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The jungle on this island, Soluna Island, was quieter than usual. Much quieter. Not silent. It never was truly silent. It was just quieter than usual. The insects that buzzed and the leaves that rustled seemed much further away than usual, even with the window to the favorites cabin open. It usually muffled at night but it felt off and odd.
Bruno lay on his back in the favorites’ camp cabin, staring up at the uneven wooden ceiling. The others were asleep. He could hear their breathing, slow, deep, oblivious. He wished he could be oblivious too. But that itching, nagging feeling was pulling at his heart strings and brain. Something was wrong. Someone he cared about must have been eliminated. Like… Manu. He didn't want to believe it though. But that thought wouldn't leave.
He should have done more. Should have done anything more before leaving to this team. Should have said something. Then suddenly a soft rustle outside the cabin snapped him out of it. Bruno’s body went rigid. The others didn’t stir. The rustling came again, closer this time. Slow, careful steps over dry leaves. His first thought was wildlife. His second was production. His third was someone from the other team. The third was correct.
A shadow fell across the entrance. Bruno sat up so fast he nearly hit his head on the beam above him. “…Ren?” he breathed. Ren stood there, moonlight catching in his purplish brown hair, casting silver across his face, or what little of his face could be seen under all that hair. He looked smaller somehow, arms folded tight around himself in a protective way. “Hi,” Ren whispered. His eyes downcast under his thick bangs.
For a second, Bruno just stared at him. “You’re not supposed to be here,” Bruno finally said, though the words came out softer than he meant them to. Ren shrugged, stepping inside. “Probably not.” Her voice was hushed, careful not to wake anyone. She kind of crouched low automatically, like the darkness itself might tattle on her. Bruno’s heart was pounding and not just from the risk of it.
“How did you-” He stopped himself. It didn’t matter. Ren had always been good at slipping through places unnoticed. Ren shifted awkwardly on their feet. Then got a bit closer, still whispering. “I wanted to tell you something...” The air seemed to thin. “what?” Bruno asked, even though he already knew. “Manu… He's been eliminated. ” The name, The words, felt heavier coming from someone else’s mouth. Bruno looked away. His mood dropped like someone tossing a rock off a cliff.
Manu was gone. His big brother figure was not on the island anymore. The word eliminated still felt unreal in his head. Like it belonged to someone else’s season, someone else’s show. Not theirs, not this one. Not Manu. He squeezed his eyes shut. He was shaking slightly.
Ren had moved closer, flopped next to him and had hugged him tightly, whispered something stupid and comforting about how “he wanted someone to tell you bye…” Bruno teared up slightly. He knew Manu had walked down that dock with a sad look in his eyes, Bruno just knew it. Bruno swallowed hard.
Ren cuddled closer, slow enough that Bruno could have told him to stop. He didn’t. “I’m sorry,” Ren said quietly. Just two simple words, laid gently between them. Bruno huffed out something that might have been a laugh. “Yeah. Me too…” Ren blinked in confusion but then smiled gently at him on the thin sleeping mat. For a while, neither of them spoke.
The jungle hummed around them. “You didn’t cry,” Ren said softly. Bruno’s jaw tightened. “there… could always be comebacks." Ren didn’t respond to that. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, studying Bruno’s eyes. “You look like you want to.”
Bruno scoffed, or tried to, but it came out shaky. “You came all the way over here to… to .ugh…” “I came because I thought you’d be alone,” Ren replied. That did it. Something inside Bruno cracked, not loudly, not explosively. Just a quiet fracture spreading through his chest. “I am alone,” he muttered sadly. Ren hesitated only a second before nudging closer. Their face nuzzled Bruno's cheek gently. The contact was light, feeling almost accidental.
Bruno didn’t pull away. “You’re not,” Ren said. Bruno stared at the dark shape of his hands in his lap. “He was my closest friend here.” “I know.” “And I couldn’t even protect him.” Ren’s hand twitched like he wanted to reach out, but he held back. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Bruno let out a small laugh. “You sound like him.” “Good,” Ren said. That made Bruno glance at him. Ren’s expression wasn’t teasing. It wasn’t smug or condescending. It was soft, caring. “I liked him too,” Ren continued. “He was loud and annoying and very funny sometimes. Like some of my friends back .. well “home"” Bruno’s lips twitched. Almost into a smile.
“And he cared about you,” Ren added. The words hit deeper than they should have. Bruno blinked rapidly. “Yeah. Well. Um…that… doesn't….” Ren’s fingers curled into the fabric of his own sleeve. “It matters to you. It mattered to Manu.” Silence stretched again.
The night felt closer somehow, wrapping around them. Bruno inhaled slowly, shakily. “I just… I didn’t think it would hurt this much.” Ren turned fully toward him now, knees brushing against Bruno’s thigh. “Of course it hurts.” “It’s stupid,” Bruno said, frustration leaking into his voice. “We’ve known each other for what, a few days, weeks? It shouldn’t feel like….” “Like losing something important?” Ren offered. Bruno nodded once. Ren stared at him for a long moment.
Then, very carefully, he reached out. His fingers brushed against Bruno’s wrist first, hesitant, giving him time to pull away. Bruno didn’t. So Ren slid his hand down, threading their fingers together. The contact was warm and real. Bruno’s breath caught in his throat. He felt a blush. “I was scared to come,” Ren admitted quietly. “I told myself it wasn’t my place. That you’d have your team when you found out later….” Bruno swallowed.
“But I kept thinking about you sitting here pretending you’re fine,” Ren continued. “And I couldn’t stand it.” There was no teasing edge to it. No ulterior motive. Just concern, pure and loving concern. Bruno’s chest tightened painfully. “You’re going to get in trouble,” he murmured. “Probably,” Ren said. “but it's worth it. For you.” Something dangerously soft flickered in Bruno’s chest. He squeezed Ren’s hand. It was instinctive. Ren squeezed back immediately.
The dam inside Bruno’s heart finally gave way. Not in loud sobs, in a quiet defeat. His breathing stuttered. His shoulders slumped. He even sniffled a little.“I miss him,” he whispered. Ren didn’t say “I know.” He didn’t say it’ll be okay. He just shifted closer. “Come here,” Ren said gently. Bruno stiffened for half a second, then let himself be pulled in for a deeper hug.
Ren wrapped both of his arms around him, careful and firm at the same time, like he’d thought about this. Like he’d rehearsed it in his head. Bruno folded into him more easily than he expected. Ren was warm. Only a little taller, but steady. His chin rested on Bruno’s shoulder. Bruno’s hands hovered awkwardly before settling against Ren’s back. The contact grounded him.
The world narrowed to the rhythm of Ren’s breathing. The rise and fall of his chest. The way his fingers pressed little comforting circles against Bruno’s spine. “It’s okay, it'll all be okay, short stuff.” Ren murmured. Bruno’s face pressed into the fabric of Ren’s crop top. It smelled faintly like smoke from their campfire and something clean beneath it. He let out a shaky breath. “I hate this game sometimes,” Bruno admitted. Ren’s arms tightened. “Yeah, same here.” “I hate that it makes you choose. That it turns everything into … this.” “I know.” “I hate that he’s gone.”
Ren’s voice softened even more. “I know.” Bruno’s grip tightened, fingers bunching in the fabric at Ren’s back. He didn’t cry loudly. Just quiet, uneven breaths, eyes squeezed shut to prevent tears. Ren didn’t rush him. He just held him. After a while, the worst of the emotional storm passed. Bruno’s breathing evened out, though he didn’t pull away. He didn’t want to. He wanted Ren to stay and cuddle him and comfort him.
Ren shifted slightly, easing them both down onto the sleeping mat without breaking contact. They ended up tangled awkwardly at first. Their elbows and knees bumping, until Ren adjusted. Bruno lay on his side. Ren lay facing him. Their foreheads almost touched. In the dim light, Bruno could see the outline of Ren’s features. The soft curve of his mouth. The way his lashes cast faint shadows.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Bruno said quietly. Ren gave a tiny shrug. “I wanted to.” Bruno searched his face. “Why?” he asked, barely above a whisper. Ren’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because you matter to me.” The words hung there. Bruno’s heart stumbled in his chest. “That’s …. dangerous,” he said weakly. Ren’s lips curved faintly. “Yeah, I know. And I love it.” Neither of them moved away.
Instead, Ren lifted a hand and rested it lightly against Bruno’s chest. Right over his heart. It wasn’t possessive. Bruno covered Ren’s hand with his own. The warmth seeped through him. “I’m still going to win,” Bruno murmured after a moment. Ren smiled softly. “Good.” “For Manu,” Bruno added. “And for yourself,” Ren said.
Bruno hesitated. Then quietly, “And for you too.” Ren’s expression softened with a small blush. They lay there like that, wrapped around each other, listening to the jungle and each other breathe. Eventually, Bruno felt sleep creeping up on him, heavy and warm. “Ren?” he murmured drowsily.
“Yeah?” “Thank you.” Ren pressed their foreheads together gently. “Anytime.” And for the first time since the elimination, Bruno didn’t feel alone. Not with Ren’s arms around him. Ren even kissed his cheek gently. The jungle kept humming. Ren and Bruno continued cuddling, looking like a couple the whole time as they fell asleep together.