Starstruck

[Rikugurl]

"Yea, plus he was born really close to us and even in the same hospital. The Holani family is pretty unique~" Ven smiled as he saw Sora's boyfriend looking at the picture again. It was actually really nice to finally say that. Sora, his big brother having a boyfriend! He was totally lucky too since Riku had some Asian in him! That was hot. Then again, he had am exotic boy too. He leaned onto Terra, smiling up at him but it was Fuu who broke up the conversation. "Hey, I forgot to tell you all but Aqua and I got a call from Leon saying that we made it to the final round."

"WHAT!?" Ventus almost fell out of his seat as he shot up and peered at the two lesbians. "How could you almost forget!? It's like the biggest fucking news ever!"
"Well the biggest fucking news ever is Terra looks fucking gorgeous in our muscle shirt~" Fuu laughed, making Terra blush and look away but Ven grinned, running his hand over Terra's abs. "Damn right~ But who are we up against?"
"Who do you think? MWF."
"Are you fucking serious?"
"MWF?" Riku rose an eyebrow, not really knowing who the hell that was.
"Yea, Memory Of The Walking Fiction. It's a stupid fucking goth shit band that two fucks came up with. They won last battle of the bands too." Ventus spat, his hate for Sacha and Eskel high on his Dislike List. "If they keep winning, what the fuck is the point?"

"IF, Venny~ We're already getting more sales then them~" Fuu pointed out, having realized that her rent was getting easier to pay. "Besides, Leon said that this is going to be the last battle for awhile."
"How come?"
"Because who ever wins is going to be given a contract."
There was dead silence over the table as the techno pulsed in the background. Ven's face was pale, his eyes widened slightly but it quickly turned dark and he stood from the table. "Excuse me." Before anything could be said, he pushed through the crowd towards the men's bathroom.
"Wha---" Riku stopped, hearing Sora sigh.


"Right! Of course! Have we ever let you down, Roxy?" Kalama giggled, running her fingers through Nico's hair as she sprayed it.
"It's going to be great." Axel chirped in, already dressed up and rearing to go for the stage. He would be dancing the last piece with Roxas and again, he matched the star well. "My aunt and brother are actually here too to watch us and the ball."
"WOW! Really? That's great!" The redhead female cheered, seeing the big smile on Roxas's face too.

[Reno]

"Ven...? Ven!" Terra called but the blonde just kept walking. His eyes narrowed before he stood, "I'm gonna go talk to him," He excused himself before following after the blonde into the bathroom. He had a feeling he knew what this was about.
His brother, however, just shook his head. "There he goes again..."
"About what? I thought it was great news!" Aqua complained.
He gave her a smile. "It really is. But... For Ven it's different."
Blue eyes narrowed. "This is about Roxas, huh?"
"Yeah. Had he even told you guys?" From the way Aqua huffed it was obvious he had not. 'Ven...'
"Well whatever if he doesn't want to have fucking share time that's fine with me!" She stood suddenly, "But I am going to go have a celebratory dance with my girlfriend!" She took Fuujin by her arm, pulling her up and onto the dance floor.

Sora smiled weakly and sighed, looking around the table that was now empty except for him and Riku. He supposed now was a better time than any other. "Oh, I have something I want to show you! They came just in time!" He chirped happily, as if the last few minutes hadn't even happened. Riku looked at him curiously, and blinked Sora pulled out an envelope and showed it to him. There was nothing special about it really...
Except for the corner were the return address was. Aurora Hospital.
"It's my test results." Sora looked down at the envelope. "My last test results. I wanted to open them with you because... because I decided to make a New Year's resolution."
"Yeah? What's that?"
The brunette gave the other a brilliant smile. "Live Healthy. And I don't just mean sexually. I mean in every aspect of my life; mentally, physically. I want to eat better and exercise more. But most importantly," He reached out, placing his hand over Riku's and looking at him fondly. "I want to have a healthy relationship with you."


"Ven...?" Terra called as he stepped into the bathroom, seeing the blonde standing at the mirror, glaring at his reflection. But he had a feeling he was glaring at someone entirely different. "Hey, what was that all about?"


"That's awesome Axel!" Roxas said, glad once again he decided the performance the way he did. "Now they're gonna really see how much your hard work has paid off."
"Yeah, because we're gonna blow the roof off this place." Nico cheered.
"Uh, what roof?" A third dancer, Aidan, called. "We're performing outside!"
Roxas chuckled, "Then, we'll blow the sky out."
"People, people! Ten minutes! You all almost ready?" Roland called as he came into the 'dressing room' which was actually just some business's first floor the city of Manhatten had rented out for the use of the bands that were performing. All the rooms, including the break room and some offices, had been turned into last-minute beauty salons it seemed and they could heat the jabbering of the other teams getting ready for the big night. The manger seemed a bit harried, his glasses a bit askew, but it was no doubt because of the crowd both outside on the streets and inside this building.
"Yeah, we're pretty much set." Roxas said, giving everyone a once over. Only Nico wasn't ready but Kalama was almost done. "How's it look out there?"
"It's like a damn zoo!"

[Rikugurl]

Riku took the envelope gently, looking at the blank cover except for the return address. The hospital? But--- Aquamarine eyes glanced at Sora when he revealed what it was and gave him a smile. He knew about Sora's tests that he had taken, making sure they covered everything. The reason why they had waited on sex these past few months was that Sora wanted to make sure he was clean before they had a night that was rubber free. A night as lovers and a morning where they could pillow talk and not worry about exchanging money. Riku respected Sora's decision but that didn't mean they couldn't start really dating.

And to his shock, his mother was ok with them being together. She had even made Sora a Christmas present which was a boarder collie plush that had a halo and wings.

"Well, I can definitely help. We can go jogging every morning and I can help you with eating right. It'll be a lot easier this semester." That's right, they had arranged with dorming together. Slowly they opened the flap and pulled out the papers, reading the test scores and as they did, their smiles became wider at each (-) they saw.


Ven's body was shaking as he glared at his reflection. It was a single large mirror that spanned over the three sinks and he didn't even acknowledge his boyfriend's reflection as he walked in. "I don't want to be a sell out."
"A what?"
"A sell out! One who betrays a cause for personal advancement. Anyone who sacrifices artistic integrity in an effort to become more successful or popular. I don't want to play music to make money.... I don't.... I don't want to be like him."
"What are you talking about?"
Dark blue eyes reflected the anger and hate that was boiling up in his heart and soul as they flickered to look up through the glass back at Terra. "Don't you understand? Nothing will be the same. I'll have to leave... I'll have to leave you and Wolf and Sora behind. For what? I just started my online courses, I just wanted to play for fun and release my problems through my voice. It's the only release I can find.... My only release is through music and I don't want a paycheck for it."

His eyes looked back at his reflection, darkening even more. "I care about how this will affect others who love me unlike him. He never cared, he never gave a shit! He thought he could buy us back, but he was fucking wrong! They're going to have to find a new bassist.... because I quit!"


Green eyes twinkled a bit as he heard Roland. There were so many people...
"I'll be done in a second! You guys get ready!" Kalama called back and the rest of the crew headed out. They walked down the hallway, passing some windows which made the tall redhead pause. It caught Roxas's attention and he walked to his dancer's side, looking out the window Axel was. They could see thousands of people below, all bundled up and laughing, blowing horns, kissing and cheering. "Wow.... I don't think I've ever seen so many people in my life..." Axel exclaimed softly. He slowly looked down at Roxas who didn't reply, seeing the worried look on his face.

That's right... Roxas's stage fright.
"It'll be fine, Star. We're going to blow the sky off, remember? They love you... we all do... and we're going to be great." He gave the blonde a reassuring smile, rubbing his shoulders to ease the tenseness in them.

[Reno]

While Riku was filled with anticipation, Sora only felt nervousness as they looked down the first page. The first was the easiest to see - it was the compiled list of curable STDs. It was also on this page, one year and a half ago, he looked over this list alone and stared in terror at the (+) that was marked next to Chlamydia. A mistake, one evening - some blonde named Zell who was really quite sweet on him had convinced him to forgo the condom. And it ended up being a mistake. He had told Zell his suspicions later and, sure enough, once the blonde got tested he found himself also caught with it.

He really couldn't blame the blonde for not knowing. It was the most subtle STD there was. He couldn't even truly remember the illness affecting him at all but it was highly dangerous to one's reproductive symptom. Poor Zell found that out the hard way... and he never heard from him again.

As they flipped to page two, he looked down the list and remembered it could of been a lot worse though. The second page was of STDs uncurable but 'treatable'. It would be something he would have to live his whole life with, but with minimal amount of discomfort. Luckily, he had none of these either.

It was the third and final page even Riku seemed hesitant to turn to, because even he could not have missed the one and single disease that had been missing from the list. One that probably ever sex-ed class in history now spoke to death of and people never stopped praying for a cure for.

They turned it together, slowly, and stared down at HIV...

And then Sora tackled Riku onto the seat that was really like a booth at a restaurant, except these seats where soft and furry like those kinky handcuffs with velvet red tones. "The only test... I'm glad to get a zero on." He whispered breathlessly before he tangled his fingers in silver hair, sealed his lips over the other's, kissing him senseless, the test results fluttering away unnoticed under the table.


Even though Terra knew, when his eyes met Ven in that reflection, that none of that anger and burning hate was aimed at him, unconsciously he took a step back, his heart shivering. But as Ven looked away he calmed, and slowly walked over to him as he finished his rant and laid his hands on his shoulders. "This is about Roxas, isn't it."
'DON'T SAY HIS NAME!' The blonde cried and yanked away from him, completely missing the way Terra flinched violently.
"I-I'm sorry I just-" He apologized hastily, for a moment sounding panicked, but then - Stop! He mentally snapped at himself, and he shut his eyes calming himself down before opening them carefully. Now he was starting to understand. In not so many words Ven had just told him... Roxas must of betrayed him and Sora somehow. It sounded like he... left them behind.

He knew that feeling.

"Well, then I'm glad you're not like him. Because I don't know what I'd do without you." He reached out, gripping Ven carefully, turning him around to face him. That anger was still there, but he reached out, running his fingers through stubborn swirls, leaning down to face him. "Listen Ven... if that's really how you feel... just TELL Aqua and Fuu. They'll understand... no one can force you to do anything you don't want too."

He ran the back of his hand along Ven's cheek, saying, "You know... this is the first time you ever actually told me something like this." Blue eyes blinked slowly, the anger being replaced by confusion. "I've been dumping my problems all the time on you, but I've never actually heard one of yours. Well, one that really meant something that is. I wish you would do it more often. I want to be here for you too Ven... even if I can't erase how someone has hurt you, I am here and I will listen."


Roxas swallowed even still, his heart pounding so hard he almost couldn't hear anything else and it made him feel a bit dizzy. "Last year we got to perform here too, but we got the noon spot so there wasn't much of an audience. You know they say... that over a million people come here for this day." A million people. Two million eyes.

He felt the hand rub his back again, the red-head speaking soothingly that that just meant there would be a million people wowed by him tonight. He smiled gently, turning and looking up at Axel. "You mean by us. Remember, these are your dances Axel. I couldn't do this without you." Green eyes stared down at him and for a moment that was all they did, just looked at each other and for the briefest second Roxas couldn't help but think how much like emeralds his eyes looked like; rare gems that he vaguely recalled, as it was his birthstone, signified hope and faithful love. And for just a little millisecond, he felt his legs shiver in a different way then they had just a moment before as if he wanted to lean up and-

"Hey, what's the hold up!" Aidan's voice broke into his train of thought, making them both jump and Roxas, looked away blushing some.What... what was that? That feeling... "Ah, nothing!" He looked up at Axel through his bangs, mumbling, "Well... let's do this."

Together, they walked after the rest of the crew, where the other band was returning. Roxas vaguely recognized them as some popular band of a name he was forgetting, his mind to full of what felt like cotton to think of anything really and he wasn't entirely sure if it was his nerves of the performance anymore.

By the time he came off of some subservience of Cloud 9, he realized he was walking up the steps to the stage with the other dancers, hearing a teenager in the crowd yelling his name loud and clear despite the thousands and thousands of people talking and yelling. He turned on his headset, the numbness fading to a sudden explosion of nerves that made him see double and sway unnoticeable - that was weird, that never happened before - but as he called out, it faded. "Happy New Years Eve Manhatten!! If you don't know who I am I hope you've just made a New Year's resolution to find out because this show will be the one of both mine and yours' year! Tonight, we're giving you a piece of what to expect from us next year, not only a complete, amazing new compilation of dances from our new choreographer but also a special, tonight-ONLY brand new song that will be going on my March album!"

He smiled as he heard the cheers, and he nodded. "I thought you'd be excited! So let's do this!" The band started up and the performance began. But it was the last song, his new song with Axel, that he was really anticipating. He wanted to hear their reaction and, maybe just somewhere, he... really wanted to dance with Axel again.

[Rikugurl]

"S-SORAAAH!!" Riku laughed as he was slammed into, falling onto his back against the fuzzy seat. He chuckled but smiled brightly when he heard the ironic whisper, easily accepting the deep kiss. "Mmmmmn~~" Silver eyelashes closed, his own hands reaching up to run through the brown spikes. Their tongues gently danced together, feeling the heat and feeling behind it. An arm wrapped around Sora's lower back, pulling him closer against his own body. He didn't care how awkward their position was, all he cared about them them. About Sora.

"You two should get a room." He heard a sudden voice, pulling away from Sora to glance up at Fuu who was looking down at them. Of course she was upside down to him and he blushed. "S-sorry." He straightened, grabbing the fallen papers quickly and put them back in the envelope before holding Sora close.
"You guys got pretty buddy buddy all of a sudden~" She grinned, sitting down across from them but frowned. "Terra and Ven still inthe bathroom?"
There was a nod and she sighed. "Well, I hope they come out soon. Aqua's not happy and now she's getting more drinks."
"Do you know what might be wrong?" Riku inquired, feeling like Sora and Fuu knew.
"It must be because of Roxas."

Roxas.... that's right.
When Riku was first introduced to Ventus, it wasn't a pretty sight when he literally squealed, knowing it had to be Star but it truly just was his identical twin.
"JUST!?"


Ventus looked away, his throat still tight and his body still tense. He had never been this angry before... or at least not in a long time. He was fine usually but like anyone who had a true hidden problem, the minute it was mentioned, it was downhill. It was called a trigger in mental terms, something that sparked a sudden rage or response. Like Ida remembering her son died, Ventus's was remembering his brother. If he could even call him that.
"Why the fuck would you want to hear about my petty fucking problems when you're are so much more... worse!? Your brother fucking died and your mother is scared and you are scared and all I have to fucking whine about it my stupid fucking famous TWIN!"

He pulled away again, whipping around and glared at himself in the mirror again. "I hate it. I hate this reflection!" Now Terra understood why there was no mirror in the bathroom... "It's not even my own... I can't even be myself! All I am is a fucking shadow... and I won't be any better if I sign some fucking contract. Then... I'll be no better than him!" Tears started to streak down his face and the door opened, a man stepping in but took one look at Ventus and decided to hold whatever in as he quickly left. "What if I did? What if we got famous? All I'll ever be.... is Roxas Star's Twin. No one will ever take me serious. I'll be a laughing stock.... they'll all laugh at us. All the cameras will be more concern on why Roxas Star's Twin is so dark and not see Black Sheep at all. They won't see Aqua, they won't see Fuu. They won't see our talent or our music. It's just him."

His eyes became darkened, his arms shaking so bad it made the sink in front of him rattle. "I WANT MY OWN LIIIIFE!" He suddenly screamed and his fist shot up and punched his reflection, the large glass mirror shattering instantly. Glass shot out in all different directions, larger chunks smashing and shattering on the floor at impact. Razor edges cut skin that was the closest, including his face, his bar arms and... very close to his wrist. His wrist. Right about his white and black checkered wristband. The wristband he refused to take off.

"Mmmmm fuck baby~"
"Aaaah, y-yea.... right there..... OoooooHH!"
"Come on, I wanna see you, all of you...."
"Don't you already? I'm completely naked, Terra~"
"Not completely~"
"Wha---NO! Stop. Don't touch that.... that stays on."

Another trigger snapped and his eyes widened, seeing the glass embed in his skin, the red blood slowly pooling from the seems. "No... NOO!!!" He started to hyperventilate, not even feeling the arms wrapping around him and pulling him away from all the glass. He lost control of his legs and stumbled but Terra caught his weight and sat him down against the cold wall. Still, he couldn't hear the panicked cries of his boyfriend, his eyes only seeing that cut. It felt so deep. Terra was a smart muffin and knew the source of the problem, quickly pulling Ven's arm out of sight which made him close his eyes and hiss in pain. As his hand clung onto Ven's wrist, the wristband shifted from the force, revealing something that the blonde had been hiding.

A scar. Much like the hidden scar Terra had. A scar that was a remembrance of a time that neither of them wanted to remember. It was an old scar, probably a few years old. Music hadn't been his only release it seemed. He once thought there was another way. When Terra snapped out of it though, he realized Ventus was no longer responsive.


"Haaa....haaa.... wow...." Kalama panted as he stepped off stage, taking her water bottle. "It's so hot out there!" She collapsed on the chair that was backstage, inhaling her water as if she was a camel.
"Did Roxas get one?" Another dancer asked, being the youngest of the group.
"No, he said he was afraid he might throw it up. There's just one more song and dance and he said he'd have something afterward."

In a breathless call, the voice of the young pop star filled New York again, saying this was his last song of this year and how much he appreciate all his fans coming out and hoping to make new ones. He wished them all a Happy New Years and more to come as the beat started to play.
Axel didn't realize every step he made was slowly taking something away. Every step he created was destroying. The lights flicking above only made darkness and a clouded mind. Stars voice echoed but it wasn't right.

Something wasn't right.

The lights went out as the song pause, the crowd watching in anticipation before the music shot back out at them and the lights flared. Roxas held a long, intense note as he reached for the sky, no one realizing the redhead missing in the background. His voice cut off, the music taking over and the crowd cheered. Millions of people. Then there was a flash and the redhead appeared near the side of the strange, easily dancing his way to the center, two sparklers being handed to the blonde and their feet started to move. More cheers and calls cried out as confetti started to litter below the stage, falling down onto the watcher as the sparklers flared in their hands.

They stood next to each other as Roxas sang, the two spelling out the word STAR with the fire. As it faded, they wrote something else.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
With the end on the R, the song was over and an explosion of confetti and lights came over the stage, ringing through people's ears as they screamed.
They screamed not only because of the fantastic show or the new song, or the amazing finale. Some must of also screamed when they saw the blonde star collapse.
Sparklers fell instantly but the boy didn't hit the ground. Instead, the fire head dancer quickly caught him in his arms. "ROXAS!" He cried but he knew he had to get him out of the public eye and out of this heat.

As if Roxas weighed nothing, he picked up the blonde and effortlessly carried him off stage where the rest of the crew were waiting in panic. "ROX!" Kalama cried as she rushed over but Roland was quick to keep everyone away, instantly getting on his cell phone to call for an ambulance. Getting one down here... on this night... seemed impossible. And it was impossible because the medics refused, saying they could only take him by helicopter. Without a say in it, the blonde was taken from Axel's arms by his body guards and rushed to the roof to meet the rescue squad.

"ROXAS!"
Why was everything going so slow? Why couldn't he keep up? His legs started to move without his brain telling him too, running after Roland and the guards. The dancers started to rush after but he snapped at them for the first time, telling them to stay there. Roxas had hired him to work under him... but all in all, he was the dancer's boss.
The feeling of the cold air hitting his lungs was the only refreshment he felt, his hair getting ruined by the wind that the blades of the helicopter made.
He heard a call, telling him to stop but everything in his heart said no. "I'M GOING WITH HIM!"
"BUT AXE---"
"I'M HIS CHOREOGRAPHER! HE COLLASPED ON STAGE AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE SURE HE'S OK!"

There was no more arguments over the blades and the four quickly managed to fit into the helicopter, lifting off and heading towards the nearest hospital.

[Reno]

It was like a nightmare. Whatever he tried to say just made it worse; however he tried to help didn't do a thing. He felt helpless as he listened to his boyfriend rant and scream out his frustration and fury, unable to hide the way he was suddenly shaking, but Ven didn't notice. "Ven stop! Stop!"
But him freaking out too wasn't helping either of them.
Calm down He coaxed himself as he saw his lover crying. Calm down, he needs your help!

"Ve-NHA!" He yelled as the Ven shattered the mirror -
"Get the fuck out of here boy!" The vase full of freshly picked flowers, his gift to his mother, sailed just past his left ear. He flinched, hearing the crash behind him, splatters of liquid and glass splashing him. He was quick to turn and scamper out of the kitchen, hearing the yell after him. "DON'T BE WHERE YOU AREN'T WANTED!"
-shattered both of them and littered the pieces all over the ground in an irreparable destruction. He felt some of the shards catch him as well, though only his arm was badly cut. Ven however - God.

The blood...

He didn't know what to do as the other just started to break down and scream, acting like he had completely lost it. "Ven, VENTUS!!" He tried to yell as he caught the other when he started to trip over his own to feet, sitting him down and trying to bring him back to normal. If there was one thing he COULD handle, it was crazy. "Ven, baby come on it's alright. It's okay!"

He looked as the other stared at his wrist, heard his bleeding and his stomach dropped at the sickening comparison he could make with his mother on her bad days, staring at her own hands that she had once told him was covered in Zack's blood. He reached out and pulled his wrist out of his direct sight, but Terra spotted something that made him pause and stare.

A scar. An old scar across the wrist. Cut diagonally.

Terra felt sick when he saw it, knowing exactly what it must be. "V-Ven..." He looked towards the other only to see his eyes were shut. "Ven...?" He reached out and shook the other... only to realize he was unconscious.

"VEN!!"


Sora nodded in agreement when Fuujin guessed correctly, "He's afraid of becoming just like him... that's why he got upset. He's so set on the idea Roxas sold out by becoming a star and thinks that signing a contract is the end of the world." Among a lot of other things of course. "I'm afraid to say he's... probably not going to warm up to the idea."
"Well fucking miraculous!" Aqua said, having returned just in time to hear that, slamming her drink down, "Fucking brat." She handed Fuu hers before drowning half of hers in one gulp.
Sora smiled a bit, "Are you really that mad?"
"Mad? I'm not mad I'm fucking furious! But what the fuck can I do about it? If he decides to ditch us that's it." She shrugged down in her seat, wallowing, "We wouldn't of gotten this far without him and I doubt we'll find a replacement bassist with his talent anytime soon."
Sora gave her a sympathetic look, wishing he could help - but he'd been trying for three years now to console his twins and anyone who knew him knew he was fairly good at making people make peace with each other.... but this was beyond him. He reached out for his own drink, saying, "Well, maybe there is still hope I mean-ut!"

And then suddenly everything went wrong. His hand crashed into his drink and he suddenly fell forward. He heard a crash of glass and splattering liquid as he caught himself, bringing his hand back to his head.
"Sora!"
"Hey, you alright?!"

"Ugh... m-my head..." He groaned, his heels pressing against his left temple as if it could lessen the sudden pounding in it.
That's when, even over the sound of the music, they suddenly heard a yell in the bar.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!!!"
And Sora realized with a start of panic... that it was Terra's voice.
No not again... please Ven, not again Aqua was the first to get up and push past the crowd, but Sora was only a second behind her, stumbling some on his feet as his headache worsened but he managed to stay on his feet as he careened after the bluette, knowing Fuujin and Riku weren't far behind.


It wasn't until halfway through the fourth dance that Roxas started it. His legs were trembling, strained from the intense dance moves he wasn't used to yet and the heat bearing down on his body, slicking his skin uncomfortably and making his hair droop. When they finished he was only given a moment's pause to instruct the others to take a rest. Kalama paused, asking him about water but even though his tongue was dying for it, he knew without a doubt that the uncomfortable tightness in his stomach wasn't going to allow for liquid AND movement.

The time was brief as he spoke with the crowd, calling out to them with open arms that it was time for him to reveal his new song - and as Axel came on stage, not minding that he was all alone as his green eyes glimmered with excitement, he suddenly felt a lot better and a lot more confidant. It was going to be fine.

That was... until the performance started. His body instantly screamed at him to desist, his hearing was fading in and out, his vision partially overtaken by a swirling pattern of black spots. But still, he sang. Still he danced. He wouldn't let them down. He never wanted to let anyone down again.
He moved with instinct and practice, his voice singing the song he had probably already rehearsed a hundred times simply to get it recorded for the album. And as the song came to the end, he held the sparkler's up for the finale, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he and Axel words in the air, the dancing fire lights making the crowd amazed.

When he finally stopped moving, finally stopped singing, it came upon him so suddenly, like the lights flipping off in a storm, his eyes rolling back as his knees buckled, and the last thing he knew was the final chord of the song playing, able to satisfy his heart he had finished the song.


"Here." He heard Aqua call.
"Mdjhg," Came the grumble, but as the Styrofoam cup was pressing against his hand, Sora reluctantly raised his head, taking the water and the ibuprofen pills and drowning them down his throat before laying his head back against his knees while his head pounded. He felt a hand rub his back, knowing it was Riku, but it did little to comfort him. On his other side, Fuujin was uncertainly filling out the medical information, asking the brunette a question every now and again when she needed to.

They had rushed here by car, rather than calling an ambulance, but the nurses took Ven in instantly and, after a quick glance at those gashes, a nurse took Terra too just to get him cleaned up and bandaged. Other than a few cuts, neither of them were really very wounded. So why...?

In the background he heard the noise of the TV buzzing, "-And just a few minutes ago, right after his final performance of the night, Roxas Star was said to have collapsed right on stage. No news as of it whether it was cause of injury on stage or a possible attack but police are alert and-" Sora's head jerked up, his eyes wide as he looked up towards the TV with wide eyes, the channel turned to the news coverage of the New Years event in Manhatten.
"What!?" He shouted, scaring everyone almost out of their seats. He ignored their calls of concern as he suddenly stood and dug out his cellphone from his pocket, flipping it open and, after a quick scroll down his contact list, hit 'send' and listened to the phone ring in his ear.


"Yes, Bryna. Yes, I promise I will call you with any updates." Roland was saying, taking what must of been his fifth call of the night and it had only been twenty minutes since Star's collapse. First it had been Kalama, checking up to see what was going on. Then the Manhatten stage manger who was asking a bunch of questions about what was wrong and if Star had been injured on stage and if they needed to stop the show. Then Namine who had heard the news and was in tears. Then one he made, quickly, to Roxas' lawyer and let him know IF Star was injured they might have to cover a lawsuit.

Now it was Bryna, in tears. The pen he held was moving, filling out medical information mechanically, as he tried to calm the worried mother on the other line who had watched her 'dear baby boy' pass out right after his finishing song. "Yes. Yes I will. Thank you. Good bye." Roland sighed and hung up the phone and was just setting it down... when it rang again.
He sighed in aggravation, slightly tempted to throw it at a wall, when he looked at the ID.

He answered instantly. "Sora you - no no! Roxas is fine, he just passed out and - where in the world did you get an idea like that? ...They're saying WHAT?! Ugh those god damn... This is going to be a big mess to clean up." Roland groaned, pushing his glasses up and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "....Huh...? Shit, you're serious? Just now? Is he alright? ....... Yeah let me know when you do. Roxas is going to want to make sure he's alright. Thanks. Yeah I will. Your parents already know. Alright, bye." He flipped the phone shut and sighed and this time when he placed it down, it didn't ring again. He knew he should call the telecasters right away and tell them to stop spewing the story they were broadcasting to millions of people all over America, but the damage was already done and he would just have to deal with it in the morning.

Instead, he glanced over at Axel who was slumped in his chair, staring blankly at the wall. "You alright?" He asked of the red-head, his behavior decidedly off. But he had to be a fool to not see how the singer and the dancer had bonded over the past three months. They were almost constantly together. He even had to reassure a distraught and somewhat ignored Namine it was just them and their 'guy time'.

[Rikugurl]

"He looks fine. His vitals are good, no cuts were deep enough to do any damage except superficial and if they're all taken care of right, it shouldn't leave any scaring." The doctor mumbled as he looked over Ventus Holani's medical record for some clues why he had passed out. "He has alcohol in his system but not over any limit and he's not dehydrated. There no reason why he should be unconscious." However, the boy was having some minor brain activity that might of made him overload and snap. That was all he could think of.

His eye ran down the record and paused at one thing that flashed red lights.
Suicide Attempt - 20xx
That had been a few years back though. The doctor glanced down at Ventus who was laying in the hospital bed, still in his street clothes as he wasn't admitted. On the bed next to him, a tall brunette was getting bandaged up by a nurse. He had explained what happened which would back up his overstressed diagnosis. Still, the doctor reached down and pulled back the black and white checkered wrist band, seeing the same scar Terra did. It was old and healed, no signs of reopening or aggravation. He had been off his medication for awhile now and it seemed like he had passed that stage in his life. His finger slowly ran over the scar before he rested the wrist band back over it and typed some things into the electronic medical record.

A nurse too it away when he finished and he walked over to the brunette. He had been shocked when he first spoke to the young man because the first thing that came out of his mouth was that he reminded him of his uncle. Apparently he was lacking use of one eye and had long hair with streaks showing his age as well. "I never got your name. I'm Dr. Yevon." He stated, shaking Terra's hand as he introduced himself as Ventus's boyfriend. "Well, I have good news and bad news. Bad news is I think he just got overstressed and as a defense reaction, his body shut down. Good news is, he should be fine in the morning and we won't be admitting him. Just make sure you keep his stress levels as low as possible in the next few months or he might blank out again."


"Star...?" Riku blinked, looking up at the flat screen the waiting room had, showing the news. They were going to miss the ball drop, he was for sure. He continued to watch the news as his boyfriend frantically called a number, asking all sorts of questions like he was talking to someone at the show. Right... Star was his brother. He shook his head and sighed, his hand continuing to rub Sora's back as he got off the phone but before he could ask what was said, Terra was walking through the doors, Ventus in his arms.


The redhead was silent even after he was asked the question, the words not registering at first. His eyes focused when they did, realizing he was sitting in a private room as they waited. "This is all my fault." His voice was low and melancholy. When Roland disagreed, Axel shook his head. "No, it is... I made up those dances. I should of told him it would of been too much to do them all... that it's not something anyone should have done.... not even an experienced dancer like me..." The tall man stood, walking over to a window and looked out, seeing the back of the hospital. How could he of been so...?

"So what say we greet this new year with our whole new performance line-up?" His voice was so full of excitement and that white smile just seemed to shine as the other dancers cheered at the excellent idea.
Or what they thought to be an excellent idea. Kalama had been dancing almost long as Axel, though she wasn't as knowledgeable with all the different types. If she had a difficult time keeping up.
"You should just----"
He was cut off when the door opened, the nurse letting them know that Roxas was alright, though still knocked out.

Roland and Axel quickly headed into the room, seeing that of course he got his own. He was hooked up to IVs and unlike his brother miles away, he was put into observation for the night. Like they had guessed, Roxas was severely dehydrated and malnourished, the IVs helping his body regain what he was missing. He would probably come to by morning.
Green eyes looked down at the star and he sat in the chair that was close by, the window on the other side showing a perfect view of the ball. "Roxas..." He whispered, seeing how pale the star was not that no lights were brightening him up. "I'm so sorry..."

[Reno]

"Ven!" Sora called in concern when he saw his brother, jumping up and hurrying over. The brunette holding him seemed still partially dazed as he stood there, holding the blonde, the mop of yellow swirls nestled into his shoulder.

"The doctor said he was fine and that we can take him home." Terra told the younger one, still seeming dazed over the whole event. "Just overstressed I guess..."
Sora frowned just a little, looking guiltily, "Well actually....."


"So, you're expecting us to believe that Ven fainted because his twin brother did?" Aqua was saying looked over the head rest of the passenger seat, peering back at the four boys in the back all crowded together while Fuujin drove them to Ven's place.
"It's not that unbelievable, is it?"
"Well let me think... uh YEAH kind of."
"It used to happen all the time when we were younger!" Sora protested but only received a grumble in reply. He sighed, just shaking his head, looking up as they reached the flower shoppe, Fuu parking in one of the slanted parking spaces. Carefully, they maneuvered Ven out of the car and back into Terra's arms, and Aqua was the one to open the doors for him so he could get Ven upstairs into bed. Minutes later she reappeared and, with a gratefully accepted offer to drive the two exhausted boys back to their dorms, they were on their way.


Big shoes hit the ground, a jacket following shortly after before a blanket was tugged up and over the shoulders of the sleeping blonde. Terra started to undress himself as well, knowing he would be staying the night to make sure the other awoke in the morning.
"Are you alright?" Aqua asked as they walked upstairs.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"You just look a little shaken up is all....." His best friend frowned, eying him critically, "He didn't... hit you di-"
"NO." He interrupted loudly, before quickly amending, "I don't know what was wrong. He wasn't even angry at me. It just... got to me I guess."
"....Are you... ever going to tell him?"
"I don't plan to, no."
"Terra-"
"He already knows too much about my pathetic little life. I'd rather not add that to the list."
"You know that's not-"
"Just go home Aqua."

Terra rose his head from his hands, sighing, before he blinked, seeing the alarm clock at Ven's bedside. It read 11:59. "You know what they say about New Years kiss." He said to empty air. "If you don't get one at midnight, you'll have a year of loneliness. But I'm here for you." He turned slowly, leaning down over the slumbering blonde, and just as the time turned, he sealed their lips together.


He supposed he couldn't blame Axel for feeling guilty. He did somewhat as well. He had never pushed Star to eat before his concert nights, allowing for the quirk to exist as it never inhibited his performance - until now. It seemed he would have to start cracking down on that rule - they didn't need any repeats.

Roland sighed, patting Axel on the shoulder, "I'm going to make a few calls and let everyone know he's going to be okay." -and get in touch with the newspaper columns to make sure they printed out the RIGHT story. Knowing he couldn't use his cell phone in the room, he left, leaving the two in peace and Axel with only his thoughts.

[Rikugurl]

Two college kids were dropped off at the main campus where they could head to their dorms. They hadn't been granted a dorm together yet, that wouldn't happen until spring but the silverette looked down at Sora, seeing the rings of worries around his eyes. "Hey... did you want to stay at my place tonight?" He inquired, getting a look before blushing. "N-none of that! Come on...." He reached out and took Sora's hand and without a verbal answer, he got a physical one as Sora walked with him to his dorm. Riku let Sora in, letting him throw his stuff over his computer chair and plop down on his bed. This wasn't the first time Sora had been inside Riku's dorm. He had come over before when he was bored, watching Riku work on his homework instead while enjoying dinner.

However, this would be the first time they slept together in Riku's bed. It was.... awfully narrow but long, perfect for a fit, tall guy. As Sora got comfortable, Riku pulled off his shirt, revealing his muscular torso and pulling down his pants, revealing some black boxers. He got into bed besides Sora but to the brunette's surprise, he pulled him on top of himself, giving him a loving kiss. "Don't worry... they'll be alright."


"Thanks..." Came a dull reply and Relond was gone, leaving the redhead alone in the silent room. He... he couldn't even look at Roxas anymore, feeling so guilty. He should have called it off. The fame.... the dancing... it was his life but.... but Roxas's life was... so much more important. Why didn't he see that? He was a horrible choreographer. No, he was a great choreographer.... he was just a horrible friend. Star was his.... friend. Right.

His eyes looked away, back outside to see large lights flashing the time. "Ut..." His eyes widened, seeing the countdown had already began. Was it really already that time already? It seemed just a few minutes ago it was 9pm. He watched the numbers decreases, even hearing the faint yelling down in Time Square.
"Ten...
Nine....
Eight..."
Axel whispered.
"Seven....
Six..."
Slowly his eyes turned, looking back at Star just laying there, missing the best part of the new year.
"If you don't get a kiss at midnight, you'll have a year of loneliness."
My years have always been lonely... until I met you...

Slowly he got closer, leaning over the bed and feeling the mattress dip.
Five....
Four....
Three....
He leaned over the blonde, his red eyelashes lidding as his lips puckered slightly.
Two...
One....
And their lips pressed together in a soft kiss like a prince who was waking his princess.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Reno]

"I sure hope you're right..." Came the soft answer, Sora sighing as he settled over him, kissing the other back gently. they only broke away a few minutes later when Sora's cell phone rang - it was Roland, giving Sora the good news that Roxas would be just fine after a day of rest. Once the call was done, Sora was snuggled up against Riku's side, his heart just a little lighter for the day.


Unfortunately for another male miles and miles away, his heart only fell more as his kiss had a result unlike a fairytale. Lashes did not twitch and open at the kiss; Roxas didn't awaken or seem to react at all. He only slept on, furthering the poor red-head's despair.


But, as many say, tomorrow is a new day.

In an apartment above a flower shoppe, the place strangely quiet for once, a blonde stirred some as he heard the faint sound of sizzling in his apartment, the smell of bacon making his nose twitch with interest. For some time he laid there, confused about how he had gotten home and what had happened last night, but as he heard footsteps wandering into his room, he looked up seeing the brunette walking around shirtless despite the chill, gauze wrapped around his arm, hiding a cut.

"You're awake! Good. Breakfast is almost done." Terra started to say with an overly sweet tone, walking over and giving him a gentle good-morning kiss, disregarding the fact Ven probably had morning breath. From his actions, it could almost seem like it was they who had the fight and this was his apology. "I went down to the mini-mart and got some things, I hope you don't mind."


In a dorm room, Riku awoke to the feeling of hands playing with his hair, Sora humming a gentle tune - and quickly found out the brunette had been braiding his hair while he slept!

"But you look so cute!" The brunette cheerily intoned as the silverette grumbled, but Riku didn't truly mind TOO much... because he was happy to see that even after last night, it was as if everything horrible was wiped away. Despite the mishaps, they still had some good news to remember. Sora had a clean bill of health - and that was a real blessing.


In a hospital, Roland was tapping his foot in annoyance as he looked at the empty room, a flabbergasted and young nurse apologizing profusely as she had let her charge 'get away', saying his charm had bedazzled her. Which, of course, was completely believable as Roxas got out of a lot of things with the public just be flashing a smile and saying 'want an autograph?'. But it still ticked off the manager to no end. And of course it did not help that, behind him, some of the crew who had come where giggling away like hyenas. All of them were quite used to Roxas by now - except for one who could only worry more.

She quickly made up for her mistake by letting them know where he had gone.

And ten minutes later the group hesitated at the open doorway of the children's ward, peering in curiously to see the blonde was indeed within, holding a tongue depressor up like a microphone as he traveled from bed to bed to greet the kids, singing a familiar tune. It was, after all, a tradition of his to sing every morning.
"♪Hakuna Matata! What a won-der-ful phraaaaase
Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craaaaaaze♪"
He held out the tongue depressor to a red-head who was bouncing in his bed, winking to him. An unsure little voice sang, "♪It means no worries for the rest of your daaaaays♪"
The blonde smiled, as he brought the 'mic' back, "There you go!
♪It's our problem-freeeeeee phil-o-so-phhhhhhhy
Hakuna Matata!♪"

"Yay!" The children cheered as the Disney song came to an end, excited.
"Sing anoder! anoder!" The red-headed boy demanded with excitement.
Roxas grinned. "Alright! Which one?"
A million little voices started to yell out the million of options at once, but a larger voice spoke over them as Roland pushed open the door the rest of the way, striding in. "No others! Roxas, you are supposed to be resting!"
"Oooooh!" The kids called in that way that said they knew Roxas was in trouble - and some even started to giggle behind their hands.
A guilty smile spread on the blonde's lips, "Alright, alright." He waved to the children as he was dragged out, "See you around kids!"
"BYE ROXY!!" Came a yell from every child.

"If it's any consolation," Star's group heard Roxas saying as he was leaving the room, "I've already had breakfast AND I drank two glasses of water."
"Oh we are going to be talking about that, I can assure you! Now, will you apologize to everyone for being a plain fool?!" Roland demanded, practically throwing his representative in front of them.
"Huh? Oh! Hey everyone." The blonde seemed to blush a bit, seeing some of his dancers and band members, his bodyguards, and even Axel was there. He grinned as innocently as possible, "Sorry if I made anyone worry."

[Rikugurl]

"Mmmm.....mnnnngh...." The smell of crackling, crisp, stripped pig filled his noes indeed and aroused him away from his body shut down. His blue eyes opened, looking at his wall before slowly turning, seeing his kitchen light on with steam filling up the small unit. He was shocked his stupid fucking fire alarm didn't go off. But it was the man who was digging through his closet that made him focus, seeing the wraps of gauze around his arms. "Wha--?" He was paused as lips pressed down on his and he blinked, suddenly dazed and confused. "Y-yea sure but... what happen? Are.... are you alright?" He asked, pushing his weight on his arm and feeling a shock of pain run up the length. "Tssssssss...." He hissed, blue eyes looking down at his arm to see his own bandages.

Oh god!

"I forgot what happened last night!? Did I drink and drive!? Did we get into a car accident!?" The suddenly started to cry, feeling his heart start racing but Terra sat neck to him, rubbing his arms. Before he could explain, the phone rang. Reflexes made his arm shoot out and pick it up, pulling it up to his ear. "Hello? Sora? Are you alright?"
He paused, hearing a chuckle and a response like Isn't that what I should be asking you?
"I....I don't know...."


"You are a rascal, Roxas!" Kalama giggled, quickly hugging him, making him almost suffocate with her large breast. "You gave us all a scare but I'm glad you're alright!" The rest of the dancers and crew spoke a bit to the blonde as they walked him back to his room. All except Axel who was eerily quiet.
As Roland put the Star in bed and made sure the nurse didn't get pruswayed again, he was off making more phone calls while the rest of the dancers went clothes shopping in NY. The redhead was suppose to meet his brother but it had been canceled, because he needed to speak with the singer in private.

The door was closed to the room and the tall man walked to the chair he had sat in the night before, feeling concerned blue eyes on him.
"Roxas... I need you to either lay me off... or fire me."
"HUH!?"
"It's my fault you fainted last night. I knew I was pushing you too hard and should have told you to stop. I misjudged your health and well... you deserve someone more responsible. I'm not a good choreographer."

[Reno]

"I'll finished breakfast," Terra whispered, kissing Ven's temple as he spoke with his brother, leaving his side to check on the food. Ven... didn't remember anything?


"What do you mean you don't know?" Sora was laughing as he and Riku headed across campus for their own breakfast, the brunette nestled against the silverette's side to ward off the crisp morning air. It was freezing! But Sora still hoped for snow. There was a reason this town was called aurora. In the morning light of dawn, the light of the sun, when hitting the hills just right, created a rainbow of color across the snow during winter the colors almost alike to the Northern Lights. It was a rare but stunning event.

"Wha? No, of course you didn't get in a car accident! You think I'd be stupid enough to let you do ANYTHING but pass out when your drunk? Some of us Holanis are responsible." He teased, looking up at Riku and rolling his eyes in exasperation as if to tell him his brother was a true idiot, but became serious soon enough. "Well anyways you um... you kind of got a little - okay you got really pissed off when Fuujin told you about the contract remember?"


He never expected this. When he woke up, he really thought, once he proved to everyone he was fine, that things would settle back into the normal routine. But now someone wanted to QUIT?

Not just anyone. Axel did.

Roxas regarded Axel with cool eyes as the other plainly told him he 'wasn't a good choreographer'. "Well gee, the fucking crowd could have fooled me with the way they were screaming their heads off every time we did those loop-de-loops or whatever you call them."
"Dos-y-Dos." Was the gentle correction, before Axel argued that wasn't what he meant. That he was supposed to look out for him and he failed to do so; therefore he should be fired.
"I can't do that."
"Why not?!"
"Because then you'd still be getting 60 grand out of me and I'd lose the best damn dance partner I ever had." Roxas snapped back, suddenly standing.
But-But he said he only got that if he did his job as expected and-

"And WHAT exactly did you fail to do? Clarify that for me Axel because I just don't get it! I didn't hire you to be my MOM." The singer growled, glaring at the other. The other stared back at him, a bit speechless, but Roxas finally sighed and fell back onto the bed. "Axel... the only person who should be blamed for what happened last night is myself. I didn't eat a damn thing yesterday. Heck, I hardly ate dinner the night before too. That's not your fault. I made those decisions, not you."

[Rikugurl]

Contract? Oh right....
It seemed he didn't tell the girls to fuck off which meant he would have to go through Aqua's rather while he was sober. That was going to be fun...
"Yea, I remember that but..." That was when Sora explained that he freaked out and passed out. He hadn't included the part where he broke the mirror that cost some pretty pennies but it would be covered.... or that he cut himself and Terra up real bad. Or the most important part; that Roxas had passed out too.

"Oooh..." He frowned, looking down at his bandages. He had gotten hurt when he fell over and Terra did too. He must of been a real ass. "Well... thanks for filling me in. It must be nice to have a few days left out of of school, huh? I still got damn work and shit." He huffed, knowing that it was his day off but still. He'd like to have a week to just---
"Just request a week off or something. You've worked there for year!"
"Yea, but it's not like I do shit with my life to deserve a week off."
"Spend time with Terra?"
"Sora, every waking hour I'm not at work or with the girls I'm.... yea, alright. I'll talk to you later. Bye. Love you too." The phone was hung up and he got out of bed slowly, feeling a bit dizzy at first but shook it off.

He walked around the counter to the kitchen, seeing Terra cooking over his stove. "Sora thinks I need a vacation... but I still have to tell Aqua and Fuu about.... not wanting to be labeled."


Axel's eyes narrowed, not liking the feeling of being scold like a child. Especially not by his boss. Especially when it really was his fault. "Yea but..." He managed to get in but not much more before Roxas was lecturing him again, saying it was truly his fault.
"I know you didn't hire me to be your mother and that's not what I meant. Shit... even though I'm under your contract, I still call the shot on your dancing. I'm not some big wig choreographer, I only did this for a few months but I am still have the right to tell you no. And I should have because I know you didn't eat and I'm shouldn't have pushed you anyway. A coach don't tell their girl to keep playing ball if she broke her ankle doing something stupid."

He stood, walking by the bed and towards the door. "And I should of looked out for you anyway, not as your employee, but as someone who really cares about you..."

[Reno]

"Ven, they won't kill you, really." Terra said lightly, trying to be careful. He didn't want to set the other off again; the doctor said to keep him relaxed and unstressed. He reached into the cabinet, bringing down two plates, saying as he did, "I can talk to them instead if you want."

The other protested, probably out of pride. Terra let it be and moved on to the other topic quickly. "As for the vacation... I think it's a great idea." His boyfriend started to say the same thing he had told Sora - he didn't do anything with his life to need the time off. "So?" The brunette answered as if it were so very simple, putting the food on the plates. "The fuck do you need a reason for. I know you hate working in that shitty place. A week off would be a nice relief."

And what would he do?

"Well..." Terra placed the modest breakfast on the table - eggs, bacon and toast - one slice fresh and one slice just buttered. "What if I took it with you? We could... shit I dunno. We could go to Chicago - you know the area and I'm sure there's plenty to do there. Or hell, go visit my uncle. He's been nagging my ass about meeting you for weeks now."


Before Axel could leave, a hand gripped his wrist, tugging him back some and he turned to face the other. "I know Axel..." Roxas said softly, "I'm not going to punish you for being my friend though."

The red-head frowned and looked away from him and it was easy for him to see his words were doing little to help. What was he supposed to say? He WAS his boss after all, but he sure wasn't acting like it. Maybe... taking the blame was what he needed.

"Fine, have it your way. You want the blame, then you take it." He let go, straightened up and giving him a firm look. "I'm docking your pay for making me a liability on stage. But you're not gonna learn shit if you run off, so you better damn well shape up and figure out what the fuck went wrong and don't let it happen again, got it?"

[Rikugurl]

"No. I can to it." It wasn't his pride, it was just the right thing to do. He wasn't a weasel, making other people do his work for him. This was his problem, his band... and they had the right to hear it out of his mouth. He was happy that his boyfriend changed the subject though, drooling at the smell of breakfast. It wasn't common for someone to make him something and he really enjoyed those rare times. He sat down at the smallest table ever, both boys having to eat sideways since their legs couldn't fit underneath. "Really? You don't have to take off too." He pointed out but frowned, hearing Chicago being brought up.

Chicago. He loved it there as much as he hated it. There were so many memories there that were officially tainted and---
"Or hell, go visit my uncle. He's been nagging my ass about meeting you for weeks now."
"Yea!" He agreed without thinking, making Terra pause and glance over at him. "I mean... your uncle calls you a lot about your mom and stuff."
Was he like his dad or something?
"And how you are. I guess I should ease him.... or not. I mean, I'm not prince charming or anything~" He grinned, his bed head almost looking like devil horns. "Where does he live?"
"Elgin."
"Hmmm...." Ventus thought, knowing it was probably about an hour away and it could kind of be like a mini vacation. "Alright. Let's do it."


Axel swallowed, hearing that his pay was docked but that wasn't what shocked him. It was... Roxas's attitude. Shit... why was his heart sinking so low? He swallowed but nodded, starting to feel angry at himself and not because he was losing out on money or having to be more strict. He was actually.... actually....
Idiot.
"Fair enough." He spoke softly, turning to the blonde slightly. "I won't let you down again. You just worry about... getting better." He turned, walking to the door again but felt something tug at his heart.

He was sounding like Roland.

"I didn't hire you to be my MOM."

Emerald eyes looked back through red hair, seeing Roxas just look away before smiling softly. "It won't be any fun without you to dance with."