"EXO Saranghaja!" They all yelled in unsion before running onto the stage for another performance. Xiumin followed behind Chen who was in front of them, his gaze focused on his shoes until he reached the stage and the cheers of the fans grew wild at their appearance. Another concert. Xiumin could already feel the adrenaline kicking in as he got pumped up by the fans and their overwhelming enthusiasm. Let's do this. 

~

Xiumin was standing next to Luhan while the other members spread out in different areas of the stage. Xiumin and Luhan were both sweating a lot and were currently trying to wipe most of it off with the towels handed to them by the staff. While they did this, the Korean members were communicating with the fans in broken Mandarin which even made Xiumin wince. "I feel like an accomplished speaker, listening to their accent." Xiumin commented with a smile to Luhan. Luhan looked up and laughed. "Your accent isn't much better." The boy replied, leaning close to Xiumin to whisper them into his ear. 

Xiumin gasped, pretending to be hurt. "And after all those hours of practicing- were they for nothing?" Xiumin said dramatically. Luhan laughed, his face changing adorably. "Are you referring to the time when you ordered all that Chinese food to 'help your memory of Chinese cuisine'?" Luhan teased. Xiumin grinned and playfully pushed the boy away. 

He enjoyed this. These little moments with Luhan on stage. On stage, everything was relaxed and fun. The stress was forgotten and for a while, they could pretend everything was okay. Xiumin didn't have to think about Minseok and how that boy was feeling and the anxiety that boy was facing. He could just be Xiumin, the quiet but bright hyung of EXO. Luhan's 'bestfriend'. And sometimes, it was easier to adopt the role as Luhan's best friend than to be considered a boyfriend. It made it easier for both of them to be comfortable, especially considering the recent events. 

But Xiumin knew, as he watched Luhan smile and laugh along with him, that he would rather be a lover than just a friend. Even if it meant eventual heartbreak and pain. At least Luhan was here now. 

~

"You alright?" Luhan asked him sometime during the middle of the concert. Xiumin was soaked with sweat and his shirt was clinging to him almost painfully. His hair was soaked and his voice sore from screaming. His muscles ached from the dancing. But this was normal, expected. It meant he was working hard. "Fine, you?" Xiumin asked, checking over Luhan with concern. Luhan smiled. "Fine." The boy said but his smile seemed a bit forced as he shook out his arms. 

Xiumin didn't know how to reply without seeming too clingy, too worried and so he just patted the boy's back before muttering a fighting into the boy's ear. They then hurried to their positions for the next song. Xiumin had never dealed with this type of emotion before. Worrying whether he was clingy. Luhan had always been so touchy feely about everything without seeming to notice. Xiumin couldn't be as unaffected as him. He would worry that when he reached out, he would be rejected. And if there was one rejection he couldn't face, it would be Luhan's rejection. 

Xiumin let the hours of practice shine as his mind recalled the dance moves and his body carried them out without any actual thinking. 

~

Lucky was one of the only songs in which Luhan and Xiumin's song aligned with each other and because of that sole reason, it had always been one of Xiumin's favourites. Luhan and Xiumin would always find each other when this song came on. Xiumin could see the boy approaching him now from the corner of his eye and the sight was so familiar and comfortable that Xiumin felt slightly choked up. 

Luhan came to him with a smile and held out his hand. Xiumin held it tightly, interwining their fingers. As the song began (they were doing a mixture of the two versions in order to fit everyone), Xiumin and Luhan walked around stage, waving and giving hearts to the fans around them. As they approached a section, the fans began to chant Luhan's name and Xiumin couldn't help but smile. "They love you." Xiumin said into the boy's ears. Luhan gave a bright smile in response but his eyes held some worry. 

"Do you think they would still love you if I...?" Luhan trailed off but Xiumin knew what he meant. Xiumin didn't want to talk about leaving. Although he wanted what was best for Luhan, thinking about the possibility of the boy leaving still hurt. But he had to be strong, for the boy. "The real ones would. And their are a lot of real ones. Besides, they adore you. There is no way they would leave you." Xiumin reassured the boy as Chen began to sing. 

Luhan smiled at him, a genuine, grateful smile that made Xiumin feel both happy and sad. Luhan's part soon came and the boy became occupied with singing, his beautiful voice soaring through the concert hall and Xiumin couldn't help but marvel at the boy's beauty. After this part finished, everyone else joined in and Xiumin also began to sing (quietly because his accent wasn't as good as the others) and Luhan grasped his hand, smiling gently at him. "You're beautiful." Xiumin said without meaning to as Chen's part came on. 

And the smile that Luhan gave him then was even more angelic. Xiumin just managed to sing his part after Chen's his voice coming out slightly higher than normal because of Luhan's smile. After he finished, Luhan leaned in and whispered into his ears. "You're more beautiful." 

~

"So lucky to have you." Xiumin sang into the mic, staring at Luhan with a small, private smile. 

"So lucky to be your love, I am. Hmmm." Luhan sang in reply, still holding on to Xiumin's hand. 

Still holding on. 

~~~

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