Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 39 - a peaceful place

J-Hope wandered through the crumbling streets, leaving Namjoon and Jungkook behind. Even though they were technically a team now, he didn't feel the need to stick around them all the time. He needed some time for himself —so without much explanation he just left.

His mind felt cluttered, like he was swimming through a sea of conflicting thoughts and emotions. They had been through so much together in such a short time—running for their lives, getting captured, and now somehow being welcomed into this strange city ruled by Namjoon’s old friend. He needed some time alone to process it all.

As he walked, the noise of the city started to fade, replaced by a calm stillness. Before he knew it, he found himself back at the farm they had visited earlier. The sight of the open fields, the small pens of animals, and the distant rustling of leaves in the wind felt like an escape. He stepped through the gate, making his way toward the animals, his footsteps soft on the dirt path.

The animals were a surprising comfort. J-Hope reached out to pet one of the goats, smiling softly as it nuzzled against his hand. For a moment, the chaos of the last few weeks faded away. There was something so simple, so pure, about the way the animals lived. They didn’t worry about gangs or supplies or betrayal. They just existed.

He sighed, running his hand through the goat’s coarse fur, then moved to lean against the fence, watching as some chickens pecked at the ground nearby. The peace and quiet here was a sharp contrast to everything else. He hadn’t felt this calm in a long time—probably not since the world went to hell.

A few gang members were working nearby, fixing up some equipment and tending to the fields. J-Hope noticed them glancing at him from time to time, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion. But none of them approached him. Maybe it was because they’d seen him with Suga earlier, or maybe they just didn’t care as long as he wasn’t causing trouble.

Either way, J-Hope didn’t mind. He was grateful for the space.

He sat down in the grass, pulling his knees to his chest as he let his thoughts drift. A lot had changed since Namjoon and Jungkook found him trapped under that building. He’d gone from being a terrified loner to someone with… well, not quite friends, but something close enough. He had a roof over his head now, people to talk to, and the possibility of some sort of future. It was more than he’d dared to hope for.

Still, something gnawed at him. The way Namjoon and Jungkook seemed so close, how Namjoon always seemed to be in control, calm and collected even when the world was burning down around them. J-Hope had noticed the way Jungkook looked at Namjoon, how he seemed to trust him completely, even after everything. It made J-Hope feel a little out of place, like he was just tagging along in their world.

He laughed softly to himself, shaking his head. Maybe he was overthinking it. After all, they had saved him—more than once—and brought him into this strange but oddly safe place. He owed them his life.

But there was something about the way Jungkook clung to Namjoon that made J-Hope wonder if there was more going on between them.

He brushed the thought aside. Whatever it was, it wasn’t his business. He was just happy to be alive, to have made it this far. Maybe, in time, he’d find a way to fit into this new group. Maybe he’d even tell them his real name—show them who he really was.

But for now, he was content to sit here, petting the goats, enjoying the peace and quiet that had been so rare lately. He’d figure the rest out later.

As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, the gang members continued to work around him. They still gave him curious glances, but none of them approached. For now, he was just another stranger in a city. And in a way, that was exactly what J-Hope needed: a moment to breathe, to exist without expectations.

For the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself relax.

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Finally poor Hobi can find some peace. Hopefully it stays that way-