Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 27 - sympathy

As the campfire crackled softly in the quiet night, the atmosphere between Jungkook and J-Hope had become surprisingly light. They had found themselves in conversation again, an easy flow of words passing between them. J-Hope had relaxed considerably since their initial meeting, his jumpy nature replaced by an enthusiasm that was infectious.

“So, you used to dance too?” Jungkook asked, his eyes lighting up as J-Hope grinned and nodded.

“Yeah, back in the day. Before… well, before all this,” J-Hope said, gesturing with his chin vaguely at the desolate world around them. “It was my passion. I couldn’t imagine a life without it. You?”

Jungkook’s smile widened. “Same here. I loved dancing and music. It’s probably one of the few things that kept me going through all this mess.”

J-Hope’s expression softened, his eyes reflecting a shared understanding. “Music has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? When everything else falls apart, it’s still there. Keeps you sane.”

They exchanged stories about their favorite songs, their favorite dances, and even shared some memories of old TV shows and movies they loved. Jungkook laughed at how similar their tastes were, feeling an unexpected sense of familiarity with J-Hope. It was strange, but in this broken world, finding someone who shared his interests felt like discovering a piece of the past he thought he had lost forever.

But then, a sudden wave of discomfort crept in as Jungkook glanced across the fire. Namjoon sat silently, his eyes fixated on J-Hope. There was no warmth in his gaze—just cold, hard intensity, like he was silently evaluating every word J-Hope said. Jungkook shifted uneasily, not entirely sure what was going through Namjoon’s mind, but it was clear that he wasn’t sharing the same easy camaraderie Jungkook was feeling.

Namjoon’s jaw was clenched, his posture rigid as if he were ready to spring into action at any moment. His eyes, dark and piercing, were stabbing J-Hope to death across the fire, making Jungkook’s stomach twist with uncertainty. Namjoon hadn’t trusted J-Hope from the start, and it seemed that despite the friendly conversation, nothing had changed in his mind. If anything, he looked even more suspicious now, his eyes never wavered from J-Hope.

Jungkook felt an odd mix of guilt and confusion. He had grown to trust Namjoon, to rely on him for survival, but sitting here with J-Hope—someone who shared his interests, who made him laugh—he couldn’t help but feel a pull in the other direction. J-Hope seemed trustworthy, seemed genuine. After all, they had shared a near-death experience with the guy, and Jungkook was starting to see him as more than just a threat.

Maybe it was time to show a little more faith in him. Jungkook glanced at J-Hope’s tied hands, the rope cutting into his wrists. The urge to untie him grew stronger, an instinct telling him that it wasn’t right to keep him bound like this. He wasn’t their enemy anymore—or at least, Jungkook didn’t want him to be.

But when he looked at Namjoon again, the urge faltered. Namjoon’s cold, unwavering stare felt like a warning, a silent reminder of just how dangerous the world still was, how dangerous people could be—even those who seemed friendly on the surface.

Jungkook bit his lip, his hand halfway to the rope that bound J-Hope before he hesitated. He wanted to believe J-Hope. He wanted to trust him. But Namjoon’s presence was a constant reminder that trust wasn’t something to be given freely, not in this world. And with the way Namjoon was looking at J-Hope, Jungkook didn’t dare ask him if they could untie him. He wasn’t sure what was going on in Namjoon’s head, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Jungkook’s gaze flickered between the two men, tension building in his chest. He didn’t want to disrupt the fragile peace they had right now, but the tension was palpable. Namjoon had been the one to keep them alive this long, and Jungkook wasn’t ready to challenge his judgment. Not yet, at least.

For now, he let the rope stay where it was, even as J-Hope continued to talk, blissfully unaware of the icy daggers Namjoon was shooting at him across the fire.

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Oh no, is Namkook's relationship collapsing? What's happening? Is Kookie gonna question Namjoon's decisions?(⁠◎⁠o⁠◎⁠)