HAPPY NEW YEAR! To everyone who left me a kind review on my stories and who didn't get a response, please forgive me. OTL

So, who here has read The Merits of a College Education, by MitsuruAki? Or anything by her? Well, if you haven't, GO READ IT NOW, for this is a collab between the two of us. (it was the only way to escape her wrath, you see. ;D)

Disclaimer: We own nothing pertaining to Kingdom Hearts, or the title conveniently borrowed from Queen.

October

"What'll it be kid? Sprite?" Axel eyed the blond who had sat down at the bar. He wondered how the kid had gotten into the night club at all; he looked like he was in high school.

The comment was returned with a glare. "I'm old enough to drink alcohol. Give me something with vodka."

Axel figured he probably should have carded the self-acclaimed adult, but if he couldn't handle it, it wouldn't be Axel's job to kick him out. He mixed some fruit juice with vodka and set it in front of the blond, who sipped it almost cautiously. Axel snorted when the kid winced dramatically and nearly spat out the drink. "If you can't stand it, why order it?"

"Aren't you supposed to go out drinking when you turn twenty-one?"

"It's your birthday?" Axel looked surprised, but the ridiculous grin remained. "Then where are your friends, who are supposed to be here laughing at your intolerance?" The blond shrugged and the red-head's grin fell slightly. "You're here alone then?"

When the only reply was another shrug, Axel's smile vanished. "I see..." Nice work, Axel. Way to rub in his face he's spending his birthday by himself. Cute kid like him should be partying on his twenty-first, not moping at a bar. An idea popped into his head and he moved back to the mixes.

The blond jumped in surprise when his vodka was suddenly replaced with a bright red drink. He looked up to see the bartender smiling brightly. "Shirley temple. Us kids skill like these, you know. I can add an extra cherry if you want for your birthday."

He was given a skeptical look. "You hardly look like a kid. How old are you?

Axel laughed. "Eh, ten, twenty-five, what difference does it make? And for the record, I like at least three cherries in mine," he added, holding up three fingers. "So, what's your name Blondie?"

"Roxas. And I guess I'll take that extra cherry...?"

"Axel." Axel pointed to his temple. "Got it memorized, birthday boy?"

Roxas smiled for the first time that evening. "Yeah, sure thing Axel," he said with a small laugh.

"Happy birthday, kid."

-o-

Thank you for reading!