Axel impatiently paced back and forth across the gate in front of the Twilight Town Mansion. He and Saïx had been waiting there for over an hour, having seen neither hide nor hair of any newborns. Axel began to wonder if perhaps the new Nobody was born elsewhere.

"Sheesh, it's taking forever."

"Be patient, Axel. These things take time."

Axel scoffed, crossing his arms in frustration. "Why do they always stick us with the babies? Do I look like some kind of nanny?"

Saïx spoke with his usual flat tone, looking at his comrade with the same blank expression he wore every day. "You are considered one of the more approachable members of the Organization."

"And you're one of the least, so I still don't see why we always get saddled with the little ones."

Saïx shot him a menacing glare, the only other facial expression he seemed to have mastered in all the years they'd spent with the Organization. "Making initial contact with the newborns has always been our role. Complaining will do you no good."

Axel sighed and continued to traipse around until he was certain he'd wear the grass away. Saïx rolled his eyes and waited quietly, leaning against the brick wall surrounding the courtyard. The minutes continued to crawl by and Axel's boredom grew to immeasurable levels. Just when he thought he was going to lose his mind, Saïx called for him.

"Axel, look. He's coming."

Axel turned around just in time to see the transparent image of a small humanoid figure materializing from thin air.

"Well then, it's about time!" It took only a few seconds for the figure to sharpen and take its shape as a young boy, sitting naked on the grass with his legs folded beneath him. He had blond hair that swept about in feathery wisps and deep blue eyes that stared vacantly at the ground. He was completely motionless and silent, more so than any other newborn they'd encountered. Saïx peered at him with curiosity and mild concern.

"Is he breathing?"

Axel approached the child cautiously, kneeling beside him to listen. He was in a profound catatonic state, neither breathing nor blinking. "Nope."

"He doesn't know how. Just beat on his back a few times and he'll start."

Axel gave the child a few firm slaps between the shoulder blades and soon his body began to rise and fall with its first breaths. Axel smiled at him, having never seen a newborn quite so helpless before. Watching this one reach his first most basic milestones was a fascinating experience for both him and Saïx.

"Well, Saïx, it's a boy." Axel inspected the kid's frail form with a raised eyebrow. "He's kinda scrawny, don't you think?"

"The Keyblade Wielder was fourteen."

"Really? Man, that's so young to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. And to lose his heart when he had his whole life ahead of him… Poor kid…"

Saïx scoffed disapprovingly at him. "You're beginning to sound emotional. Cast off your weakness. You and I were not much older than he is, if you recall."

Axel heaved a defeated sigh. "Yeah, I recall…"

Saïx knelt in front of the boy and gently lifted his head up so that the two could see his face. His expression was completely lifeless, his enormously round eyes glossed over and his mouth hanging open. "Child, can you hear us?"

The boy said nothing and remained perfectly still, staring blankly into the void. Axel cringed as they waited in vain for him to respond to them, wondering if the kid was even aware of their presence. "Man, he has such a way with words."

"This is normal. He likely won't talk for a few days."

Saïx turned his head this way and that, examining his features closely with narrowed eyes as if inspecting him for damage. The boy was a blank slate, but he otherwise appeared to be healthy. Axel noticed that the child's eyes fixed on Saïx's face, his empty gaze locking in place as his head was swiveled around. "Hey, his eyes are following you."

"Good. That means he can see."

"Hey, kid! Welcome to the world!"

The boy's eyes darted over to Axel's face, seemingly reacting to his enthusiastic greeting. He slowly turned his head to face Axel directly, prompting a smile from the man. Saïx nodded his approval and rose to his feet. "And now we know he can hear. Put this on him or he'll freeze."

He tossed Axel a black leather coat he'd brought along, hoping it would fit the newborn's tiny frame. Axel threw the coat over him, stuffing the boy's arms into the sleeves and pulling the zipper closed. The coat was slightly oversized but would suffice until they could take him to the castle. The child didn't struggle or protest, his head hanging heavily off his shoulders and his limbs drooping limply as Axel maneuvered them into the garment.

"Wasn't Lord Xemnas supposed to be coming?"

"Any moment now. Let's see if he can stand."

Each man took an arm and lifted the child to his feet. Axel and Saïx held him steady as he stumbled around in place, trying to understand how to make his skinny legs work.

"Whoa there, easy. He's pretty wobbly."

"He's disoriented. Hold him steady until he regains his sense of balance."

After a few moments, the boy managed to stabilize his legs, learning how to bear his own weight upon them without toppling over. He stood in place, staring intently at his own feet.

"There you go! You got it!"

"Good. Now, Axel, let him go."

They very slowly released their hold on him, backing away an inch at a time. Though he wavered slightly, he remained standing, gradually straightening his back and lifting his head and shoulders until he had developed a more natural looking stance.

"Nice! Great job, kid."

Their lessons were interrupted by the sound of a dark corridor opening, and they turned to find another hooded figure emerge from the familiar black portal. Pulling their hoods over their heads, they stepped back to allow their leader to play his role in the boy's initiation. The Superior towered over the child with an air of authority about him, offering his official greeting in a hauntingly deep voice.

"You seek answers. You feel nothing. Nothing is real. I can give you purpose…"

The boy stared up at him in silence, unfazed by his intimidatingly imposing form. As the man waved his palm across the newborn's forehead, the child gasped and his eyes widened, producing his first facial expression. The Superior's last word was the most important of the Rite of Initiation.

"...Roxas."

After bestowing upon the child a suitable name, their leader completed the ceremony and returned to his dark portal with a nod to each of his subordinates. Once he disappeared, Axel and Saïx lowered their hoods to formally introduce themselves.

"So, it's Roxas, is it? Nice to meet you, Roxas. My name is Axel, and this is Saïx. Got it memorized?"

Their introduction was met with only more silence. Roxas appeared to be looking right through them. Saïx clarified the purpose of the ritual, hoping the child's cognitive abilities were developing quickly enough for him to process and remember the day's events.

"Roxas is your name, and we will address you as such. Do you understand?"

Roxas still said nothing, wearing a slightly confused expression. After sharing a look, the men each extended an arm toward the boy, beckoning him toward the open portal.

"Come now, Roxas. Let's go home."

Saïx gestured to the corridor of darkness as he called out to him. For several seconds, Roxas only stared at them, unsure of what to do. The men waited patiently while the child concentrated. Finally, Roxas managed to lift one of his legs and took a small step forward, pausing briefly to re-learn how to balance in this new orientation. Soon he was able to take another step, and then another, slowly making his way toward the portal.

"Yes, that's it, Roxas."

Saïx had no sooner finished delivering his praise than Roxas misstepped and began to stumble. His knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground. Axel, with a gasp of concern, was about to rush to the boy's side when Saïx stopped him.

"Don't, Axel. Let him figure it out."

Axel remained frozen, tensely watching as the newborn tried to regain control of his limbs. Roxas channeled his strength into lifting himself off of the grass and puzzled out how to get his legs back under him. He made several failed attempts to bring himself upright before finally managing to plant his feet into the ground.

"Come on… You can do it, Roxas!"

Out of breath but fiercely determined, Roxas bore his legs into the ground with all the force he could spare, slowly rising until he could stand and face the two men once more.

"Yes! He did it!"

"Excellent. Now, try again."

With outstretched arms, Axel and Saïx beckoned Roxas again. He cautiously took another step, taking care to maintain his balance as he proceeded toward the dark corridor. As his stride lengthened and his pace accelerated, his fellow comrades congratulated him on a job well done. Successfully completing the day's most difficult lesson, Roxas had learned to walk.

He paused as he reached the portal, appearing apprehensive about going inside. He looked back and forth between the faces of his new comrades with visible tension in his brow.

"There is nothing to fear. Come this way."

Saïx led the way into the corridor. Axel gave Roxas a gentle nudge and he quickly followed the man. Axel closed the portal behind them and guided Roxas through the darkness until they had reached the castle. As requested by the Superior, the Grey Area was empty, so as not to overwhelm the newcomer. Roxas' wide eyes scanned the entire room, taking in as much information as they could absorb. Axel couldn't help but smile at the look of awe and wonder on the kid's face.

"Aww, look at him. I think he likes it here."

"I should hope so. He lives here now."

Roxas had turned to gaze out the window at the black sky. He was still silent, but his fascination was palpable. It was a promising sign that he had come along willingly and with no fuss. Those were usually the ones that stuck around, and Axel looked forward to getting to know this newbie in particular.

"Welcome home, Roxas."

"All right, try this one."

Saïx pulled yet another coat from the deepest part of the closet and tossed it to Axel. He'd lost count of how many coats they tried, each one proving to be too large for such a small kid. Axel held the coat up to Roxas' body, trying to eyeball whether or not it might fit. It was a struggle getting each coat on and off Roxas, who was not only still getting used to his limbs, but his eyesight was likely still quite fuzzy and his mind was still learning how to commit tasks like these to memory. Every coat was just another puzzle that he wasn't experienced enough to solve on his own.

"Okay, Roxas, do you remember how to put it on?"

Roxas stared at the garment with a look of intense concentration. Several seconds passed in silence before Axel decided to give him a reminder.

"You put your arms in the holes…"

Roxas hesitantly slid his arms into the sleeves but had failed to remember to turn around first, ending up with the coat on backwards.

"Heh… the hood goes in the back, buddy. Turn it around."

Roxas stood frozen in place, clearly lost, but Axel could see the gears turning in his head and refused to give him the answer this time. Roxas looked down at his own coat for a few seconds, contemplating. He plucked at the leather in several places, searching diligently for the solution. With a furrowed brow, he cautiously stepped behind Axel and closely examined the back of his coat. After a short, tense silence, he circled back around to his original position, glancing up and down Axel's front side with deeply focused eyes.

"Saïx, look…"

The two men watched in awe as, one sleeve at a time, Roxas pulled his own coat off, turned it around, and slid his arms into the sleeves the proper way. Axel applauded him for his accomplishment. "Yes! You did it! You remember what the next step is?"

Roxas fiddled with the zipper for quite some time, struggling to line up the grooves on the slider. Eventually, he managed to hook the two sides together, pulling the zipper all the way up to his chin — far higher than anyone else in the Organization wore it.

"That's close enough. Okay Saïx, this one fits." Axel inspected the garment, adjusting the zipper and straps. The coat had likely belonged to Zexion previously, the Organization's youngest member. It was almost perfectly suited to Roxas' tiny frame, and the boy appeared to be comfortable enough wearing it.

"Good. The ceremony will start soon. We need to get him downstairs. Is he ready?"

"Hold on a second, this part is important…"

Axel had Roxas looking at his reflection in the mirror, something which startled the kid earlier when they first arrived. It took a long while to get him to stand in front of the mirror again so that they could explain what it was he saw. Axel was now picking away at Roxas' tousled hair, pulling chunks of it in every direction until it looked bold and disorderly.

"...there."

Saïx eyed him disapprovingly. "It looks worse, Axel."

"What?! I'd like to see you do better."

Saïx approached Roxas and effortlessly adjusted his hair until its gentle layers developed a tasteful windswept appearance. Axel's jaw dropped when he saw the results. "Wow. I'm actually impressed. He looks great. How did you do that?"

Without a word, Saïx raised an eyebrow at him, waiting patiently for Axel to realize his mistake. It didn't take long for him to get the message. While Axel certainly boasted an impressive head of fiery red mane, Saix's blue hair was easily twice the length of Axel's, reaching halfway down his back, and it somehow managed to always look healthy and vibrant, never a tangle or split end in sight, and not a single lock out of place. He laced his fingers through it, dragging them out with a gentle flip, as if showing off its luxuriant silkiness. "You think I just woke up like this?"

"You are the gayest gay that ever gayed gaily."

"Don't be vulgar in front of the child. Let's go. Come, Roxas."

They headed out the door with Roxas in tow, making their way toward the Room Where Nothing Gathers. Roxas took small, slow steps, staring intently into the floor as he walked. Saïx took the liberty of explaining the upcoming event to Roxas, uncertain whether or not the boy was even listening.

"Roxas, the man you met at your birthplace was our leader, Lord Xemnas. He performed the Rite of Initiation, and you were given a name. Now, he will perform the Rite of Induction, and you will be given a number. Then, you will officially join Organization XIII."

Roxas looked up at him, at least indicating that he had heard Saïx's explanation, but he still spoke no words and his face remained unreadable. Axel laid a supportive hand on his shoulder. "Don't be nervous. I'll be right behind you. You don't have to do anything but stand there and look pretty."

Roxas stared into the distance with no outward reaction to anything the two of them said. Axel was almost beginning to worry about the kid. This was supposed to be the Nobody of the Keyblade Wielder? "Think he understands a word of what we're saying?"

"I don't know. Best not say anything impolite in case he can."

The Round Room had a door, but it was rarely used. Most members used corridors of darkness to warp themselves directly to their seats. This was one of the few occasions where the door was necessary. New comrades were always presented to the group from the floor in the center of the room, followed by a chosen representative — usually the person who recruited them. When they reached the tall door, Saïx nodded to his comrade, summoned a portal of his own and disappeared inside. Axel looked down at Roxas with a warm smile.

"You ready, kid?"

Roxas said nothing, but his facial expression began to change. If Axel didn't know any better, he'd think the boy looked anxious or afraid. Axel patted him on the back, hoping that if he was actually nervous, he could put him at ease.

"All right, it's time. Let's go, Roxas."

He led Roxas inside and to the round platform where he was to stand. The room was a blinding white color, from the walls to the furniture to the floor. Thirteen thrones surrounded the center platform, each of differing height, all of which standing several feet high. Eleven of the seats contained a hooded figure staring down at Roxas. The lowest seat, looming ominously behind him, was empty.

A hush fell over the room as the figures got their first look at the Keyblade Wielder's Nobody. Every face was etched with curiosity and anticipation. Roxas kept his head down and his eyes to the floor. Axel gave him a gentle squeeze of the shoulder, prompting him to look up and, squinting in the bright light, meet the gaze of his new Superior, seated in the tallest throne. Xemnas, casually leaning over the arm of his chair at least fifteen feet above the ground, offered him a welcoming but sinister smile. Axel could feel Roxas shudder with fright.

"Good tidings, friends. I am pleased to announce that a new comrade has been chosen to wear the coat. Let us welcome one of the Keyblade's chosen. Number XIII, Roxas."

At Xemnas' announcement, the figures in the black cloaks responded with light applause. Roxas recoiled at the sound, backing away only to be stopped by Axel. "Hey, it's okay. The clapping is a good thing. Don't be afraid."

When the applause died down, the Leader continued his introductory speech. "With the addition of a Keyblade wielder, Organization XIII finally gains access to the key which will regain our lost selves. Roxas commands the power to gather stray hearts and guide them to their proper resting place, Kingdom Hearts. We can now look forward to being whole, complete people again."

The applause resumed, and the Superior flashed Roxas another frightful smile. Roxas scanned the faces of his new comrades, appearing confused and nervous. His expression seemed to indicate that he was searching for something, but was unsure of what. He turned around and looked up at Axel, his ocean blue eyes wide with fear and his body visibly trembling. Axel paused, stunned by the clarity of his emotional display. "Roxas? What's wrong, buddy?"

Roxas seemed as though he desperately wanted to say something but still hadn't mastered speech. After several seconds, still unable to utter a word, he let his shoulders slump in defeat. Axel patted him reassuringly on the head, hoping to cheer him up just long enough to finish the ceremony. Thankfully, these rituals were often rather short, and Xemnas didn't have much more to say.

"Roxas, it is an honor to count you among our rank. By adding your unique abilities to our number, we grow stronger as an Organization. Today is a truly momentous day."

Xemnas delivered his closing remarks to the veteran members with a stern, fatherly tone of voice. "I expect everyone to be on their best behavior during Roxas' adjustment period. As fellow comrades, we are a family, and we must nurture that bond accordingly."

There was a collective, visible clench as the members all straightened up in their seats, their full attention focused on their leader. Xemnas smiled with an approving nod and gestured to the group a final time. "You are dismissed."

Xemnas was the first to leave, and Roxas watched as the rest followed suit, vanishing into the same black portals he'd seen before.

"You hungry, Roxas?"

Roxas maintained his blank, lifeless stare, giving Axel no outward indication that he understood a word of what he was saying. Axel shook his head with a light chuckle, incredulous at the kid's comically empty demeanor. He hoped he would soon get to hear his voice, if only to be assured that he had one. He looked forward to talking with Roxas, eager to hear what was inside that head of his. His curiosity would have to go unsatisfied for now, but he had high hopes for Number XIII.

"You did great, Roxas! Welcome to the club! And look, I got you something to celebrate!"

Axel handed Roxas a sea salt ice cream bar before quickly taking a bite from his own. Roxas stared at the dessert with the same blank expression he'd worn since his birth. Concerned that he would have to teach the kid how to eat, Axel decided to lead by example. Roxas watched him intently for several seconds before bringing the ice cream bar to his lips. He very slowly nibbled off the corner of it, letting it rest in his mouth until it melted. As soon as he had swallowed it, Axel gave him a congratulatory clap on the back and a proud smile.

"Good job! Roxas, this is called sea salt ice cream. It is a blessing unto mankind and is to be respected and revered. Isn't it delicious?"

Roxas continued to nibble timidly at his ice cream bar. Axel was nearly finished with his own when he heard footsteps approaching.

"Don't just feed him garbage, Axel. You'll make him sick."

Saïx's mysterious whisper was unmistakable, and Axel turned to see him standing in the kitchen doorway with his arms crossed and yet another disapproving frown. Axel defended his choice for Roxas' first meal, insisting that Roxas should at least be able to enjoy it, thereby stoking his curiosity and motivating him to try other foods as well.

"Sea salt ice cream isn't garbage! It's a gift from the heavens!"

Saïx maintained his exasperated glare, unamused by Axel's performance. "I thought I told you to start him on liquids only."

"Ice cream is a liquid. And don't be such a sour puss, I got you one, too."

Saïx rolled his eyes before crossing the room to the counter where he prepared a cup of tea. He soon joined them at the table, apprehensively watching Roxas gradually consume the melting ice cream bar with a look of stern concentration. "I also specified that his first several meals should be bland. We don't know if he can tolerate things like this."

Axel glanced at Roxas to check his progress on the ice cream. He could hardly suppress a laugh when he saw how much of it was spread on his face. "He seems to be tolerating it just fine. Ice cream is harmless. Besides, I wanted him to start with something interesting enough to break him out of this funk he's in. I want him to look forward to his next meal."

With a heavy sigh, Saïx relented before returning to casually sipping his tea. "If he gets sick, he's your problem. At least give him some water before he goes to sleep."

"You're such a mom."

Roxas had finished his ice cream and was chewing on the wooden stick with determination. Before Axel could react, Saïx reached over and pulled the stick from his mouth, shooting Axel an annoyed look. Axel shrugged, cringing at his oversight.

"I forgot to tell you, Roxas, you don't eat the stick."

"He was mimicking you, Axel."

"Huh? What do you— Oh. Right."

Axel had forgotten his habit of chewing the sticks whenever he finished his ice cream bar. He quickly removed the stick from his mouth and set it on the table with a sheepish giggle. Roxas stared at the table silently for several minutes. Axel made a mental note that he would have to give the kid some lessons in conversation, although he could understand that even if Roxas could talk, his mind was empty and he wouldn't have any idea what to say.

"Roxas, are you feeling alright?"

Roxas lifted his head to face Saïx with an oddly troubled expression. Saïx leaned in to inspect the boy's face but Roxas recoiled, as if startled by him. Axel reassuringly patted his arm, growing even more worried about these apparent emotional spasms.

"Hey, Roxas, what's the matter? Saïx just wants to make sure you're not sick. Did that ice cream not agree with you after all?"

Roxas clasped his hands over his ears, squeezing his eyes shut and tucking his head down. His skin had a subtle green tint to it, and Axel felt a slight twinge in his chest when he considered that Saïx might have been right and he'd made the kid sick.

"What's wrong, little guy? Does your head hurt?"

Saïx removed his gloves and cautiously laid his hands on Roxas' face. "Doesn't feel warm, but he's awfully pale."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was afraid of something. But I can't imagine what…"

"The Keyblade Wielder no doubt had a harrowing journey. Perhaps some of the more unpleasant memories are awakening in him."

"Yeah, maybe…"

Roxas' eyelids began to fall, only to quickly spring open again as he fought to remain awake. He yawned widely, alerting Axel and Saïx, who had lost track of time. It was late enough that they should all have been asleep by now.

"He looks tired. It's been a long day for him. Take him to bed, Axel. We should turn in as well."

"All right. You want me over?"

Saïx paused, looking inward and giving the tempting offer some thought. Against his better judgment, he arrived at his decision in a few short seconds. "I'll leave the door unlocked. Don't take too long."

Axel couldn't help but notice that Saïx felt warmer than he usually did. Axel had spent so many nights lying beside him, pressed against his bare chest, that he came to expect every sensation as routine. Saïx's skin was usually cold in these moments, making tonight the first time it had ever felt any different. Between the comfortable warmth and his steady breathing, Axel could easily have been lulled to sleep, but he noticed that Saïx was staring at the ceiling with his 'thinking' face on.

"What's on your mind?"

Saïx didn't answer right away, stalling for time to search for the right words. "Nothing."

Axel sat up to look the man directly in the eyes. "Come on. Just tell me."

Saïx heaved a sigh before rising to sit on the edge of the bed. "Roxas is supposed to be the Nobody of the Keyblade Wielder. That boy is supposed to be powerful enough to have slain Xehanort's Heartless. Yet Roxas seems to have retained none of those skills or memories. It doesn't make sense."

Axel could admit that although most everyone who becomes a Nobody is disoriented at first, Roxas was especially lifeless, like a zombie. He supposed maybe it was because Roxas' Somebody was so young that he had less information to carry with him when he turned.

"He's a newborn. All newborns are a little out of it for a bit…"

Saïx was unconvinced by Axel's theory. "He was nearly as helpless as an actual newborn. I've never seen one so catatonic."

"Maybe it's just because he's a kid. I'm not worried."

Saïx began to absentmindedly comb the tangles out of his long hair with his fingers as he gazed out the window at the moon. "It really isn't promising for the Organization. How can we reach our goals without a functioning Keyblade Wielder in our ranks?"

Axel stood and began the search for the clothing articles he'd flung hastily across the room earlier. "It's only his first day. Give him a chance. For all we know, he could be totally normal tomorrow. Might even come down here to wake you up."

Axel gradually dressed as he retrieved stray pieces of clothing. "Which means I should get out of here, or we'll have some explaining to do in the morning."

"Hmph. I've never felt the need to explain anything."

Axel froze, dumbfounded by these words. Saïx was a very private man, keeping his secrets under lock and key. His cold, haunting demeanor was designed to preserve the mystery, frightening away any potential interlopers with a well-practiced, sinister glare. Since when was he comfortable with being so open about something so personal?

"That's surprising, coming from you."

Saïx was tying his sweat-drenched hair into a messy knot resting on the back of his head. "Why? It's not like we're much of a secret."

"You mean you'd just come right out and say it if anyone asks?"

"No one asks."

Axel chuckled at his answer, clever as it was. He certainly had a point. The two of them were close from the very beginning, and everybody knew it. Even after losing their hearts, they stuck together out of habit, taking comfort in each other's company to ease the loneliness. Lately, however, Saïx's distant, antisocial behavior grew more and more off-putting for Axel, and their relationship had become rather strained as a result. Still, they only had each other, and they clung to that familiarity like it was their only lifeline.

Saïx had left his place on the bed and perched on the windowsill, watching the moon. Axel couldn't help but admire his graceful silhouette, casually leaning against the glass. "Not even going to attempt to sleep?"

"You know I can't, Axel."

Axel paused, wincing at the remark. "Come on… it's just us. You don't have to—"

"I'm sorry. Lea."

Saïx corrected himself quickly. The pair resented their new names as soon as they were given them, vowing never to use them when they were alone. The Organization renamed its members as a means of branding them. Upon the death of their human counterparts, Xemnas claimed that the newly animated empty husks required new identification, insisting the alternate labels signified camaraderie and a familial bond. But most members were aware that the names were not new titles for new beginnings, but were instead symbols of ownership. The second that glaring letter X was attached to you, you belonged to Xemnas.

Axel required no apology but appreciated that Saïx gave him one all the same. It was a rare occurrence. "You might feel better if you sleep."

"I need to think. Xemnas knows something about Roxas. Something he hasn't told anyone."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. A feeling, I suppose."

Axel found this answer just as surprising since Saïx was usually rather defeatist and pessimistic about their inability to feel anything. Perhaps he used the phrase out of habit, alluding to something like intuition or suspicion — not human emotions, but technically feelings that Nobodies could still claim.

"What do you make of him?"

Considering Saïx's question, Axel reflected on the day's events. Roxas had no personality at all and hadn't done anything noteworthy enough to warrant any judgment. Axel had nothing from which to draw any conclusions about the boy. "He's a blank canvas. It's like he really is an empty shell. More so than any Nobody I've ever seen."

Saïx pondered Axel's observations thoughtfully, nodding in agreement before offering his own. "He showed an emotion today."

"Aw, is that what this is all about? Are you upset because Roxas is afraid of you?"

"Roxas is incapable of being afraid of anything, and I am incapable of finding the idea upsetting."

"Well I won't speak for you, Isa, but Roxas' face today was unmistakable. He was afraid. Plain as day. At a lot more than just you, if it makes you feel any better."

Saïx appeared almost troubled by this development. He avoided eye contact with Axel, hiding the confusion in his eyes. "I'm sure he was just startled. Being startled is an instinct. Very different from the emotion that is fear."

"Do you believe that?"

Saïx caved and swiveled his head around to face Axel. He had managed to restore his lifeless expression, but Axel knew him too well to be fooled. Axel reached out to him as he turned and rested his forehead back on the cold glass pane. "What are you planning to do?"

Saïx shook his head with a heavy sigh. "I don't know yet."

Axel, pulling up the zipper of his coat, turned to head for the door. He was about to bid Saïx goodnight and leave when he was interrupted.

"Wait…"

He turned to find Saïx looking at him with an expression Axel hadn't seen in a long time. It was subtle, but it was almost like a face he used to make as a human. Axel couldn't describe it, but was shocked to see it now. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone, and Saïx's face reverted to its default state.

"What is it?"

Several seconds of deafening silence passed before Saïx returned his gaze to the moon. "Never mind."

Unconvinced, Axel closed in on his old friend. "Isa…"

The sound of his human name sent a visible, rippling wave of shivers through Saïx's body. Axel could plainly see the chill running from his neck down his spine. He pitied the man, hating to watch him try so hard to suppress the distant echoes of his lost feelings and troublesome memories, only for his efforts to falter in his exhaustion.

"Do you want me to stay?"

Saïx didn't answer him but didn't have to. Axel tossed his coat to the ground again, taking a seat on the bed and inviting his friend to join him. It took a few seconds of silent convincing, but Saïx eventually climbed down from the window sill in surrender and crawled into bed beside him, untying his hair along the way. Axel's breaths stopped at the dazzling sight of his blue locks billowing gracefully as they fell into their resting place over his back and shoulders.

Without time to recover, Axel stammered out his only stipulation, clearing his throat in a nervous manner. "Uh… Okay. One condition. You have to lie down, close your eyes, and try to sleep."

Saïx pondered the request for a moment before finally deciding to yield. "Agreed. Do I get a reward if I actually manage to fall asleep?"

"Yes. You get the reward of sleep."

Saïx continued to stare at Axel, his eyes slowly shifting from their usual haunting glare to a piercing smolder. Axel knew what he wanted and shared in his desires, but it was too fun toying with the man. With a light chuckle, Axel raised the stakes on his end. "Any additional prizes will depend on how early you decide to drag me out of bed."

"Who said I'd be dragging you out of bed?"

Maintaining his poker face, Axel threw the blankets over them both and fell onto the pillow with an exaggerated yawn. "Goodnight, Isa."

"Sweet dreams, Lea."