When Got7 started to form around himself and Jinyoung, Jaebum had thought that Bambam would become their maknae. Cute as a button, cheeky and boisterous, adorably extra and just that wee bit exasperating; Bambam would have been perfect.
And then Kim Yugyeom had been added to the line-up, and Jaebum had made a considerable effort never to think such a thing again. Yugyeom was the youngest; Yugyeom was the maknae.
To think otherwise was pointless, and likely to bring only insecurity and upset should Yugyeom realize.
But sometimes-
Yugyeom, sequestering himself off to the
side during meals. Pushing his food
around his plate.
Missing a note during vocals, dropping
his gaze to his feet. Too shy to even pass
as adorably self-conscious.
Struggling to sleep, to relax, to fit in-
Seeming not knowing how to ask for, or
even accept help when offered freely.
Sometimes JB felt his suppressed disappointment rise.
Kim Yugyeom was many things; talented, friendly, a team-player for sure...but cute?
The literal definition of cute was 'interesting, but ugly.'
Jaebum wouldn't go that far; Kim Yugyeom hadn't been ugly by any definition of the word. Given a few years to recover from puberty and he'd probably be downright handsome. But he also wasn't exactly cute. Especially not 'Maknae Cute.'
JB wasn't so shallow to believe that the title of maknae automatically alluded to small and sweet, or cheeky and exasperating, or the many and varied stereotypes that paired with the word 'maknae.' But for every individual, vastly differing, and entirely wonderful maknae that existed within the realms of kpop, there was one common trait.
They were all endearing.
And Yugyeom; towering over most of his hyungs, too tall and gangly to be anything other than awkward. Too self-sufficient to be indulged or coddled overly much. Too polite and respectful of his seniors to ever be 'cheeky' or 'evil' or heaven forbid 'savage' - just wasn't.
Oh, Yugyeom was nice enough. Near sickeningly pleasant when he'd been introduced, and every moment of the two months since. Polite, considerate and bland. Nice- in a cardboard cut-out of respectful dongsaeng mimicry.
JB was sure it was a facade, a self-imposed barrier of shyness, nerves, and anxiety...but he didn't know how to break through.
God knows he'd tried.
Team dinners. Sleepovers. Movie nights. One very memorable food fight. Vocal practice shenanigans. Dance practice shenanigans. Just shenanigans in general. JB had tried affectionate teasing. He'd tried roping Yugyeom in to gently mocking other victims. He'd even tried simply sitting in silence, thinking Yugyeom might be a quiet, reflective personality that opened up in like company.
So far JB didn't think he'd seen the kid crack a smile.
But Jaebum knew there was more to him, that the boy had personality. You only had to watch him dance.
His dancing. Yugyeom moved with such passion, such reverence-
That was what JB needed to see in the youngers everyday interactions; some passion. Some spirit; something that showed who Yugyeom was.
Something to show the fans. (God, how he'd hoped they'd have fans). Something to show the fans how Kim Yugyeom fit into the group. How he was important and precious to his hyungs. Why he was needed in Got7.
Because as it stood now, JB wasn't so sure himself.
Less than a week later, Choi Youngjae had filled the last spot in the line-up (another adorable, sweet, cute dongsaeng JB couldn't help but notice).
And then suddenly they'd had a debut date.
And JB had realized that this was happening. GOT7 was going to debut. And it was his responsibility as the leader to make sure it was a successful debut. That they were successful.
He had to bring uncertainty to JYP's attention before GOT7 started their pre-debut press junkets. Before it was too late to fix.
The CEO of their company was as invested in GOT7's success and popularity as JB and would listen if Jaebum, as the team's leader brought his concern to light. JYP wasn't omnipotent and probably wasn't aware of the improper fit of their groups youngest member.
Jaebum knew he was justifying his decision to himself. Justifying that he wasn't going to rip the rug out from beneath all of them - risk their entire career on a hunch-
Hopefully, if Jaebum explained well enough, JYP would agree that Yugeyom belonged in another group, perhaps as one of the older members. JB knew that the news would likely devastate the younger (they were all so excited to finally be debuting) and it would probably feel like a knife to the back, but JB would rather Yugyeom hated him than risk any of their futures needlessly.
He'd excused himself from their practice room one Friday morning shortly after he'd come to his decision (Yugyeom's polite refusal to join in on Bambam and Mark's baiting of Jinyoung echoing in his ears. They had less than seven months. They needed to be perfect.)
Phone to his ear, JYP's personal secretary's voice had been in his ear asking how she could be of assistance.
And then-
Heechul Sunbaenim.
JB never found out what the near legendary (near?) idol had been doing in the JYP company building at the time, but he'd forever be grateful for fate, coincidence, and Kim Heechul's impeccable timing.
And for the fact that Yugyeom had stepped out of the practice room at the exact perfect moment to all but crash into the senior idol's chest.
Yugyeom had blanched, back-peddling immediately to a safe distance, dipping low bows as apologies tumbled passed his lips; his halting stuttering speech too shocked to be understandable-
Heechul had pressed one hand to his chest, grinned widely and declared, "Cute!"
Yugyeom had stilled, apologies swallowed-
And then bright pink had blossomed at the apples of his cheeks and spread to fade down his throat, suddenly hidden behind slim fingers as Yugyeom tried to hide his blushing. Curling in on himself slightly and shuffling awkwardly, he'd smiled, a tiny half-upturn of his lips, with just a hint of even white teeth visible between them.
Forget cute. It was Fucking Adorable.
JB ended the call.
Some three years later, most of Jaebum's worries at the time seemed inconsequential and silly; long gone from his mind, replaced by much more present concerns.
Yugyeom, of course, had proved to be perfect maknae for the group; at times a sweet, gentle giant, too pure for this world (mostly meaning Jackson), and then sometimes altogether too mischievous and bratty for his hyungs to do anything but love and adore. Reluctantly.
Time. It had merely been time that Yugyeom had needed. Time to work out where he stood. To find out just who these strangers he was suddenly supposed to love and trust were. To feel comfortable being his adorkably incredible self.
(Time that JB had nearly taken from him. Them. JB tried never to imagine just how close he came to royally messing everything up).
Lord bless Kim Heechul.
And if Jaebum occasionally murmurs "Cute!" just to hear Yugyeom's affronted whine of 'hyyuuung!', well- who would blame him.
Especially because Yugyeom's ears still turn bright pink.
(The fact that their maknae's other hyungs may or may not have also clued in was in no way JB's fault.) Four times from every five, their teasing calls of "Yugyeomie! Sooo Cute!" has the younger's flushed cheeks hidden behind his fingers as he refutes the claim petulantly.
Cute.
