[KH] Fire and Moonlight 41: Harmony (Stash ver.)

Fire & Moonlight, a Kingdom Hearts fanwork:  Drabble challenge by Wishing-Fire, written by Raberba girl
41. Harmony

Summary:  The castle's youngsters celebrate Christmas.

A/N:  I think this takes place during their first or second year as Nobodies.

"Okay, Saïx, your voice is a little better than Axel's, so you should do the 'Merry Christmas' parts.  Axel, you're, like, bouncier, so you do the 'Ding dong's."

"Dem, that sounds wrong...and whaddaya mean I'm bouncier?"

"Zexy, since you can actually, yanno, sing, you can just make random pretty 'ahhh' noises behind the rest of us."

"But...I don't--"

"Dude, it's not a science experiment, just go with the flow.  You'll be fine."

The Organization's four youngest members were gathered in Demyx's room on Christmas Eve, in quiet defiance of the older members' 'No holiday celebrations' pronouncement at the last meeting.  Zexion had not come willingly, and Xigbar might have joined them if they'd made the offer, but, hey, the castle's teenagers had to stick together.

"Okay, you guys ready?  One, two, three, go!"

The song fell apart about thirty seconds into it, when Axel broke into laughter at Zexion's uncertain 'ahh's and Saïx's deadpan 'Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas'es, and could not stop.

"Dude!  Axel!  Professionals do not keel over in hysterics in the middle of a performance!"

"Demyx, the day I become a professional singer is the day Xemnas will announce his engagement to Kingdom Hearts."

Both of them sniggered, though Saïx said dryly, "Axel, remember the time we found a pair of bunny slippers in Lexaeus's room?  I'm starting to think you have a disturbing magical ability to make your jokes come true."

"Lex has fluffy bunny slippers?" Demyx said interestedly.

Zexion had turned away and covered his eyes with one hand.  "I'm not hearing this, I'm not hearing this, I'm not hearing this...."

"Zexion, eat a cookie," Axel ordered, seizing one off the plate and waving it in front of the boy's face.  He was pleased to note that the younger Nobody ate it on his own this time, without Axel having to shove it into his mouth as Saïx held his arms behind his back like they'd done last time.  "See?  I told you that sugar's worth breaking the rules for."

Zexion did not look convinced, but neither did he protest.

An hour or two passed as they lounged around, talking about anything but work, and occasionally fiddling with the gifts they'd exchanged - just little things, knick-knacks picked up from other worlds and synthesis items and such.  Axel wondered if he could get away with attaching a Fire Shard to the zipper of one of his coats without one of the higher-ups having a problem with it (Zexion assured him that he could not).

Eventually, a quiet lull fell over the conversation.  Demyx, who had been quietly strumming on his sitar the whole time, now struck a low but decisive chord.  "Hark! how the bells, sweet silver bells...."

One by one, they lifted their voices without being prompted.  "Christmas is here, bringing good cheer...."

"One seems to hear words of good cheer...."

"Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer...."

This time, no one laughed.  Not all the voices were clear or polished, but they were steady and tuneful enough, and it did not take long before the four of them reached a perfect harmony.

"...their joyful tone to ev'ry home...."

Axel brought the song to a close.  For a moment, they all sat without speaking, listening to the ringing silence.

Then Axel sighed and flopped back, resting his hands behind his head.  "Of course we non-existent people would sing the most depressing Christmas song ever."

"It's not depressing, it's haunting," Demyx said, though his voice seemed strangely flat.  "There's a difference."

Saïx leaned back as well, so that the two of them lay side by side.  "At least it's not the creepiest Christmas song ever," he remarked.  Axel burst into laughter.

"What?  What's the creepiest Christmas song ever?" Demyx demanded, his voice lighting up with interest.

Axel and Saïx turned their heads to face each other at the same time, sharing a grin as they began to sing in unison.  "You better watch out, you better not cry...."

Author's Notes:  Man, this is an old one, back from the notebook where I was still working on HetaOni stuff and K's "gender-bending" fic.  Also written before I decided Sai was a good singer.

In case you don't know, the creepy Christmas song is "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town."  The lyrics are online.

Complete:  41/101