Author's Note: This is my Halloween fic! It's an idea that just came to me when I saw a dancing doll in a comic. ^_^ So! There are two possible endings to this, one happy and one very sad. Which do you want to see? Although either way there's going to be sad moments, so stay tuned!

I love to dance.

It's my function. I'm a magical clockwork toy, built to dance. But I love my function, love the feeling of twirling around the stage and the applause of the audience. But sometimes, it feels like something is missing.

I should have a partner but he was broken in an accident. I didn't know him long so it didn't bother me but now I dance with many partners and none of them ever stays. Will there be a partner for me?

Oh well. Until then, I will dance. I love to dance.


"Roxas!" Princess Kairi called for her doll. He came obediently to her side and she looked at him critically for a moment. "You need to get dressed. Have you forgotten what day it is?"

"No Mistress. But we have over three hours before we are scheduled to arrive. There is plenty of time." Roxas didn't see any problem with the time, but Kairi laughed.

"The way you primp in the mirror that will be hardly enough time! Come on, get started." She chivvied her toy into the changing room and watched as he stripped off his toy soldier uniform and began to change into his dress.

Technically, Roxas wasn't a he, although they called him that for convenience. He was the most amazingly lifelife Tau Li doll Kairi had ever seen. His body was flesh toned, made of a material that was slightly yielding and pleasantly warm to the touch, but his joints were made of screws. Externally sexless, he made a convincing young boy or girl. Today, he would be playing the part of a girl. He easily slipped on his gown, a silky confection full of bows and lace. It was pink and white and made Roxas look particularly young and virginal. But…

"The wig!" Kairi smiled, getting it out for him as Roxas obediently tucked his spiky hair underneath a cap. He came with very pretty blonde hair but it wouldn't do with the dress. The wig she put on him instead was dark brown, delicately curled and topped with a little golden tiara. "Oh, you look beautiful."

"I need my makeup Mistress." Roxas quickly began to apply that. His eyes were blue glass and far too large for any human, but they shifted as he looked at things. He was designed to be right in the perfect spot, human enough to be easy to relate to but not so human that he was creepy. "There." When he was done he looked just like a young, beautiful girl doll, face frozen in a sweet little smile. Kairi hugged him from behind for a moment.

"My beautiful doll." She said fondly and Roxas patted her hand. He liked her. He'd been given to her as a present by her father the King several years ago, after she'd broken her leg. It had been a bad fracture and the doctors had thought she would recover with a limp. Since she couldn't dance now her father had thought to give her a dancing little toy she could watch and Kairi had always enjoyed it. She had confided to Roxas that she didn't really mind not being able to dance since most of the men the girls had to dance with stepped on their feet or couldn't keep a rhythm to save their lives. Roxas laughed because it was true. Sometimes they danced a bit together although Roxas had to go very slowly and help her. But it was only for fun.

Roxas reflected a little on himself as they went down to the drawing room to wait for the King. Kairi was in a beautiful gown of blue silk and let him fetch the books for her, climbing easily up the ladder and looking at the titles thoughtfully.

"Mistress? Would you like the Tale of Silverhoof?" That was a romantic story with a young princess and a daring young man who accidentally kidnapped her and all the adventures they went through together. It was one of Kairi's favorite books and she'd read it repeatedly. Kairi smiled up at him.

"Why not? It will be good to pass the time." She pulled out her necklace and checked the little egg watch that hung from it. "We have an hour to kill."

"I told you it wouldn't take me long to get ready, Mistress." Roxas said with a smile in his voice and Kairi made a face up at him. Roxas' voice was far more expressive than his face and she could tell he was gently teasing her.

"Oh, pff. It's always better to be ready ahead of time." Roxas couldn't object to that and passed her the book before grabbing a book for himself. It was something more suited to his tastes, a book on astronomy. Roxas always found the fictional works rather baffling. Factual topics were soothing and a useful way to gather information. They quietly read together, Roxas' eyes flicking back and forth across the page like a metronome. Kairi hiked up her skirt, flipping one leg over the arm of her chair and Roxas lifted his head.

"Mistress, that is very unladylike." Roxas made his tone faintly disapproving but Kairi just laughed.

"You sound like my nurse! Poo, Roxas! We're in private, aren't we?" Kairi's grin was sweet and elfin. She liked bantering with her little doll.

"A princess of the blood is never entirely private, Mistress." Roxas said severely, then unbent a bit. "Although I detect no watchers." He would certainly have known if they were being watched. His senses were far more acute than any human. "Still, you will crumple your gown." Kairi sighed at that and dropped her leg down, smoothing the blue silk into place.

"Oh, I suppose. I wish you were the princess and I was the doll. It would surely be more restful." Roxas caught the faint edge of bitterness in her voice but didn't really understand it. He vaguely knew it had to do with her impending wedding to a Prince from far off Siliea. She had never met him and wouldn't until he arrived, a year from now. From the pictures she had been sent he was handsome enough, but who knew if they were in the least bit accurate? And then there was the question of if Kairi would even like him. Roxas could almost sympathize but not quite.

"At least you are not alone Mistress." Roxas changed the subject as she looked up at him with a small frown. "This map of the sky is all wrong. They were not very careful in judging distances." That made her laugh.

"Oh Roxas! You should write a book on astronomy." They both went back to their books and soon enough King Ansem arrived. Kairi jumped up from her chair and hugged him vigorously, her limp not at all obvious with her flowing skirts.

"The coach is ready. You know what to do?" Ansem said to Roxas, who nodded.

"Yes Your Majesty." Roxas knew exactly what he was supposed to do. He hadn't seen his partner and wouldn't until they did a quick practice before entering the stage but that would be more than enough. He wasn't human and his partner would be a professional dancer. Unless the man was stiff or unwilling, it would work.

"Your Majesty!" Footmen helped them off the carriage as a graying, slightly fat man bowed deeply to them. The young, handsome man beside him followed suit and Roxas felt a vague surprise as he stared into red, spiky hair. He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen hair of that shade. "Welcome to the Carnival!" Roxas could hear the capital letter and wanted to laugh but restrained himself. Kairi wasn't as collected and giggled behind a raised hand. "This is Axel, who will have the honor of dancing with your construct." King Ansem surveyed the man for a moment and clearly approved of what he saw, nodding with satisfaction.

"Excellent. Go with them, Roxas." He instructed the doll, who nodded and followed the two men. The grey haired man led them and his new dance partner, Axel, walked beside him. Roxas felt the weight of Axel's gaze on him and finally turned his head to meet bright green eyes.

"Hello." Axel smiled easily and Roxas felt a strange feeling in his chest. The man almost seemed comfortable around him. That was very unusual, most people didn't want to speak to him at all. "I've never met a Tau Li doll before. You're pretty cute, you know." If he could have, Roxas would have blinked. His dance partners rarely called him cute, although many other people did. Small children in particular seemed to love his appearance and often wished they had a doll like him.

"Thank you." Roxas hesitated before speaking again in a shy tone. "You're handsome." He really was. Roxas couldn't experience physical attraction, of course, but he was sure Axel would be a fine dance partner with his lanky but finely muscled frame and easy, coordinated way of moving. To Roxas, that was everything. Axel slowly grinned and Roxas was enchanted by the way his lips parted, revealing perfect teeth and the way the skin crinkled at the edges of his eyes. He looked so… so happy when he smiled.

"Why thank you. Now, I'm told you can dance?" Axel was teasing him now, Roxas could tell, but he didn't mind.

"Yes, I love to dance." Roxas said simply as Axel took his hands. They were behind the stage, warming up for their part of the performance, and Axel spun the little doll expertly in his arms as the band played their warmup.

For Roxas, what happened next was simply marvelous. He'd never had a dance partner who fitted so well with him, who seemed so in synch with what he was doing. It wasn't perfect of course. They had a few moments where one or the other didn't quite meet… but that smoothed easily as breathing and soon they floated across the stage, dancing neatly in time to the music. Then someone broke a string and cursed and the band stumbled to a halt. The two dancers slowed then stopped and were left staring deeply into each others eyes, green looking into blue glass.

"You're a wonderful dancer." Roxas finally said and to him, there was no higher compliment to give. Axel smiled, stroking back a few brown curls that had escaped from Roxas' tiara.

"So are you. You'll make a lovely Maiden Isme." That was the part Roxas was playing tonight. It was a very short piece and entirely dancing, so it would suit Roxas perfectly. Axel sighed and pulled his hand away. "I have to go." His part was much longer, although he wasn't the leading man. Roxas nodded, stepping back.

"I will be ready." And for once he would really be looking forward to playing his part.

Roxas peeked out from a special spot on the side of the stage, watching as Axel played his part. He was actually a villain, most of the story, but he would let the Maiden escape and eventually sacrifice himself for the Queen in the end. Roxas had been told it was a true story and maybe it was.

Their turn finally came and the crowd easily recognized the little Tau Li doll as he danced across the stage, meeting Axel for their intimate dance. That was the story, that he had been ordered to kill the unsuspecting Maiden but fell in love with her instead and let her go. They danced across the stage to the music and Roxas gave himself fully to the glory of the dance and felt that fluttering feeling in his chest turning into something deeper, warmer. He was unaware of the crowd's approval or the fact that he was giving what was perhaps the best performance of his life. All that mattered was Axel, the grace and the glory they were creating together.

The dance finally ended, as it had to, and Roxas impulsively kissed Axel before retreating off the stage. That wasn't part of the plan but it fit with the story, and the audience burst into applause as Axel stared after him, hand going to his mouth in surprise. Roxas wondered what the redhead was thinking for a moment, then refused to care.

The dance had been beautiful. That was all that mattered.

"You had a real fun time up there Roxas!" Kairi said happily as the carriage pulled away. The King was smiling, satisfied. He liked to show off the little Tau Li when he could, and Roxas had been spectacular tonight. Roxas looked down at this hands, folded in his lap, then up at Kairi.

"Yes, I did. Axel is a wonderful dancer." Kairi smiled, understanding what that compliment meant to him.

"Well, you'll get to dance with him for a week." Roxas lowered his head, suddenly feeling sad. Only a week? It wasn't long enough. He wanted Axel to be his partner forever.

The rest of the week only confirmed his initial feelings. Roxas didn't get to spend much time with Axel but they talked a little before each performance, and the dancing only got better. The third night, an imp of the perverse seemed to bite Axel and rather than letting the little doll kiss him, he grabbed Roxas and gave him a passionate kiss. The audience laughed but Roxas thought he caught a flash of something in Axel's eyes. Something almost akin to the way he felt when they danced. A warmth, a need.

"Axel." Roxas whispered, but then danced off the stage. He had to play his part and missed Axel's wry smile as he went back to the play.

Then the week was over and Roxas simply couldn't bear it. He needed his partner. Didn't anyone see? Roxas surreptitiously changed into the plainest clothes he had, brown velvet hunting garb, and put on a dark cap over his spiky blond hair. With no makeup he would look almost like a young noble boy, as long as no one got close enough to see his joints. He would go to Axel. They could run away together and dance together always.

It was a naïve plan doomed to failure, but Roxas was only a doll. He couldn't understand the harsh realities of the world. He rode to the camp of the traveling players and searched for Axel, finally finding him behind a tent, mending some clothes.

"My lord?" Axel began warily as Roxas swung off his horse, then blinked as he met blue glass eyes. "Roxas? What are you doing here?"

"I want to come with you Axel." Roxas said breathily as his horse tugged on his lead. The doll controlled him easily. "I want to travel with you and dance with you forever. Please let me come." Axel was smiling and Roxas felt so happy. He had found his dancing partner.

"Ah, that's a fine joke." Roxas twitched as Axel stepped up, resting his hands on the doll's shoulders. "Who put you up to this?"

"A – Axel?" Roxas said, letting his bewilderment show in his voice. "I want to come with you." He didn't see why that would be a joke and Axel's smile faded as he realized the little doll was serious. "We're perfect together. I should have had a partner but he broke. This is meant to be."

"Are you serious?" Axel's smile was gone now and Roxas saw what seemed to be anger growing on the redhead's face. But why would Axel be angry at him? He had to know they were perfect. Didn't he? "Have you lost your little mechanical mind? Do you know what the King would do if we stole his toy?"

"The King? I belong to Princess Kairi. She wouldn't hurt you." Roxas said, bewildered. Yes, the King liked him but he was owned by the Princess. Axel suddenly shook him and there was a soft rattling sound from his joints.

"You can't be that stupid! The King would hang us all if he found you with us!" Axel snapped and Roxas stared. "Get out of here, go back to the palace, right now!"

"But Axel…!" Roxas voice rose in a wail that he knew would have to be drawing attention but he didn't care. Axel's voice easily overrode his as the redhead shook him again.

"I have a family here! A sister, a brother and my elderly mother! I'm not risking them for a stupid doll! Go home Roxas, right now!" Roxas felt like all his strings had been cut, like he was a marionette with nothing left to support him. Axel shoved him back and the horse snorted as the little doll landed against him. The two stared at each other for a moment before Roxas spoke.

"Good-bye." His voice held all the heartbreak his frozen little face never could. Axel said nothing, just watching as the doll mounted his horse and rode away.

"Silly little thing." He sighed and went back to his mending, feeling a faint pang of guilt. But no matter what, Roxas couldn't have stayed with them. Stealing a piece of the King's property was simply out of the question.

No matter what Roxas wanted.