Song: Carol of the Bells by Thrice

Roxas moved across the floor in large sweeping steps, the long red cloak he wore acting as a dress would and sweeping the ground under him. His eyes were closed though he was facing up towards the dark sky. Snowflakes fell down and landed, melting on his skin as soon as they touched it.

His cheeks were tinted pink from the cold and his fingers, held in a pair of comfortable red gloves, felt frozen within the constant hold. One of his hands was nestled comfortably within the hold of his partner, his other resting on his partner's shoulder. His feet moved to the beat as it slowly started speeding up.

The man's voice started louder as the rock guitars came in a bit louder. The steps quickened before they suddenly halted, the hand that held his releasing it to let him lean back. The same leg swept out across the ground, the bottom of the red cloak following the movement and brushing newly fallen flakes from the ground.

He was brought up from the short dip and back into the proper hold, the hand at his back feeling as stiff as his partner. Roxas dared not open his eyes.

The music slowed down as the large sweeping steps became smaller and closer together, turning the couple in a small circle. Their outstretched hands came in closer to their bodies, bent at the elbow and resting beside their faces.

Roxas turned his head away, his eyes still closed, as he felt the warm breath of his partner ghosting across his flushed skin.

The hand on his back disappeared, ghosting cold fingers across his shoulder before coming to meet Roxas' hand on his shoulder. Their slow, small steps had slowed even more down, letting the couple stay almost still with just their bodies swaying gently from side-to-side. Their fingers laced however as soon as the affection gesture was completed, the blonde was flung away, almost harshly so.

The man's voice came strong again and Roxas' one hand was released, letting him be flung out to the side to face the audience, before his other hand was released. He continued to spin away, his wide steps becoming smaller and his hands coming around his body as he spun.

As soon as the man's voice became normal again, Roxas found his hand grasped by his partner as he was pulled closer. They seemed to fight for a moment within their steps and finally they entered the proper hold from the beginning.

The guitar came stronger in the back as the man's voice lowered a pitch and as before, Roxas was flung out violently. This time, the second hand didn't release him, instead pulled him back and held him so the blonde's back was to his partner's chest.

His hands were crossed over his chest, both held there by his partner's own. One was lifted over his head and the hold between their fingers was brief, but so intimate, anybody who noticed it would understand the deep feelings between them. That hand was stretched out to the side as the two entered the proper hold, however Roxas was facing his audience instead of his partner.

His eyes remained closed.

The blonde's other hand was also lifted into the air before it was dropped behind his own hand, resting at the back of his partner's head and sliding down to his neck and under the red locks tied in a tame ponytail. His partner's other hand crossed his chest and rested right below his collarbones.

Hot breath hit Roxas' neck as his partner was slightly hunched over.

The two entered the long sweeping steps to the beat once more and when it slowed down as before, their steps also slowed down, their hands found each other without looking.

When sudden strong beats came around, their small steps became stronger and larger in proportion, for just that one beat. The song slowed down and finally came to an end, the couple once more standing close, this time Roxas having his back pressed to his partner's chest.

The dance ended and the partners stepped one beside the other, holding hands before they bowed down. As they did, the redhead's fluffy Santa hat fell off, but he picked it up with a smirk and a wink at the audience. The two walked off stage, their hands releasing almost immediately after the bow, and Roxas finally opening his eyes, but looking only at his feet.

Demyx looked at Namine beside him and reached around, opening his jacket to drape it over her shoulders as well. She smiled up at him before resuming to look at the stage. Her hands stopped clapping and she shivered in the cold air, moving closer to Demyx' hold.

Kairi, the girl had introduced herself, came on stage again with a wide grin and the microphone, ear-muffs covering the sides of her face and a large jacket that made her look like a balloon. "So! That was our own Axel! One of the starting members for this project, dancing with his partner to the Christmas Theme for last year's celebrations. We've got three more shows before the count-down for the New Year begins, so everybody… settle in comfortably and I hope you're all warm! But I promise… as soon as the count-down is over, we'll warm you up!" she screamed out at the crowd, and the entire group responded with cheers, whooping and clapping.

"So, now, I want you all to put your hands together for the Acrobatics Team of our own club!" she started clapping and stepping away as she did to let the acrobats jump their way onto the snow-covered stage.

Half-way through their act, Demyx kissed Namine's cheek and left her to Sora as he went back stage to get ready for his own act.

When the Acrobats were done, Demyx ran on stage beside Kairi and laughed with the girl for a bit, obviously stalling. When they finally got the signal, Demyx grinned at the others and took the mike from Kairi. "Well guys, we're gonna play you two songs before the countdown, the final act will have to be cut down due to some technical difficulties, but if things work out, we may have it working later during the… morning actually," he grinned, his eyes scanning the crowd for Namine.

When he found her, he grinned and waved in her direction. "Everybody, we don't have a band name, so… call us what you will…" he grinned, put the mike in the stand and stepped behind the curtain.

The curtain opened, revealing a slightly higher stage with a few people on it. Demyx was off to the side with a blue guitar, he strung the first few beats and shortly after him came the calm, relaxing tone of a base guitar handled by a blonde with her hair sleeked back. The gentle keystrokes of a keyboard sounded from a youth with blue-silver hair covering half of his face. The drummer was a small girl with short black hair and bright blue eyes, and the singer was Axel himself.

The singer introduced himself with a grin and a two-fingered salute. Laraxene just curved her body to the base guitar and blew a kiss, Demyx grinned widely and waved as he jumped on the spot, Zexion brushed at his hair then crossed his arms over his chest, and Xion smiled sweetly at the crowd with a cock of her head.

"Let's have fun!" Axel called loudly and the music started on a stronger beat.

Soon, his voice joined in on the mix as the band went full out.

Half-way through the second song, Sora and Namine were pulled from the crowd by their brother. "Come on," he whispered under the sound of the crowd and music.

The other two followed him and they found themselves back stage where Kairi greeted Sora with a smile and a nudge of her hip against his. "Count down will be a few minutes after the song ends," she explained and smiled at Roxas. "Amazing dancing and thank you so much for helping us out."

"How did you get him to help out anyway?" Sora asked, raising both hands behind his head and balancing on one foot, his other bending slightly.

"We were short three acts and one of the top requests was a Christmas Dance since we didn't do any shows for Christmas this year… Demyx told us about a friend who was very good…" Kairi smiled at Roxas again, "I remember you from that show competition. You were really good, what happened to the last dance?"

"Got in a fight with my partner," Roxas smiled, not looking at either of his siblings.

"Oh yeah… the redhead… I swear, only thing that told me it wasn't Axel was the marks. I remember when I met Ax with those marks and Damyx was poking them none-stop saying he got them the previous week…" Kairi once more grinned.

The song came to an end.

"See ya on stage," she waved and ran off. Her voice was heard over the speakers and after a moment, the triplets found themselves on stage with a few others.

Kairi kept on talking as Axel walked through the group with Demyx and Laraxene in toll, the three of them carrying champagne bottles and glasses that they handed out. The stage was full of all the performers during the night, totally up to about fifty of them.

The glasses were running out and the fourth bottle was already being opened. Finally, Axel found himself a spot with Demyx near the triplets, each of them holding a glass as Kairi spoke a quick speech.

"10!" she called out.

"9," the crowd joined her.

"8," Roxas smiled up at Axel, the redhead having an arm draped lazily over the blonde's shoulder.

"7," Namine wrapped an arm around Demyx's waist, smiling up at him.

"6," Sora held his brother's hand with a wide grin.

"5," Demyx smiled down at Namine, leaning closer to her.

"4," Kairi waved her glass.

"3," Axel glanced down briefly, noticing Roxas was looking at him.

"2," Axel's grin disappeared and his hand slackened, lowering in surprise.

"1," he leaned in, his lips locking with Roxas as cheers went all around them, welcoming the new year.

Roxas returned the kiss, not even noticing that most of his glass was spilled over one of the other's backs. Namine downed her drink without realizing it, her lips then immediately being attacked by Demyx who was grinning into the kiss.

Sora had downed his drink and was laughing, jumping up and down around the stage along with most of the others, jumping and kissing anybody and everybody around them.

Reno threw his scotch glass across the room, watching it shatter right above the TV that showed the greeting of the New Year in the city centre, his eyes having noticed a flash of red leaning down to hide away the golden locks.

He left the room full of friends, not even noticing the silence he had left behind.

- - -

Roxas smiled up at Axel as the two danced close together to the techno beats currently flooding the city centre. The two were whispering apologies and trading sweet kisses in between the holes of the music. They strayed far away from family and friends and mixing in with the crowd that had flooded the lower stage as soon as they were allowed.

Demyx had his hands full of Namine, trying to get the small girl away from the crowd that seemed to make her sick. Sora had found Kairi quickly, the two immediately pulling to dance together.

It was nearing two o'clock when Axel got back onto the main stage, calling his friends over and the band getting back up. Demyx was up last, holding Namine close to him. As soon as Roxas saw his sister, he pulled her in and when the music started, the two entered the simple steps of a quick ballroom dance that they remembered from practice years ago.

When Namine finally got tired, Demyx took her and soon their entire group left to go back home – all deciding on crashing at Reno's place as per agreed earlier during the day.

The subway was crowded, even if it was nearing five in the morning, but it was as lively as if rush hour. When they finally got out, the group made their way loudly down the street to the apartment.

Roxas was the first one in, Namine and Demyx stumbling right behind him. Sora had decided to bring Kairi along, the girl agreeing without question. Axel was walking with his hand around Zexion's shoulder, Laraxene trailing behind with a cigarette in her hand and Xion's own, occupying her other.

The first thing they all noticed was the sitting redhead in the corner, glaring at the door with an scotch bottle resting against his knee and a cigarette between his lips.

The laughter in the group slowly died out as one by one, they all noticed him.

"Reno?" Namine decided to speak when it seemed that none of the others would. "We thought you wouldn't be back by this evening… if we knew it were different we would've found another place… and…"

"Roxas… we gotta talk," Reno interrupted, rising on, surprisingly, steady legs and walked away and down the hall. The door to the bedroom opened and closed shortly after, drowning out the silence in the front hall.

Roxas pulled away from the others, worry etching his features. Sora tried to stop him, Namine as well, however both siblings backed off when they noticed the worry lining their brother's features.

Roxas followed into the room and closed the door silently behind him. "Reno?"

Outside, Sora and Namine moved the others around to make them more comfortable, turning on some music and bringing out the frozen foods, all crowding the kitchen and around the counter as they were making everything they could find in the fridge.

"What's goin' on?" Reno asked, rising from the bed and his anger rising in emotion.

"We had decided that the part would be—"

"Ya makin' out with him on live TV!" Reno interrupted. It was no a question.

"I told you! I am with him!" Roxas shouted back.

The music seemed to quiet down as did the chatter.

"With him? After the past week with us?"

"Us? What us? We are partners in dancing! That's it! When I wanted you, you rejected me, now that I finally found someone I like, you try to take it away," the blonde was pulling at his own locks as he screamed at his friend. "There is no us!"

"Fuck it, Roxas!"

"He's right," Axel's quiet voice sounded from the doorway, the other redhead leaning against the doorframe. "Roxas," Axel's pure green eyes focused on the blonde. "You gotta decide… you've been playing us both from the start…" he closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

Roxas looked from one to the other.

Reno sat back down on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his interlaced fingers.

Axel looked away, hands in the pockets of his pants as he leaned back. "I really like ya," Reno spoke, though Roxas could've easily mistaken it for Axel.

"There's no way not to," Axel added in with a sad smile, but kept his eyes from focusing on Roxas.

Reno smirked and looked up, noticing Axel for just a moment before his unique eyes locked onto Roxas. "Kinda hard to trust ya though… cuz I already know who ya belong ta…" he sighed and looked at Reno. "Ya know it too… doncha?"

Axel smirked and shook his head. "The music."

Roxas looked from one to the other with disbelief and hurt all over his features.

"Well Happy Fucking New Year," Roxas ground out and pushed past Axel, running out and then out of the apartment.

Namine noticed her brother rush and her eyes locked with Sora from across the room. The other had noticed too. Both apologized to their partners and quickly grabbed their jackets and shoes, running out after their brother.

Reno and Axel sat alone in the bedroom, one lying back and leaning against the headboard of the bed, the other sitting at the edge with his upper body resting back on one arm.

"Fuck," Reno sighed out the smoke as he hit his head back against the wall.

"Exactly," Axel agreed and dropped his body, his head resting on the other's leg unintentionally but neither minding the contact to suspend it.

"I love that kid," Reno muttered and leaned down so he was looking down at Axel.

"I know what you mean," Axel agreed with a sad smile.

The redheads kept their eyes locked for long moments and eventually they both found sleep on the bed, the music and party around them having ended it sometime in the mid morning.

Namine and Sora had returned earlier with Roxas in tow, the triplets sleeping on the small bed of the second bedroom, curled around each other as they had when they were smaller.

Everybody else had lain somewhere across the living room in random states of undress and intoxication. By the time noon rolled around, only Demyx and Zexion had stirred. The two were talking quietly over the counter when Kairi woke up to join them, asking for a cup of coffee.

"Is Roxas okay?" she asked when the silence came in, looking to the bedrooms.

"Don't know… but I think you should steal Sora away," Demyx sighed softly and rose from his seat finishing off his cup. "I'll do the same to Namine…"

"Hey Demyx," the quiet boy stopped his friend with a hand to his arm. "I thought you were…"

"I'm fine… we're just friends," Demyx grinned at his friend and leaned in, surprising the other with a kiss, before walking to the bedroom. Kairi followed silently.

One by one, they stole the other two siblings away and each took the other out to breakfast. Zexion woke up Laraxene and Xion, looking at the two women with a roll of his eyes, before they pulled out as well to a silent breakfast.

When Roxas woke up, the apartment was silent. It was nearing four in the afternoon, but it felt more like eight in the morning. He got up, forgetting the previous night and going straight to Reno's bedroom to wake him up. When he noticed the two redheads asleep on the bed, it all came crashing down.

He closed the door silently and went back to his bedroom, quickly packing up everything. When Namine and Sora had returned, they were surprised to see Roxas cleaning up the living room with two suitcases by the door. "Roxas?" Namine looked her brother over with concern.

"Hey Nami… where's Demyx? And Kairi?" he looked at the others in confusion.

"Demyx took Kairi home, he's heading back himself," Namine explained with confusion. "And you?"

"Cleaning up. And… I'm gonna go back home for a bit…" he smiled tiredly at the two.

"Are you… sure?" Sora asked before he came closer to help out his brother.

"Yea… it's best…" Roxas smiled sadly.

The three quickly cleaned up the apartment and packed up. They left without a word to Reno, but leaving him a note of thanks and a phone number to their house.

end of story! i got bored, if you didnt notice and I hated this story enough to give it a sucky ending.
I will probably end up writing only the dancing scenes since i don't have any good storylines for this
as for Reno and Axel - you guys can use your imagination as to what happens to them.

that's it... sorry for the bad ending
posted it as soon as i finished it
i hate writing everything but the dancing scenes so... sorry to anybody who actually liked this....

disclaimer: characters belong to square enix, kingom hearts, final fantasy, etc.

ciao with the sucky story
.sye