The next few days had been awkward as Luhan began to distance himself from the group more and more. He stopped riding in with them all together, leaving Minseok staring distantly out the window as Suho watched over him carefully.

The concert day had arrived ever so quickly as the members began to dread the announcement and couldn't help but wonder how the audience would take it. Suho sighed as he looked out across the stage into the waves of empty seats that will soon be filled to capacity.

"This is it" Suho glanced down at the mic he gripped tightly still in his hand from the rehearsal earlier. His view caught by the concert wristbands that proudly sported the grey EXO tones. Luhan.

Suho felt a gentle touch on his shoulder and turned to face a bewildered Minseok. "You can't daze off like me then nothing would get done today" Minseok gave a forced smile and took a step forward to face the seats that Suho had been contemplating about.

"It reminds me of an empty canvas. Only this time I am not standing in front of it waiting for inspiration to come. They are coming to be inspired by us” Suho turned and glanced at the small smile that Minseok held on the corner of his mouth. “Lets inspire them.” Minseok dropped his hand down to his side and took Suho’s in his gentle grip pulling him back up the stage to the rest of the members.

Time flew as they were having fun. The concert had gone off without a hitch as they approached the MC portion sweat covered and tired in their now 30 plus years on this planet. “Everyone take a seat.” Baekhyun motioned for the crowd reassuring them that he knew they were tired too as he always did. The group took tall dark wooden chairs and set them center stage.

“We have a bit of a shocking announcement and would like you to watch a short video.” Baekhyun turned and motioned toward the gigantic screen that was dropping behind them.

The audience was dead silent as the projector pushed the images through onto the larger then life screen. Luhan came up on the screen causing the girls in the crowd to almost rawr at the sight.

The moving image of Luhan in front of the explained a situation evolving marriage and this being his final concert. He stood from his seat as commotion set in across the crowd.

Luhan handed off his mic to Minseok who sat next to him, then after taking a few steps forward he bowed deeply to the fans, "I am truly sorry for it ending this way."

Minseok and the sea of people listened to Luhan voice crack and fill full of anxiety as only the members behind him watch tears slid down his cheek and hit the confetti covered floor. The members couldn't help but became emotional in this unbelievable situation.

Tao already balling completely as Baekhyun rubbed his back sweetly. Suho reached out to grip Minseok's hand but only met air as he watched the older man stand and rush to his closest friends side.

Wrapping his hands around the younger mans are he pulled him up and pulled him in tightly into his arms. After the gasps had died down a bit Minseok dropped his mic to the ground causing a resounding thud, "Don't go!"

The warm breathe against his soft neck caused him to gasp as he listened to the words again repeated by his captor. Minseok was not exactly sure when it happened but his cheeks were covered in tears, "I have spent these last 15 years thinking you would always be there. A faux kiss, a soccer game, a coffee and shopping extravaganza. I never been the kind to let my feelings show. Maybe that is why this is turning out this way."

Pulling back from the hug he forced himself to gather up all his courage and close the distance between there lips. Luhan could feel his body going limp against Minseok's heat, "Don't go I think I …..."

"Now that's great timing on fan service!" Luhan smiled and pulled away taking Minseok's seat next to Suho. He glanced over noticing Luhan was shaking.

Rejected Minseok left standing attempted to pull himself together and sat back down in what was Luhan's place.

Suho leaned in close to Luhan, "We should tell him the truth." Luhan whipped his head around quickly giving Suho one if his famous shut-up-while-your-ahead looks.

Suho was un-phased by it though, "What are you going to do about tonight?" Luhan turned and in a small voice replied to Suho, "Tonight? ... Tonight I will finish the concert then I am going to go home and cry."

The talks continued on a bit as everyone discussed the happy days spent with Luhan, even smiling as Luhan moments where they could have killed him for, brought looks of joy and content to their faces.

The concert ended as the encores kept coming. Luhan rubbed his sore hand as he wanted to return to the stage again but was stopped by Lay who gripped his shoulder tightly holding him back, "That is the end."

***
The stage grew dark and Luhan was the first to finally leave it. Lay patted Tao back and walked from back stage toward the empty dressing room a few moments later. Suho followed closely behind Kyungsoo as he entered the room almost immediately feeling some thing was wrong he scanned the room. Luhan's bags were already gone leaving a foul feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Suho pivoted and ran towards the manager entering in through the rear exit of the building, "Where is he?" he demanded an answer but before he could get a full word he followed the direction of his finger toward the heavy glass doors behind him.

Running through the doors he came to a complete stop in front of a wall of paparazzi snapping photos of a taxi that sped away quickly. Suho hung his head walking back inside just casually making his way to a destination he did not know of yet.

The halls seemed longer and all merged into one as he dragged his feet against the carpet. Finally noticing the difference in the sound of the flooring as he trotted across it, he raised his head.

He was on stage again. The audience had long cleared out as he gazed upon the sea of seats that sat in rows in front of him. A small figure could be seen sitting on the edge of the stage staring off into oblivion, with this he knew right away who it was and made his way across the stage.

Minseok seemed lost in thought as he jumped at the touch of Suho's hand on his shoulder, "What are you doing here?" The figure barely moved as he took a deep breathe and sighed, "It is still comforting to know that at least they still love us, even if we lose a few fans."

Suho cocked and eyebrow as he crouched down next to Minseok so he could hear the soft speech of the older man, only to reveal tears that were falling from the artists eyes.

Minseok turned to Suho as he held back more tears to explain what he meant to the confused looking Suho, "I have seen many beautiful colors with everyone. Amazing reds, vibrant greens..... Deep blues in my life" Minseok tugged at a strap hanging from his phone of a small soccer ball with a photo of them two holding medals up. "Black and white." Minseok's soft and gentle hands touch Suho’s cheek as he caressed it with his thumb. "And lonely greys, that hurt to look at, as if you were staring at the sun." his hand dropped back down and landed firmly on the stage, " but now everything is different and no matter how much I stare at the inspired fans on the canvas everything seems to fades away into shades of gray."

Suho leaned in and planted an innocent kiss on one of his closest and dearest friends forehead before standing up and holding his hand out stretched as he silently gazed at him. Though Minseok wanted to hesitate he did not. The truth was the only reason he had been able to hold it together for this long was because of Suho and for that one task alone he felt eternally indebted to him significantly even more then before these past few weeks.

The changing room was dead silent until Tao's tears broke through the thick air that lingered around them. His face planted firmly against Baekhyun’s chest as he the younger mans hair gently doing his best to repeat comforting remarks in his ear. All that cold be made out between Tao’s continuing sobs was Luhan’s name.

Minseok released his hand from Suho's warm grip and began to pace heavily down the hall toward the impending exit. "Where you going there are tons of paparazzi out there!", Suho yelled worriedly down the hall.

A sneer came from Suho as he walked after him quickly while motioning for security to clear the way to reach the van. Minseok was jerked around as the hoard pulled in tightly next to him the second he pushed through the glass doors. The buzzing in his ears continually increasing as they shouted question after question at him.

He stood frozen in the crowd head held low until security pushed back the swarming crowd. Suho slid through stealthily grabbing Minseok's hand as he passed and pulling him into the van that now appeared rolling from around the corner.

"You shouldn't have done that. God knows what kind of stories they are going to come up with and now they have such a great photo of you to put with it." Suho was harsh sounding with his words as he scolded his hyung. Minseok didn't reply though or even attempt to legitimize his action, he just simply stayed quiet.

Suho leaned forward and turned his head to get a full view of Minseok's face which had been covered by his bangs that had grown a bit long in the past few weeks. Suho's heart sank at the sight he had come to see. "I was afraid that if I didn't leave now I would never leave." Minseok sniffled through the words before continue as he noticed the confused look on Suho's face.

"As long as we stayed there I could still convince myself that we are together, but it is not true. The lights have faded, the music quieted, the fans left and after all of that I looked next to me on the stage where we use to sit and talk to each other after the performances and...... It was just space. He is gone." Minseok leaned back pulling the hoodie over his head and covering his face. No matter how hard he tried to hide it though Suho could still see the tears steadily falling off his dear hyung's chin.

The two stayed silent for the rest of the ride, Suho knew there were no words he could speak to comfort him in this moment. Pulling up to Minseok's home the van came to a stop. Minseok placed his hand on the handle gripping it tightly as he push gently on the door. It wouldn't budge. He glanced around for the obstruction only for his eyes to land on familiar hands holding the door closed.

"Not here! Take us to Luhan's place" Suho sunk back in his seat as the van began rolling again. Minseok had a complex look of confusion on his face as he returned to his seat and just stared at the younger man waiting for him to explain.

No words came though as the awkward ride continued. Minseok could feel his heart begin to race as they drew more near. Would the answers even comfort him? At this point he felt it didn't matter, he was so left out of the loop, he felt more then undeserving of the title Leader even if it was just a nickname.

After arriving there was no hesitation as Suho reached over him, opening the door and practically shoved him out of the van. He joined him on the side walk next to the van and headed off from the current stand still to the front door. Suho placed his hand in his pocket swishing it around a few times and emerging with a set of keys.

"You have a house key?" Minseok was definably shocked by this thought, since his supposed best friend had never given him one. "Don't worry it means nothing. Lots of people think I am trustworthy with their spare key. See Baekhyun, Jongdae, Tao, Sehun and Kyungsoo. I fell like a lock smith sometimes with how often Tao locks himself out and I have to come let him in." Suho smiled causing Minseok to do so too.

When Suho had finally gotten back to the task at hand the door was already beginning to slide open leaving them face to face with a cute little woman. She seemed a few years younger then them. She smiled warmly and bowed. Her hair was long and pulled back as she wore a simple outfit that didn't flatter her curves much. "Hey Joonmyeon. I just finished so feel free to go in now. Watch out though he seems to be cranky." she pulled a cap down to cover most of her face and slid past them and out the gate.

Suho smiled and waved bye as she disappeared around the corner. After taking a few steps in he closed the door behind them. He didn't say a word as he motioned for Minseok to stay where he stood right before the entrance to the living room. Suho waited for the question the never came. How do you know her.

"Luhan." Suho said loudly in a high tone as he entered the room causing the partially undressed Luhan to jump. “What do you want? Don‘t you have some after party to crash.” Luhan’s voice sounded harsh and dry from where Minseok stood. “Here let me help you.” Suho rushed to Luhan’s side helping him slide the other sleeve on as he watched Luhan rub the temples of his head firmly.

Luhan paused for a second covering his mouth quickly. He felt nauseous. His world was spinning as he fell forward into Suho’s arms, almost unconscious the second he touched him. “Min!! Min come quick!” Suho spouted quickly as he franticly tried to brace himself while holding all of Luhan’s dead weight.

Minseok shot around the corner almost sliding on the floor with the speed he had gathered in short distance.
“Go get the girl we just past now!” Suho demanded as he began to turn colors from the exertion of his energy he mustered together to place Luhan back onto the bed. Minseok spun in his half on half off sneakers bursting out the door to the woman who was crawling into a modest vehicle parked not far from the front gate, “Wait! It‘s an emergency.” The woman spun around in fright at the sound of his voice and without any hesitation made her way hastily to Minseok who had begun to dial a number on his phone.

“No!” she said in a serious tone before closing the phone and pulling Minseok by his wrist back into the house. She must have known it was Luhan by her actions as the went for a case in the kitchen and strait to the room that Suho and Luhan still occupied. “What happened?” She asked Suho as he moved back to let her through. “Not sure he was rubbing his forehead and then he went pale and collapsed on me.” Suho rubbed his arms fidgeting with his clothes as he helplessly watched on.

The woman pulled a needle from the bag and injected it into his arm before proceeding to talk to the others, “He is still to dehydrated from the concert. His treatments are taking a toll on him.” Minseok slid down the wall that was keeping him up and whispered to himself in almost mis belief, “treatments?” The woman looked over at Minseok leaning against the cold wall, “You can ask him when he wakes up but until then I suggest you to wait in the other room.”

Suho attempted to pull himself together for Minseok as he walked to the wall reaching out a hand to help the other man up, “Come on, lets do what the nurse says.” Minseok glanced over at the woman and with a puzzled look replied to SuhoNurse? You mean it isn't really his fiancé in the photo he showed us of them two on the cell phone.”

A while had passed as the boys sat silently in the living room doing nothing but staring off into the distance lost in thought. When the home nurse had reemerged she whispered a few words to Suho before leaving the home again. “He is just sleeping now. We should probably do the same.” Minseok just nodded in agreement and grabbed the blankets out of the closet. He knew he couldn’t sleep though not till he checked on Luhan. “I want to see Luhan first.” Suho knew this was not a question but a demand to allow him to as he stood and made his way to the other room.

Minseok sat in the chair next to the bed that the nurse had left, “Luhan.” His voice was softer then normal in hopes not to disturb the sleeping man, “I am confused.” He ruffled his brow as he watch Luhan’s chest rise and fall, “Your ok now right?” The answer never came as his mind wondered what was really going on. Minseok placed his head on the bed next to the warm body as he watched his fingers caress those of the sleeping mans, “I selfishly worried that you were leaving EXO …and me for a girl. How stupid?” He closed his eyes as he only thought of the warmth coming from Luhan’s hand and knew that he was ok as long as he could feel that much.

It wasn't long before the man had fallen asleep in that same position that he was sitting in that Suho had snuck in to cover him up and leave the room again. The day was beginning to break outside as Luhan’s eyes only drifted open a bit noticing his hyung sleeping beside him. He looked peaceful as he slept still holding Luhan’s hand. Luhan slipped it out from underneath and placed it to his cheek. It was so warm he must have been holding it for a while Luhan thought to himself as he dared to innocently run his fingers over Minseok’s spiky hair in front of him. “Seokie…and anxious. Something about you made me not want to stop looking at you. I never noticed the other members around us. I just knew in that moment as long as you were in the group, I would be able to stick it out and not leave, but I didn't”

~~~~~~~~~~

There ya have it chapter 2 is up. Thank you everyone for reading.