"Good, Yoongi. That's the final take on your part," Namjoon said, eyes trained on the computer screen as he began splicing Yoongi's final vocals, backup vocals, and the synth music together.

It was around 8 pm, two days after the meeting with Bang PD. There was only 2 more days until the underground rap concert. While they had the entire song written, they still needed to record Namjoon's part and decide on the final touches. Performing live with Namjoon no longer stressed Yoongi, as working with him for those past few days had been some of the most fun he'd ever had in the studio.

Sliding his headphones off, Yoongi sighed. "I can't believe that made me start sweating," he chuckled, using the back of his hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"It's kind of hot in here," Namjoon paused for a moment, popping a piece of gum in his mouth as he continued to stare the screen intently. "Yoongi," he murmured, moving a section of audio after playing it back, deciding it didn't fit in its original spot.

"Yeah?"

"Ever thought about a stage name?"

"I've had a few ideas over the years. Never used one, though," he shrugged, getting up from the stool that resided in front of the mic and dragging it to over beside Namjoon. The studio that Bang PD gave them was on the small side, but it was good enough to get the job done.

"I was thinking that maybe we could use stage names at the concert. "Yoongi and Namjoon" doesn't quite sound like the name of a rapping duo," Namjoon replied, laughing a bit.

"I mean you have a point," Yoongi agreed, "Do you already have a stage name for yourself?"

Namjoon hesitated for a moment, "Don't laugh."

"Okay?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"Namjoon, chill out," Yoongi rolled his eyes.

"Rap Monster."

"Huh?"

"My stage name is Rap Monster."

"Why are you so shy about that?" Yoongi couldn't help but laugh. The guy called himself a "Rap Monster" but he was too embarrassed to even say the name up front.

"My other friends always thought it was too much," Namjoon smacked his gum, looking back over at the screen. "This is ready for my vocals. Do you have time? I could lay down the track in like 30 minutes."

Glancing at his watch, Yoongi bit his lip.

"Are you supposed to see her tonight?" Namjoon raised an eyebrow. They'd only know each for a few days, but already, he was too good at reading Yoongi.

"Yeah...I can call and tell her that we're finishing the track, though. She'd understand..." Yoongi offered, but his words weren't very convincing. He knew it would be wrong to skip out on you tonight, especially since he hadn't seen you since the nap at your dorm. You two hadn't even talked on the phone all week. He could feel the distance, he could feel a wall going up, and he didn't like it. Cancelling tonight was the last thing he needed to do. But, duty calls...

Namjoon shook his head, "She's expecting you already? Like, you made plans?"

"Yeah."

"Then you should go."

"But what about the track? We haven't finished all of the raw files, much less practice it together with the instrumental track," Yoongi argued. He couldn't let Bang PD or Namjoon or any of the other staff down. Not after his slip up that happened less than a week ago.

"Come in early tomorrow. 6 am. We can finish it then. The track doesn't have to be completely finished by the concert, but it needs to be done by the following day at least. We're supposed to put it on SoundCloud. Otherwise, we wouldn't have needed to record it with such precision," Namjoon made a counteroffer, seemingly trying to make allowances for Yoongi.

"Are you sure?" Yoongi felt uneasy.

"Look, man. I haven't known you for very long. But the fact that you have already told me so much about Y/N makes it obvious that she's an important part of your life. Don't neglect her just because of the concert," Namjoon said matter-of-factly, reaching for the power switch on the back of the computer.

"I'm not neglecting her, okay? I'm just trying to put work first right now," Yoongi began to defend himself, cheeks heating up in anger and embarrassment.

"That's your problem right there. You've been stressed all week because you're worried about her, and yet you haven't even taken the time to go and see for an afternoon," Namjoon's eyes narrowed.

"Isn't that a bit out of line for you to say? I haven't seen her because I haven't had time-"

"That's not true," Namjoon cut him off, "That's an excuse, and you know it. You haven't gone to see her because you're scared. You told me that yourself."

"Hey, that's not fair. I didn't tell you that for you to use it against me," Yoongi was growing angrier by the second, but he wasn't sure if he was really all that angry at Namjoon. Maybe he was just angry at himself.

"I'm not using anything against you, Yoongi. I'm trying to be honest. If we're going to work together and have any kind of relationship- coworkers or friendship- I'm always going to be honest with you. And that includes telling you the truth, even when you don't want to hear it," Namjoon said calmly, clearly having a much easier time at controlling his emotions than Yoongi was. "It's not fair for you to keep pushing her away because you don't want to deal with the issues. If you really care about her like you say you do, then man up and act like it. If you don't want to deal with the issues, then break up with her. It's not fair to string her along and make her be sitting by the phone, waiting for you to call."

"I'm not stringing her along!"

"Are you sure about that? Does Y/N even know how you really feel about her?"

"If she didn't, then she wouldn't be my girlfriend," Yoongi snapped, rising from his seat, prepared to leave the room.

"What have you told her then? Have you told her what you've told me? Huh?" Namjoon pressed, seemingly grow more irritated and frustrated.

"I confessed that I liked her! I'm her boyfriend! What else is there?" Yoongi already knew the answers to his own questions, he just didn't want to admit them to himself.

"Yoongi, take a minute and really think about this! Her knowing that you "like her" is not good enough if you're going to be gone all the time. That's not good enough if you're going to go days without even bothering to call. All I'm trying to say, is that from an outsider's point of view, you aren't being fair. If you really care about her, stop for a minute, and consider her feelings. Not just your own," Namjoon insisted.

Yoongi's shoulders slumped as he sat back down, his hands covering his face.

"...I'm sorry...I know you're right," he mumbled.

"Yoongi, talk to me," Namjoon's voice was suddenly softer, "What are you really afraid of? I know you're scared of not being able to be there for her, and I know you're scared that she may resent you. But, those things are all preventable. You could be there with her right now, and you aren't. She won't have a reason to resent you if you just communicate.... So, what is it really that's bothering you so much? What's bothering you enough that it's been keeping you from seeing her?"

Yoongi's eyes were brimmed with hot tears. He tilted his back slightly, rubbing his eyes and groaning in frustration at his outward projection of emotion.

"I'm scared of being alone again, okay? If I become a point of drama and uneasiness in her life, then it's only a matter of time before she cuts me out of it," Yoongi admitted, and to his dismay, the tears started falling. "I've tried to avoid conflict, because Namjoon, if I'm honest, she's one of the only people that still wants to be around me. That deals with me, and puts up with me. And I'm just so scared that all of this fame business is going to break her and make her push me away..."

"Yoongi, you don't have to feel that way," Namjoon started, his words gentle as he handed over a tissue, "You need to ask her she feels instead of assuming. It's possible you made a lot of this up in your head. And, running away from it won't make it any better. You pushing her away first won't make it any easier. You're just going to regret it later."

"I know..."

And then Yoongi's cell phone was ringing. Sniffling, he pulled it out of his pocket and blinked a few times to get the tears out of his eyes.

"It's Y/N," he breathed, new tears replacing the old ones.

"Answer it."

Nodding, Yoongi took a deep breath and accepted your call.

"Yoongi! I know we were supposed to hang out tonight, but my history professor just pushed out an email saying that we have to complete our paper by tomorrow's class instead of Monday's, and I haven't even started it yet," you began, sounding incredibly sincere and frustrated, "I'm really sorry. I know this is so lame, but I have to pass this class if I want to graduate on time."

"Calm down, Y/N. It's okay. I understand," Yoongi said, trying to mask the emotion in his voice, but was unsuccessful.

"Are you okay?" you demanded from the other end of the line.

"I'm fine."

"Then why do you sound like that? Are you crying?" Your worry was apparent and Yoongi looked at Namjoon, desperate. Namjoon only shrugged with an apologetic expression covering his face.

"My throat is just sore from practice today. Um, just worry about your history paper for now, okay?" Yoongi attempted to change the course of the conversation.

"You know I can tell when you're lying, right? You do realize that you saying that makes me worry even more? What's wrong?" You pressed, and Yoongi began feeling frustrated again. Why were you so observant? Why could you read his voice so well? How come the one time he wanted to keep something from you, you wouldn't let him?

"I don't want to be a distraction for you tonight. I promise I'm okay," he said, but his words failed him as his voice was beginning to break.

"Yoongi..." you sounded so worried, "Do you need to come over? I can spare some time," you began insisting. Yoongi let out a heavy breath.

"No, it's okay. Just finish your paper. I-uh I have an underground rap concert on Saturday night with another BigHit trainee. Would you come?" He asked, changing the subject yet again.

"Um, yeah of course. But, Yoongi..."

"Yeah?"

You hesitated for a moment, leaving Yoongi waiting in anxious anticipation at the words to come.

"What is it, Y/N?"

"Is there a reason that you haven't talked to me all week? Is that what this is about?" You said the words quietly, and Yoongi's heart clenched.

"I don't want to have this conversation with you on the phone," he fought more tears, but they continued falling anyway. Jaw clenching, he wiped his eyes again.

"Yoongi..."

"Saying my name over and over isn't going to change my mind. Your education comes first. Please, focus for now and we'll talk later," the shakiness in his voice was incredibly clear then. Yoongi's eyes flickered over at Namjoon, who was looking down, picking at a thread on the sleeve of his sweater.

"Are you breaking up with me?" your voice was tiny, and for some reason, it ignited a spark of anger with Yoongi.

"No, Y/N! Stop. I've just been thinking about a lot of things lately, and I'm stressed, and over-tired, and honestly, I just need you to stop pushing me right now. Come on, please just listen to me," Yoongi resolved, words carrying a note of finality in them.

"Okay," You said simply, flatly. And even though Yoongi felt terrible, he couldn't take back what he said, nor did he really want to.

"Will you still come on Saturday?" his voice was low, emotions suddenly becoming masked as he forced himself to put up a better front.

"Yes," you said quietly.

"Great. I'll text you the details," Yoongi mumbled, before hanging up the phone without even bothering to say goodbye.

Namjoon grimaced slightly as Yoongi sat, staring blankly as the remainder of the tears fell from his eyes.

"Yoongi," Namjoon began, but Yoongi immediately shook his head.

"Let's get back to work," he said, emotionless as he stood from his stool, dragging it back in front of the microphone.