Rare

13th part

Namjoon knew the food wouldn't last long.

It had only been a day and the loaves of bread were already gone. Of course they were. Three hungry men needed more than just some bread to keep them satiated. Especially Jimin. His sick body was absolutely dependent on nutrients. Nutrients that they did not have. All because of Namjoon. Because he had failed. He should have gotten more, or even gone back after the alpha had disappeared. Jimin was going to die and now he and Hoseok were too, because he couldn't do one easy task.

"Joon-ah." Hoseok's tone was light as he placed a cold hand on Namjoon's shoulder. "It's not your fault. You were attacked for heaves sake!! Had it been me, I know I would have dropped everything and ran. You did more than good enough." Hoseok had already said this fourteen times (yes, he was counting). It didn't make him think he was less of a failure.

Then again, he couldn't blame Hoseok for repeating himself. He had refused to tell the other the fact that he was sick as well. That he was dying too, and that Hoseok would soon be alone to face the dangers of the world. The alphas.

Namjoon felt an intense shiver spread through his weak body at the thought. His leg where the alpha had bit him stung and they still hadn't been able to properly stop the bleeding. Now Hoseok barley even had a tank top left of clothing from all the make shift bandages. Oh, how he wanted to apologize. The older was doing so much only for them to soon die and rot anyway.

A tear ran down his cheek, but he was quick to wipe it off with his arm. It was bare, his shirt had faced the consequences of their increased bandage use as well. Hoseok was sitting on the log right next to him, he wasn't going to let the other see him cry, there was no need to worry him further.

"I'll go bring us some more food." Namjoon had hoped his voice would come out strong and determined. Would sound like he had already set his mind to it and there was nothing Hoseok could do to stop him. He tried to sound fine. Even though he wasn't fine. He was freezing cold, yet was sweating all over. The infection in his arm has spread and he was woken up by goo oozing out of the broken limb. His leg was bleeding, and hurting to the point where he could barley even stand up. He knew he had a fever, and he was certain that Hoseok knew that too, he was just too afraid of the truth to admit it. In the end, his voice came out sounding just as rough, weak and tired as how he felt. Why was he such a disappointment?

"No!" The older omega said strictly, pushing Namjoon's half risen frame back unto the log. "You are not going anywhere. You are going to stay here, watch over Jimin and relax." He stood up. "I'll go. It's my turn anyway, so it's only fair." No, it wasn't his turn. It was Jimin's, but they both knew that Jimin couldn't go. That he was lying unconscious on the log, just waiting for death to finally sweep him up and out of his misery. Still, Namjoon didn't want him to go. What if the alpha was still there? What if he attacked Hoseok, the only person left that still had a chance? There was no way he could allow that. Hoseok was precious, he was the only one of them left who could do this. Who could be free. Make Yoongi's sacrifice seem worthwhile.

"Don't do this for me." Jimin had said on the first day of his fever. "Do it for Yoongi. So we can all see him again and live his dream together." They had all laughed a little at that, worried, but hopeful. Jimin had seen fine that day and the two oldest had been almost certain that he would manage to recover again. The next day though, his health had deteriorated. He barley even opened his eyes, but the few times he did, he made sure to smile at them. They knew it had hurt him, but they had both smiled back as brightly as they could, tear-filled smiles.

Right now, Namjoon was doing worse than what Jimin had done on his first day, and he was beyond scared to see how it would be tomorrow, if he would even be conscious. "Seok-ah." Namjoon said lowly, voice rough and body too weak to lift his head up to look at the older as he spoke. He tugged slightly at the remains of the older's white pants, to keep him from leaving. "What is it Joon?" He sounded tired, probably was tired. Hoseok didn't deserve all this. "If we die, leave us." The older jumped up immediately at that, and grabbed a hold of Namjoon's heated cheeks, squeezing them carfully. "Don't you dare say that." He told, sounding more serious than Namjoon had heard him in a while, and even though he knew the other tried to hide it, there was an undertone of fear in his voice. "You are not going to die. It's my duty as your hyung to see to it."

"Hoseok please." The younger said. He would have tried to remove the older man's grip, but he was too weak to move and the hands felt cooling on his burning cheeks. "Please promise me not to let your life go to waste. If we die, it's not your fault. You are doing everything that you possibly can." A tear ran down Hoseok's cheek and he looked.... Hurt? Sad? Namjoon was too exhausted to even think about it. "I'll go get us some food Namjoon." He said, gently removing his hands and ruffling the younger's sweaty hair before ceasing his touch. "Promise hyung." Namjoon tried again. Hoseok had to promise, he was the only one left who could prevail. There was no time for him to worry about those whose faiths were already set. "Hyung." Hoseok started walking towards the edge of the forest.

"Hyung." Namjoon whimpered out a measly "Don't go." He cursed at himself for the utter weakness it was filled with.

Hoseok didn't turn around and continued to walk. "Hyung!" Namjoon yelled as loudly as he could, though it still wasn't particularly loud. "Come back!" Now, the tears he had tried his best to hold back, were streaming down his flaming cheeks non stop, he reached his hand out, grabbing at the departing shilluete of the other. No, Hoseok couldn't go, he thought desperately. Hoseok couldn't leave them alone like this. Hoseok could't die. Namjoon broke down, full out sobbing, whimpering. Tears were streaming down his cheeks like waterfalls, and the salty taste of tears and snot got in his screaming mouth. His body shook harshly, and he fell forward, off the log and collapsing down unto the dirt beneath him. "Hyung please." He weeped as he laid on the ground, watching his tears get soaked up by the dry bark beneath him. "I love you." This time his voice was a mere whisper. So quiet that even the rustling wind couldn't carry it along. Hoseok didn't hear him, he knew that if he did, he would have turned around. Namjoon was so tired, so exhausted. Everything hurt and Hoseok was leaving. Why was he leaving?

Namjoon gave up on calling for him and let his body fall fully unto the soft bark. This was the only time since their first day of freedom, where thebark seemed pleasant, welcoming. Like it was chanting at him to let go of his worries and pain, to sleep a little. He always could sleep, he told himself. His body was drained and weak, maybe he would feel better afterwards if he did, could help Hoseok. Then again, he shouldn't right? Deep inside he knew that it wasn't a good idea to sleep now. Either way he needed to call out for Hoseok and make him come back. He needed to attend to Jimin as well, there was no time to sleep. Slowly he let his body rest on the bark beneath him. He wasn't going sleep, just relax a little. Get some energy back from his exhausting breakdown. The bark was still chanting at him, a strangely lulling rhythm telling him it would be fine. Would it be fine? No, he shook his head, he wasn't going to sleep, just relax. He closed his eyes. Just relax a little. Just relax.

Under the blue sky and bright sun, his body went limp.