Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 36 - new hope

As soon as Jungkook and J-Hope were released from the basement prison, Jungkook wasted no time. The moment his eyes found Namjoon, he sprinted towards him, his emotions overtaking any hesitation. Namjoon barely had time to brace himself before Jungkook collided with him, arms wrapping tightly around his neck.

“I was so worried,” Jungkook mumbled against Namjoon’s shoulder, his voice laced with relief. He held onto him like he was afraid to let go, his breath shaky as he let out the tension that had built up in the hours since they'd been separated.

Namjoon, taken aback by the sudden embrace, stiffened for a moment before his body relaxed. He just couldn't get used to Jungkook hugging him... Slowly, his arms came up to hold Jungkook back, patting his shoulder in a comforting gesture. The feeling of Jungkook’s relief warmed him, and despite the chaos of the day, he found a small moment of peace in the younger man’s embrace.

“I’m okay,” Namjoon reassured softly, his voice a bit hoarse. “I’m fine, Jungkook.”

Jungkook finally loosened his hold but didn’t pull away completely, his worried gaze flickering over Namjoon as if to check for injuries. Once satisfied, he glanced past Namjoon to where Suga stood, a few feet away, watching them silently. The concern in Jungkook’s eyes was clear—he didn’t trust the gang leader, not yet.

“Is everything alright?” Jungkook asked carefully, glancing between the two men.

Namjoon followed his gaze and gave a small nod. “Yeah, it’s alright. Yoongi’s... well, we talked. He explained things, and it’s not what it seemed at first.”

The dark haired male, who had been standing with his arms crossed, watching the reunion with an unreadable expression, finally stepped forward. His posture was still guarded, but there was no malice in his eyes now. “I’ve offered you a place to stay,” Suga said, addressing all three of them. “It’s not much, but there’s a room upstairs where you can rest. You’re welcome to stay there while we figure things out.”

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed slightly, still unsure, but he didn’t argue. Namjoon seemed to trust his old friend, and that was enough for him.

“Thank you,” Namjoon replied, his voice more neutral now as he glanced at his old friend. “We appreciate it.”

Suga gave a short nod, his face softening just a fraction. “Get some rest,” he said. “You’ll need it.”

He gestured for one of his men to lead them upstairs, and the group followed in silence. J-Hope, though still visibly nervous, kept quiet, clearly aware of the tension in the air. Jungkook kept close to Namjoon, still casting wary glances at Suga, but Namjoon’s calm presence helped ease his anxiety.

They were led to a small, modest room a few floors up from where they had been held. It wasn’t much—just a couple of mattresses pushed against the walls, a dusty window letting in the faint light of the outside world—but it felt like a sanctuary compared to the cold prison cells below.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Jungkook let out a long breath, the weight of the day’s events finally hitting him. He turned to Namjoon, his voice low. “Are you sure we can trust him?”

Namjoon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not sure of anything right now,” he admitted. “But Yoongi... he’s different now. We’ve both changed. I think he wants to help, but we’ll have to be careful.”

Jungkook nodded, understanding the caution in Namjoon’s voice. He wasn’t naive—he knew this world was full of people with their own motives. But if Namjoon believed there was a chance they could stay safely for a while, he’d follow his lead.

“Let’s just get some rest for now,” Namjoon suggested, his voice softening. “We’ll figure out the rest later.”

Jungkook glanced at the mattresses, already feeling the exhaustion pulling at him. “Yeah... I think we could all use it.”

They settled into the small space, the tension from earlier slowly easing. The air felt lighter, though the uncertainty of what lay ahead still lingered in the back of their minds. For now, though, they had a place to rest—a temporary haven in a world that rarely offered one. And for tonight, that was enough.