◇ASHES OF THE PAST ▪︎01▪︎◇ (HEEJAKE)

CHAPTER 21: The Fire Within

The fire crackled in the stillness of the night, casting flickering shadows over their faces as they sat around it. The group had found a safe haven, a temporary reprieve from the dangers outside, but the peace felt fleeting. The world was still a harsh, unforgiving place, and every moment of calm was a moment they didn’t take for granted.

Jake sat on a large rock near the fire, staring into the flames, lost in thought. Heeseung had said something earlier—about them sticking together—but Jake couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling in his gut. The apocalypse had changed everything, twisted the way people saw one another, but there was one thing that hadn’t changed.

Heeseung.

Heeseung had become more than just a protector to Jake. He had become a lifeline. And even though Jake hated to admit it, part of him had started to rely on that lifeline more than he’d ever wanted to. Heeseung’s strength was undeniable—his ability to protect and provide, to think three steps ahead in a world that constantly shifted beneath their feet, was what kept them alive. But Jake knew that he wasn’t the only one who had changed. Heeseung had, too.

As the firelight danced, Jake felt the warmth of Heeseung's gaze before he even looked up. Heeseung had been quiet, watching him from across the campfire, his sharp eyes never straying far from Jake. He was always watching, always waiting for the next threat. But tonight was different. There was a softness in his expression, a tenderness that Jake wasn’t used to seeing.

Heeseung finally stood and walked over, settling next to Jake without saying a word. There was a comfortable silence between them, one that didn’t need to be filled with unnecessary chatter. Jake could feel the weight of the moment, the tension that had been building between them for weeks now.

"I know what you're thinking," Heeseung’s voice was low, almost a whisper, as if the words were meant only for Jake’s ears.

Jake looked up at him, his heart pounding. “Do you?”

Heeseung nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Jake’s. “You’re thinking about the future. About the world outside. About what we’re going to do next.”

Jake bit his lip, not sure how to respond. The truth was, he didn’t know what they were going to do. They’d been running for so long, and every safe place they found was eventually stripped from them. But something had changed within him, something deeper than just the fear of survival. There was a quiet hope now, an inkling that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way through this together.

"I don’t know if I’m ready to face what's out there," Jake admitted, his voice barely audible. "I don’t know how to survive in this world...without you." He didn’t mean to say it like that, but the words slipped out before he could stop them.

Heeseung didn’t look away. Instead, his expression softened, and his hand found Jake’s. It was warm against the cool air, a silent promise.

“You’re not alone in this, Jake. I won’t let anything happen to you. Not while I’m here.”

Jake’s breath caught in his throat. Heeseung’s words, though simple, carried a weight that anchored him. He had always known Heeseung was strong, but now, in this world where everything seemed to be falling apart, Heeseung had become his rock.

"I don’t want to just survive anymore," Jake whispered. "I want to live."

Heeseung’s grip tightened, his thumb brushing across Jake’s knuckles in a comforting motion. “We will. I’ll make sure of it.”

Jake looked up, meeting Heeseung’s eyes. There was something in the air between them now, something undeniable. The bond they shared had deepened, woven together with threads of trust, pain, and the hope that maybe—just maybe—they could build something more than just survival. They could build a future.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. There was nothing more to say—at least not yet. The night was quiet, the world holding its breath. The only sound was the crackling of the fire and the soft rustle of the trees.

"Tomorrow, we move again," Heeseung said finally, breaking the silence.

Jake nodded, though part of him didn’t want to move at all. He wanted to stay in this moment, surrounded by the warmth of the fire and the quiet comfort of Heeseung’s presence. But he knew the world wouldn’t let them stay still for long.

“We’ll make it through tomorrow,” Jake said, more to himself than to Heeseung.

“We always do.”

As Heeseung stood up to tend to their equipment, Jake felt a renewed sense of determination, a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time. They were still alive, still fighting, and as long as they had each other, maybe that was enough. For now.