Golden eyes flew open in the darkness, and every nerve, every muscle in his body tense at once, a slow, slow breath being drawn in between his clenched teeth. He didn't dare sit up, didn't dare move, not until he was sure of where he was and what had happened.

He stretched his senses out like fingers, groping and clawing in the darkness, his pointed ears straining for any sound, his tongue darting out of his mouth to wet his cracked, bleeding lips. His breath fanned his long blue hair from his face where it had fallen into disarray.

Familiar scents reached him... fire, blood, darkness, and his golden eyes narrowed, beginning to glow faintly as he remembered what had happened.

"Maleficent." Growling, he dragged himself up, putting one hand on the ground to brace himself and lifting his head to look around. Fires were still burning, and there were no corpses left to tell what had happened to the Nobodies and the Heartless that had been here. He couldn't remember the end of the battle... Something must have knocked him unconscious before then. He wondered why, of all the enemies here that she faced, he would be the only one left alive and left behind.

He started to get to his feet...

A firmly planted boot to the back of his neck pushed him back down again, a startled noise escaping him and his golden eyes widening once more. His claws dragged through the earth beneath him as he clenched his hands into fists.

"Well well well." A young, cocky voice said above him, a hint of amusement in it, the underlaying tone one of promised pleasure. "Look what the cat dragged in."

"... Axel."

"Saix, fancy meeting you here. I was sent to clean up your mess, wasn't expecting to see you crawling in the dirt like a dog." The pressure didn't lessen on the back of his neck, and he was aware of Axel's voice growing closer as the other man leaned down towards him. "Xemnas is gonna LOVE this... his prized second in command left behind like so much garbage after a crushing defeat. I'm glad I'm not the one who has to tell him."

"Let me up." Saix tried to keep his voice calm, but it came out more as a growl than a demand. Axel chuckled.

"Oh no, I think you're fine, just like this."

"Your behaviour is unnecessary. I will report it to the Superior as well as this failure and we shall see who comes out worse for wear."

"Whatever you say..." Axel murmured, one of his chakram lowering to press against Saix' cheek. "I wonder how the Superior's gonna punish you for your failure. He might give you a nice new scar to go with the one you're already wearing, hm?"

"Let me up." Saix' eyes were glowing more brightly now, and his lips peeled back from his teeth in a snarl, his body beginning to tremble. Axel made a noise of disgust, the pressure of his boot against the back of Saix' neck disappearing. Before Saix could get up, however, Axel delivered a vicious kick to his ribs, causing him to roll over onto his back. The tall red-haired man then leaned down and seized the front of Saix' singed robes, hauling him up so their faces nearly touched. He was smiling... But his green eyes were cold.

"Can you fight, Saix?" Axel's voice was poisonous, the smile growing ever more wicked. "Can you even STAND?" He released Saix' robes, the blue haired Nobody staggering back a few steps before catching his footing. Pain made him drop into a semi-crouching position, and he snarled in Axel's direction. "Aww, well, look at that... looks like Xemnas' dog needs to be taken to the vet, he's not doing so well. And even though he's not, he's still trying to act. So. Tough."

"You will regret your actions this day, Axel. Mark my words, I will not rest until I see you fade into shadow for this!" Saix howled, the action making his entire body ache. He dropped back into a crouch, and Axel approached him, reaching down to seize his chin in his long fingered hand.

"Oh, I will hold you to those words, Saix... And part o' me's been waiting a loooong time for it." He purred, smiling again. He disappeared into a bubble of shadows, heading back from where he came, and Saix waited a moment before releasing a howl of rage and agony into the dark sky.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Axel appeared in his chambers, Xemnas didn't bother looking up, his deep voice sounding almost casual as he addressed the young Nobody.

"Well?"

"Found him... he should be joining us any moment now, but uh... don't expect him to return to the field anytime soon. He's pretty beaten up." Axel waved a dismissive hand and smirked, Xemnas glancing up from his work and arching an elegant eyebrow.

"Hmm. A failure then." He remarked, turning his attention back to his books. Axel smirked a little more, putting on his best concerned face and throwing his hands up.

"Oh yeah, big one, it looks like. Fire and brimstone and death and blood and what have you. Maleficent was in top form tonight."

"No need to be so smug, Number VIII..." Xemnas remarked quietly, Axel tilting his head to the side. "Thank you for your assistance... I will deal with Saix when he returns."

"Yessir. Any further orders, Superior?"

"None for the moment... you're free to go." Axel had already turned when he said these words, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and striding from the room while whistling in a bored fashion. Xemnas rolled his eyes, engrossing himself in his work and making the decision not to worry about Axel and his antics.

His pen pressed down a little too hard on the paper, and he frowned at the smudge it made, lips pulling into a tight line. The sound of someone else teleporting into the room drew his attention, and he stood to face the newcomer with a gentle sigh.

Saix was managing to keep himself straight, at least, though there was obvious pain in the way he held himself. Blood and soot were smeared over his face, his skin, and the scar making the shape of an X between his eyes stood out more prominently.

"Welcome back, Number VII."

"Superior... I regret to report that the mission was a failure... we were ambushed by-"

Xemnas held up his hand, and Saix fell silent, his golden eyes sliding from the figure of the Superior to the floor. Xemnas regarded him silently for a moment, then began to pace around him slowly, making a soft noise at the back of his throat.

"How long will you be out of commission?"

"I just need to rest, Superior, and clean myself up and I will be ready to try again." Saix' responses were always lightning quick, but those eyes...

Those eyes remained glued to the floor, and a muscle in his jaw worked itself as he ground his teeth together in frustration. There was a tenseness in the way he held himself, the way he set his shoulders, and Xemnas could see that one of his hands was clenched into a fist so that the leather of his glove was deeply creased.

"Rest then, Number VII. And when you wake up, we'll make a new plan. Tell me... what did Axel say to you?"

The question made Saix shoot a quick glance at his Superior, a slight look of confusion in his face.

"He simply reminded me of how you deal with the people who fail you, Xemnas. If it's your wish to inflict a punishment upon me, you know I don't complain about-"

"About what you deserve." Xemnas finished for him, looking at him squarely. Saix met his eye, lifting his chin ever so slightly but nodding. "When was the last time I punished you, Saix?"

"... I... can't... Superior?" Frowning now in confusion, Saix continued to meet his eye.

"Answer the question, Saix."

"I can't remember sir. It hasn't happened often."

"Indeed... Which is why, instead of beating you, I'm going to confine you to the castle until you're well enough to go back out in the field. Am I understood?"

Some things were worse than beatings... Saix' mouth twisted, but he nodded and made a soft noise of affirmation.