Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 9 - endless darkness

The tunnel stretched endlessly in front of them — a long, dark passage that seemed to swallow the light of Jungkook’s flashlight. Every footstep echoed in the silence, amplifying the sounds in the stillness. But it was the distant, almost imperceptible noises behind them that kept his nerves frayed, every so often reminding him that they weren’t entirely alone down here. Or at least, it felt like they weren’t.

Jungkook kept close to Namjoon, his heart racing with every scuff of his boots against the concrete. The dim glow of the flashlight gave the tunnel an eerie quality, shadows darting in and out of his peripheral vision like ghosts. His chest tightened as the low, distant noises behind them grew louder, and even though he tried to focus on the path ahead, his mind kept wandering.

Then, a sound, louder than the rest — a sharp, distinct noise that echoed through the tunnel. Jungkook jumped, startled, and in his panic, he stumbled to the side, right into Namjoon.

For a split second, Jungkook froze. His body tensed up, and his mind raced thinking about how the elder might react. Would he be angry, shove him off? He didn't seem to like any sort of physical contact! Would he hit him? It was by accident!

But before Jungkook could dwell on the thoughts any longer, Namjoon’s arm slipped around his waist, pulling him closer in a steady, protective motion. The gesture was so unexpected, so uncharacteristically gentle from a man like Namjoon, that it nearly knocked the breath out of him.

“Easy,” Namjoon said softly, his voice calm and controlled. “It’s just the tunnel. Keep moving.”

Jungkook’s heart hammered against his chest, but it wasn’t out of fear this time. There was something different about the way Namjoon held him — firm but not aggressive, his grip strong yet somehow reassuring. For a brief moment, Jungkook felt the tension in his shoulders melt away, as if, for the first time since meeting Namjoon, he could actually breathe.

He leaned into Namjoon’s side, feeling a strange sense of security he hadn’t expected to find down here in the depths of the abandoned subway. It wasn’t much, but in the cold, dark tunnel, it was enough.

But then, just as quickly as the comfort came, it vanished.

As Namjoon’s hand settled on his waist, Jungkook shifted a little, suddenly feeling something solid and metallic under his fingertips. He stilled. At first, he wasn’t sure what it was, but then he shifted slightly, letting his hand brush against it again — the cold, unmistakable shape of a pistol, securely tucked at Namjoon’s side.

His breath hitched in his throat. Fear — sharp and sudden — gripped him once more.

He’s armed. Why does he have a gun?

Jungkook’s mind raced. He hadn’t known Namjoon was carrying a weapon, and the realization sent a chill down his spine. The man had been vague about the details of their deal, about the things he expected from Jungkook in return for protection. Now, with the cold metal pressing into his side, the reality of the situation felt far more dangerous.

Namjoon hadn’t hurt him — not since they made the deal, at least. But this was a reminder of how easily things could change. Namjoon wasn’t just dangerous in theory; he had the means to back it up. A gun, hidden away like some silent threat. Jungkook’s pulse quickened, and a sinking feeling settled in his stomach.

What did I agree to?

Namjoon hadn’t been cruel to him, but he hadn’t revealed much either. And now, as Jungkook stood pressed against him, the weight of that pistol in Namjoon’s waistband felt like a warning. He didn’t know what Namjoon had planned — what he might ask of him, what he might demand in exchange for keeping him safe.

The vague terms of their deal suddenly seemed far more ominous. Do everything I say. No questions. Those words echoed in Jungkook’s mind once more.

Jungkook swallowed hard, glancing up at Namjoon’s unreadable face. The older man’s expression was calm, focused as ever, as if the weight of the gun on his hip meant nothing. But for Jungkook, it was a game-changer. The man who had shown him an unexpected softness in the cold, dark subway, now felt like a threat again.

Namjoon had power — real, tangible power. And Jungkook was vulnerable. He needed Namjoon, but that same need made him feel trapped.

His chest tightened as the reality of their dynamic started sinking in again. Jungkook had allowed himself to feel comforted, to let his guard down, and now he was paying the price. He couldn’t forget who Namjoon was, what he was capable of.

I can't trust him.

"Calm down, you look like you saw a ghost. It's just shadows I promise." Namjoon stated with his low voice not really helping Jungkook ease his mid this time, but he tried his best to at least pretend it did.

"Yeah well... let's get going please. I don't feel comfortable..." he mumbled, stepping away from Namjoon.

The silence stretched between them as they kept walking, the flashlight beam flickering against the crumbling walls. Jungkook’s mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts — fear, gratitude, confusion. He tried to keep his breathing steady, tried to calm the panic rising in his chest.

But the cold, hard metal of the gun against his side was a reminder: Namjoon wasn’t just his protector. He was also a threat.

The thought gnawed at him as they continued deeper into the tunnel, the echoes of distant sounds still haunting the air behind them.