You're the One

-28-

Hyunjin had insisted that no family meeting could be held without coffee, so he and Jisung volunteered to take care of everyone's drink orders from the nearest cafe. If anybody noticed Minho giving his card to Jisung, so he could pay for it all, no one said anything.

As soon as everyone was seated comfortably, Chan begun.

"Monday I was summoned to a meeting with Park Jin-young." The name made Changbin groan, while Minho froze in his seat. The meeting about Minsung? "He made some demands, that I think would devastate Stray Kids. I don't really want to spell out what those demands entail, but I will tell you that in my opinion it would mean that our soul would be amputated, and our freedom would be lost." In the corner of his eye, Chan could see Minho going pale, the rest of them was listening attentively with serious faces. "However, I will tell you everything you ask of me, if you feel like you need more information to make a decision." The room was silent.

"I strongly believe that Park Jin-young's demands are unacceptable, and there is no way to find a compromise this time. We either do what he asks, or we don't. Now, I would very much like to keep Stray Kids as we are, and Minho gave me an idea on how we might do that."

"Park Jin-young is greedy, and we can use that greed against him. If we can remind him of how talended we all are, of how much money we have made him, and how much more money we can make him in the future if he leaves us the fuck alone, I think we can benefit from this. It's a huge gamble, but the way I see it we really don't have another choice."

Changbin was the first to speak. "I'm down with any plan that involves pissing Jin-young off." He smirked, but they knew he understood how serious this was. "What is the plan exactly," Seungmin asked. "I have a new meeting 10 days from now. There I present him with the concept of our comeback and our next hit song . Then he can decide weather he wants to keep us or let us go."

"Our next hit song?" Jiusung breathed. "But we don't have a title track yet?!"

"We don't. Not yet. That's why I'm not only asking you to trust me as your leader, but to work on this – and only this – like our whole future depends on it." Chan looked from member to member, making sure he connected with everyone.

The room was silent, everyone in deep thought. "And these demands. You won't tell us whey are?" Minho challenged, with ice in his chest where his heart should be. "I won't unless you ask me to," Chan said with a soft voice, and Minho knew. The demands came after the meeting about Minsung, and Chan was fighting for them.

"I'll do it," Minho suddenly barked out. "I'll do anything you ask of me, to pull this off." He gripped Jisung's hand and held it tightly, making the younger look at him with a question in his eyes. But Minho just shook his head slightly, so Jisung moved closer and put his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. Minho inhaled the familiar smell of his freshly shampooed hair and relaxed a little.

I.N was the next to voice that he was on board, followed by Jisung and Hyunjin.

Seungmin cleared his throat. "I'm guessing you want to show off this hit song, with a video, for the maximum effect?" Chan nodded, not surprised that Seungmin was quick to catch on. His lead vocalist continued with a preoccupied expression. "So to summarize: We have 10 days to make a track, write lyrics, make a guide, rehearse and record the vocals, post produce the song, make a dance choreography, learn that choreography, and shoot the video?"

"You forgot about makeovers and outfits. We need out noonas to do their magic," Chan added with a straight face, biting his lip to not start laughing from the absurdity of it all. "That sounds crazy, Chan hyung. I'm in." Chan couldn't contain his grin anymore seeing his kids practically rallying around him.

"What about you, Felix?" The young Aussie had been quiet trought he whole meeting and now everyone turned to look at him. They did this as a group, as a family, or not at all.

Felix looked at Chan, his leader. He hadn't missed the small signs of nerves when the meeting began, but that paled compared to the strength the elder was showing. The determination. Chan had a goal in sight now, and Felix knew he would work until he had succeeded. Slowly the signs of nerves had left Chan's demeanor, and he stood in front of them ready to lead them – to be the self assured, dominant man Felix loved.

"I trust you, Channie."

And Jisung wondered if he was the only one who heard what Felix really was saying:

"I love you."