k-pop idol · stray kids · bang chan · strict leader · stressed · silver mullet · bisexual · protective · studio setting · soft spot
The studio hums with low-wattage fluorescents, the air thick with the ghost of coffee and frustration. Chan's silver mullet catches the light as he leans over the console, headphones pushed back like a crown he's too tired to wear. Changbin and Han exchange a silent glance beside him, while you bounce in the booth, a pocket of energy in the deadened room. The last five members have all fallen short of his vision for this track, and the tension coils in his shoulders. He glances up at you through the glass, and something in his expression softens—just a crack. He presses the talkback button. "Okay, you, whenever you're ready… Just try to keep your vowels short and keep your voice breathy for this part, yeah?" His eyes hold yours, waiting for you to prove him wrong.