[This may start different and confuse people, but give it a chance. The plot needs the events to happen. This is definitely a Markson fic.]

"J-Jaebum- Ah!"

Why won't you call my name?

"Ahh, ah, ah."

Why won't you think of me?

"I'm c-close. Yes! Yes!"

Why won't you look at me?

"Jaebum, I love you."

Why won't you accept that it's me who is with you. Not him.

"W-Why won't you love me?"

That's what I need to ask. Why won't you love me?

---

"Mark, are you okay? You look really tired. Did you get enough sleep last night?"

Gentle fingers lifted the man's face to the person who spoke. The girl's eyes were filled with worry when she noticed the dark bags under her brother's still eyes.

To the rest of the world, they looked emotionless and void, but she saw right through it all. She was the only person willing to look past the icy gaze he wore constantly, the only person he bore himself out to completely.

She was the only person who cared for him, after all.

"Did dad make you do a job again last night?" Her concern spiked at his silence.

"I'll talk to him tonight."

The moment those words left her mouth, the man's hand grabbed her delicate ones as he slowly shook his head.

"No." His voice was husky from all the sobbing he had been doing well until the early hours of the morning.

"He's my father too, I can-"

"No. Don't go near him." Mark's voice faltered towards the end. There was no way he'd let her go near that monster.

Never again.

"Mark, please. I can't just sit by and watch him do this to you. Please!" Her begging fell on stubborn ears.

"Get ready, I'll drop you to school." He said as he got up to take both their empty plates to the kitchen.

"Why won't you let me help you?" Mark didn't need to turn around to know that she was crying. He sighed as he turned on the water to do the dishes.

"Please, I don't like seeing you like this!" Her arms wrapped themselves around him.

The warmth was... nice.

Oh, how he'd missed it. But he also knew he shouldn't indulge.

He didn't want to get her in trouble.

"It's my problem. I'll deal with it."

"You don't have to! I'm here, why can't you let me be there for you? You're always there for me, why can't I do the same for you! It's not fair that you have to face this alone." She cried into his back. The tears soaking into the back of his shirt.

"Mae, why are you not ready for school yet?"

And just like that the warmth left as the baritone voice boomed from behind the both of them.

Mark's body instantly went ridge as Mae frantically tried to rub her tears away.

"Answer me." The man near the kitchen entryway demanded.

"I was just about to do it. We just finished breakfast, Father." She quickly replied with a smile, or at least the only smile she would show her father. Good thing she had learned how to control the distrust in her voice at a very young age. She had never liked what her father did to Mark when she voiced her opinions against him. So, for the sake of her brother she needed to cooperate.

That was the least she could do for her brother.

"Get to it or else you'll be late." He stated in his usual cold tone as he headed to the fridge.

She bowed before hesitantly leaving the kitchen, throwing one last glace to her brother's stiff figure by the sink.

"Where were you last night?" The man asked when he was sure his daughter wouldn't hear them.

Mark remained silent, which as usual, made the elder's tongue click with anger.

"What did I tell you about not replying?" His hand came down harshly against Mark's neck, the impact blurring the younger's vision with dark spots as he tried to catch himself on the counter but failed. He landed on his knees, trying his best to blink away the pain that was crippling his spine.

Why hadn't Mark noticed him move away from the fridge?

"I had somewhere to be." Mark prayed that his voice was void of any pain. Pain always seemed to fuel his father's anger and he didn't need that now.

"Really?" The elder grabbed Mark's neck from behind, his grip adding to the definite bruise to come from his previous assault.

Mark was pulled up until the man's face was a few inches from his ear.

"If I find out, and trust me I will, that you went to that boy again. I'll break your legs so you'd never be able to run to him again." He scowled.

The threat in his voice was not to be taken lightly, and Mark knew that.

"Sir, the car is here."

God bless Shownu and his impeccable timing.

Mark's father clenched his jaw, before he threw Mark's head to the side and stood up from his crouched position. He dusted off his suit and took the papers from Shownu's hand.

"I expect you at work on time tonight, you don't want to know what I'll do to you if you don't turn up."

With that he left, not even throwing a second glance at Mark's crunched form on the floor.

Shownu was beside Mark the moment he heard the front door close.

"Are you okay, Mark? I'm sorry, I should have come earlier." The man apologised as he helped the younger up and tried to inspect the bruise that was now forming around Mark's neck, but Mark just brushed his hand away.

"I'm fine."

"Mark-"

"I need to drop Mae. Excuse me, Hyung."

Shownu could only sigh as he watched Mark walk away from him.

--

"Mark Hyung!" Mark somehow managed to brace himself, before the lanky teen threw his body at the elder.

"Yah! Bambam get off him!" Mae tried to pry the annoying boy off her brother.

"I missed you so much!"

"Ew, don't you rub your disgusting face on him!"

"Stop pulling me, you jealous bitch! You live with him, let me have him now at least!"

Mark said nothing as the two bickered, instead his eyes looked around for the one person he wanted to see.

Students stared at the three of them, gossiping and laughing at the two loud nuisances. Some pitying the elder for being in such a close proximity to them, while others making fun of the fighting duo.

"Bambam-ah, Mae-ah, why are you both yelling so early in the morning?" Mark's heart picked up when he heard the voice coming from behind him.

"Hyung, she's being a-"

"I told you to call me Seonsaengnim* when we're at school!" Jinyoung was quick to chastise the younger boy. (*A/N: Seonsaengnim is the respectful term given to teachers in Korean)

Mark didn't care about the conversation, all he cared about was the beautiful man who was now beside him. His heart wouldn't stop ramming against his chest as he watched the breeze gently blow his hair, and that gorgeous smile that made its way to his face.

Mark knew he had to stop himself. He really tired, but even the fact that Jinyoung would never be his couldn't stop him as he fell harder and faster for the man.

How long had it been? One year, no, Two?

How is it that he couldn't escape whatever he felt for the man, even when he knew his feelings weren't reciprocated? Why was it so hard to let go? Why did he keep hurting himself like this?

"Mark, are you okay? You look really-"

"I'm okay. You should go inside; school is about to start." Mark replied even before Jinyoung could finish his sentence.

Jinyoung looked at him concerned, before he hesitantly nodded and turned to walk into the gates, but not before telling Mark that he would message him.

Please. Don't.

Why was it so hard for Mark to get those two words out? Probably cause he's still holding on to the non-existent hope of Jinyoung ever turning to look at him.

--

"He's not in a good mood, please be careful." Shownu pulled Mark to the side before he could enter his father's office.

"I will. Thank you, Hyung." Mark bowed, before he continued on his way and pushed the door open.

"You called for me?" Mark said with a firm voice as he entered the room.

"Took you long enough to get here." His father growled as he turned from the wall glass that he was gazing through. The view of the city was usually captivating, but today it was soiled by the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Apologies. I was attending a class." Mark bowed, as he clenched his fists.

"I don't even know why you bother continuing to study, when you already have a job here." His father's foul mood only worsened.

But usually people get paid for the jobs they do.

Mark had to hold his tongue; he had gotten quite used to it by now.

Never step out of line.

"The WR Group is becoming a problem, they've interfered with three of my assignments and have taken out seven of my best men."

Ah, yes. The only people Mark's father ever seemed to care about.

The competition.

Ever since the new agency came up two years ago, they seemed to be nothing but a growing threat in the eyes of his father. Mark must say he's surprised, he had never seen the man so fixated on irradiating anyone. It was well deserved though. For the first time in nearly thirty years, the country managed to see another agency clash with ASEC Security Inc. How they dared to do that, Mark had no idea, but he should salute them. They were fearless, if they decided to mess with the Devil himself.

"We haven't been able to find anything on them at all. All the teams I've assigned have come up short. I would prefer to give it to someone more experienced, but all my men are out on assignments, so you have three weeks to get me what I want, or else I will have Mae shipped off to Japan. You will never be able to contact her again. Understood?"

Mark's entire body shook with anger. He didn't mind his father's gashes at him, but to do that to Mae? How could he? She was his only daughter.

"Yes, sir." Mark bowed once he was able to rein himself together before he turned around and walked out the room.