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[It's a lovely evening. Souji cracks the window as the instant ramen seeps on the kitchen counter, letting in the night-air. There's still beer left in the fridge, and he goes to help himself as he waits. It's been an odd last few days—many significant things have happened all at once. Even someone as thick as him could notice that something's hanging in the air. From Kanji confessing to Naoto to Yosuke's blatant insecurities; and then there was his own slip-ups.

He doesn't take long to ponder it, as the timer pings and he heads over with wooden chopsticks to dig into his instant meal.]

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[It doesn't take long for Souji to respond, his brows draw down in an expression of concern. He leans in instinctively, drawing closer to his friend. He doesn't seem to realize what nerve he had suddenly hit.]

Hey, Yosuke? You okay?

Ugh, no. I mean....

.... I don't know. I just.... wish I could get a read on you, sometimes.

[His hand passes across his face and up into his hair, pushing it back off his forehead. His face is so flushed by this point it looks like he's been drinking; pink and miserable-looking, he glances sheepishly up at Souji's confused, concerned face.

Poor, earnest Souji - if only he knew the bomb Yosuke was carrying around in his chest.]

.... So you wanna tell me? How you really feel about me, I mean.

I know it's a dumb question and all but... I don't know what else to do, and I hate sitting here feeling like a freak all by myself....

[Souji isn't really a man of many words. He uses what he needs to express himself, but none of his friends would say that he's particularly verbose. He puts meaning behind his words, when he needs them, but there's something more striking about his actions.

With the small string of words "how you feel about me" it clicks for him. Suddenly, he seems to understand. The concern washes from his face into a look of quiet acceptance. There wasn't much that needed to be said for him.

Instead he turns his head quietly, and leans forward onto the table, meeting Yosuke's lips chastely.]

[For a second, Yosuke thinks he's hallucinating. Thinks it's just the gravitational pull of Souji's warm gray eyes that makes it seem like their faces are tilting closer together, or the heat in his cheeks that makes it seem like Souji's breath is so close he can taste it.

But no, he actually can, a salty and severe concoction of chinese five spices, artificial pork and cheap beer clinging to a warm and wet pair of lips, currently pressed lightly against his own. Yosuke takes a heartbeat to process that this is actually happening, and less than that to react.

One hand thrusts out in front of him in a defensive gesture, catching Souji on the shoulder and pushing them apart, back into their own respective chairs - and in this case, Yosuke's head against the wall. All it takes is a brief twinge of pain for that moment to be lost, and suddenly, they're both sitting where they started the conversation - but everything's all wrong. There's a step missing. Yosuke was angling to confess and get rejected, or at least get put in his place with a very firm "friends" label, but this....]

.... Uh- ......

... w-Well.... I guess that answers.... my question....

[Honestly, he can't help but look amused. Souji lets his legs go and and his rear hits the chair ungracefully. His head tips back with a knowing smile, and he goes back to lounging over the table on his elbows. Yosuke always took things too seriously (and sometimes he didn't take the serious things serious enough, depending), but to Souji, at this moment, it was kind of charming.

The look on his face gave everything away.]

We're friends, right? All you have to do is ask.

[And leave it to Souji to interject that sort of ludicrous comment, lending a bit of perspective to an otherwise surreal moment. True to form, Yosuke's temper is the first thing to get its bearings back.]

Dude, how am I supposed to do that?? It's not like you can just turn to your best friend out of the blue and say hey, I've found you irresistibly attractive for a while now and oh by the way, wanna make out??

[Late to the party - as usual - is Yosuke's common sense. Realizing what he's said just a moment too late, his expression becomes a bit more taciturn as he visibly closes himself up, withdrawing in embarrassment. Self-conscious off the kiss, he scrubs the back of his knuckles along his lips, but he can still taste it.]

A-anyway.... want to fill me in on what that was all about?

[He watches him through his tantrum, just listening as the words as his temper flares. Then, like in apology, he draws back, his tone changing. Souji quirks his head at him, contemplating leaning in once again. There's an amused smile that slides across his lips.]

I thought a kiss was pretty straight-forward. But if you want, I can tell you how much I like you.

[That's..... a pretty tempting offer, actually, now that Yosuke considers it - too often he's being told off for his obnoxious bluntness, maybe some sweet-talking might be a nice change of pace - but then again, the look in Souji's eyes makes him wonder if his heart can handle it.]

Dude I-- ..... I already know you like me. I'm not blind. I just mean.....

[He makes a frustrated noise in the back of his throat - he's overthinking things! Again!! And if anything is bound to screw this up, it's sure as hell going to be Yosuke's insecurities. A glance back at Souji reveals him to be as cool and unflappable as Yosuke thought he'd be, simply taking the moment as it came to them. And Yosuke thinks: ah, hell with it.

And then he just stops thinking altogether.]

Okay, look.

[He slaps his hand down onto the table as if to say here, look right here.]

I know that sometimes, you sacrifice things for us because you care about us.... and you do, I mean hey, a peck on the lips is probably small potatoes compared to some of the other crap I've put you through!!

But if that was a "let's take pity on Yosuke and his big dumb gay crush" kiss, then... i-it ends here, okay? I mean it. That's not.... enough... for me....

[Towards the end of that sentence Yosuke's brain starts to come back from its impromptu coffee break, and as though realizing what has been made clear in its absence lowers the timbre of his voice down to an awkward mumble. Nevertheless it's out there, and Yosuke's staring up at Souji with his mouth in a grim, determined line, face flushed and eyes bright.]

[He can see it already. Yosuke's thinking too much into this. And then, as Souji's eyes follow him, Yosuke's hands slap down on the table, demanding his attention.

Well, all right.

There were times that he'd wish simply that Yosuke would let it go—that he would let this insecurity just pass him by. Too many times did he think that he was missing something because he drown himself in them. His eyes meet his partner's without hesitance, no flicker of embarrassment or second-thought. Suddenly, his whole expression was serious.]

This isn't that complicated. I don't like people just because they like me, you know that.

[And it's as plain as that, really. Souji's eyes are naked and honest; he might not say much, but then again he doesn't really have to. Whether it's the truth or a lie, Yosuke would trust him anyway.

And just like that, it no longer feels like he's fighting something. Like finally, he's stopped trying to lie to himself. Embarrassed, but still weirdly more calm than he's been this entire conversation, he just nods--]

Yeah. ..... Yeah.

[--and let's his solemn expression relax into a sheepish, helpless sort of grin.]

I guess I wanted to give you a chance to back out, or make me back off, or something.

I'm.... glad you didn't, partner.

[Despite himself, Souji's always been honest. Whether he was being a jerk or completely sincere, there was a level of honesty that was always in his face and in his words. This situation was no different. He watches Yosuke linger, watches him speak, carefully. His expression softens.]

Yeah, I'm glad too.

[He pauses.]

We can always make out.

h- Huh?! Dude, seriously??

[Yosuke's mouth ruins everything, as per usual. Though in this case it would be his undignified, overeager reaction to Souji's latter statement that completely ruins the flirtatious mood. Stay cool, Yosuke.

Struggling desperately to get the pace back, he leans forward a bit on his elbow, trying to look casual about it but only managing to look.... nervous. He opens his mouth to say something chill like.... okay, he's drawing a blank. But when in doubt, words will come out, right? (This has been Yosuke's unfortunate slogan for years - so far, it's done him no favours.)

Nervously, he lets his eyes roam the tabletop; over Souji's hands, his cellphone, the empty ramen cup, never Souji's face. His face feels like it's going to spontaneously combust.]

Oh man..... I--..

.... I really want to, now.... Can we?

[Well, he wasn't quite sure if he expected that sort of eagerness from his partner. His head quirks at him curiously in response, as if he's almost surprised at his reaction.

Suddenly, Souji's leaning forward and into his line of vision.]

[If Souji only knew how long, exactly, Yosuke had been harboring that emotion, it might give him some appreciation for the exuberance of his reply, and the considerable restraint he was already exhibiting.

Now that he's expecting it, Yosuke finds himself leaning in almost before he even realizes it. He really hopes his heart doesn't explode before he manages to get close enough. Leaning up out of his chair, he puts his weight on the stinging hand he'd used to slap the table and tries to gauge the angles - from this perspective it's hard to imagine what fits where and who's supposed to tilt their head when. He feels like a complete novice, so instead of trying to plan ahead, he just closes his eyes hard and leaves his luck to fate.]

[It seems graceful at first. Souji seems to find a way to move into him as he leans forward. He tips his head to the side, inching closer as his partner does. He seems like a natural, as if he'd kissed people at his very table, and knew the exact angles which to turn his head.

That is, of course, until he moves a little awkwardly and bumps the bridge of his nose against Yosuke's. The's the sound of restrain laughter coming from his throat, but he quickly makes up for it, recovering smoothly and catching his lips.]

[Things seem to be progressing unnervingly smoothly on Yosuke's end, too, so much so that he can scarcely believe that this is happening - at least until their faces mash together. That's the reality check he needs, and his laughter isn't nearly as pared back. With a throaty chuckle, he starts to say something, to draw attention to Souji's flawed delivery maybe.]

Dude, wha--

ah.

[That last part isn't so much uttered against Souji's mouth as it is into it, muted in surprise. For a second he goes a little rigid, but recovers himself just in time to lean in closer, back against the gentle pressure.]

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