Axel looked up from reading one of Demyx's books, glancing at the clock. It had been nearly half an hour since Demyx went to get something to eat, something was wrong. He got off the bed, leaving the book open on the corner of the bed so he didn't lose his place. He walked across the room and reached out for the door handle. He staggered backwards and nearly fell over his own feet when a dark portal materialised in front of the door. Saix peered out of the black, not stepping into the room.

"Axel, you're wanted by Xemnas. Don't bother trying to run."

Axel frowned and straightened himself. That was strange, Xemnas never wanted to see him, and the rare time he did, he hadn't had to send in Saix to fetch him. It must be something important, and by the look on Saix's face, it wasn't good news. He could run… but something was wrong, very wrong.

"Saix? Have you seen Demyx?"

Saix bared his teeth in a sort of snarl. His hand shot out of the portal and grabbed Axel by the front of his cloak.

"That's exactly what I've come about. You've coming with me."

Axel held his hands up in submission and stood on his tiptoes to make sure he didn't get hung by his own cloak. Saix tugged him closer, the room disappearing behind him. Axel tapped Saix's hand.

"Er, you can let go. I'm not going anywhere, pup."

Saix growled at this insult but reluctantly let go. Axel rubbed his neck and stuck his tongue out at Saix. He glared at the Berserker then blinked, just taking in what he'd been told.

"Wait, you know where Demyx is? What's going on? I demand to know"

Saix seized Axel by the wrist and pulled him through the darkness towards where a light flickered, indicating a room, Xemnas's office.

"You're in no position to demand anything, Axel!"

Axel bit back a yelp as he was flung head first into the room, landing on his face. He stood up to find out what was going on. Slowly he took in the whole room. Xemnas stood in front of his desk, that made sense it was him who wanted to see him. They weren't alone, Axel could tell. He glanced to his right and saw Larxene leaning against the wall, looking very smug. Demyx was sat in a chair with Marluxia holding his shoulder with one hand, in case he tried to get away. Vexen looked up from trying to treat Dem's arm and frowned at Axel, shook his head then turned back to his work. Demyx tried to get up, but Marluxia pulled him back to the chair. Demyx looked at Axel with nothing but apology in his eyes.

"Axel!"

Xemnas didn't even look away from Axel as Saix moved to his side. Now seeing Saix in the light, Axel wondered how he hadn't already been ripped to shreds. He was almost in full berserk form. His hair stood on end, eyes glowing. He looked ready to smash the desk in two. Xemnas cleared his throat, obviously trying to keep his face calm.

"Axel. You are here because Larxene and Marluxia accuse you of greatly harming your new room mate. After seeing the… evidence, I agree with them. It stands clearly, you have turned fire on Demyx and therefore must be punished."

Demyx nearly leapt out of the chair at hearing this. He'd missed the discussions before, having being passed out. Marluxia pulled him back to the chair, but Demyx wouldn't give up.

"No! You've got it wrong, it was an accide…"

He was cut off when Marluxia clapped a hand over his mouth and hissed a 'shut up' in his ear. Xemnas didn't even glance round. Axel glanced worriedly between Dem and Xemnas. Xemnas held up one hand, with his finger and thumb together.

"Axel, I cannot tolerate this, if you are going to injure other members, you are a threat to the organisation. Your punishment will be… death."

Axel swallowed hard. He could hear Demyx struggling to the side, along with a quiet chuckle from Larxene. Axel looked up at Xemnas, then at his hand, still raised. He snapped his fingers and Saix lunged forwards, his Claymore materializing in his hand. So many things happened at once in the short space of a few seconds.

Demyx leapt forwards, elbowing Marluxia in the stomach when he tried to stop him. As Marluxia crumpled to the floor, Larxene rushed forward to pull Demyx back, but fell face first to the hard ground when her foot 'mysteriously' got caught on Vexen's, who turned round whistling like nothing had happened. Axel took a step back, unprepared to take the blow, when something flung itself around him. Saix put his foot forwards and brought himself to a sudden halt with his heel. The claymore halted, part way through it's swing. The whole room went silent as everyone took in what had happened.

Xemnas took in the scene in a bit of shock. Axel stood, bewildered, with Demyx stood in front of him, his arms wrapped round his middle. He buried his head into his shoulder. Very carefully, Saix lifted his weapon away from the two, pulling the tip of it out of Demyx's cloak, where it had just barely scratched the leather. When Saix stepped away, dropping his weapon into nothingness, Xemnas could see that Demyx had shielded Axel as best he could. Thankfully Saix had good reflexes and stopped in time. Xemnas stepped past the two devious members laying on the floor and stopped in front of Axel and Demyx.

"Demyx?"

Demyx tightened his grip on Axel, his eyes shut as though Xemnas might kill him anyway.

"It was an accident, honest! Please, Superior, please don't kill him."

Axel let himself relax slowly and placed his arms round Demyx as the Nocturne cried into his shoulder. Xemnas pondered as he looked at the two then glanced over at Saix who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"You two are… together?"

Demyx looked up at Axel. What if Axel didn't want them to know, what then? Would he be mad at him? Axel smiled down at him and nodded.

"Yeah. We're together. Nothing wrong with that, right?"

Dem smiled back, wiping tears from his eyes and gradually let Axel loose from his hug and held his hand so he could face Xemnas too. Xemnas sighed and gave a faint smile when Saix's hand brushed the back of his.

"No. Nothing at all. I'm sorry Demyx, I should have listened to you, but I though you were merely in hysteria. If this really is the case then I apologise for the misunderstanding and you are both dismissed. Marluxia, Larxene…"

He turned to the two sitting on the floor, who both looked more in shock at Axel and Demyx than anything else that had happened in the last few minutes. They both turned their heads to face the Superior. Xemnas's eyes narrowed.

"Next time you two want to tell me something, get all the information first! You're dismissed."

Marluxia summoned a dark portal and practically ran through it, stumbling as he left. Larxene followed, but stood up, straightened her cloak and stuck her nose in the air as she left, walking. Vexen walked out of the door, just to be different. Axel turned away from Xemnas and Saix, not letting go of Demyx's hand, and pulled them both into a dark portal. As soon as everyone was gone, Saix forced himself to breath slower and his hair began to settle, his eyes returning to their original colour. Xemnas spun round and tugged on the zip of Saix's cloak.

"Now, where were we?"

*

Demyx almost stumbled upon arriving at his room and Axel caught him. Demyx embraced him and didn't want to let go, not if that would ever happen again. Axel slowly peeled Demyx from him and sat him on the bed.

"Take off your cloak."

Demyx blinked in confusion.

"Why?"

Axel began to unzip if for him.

"Saix nearly hit you, I've got to make sure you're alright."

Demyx blushed at Axel's caring nature for him and helped him get the cloak off his back. He winced as it fell from his arm, now without bandage, and Axel held him still as he looked over his back. His vest top was ripped, but only a tiny bit. Lifting it up he inspected the cut and was glad to see it wasn't even bleeding, it made a paper cut look bad.

"You're fine, but you need another bandage. I don't have any left, I used the last of it last time… I'll go get some from Vexen, you stay here."

Demyx nodded and finished taking his vest top off, draping it off the bedside table. Axel left the room by the door, turning to peer back in at the topless nobody as he closed the door. He shook his head slightly, trying not to suddenly heat up the corridor to sauna heat. He made his was down the corridor, then down some stairs almost hidden between Saix's room (which he never used anyway) and a broom closet. As the air got colder the further down he went, he began to notice heat radiating from himself. He tried to cool himself down as he knocked on the door of Vexen's lab.

"Come in."

Axel opened the door and strolled in, not bothering to shut it behind him. Vexen looked up from pouring something into a small pot.

"Ah, Axel. I was just about to come and find you."

Axel looked round as he walked into the almost white room, prodding at a few pickled things and colourful test tubes as he went.

"Yes, well I came here to get some more bandages for Demyx."

Vexen rummaged in his top draw for a few seconds, checked a few other drawers then picked up a roll of dressing from where he'd used it to prop up the leg of a wobbly stool. He tossed it across the room to Axel, along with the pot he'd filled up a moment ago, after putting on the lid of course.

"What's this?"

Axel unscrewed the lid of the pot and sniffed it. It smelled of strawberries… and something else…He put the lid back on, suddenly aware if it was Vexen's it might be poisonous.

"That's a soothing gel, it should help ease Demyx's pain. I've been working on it for the past few day, he came straight to me when you scarred him. Told me not to tell anyone, now I see why."

Axel blinked a few times before answering, putting the bandage and pot in his pocket.

"Well, I'd better get back to him."

Axel turned to leave when Vexen called him back.

"Hold on a second. There's one more thing I need to discuss with you."

Axel rolled his eyes and walked back across the room.

"Since you and Demyx are… together now… I think it's only right you should know. I've noticed, observed if you will, that you heat up when you're angry… along with other times. If you and Demyx were to… become more… intimate… the results could be quite… dangerous."

Axel growled to himself, not sure how long he could stay away from Demyx if that were the case, he wanted him badly now as it was. He leaned towards Vexen with a menacing glare.

"You don't know what will happen if we do, but I'm sure you know what will happen if we don't!"

Vexen shuddered as visions of the castle burning to rubble danced through his mind.

"Right… well… do remember… that gel… once a day."

Axel snorted and walked out the lab a little quicker than he'd entered. Vexen let out a sigh of relief and turned to his desk to try and figure out what might happen and if it would be worth just letting things run their course… or how to fireproof his lab…