of pink as his eyes are closed and all scrunched up with laughter????

and despite all of this he’s staying so completely still for you?? just letting you do it while he cackles??

so charming it’s ridiculous

i know his laugh is super cute too and i can guarantee he snorts sorry

just seeing those dimples on full display like that would pretty much kill me i can’t even

You still can’t stop replaying your very first day here. Suddenly waking up in a green tracksuit, a number being stitched on the chest area. Everyone shared confused glances, some demanding for their questions to be answered once the guards showed up to greet them all.

Then, red light green light. One of your favorites to play when you were little, getting every kid on the block to come join. One stands far off in the distance, back facing from the group of kids whose goal was to get to the finish line. All while not getting caught moving a muscle once ‘red light!’ falls upon their ears, giggling quietly under their breath from the adrenaline. If you got caught moving, you’re out. Having to walk yourself to the side, watching the others compete. That simple.

You don’t remember a rule where you get shot in the fucking head when playing the game.

If it wasn’t for your first initial reaction to stay completely frozen in fear when seeing the first victim collapse a few feet in front of you, blood spattered across the sand, you knew you wouldn’t be here on the fourth day.

You gave a promise to yourself: don’t get too close with anybody here.

One second, everyone was on their knees after surviving the first game, pleading with tears from fear to be brought back home. The next, once revealing a golden piggy, getting stacked with cash they have never seen so much of in their lives, majority did not hesitate to press the blue button during votes. All witnessing people get shot in front of their eyes, some of their blood stained on other player’s tracksuits. That didn’t matter anymore, though. The guards showed them a taste of how their already shit lives can do a complete 180, only having to make that happen by continuing on.

You’re beginning to see so soon on how money can truly bring the worst out of people, and it’s only getting started.

That promise of yours did not last long, however. Moving on to the second game, the rule of having to get in groups of six was all you heard as your mind started to blank out. You didn’t move, watching everyone walk by you. Everyone got into groups almost instantly like they all knew each other, but in reality nobody wanted to be left in the dust. The battle you fight with gaining courage to walk up to people and start a conversation has never left since grade school, finding it more in your comfort zone to keep to yourself and never speak unless spoken to.

That is, until you landed eyes on a woman who stopped in front of you. Tall, hair resting neatly on her shoulders, her patch reading ‘120’. It didn’t take long for you to recognize that it’s the same woman who tried helping the limping man during the first game, carrying half of his weight with ease. With determination. A man she’s likely never met before, but helped regardless to cross that finish line. Almost like she’s been in similar situations like that before.

Nonetheless, her actions drew you to her.

The no words being exchanged has made her start to walk right by you, ultimately making you snap out of your zone. Your feet had a mind of its own, turning towards her to watch her halt in her tracks the second your voice calls out, tone uncertain.

“Do you….want to team up?”

Her gaze softens upon you.

That’s where it all started. The comforting word of advice she doesn’t hesitate to give you when it was your team’s turn to play, hands still buzzing from the sensation of her fingers rubbing along the skin soothingly to ease any nerves away. How the third game made its wrap around, never letting you out of her sight for a second. Hand in hand, hurrying you to every available door that granted safety to not just your entire team, but to you specifically.

You follow her around like a lost puppy, and she lets it happen.

The fourth game finally makes its appearance, guards ushering all players to an empty room. You walk in side by side with Hyunju, the rest of the team you two have formed following shortly behind. Yongsik holding dearly to his mother’s hand, Geumja, who always has some words of encouragement every start of the game. As if she can feel everyone’s looming dread of fear, not letting a fraction of that feeling weigh the people she grew to be fond of and get to know over the course of four days bring them down. The motherly love is not just given to her son Yongsik anymore, but is now given to you and Hyunju as well.

“Just stick together, like we always have been. We’re going home after this, I can feel it this time.”

You wish you could believe her.

Right smack in the middle of the room was a gumball machine. Assorted with only two colors, blue and red. Everyone forms a single file line, each person stepping up and with a firm twist, a gumball comes out to determine what team they will be on. You watch everyone get their color team assigned one by one, heading over to a pink guard on the side that hands them a vest with their color and a box, going over to sit and wait for further instructions.

It is now the people you’ve been sticking by their side since the beginning to find out what team they’ll be on, all taking a moment to themselves before fully turning the knob.

Guejma: Blue.

Yongsik: Blue.

Hyunju: Blue.

You, the last person, steps up. You stare down at the knob, then at the gumballs all jumbled together in the glass, then at your team who’s all staring right back at you.

You find Hyunju’s eyes first, and you let your gaze stay there for a moment. She communicates with her expression, letting you know there is nothing to worry about. Regardless if you twist that knob, the gumball comes out and it reveals to be red, she will still have you right by her side. You are not going anywhere that’s out of her sight.

And that is all you needed from her to finally twist that knob.

Blue.

- - -

The yellow stars scattered across the ceiling is the only source of light for the maze, every corner turned a new child’s drawing appears on the walls that gives everyone an eerie vibe. Colored rainbows, houses, stick figures that smile, yet this is far from anything wholesome. Death lurking behind every door that isn’t the right one for those who have keys, having to keep moving along while also being on high alert to not get cornered.

Cornered by someone with a red vest, knife in hand, willing to do anything for that key blue vest players have.

So far, things have been going as safe as it could get for you and your team. All sticking together, whispering in hushed voices incase of the opposing team near, unlocking doors that aren’t the right one yet, but it doesn’t slow anyone down. Hyunju always makes sure to be walking in front, everyone quietly following behind. The natural born leader in her is admirable, years spent in the military shaping her into the selfless courageous woman she is today.

Being in a maze, it starts to mess with everyone’s head. It felt like you guys had been walking for hours. Scared to turn every corner, fearing someone on the opposing team is lurking close by. Countless doors being unlocked but never granting safety, having to keep on moving. You try your best to take in your surroundings, noticing every detail on the walls to make sure you guys aren’t going around in circles. Everyone is under a time limit, after all. Ten minutes, and those who remain still stuck in the maze will be taking their very last breath in it.

You pass by a hall, and halt your movements. It’s long, a bit narrow, dim to make you think twice before heading down. However, at the end, there is a staircase. A staircase you’ve never seen before.

“Wait, guys—“ you try to call out, but when you look over, they’re already nearing a corner.

You should go after them. You should whisper a little louder to grab their attention, to make notice of a potential new escape you just found. But you don’t. You don’t know why, but your feet start moving towards the dim-lighted hall towards the stairs. Walking slowly, careful for your shoes to not make much sound under the gravel it’s on.

You make it to the bottom, eyes trailing all the way to the top as it continues on to a whole new path. A second floor to this maze that was never mentioned in the description by the guards. You had to find it yourself. All tucked in, waiting to be spotted. Tucked in a room that is an exact replica of the room all players first entered, to throw you off that you have already been here before and to head on the other way.

It didn’t fool you.

As soon as you turn to go find the rest of your team, you jump at the appearance of Hyunju right in front of you. Eyebrows furrowed, breath panting, as if she went through a minute of hell the second she realized you were gone from the team.

“What are you doing?”

You open your mouth to explain, but close it right back up the second the sound of footsteps approaching fall upon both of your ears. Hyunju drifts her eyes up to the staircase behind you, then takes your arm to go three steps up, letting the wall divider cover the both of you. Your back flushes against her chest, one arm snaked around your waist to keep you close, both of your guys’ breathing coming to a stop to stay quiet as ever.

The footsteps approach nearer until you can hear them just a few feet away from your hiding spot, ten steps more forward and the both of you would be revealed.

Hyunju only meant to tighten her hold around you, pressing fingers gently into your side. It was a mindless action; but you squealed.

Loud.

It gets cut off short almost instantly, a firm hand clasping around your mouth. The two of you have never been more still, as if not moving a muscle could make the both of you disappear.

You try to control your breathing growing more frantic by the second, thinking there is no way in hell the person on the other side didn’t hear that.

However, the player just tsked, more focused on the disappointing fact they must’ve already been in this room before, tricked by the repeating patterns on the brick walls.

The walk on gravel by the player had to have concealed the sound of your squeal, for they did not continue any further.

They turn, and leave.

Waiting it out for a few moments, Hyunju finally retracts her hand back. You turn to face her, Hyunju’s facial expression going through a battle on deciding whether to be irked or more so confused at how you nearly sealed both of your fates.

Over a squeal. By a simple press to your side.

Dying right then and there never seemed more perfect, expecting the inevitable of Hyunju addressing it.

But she doesn’t.

Instead, she starts to make her way back.

“C’mon, let’s go find the others.”

- - -

The timer read two minutes when you brought back your team to the staircase you have discovered. A tall, wide green door with ridges at the very end of the second floor of the maze you all practically darted through, opening to see a pink guard standing in the middle, this time without an intimidating gun in sight to make you think otherwise.

The walk back was of mostly Geumja praising you for your good eye, had you not seen those stairs all of you would’ve been nestled in those coffins with a pink bow, then lightly jabbing at her son to be more like you only to lighten the mood on how intense the game was overall.

You come back to the bunks with a small tin box in your hands, dosirak being tonight’s dinner. Your eyes flicker to Hyunju’s bunk, being empty. Geumja took one look at your expression, then gestured down to the door where most of the guards are standing. “She went to the bathroom, dear.”

You give her a small ‘thank you’ smile in response, setting down the tin box on your bunk. The intensity of the game you just went through, the slight humidity in the room, mind obsessing over the different case scenarios had you not been careful and observant, a rinse up to clear your head never sounded more perfect than now.

The guard silently stepped aside, letting you by. You push past the door, into the bathroom where you find Hyunju at the far end near all the sinks. Assuming she didn’t hear you come in, still splashing a bit of water to her face with no look towards the mirror in front.

A weird playful feeling starts to buzz in your chest.

You make your steps light from behind her, gazing to the mirror to make sure your presence isn’t easily seen.

When she turns off the faucet, starting to suspect you there, that’s when you taze her sides.

What you were expecting was a sudden jump, maybe even a yelp, to flash her a cheeky smile when she faces you.

But you didn’t receive any of that.

What you received has made your heart drop, actually.

Hyunju didn’t flinch. Not once. She slowly turns, your hands in hers, corner of her lip twitching up because the dumbfounded look you hold in your eyes is just priceless.

“Oh, you aren’t…?”

A gentle shake of her head. “No, but I know you are.”

Your mouth goes dry.

You never gripped her wrists so quickly, fingers stretched to attack. Knowing damn well she can easily break off your hold, but let’s you have the upper-hand for a second to build up as much anticipation as possible. Reveling in the nervous giggles when she hasn’t even done anything yet, backing up into a wall where she follows.

“Wahait, please..!” You protest, but she ignores it.

“Hm, now let’s see,” Hands effortlessly breaking out of your hold as you suspected, latching to your sides which almost made your knees buckle. “Where was the spot that made you squeal earlier? Was it here?”

Thumbs start to massage the skin in deep, unrelenting circles, movement slow but unbearably ticklish. A squeal escapes past your lips, confirming Hyunju’s search. The move of her thumbs becomes a little bolder, fueled by your instant reaction.

“Ah, right here. I remember now.” You grab onto her forearms, but never make any effort to push away. It was more for support, balance, legs threatening to give out any minute.

“Is this your most ticklish spot?” Hyunju asks ever so casually, as if to expect you to give her a coherent response that isn’t mixed with high pitched giggles. Before you can even try, she retracts her hands away, putting a small stop to your hysterics.

Then, fingers snake to your neck.

Your shoulders don't waste time scrunching up, in a desperate attempt to halt her movements. She giggles quietly at the noticeable difference, laughter sounding a bit more frantic than before. You weren’t even aware your neck was this ticklish, but you’re convinced it’s just the way Hyunju tickles you. Fingers seemingly skilled, applying the right amount of pressure into the skin, easily finding certain spots that bring your laughs an octave higher and sticking there for a good few moments.

“I guess not.” Hyunju responds to her own question she asked, stopping the skitters of her nails when your shoulders scrunch a smidge more tighter.

“Plehehease, noho more…” Your eyes stay squeezed shut, cheeks hurting from the grin continuing to overtake your features. You feel her fingers lightly wiggle, pursing your lips in a thin line to stop the giggles bubbling in your throat so it won’t egg her on.

“Okay, but I’ll need my hands back.” She wiggles them again to prove them stuck, can’t help the tiny smile of your squeaks.

You don’t move.

She raises an eyebrow, scoffing. “You don’t trust me?”

Her tone having a teasing glint to it doesn’t help your doubts at all. She knows that, but she also knows you’ll eventually have to hunch your shoulders back down.

hesitantly, you bring them back down, mentally preparing for the tickles to start back up again once given more space. But they don’t, Hyunju pulling her hands away to smile softly down at your breathless state.

“You’re evihihil….” you say mindlessly, leftover giggles pouring through.

A hand shoots forward to squeeze near your hip bone. “I’m what?”

You put your guard down too quickly, a mistake on your end to think she wouldn’t react to your little remark. You breathe in too fast, a snort coming out that has you both freeze.

Hyunju widens her eyes, having a twinkle in them like a child on Christmas Day.

You start your incoherent giggly protest, intertwining your fingers through hers to push distance, the smirk she wears growing your nerves rapidly by the second.

Before she can seek out that snort again, pinching the bone softly, the door suddenly opens which makes the two of you jump. A guard standing at the entrance, not one tilt of his head to question what you guys were doing before he interrupted.

“Time’s up. Head on back.” He says flatly, scooting to the side to watch the both of you leave.

You forgot how heavily monitored everyone here is, including having timed bathroom breaks. Three minutes to do your business, or they’ll start getting suspicious. The last batch of people here before you must’ve given them a reason to start standing right outside the bathroom doors.

The two of you don’t spare any glances when leaving, heading to the bunks where the conversation between Geumja and Yong-sik starts to pick up in your ears. You start to open your mouth to join in, but words don’t come out.

Another snort does, instead.

The singular pinch on your hip left as soon as it started, would've been convinced you made it up in your head had you not set your gaze towards Hyunju immediately.

Already sitting on the stairs, avoiding your burning glare, picking the dosirak with her fork. The action was done swiftly, intentional, leaving you to explain the noise you just made to a very confused Geumja and Yongsik.

“What was that? Are you alright, dear?” Geumja, bless her heart, asked with concern.

Hyunju finally meets your eyes, the beam in her smile determining how you move tomorrow. You mentally called bullshit on her claims of not being ticklish, catching the corner of her lips twitch just barely when you surprise tased her sides. She may be better at exceptionally fighting the sensations off more than you, but you know there will be cracks after a minute goes by.