Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We borrowed these days to remember who we are.”

The agency’s announcement came quietly, just as Seoul’s first snow melted into slush on January streets:

“Take some time. Rest. Before the year begins.”

After the whirlwind of Phoenix and RISE, the awards, the festivals, and the rooftop promise, it felt like a gift.

One by one, the members packed bags and returned home.

It was rare, painfully rare, for idols to have time to step away, to live even a few days outside of practice rooms and stages, to just be sons and brothers again.

Dongpyo was swept into his mother’s arms the moment he stepped into the small apartment, her tears dampening his hair as she whispered, “You’ve grown.” He found his old bed, sheets rumpled but familiar, and for the first night in a long time, he slept without dreams of choreography counts and stage lights.

Minhee slipped back into the quiet of his room, looking at the posters of stars on his walls, reminders of the boy who once dreamed, realizing he was living it now.

Junho and Eunsang helped their parents with grocery shopping, faces hidden under masks and hats, hearts full as they chose snacks to bring back for the members.

Hyeongjun was ambushed the moment he stepped inside. His two elder sisters pounced, teasing him about his hair, his clothes, even the way he stood.

“Look at you, celebrity now, huh?” one teased, poking his cheek.

“Noona, get off!” Hyeongjun yelped, swatting her away, only to be pulled into a headlock while the other took pictures for blackmail.

They bickered about chores, about which drama was best, about who got the last tangerine, but when his mother hugged him that night, whispering, “I missed you,” Hyeongjun’s laughter softened into quiet tears.

Seungwoo returned to the Victon dorm, stepping into the warmth of voices that felt like home. Seungsik and Byungchan pounced first, dragging him into the kitchen where Chan, Subin, Hanse, and Sejun were already setting up a late dinner.

“You’re too skinny,” Seungsik scolded, piling meat into Seungwoo’s bowl.

“Leader to leader,” Chan joked, “you’re doing well.”

For a few precious days, Seungwoo let himself be Victon’s hyung again, remembering who he was before X1, grateful for who he had become.

Wooseok met up with Jinhoo and a few Up10tion members, a quiet afternoon spent in a small café sharing stories, laughter, and the comfortable silence of friends who had missed each other deeply.

Seungyoun spent a day with his parents, playing guitar softly in the living room, his dog curling at his feet. He cooked for them, burning the rice slightly, but his mother only smiled.

“You’re still my boy,” she whispered, patting his hair.

______________________________________________

A week later, they met at the dorm lobby, bags packed, eyes bright.

“Let’s go,” Seungwoo said, smile warm.

The van climbed winding roads toward a secluded mountain home, snow covering the rooftops, the air crisp and sharp with winter cold.

The retreat was a gift from the hyungs—Seungwoo, Seungyoun, and Wooseok had pooled their money and found a place where they could truly breathe.

“Rule number one,” Seungyoun announced, wagging a finger as they unpacked, “no talking about the future.”

“Rule number two,” Wooseok added, “no working.”

“Rule number three,” Seungwoo finished, “just be here.”

They played in the snow, building crooked snowmen while Minhee and Hyeongjun threw snowballs, shrieking as Dongpyo retaliated with an icy handful down Minhee’s collar.

They cooked together, a chaotic dance in the kitchen—Hangyul nearly set the rice on fire, while Junho and Dohyon argued about seasoning the kimchi stew.

At night, they pulled blankets into the living room, a small fireplace flickering as they shared hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows.

They held a karaoke battle, Felix’s voice blasting from a speaker as Dongpyo performed Cheese with exaggerated drama, Hyeongjun dancing wildly while Eunsang collapsed in laughter.

They walked quiet trails in the snow, breath fogging, footsteps crunching, the world silent around them.

“Remember this,” Seungwoo whispered as they watched the sunrise over the snow-covered trees.

“I will,” Dongpyo promised, tucking his cold hands into Minhee’s coat pocket.

On the last night, as they sat around a small cake (badly frosted by Hangyul and Yohan), the youngest exchanged glances.

“Hyungs,” Hyeongjun began, “we wanted to thank you for all of this.”

“So we planned something,” Minhee added, eyes gleaming.

Dongpyo grinned. “A party.”

“A big party,” Dohyon said.

When they returned to Seoul, the younger members worked in secret, sending messages, organizing group chats.

They invited everyone:

Victon, Up10tion, Cravity, some produce X alumni: Minkyu, Jinwoo, Yuvin, Suhwan, Wanna One, IZ*ONE, I.O.I alumni, Stray Kids, TXT, ATEEZ, Itzy, Enhypen, and 4th-gen friends

__________________________________________

When the day arrived, X1 dorm transformed into a celebration.

Food, drinks, music, and laughter filled the space.

They ate together on the floor, stealing bites, teasing each other, sharing stories of stage mishaps and trainee pranks.

Jungmo and Soobin hugged Junho and Minhee, sharing inside jokes.

Felix and Changbin roped San and Wooyoung into a dance-off with Hangyul.

Somi and Nayoung taught Dongpyo a trending TikTok dance while Jisung recorded, promising to post it later.

Seungwoo found a quiet moment with Seungsik and Byungchan near the window, while Wooseok and Jinhoo laughed over memories with Yohan joining in.

Dohyon and Jinwoo took polaroids of everyone, while Eunsang and Suhwan played guitar in a corner, joined by Seungyoun’s humming harmony.

Hyeongjun and Wonjin leaned against each other, looking around the room.

“Feels like a family reunion,” Wonjin said.

“It is,” Hyeongjun replied softly.

It was chaos and warmth, the kind that left cheeks sore from smiling and hearts aching from the reminder.

They were loved.

They were together.

_________________________________________

As the night drew to a close, they stood in a circle, arms over each other’s shoulders, swaying gently to the low music.

They lit sparklers, waving them in the dark, laughter echoing into the trees, the glow of the sparklers reflected in their eyes.

“We’re ready for 2022,” Seungwoo said quietly.

“We’ll rise again,” Seungyoun promised.

“Together,” the others echoed.

The sparklers burned low, the lights dimming, but the warmth remained.

Outside, Seoul glowed under the winter sky, lights like scattered stars.

Inside, they carried the warmth of that night, ready to face whatever came next—

Together.

Chapter Text

“A promise is a promise, even when the winds turn cold.”

The conference room felt too quiet for the stakes at hand.

The X1 agency sat across from the representatives of each member’s home agency, stacks of papers outlining budgets, projections, and proposed schedules. Coffee cups steamed, untouched, as the discussion turned sharp.

“The world wants to see X1,” one executive said, tapping his pen. “The numbers speak for themselves.”

But numbers were not the problem.

“You’re asking for three months of world tour promotions during the opening of the non-exclusivity period,” one executive from a member’s agency said, voice clipped.

“You’ve had them exclusively for two years already,” another added.

Seungwoo, seated beside Seungyoun and Wooseok, kept his jaw tight, eyes focused.

“With respect, the world tour isn’t about us staying in the agency,” Seungyoun said, his voice calm but steel beneath it. “It’s about maximizing what we’ve built. The attention, the momentum—”

“Your members can prepare solo content during the tour,” the X1 agency’s rep interjected, “staged content, teasers, pre-recorded interviews. We drop them during the tour, building buzz for your solo plans while the members are on the biggest stages of their careers.”

The financial projection slides returned to the screen:

• Merch sales projections in the millions.
• Streaming spikes following concerts.
• YouTube growth.
• Local media coverage for each stop.

But the home agencies were cautious, unwilling to commit, wanting their idols back under their management, preparing group comebacks or solos.

For the younger members, the meeting was an echo of frustrations they thought they had left behind.

Dohyon, seated beside Seungyoun with his laptop open, waited for a moment to present the live production plans he had drafted, showing how the tour could be adapted with VCRs to allow solo teasers.

When he finally spoke, it was quiet but confident.

But when he raised his hand, some representatives from his home agency exchanged glances, eyes sliding past him to look at his manager instead.

“I have the production plan here. If you look, there’s space in each concert for individual stages that could preview upcoming solo music.”

“Your manager can send it to us later.” Said an executive of his agency dismissively.

Dohyon’s eyes flickered, but he swallowed his frustration, glancing at Seungyoun, who gave him a supportive nod.

Minhee and Hyeongjun exchanged a look, frustration bubbling in their chests. They were used to being heard in X1 meetings, their voices valued, their ideas considered. Here, with their home agencies, they felt like children again, spoken over, decisions made around them.

Eunsang placed a steadying hand on Minhee’s knee under the table, a reminder to breathe.

“Hyung,” Minhee whispered to Wooseok during a break, “why does it feel like we’re not allowed to be adults outside of X1?”

Wooseok squeezed his shoulder.

“Because they’re afraid of how strong your voice really is,” he replied.

The debate raged for days.

“We can do Asia only, keep it contained,” one agency insisted.

“We owe it to the fans who waited for years during COVID to go global,” Seungyoun countered.

Logistics, travel restrictions, profit margins, staff scheduling—every reason to keep it small.

But every member felt the weight of the Hold My Hand Challenge videos, thousands of voices from all corners of the world singing their chorus, waiting.

“They believed in us,” Wooseok said quietly during a late-night meeting, “the least we can do is try.”

________________________________________

Late one evening, Minhee, Hyeongjun, and Eunsang went live on Instagram, sprawled on the dorm sofa hair damp from showers, faces fresh, laughter easy as they answered fan questions.

“We’ve been working really hard lately,” Minhee said, eyes glinting.

“On… something,” Eunsang added cautiously, shooting Minhee a look.

“Something big?” a fan commented.

Minhee smirked, playing with the drawstring of his hoodie.

“Maybe.”

Eunsang bit his lip, shaking his head with a small laugh.

“Minhee-hyung,” he warned.

“What? They deserve to know something,” Minhee shrugged.

“Are you going to say it or should I?” Hyeongjun teased.

Fans flooded the chat:

“Comeback?”
“WORLD TOUR?!”
“TELL US!”

Hyeongjun glanced at Eunsang, then leaned in with a mischievous grin.

“We are excited to meet all of you” Minhee blurted.

“MINHEE!” Eunsang yelped, whacking his arm.

The chat exploded, hearts flooding the screen.

“A TOUR?!?!”
“WORLD TOUR OR ASIA???”
“IS THIS REAL????”

The boys grinned at the camera, eyes dancing, ignoring the barrage of Kakao messages flooding from their managers in real time.

When the live ended, they were promptly reprimanded by the staff, but the excitement that ignited online was undeniable.

Later that night, Minhee turned to Eunsang.

“Worth it.”

“Yeah,” Eunsang sighed, smiling despite himself. “Worth it.”

_______________________________________

The following morning, back at the dorm, the members gathered in the living room, tension still hanging in the air.

“This tour needs to happen,” Seungwoo said firmly, looking at each of them.

“We’ve worked too hard to let it end like this,” Seungyoun added.

“If they won’t believe in us, we’ll show them,” Wooseok said.

“We need a name,” Dongpyo said, sprawled on the floor with a notebook.

“Something that matches Phoenix, Rise, and everything we’ve built,” Eunsang mused.

“It should feel hopeful,” Yohan added, “like it’s for the fans.”

“What about… Odyssey?” Dohyon suggested quietly “Like the journey ?”

There was a silence, then Minhee’s smile broke.

“I like it.”

“Odyssey: X1’s Journey,” Seungwoo said, nodding. “It’s decided.”

They divided tasks naturally, like they always did:

• Seungwoo, Seungyoun, Yohan, and Dohyon would handle the setlist and remixes.
• Hyeongjun, Hangyul, and Dongpyo would adapt the choreographies and stage designs for concerts.
• Wooseok, Minhee, Eunsang, and Junho would oversee concepts, visuals, outfits, and VCR preparation.

They were exhausted, but in that moment, with the decision made, they felt alive.

 __________________________________________________

With rumours swirling online, the members dove into preparation.

Seungwoo, Seungyoun, Yohan, and Dohyon gathered in the studio, headphones on, songs playing as they scribbled notes.  Seungyoun adjusting live arrangements, Seungwoo and Yohan testing transitions.

“Let’s open with Phoenix,” Seungyoun suggested. “Hit hard.”

“And we can rework Red Echo with a live band,” Dohyon  suggested. “It’ll give it more power. ”

“And close with Hold My Hand, let the fans sing it with us,” Yohan added.

They crafted a narrative through their songs, telling the X1 story in stages.

Hyeongjun, Hangyul, and Dongpyo took over a practice room, mirrors fogging as they rehearsed, testing wide formations and interactive crowd moments.

They sketched stage designs on whiteboards, discussing LED screens showing sunrise visuals and moments where fans’ voices could be integrated into the show.

“We’ll need wider formations here,” Hangyul noted.

“And more dynamic lifts,” Hyeongjun added, demonstrating a spin that Dongpyo immediately tried (and failed) to copy, dissolving into laughter.

“We’re going to make this unforgettable,” Dongpyo said, sweat shining on his forehead.

Wooseok, Minhee, Eunsang, and Junho surrounded themselves with colour swatches, mood boards and visual references.

“Red, gold, and white for the sunrise concept,” Minhee suggested.

“We need to film the VCRs like it’s a movie,” Wooseok said, his eyes bright.

“Flowing fabrics for Hold My Hand and the calmer songs” Eunsang added, eyes shining.

They planned moments for fan interactions, solo stages hinting at each member’s future while celebrating who they were together.

They debated VCR storylines, wanting to capture the journey of X1 from their first stage to now, a story of hope and endurance.

______________________________________________

As January turned to February, the final decisions from agencies loomed.

Would it be Asia, or the world ? Or worst nothing at all ?

They didn’t know.

But as they stood in the practice room, sweaty and laughing, preparing the final formation for Hold My Hand, they looked at each other and knew:

They were ready.

Ready to rise, ready to meet the fans who had waited so long, ready to remind the world who X1 was—

No matter where the Odyssey would take them.

Chapter Text

“We have waited so long to see you, and now, we are coming.”

The cold of Seoul in late January felt different that year—brighter, charged, as if the city itself was holding its breath for what was coming.

They were called to the agency conference room, a familiar space now filled with tension and the scent of coffee, papers spread out with travel plans, dates, venue proposals.

“It’s confirmed,” the CEO announced.

“Odyssey is happening.”

There was a heartbeat of silence, and then the room erupted.

Hyeongjun nearly tackled Minhee in a hug, Dongpyo screamed, Hangyul whooped, and Seungwoo simply closed his eyes, a soft, relieved smile spreading across his face.

“We’re going to see them,” Eunsang whispered, tears welling.

“Finally,” Seungyoun breathed, clenching his fist.

The scale of it sank in as the details came:

• 30 dates. 5 months.
• Asia and Australia. North and South America. Europe.
• Domes, stadiums, and grand arenas—spaces large enough for their voices, for the light of their fans.

The timing was tight, the schedule brutal, but the promise—meeting the fans they had only seen through screens for years—was worth every difficulty.

But as the excitement bubbled, so did the quiet fears.

That night in the practice room, Yohan said it first:

“It’s going to be hard.”

Seungwoo nodded. “It will. But it’s worth it.”

“We’ll get tired,” Junho added, fidgeting.

“But imagine the faces we’ll see,” Dongpyo countered, eyes shining.

They stood there, in the glow of the practice mirrors, the reflection of eleven young men ready to give everything.

____________________________________

They didn’t announce it all at once.

It was strategic, and a gift to OneIt.

Day 1: X1’s SNS posted a simple note on a black background.

“Dear OneIt, we have good news.”

Day 2: A new post.

“It’s news you have all been waiting for.”

Day 3: A video clip of each member saying, “We’re coming to see you,” in different languages.

Day 4: The reveal.

“X1 WORLD TOUR: ODYSSEY.”

Gold letters on black, the official logo shimmering as Phoenix played softly in the background.

Day 5: The poster dropped, listing every venue and every date.

The fan response was immediate, seismic:

“WE DID IT.”
“Finally, X1 World Tour!”
“Look at those VENUES.”
“This is going to be legendary.”

#X1Odyssey trended #1 worldwide for two days straight.

Reaction videos flooded YouTube, fans crying, laughing, planning outfits, screaming into their phones.

International OneIt posted videos promising to teach the fan chants, to bring banners, to fill the stadiums with their voices.

“We’re really doing this,” Dongpyo whispered, scrolling through posts, eyes bright with disbelief and pride.

“Yeah,” Seungwoo said, resting a hand on his shoulder, “we are.”

“It’s real,” Minhee whispered, scrolling through the comments.

“It’s happening,” Hyeongjun replied, leaning his head on Minhee’s shoulder.

___________________________________________

Excitement was tempered by the reality that this was not only a tour.

During the final agency meeting, the members were informed:

“Each of you will begin preparing your individual projects before departure. The world tour will drive anticipation, but you need to be ready to move forward when you return.”

The words lingered heavily in the room, the meaning clear:

The non-exclusivity era had begun.

Once the tour was set, the agencies called the members individually (or in small groups) for meetings.

[Seungwoo]

He sat across from the Victon manager and Seungsik, sipping coffee.

“Are you ready?” Seungsik asked on a video call, smiling.

“I think so,” Seungwoo replied, the thought of returning to Victon’s practice room filling him with warmth and fear.

“We’ve missed you,” Seungsik said.

“Me too,” Seungwoo whispered.

[Wooseok]

Wooseok listened as the agency laid out plans for his reintegration.

“You’ve grown a lot,” Jinhoo told him quietly after the meeting.

“I hope I can bring that back to Up10tion,” Wooseok replied, determination in his eyes.

[Minhee & Hyeongjun]

They sat together, hands nervously intertwined under the table.

“You’re going to join Cravity,” the manager said.

Hyeongjun’s eyes widened.

“Really?” Minhee choked out.

“Wonjin, Jungmo and the other are waiting,” the manager smiled. “And we believe it’s the best course of action for now”

They left the meeting in stunned silence before screaming in the parking lot, hugging each other so tightly they nearly fell over.

[Dohyon & Hangyul]

The agency presented a plan for a duo debut.

“The two of you together will be unstoppable,” the CEO said.

Hangyul threw an arm around Dohyon’s shoulders.

“Brothers on stage, huh?”

“Let’s show them what we can do,” Dohyon replied with a small grin.

[Seungyoun]

Seungyoun entered with a stack of demos, ready to fight.

“I’m not stopping,” he told them.

“We don’t want you to,” the director said, laughing.

His solo debut would be a genre-bending showcase, a testament to who he had become.

[Junho]

Junho’s agency offered him a role in a drama.

“It’s a youth drama, and we want you for the lead.”

Junho blinked, stunned, before slowly smiling.

“I want to try.”

[Yohan, Dongpyo, Eunsang]

All three were confirmed to release solo music, each with their distinct sound.

“A dance-focused concept,” Dongpyo demanded with determination.

“Ballads that speak for me,” Eunsang suggested.

“A mix of vocals and R&B,” Yohan asked, confident.

________________________________________________

It was late, ramen bowls scattered on the table, the heater humming softly as the eleven members sat in a loose circle on the living room floor, knees brushing, shoulders bumping, the soft glow of the city lights outside filtering into their safe space.

“Okay,” Seungwoo said, clapping his hands lightly, “it’s time. Let’s talk about what comes after the tour.”

A hush settled, the warmth of the room holding them close.

Minhee cleared his throat first.

“Well… you all know now,” he said, glancing at Hyeongjun, who grinned back. “We’re joining Cravity. Officially.”

Hyeongjun pumped his fist.

“We get to stand on stage with Wonjin and Jungmo! It’s like… like the dream we thought we lost,” he said, eyes shining.

“We’re so proud of you!” Dongpyo cheered, throwing an arm around Hyeongjun’s shoulders.

“You’ll light up the group,” Wooseok said, nodding.

“Yeah, you’ll make them even stronger,” Seungyoun added with a soft smile.

Minhee ducked his head, cheeks flushed, but the grin wouldn’t leave his face.

Junho picked at the label on his water bottle before speaking up.

“I… I’m going to act. I’ve been offered a role in a youth drama,” he said quietly.

“WHAT?!” Hangyul shouted, eyes wide.

“Ya! Actor Cha Junho!” Dohyon teased, throwing a piece of snack at him.

Junho laughed, cheeks pink.

“I’m excited, but also… scared. What if I mess up? What if I can’t do it?”

“Junho-ya,” Seungwoo said gently, “you’ll be amazing. And we’ll be there, watching every episode.”

“And live-commenting in the group chat,” Yohan added with a smirk.

“Please don’t,” Junho groaned, but he was smiling.

Seungyoun practically bounced, eyes alight.

“I’m going to drop music. A lot of it. I have so many demos, you don’t even know,” he said.

“How many?” Eunsang asked.

“Fifty? Sixty? Who’s counting?” Seungyoun shrugged dramatically, and they all laughed.

“Can I… can I ask for your help?” Eunsang asked quietly. “I want to write my own songs, but… I don’t know if I can do it alone just yet.”

Seungyoun’s grin softened.

“Of course, little bro. Let’s do it together.”

Dongpyo raised a hand.

“I want to focus on dance. I want to create choreography that makes people feel something,” he said.

“If you need help or another point of view don’t hesitate,” Hyeongjun chimed in. “We’ll make stages that people remember.”

“And don’t forget about me, right?” Hangyul poked Dongpyo’s side.

“Obviously,” Dongpyo huffed, pretending to be offended.

Dohyon and Hangyul high-fived.

“The duo is coming,” Hangyul said confidently.

“I’ll handle the beats, you handle the performance,” Dohyon added, a small, rare grin tugging at his lips.

“Deal,” Hangyul said, slinging an arm around him.

Yohan was quiet, staring at the floor, twisting the ring on his finger. Seungwoo noticed.

“Yohan-ah?” he called softly.

Yohan looked up, eyes uncertain.

“Hyung… I’m going to stand alone on stage. For the first time,” he whispered. “And I’m scared. What if I fail? What if… what if I’m not enough?”

Seungwoo moved, crossing the space to sit beside him, pulling Yohan into a hug.

“Yohan, you’re never alone,” Seungwoo murmured. “You’re strong, and even if you stumble, we’re here. Always.”

“Always,” Seungyoun repeated, leaning over to ruffle Yohan’s hair.

“Forever,” Minhee whispered.

____________________________________

The room was quiet, filled with warmth and the quiet sounds of breathing.

Dongpyo swallowed, hugging his knees.

“Promise me we won’t drift apart,” he whispered, voice trembling.

The fear was raw, real, sitting in the silence.

Seungwoo moved first, pulling Dongpyo into a hug, holding him tightly.

“We promise,” Seungwoo said firmly, looking each of them in the eyes.

“We’re X1,” Wooseok added.

“We’re family,” Hangyul said.

“We’re stuck with each other,” Hyeongjun laughed, wiping a tear.

Minhee reached out, ruffling Dongpyo’s hair.

“You’re stuck with us,” he joked.

“No matter where we go,” Junho said.

“No matter what we do,” Yohan added.

“We’ll always find our way back,” Eunsang whispered.

“Together,” Seungyoun finished.

They moved closer, arms draped over shoulders, heads leaning together, laughter bubbling up through tears.

Outside, the cold wind brushed past the windows, but inside, the warmth of promise held them together.

In that moment, they were not idols or performers, not soloists or actors or leaders or maknaes.

They were eleven boys, who found a family in each other.

Ready to face the dawn together.

Chapter Text

“When the lights rise, and the voices join, it is no longer just a stage—it is home.”

The week before the tour was chaos in the best way.

Days began before sunrise with meetings, stage design reviews, and lighting tests. Nights bled into dawn inside the practice rooms as they ran the setlist over and over, sweat pooling on the floors, laughter echoing between tired groans.

Their old dorm, warm with memories but cramped, was no longer enough for the coming storm. They decided to split into two larger dorms:

• One near Starship with mostly with the younger member for Minhee, Hyeongjun, Hangyul, Dohyon, Dongpyo.
• Another near Yuehua and MBK for most of the eldest Seungwoo, Seungyoun, Yohan, Wooseok, Eunsang, Junho.

Packing was messy—hoodies misplaced causing bickering, negotiation around common mugs, pillows and blankets, old trainee photos resurfacing, goodbye selfies in empty rooms.

“It’s weird,” Hyeongjun whispered to Minhee, clutching his Produce hoodie. “Feels like leaving home.”

“We’re just making a new one,” Minhee reassured, slinging an arm around him.

They promised to video call each night, despite being minutes away.

_________________________________________________________________

The news came in on a quiet afternoon during rehearsals.

Minhee nearly dropped his water bottle, staring at the manager’s phone.

“What…? Already?”

“It’s been three hours,” the manager said, half-laughing, half-teary. “Seoul Dome, Tokyo Dome, LA, London… every stop, sold out.”

The practice room erupted.

Dongpyo hugged Hyeongjun so hard they almost toppled over, Seungyoun spun Junho around, and Seungwoo simply leaned against the mirror, eyes closed, letting the tears come.

“They’re waiting for us,” Wooseok whispered.

“We’ll go to them,” Seungwoo replied, voice steady, the words a promise.

_______________________________________________________________

They arrived early, stepping into the vast emptiness of the dome as staff bustled around them. It felt unreal—the sheer scale, the knowledge that soon, every seat would hold someone who had waited years to see them.

Seungwoo stood in the centre, breathing deeply.

“We’re ready,” he said.

Seungyoun clapped him on the back.

“Let’s give them everything.”

Backstage, the tension vibrated through them.

They could hear the fans chanting even before the lights dimmed, the walls vibrating with the waves of voices.

Hyeongjun peeked through the curtain, eyes widening.

“Hyung… it’s so many.”

“It’s all of them,” Seungyoun whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Dongpyo, shaking slightly, was hugged from behind by Eunsang.

“Ready?” Eunsang asked.

“More than ever,” Dongpyo replied, his grin trembling.

Seungwoo gathered them in a circle, arms draping over shoulders.

“Tonight, we give them everything,” he said.

“And we take it all in,” Yohan added, smiling.

They nodded, hearts pounding, eyes shining.

The lights dimmed, the screens flickered alive, and the roar began.

_______________________________________________________________

The concert started with the opening synth of Flash shattering the silence. The Dome exploded in light and sound, fans screaming, waving lightsticks in a synchronized sea of light.

They transitioned into Move, the choreography crisp, the energy infectious, before Red Echo drenched the stage in deep crimson, the crowd jumping in unison, the ground beneath their feet alive.

After it was time for the unit songs.

The rap unit’s Low Sky shook the Dome, Dohyon’s verses raw, Yohan’s voice smooth, Seungyoun’s rap sharp, the fans roaring with every drop.

The vocal unit’s Candle Glass turned the Dome into a galaxy of soft lights, Seungwoo and Wooseok’s voices blending with Minhee and Junho’s, fans swaying, many wiping tears.

The performance unit’s Zero Hour had the Dome on its feet, Hangyul, Hyeongjun, Dongpyo, and Eunsang moving like fire, the bass pulsing in sync with thousands of heartbeats.

After anther VCR, they turned dressed in soft tones, lights dimmed to a soft glow.

“We wrote this for you,” Seungwoo said, voice thick.

I’m Here for You wrapped around the Dome, fans joining softly in the chorus, voices mingling in the air.

Home Light followed, Eunsang’s clear vocals echoing, the chorus lifting like a prayer, the moment sacred, quiet tears streaming down faces in the crowd and on stage.

During the show, they also took the time to express their love to their fans.

“We waited so long to meet you,” Seungwoo said, voice breaking.

“It’s like a dream,” Eunsang added softly.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” Dongpyo sobbed, Minhee holding his hand.

“Thank you for holding on, for waiting, for rising with us,” Seungyoun said.

“We’ll keep going, together,” Wooseok promised, raising his mic.

“We’ll see you again, everywhere,” Hyeongjun added, smiling through tears.

Darkness returned, replaced by the piercing guitar of Eclipse (rock version), the energy spiking again as the crowd screamed, lights flashing.

Iron Will followed, the Kingdom version powerful, precise, the choreography sharp, vocals unwavering.

Then Phoenix—red and gold, the stage alight with flames, fans chanting, jumping, crying, a promise of rising no matter how many times they fell.

Between songs, they spotted friends:

Seungsik and Byungchan waving Victon lightsticks, grinning.

Wonjin and Jungmo, standing with Cravity members, screaming.

Han, Felix, and Chan from Stray Kids clapping, recording videos.

Daehwi and Jisung from Wanna One waving wildly.

“Our family is here,” Yohan whispered to Junho between songs.

While the members where changing, the VCR this time wasn’t about a story, it was snippets, teasers of things to come. The promised solo projects promotions starting. The VCR ending with the message “Get to know us each in different ways. We’ll be waiting for you”

They returned in X1 Odyssey T-shirts, hair damp with sweat, eyes bright, voices hoarse but filled with joy.

They launched into One Flame, the chant-like chorus shaking the Dome, followed by Ascend, the triumphant beat lifting spirits, and Shine We Fall, the crowd clapping in sync, the energy uncontainable.

As they caught their breath, the screens flickered.

A fan project video began to play:

• Fans from around the country holding banners.
• Tears and laughter as fans said, “Thank you, X1,” each in their own way.
• Stories of how X1’s music helped them through loneliness, exams, sickness, fear.
• Messages of hope, love, and unwavering support.

“Thank you for staying,” one fan said.

“Thank you for rising,” another whispered.

Dongpyo was the first to cry, covering his face. Hyeongjun hugged him, tears streaming. Seungwoo’s shoulders shook as he smiled, and even Seungyoun wiped his eyes.

The crowd chanted, “X1, thank you!” over and over.

The final song was Hold My Hand but this time acapella.

“Will you sing with us?” Seungwoo asked, voice shaking.

“One last song,” Dongpyo whispered.

They began Hold My Hand softly, mics lowered, the crowd’s voices rising, filling the Dome with a harmony that resonated in the night.

“Hold my hand, we won’t let go…”

The eleven members sang with them, tears in their eyes, smiles wide, reaching out to the crowd.

Time stopped.

They were no longer idols and fans; they were family, holding each other, holding on.

After this perfect moment, following the call of the fans they came back for an encore : One Flame, Ascend and Pretty Girl

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After the concert, backstage was a mess of tears, laughter, and hugs. Hyeongjun sobbed into Minhee’s shoulder, Dongpyo held Eunsang’s hand tightly, Seungwoo’s eyes shining as he embraced Seungyoun.

The fan chants were still echoing in their ears, the roar of “X1! X1!” burned into their souls.

“We did it,” Seungwoo whispered.

“And we’ll keep doing it,” Seungyoun replied.

Their phones buzzed with messages from friends:

• Cravity’s chat exploding with congratulations.
• Victon’s group chat sending selfies from the audience.
• Stray Kids, Ateez, and even seniors from Wanna One sending them videos cheering.
• OneIt flooding SNS with hashtags, fan cams, and messages of pride.

That night, in their new dorms, they called each other, screens filled with tired faces and bright smiles.

“We did it,” Seungwoo whispered.

“And we’re just beginning,” Seungyoun said, grinning.

“ We have so much to see yet” Hyeongjun added.

They were exhausted, voices hoarse, bodies aching—

But in their hearts, they were full of anticipation.

The Odyssey had begun.

Chapter Text

“Every city, a promise. Every stage, a sunrise.”

They started the tour with the Asian leg.

Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sydney—each airport arrival was greeted with screams and tears, handmade banners, and the bright sea of OneIt’s lightsticks.

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Tokyo: Lantern Lights

The moment they stepped onto the stage at Tokyo Dome, the roar of fans hit them like a wave, thousands of voices blending into one heartbeat.

“They’re so loud,” Dongpyo whispered to Seungwoo, clutching his mic as the lights began to swirl.

“Breathe,” Seungwoo murmured back, squeezing his shoulder. “We’re here.”

They opened with Flash, Move, and Red Echo, the Japanese fan chants perfect, precise, passionate.

For the encore after One Flame and Ascend, they performed “U Got It”, the familiar beat bringing the crowd to their feet, the chorus echoing around them.

Like in Seoul, they were surprised by a beautiful fan project : a video appeared on the screen showing OneIts holding paper lanterns glowing in the dark, each with handwritten messages of “Thank you for staying.” On the paper lanterns with messages like, “Thank you for finding us”, “Your music saves us.” Dongpyo openly sobbed on stage, and Hyeongjun pulled him into a hug, whispering, “They waited for us.”

Seungyoun teased a snippet of a new beat during his ment, saying in Japanese, “Something is coming soon.”

After the concert they took the time to explore the city.

Seungwoo found himself trailing behind Dongpyo in Shibuya, the younger darting between arcades and street performers, laughing brightly.

“Hyung, try this crepe!” Dongpyo shouted, handing it over with strawberry cream dripping onto Seungwoo’s wrist.

Meanwhile, Minhee and Wooseok explored a quiet bookstore, Wooseok flipping through books while Minhee secretly took pictures of him looking soft under the warm lights.

Yohan and Junho wandered near Shibuya, Junho whispering, “I wish we could bring everyone here.”

Dongpyo, Seungyoun and Hangyul found a gachapon street, competing to find the cutest keychain.

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Bangkok: Heat and Laughter

The Bangkok heat pressed heavy on their skin, but the fans’ cheers were a breeze.

The stadium was a living sea of waving lightsticks, the humid air electric.

During Phoenix, Junho’s voice cracked slightly, but the fans only screamed louder, lifting him.

They ended the concert with “Mirrored Sky”, the reflective lyrics and bright melody matching the lightstick glow, the crowd swaying, many crying as the soft, powerful chorus filled the humid night.

During a ment, Dongpyo started to dance a new choreography before Seungwoo stopped him, telling him not to spoil with a big smile on his face.

The fan project was a wave of blue banners reading, “You are our light.” completed by the crowd singing I'm Here For You to them.

Junho became emotional, clutching the mic, voice breaking as he said, “I miss home sometimes, but seeing your smiles makes it worth it.” Before waving shyly at the sea of support.

Hyeongjun hugged him from behind, eyes misty.

The next morning, every one decided to explore Bangkok, only Dongpyo staying at the hotel to call his family.

Seungyoun, Wooseok and Seungwoo visited a floating market, buying fruit for the others.

Yohan and Hangyul wandered through temples, quietly taking in the calm.

Hyeongjun, Eunsang, and Junho had sworn they would only go for a quick walk.

They returned three hours later, sticky with mango juice, having gotten lost near the market after following a cat down a side street.

“We’re never letting you three go out alone again,” Minhee scolded, but laughter shook his shoulders.

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Manila: Rain and Voices

The manila concert was a wet one. But even as rain fell on the open-roof venue, fans in ponchos never stopped waving their lightsticks, voices rising above the storm.

Seungwoo smiled, turning his face to the drizzle, brushing his hair out of his face.  “Rain or shine, we’re here with you,” he said, the crowd’s cheers a thunderstorm of love.

“We’re together,” Eunsang said, glancing around at his brothers, the droplets glistening on their hair illuminate by the stage spotlight.

The setlist carried Flash, Move, Red Echo, and the unit stages, the rain creating a surreal, beautiful backdrop.

During his ment, Junho sharing he was reading scripts and hoped that the fan would like it.

The last song this time was “Revival Code,” their voices blending with the rain, the beat steady and breaking through the storm.

Fans lifted their phones lights during Home Light, creating a quiet galaxy beneath the drizzle, the rain making the lights glisten, the moment etched in memory.

The next day, Dongpyo and Hyeongjun shared a clear umbrella, weaving through a market. Dongpyo pulled Hyeongjun to a vendor selling tiny painted trinkets, their laughter mixing with the rain as Hyeongjun haggled for a set of matching charms.

Junho, Eunsang  and Dohyon discovered halo-halo, eyes lighting up at the sweetness.

 Wooseok and Minhee visited a quiet church, lighting candles for health and safe travels.

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Sydney: Waves and Breath

In Sydney, the members were wide-eyed, breathing in the ocean air.

“We’re really on the other side of the world,” Yohan whispered as they looked out at the harbour.

The Australian sky was endless, and the sea air felt like freedom.

During the concert, the roar of the fans surprised them, their voices filling the arena with warmth.

After One Flame and Ascend, they performed “Break the Dark,” the bass heavy, fans clapping in rhythm, the energy rolling like the ocean they had visited that morning.

Yohan, already dealing with hoarseness, almost lost his voice mid-performance, but the crowd’s voices carried him through. After, he whispered to Seungwoo, “They’re stronger than us.”

They visited Bondi Beach, the younger ones splashing in the waves, the older members sitting back, letting the breeze wash over them.

Hangyul, Dohyon, and Yohan attempted to surf resulting in a chaotic video of them tumbling over each other, laughing breathlessly as the water crashed around them.

That night, they fell asleep early, salt still in their hair, sunburns warm on their skin.

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After a short time back in Korea, to take a break and to continue quickly the solo project preparation, it was time for the American leg of the tour. They were all excited, for most it was their first time going to America. The schedule was packed : LA, Seattle, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta and finally New York.

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Los Angeles: Neon and Longing

In Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign was visible from the window of the van that lead them to their hotel.

Junho pressing his hand to the glass, eyes wide. 

“I never thought I’d be here,” he whispered.

The LA venue was alive with chants in English and Korean, blending beautifully.

During Ascend, Hangyul’s knee twinged painfully, but he pressed on, hiding the wince behind his bright smile.

During the last part of the concert, a fan project video played. OneIts from across the Americas saying, “You made it here.”, showing banners, albums, talking about discovering and loving X1. 

Dongpyo covered his face, shaking with sobs, as Eunsang and Minhee hugged him from either side.

They surprised their fan with “Dawn Runner” as an encore, the crowd moving like a single wave, the energy addictive.

The morning after, Minhee and Wooseok grabbed iced coffees, sitting on a low wall under palm trees, simply watching the world pass.

“Feels unreal,” Minhee whispered.

“We’re really here,” Wooseok replied, smiling softly.

 Seungwoo and Seungyoun visited a local music shop, jamming quietly.

Junho and Yohan explored a small cafe by the beach, Junho sketching in a notebook.

Hangyul and Dohyon walked the streets, taking in the energy of LA. They filmed a short vlog using snippet of their project in it.

 Dongpyo and Hyeongjun bought matching caps, filming goofy videos for fans.

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New York: Lights and Reflection

By the time they reached New York, exhaustion clung to them.

Jet lag left Hyeongjun glassy-eyed during rehearsals, Hangyul stretched slowly before each set, careful of his knee still tender, and Dongpyo quietly iced his ankle each night.

Yet the moment they stepped on stage, the tiredness faded beneath the roar of OneIts.

“You give us strength,” Yohan said, wiping sweat from his forehead, eyes soft.

At the end, the stage bathed in deep sapphire as they sang “Burning Blue”, the fans’ voices weaving around the melody.

The fan project was thousands of blue planes flying toward the stage during Hold My Hand, the fans voices rising with X1’s in a promise that echoed into the New York night.

Their final night before flying to South America, they bundled in hoodies, slipping into the cool air.

The idea came from Dongpyo, who declared, “We can’t leave New York without seeing Times Square.”

So, late that night, after the encore had faded from their bones and their voices were hoarse from singing with Oneits, the eleven of them pulled on caps and masks, bundling into hoodies to hide the glint of idol from their tired, glowing faces.

“Let’s go, quietly,” Seungwoo said, but Dongpyo was already bouncing on the balls of his feet.

They slipped out of the hotel, into the cool air of New York, the city humming with midnight life.

The closer they walked, the brighter the world became.

Lights towered above them, flickering and flashing, each screen its own universe. They passed street performers, blinking neon diners, and late-night taxis honking softly as they passed.

And then, they stood in the centre of Times Square, looking up.

BTS smiled down from a billboard, their song pulsing faintly from someone’s speaker nearby. On another screen, Blackpink’s MV flashed in pink and chrome. Seventeen’s members beamed, a concert teaser dancing across the lights.

“Look, K-pop is everywhere here,” Yohan whispered, awe in his voice.

“Feels like a dream,” Junho murmured, pressing close to Eunsang and Hyeongjun.

The world was alive, warm despite the chill.

And then, suddenly, on a big screen to their left, the feed shifted.

On a sea of etheral blue mixed with Sunshine Yellow, the X1 Odyssey logo emerged slowly. Followed by their faces appearing one by one in soft flashes.

“The Odyssey World Tour – Welcome X1.” was written below it. 

They froze.

The roar of the city fell away for a moment, leaving only the glow of the lights and the pounding of their hearts.

Dongpyo’s hand found Seungwoo’s sleeve, clutching it.

“We really made it, hyung,” he whispered, voice trembling under the mask.

Seungwoo turned, pulling Dongpyo into a hug, pressing a hand to the back of his head as Dongpyo buried his face in his hoodie.

“Yeah,” Seungwoo said softly, “We really did.”

The moment was broken by Minhee yelling and pointing up to another billboard with a sharp gasp.

“HYUNG!” he shouted, uncaring of the crowd around them.

They all turned, eyes following his finger, and there it was:

A towering Dior ad, the sleek monochrome image of Wooseok looking down on Times Square, dressed in a sharp suit, the brand’s logo shimmering beneath him.

For a moment, they all stood in stunned silence.

Then chaos erupted.

“WOAH, HYUNG!” Hangyul yelled.

“Look at you!” Yohan laughed, smacking Wooseok’s arm.

“Can we get your autograph, Mr. Model?” Seungyoun teased, bowing dramatically.

“Hyung, it’s so huge! You look so tall !” Dongpyo shouted, eyes wide.

Wooseok turned bright red, tugging his cap lower.

“Stop it, you guys,” he mumbled, but he was smiling, his eyes glinting with quiet pride.

Minhee threw an arm around his shoulders.

“You look so cool, Wooseok-hyung.”

“Our hyung is a Dior ambassador after all” Eunsang said, clapping with exaggerated seriousness.

“We have to brag about this later” Dohyon added, already pulling out his phone to take a photo.

They stood there, letting the lights wash over them, letting the moment etch itself into memory.

“We’re really here, we made it !” Hyeongjun whispered.

“And we’re not done yet,” Seungwoo said, his arm around Dongpyo, his eyes bright as they all looked up at the glow of their tour ad and Wooseok’s silent, powerful gaze from above.

And for that moment, beneath the lights of the city that never sleeps, they were young, tired, victorious, and together.

Their journey continued, but here—here they were seen.

They turned back toward the hotel, laughter trailing behind them, as the lights of Times Square burned on, holding the promise of everything still to come.

Chapter Text

“Every dawn in a new city, we find pieces of ourselves.”

The American leg of the tour was entering its second tour with South America. The members were to perform in Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago and Bogota. It was a brand new experience for most of the members except for Seungyeon. He was excited to show his members around São Paulo where he lived for a few years. 

São Paulo : Childhood echoes

The air in São Paulo was thick with heat and promise.

As the arena lights dimmed, the roar of Brazilian OneIts surged like a wave, so loud that even backstage, Dongpyo clutched Eunsang’s arm, eyes wide.

“They’re so loud, hyung.”

“They’ve been waiting,” Eunsang whispered, smiling.

They opened with Flash, Move, Red Echo, the crowd chanting in near-perfect Korean.

X1 had a suprise for the fans as Seungyeon played the MC for the whole concert with his rusty portuguese and a brilliant smile.  

After One Flame and Ascend, they performed “Stand Up”, the stadium lights bouncing off homemade banners that read, “Obrigado, X1.”

During the encore, the fan project video showed fans dancing to Hold My Hand in beaches, living rooms, and busy streets, their voices forming a soft, collective promise.

Dongpyo wiped tears, waving as he shouted, “Obrigado! We love you!”

After the concert, Minhee and Junho wandered together, filming each other with borrowed film cameras, capturing colours they never wanted to forget.

Meanwhile, Seungwoo and Dongpyo slipped into a quiet café, Seungwoo letting Dongpyo chatter about ideas for choreography with a soft smile on his face.

Seungyoun and Hangyul tried a capoeira demonstration, ending up tangled, breathless with laughter.

In the same time, Hyeongjun, Eunsang, and Dohyon found a mural and filmed a quick dance cover, grinning, the city alive around them.

And as they had a day more than usual, Seungyoun dragged his members to his favorites places in the city. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

On the plane to Buenos Aires, Seungyoun posted a black-and-white clip of him in a studio, guitar in hand, caption: “Coming soon.”

Fans lost their minds.

At the same time, PlayM posted a throwback Victon clip with Seungwoo front and centre, captioned “Is it time?”

Seungwoo smiled quietly, saving the post on his phone.

Buenos Aires : Golden energy

In Argentina, the energy was electric, the air pulsing as fans sang Phoenix in Spanish, tears on their cheeks.

A fan project had fans waving golden paper suns during the final chorus.  Each of them saying : “Thank you for coming.” in spanish, english and Korean.

Before Hold My Hand, they performed “Wild Horizon”, the beat sharp, the fans jumping, waving their lightsticks in perfect rhythm.

During their free time, Hangyul and Dongpyo wandered through cobbled streets, the younger pulling Hangyul toward street performers playing violins.

“This is beautiful,” Dongpyo whispered, eyes shining.

“So are you,” Hangyul said softly, ruffling his hair.

Wandering the streets, Hyeongjun, Eunsang, and Junho found a colourful street, recording chaotic dance clips, Junho nearly knocking over a street sign. And running away laughing.

That night Starship posted a short video: Wonjin running to the rest of Cravity, shouting : “Hyung, I found them!”

The clip ended there.

Fans exploded in speculation.

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After the American leg ended, because of the short timeline, the schedule didn't stop and X1 flew directly to Europe for the last leg of the tour. They were to visit some of the most iconic european cities : Madrid, Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest and London. 

Madrid : Warm welcomes

In Madrid, the venue was a mosaic of flags and lightsticks, Spanish OneIts chanting names and waving “Bienvenidos” signs.

After One Flame and Ascend, they performed “Shine we fall” the heavy bass matching the stomps of the crowd.

During their ments, Minhee voice trembled. The fans responded with loud cheers full of anticipation. 

“We have something to share soon,” he said, glancing at Seungwoo, who squeezed his hand.

Oneit never disappointed with the fan project, this time a beautiful book filled with fans letters and fan arts was given to the members, one for each of them. They received it with tears in their eyes and promised to cherished it on instagram while thanking the fans profusely. 

During down time, Minhee, Hyeongjun, and Wooseok went out for tappas, wanting to taste the real ones.

Minhee getting sauce everywhere, the others laughing.

Seungyoun and Junho explored an art museum, Junho sketching Seungyoun as he pretended to pose like a painting.

And Dongpyo, Hangyul, and Dohyon sang softly in a quiet plaza with a beautiful echo, while exploring the city and savoring the moment shared together.

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But as the tour progressed toward its end, exhaustion clung to them quietly and more powerful than ever :

• Hyeongjun often wake up disoriented and sad, missing home and having the most difficulties with the jetlag.
• Hangyul now needed to stretch longer before each rehearsal and performance, knee and back tight.
• Yohan was sometime moving slower backstage, nodding off on the van rides unlike before.
• Dongpyo started to ice his ankles, eyes tired but still dancing with joy.

Still, when the lights rose each night, they gave everything, their bodies moving on muscle memory, hearts pounding with each cheer. They found strength in the cheers that lifted them.

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On the flight to Paris, Hyeongjun and Minhee posted a photo of their hands forming a heart, with the caption: “Soon.”

Fans erupted in speculation, “Cravity? A X1 subunit ? What does it mean?”

Paris :  Lights in the hearts

In Paris, the air felt crisp, the lights of the Eiffel Tower blinking in the distance as they performed.

After One Flame and Ascend, they performed “Flicker flame” the emotional chorus soaring in the venue.

The fan project was simple but beautiful: small neon yellow paper hearts lifted during Home Light while every other light was turned off. Forming a quiet, star-like sea of gratitude in an almost reverent atmosphere.

Early in the morning, Yohan and Eunsang shared a quiet walk along the Seine, Yohan tossing a coin into a fountain, eyes full of hope. 

Seungwoo and Hangyul found a small café for their breakfast, sipping coffee while people-watching, letting the moment breathe.

Dongpyo and Dohyon found a street magician and joined in the crowd, reverting to small children for a few minutes.

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London : Rain and memories

London’s venue was filled with fans chanting in English, Korean, and their own languages.

Once more the rain decorated the concert and changing the performance to one to be remembered for the years to come. 

Particularly the performance of Zero Hour by the Performance Unit with the silk costumes darkened by the water and hair slicking the hair of the members will become a fan favorite. 

A fan video played, fans from across Europe singing "One Flame" chorus in unisson. 

Before Hold My Hand, they performed “Tin Hallo” the crowd swaying, lights turning the arena into a sea of blue and the rain into a magical curtain reflecting the lights. 

During their encore ment, Minhee and Hyeongjun exchanged a glance.

“We have something to tell you,” Minhee said, voice shaking.

“We’re going to perform with friends again,” Hyeongjun added, tears glinting. “But it’s a secret, okay?”

The crowd screamed in joy and curiosity.

 The next morning, Starship posted one more teaser: a blurred photo of Cravity with only silhouettes visible but they were 9 members this time not 7, the caption reading : “Coming next.”

OneIts flooded SNS with support “We will support you always”, “Cravity and X1 forever,” “So proud.”

Rain still fell as they explored, umbrellas bobbing. Seungyoun and Yohan got caught in the drizzle, before taking photos of the London Eye.

Minhee, Junho, and Hyeongjun found a vintage shop, laughing as they tried on silly hats and scarfs.

Dongpyo, Eunsang, and Wooseok found a quiet square, jumping in puddles of rain around a large tree, carefree.

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Seoul : One last time together

The Odyssey Tour Finale returned to Seoul for an encore, the Sky Dome packed, sold out in minutes, streamed across the world, one last part of the tor shared with as much fans possible.

They performed with everything they had:

• Flash, Move, Red Echo opened the night with a bang that seems bigger than before.
• Unit stages of Low Sky, Candle Glass, and Zero Hour lit the arena, the fans singing and dancing in unison with the group.
• Eclipse, Iron Will, and Phoenix roared through the night while fireworks tore through the sky.
• I’m Here for You and Home Light stilled the world for a time. A moment out of time, shared between the members and those who had been by their side since the beginning.

During the encore, One Flame and Ascend were followed by Dawn we call and finally Hold My Hand where they quickly turned off the backing track letting the voices of OneIts carry them one last time.

After the final notes faded, the lights dimmed, and the members gathered, sweat and tears streaming down their faces.

Seungwoo stepped forward, mic in hand.

“You have given us everything during this last months” he began, voice breaking. “And now, we want to give you our promise.”

Seungyoun joined him, smiling through his tears.

“We’re going to be doing different things soon. Seungwoo will return to Victon. I will share my own music. Others will find new paths.”

The crowd held its breath.

Minhee stepped forward, grabbing the mic.

“But X1 is not going anywhere,” he said firmly, eyes bright. “We are exploring, learning, growing, so that when we come back, we can stand even stronger for you.”

The arena erupted, chants of “X1! X1! X1!” echoing through the night.

Dongpyo turned, hugging Seungwoo, sobbing softly.

“We’re not done, right, hyung?”

“No,” Seungwoo whispered, pulling him close. “As long as we are together it'll never end.”

As the lights of the Sky Dome glowed then dimmed, the members stood hand in hand, looking out at the sea of OneIts, feeling the promise of tomorrow pulsing through them.

They were tired, they were ready, they were together and even the future would not tear them apart.

Chapter Text

“Home isn’t always where you return to. Sometimes, it’s what you learn to build again.”

It was mid-June, and the air smelled of sun-warmed concrete and the promise of rain.

While the world moved toward summer break, X1 was stepping into something else.

The season of separation had begun. They now had to find themselves in an other way, in a new agency and a new space.

They had talked about it, again and again, late at night in the dorms, sitting cross-legged in hoodies, their voices soft under the hum of the air conditioner:

“It’s not goodbye,” Seungwoo had said, looking around the room.
“It’s just… new beginnings,” Seungyoun had added, eyes bright even in the dark.

And now, the first to step into those beginnings were Minhee and Hyeongjun.

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They had been to Starship countless times before—as trainees, as friends visiting Cravity, as idols dropping by to laugh with Jungmo and Wonjin.

But today, as they swiped in and took the elevator up, everything felt heavier.

Inside the practice room, Cravity was gathered, laughter echoing off the mirrors.

Wonjin’s face lit up when he saw them.

“Minhee! Hyeongjun! Get over here!”

Jungmo grinned, pulling Minhee into a hug, ruffling Hyeongjun’s hair.

For a heartbeat, it felt the same as always.

But then the laughter faded, and the quiet that followed was different.

They joined practice, slipping into formations for the upcoming new album preparation.

Hyeongjun tried to match Allen’s sharp, clean movements, but he kept second-guessing himself, forgetting which side to turn on, the counts tangling in his head, X1 choreography still fresh in his mind.

In X1, he was the dancer, the one who caught details, the bright energy that lifted the room.

But here, Cravity already had Allen, who moved with quiet precision, his leadership in dance clear, and Wonjin, whose bright laugh and constant chatter filled the spaces Hyeongjun usually slipped into.

Minhee stayed in the back, watching.

He's use to step in when the energy lagged, cracking a quiet joke that made a few members snort—but here, it felt like dropping a too small stone into a pond, ripples smalls and fading too quickly.

In X1, Minhee was the quiet chaos, the steady presence that anchored everyone.

But here, it was Jungmo who filled that space, his quick wit and calm jokes already woven into the group’s rhythm.

When they took breaks, Wonjin sat with them, chattering about ideas, while Jungmo threw an arm around Minhee’s shoulders, trying to pull him into conversations.

But there were moments—small, sharp moments—when they saw Serim and Seongmin exchange a glance, Allen hesitating before explaining something again, Taeyoung’s bright energy flickering with uncertainty.

They were outsiders in a place that was supposed to feel like home.

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That night, Hyeongjun lay in his bed, scrolling through old X1 videos:

• Dongpyo laughing so hard he fell over.
• Seungwoo ruffling his hair before a recording.
• Minhee snoring on the couch, Junho and Eunsang drawing on his arms with marker.

He pulled his blanket tighter, the ache in his chest almost physical. It was a sad irony that he was missing X1 members as he had missed Wonjin and Jungmo after Produce.

In the bunk above, Minhee couldn’t sleep either, staring at the ceiling, hearing the ghost of Wooseok’s laughter, the calm of Seungwoo’s quiet leadership, the reckless encouragement of Seungyoun’s grin.

They had chosen this.

It was their dream.

But dreams were harder to live in reality.

The next morning, Minhee slipped out to call Wooseok, standing in the stairwell.

“Hyung,” he started, voice low, “it’s… harder than I thought.”

Wooseok listened quietly, then said:

“It’s okay that it’s hard. It’s okay to feel like you’re starting over. But you’re Minhee, you know? You’ll find your place.”

Later, Hyeongjun texted Seungwoo, who called him back immediately, voice warm and steady:

“You’re not alone, pup,” Seungwoo said softly. “Talk to them. Don’t let it stay inside.”

Seungyoun’s message arrived a moment later: “You build it together. That’s how a real group works.”

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They sat in a circle on the practice room floor, backs against the mirrors, water bottles sweating between their hands, exhaustion buzzing in their limbs from another long day.

Hyeongjun glanced at Minhee, who gave a small nod.

“We wanted to talk,” Hyeongjun said softly, looking around the circle.

Minhee cleared his throat, his voice low but steady.

“We know this is hard. That us coming in… changes things.”

“We don’t want to feel like outsiders,” Hyeongjun added, his fingers twisting around the cap of his water bottle. “We want to be… part of this. But we also don’t want to force ourselves into something that’s already yours or to disrupt what you already build.”

Silence hummed for a moment, and then Serim lifted his head, looking around.

“Cravity was built while waiting for you,” Serim said. “We knew you would come. We just didn’t know how to prepare for it, or how to make it easy.”

« But it was not just for you guys and if we want to move forward, Cravity must become something  for all of us whether we are 7 or 9 » declare Minhee, his voice strong for once.

« So what do you want cravity to be ? What do you want to be ? «  asked Hyeongjun almost tentatively.

Allen exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

“It’s not about formations, or positions. I just want Cravity to be a place we can all feel like we belong.”

Seongmin, the youngest, raised his hand slightly, shy.

“I want it to be… a place where we can laugh, even when it’s hard.”

Wonjin grinned, wiping sweat from his neck.

“I want us to trust each other. Like, really trust. So even when we fight, we know it doesn’t change that we’re family.”

Taeyoung threw his arms wide.

“And to be the craziest, happiest group out there!”

Laughter bubbled up, easing the tension.

Minhee took a breath, letting the warmth of their words settle.

“I want to be someone you can count on. Even if I’m quiet, I want to be someone you can lean on.”

Hyeongjun’s eyes glistened, but he didn’t look away.

“I want Cravity to be the place I can come back to when everything else feels scary.”

Jungmo, who had been quiet, leaned over to ruffle Minhee’s hair.

“You’ve always been that, you idiot.”

Woobin smiled, nodding.

“You’re one of us. Both of you are.”

They shared stories then—tiny pieces of themselves:

Allen talking about the pressure of getting choreography perfect.

Taeyoung laughing about the time he tripped mid-stage and Serim caught him, before both of them crashed to the floor.

Jungmo admitting he sometimes gets lonely even in a full room.

Seongmin sharing how he calls his mom after every performance.

Minhee talking about hiding snacks for the members in X1 because they all eat his favourites.

Hyeongjun sharing how he used to dance alone in the dark practice room when he was scared about debut.

Wonjin wiped at his eyes, laughing.

“Man, we’re really soft, huh?”

“That’s what makes us strong,” Serim said, smiling.

___________________________________________

The conversation drifted into easy chatter, laughter starting to fill the space.

When practice resumed the next day, the air was different.

Hyeongjun found himself standing beside Allen as they adjusted counts, offering a small suggestion mid-run.

“Try this?” Hyeongjun asked.

Allen tried it, blinking, then grinned.

“Nice” Allen said, slapping Hyeongjun’s hand.

“You have other cool ideas to add” he continue.

“Yes but let’s do it together ” he said, scooting closer. “Let me help, Allen hyung.”

Allen’s eyes widened a fraction, before he let out a small, genuine laugh.

“Then you’re in charge of yelling at us when we mess up.”

“Deal,” Hyeongjun grinned, holding out his hand. Allen shook it firmly.

Minhee lingered after practice, watching Woobin hum a melody under his breath, Wonjin tapping a pencil against his water bottle in rhythm of an instrumental track playing from his phone.

“Need a low harmony?” Minhee asked, voice casual.

They looked up, surprised, then nodded.

Minhee hummed softly, his low voice blending into the instrumental, layering and adding warmth.

Wonjin watched, eyes wide, then grinned, nudging Woobin.

“We’re good, huh?”

“Yeah,” Woobin said, smiling, eyes bright

The next few weeks became a blur of hard rehearsals, shared snacks, and quiet laughter.

Hyeongjun stepped in with Allen during practice, helping to adjust counts and footwork.

“You’re good at this,” Allen said one day, sweat dripping from his bangs.

“X1 bootcamp,” Hyeongjun replied, winking.

They started working in sync, Allen’s sharp lines blending with Hyeongjun’s fluidity, learning each other’s styles, building trust one formation at a time.

Minhee spent evenings with Woobin and Wonjin in the studio, helping refine melodies, suggesting harmonies, sometimes just humming in the background until something clicked.

Late one night, Woobin pushed back from the keyboard, turning to Minhee.

“You have an ear for this,” he said.

Minhee’s eyes widened, warmth blooming in his chest.

“Thanks,” he whispered.

Wonjin threw an arm around him.

“Told you he’s good.”

One night, after a brutally long practice, Hyeongjun flopped onto the floor, groaning.

“I can’t move,” he whimpered.

“Same,” Seongmin said, face squished into the mat.

“Let’s just live here now,” Allen mumbled, face-down.

Wonjin suddenly let out a loud, fake cry, flailing dramatically.

“WE ARE TOO YOUNG TO DIE LIKE THIS!”

Everyone burst into laughter, the exhaustion making them giddy.

Minhee lay on his back, giggling, while Hyeongjun tried to catch his breath, tears in his eyes.

Jungmo crawled over, shoving Wonjin lightly.

“Shut up before the manager comes in.”

“Let him,” Wonjin shot back, “I’ll drag him down too.”

Laughter roared louder, echoing in the mirrored room, ringing with something real.

In that laughter, in the shared snacks and tired confessions, in the way Allen started asking Hyeongjun’s opinion regularly, in how Woobin grinned when Minhee entered the room, in the stupid jokes and silent understanding—

They began to find it.

Not the Cravity that was.

But the Cravity they would build together.

It wasn’t instant.

Some days were still awkward.

Sometimes, Minhee fell quiet, remembering X1’s chaos.

Sometimes, Hyeongjun’s jokes fell flat, and he would slip away to the bathroom to breathe.

But every day, they tried again.

And every day, the walls came down a little more.

Every shared laugh, every stupid inside joke shouted during water breaks, every small encouragement yelled across the dance floor—

They were weaving themselves into the fabric of Cravity.

A new Cravity, made together, for all of them.

Chapter Text

“Freedom without witness feels like drifting. But even apart, they are still watching, still holding each other up.”

|SEUNGYOUN|

At first, Seungyoun was on fire.

The moment he stepped into the studio—his studio, no schedules, no deadlines, no team constraints—he felt alive.

He scribbled lyrics on scraps of napkins, layered beats late into the night, let his voice shift between rasp and velvet, throwing himself into rock, R&B, and rap with reckless joy.

He spent days alone in his studio, weaving guitar riffs into heavy bass, layering synth lines, recording raw vocals, scratching them out, trying again.

He didn't miss the constraint and noises of being with X1.

Not the endless meetings.

Not the quiet moments waiting for approval.

Not even the group chat pings.

For a week, Seungyoun thrived on the buzz of his own chaos.

Every idea felt electric.

Until he sat back, blinking at the dozens of tracks blinking on his screen.

Too many ideas. Too many directions.

What does he want to be ? A rocker? An R&B artist? A rapper? A performer? A singer-songwriter?

He didn’t know anymore.

______________________________________

The silence of the studio pressed in.

A pause after he finished a demo, looking up at the empty studio, waiting for laughter that wouldn’t come, waiting for Minhee’s sleepy “Hyung, that’s fire,” for Hangyul’s loud claps, for Hyeongjun’s excited dance when the beat dropped.

He played a track back, frowning, unable to tell if it was good enough.

The silence pressed heavy against the glass of the mixing booth.

So focused and lost at the same time, he found himself not doing anything but music.

He forgot to eat.

Forgot to sleep.

He woke up with his face against the keyboard, the outlines of keys pressed into his cheek, the clock blinking 4:27 a.m.

The next day, as he slouched in his chair, eyes red, reworking the same chorus for the 7th time, Wooseok’s call came.

“Hyung, send me a snippet.”

“In a bit,” Seungyoun mumbled.

“When did you last sleep?” the tone was accusing, suspicious.

Seungyoun rubbed his eyes.

“Dunno.”

“When did you eat?”

Seungyoun blinked at the empty ramen cups stacked by the trash.

“...Dunno.”

Wooseok sighed, a mix of fondness and exasperation in his voice.

“I’ll nag you from a distance, hyung, if that’s what it takes.”

“I just—there’s so much I want to do, but I don’t know which idea is right,” Seungyoun admitted, voice small.

“You don’t have to know right away,” Wooseok said. “You’re Seungyoun. You find your sound by living it. And if you need help we are here for you”

The words settled into the room like a promise.

That night, Seungyoun cooked himself rice in a small kitchen in his agency, opened the window, and let himself rest, realizing that even in freedom, he didn’t have to go it alone.

He gathered his courage and then sent a rough clip on the X1 conversation.

Seconds later, the phone rang.

“Hyung, it’s good,” Wooseok’s voice came, bright and teasing. “But that pre-chorus? Needs more bite.

Seungyoun laughed, a genuine, cracked laugh that made his shoulders drop.

“Yeah. I think I need that.”

“Good. Now get back to eating. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Wooseok said, and Seungyoun could hear the grin in his voice.

He felt a little less empty after that.

|DONGPYO|

Dongpyo walked into his agency’s meeting room, his notebook clutched against his chest, excitement buzzing under his skin.

He had worked late into the night crafting a concept—bright, dance-heavy, but with emotional depth that would showcase who he was now, not just the bright trainee they remembered.

As he presented, the producers nodded, but their eyes slid over him, past him.

“Cute, Dongpyo-ya,” one said.

“Very you,” another added, flipping to the next page.

They liked it, but they didn’t hear it.

When he suggested a sharper dance break, a moment of vulnerability in the bridge, they shook their heads gently.

“That’s too mature, too nuanced for your age.” they said.

“Keep it fresh and young,” they said.

“The choreography is too difficult. Keep it simpler, more fresh.”

His heart sank as he bowed, the rejection pressing against his ribs like a bruise.

Dongpyo bowed, the frustration like a stone in his throat.

They saw the child.

Not the artist he had to become.

__________________________________

That night, he called Seungwoo, his voice shaking.

“Hyung… I don’t know what to do.”

There was a pause, the quiet hum of Seungwoo’s breathing.

“Dongpyo-ya, you’re stronger than you know,” Seungwoo said softly. “They don’t get to decide who you are. Remind them. Show them.”

“But I’m alone.”

“No, you’re not.”

Hangyul’s voice popped in from the background.

“Hey! Baby chick! You better stomp that dance floor tomorrow! Let them know who you are!”

Dongpyo burst out laughing, tears slipping down his face, his grip on the phone tight.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

The next day, he went to the practice room alone, replaying the demo he’d reworked.

“Too difficult.”

He performed it anyway, every sharp angle of his dance precise, every expression capturing the emotion he wanted.

When he finished, chest heaving, he stared at the mirror, sweat dripping down his face.

“I can do it,” he whispered to himself.

He installed his phone on the mirror and started filming.

That night, as frustration bubbled, he opened Instagram.

“I know what the fans wants” he muttered, eyes narrowing.

He posted a 15-second clip of his choreography with the song, showing the clean lines, the emotional tension, the power.

The video blew up.

Fans flooded the comments:

• “This is so Dongpyo!”
• “We need THIS song like today!”
• “The power in his dance, the feeling—please let him debut with this.”

By morning, hashtags were trending.

___________________________________

His agency called him in.

They were not pleased, but they were also not blind.

“You want this version that badly?” an executive asked.

Dongpyo met their gaze, shoulders squared.

“Yes. Let me show who I am.”

A long silence.

“Fine,” they said finally, with a sigh. “Prove it.”

Dongpyo’s eyes shone.

“I will.”

That night, Dongpyo’s phone lit up.

Seungwoo: “Saw your clip. You’re a storm, kid.”

Yohan : “Keep going, you’re in the right path.”

Eunsang: “So proud, hyung!”

Across the city, Seungyoun lay on his studio floor, smiling as he liked Dongpyo’s post.

“You’re not alone, little star,” he whispered.

And as Dongpyo drifted to sleep, the ache of loneliness was quieter.

____________________________________

They were scattered.

Across studios and practice rooms, under different roofs, with different dreams.

But in the silence, in the spaces between exhaustion and doubt, they found each other—

In a call.
In a message.
In a like on a post.
In the quiet promise:

“You are not alone.”

 “We’re with you.”
“Show them.”
“Be who you are.”

And as summer rolled on, Seungyoun and Dongpyo stood taller, ready to step into the world, their voices steady.

Because X1 was still with them.

No matter where they went.