Far Cry | JJK x OC

✔Chapter 23 // Identity

Leah was a patient teacher. As she waited calmly for Namjoon to follow her tracks, she thought back to the first time Daniel showed her and Jungkook the basics of the jungle. That day she was exhausted and it had been tough keeping up. Since she had become stronger and now she wouldn't even pant anymore while doing that familiar trail.

Still, she tried to pass on the most important details: the positioning of the feet, how to track a path onwards and backward, how to account for the weather and to always listen. It was harder for him to walk with his arm tied, his balance was not one hundred percent and he was visibly uncomfortable.

"The heat inside the jungle is way worse than in the village or at home. It must be the humidity," he had said, breathing heavily.

Indeed, it was the most tiring part — feeling like one was breathing inside a sauna. She sighed, observing around them while the birds sang and the sun shined through the trees. Still, there were worse parts of the jungle than that one, it was pretty okay there, she thought.

She was baffled by her recognition of their surroundings but more importantly, with her evolution, it cheered her up. She helped Namjoon by keeping some branches out of his way until they reached a familiar clearing.

They stopped on the outskirts. Namjoon wondered what place it was and Leah thought it was the first time she saw it being used. Aaden was standing with his arms raised and Jungkook was landing punches against his open palms. His breathing was quick, he was jumping on his feet, and the exercise seemed to be about speed and precision.

Leah knew they would train but she didn't know it was there. "Well, this is the place we told you with the armory," she pointed at the building across the clearing. "But now you know: if you want to see Jungkook and he is training, this is the place."

Because of her voice, Jungkook noticed their presence and looked their way. Aaden was not impressed and because his trainee slacked off his punches for a couple of seconds, he punched him right in the stomach by surprise. It wasn't a strong one, just enough to kick the air out of Jungkook's lungs by catching him off guard.

Jungkook exhaled completely and bowed forward, protecting his chest with his arms and his face with his fists automatically, which did please Aaden.

"Always be on your guard," he declared while taking a step away from Jungkook. He turned around, "Do you need anything?"

"No, just showing him around," Leah answered, now seeing Jungkook's angry black eyes shining in the distance.

Aaden waved an okay and turned back to his trainee, "Now with an open stance."

And they kept going as if it never happened. Namjoon looked at him going at it and felt conflicting emotions. Of course, Jungkook was strong and relentless — that was him, they raised him like that. But on the other hand, why did he have to be so persistent and brave? Couldn't he just stay put and wait?

"Come, let's go back. This was already okay for a first experience, no?"

Namjoon glanced at her and nodded quietly, he could see what she was doing and he appreciated it. Leah was friendly and she had an appeasing presence. He followed her back, still trying to grasp the way to apply the rules she had told him about the jungle. He was starting to understand how she was able to keep Jungkook grounded all by herself: she sounded calm and sure, and she was patient and attentive. She had even managed to talk to him, to have Namjoon open up and to demystify his insecurities and darkness that he had trouble facing by himself. She also had a certain courage to her, of a different kind.

"I really must ask," she said, looking at him with a small smile. "Is Jungkook your brother?" He looked at her. "It's just because you both refer to one another as brothers, but you don't look that much alike."