Archive of Our Own ^beta

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The photojournalist ignores the way his intern looks at him. Jeongguk’s eyes might be big and full of sparkles, but they can’t do much about their current situation.

“You’re staying, Gguk-ah,” Yoongi states, eyes focused on the bag he’s packing with the last few lenses he prepared to take with him to his trip to New York’s Pride Parade.

“But hyung…”

But hyung, this is a great opportunity! But hyung, you can’t go alone! But hyung, what am I even going to do without you here? The “but hyungs” were neverending, he could list them all by heart now and it’s barely been a week since his boss named him to travel to NYC’s Pride.

Honestly, Seokjin doesn’t pay him this well to deal with interns. Not even top of the class, very talented, kind of cute, and eager ones. Jimin was best with interns, anyway—kind and still feared. Yoongi, however, was weak.

Although, knowing Jeongguk, he would still be just as much as a brat as he was with Yoongi. And knowing Jimin, he’d probably enjoy that.

They’d be insufferable together.

The only real reason for keeping Jeongguk in Seoul was the ticket price. Yoongi might be weak, but money is the quickest way to shake him up.

“Take good care of the photos I send you and snap a few good shots yourself and you might be the one going next...” decade, he thinks. “... year.”

That’s enough to put a smile on Jeongguk’s lips, and conviction in his puppy eyes.

“Leave it to me, hyung!”

“Besides, you’re gonna work with Taehyung-ah too. He might be a fashion photographer, but you’ll do good in noticing there’s a lot you can learn from his job that you can apply to ours. Don’t be an ass about fashion–”

“It’s his passion,” Jeongguk rolls his eyes, teasingly, as if cutting him wasn’t rude enough. “I know, you’ve said that like ten hundred times aleady. What is he to you, anyway? All worried about me hurting his feelings.”

“He’s from Daegu, too.” And, seeing Jeongguk’s unimpressed expression, Yoongi adds: “We might have hooked up once.”

Jeongguk instantly grimaces, resembling a four-year-old kid seeing their parents share a peck on the lips for the first time. “Yikes, thanks for the mental image. It’s already the best work I’ve ever done as an intern and it’s barely started.”

“I doubt you’re gonna think about me at all while you’re there but sure, if that’s your thing, suit yourself.”

The younger raises both eyebrows in surprise and wonder, as he laughs about the innuendo of what Yoongi has just said, but Yoongi has finished packing and he carefully wears the backpack before grabbing his credentials and waving goodbye. No time for chit chat.

“Don’t be an ass,” it’s his farewell advice before leaving the room, not even looking back.

“You too, hyung! Eat one instead!”

੭ु

Airports are his favorite places in any country he visits, which really shouldn’t be the case for someone with social anxiety, but even though it’s usually crowded, there’s still a concrete sense of escape lingering at every single corner—Yoongi can fly away from here at any moment, free of the crowds and to anywhere in the world.

So it’s enough to keep him sane.

It’s not the only thing that brought him to photojournalism, but it was a big motif. Like most students of this area, getting to the actual traveling around the world was a very far away dream, and this is why stepping on airports feels always surreal and a way lot emotional than it should.

Almost like the first time his parents came with him to see him off. That was ridiculous.

Yoongi shakes his head at the memory, involuntarily, and briefly hopes no one saw him do that.

Incheon is never empty, but it was quite peaceful while he walked around and waited for his flight. JFK, however, is a complete mess, and since he won’t be leaving in any plane for a while, Yoongi makes the fastest way out of there he can manage.

Outside isn’t much better, but he knows it gets worse as the night falls, so he quickly grabs a cab and heads to the hotel he’ll be staying.

In his years of photojournalism, Yoongi has learned a thing or two about being at a country in which basically no one understands you. The first thing is, of course, money. Most people will see you as a walking one billion dollar bill, so it’s best if you make yourself look, well, cheaper. The second thing is, most cab drivers want to talk to you just as much as you want to talk to them—unless, of course, you’re in an English speaking country, and everyone will act like you should know their language.

Yoongi, of course, knows enough to get him by, he’s just not so comfortable with the talking part. But, eventually, it works out just fine.

“You’ve come all the way from Asia, sir?”

“Yeah, it’s for my job.”

“Oh, and what do you work with, sir?”

“You can call me Min,” Yoongi offers, because for some reason Yoongi seems to be too much for north americans to handle. “And I’m a photojournalist.”

The driver, Gabriel, gets very excited about that. He talks about a cousin, who’s studying photography, and a friend, who’s a journalist. Yoongi listens partially, used to paying attention to his surroundings as well as the person talking to him.

Gabriel is actually a nice person, and they arrive at the hotel in record time, so Yoongi makes sure to give him a nice tip and rate him well on the taxi app, also leaving a comment—something he almost never wastes time with.

The sun is already setting, and all he wants is a nice bath, some wine, and a perfect night of sleep.

Long flights are the worse, if much he got three to six hours of sleep, all thanks to his perfect neck pillow, the only travel buddy he actually needs, despite Jeongguk’s beliefs.

Yoongi deals with the receptionist quick enough to reach his room in time to see the sun disappear, and he drinks to that before stripping down and turning the shower on to fill the bathtub.

He drinks to that, too.

Thankfully, he’s a strong one—Jeongguk, on the other hand, not so much—and all the wine does to him is make him ready for bed and sweet dreams. He drags his relaxed and warm body to the bed still in the robes, and makes sure to tuck himself under the duvet before closing his eyes and sighing in content.

Falling asleep in the very next second.

੭ु

“We’re doing a documentary,” He explains over coffee with Seokjin’s contact on the Pride Parade Organization, Elis, the very next day. She eats her pie quietly, paying complete attention to him. “The Parade will be shown at the end of it, after all, it’s history and the people who made it all over the world.”

“That’s incredible, all Jin told me was they were sending their best photojournalist and I was like, yeah man, send him in!” The woman chuckles, green hair falling in her eyes before she smoothly flicks it away. “Anyway, it’s an honor. Consider yourself one of us, Mr. Min, and please call me if you need anything. Really, you’ve got a full pass already so I don’t think you might be having any difficulties, but if you do, I’m a message away. Don’t hesitate.”

“I won’t, thank you. And Min is fine. Or Yoongi if you prefer?”

“Yoongi. That’s cute, way cuter than Jin.”

“I’ll make sure to tell him that, Elis.”

She laughs out loud, her dark skin glowing as it meets the sunlight, and then she tells him a little bit about her experience with NYC’s Pride, suggesting a few routes and streets to visit, even giving him hidden gems along the event. It’s a big day, after all.

“With all that’s been happening, it’s even more important that we celebrate and stick together. It’s a day for us to fight, but also be happy. It’s a great energy, you’ll see.”

Yoongi nods, he knows this well. He remembers his first Pride, and whilst it wasn’t NYC’s, it still was his first.

One thing he’s always sure of, it’s going to be meaningful.

“I hope I don’t miss anything that’s way too amazing, because I know there’s no way I’m not gonna miss great things.”

Elis looks pleased with that, and she nods slowly. “I see you’re very acquainted with the topic, Yoongi.”

“They didn’t only send their best photojournalist, they always sent his openly pansexual photojournalist.” He smirks, a little shyly but really proud. It’s not like he was famous or anything, so being openly pansexual was more about openly dating whoever he wanted than making a statement to the press.

Still, it sure felt amazing. He felt almost addicted, by now, to Pride events. And photographing Pride Parades kind of became his thing, even as a personal project.

That’s when he met Seokjin, through Taehyung, and suddenly his personal project had an investor, along with a steady job as a photojournalist. (So maybe, yeah, he cared about the kid and didn’t want his bratty intern to be a pain to him, but well. Taehyung is a big boy, he sure can handle the intern. Yoongi tries not to dwell on that, and Taehyung hasn’t shoot him any messages until now, so they must be at least working it out. Somehow. Probably courtesy of Taehyung’s great personality and looks.)

Although his English sounds enough to communicate with Elis, Yoongi prefers to go part ways after their casual meeting ends. He takes his credentials and heads to the closest Museum, having lunch at a restaurant and then visiting a Park and spending the afternoon there. Of course, his camera right by his side, almost as a reflection.

On the cab back to the hotel, he thinks of checking up on Taehyung, just in case.

hey tae
everything ok over there?

yoongi hyung!!!
yes, why are you even asking me?? how are things over THERE!!
you’re the international one~

ah, same as always

hyungㅋㅋㅋ
don’t be a show off

what
it’s the truth
ahh, yeah it feels a bit
idk
ok, exhilarating

DAMMIT
it’s like everyone is going to NYC’s Pride but me!!!
next year, I swear...

Yoongi doesn’t know what taehyung is talking about, but knowing him—and the number of people he’s acquainted with—he isn’t fazed by it.

ㅋㅋㅋ
I believe in you, taetae

Thank you hyung!!!
bring me a rainbow souvenir
and take care~
love you~~~

aish
take care you too
and keep jeongguk in his place for me if you will

oh? but jeonggukie is so nice
is he a tough one? I thought he was one of those prodigies
jin only ever gives you those, doesn’t he?

yeah, but he’s kinda headstrong

ㅋㅋㅋ so are you, hyungie

I’ll pretend I didn’t read this
just don’t let him get too comfortable
if I come back to a lazy ass brat I’ll transfer him to you idec

I might like that!!!

Of course he might, Yoongi thinks while rolling his eyes. Maybe he should’ve done that already, if only Jeongguk wasn’t so talented. It’s probably best for him to intern at every area he can—he sure had the skills to adapt to all of them pretty well if he wanted to.

He’s back at the hotel in time to watch another sunset, but this time he only drinks a beer, along with his dinner. Hamburger, but make it fancy—and expensive. It’s okay though, because Seokjin is paying. Tomorrow will be a big day, and long as well. He needs to be well fed and rested.

A little yoga before bed won’t hurt him, either. He sure needs the stretching.

੭ु

It’s not like it makes a big difference for the event, but when the morning of June 24 arrives, the skies are clear and a bright blue, and yes it’s too damn hot, but damn him if he isn’t going to do the most of that beautiful sky in each photography that he can feature it.

Yoongi feels energized. There’s no way this isn’t going to be a great day of work.

His outfit isn’t the most professional, after all, he doesn’t want to be the one guy wearing black at Pride—no, he goes for dark jeans instead, a few Pride patches over his denim jacket, and his t-shirt has a very low v-neck. Belt, bracelets, necklaces—his accessories are on point, too, and Yoongi double checks before leaving.

He looks nice enough, but he makes sure to hang his credentials safely around his neck before leaving the room.

Of course, he arrives too early, but that’s alright. Yoongi walks around, takes the opportunity to get as many shots as possible before things heat up, even meets Elis—with her boyfriend, a trans man—and he can’t really tell time when the Parade actually starts.

Yoongi only makes sure to document it.

He films specific shots, the drag queens parading up the cars, waving and lip-syncing, and people’s reaction to them. The crowd, which is suddenly huge, and makes Yoongi really thankful for his credentials. Supporters, from all groups, with small Pride flags and big posters that speak of acceptance and love.

They’re barely halfway through and he’s already got enough to work with for a whole year. Of course, that only fuels him more.

Yoongi only stops to drink water and go to the restroom—he doesn’t have time for drinks or food, and his stomach isn’t really paying attention to that, at least not for now. When he leaves the restroom for the second time that day, he leaves on the opposite direction.

Looking for newcomers, maybe the less crowded streets.

What he wasn’t looking for, however, was his childhood friend—and, yeah, kind of sweetheart, too—, Jung Hoseok, especially not in a rainbow speedo, colorful balenciagas, and nothing else.

Well, Yoongi thinks to himself, stopping in his tracks with his camera in hands, at least he must’ve been doing good money, because those are certainly expensive.

The coincidence gets even better when Yoongi recognizes the man beside him, wearing heels that make him the same size as his partner—and those have to be fucking platforms to make Park Jimin almost the same size as Kim Namjoon.

What even is going on?

“Yoongi hyung?” Surprisingly, Namjoon is the first to see him, but the other too quickly look in the same direction as Namjoon and find him, a small smile on his lips, finally walking their way—although still a little stiff, he’s not sure if this is really happening.

Of all places, it had to be New York?

Well. At least the costume made it really memorable. Jung Hoseok aged up well, and his hair was black and thrown back, falling in waves to his pointy cheeks. And Yoongi wasn’t hiding that he was indeed looking, checking him up. The last time they spoke they were still pre-adolescents, just bad skin and chaotically gay.

Yoongi liked to think he was more of a confident gay now, but Hoseok really looked like one. His eyes go down Yoongi’s v-neck and he smiles appreciatively, eyes rising back to meet Yoongi’s with approval.

He can’t say he doesn’t like it.

“I told Joonie you’d be here!” And no matter how many times it happens, it’s always nice to hear your mother tongue when you’re abroad. This is another thing he’s learned by now, especially when the stay is a long one, or you’re making several stops before heading back home. “I said we could meet you by sheer luck!”

Jimin hugs him, which probably gets glitter all over his face but Yoongi already has a lot of glitters everywhere due to, well, basically everyone surrounding him the whole day. He doesn’t really mind, either, although he might grunt a little later when there’s glitter everywhere inside his hotel room, including his backpack and luggage. That might be a little unnerving, especially if he doesn’t manage to clean his lenses perfectly.

“You could’ve told me something, I had no idea you’d be around,” he says back, greeting Namjoon as well.

“Well, I was on vacation already, Seokjin just remembered to mention it to me yesterday when I texted him asking if someone was going to cover it. I thought he would say no, but when he said you would, well, of course you would! How’s it been so far?”

“Incredible. I’ve worked my ass off and honestly it feels like I just got started. But what I’m really curious about is how you met Hoseokie?” He turns to the man in question with a smile, offering his hand.

“Oh, I don’t get a hug, hyungie? After all these years?”

Jimin looks the most shocked as they hug and smile openly at each other, for a moment lost in their own bubble.

“What.” He deadpans, not even sounding like a question.

Yoongi smiles, pulling back from the hug but still looking at Hoseok. “I grew up in the same neighborhood as Hoseokie before moving back to Daegu. My parents had a job opportunity and they stayed for ten years, then we went back and… well, we never met again.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you, hyung. You’re looking great.”

“Didn’t I look great before?” He raises an eyebrow, teasing because he’s sure he didn’t. He burned all the visual evidence of those years of his life, excluding the ones his mom locked away from him.

He also doesn’t say anything about Hoseok’s appearance because he’s sure the younger already knows all his thoughts about that.

“Well,” Hoseok winks at him, and Jimin scoffs but Yoongi knows there’s more to that wink than just teasing him.

There’s another kind of teasing. Maybe they’re on the same page, even after all those years.

“Well, you sure didn’t mind it back then,” he bites back, enjoying the way Jimin briefly chokes. “No one answered me, though. How do you know each other?”

“Jimin did pole dance classes with me, undoubtedly my best student ever.” Hoseok provides, completely unfazed by Yoongi’s innuendo, and proudly tapping Jimin’s shoulder.

Yoongi nods, impressed, “Pole, huh?” He turns back to Hoseok. “You always did enjoy dancing.”

Hoseok chuckles. “And photojournalism? You made it, hyung.”

His confident façade falls a bit, as Hoseok smiles with his eyes and actually looks so full of affection for him that Yoongi feels like now of all times he might be actually blushing.

Namjoon coughs, breaking the moment, Jimin still too shocked with what’s happening to react in any way.

“We could make you company, hyung, if you don’t mind?”

Yoongi feels the expectation oozing from Namjoon, but he doesn’t really want to interrupt their plans, so he waves his hand briefly and shakes his head.

“Oh, no, you should enjoy the day! We can meet afterward instead, I’d love that. I know a Korean barbecue nearby, I can send Jimin the address and we’ll meet there?”

There’s a pout on Jimin’s lips and Namjoon doesn’t look much better, but Yoongi only blinks, still smiling.

“Well, let us make you company for a little while, then?” Hoseok asks, all bright smile, and it’s effective.

“If you insist, yeah, just don’t mind me, I’m having a great time.”

Of course, they have an even greater time together. It’s also way easier to do his job with Jimin’s assistance, and Hoseok is great with people, making some really great opportunities for Yoongi to capture with his cameras.

Yeah, he even finds time to take a few shots with his analog camera too.

No, he’s not just taking the photos because Hoseok is in it, in all his rainbow speedo and balenciagas glory. Yoongi won’t lie, Hoseok grew up fine, but he’s a professional. His eyes are focused on the Parade, searching for every little thing happening. Every smile shared between two people, every hug, every kiss.

They make friends with a group that’s currently putting up extra makeup on each other, and Yoongi stops photographing them when he sees golden powder.

“You should get some of this, Hoseokie, it matches you nicely,” Yoongi points to it to make sure Hoseok sees what he’s talking about, and Hoseok laughs, getting a closer look.

“Matches me how exactly?” He looks down at himself, confused.

Yoongi isn’t about to confess he’s been thinking of sunshine anytime soon, so he says instead, “Your skin.”

And smile, and eyes, and every other single thing about you.

“Okay then, but you’re putting it on me because I don’t have a mirror.”

Yoongi does his best not make a mess on Hoseok and on himself as well, doing a pretty decent job at making Hoseok’s high cheeks shine—even more—and cleaning his fingers in the back of Hoseok’s shoulders as his reward.

“Ey!”

He chuckles, pointing to his camera. “Can’t touch it like this.”

“So you’re touching me instead?” Hoseok raises an eyebrow, goofily teasing. “I don’t think you can take any shots with me, hyung…”

“Shut up, you big dork.”

Jimin’s voice comes in a fake whisper, he’s chucked a beer down and dangerous. “Oh my god. Joonie, he’s flirting! Like, openly!”

Namjoon widens his eyes. “I’m not sure how much you can call that flirting.”

Damn, not even Namjoon is making it easier for him today.

“Said the man whose only flirting technique is calling people cute,” Yoongi shoots back, with no bite. Because Hoseok looks happy, and honestly what a sight.

Breathtaking.

“Well, works perfectly fine with me and that’s all that matters,” Jimin answers tilting his nose and adding an extra roll to his hips. “Oh my god baby, look those heart-shaped balloons! I need one of each color! Are they giving it?!”

And there they go, Pride Parade in and beyond.

It’s near dawn that things start to cool down, but there’s a small event going on around them. A drag queen on top of a truck is giving a message of love and resistance, and at the end they’re all told to kiss the person next to you.

“Your significant other, or someone you care about, or even a stranger. A simple peck on the lips, a message of love and strength, because this is what we’re fighting for.”

Of course it’s a big commotion, but as soon as people start kissing, it feels literally like the world is stopping for this single moment in time, and everything happens in slow motion.

In reality, it ends way too fast, but Yoongi’s camera was in place the whole time, capturing it as best as he could.

When he puts the camera down, lips stretched into the biggest smile of the day, he feels lips pressing against his cheek.

“Happy Pride, Yoon,” Hoseok whispers, heart-shaped lips smiling at him just like the old times.

Yoongi chuckles, letting go of the camera—currently safely hung around his neck—and raising his head to meet Hoseok’s eyes.

“I think you missed the spot, Hoseokie.”

Hoseok hums, eyes trailing down to his lips. “I could try again.”

“Last chance.”

Hoseok makes a small “ooh” sound, coming in front of Yoongi fully this time and placing a hand on his shoulder. “I should be really careful then.”

He smirks, silently agreeing, but Hoseok is already too close for anything else. Golden powder still shining in his cheeks, lips a little glossy with the mint lip balm he kept taking off his fany pack —how could have Yoongi missed that at first, he doesn’t know, but it was probably the rainbow speedo’s fault—and everything else.

Hoseok’s features are breathtaking enough to steal his breath away even before the kiss begins.

When their lips softly connect, Yoongi closes his eyes and tilts his head upward, getting as close as he can to Hoseok without smashing his camera in between them.

It’s a chaste kiss, of course, but Hoseok slides their lips the slightest, even pecks a few times before pulling back, slowly opening his eyes, and he takes a slow breath as Yoongi’s eyes meet his.

“Fancy meeting you here, Hoseokie.” He breathes right into Hoseok’s minty lips.

“Likewise, hyung.”

੭ु

Despite being quite full, they don’t have to wait for too long before they get a table at the restaurant which Yoongi mentioned earlier. The fact that Namjoon coincidently knows one of the workers might have something to do it, but who knows?

“Ah hyung, these look amazing. All of them,” Namjoon praises while avidly going through the photos on Yoongi’s camera when they’re well seated, all of them dying just thinking of food, emptying the water recipient so fast that the waiter has to replace it with a new one before they make their order.

“You’re such a fanboy, babe,” Jimin chuckles but Namjoon takes the hint, and quickly comments on how he can’t resist photography now that he knows so much from seeing Jimin’s work.

While they’re lost praising each other and being disgustingly in love, Yoongi notices the hairs on Hoseok’s legs are a little up, even though he’s wearing more than just the speedo now—thankfully, but also regretfully, if Yoongi is being honest to himself—a shorts that’s indeed really short, and a yellow hoodie.

And God, Hoseok does look really good in yellow. His hint about this was completely right.

Yoongi takes off his jacket and pretends to fold it, but on second thought he offers it instead. Hoseok looks confused, and it makes him proud of his acting skills for a minute.

“For your legs, at least while we’re here? I noticed the air conditioning is a little strong, isn’t it?”

So considerate of him.

Hoseok’s lips stretch into a grateful smile. “Yeah, they usually do that when it’s too hot outside. Probably supported by the pharmaceutical industry, to make us all sick and keep the business running, you know?”

Hoseok’s conspiracy voice is on point, too. He takes the jacket and lays it carefully above his thighs, and although it’s sad to see them go, it’s for a good cause.

“Yeah, but we’re too clever to be fooled by then, aren’t we?”

“Too clever,” Hoseok repeats, adding a wink at the end.

The atmosphere that’s settled between them is familiar and comfortable, even though they just went through a lot outside. From dating to marriage proposals, new and old couples, friends boosting their friends around, a lot of enchanted eyes and, the best part, the smiles.

So many of them, Yoongi’s eyes even felt tired.

He really needed to rest. Eat first, then rest.

“You’ve worked hard, hyung,” Hoseok comments, and the denim jacket covering his thighs also helps Yoongi to keep the atmosphere PG.

“Everyone worked harder. I’m glad I managed to register a small part of it.”

Their food arrives quickly, gratefully, and the heart of their stove helps a little with the chills as well. Soon, they’re three shots of Soju down and no one even remembers what the cold feels like.

They exchanged embarrassing situations, at first trying to incriminate each other, but soon it’s almost as if they’re competing to see who’s the most embarrassing between them, tears streaming down when they laugh to enthusiastically of something that’s certainly not that funny, but they find it funny nonetheless.

For some reason Yoongi isn’t about to complain, Jimin and Namjoon make no comment on what happened at the end of the event, almost as if pretending they didn’t see—and no matter how engrossed they were on each other at the time, kissing as disgustingly as they possibly could, Yoongi knows they must have seen some of it.

Some people even let soft “awns” at them. It was indeed sweet, even literally—maybe he should invest on some minty lip balms himself.

Peaches. Maybe peachy lip balms, instead.

His mind wanders to how minty would taste along with peachy and before he notices, his eyes are back at Hoseok’s lips, the cute mole right on top of his mouth, and hopefully he doesn’t sigh— that he’s sure Jimin would find too hard to let it slide.

“Are you leaving soon, hyung?” Hoseok asks, a small pout to his lips as he looks at Yoongi curiously.

“No, I’ll stay the rest of the week. Gonna visit a few more places, too, since I’m already here.”

“Oh, me too,” Hoseok replies, enthusiastically. That’s when Yoongi realizes he never asked what he was doing there in the first place.

“Are you living in the US now, Hoseokie?”

“Was. Well, I came to Los Angeles for a dance course, then I scored a nice opportunity teaching a crew, but they’ll be ready soon and I’ll be going back to Korea. I really miss it, LA is kind of… very peculiar.”

They all snicker, because they understand the feeling. Everything is too different, Yoongi’s been to enough countries to know that. It’s probably somewhere on the list of things he learned.

Los Angeles, particularly,

“But you’re staying in New York now?”

“I came for Pride, obviously, but I stretched the stay a little longer for the same reasons as you. I was thinking of visiting Stonewall, and historic places such as this, plus some museums? Watching a Broadway play, too.”

“That sounds lovely,” Yoongi answers with all honesty, not sure how to say I really didn’t plan anything, I just have a few places in mind and I was going to hop on a cab and randomly go. Maybe I could join you?

“Huh,” Jimin cuts in, witty, a sly smile on his lips. “Looks like you two could make company to each other, don’t you think so, Joonie?”

Namjoon nods as Yoongi feels his face get hotter, and he’s already waving his hand around. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to—”

“ That would be lovely!” Hoseok answers excitedly. “I don’t mind adapting my schedule, it’s not that busy anyway, and it sounds like we’re interested in the same things? If you want to, of course, it would be my pleasure, Yoongi hyung.”

Well, that was way too easy.

His body relaxes as he smiles, although Jimin is still walking on thin fucking ice with him. “Sounds great to me, we can meet tomorrow morning for breakfast and decide where to go from there.”

“Yeah, let me give you my number.”

Jimin looks insufferably pleased with himself across the table, a cheeky smile plastered on his face.

Yeah. Thin fucking ice.

The fact Hoseok saves his contact as “Hoseokie ♡♡” on Yoongi’s phone is enough to distract him, however, and suddenly Jimin’s little cupid role-play doesn’t bother him that much anymore.

Not that he needed it, but it’s totally worth it.

੭ु

The first time they kissed, Yoongi had just found out he was going back to Daegu.

It wasn’t a desperate act of longing, or them confessing their feelings. Yoongi was sixteen years old, for god’s sake, and Hoseok was fifteen. It was more like a lament, a prolonged sigh from Hoseok that made him whip his head and ask, “What is it, Hoseokie?”

“This kind of sucks, you know?” The younger said, taking off his cap and smashing it into his hands. Yoongi chuckled, nodding, but keeping his lips sealed in hopes that Hoseok would elaborate further. A lot of things sucked, after all. “We did so many things together, but there are so many still left to do. I won’t see you graduate High School, for example. Get your driver’s license. Your first kiss.”

Yoongi grunts, pushing Hoseok affectionately.

“How do you even know I haven’t kissed yet, jerk?”

“You don’t even like anyone, hyung!”

“Shut up, of course I do. I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t.”

“It’s not the same, hyung…”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. They’ve had conversations about this before, the gender and sexuality thing. Not about themselves, particularly, but Yoongi voiced his own inner questions about it.

“Isn’t it? I don’t really see the difference, at least not yet, and you know it.”

“Well, I’m not talking about, you know, genders and all that. Haha. I mean like, liking someone as a friend and liking someone as… a person you’d kiss, hyung.”

Yoongi hummed, thinking for a second before speaking up again.

Hell, he’d be leaving anyway, so what was the point in holding back?

“I think I still don’t see the difference here.”

Hoseok takes in his words in silence, mouth opening and closing a few times before he finally gives up answering.

They stay in silence, but it isn’t awkward. It’s comfortable, and Yoongi doesn’t regret anything. He doesn’t take it back, either.

Eventually, as they watch the sunset from the top of Hoseok’s building, the younger turns to face him and asks, “So we could still get one thing done for the first time together before you go?”

Yoongi answered with a half shrug, half nod. “Yeah?”

That one time was mostly uncoordinated and kind of messy, hands trembling and breath halting, giggling into each other’s mouths when their teeth clashed, but never, not even for a second, stopping.

It stayed with Yoongi as a fond memory, that one you always go back to on cold days, over a sweet hot drink. He’s not entirely sure this is the reason he never went after Hoseok, not even after the event of social media, but it seems like a good guess. Making something so good turn bad, it was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

However, this. Life bringing them together in the most ridiculous cheesy way. This, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to.

Or, more specifically, turn the opportunity down. Maybe he spent too much of their time together wondering how it would feel to kiss Hoseok again, the mere thought making his stomach do flips and a stupid smile fill his lips, because then Yoongi would remember the Parade and from then on, he knew he was a lost cause.

Hoseok makes him company the entire week, going everywhere Yoongi wants to, which Yoongi also returns doing the same for him. There’s a lot of unnecessary hand-holding, and too many occasions that resemble dates, but nothing is said.

And, somehow, it feels just right. He’s just really been looking at Hoseok’s lips for too long. No one’s trying to stop him, really.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when they’re enjoying his last day in New York and Hoseok asks if he can accompany him to the airport, but it still does. Yoongi should’ve known he’d let it for the last possible moment, like that was their thing.

Maybe it is. He finds that he wouldn’t really mind that when Hoseok is hugging him and he pulls back the slightest bit just to face Yoongi, bumping their noses and pressing their foreheads together.

It’s so disgustingly sweet Yoongi feels like Jimin and Namjoon, but at that moment he doesn’t mind it as well.

“We’ll meet when I get back, Yoongi?”

“You have my number, Hoseok.”

“That I do.”

“So don’t become a stranger.”

“It’s a deal.”

Yoongi carefully grabs the collar of Hoseok’s shirt, pulling him in for their lips to finally, finally meet again. A deal sealed, Hoseok’s arms tightening around his waist, and the taste of mint on their lips.

And God. Yoongi never wanted so bad to not leave at all and be back home at the same time.

⇠♡♡♡⇢

Coming back strangely feels weird, Yoongi supposes there’s no prediction as to how traveling for work will go, being surprised by a detail such as this every now and then.

Getting to his desk and setting the bags down, he looks around and sees the copies of the photographies he sent Jeongguk, all perfectly edited and carefully spread on his cardboard.

That’s enough to make Yoongi smile, pleased. It was a great trip.

There’s a lot to do, of course, and he’s so busy the whole day that he barely notices the lack of a very bratty, very loud intern who always finds it better to work at Yoongi’s sofa instead of his own desk.

He notices it enough when said intern storms into his room, carrying a thousand different things in his hands.

Yoongi doesn’t look long enough to tell them apart, he’s got videos to edit.

“Yoongi-ssi, I’m sorry I wasn’t here to welcome you back!”

He raises an eyebrow, stopping what he’s doing to look again. This can’t be his intern, maybe it’s a new one… Who looks exactly like Jeongguk. Maybe slightly better dressed.

“Uh… That’s fine.” Awkward, he doesn’t really know how to deal with this Jeongguk, whoever he is, wide eyes and is he sweating? “What are you up to, anyway?”

Jeongguk opens a big smile, almost forcing his eyes closed.

“They needed me at the fashion wing, but I’ll be back tomorrow! It’s just, while you were away there was this project and today it’s the last day, I helped them during the whole thing so…”

Yoongi nods, and smiles. “You don’t have to justify yourself, Gguk-ah. So I take it you enjoyed your little experience with Taehyung, huh?”

Jeongguk nods too enthusiastically, which makes Yoongi raise both eyebrows.

“You like working with him this much, have you thought about changing areas?”

He’s only teasing, to be honest, but the way in which Jeongguk blushes to his very core is very telling.

“That wouldn’t be good, hyung,” Jeongguk replies, sounding mortified as he shakes his head from left to right way too intently.

Oh, this is way better than he was expecting. Way, way better. He sounds like an adolescent with his first crush.

Yoongi rests his arms on the table.

“Really now? Why is that so?”

“The… uh, office policies…”

“What policies, Jeongguk?” He presses further, blinking his innocent eyes.

“... The... D-dating ones…”

Oh my god, Yoongi thinks. He even stuttered. Well, ain’t that adorable?

“Oh my god,” He voices, sounding as dreadful as he feels. “Well, that explains everything. At least I know for sure you’re in good hands,” Yoongi winks, not missing the opportunity to make Jeongguk even more miserable.

Jeongguk groans, dropping to the sofa and sighing. Yes, this is exactly how he imagined an enamored Jeongguk would be. Dramatic as fuck.

“He’s an angel, no one deserves him. He’ll never see me this way.”

God. So dramatic.

“Maybe don’t be this whiny in front of him and you’ve got a big chance, Gguk-ah. Now, I think there’s someone waiting for you?”

He stands up instantly. “Yes! Yes. Welcome back, hyung! Ah,” Jeongguk stops at the door, turning back. “And let’s meet for dinner, so you can tell me everything about New York and your boyfriend over lamb skewers!”

Yoongi coughs, effectively surprised. “My what?”

“Jung Hoseok? Jimin’s pole dance instructor.” Then he chuckles. “Jimin-ssi told us everything.”

He straightens his eyes, “I didn’t know you were this close to Jimin.”

“Taetae hyung is.” Ah, Yoongi thinks, I should’ve known. “And he showed me, because we were having lunch together. There was even a photo, wait.”

He struggles to get his phone without dropping anything, but eventually finds a way to succeed, shoving the phone in front of Yoongi.

It’s actually… a damn amazing photo, of course it would be, coming from Park Jimin, but it still surprises him. It’s like seeing that, yeah, that totally happened. Everything.

“It’s a great photo, hyung, I can send it to you if you want…” Jeoonguk whispers, a little too bold for Yoongi’s taste.

Yoongi gives him the stinkiest eye he can manage, but hopes Jeongguk will send him the picture anyway, even if only to spite him. It’s way better than having to request it from Jimin himself, and there must be some diabolic reason as to why Jimin hasn’t sent him this photo yet.

As Jeongguk leaves, that’s not what he’s thinking anymore. He’s having ideas—such as including that at the documentary credits, when his name comes up. That would be just perfect.

He gets the notification from Jeongguk soon enough, and sets the image as his lock screen at record time. Him, a photographer in denim, jacket full with Pride patches. Hoseok, with his rainbow speedo and a god-like body. The rose-colored sunset and the Parade as the background.

Yeah, he’s definitely going to meet Hoseok again.

He has to ask for his permission to use the photo, after all.

His phone screen lights up as soon as it blacked out; a message, of course. How silly of him to make up excuses in his head.

Hoseokie ♡♡
how’s the jetlag treating you, hyungie?

Yoongi types end sends a quick “damn fine”, already standing up and heading out. “it’s coffee time, wanna join?”

The typing bubble quickly shows up, “yes please” he reads with a smile, and when he sits at the coffee shop, informing Hoseok that he’s arrived, he gives a full laugh with Hoseok’s reply.

Hoseokie ♡♡ 
fancy meeting you here, Yoongi