Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The island was never meant to be found.

.☆∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°🦕⁠∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°⁠☆.

The beach looked almost peaceful during the day as waves rolled in harmlessly.

But on this island, nothing was ever truly safe… 

A cluster of tents sat just beyond the sand, backed by thick jungle.

Jungkook sat on an overturned supply crate with his sleeves rolled up as he absently turned a spent shell casing between his fingers. Around him, a few of the other guards were killing time by cleaning weapons and checking gear, while also complaining about the heat.

Hoseok leaned back against another crate. “What’s with the sad face?”

Namjoon glanced over and immediately snorted. “It's because his beloved Professor wandered off again.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “He didn’t wander.”

Hoseok raised a brow. “Alright, then where is he hiding?”

Jungkook answered instantly. “Back in his tent, working through his field notes.”

Yoongi, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, sharpening a knife, glanced up. “So Professor Kim doesn’t need his personal bodyguard right now?”

“Not at the moment.” Jungkook rolled the casing between his fingers. “...unfortunately,” he added.

That got a few laughs.

Hoseok tilted his head. “Why don’t you just ask him out?”

The sound of the sea filled the pause that followed.

Jungkook’s jaw tightened slightly. “I will,” he said. “When we get back to the real world.”

Hoseok laughed outright. “That’s your plan?”

“Coward.” Namjoon scoffed. 

Jungkook didn’t answer because maybe he was.

It was just that the other hadn’t given him any hints and no lingering looks... at least, none he had caught. Taehyung smiled the same way at everyone, so Jungkook couldn’t tell if the warmth was special or just who Taehyung was.

And all the dude ever talked about was dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, dinosaurs. But damn it was endearing.

Yoongi slid the knife back into its sheath. “You won’t be waiting too long, then. The researchers decided they are finishing up early.”

Jungkook frowned. “What?”

“They are finishing up early,” Yoongi repeated. 

“How early are we talking?”

Yoongi shrugged. “We’re leaving. A couple of days or maybe less.”

Jungkook sat up straighter. “That doesn’t make sense. They said they needed at least two more weeks for the tests.”

“I guess they changed their minds.”

Hoseok squinted toward the jungle. “Or something changed it for them.”

Jungkook glanced at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Hoseok lowered his voice and let out a low, rumbling growl, clawing at the air with his fingers. “I don’t know... maybe something big is coming.”

Namjoon burst out laughing. “Oh my god, relax, Hobi. Not everything is a horror movie.”

The others laughed it off, but Jungkook didn’t join.

A couple of days.

Maybe less until they leave the island and their routine. He would then no longer have an easy excuse to be near Taehyung all the time and to listen to him ramble about dinosaur behavior.

He stood.

“Where are you going?” Hoseok asked.

Jungkook slung his rifle over his shoulder, eyes already on the line of tents near the treeline.

“To check on my Professor,” he said.

He had just reached the narrow path between the tents when Taehyung’s tent flap was yanked open so hard it snapped against the pole.

Taehyung stormed out with his boots unlaced.

Behind him came one of the researchers, who was older and balding. He was clearly fed up. 

“Dr. Kim, this is not up for discussion!” the man shouted. “You can’t just—”

Jungkook’s expression darkened instantly.

He didn’t know the guy’s name but anyone raising their voice at his Taehyung immediately went on his watchlist.

Taehyung didn’t even turn around as he headed straight for the jungle.

“Hey,” Jungkook snapped, already moving.

“Hey!”

The researcher called after them, but Jungkook ignored him as he broke into a run. Taehyung was fast, but he was faster.

He caught up just as the foliage thickened, stepped in front of Taehyung, and planted both hands firmly on his shoulders.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s wrong, Prof?”

Taehyung tried to shove past him, annoyed. “Move.”

Jungkook didn’t budge. “Alright,” he said lightly. “Who do you need me to beat up?”

Taehyung stopped struggling. When he looked up and realized it was Jungkook holding him, something in his expression changed. His shoulders sagged as all the fight drained out of him at once. 

“Have you heard?” he demanded. “They’re packing up and leaving. Already!”

Jungkook nodded slowly. “Yeah. I just heard it.”

Taehyung let out a frustrated groan and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “It’s unbelievable. It’s so unfair! We’re standing in the middle of something incredible, Jungkook, and they’re just shutting it down.” 

“Why?” He asked. “Why are we leaving early?”

“I don’t know,” Taehyung said flatly. “And I don’t care.” He tried to step around him again, but Jungkook’s hands stayed where they were.

“Prof.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Taehyung said.

Jungkook stared at him. “You’re not what?”

He moved again, clearly intending to keep going, but Jungkook tightened his grip to stop him. “Hey. You can’t stay here.”

Taehyung exhaled hard, the sound shaky despite his stubborn tone. “I can’t leave her now.”

Jungkook blinked. “Her?”

“I promised I’d be there when her eggs hatched.”

Her? Eggs?

That confusion was enough for Taehyung to twist free. He immediately took off, crashing through the undergrowth.

“Wait, what?!” Jungkook shouted, sprinting after him. “Prof!”

They were getting farther from camp, the familiar sounds of the beach fading behind them. Jungkook’s stress levels spiked immediately.

Then it clicked. “The big orange one with eggs?” He called out. “The—”

“Yes!” Taehyung yelled back without slowing. “The Triceratops!”

Jungkook swore under his breath. “You mean the angry mom we’re not supposed to visit without backup?”

Taehyung didn’t answer. 

“Prof, wait!” He hurried after him, dodging branches and uneven ground until he caught up and grabbed Taehyung’s arm.

“What?” The other snapped. “Don’t try to stop me, Jungkook. I won’t let you.”

But Jungkook knew he could stop him if he wanted to. It wouldn’t even be difficult. He could just throw Taehyung over his shoulder and be done with it. But it didn’t feel like the right move. 

So instead, he exhaled. “Then let me come with you.” His grip loosened slightly. “You’re not going out there alone.”

Taehyung shook his head. “You don’t need to come.”

Jungkook only raised an eyebrow in response.

Taehyung hesitated, biting his lip before giving in. “Okay, yeah. Fine. It’s probably smarter if you come.” He turned, ready to move. “Let’s go.” 

Jungkook caught his arm again. “Nope.”

“What now?”

“We’re not walking.”

“But—”

“It’s a fifteen, maybe twenty-minute ride with the ATV,” he said calmly. “How long do you think it’ll take us on foot?”

Taehyung opened his mouth, then closed it.

“Right. Yeah. The ATV makes sense.” He hesitated, then added, “I’ll wait here, though.”

Jungkook nodded once. “Don’t move.”

He turned and jogged back toward camp.

He grabbed his backpack first and checked it out of habit, then passed Taehyung’s tent and, without even slowing, snatched the red overstuffed backpack Taehyung carried every single day. 

He didn’t like leaving Taehyung alone, even for a minute, and even this close to camp.

He kept his rifle slung over his shoulder, eyes scanning automatically as he crossed the sand and veered toward the equipment area.

He reached the row of ATVs, glanced around, and then swung onto one and started it up.

He then turned the ATV around and headed straight back toward the jungle.

Taehyung stood exactly where he had left him. He rocked slightly on his heels, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Jungkook pulled to a stop beside him and held out the red backpack. Taehyung took it and slung it over his shoulders before climbing onto the back of the ATV.

Jungkook adjusted the strap of his rifle so it wouldn’t knock into the other, then waited until Taehyung settled.

A moment later, warm arms slid around his stomach.

Taehyung had done it a dozen times before, but Jungkook never got used to it.

He reached down and placed one hand over Taehyung’s. “Hold on tighter,” he said, “we’re gonna go a little faster than usual.”

“Oh, okay.”

His grip tightened immediately, fingers lacing more securely over Jungkook’s vest.

Jungkook smiled.

The engine roared, and they took off.

The light changed almost immediately as the jungle swallowed them whole, with shadows thickening as the canopy closed overhead. The path narrowed with roots and mud replaced sand.

The air was damp and alive.

Leaves brushed past them.

Jungkook leaned into the turns. He’d driven this route too many times to count, so he knew where the ground dipped and where the vines hung low.

High-pitched chirps and clicking squawks began to ripple through the underbrush.

“Oh! Oh, do you hear that?!”

Jungkook nodded as he glanced to the side.

Several small dinosaurs sprinted alongside the ATV. They were fast with long tails and narrow snouts full of sharp teeth. Their skin shimmered in shades of green, blue, and sandy brown. They zigzagged around roots and rocks with impossible speed, chirping excitedly at each other.

“Compsognathus!” Taehyung shouted in excitement.

“They’re incredibly curious! Oh my god, look at them keeping pace, Jungkook! See that one on the left? He’s coordinating with the others.”

Jungkook flicked a glance sideways again.

“They’re bold.”

“They are!” Taehyung said delightedly. “They’re not dangerous on their own, but in groups—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” he interrupted dryly.

A few of them kept pace with the ATV, clearly fascinated by the noise and movement.

One even darted ahead, then veered off with a squawk when it couldn’t keep up.

“They do this sometimes,” Taehyung said, almost absently. “They like running alongside larger animals.” 

After a moment, they fell back as the ATV pulled ahead. One gave a final squawk before disappearing.

Jungkook kept his eyes on the path. He heard Taehyung sigh and felt his grip loosen.

“Hold on!” 

Taehyung tightened his hold again. “Sorry!”

They continued heading deeper into the jungle, where the shadows grew thicker around them. 

Then the clearing came into view as the trees pulled back, revealing a wide patch of flattened grass.

He eased off the throttle early and let the ATV roll to a quiet stop well before the open space. Then he cut the engine, swung off the ATV, and rolled his shoulders. Taehyung followed and jumped down after him. He looked around, then up at Jungkook with a huge smile.

“This is it,” he said.

Jungkook scratched the back of his neck. “Are you ready?”

Taehyung nodded, already moving, so Jungkook fell into step beside him.

The grass was flattened where something enormous had rested for days. Leaves and branches were piled near the edge, but the center of the clearing was empty.

Jungkook scanned the space, hand drifting closer to his rifle. “It looks like your Trice, uh. Tricetop? is gone,” he said.

“Triceratops,” Taehyung corrected absently, eyes sweeping the ground. His brow furrowed. “That’s strange.”

Jungkook watched him closely. “What is?”

“She wouldn’t just leave,” Taehyung said. “And the nest—” He trailed off, eyes narrowing. “Where are the eggs?”

Taehyung stepped forward, but Jungkook caught his arm. 

Taehyung shot him a look impatiently. “Come on.” He tugged Jungkook along.

Jungkook went, tension riding high as they crossed the clearing together until they reached the nest.

Large curved pieces of eggshell were scattered through the grass. They were pale on the inside and rough and textured on the outside. Some were cracked cleanly, while others were broken outward. 

Taehyung dropped to his knees.

“Oh.”

Jungkook crouched slightly, eyes moving. “That doesn’t look like damage from a predator.”

Taehyung picked up a shard carefully and turned it in his hands. His fingers trembled. “They’ve already hatched,” he said with awe in his voice. “I can’t believe it. I missed it. I was supposed to be here.”

Jungkook watched the clearing again. “How long ago?”

“Not long." He stood abruptly and turned his head before he started walking.

Jungkook straightened. “Where are you going?”

“I need to see them,” Taehyung said, already moving faster. “She wouldn’t go far with hatchlings.”

Jungkook groaned softly. “Prof—”

“Jungkook,” the other said over his shoulder, breaking into a near jog, “you don’t understand.”

Jungkook sighed, adjusted his grip on the rifle, and followed. “Yeah,” he muttered. “I don’t.”

They moved deeper into the jungle.

Roots broke through the soil like traps, and the ground sloped unevenly, slick with damp leaves.

Taehyung stepped forward, and his foot caught.

Jungkook reacted as he grabbed him around the waist and hauled him back before he could fall forward. Taehyung sucked in a breath with his hands flying out instinctively.

“I—” he started.

Jungkook pressed his fingers against his waist. “Shh.”

Then he tilted his head, and Taehyung froze before slowly following his gaze. The clearing ahead opened just enough for them to see.

There she was.

The Trictop or whatever it was called stood among the trees with her dusty orange skin catching the little light that filtered through the canopy. Her horns were angled forward in a posture Jungkook recognized from their earlier visits.

Protective.

At her side stood two smaller ones. The babies were miniature versions of her, with their horns short and rounded. They stayed close to her legs.

He eased Taehyung backward and lowered him to the ground. The other went willingly, sitting down without taking his eyes off the scene.

Jungkook knelt beside him. He knew better than to relax. Mothers were dangerous. Every movement was a potential threat to them, and this one had already made her displeasure clear in the past when they’d come too close to the nest.

He kept his body angled slightly in front of Taehyung.

“Wow,” the other whispered.

Jungkook glanced at him.

Taehyung’s eyes were wide and shining with wonder, a look Jungkook had learned belonged solely to dinosaurs.

He swallowed.

Taehyung was so focused… and so beautiful without trying.

He turned his attention back to the dinosaur family, keeping watch.

The big one lowered her massive head and tore at the plants. Leaves disappeared between her beak. The babies shuffled clumsily around her legs, bumping into her side and then into each other, making small sounds.

Then he suddenly felt Taehyung’s hand resting lightly on his knee.

He glanced down first, then over. Taehyung wasn’t looking at him. His attention stayed fixed on the small family ahead of them. “I can’t believe I get to see this.”

Jungkook followed his gaze again. It reminded him of a dinosaur skeleton in an old museum exhibit he’d visited as a kid on a school trip. He’d never imagined sitting on jungle soil with something like that breathing only meters away.

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s incredible.”

One of the babies bumped into its mother’s leg. He watched the other one wobble around her feet. “They’re kind of cute.”

“Thank you,” Taehyung said quietly.

Jungkook turned his head.

Taehyung was looking at him now and smiling.

“For bringing me out here,” he continued. “And for being understanding.” Taehyung's fingers brushed his knee.

Jungkook’s throat tightened. He nodded, and then the moment stretched, and he thought just for a second that this might be it.

Then his radio crackled.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

The dinosaur in front of them didn’t react. She just shifted her weight and flicked her tail unfazed as she kept eating. Jungkook lifted the handheld from his vest. “Yeah?”

“Where the hell are you, Kook?” Hoseok’s voice cut through.

Jungkook kept his eyes on the dinosaurs. “Out in the jungle on a quick trip.”

“A what?!”

He added, “I’m with Taehyung.” And then he waited. There was a pause on the other end, and he hoped Hoseok would get the hint. Taehyung’s hand remained on his knee as Jungkook held the radio, and he silently begged the universe to give him just a little more time.

Hoseok’s voice faded for a moment, muffled as he spoke to someone else nearby. Jungkook caught a few indistinct words and then a clear irritated sigh.

“Ugh,” Hoseok said, closer to the radio again. His voice dropped. “Fine. Have a nice little trip. Just come back soon, Kook.”

“Yes, sir,” he replied. He switched the radio off and slid it back into his vest.

When he looked down again, Taehyung’s hand was gone.

The other had turned his attention back to the dinosaur and her babies. Whatever had almost happened between them had faded just as quickly as it had come. He felt the frustration hit immediately. So much for that moment.

Really great timing, Hobi…

They stayed there a while longer.

The mother continued feeding. One of the babies nudged the other, then startled itself when it lost balance. He saw how Taehyung pressed his lips together to keep himself from laughing aloud.

Eventually, Jungkook leaned slightly closer. “I think it’s time to head back.”

He didn’t mind the thought of sitting here all day with Taehyung at his side, but he did mind the consequences. 

Taehyung nodded right away. “Yeah. That’s probably for the best.”

Jungkook glanced at him, surprised. He’d expected at least a little resistance, but instead Taehyung smiled.

They shifted carefully and began to crawl backward, his eyes never leaving the dinosaurs in front of them as he kept himself between them and Taehyung, counting steps, and watching for any change in posture from the mother.

When they were far enough away, Jungkook rose gradually before he offered a hand to Taehyung.

He took it, stood, and adjusted the straps of his backpack. They turned back toward the path, leaving the small family behind them.

Then they started walking back the way they’d come with the jungle closing in again around the narrow path.

For a few steps, neither of them spoke.

Then Jungkook shifted a little closer and bumped his shoulder lightly against Taehyung’s.

“I’m going to miss this,” he said.

Taehyung glanced at him, then nodded as his gaze drifted ahead again.

“Yeah. This has been the experience of a lifetime.” He smiled to himself. “I’m going to miss all of them. Even the ones I never got to meet.” He shook his head slightly, “There are entire species here we barely understand or haven’t documented properly yet, and some we’ve only caught glimpses of, or traces. It feels strange to leave knowing that.” He straightened. “But I’ll be back,” he added. “Somehow. There’s still too much left to see.”

Jungkook cleared his throat. “I meant… I’ll miss hanging out like this.” He glanced sideways. “With you, Prof.”

“Oh. Yeah. This has been fun.” Taehyung thought about it for a moment. “You’re not like the other guards.”

Jungkook’s heart gave a small leap. “I’m not?”

Taehyung shook his head. “No. You’re different.”

Jungkook grinned, and then he felt a sudden nudge, followed immediately by a startled sound.

“Ow.”

He looked down. Taehyung had already pulled back, rubbing his shoulder. His gaze dropped to his rifle, then back to Taehyung. 

Oh… he’d been trying to return the gesture and bump him back.

“Sorry,” he said, laughing at himself.

Jungkook laughed too. “You okay there, Prof?”

“Yeah,” Taehyung said, grinning with his ears a little red. “I just…yeah.”

Jungkook shifted the rifle to his other side, adjusting the strap so it wouldn’t be in the way again. He glanced back at Taehyung, still smiling, then faced forward as they kept walking.

“I just meant, if I ever get sent out on another observation mission like this, I hope you’re the one who comes along.” the other suddenly added.

Jungkook felt warmth spread through his chest. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’d like that.”

There was a sudden rustle. 

Then something burst out of the bushes ahead of them.

Jungkook froze as a strange, bird-like dinosaur sprinted across the path. It had glossy black feathers, long legs, and a flash of red plumage crowning its head. It disappeared into the foliage on the other side almost as quickly as it had appeared.

“What was that?” He frowned. 

Taehyung frowned too, squinting after it. “It looked like an Anchiornis huxleyi.”

Jungkook processed the words and gave up immediately. Wow. What was going on with these dinosaur names, he thought. Before he could say anything, another one darted out of the bushes and followed the first, feathers ruffling as it ran.

“I’m calling them dino chickens,” he sighed. 

Taehyung laughed.

Then more of them burst from the brush.

Not just the feathered dino chickens now, but a scatter of small creatures all at once. They darted low to the ground. Some sent leaves flying as they tore through, with no regard for what was in their way. 

Jungkook reacted on instinct. He grabbed Taehyung by the back of his shirt and yanked him hard to the side just as a small, hornless dinosaur barreled through the space Taehyung had been standing in.

Jungkook twisted with the motion, dragging them both toward the wide trunk of a tree and planting his boots.

“Hey!” Taehyung gasped, stumbling with him.

Jungkook braced one arm against the tree, and the other still hooked around Taehyung’s middle.

Dirt sprayed as another animal tore past them.

“What’s happening?”

Birds erupted from the canopy above them, their wings beating frantically as they scattered in every direction. 

Branches shook. 

“Jungkook, look!”

He followed where Taehyung was pointing.

The Trictop mom burst into view between the trees with her massive body moving far faster than Jungkook had ever seen her move before. Her breath was huffing hard as she charged through the undergrowth.

Her babies struggled to keep up while stumbling and squeaking as they ran at her side.

“Something’s wrong,” Taehyung said.

Jungkook nodded. “Yeah.”

Animals didn’t move like this without reason. 

“Something is scaring them.”

Jungkook was already scanning the treeline, turning his head from sound to sound. “We’re leaving.”

He took Taehyung’s hand and pulled him along, angling their path to avoid the stampeding animals.

Small bodies rushed past them on all sides.

One scratched Jungkook’s leg and kept going. Another skidded to a halt, changed direction, and vanished into the brush.

Jungkook picked up speed. “Careful!”

They moved fast now, weaving between trunks, stepping over roots, and dodging flashes of movement. He guided them without slowing, his grip firm around Taehyung’s hand.

“Maybe we should follow them!” Taehyung shouted, breathless. “If we know where they’re going—”

Jungkook shook his head. “No!”

He kept them moving toward the ATV.

Large groups of animals fleeing meant one thing. That whatever scared them was behind them. 

They passed the ruined nest, broken shells crunching under their boots, and Jungkook felt relief because that meant they were close now, close enough that he could already see the ATV through the trees, parked exactly where he’d left it.

Then a roar tore through the jungle.

“Jungko—”

“Yes, I heard that,” he cut in without slowing, fingers tightening around Taehyung’s hand. “Come on.”

He pulled harder and broke into a full sprint as the jungle blurred around them.

Taehyung struggled to keep up, and for a split second, he nearly went down. Jungkook felt the jolt through their joined hands.

“Sorry,” he snapped, already dragging the other forward again, unwilling to slow.

Something hissed nearby, but he didn’t look back.

Until Taehyung screamed.

Jungkook felt him stop dead behind him, so he twisted around despite himself, yanking Taehyung forward even as he turned his head.

That was when he saw it.

A dinosaur crouched over another body. It was balanced on powerful hind legs as its head snapped down and curved claws flexed as it tore into the animal beneath it.

Jungkook swore under his breath.

More of them spilled out of the jungle behind it, moving fast and coordinated, weaving through the trees. 

He realized they weren’t going to make it to the ATV, so he changed direction instantly.

“This way.” He yanked Taehyung sideways into the bush and forced them both down hard, leaves and branches tearing at his arms as he shoved them deeper. He kept them low, crawling fast and dragging Taehyung with him while his eyes locked onto a massive fallen tree ahead, its trunk thick enough to block sightlines.

They slid behind it, and Jungkook pressed them both flat to the ground, his heart hammering so loudly he was sure it would give them away.

He lifted his head just enough to see over the edge of the trunk.

The jungle had turned into chaos.

Dinosaurs ran in every direction.

The hunters moved among, closing the distance in seconds. Jungkook watched one leap, claws hooking into another animal’s side, dragging it down in seconds. 

He swallowed hard. “What are they?” he muttered, barely moving his lips.

Taehyung’s voice came beside him. “Velociraptors.”

Jungkook lowered his head again, gripping the dirt and Taehyung’s hand at the same time.

They were in the middle of a hunt, and they were far too close to it.

Then for a brief moment, everything went still.

The jungle fell into a silence so heavy it pressed painfully against his ears, and then the quiet shattered under a roar that was deeper and heavier than anything he had ever heard before. Taehyung’s breathing turned shallow, and when Jungkook turned his head, he saw his eyes were wide with fear as they locked onto his. 

Jungkook forced himself to stay calm, even though every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run. 

He squeezed Taehyung’s hand where he still held it before he slowly raised his head just enough to see.

The fast hunters were still there, circling the place. They hissed at each other, tilting their heads, pausing, moving again, and the longer Jungkook watched them, the more uncomfortable he felt. 

His gaze drifted to the bodies on the ground, the dinosaurs they had just torn apart and left behind, barely touched now.

These things hadn’t killed because they needed to eat…

They had killed because they wanted to, so the chase itself was the point, and Jungkook knew from every briefing and every survival instinct he had ever learned that predators like that were the most dangerous kind.

Another roar rolled through the jungle, closer this time and followed by the sound of massive footsteps crushing trees.

The hunters froze and turned their heads in unison toward the sound, and Jungkook followed their gaze as something enormous pushed through the foliage.

The dinosaur that emerged dwarfed the others completely, towering over them with a thick, powerful body and a massive head lined with teeth that looked like they could snap a tree in half. Its skin was a pale, almost ghostly white, broken by faint scars. It was a stark contrast to the darker, bluish grey of the smaller hunters. Its arms ended in huge claws, and its tail swept behind it with slow movements. 

When it roared again, the sound vibrated through Jungkook’s bones.

God.

If there was one dinosaur Jungkook knew…one that had been burned into his mind from childhood books and museum skeletons, it was this one.

That had to be a T-rex.

His fingers tightened around Taehyung’s hand as he watched, waiting for the explosion of violence he was sure would come next, but it never did.

Instead of attacking, the smaller hunters hissed and circled closer.

The massive dinosaur lowered its head slightly, jaws parting as it released a low, rumbling sound, and the others answered with their own ones.

Were they communicating?

He stared in disbelief as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Predators didn’t share territory like this or tolerate rivals, and yet here they were, standing together.

“What the hell…” Why weren’t they tearing each other apart?

He felt Taehyung shift beside him as he tried to wriggle free from his grip. Jungkook frowned and loosened his hold, turning his head just in time to see the other reach into the pocket of his cargo pants while still lying flat on the ground. From it, he pulled out a small notebook with a pencil tucked into the spiral.

Jungkook stared at him, baffled, his brain taking a second too long to catch up.

Taehyung lifted his head just enough to peer over the fallen tree and immediately started scribbling something down.

Oh god.

Not field notes... not now. 

He wanted to grab the notebook and shove it back into Taehyung’s pocket but then he noticed the look on Taehyung’s face.

His brow was furrowed in intense concentration, his lips were pressed together, and his hand shook a little as he wrote. After a few hurried lines, Taehyung switched to drawing, sketching rough shapes, then glancing up again, then back down.

Jungkook swallowed hard and tore his gaze away, forcing himself to focus on the threat in front of them.

His rifle rested uselessly against his shoulder, and even without being an expert on dinosaurs, he knew it wouldn’t do much against a coordinated pack of killers, especially with that massive white one looming over them all. He shifted slightly, trying to think and to map out any escape route that didn’t end with them being ripped apart.

Then the huge dinosaur turned.

Jungkook watched in slow motion horror as it lumbered toward where they had left the ATV. It lowered its head, sniffed once, and then lifted one enormous foot and brought it down onto the vehicle. Metal screamed as it crumpled under the weight and the frame collapsed like it was made of tin rather than steel. The dinosaur stepped again, crushing what little remained, and Jungkook felt something inside his chest drop straight into his stomach.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

Their fast escape was gone.

Any plan he’d been starting to piece together disappeared in an instant. He pressed his lips together, stopping the curse from spilling out loud, and slowly turned his head back toward Taehyung.

The other slid the notebook back into his pocket and turned his head toward Jungkook, inching closer until his mouth was right by his ear. 

“They’re waiting for something to run.”

“Well then, we don’t run,” he whispered back. “We stay right here.”

Taehyung shook his head slowly. “They already know we’re here. They like the chase, and they’re patient hunters. They’ll creep closer and push from different sides until whatever’s hiding panics and runs straight into them.”

Jungkook felt a cold understanding settle in. “Shit,” he breathed.

His eyes scanned the bushes, and suddenly he had an idea. They weren’t the only living things frozen in fear right now. He reached down and picked up a rock. His eyes flicked around until he spotted a flash of red feathers trembling low in the bushes ahead and slightly to the right.

Carefully while controlling his breathing the way training had drilled into him, he drew his arm back and threw.

The rock struck with a dull crack. A startled screech burst from the brush, and one of the feathered little dinosaurs shot upright and bolted, panic driving it straight through the undergrowth.

Immediately, one of the raptors hissed and lunged after it. A second raptor followed a heartbeat later, claws tearing into the ground as they ran.

Jungkook clenched his jaw. Two down, but still not enough.

He grabbed another rock. Then another.

He threw them one after the other into the bushes where the rest of the feathered dinosaurs had been hiding. More screeches and sudden movement. A few more of the dino chicks bolted in different directions with pure panic.

More hisses followed as more raptors chased the new targets.

A hand closed around his arm. 

He turned to see Taehyung pointing to what he had dismissed as a boulder sunk into the ground. Except it wasn’t a rock. The thing moved slightly, and the illusion broke. Grey skin textured like stone covered a massive dinosaur crouched low, hidden in plain sight.

Damn, he felt bad for the big guy but he didn’t have a choice. He threw a rock.

It hit nearby to draw attention, and the grey dinosaur rose, a deep rumble rolling through its body, before crashing away into the trees. The remaining hunters snapped their heads toward the sound and sprinted after it. Snarls tore through the jungle as they followed.

And then the silence crept back in.

Jungkook exhaled slowly, then stiffened.

One was still there.

The massive white dinosaur stood alone now, pale against the green, with its head lifting as it scanned the area. Jungkook reacted instantly, pulling Taehyung down with him until they were flat against the ground.

Heavy footsteps approached, each one sending a vibration through the earth that Jungkook felt in his ribs.

For one terrifying second, he thought, this is it, but instinct and years of training quickly pushed that thought aside as he slid the rifle off his shoulder and forced himself to think clearly. 

The sleeping darts in his backpack stood out as the best first move… 

If he aimed carefully for muscle, he could slow it down and create just enough of a distraction to give Taehyung a chance to run. That was all that mattered. The other would be able to escape while he would stay behind and draw the dinosaur’s attention to himself. He would hold his ground to keep himself between Taehyung and the danger.

And if the darts failed to stop it, then he would switch to live rounds and keep firing for as long as he had ammunition. 

He reached back toward his backpack, and then a different roar rolled through the jungle.

The footsteps near them stopped, and the white giant lifted its head and answered with a roar of its own.

Then it turned and ran toward the sound.

Jungkook didn’t move until the vibrations faded.

Then he looked at Taehyung and nodded toward the trees behind them.

Taehyung nodded back immediately. “Crawl,” he whispered. “The second we sprint, they’ll be on us.”

Jungkook slung the rifle back onto his shoulder and placed his palms against the ground. They began to move, crawling away through the jungle.

.☆∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°🦕⁠∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°⁠☆.

He finished one last slow scan of their surroundings before lowering himself to the ground in front of Taehyung.

Taehyung had already pulled his notebook back out. He was sitting with his knees drawn up, hunched over the pages.

He’d taken it out the moment Jungkook had called for a break.

They had crawled for what felt like forever and then walked for hours through uneven terrain and mud.

Jungkook had wanted to keep pushing to put even more distance between them and what they’d escaped, but he’d seen the way Taehyung moved. The other hadn’t complained or said a word, but Jungkook had noticed the stiffness in his posture and the effort it took for him to keep going, so he had called for a break.

He shrugged his backpack off and reached inside, pulling out his water bottle.

He held it out. “Drink.”

Taehyung looked up, clearly pulled out of his thoughts, and took it with both hands as he gave him an exhausted but grateful nod.

He drank a few slow sips, then handed it back.

Jungkook took a long drink himself, the cool water easing the dryness in his throat.

He capped the bottle, slid it away, and let himself lean back on his hands, just watching the other for a moment.

Taehyung looked like he’d been through it. His beige cargo pants were stained dark with mud, especially at the knees and thighs, and his green shirt had lost any resemblance to its original color, now more brown than anything else from crawling through dirt.

Jungkook glanced down at his own uniform, the black fabric doing its job by hiding most of the grime, though he could feel it caked along his sleeves and collar.

He reached into a side pocket and pulled out two protein bars, handing one over.

Taehyung accepted it with a smile.

Taehyung’s hair was also a complete mess with brown strands sticking up in odd directions. There was a faint smudge of dried mud along his cheek that Jungkook had the irrational urge to wipe away.

Despite everything like the exhaustion and the fact that they were stranded deep in a jungle full of predators, Taehyung still looked… happy. 

Jungkook found himself smiling back.

They should have been panicking. The logical part of his mind knew that. They were stranded, their ATV was crushed, their route back was uncertain, and predators were roaming nearby. And yet, sitting here with Taehyung, listening to the jungle around them, Jungkook didn’t feel the panic he knew he should.

Maybe it was the way the other stayed calm and curious even now. 

Maybe that calm was contagious.

Of course, he knew why Taehyung was this calm. The guy’s love for dinosaurs and his fascination with their existence pushed fear to the background and let curiosity take over, where common sense should’ve stepped in.

It was reckless as hell, and it certainly made Jungkook’s job ten times harder than it needed to be. 

But it was also incredibly endearing.

Damn it… his dinosaur nerd. 

“I didn’t think I’d ever actually see a T-rex,” he admitted.

Taehyung looked up from his notebook and frowned. “That wasn’t a Tyrannosaurus rex.”

Jungkook frowned back. “Really? Because it definitely looked like one. Are you sure?”

Taehyung nodded, already shifting closer until he was kneeling right in front of him.

He turned the notebook around and handed it over. “Look.”

Jungkook lowered his gaze to the page. Taehyung had sketched the creature they’d seen.

Taehyung leaned in and pointed at the head. “It does have a skull shape similar to a Tyrannosaurus rex, and the size matches or even exceeds it,” he said. “But look at the rest of it. The build is more slender and the arms—”

Jungkook followed his finger.

“They’re too long,” Taehyung continued. “Long and muscular with large claws. Almost like a Therizinosaurus.”

Jungkook squinted at the drawing. “Huh.”

Taehyung leaned back again, reaching for his red backpack. He unzipped it and pulled out a small book, flipping through the pages before stopping and handing it to Jungkook.

He took it and immediately recognized the image on the open page. A T-rex as he’d always known it, with a massive head and the infamously short arms.

Taehyung pointed between the book and his sketch. “See? The arms don’t match. The proportions don’t match either, and even the posture’s different.”

“Damn. I didn’t even notice that before.” He stared a moment longer. “So what is it?”

Taehyung didn’t answer.

Jungkook lifted his eyes and saw the other’s brows drawn together as he stared at his own drawing. “I don’t know,” Taehyung said at last. Then, after a beat, he added, “It’s like it’s a mix of different species.”

Jungkook frowned at the drawing again, then shrugged a little. “Maybe it’s just a species you don’t know about.”

Taehyung immediately shook his head which made Jungkook snort. “Right, sorry. That would be impossible,” he said, a hint of sarcasm creeping in. “Because of course you know all of them, yeah?”

Taehyung didn’t react and instead just kept frowning at the page, clearly turning the problem over in his head, completely missing the teasing tone.

Jungkook sighed and tried again. “I mean… or it’s a species you guys haven’t discovered yet. I don’t know.”

Taehyung finally looked up. “It doesn’t feel like that,” he said slowly. “The proportions don’t follow a single evolutionary line. And the way it interacted with the velociraptors…”

He trailed off, then continued, more certain now. “It makes me think it might be a hybrid of some kind.”

Jungkook watched him take the notebook back and flip to a new page, already writing.

He scratched his jaw, trying to wrap his head around that idea.

“So,” he said, hesitant, “you’re telling me one of those velo—” he stumbled over the word, “velociraptors hooked up with a T-rex, and that is what you get?”

Taehyung let out a small laugh and shook his head, not even looking up. “Not exactly like that.”

Jungkook’s radio crackled to life so suddenly that he flinched.

He’d been trying to reach someone ever since they’d started walking again, checking the damn thing again and again with growing frustration, so the sound brought a mix of relief and irritation with it. 

He pulled it from his vest and answered immediately.

“Hello.”

Only static answered him.

He frowned, waited a second, then lifted it closer to his mouth. “Hello? Anyone there?”

A few heartbeats passed before a voice cut through. 

“Jungkook?! hello? Dude.. where the hell.. are… you right now? Why… haven’t you come back… and why has your radio… been turned off?”

Jungkook squinted at the device, focusing hard to catch every word. “What do you mean, turned off?” he said. “I’ve been trying to contact you for hours.”

“What? No way,” Hoseok replied, the signal dipping and rising. “We’ve been calling… you nonstop.”

Jungkook groaned and ran a hand over his face. Great. Either the radio had taken damage, or the jungle was killing the signal.

“Okay,” he said, cutting through before the connection dropped again. “Never mind that. We’re a bit stranded and the ATV’s gone.”

“The ATV’s gone?” Hoseok repeated, louder now. "Kook, what do you mean by gone?”

“Crushed,” he said flatly. “By a huge carnivore.”

“Shit, are you injured? Is the professor okay?”

He turned his head slightly and looked at Taehyung, who had stopped writing and was watching him now. 

“He’s fine,” Jungkook said. “We’re both fine.”

Hoseok’s voice crackled again. “That’s a relief… but there shouldn’t be anything like that where you are. The big predators stay in the central territory.”

“Yeah,” Jungkook replied, eyes drifting to Taehyung’s open notebook. “That’s what I thought too. But it looks like they’re moving outside their territory now. We ran into a pack of velociraptors, and… something bigger.”

“Say again… something bigger than what?”

Jungkook tightened his grip on the radio. “I’ll explain it later.”

“Jungkook–”

The connection worsened, static swallowing half of Hoseok’s next words, so Jungkook spoke quickly.

“We’ve been heading east since we got away. According to the map, we should reach the lake soon, and if we follow it, it’ll lead us toward the waterfall.”

There was a brief pause, then Hoseok’s voice came back clearer for a moment. “Okay. We’ll head out to meet you. Don’t try anything stupid, all right? Just stay alive.”

Jungkook let out a short, breathy laugh. “That’s the plan.”

“I’ll see you soon,” Hoseok said. “Hang in there, Kook.”

“Yeah,” he replied. “See you soon.”

He lowered the radio and clipped it back onto his vest. Then he pulled out the folded map in his backpack. He traced their path with his finger, following the lines they’d marked earlier, and nodded to himself. If they kept going in the same direction for a little while longer, they’d hit the lake. 

“We’re not far,” he said, mostly to himself.

“I think we should stay here for now.”

Jungkook looked up. “I know you’re tired, but—”

“Yes, I am,” Taehyung cut in quickly, then shook his head. “But that’s not the reason.”

He lifted a hand and pointed upward.

Jungkook followed his gaze through the thick canopy, noticing how the light filtering through the leaves had changed. The jungle no longer had that bright look of midday.

It was early evening now… he hadn’t even realized how much time had passed.

“The lake is close,” Taehyung said, “just not close enough. We’d still be walking by the time it gets dark, and that’s not ideal.” 

Jungkook exhaled slowly. “Yeah, okay. You’ve got a point.”

Taehyung perked up instantly as he started to ramble. “Especially since velociraptors are mostly nocturnal hunters. Their eyes are pretty big compared to their skulls, which points to good night vision, and they rely a lot on detecting movement. In the dark, they’d have a serious advantage over us, and we’d basically be announcing ourselves as slow and noisy prey.”

Jungkook chuckled, amused. “That does sound bad when you put it like that.”

“And that’s not even getting into how well they coordinate or use terrain to trap their targets,” Taehyung added, before pausing and clearing his throat. “So… yes. Staying here is definitely the safer option.” 

Jungkook folded the map back up. “All right.”

He looked around again. He didn’t like how open it felt. A fire was out of the question since light and smoke would draw attention they didn’t want.

Even staying on the ground overnight made his skin itch.

His gaze drifted upward again, and he noticed how thick some of the branches were as they stretched wide between the trees. They were also low enough to reach without too much trouble.

An idea formed.

“Hey, Prof,” he said, glancing back at Taehyung. “What do you say we make camp up in a tree for the night?”

Taehyung blinked, then broke into a grin.

“God, Jungkook, you are so smart.” He tilted his head, thoughtful now. “Some dinosaurs still have the physical ability to climb, but that’s beside the point,” he said, already half-analyzing. “We’d be much harder to reach, and most large predators won’t even try. It’s… yeah. That’s really well thought out.”

Taehyung looked at him and smiled.

Jungkook wasn’t someone who blushed easily, but he felt heat creep into his cheeks anyway. He ducked his head slightly, pretending to check his surroundings again, and hoped Taehyung wouldn’t notice how much that praise meant to him.

The tree turned out to be exactly what he had hoped for. The bark was rough enough to grip, the branches were thick and low, and the trunk was angled in a way that made climbing manageable.

He went up easily, muscle memory taking over as he moved without much thought. Maybe it was the training, or maybe it was just the fact that he’d always liked climbing in his spare time.

He hauled both backpacks up first and secured them on a broad branch, making sure they wouldn’t slip, then he climbed back down to where Taehyung was standing and staring up at the tree.

“Okay,” Jungkook said. “Your turn.”

Taehyung gave the tree a doubtful look but nodded and stepped closer. Jungkook crouched and intertwined his hands. “Foot here.”

Taehyung placed his foot where he indicated, hands fumbling on the trunk. Jungkook pushed upward, but Taehyung wobbled immediately, arms flailing slightly as he tried to steady himself.

“Whoa!” Taehyung grabbed at the bark, slid a bit, and then came back down with a frustrated huff.

Jungkook laughed.

The other groaned and glanced back at him, his face flushed in embarrassment.

Jungkook’s laughter died instantly.

“Just leave me here to be eaten. It’ll be quicker.” Taehyung muttered.

Jungkook shook his head. “That’s not happening. Come on, let’s try again.”

They tried again, but it was clear that the same thing was going to happen, so Jungkook changed tactics. He stepped closer, letting his hands settle firmly on Taehyung’s waist, and then lifted him up in one smooth motion.

Taehyung was clearly startled, but he didn’t protest since he was too focused on grabbing the tree this time.

Jungkook held him steady while Taehyung found a better grip, then guided him with instructions.

“Okay, right foot a little higher. Yeah, there. Now push.”

Taehyung did what he was told, and even though he was still a bit hesitant, he was getting better. Jungkook stayed close, ready to catch him if he slipped.

“That’s it,” he said, unable to keep the encouragement out of his voice. “Just like that, Prof.”

Eventually, Taehyung managed to haul himself fully onto one of the branches with a breathless little laugh. Jungkook climbed up after him, staying close just in case.

They moved slowly from branch to branch, higher and higher, until they reached a massive stretch of thick wood that curved around the trunk of another tree.

Jungkook paused and took it in. The branch was broad and partially shielded by leaves. It was also high enough that nothing large would reach them easily.

“Perfect,” he murmured.

He settled back against the trunk.

Taehyung sat down in front of him, adjusting his position. Jungkook noticed the other glancing down over the edge, again and again.

After the third look, he tilted his head slightly.

“Are you afraid of heights?”

Taehyung looked at him with wide eyes. “Maybe,” he admitted. “A little.”

Jungkook shifted and patted the space beside him. “You can sit next to me. There’s plenty of room.”

The branch really was wide enough for both of them, but Taehyung hesitated, biting his lip as he glanced down again. “I’m just worried that if I fall asleep, I’ll roll or move too much and…” He trailed off.

Jungkook considered that for a second, then shook his head. “I’m planning on staying awake. I won’t let you fall.”

Taehyung didn’t look convinced.

Jungkook adjusted his position, spread his legs, and cleared his throat. “Okay. New idea. Come over here.”

Taehyung frowned, confusion written all over his face.

Jungkook felt heat creep up his neck and rushed to explain. “I mean, just sit between my legs. That way you won’t be anywhere near the edge, and I can keep you steady if you move in your sleep.”

“Oh.”

He braced himself, already preparing for an awkward refusal.

Instead, Taehyung asked, “You really wouldn’t mind that?”

“Not at all.”

Taehyung shifted closer as he carefully maneuvered himself until he was sitting between Jungkook’s legs, then he turned around and leaned back against his chest. 

Jungkook’s arms stayed uselessly at his sides, every instinct telling him to wrap them around the other and to hold him there properly, but he forced himself to stay still.

He could feel Taehyung tense for a second, then relax just a little.

“You can lean all the way back if you want.”

Taehyung nodded, and after a few seconds, he did exactly that, settling his weight fully against his chest.

Jungkook breathed out slowly. The warmth and weight of Taehyung against him felt nice, and he let himself enjoy it as he listened to the jungle below them and kept watch.

Darkness crept in quickly once the sun dipped low and the jungle shifted into deeper shadows.

The sounds around them also changed as daytime animals settled and night ones began to stir.

Jungkook let his head rest against the top of Taehyung’s, careful not to move too much. The other had gone so still that Jungkook was almost sure he’d fallen asleep already, which would have made sense after everything they’d been through.

Then Taehyung spoke, “Sorry for being a burden. And for… you know. The tree.”

Jungkook smiled to himself, the corner of his mouth lifting even though Taehyung couldn’t see it. “You’re not a burden. And you don’t need to be embarrassed. It’s been a long day, and anyone would be wiped after all that, especially physically.”

Taehyung snorted. “You went through the same thing, and you made it look easy.”

“Yeah,” he replied, “but I’m a trained soldier. If I couldn’t handle this, that would be pretty concerning.” He paused, then added honestly, “I’m impressed you kept up as well as you did.”

“Okay. That actually makes me feel better.”

He smiled into Taehyung’s hair, the scent of earth clinging to it.

A slow sigh left Taehyung’s chest, and then he spoke again. “I haven’t apologized yet for getting us into this situation.”

“It’s okay."

He meant it. When he’d taken the job, he’d known the risks, even if he hadn’t imagined them quite like this. And honestly, if Taehyung had to be stranded out here with anyone, Jungkook was glad it was him. He trusted himself to keep Taehyung safe.

Taehyung shifted slightly but stayed leaning back against him. “I don’t regret it,” he said. “Seeing those baby Triceratops… I would’ve regretted not going for the rest of my life. But I’m still sorry I dragged you into it.”

“It’s okay,” Jungkook repeated, and because it was dark and the other couldn’t see him, he added, “I’m just glad I get to be here with you.”

Taehyung huffed. “I mean, statistically speaking, my survival chances without you would’ve dropped significantly, so yeah. I’m glad you’re here as well. It’s better to be in this together.”

It wasn’t exactly what Jungkook had been going for, but he smiled anyway and took the win. “We make a pretty good team.” 

“Really?” 

“Obviously. With your brain and all that dinosaur knowledge, plus my training and survival skills? We are unstoppable.”

He felt Taehyung chuckle against his chest, and then the other said, contentedly, “Yeah. We are a good team.”

.☆∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°🦕⁠∘⁠˚⁠˳⁠°⁠☆.

A soft sound drifted through the trees that reminded Jungkook of an owl, but otherwise the jungle was very quiet. It felt peaceful, though also a little unreal after everything they had been through.

Taehyung slept soundly in his arms, his breathing slow and even.

At some point during the night, Jungkook had given in completely and wrapped his arms around him in a loose hug. Their fingers were intertwined over Taehyung’s stomach, and one of Taehyung’s hands was resting on top of Jungkook’s. 

Jungkook hadn’t moved for hours.

The darkness slowly faded and changed into a muted blue as dawn arrived. 

Taehyung stirred, shifting against him, and after a moment he mumbled, half-asleep, “Are you still awake?”

“Yeah,” Jungkook murmured into his hair. “I have been keeping watch.”

“Hm.” Taehyung hummed, then went quiet again.

“You can sleep a little longer,” Jungkook added softly. “It’ll be a while before it’s properly light.”

Taehyung shook his head, bringing his hands up to rub at his face. “No, it’s okay. I’m awake now.” He paused, then turned his head. “You should get some sleep.”

“I’m fine. It’s not necessary.” 

“Oh, it absolutely is,” Taehyung insisted, more awake now. “I need you rested, okay? You’re the one keeping us alive out here.” 

Jungkook let out a tired groan. “Ugh… fine. Five minutes. That’s it.”

He was already closing his eyes as he said it, burying his face a little deeper into Taehyung’s hair. He was too exhausted to feel shy or overthink how close they were.

“Wake me up if you hear anything. Anything at all.”

“I will. Now sleep.” 

He didn’t fight it and instead drifted off almost immediately.