Chapter Text
Hong Lu is suddenly very aware of the mattress beneath his body.
He feels uncomfortably warm yet cold at the same time. His heart is racing, and he can almost feel his blood rushing through his veins.
He had another one of those dreams again.
With a groan, he sat up and stretched out his arms.
It was always the same thing.
He's stuck in a place that's nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Little fragments of other worlds flit across the corners of his vision, but not long enough for him to see them clearly.
And there is always, always him.
A man with raven dark hair, sad black eyes, and a face that looks like it had simultaneously seen the most beautiful and the most wretched of the world.
He always wakes up before he can talk to him.
He stands and walks to the door, pushing it open.
"Well, you're up early."
Hong Lu rubs his eyes and yawns as he walks out of the bedroom, glancing over and spotting Samjo standing in the kitchen. The scent of coffee filters through the air, fluttering around him.
HONG LU
28 YEARS OLD
RESIDENT CITY RICH BOY
FUN FACT: HE'S UNEMPLOYED
"Good morning, Samjo," Hong Lu greets him cheerfully.
"I was getting close to just kicking you out of bed this morning," Samjo says instead. "You got up in time."
SAMJO
25 YEARS OLD
HONG LU'S ROOMMATE AND COMPETITIVE SWIMMER
FUN FACT: HE'S GAY!
The other blinks before smiling again. "Haha, good to know~"
He watches Samjo pour almost a quarter gallon of milk into his mug, the dark brown liquid turning almost white. No wonder they always run out of milk before the week's over.
"Back home, my family had this one coffee that was a little bland in my opinion," Hong Lu comments. "I think it was something like…" he trails off.
Samjo just looks at him with a raised brow.
He wracks his brain for the name of that particular kind. He hadn't drank it in a while, nor had he really seen it in any of the stores around the city.
"Oh!" He lights up. "Kopi luwak!"
Samjo makes a face as he pours in a spoon of sugar, "Isn't that made of animal shit?"
"Oh. Is it?"
"I believe so."
"Huh." Hong Lu thinks that might be why it tasted so… mediocre. Back then, he thought it was because it was so cheap.
Well, now that he thinks about it, his family has done worse than have him unknowingly drink animal feces. This is probably as tame as it'd get.
Samjo glances at the clock hanging above their tiny TV over the rim of his mug. He swallows down his basically-just-milk (Hong Lu doesn't understand why he doesn't just forgo the coffee altogether) and sighs.
"I've got work in another half an hour," he runs a hand through his hair.
Hong Lu flops onto the couch and turns to peek over the top. "Is coaching baseball fun?"
He shrugs. "If blowing a whistle and yelling at too-excited parents to tone it down at games is your definition of fun, then yeah."
Hong Lu opens his mouth to reply, but he's met with Samjo's shirt hitting his face as the latter walks by. He pulls it away and sets it aside, moving to sit back on the couch properly.
"So, what's up with you and Baochai?" Samjo calls out from the bedroom as he changes.
Hong Lu stiffens, and his smile sours a little. It's not noticeable though, so at least he has that going for him.
"I don't know what you mean."
He hears Samjo scoff. "Your girlfriend."
"I wouldn't call her my girlfriend, haha~"
"So, what, you guys are just fucking? Without dating her?" Samjo asks. "Worst thing I've heard this month, and I work with teenagers."
"We aren't having sex either…" Hong Lu chuckles awkwardly. "It's… I suppose it's complicated."
Samjo tries in vain to comb down his hair with his fingers as he walks back out. Never works. "Shouldn't be. You're either dating, fucking, or both." Samjo says. "And so far, it seems you're at none of the options I just listed."
"What happened to courtship as an option?"
Samjo barks out a laugh. "You? Courting Baochai? I think you've been doing more avoiding than courting, so I didn't even bother adding that."
Suddenly the floor seems a lot more interesting to Hong Lu.
Samjo sighs and walks over to stand next to him. He's in his tacky uniform, one that he's complained about more times than Hong Lu can count.
"You can't just keep leading her on, you know." Samjo crosses his arms. "Baochai is an angel, this'll hit her hard if she finds out any later."
"Mmn.."
Samjo's eyes land on the clock again, and he curses. "Shit, I've gotta go."
He rushes over to the door and grabs his coat.
"Break up with her already!" He yells before slamming the door shut.
The apartment is silent again.
Hong Lu slides down the couch until he's almost laying on the floor, exhaling loudly as he does so.
Damn.
"Honestly, I have to agree with Samjo," Ishmael muses, pausing her efforts in cleaning the table right next to Hong Lu's booth.
Hong Lu fiddles with the menu at his seat without the intention of actually ordering anything.
Ishmael watches him for a few moments before pulling it out of his hands. "Stop that," she scolds.
ISHMAEL
27 YEARS OLD
WOMEN WANT HER, FISH FEAR HER
FUN FACT: SHE USED TO BE A SAILOR
"Samjo kicks me out sometimes so he can sleep with his boyfriend," Hong Lu says, totally not trying to garner sympathy.
Ishmael squints, "Then move out? What does that have to do with any—"
"But I pay the bills for him."
"You what—" Ishmael gawps. "What are you, his sugar daddy?!"
Hong Lu just continues smiling, and Ishmael groans.
"Wait," she raises a brow. "Then where do you stay when he kicks you out?"
"Oh, Ryoshu lets me stay over~"
"Figures," she resumes cleaning off the table with a rag. "Not my business to ask, but have you ever met Samjo's boyfriend?"
Hong Lu ponders this question for a moment. See the thing is, Samjo always kicks him out way before the man shows up, so Hong Lu doesn't even know his name.
"Hmm, no~"
Ishmael blinks, clearly expecting him to say more.
When he doesn't, she frowns. "And… why is that?"
"He makes me leave before he shows up," Hong Lu chirps. "Ah, also I don't believe he's really Samjo's boyfriend. Perhaps more of a fling?"
Her expression is blanker than the TV back in the apartment when the power goes out. "I seriously don't know what Baochai sees in you."
Someone in the back calls for Ishmael. She shoots him a look which screams "get your shit together" and walks off, leaving Hong Lu with the sudden brilliant idea to run away or something like that.
"Oh, Lulu! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Hong Lu tenses at the sudden sound of the nickname being spoken out. He looks over and spots a woman with brown hair and looking exceptionally happy.
"Rodya~! Nice to see you," Hong Lu greets her.
Rodya sits down across from Hong Lu, "You don't mind do you?"
"Not at all."
RODION RASKOLNIKOV
34 YEARS OLD
UNDEFEATABLE IN POKER
FUN FACT: SHE JUST GOES BY RODYA
"How have you been?" Rodya asks as she waves over a waiter. "Feels like it's been forever since we've talked~"
Hong Lu nods, "Last week~"
When a waiter comes over, Rodya orders something for both of them. Tiramisu for her, and a tea for Hong Lu (he'd said he wasn't hungry).
Rodya's chin rests in her hands, "Well? You never answered my question."
"Hmm~ Why do you ask?"
"Lulu, that's the most normal question anyone could ask," she says, inspecting her nails. "It won't hurt to answer, y'know."
Hong Lu just laughs it off. "I've been fine~" When their orders come back, he takes a sip of his tea. "Don't you have work?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm on my break." Rodya's fork digs into her tiramisu, and she brings up a bite to her mouth. "And besides—" she waves a hand, "—no one will care if I'm gone for a few minutes."
Hong Lu nods like he's taking notes. "I see, is that how jobs function down here~?"
"Sure, if you're working with the right people!"
They sit in silence for a few, savoring their food and drink like they had all the time in the world.
Well, Hong Lu probably did. Rodya? Not so much.
"Say, Lulu," she sets her fork down.
Hong Lu's gaze falls on the other, eyes looking quizzically.
"Aida's hosting a party tonight at her place~ We can bring a plus one, so I was wondering if you wanted to come."
Hong Lu pauses, cup midway to his mouth.
He doesn't attend parties very often, having already been to more than enough corporate events back home because of his father's company. Frankly, he's a little sick of them, even if he hasn't been to one in a long time.
"I'll have to decline, Rodya. Sorry~"
Rodya pouts, "Come on~! It'll be fun, I promise."
"Mmn…"
She takes his hands from across the table. "Listen, just stay an hour. If you're still not into it you can leave. I won't get upset, I promise."
Hong Lu, stares down at where their hands are intertwined before he exhales. "Do you know who will be there?" he asks. "Anyone I'm familiar with?"
Rodya perks up. "Well, Greg's coming. We got separate invites so all I had to do was convince him to accept it." She bites her lip in thought, "Hmm, Heath and Cathy will be there. And so will Sonya. I think Yuri's coming with Greg~"
The list of familiar names helped ease Hong Lu's mind, even if just a little.
He exhales, and an acquiesced smile creeps into his face. "Okay."
Rodya squeezes his hands, "Great~! Greg and I can pick you up around six."
Hong Lu just nods.
Hong Lu was right. This party really wasn't to his taste.
Not at all.
He was leaned up against the wall, a simple glass of water in hand. He didn't feel like drinking, especially since he can't even go home tonight.
("Oh, you're going out?" Samjo had asked.
"Yep~"
"Cool. Don't come home tonight then. I'm bringing a guy over.")
He's standing with Rodya, Gregor, Sonya, and Yuri, all of whom are talking about something he's not in the loop of.
And he doesn't really care to be.
Instead, he just stares down into his cup and swirls the clear liquid inside a few times.
"Oh, Hong Lu right?" Sonya suddenly acknowledges.
Hong Lu looks up from his totally secretive moping and gives a bright smile. "Mhm~"
"I'm glad I finally get to meet you in person. Rodya speaks fondly of you."
"Pleasure to meet you too, I hope we can get along well~" Hong Lu takes a sip of his water.
Sonya politely dips his head for a moment.
And soon enough, he's left out of the conversation again. Hong Lu exhales before pushing himself off the wall, carefully maneuvering through the throngs of people.
One thing was for sure, Aida truly knew how to throw a party.
His eyes scan the place, searching for any familiar faces he wouldn't mind being with for now.
A bob of black hair and a shock of white next to it catch his attention.
"Ryoshu, Miss Faust~!" he calls out.
The two women look over, and he sidles up next to them.
RYOSHU
37 YEARS OLD
MANIAC ARTIST WHO FAVORS ACRONYMS
FUN FACT: SHE HAS A DAUGHTER
"Hong Lu," she blows out the smoke from her cigarette. "W.A.Y.H."
"'Why are you here'," Faust translates for him.
When Sinclair's not around, usually Faust will help in making sense of whatever the hell her wife is trying to say.
FAUST
37 YEARS OLD
SMARTEST BITCH YOU'LL EVER MEET
FUN FACT: SHE'S A SUCKER FOR THE COLOR PINK
"I came as Rodya's plus one," Hong Lu replies as he downs the rest of his water.
"Hm. That woman can get anyone into a party," Faust comments disdainfully.
Ryoshu smirks, "Ha. But you're here."
"Under the title of your addition."
Hong Lu's gaze flits back and forth between the two women like he's watching a tennis match. It's entertaining for about 0.7 seconds, and soon enough he's changing the subject.
"Ryoshu," Hong Lu starts, his voice changing to that sickly sweet register that drips with the charm he often uses to get something he wants.
Ryoshu abruptly cuts her argument with Faust short, her eyes now sharply staring at him.
"What."
Hong Lu clears his throat, "I may need to stay with you both tonight."
The older woman's eye twitches, "D.S.K.Y.O?"
"…?"
Ryoshu groans and looks to Faust for her translation.
Faust just inhales deeply. "'Did Samjo kick you out?'"
"Oh. Haha, yeah~"
The other rolls her eyes, "Fine. J.B.Q, Araya will be sleeping when we get home."
Hong Lu nods, "That won't be an iss— oh."
Faust tilts her head, "What now?"
But Hong Lu hardly even hears her. It's like the whole room was just… muted in his ears. The loud music felt so distant now, all his attention zeroed in on him.
The younger man blinks once, then twice, realizing that Faust had asked him something, before pointing to somewhere in the crowd. "Do you know who that is?"
The two women follow his finger to see a man with raven dark hair, black eyes that looked so damn sad even when he's smiling, and a face that looks like it's seen simultaneously the most beautiful and the most wretched of the world.
And he's seen that face before. Many times, actually.
"Oh. Are you speaking of Yi Sang?" Faust questions.
"Is that his name?"
She nods.
YI SANG
??? YEARS OLD
GUY FROM HONG LU'S DREAMS
FUN FACT: HE MIGHT BE REAL!
"He's new," Ryoshu comments as she puts her cigarette out on the nearest wall.
Hong Lu straightens up, "From where?"
"South Korea."
He swallows and immediately attempts to calm himself down.
Faust leans against her wife, "We'd only met recently. He doesn't seem to know anyone else."
"Is that so? Is he looking to meet anyone else?"
Ryoshu suddenly gives him a biting glare, "You're not G.I.H.P."
"Eh…?"
Faust shakes her head, "Faust hears that he had gone through a very recent separation from a romantic partner. Faust does not think he's ready for anything new."
"You're dating Baochai," Ryoshu adds.
"I wouldn't say dating is the right word~"
"Fine, arranged courtship by your families," she scowls. "Either way, you're still W.H."
Sure, he knows that. But he still can't tear his eyes away from the gorgeous man a few feet away.
"Faust thinks you must be honest with Baochai."
"Ah… haha, perhaps."
"J.F.C. Hong Lu. Her brother hates you too, don't G.H.A.R to kill you." She pauses before snickering, "Or do. I'd like to see that."
But at this point, it's clear Hong Lu isn't even listening anymore.
Yi Sang tucks a strand of hair behind his ear as he speaks to someone Hong Lu doesn't even recognize, and horridly enough he can feel an arrow shoot through his heart and send him reeling.
"I think I'm gonna go speak to him~"
Faust sighs.
"If you don't come back by eleven, W.L.Y." Ryoshu calls after him.
Hong Lu watches as the person that Yi Sang had been talking to prior walks away, leaving him the open chance to talk to him.
He inhales and moves to stand next to Yi Sang, empty cup still in his hand.
"Hi," Hong Lu says, perfectly smooth.
Yi Sang blinks, "Uhm, hello..?"
Wow. This is going great.
Hong Lu clears his throat, "Apologies~ I didn't mean to surprise you."
The other shakes his head. "Not at all. I simply wasn't expecting anyone else to approach with the desire to make conversation."
"Is it really all that surprising?"
"I haven't spoken to many since I left home…"
Hong Lu hums in response.
"I'm Hong Lu."
"Yi Sang. I'm glad to make your acquaintance."
The two stand in silence for a few, and Hong Lu can feel himself getting a little hot under the collar.
Hell, he's never felt this awkward and nervous in a long time.
Yi Sang looks at him expectantly, and Hong Lu fidgets slightly.
"Ahaha… I must ask," he starts. "…Are you real?"
Yi Sang blinks, eyes scanning Hong Lu's face as if trying to make sense of his intentions.
"That's a complicated question you have asked of me," he finally responds.
"Oh… Is it~?"
Yi Sang nods solemnly. It's a cute look on him.
"Hmm, then I suppose a better question would be if you've ever been in my dreams before."
Yi Sang stiffens, tension pulling on his shoulders. "So you remember?"
Hong Lu chuckles, "I think it'd be quite hard to forget dreams like that."
"Mmn…"
"So I take that as a yes?"
Yi Sang sighs, "Essentially, yes." And somehow, unprompted, he goes into a tangent about Mirror Worlds and Identities and other mind bending concepts that he'd definitely never learned in college.
Hong Lu just smiles and nods like he understands what the hell this guy's talking about. But he assumes it's an explanation about how he was able to enter his dreams.
Well, at least his voice is nice to listen to.
Soft and gentle, toeing the line of a whisper. It's pretty.
When Yi Sang's finished rambling, Hong Lu's half gone.
He shakes his head to bring himself back, and he grins.
"Yi Sang, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, Hong Lu."
He inhales deeply, swallowing back his nervousness. "Would you like to go out sometime~?"
He watched as Yi Sang's eyes widen, and the faintest pink flush spreads across his cheeks.
Hong Lu has the sudden urge to give the other a hug.
"What brings this desire so suddenly..?"
"You appear in my dreams almost every night, isn't this fair?"
Yi Sang fidgets, looking exceedingly nervous.
Hong Lu decides to take pity on the poor man.
"You don't have to, I was only kidding with that last bit~"
Yi Sang shakes his head, hair swishing wildly through the air. "No— No I'd—"
He inhales, "I'd like to."
Hong Lu perks up, "Really?"
A nod is his response.
Hell yeah.
"Does seven tomorrow work for you?"
Another nod.
"Wowzers~ Seven it is then."
"Seven it is," Yi Sang repeats with a gentle smile.
That night, he leaves with Ryoshu and Faust feeling more excited than he had ever been in his entire life.
Totally worth it.