Seeing Namjoon waiting for him outside the door, Seokjin felt a furious urge to rush into his arms for comfort after closing the door. But the memory of Mr and Mrs. Kim's words regarding his relationship with their sons prevented him from doing so and he just cried, starting to go back to get his things in Namjoon's room, holding his injured hand against his chest.

"Hey, Jinnie," Namjoon said grabbing his arm.

"No, don't come near me," Seokjin whined, breaking free and running to Namjoon's room under the pained eyes of the elder who followed him slowly.

Seokjin began to painfully gather his things with his left hand alone. He wanted to hurry to leave the mansion and join his mother. Namjoon joined him in the bedroom and closed the door behind him. Without a word, he approached Seokjin and hugged him.

"Let go of me," Seokjin told him trying to push him away.

"You're not like usual, I don't like it," Namjoon said without letting go, letting his chin rest on Seokjin's shoulder. "You're crying but you refuse to talk to me."

"It's because we're not friends anymore," Seokjin sobbed, still clutching his injured hand.

"Don't say that," Namjoon replied frowning, stepping away from him but keeping his hands on his shoulders. "Of course we are friends!"

"No, not anymore," Seokjin moaned as he continued to cry.

"Come here," Namjoon told him, dragging him to his bed where they both sat down.

He grabbed his hand gently and squeezed it between his own, stroking it dutifully to soothe his pain.

"I know what my father did and I'm sorry he hit you. He is an evil monster."

Seokjin's eyes widened between her tears.

"Y-You know?"

"Yes, I know. My father has been beating me since... since always, actually," Namjoon confessed.

"Oh my God, why didn't you ever say anything?" Seokjin said, horrified to learn that. "Is Tae getting beat up too?"

"No, Tae never got hit, if he had, he perhaps wouldn't have become so temperamental or maybe it would have been worse, who knows," Namjoon said grimly. "Are you asking me why I didn't say anything? To whom? Why ?"

"To the police! To denounce him!"

"I'm not going to denounce my own father," Namjoon replied, "he'll disinherit me!" 

"Is it worth suffering?" Seokjin asked, stunned.

"Yes," Namjoon simply stated with a shrug. "You don't know what it's like to be an heir, the only thing we have, since we don't have the affection of our father, is the promised money and the goods that he will leave us. If I don't have that, I would have suffered for nothing. I refuse. And for you too, you will see that it is worth suffering, you will have something good afterwards."

"What?!" Seokjin said, flabbergasted, "But I don't want to suffer! And I don't want you to suffer either! So it's better to-"

"Jinnie," Namjoon abruptly cut in a harsh tone that he had never used on Seokjin and which scared the younger one, especially since his gaze had also become hard and cold. Namjoon squeezed his injured hand harder: "I forbid you to report my father, you hear me?"

"J-joonie, please let me go, you're hurting me," Seokjin whimpered as he tried to pull his hand away from the other's hand, which gripped him like an eagle's talons around its prey.

Realizing what he was doing, Namjoon let go of him and saw Seokjin immediately back up on the bed to get away from him and look at him with concern.

Namjoon suddenly reminded Seokjin of his frightening father, he had a sudden glimpse of the coldness of the one he had always felt safe with. He remembered what Taehyung had been able to do to him when he got angry because he had not obeyed him, and what Mr. and Mrs. Kim had just done to him just to warn him what would happen to him if he didn't respect their wishes. 

In his eyes suddenly, Namjoon was no different from the rest of his family. After all, how could he be when he was the one who spent the most time with his violent father and blindly obeyed his every order? Seokjin realized that Namjoon, if he stayed behind the office door listening to the conversation, must have heard him screaming and crying. Could it be that he heard him suffer but deliberately let his father do so as not to oppose him?

"Please don't hurt me, I swear I won't report your dad!" he sobbed in anguish absolutely not feeling safe with Namjoon anymore.

"Jinnie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you or hurt you," Namjoon assured him as he approached him slowly. "I promise you I won't hurt you, please don't be afraid of me."

"Please, let me go home," Seokjin begged as Namjoon blocked his way.

"No, I don't want to let you go thinking that you must be afraid of me," Namjoon refused, joining him and gently putting an arm around his shoulder to force him to lie down. "Lay down with me for a moment."

Still shaking, Seokjin obediently rested his head on Namjoon's arm and didn't argue. He didn't want to stay here with him. If his parents came and saw him here with Namjoon, they might punish him again, probably more severely. But if he disobeyed Namjoon, he would be the one to hurt him. So he remained silent next to him, waiting for him to let him go, not daring to turn to Namjoon, his gaze remaining resolutely fixed on the ceiling.

"You know," Namjoon said softly, affectionately starting stroking Seokjin's hair as if he hadn't just threatened him, "if I prevent you from denouncing my father, it's not only for me, it's also to protect you. My father has a lot of contacts, he is very rich and influential, he will never go to prison and he will necessarily take revenge on you and your family and I refuse to let that happen, you understand, right?"

Seokjin didn't answer, thinking back to Mr. and Mrs. Kim's threats and realizing with horror that Namjoon was also threatening him in some way.

"Why do you say nothing ?" Namjoon asked, now stroking his shoulder that he felt trembling, "first you say we're not friends anymore and then you're scared of me. We're still friends, aren't we?"

"Y-yes," Seokjin said apprehensively.

"You're not just saying that because you're scared, are you?" the older one asked with suspicion.

"No," Seokjin said, trying to put all the conviction he could into it.

"Good," Namjoon said in a sight of relief, "friends don't have to be afraid of each other. I don't want things to change between us, never; that would make me too sad. "You don't want to make me sad, do you?"

"No, I don't want you to be sad," Seokjin said, "but your parents-"

"I know what they told you but we don't care what they want, okay? So don't listen to them, you don't have to stay away from me, we won't tell them that we remain best friends."

"Can we really?"

"Of course, we can and we have to.We're not going to stop being friends just because they decided to!"

"But they say our friendship is humiliating for you and Taehyung," Seokjin said sadly, "and that I will never be like you."

"Listen to me, Jinnie: first, I don't want you to be like us, I want you to stay you. Secondly, I will never, ever consider our friendship as something humiliating, so don't ever think that."

"Do you honestly think so?" Seokjin asked, suddenly feeling reassured.

"Of course I mean it sincerely."

"Does that mean I can stay friends with you, even in school? Won't you tell your parents? If they know, they will punish me severely."

"I won't tell them anything," Namjoon smiled reassuringly at him. Relieved, Seokjin felt like finally things could stay as they were, but he was disappointed when he heard what happened next. "However, it's better if you stay away from Taehyung. Because he's the problem, he always was, okay?"

Seokjin turned to Namjoon, his eyes sad, which did not please Namjoon at all.

"But Tae-"

"Don't be sad, for him, he didn't deserve you. Taehyung hasn't changed since we were little, he is a monster just like our parents. Like my mother, he says it's your fault he attacked you or if he can't sleep without you."

"He-He said that?" Seokjin stammered. "But he didn't tell me..."

"Yes, he said that. But me, I know you're not the problem, he is. All that happened is his fault and not yours, you did nothing wrong. He didn't tell you directly to keep you friend with him but if you don't obey him at school, he will make you pay, just like he made you pay when you refused to give him your ball at that time. And it's you my father will always punish whenever there is a problem between you two, not him."

"No, you're wrong, Tae wouldn't do that to me, " Seokjin protested in a small voice.

"Yes he would, I know my brother well, Jinnie. And since he doesn't have many friends, my mother is afraid that he won't want to make other friends if you stay with him. That's also why she doesn't like you, do you understand now?"

"I...I'm not sure..." protested Seokjin who didn't want to betray Taehyung and the friendship they shared for so long. 

"It's the truth though," Namjoon insisted, not giving up, "you know I'm smart, right?"

"Yes," nodded Seokjin without hesitation, because he couldn't deny that.

"So trust me, not him because that's what will happen if you stay friends with Taehyung."

"Okay," Seokjin said, who wanted however to take the time to discuss it with his mother and grandfather to be sure and make the right decision. "can I go home now?"

Namjoon was not happy to see that Seokjin kept wanting to leave him. He straightened up to stand on top of the still-lying Seokjin, who was watching him apprehensively without moving, wondering if he had been wrong to ask and if the elder was going to punish him. Realizing that, Namjoon gently scolded him : 

"I told you that friends aren't afraid of each other. Don't be afraid of me, I will never hurt you. I just want to tell you something before you go." 

Relieved, Seokjin nodded and seemed less tense.  Seeing that he listened to him attentively, Namjoon smiled appreciatively but quickely regained a serious air : 

"Listen to me carefully Jinnie: before I let you go, you have to promise me that you won't tell your mom anything about what happened with my parents just now."

"W-why?" Seokjin wondered with wide eyes and Namjoon, who knew him by heart, knew perfectly well that he was about to go and share with his mother everything he had just experienced.

He patiently explained to him:

"If you tell your mom, she will want to send you away from here and then you won't go to my school after all."

"But Joonie, I'm not really sure anymore I want to go to your school," Seokjin protested with a sincerity he couldn't hide.

"Don't talk nonsense, of course you have to go!" Namjoon replied. "Did you forget what we discussed? It is your future that you prepare by going to this school."

"But I can have a future even without going, if I play good football and-"

"But then you're being selfish," Namjoon snapped.

"Eh?!" Seokjin reacted before correcting himself, remembering Mrs Kim's anger at his inappropriate language : "I mean : I beg you pardon?"

But Namjoon shook his head:

"Don't talk to me like you talk to my parents, it's useless and I don't like, I'd rather you talk to me like you always do. About your mom... you don't know everything she did so you could stay here with us and go to this school funded by my family to have a good life. Do you think it would make her happy to see you give up now?"

"But if she knows what your parents did to me then she will prefer that I-"

"Of course," Namjoon cut him, "if you tell her that you really want to leave because you're scared, she'll accept because she loves you and lives her life according to what you want, not what she wants. She always did. But be certain that everything will become very difficult for her : she won't have a home, a job, she will have to take care of you and your ji-chan, feed you, heal you... how will she be able to do all this on her own? Do you think about it a little or do you only think about yourself?"

Seokjin remained silent, pondering Namjoon's words. He hadn't thought of that at all he had thought only of his own suffering. Was he really selfish in wanting to leave?

Namjoon who watched him with great attention felt he had won : Seokjin was too kind and attached to his mother to agree to inflict any pain on her and if that meant agreeing to suffer so she wouldn't have to, he would endure anything. 

"Would she really suffer if we leave?" Seokjin asked in a small voice, his sad eyes staring into Namjoon's.

"Yes, she would," Namjoon agreed, "one day I saw her crying when my parents threatened to fire her because she was afraid she couldn't take care of you anymore after finding out you were sick."

"Did you... did you really see my mom cry?" Seokjin asked, on the verge of tears. He had always seen his mother as a strong and fearless person, able to protect him from anything. This revelation from Namjoon shook his certainties.

"Yes I did, I'm sorry Jinnie," Namjoon affirmed, a sorry look on his face that didn't show in his voice. "It was a secret between her and me but now I think you need to know, to avoid making her cry again. I hope you believe me, I promise you it's the truth." 

"I-I believe you..." Seokjin's broken voice answered him in a breath. 

Namjoon gently caressed his cheek but far from reassuring him, he continued to drive the point home putting an end to his argument:

"Believe me, that day, your mom was so relieved to be able to stay working for my parents and keep your house ! And imagine her joy when she found out that my father was going to pay for your studies! That's what dried her tears and allowed her to stand strong in front of you. If she lost it all, she'd be desperate and start crying again. You don't want to make her cry again, do you?"

"No!" Seokjin exclaimed, shaking his head, unable this time to hold back his tears. "I don't want my mom to be sad and worried about me, I want her to be happy..."

Namjoon leaned down to give him a hug and wipe away Seokjin's tears:

"I know you don't want to make your mom cry, you're a very kind boy and that's why I love you so much. And that's why you can't tell her anything, okay?"

"I won't... tell her... I p... I promise..." the younger one sobbed, "b-but I'm afraid of what will happen to me," he cried.

"Don't worry my Jinnie, while you protect your mom and prevent her from crying, I'll be here to protect you and dry your tears, always."

Relieved, Seokjin nodded and hugged him back, wetting his clothes. Satisfied, Namjoon whispered to him in a reassuring voice:

"It will be fine, Jinnie, you will see, we will be happy together at school."

"Are you sure?" Seokjin sniffled, who no longer had any desire to go there.

"Yes, as long as you stay with me, I won't let Taehyung hurt you and make you run into my parents' fury. But you must not tell him what happened with my parents earlier, it must remain our secret." 

"Even to him I can't talk about it?" Seokjin wondered.

"Especially to him," Namjoon insisted. "We know perfectly well, you and I, that he is incapable to hold his tongue and that he is too emotional: if he found out, he would get angry with my parents and who knows what he might do to them in a fit of anger? If it should happen, my father could disinherit him and my mother would be so mad at you that she would take it out on your family. Taehyung is his beloved teddy bear, you know that, you must not harm him for the moment. I'll take care of him for you but in good time."

"No, you can't harm Taehyung just to protect me, he is you brother!"

"I don't care if he's my brother, I'll do whatever it takes."

"I-I won't tell him anything, so don't do anything to him, please," Seokjin said weakly, wiping away his tears.

Namjoon sighed at Seokjin's willingness to protect Taehyung.

"Alright, that's good for me, Jinnie, as long as it doesn't hurt you" he said nevertheless, stroking his wet cheeks to wipe them completely clean.

They suddenly heard the door open without anyone knocking and turned sharply at the same time in its direction to see Taehyung staring at them with a puzzled look as they were still entwined on Namjoon's bed.

"Didn't your mommy teach you to knock on doors?" Namjoon snapped at his younger brother.

"What are you doing?!" Taehyung asked abruptly without responding to his brother, recovering from his initial surprise.

"I'm trying to convince Jinnie to sleep with me instead of you," Namjoon lied with a nasty smile to enrage Taehyung. "I was almost done by the time you walked in."

He sat up on the mattress and let Seokjin do the same. Seokjin didn't try to contradict Namjoon, knowing full well that he had to keep their conversation a secret and not knowing if he was capable of lying to Taehyung as Namjoon did so easily. However, he felt uneasy at Taehyung's visible anger. Fortunately, this anger seemed directed at Namjoon and not at him.

"Seokjin sleeps with me, not with you, and you know it perfectly!" Taehyung replied to his brother as he came to grab Seokjin's hand to get him out of Namjoon's bed and room before walking out with Seokjin behind him. The boy complied obediently, anyway Taehyung did not ask his opinion because contrary to what Seokjin's mother had believed, far from being less stuck to Seokjin, Taehyung was more so day after day and he didn't like to share, especially with his brother.

Before leaving, Seokjin turned to Namjoon who gave him a final knowing look to remind him not to say anything, before Taehyung brutally slams the bedroom door.

"Do you want us to sleep in my room tonight?" Taehyung offered Seokjin once in the hallway, thinking he wanted to sleep in a real bed that night and that was why he ended up lying in his brother's bed. It had been a long time since he himself had slept in his own bed - which had become more of a decorative piece of furniture that recalled the initial function of the room more than its actual function. However, he didn't miss his bed at all: the only thing that determined where he slept was the presence of Seokjin.

"No, I want to go home," said Seokjin, who had no intention of being surprised by Mrs. Kim in Taehyung's bed.

"You cried?" Taehyung asked stopping for inspect his face.

"No," Seokjin lied, turning his face away.

"Have you forgotten that you can't lie?" Taehyung replied, "Why did you cry? Is it because of Namjoon? Do you want me to go hit him?" he offered.

" NO!" shouted Seokjin who didn't want to be responsible for the tension between the two sons of the Kims. "I-I mean... no, don't do that, please."

"What's wrong with you? You are not normal tonight," Taehyung remarked not used to seeing Seokjin other than smiling and ready to have fun.

"Nothing Tae, I'm tired and now I want to go home, please let me go home" Seokjin said, starting to cry again in spite. Namjoon had already stopped him from going home and he was afraid that Taehyung would do the same. He felt like he was being prevented from doing what he wanted and there was nothing he could do about it. He hated the feeling of being shackled in his freedom. 

"Hey, you don't need to cry, Jin, I'm taking you home," Taehyung said pulling him up the stairs. "You know, it's almost back to school, there's no point in killing yourself at work before you start, otherwise you'll be exhausted and you won't study well. Plus, when you're tired, you're emotional and you cry more easily. Do you want to play football before going home? It might cheer you up."

Sniffling loudly, Seokjin nodded and Taehyung smiled triumphantly : If anything could cheer him up, it was his ball.

"Then smile, otherwise I won't play with you," Taehyung said turning to him without letting go of his hand.

Despite his bright eyes, Seokjin agreed to smile at him through his tears, happy to play with him, having already forgotten what Namjoon had told him about Taehyung and the mistrust he must have had towards him.

"Okay, then let's play every day until the holidays are over!" Taehyung said smiling back, ready to live out his last days as an elementary school student having fun with his Seokjin.

___________

A/N : After this chapter, since I have finished proofreading all my old chapters, you will read unpublished chapters.