Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 22 - Hoseok's pov

J-Hope, his hands still bound behind his back, tried to keep a brave face as he guided Namjoon and Jungkook through the twisted wreckage of the city. Despite his earlier bravado, fear was evident in his eyes, and his posture was tense. Every now and then, he would glance back at Namjoon, who was closely watching him, and his fear would deepen.

When they reached the spot where the old jeep was hidden, J-Hope’s nervousness was palpable. The vehicle was partially covered by a thick layer of dust, debris, and old clothes, which had been haphazardly thrown over it. “It’s right here,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “The key is under one of the seats.”

Namjoon glanced at Jungkook before turning his attention back to J-Hope. “Keep talking,” he said. “How do we know this isn’t some sort of trap?”

J-Hope shook his head vigorously. “I swear, it’s not a trap. I just need your help right now. The key’s really under the seat. I don’t have any reason to mess with you. Please, just... let me get this over with.”

Namjoon’s gaze remained unyielding, but he nodded once and gestured for Jungkook to start clearing the debris from the jeep. As Jungkook began wiping off the dust and pulling away the clutter, J-Hope’s anxiety was evident. The threat of Namjoon’s gun and the cold, unyielding demeanor of the man had left J-Hope feeling more vulnerable than he had ever admitted to anyone. He hated himself for it but on the other hand he noticed how Namjoon seemed to feel more at ease when he showed some weakness, so maybe being the scaredy cat he was would work to his advantage.

When Jungkook finally located the key and handed it over to Namjoon, J-Hope swallowed hard. His heart was racing, and he tried to focus on the task at hand, avoiding direct eye contact with Namjoon.

“Get in,” Namjoon instructed. “Jungkook, you drive.” there was no mistake Namjoon was the leader of the two, judging by the way he commanded his partner around.

Jungkook nodded, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the engine. The old jeep roared to life with a surprising amount of noise, and J-Hope flinched at the sound, clearly on edge. He looked at Namjoon for a reaction as he was quite scared the condition of the jeep wouldn't satisfy him but he didn't even turn around so he relaxed again slightly. 

As they began to drive away from the wreckage, J-Hope remained silent, his hands still bound, and his face a mask of fear and submission.

Despite the situation, he felt a flicker of relief as they left the wrecked area behind. But his anxiety remained high, knowing he was entirely at the mercy of Namjoon and Jungkook. He dared not ask to be untied yet,  aware that Namjoon was the one holding all the power. And although the curiosity of their destination was eating him up he didn't ask about it keeping his mouth shut.

The journey in the jeep was tense and silent, with only the sound of the engine and the occasional bump from the rough terrain breaking the silence.

J-Hope’s mind raced as he sat in the back seat of the old jeep, his hands still bound behind him. He tried to ignore the aching in his arms and the roughness of the ropes digging into his skin. The fear gnawing at him was far worse than any physical discomfort.

Every bump in the road made him wince, each sound of the engine felt like a drumbeat of his anxiety. The image of Namjoon’s cold, calculating eyes loomed large in his thoughts. J-Hope had been reckless when he had initially confronted Namjoon and Jungkook, but now that he was in their power, the bravado he had tried to project was nothing more than a fragile facade.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Namjoon’s earlier threats, the gun that had been pointed directly at him. Namjoon’s presence was intimidating, his authority undisputed. Even the way Jungkook, who had seemed so scared at the subway station, now sat confidently at the wheel, did nothing to alleviate J-Hope’s anxiety. If anything, it served as a reminder that Namjoon and Jungkook were a team, and he was completely at their mercy.

J-Hope’s mind also kept returning to the negotiations and the deal he had tried to strike. His earlier attempts to convince Namjoon and Jungkook to join forces seemed almost pitiful now, in the face of their power. He could hardly believe they had agreed to the deal. The fear that had surged through him when he realized Namjoon might actually go through with his threat to end his life was still fresh, and it made him shudder to think of how close he had come to dying.

He glanced occasionally at Namjoon in the rearview mirror, but he was too afraid to make eye contact. Namjoon’s face remained expressionless, and J-Hope couldn’t read his thoughts or intentions. The silence in the jeep was oppressive, and J-Hope felt a gnawing discomfort from both the physical restraint and the psychological tension.

The constant, low rumble of the jeep’s engine did little to drown out his thoughts. He wondered how long they would be traveling, and what would happen once they reached their destination. Would they untie him then? The uncertainty of his situation weighed heavily on him.

J-Hope also found himself reflecting on how his earlier arrogance had led him here. He had wanted to be a leader, to command respect, but now he was reduced to a frightened captive, hoping only to survive and perhaps earn a chance to prove his worth.

He glanced at Jungkook, who was focused on driving, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Jungkook seemed to have genuinely cared about J-Hope’s well-being, despite their previous encounters. J-Hope hoped that this sense of shared humanity would be enough to buy him some leniency, but he knew that it was Namjoon who truly held all the power. The thought of Namjoon’s unwavering resolve and the threat of the gun made J-Hope’s stomach churn.

As the jeep rolled over the rough terrain, J-Hope kept his head down and tried to focus on staying calm. He knew that any sudden movement or attempt to challenge Namjoon’s authority could end badly for him. For now, all he could do was wait and hope that he would find some way to negotiate his freedom, or at least to survive until he could earn the trust he so desperately needed.

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Poor Hobi is terrified (⁠´⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠.̫⁠ ⁠.⁠ ⁠'⁠)