Work Text:
Mason stared at the signature on the document signed by HyunWoo. The signature H.W. felt almost like a mocking reminder of the friend he lost. Of the life that was lost due to a stupid family and corporate greed. Mason felt it in his bones that something about HyunWoo reminded him too much of DoJun.
The amazing and eerily brilliant young man he had started Miracle with. His death haunted Mason for as long as he could remember when he heard the news. The way his stomach sank to the floor and his blood went cold to the bone along with the ringing in his ears that his dear friend wasn't injured, but truly dead. Running from Sooyang was the only option to save himself and his company, the unwillingness to drag his company down with him, to save them from more loss than just him and DoJun.
Rachel handled things for a while before she married and had a child. She wasn't getting any younger and the pressure of having a family hit harder for her than it ever would have for DoJun. Either way Mason was happy she wasn't affected by DoJun's unfortunate fate aside from missing the young man just as much as he did.
They both cried and mourned for Sooyang's youngest grandson as he was the only one worth their tears and pain.
Glancing up at HyunWoo who stood at the board writing the numbers of their progress down and mumbling silently as he went. Mason could only see DoJun. They may have had their similarities, but they had just as many differences too. It was then Mason remembered what DoJun told him once after he asked how he knew what to do when the stock market crashed after 9/11. Of whether or not he was sent from the future or truly an old man in a young man's body.
DoJun had confidently said both . Yet Mason didn't believe him, he had no reason to, but knowing what he knew now. Years later with his body older and hair grayer than before. He believed it now.
The signature H.W. was like the last puzzle piece putting itself into place in what was DoJun, but also HyunWoo too.
Either way Mason put it, seeing HyunWoo more clearly now than ever, he couldn't help the tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. Quickly excusing himself he ignored HyunWoo's worried look as he rushed off to find a silent place to simply be.
He knew he was probably jumping to one crazy conclusion after another, but that signature and the way HyunWoo confidently gave him his favorite donuts like DoJun would have. All the evidence was irrefutable. Mason knew he was DoJun's friend, mentor, and best investment partner. Those seven years weren't for nothing and he thought about all the time in those days since running away and living by his lonesome.
Hearing the door open of course it was HyunWoo staring at him as if he came from a whole other planet. As if he was or- Mason didn't care. He only felt happy his best friend was still with him, one way or another.
"Are you okay, Mr. Oh?" HyunWoo asked hesitantly.
Mason nodded, whipping his eyes and clearing his nose.
"Just old memories- nothing you need to worry about." He assured.
HyunWoo tilted his head, almost making Mason laugh and cry again cause of how much it reminded him of DoJun.
"Can I ask what about?"
Mason only gave a heavy sigh in response, thankful of HyunWoo's patience no matter how nervous he seemed at the same time too.
"How about over dinner and in private?" Mason offered.
HyunWoo nodded and bowed respectfully, eagerly exiting the bathroom leaving Mason to his thoughts again. Cleaning himself up a bit and running his hands through his hair, he wondered just how the hell HyunWoo was handling life so well. Suddenly he felt his phone go off, a text from Rachel with her son back in America. Smiling and feeling a sense of longing, it suddenly hurt being the only one who probably came to the conclusion that DoJun and HyunWoo were one and the same in a sense. How exactly, is what Mason wondered greatly.
Going through the motions of work, numbers, and countless meetings Mason saw how HyunWoo worked just about as ruthlessly as DoJun in investing. Not as aggressively, but close to. With Sooyang basically gone it gave HyunWoo less of a reason to be. Something that Mason was endlessly thankful for.
Once work was done and everyone was leaving it of course left just HyunWoo and him behind. Leaving together Mason chose a place close by and secluded, maybe not as fancy as what DoJun would pick, but something enough for them.
"You look stressed, Mr. Oh. You're starting to scare me." HyunWoo spoke clearly.
"You remind me of an old friend, young expat." He responded fondly.
The nickname seemed to trigger something in HyunWoo, a deep look of sadness and something else unclear to him.
"You really were from the future- in a sense." Mason wanted to say more, but it seemed to connect in HyunWoo's mind what he meant. "How?" Was all Mason added, seeing how HyunWoo looked to be bursting at the seams wanting to say something.
Watching the young man release his own deep sigh, Mason sat patiently as ever open to hear the story of the century. Listening to HyunWoo describe just how and why everything started and the cliff notes version of events of DoJun's life both growing up and living with the Jin Family and under Sooyang. It gave Mason perspective he never knew he could have on someone. The reason why DoJun was so determined to take down Sooyang and why. He didn't blame him in the slightest, but it was still horrorifying to learn it was a week to HyunWoo in comparison to years with DoJun living his life. How it felt all too real for words, but knowing in some way it was real.
"I feel like living his life and living my own right now. I- I think it was redemption for the both of us." HyunWoo finished.
"I think so too." Mason said solemnly. "How DoJun lived and how he ended- you finished what he started and probably better than he ever could. He wanted to own Sooyang, but even I knew it never felt right. That if he did, it would have consumed him like it did that horrible family one way or another."
HyunWoo nodded with a look of understanding.
"Before- all of this- I hated my father and was disappointed in my brother, but now. Now I feel like I only understand them better now than I ever did if it wasn't for DoJun." The soft chuckle that left HyunWoo's lips at the end was somber. "It feels weird living and knowing his life. It doesn't feel real, yet in a way it was. Like a dream and I-"
The old haunted look in HyunWoo's eyes told Mason everything as he made a noise in understanding.
"For what it's worth. Whether your him or not, I'm happy you're here, young expat."
The joyful smile and emotion in HyunWoo's eyes was all there for Mason to see.
"Me too."