K-Pop one shots

The air in the Stray Kids' mansion thrummed with a nervous energy. Day two of the leader swap, and the initial novelty had worn off, replaced by the grim reality of their ambitious project: produce an entire song and music video by week's end. And today, the real work began.

Namjoon, usually the calm and collected center of BTS, paced the length of the living room, his brow furrowed. He was a brilliant leader, a lyricist of immense depth, but he wasn't Chris. Chris, or Bang Chan, their usual leader, knew exactly how to coax the best out of each member. He understood their individual quirks, their strengths, and their vulnerabilities.

Namjoon, on the other hand, felt like he was wading through uncharted territory. He looked at the couples scattered around the room. Lee Know, Han, and I.N were huddled together, whispering and giggling, a whirlwind of youthful energy that Namjoon found both endearing and slightly overwhelming. Felix, Seungmin, and Changbin were a more grounded trio, quietly stretching and warming up. And Hyunjin, ever the artist, was sketching furiously in a notebook, a world of his own.

"Alright, everyone," Namjoon announced, clapping his hands together, "Let's get started. Today, we focus on the choreography. We need to nail down the main dance break."

Lee Know, with his inherent grace, stepped forward. "We have a basic outline, but it needs refining. Chan-hyung left some notes, but..." He trailed off, glancing at Han, who was already fiddling with his phone, a familiar sign of creative distraction.

The next few hours were a tangled mess of limbs, missteps, and frustrated sighs. Namjoon, trying to channel Bang Chan's encouraging spirit, offered constructive criticism, but the disconnect was palpable. He could see the way I.N clung to Lee Know after a particularly sharp correction, the way Felix's usually sunny expression clouded over after a missed step.

"Maybe we should take a break?" Seungmin suggested tentatively, his voice soft.

Namjoon, feeling the pressure mounting, agreed. "Okay, ten minutes. Let's clear our heads."

Meanwhile, across the city in the sleek, modern BTS apartment, Bang Chan was facing his own set of challenges. He was used to the raw power and established dynamic of Stray Kids. BTS, however, operated with a different kind of synergy, a more subtle understanding honed over years of shared experience.

"Okay, so the vocal arrangement..." Bang Chan began, gesturing towards the recording booth.

"Actually," Jin interrupted politely, "We were thinking that Taehyung's lower register would suit this section better."

Bang Chan blinked. He had initially envisioned Jungkook taking the lead, but Jin's suggestion wasn't without merit. However, asserting his authority in the face of such a confident and established opinion was proving difficult.

The day continued in a similar vein. Rehearsals were punctuated by disagreements on song arrangement, wardrobe choices, and even camera angles. Bang Chan, watching Suga meticulously crafting a rap verse that deviated entirely from Chan's initial vision, felt a pang of frustration.

Back at the Stray Kids' mansion, the brief respite hadn't done much to alleviate the tension. Han, usually a fountain of melodic ideas, was struggling to find his spark. Seeing his distress, Lee Know gently pulled him aside.

"Hey," he murmured, stroking Han's hair, "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. We're all a little off today."

I.N, ever observant, chimed in. "Namjoon-hyung is trying his best, but he's not you, Hyung." He looked at Lee Know imploringly. "Maybe you could talk to him?"

Later that evening, as the sun began to set, Namjoon sat slumped on the stairs, utterly exhausted. He felt like he had failed. He couldn't connect with the members, and they were falling behind schedule.

Lee Know approached him hesitantly. "Namjoon-hyung," he began, "We appreciate you trying to lead us, but maybe… maybe we need to adjust our expectations."

Namjoon looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and understanding. "What do you mean?"

"We're used to Chan-hyung's style," Lee Know explained, "He knows how to work with our individual quirks. Maybe instead of trying to be Chan-hyung, you could focus on what you're good at. Your lyrics, your leadership, your… your calm."

Namjoon pondered Lee Know's words. He realized that he had been so focused on replicating Bang Chan's methods that he had forgotten to be himself.