Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
With promotions wrapped up and no win to show for it Starship’ CEO
makes a decision that will affect the entire group and more specifically Changkyun.
“Your timing isn’t good.”
Confetti rained down around all the groups after another MCountdown. Monsta x had lost again.
“I just can’t be friends with him.”
The managers ushered them off stage. Despite the roar of the crowd the silence surrounding the team was thick. Their dream of taking over the Kpop world was slipping through their fingers.
“I don’t want him either but we no longer have a choice. He was picked and we now have to be a team, for our fans and for our music.”
For Lim Changkyun the car rides home from shows were always the worst. Packed into such small a space was an easy reminder of how little the others like him. Normally they would ignore him. But tired and frustrated by the lack of a win, the dark cloud hanging over the group had begun to bring out their nasty sides. Kihyun and Minhyuk had already started the blame game. It was like like his early days in No. Mercy all over again.
He had heard his name mentioned enough to know where this would lead. Shifting further into his seat, he turned the music up on his iPod.
Tonight had been the wrap-up of the Rush promotions. Despite the number of new fans gained they had no wins to show for their hard work.
“We did good and we will work harder for the next one. We will just have to figure where we messed up and how we can improve it.” Shownu, the leader stated in his matter of fact voice.
“We already know what the problem is and how to fix it,” hissed out Minhyuk as he glanced over at Changkyun.
Shownu rolled his eyes but said nothing back.
Since the line up at No. Mercy had been announced, the seething anger from the other Monsta X members had slowly turned to an ice-cold, uncaring attitude. It was the six of them versus him. When the cameras were rolling they acted friendly, treating him like the beloved maknae he wished he was. But as soon as the cameras were gone, he became invisible, the scapegoat to all their problems.
Naturally the fact they weren’t the big stars they had hoped they would be pre-debut was all because of the rapper.
“Just keep at it , they will come around in time.” Those lines ushered to him by his mom on the night of his joining the group had become the mantra Changkyun recited constantly. But, as time went on, it was starting to fee less like of a mantra and more of a joke. On almost a daily basis he found himself wishing Nu’bility had never disbanded. At least there he had had friends, a family who cared about him.
When he had gotten the call saying he may have the chance to debut again with a small company called Starship he’d jumped at the opportunity. He was the only one of his group to have gotten a call back and as much as he loved his old members, his desire to debut was stronger.
He had expected to go to a round of auditions, rap a few of the lines he had spent weeks perfecting. But when he arrived at the company he had pulled inside and informed that he would be part of the survival show, No. Mercy. He would be added to the lineup a few episodes before the final. His heart had dropped to his stomach at the statement but he’d had no idea was really in store for him. If he could go back in time, he would have told his younger self to run, and never look back.
Instead he had been dropped off after a particularly awful episode, the other contestants already strung out and desperate to make the cut. The looks on their faces was imprinted in his memories.
It had made for good TV but had essentially ruined his life. Once a fun albeit shy rapper now he felt like fraud. No one knew the deep voiced, charismatic guy on stage was actually barely holding it together. A constant threat of anxiety ready to bubble over at any given minute. A darkness threatening to consume him reminding him he wasn’t good enough.
“That’s odd why are we at the company?” Asked Hoseok.
The question broke the rest of the group out of their own thoughts. Indeed the van was pulling up outside their company not the dorms. A immediate sense of foreboding dropped across the group.
“Oh my god what if they are going to disband us?” Asking Minhyuk in a high pitched squeak.
Kihyun rolled his eyes and bit back that he was sure it was nothing like that. But his demeanour seemed to say otherwise. Their manager, Wookyu, hurried them forward. Changkyun brought up the rear and as he entered through the doors, the manager put a hand on the rapper’s shoulder and whispered a reassurance just loud enough so the boy could hear.
In silence the group came to sit around the large boardroom desk.
The CEO of the company sat at the end of the table. While a man of short statue, his piercing eyes and temper made him an intimidating figure. He waited for each member to take a seat, lingering a little longer of Changkyun, who had seated himself beside their manager at the other end of the table.
The tick tock of the clock was the only thing that broke the silence in the room. The members all shared looks with each other even sleepy Hyungwon looked wide awake and worried. The CEO left out a long sigh.
“1 year. 1 year since you boys debuted. By now I had expected more but alas.”
Changkyun bit his lip, perhaps Minhyuk had been right about the disbandment.
“Now I am not fully blaming you boys, this year has been tough with the number of debuted groups and the fans wanting more then we can provide them. But you boys are not a unit and the fans are beginning to notice. What I am saying is your little cold war, this whole you versus Changkyun is becoming a problem. One I don’t like.”
At the sound of his name Changkyun looked toward the CEO and tensed up upon noticing the stares from the other members. If possible he tried to pull in on himself a little more. The CEO sighed aloud again.
“Fans are noticing more that the friendship between you is forced and more are commenting on how introverted the maknae has become. Changkyun, I chose you to debut because you have talent. I saw it during No Mercy and I saw it when you were with Nu’bility but you seemed to have lost it while you are here.”
“Therefore, I have decided that it be best if Changkyun leave the group for a while.” A rustle of shook went through the group.
“CEO-nim, with all due respect we are still trying to get used to each other. I.M is our second rapper. Without him then we will be missing a huge element of the group.” Shown said trying to be the leader the group needed.
Changkyun could have laughed if he wasn’t about to cry. Now they suddenly cared.
The CEO held up his hand and nodded.
“I agree but I believe this may be for the best for all of you. While he is away, he will help promote the Monsta X name. Changkyun, I have entered you into the new survival show, United 100.”
Changkyun was aware of everyones eyes on him but he couldn’t care less. It was happening all over again. It took all his strength and will power to merely thank the CEO for the opportunity and to agree to it. Inside his mind was screaming. Another survival show, another set of people to hate him and more stress to inhibit his already wrecked mind and body.
“CEO-nim please, that will take Changkyun away for six weeks or so. What about monsta x?”
Shownu actually sounded desperate but Changkyun knew it wasn’t for him. The leader was worried about the rest of them. Monsta X had being the leader’s last chance in the industry and now it was being taken away.
“You will continue to promote as a six member group, when we decide on a new song. Changkyun will be allowed back to prepare. That is if he makes it and Changkyun..”
He waited until the rapper lifted his eyes to meet his.
“I fully expect you to make it! You survived No. Mercy, United 100 should be a walk in the park.” He smiled then but it wasn’t kind.