✔ Far Cry | JJK x OC

Chapter 93 // Touching Distance

Jungkook's ragged breath became heavy as he turned to get on the street where they lived. He had been running for a while to blow off steam and sort his thoughts, and he was getting tired.

But he needed something physical to clear his head, and he didn't want to wander too far. The streets were empty; he only saw a soul or two rushing home and a few warriors switching shifts who nodded at him. They knew what was coming and that everyone handled it their own way.

But Jungkook was not handling things well. He was always aware of it, but it was becoming clearer and clearer. The situation was dismal from the start, but Namjoon's passing had inflicted a wound he struggled to live with. To survive. Every time he thought he was getting the hang of it, he realized he was on the verge of a cliff — one reckless step could make him tumble down, and he had a few times already.

Seeing Taehyung cry after Jimin gently told him about Namjoon smothered Jungkook in a way that threatened to push him off again. He was already on edge, hurt, ticked, rebelling against what the world wanted him to do; Taehyung's pain just amplified his own.

But it also validated it. Taehyung wanted to know every detail and was really concerned about how Jungkook had taken it. Talking about it with no shame or fear reminded Jungkook of how they grew up together, sharing everything, from deep existential dread to fleeting teen emotions. They were always by each other's sides, like when Taehyung's grandmother died. He remembered how hard it was back then and how he had helped his hyung. Just like he helped him now.

"It's okay to be angry," Jimin said, more to Jungkook than Taehyung, who wiped his eyes.

"Especially when you've been through all this," Hobi supported, eying Taehyung. No one was forcing him to talk, but it didn't take a genius to figure he had been through some stuff.

"I am angry and sad and—" Taehyung shook his head. "How are we supposed to keep going? Sure, we can keep walking. Namjoon would tell us to keep going, to never stop, but—"

His voice wavered, and Jimin rubbed the back of his head affectionately. "We go with the memory of him. We honor him, think of him, celebrate him. Make him proud," his voice trembled too as everyone held back their cry, and Jungkook nodded.

He needed to feel like his loss was valid. Like he wasn't the only one feeling it.

Taehyung sniffled and cleared his voice. "Namjoon is looking after us, as always, making sure we go in the right direction. He's with us, and we have to get him out of here."

Jungkook had glanced at his backpack, where Namjoon's ashes were, before Jimin voiced quietly, "We owe it to his family to tell them so they can mourn him."

"Jimin's right," Hobi agreed, and his voice became gentler. "And so is Leah. No matter how unfair it is," he added before Jungkook could argue.

Yet he still did. "What about owing him closure? Viktor is out there, killing and destroying! He'll keep hurting people, the very people in this town!" He got up, unnerved, and the others stayed silent. "What about making sure that he never hurts anyone ever again?"

"That would be great," Jimin said quietly, looking at the ground, and Hobi agreed.

"If the circumstances were different, I'd vote for us to go all out guns blazing."

Jimin chuckled, "Really, hyung?"

"I'd stay behind Jungkook and Tae, of course." He grinned, and Jimin shook his head with a smirk. "But we'd make a hell of a team, of course."

Jungkook was stupefied, staring at them, until Taehyung said, "But the circumstances are not different. This is it. It's not a video game we can just try for the fun of it and then log off. There are risks, and taking Namjoon home should be our priority."