K-Pop OTP One Shots {Closed for Requests}

42) Xiumin and Luhan (EXO) - Who We Are (Sweet, slight angst)

Members: Xiumin and Luhan of EXO

Description: Despite living in an unaccepting world, Xiumin and Luhan find a way to fall and stay in love.

Genre: Sweet,  slight angst

Inspiration: Gay short film called "Who We Are" and the song "Who We Are" by Ryan Calhoun.

Luhan yawned for what seemed like the millionth time as he sat at his desk, trying to finish this flyer he was working on for a friend. He had started it the night before, but the rest of his homework was shouting at him so he had to tend to that first.

He put the finishing touches on it and scanned his eyes over it once more before saving it and clicking the print button. He had to print several copies so he decided to put his shoes on while they all printed out instead of just standing there. He did that and the papers were just finishing coming out when he did.

Upon grabbing his backpack off the floor, Luhan walked over to the printer and stuffed the papers in it before going out to the kitchen for breakfast.

Little did he know that one of the papers had floated to the ground, never to be seen by his eyes.

"Good morning, mom," Luhan said as he sat down across from her.

"Good morning, honey," his mom replied.

"This looks good," Luhan said as he looked at his plate, earning a small smile from his mom. Then him, his mom, and his dad all joined hands so that they could pray before eating.

"Lord, thank you for your continuous provision upon this family," his dad started. "Thank you for the hands that were used to make this meal we're about to eat and may we always be grateful for the things you give us."

"Amen," they all said simultaneously. Luhan sighed, feeling a little uneasy, before he started eating.

He had practically grown up in the church and had all these morals pounded in his head by his parents, but mostly his dad. He always told Luhan how he wanted him to grow up to be a real man and such, but Luhan was honestly getting sick of hearing that these days.

"So, what do you have planned today?" Luhan's mom asked him once they started eating.

"Not much, just school," Luhan replied with a faint smile on his lips.

"You're going to Bible study later tonight, right?" his dad asked.

"I don't know," Luhan shurgged. "I don't think I can. I have to help out with this after school dance."

"Oh, what dance?" his mom said.

"The senior prom," Luhan lied.

"I didn't know you were helping to plan a dance," his dad said, actually sounding cheerful for once.

"I wasn't but Xiumin asked me to help," Luhan explained.

"Xiumin," his dad said, that cheerful tone now long gone. "You can tell him you're busy this evening. You're going to Bible study."

"Dad-" Luhan started before he was cut off.

"No," his dad said sternly. "I don't like you hanging out with him, you know that."

"Well, I already promised him so," Luhan said.

"I don't care why, I said no," his dad repeated.

"Why do you always do this?" Luhan asked in an annoyed tone of voice.

"He's a homosexual," his dad said.

"He's a Christian. He's just like us," Luhan protested.

"No homosexual is a Christian or a follower of God, for that matter."

"Mom," Luhan said, pleading with his eyes.

"I said no," his dad, raising his voice. "He's always trying to get you into the wrong things."

"They're just kids," his mom said, siding with Luhan.

"It is up to us to decide what they can and can't do," his dad argued. "Xiumin is struggling and he is trying to bring Luhan down with him. I won't let that happen." Neither Luhan or his mom said anything after hearing that. This was the life that Luhan knew all too well. "You're not staying after school today, so be home by 3:30."

"I'm out of here. Bye, mom," Luhan said as he grabbed his backpack and walked toward the door.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"Yeah, just text me later if you need any help, okay?" Luhan said to Amber as the bell rang and they left class.

"Okay, thanks, Lu," Amber replied with a smile. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Luhan waved and then headed in the opposite direction. His locker wasn't that far from his previous class so, needless to say, he didn't have far to walk. He unzipped his backpack after having opened his locker and pulled out one of the flyers he made.

A sad feeling immediately came over him as he looked at it. Luhan was the first person that Xiumin told about him being gay and ever since then, they had kind have been drifting apart. It wasn't because Luhan hated him or anything because he still thought of him as his best friend.

It was just the way that he was raised that built a barrier between them. Luhan knew that if he continued to hang around Xiumin, his dad would have an absolute fit. But at the same time, though, he didn't care what his dad would say...because maybe he was starting to develop feelings for Xiumin.

Xiumin's steps were hesitant as he approached Luhan. He hadn't spoken to Luhan in a long time, at least not the way he used to, so he was nervous. Plus, the fact that he kind of had a crush on him didn't help out either.

"Hey," Luhan said with a faint smile just as he turned around and saw Xiumin.

"Hi," Xiumin replied timidly. "H-How are you?"

"I'm good," Luhan answered. "How are you?"

"I'm good," Xiumin shrugged. "I haven't talked to you much lately. I kind of miss you."

"Yeah, well, I-I've been really busy so..." Luhan said, his words trailing off.

"Yeah, me too," Xiumin lied. "I've been planning the dance and it's been taking up all my time, you know."

"Sure, I get it," Luhan said. "Oh, I have those flyers you asked me to make," Luhan added, starting to unzipper his backpack again. "They might be a little messy because I just finished them this morning."

"Woah," Xiumin said as he scanned over them. "These look great, Luhan. Thanks."

"No problem," Luhan said, a shy smile occupying his lips. A smile came upon Xiumin's lips as he looked at the flyers again and he was soon interrupted when Luhan started to speak again. "Well, I-I have to go," he said, putting the straps back over his shoulders.

"Well, the meeting is just about to start if you want to come," Xiumin said, pointing to the door behind.

"Oh, not today," Luhan declined. "I promised Fei I'd go to lunch with her."

"Look, if it's about you not being gay, it's cool," Xiumin said. "I mean, it's a gay straight alliance."

"Xiumin, I get it," Luhan said. "I just...I can't today. I'll talk to you later."

"Hey," Xiumin said, making Luhan turn around after he started walking away. "Come on. Do it for me? Please?" Luhan turned to Fei and she just smiled kindly.

"It's okay, Lu," she said. "You can go. Suzy and Min wanted me to eat with them anyway, so it's cool." Luhan mouthed a sorry and she smiled once more before walking away. He sighed heavily and faced Xiumin again before he started walking towards him. Xiumin couldn't help but smile in joy.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"Sorry for being late," Xiumin said as he sat down in a chair, leaving Luhan to sit next to him. "Everyone, this is Luhan. He helped with the flyers," Xiumin announced.

"Hi Luhan," the group leader said. "Thank you for helping out. We've heard a lot about you, so it's good to finally meet you."

"Yeah," Luhan said shyly, looking around a little. "It was no problem."

"Today we are talking about our experiences coming out," he continued. "So, how about you, Myungsoo?"

"Uh...well I decided to come out to my dad last week and he hasn't spoken more than three words to me since then," Myungsoo said as he lowered his head. "He left this book on my bed and it's called 'Men Who Struggle with their Sexual Identity.' He just doesn't get that isn't gonna change me. I'm gay and I'm not gonna pretend to like girls again because when I did that, I felt like I was living a lie."

"So what about you, Luhan?" the leader asked. "This is your first time here. What are your views on homosexuality?"

"I don't know," Luhan said shrugged his shoulders. "You know, I was raised Christian, Baptist, and my dad's a pastor so religion has always been a big deal. In the Bible, it's pretty much considered a sin. It's the idea that if you're gay, you're being tempted and by falling for that temptation you're just fulfilling your own greed.  Leviticus 22 and 20:13 says, 'Thous shall not lie with mankind, as with women kind; it is an abombination."

"So how have you kept this idea of accepting Xiumin, even though he's gay?" he asked. "I mean, most Christians with your background just wouldn't be as tolerant and accepting as you seem to be with him."

"Well, since they've been good friends for a while, I don't think anything he says would change that, right?" Hyuk said. "I mean, he's still the same person he was before." Luhan and Xiumin just kind of looked at each other, each of their hearts beginning to pick up speed.

"Yeah, right," Luhan said with a smile.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

After school dismissed, Luhan and Xiumin decided to walk to the old field they used to go to when they were younger. They found a somewhat flat amongst the tall, thin grasses and sat down next to each other.

"Look at this place," Xiumin said in awe as he looked around. "The grass has gotten so long since we've been here."

"I know, right?" Luhan said with a faint smile. A brief silence passed between the two boys before Xiumin started to talk again.

"I'm sorry about what happened," he said, looking down at the blade of grass in his hands, earning a slight look of confusion from Luhan. "You know, about when I told you...that I like you."

"Oh that," Luhan said with a sigh as he sat up a bit more. "It's fine."

"Well it doesn't seem fine," Xiumin said. "Ever since I told you you've just been avoiding me."

"Well what did you expect to happen, Xiumin?" Luhan asked, looking over his shoulder at Xiumin. "Of course it's gonna be different between us."

"I don't know, I just..." Xiumin said, his voice trailing off. "We always tell each other everything and I thought that it was something I should tell you."

"Didn't you think about what it was going to do to our friendship?" Luhan said, causing Xiumin to lower his head. "I know you're all happy about your life, but it's not just about you, Xiumin. And you know what I go through at home after we hang out. Besides, you've been so caught up in this GSA crap that I barely see you anymore. I mean, what if you get a boyfriend? I don't know...it just bothers me."

Xiumin just kind of looked at Luhan, confused as to what he was trying to say. Was he mad at him? Was he trying to say sorry or that he missed him? Xiumin had no idea.

"Sorry I've been so distant lately," Luhan apologized. "It just hasn't been easy for me either."

"How come?" Xiumin asked, feeling slightly baffled.

"Because I think I'm gay," Luhan admitted, catching Xiumin completely off guard.

"What?" he said in shock. "Who else have you told?"

"No one," Luhan replied before turning to Xiumin. "Just you."

"Well how do you know?"

"Because..." Luhan started hesitantly as he looked away. "I like you, too." Xiumin couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. "I've been wanting to tell you forever, but-"

"Luhan," Xiumin cut him off. "You don't have to explain." Luhan smiled faintly and Xiumin leaned closer to him, laying his head on his shoulder.

"I don't know how I'm gonna tell my parents," Luhan said. "My dad will tell me everyday how wrong it is."

"But this is who you are," Xiumin said softly. "And you're perfect." Luhan looked down at Xiumin, who was now smiling. It took him a few seconds, but he eventually looked back at Luhan and the two males' eyes locked on each other.

Inch by inch, they leaned their faces in closer to each other and soon enough their lips met in a gentle kiss. Xiumin was the first to move his lips again, then Luhan, then before they even knew it they were moving together in untarnished harmony.

Luhan's heart was beating so fast that he was finding it hard breathe, which made him pull back from the kiss. He left their foreheads connected and his eyes closed for a few seconds, just trying to process that he had really just kissed his best friend.

"Besides, no matter what," Xiumin said after he had caught his breathe as well, "we can still be best friends." Luhan smiled a little as he temporarily lowered his head. "So...the dance is coming up..."

"Xiumin, come on," Luhan said. "I mean, I'd love to go with you, but you know I can't."

"I know," Xiumin said with a sad sigh. "I understand."

"I'm sorry," Luhan said, feeling slightly guilty.

"It's really okay, Lu," Xiumin said. "I'm just happy I have my best friend back." Xiumin chuckled a little at his own words and then saw that Luhan was staring at him. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's just...you haven't called me Lu in forever," Luhan said. Xiumin just giggled and ruffled Luhan's hair as he got to his feet.

"Come on," Xiumin said, holding his hand out. "I'm thirsty." Luhan laughed and then stood up as well before grabbing his backpack. Then he took hold of Xiumin's open hand and they walked back to town.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"You sure you don't want anything?" Xiumin asked as they pulled up to the corner store on their bikes.

"No, I'll stay out here and watch our bikes," Luhan said. "Just hurry up."

"Why, you don't want to miss me too much?" Xiumin said jokingly with a smile.

"Yeah," Luhan replied sarcastically, getting a laugh out of Xiumin. Then, Xiumin handed Luhan his backpack and went right to the cooler full of drinks. As he browsed it to see if there was anything that caught his eye, two guys from his school approached him.

"Hey, you're the fag, aren't you?" one guy said, stepping closer and closer to Xiumin.

"Why do you care?" Xiumin asked, his heart picking up speed nervously.

"So you admit it? You're a little queer?" he said.

"Just leave me alone," Xiumin said. All of a sudden, Xiumin was slapped to the ground by the second guy. He tried to prop himself back up by putting his hands on the ground, but fell back down when he was kicked in the stomach.

This kept happening and the guy's foot kept getting rammed into a defenseless Xiumin's stomach, pressing him more and more up against the lit cooler.

Meanwhile outside, Luhan was waiting for Xiumin to come back out. He pulled out his phone and looked at the time before realizing that he had been in there for almost ten minutes.

Where is he? he thought to himself. He set his own bag down next to Xiumin's and walked inside to see what was taking him so long.

"Dude, let's go," one guy kept repeating as the other carried on with punching Xiumin. "Dude, someone is coming in, let's bounce."

"Xiumin!" Luhan said loudly once he saw his boyfriend getting beat up. "What the hell, man! Get off of him!" Luhan stormed over and pulled the guy off of Xiumin, allowing him to wrap his arms around his fractured stomach.

"What are you his fucking boyfriend?" the guy said.

"So what if I am?" Luhan shot back.

"Dude, let's go before cops get here," the other guy said, dragging his friend out the door.

"You fucking queers," he shouted as he got pulled out the door. Luhan just sighed in annoyance and turned all his attention to Xiumin.

"Are you okay?" he asked, helping him sit up.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Xiumin said, the pain present in his voice.

"What the hell happened?" Luhan said.

"I don't know," Xiumin shrugged. "He just started beating me up, Lu...I don't know what I did." Luhan could tell that Xiumin was about to cry so he gently pulled him into a hug.

"Shh, don't cry," Luhan said softly into his head as he stroked it. "It's gonna be okay. I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise." Xiumin sniffled, trying to hold back any tears that wanted to be set free. "Come on, try to stand up," Luhan said, pulliing back from the hug.

Xiumin winced in pain as Luhan helped him get to his feet. Luhan kept saying things like "you're okay" in an effort to encourage Xiumin. Luhan wrapped his arm around Xiumin's waist for support while Xiumin rested his around Luhan's neck. Then they carefully walked out of the corner store only to see that Luhan's parents had arrived.

Luhan rolled his eyes at the sight and walked Xiumin over to where their bikes were before helping him rest against one of them.

"I'll deal with them, okay?" he said to Xiumin, earning a simple nod from him. He left a small kiss on his forehead before completely letting go of him and heading toward his parents.

"Luhan, what are you doing here? What happened?" his dad asked.

"It was nothing. Just some kids wanted to fight, that's all," Luhan said, anger still present in his voice.

"Oh my god, honey, are you okay?" his mom questioned frantically as she rushed over to his side.

"I'm fine, mom," Luhan said.

"You know why this happened, right?" his dad said. "It's because you were with Xiumin. I told you this would happen."

"Dad, would you stop?" Luhan said.

"No, you listent to me," he said sternly. "You are better than this. I raised you better than this."

"No, dad," Luhan said. "I like Xiumin."

"No, you don't," his dad.

"Yes, I do, dad," Luhan repeated. "I like Xiumin."

"No, you are just confused," his dad said. "You're struggling with yourself, you're confused. You just need help."

"No dad, I'm not struggling wiht this any longer," Luhan said. "This is it, this is who I am. The only struggle is with you trying to understand that."

"This has nothing to do with you," his dad argued.

"You can blame anyone you want but this is not Xiumin's fault," Luhan said. "Maybe this time you can stop listening to what the Bible says or what your friends at church say and start listening to your heart. Maybe one day you'll find some answers." He stood there for a few more seconds before walking back over to Xiumin.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

"I'm alright," Xiumin answered with a smile. "That was pretty brave of you. I'm proud of you."

"Yeah, it was, wasn't it?" Luhan said, earning a giggle from Xiumin. "I think I owe you a dance."

"Yeah?" Xiumin said with an excited smile on his lips.

"Yeah," Luhan said, equally as happy. "Come on." They started walking away and somewhere along the way, Luhan grabbed onto Xiumin's hand.

Cause at the end of the day all we have is who we are...