Paternal Instinct
squid game men's x daughter reader
☆ As the title says, this is gonna be a little bit paternal, like, I'm sure they'd be the best when it comes to children (sometimes)
☆ I will put imagines in and out of games and depending on the character the reader will be of different ages.
☆ The next thing I'll post will be a request from Thanos
Hwang In-ho
● Outside of games.
You, being a teenager in this world that your father dragged you into after your mother's death, were complete chaos.
You worked as a supervisor at his side wearing a mask with the figure from the square depicted in the center and despite being part of an organization of sadists you have not killed anyone, In-ho made sure you did not have to.
You walked into your room and removed the mask from your face as let out a long sigh, it had been a long day overseeing the creation of the games that this year's participants would cross and now all you wanted to do was sleep but as soon as you dropped your body onto the soft mattress, the door opened.
In-ho, without his frotman suit, entered your room with a small cake in his hands and the candles lit.
True, it was your birthday, ¿how come you forgot your own birthday? Maybe it's because you spent the day planning the deaths of innocent people.
—I asked for this cake to be made for you —In-ho said with a small, almost imperceptible smile.
They weren't as close as before, but he cared about you and tried to pay attention to everything that had to do with you.
—Thanks —you forced a smile as you sat on the edge of your bed —But it wasn't necessary.
You wanted to take it back when you saw the slight grimace on your father's face but couldn't, you simply weren't in the mood to celebrate your birthday under these conditions, your life wasn't the best and although you didn't hold any grudge against In-ho sometimes you wondered what your adolescence would have been like if he had left you with your uncle Jun-ho and your grandmother.
—I know you think that, you can say it —He said, leaving the cake on the table next to your bed.
—¿Why didn't you leave me with Jun-ho? I don't want to live here, I've had enough with my mother's death without seeing you become a puppet for these games.
In-ho sighed and looked down, you were right, he should have left you with his brother, he could have taken better care of you than he was doing but he didn't want to abandon you, he had already lost the love of his life, he couldn't lose his little world after that.
—You are the only thing I have left —He responded with regret —Believe me, I considered it, letting you have a life you deserved but I couldn't just watch you through cameras ¿Do you think bringing you to this shit was my first choice?
You didn't respond, you just hugged him and let him return the gesture, you still didn't want to continue living there but you didn't want to leave him alone either, after all, both only had each other.
After a few minutes of silence you looked back at the cake and smiled softly.
—¿Is it chocolate?
—dark chocolate, your favorite —He left a fatherly kiss on your head and took the cake again to put it in front of you —Blew out the candles and make a wish
The smile on your father's face was enough to ease your worries for a few moments, you blew out the candles hoping that one day these games would end.
● Inside the games.
In-ho's plan was going just as he thought, he approached Gi-hun and began to gain his trust but seeing you walk towards them among all the players made his heart skip a beat.
—¿Can I be on your team? —You asked with a smile that showed your white teeth.
—¿How old are you, girl? —390 asked with a surprised expression.
—Twenty —You replied naturally, playing with your hands, but In-ho snorted and took two steps towards you.
—No —He looked at you witheringly —No —Now he turned to see Gi-hun's team —She is sixteen, no twenty ¿What are you doing here?
He ended up looking at you again, he really didn't want you to be here and worse because his lie along with his fake name Young-il would fall apart but you were smart.
—¿Do you know each other? —Asked 388, who you found cute almost immediately.
—Yes, he is a friend of my father
—¿What are you doing here? —In-ho asked again, almost desperate to get an answer. You disobeyed him and you can be sure that you will be grounded until you turn thirty.
—The same as you —You answered firmly and defiantly, your smile challenged him because you were sure that he wouldn't scold you or his whole false theater would fall apart —¿Can I be on your team?
—Sure —Dae-ho replied, smiling kindly at you.
You smiled at him too, but with other intentions, just to irritate your father a little and take advantage of the fact that he couldn't scold you now.
—Thank you —you said with a flirtatious smile and a wink, to which Dae-ho lowered his head in embarrassment.
—Sixteen —In-ho repeated with slight annoyance and a tense smile.
Dae-ho tensed and raised his hands in a sign of peace and took a step back, he was just being kind but it was better to be safe than to have to face that man who kept looking at you with annoyance and reprimand.
You would be a problem for your father because not only would you challenge him at every opportunity you had but you would also try to help Gi-hun end these games, that was your wish and nothing was going to make you change your mind.
The Salesman
● Outside of games.
The morning was calm, everything was silent and through the window you could see the clear sky with the sun shining, a good climate but a great contrast with the interior of your home.
The walls were wallpapered and the floor was shiny, you placed your hands on the cold marble table while your father placed a plate with a mountain of pancakes in front of you.
—Breakfast is ready —he said with a wide smile.
A polite smile, but most of the time it conveys coldness and threat. For you, this expression was genuine affection.
—¿Aren't you going to have breakfast with me? —You asked curiously watching him wipe his hands with the kitchen cloth and then fix his hair and walk towards the refrigerator.
—I would love to stay pumpkin but you know I have to go to work —He replied without paying much attention to you —After finishing your breakfast you take off your pajamas, get dressed formally and wait for your teacher to arrive.
You nodded silently as you used the fork to bring a piece of pancake to your mouth.
Life was monotonous.
Every day, you got out of bed to make it, had breakfast that your father prepared, bathed, combed your hair and got ready to take your private lessons at home, did your homework and at night you watched an exact hour of cartoons, brushed your teeth and went to bed.
Your father was a very organized man when it came to your schedule, you remember how one time you watched five extra minutes of television and as punishment he locked you in your room for five hours.
“Television melts your brain”
Despite everything, he loved you, you knew it, he just had a strange way of letting you know.
—I'll be back tonight, I love you pumpkin —He said approaching you to leave a kiss on your forehead.
He was a good father, but you didn't know anything about what he was doing out there.
You didn't know that he recruited and investigated people who would die playing for money or that sometimes he took on dirty jobs that his boss sent him, you didn't know what kind of person he really was and that was what the salesman wanted.
He adored you and that's why he avoided at all costs that you knew about the double life he led, he didn't want to hurt you.
However, there were certain mistakes that he regretted, one for example was that he himself had killed your mother as soon as you were born, he knew that she would want to run away with you, she did not want to continue living the life she had at his side and that was why he had to put a bullet between her eyes.
He didn't let her take you away from him, you were his daughter and even though he locked you up practically every day, he convinced himself that it was only for safety.
He only let you go out for a walk in the park and shopping malls on your birthday, once a year.
Despite how boring your life was, everything was going well until one night you heard moans and sobs coming from below your house.
You rarely heard them and this time you were very curious, you got out of bed, put on your slippers and left your room.
You silently walked down the stairs as the noises grew louder, when you reached what seemed to be the source of the sound, you saw that it was your father's secret room, a door that led to the basement was always locked, but this time... it was open just a little.
—¿Daddy? —You called him softly as you opened the door.
As you walked down the dark basement stairs, sobs mixed with opera music filled your ears, sending a shiver of fear through your entire body, you hugged your teddy bear tighter.
—The probability of dying is one in six and of surviving five in six —You heard your father's voice.
He explained with a polite smile, it was a great contrast to the situation was in, he liked to feel the adrenaline of this game and that way he could also get rid of these two men who had been following him during the day.
However, when he saw you at the bottom of the stairs with a scared expression and on the verge of tears, his smile faded and hid the gun behind him.
—¿What are you doing awake? It's past your bedtime and I told you a hundred times that you weren't allowed to come in here.
He spoke sternly and angrily, the two men he had tied to a respective chair began to make desperate sounds to get your attention, as if you were the only way to get out of there.
—¡Silence! —He shouted furiously making you jump a little in your place, you hadn't seen this side of him —Go to your room, ¡now!
Once you ran out of there, he took out his gun again and pointed it at the man in the red shirt. He was the one who made the most noise and that's why you woke up.
—Excellent, y'all traumatized a nine-year-old girl —He said with a tense smile
Although it was also his fault, he knew that at any moment you would discover his work anyway, but he hoped that wouldn't happen soon.
After you returned to your room you couldn't sleep, a couple of hours passed until your father opened the door and cautiously entered.
—You were disobedient —he began in a serious voice —And as a result you saw something you shouldn't have.
You were still lying face down with your face hidden in the pillow, he still had the loaded gun in his hand, he knew what had to do or else you would cause trouble.
But him couldn't.
The ease with which he killed his father was surprising but he couldn't kill you, you were the only thing that gave this home humanity and the mere thought of ending it made his stomach turn.
He clenched the gun in his hand and twisted his lips, after a long mental battle he put the gun in his pants and sat next to you.
—There are many things that you still won't understand, but what you can be sure of is that I am your father and I love you —With his hand he caressed your hair and felt you relax a little. —No matter what you saw down there, you will still be my daughter, but there will be some changes in this house.
You remained silent, you felt distrust but he was still your father, he was the only thing you knew and even if you were afraid of him you couldn't leave there, you had nowhere to go.
After a few minutes you sat up in bed and hugged him for comfort. He just caressed your hair and kissed your head.
Hwang Jun-ho
● Outside of games.
Being the daughter of a police officer had its advantages and disadvantages.
One advantage was that you could brag about it whenever someone bothered you at school, including teachers, and a big disadvantage was that you rarely got to spend time together as a father and daughter.
Jun-ho worked constantly but he also tried to keep an eye on you. "She's your daughter, before you know it she'll be your age," his mother constantly repeated to him reproachfully, she was right, time was flying and if he continued looking for his lost brother or working double shifts at the police station he would miss more years of your life.
For that reason, he decided to leave work early that day, and went to buy two hamburgers, some chips and candy while he thought of some fun activity to strengthen the family bond.
But when he got home he found you sitting at the table next to your teacher.
He twisted his lips, assuming you had gotten into trouble.
It was no surprise, you missed some classes, you didn't bring homework and your grades weren't the best but you were a great girl in terms of your behavior, just very distracted and Jun-ho couldn't help but feel guilty about that behavior on your part, yeah, sometimes you did it to get his attention.
After talking for two hours with your teacher she left and your father looked at you tiredly.
—You haven't taken any algebra classes, if you continue like this you'll fail the year.
You formed a fake smile on your lips.
—The teacher hates me —You stated, getting up from your chair to go towards the bag that your father had brought. —You left work early.
—I thought I'd do something fun, you know... father-daughter
You saw him with a raised chest, it was not usual, it was already customary for Jun-ho to spend most of the day outside the house, either looking for your uncle or immersing himself in his work.
—¿It's a holiday and I forgot? —You asked funny and sarcastic, turning around to get a juice from the refrigerator.
—Funny —he responded falsely —Now bring your notebooks, let's study together.
It was not the entertaining activity that he had in mind but if it brought them closer as a family it was an opportunity that he would not waste.
—¿Oh really? I mean, I already missed the school year anyway.
The look on Jun-ho's face let you know that he wasn't joking, they were going to spend the next four hours studying numbers and equations.
You really thought it would be a waste of time but it wasn't like that, as the conversation about algebra flowed the confidence did too, Jun-ho had been absent many times but this help made you remember that no matter what happens or how, no matter how big or small the problem is, he will be there for you.
● Inside the games.
You were stubborn, you always disobeyed any order they gave you, even if your father asked you not to get involved in his affairs you ignored him because were family and you should support each other.
The last few days you had seen Jun-ho more worried and anxious than normal, so you decided to follow him and find out the reason for his current state but you didn't imagine that it was something related to the disappearance of your uncle In-ho, apparently he had already got some clues and you wanted to help him.
He scolded you when he discovered you and warned you not to get involved, he even went to leave you with grandma with the excuse that he would be away for a couple of days but you escaped through a window and followed him again.
That led you to where you were now.
Your bare feet were sweating and your hands were shaking, you tried to avoid looking down through the glass you were in but curiosity got the better of you and you looked down into the void.
You were terrified.
The night you followed your father, one of the men dressed in pink with a circle mask discovered you, left you unconscious and when you woke up you were wearing a green uniform with the number "455" lying on a bed and surrounded by several people who dressed the same, you thought it was some joke, you didn't know what you had gotten yourself involved in, and when you saw that had to play a series of games to avoid being killed, you felt as if the soul was leaving your body.
You looked for your father among all the players but you couldn't find him and shortly after you learned that he had infiltrated the guards, he told you when he came in during a fight between players and was able to talk to you for a few seconds.
—I don't want to die —You murmured fearfully as you heard another glass breaking accompanied by a scream.
—You're not going to die, you have to relax —218 spoke behind you, you were one of the last to cross these crystals and you were more than grateful for that.
You gulped and continued jumping to the next crystal that fortunately had already been tested by another player.
Meanwhile Jun-ho felt his stomach turn and his heart beat like crazy.
He tried to maintain a firm and calm posture, he was still an infiltrator and he couldn't let them notice his concern, but seeing you there between life and death made his heart stop.
One of the so-called "VIP" with a gold mask called him to serve him more liquor and he obeyed, however, the conversation that these people were having about the players made his blood run cold, they talked as if they were just entertainment, some circus animals so that these people could have fun as spectators, but what caught their attention the most was the way they talked about you.
"She looks about fifteen years old" one said with amusement "I say sixteen" spoke another.
Wrong, you were thirteen years old and Jun-ho felt like the worst father in the world for letting you get involved in this.
—¿Will sell the body if she dies or will they cremate it? —One asked interestedly and earning laughter from the rest, Jun-ho only felt nauseous listening to it.
Jun-ho returned to serve liquor to one of the masked men but when he heard a glass break followed by a female scream that he immediately identified as your, he turned around and felt his world collapse.
Where you were previously standing was now 218 with the gaze lost downwards and the body tense, when it was your turn to decide between the two crystals you refused, you didn't want to do it and saw the man who helped you survive each game was there behind you ready to push you.
Another breaking glass caught the attention of the guests, guards and the frontman, Jun-ho had dropped the tray with everything and bottle of liquor.
—I apologize —he murmured, bending down to pick up the mess of broken glass, taking advantage of the fact that no one could see his face, he shed tears of pain.
[...]
A few months had passed after living that nightmare in the games, Jun-ho left there with a bullet in his shoulder and with the disappointment of discovering that it was his brother who was leading all that, but also thanks to that you left alone with some broken bones.
In-ho recognized you instantly and made sure that you could get out of there alive, when you fell from that glass platform your body did not fall directly to the ground, the blow was cushioned by a pad that had been placed specifically for you.
He pretended you were dead and sent you to the hospital, When Jun-ho found out that you were there, he cried with happiness knowing that you were still breathing.
He walked into your hospital room with a set of clean clothes in his hands and when he saw you sitting on the bed eating Jell-O and watching TV he couldn't help but laugh.
—For you this was a vacation.
—Falling from a great height brings its advantages —You said with a triumphant smile, you had gotten rid of many exams and schoolwork.
He always apologized to you for everything you had to go through, from that day on he stopped looking for In-ho (or at least he did it secretly from you) and he was more attentive to you, he took you to school, he was never missing to any event that was special for you and he promised to put you ahead of everything.
Seong Gi-hun
● Outside the games.
He's not the best father but he tries.
You were standing in the forum of your school wearing a dark blue robe and the characteristic mortarboard on your head, in your hands you held your diploma and tried to smile for the camera of the photographer that the school had hired.
You still looked between the seats in the stands for your father but there was no one, your mother had gone with your sister to the United States with her new husband and you had stayed here because you didn't want to abandon Gi-hun.
You formed a grimace on your lips and looked down with sadness and disappointment until suddenly you heard him voice among the people and you looked up again.
—Yes, my daughter just graduated, ¡Oops! Sorry if I stepped on you —He spoke embarrassedly as he crossed the row of people to get to his seat.
You laughed softly and inevitably raised your hand to greet him and get his attention even though your teacher scolded you.
Gi-hun carried a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift box in his hands, he sat in his respective place and smiled at you affectionately.
To be honest with himself, he had not planned to come to your graduation, he would apologize to you later by taking you to eat, giving you a gift and flowers, but in the end he decided to go, late but he arrived.
It took him a long time to find the salesman again and he was practically investing all his money in it, this day was not going to be different, ¿what made him change his mind? The photo of you as a baby that he had saved on his phone, the one-year-old you would cry inconsolably if he knew he was going to be without him on this special day.
When the ceremony ended you ran towards him, who welcomed you with open arms.
—Congratulations my life, I'm proud of you —He said, giving you a fatherly kiss on the forehead.
—Thanks for coming —Your smile was enough to confirm that he had made the right decision.
He gave you your flowers and the gift, when you opened it you found a beautiful sewing machine, it was the most appropriate gift considering that you had just graduated as a fashion designer.
—¡Thank you dad! —You said happily, hugging him tightly again.
You were excited and he was also happy to share this moment with you, he had isolated himself from everything for the last three years but you managed to get him out of his comfort zone to also make him smile.
Sometimes he isolated you to protect you, he didn't want anyone involved in those games to know that he had a daughter, a great weakness if they asked him and if something happened to you he was sure that he would never forgive himself and he would be capable of doing the unimaginable for defend you.
He called you "my life" and it was because that's what you were to him, his entire life, his oldest daughter was all he had left.
● Inside the games.
The last thing he wanted to happen was exactly what happened.
The night they took him back to those games you were also dragged with him, not by your own will because you didn't know anything about this but by the simple fact of being the closest to him you found yourself involved in this conflict.
—¿Why didn't you ever tell me about this? —You asked him cautiously as ate the food those pink guards had given them in silver cans.
—I didn't want you to get involved in this —He admitted with an expression of failure and anguish —But now you're in danger.
—We'll be fine —You smiled at him with motivation —They're just... they're child's games ¿right? We will get out of here alive.
—She's right, we just have to be prepared —Young-il said agreeing with you.
You stayed quiet and sat next to your father while you finished eating until a dispute between players caught your attention, one with purple hair and his friend forcefully pushed another to the ground.
A grimace of pain formed on your lips as the poor guy was kicked in the abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
—¿Aren't they going to help you? They are hurting him —You complained, turning to look at the group of allies that your father had formed, but when you saw that no one was going to do anything, you stood up.
But as soon as you took a step, Young-il put a hand on your shoulder as a sign that he would take care of the situation.
After he hit the two bullies you went to player 333 and helped him stand up.
—¿Are you okay? Come with me —You said leading him to your group.
He gave you his name as a thank you, Lee Myung-gi, while you were talking to him you noticed that he was attractive and he was only a couple of years older than you
Well, eight years to you wasn't much of a difference but your father wasn't too happy about it.
During the next game in which they had to team up with five players, Gi-hun tried to keep you close.
—Well, the five of us are here, we are complete.
—Myung-gi doesn't have a team yet —You said, approaching 333 who was still standing next to you but looking in all directions in search of some team —I'll go and form another one with him.
Those words didn't seem pleasant to Gi-hun either, but before he could refuse, Young-il interrupted to help you a little.
—That's good, this way it will be easier for you to find team.
You thanked him with your look and before your father could say anything you took 333 by the hand and the two of snuck through the players in search of a team.
Even so, you could feel your father's gaze on your back and not to mention Myung-gi, he did feel somewhat intimidated but he also couldn't deny a certain attraction he had towards you since he saw you.
It was incredible and made you laugh how despite the circumstances he was still protective of you, not only protecting you from physical harm, but also emotional harm and keeping an eye out in case someone wanted to break your heart.
With the salesman I didn't put it into the games because I think it's obvious that that man would never allow something like that when it comes to his daughter.
Thanks for reading and the next thing I'll post will be about Thanos, a pending request :D
