"Heeey, Saix; got the new partner assignments?"

Saix slapped Axel hard on the face with the manilla envelope in his hand, leaving a clear message. Yes, I have them.Continuing past him without a thought, Saix once again felt the envelope weigh in his hands like lead.

With the unfortunate loss of the teams from Castle Oblivion, the Superior had decided that, rather then spread the work out more among the remaining members, they might instead try to make up for the lack of manpower by combining their unique abilities.
But the assignments had not gone as Saix had expected. Despite being second in command, there were things that Saix didn't get a say in; if he tried, perhaps his power-playing would be noticed. The results should have been predictable enough, anyhow. Unfortunately, they were not at all what he had expected.
"Geez, someone has some pent-up anger. So, when do we leave?"
Axel, impatient with Saix's silence, gave him a confident smirk. Yes, he knew that confidence, back when he never thought he'd regret holding the urge to meddle.

Saix gave his old friend a look that he hoped conveyed his "feelings"; theoretically, though they felt real enough. Frustration, regret, even worry. His attempt seemed to bare nothing because all he got back was a questioning grin.
"Hey, what's with the silent treatment?" Axel moved to offer some form of friendly gesture, he never finished his gesture because Saix caught him hard on the wrist.
"You have been assigned to accompany Xaldin, not me."
"What? Waitwaitwait, then who..?"
"Demyx."

Axel's look of disbelief was, in a word, relatable. Saix had been forbidden from peeping at the partner assignments, which was why they were marked individually, instead of in pairs, but of course, he had read them anyway. They weren't exactly sealed, and he had gotten them in advance; certainly Xemnas knew that he would.
It seemed obvious for Saix and Axel to be together. It was a matter of who worked well together, efficiently. The two had arrived together. It was simple logic. The only reason that Saix could think of for that not to be the case is if his role in second-in-command made it more desirable he be paired with some sort of problem-member that needed watching.
Well, yes, Demyx was no doubt a problem. But no problem that Luxford couldn't have delt with. Or anyone besides him, really.
The only reason that Saix could think of was either there was a terrible mistake (he checked, there wasn't), or he was being purposely separated from Axel. Which meant that Xemnas had already caught onto their plans, and now, Saix was being punished in the worst way imaginable.

"Oh, get that look off your face. I mean, I'm not thrilled either, but I'm more scared for him than you."
"Easy for you to say."
Axel was paired with a member of the original six; which could mean he was being watched. If they knew what Axel had done at Castle Oblivion, they might also know who gave the orders.
Axel sighed, apparently catching onto Saix's mood.

"How about you stop worrying and tell him? No use putting off the inevitable, right?"
"When it's him, yes, I think there is. Every second I don't spend conversing with that imbecile is another second I can keep my sanity."
"You're putting off work? You haven't even talked yet, and he's already starting to rub off on you!"
The comment should have annoyed him, but speaking to his friend so casually brought back an atmosphere that somehow put him at ease, clearing his mind enough to realize, yes, there is no use putting off the inevitable. If someone was going to volunteer to start the mission, it sure as hell wasn't going to be his partner. Despite this, Saix still made a point of leaving Demyx for last, if only to leave no time between the assignment and the actual mission for Demyx to run off. Or complain.
He made his way around the room, handing out the small sheets of paper with the mission details. Xalidin and Axel were soon on their way. The keybarers were paired up, as efficiency would suggest, and headed out eventually. Finally, when there was no avoiding it, he approached Demyx; on the couch, one leg over an armrest, playing music that Saix had long since learned to tune out.
"Demyx, your assignment."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll look at it a little later, okay?"
"We may leave whenever you are ready."
"Wait- we? WHAT?"
Demyx frantically read his mission details (well ain't that a killer), eyes darting across the statement that had disturbed Saix so greatly.

"You will be partnered with Saix (VII) for the foreseeable future. In addition to your stated mission objectives, will be in charge of keeping him in check."

Saix had a similar statement on his own mission statement, "keep him in check", and he knew what it meant. Demyx's, however, confounded him. Was Demyx, of all people, expected to keep tabs on him?
"Oh no, oh no no nonono, this has got to be a mistake," he looked up at Saix as if asking for mercy. "Am I right?"
"You are not. I checked."
Demyx winced as if he had been physically wounded by the comment.
"Again, I am ready when you are. Do not keep me waiting." Saix stalked towards the head of the room, not expecting to see Demyx ready for quite some time, despite his warning.