Archive of Our Own

The bell above the door chimed; the first customer of the day. A young woman looking for a gift for her grandmother. Minho helped her choose between some of the figurines he'd brought in just that morning. She chose a porcelain fairy, smiling from ear to ear.

"She'll love it!" Minho had guessed as much.

Another chime, another customer. A man looking for something sentimental.

"My wife likes classics." Minho showed him their used books. "This one is perfect." An early copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Minho's days weren't usually as busy. He got maybe one person in the morning, a few stragglers by mid-afternoon. The evenings were usually a quiet affair, Minho using that time to read or write or whatever his heart so pleased that day.

This afternoon had been mildly more entertaining, a mother and her daughter perusing the aisles. She squealed when she saw all the dolls. She put up a fuss just so her mother would buy her one. Even after she paid, Minho could tell her mother was fond. It might have been similar to ones she used to play with.

When it came down to lock up shop, Minho chanced one last dusting in before Chan showed up. The man was notoriously late and he wasn't going to be a sitting goose until he decided it was high time to make his appearance.

"You could have been robbed." Chan chastised, spooking Minho- who'd been in the back end of the store. 

"As if anyone cared for these old treasures as much as I do."

"Still, the register was left unattended." Minho rolled his eyes, putting away his feather duster and following Chan back toward the front. "You should really lock up if you're still in here. Even with the closed sign up."

"It's fine, you're the only one smart enough to try the door." Chan laughed at least, so Minho figured he wasn't in too much trouble.

Chan was parked across the street and it was only a matter of minutes before they were buckled in and ready to go.

"Thanks for coming, by the way."

"Of course! How could I miss your sister's graduation party?" 

The day Chan had dreaded since his sister entered high school had come: her graduation. He was proud, as any brother should be, but he knew it was coming time for her to leave the nest and he was going to miss her dearly. At least, that was what he told Minho relentlessly anytime they went for drinks.

The party was in full swing when they arrived, having started earlier in the day. Just after she'd shed her cap and gown for the school ceremony. Chan gave his sister a hug and Minho gave her his own after.

"So glad you two could make it!"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." His words of sincerity were meet with a frustrated huff and the siblings bickered over trivial things until Chan finally acknowledged the few days she had left with them. "I can't believe you chose to go to school back in Seoul. You'll be so far away!"

"Stop acting like I won't just be a flight away."

"Try two with a layover." She laughed at her brother. "You all packed yet? Mom said you were leaving Sunday morning."

"Yeah. I just have to take some of my old stuff down to the donation center."

"Is it a lot? We can help you." Chan offered, pointing not only at himself, but at Minho too.

"Don't go roping me in." Minho scolded, lightly hitting the other man's shoulder.

"I do have some furniture that has to go too... if it's really not a bother, I would love some help."

She smiled and Minho would have agreed anyway.

Minho ended up spending the night, waking the next morning to a more than eager Chan ready to help his little sister out.

"I swear you're obsessed."

"I'm a doting older brother." Minho thought he was giving himself more credit than he deserved.

Most of Hannah's room was already in boxes, save for the bed frame and desk setup up she'd left untouched. There was also a dollhouse in the corner, covered in a dark layer of dust that was almost alarming.

"Why does your sister keep this if she doesn't use it." Minho asked, running his finger over the grime. He was glad he was wearing gloves.

"She used to say she would hand it down to her own daughter, but I think she mentioned donating it this morning."

When Minho had a chance to better look it over, he was surprised by how nice the dollhouse actually was. It appeared to be handmade, a craftsman putting an immense amount of time and effort into something so beautiful.

It reminded Minho a lot of those old Victorian houses he saw on TV.

Finely carved windows and a functioning door. Minho was in awe.

"You have that look on your face." Chan told him later, after Minho had helped him dismantle the desk.

"What look?"

"The look you get when you're at auctions. When something catches your attention." Chan nodded to the dollhouse. "You can take it, if you want. Maybe someone else will get some good use out of it." 

"Are you sure? Shouldn't we ask Hannah about it first?"

"Nah, it's cool. She won't mind, I promise."

Minho was still skeptical, but Chan had already carried the thing to his car. 

"She won't even miss it." he assured, closing the trunk with finality.

They dropped of the things Hannah no longer needed at the donation center. They were thanked before they made the trip back to the shop.

"Stop worrying so much." Chan told Minho, placing the dollhouse on one of the empty tables in the back. "If it helps you sleep at night, I'll ask Hannah when I get back and text you if she changed her mind." That at least eased him enough to let Chan leave, the closed sign turning to open.

"I'll hear from you by tonight?"

"I promise!"

Since the shop opened so late, most of his regulars assumed he wouldn't be in, allowing more time for Minho to appraise the dollhouse. 

It really was a thing to behold, with it's well constructed staircase and handcrafted furniture. Picturesque, something of great value if Minho chose to sell it.

Yet, he felt it hard to part ways with it, and it was unclear as to why. He didn't have much of a need for a dollhouse. He was a very single, gay man with no family in the works. It just seemed like an odd thing to keep for his own personal use. He presumed the artistry just captivated him that much, maybe he'd give a few days, for it's charm to wear off. Then, he'd bring it out to the front.

For now, he settled for covering it with a sheet, to protect it from anymore dust.

Dusk came quicker than Minho had realized, looking out only because the customer who'd just left waved goodbye out the door. The sun setting in the distance made him spring into action, going about his inventory and wondering what he'd take to the monthly flea market the next day.

He'd long since turned the sign over, door still unlocked as Chan had criticized before. Minho chuckled with the thought.

Like he'd told Chan, there was hardly any worth to half the junk in his shop. While it could be said that some of his finds were worth a pretty penny, more often his treasures were well worn, a testament to time. He went to estate auctions, raided dumps, sometimes things were just left outside his door. All things people no longer wanted or needed.

He made a temporary home for them, until their magic charmed a new soul. A new home being made.

Picking through a few of his figurines, he went with the more trendy ones, the ones he knew he could sell with just the right amount of finesse. He might take a piece of furniture or two, but only if Chan says he'll tag alone. It was hard lugging them without a car. His wagon only held so much.

He was just about to sort through his books when he heard a thump in the back room. Usually, Minho could attribute the odd sounds to his cat, but Dori was upstairs today. He waited for another noise.

It was silent for a beat or two before he heard scuffling, like something was pattering around on the hardwood floors of the backroom. It didn't sound human and Minho was convinced it was a mouse scuttling through. Wouldn't be the first time. 

He went into the backroom, not before locking the door incase someone had tried something. At least then, the burglar would have no where to go. He was armed with a broomstick. nerves pricking the closer he got. He'd already deemed it an animal, but Chan's words seemed to echo in his mind. Maybe he should start locking the door... 

With one last shuttering breath, he pushed open the door, closing his eyes out of fear. There was a pause in movement and Minho really hoped that he hadn't been wrong and that when he opened his eyes he would be met with a little furry ball, not a human. He inhaled sharply, cracking one eye open to asses the damage. 

The sheet previously covering the dollhouse had fallen to the floor and Minho almost doubled over in relief. So that had been it. 

Except, when he crouched down to pick it up, the fabric moved.

Then, it spoke.

"Help! Help me, I'm stuck!" a little voice cried. Minho dropped the broom in confusion. "Hello, is anyone there?"

Minho didn't know how to respond. He had to be imagining things. The lump was so small, rustling around without escape. What could possibly be that size and be able to speak?! This had to be some freaky nightmare, where he'd gotten stuck in a fairytale where animals could talk. Yeah, that was it. A mouse was talking to him. No big deal. 

He could laugh at himself, thinking himself funny for falling asleep at the counter. This was just one of those times. He just had to wake up. 

He pinched himself.

The mouse still talked.

"Ow, stop that!" it shouted when Minho took to whacking it with the broom he'd tossed aside out of complete fear. "That hurts! Stop!" He did stop, breathing heavily as he watched the sheet finally give way to whatever it was that was hiding underneath. Amber eyes stared back at him.

"Well that explains the beating." the tiny human said, studying Minho with careful eyes. "You're not the kind of audience I'm used to."

"Audience?"

"Yeah, as in little girls. I don't know many grown men who play with dollhouses." Minho's eyes widened.

"Dollhouse? You mean to tell me you came from there." He pointed to it, noting how much more alive is seemed with the light fixtures on. He didn't even know they could do that.

"I live there."

"How?"

"I'd be glad to share the story, if you'll give me something to eat. It's been a while since I've had food." What did you feed a 20 centimeter doll anyway? "I'll eat anything."

So, Minho fixed him some eggs before realized how big of a portion that was and cutting it basically into the smallest size it could be so the doll could grab it with his tiny hands.

"So you're stuck like this."

"Pretty much."

"And you think finding true love will fix this?"

"What else?" The tiny human was holding his stomach, having had more than his normal fill since he'd apparently not eaten in...

"I can't believe you've been stuck like this for almost six years."

"That's not counting the years I've spent between homes."

"So what happens then? You're like asleep until you get a new owner?"

"I am a person, for your information. I'm not meant to be owned.

"Sorry." It was hard being rational when he's speaking to person he thought was meant to only be made of plastic.

"To answer your question, I don't appear until someone takes a liking to the house. You, apparently, have fallen victim."

"Well I didn't think a 20 centimeter man lived inside!"

"Fair, but like I said before, I'm not used to older people picking me out. What had you so interested?"

Minho wasn't really sure what to say. A lot of the things he had chosen for the shop were all things that had caught his attention, like Chan said. There was always just this feeling whenever something struck his fancy. That he needed to take it back. That he needed to give it a new beginning.

"The attention to detail." he settled with, watching the doll's eyes widen.

"Really? You like it?"

"Yeah. It's really well made. I can tell whoever made it put their heart into it." The doll had a bit of pink already on his cheeks, but they seemed to burn red at Minho's words.

"Well, it took a lot of time." he whispered. Minho's jaw dropped.

"Now you're telling me you built this?"

"I did... years ago. I'd made it for someone very special to me..." Minho watched as the sparkle in the tiny human's eyes dwindled. "It doesn't matter anymore. We should get to finding my true love!"

"I'm not really sure I understand your logic behind this. I mean- wouldn't that mean an older girl would have to stumble upon you. Or was it thought that the little girl who grew up with you would just so happen to fall in love with you?"

"So my reasoning is a little faulty, but I think it goes beyond that. I think someone was meant to find me and I was meant to find them. We were meant to be in each other's lives for whatever reason." Minho chose not to point out that he had avoided specifying a gender.

That could mean one of two things: this extended past the actual true love notion and it could be a friendly encounter that brings him back or gender didn't matter to the doll. He could fall in love with a girl or a boy.

"That's actually pretty romantic." The doll smiled and Minho noticed just how round his cheeks got. "Well if we're going to be sharing our space together, I think it's only fair we share our names. I'm Minho."

The doll raised his tiny hand to him. "I'm Jisung."

"Well, Jisung. It's getting late. We should probably turn in for the night. We can brainstorm ideas tomorrow." Jisung seemed unhappy with that plan.

"I just woke up, though! Can't we stay up a little longer." Minho chuckled.

"Wish I could, but I've got a business to run." Saying it out loud reminded him of his plans for tomorrow. "Oh shoot. The brainstorming will have to wait. I've got to go into town tomorrow." Jisung's frown only deepened. "You could come along, if you wanted. It might be nice to get out." 

However long Jisung had been stuck like this, Minho wasn't all that sure. All he knew is that while Jisung was with him, he would make sure to provide what he could. The doll deserved that much.

Early the next morning, Minho was busy filling up his wagon.

It had gotten pretty late last night after Jisung agreed to go. It was decided that the doll would sleep downstairs, in his bed, while Minho slept upstairs. In his little studio room with his cat stuck to his side. Minho had been wary of leaving Jisung unattended, but the doll had assured him that he'd done it plenty of times. He was used to it.

Minho had decidedly not woken him yet since he had much to do before they could set out for the day.

"Is it already time?" Minho looked up from where he'd been filing his ceramic plates, finding a frumpy Jisung by his wagon wheel.

"How'd you get down?"

"The chair." He'd forgotten to put it back after their chat last night. "It's so early." Jisung complained, still trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"I wasn't planning to wake you yet. I apologize, if I was being too loud."

"Oh no, that wasn't it." he yawned. "I just couldn't sleep. When I heard you moving stuff around, I came to check." Minho felt bad anyway. he was supposed to be giving Jisung a welcomed stay.

"Were you cold? I could have turned the heat on."

"No, no. I just can't sleep sometimes." he explained. "Part of the reason that house is so well made is because of the agonizing hours I spent hunched over it instead of in bed."

Minho felt there was something more Jisung wanted to say, but the doll had stayed quiet, watching as Minho put the last of his mugs inside.

"All done." He grabbed his house keys. When he saw Jisung just standing there, he realized their dilemma. "How should we do this? I'm not sure you could catch up just walking beside me."

"I can ride in the wagon." he offered, already pulling himself in. He sat down in one of the mugs Minho had secured. "See, easy." 

Jisung seemed rather carefree for someone who'd gotten stuck at 20 centimeters. He carried himself well enough, reminding Minho how long Jisung must have been living like this. Just another doll in the eyes of children.

So, they set off. Jisung in the wagon, Minho pulling it. He could hear the doll humming an old tune, nostalgia hitting the louder he got. It reminded him of the songs his mother used to sing and he smiled as he made his way into town.

The sun was still rising when they arrived, already so many vendors setting up shop. He went to his reserved table, waving to some of the people he knew. Jeongin and his flowers. Felix and his baked goods. Hyunjin and his beaded jewelry.

He stopped right by the table, checking behind his shoulder to see if Jisung was still there.

He wasn't.

"Jisung." he whispered, eyes scanning the other items in his wagon in case he'd missed him.

"Under here." he called, raising the flimsy cover he had set over some of the art pieces. "Didn't want anyone to spot me." Minho nodded, jostling Jisung a bit as he started unloading the wagon.

"What will you do once it's empty?"

Jisung seemed to realized that his hiding spot would be compromised.

"I can't very well hide here." He glanced up at Minho, then to his coat. "I can hide in your pocket?" he suggested, the pink of his checks blooming brighter.

Minho had no qualms with that.

He set out a few more things before picking Jisung up, startled by how light he was. Seemingly so human, and yet light as a feather. Minho brought him to his breast pocket, Jisung scrambling inside in a flurry to not be seen. Minho had to laugh at that, especially when Jisung was upright again, hair falling into his eyes.

"What's so funny?" Jeongin asked beside him. Jisung ducked back down.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Just remembered a funny joke." Minho played off. Jeongin raised a brow, but otherwise let it go and Minho exhaled loudly. So much for engaging in conversation.

Jisung stayed tucked up in his pocket until lunch time, the bustle dying out. Felix had asked if he wanted to join him and the others for their lunch break, but Minho thought it better to stay behind. Jisung was due for some fresh air.

He made sure they'd all gone before nudging his pocket. Jisung popped right out.

"I was starting to get claustrophobic."

"Did you want to go somewhere else then? I'm sure we could-" Jisung cut him off with a laugh.

"I'm joking! I'm fine. It's nice being in your pocket." The last of his sentence was spoken softly. Minho could coo. 

"Are you hungry? I brought some grapes."

They ate from Minho's lunch box, Jisung mostly picking at it since nothing was his size. Minho made a note to change that for the next time they come out. If there was a next time...

It was early evening when everyone began to break away. Felix waved goodbye before the fifth hour. Jeongin wasn't far behind. After Hyunjin finished with his customer, he too was packing up, wishing Minho a good evening.

Minho followed suit, putting back the few items that hadn't sold for next time. He asked Jisung if he preferred the wagon, but he stayed put, choosing Minho's pocket instead.

The walk back was much less lively. Jisung was snoozing away on the trek home, Minho left to wonder if this would mess with his already bad sleeping schedule. He hadn't known Jisung for that long, but he grew worried for him and his sleeping habits.

The bell chimed, waking Jisung as Minho hauled the wagon through. Minho helped Jisung onto the counter then went to work putting back his leftover stock. 

It wasn't yet late, but it would be and they hadn't eaten anything since lunch. 

"Did you want to eat something?" he asked Jisung. The doll nodded eagerly.

Minho wasn't exactly a five star chef, but he made do with what he had. And today, he had pasta.

"This is really good." Jisung praised, mouth so full since the pasta was just a tad to large for him. Minho smiled, bringing his own forkful to his mouth.

"Sorry we didn't have much time to brainstorm." Minho hadn't expected to stay in town so late.

"It's okay. You were right, it was nice to get out." Minho couldn't even begin to imagine what life must be like for Jisung. His normal must be so different from his. "There's always tomorrow."

That night, Minho watched Jisung climb into bed. He seemed comfortable enough, but a part of him already knew it was just for show. Jisung would most likely lie awake like he'd done last night.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Since having discovered Jisung, Minho had forgotten about Chan's promise. Come Sunday morning, he woke up to single text from Chan. 

"Huh?" The words didn't make much sense. He decided to call his friend.

Chan didn't pick up.

He'd try again later.

Downstairs, Jisung waited eagerly for someone who didn't get much sleep.

"In a good mood?"

"It's not everyday I get to bounce ideas off someone. The little girls who wake me just want to play." Minho could forget Jisung wasn't like him.

"Were they at least fun?"

"Oh yeah. They had tons of creativity. I can change on command." He smirked up at Minho. "Wanna see?"

"What you're wearing is fine." Jisung laughed, bright and carefree. "How about Hannah?"

"Who?"

"The little girl before me?" Jisung took a moment to think.

"Ah, Hannah! I remember now. She was fun, yes. She used to take me out with her. I had a space in her unicorn backpack." The doll seemed very fond of her. "I could hear her telling her brother about me, but he never believed her. Most older people don't." Minho saddened at that. "Enough small talk, what do we have for today then?"

"Well I think we should re-asses your theory. What makes you think finding true love will break this spell."

"Isn't it obvious? True love tends to fix everything."

"Well, yes. Maybe in fairytales."

"Life's like a fairytale, don't you think." Jisung put a finger to his chin. "You have the evil stepmother who goes against your father's wishes and bans you from your own home at sixteen. Then there's the evil witch that hands you the poisoned apple. Your first taste of sin." he laughed dryly. "Throw in a damsel in distress and you've got yourself a story."

"Does that make you the damsel in distress?"

"Probably. They're the one's who need saving aren't they?" Minho stayed silent. "Does that prove my case?"

"Partially." 

The sign turned to open and the morning rush, or rather lack thereof, gave Minho more time with Jisung.

"If it works like you say it does, shouldn't we be looking for someone to fall in love with you?"

"It's not that simple. I can't exactly expose myself to every Joe Blow in the hopes that they'll take me as I am. It's risky." Minho should have figured as much. "Besides, love takes time. I'm not sure how much I have."

"Well when you were in Hannah's care, how long were you- uh-" He wasn't sure of the right words to use for this situation.

"Awake? Maybe four- five years. After she stopped playing with me, I ceased to exist."

"But I'm not playing with you?"

"Not really, no. But you interact with me. That's enough to keep me here." Minho nodded. "As long as I exist in some space of your mind, I can exist."

"That makes it seem like your a figment of my imagination."

"Maybe I am? Why exactly are you imagining a 20 centimeter man? Hmm?"

"Oh well-" Jisung laughed out loud, saving Minho from anymore embarrassment. Well as much as he could since Minho's cheeks had tinged pink.

"I'm kidding!" He wiped away a tear, he'd laughed that hard. "I am very much real. Other people can see me, which is why I hide."

Rather abruptly, the door swung open, the chime signaling a customer. Jisung scrambled into the space underneath the counter.

"Welcome!" Minho greeted, searching the store for whoever had waltzed in.

"Hey!" they called back. Chan had stopped by. "I missed your call earlier, sorry. I was dropping my sister off." It was already Sunday? Time had flown by with Jisung around.

"No worries. I just wanted to clarify your vague message."

"Oh! Yeah, Hannah was talking nonsense, honestly. That's why she wanted me to ask you if the house was giving you any trouble."

"See, I'm not sure what she means by trouble."

"She wasn't very clear. I would call her, but she's going to be on a nineteen hour flight." Chan waved it off. "Either way, I'm not sure it matters all that much. She still said it was fine you take it." 

Minho nodded, prepared to answer back when a small 'achoo' burst through the silence.

"What was that?"

"Achoo!" Minho said, louder and more pronounced to deter Chan from anything suspicious. "It's just me. All the dust, you know. It gets to you." he laughed, uneasy, waiting to see if Chan believed him.

"Sure." He didn't sound all that convinced. "Well, since I'm here, want to go to lunch?" While any other day Minho would have easily agreed, he had Jisung to think about.

"Um... I would, but I have so much to clean today." Chan frowned.

"Are you sure? You normally don't miss out on chance for free food." 

"Yes, well... I got a late start today, so I want to make sure I finish everything." He smiled, hoping Chan would take the hint that he didn't want to leave that day. His friend eyed him warily.

"You're sure? I was thinking we could get KBBQ today." That was Minho's favorite. How dare Chan use that against him.

"Well-

"Yes!" A voice cheered and Minho did his best to cover up.

"Yes! Yep, I- just give me a minute." Chan nodded, telling Minho he'd wait in the car.

Only after the door closed behind him, did Minho spin around. "Are you crazy?!" he hissed.

Jisung came out of his hiding spot, little arms struggling to climb back over. Minho nudged him from the back.

"No. I just love KBBQ."

"So you put me in a tough spot because of your love for meat?"

"What's wrong with it? Your friend is asking us to meal. It's only fair we go along."

"No, he's asking me. Only me. He doesn't know you exist."

"And we can keep it that way. I can just lay low in your pocket. Just feed me your scraps."

"You're not a puppy."

"Woof. Woof." So much for reasoning. Jisung hadn't proved to be that much trouble, but he was starting to think Hannah knew more than she let on.

With some help, Jisung was comfortably nestled in the pocket of Minho's button down. He stood by the entrance, second guessing himself.

"You promise to be discreet?"

"Pinky promise!"

Nervous, Minho bounced his leg as they waiter took their order.

"You okay?" Chan asked because of course he did. He was a concerned friend. Minho wasn't usually this antsy, but Jisung made him nervous and he wasn't sure if it was solely out of the fear of him being discovered.

"Perfect. Just have a lot going on." Not a lie, but it felt like one when his problem was only 20 centimeters tall.

"How was the flea market yesterday? I thought you would call to borrow my car."

"Didn't feel like taking furniture yesterday."

"Oh." A pause. "You've just asked me the past few times, I guess I got used to it." He almost sounded disappointed.

Since they'd meet, Chan and Minho had been a packaged deal. Minho had met Chan in college, right after his fight with his parents. They'd wanted a different life for him. Something stable, they repeated. They wanted mundane. Minho had long since promised himself that he would do more. Make something of his life, rather than do as his parents said. He thought moving away would be the answer.

He said he would do one year of college. His parents had agreed, albeit hesitant, but it was permission enough for him to fly halfway across the world. Chan happened to be his roommate then. He got lucky. Not many of the other students would have helped him like Chan did.

Chan spoke decent enough Korean to aid Minho for his one year. Being so far away from home meant Minho had freedom like he hadn't before and he rejoiced in it. He let himself do what he wanted and when sign-ups for the new semester came, he looked the other way.

Since Chan was a year above him, the dorm rule no longer applied to him. He got a place just outside of campus and invited Minho to stay with him until he'd found his footing. Minho was grateful for it.

He worked enough part-time jobs to make Chan worry, but by the end of the second year, he'd made enough money to afford his own shop.

It wasn't that grand when Minho first started out. There was dust everywhere and the backroom was almost all trash. It took him and Chan a week to clear it out, but Minho saw it's potential. Long before Chan did.

His best friend was supportive. However, just like his parents, he told Minho not to get ahead of himself. The shop might thrive. It might not. Minho should be prepared for the worst.

Minho was glad he could prove them wrong. Vintage was in and it meant a lot of people started popping in, be it to take a look or actually buy something, his store was on the rise. He had to sell about half of his stock before he could start making profit, but by then, he'd learned enough to know what people liked. What sold well, what didn't. Because he could afford it now, he got things for himself. Things he hoped would bring a smile to other's faces as it had done to him.

Chan had his own life as much as Minho did. They made time for each other. Sometimes that was inviting Chan to the flea market with him, or asking him to drive to an estate sale. Chan was usually the one inviting him to a meal, other times asking if he wanted to join his family events.

He could see why Chan might be disappointed.

"There's always next time." he offered.

"Yeah."

The rest of lunch went a little out of character. Chan was awfully silent and Minho had to make the effort for both of them to keep the conversation flowing.

"Has your Mom been hounding you these day? I noticed at the party how she was asking you about grandchildren again." Chan smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes and he nodded.

"You know how she is. She set me up on a blind date the other day."

"Really? How'd that go?"

"She was nice. She just wasn't what I was looking for." Chan was bisexual, but he had a preference for men. His mother seemed to forget that and usually only ever set him up with women.

"That's too bad." Minho dipped his bulgogi into the spicy sauce. "I'm glad you're getting out there, though. You've been talking about marriage a lot more recently, haven't you. If you're really looking to settle down, you should go on more dates."

"Yeah..." There was that hint of sadness again. Minho wasn't sure why his friend was so upset. Knowing him, he wouldn't talk about it until after his breaking point.

"Hey, I've actually got to go back to the office." Chan said, reading something on his phone. "Brian needs me."

"Oh, sure." Minho didn't mention that Brian doesn't work on the weekends. He let Chan go, watching after him as he paid the bill. He waved one last time before dipping out the door.

"He likes you." Jisung whispered, the top of his head visible from Minho's pocket.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not. I can see it in his eyes."

"Oh? Because you're such a love expert?" The words were out before Minho could eve realize his mistake. "Sorry."

"No. You're right. I don't know the first thing about love." His arm hung out of the pocket. "That's why I've been stuck like this as long as I have." 

Minho sighed.

"Here." He handed Jisung a small portion of meat. "Eat up. I know it's your favorite."

They spent another half hour at the restaurant, waiting until Jisung finished what he could before they headed back to the shop.

Minho left the sign on closed, automatically headed for the stairs.

"Where are we going?"

"My studio." 

Minho unlocked the door, pushing it open to reveal a dark room. Once the lights were flicked on, Dori let out a meow, jumping down from her spot on the couch. She rubbed up against his legs.

"You have a cat." Jisung pointed out, glancing down at the furry creature twice his size.

"Her name is Dori." Minho leaned down to pet her, the cat meowing in content.

"She'll eat me." Jisung whined suddenly, capturing Dori's attention. She fixated on him, out of wonder Minho assumed. She pawed at Minho's shirt and Jisung squeaked in fear.

"No, no, kitty. Jisung is our friend." She meowed, probably finding it unfair before slinking out of the room. "She's gone." Jisung had gone back to hiding when she'd tried to claw at him. He peeked out, assessing for himself if the cat had really gone. Once he saw the coast was clear, he stood up, half his body leaning out.

"What's that?" Minho looked over to where he was pointing.

:"It's the island of misfit toys." he joked, dropping Jisung onto one of the shelves.

They were filled with broken figurines and chipped mugs. A lot of the stuff were things he didn't think would sell well. Jisung copied their poses, joyous as he explored Minho's knicknacks. 

After a while, they moved to the kitchen table. Jisung was hungry again and Minho had some numbers to crunch.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not freaking out. I'll excuse the hitting me with a broomstick fiasco." Minho let out a hearty laugh, startling even himself.

"Not my proudest moment." he admitted. "You're welcome, by the way. Having you around isn't so bad."

The look on Jisung's face did something to his heart.

What started as a week quickly became a month and Jisung wasn't any closer to being normal sized.

Granted, they hadn't made much progress on the matter. Jisung seemed to forget his purpose, invested in Minho's day to day life.

He often sat in the cubby behind the counter, legs dangling as he asked about things in the shop. Minho was more than willing to tell their stories. He'd always loved that about his job. When someone was kind enough to ask him about it; kind enough to spark conversation.

Minho hadn't realized how lonely he'd been before. How nice it was to have someone to talk to throughout the day.

A new month had just began. He'd have to go into town soon.

"It's the first Saturday of the month this weekend." he told Jisung. 

The shop had been closed for an hour now. Minho had stayed downstairs, watching Jisung trot around in the dollhouse. It was still odd to Minho, how at home Jisung seemed to be in such a cramped space.

At least for him it was. Jisung probably found it grand.

"So?"

"I'll have to set up my booth at the flea market."

"Sounds like fun."

"Chan will be coming with me." Silence.

His friend had been a sore topic for Jisung. Chan came around unexpectedly, seconds away from discovering the doll on the counter. While normal for Minho, Jisung flailed every time, cowering away behind the nearest object so as not to be seen.

He complained about it. Found Chan's behavior irritating. It was hard to placate the doll when Minho couldn't justify Chan's actions as anything other than ordinary. He was his best friend. He was used to this. To him walking in at random hours to check up on him. To him bringing food. To him whisking him away to some event or a movie, sometimes on such short notice, Jisung would have to stay behind.

Jisung hated those days the most.

"Will I have to stay here?"

"No. If you promise to stay quiet." Jisung didn't look all that happy with the offer. "It'll only be a few hours. We'll leave before lunch." 

Chan sounded delighted by Minho's call, telling him he'd get to bed early so he could come by bright and early the next morning.

Minho clicked off the lights, headed for the back room to tell Jisung good night. He found the doll sitting on his staircase, a blank look on his face.

"See you tomorrow." he ended, hanging up when Chan offered his own farewell. "Are you okay?" 

"Hmm?" The doll blinked, not startled, but a bit aghast that Minho had entered. "Is it that time already?" Minho nodded. "Well, good night." 

Leaving Jisung now felt like a stab to his heart.

"I know your bed is comfortable and all, but I worry about your sleeping habits." Minho admitted, thinking back to the morning he'd wandered down only to see Jisung tinkering away at something on the table.

The doll had shouted at Minho when he noticed him there and he found out how scary Jisung could be when he set his mind to it. He'd scared him off, Minho tending to the store alone for a few hours until he heard the doll calling for him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get like that. I just hadn't gotten much sleep last night." Minho forgave him, obviously.

But since then, he noticed Jisung being more secretive. He imagined him up at night, working on whatever it was he felt he needed to hide from Minho. It concerned him. Jisung should be getting a full night's rest.

"I'm fine. You don't have to go worrying about me." He sounded... sad, exhausted even. Minho felt his heart hurt more.

"What if- you came to sleep with me?"

"Well now that's just absurd."

"No I mean" -he felt heat rise to his neck- "I could move the dollhouse upstairs? Maybe?" Jisung was immediately shaking his head.

"Don't. It's not worth the trouble." Minho's shoulders sagged.

"Oh."

"Would you stop sounding so disappointed? Just take me, we can leave the house here."

"Oh." So, Minho carried Jisung up the stairs.

He hadn't really shown Jisung his bedroom. There had never been a reason for it. If they were ever upstairs, it was usually to eat or to watch a movie. 

Minho's bedroom was hardly a room, just a divider separating it from the rest of his home. Still, it was his little corner and he gladly brought Jisung into it.

"Ugh, look it all the cat hair." Minho chuckled, picking at a few of the ones he could see from his level.

"It's not so bad. Dori keeps me warm."

"Where is she anyway?"

"Probably on the couch. She usually comes over in the middle of the night." Jisung nodded, eyes plastered on the blankets below them. "I never asked, but do you need anything before we go to sleep?"

Jisung shook his head, tentatively crawling his way to the overflow of pillows.

"I'm okay. You probably need to brush your teeth and stuff." 

He did, so he got up, telling Jisung to get as comfortable as he could in a bed too big for him. Minho watched him settle back against the covers and something inside of him twisted with the need to coddle. He brushed it away.

In the bathroom, he calmed himself down, willing away whatever feelings arose in favor of brushing his teeth.

Minho was gay. Very gay and he couldn't deny he found Jisung attractive.

Sometimes he wondered if he really did conjure up the image of Jisung. That was all he was. A mirage of his ideal man. Could the world be that cruel?

But Jisung was very much a living, breathing thing. Light as a feather, but very much real. Minho could touch, could feel him. He was human, no matter his size and Minho perhaps liked him more than he realized. He tried to scrub those thoughts away as he washed his face.

He came out feeling no better than he did going in. His heart summersaulted when it saw Jisung nestled in the thick of his pillow, right where Minho's head should be. He held onto his chest, the pain he thought he felt only growing when Jisung sniffled, shivering a bit in the cold of the room. Minho didn't have the heart to wake him.

Instead, he draped some of the blanket over his frame, fixing himself at an awkward angle to accommodate. He wasn't all that comfortable, but he'd give anything to see Jisung sleep. He hoped he'd have a good rest.

When Minho woke, the first thing he realized was he'd moved in his sleep. He was no longer a ball on his bed. His head had found his pillow and he was resting against it. The second thing was Jisung's foot by his eye. He had to laugh, shifting them a bit and Jisung went sliding down.

"Ah!" he screamed on his way down. He landed on Minho's chest, thumping the much larger man with a tiny fist. "Idiot." he chided.

"Sorry."

"What time is it?" The sun had yet to rise and Minho figured it was a little after six. "We should sleep some more."

"We can't." He almost felt bad saying it, Jisung having already found comfort along the collar of Minho's sleep shirt. "Chan will be here soon." At that, Jisung scowled.

"He can wait. I need my beauty sleep." Minho wanted to argue, but he knew Jisung did need the rest.

"Five more minutes."

The pounding of the door sent Jisung flying through the air when Minho sat up abruptly. He cursed Minho out, standing by the foot of the bed with his hands gesturing wildly.

"Was that necessary?"

"Probably not." Minho let Jisung sit on his bed as he went to greet Chan.

"You're here early."

"No, actually I'm here late." Chan scanned the room, like he expected to see someone there. "You never lock the studio door. Not after you've locked up downstairs." Minho had done it as precaution, incase Chan had decided to come wake him.

"Guess you're words finally got to me." he teased, thinking Chan would laugh with him. He just went back to searching. "Are you looking for something?"

"Yeah, the man you've been trying to hide from me." Minho's face paled.

"What?"

"I know you Minho! This isn't like you. So you must be hiding something from me and I think it's your new boyfriend!" He put his hands on his hips. "So? Where is he?" Minho had to laugh at that. Minho did not have the time or patience to be dating right now. Chan had it so wrong.

"You're crazy. It's just you and me here." he empathized. Jisung could probably hear him, but he wouldn't be mad that Minho was covering. "So stop overreacting and let's get downstairs. I have a lot to pack into your car."

Chan took a minute longer to look around, stopping short of Minho's bedroom. He eventually shook himself out of whatever mood he'd been in, nodding at Minho's words.

"Okay, yeah. I'm just being cynical. Go ahead and change. I'll meet you downstairs." With that, he left.

Minho let out a heavy exhale as he ran to his room, tossing away the covers to see Jisung sound asleep. At least he'd hid beforehand. He tapped his arm, the doll whacking it away and his touch tickled, so Minho giggled.

"Come on sleepyhead. We've got a business to run."

It was mostly Minho that needed work, hogging the bathroom for a half hour to shower and get dressed. Jisung was stifling a yawn when Minho ran past, hooking his sneakers over his heel.

"Remember, Chan can't see you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Chan had already done the brunt work when Minho found him, lugging the boxes that remained.

"You took too long."

He helped with what was left before hopping into the passenger seat, careful of Jisung as he buckled his seatbelt.

"We'll only be a few hours." he reminded Jisung. Chan was just hearing about it.

"No lunch with the kids today?" That was what he called Minho's market friends.

"Can't. I have someone coming by to pick up an order."

It was later today when Chan pulled up, Minho jumping out to help him carry a pair of chairs.

"I hope someone buys these together. They're such a lovely set."

"Like us." Chan joked and for once, Minho couldn't find the humor in his words. He still laughed, because if he didn't Chan would know something was up. Although, he wondered just what about his words made him feel weird. Practically wrong.

He set some vases on the table, popping in some flowers Jeongin let him borrow. Hyunjin came around to say hello, waving to Chan and talking like they hadn't seem each other in ages. 

While he was distracted, Minho handed Jisung a piece of the muffin Felix let him have.

"I know you're starving." he whispered. Jisung hummed after his first bite.

Crowds were starting to wander in and everyone went back to manning their stations. Chan was a big help. easily sociable and getting people to check out at least one of the many things Minho had brought with him. Minho made more sales that day and he had Chan to thank for it.

"People buy more when you're around."

"I'm a great salesman." he laughed, knuckles rapping on the now empty table. "Since we're out, we should get some food. You skipped breakfast."

"I had a muffin." Chan set him with a glare. "Alright, we can get a quick meal. But I really have to get back at the shop."

If Minho was being honest, he was anxious to talk to Jisung. Not hearing his voice all day felt weird, like his life before but infinitely worse. He hadn't realized how accustomed he'd become to the tiny man until he'd gone without him, Jisung silent in the pocket of his flannel. He almost worried he'd lost him.

But then he felt him move, probably uncomfortable since he'd been hiding all day, and his heart picked up. He wished Jisung couldn't feel it.

"Sure, we'll be quick."

For some reason, quick to Chan meant stopping to dine in, handing the waiter back the menus after he'd taken their order.

"This is the opposite of fast food."

"I had to make sure you ate."

"Couldn't we have done this at the store?"

"You seem awfully excited to get back." Chan noted, an odd lilt to his voice "Any reason?"

"Plenty. I still have that person coming by to pick up a piece. I need to feed Dori. I need to clean-"

"I get it." Chan cut him off. "I'm sorry for holding you up." There he went again. Minho had enough.

"What's bothering you?"

"Nothings bothering me."

"You can't fool me, We're best friends." Those words set Chan off.

"Best friends? Should we really be calling ourselves that?" Minho waited for him to say more. "Minho, how long have we known each other?"

"Seven years."

"Seven years... We lived together for three of those years. I saw you build yourself up after being torn down. I've been there for every stepping stone and I just think that should mean something Minho."

"I don't get what you're trying to say."

"I love you Minho!" His heart stopped. "I love you as in more than a friend way."

"Chan..."

"You can't tell me you don't feel the same." It hurt to see his friend crumble. Minho had never seen Chan so vulnerable. And they had been friends for seven years!

"I've never-"

He was lying. There was a time, when he wondered too. If what he and Chan had could become more. Back when they were still living together. Chan had been the most tangible thing for him, before the shop, before his dreams were realized. They'd fit so seamlessly, it was almost easy to fall in love. Too easy.

Chan was wonderful, Minho knew. But he wasn't it for Minho and he tried not to visualize the face of the doll in his pocket. That was the last thing he needed right now.

"I'm sorry."

He left after paying. He said he needed time and Minho couldn't blame him. That had been a lot. 

"Maybe I should just stay this way forever." Jisung mumbled, upper half hanging out of the pocket. "If love hurts this bad, I don't want it."

"The kind of love we have isn't the one you're looking for." he told Jisung.

Then what was?

The days following were dismal. Minho didn't mean to shut down. It just happened. He'd lost his best friend. He'd called and got no answer. He texted and got ignored. He considered visiting, but worried Chan would slam the door in his face. He deserved it.

"You're being too hard on yourself." Jisung had abandoned his tinkering that morning to tend to Minho. "You can't help the way you feel."

"I should love him. I should, but I don't." Jisung was right. He was being ridiculous. If his heart wasn't in it, he shouldn't try to force it. Then why did he feel so bad? "Why does love have to be this hard?"

"Beats me. That's why I'm stuck like this remember?"

"So you've never been in love?"

"Truthfully, I didn't know. I used to tell myself I was. Back then... the world was different. People lied to your face about feelings they weren't sure of themselves." For the first time, Jisung looked his size. His big presence had always made Minho forget he was only 20 centimeters tall. "I think that's why this happened to me. Maybe lying to myself got me in this mess."

Their conversation died out and Minho went back to the counter alone. While the pain of hurting Chan remained, a bigger one grew for Jisung and his self-doubt. Minho didn't know the full story. He wondered if Jisung would ever tell him. There was more to his life than a broken heart. Minho knew.

He was distracted by a sweet old lady with a kind smile, asking if he had any vinyl in his shop. He didn't have much, there were much nicer music shops that offered more options, but the sweet lady just shrugged it off, taking her time in choosing the perfect one.

"I'll take this one." Simon and Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence was placed on the counter.

Jisung called for him after she left.

"What kind of music do you like?" he asked, rather casual considering their previous conversation. Minho answered anyway, liking the distraction. It was a moment to focus on something that wasn't Chan.

"I like the early 2000's stuff. Mostly R & B."

"Do you listen to rap?"

"If it plays on the radio, sure."

"I liked to rap, or should I say, I liked to write rap. I'm like your modern day Shakespeare."

"Oh?" Minho chuckled, not sure where Jisung was going with this.

"Do you wanna hear one of my works?"

"Go for it." Jisung cleared his throat obnoxiously.

"I'm like a head trip to listen to, 'cause I'm only givin' you. Things you joke about with your friends inside your livin' room-"

"Are you quoting The Real Slim Shady to me right now?" Minho couldn't help, but laugh. Jisung was hysterical.

"So what if I am?" They laugh a minute longer. "I missed your smile."

He'd missed Jisung's.

Days went by. The ordeal with Chan went forgotten as Jisung did what he could to keep Minho's mind off of it. Whether it be telling him stories of his past- he'd had quite the life before he'd shrunk- or asking Minho about his past. It felt liberating somehow, the mindless chatter. He got to know Jisung better because of it.

"You say you've never loved, but I think you're a right romantic."

"What makes you say that?" 

Many things. Jisung used to give all his friends flowers on Valentine's Day. He wrote poetry. He watched sapping love comedies. He cried at his Father's wedding. He did so much and never thought it was enough and Minho could see just how big his heart was.

"You just have so much love to give."

"And no one to give it too." he sighed, deep and longing and it almost made Minho blurt out, "I'm here! Give it to me!"  He refrained.

His feelings had only gotten worse. It was harder to look at Jisung without his heart stammering. It ached with the need to prove to Jisung just what love could be. And yet, he hesitated.

Because this was something big for Jisung. Minho didn't want to ruin it for him if his so called love wasn't enough.

"You've got a little something." he told the doll, watching the ice cream he'd been scooping up dribble down his chin. 

"Where?"

"Here." He reacted before he could second guess himself. His finger trailed along the doll's soft skin, sweeping away the mess Jisung had made. They both flushed.

"Thank you."

That night, Jisung had climbed atop his chest. His tiny feet tickled as he made his way closer. The spot right above his heart.

"Good night." he mumbled, already sounding half asleep. 

"Good night." 

He hoped Jisung couldn't feel the staccato of his heart.

Seungmin came to visit just as spring turned summer, the heat unbearable, according to him.

"I hate that you don't have a central air unit." he whined, fanning his sweaty face. 

He'd be much cooler if he hadn't insisted on wearing a sweater.

"It's fashion."

"It's a heatstroke waiting to happen." Jisung snickered and Minho coughed to cover it up.

"I haven't seen Chan around yet? He busy?"

Minho rarely called home. It made sense he not be aware of the most recent happenings. 

"Ah, maybe. I haven't talked to him in a while." He didn't feel like opening that can of worms with his younger brother. "Have you decided what university you're going to?" Seungmin groaned.

He left after dinner.

"There's something different about you."

"Do I look older? Wiser?"

"Your dumb face looks the same." Minho rolled his eyes. "But you act different. Not as... closed off." He placed a gentle hand on Minho's shoulder. "I do miss you, you know."

"I miss you too." They hugged like they wouldn't be seeing each other again.

"I'll tell Mom you're okay." Minho saw him out. The hotel he was staying at was a short walk away.

"Why did you move so far away?"

"My parents put too much pressure on me. I was the oldest. I was meant to be their prodigy." Jisung could understand, not entirely, but he could sympathize.

"Do you think my stepmother not loving me made me this way?"

The lights had been turned off. They were already in bed. Minho had thought Jisung was asleep.

"Of course not. You would have turned small the second she banished you."

"I almost wish I had."

His story was sad. Sadder than Minho's. He didn't have a Chan when he left home at sixteen.

"Tell me about the house again. What did you build first?"

Jisung stayed quiet long enough for Minho to think he had fallen asleep for real.

"I started with the middle floor. I worked backwards." He'd already heard the story. At least a dozen times.

It was the one thing he knew made Jisung cheer up. Like a switch had been turned on. He rambled about every little detail, anecdotes in between of his other struggles while the house came to be.

Except, he had yet to explain his reasoning behind the house. Why he'd built. Why it held importance. He could talk shop for hours. Feelings weren't as easy.

Things stayed the same. Enough so that the summer sun dwindled, the moon came out sooner.

"What if you're stuck like this forever?"

"Would that be so bad?" It should be the other way around. Jisung should be the one worried about this, not Minho. "It's okay if I'm with you."

It shouldn't have made Minho's heart race as much as it did.

Minho thinks he may be in love.

Chan called the day after his birthday.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be. Your feelings are valid."

"But they broke us."

"No, I did." Minho had to take responsibility for his own indecency. "I should have realized. I should have talked to you sooner."

"It's not your fault."

"It's not yours either." He thought it was time to ask for help. "There's- something I want to show you."

Minho didn't tell Jisung about it beforehand. He should have. That way, when Minho held onto the back of his shirt before he could run away, Jisung wouldn't have had that look on his face. One of utter betrayal.

"What- Who-"

"This is Jisung." The doll grumbled before bowing. Showing him more respect than he ever did to Minho.

"Where did he come from?"

"The dollhouse." Chan's eyes went comically wide.

"The dollhouse? You mean he was inside when we brought it over? Hannah never mentioned anything."

"He came to life because of me." Chan studied his friend carefully, gauging his honesty. "Because of my infatuation with the house."

Chan sat down.

"Sorry. I think I'm overwhelmed."

It wasn't all his story to tell. Minho started with what he knew while Jisung filled in the gaps. Chan's gaze bounced between them, seemingly piecing it together the way Minho had to do.

"Are you cursed?"

"Maybe? My memories fade together on the day this happened. I only remember waking up like this."

"Who found you? The first time?" It was a question Minho had never thought to ask.

"Her name was Emma. I lived with her until she was sixteen." He braved a sad smile. "There was Chloe and Margaret and Tammy too." He didn't meet their eyes.

"Did they help you? At all?"

It was too evasive. Chan had no right asking such things. Jisung braved on.

"Sometimes? I think they were confused. Emma, the most. When I first woke up, all I could do was cry. I'd lost the only world I knew, suddenly stuck somewhere else. In a house I hadn't intended to build for myself."

"Who was it for?" Jisung didn't answer.

"That's enough questions for today." Minho interjected, standing. Chan stood too. "I'll walk you out."

Before he left, Chan caught his wrist by the door. He leaned in.

"You love him, don't you?" He could lie to his best friend, but he would know the truth anyway.

"I do."

"He deserves to know." The chime above the door rang louder than before.

Confessing seemed unreasonable. If his feelings didn't work to make Jisung normal again, would he go searching for someone else? For the person meant to turn him?

Jisung chose to sleep in his own bed that night. It had been months since he'd done that.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing... Everything. I don't know anymore."

Minho woke up to Jisung tinkering again.

He chased Minho away much like the last time. The only difference being that this time, he never called for him. They went the day in their own worlds. Minho out front in the store. Jisung in the backroom. 

Minho could hear him moving around as he worked. He desperately wished to know what it was that kept the doll busy. He even bugged off dinner.

"But, it's your favorite. I even bought cheesecake." Jisung hesitated.

"Maybe later."

Later never came.

He blamed this on himself. For pushing Jisung when he was so still so obviously uncomfortable with Chan. 

Chan visited exactly a week later.

"I talked with Hannah."

"Oh?"

"She says she remembers Jisung. He was her favorite toy." Chan held a hand to the back of his neck. "She also called me out for not believing her all those years ago."

"I can't say I blame you. I was just as shocked when Jisung came to me."

"Anyway, she told me she'd done research back then. Nothing too big, she was twelve after all, but she'd discovered something."

"What was it?" His hopes shouldn't be so high, but they were.

Chan handed him his phone. A picture had been brought up on the screen.

To Eric,

You've wanted one for so long. I hope this one is enough.

The note read.

"But, the house had been through so much? How'd she-"

"It fell out when she moved the house to the corner, a year after she last saw Jisung."

Who was Eric? Was he the reason Jisung was like this? 

"Do you think-

"It's been years, Minho." Minho knew, but he wanted to try. For Jisung's sake. Anything to get him back.

At first, he chose not to mention it. Chan wanted to do some recon, but it would be hopeless without more information from Jisung. He pestered him to ask the doll about it, but he held off. The time wasn't right.

"Who's Eric?" He'd had enough of Chan's persistence. Still, he could have eased into it.

The doll froze, stock still from his perch on the desk. He had his back to Minho and he would have preferred a face-to-face conversation, but Jisung refused to turn around most days.

He'd, at last, spun around when Minho confronted him, jaw dropped in shock.

"How did you- Who told you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it does! I need to know how much you know."

"I don't know anything!" Somehow it felt like the year with Jisung went to nothing. He felt out-casted, unsure, uneasy. All because Jisung had left him in the dark about the only person that probably ever mattered to Jisung. "You never told me anything."

"I shared my life with you!"

"Did you? Because I know nothing about the only person you've ever loved." He didn't even have to ask. Minho was sure.

"That's not true!" he argued, but he fell back, clamping a hand over his mouth. Like he'd never meant to say it at all. "Forget it."

"Jisung-"

"Leave me alone!"

Minho shut the door behind him.

Jisung was gone when Minho went to look for him the next morning.

He wouldn't admit it, but he turned the backroom upside down looking for him. Calling for him and receiving no answer. He was crying when he dialed Chan's number.

"He's gone, Chan! I lost him."

His best friend arrived twenty minutes later, hurrying to the back of the store. The door had been left unlocked. Like it always was.

For the first time, Minho regretted it.

"He couldn't have just left," Chan reasoned. "He couldn't have opened the door on his own." What if someone else did? He wanted to ask, but the words got stuck in his throat.

The part of him that hadn't believed Jisung to be real told him he'd finally broke. The hallucination had finally left him alone.

"You checked everywhere?" Minho sat by the dollhouse, tracing it's corners with a stoic look in his eyes. Chan nudged him gently. "Minho?"

"Yes! I even searched upstairs." The mess in his studio was still there, taunting him, reminding him that Jisung had yet to be found. "He's really gone."

Chan tried, for Minho's sake, to do his own search. He wandered out into the shop, leaving the sign on closed. There was no way Minho could handle having the store open today. He checked under plates and inside vases. He moved furniture and opened drawers and as useless as it was, it made Minho feel less crazy. He had someone on his side.

He bumped into the table when he stood up and a sharp clank stopped him. His eyebrows furrowed as he glanced around the dollhouse, finding a box titled on it's side. The metal protruding had hit the table. He righted the box, smoothing out the slightly opened top. It latched and suddenly, Minho moved like his life depended on it.

Once opened, he saw him. Dozing like Minho hadn't spent half the day flipping everything in sight to find him.

"You!" he shouted, anger simmering and giving way to relief. "You're okay." he mumbled.

The light entering the box woke Jisung and he yawned loudly, obnoxiously. He spotted Minho's tear stained face.

"What happened?" He was wrestling to get out. Minho picked him up effortlessly, hugging him to his chest.

"It's okay now." he whispered, smothering the doll closer to his heart. This time, he wanted Jisung to hear just how wild it was. It was all for him anyway.

Chan had a fond smile on. He'd stopped searching when Minho shouted.

"What were you doing in there?" 

The tension that seemed to follow them had dissipated. Minho glad Jisung was talking to him again.

"I was trying to pull out a screw, but it was really stuck in there. I pulled to hard and fell forward when I lost my footing. The box shut behind me." He looked between Chan and Minho. "Sorry for worrying you."

"No, don't apologize. I overreacted." The mess still waited for him upstairs.

"I should get going." Chan pushed his chair out, going for the door. Minho chased after him.

"Thank you." Chan smiled.

"I'll always be here for your Minho." He was telling the truth.

Even after he couldn't accept Chan's feelings, Minho was still his best friend. He smiled back. 

After he left, Minho saw Jisung with the box again.

"I think you should lay off the handiwork." he told him, hand outstretched when Jisung jumped at his voice.

"It was done anyway." he said, the lid opening fully. Words were engraved there. You are my sunshine.

"Are you- is that my music box?" 

Instead of answering, Jisung walked to the side with the protruding metal. He wound it around a few times, struggling slightly at the end. When he let go, the metal moved on it's own.

A familiar tune reached his ears.

"Were you fixing this the whole time?"

"I was making it better." His hand met the lid, tracing over the carved words. "It was here, behind the house and I noticed it didn't work. So, I focused on getting the cursed thing to play. After, I thought it needed more... character."

The song ended. Jisung had his hands behind his back.

"What do you think?" I think I love you even more.

"It's beautiful." Just like you.

"It's ready to sell. Whenever you want to move it to the front." Minho shook his head.

"I got it for myself."

He remembered the day he bought it. Chan was with him, as was custom when Minho went to an estate sale. They were usually further from the city, further than he was. Chan's car was more than ready to carry whatever it was Minho decided to buy.

It was the second to last thing being auctioned. 

"Do I hear $10. Ten dollars, folks!" No one raised their hand. The size of it, probably. No one really cared for stuff that small. it was broken too, Minho knew before buying it.

The price lowered until all Minho had to pay was two dollars.

"Sold to number forty-eight!" There were a few pity claps and the bidding started right up again while Minho claimed his prize. When he signed the necessary papers, he beckoned Chan over.

"Let's go."

"You don't want to finish? There's one item left."

"No. I've got all I need."

Minho inspected the box on the drive back. The grooves in the metal bumped along his fingers. He turned the crank. Nothing happened.

"Does it need batteries?"

"It needs more than that."

Minho had promised to look for someone to fix it. 

That had been just about a week before Jisung came tumbling into his life.

"Oh well..." He was much more bashful all of a sudden. "Hope you like it."

"I love it." I love you, he wanted to say.

HIs feelings were so loud, they threatened to spill out. He fought hard not to burst, smiling tight lipped in an effort to keep everything contained.

Jisung didn't comment on it. Rather, reached for the crank and turned it again so the melody filled the space once more.

The doll made him happy, even when the skies were grey.

Tucked into bed, Minho ignored the past. He put his focus on the future. Well, until-

"Eric was someone I used to know." Jisung whispered, hardly audible had he not been nestled right by Minho's ear. "I cared for him. I tried to give him everything... failing to realize how destructive that could be." 

Minho could feel the measured breaths he took.

"If you want to get technical, he was the closest thing to a boyfriend I'd ever had. He supported me, at least he told me he did." Minho turned to face him, seeing the doll on his pillow curled in on himself. "He told me a lot of things he didn't mean. And for what? Love?" Jisung scoffed. "They were all just words to him. Words that had me falling at his feet." 

Minho scooped him closer, protective. Jisung sniffled.

"He told me the one thing he'd always wanted, but could never have growing up, was a dollhouse. His sister used to let him play with hers but his Father would always get mad.

"So I decided to build one for him, as a surprise. I wanted to thank him. For everything I thought he gave. For the promises we made.

"It was hard to work on it when he was around. He liked my attention, thrived on it. He always needed me there, tending to his every whim." Jisung exhaled. "For the first time, I realized how dependent he was of me and I of him. It shouldn't have to be that way. We needed space too." 

The little light in the room casted shadows off Jisung's face and it was clear how much telling this story hurt him.

"Jisung-"

"I'm almost done." he breathed. Like he'd expected Minho to stop him. "Finally, I got my wish. He stopped bothering me. Said he was going out with friends. I didn't see the harm in it...

"It took a month for me to finish and when I did, he wasn't home. I set up dinner. I practiced what I would say. I was excited for his reaction.

"But he came home drunk, going on and on about how terrible I was, how he was only using me to get off." Minho winced. "He told me he didn't need me anymore. He'd found a girl to marry. I was useless now, and then he left.

"When I woke up again, I wasn't in my bed. I was in the hands of a little girl with big curious eyes and I screamed." There were tears running down Jisung's cheeks. Minho tried his best to wipe them away. "I yelled. I fought. I couldn't understand how I got there. One minute I was crying about the bed being too big for one person, the next I was too small for the world.

"Emma was a great girl. She was my learning curve. I taught myself to adapt and she was less resistant to my tantrums. We both grew up... she moved on."

It was hard to imagine Jisung so scared. Taking the beating he did from Minho, he didn't even flinch. Not from the unexpected. he'd taken it in stride and that was what Minho was used to.

Seeing him here, the shadow of doubt that never quite left him, Minho knew. He had to tell him. He had to reassure him. Not all people were like Eric. Not all people toyed with people's feelings. 

"Jisung."

"Hmm."

"What Eric did to you is unforgivable. He played you, unfairly so, and he didn't deserve all that you gave him." Jisung's eyes found his in the dark and the tears that went unshed grew further. "You deserve so much better." Someone like... he couldn't even finish the thought.

"Who could love me? Especially now." he cried and Minho went to soothe him.

"I-" He couldn't get himself to say it. Jisung took it negatively.

"Don't bothering trying to lie to me. I've already accepted that this is my life now." Minho wanted to tell him he could fix this. His love would overpower. But it couldn't just be his love. It had to be their love.

He didn't bother correcting Jisung that night. He cuddled him closer, for his sanity and let himself have this. A moment in time where he didn't have overthink his own actions. Where it was okay to hold Jisung like this.

Morning came and went. It was all the same. And Minho started to wonder just how long it would last.

Chan stepped into the shop on the first of the new year with sparkling cider in hand.

"We are old enough to drink you know."

"You're on the clock." Minho would like to remind him that he was his own boss and he could drink whenever he wanted.

"Where's Jisung?"

The boy in question raised a hand from the counter, waving dramatically in Chan's direction.

"Happy New Year!" he cheered.

Chan's expression dimmed and he turned to Minho.

"Could I talk to you for a minute?" He set down the bottle and lured Minho further away from the front. Where Jisung couldn't hear. "What happened to confessing?"

"What?"

"We discussed this!" he stressed.

"Did we?" Minho acted dumb, but they both knew what Chan was referring to.

"You can't hide your feelings forever." he whispered and Minho could already see his best friend blaming himself again.

"It's different."

"Is it?"

"Yes! This means so much to him. If I'm not able to break his curse, he'll think I'm not being genuine." He'd never told another soul these thoughts. They lived with him in the early hours of the morning, when Jisung was still tucked away on his chest. "I want him to be normal, Chan. What if I can't give him that?"

"You won't know until you try."

Chan didn't stay long. He chatted with the both of them for a bit, bringing them up to speed on his family and his Mother's insistence for more blind dates.

"I did go on one recently that wasn't too bad."

"Oh?"

"His name was Hongjoong." Minho was happy to hear it.

After he'd left, Minho turned the sign to closed.

"Closing up early?"

"I wanted to show you something." Minho said, already helping the doll into his pocket.

The bell chimed as Minho stepped out. The sun was in it's last wisps of daylight, painting the sky in pinks and reds.

They walked far, according to Jisung. He sprung out the second Minho said it was okay for him to do so, gulping in air like water.

"Where even are we?" 

Wherever they were, the land was big and open, surrounded by a few buildings and a fence. 

"A museum."

"Why'd you bring me here?" Jisung probably thought it was closed, there wasn't a single person milling about. Minho knew better.

"You'll see."

He wedged them through one of the doors in the back, like he'd done his second year here. When it had gotten to be too much. When he didn't know where to go.

He'd been to the museum with Chan once, when his best friend had decided to do all the touristy things that came with the city and he all but dragged Minho to four different places in one day.

They'd saved this place for last, because Chan said it was prettier at night, which Minho had failed to understand when they'd first arrived. Chan had shown him the hidden entrance- not really hidden- and Minho had worried the entire time they'd be caught.

Words lost him, though, when he saw what Chan so desperately wanted to show him. The same went for Jisung.

"Wow." he breathed, taking it all in while Minho smiled down at him.

It was as beautiful as he remembered it. Stars dusting across the sky, bold and bright in the otherwise dark night. Constellations could be pointed out and Jisung's head was titled up in wonder. Minho knew the feeling. Awestruck by the beauty of place he hadn't known he would call home.

"It's incredible." he finally whispered and by now, he was sitting on Minho's shoulder. He tugged on the hair by his ear. "Look!"

And Minho did look, watched as a star flew by, the light ray behind it leaving a trail. Like pixie dust floating through. 

There was something so magical about it. He'd heard stories of people wishing on stars and for the first time, he'd made a wish too.

Please, let Jisung be himself again.

He was too hopeful the next morning. Waking up and finding Jisung exactly as he was made him moody. It had been a long shot, but the options seemed to dwindle, even if Jisung made it seem like he didn't mind at all if he stayed this way forever.

Dynamically, everything seemed okay. Emotionally, Minho knew there was more. More to his light bumps and pokes, more to the smiles he wore, more to the feelings that came with housing Jisung and just wishing with everything that it could be enough.

"About your theory..."

"Are you going to call it dumb again?"

"No. I just wondered what exactly you thought would need to happen for you to change back."

Jisung had been sitting at the kitchen table, milling through the comic books Minho had received that morning. They had been dumped outside the shop's door.

"Well, with true love comes true love's kiss." 

Minho barely managed not to spit out his coffee.

"A kiss?" Lips on lips. Minho's lips on... "Are you sure?"

"Positive." The comic he'd flipped open sat idle. "Or well- I hope at least. There aren't many options left."

"Does that mean you've tried other things before?"

"I dabbled. When you've got not much else to do, it's all you have." 

He was hit again by his words, the implication that there had been literal years between them.

"I've been meaning to ask, how old are you?"

Jisung chuckled. "Are you sure you want to know?"

Minho shrugged. He'd been curious for a while now.

"It's definitely been a while, I was born in the seventies." Minho dropped the book he'd been holding. Jisung found it funny. "It doesn't matter much, though. I'm stuck at nineteen."

"Ah."

"What about you then? I know your birthday passed, but you never said anything."

"I'm twenty-five."

"A quarter to life."

"If I live that long." Jisung smiled, all teeth.

"I don't see why not? You look healthy enough for it." As if he hadn't watched Minho consume two helpings of ramen just yesterday.

"Whatever."

"Can I ask you something else?"

"You just did." Jisung scowled. "Fine, what is it?"

"How come you're still single?"

"Well, aren't you intrusive."

"Oh come on, I've been dying to know! You don't look like someone who would still be single."

He was well aware. Growing up, he'd had a reputation. The boy with the cold face everyone wanted to crack. There were many who tried, though none succeeded. 

Even after moving to Australia, he'd kept up the façade. People were always curious about him. Such a stony face, people were bound to seek answers, most of them wrong. None of them dared break down his walls. The one who did couldn't get him to love him back.

"I guess I haven't found my person yet."

Jisung seemed to want to rebuttal, but thought better of it, going back to his comic.

"Do we have any of that cheesecake left?"

On a bright sunny day, Minho asked Jisung to take a walk. Minho did the walking. Jisung stayed tucked up in his pocket until they reached an area with less people.

"It feels good to be out again." 

Jisung stretched under the tree Minho had chosen, walking off briskly after his bones gave a satisfying pop. Minho took to watching him for a while, seeing him blend in with the tall grass and the flowers. He fit right in.

He skipped along, the little ping of his laughter settling Minho as he disappeared amongst the greenery. Minho might have freaked out otherwise. 

He'd been on edge the last few days, even a minute Jisung was out of sight.

That might have had something to do with the minor scare they'd gotten when Jisung hadn't been quite as careful in his hiding when a little girl came barreling through the shop.

She'd seen him, yet it hadn't been obvious at first. Her eyes had lingered where Jisung once stood and Minho had thought it safe, striking up conversation with the mother as she led him to where he had his fine china on display. They chatted for a bit longer until he was ringing her up and out the door, the little girl clasping her mother's hand tightly as they left.

He'd called for Jisung and received no answer, panic welling up inside. He ducked down behind the counter to search and found nothing but an empty cubby. He jumped over the counter to search the immediate area, trying to spot the tiny man in case he- for whatever reason- thought it'd be a great idea to play a really unfair game of hide and seek.

He startled when the bell chimed, cringing at his own state. Bent over the large vases, one hand hidden inside.

"Hello again." he greeted, the mother and daughter from before. The mother pushed her little girl forward and she hung her head in shame.

"Go on." the mother encouraged and she pulled her hands from behind her back, Jisung laid out across her palms. Minho gasped.

"I'm sorry." she whispered, offering Jisung back to him. He was laid still, as still as he could being an actual human and Minho snatched him back a little too aggressively. "I won't take things that don't belong to me ever again!" she cried and her mother apologized again before leaving.

Out of the girl's curious eyes, Jisung sat up suddenly.

"That was a close call." he said, falling back with a deep sigh. Minho hadn't thought to move yet.

When he eventually did, be brought Jisung to his chest, the doll shouting at being squished.

"I'm glad you're back with me." he breathed, hardly being able to believe that the little girl could have vastly turned his life upside down had her mom not noticed she'd took something without asking. Jisung fell limp and Minho held him closer.

Jisung hadn't really been skittish following that fiasco, but Minho's eyes tended to linger on the doll more and the doll obviously noticed.

"You're staring." he'd singsong. Minho would jump, not having realized he'd been so far enthralled, chin in hand. Jisung would giggle and if that didn't make his heart soar. "Am I that handsome?"

"Try pretty."

"Oh now you're just teasing." Oh how wrong Jisung was... but Minho could never admit it so he let Jisung think what he did. 

Even now, amongst the flowers, Jisung was the prettiest thing he'd ever set his eyes on and that was saying a lot. He'd seen so many pretty things: jewelry, art, tapestries, and so much more. But Jisung outshined them all. With that heart shaped smile and little giggles. Minho was more than enchanted.

The walk ended back at Minho's studio. It wasn't late enough to sleep so Minho suggested they watch something.

"Can we watch that new polar bear documentary? I wanna see all the bears!" Minho couldn't deny him anything. Not now. Not ever.

He sat with Jisung on his shoulder, just like the doll liked and he put the movie on.

Minho wasn't all that interested. Frankly, if he could, he'd be studying Jisung. But turning his head would be too obvious so he settled with closing his eyes. 

He doesn't know when he fell asleep, but he woke to the feeling of something soft touching his cheek. He blinked awake, stretching his arms above his head and spying Jisung a few feet away. He'd apparently slumped over, taking Jisung with him and he was sprawled out on his couch. Jisung had these wide eyes as Minho caught his bearings, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Is something wrong?"

"What? Oh no..." He avoided Minho's eyes. Minho shrugged it off, checking the time on his phone.

"We should go to bed." Jisung easily agreed, climbing into Minho's pocket all on his own. Minho was too tired to question it. 

He was too tired to undress, falling onto his bed in his day clothes. Jisung hmphed, Minho rolling over so he wasn't being squished.

"Nigh'" he grumbled, sleep already taking him under again.

From the beginning, Jisung wasn't all that shy with Minho. But things had been different lately and Minho wasn't sure where these reservations came from.

He often scampered away right after he'd wake, whining about his puffy face and being all sorts of embarrassed if he was caught with drool on his chin. Minho had never gave him trouble over it before, so it came as surprise that first day and even more so when saw Jisung later, dressed up more than usual.

"Is today important to you?" he asked, not sure what other reason the doll would have to dress up.

"No?"

"Then why the clothes?"

"Oh, just trying things out." Minho had been skeptic. Jisung had just smiled bashfully. So, he dropped it.

But then Jisung was asking him things.

"What kind of things do you like?"

"Um? What?"

"Like in people." he clarified. "What makes you attracted to them?" 

Minho wasn't sure where this question was coming from. Maybe it was a continuation from their previous conversation. When Minho had admitted to being helplessly single.

"I guess personality? I mean I like guys who can make me laugh and have really kind smiles and that listen to my nonsense and- ah sorry I'm rambling." He'd not meant to describe Jisung.

Jisung didn't even seem the tiniest bit fazed.

"No, you're good... So good." There was a look in his eyes Minho couldn't place. "Wanna hear a joke?" Minho shrugged, not opposed to it. "Did you hear about the kidnapping at the high school? Don't worry, he's okay! He's awake now."

It took a moment for his words to register and when they did, Minho couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of him. It wasn't even out of pity for that God awful joke. He genuinely found it funny. Maybe because it was Jisung. He had a habit of making most things hilarious. 

The blinding smile he was rewarded with was so worth it.

Chan called to catch up, telling Minho he'd had another date with Hongjoong.

"We're going on a third!" Minho was glad Chan was moving on. He was making much more progress than Minho was. "Why don't you just ask Jisung out?"

Dating a doll wasn't exactly a thing he thought he'd ever be doing. As absurd as it was, he really did want to date one. Well, he wanted to date Jisung.

"What exactly are we supposed to do? You forget he's only 20 centimeters tall."

"No, I can just put it past me." Chan chuckled. "Do something he likes? I mean it can't be that hard. He is human." Sometimes it was hard to remember that.

Minho's heart got stuck in his throat every time he tried to breach the subject. It got to the point where Jisung noticed him fumbling, stopping him one night before they could walk up the stairs.

"Spill. What's got you all flustered?" Like Jisung wasn't acting the exact same! He wanted to call him out too, but in the end, he decided honesty might help Jisung open up too. 

"Oh, um. I guess I wanted to know if there was something you've been wanting to do? I mean- be reasonable, of course! But you're stuck here with me and I feel like it's the least I could do-"

"I don't feel stuck."

"Huh?"

"Being with you, it doesn't feel that. I like being with you." There was so much sincerity to his words, Minho could keel over with the need to open his heart up, just to spill all his feelings over Jisung. "I wanted to clarify that before I made my request."

"I'm all ears!"

On second thought, maybe he shouldn't have taken Chan's advice. 

"This is really what you want?"

"Yes! Now drive!"

Minho couldn't resist when Jisung was in such high spirits. The toy car kicked to life as Minho switched it on and Jisung cheered, whirring past the couch in a flurry. Dori trotted after him, looking to play and Minho cackled when she got scared by Jisung's yelling. 

"Faster!"

The car swerved past his kitchen table, reeving back toward Minho and he made it so it drove right past him, drifting into another U-turn. The squeals leaving the doll were music to Minho's ears. He was glad he was able to indulge Jisung like this at least once.

"That was so fun!" he cheered, hopping out of the toy and onto Minho's shoe. Minho smiled down at him, crouching so they were more leveled. He still towered over him, but at least this way he wasn't a total giant. 

"I'm glad you had fun." Jisung was biting his lip and Minho knew there was more he wanted to ask. "What is it?"

"So you know how in the movie, Ratatouille-"

"Oh no." The doll pouted. "It's a cartoon!"

"It could work!"

And Minho should have known better. All it got him was a pained scalp from all the hair pulling.

"You really weren't gentle." he complained, massaging the spots that felt the most sore. Jisung relented about five minutes in, when Minho's limbs clearly weren't going to cooperate.

"I'm sorry."

It took a bit of convincing, but Minho let Jisung back up on his head, if only to alleviate the work of having to massage his own scalp. Jisung said he'd do it for him. His tiny hands did feel nice and he was seconds away from dozing off.

"Minho?" 

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for this." He was climbing down onto Minho's shoulder.

"You don't have to thank me." Minho reprimanded, waving off Jisung's gratitude. This was the least he could do for him.

"I do. You do so much for me." he quieted, stuck with his words. "You do everything for me." Whispered words that made Minho's heartrate pick up.

"I-"

"I'm sorry if you find it annoying."

"What? No, of course not!" Sadness still painted the doll's face. "You aren't a bother to me at all."

"Really?"

"Really, I love spending time with you!" And maybe he'd thrown too much enthusiasm into that statement, but it wasn't a lie.

Jisung hid a smile behind his hand.

"I love spending time with you too."

For a moment, the air around them warmed, something deeper in their stares. Minho thought, and not for the first time, how wonderful it was that Jisung dropped into his life. He'd wished it no different. Jisung belonged there, with him.

The moment was ruined when Dori hopped onto Minho's lap, making them both jump and sending Jisung tumbling into the couch cushions.

"Sorry!" Minho helped the doll stand upright and the first thing he did was point an accusing finger at his cat.

"You're out to ruin me!" he wailed. Dori offered him a lick to his chest. "Eww!"

Minho had to make a choice.

Weeks were only turning into months, the reality of Jisung not outlasting them weighed heavy.

"What was the longest you've been awake?"

"Six years."

Though that seemed like a lifetime away, it sat with Minho. Jisung's existence was only possible so long as he remained interacting with the doll. He didn't see that factor changing, but how long where they supposed to keep this up without one of them resenting the other? Jisung for not doing more to be normal again or Minho for not being able to change that.

Jisung believed true love had a say in all thus hoopla, but Minho still doubted some of the logistics. He couldn't outright admit it to the doll, less he think Minho was calling him stupid again. But truly, how was he meant to believe he could be the prince that saved the princess?

"Do you miss being big?" Minho ventured one afternoon.

The shop was slow, only one customer so far and Minho couldn't seem to get out of his own head.

"Sometimes." Jisung quipped, face distorted by the glass he was pressing it against.

"What do you miss the most?"

"It's hard to say." he started, coming back to where Minho's arms rested on the counter. "I used to miss doing things for myself. Asking everyone I was awakened by seemed like such a hassle. I used to pretend I never needed Emma's help."

"What changed?"

"Me... myself. I realized that sometimes, we as people, need help. Whether we like it or not." He placed his elbows on Minho's arm. "Plus, it's nice having other people do things for you. Makes me feel special."

Minho would do anything Jisung asked if it always made him feel that way.

"My turn to ask a question." Minho nodded to let him know to go on. "If whatever deity hadn't dropped me on your doorstep- figuratively, of course- do you think we would have met?"

It wasn't something he often thought about, but there were times when he'd let himself wonder. If Jisung hadn't been a part of that dollhouse, could they have met? Maybe, Minho liked to tell himself. Maybe he would be out with friends, on the first Saturday of the month. He'd stumble across Felix's brownies and by default, Minho's stand next to his. They'd chat and Jisung would be all kind smiles and warm eyes and if Minho were honest, he'd think that Jisung would be the one to make the first move. He'd hand off his number or ask for a date and Minho would be more than happy to oblige him.

"I think so, yeah."

"So you think we were destined to met?"

Things like fate weren't usually Minho's business. But he'd make them him business, if it meant Jisung believed, now more than ever, that he was meant to be here. With Minho.

"I do."

Minho didn't think much of it, later, when a young woman stepped into the store. She looked like someone who frequented these kind of places, auburn hair tied back into a loose braid. Her flower dress swayed as she took in the shop, analyzing the art pieces Minho hung on the wall.

"Let me know if you need help with anything." he called to her, the woman eyes landing on him.

He'd been taking inventory near the back, an old camera in his hands that he had been fiddling with.

She smiled, moving closer to him and Jisung dove behind a stack of old CD's, careful not to get caught.

"Well, I've actually come searching for something specific."

"What was it?" Her smiled grew.

"A dollhouse."

They stood there, staring at each other for what felt like hours, but must have truly only been a few minutes.

"A dollhouse?" Minho found it hard to speak. 

Could it be...

"Yes. I reached out to the previous owner. She told me I could find it here." 

So she was...

"I deeply apologize if I have the wrong place! This house just means a lot to me and-"

"I-" He spit it out before he could change his mind. "I think I know what dollhouse you mean."

Tentatively, he switched the sign to closed, casting a glance at Jisung's hiding spot. He could see the furrow in his brow as he studied the woman, so obviously one of his prior playmates.

"Right this way."

He led her to the back, away from Jisung and toward the house that had permanent residence on his back table.

She gasped when she saw it.

"Oh my..." She reached toward it, fingers bumping along the wood. Her hands caught one of the tiny pieces of furniture, running it between her thumb and forefinger. "It's as pretty as I remember." 

She turned to Minho. "How much are you asking for it?"

His mouth dropped in surprise. 

"You are selling it, aren't you?"  Words failed him as he stayed staring, mouth opening and closing like a fish. "I'll pay whatever price." she offered.

"I can't ask that of you!" he rushed, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, it's just... this house isn't for sale." 

The woman was disappointed.

"Ah, is that so? Is there a reason for that?"

Minho didn't even know how to begin to explain. Yet, he knew that she wasn't just here for the dollhouse. If she'd been one of it's owners, she had to know.

"As mentioned before, this house means a great deal to me and I could hope you'd reconsider selling." 

She was trying her luck and Minho could see her determination.

"There's more to it than this house, isn't there?" He shouldn't ask. It was a question he didn't need an answer to. "Something... someone more special?

"H-how did you know?"

"I've met him." She was taken aback.

"You... you met Jisung?"

She knew his name. That was all the confirmation he needed.

He went back out into the shop, going straight fo the CD's.

"What's going on?"

"You're coming with me." 

Minho picked him up gingerly, setting him in his open palm gently before heading back to the woman.

"Minho?"

He didn't say anything else.

When the woman saw Jisung sitting there, in Minho's hands, she covered her open mouth.

"I've found you." she breathed, palms outstretched for Jisung to climb into.

Jisung looked between the two, Minho trying his hardest not to meet his eyes. He knew if he did, Jisung would see something there he wasn't yet ready to show.

He felt more than saw Jisung climb across their splayed palms. The woman shucked in a breath.

"You're still so small." she marveled, nose practically touching his abdomen. Jisung took a step back.

"Yeah... I am." They were having a contest to see who would blink first. It was Jisung who broke, a tilt to his head.

"Tammy?"

"Yes! Yes, you...; you remember me?"

He nodded, notably less eager than Tammy was.

"It's been a few years, but your smile hasn't changed." he told her, making her light up like a Christmas tree.

"I'm so glad I found you!" she reiterated, glancing up at Minho suddenly. "Thank you so much for reuniting me with him!"

Her words had made his face harden, a wrinkle right above his eyes popping through. He shouldn't be upset, not really. Jisung was never his and still...

He should be happy! This had been the thing Jisung wanted, what he'd wished for! Someone to love him. Someone to return him to the size he should be.

"I'm glad I could do that for you."

"Minho-"

"Take it. The dollhouse, I mean. It's on the house."

He went to leave.

"Minho!" He stopped. "Could- could you give us a few minutes?" 

Without having to look, Minho knew he was directing those words to Tammy. She must have agreed, no longer in the room when Jisung spoke again.

"Minho? Why are you doing this?"

"What do you mean? Isn't this what you wanted?"

Minho finally took the opportunity to look at Jisung. Really look at him. He wasn't smiling. If anything, he looked sad.

"She's what you've been searching for." 

Jisung looked troubled, attempting to speak, but falling short. 

"I don't want to leave you." he said eventually.

He wasn't looking at Minho anymore.

"Don't make this any harder than it has to be," Minho pleaded. "Let's just say our goodbyes and you can be on your way."

"Do you want me to leave?" Minho didn't dare speak. "Tell me to stay and I will."

"I can't ask that of you!" He couldn't handle this. Couldn't handle Jisung wanting to stay with him. Even if that meant never being big again. "You deserve your happy ending." 

It took everything in Minho not to go back on his word. 

He watched as Tammy packed up the dollhouse, Jisung tucked away inside. He'd refused to be seen after their talk. Tammy had thanked him again with a blinding smile and any other day, Minho would be giving one back. He couldn't find it in him to do it this time. He waved her away with hurt in his heart.

He'd let go of the one thing he never thought he'd have to.

He should have been realistic. There was no way he'd be the answer to Jisung's problem. It only made sense someone from his past come gallivanting back in. Who else was there? Surely not Minho.

Dori came sauntering in late at night, the time Minho was usually sound asleep. But sleep hadn't come easy.

He felt a loss, the little ball of warmth that slept on his chest was gone. Dori meowed, sensing his distress. Minho only sighed.

"I did the right thing."

It was a few days later when Chan came to visit, his hand joined with another. Hongjoong.

"It's nice to meet you."

He faked a smile. Chan could tell.

"It's nice to meet you too." Hongjoong parroted back, glasses slipping with his enthusiasm. Minho could easily see his charm.

"We wanted to invite you to lunch." Quieter he said, "Might keep your mind off things."

"No, that's alright. I've got someone coming by later to drop off some boxes. You two go ahead." Hongjoong's smile faltered and Chan's copied his new beau.

"You sure? We won't be long." he tried again.

Minho knew Chan was just looking out. He was the only one that knew about Jisung. That he'd given him up to let him live his life again. The way it should be.

Still, he didn't want to go out. He didn't want to be reminded of the things that made him think of Jisung. Like the flowers in the park, the bakery down the street, food in general... it all brought back the memories he so desperately wished to erase. If only so he wouldn't hurt anymore.

"Yeah. I'll take a raincheck."

Chan took the hit, pulling Hongjoong back toward the entrance.

"You're not getting it out of it next time!" he called, opening the door for Hongjoong.

"Yeah, yeah." 

He caught the last little bit of Hongjoong's sentence to Chan.

"-hate me, does he?"

Of course he felt bad. It was never Minho's intention to make Hongjoong feel that way. However, he had bailed on their lunch invitation a few times now. He could see why he would think that.

But the reality was, he couldn't yet face a world without Jisung. 

He knew had to... at some point.

He took a half day after the boxes were dropped off. He ordered in and switched on his television. He put on mindless cartoons before switching it to some historical drama since those always put Jisung to sleep.

He needed some sleep himself.

He woke to a rhythmic thumping, naming it as heavy rain until the sound got louder.

He sat up, apologizing to Dori for disturbing her sleep. He could hear the sound- which he now realized was knocking- was coming from downstairs.

"I'll be right back Dori."

He slipped on his slippers, padding his way downstairs to the shop, not sure who it could be at this hour. The sun wasn't up anymore and if Minho had to guess, he'd say it was well past midnight.

The knocking got louder.

"I'm coming!" he shouted, trying to get the person to cease since it was starting to hurt his head. It was too much noise for having just woken up. 

It didn't help. It was only until Minho threw open the locked door did the person stop, fist hanging up in the air.

"Can I help you?" 

He wasn't sure who'd he expected at the door, but it sure wasn't Tammy.

"Yes, uh. Hello again." Minho could tell she was at least somewhat uncomfortable by her own actions and it made him wonder why she'd even gone through the trouble. "I know it's late-"

"You could say that again."

"Yes, well. I am sorry for waking you, it's just- I didn't know who else to turn to. I thought maybe you could help." Minho raised a brow. "It's about Jisung."

Of course it was.

"Look, I'm not really sure what I can do for you, but if it involves Jisung... I'll try my best." She was relieved, digging around in her pocket for... well Minho wasn't sure. "Where is he then?"

"Right here."

Minho expected her to step aside, reveal Jisung in all his six foot glory- that may have been reaching, but well he had nothing to base his real height on- but instead she opened her palm.

There, as tiny as they day Minho had first met him, was Jisung. He looked frail, skin sickly and hair mussed. He appeared to be sleeping, but his breaths were shallow. Worrying. 

"What's going on? I don't-"

"He's been real sick the last few days and I'm not sure why. We both expected him to turn back, but we wake up everyday to no change. Do you think... maybe we had it wrong?"

Minho wasn't sure what to think. He'd let Jisung go on the basis that he would get better. That he would be big again. Now, he was being brought back looking worse for wear and Minho had no clue what to do.

"I- how is this possible?! It should have worked. He was with someone who loved him!" 

He reached for him, Tammy sliding him over gently. He showed no signs of waking up. Minho felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"Maybe me loving him wasn't enough."

"It's supposed to be!"

"No." Tammy whispered, trying to calm Minho down. "I remember, he said it had to be mutual. I-I think he's had someone else in his heart this whole time."

Minho could tell the moment they locked eyes.

"Are you saying-"

"He cried the whole way back to my apartment." she revealed, expression dimming. "I had falsely assumed they were tears of joy. He told me not to worry, but I think that's when I should have realized..." Carefully, she pushed the hand Minho was using to hold Jisung into his chest. Right over his heart. "He's loved you for a while now."

"I-"

"And I think" -she was blinking back tears- "I think you love him too." Minho was already crying and her words set him off further. Jisung... loved him? "You have to do something! We've tried everything and he's still-"

"I can take it from here." he assured, more determined than ever to be exactly what Jisung needed.

"I'll - leave you to it. I'll come by tomorrow. To check-in." she smiled, resolute, before leaving Minho to his empty store. The door was locked once more. 

Minho's first thought was to head back upstairs, but he thought better of it and placed Jisung on the counter, atop a fluffy blanket he'd kept downstairs for colder days.

He paced for a moment, thinking over his words before taking a deep breath. He could do this.

"Jisung. Jisung I'm so sorry for not telling you sooner. This is all my fault. I just thought... I never would have imagined you could feel the same way." His finger traced along his cheekbone, Minho wishing Jisung were awake. "I should have just told you. I should have just admitted that my heart wanted to leap out of chest whenever you were here. You were my brightest light, you were never a nuisance. I wanted you to stay forever, even if that meant you stayed this size... I wanted you to stay.

"I should have been honest when you asked, but I was scared... all you've ever wanted was to be big again. What if I couldn't give that to you? I don't even know if admitting this now will be of any help!" Minho tried not to lose sight of the message at hand.

"I love you, Jisung. I want you to know. I want to wake up tomorrow and tell you. Face to face." he laughed, poking gently at his cheek. "Even if it's still this small. Please, just. Don't leave me."

Minho wasn't all that sure what took over him, but the need to sleep had him out like a light. Everything had hit full force suddenly; The weight of his feelings, Jisung possibly going away for good... it was overwhelming. Minho only wished that tomorrow could be different.

That his words could break the spell...

Minho felt soothed by a hand on his head and he groaned when he tried to sit back up. He'd fallen asleep slumped over the counter, his back protesting with every movement. He yawned, big and loud, forgetting for a moment what had happened the night before.

When it all came back, he jumped up, away from the hand that hadn't stopped touching and opened his eyes to see if Jisung was still there.

He first spotted legs, longer than what he remembered, swinging slightly as he made his way higher. Then there were lean shoulders that tapered off into a thin waist, thinner than anyone he's ever met before. He held in a gasp when he saw the face of the boy on his counter.

"Jisung?"

"The one and only baby."

"Shut up, this is supposed to be heartfelt." Minho found himself mumbling, leaping from his seat to hug Jisung close. He thumped him on the back. "You scared me!" he accused.

"I'm sorry." Jisung didn't let go. "I thought you didn't want me anymore."

"How could you ever think that?" By now, Minho was holding him at an arm's length. So they could talk about it.

"Are you kidding? You were the one sending me away!"

"Okay, but you have to realize, I was trying to do what was right."

"You can't just assume what's right for me or not."

"Can you blame me? You came here with every intention to be big again. I thought I was getting in the way of that."

Jisung's eyes softened.

"Maybe... that's what I wanted once upon a time ago." His hand went to Minho's cheek. "But I'd take you over being big any day."

Minho felt the swarm of butterflies flapping around in his stomach. Jisung couldn't just.... say those things.

"Stop it. You're embarrassing me!" Minho whined.

Jisung laughed.

A thought made it's way into Minho's head.

"But there wasn't a kiss."

"Wasn't there?"

"What? When did we-" A pair of soft lips cut him off. All the feelings he thought he'd harbored alone...

He kissed back with as much as enthusiasm as Jisung did. There were smiles on their faces when they pulled apart.

"I've got to stop falling for your tricks!"

"You'll have years to practice." Jisung sounded so hopeful and Minho... Minho wouldn't want it any other way.

When the first Saturday of the new month came, Chan pulled up with his car and his boyfriend to a happy surprise.

"Jisung!?" he exclaimed upon seeing the now five foot seven boy on the counter. "You're- You-"

"It's nice to see you too, Chan." Hongjoong was the most surprised. 

"Uh, who's this?"

"Oh right. Hongjoong, I'd like you to meet Jisung, Minho's..."

"Husband." Jisung supplied.

"You're getting ahead of yourself!" Minho called from the back, where he was grabbing boxes.  He smiled warmly at the pair. "Currently, he's just my boyfriend."

"Oh, well. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. I've heard a lot about you."

The four of them got to work, dragging out furniture and other things that Minho planned on selling off that day. After Chan's car was stuffed to the brim, Chan went to shut the trunk.

"Hold it!" Minho hollered, jogging out of the shop with the last item he wanted to sell.

"You're selling the house?" Chan asked, perplexed.

"We don't need it anymore." Jisung went to hold Minho's hand after it was placed in the trunk.

"Is everyone ready?" A chorus of "yes" had Chan driving back onto the road.

It was nice to sit next to Jisung, hand in hand for the first time since they'd met. Jisung's hand wasn't tiny, but it was smaller than Minho's fitting against his nicely. He could cover it whole, like he once could Jisung.

Seeing his side profile now, against the early rays of sun, seemed unreal. Like every moment has since that fateful morning. It was hard to believe Jisung was no longer just 20 centimeters tall. He was a living, breathing person that reached his chin. He came barreling at him for hugs and sat in his lap and weighed more than he used to, but not overbearingly so. He was a welcomed weight, one that Minho held onto in his sleep, limbs tangled so it was hard to tell where one started and the other began. And he loved it that way,

They unloaded the car, Jeongin already making nice with Jisung like Minho had expected. Felix stopped by after the lunch rush, offering some cookies to them all. Hyunjin was a little more shy, Jisung going up to him first and immediately playing up all the pretty jewelry on display. It made Hyunjin smile. Minho too.

He watched, for the first time, as Jisung came alive around those he knew of, but hadn't known of him. It was beautiful to Minho, how easily he fit alongside them and everything just... fell into place in a way he never knew would be possible.

The last hours of the market were upon them and the last thing Minho had yet to sell was the dollhouse.

"There's always next time." Chan reminded, nodding off to where the others were already cleaning up. "Everyone wants to go for dinner. You are coming, right?"

Everyone included Jisung. So, yes he would go. He nodded, sighing as he went to grab the dollhouse.

Just as he went to touch it, another little hand beat him to it.

"Momma, momma! Look how pretty." A little girl chirruped, earning the attention of her mother only a few feet away. When the woman came up beside her daughter, Minho remembered them from the shop a few months ago

"It's lovely, Lana." she told her, bending down to inspect it with her. "Do you wanna ask the nice young man how much it costs?"

The little girl nodded, looking up at Minho.

"Excuse me, sir. How much is the pretty house?" He smiled at her eagerness.

"For you, not a penny." She gasped, eyes wide.

"Oh no, please. We're really interested in buying it." the mother assured.

"And I wish you take it. I can't put a monetary value on this house. It brought me one of the greatest gifts I could have ever imagined." he smiled at Jisung when he looked over. "Please, it's yours so long as you have it."

The little girl gave her mother earnest eyes and the young woman gaped for a moment.

"Yes, well. We'll take it then."

Minho helped them to their car, safely placing the dollhouse in the back. The little girl squealed after it was done, facing forward for the drive home. The young mother thanked him again before revving up the engine.

"Take care of it for me."

Jisung said, coming up next to Minho. The little girl gasped as they drove away.

"You just had to do it, didn't you?"

"What? She won't remember in a few years." Jisung dismissed. Minho rolled his eyes.

"You guys coming?" Chan shouted, grabbing their attention back.

"We're going!"

Minho offered Jisung his hand.

"Shall we?"

"Let's go!"

Jisung dragged him back to where Chan's car was waiting.