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It wasn't exactly the most ideal situation. Hoseok had spent the entire day - no, the last few months - hyping himself up for it. It had gotten so bad that, at one point, Namjoon had pulled him aside and asked if everything was alright at home. That was the problem. Everything was great. Fantastic, actually. Hoseok couldn't remember a time in his life he'd been happier and it was all because of the man standing beside him. Literally and metaphorically (a simile? Hoseok never paid attention in class), Hoseok was living a deeper; more fulfilling life because of him. Yoongi, who had pulled Hoseok from that alley. Yoongi, who had fought the group tooth and nail to let them shelter someone they couldn't afford to take in. Yoongi, who had let Hoseok take his time adjusting. Trusting. Living. Yoongi, who had taught Hoseok that just because he was sad all the time didn't mean he had to wallow in it. Yoongi, who had taught him how to pick locks. Yoongi, who had given up his last jacket without holes in it so Hoseok could be warm in the winter. Yoongi, who had taken Hoseok to the doctor the second they got their first big paycheck for a job. Yoongi, who had gone to every single physical therapy session after that. Yoongi, who had reminded Hoseok that maybe people weren't so shit after all. Yoongi, Yoongi, Yoongi.
Yoongi, at his side, gripping his hand tightly because he knew that even after all those years and all those buildings scaled Hoseok was still afraid of heights. "Almost there, Hoseok," Yoongi said, voice so soft that Hoseok almost didn't hear it over the wind. "We're almost home."
Every morning for the past four months Hoseok had woken up beside Yoongi and thought, Today is the day. Every time Yoongi would tuck Hoseok's hair behind his ear ("It's getting long again, Hoseok, you need to get it cut. Do you want to look like me in my emo phase back in high school?" ) he would think to himself Today is the day. Today is when I tell him. But it never happened. The words always got stuck even though those perfect moments came by so often. How many times had they spent quiet mornings together curled into the couch? How many romantic candle lit dinners would have been the exact right time to say it? Hoseok had lost count. But for some reason he couldn't find the courage to say it. In the few relationships Hoseok had had during his lifetime, it had been easy. Too easy, in fact. Too quick, probably.
But Yoongi was different. Yoongi was... Hoseok took a deep breath in, and counted to five. Just like Yoongi had taught him. When Hoseok breathed out through his mouth, slow and steady, Yoongi mumbled, "Good job."
This was not the most ideal situation. Hoseok had wanted to tell Yoongi when everything was just right. Seconds from jumping off of a rooftop with backpacks full of stolen jewelry and weird looking miniature statues was probably not the most romantic setting. It wasn't the right moment, but Hoseok wasn't sure there would ever be a moment that felt wholly perfect to him. Because to him, Yoongi was so much. He had never loved someone so intensely as he loved Yoongi. He had never known someone, connected to someone, trusted someone on such a level before. He had... he had a lot of fucking feelings about Min Yoongi. So, maybe, actually, telling him he loved him for the first time right before they both jumped off a building was as good of a fitting setting as he could get. It was like, poetic, probably. A whole trust fall sort of thing. Metaphorical. Even though they had ropes clipped to their utility belts so they weren't technically free falling... well. Whatever. Hoseok had to take what he could get at that rate.
Namjoon had told him quite plainly, when Hoseok had admitted why he had been so nervous for so long, that Hoseok was being an idiot. He had thought that Hoseok meant he wasn't sure if Yoongi loved him back. No, Hoseok was as sure that Yoongi loved him as he was sure that picking Bowser in Mario Party was a fucking crime (how many times had Taehyung won that paparazzi mini game because Bowser took up half the damn screen). Hoseok knew Yoongi loved him. Yoongi knew Hoseok loved him back. Everyone did. It was sort of their whole shtick at that point - being grossly, deeply in love. But they hadn't said it out loud. Yoongi preferred actions over words. Hoseok did too, honestly. But there was still something so intimidating about Yoongi to Hoseok. He wasn't scary, or mean, or cold. He was just so honest and trusting of Hoseok that it threw him for a loop. Yoongi was open with Hoseok because he trusted Hoseok to have his back. He had faith in him. That was what was really intimidating. Seeing someone look at him, and knowing he trusted him with his life. Seeing someone see the potential in him. When Yoongi looked at him, Hoseok saw that future he so desperately hoped for staring right back at him and god damn if that wasn't scary. A good scary, but. "Guards doing rounds again in five. Get off that damn roof." Jimin's voice cut through the quiet chill that had settled around them.
Hoseok sighed, and let go of Yoongi's hand to check his belt. Secured. Fine. No problems. Everything was working as it should. "Ready?" Yoongi asked; peering at him carefully. Hoseok grinned. Those butterflies in his chest thrashed against his ribs. Old, familiar friends that always seemed to visit when he was near Yoongi. Years had not, and probably would never, change that.
"Yeah, I'm... Yeah." Hoseok shook out his hands. Tried not to peer down the side of the building. He did anyway. "Hey, um - "
"Seriously, if you two don't hurry up I'm going to send Jin hyung up there to kick you off," Jimin said, and tried to sound annoyed but there was that twinge of urgency he always had on jobs. Time to go, then.
"Alright, we're going, damn." Yoongi took a step toward the ledge, squared his shoulders, got that unconscious pout on his lips that meant he was really concentrating.
God, Hoseok had so many fucking feelings about Min Yoongi. "I love you." And there it was. Tumbled right out of his lips without him realizing. Why hadn't it been so easy any other time? Yoongi whipped his head around to stare at him. His eyes were almost comically wide, and Hoseok watched delightedly as Yoongi's ears quickly turned red. "I'm sure you know already. But I really, really love you. A lot."
Yoongi was still gaping at him. Like that was the most surprising thing he'd ever heard. That was the funny thing about Yoongi. He was so full of love and so ready to give that love, but the second someone reciprocated he got blindsided as if he wasn't the most likable person in all of Korea. Hoseok may be a little biased, though. "What - I - Why did you have to tell me now, Jung Hoseok? Oh my god." Yoongi buried his face in his hands, and Hoseok couldn't stop the laugh from escaping him.
"It seemed like as good a time as any."
Yoongi peaked at him from between his fingers. The butterflies kept tumbling around and around. "I love you, too," Yoongi said, and Hoseok was pretty sure he could fucking fly all of a sudden.
Static in their ears made them hiss. "Yes, that's fucking great but can you move your asses? Do you want to get arrested? Be disgustingly in love somewhere else, idiots!" Now Jimin was actually angry.
"Okay, okay! Sorry! Let us have our moment, Jiminie," Hoseok cooed. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Yoongi was still blushing. Wouldn't quite look at Hoseok but there was that smile on his face, and Hoseok was so, so in love.
"In jail? Yeah sure. You can go over your vows while you try to tunnel your way out of your prison cells with plastic spoons. Be my guest." A definite click in their ear pieces told them that Jimin was effectively giving them the silent treatment, which meant they were really in trouble.
Hoseok stepped up on the ledge beside Yoongi. "We'll have to take him to lunch to make it up to him. He won't speak to use for like a week if not."
Yoongi hummed in agreement. "Yeah. We'll bring Tae, too. He'll be mad that we made Jimin upset." Yoongi glanced over at Hoseok again, and scrunched his nose. "Seriously, next time please don't tell me when we're seconds from jumping off a building. I need to stay focused so I don't die, thanks."
Hoseok threw his head back to laugh. "I thought it was a good metaphor!"
"Isn't it a simile?" Yoongi asked.
Hoseok blinked. "Is it?"
With a shrug, Yoongi turned to Hoseok. "Fuck if I know. Let's get home, okay?" Yoongi kissed his cheek. He had to stand on the tip of his toes to reach, and Hoseok waded through a surge of adoration to grin at him. "Don't fucking say anything, Jung Hoseok." And with that, Yoongi stepped off the ledge.
"I love you!" Hoseok called down; heart thumping and future bright, bright.
"Fuck off!"
Poetic. "Thanks, babe!" Hoseok chirped, and followed after him.