The next day was the same.

Namjoon showed up early, and Yoongi locked him out until 3, and then locked himself in his bedroom.

"Yoongi!" Namjoon pounded on the locked door. "Don't do this again!"

There was no answer, even after he had kicked it.

"Come on! We already know the drill!" Namjoon huffed, trying to break the doorknob. "You shut me out, I cry, you give in and let me in!"

Silence, and Namjoon waited a few minutes, but the door still didn't open, and he started to panic, that familiar anxiety creeping in.

"Yoongi..."

He slammed his palms on the door frantically when it started to sink in that Yoongi really wasn't going to let him in this time.

"Yoongi!"

Tears sprung up in his eyes, his breathing getting erratic at the thought of being separated from Yoongi for real now.

"No! Y-Yoongi! Please! Don't do this to me! Please!"

"Please don't leave me alone! I'll be a good boy! I swear! I'll be your good boy!"

"Let me in! Please! I can't be alone- I-I don't want to be alone! Please Yoongi, please! I need- I can't handle- please Yoongi!"

The door didn't open.

Namjoon cried out, pain spiking in his heart at not being wanted.

He sunk to the floor, pressing uselessly against the locked door as he whimpered for Yoongi.

Inside the room, Yoongi winced, his hands clamped over his ears as he tried to drown out the sound of Namjoon's crying.

It was useless, he could still hear the boys pleads and sobbing, and he cursed, feeling his heart break for him.

But he had to be strong and not cave. Namjoon was only hurting himself in the long run by attaching himself so much to Yoongi.

Yoongi was trying to help him, couldn't Namjoon see that?

Eventually, the sobs quieted down, and the frantic pounding on his door died out.

Yoongi glanced up, heart pounding.

He wanted to go check, to make sure the boy was okay-

No! He's fine! Just leave it now!

Yoongi let out a frustrated cry, torn between wanting to open the door and knowing he should keep it closed.

He finally forced himself into bed, pulling the covers up over his head.

He replayed Namjoon's cries over and over, unable to stop hearing the pain in the boys voice.

This is for your own good baby...

I'm sorry...

-

When Yoongi finally dared to open his door, it was only after his watch went off, signaling it was 4.

He slowly twisted the knob, not knowing what to expect, and gingerly pulled the door open, peering into the hallway.

He didn't see Namjoon, but he nearly tripped over him.

The student was curled into a ball on the floor in front of Yoongi's door, face hidden by his arms.

Yoongi sighed, sinking down and gently shaking the boys shoulder. "Namjoon...what are you doing?"

He gently grabbed the boys arms, moving them aside. "Baby, you don't belong on the floor."

Namjoon flinched at the contact, shaking Yoongi off with a yelp. "Ah! No! N-no! Stop- please!'

Yoongi quickly grabbed the boys face, forcing his head up so they could look at each other. "Namjoon! Stop! It's me!"

Namjoon froze, forcing his eyes open and calmed down when he saw it was Yoongi's hands on him.

With a cry, he threw himself onto the dom, and Yoongi didn't have the willpower to shove him off.

He sighed, holding the shaking boy right there on the floor.

He rubbed the students back comfortingly, as Namjoon tried to curl up fully in his lap, despite being taller and broader than the dom.

He held the boy for a long time, until Namjoon calmed down enough to have a conversation.

"Baby," Yoongi murmured, tucking the students hair behind his ear. "We need to talk."

Namjoon shook his head, hiding his face in doms shirt.

"Yes." Yoongi's tone was kind, but stern. "We can't keep doing this, sweetheart."

Namjoon didn't answer, so Yoongi kept going.

"Look, baby. You don't want me to keep doing this, right? I don't either, but you're not giving me another choice. You won't go to therapy, you won't stop this bet, you won't stay home..."

Namjoon knew what the dom was saying was right, but he didn't want to stop seeing Yoongi.

Couldn't.

"How about we compromise, baby?" Yoongi asked in his comforting voice, and Namjoon raised his head to look him in the eyes.

"C-compromise?" The student asked.

"Mhm." Yoongi kissed the boys nose. "How about this- I'll start domming you again, the way you want me to. And in return, you promise to get counseling done with a professional."

Namjoon's heart started racing in fear. "I- but- no..."

"It's okay sweetheart," Yoongi held him tightly again. "Dom will go with you, okay? I'll drive you there, I'll pay for it, I'll hold your hand during every session. You'll never be alone, okay baby?"

Namjoon felt a little better at the thought of Yoongi being with him every step of the way.

"I'll let you think about it." Yoongi said. He patted the student softly, a signal to get up.

Namjoon stood, clinging to Yoongi as the dom got up as well.

Yoongi headed back downstairs and Namjoon was right behind him, pressing close to his side as the dom started making dinner.

Yoongi had to be annoyed at the way Namjoon was constantly in his way, but he didn't show it. He hummed as he cooked, reaching around Namjoon to grab ingredients.

Namjoon knew the only reason Yoongi was letting him stay over later was because he wanted Namjoon to think about his offer, but the student didn't care, he just wanted to be close to Yoongi at all times.

Yoongi would protect him.

Yoongi wouldn't let anyone hurt him.

Yoongi was the only one.

They ate silently, with the radio playing in the background being the only sound.

And Namjoon did think about therapy.

He thought about how terrifying it would be, how they would ask him questions and pry into his personal life, grabbing his secrets and putting them in the spotlight to dissect them-

Yoongi tightened his hold on the boy as they were curled up together on the couch, the dom focused on the TV.

Namjoon blinked at him, thoughts spinning.

Yoongi would always protect him...and if Yoongi said Namjoon should get counseling...then counseling shouldn't be a bad thing, right? Yoongi wouldn't be so insistent on it if it would hurt Namjoon.

Yoongi powered off the TV, yawning as he checked the time.

Namjoon tugged on the doms shirt, and Yoongi glanced at him. "Yes baby?"

Namjoon stared at him for a moment, taking in Yoongi's soft features, kind eyes, warm smile, comforting arms wrapped around the student.

Yoongi knew what was best for Namjoon, and if he wanted Namjoon to get therapy, then...

"...okay." He whispered, trying to be so quiet that Yoongi wouldn't hear him.

"Okay?" Yoongi asked, reaching a hand up to play with the boys hair the way he knew Namjoon liked.

"Okay...I'll get therapy." Namjoon said, closing his eyes and leaning into the touch.

Yoongi was flushed with relief. "Thank you, Namjoon...thank you."

Namjoon grabbed the doms hand, squeezing it tightly. "You'll be with me every time, right? You won't leave me alone with them?"

"I'll be by your side every single time." Yoongi promised.

He leaned down and kissed the boys forehead and Namjoon felt a rush of warmth.

"Come on sweetheart," Yoongi stood up and Namjoon clung to him instantly.

Yoongi let it slide, since he figured one more night of Namjoon being like this wouldn't hurt since tomorrow they were going to look into counseling for him.

He let the boy cuddle up with him, and Namjoon fell asleep quickly, arms and legs wrapped around the dom like he was a pillow.

Yoongi stared at the ceiling in the dark room, listening to the boys breathing.

He was so glad Namjoon had finally agreed to get some help.

He didn't know why, but the soft spot he had for this annoying, stubborn, clingy, adorable dimpled student grew a little wider every day.