Chapter Text
The doorbell broke the silence of Wonwoo’s morning as he jerked his head up from where he’d been hunched over his bowl of cereal.
Silently cursing the milk that had spilled over onto the counter, he made his way to the door.
“Yes?” He yanked the door open only to come face-to-face with a tall tan man shuffling awkwardly on his doormat. The man rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, offering Wonwoo a weak smile as Wonwoo stared him down.
“Um, hi?” He offered.
“What do you want?” Wonwoo asked bluntly. The man blinked in surprise. Wonwoo merely raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not really that sure either,” The man admitted. Wonwoo let out a heavy sigh and looked up towards the sky.
“Goodbye,” He said shortly, making to close the door on his face only for the man to yell “Wait!” and jut his foot between the door and the wall. Wonwoo threw the door back open and glared irritably at the man.
“Now what did you go do that for?” he exclaimed, watching with zero remorse as the man bent over, clutching his foot pain. Spending another moment watching him as he silently massaged his foot, letting out pained noises once in a while, Wonwoo let out an exaggerated sigh before opening his door completely.
Noticing the other’s surprised look, he simply stated, “You may as well come in now.” He rubbed his eyes below his glasses as the man limped in. What had he gotten himself into?
With the man fully inside now, Wonwoo closed his door before turning back to the man who was now gaping at the bookshelves that lined his living room area. “You like to read?” He asked curiously, guiding the man to sit on his sofa. He sat down on a sofa chair beside him.
“Not really,” The man admitted. “I’ve just never seen so many books at one place before.” Wonwoo rolled his eyes, slightly amused.
“There are more inside if you want to start anytime soon,” He informed him, taking secret pleasure as the stranger’s eyes bugged slightly.
“So, what’s your name? Who are you?” Wonwoo asked, his eyes scanning the stranger up and down for any clues as to who he may be. He was quite built and objectively attractive with casual clothes apt for a college student. But what was he doing here on Wonwoo’s doorstep when the college was all the way on the other side of the city?
“Kim Mingyu,” The man introduced. “As for who I am,” Mingyu looked conflicted. “I go to Pledis University and have no idea how I ended up here.” He played with the end of his t-shirt nervously. “I remember going to sleep one night and suddenly found myself here.”
Wonwoo wondered if his surprise showed on his face. One look at Mingyu showed that it wasn’t. Wonwoo’s brain worked in overdrive as he remembered the book he had been reading and finished yesterday. Re-reading, but that was irrelevant.
“Your name is Kim Mingyu?” He repeated slowly, processing what the chances of such an incident occurring were. “Yes?” Mingyu seemed more unsure by the second, fear flickering on his face as Wonwoo abruptly stood up, his heart thudding.
Wonwoo felt Mingyu’s eyes following his movements as he moved towards the kitchen, putting away the cereal box and checking in on his previously abandoned breakfast. His cereal was soggy now which Wonwoo hated but he couldn’t bring himself to care at this point.
He saw a mixture of surprise and fear flicker across Mingyu’s face when he abruptly turned back to him. A question died on his lips and he hesitated, feeling slightly guilty at his strange behaviour. Mingyu’s expression however, was soon overtaken by curiosity at what Wonwoo had to say.
“If you know anything about what happened, please tell me,” He said quickly, noticing Wonwoo’s hesitation. “Please, I just want to go home.”
That seemed convincing enough for Wonwoo. “Do you, by any chance,” Wonwoo started, placing a hand on the countertop and not meeting Mingyu’s eyes. He finally looked up and looked him straight in the eye. He took a deep breath and directly asked, “Do you, by any chance, have a boyfriend named Xu Minghao?”
Recognition flashed across Mingyu’s face as he sat up, fully alert now. “Yes! I mean, no! I mean, yes, I know Minghao but he isn’t my boyfriend! Do you know him too? What’s your name?” His face had turned slightly red, but he leaned forward, interested in Wonwoo now. Wonwoo himself felt a little faint as his suspicions were confirmed. He leaned on the counter for support, closing his eyes and willing himself to think, unable to take Mingyu’s gaze anymore.
He opened his eyes. He had made his decision. Still avoiding looking at Mingyu, he moved towards his bedroom, motioning for the other to follow.
“You’re going to want to see this,” He said quietly, opening the door to his bedroom, answering Mingyu’s questioning gaze. He moved towards his nightstand as Mingyu stood in the middle of his room, examining his surroundings. Wonwoo would’ve been more embarrassed at the messy state of his room if not for his disbelief.
“Here.” He handed Mingyu the book he had finished reading the night before. He silenced Mingyu with a hand as the other opened his mouth to protest.
“Read the synopsis on the back,” Wonwoo said, anticipation and dread thrumming in his veins.
Mingyu’s widening eyes only served as further confirmation to his forming theory.
His favourite character had somehow, miraculously, turned up on his, Jeon Wonwoo’s, doorstep.
-
“You know, you’re lucky you turned up here during the weekend,” Wonwoo remarked, moving about the kitchen as Mingyu sat unmoving on his sofa. The book was placed in front of him and Mingyu hadn’t looked up from his intense staring match from the inanimate object that contained the story of his whole life within its pages.
Wonwoo sighed as he poured milk into one of the cups of coffee he had been making. “It might help.” He shrugged, placing the cup in front of Mingyu as he finally looked up.
“So you’ve read about me.” Wonwoo detected a slight tremble in the younger's voice. That is, assuming book time equated to real world time, the implications of which Wonwoo did not want to go into at the moment.
“You could say so, yes,” He said instead, taking a sip of his coffee. He felt slightly calmer as he felt the familiar bitterness pervade his senses and focused back on Mingyu who had resumed staring at the book.
“You could read it, you know,” Wonwoo suggested, gesturing at the book. “Know what happens next and stuff.” He did not expect Mingyu’s head to snap up so fast in protest.
“No! Absolutely not!” He refused, shaking his head indignantly. “How could you…” He trailed off, unsure of how to address the other.
“Wonwoo,” Wonwoo helpfully supplied. “I mean, I would like to know how my story ends, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh hell no,” said Mingyu with a vehemence that surprised Wonwoo. He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Wonwoo thought over the differences between book Mingyu as he had imagined him and Mingyu in the flesh now seated in his living room. He was definitely taller and more well-built than the teenager he’d imagined in the book. He also seemed more mature than the bouncy puppy-like personality that the author had characterised him with.
Wonwoo was pulled out of his thoughts as he suddenly became aware of Mingyu staring at him now, instead of the book.
“What?” He asked, not in a hostile tone, but not in a very friendly one either. Wonwoo felt slightly guilty as Mingyu flinched, though he obviously tried not to show it. The Mingyu Wonwoo remembered hated people being mad at him and obviously the real Mingyu retained some of those qualities.
“What?” He tried again, gentler this time.
“You’re just, surprisingly calm about this,” Mingyu said, ducking to focus on his coffee instead. Wonwoo waved his hand dismissively.
“Yeah, no, I’m freaking out inside. Don’t let all this,” He gestured to his face, “fool you.”
To his surprise, Mingyu actually cracked a smile at that. “That’s good to know,” He admitted softly. Wonwoo raised his eyebrows.
“What? Did you think I was some sort of creepy sorcerer instead, plucking characters out of their perfect book lives to satisfy some sick personal desire?” Wonwoo joked. When Mingyu stayed silent, he glared at him indignantly.
“Oh no you didn’t!”
“Well, how do I know, you may as well be?” Mingyu protested. Wonwoo remained unimpressed and threw his hands up. “I don’t believe you! And to think you were actually my favourite character!” He held the back of his hand to his forehead. “Betrayal.”
Mingyu laughed and Wonwoo smiled. At least he’d managed to get a laugh out of the other and hopefully, more comfortable than when he’d first arrived before they could get to sorting out this mess.
“So, you know my name, but I don’t know yours,” Mingyu asked conversationally as the two headed towards the kitchen to wash their respective cups. Wonwoo had said it wasn’t any trouble but Mingyu had insisted until he had finally given in.
“Wonwoo,” Wonwoo supplied. “Jeon Wonwoo, welcome to my humble abode.” he gestured around the moderately sized apartment he was proud to be the current owner of.
“And how old are you Mr Jeon Wonwo?” Mingyu leaned against the counter as Wonwoo rinsed both cups out.
“Born in 1996, so twenty-five now,” Wonwoo replied.
Mingyu looked surprised. “Really? Me too! Except I was born in 1997.” Wonwoo frowned.
“April birthdays,” He grumbled good-naturedly, not noticing how Mingyu had stilled beside him.
“How did- How did you know?” Mingyu stammered beside him. Wonwoo gestured behind him guiltily and Mingyu glanced back, realization dawning on his features as spotted the book still lying untouched on the living room table.
“Oh,” He muttered. The atmosphere suddenly seemed a lot dimmer than it had been earlier and Wonwoo couldn’t help but feel guilty for being the cause of it.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize,” He tried. “It’s fine,” Mingyu said, although noticeably glummer as he sat back in his seat in front of the book. Wonwoo stayed quiet as he moved the mugs to their respective places.
“Hyung?”
Wonwoo jumped a bit at the sudden honorific. He put a hand over his chest to calm his heart. “Yes?”
He turned to see Mingyu frowning at the cover of the book. “What?” He asked curiously, moving closer.
“The author,” Mingyu said, running a finger over the lettering. “If you didn’t bring me here, maybe the author knows who did!” Mingyu turned towards Wonwoo, his eyes shining hopefully.
“That’s an idea, for sure,” Wonwoo agreed, examining the lettering on the book before taking out his phone and googling the name.
“Found it!” He exclaimed and Mingyu was immediately by his side. “Wen Junhui,” Wonwoo read out from the website he had found. “His email is listed here and P.O. box but no address for sure.”
Well, then let’s send him an email!” Mingyu cried, scrambling to the laptop computer he had spotted on the far end of the dining table. Only when he was seated in front of it did he realize and blush, moving into the seat beside.
“Sorry hyung,” He said softly as Wonwoo slid into the previously occupied seat. “It’s all right, seriously,” Wonwoo said, meaning it, and powering up his laptop.
Mingyu stayed silent as Wonwoo logged in and entered Wen Junhui’s email address.
Both of them stared at the empty text field for a while.
“So,” Wonwoo attempted to start. “What exactly do we tell him?”
“That one of his book characters is alive and somehow at your house?” Mingyu offered. Wonwoo sighed. This was not going to be easy.
The two mulled it over for a bit more. Wonwoo rubbed his temples frustratedly. “Let’s just go with that,” He said finally, nodding at Mingyu and began typing out the email.
“Dear Wen Junhui,” Mingyu read. “I know this sounds ridiculous but one of your book characters somehow turned up in the real world and is now living at my house. Please don’t ignore this, his name is Kim Mingyu and we’re both equally confused. Send help, he would like to go back and, I, live my life in solitude once more. Best regards, Jeon Wonwoo.” He turned amusedly to Wonwoo. “You really don’t mince words, do you?”
Wonwoo shrugged, clicking send. “If anything’s going to get his attention, hopefully that will.” Mingyu’s amusement morphed to confusion.
“Just how famous is this guy?” He demanded.
“Like thirteen million copies famous,” Wonwoo deadpanned. “All on your story.” Mingyu sat back stunned.
“Oh,” was all he was able to get out through a half-choked throat.
Wonwoo stood up, gesturing at Mingyu to get up and follow him. “In the meanwhile, you take the guest bedroom and you’ll have to wear some of my clothes before we can go shopping sometime.”
Mingyu drew back startled. “No, it’s okay, I can get a motel or something!” He protested.
“You and what money?” Mingyu only glanced guiltily outside before allowing himself to be pulled to the guest bedroom.
“You don’t have to do this,” He protested weakly as Wonwoo showed him to the bathroom and laid out some of his oversized clothes on the bed for him.
Wonwoo only grinned at him and Mingyu wasn’t sure what he was afraid of more: a grumpy Wonwoo or one with a maniacal grin on his face.
“Oh trust me, favourite character,” Wonwoo said, eyes gleaming. “I have so many questions.”