Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a normal day, or at least you thought, you weren't paying attention to the dates really. The schedule was standard: Dance rehearsal (for literally who at this point?) in the morning, and a studio session with stray kids in the afternoon. It was routine at this point nothing should have been different.

It was still normal when you entered the studio after the lunch, greeting the members that you've spent way too much time with over the years tearing your hair out over track production. "Y/n! How was dance practice" Ji happily greets as he normally does if he's awake by the time you come in.

"It was alright, same stuff as usual"

"Are you even doing practice with trainee teams nowadays?" Chan raises a brow as you sit next to him. You shake your head "Last team I trained with was the NMixx girls"

"Far out, really?"

"Yeah I don't even know at this point, but I know my trainee contract runs out soon"

"Does that mean we're gonna lose you?" Changbin playfully pouts, leaning back in his chair to look at you properly "Who knows maybe I'll get rehired as a producer, doubt it though"

"You in talks with other companies?"

"A few have shown interest, Black Label sent me an email a couple months back, I don't even know if anything will come of that though I mean it's not like many 24 year olds debut nowadays"

"You could go independent, don't act like you don't have an archive of unreleased solos"

"Yeah that's probably what I'll end up doing" You shrug, leaning back in your seat, getting comfy as you look at the arrangement that the four of you had been working on. "It is unfair though, if they leave you to do that, twelve years of training with three different groups and two survival shows, you should have debuted by now"

"You don't have to tell me bin, should have cut me loose like three years ago but it's always that I 'don't fit' into the girl groups but also they don't want to cut me because I'm too good or something I don't know"

A knock on the door interrupts you, someone from the company stepping in "Could I borrow y/n and Chan for a bit?"

the four of you shoot eachother concerned glances and you're suddenly overly concious that somehow the company heard you venting frustrations through the walls.

The two of you stand, following them out "What's this about?"

"I don't know, JYP wants to talk to you"

"Who in the company though?"

"No, I mean JYP, the person, wants to talk to you" Yours and chan's eyes snap to eachother. Shit.

You don't even know what this is about, but your minds immediately drift to thinking of the worst.

The two of you soon find eachother in a meeting room, with one too many higher-ups than you're comfortable with. JYP, DIV1 CEO, SKZ Managers, Trainers, Coaches, you don't think you've ever seen all these people in the same place at once.

"Y/N, Chris, sit" The two of you cautiously sit down at the table. Was this about a rumor? You didn't think that you had seen any rumors between the two of you. "What's this about?"

Some of the higher-ups exchange nervous glances "So y/n, as you know in a month it will be 12 years since you joined us"

"Oh...I didn't know it was that soon"

"The thing is that does put us on quite a timeline"

You raise a brow at the statement "Timeline?" soon a contract is placed in front of you "Do you remember signing your trainee contract"

"God barely, it was a while ago" you laughed nervously "If you take a look on page nine, last line of section four"

You raise a brow, flicking through the pages.

4.19- If as such that the trainee has not debuted in a group prior to the expiration of this agreement and for whatever reason has not been removed from the trainee program subject to the conditions in section six, then the non-compete is waived upon expiration of the contract for the aid of the trainee in future endeavours beyond the program

You did not remember this clause at all, in all fairness you barely read the thing when you became a trainee, your parents read through it and agreed on your behalf. "Right" You mutter to yourself as you read through it.

"Basically, if you don't debut in the next month, we'll lose you"

"Okay?"

"However, as you know the only girl groups we've been working on in the past couple years has been V-Cha which you are well...too old for" part of you wants to be offended by the way that the manger worded it but at the same time, you've met those members, you are definitely too old.

"There has been an idea proposed...with both of your agreements, to introduce you as a new member of stray kids"

"Huh?" You and chan let out a collective sigh of confusion. You weren't sure that this had ever happened, members debuting later than group debut sure, but never an girl debuting to a previous boy group or vice versa.

"You get along with the members, you've worked on close to a third of their tracks, you've trained with some of their choreo, this was was the option that made the most sense given the circumstances"

You look to chan, unsure what to make of the offer, you don't want to accept assuming that he would even want you in the group, heck you weren't even sure you wanted to be in the group.

You want to debut, you like working with stray kids, but this...is unprecendented.

"I have some...concerns...mostly about the fanbase" Chan voices, sitting up in his seat. "We can't just...drop this out of nowhere you will have to introduce y/n slowly otherwise you will be opening her up to a lot of backlash"

"We have a plan for that"

You do a double take as you realise chan's response was as if you we're already accepted into the group. "If you are sure you can handle the transition then...It is up to Y/N"

"Don't you want to, I don't know, talk to the other members about this?" your eyes flick frantically between him and the higher ups, as if you are the only one who grasps the situation. He shrugs "I kind of already have"

"Huh?"

Chan takes a deep inhale "We were asked...hypothetically if we were open to you joining last week, I didn't fully know that it was serious but I had a hunch"

"That just leaves it to you y/n, what do you want to do?"

Chapter Text

New video by Stray Kids: Karma Recording Vlog

Comment Section:
| Damn am I the only one who didn't know that VISSION (Producer on a bunch of skz songs) was a girl she's so pretty omg
| Omg She's y/n! She was a JYP Trainee for so long (like 10 years
or smthn) She was on sixteen, nearly was in ITZY and NMixx too!
| Wait I thought I recognised her! I didn't know she was a
a producer!

You don't think your phone has blown up this much since survival show days. The Recording log is the first time you've shown up in the media in like two or three years, you were told when you started producing to use a producer tag for this reason, VISSION and y/n were two completely seperate people before today. But then again, before today you were solo, now you're a member.

One new email: Monday Schedule

8:00-11:00- Choreography rehearsals
11:00-12:00- PR meeting
12:00-1:00- lunch break
1:00-2:00- Vocal rehearsals
2:00-3:00- Stylist meeting
3:00-4:00- Coaches meeting
4:00-6:00- Studio session

Your schedule has also not been this packed since survival show days Jesus.

The only ones there when you get to the practice room is Changbin and Hyunjin, probably travelled together. "Morning" You shyly greeted as you stepped in "Y/n-yah! Welcome!" Changbin yells, waking you up far too early on a monday morning.

"I brought Iced americano's help yourself" You raise the cupholders you're carrying, placing them on the side. "Ah! Y/n-nnie you didn't have to" Hyunjin bounces over, grabbing a cup, giving you a hug as he takes a sip.

"Well you guys are coming in early to rework choreo you already know with me it's the least I could do"

"You nervous"

"It's a lot, I wouldn't say I'm nervous yet, it hasn't quite hit me I think"

"How much of the Choreography do you know?"

"Title tracks I think I'm good with, may just be details and formations, B-sides I only know some of the bigger ones"

"You pick up choreo quickly you'll be fine, It's just the tour setlist you need to learn"

"You say like the tour setlist isn't like forty songs" The door swings open as Jisung and Minho wander in "y/n!" You smile "Hey!" You hand the two of them americanos

"It's Thirty six, and four of those are unit tracks"

"That's a thought, what are we doing about unit tracks? Y/n isn't on one, did the company mention?"

"I have a bunch of meetings today it may come up"

"Maybe solo track? It would be too soon for us to release a new set of unit tracks" Finally the remaining members stumble in "Y/nnie! good morning!"

"What track do you want to start with?"

"The older tracks may be easier for formations since they were choreographed for nine anyway" Minho suggests, finding a spot in the practice room to start stretching. "Do we want to give y/n woojin's parts? We may get some backlash for it you know how some stays are"

"I don't think it will be that big of the deal, it does make the most sense given how quickly we've got to rework the choreo I think Stay will understand" You shrug, joining in stretching. "Let's get started then! Wanna do District nine first then?"

About an hour in the nine of you are semi collapsed onto the practice room floor, you propped up against the wall scrolling through your phone while the other members laid on top of each other.

You freeze at first, internally having an argument with yourself about the reaction. After the years of working with them you know how touchy they are with each other.

It just suddenly seems like all of a sudden you're somehow ninth wheeling them all. You're not that close with them touch wise, only really with Jisung and sometimes Chan.

Speaking of which Jisung soon shuffles over to you, curling up next to you and placing his head on your shoulder "You've gone viral"

"Mhm, I'm popular again" you joke, letting out a slightly humourless laugh. "They'll love you once they realise we do, don't worry" the comment is off handed, you know that, but yet somehow something shifts inside you at the statement.

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As you step into a PR meeting you didn't expect so many people to be there, you thought it would honestly just you and a couple of marketing staff giving PR training, imagine your surprise when its actually a meeting with all the members, your new managers, pr reps, and somehow stylists.

"Morning all"

"Good morning! How's your first day going so far"

"Alright I think" you nervously smile as you sit down "We just wanted to touch base with you all on how we are going to go about introducing y/n as the newest member, I don't know how many of you have seen the new recording vlog that we released yesterday"

"I think I've had it sent to me like a hundred times this morning"

"Yes! So of course we have plenty of footage of you in the studio, usually we blur your face like the rest of the staff this time we didn't, the plan is to slowly start having you show up in behind the scenes vlogs to get the fans used to you being around and also so people understand that you have been involved with the team for a while, and then announce you about a week before deadline"

"Sounds good, other than studio stuff what else can you release though"

"Well that's where we have to get a bit sneaky, having you purposefully in the background of videos, maybe have you join a rachalog or a solo vlog one of the two" a few of you nod "That makes sense"

"We were wondering about how we're going to integrate y/n into tour" Hyunjin mentions. "Mhm, Mostly with the unit track sections" Chan adds.

"That's what we were going to ask, y/n do you think you'll be able to have a solo track prepared before encore concerts?" The question catches you off guard, of course you were talking about the possibility of you having a solo track earlier in the day but you weren't really taking it that seriously

"I think so? I've got archived tracks so we have options"

"Great, the focus for the next month then will be getting a solo stage section prepared for the encore, we can then debut the track on day one and announce the next album on day two. It's going to be a busy month or so but we've rearranged filming schedules so that all the focus can be on making the encore as good as possible"

It then hits you, in a month you'll be on stage in front of a crowd miles bigger than you had ever performed, debuting a solo, and debuting in an already beloved group.

You need to be on par if not better than the members from day 1, otherwise you will be rejected by stay.

shit.

Chapter Text

Tuesday 4:18PM, 28 days left until debut

"Y/n if I am being honest with you, you should think over this very carefully" you didn't think that your second PR meeting ever would be probably the most important meeting of your career.

There are so many concept drawings in front of you and documents.

'Y/N STAGE NAME IDEAS'

'Y/N SKZOO CONCEPTS'

'Y/N SOLO TRACK SHORTLIST'

'Y/N DEBUT SHOOT CONCEPTS'

"Do I... have to pick a stage name?" You trail off, you've never really given it any thought before, you didn't think you would need one since you didn't know of another idol with your name. "No, but it's worth giving it thought, especially for global appeals sake"

"What do you mean?"

"Some of the biggest stars are just known by one name, you want to be known as THE y/n, not just Y/n of stray kids, that's why in the industry we try to not share names between idols, but you're in a group that has global appeal, it's worth considering big names globally as well" you have to admit that a small spark of something hopefully dangerous ignites in your chest.

Could you be THE y/n? Are you capable of reaching that level? The PR team sounds pretty convinced that it was a possibility.

And suddenly it all clicks into place, why all these decisions are being laid out in front of you at the same time, why you are being told to think this through properly.

Identity, it's all about identity.

"You said that it is up to me, right? That the company is happy to explore any of these options"

She nods "We have preferences for what we think are the best options if you're stuck but your group has built a brand on being self-made and authenticity, in a way to keep that up we need to let you have a say" You smirk, thank you 3racha.

"I do...have one idea" you grab a pencil, pulling the papers towards you "If I can rename a track slightly, to 'final girl', we could do a bit of a horror movie homage concept?"

"Oh...wait I like that idea, we'll need to clear it with a few people..."

"Well, if it does get cleared, I think I want my SKZOO to be a deer"

"Really? If you're going for the concept of a survivor and final girl, a deer kind of implies the opposite"

"That's exactly why I want it" The pr girls stare at you with wide eyes, blinking "If that's what you want" one of them shrugs.

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"Ay y/n!" Changbin and Jisung are middle wrestle when you enter the studio "How was the meeting"

"Good I think, we're waiting for approval but I think we're going with either your only girl or eyes on me for the solo track, planning on changing the title of your only girl to 'final girl' though"

"Oh I like eyes on me good choice"

"What about final girl?"

"I love both for different reasons, final girl is definitely a big solo debut track but eyes on me would be so good to perform in a stadium"

"Mm I agree, final girl is so catchy though as a solo debut, especially with the circumstances, I wonder if they'll let me do eyes on me as like a b-side of final girl or something"

"Maybe....anyway! Now you're here " before we got stolen by jyp meeting last week you were in the middle of adding a bass line and we didn't know what chord progressions you were going for"

Oh yeah, music production, that's a thing you're doing. "Oh yeah, hold on" you throw yourself into the chair next to him, biting your tongue as you take over the keyboard.

"When is Ayen coming in to record do we know?"

"Not till this evening he's out filming a rachalog right now"

"Ah I wanted to mirror his vocals for this section is all"

"Eesh y/n do you want us to lose our jobs?" Changbin laughs a little, falling back into the couch. "I just haven't listen to this track to death yet, you've gone sound blind"

"I do feel like I have lost all concept of what the words 'do it' even mean at this point" Chan sighs, taking out his phone. "Have you eaten?" you shake your head "Haven't gotten the chance yet"

"I'm gonna order tteokbokki then"

"I'm not sure channie I haven't met with coaches yet I don't know if they want me on a meal plan before debut" Chan raises his brows, chin tilted down as he looks up at you. "Do you want to be put on a meal plan?"

"Not really but-"

"But you need to eat, what the coaches won't know won't hurt them"

You blush, you actually blush, you don't even know why you just do. Maybe it's out of embarrassment, maybe. You're scared to think what the other option may be.

That a part of you found it just a little too endearing that he was taking care of you.

You blink away the though, get yourself together y/n.

A ding from your phone provides a happy distraction, picking it up, gaze slowly flickering back and forth between the pc screen and the phone, that was until you actually read the notification.

Post from: @kpopdispatchupdates
New dispatch post!: 'sources close to their company claim a decade long trainee and producer set to rush debut in the next month'

"Shit." you mutter to yourself, tilting the screen to Jisung next to you "How the hell has that gotten out?" Chan places his chin on your shoulder to read the post which really does not help you as you feel a heat crawl up your neck.

He sighs "Well that narrows things down, we've been wondering whose been leaking stray kids things to dispatch for months, barely anyone knows about your debut the list has gotta be short, send that to our managers they'll be on it"

You nod, hitting share to drop it in your messages with skz management. "What are the replies saying?"

"Mostly confusion, some fans who watched sixteen and your survival show are excited from my 30 second cameo in that show, theres a lot of debate if that means theres going to be a new girl group or i'm debuting solo, no one seems to be close to the truth"

"Thats good...I think?"

"Yeah I think so...Its still a little too early for people to know yet I think"

A second ding from your phone recaptures you're attention "They want to move my dorms?"

"What? Where to? one of ours" Changbin's brows furrow as he tries to get a look at the screen "No I think I'm still having a solo dorm, they just want me in the one next to all yours, i guess that makes sense I'm not a trainee anymore I can't carry on living in trainee dorms"

That is...so much change.

Being faced with so many decisions in one day is one thing, you like having creative control over your project, but it is so much.

New schedule, new dorms, new name, new image.

You don't even realise that you've frozen in place until Jisung places a hand on your back, heat radiating across your torso. "Hey, I swear we're not that bad as neighbours" He jokes, letting out a nervous but soft smile.

Chan's phone dings "Oh food is here! We'll run down and get it"

Jisungs smile remains on his face until the two other thirds of 3racha leave the studio.

"It's a lot, isn't it?"

"It just is very different, I'm so used to kind of just being alone that I'm not sure I know how to be with a group" Jisungs face softens more, lips twitching almost as if he finds your expression cute but knowing its the wrong moment "Oh y/n, you know you don't have to change with us right? You can act around us the same way you always have"

Your breath hitches in your throat "That...means a lot actually"

"Good, you're already less annoying than the others so I will be mad at you if you change, okay?" he pouts at you

You laugh "Okay"

"Good, you don't want to see me when I'm mad" he jokingly threatens "Oh really?"

"Yes really, I'm very intimidating I'll have you know"

"I'm sure you are jisung" Okay maybe this won't be too bad.