The forest was thick enough that sunlight barely touched the ground, slipping through the canopy in thin, trembling beams. Niko’s boots sank into moss as he moved deeper, searching for the rare flower his team needed to document. Hours had passed since he last heard another voice. Now it was just him… and the unnerving feeling that something was following him.

The leaves behind him shifted.

Not wind. Not an animal.

Something heavier—yet impossibly silent.

Niko turned, but the trees stared back blankly. A shiver crawled along his spine.

Then—without warning—a shadow dropped from above.

A figure landed in a crouch, steady and controlled, barely a whisper of impact. When he lifted his head, strands of long, wild hair fell away from his face.

Jungkook.

He looked like the forest had carved him. His hair was tangled with feathers and thin braids, his skin sun-bronzed and decorated with faint charcoal marks. A strap woven from bark fibers crossed his chest, and a hide wrap sat low around his hips. His body was lean, defined, moving with an animal’s precision. Eyes sharp, dark, bright with curiosity.

He rose slowly, nostrils flaring as he inhaled Niko’s scent.

He had never seen another human. Not once in his life.

He blinked, head tilting, trying to understand the creature standing before him.

A rough, hesitant sound left his throat— "…Hu-man?"

The word came out broken, shaped by instinct rather than memory.

He took a careful step forward.

Then another.

He reached out—stopped—then gathered courage and let his fingertips touch the edge of Niko’s sleeve. He gasped softly at the unfamiliar softness of fabric.

"Soft…" he whispered, heart pounding in his voice.

He moved around Niko in slow, cautious circles, studying everything—clothes, bag, the strange objects dangling from his belt. His fingers twitched every time he spotted something new.

He stepped behind Niko, leaning in, breath warm as he sniffed gently, trying to understand. A soft, amazed hum vibrated in his chest.

"Not animal," he murmured. He tapped his own chest lightly. "Jungkook."

Then he looked at Niko expectantly, eyes wide, waiting for his name—even though Niko didn’t speak yet.

Before anything could happen, a sudden rustle shattered the quiet.

Leaves exploded to the right.

Jungkook’s entire body snapped into defense. Shoulders up, stance wide, teeth showing just a bit. He moved instantly, stepping in front of Niko, an arm out to hold him back. Muscles tight. Eyes threatening whatever disturbed the bushes.

"Stay," he growled—not aggressive toward Niko, but protective.

The forest went still again. After a long moment, Jungkook’s posture softened. He turned back slowly, expression changing from instinct to something gentler.

He stepped close—close enough that their breaths mingled. His hand rose hesitantly, shaking a little with anticipation.

He placed his palm gently against Niko’s chest.

Right over the heartbeat.

Jungkook froze.

Eyes widening.

He leaned in, listening with his whole body, breath catching.

"Human… heart…" he whispered, voice full of wonder. He touched his own bare chest. "Same."

A small, awed smile curved across his lips—unpracticed, shy, unbelievably gentle.

Then, almost in a whisper, he asked:

"Human… stay? With Jungkook… stay?"

Like the word stay meant everything he never had.