Survival Instinct // Namkook

chapter 41 - Kookies crush

With J-Hope gone, Namjoon and Jungkook navigated through the city on their own. It was kind of nice being alone again — only the two of them. Just the way Jungkook had gotten used to.

As they wandered through the city streets, the late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretched across the broken pavement. The air was still, thick with the faint scent of dust and decay. Every step they took echoed softly, bouncing off the crumbling buildings and deserted storefronts.

Jungkook tried to focus on the rhythm of their footsteps, matching his pace with Namjoon’s. The silence between them was both comfortable and tense, the kind of silence that comes when neither person knows what to say, but also feels no need to speak.

Jungkook felt oddly jittery right now, like he had way too much excess energy that he needed to get out. Namjoon was right there beside him, as steady and calm as ever, but Jungkook’s heart beat faster every time their arms brushed, every time the other glanced his way.

Jungkook glanced over at Namjoon, catching the subtle way his eyes scanned their surroundings. Namjoon never seemed to relax, his gaze always flitting over the buildings, checking the streets, alert for any sign of danger. His face was set in its usual focused expression, but today there was something different about him. Something softer. His jaw wasn’t as tense, and the hard edge in his eyes seemed dulled by some unspoken thought. It wasn’t often that Jungkook saw him like this, and it made him feel strangely bold, as if the gap between them had narrowed just a little.

“Namjoon,” Jungkook ventured, his voice a little too casual, the words tumbling out before he could second-guess himself. “If you could have any car from before all of this... you know, before everything fell apart, what would it be?”

Namjoon blinked, clearly taken aback by the randomness of the question. For a moment, he looked like he might brush it off, but then, to Jungkook’s surprise, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. It was a rare sight—one of those quiet, genuine smiles that made Namjoon seem more like the person he might have been before the world crumbled. Seeing it now made something warm and fluttery stir in Jungkook’s chest.

“I never really thought about it,” Namjoon admitted, his voice softer than usual, almost reflective. “Probably something simple. Something reliable.”

“Reliable, huh?” Jungkook teased, unable to help the grin that spread across his face. He was glad for the distraction, something to chase away the constant weight of the streets around them. “You’re telling me you wouldn’t go for one of those flashy sports cars? You know, the ones that make people stop and stare?”

Namjoon chuckled—a low, rumbling sound that was so unexpected it made Jungkook’s heart skip a beat. “No, I don’t think that was ever my style. Flashy cars were more your thing, right?”

Jungkook laughed, the sound of it surprising even him. He hadn’t realized how much he missed moments like this, moments that felt almost... normal. He could still remember how obsessed he had been with cars back when he was younger, back when the world made sense. “Yeah, I always wanted something fast. Something that would turn heads when I drove by.”

Namjoon’s smile lingered as they continued walking, their conversation weaving around memories of cars, of the dreams they’d had in a world that seemed so distant now. They talked about models they’d wanted, about silly things like the color of the paint, and for a while, the tension between them melted away. Jungkook felt lighter, like the weight of survival had been lifted just a bit. For a brief moment, it was as if they were just two friends shooting the breeze, not two survivors trying to navigate the ruins of a city that had long since given up on them.

As they walked, their hands brushed a few times, the contact so brief it could have been chalked up to nothing more than coincidence. But each time it happened, Jungkook felt a jolt of electricity course through him, a spark that made his pulse quicken and his thoughts scatter. He pulled his hand away quickly each time, afraid that Namjoon might notice how his breath hitched, how his heart hammered in his chest.

But then it happened again. And again.

The touches grew less fleeting, less accidental. Their hands seemed to find each other more often, lingering for just a second longer than before. Each time, Jungkook’s heart raced a little faster, and he couldn’t stop the whirlwind of thoughts spinning through his mind. He stole glances at Namjoon, wondering if the older man was aware of the subtle shifts between them.

After the third—or maybe fourth—time their hands brushed, Jungkook couldn’t take it anymore. The nervous energy bubbling inside him surged to the surface, and before he could stop himself, he acted. His hand hovered awkwardly in the space between them, trembling slightly as he gathered his courage. On accident he brushed Namjoon's hand once again. He half-expecting the older man to pull away or to give him one of those sharp, disapproving looks he sometimes got.

But Namjoon didn’t pull away. He didn’t look at Jungkook with surprise or confusion. In fact, he didn’t seem bothered at all. His expression remained calm, focused, but there was something gentler in his eyes, something that gave Jungkook the push he needed.

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook closed the small distance between them and slipped his fingers into Namjoon’s.

For a split second, panic seized him. He expected Namjoon to jerk his hand away, to maybe say something that would break the fragile connection they had. Namjoon had always been distant, always so serious, and Jungkook wasn’t sure how he would react to something so intimate.

But Namjoon didn’t pull away. His fingers slowly curled around Jungkook’s, his grip firm but gentle, as if he were afraid to startle him. The warmth of Namjoon’s hand sent a rush of emotions flooding through Jungkook, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure Namjoon could hear it.

They continued walking, hand in hand, and Jungkook’s mind raced. Was this okay? Did Namjoon feel the same way, or was this just... comfort? The crush Jungkook had harbored for so long felt even more overwhelming now, ridiculous and hopeful all at once. Namjoon was always so focused on survival, on the mission, on the next step ahead. Did he even have room for feelings like this? Feelings for someone like Jungkook?

But Namjoon’s hand didn’t let go. His grip remained steady, comforting, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Jungkook allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was more between them than he had dared to believe.

Namjoon’s hand was warm in his, solid and real, and even though neither of them said a word, the silence between them felt different now. It was no longer filled with tension or the need to act normal. Instead, it was filled with the quiet possibility of something new.

Jungkook squeezed Namjoon’s hand a little tighter, savoring the connection. Even if this moment was fleeting, even if everything crumbled around them tomorrow, right now, it was enough.

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Yeah I know this story is evolving slowly, thanks for your patience... But now, you've waited long enough! It's finally happening!!
They're growing closer! (⁠/⁠^⁠-⁠^*)/

Also...another ship might spice things up a bit soon 👀