Chapter Text
As Semi sat up, the thick, suffocating heat hit her like a wall. The air inside the apartment felt like it had been simmering overnight, sticky, and unbothered by the passage of time.
Summer had always been her least favorite season, and this one was proving especially unbearable. No insulation. No air conditioning. Just an oven of an apartment shared with four loud, bitchy boys who complained about everything from the heat to the way she folded the damn towels.
A year ago, all five of them had pooled their miserable salaries in a last-ditch effort to avoid homelessness. They’d each brought their own brand of financial ruin to the table—crushing debt, burned bridges, bad luck. Living together had seemed like the lesser evil.
Although Semi is starting to believe that living on the streets would have been a better option.
“Why the fuck is it so hot?!” Thanos yelled from somewhere beyond hers and Minsu’s bedroom.
“Ask Namgyu! He’s the one who always leaves the window open to smoke!” Gyeongsu snapped.
“Asshole…”
“HEY, LEAVE NAM-SU OUT OF THIS!”
Semi groaned and rolled out of bed, careful not to wake Minsu.
How does he sleep through all this
? she wondered, trudging into the living room.
“What the hell is going on now?” she asked, watching the chaos unfold between the three boys.
“It’s a hundred fucking degrees in here!” Thanos complained, giving Gyeongsu one last shove for emphasis.
“Yeah, because Namgyu keeps opening the window every goddamn morning to smoke! And we’re in the middle of a heat advisory,” Gyeongsu snapped.
“I closed the damn window! You’re the one sneaking out the fire escape to see your girlfriend and refusing to leave the fan on!” Namgyu shot back.
“HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY GIRLFRIEND?!”
Namgyu snorted. “We
all
know.”
Semi sighed. As much as she wanted to let them fight it out—especially after what happened with the TV—she knew better.
“That’s it. Enough!” she yelled, stepping between them.
The 3 boys fighting immediately looked up at her. Semi rolled her shoulders back and sighed. “We can keep doing this..”
“Doing what?” Gyeongsu asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable at the growing tension in the air.
Semi put her head in her hands. Between the constant fighting, the constant stress of keeping a roof over their heads and not to mention her two roommates were drug addicts, it was hard to pretend that it wasn’t bothering her just a bit.
“We need a vacation…”
———
And that’s how they got here. It's early, way too early for Namgyus liking. He leans against their shared car playing with his lighter. He sighs and looks off into the parking lot.
It’s not like he didn’t want to go, he just has been having these unrecognizable feelings lately.. most of it directed towards his best friend.
Thanos.. just the name made Namgyu’s stomach flip but he wasn’t sure why. A road trip seems like a bad idea. This feeling was making Namgyu want to set himself on fire with his lighter. Just a month ago everything was fun and light hearted up until… up until he had held eye contact with Thanos for a bit too long.
Not that Namgyu doesn’t stare at people. He does. It’s just something that night with Thanos had clicked something on in his brain and he didn’t like it. Not to mention that he religiously flirts with him.
Yes Thanos was attractive and cute- wait what?
Namgyu was interrupted out of his thoughts when Thanos and Minsu came out of the apartment complex door.
Thanos is skipping with a bag of chips and a backpack in hand. Minsu is slowly dragging behind rubbing his eyes.
Not a second later Semi and Gyeongsu come stumbling out of that same door carrying way too much luggage.
Semi’s hood was pulled over her head, as she tried to hide the fact that she was half asleep.
“Damn what happened to you señorita?” Thanos smirked.
“Shut the hell up”
He looked over at Namgyu “morning sunshine” he said with a wink. Namgyu would be lieing if he didn’t say that sentence alone made his face heat up. Thanos didn’t notice.. and if he did he didn’t say anything.
Thanos busied himself with stuffing his face with chips at the early hour of 4am.
“Noona you need help?” Minsu asked, helping his girlfriend with the absurd amount of bags.
“Oh I almost forgot-“ Thanos said to Namgyu with his mouth still full of food. He took his backpack off with that causal confidence, and takes out an energy drink. “You still like this?”
Namgyu studied the can for a second before taking it “dude where did you find this?! I thought they didn’t sell this at the corner store anymore!”
“Well I took a trip down to the end of Seoul and found it.. I remember you saying how it was your favorite”
If Namgyu’s face was flushed before then it must be on fire now.
“I- uh thank you”
Gyeonsu noticed the uncomfortable silence and decided to break it. “YOOO did anyone bring cards or something we can play in the car?”
“I did!” Minsu smiled, holding up a deck.
Namgyu sighed and helped them load the car. “Hey so.. who is sitting where!”
Semi actually thought about it for a second before answering, “Well Minsu gets car sick in the back so he can ride in the front-“
“I call next to Namsu!”
Namgyu shifts on his feet uncomfortably. Huh? Wait don’t make it weird.. he’s literally your best friend why would this be awkward this doesn’t mean anything.. right?
“Yeah I’m planning on driving so that works..” Semi replies. “You guys ready to go?”
They all nod and begin to file into the car. Gyeongsu on the far left, Namgyu in the middle and Thanos on the far right.
As Thanos gets in his leg causally brushes against Namgyu’s. It lingers but they pretend not to notice. Thanos leaned over.
“Can’t belive you actually agreed to this Namsu”
“Namgyu.. and it seemed easier than arguing with Semi...”
They finally finish packing up the car, and it’s a mess they’re surrounded by lots of tote bags, snacks and not to mention Gyeongsu’s ‘emotional support floaty’ - whatever that means.
“Do we really need this thing?” Semi asked raising an eyebrow. Looking at the giant alligator float taking up half the space in the trunk.
Gyeongsu turned around in his seat “his name is Michael he’s staying with us!”
“He’s taking up half the trunk”
“HES TAKING UP HALF MY HEART!” he shoots back covering his heart dramatically with his hand.
“I swear you sound more and more like Thanos everyday..” she says, finally shutting the trunk and walking to the drivers seat.
——
The first 10 minutes of the car ride are somewhat normal. Thanos’ music was playing softly over the radio and morning sun was glowing on the dashboard. Everyone else is loud — arguing about snacks, debating if stopping for gas before leaving the city is necessary or not.
The car is full of mild chaos. Semi is driving with the authority of someone who’s spent way too many hours behind the wheel and is determined to keep this trip under control. Minsu is nervously clutching a bag of pretzels, trying to quietly enjoy the ride, while Gyeongsu has his earbuds in, only half-paying attention but still chiming in with sharp one-liners. Thanos is in the back seat, leaning against the window, grinning like a troublemaker who just can’t help himself.
Namgyu is the only one who is uncharacteristically quiet. He is idly playing with his rings. Trying to ignore that subtle weight of the rapper beside him, who is doing that thing with his hands while he trys to come up with song lyrics.
Semi glances in the mirror noticing Namgyu’s growing tension. She makes eye contact with Gyeonsu in the mirror who gives a knowing glance.
Thanos shifts and grabs his chips from earlier, “ These chips have transformed me, guys. Like, I was a very cool and stylish and handsome human before, but now? I am a handsome cool and stylish snack oracle.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Namgyu deadpanned.
Semi chuckles, glad that they are at least talking to eachother “How long do you think it’s gonna take for the snack oracle to finish that entire bag?” She says without looking up from the road.
“Two minutes max!” Minsu chimed in.
Thanos takes that opportunity to throw a few chips in Minsu’s direction.
Namgyu makes the mistake of glancing at him.
Thanos catching his eyes, grinning “What’s up, Nams? You look like you’re plotting a great escape.”
Namgyu quickly looks out the window, muttering “No. I’m just… trying to remember why I agreed to this in the first place.”
“OH MY GOD, is that why you’re so quiet? Are you already planning your dramatic exit from the trip?? I’ll admit, that’s bold.”
“I am not planning an exit, Subong. Shut up.”
Semi smiles chiming into the conversation “You could do it in the classic movie style: get out of the car, slam the door, and walk off into the sunset. You could probably find a good dramatic song to play over that.”
“YES HE CAN PLAY ONE OF MY SONGS!” Thanos grins.
Meanwhile, Namgyu is trying to not completely melt from Thanos’ casual proximity. He hasn’t said anything that would be classified as actual flirting, but there’s something about the way he’s leaning in, his arm brushing against his a little too often. Namgyu’s starting to wonder if he’s imagining it.
GOD!
Thanos leaned forward, voice filled with mischief, “So, when do we start playing ‘Truth or Dare’ for the road trip? I feel like the tension’s way too low right now.”
“Too low?” Namgyu spoke under his breath.
Semi without looking away from the road, rolls her eyes. “Oh no, don’t you start, Subi. We’re not turning this car into a circus just because you’ve had one too many energy drinks.”
Thanos doesn’t give “Oh, come on, Señorita! Live a little. We’ve got hours in this car. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t secretly enjoy watching us all get into a bit of trouble.” He smirks, bumping his elbow playfully into Namgyu.
Gyeongsu glances over “Yeah, because you’re always the one to drag us into trouble. Remember last year’s ‘spontaneous dance-off’ at Club Pentagon while Namgyu was working? We all still need therapy from that.”
Namgyu shivers from the memory. “Ew don’t remind me of that..”
Gyeongsu pulls out his earbud “I mean, Thanos is kind of a walking disaster, but a funny disaster. So, I vote for the Truth or Dare game. Sounds fun!”
Minsu shifts uncomfortably in his seat “I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of excitement.”
Thanos completely ignores his comment “Alright, it’s time. Truth or dare. And this version has no rules. Except, like, legal ones.”
Namgyu stiffles a laugh. “Ok man”
Semi sips her iced coffe from the drivers seat “No nudity, no licking anyone, and if I hear anything about feet, I’m pulling this car over and leaving you in a cornfield.”
“Oddly specific but noted” Namgyu said smiling.
Thanos was practically vibrating in his seat “ILL START ILL START! Minsu you ready?”
Minsu nearly dropped his snack “what? Me? Um… truth? Definitely truth. A soft one?”
Thanos scoffed “Soft? No such thing. Okay.. what’s the most scandalous dream you’ve ever had?”
Minsu shifts in his seat “I don’t- uh. There was one time… I dreamed I… kissed someone and their shirt…sort of disappeared?”
Gyeongsu perks up “Just the shirt? So polite. Your subconscious was like, ‘scandalous but tasteful.’” The whole car laughs at his comment.
Namgyu laughs “the worst thing I’ve heard from Minsu is pg-13 at best”
“I- ok shut up assholes”
Semi looks at minsu “your adorable.. ok Thanos next question”
Thanos swings his legs like a child high on sugar “Alright, next round! Semi and Minsu again.., since you’re our power couple, you get a joint question.”
“Come on I just went!”
Semi narrows her eyes “If this is a bad joke, I swear to God I will brake check you into the back of minsu’s seat.”
Namgyu can’t help but grin as Thanos continues “Relax. Just a truth. For both of you: what’s the weirdest place you’ve ever made out?”
Minsu is immediately bright red “NOPE. NO. I—NOPE.”
Namgyu and Gyeongsu are doubled over in laughter clutching their sides. Semi nonchalantly answers “bake sale.. he had frosting on his lips” “Ughhh let me go home” Minsu complains.
Thanos gleefully turns to Namgyu, “Okay, okay- Namsu. Truth or dare.”
“Uhhh… truth. But I swear, if it’s about something dumb, I’m opening the door and rolling out.”
Thanos leans a little closer, unnoticed by the others. “Chill out man. Just a simple question.”
Gyeongsu smiles “This is gonna be the opposite of simple, isn’t it?”
Thanos smirks “Have you ever had a crush on someone in this car?” Namgyu blinks once. Twice. (Is thrice a word). Buffering. Gyeongsu gasps “Oh. OH, he’s panicking. I love this.”
Semi and Minsu shared a glance. But she desided to play into this game a little bit. “Is it Thanos? That’s an embarrassing confession on its own.”
Namgyu panicked his face immediately going red “what?! NO! - uh no!”
Thanos takes the opportunity to wrap his arms around Namgyu, making him very uncomfortable. Although just a month ago, them hugging like this seemed very normal and comfortable.
Namgyu is still red in the face, looking like he’s just been emotionally tackled by a freight train of secondhand embarrassment and feelings he refuses to name.
Thanos very dramatically exclaims in the most tragic voice known to man “Nams-. Namgyu, no. Don’t shut me out. Not like this. After all we’ve been through”
Namgyu doesn’t shove Thanos off, but he does mutter “you’re the worst” under his breath. Thanos only grins wider, nuzzles his shoulder like the annoying little brother of chaos.
——-
The car hums along a quiet stretch of highway. It’s nearing about 5 hours into their trip and Thanos and Namgyu are passed out leaning into eachother. The chaos has finally died down—for now.
In the backseat, Thanos and Namgyu are asleep. Thanos’ head is tilted toward Namgyu’s shoulder, and somewhere during the nap shift, Namgyu’s head slumped onto his. His arm is draped just barely across his lap, but Thanos’ pinky is resting right next to it.
Gyeongsu looks over “ok but like. Look at them..”
Minsu and Semi turn around and glance at the two boys sleeping.
“So it’s universal that we all ship them?” Semi asks.
Minsu wispers back “Oh my gosh… they’re literally touching foreheads. That’s not just sleeping. That’s like… kindhearted sleeping.”
“Is it confirmed they even like eachother?” Minsu asks.
Gyeongsu speaks up “That’s the kind of sleeping people do when they’re in denial about their feelings and have unresolved tension”
Minsu smiles at her friends “do you think they know they like eachother?”
Semi deadpans “No. Subi would rather eat a shoe than admit he’s emotionally attached to someone. And Namgyu’s idea of love is pretending he doesn’t have emotions.” Gyeongsu and Minsu chuckle at that.
Gyeongsu takes the opportunity to grab Thanos’ chips from earlier “Thanos and Nam in their natural habitat… avoiding feelings and sharing body heat.”
Semi shakes her head still smiling, “we have to get gas soon by the way..”
They all fall silent for a moment, staring back at the two sleeping idiots. Then- Thanos stirs slightly and nuzzles in closer to Namgyu’s shoulder, murmuring something unintelligible.
Minsu gasped, pointing at them “HE SNUGGLED look omgggg!!” Semi laughs under her breath “That’s it. They’re canon.”
———-
The car rolls through the quiet daytime, the sun blinding them. The last hour has been filled with silence, save for soft music (which is no longer Thanos’) Minsu is occasional sleepy humming, and Semi is muttering about how much further until she can stretch her legs.
In the backseat Thanos and Namgyu are still fast asleep. Somewhere along the drive, Thanos’ arm flopped across Namgyu’s lap with no respect for personal space. Their hands aren’t holding but they’re super close. Like suspiciously, barely-not-touching close.
Semi glances back and immediately grabs Minsu’s sleeve “Do not freak out. Just look.”
Minsu turns, sees them, and try’s not to squeal. “Ohhhh my gosh. They’re so… comfortable.”
Gyeongsu is on his phone but glances up. “don’t even care if they ever confess. This is enough for me emotionally.”
Semi smiles and glances at her dashboard “not to ruin this moment but shit we are almost on empty.. ima pull into this gas station up here, can you grab some extra water from inside?”
“I can noona!” Minsu says grabbing the spare cash.
As they roll into the gas station- one of those somewhat creepy 24-hour places that would be terribly ominous if it was dark out. Semi slows the car. She pulls up next to a pump, hits an EXTREMELY RUDE speed bump, and—Thud.
“Wha-HMM?!” Thanos screams as he’s jolted awake.
“AHH-WHAT?!”
They both jolt upright.. Thanos head hits the window hard and Namgyu accidentally elbows him in the ribs. The blanket someone threw over them earlier (despite it being blazing hot out) flies dramatically into the front seat.
Minsu, Semi and Gyeongsu all flinch at the dramatic scare.
Namgyu scrambles over his words trying to understand what just happened. “Where are we?! Why were you- why was I.. why are you huh?”
Thanos just sits up and rubs his eyes very dramatically. “What happened guys?”
Semi sighs and parks the car finally. “Uhh sorry about that.. I didn’t mean to wake you two.. umm Gas stop. Bathroom break. Weird snack hunt. Go Go Go boys”
Minsu gives her a glance.. one that asks ‘are we gonna tell them!’ Semi just shakes her head.
Thanos and Namgyu are still uncharacteristically quiet. Neither makes eye contact with the other. Both are adjusting their clothes like they’re trying to hide the fact they definitely just woke up draped over each other. Nobody says anything. Which somehow makes it worse.
“Ok ok just let me have a smoke break..” Namgyu mumbles stepping out of the car. He exits fast, slamming the door like he’s angry at the concept of air. He walks a few steps away and pulls a cigarette from his pocket. His hands are a little shaky as he lights it.
“Has anyone seen my vape?!” Thanos quirks back into his usually annoying energy.
“It’s literally in your pocket genius” Semi says as he also slides out of the car. “Everyone out. I’m pumping gas. Minsu and Gyeongsu go make questionable decisions in the snack aisle.”
Thanos slowly gets out the other side of the car stretching like a cat who pretends he didn’t just nap on someone’s shoulder and dream about their shampoo. He pulls out a vape and leans against the side of the car.
“You vape like a kid who just discovered rebellion.” Namgyu silently comments, no real bite behind his words.
Thanos laughs a bit. They go quiet again. For a second, it’s almost comfortable. Then Thanos says, too casually for his own good “Didn’t know I was that comfy of a pillow.”
Namgyu exhales “Didn’t know you had an off switch.”
“Only when unconscious. Or dead.” Thanos grins.
Namgyu flicks ash onto the pavement, not smiling, but he wasn’t mad at all. He smiled a bit. “You drooled on my sleeve.”
Thanos mocked being offended “Wow. First of all, lies. Second of all- if I did, you probably deserved it.”
Semi rolls her eyes from the gas pump “BOYS GET GOING! I’ll give you 5 minutes max, go to the bathroom and get some shame purchases.. move it!”
Thanos flicks his vape still grinning, “lets go Nams”
…
The gas station is weirdly quiet inside. Half the freezers hum louder than the others. The shelves are mostly full of off-brand snacks and some suspiciously sticky floor tiles.
Thanos immediately drifts toward the candy section like he’s in a trance. He stops in front of a box of Ring Pops, picks one up, and stares at it like it holds the answers to his emotional confusion. His mind still a little funny from the vape he laughs to himself “hah engagement candy. Wild.”
Meanwhile Namgyu grabs a bottle of water and a pack of mints like he’s trying to physically erase evidence of anything soft or emotionally revealing. As he turns the corner he nearly bumps into Thanos, who’s still holding a Ring Pop like it is the most sacred thing in the world.
Namgyu speaks quietly, “Everyone’s being weird.”
Thanos shrugs glancing toward the snack aisle “Weird is our default.”
“Yeah, but they’re being… quiet weird. Like scheming weird.”
Thanos raises his eyebrows” Yeah. Gyeongsu just offered to buy me a banana and called it a ‘symbolic gesture.’ I’m scared.”
Namgyu laughs a bit. But is interrupted by his phone buzzing. A message from Semi- ‘Get your weird little snacks and get back in the car. If we don’t leave soon I’m going to merge with this gas station spiritually.’
They pay for their snacks and begin to walk out. Semi is already waiting for them in the car, and they all pile in.
“LETS GOOOO!!” Thanos shouts and dramatically points out the windshield.
Semi starts the car and begins driving again. “So there is a motel about 3 hours away.. we should be there around 8pm” They all nod and settle back into their seats.
In the back, Thanos unwraps the Ring Pop and quietly offers it to Namgyu without looking at him. He hesitates… then takes it. Also without looking. But smiles to himself
“This means nothing.” Namgyu speaks softly. Thanos smirks “Obviously.” But neither of them gives it back.
The car hums along the nearly empty highway, the sun just now setting, the vibe is that very specific brand of afternoon weirdness where the jokes stop making sense and everything feels louder than it should.
Gyeongsu has his headphones back on and is currently playing with his candy. “My Sour Patch just broke up with his girlfriend. It’s very tense in this bag.” Namgyu laughs and so does Thanos.