Jaebum was twelve when he had met Jinyoung and the others for the first time. He had been running away from his dad again, wanting nothing to do with the family business as his father had tried to get him to see his side of things for what seemed to be the thousandth time, only for the older man to realize that Jaebum was never going to budge on his thoughts towards him (or the lifestyle he led).

Jaebum's father was a gangster and had quite a lot of power over the people in Seoul, blackmailing people into doing his bidding that it made Jaebum sick to his stomach whenever he saw the old man try to ruin people that didn't deserve it. It was disgusting and whenever his father tried to convince him to become just like him, to take over the family business, he felt nothing but hatred for the older man.

Jaebum saw things differently though, had always seen things differently than those that worked for his father, and would always feel like an outsider in his family. Because unlike his father who loved the power that his job gave him, Jaebum saw nothing in it for him, especially when he had no one of his own to really call friends or family. Even his mother, who he loved dearly, had a slight disconnection to him, and being able to feel that gap between them hurt.

(Especially when he should be close to his mother.)

He was only twelve years old, and yet he felt like an old man, a lonely old man who had nothing. And it wasn't until Christmas Eve that year when he learned differently, when he would come across some people that would see him in ways that he had always wanted. It was the day that changed everything for him, a day to be remembered and cherished, and Jaebum would never forget such a night, even if old age made his mind betray him.

Because during that night as he ran along the streets, the air so cold that it made his lungs burn, he found himself in front of one of the poorest districts in Seoul, a district he had never been before. But as he ran, seeing nothing but small, almost dilapidated buildings, and broken infrastructure placed everywhere, he was surprised to see a small group of boys running from a couple of policemen, all looking to be around his age.

Hearing the strangest looking one of the three yell something in English, obviously something that the boy didn't even know the meaning too, Jaebum couldn't help but stop in his tracks and watch the three run from the cops. The smallest of the boys barely able to keep up with the other two, almost falling behind due to his shorter strides, unable to compete with their longer strides for long. He quickly noticed that the boy's face was quite pale and stricken with a bit of fear, something that Jaebum was no stranger to feeling that he couldn't help but continue to watch out for him and the other two.

Noticing that they were running to hide in a nearby alleyway, duping the older men, that it even caused them to swear colorfully at having lost a couple of kids in their pursuit, he was quick to notice how lucky the boys were when the cops had ran in the opposite direction of where the three boys had placed themselves, making them safe for the time being.

Curious to why they were running around, Jaebum just quietly made his way to the abandoned alley to see what the three were doing, only to notice the three of them laughing, the smallest boy's eyes still tinged with just a bit of fear and the other two noticing nothing of the smallest's pain... Or the slight want and jealousy that lied just below the surface of that fear, the boy's eyes showing everything that he probably didn't want anyone to see (his eyes so expressive that Jaebum couldn't help but feel as if he would get lost in those brown orbs, almost as if they were him in), the boy obviously wanting to be a vital part of the two before him, despite how much they felt about him, Jaebum finally made himself known.

"So why you guys running from the cops?" He asked, startling the three of them, only for the strangest one to give him an odd look, sizing him up to see if he was some sort of threat. Doing his best to appear as tough and intimidating as he could, something that was actually quite easy for him to do as all he had to do was envision his father for the moment and how he dealt with others, letting a subtle anger lead through his body until he appeared quite tense, almost as if he would attack, and more threatening than he was.

However instead of the boy fearing him like so many others have done before him, the strange boy just cocked his head back and gave a laugh, "They caught us using an abandoned house to play our instruments, said we were disturbing the peace again or some other garbage."   

A bit shocked at the other's nonchalant attitude and wonder if the boy was a bit insane with the smile the other was giving him and how he didn't seem to be a scared of him, Jaebum gave a quiet, "Instruments?"

Nodding the strange boy continued on, the only one to do the talking as the other two just looked him over, the smallest looking boy biting his lip as he did so," Yeah, Jinyoung, Youngjae, and I are starting a rock band together. I sing and these two play the guitar, Jinyoung's really good."

Seeing the other two nod, the smallest one looking a bit put down by the strange one's words, while the tallest of the boys could only give the strange one a smile, Jaebum couldn't help but let his gaze linger a bit on the small boy again. Taking in his body language and seeing these subtle flashes of pain cross the boy's face, something that Jaebum could come to learn and deal with later, but having to witness them now and knowing nothing of the other's hurt that seemed to be seated in the boy's very stature, Jaebum couldn't help but want to learn more. 

It was as if he and the other were kindred spirits and seeing the two do nothing to help the boy beside them, the two obviously too stupid to notice, Jaebum felt something odd stir in his chest. But as he continued to look the boys over, taking in the strong, rebellious, but heartfelt auras around each of them, Jaebum couldn't help but feel that even though the two didn't notice the smallest boy's pain, they seemed to be good people, especially since neither of them were afraid of him. So thinking that they weren't that bad, either not realizing who his father was or not caring about that information, somewhat of a first for him, Jaebum almost let a small smile come to his face. 

And seeing the strange one continue to speak to him as if he was just a normal kid who didn't have a gangster father or had the power to do whatever he wanted later in life, as long as he continued his father's legacy, he asked, "Don't you guys need a drummer and a bass player to have a legit band? Don't rock bands have people like that?"

Smiling like a loon, the strange one answered, "Of course! We can't be a band without them... Why are you asking? You know how to play one?"

"No, not really. I just thought it was weird is all when you all seem to play guitar but none of you have anybody that plays anything else." 

Eyes lighting up at him, almost as if a sudden thought had taken him, something that probably wouldn't be good for Jaebum or possibly the other two behind him, the strange boy continued, "You're right, but Jinyoung and I've been playing guitar for what seems like forever and Youngjae over there won't budge about doing anything else, wanting to follow Jinyoung wherever he goes. It's cute but-" 

Seeing what the other was doing, the tallest of the boy's sighed, "Jackson, you know that's not true, Youngjae just wanted to join and he can play whatever instrument he wants, so don't pick on him okay? We've talked about this." 

Hearing the tall boy say that, coming to Youngjae's rescue, Jaebum felt a bit better towards the guitarist than he had been feeling before. The kid may be as observant as a rock, but at least he was Youngjae's friend and could do something about it, because from what Jaebum had seen, the relationships between the three were a bit odd to him. But he didn't want to comment on it or really think too much about it because he barely knew them, even though it was a bit obvious that Youngjae was the third wheel to them, doing his hardest to be taken seriously by one and to be noticed by the other. 

However, seeing the smallest boy blush and divert his gaze to the ground at Jackson's words, only for Jinyoung's words to make the boy's eyes shine with something Jaebum wasn't used to seeing on anyone, Jaebum felt his heart go out to the boy again. 

Because as soon as Jinyoung had something, Jackson had turned to him with a whine, "Jinyoung, don't say things like that. Youngjae could have played something else, but because you were playing the guitar, he wanted to play the guitar too! It's obvious and even though it's cute as hell, it wasn't needed."

"Jackson, what have I told you about this. You can't make people do what you want, it doesn't work out that way." 

But instead of the words coming out as a scolding, they were quite lighthearted and a lot more fond than what they should have been, showing how close the two boys were and how much care the one had for the other. And seeing Youngjae's face fall at the other's words, hearing the fondness in the other's voice, almost letting it feel as if he had been hit by a bullet, neither of the two boys realizing their effect on their friend, Jaebum felt his heart clench even more at the sight of the boy in front of him.

Because even though Jaebum didn't have any friends, he wanted them, and seeing Youngjae just trying to fit in with the other two and failing at it, Jaebum felt like he could understand the other a bit.

He didn't have friends because of his father, while Youngjae seemed to have friends, but was so far apart from them that Jaebum wanted to be friends with the smallest boy and give him someone to lean on. And maybe if he could do that, then the smallest would want to be his friend as well, and would understand his longing to have friends just as much as the longing he was experiencing for the two in front of him.

However, before he could comment on what was going on, the strange one asked, face looking every bit as giddy as a kid on Christmas, disregarding everything that Jinyoung had to say earlier, "Do you want to be in the band? We need people and you aren't telling the cops where we are and you seem aware of what a band really needs, so do you?"

Eyes widening a bit at the question and seeing Jinyoung and Youngjae's shocked looks, Jaebum questioned, "Me? You want me to be in your band? You don't even know me? And I don't even know you and we've only been talking for a few minutes, so why would you ask such a thing?"

The boy just smiled, unfazed by his words, "So? Is that supposed to deter me from asking you, especially when this is a chance for us to complete our band or come closer to completing our band?" 

Taking a moment to think about it while skillfully ignoring the smile that was growing by the second on the strange boy's face, Jaebum quietly asked, "What's in it for me if I join?" 

(Besides getting to see Youngjae over there... Or friendship... Or maybe getting a place to call home, because Jaebum could could never call his place that...)

"Mmm, I don't know, but it wouldn't hurt to see, would it?" Jackson gave, mouth still smiling and eyes still shining as if he enjoyed the world a little bit too much, Jaebum didn't know what to say or even how to catch up with the situation. 

Because for all of what Jaebum wanted, had witnessed, it was crazy to think that he would be asked such a thing and expected to do something he didn't know anything about. But as he looked at the three boys, seeing nothing but potential in all of them, the potential of them all to be his friends, to be someone that would care for him, he felt like he couldn't say no, didn't want to say no to such a thing.

And would learning how to play an instrument be such a terrible thing to do?

Especially if it gave him friends?

If it made him closer to that small boy in front of him that seemed to try so hard and yet be burned by the other two, while they continued on in some weird camaraderie that literally left the small boy out of their world, almost as if he was a nuisance to them but they had to bring him along because of their parents, not wanting to anger them, Jaebum couldn't help but want to fix that.

And as he continued to look at the three, thinking about everything that was going on, on what he should do, he couldn't help but notice the way Jackson and Jinyoung seemed to look at each other, the two almost looking as if they were soul mates or something that it made Jaebum want to act up and say something, to give in, at least for the sake of their other young friend, he couldn't help but wonder about what he had to lose.

Only to come up with nothing that could persuade him on how joining them would be a bad idea or get him into trouble, at least not enough that his family would care, he quietly let himself accept the strange boy's request, concluding with a, "Drums. I'll play the drums." despite not knowing how to play them in the first place. 

Jackson's face, Jinyoung's quick look of surprise before giving him a small smile later, while Youngjae's eyes betrayed nothing of what he was feeling: the confusion, shock, and surprise so tangible that they had gave Jaebum a headache, he couldn't help but feel like he made a good choice, the best choice he could have ever made in his short life so far. He could only tune out the ecstatic yells of Jackson as he quickly found his focus on the smallest boy in front of him, hoping to see how he was taking the new development, only to see him finally give him a small smile later, a heart-stopping thing that made Jaebum want to punch himself in the face, something that he had never felt before.

Something that made him feel really good, even if he didn't exactly know why, he couldn't help the feelings that suddenly consumed him. Because while he barely knew the boy in front of him, he couldn't help but want to protect this boy, to become someone that the other could lean on when the other two became a bit too much for him to take, he couldn't help but want to be apart of the other boy's life.

And while he may be quite smart for his age, he was still twelve and things like that were still a bit over his head, despite how he saw himself.

But as the three took him in that night, showing him things that he had lacked for years in his life and giving him the things he always wanted, needed, Jaebum found a place for himself for the rest of his life.  

(And when he had settled next to Youngjae as Jinyoung and Jackson led them to the place that they had been practicing, guitars and an old snare drum with a set of sticks hidden behind the wall, he couldn't help but secretly smile at the sight while noticing the small boy fidget beside him as they walked, only to ask if he should call him 'hyung' a second later, showing him how much he had warmed up to him already. The smile that threatened to situate itself across his face was something that he would never forget.)

[ A/N ] : Okay, so here is my foray into doing a SU!FBB inspired series and if you're intrigued to read more, especially if the thought of Mark being an artist appeals to you or the pairings of 2jae, jinson, markson, markjin, and yubam make you want to read more since they will show up later if I do decide to continue this verse, please comment and tell me your thoughts on this oneshot and your thoughts on the possibility of reading more oneshots from this verse.