As soon as Namjoon enters the classroom, Hana trailing behind him, he spots him.

Min Yoongi.

He is sitting in his usual seat behind Namjoon's usual seat, his laptop open, typing away. The professor hasn't entered the classroom yet.

Hana walks past Namjoon and heads over to their friends, completely oblivious to Namjoon's intense emotions. He heads to his seat, pulling out his laptop.

Hana and Taehyung are playing around, tickling and hitting each other. Jungkook and Jimin are talking intensely about something to do with anime. Seokjin and Hoseok are chatting comfortably, but Namjoon isn't really listening.

Namjoon, this won't work if you get upset. Z says firmly.

"I don't care," Namjoon whispers.

You're going to mess it up. Calm down.

Fine. Namjoon takes a deep breath and begins focusing on his work. The professor enters the classroom and starts the lesson.

Namjoon can see Seokjin and Hoseok giving him uncomfortable looks, but he ignores them. The only thing he can think about is how he is going to get Yoongi on his own.

Namjoon zones out, his mind wandering to all the possible options. Should he just ask him? Should he wait? What if he is never alone with Yoongi?

Not to mention all the other concerns. Is he working alone? Is he here to kill her? If he is, then why? So many questions and Z is refusing to answer any of them.

"Namjoon, class is over,"

Seokjin startles him. Namjoon glances around and notices that the classroom is almost empty. He looks up at Seokjin and smiles.

"Sorry, just tired," Namjoon says, closing up his computer.

"Alright..." Seokjin frowns as they shoulder their bags and leave the classroom. Namjoon heads to his physics class and Seokjin heads to his own class.

All too soon, it is lunchtime. Namjoon heads to the lunch area with Jungkook to meet up with their friends. Jungkook is conversing with him about the class, with a lot less enthusiasm than before.

Yoongi is sitting beside Jimin, talking happily about something Namjoon can't hear. Jungkook heads to the café to grab some lunch, leaving Namjoon standing beside the lunch table. Yoongi looks up.

"Hey, what's up?" Yoongi asks, frowning at Namjoon's cold expression.

"We need to talk,"

Jimin, Hana, and Taehyung look at Namjoon, their concern and confusion evident on their faces.

"Yeah, sure. What do you want to talk about?" Yoongi turns his body so he's facing him.

"Not here," Namjoon turns and starts walking out of the food area. Once he is past the shops, he looks back. Yoongi is following him, a frown on his face and his hands deep in his pockets.

Namjoon enters an empty classroom, leaving the door open for Yoongi to follow him inside. He turns and folds his arms as Yoongi enters the classroom, closing the door behind him.

"What's wrong?" he asks, moving towards Namjoon.

"Where did you get that pendant?" He responds, gesturing to the jewellery around his neck.

"What? This?" He points at it, "I told you, it was a family heirloom,"

"Don't lie to me, Yoongi. That's a protection rune for the Xanthus pantheon," Namjoon snaps, taking a step forward, "That's not a common cultural practice,"

"Xanthus? How do you know about that?" Yoongi frowns. Then, the realisation hits him. He goes pale, staring at Namjoon as if he just grew another head.

I knew it. He knows.

"I know," Namjoon responds.

"What?" Yoongi frowns, wildly looking around the room, "Are you... a part of it?"

"A part of what?" Namjoon snaps.

"Oh my god... I thought I got away from it all," He begins moving away from Namjoon, fear in his eyes, "You stay away from me, you're crazy!"

A piece of Namjoon's psyche snaps at those words. All the times his parents, his classmates... all the times they called him crazy.

Not this time. I'm not crazy.

Namjoon storms forward, grabbing Yoongi by the collar and slamming him into the classroom wall. Yoongi grunts from the impact, staring at Namjoon intensely.

"What do you want, huh?" Yoongi mutters, trying to struggle out of his grip.

"Why are you here?" Namjoon growls, slightly lifting Yoongi from the ground so he is standing on the tips of his toes, "What are you here for?"

"School? I don't know what you want from me!"

"Namjoon?" Namjoon looks at the door, letting go of Yoongi's shirt as the intrusion brings him to his senses. A guy is standing at the door, someone he recognises from class.

"Namjoon, what are you doing?" The guy repeats.

"Don't worry," Namjoon clears his throat, smiling, "It's nothing,"

Yoongi adjusts his shirt and looks towards the man.

"Sorry, just a heated conversation," He smiles, "Don't worry about it Minho,"

The guy, Minho, returns his smile before looking at Namjoon.

"Alright... I think class is starting soon..." He mutters, gesturing to the door.

"After school," Namjoon looks at Yoongi, "My place, okay?"

Yoongi stares at him for a moment, as if trying to decide if that's a good idea. After a moment, he nods. As soon as he does, Namjoon storms out of the room, his mind reeling.

He knows, he recognises the name of the pantheon. He must know.

Then why was he scared? Namjoon reasons, Sure, he knows. He has the rune... but he thought I was crazy? He was worried...

No, he was scared he had been caught. Z snaps, Later, you take that necklace off, okay?

Fine, Namjoon sighs.

"Yah, Namjoon!"

Namjoon takes a deep breath and looks towards the voice. Jimin is walking towards him, glowering.

Oh for fucks sake, now what?

He's here to confront you...

"Not now, Jimin..." Namjoon mutters irritably as Jimin gets closer, "I'm really too emotionally exhausted for this,"

"So what?" Jimin says sharply, "I need to talk to you now,"

Namjoon sighs deeply before fixing his eyes on Jimin. He might as well get it over and done with.

"How can I help you?" He smiles.

"I want to talk to you about Hana, and how you have been coming to school with her," Jimin explains.

"Yeah?" Namjoon leans against a wall, his arms folded. Jimin is standing tensely, his eyes planted firmly on Namjoon's.

"You need to stop that," Jimin says sternly, "Taehyung rides the train with her, you don't need to do that,"

"Jimin, I don't do it to spend time with her or anything," Namjoon says, his agitation evident in his tone, "I do it because I can. The world is a scary place and the area we live in is full of crime. I'm just trying to be a good friend. I live around the corner from her. It's not like I'm going out of my way,"

"Don't lie," Jimin snaps, starting to get angry, "It's obvious you like her, even your friends say so,"

"Of course they do," Namjoon indignantly, "Because I haven't had a female friend before and they haven't seen me interact with a girl,"

"Yeah, well..." Jimin mutters, looking for another reason.

"Alright, let me make myself very clear," Namjoon interrupts furiously, "I do not like Bae Hana. I'm not trying to take her away from you, and I do not have feelings for her, understood?"

"W-W-What? Away f-f-from me?" Jimin starts stuttering, his demeanour falling instantly, "Who said I like her?"

"Well, if you don't like her, why do you care? Huh?" Namjoon says hotly, "If you're going to confront me like this, at least be honest,"

Jimin stares at him for a moment before he responds.

"Yes, I like her, okay?" Jimin mumbles as if he had to force it out.

"Cool, ask her out then and stop attacking every single guy that even glances at her, okay?" Namjoon says firmly, "Can I go to class now?"

"Oh... sure... wait!" Jimin calls out as Namjoon turns to walk away, "Do you really think I should ask her out?"

"I couldn't care less, Jimin," Namjoon rolls his eyes, turning away, "Just leave me out of it,"

Jimin doesn't call him back, so he continues moving down the hallway, feeling like steam is coming out of his ears. Once he reaches the classroom door, he pauses to take a deep breath.

Namjoon...

"What?" Namjoon whispers.

Why do I sense jealousy inside you?

Namjoon frowns, trying to control his emotions.

Shut up. Let's focus on Yoongi. Namjoon opens the classroom door, spotting Taehyung and Seokjin at the back.

Fine...

. . . 

Namjoon walks Hana home. She is quieter than usual, probably because of the tension between Namjoon and Yoongi, and then Namjoon and Jimin. Pretty much Namjoon and everyone.

"Hey, are you okay?" Hana asks as she stops out the front of her house. He pauses, turning to look at her.

"Yeah... why?" He asks.

"You've just been quieter than usual, and distant," She folds her arms, her eyebrows raised. Her expression clearly says, 'don't lie to me'.

"Yeah, it's nothing important, don't worry," Namjoon smiles at her sweetly, "Thanks for asking though,"

Hana sighs and moves forward, hugging Namjoon around his middle. This time, he hugs her back, his hand resting on her shoulder and her head. He warms up at her touch, feeling comfort in her kindness.

"I hope whatever it is works out," Hana mumbles before pulling out of his embrace. She smiles up at him.

"Me too," He responds gruffly, his eyes crinkling as he watches her turn away from him. She waves and he waves back. Before he can enjoy this feeling and sensation too much, Z speaks up.

Control your thoughts you absolute...

"Oh shut up," Namjoon whispers, cutting him off, "Stop reading my mind if you don't like it,"

Z doesn't respond, but he can tell he is annoyed. He turns and continues down the street, some of the stress and tension in his shoulders alleviated.

The doorbell rings, startling Namjoon from his anxiety and overthinking. It is 5 pm Monday and he has been waiting for Yoongi to arrive.

It's time.

Namjoon heads down, lets Yoongi in and leads him back into the apartment. Yoongi looks nervous, watching Namjoon warily.

"Take a seat," Namjoon gestures to his dining table, sitting down himself. Yoongi does as he is told, sitting on the edge of his seat.

"Okay, what do you know about the Xanthus pantheon?" Namjoon asks.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Yoongi says firmly. Namjoon sighs again, starting to feel fed up with everyone's behaviour today.

"Don't lie, Yoongi," Namjoon breathes, "You are wearing a protection sigil created by the Xanthus pantheon, you said you knew what that was earlier, and you said it is a family heirloom,"

"Okay, okay, I know what the Xanthus cult is," Yoongi says quickly, "So why don't you tell me why you care so much?"

"Because... someone is in danger and it has something to do with that," Namjoon explains briefly. He can't tell Yoongi too much.

"Someone is in danger?" Yoongi frowns deeper, "But what does that have to do with this necklace? And how do you know it's a protection rune?"

Take it off.

"No,"

"What?" Yoongi raises his eyebrows.

Pull it from his neck.

"Z..." Namjoon groans.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Do it. NOW! Z's voice booms loudly. Namjoon clutches his head as his voice vibrates through him.

"Take the necklace off," Namjoon says firmly.

"What? Why?"

"TAKE IT OFF!" Namjoon yells.

"NO!" Yoongi yells indignantly, standing up.

Namjoon stands and moves towards him. Before Yoongi can even move, turn, or run, Namjoon has him pinned against the wall, his hand on the necklace.

"Namjoon, what are you doing? LET ME GO!" Yoongi starts squirming, pushing at Namjoon's chest.

"Either I rip it off, or you take it off," Namjoon mutters aggressively, "It's your choice,"

"FUCK OFF!"

"Fine," Namjoon mumbles as he tugs on the necklace, snapping the rope around Yoongi's neck.

Oh no... 

(A/N) 🫰🫰🫰