Chapter Text
The audience was an ocean of glowing lightsticks, a roar of fanchants that Felix could barely hear through his in ears. Each pound of the music mirrored the elated beat of his heart as he danced and belted lyrics, finally onstage after years of training. Alongside him were his members, the people who shared his dream. A dream that had finally come true.
He was an idol.
Felix rapped the final line of his debut song as the members of his omega group gathered around for their final pose. "And that's how we slay! We're here to stay!" Confetti burst into the air as the audience roared. He and his members gazed soulfully at the cameras, breathing controlled even though his lungs screamed for oxygen.
A round of polite applause brought Felix back to reality. He was in one of the SKZ Entertainment practice rooms, the floor to ceiling mirrors revealing him and his fellow trainees doubled over, gasping for breath. Trainer Shin, their dance coach, leaned against the mirrors, her hawklike gaze finally warming now that the routine was over. "Much better! You could've performed that onstage! And Yongbok, as always, you've proven once again why we call you an all-rounder!"
Felix felt his cheeks flush as he bowed. "Thank you, Trainer Shin. I've gotten this far thanks to you and all my other trainers."
"And humble as always." Trainer Shin nodded in approval. "That attitude will take you far in this industry."
The door suddenly burst open and a company staff member rushed inside, eyes scanning until they landed on Felix. "Lee Yongbok, CEO Kwon has called you to his office. Now."
Alarm ran through Felix as his fellow trainees started whispering, every worst-case scenario crowding into his brain. Did he do something wrong? Was he being released from his training contract? He'd been there for two years and he was so close to finally debuting. He couldn't be cut now. Legs like lead, Felix followed the staff member out of the practice room, feeling every other trainee's eyes on him.
Felix trailed behind the staff member to one of the company conference rooms. As if his nerves weren't already shot over being summoned to meet with the CEO, Felix quite literally almost fainted at the sight of the company darling, the current top solo act in the industry, Bang Chan, leaning casually against the wall. "The rest of them better not be late…" Felix heard the alpha muttering.
He was completely and totally starstruck. And why wouldn't he be? Felix had been Bang Chan's biggest for years, long before he'd ever left Australia to start training. He couldn't not be a huge fan of a fellow Aussie who had achieved everything Felix himself wanted. And Felix couldn't help but notice that Bang Chan was much, much more attractive in person. He was already extremely gorgeous in pictures and fancams. But Felix was sure the alpha had achieved a level of attractiveness never before achieved by anyone on Earth. And all he was doing was slouching against the wall, scrolling through his phone. But his hair was perfect. His eyes were perfect. His lips were perfect. His arms were perfect.
Bang Chan's eyes suddenly looked up from his phone to fix on Felix, sending electricity straight to the omega's gut. "Lee Yongbok," Bang Chan greeted him in Korean. "I've heard a lot of good things about our Golden Trainee." His voice was low and smooth, washing over Felix like a cool breeze.
It took a second for Felix to truly process what Bang Chan had said after accepting that the alpha was, in fact, talking to him. He wanted to tell him that he was from Sydney too. That he could call him Felix. That they could speak in English if Bang Chan wished, because Felix lowkey still wasn't very confident in his Korean. But all that came out of him was a sound that resembled a deflating balloon. He couldn’t believe that was the first impression he was leaving on his idol. Bang Chan gave a small, amused smile that implied he'd gotten that response a lot, and that only made Felix's face flame more.
Soft footsteps announced the arrival of two more people. As they headed up the hall toward him and Bang Chan, Felix's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Hwang Hyunjin, the maknae of SKZ's alpha group Lover. And Han Jisung, the power vocal from SKZ's omega group, Racha.
"Hi, Chan!" Jisung greeted the alpha with a bright smile.
"You got the call too?" Hyunjin asked.
"Guess so." Felix could only gape as the three of them interacted in front of him.
Then Jisung suddenly turned to Felix, all fairylike and hyper voice that he was so used to hearing through his headphones. "You must be Lee Yongbok! We're-"
"Hwang Hyunjin and Han Jisung," Felix said in awe, finally finding his voice after the disaster that was trying to speak to Bang Chan. "I know. I'm a big fan." He hastily bowed before he could shove his other foot further into his mouth.
Chan pushed off the wall, crossing his arms. "Anybody know why CEO Kwon called us all here at the same time?"
"He wants to talk to the four of you together," the staff member who had come to collect Felix from dance practice said. "He'll be ready when his current meeting ends in five minutes." Chan's eyebrows knitted together while Jisung and Hyunjin looked intrigued. Felix, however, his already racing heart kicked into overdrive.
Jisung turned to Felix again. "You look like you've been heard at work. Just finish dance practice?"
Felix could tell that Jisung was just trying to fill the silence, and his comment was kind enough, but Felix couldn’t help but look down at his sweaty self in mortification. "I'll be right back!" He squeaked, racing back to his practice room to change into his spare clothes and blot his sweat.
Somehow the universe was on Felix's side as he returned to the conference room just as it opened, a procession of official looking people filing out. "Looks like it was an important meeting," Hyunjin mumbled.
The staffer motioned the four of them into the office and Felix tried to keep his breathing steady, feeling out of place as he brought up the rear. His pulse thrummed in his throat as he bowed to CEO Kwon alongside the other three, but the older alpha cheerily waved off the formality. "Come in, come in! Please sit down! I've been looking forward to speaking with you all." The four of them sat in a line at the table, Chan next to Felix, while CEO Kwon took a seat across from them, clasping his hands in front of him. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I've called you here. Especially you, Yongbok." He smiled at Felix, the fatherly warmth the omega had heard of in his eyes. It was reassuring but it didn’t answer any of the questions racing through Felix's head.
"I will admit, I am confused," Felix said politely yet nervously.
CEO Kwon laughed warmly. "I would be too in your place. But don't worry, I plan to make things clear. To all of you." He cleared his throat. "I'll get straight to the point. SKZ Entertainment has already established itself as a leader in the K-Pop industry. We have Bang Chan, our industry leader, while Racha and Lover are frontrunners among omega and alpha groups respectively." Felix started to clap but quickly stopped in embarrassment as Chan's gaze slid over to him. "All that's left to conquer is the fledgling co-ed market. And SKZ wants to establish itself there before any of our rivals." He looked over the four of them with a serious expression, and Felix found himself holding his breath. "SKZ Entertainment is going to debut its first co-ed project group with you four as the members." There was absolute silence. Then Felix's ears started ringing. He glanced down the line, finding Chan, Jisung, and Hyunjin looking as shellshocked as him. CEO Kwon forged on, not at all disheartened by their silence. In fact, his smile was back and he was practically vibrating with excitement. "I handpicked the four of you myself. Together, you fully encompass my vision for the group. You'll be the it crowd on a university campus, the group of friends everyone knows and admires, the scene setters who start all the new trends. You're the new F4!"
Chan was the first of the four to speak. "CEO Kwon, are you-"
"Sure?" CEO Kwon nodded. "Absolutely. We have your leadership, Bang Chan, your dynamic vocals, Han, your mind-blowing dancing, Hyunjin, and Yongbok…" He smiled at Felix like the omega's very presence was a gift. "You're SKZ's super trainee, the company's fresh new face, and the perfect center for its groundbreaking first co-ed group."
Felix finally found his voice, although it did come out hoarse. "You want me to be the center? CEO Kwon, am I really debuting?" He choked up with emotion, blinking his eyes rapidly to prevent the tears that were threatening to come from spilling over.
CEO Kwon smiled warmly, his voice softening as he said the words Felix had been yearning to hear for years. "Yes, you really are debuting, Lee Yongbok."
Felix felt like he was soaring into the stratosphere. But then reality hit him and he crashed back down to the conference table. "Wait, CEO Kwon, I'm honored, but I'm not ready for this. Sunbaenim…" He trailed off as he looked at the other three, his stomach knotting tighter at the confusion on their faces. "You're professionals! I'm just…" He looked back to CEO Kwon, lowering his head. "I'll just hold them back."
"Nonsense!" CEO Kwon exclaimed. "Your trainers sing your praises daily and I've seen footage from your monthly evaluations. You're just what this group needs."
Hyunjin was quick to pipe up, his chair squeaking as he pushed back from the table to get a better view of Felix. "Everyone's heard of SKZ's Golden Trainee. I can't believe I get to be in a group with him!"
Jisung nodded. "It's one thing to be modest, Yongbok, but it's important to believe in yourself as well. All your trainers do."
Their support was sincere. Felix could see that. And it helped thaw some of his self-doubt but still. His gaze strayed to Bang Chan and he couldn't help feeling small sitting beside him. Could he really be in a group with Bang Chan?
"Jisung's right," Chan said. "If this is your dream, you need to have confidence. Confidence to take an opportunity like this by the horns." His expression was hard to read, but his gaze pinned Felix in place, like he was looking for something. Like he was measuring Felix.
"I couldn't stand letting you down," Felix said quietly. It all flashed before his eyes. Watching videos of Bang Chan in his old bedroom back in Sydney, his dream crystallizing as the alpha sang and danced on his phone screen. He'd auditioned the first chance he had, moved to Seoul, and every grueling day of training since, he had refused to give up because, "You've been my inspiration. I can't measure up to you."
"Yes, you can." Chan's response came so fast that it had Felix reeling. The alpha's expression was intense, his words flowing with conviction, coming from somewhere deep. "You're doubting yourself because you want this more than anything. Because the thought of failure is terrifying. But the only way to succeed is to risk that failure, stare it straight in the face, and watch it crumble in front of you."
For a few heart stopping moments, Felix could only blink. Then he saw Jisung and Hyunjin nodding and smiling at him. If anyone knew what they were talking about, it was Bang Chan. And if Hyunjin and Jisung believed in him like Bang Chan did, "I'll do my best."
CEO Kwon clapped, reminding Felix that he was still in the room with them. "That's that! Now let's get to the recording studio. I've already been working on your debut song." Felix stood up with shaky legs, following the others to the door, each footstep taking him closer to a reality he had only dreamed of.