"Happy new year!" Kairi said, opening the door. She pecked Roxas on the cheek, then rose on her tip-toes for Axel to bend down for his kiss. "There's drinks for you both in the icebox."

Axel presented her with a champagne bottle. Roxas didn't want to know where he'd gotten from. "Happy new year, Kairi. The stage set up already?"

"It's out the back over the pool." She patted his arm. "Don't worry so much. Ooh, champagne." She took it and went to set it on ice.

Roxas grabbed on to Axel's sleeve so they wouldn't get separated. There were a lot of people here tonight – most of the senior class, and some of Naminé's friends who seemed to think themselves extra cool for being invited to a seniors' party.

Axel quickly found their way to their usual group. They were occupying a comfortable sitting room, the doorway concealed by a beaded curtain. The floor was littered with a series of comfortable cushions and bean bags.

Roxas cringed away as soon as he saw what was going on the room. "Ew! Sora!"

There was a muffled response, and Roxas gagged until Axel reached over and covered his eyes with a hand. The redhead led them to a space on the floor that blocked the sights of his cousin and Riku busy in the corner. They sat between a very happy Pence-Olette-Hayner sandwich and a Wakka who was watching Selphie and Tidus with interest, his free hand nursing a bottle of cheap Passion Pop.

"You're all starting early tonight," Axel commented idly, reaching into the icebox to grab a couple bottles of coke for them.

"Hey Axel," Olette said, freeing her mouth from Pence's, and nudging Hayner to take her place. "Happy new year. How was Christmas at the Strife/Leonheart's place?" She asked.

"Crowded," Axel replied, over the sound of Riku moaning out Sora's name in ecstasy. Roxas gagged again and grabbed Axel's hand to cover his eyes again.

"Did you have a nice time th-oooooooh," she broke off her conversation, returning her attention to the two guys were busy trying to get her focus back.

"Yeah," Axel replied, even though Roxas doubted he thought she was still listening. "It wasn't bad. Cheesy Christmas carols aside."

"I love Christmas carols," Sora said, coming back to join the circle. A very satisfied-looking Riku followed him.

"There's nothing you don't like about Christmas," Roxas pointed out.

"Our dads getting drunk and dancing to seventies music?" Sora ventured, sitting happily in Riku's lap. He sat so close, Roxas had to shift onto Axel's knee to have any distance.

"Yeah," Axel said, shifting his leg so they could both be more comfortable. One hand came around to cup his thigh and ass to keep him steady. "That was just weird."

"Don't remind me," Roxas mumbled, watching with interest as Selphie switched to a new, very flexible position and beckoned Wakka over to join them. "Did she get a new book of positions?"

"Mm. I think so," Riku said, thoughtfully. He tilted his head in a sort of detached curiosity. "Is she going to take both?"

"Nah, she's… oh, well that I didn't expect." Sora tilted his head the same way as Riku. "Remind me to bring this up next time we play Never Have I Ever."

"Will do."

The curtains pushed aside and Kairi stuck her head in. "Hey, Axel. They're here. You coming?"

"Not yet he's not!" the group called – or at least those whose mouths weren't currently occupied.

"Pervs!" Kairi laughed fondly. "Are you coming out to greet them, though?"

"Yeah." He tapped Roxas's thigh with his fingers. "Hop off, Rox. Important people to see, things to do."

"Where are you going?" Roxas asked, suspiciously, shifting off his leg as Axel stood.

"Help the band set up," he replied. "You can come with, if you want."

Roxas glanced aside at Riku and Sora who were making out again and pulled a face. "Yeah. I'll go with you." The last thing he wanted was to be around Sora having sex and have his balls crawl up into his body in disgust. And if he got to spend more time with Axel, that was just a nice bonus.

He used Axel's arm to pull himself up to his feet. "Yeah. Okay. Let's go."

They headed out to the back courtyard. The elegant pool, which had a working waterfall in the summer, was covered in glass, a wooden stage with amps, microphones and a drum-set ready on the stage.

And then he froze when he heard a familiar voice.

"Axel!"

He turned around to see Emyd Shirabe hurrying towards them. There was a guitar case on his back, and Ienzo trailing along behind him with his bass.

"Oh, my god," one of the Junior students whispered. "Is that Watery Illusion? How did Kairi score them for a High School Party?"

Axel was wrapping the blond guitarist in a loose hug. "Hey, Dem. How's it going?"

"It's all good, man. Oh, hey! Roxas!" Emyd nudged Axel aside to wrap the smaller blond in a hug too. Roxas froze in his grip, not sure how to react.

Why were these guys here? I mean, obviously, they were here to play for the party, but Kairi didn't even like Watery Illusion. Has Axel called in another one of his 'favours'?

"Kairi, this is Emyd Shirabe, and Ienzo Sakushi," Axel introduced. "Aeleus is parking the van – he's the drummer."

"Nice to meet you," she said to them both, smiling. "We spoke on the phone about the venue."

Emyd waved a hand lazily. "Don't be so formal. We're here for fun, not work."

Ienzo rolled his eyes. "Dem, when do you ever do any work?" He moved past them all to set up the stage.

"I'll go help him find the right plugs," Axel said. He petted Roxas's arm and moved off after Ienzo. Leaving Roxas alone with Emyd. Ew.

"Sooo," the musician in question said, linking his arm through Roxas's. "Are you and Axel an item yet? It's been months and he hasn't stopped talking about you."

Roxas felt his temper boil. "He's been in contact?"

"Well, yeah," he replied. "We usually skype once a week or so."

Bastard. He didn't know if he was angrier at Axel or Emyd. "Then you'd know we're not an item. He's more likely to be an item with you than me."

"Well, I'll run it by Ienzo, but he's a pretty possessive boyfriend," Emyd laughed.

"But he was okay with Axel sucking your dick."

"You salty about that?" He asked, surprised. "He said you had a girlfriend you were being exclusive with."

"Axel is my best friend. I don't want him to throw all his first times away on nobody."

Emyd snorted. "Wow. Ienzo was right. You really are possessive." He ran his fingers through his hair, fixing his mullet back into its usual style. "Look. Axel and I grew up together in Radiant Garden. I'm not nobody – but I don't mean as much to him as you do." He reached over to ruffle Roxas's hair. "Nobody does."

He strode away, leaving Roxas angry and confused behind him.