Giving himself a critical look in the mirror, Saix brushed over the quite unusual clothes he had chosen for the evening. Instead of the usual stuffy black robe, he had decided to go for a plain black pair of pants and a white shirt to match it. He looked odd – at least, that was what he thought of himself at that very moment. So different from his usual self, and still...

Sighing, he shook his head. No, he couldn't back down from it any longer. He had been looking forward to the meeting the whole day long, which had made it easier to endure Xemnas's bossy behavior, Marluxia's cocky remarks and Demyx's utter lack of any spirit for their mission.

His eyes rested on the X-shaped scars over his face, and for a moment, he asked himself if he should do something to hide them. But that was impossible, and he knew that just too well. Illusions weren't his cup of tea, and yet, he would have liked to hide them somehow. Though, it wasn't like Axel hadn't seen them ever before, right?

The red-head had been on his mind all day long already, which had unnerved and at the same time amused Saix. Usually, he didn't think of this special member of the Organisation too much, but this evening would require his whole attention. They hadn't worked together on any missions, which was a reason to finally get acquainted better.

Besides, Saix had grown curious about the unusual relationship he had observed between Axel and Roxas. Nobodies weren't cut to befriend, or show any such feelings towards each other, but between the two of them, there definitely was something. Was it really love, though? He would have been able to tell, hadn't he lacked a heart, just like any other of them.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Saix regathered his focus. He and Axel had known each other for pretty much a little eternity by now, had worked hard on carrying on the mission of creating Kingdom Hearts as the key to their own hearts. Beating, feeling and most importantly understanding hearts, which would make them complete beings.

Hearts were such a strange thing... So hard to be understood, so elusive when trying to describe them. It was amusing and frustrating all the same, which matched his current mood quite well. Exhaling lowly, Saix turned, giving himself a last stray glance to then leave the fortress.

In the streets of the eternally dark world they lived in, the World That Never Was, he found his way around easily. He knew the streets by heart (had he possessed one), taking his time to enter the bar he and Axel had agreed to meet in. Saix smiled to himself as he sat there, shaking his head about himself. Usually, they had to watch out to not be seen. But now, they could be at their ease.

Soon enough, he was joined by Axel, who greeted him with his usual merry grin and patted on his shoulder. "Hey there, Saix, good to see you."

As if they hadn't met already today. But well, it was the common phrase, he guessed, so he wouldn't argue there. The only thing he wanted to ensure was that the evening would be a nice one, and as far away from the usual distant mood as possible.

"I feared you wouldn't come. Xemnas gave you a quite time-consuming mission today, didn't he."

"Yes... I don't see the point in still doing these childish runs for the Organisation Emblems. I mean, they were there to train my navigating around the worlds, but that was that. I mean, it's the right training for Roxas, but not for me."

The bartender brought them their drinks; white wine for Saix, and liquor for Axel. At the questioning look on Axel's glass, the red-head merely sighed. "Water reminds me of Demyx too much. And I don't want to think of this lazyass tonight."

"Don't we all want to avoid him..." Saix muttered absent-mindedly, sipping on his wine.

"Almost as much as Larxene, that witch. She scared me out of my mind today when she announced she would accompany Roxas today. Good thing that Xemnas had something different for her to do in the end."

"She indeed has quite some temper, that much I have to admit."

"Well, at least we all are different. It would be pretty odd to have two members with the exact same powers in our Organisation."

Saix shrugged his shoulders, staring down at his wine glass before turning towards Axel again. The red-head was drinking his liquor pretty fast, and by how it looked, he soon would order a second glass. Hopefully, as Saix thought to himself, he wouldn't have to deal with a drunk Axel. That would have become really odd.

"Axel, what I wanted to ask your for some time already..."

"Hm?" Axel set down his glass (this time water, after reluctantly having to admit the liquor was pretty strong), giving Saix a questioning look. "Something the matter?"

"It's about you and Roxas." Saix mused out loud, scratching the back of his head. "I can't quite understand what your relationship to this boy is. Is it something special or...?"

"Erm... We settled with calling it friendship, but I'm not sure if we aren't mistaken. I mean, heh, no heart to confirm this feeling, right? But I guess we're not too far away from it."

"Friendship, then. That's a pretty strong feeling, though. Are you sure that you still are a Nobody?"

"Woah, Saix, now you scared me. Since when are you making such jokes?"

"I wasn't really joking, Axel. Well? Sure that you haven't got any feelings yet?"

"Pretty sure even, I still can't really feel anything." Axel was rubbing the back of his head with that usual gesture of his, whenever he was not sure about what he should say, was a little bashful, or simply confused. "At least I'm sure of that. I may have said I'm scared, but, no. Nothing changed."

"Good, then I don't have to worry." Saix crooked a faint smile, returning his attention to his wine, while Axel after some pondering ordered a second glas of liquor.

This second glass soon was followed by a third and a fourth, which finally made the red-head sway on the stool dangerously. Saix huffed in slight annoyance, as Axel started to sing lowly, face red and a strange smile plastered to his face. It was unsettling, to say the least, to see the other in such a state. But well, Saix guessed that not even a Nobody was immune towards the influence of alcohol.

Paying for their drinks, Saix grabbed the swaying red-head, and with a low huff, he maneuvred Axel out of the bar and along the streets. The fact that the other Nobody was drunk annoyed him, as well as stirred something inside of him. A feeling? No, nothing like that. But it still was unsettling him just a tiny bit, while he dragged Axel along the streets of the World That Never Was...