Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 28 - comfort

As the fire crackled and J-Hope leaned back against a tree, the conversation lulled into silence. Jungkook could feel the weight of Namjoon's intense gaze still lingering, his body tense and rigid as he stared into the flames. The unease between them was palpable, and despite the warmth of the fire, the air around Namjoon felt cold and distant.

Jungkook glanced at him from across the fire, his mind racing with thoughts on how to ease the tension. He knew Namjoon well enough by now to sense that something was off. The storm of emotions Namjoon kept locked behind those dark eyes wasn’t easy to read, but Jungkook could tell when the pressure was mounting. The last thing he wanted was for Namjoon to snap under it.

Without thinking too much about it, Jungkook stood up, dusting his hands off before quietly crossing the short distance between them. He hesitated for just a second as he reached Namjoon’s side, but then, he sat down, settling himself next to him with a quiet sigh. The flickering light of the fire bathed them both in a soft glow as Jungkook leaned his head gently onto Namjoon’s broad shoulder.

He held his breath for a moment, unsure of how Namjoon would react. They had shared that unexpected moment of comfort the night before—cuddled up together for warmth after the earthquake—but this was different. Jungkook wasn’t cold or scared right now; he just wanted to offer something back. A moment of calm, of closeness. Something to remind Namjoon that he didn’t have to carry the burden alone.

The fabric of Namjoon’s jacket was rough against his cheek, but Jungkook didn’t mind. The steady rise and fall of Namjoon’s chest, the quiet strength he exuded—it was comforting, even when the man himself was far from it.

“I…” Jungkook started softly, unsure of what exactly he was trying to say. “I just thought… maybe this could help.”

Namjoon didn’t move for a while, his body still tense beside Jungkook. For a moment, Jungkook wondered if he had made a mistake, if he had pushed too far. But then, he felt it—just the slightest shift. Namjoon’s shoulder relaxed, and though he didn’t say anything, the tension in his body seemed to ease, just a little.

Jungkook closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax as well. He wasn’t sure how much comfort he was giving Namjoon, but he knew how much he needed it himself. The quiet moments they shared, like this one, were becoming something Jungkook craved more and more. It was a strange feeling—finding solace in someone so cold, someone who was capable of such harshness. But maybe it was because of that contrast that these small moments of softness felt so significant.

He could still feel Namjoon’s heart beating steadily beneath the layers of his clothes, a quiet rhythm that seemed to ground him amidst the chaos of the world they lived in. Jungkook allowed himself to sink into it, the warmth of Namjoon’s body slowly seeping into his own as they sat there together in the dim light of the fire.

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but he didn’t want to move. Namjoon hadn’t pushed him away, hadn’t said a word, and that was enough for Jungkook. He didn’t need more. Just this moment, the quiet companionship, the comfort of leaning on someone who—despite his cold exterior—had kept him safe.

Jungkook’s thoughts drifted back to the previous night, the unexpected closeness they’d shared, and he couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Namjoon was finding a little bit of that comfort too.

After a while, Namjoon finally spoke, his voice low and quiet. “You’re too trusting.”

Jungkook blinked, lifting his head slightly to look up at Namjoon. His expression was still hard, but his eyes softened just enough for Jungkook to notice.

“You think J-Hope’s harmless,” Namjoon continued, his gaze shifting to where the man lay asleep against the tree. “But that’s the kind of thinking that gets you killed out here.”

Jungkook didn’t argue. He knew Namjoon was right, in some ways. But still, he couldn’t help but trust his instincts. There was something about J-Hope—something genuine. And after everything they’d been through, Jungkook couldn’t stand the thought of shutting himself off from people completely.

“I just… I want to believe that not everyone out here is like that,” Jungkook said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe it’s naive, but I can’t help it.”

Namjoon didn’t respond right away. He simply exhaled softly, his shoulder relaxing further against Jungkook’s. They sat like that for a while longer, the quiet night settling around them, with only the crackling fire and the distant sounds of the wilderness filling the silence.
Jungkook wasn’t sure what the future held, but for now, he was content with the moment they were sharing. And maybe, just maybe, Namjoon was too.