Na Jaemin could not stay in their warmth much longer.

He was so painfully wrong about wanting to be in their presence forever because when eight full grown men were trapped together in a giant van they managed to rent for the duration of their road trip, it would eventually become hell.

Especially since Yukhei was driving.

Jaemin swore they were going to crash, he swore he was ready to meet his end if Yukhei got distracted one more time by something as stupid as a colourful bird perched on a fence.

But, it was delightful during the times where they'd roll down the windows in a non-populated area and sing out their heart to whatever the hell Jungwoo had connected to the aux.

Dejun, Kunhang, and Yangyang were seated in the middle bench, Jungwoo and Yukhei in the front seats─ also because they were the oldest and supposedly supposed to be the most responsible which left them incharge of the rest─ which meant that the back bench was occupied by Jaemin, Renjun, and Jeno.

They were only five hours in yet Jaemin was certain he could give up on life if he had to endure one more pointless bicker between the elder two Huang brothers. He just knew he was getting grey hair by listening to them.

"Yukhei, I swear to the fucking sky that you took the wrong exit," Kunhang hissed, pointing in the direction he thought they should go as Yukhei rolled his eyes.

"Shut up. You've lived not nearly as long as me. You don't know shit about where we should be going in the first place," Yukhei retorted, his foot on the gas pedal as they cruised down the long and winding highway.

No one actually knew the way to Jaemin's house but they just hoped that Kunhang had been messing with them when he had insisted they use another highway instead of the one Yukhei had also insisted was the correct way. And because of the elder of the two's argument, they agreed that they listen to him and go down the winding highway.

It was only five hours yet they were already tired from singing and they were about to get migraines if they kept yelling. The only choice they had left was to rest against each other and take a nap. That seemed to be the best option for everyone and as Jungwoo and Yukhei spoke in hushed voices, the other six fell into a little nap, only being woken nearly an hour later.

"Stupid. Stupid as FUCK! I TOLD YOU that we went down the wrong highway but you DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME, GOD DAMN!"

"SHUT UP!"

Yeah, it seemed they'd be stuck in the van for at least another two hours extra since they had to turn around after coming to realize that they had no damn clue where they were. It took pulling to the side of the road to examine where they were on an old fashioned map─ their phones were either dead or the area had no signal so that was useless─ before noticing that Kunhang had, in fact, been right about the directions.

"Looks like the younger one is actually smarter than the one who's lived too long," Kunhang muttered, ignoring the warning jab Dejun gave him, a signal that he didn't want to listen to him and Yukhei argue again.

Thankfully, Yukhei either ignored him or didn't hear him but either way, it was good for all parties.

To nobody's surprise, the gas was emptied quicker than it should've due to the unfortunate detour which had them at a roadside diner and gas stop, everyone getting out happily to stretch and run to the bathroom.

Jaemin took that opportunity to snap pictures, Renjun doing so as well since Jeno still hadn't been able to get his phone, the three being the first to snatch the bathrooms before ordering food. It wasn't that late but they were hungry. Sitting in a vehicle for an extended period of time really took a toll on them and now only were they feeling worn out but also uncharacteristically hungrier than usual.

Possibly the potholes caused that since the bumps caused food to shimmy down their intestines quicker or possibly doing nothing was a sneaky entrance for gluttony to make its way through.

By the time they had eaten, gotten in the vehicle─ not forgetting pastries and snacks along with enough liquid to keep them hydrated─ they managed to get on the right highway, the afternoon slump kicked in and all of them fell asleep, Jungwoo and Yukhei remaining awake to talk and keep each other from dozing off lest they get in some tragedy.

It was such a pain in the ass to not have anyone else with valid drivers license, the youngest three always depending on their elder siblings or chauffeurs, Yangyang having his personal driver, Dejun just never having time to get one, and Kunhang not having one was understandable.

He was a hazard to society even without a license and getting one would just be a free ticket to an overnight jail cell.

The day was winding down and finally, they began waking up one by one, Jungwoo taking that opportunity to fall asleep since Yukhei now had six entire humans to chat away and restrain from pulling over to initiate a fight with.

He respected his brothers boyfriends but if one of them so much as said something snarky, he wouldn't hesitate to fight them but then again, it'd default to fighting the two additional in the one relationship and he knew he could probably battle them off but it'd be a close call and he'd rather keep his limbs intact. Damn both his brothers for getting two lovers each. It made fighting them much harder.

The evening went on, Yukhei getting over his moment of sleepiness as they went on and Jungwoo stirred awake.

It was once again a moment where they played music and sang to their heart's content.

A summer they'd be sure to remember even as their lives went on. Evening sun setting in the distance as day switched to night and brought a new atmosphere. Their once bright and aggressive music turned soft and calming, giving the time of day a whole new feeling, hearts falling into content the further they went.

They were near, not much farther but with the detour, pit stops, and times where they just drove slow to sight see a town they were passing through, the time was going faster than expected and they weren't where they were supposed to be which resulted in driving a little more during the night than what they had planned for.

The night wind hit their faces, the moonlight casting down on them in elegant waves as they smiled happily but quietly, not a word uttered during the time that they shared the moment together. A giant blanket was cast over the three in the very back seat, snuggled warmly together, hands interlaced. They hadn't planned to drive into the late of night but it felt so nice, so at peace, as if nothing could stop them or separate them, tranquillity within the more they went and although they were nearing the place Jaemin was nowhere near excited to visit, he still felt happy that the miles between them and his destination were the only thing keeping him in a good mood because they weren't there yet.

He could pretend for just a while longer that the life he was living then was the life he'd live for the rest of his life. The life he didn't have to give up to live in sadness. He was living in the present and he'd give almost anything to never live in the past again.

Jeno's hand wrapped in his and Renjun's legs stretched across both their laps as he lay against the window sleepily but awake. He could keep that memory. Keep it in an area where even when he grew old, he'd remember and treasure it fondly.

Not even the freezing and biting wind could ruin his happy moment.

Another fifteen minutes passed by until they started an activity to make their road trip much more delightful and memorable as young adults.

They stopped all along the way, a section of the road winding near a giant lake as they got out to take pictures under the moonlight, laughing as they shrieked and chased after each other along the shores.

It was possibly near midnight, no sleepiness present within which helpfully didn't stop their numerous pauses each time they saw something vaguely entertaining to look at.

Selfies were snapped, twenty-four hour convenience stores were utilized to their max─ until Kunhang realized Renjun had been supplying his boyfriends with his money and stole the card back─ and the occasional bathroom break made its way into their midnight drive.

Yukhei had switched out with driving and Jungwoo took his place, giving his boyfriend a chance to relax until finally, when it was nearing four and the pitch black sky seemed to be getting just a bit lighter, did they stop at an actual hotel.

How they managed to get rooms at such an hour? No one wanted to know what Yukhei had done to bribe but it worked and that was all that mattered. So eight tired men made their way to their three separate rooms, more than happy to sleep for the entire morning until after lunch.