(Thursday)

We sat there on the bank, the blonde man and I. He was a soft person, his words like a child's, raspy and uncertain, a virgin voice. "And what am I suppose to do here?" he asked. I looked at him thinking. The fish were out at sea and I longed for them. "Adapt." I replied slowly. He looked me over, before nodding.

Roxas tapped his pencil on the desk repeatedly and chewed his lip. Zexion peered up at him from over the top of his book. Roxas was staring out the big glass window opposite him in the library. There were birds out pecking at the grass trying to get their last bit of food before migration.

"Roxas? Are you even reading?" The blonde jumped at Zexion's question, and then directed his eyes to the textbook.

"Sorry Professor." He mumbled. Zexion returned to his reading as well but was soon interrupted by the tapping of Roxas' pencil once more, he laid his book down.

"Roxas, please focus." The other flushed and then nodded. Zexion gave a huff, "Here, let's switch activities." Roxas gave a relieved sigh as Zexion got up from his seat and went outside. Roxas watched as the door pushed open, longing to be allowed to walk out one more time, but the door closed as Zexion came back in with the flowers. There wasn't much to be done, Roxas had to simply pull any weeds that decided to grow and water it. He then laid his head on his arms and stared at the plants. "Alright," Zexion groaned, he sat down next to the blonde. "What's going on?"

Roxas picked his head up and then laid it back down in his arms, looking away from the other man. "I can't talk to you about it."

"Why not?" Zexion persisted.

"You will tell Ansem or Xemnas." Zexion frowned pondering that for a moment and then sighed placing a hand on his shoulder, "I won't this time." Roxas turned his head and looked the professor over.

"I want to be finished learning. Axel says that when I know everything you guys have to teach me then I can finally leave here. I want to be finished."

"Well Roxas, it's impossible to know everything." Zexion sighed.

"I know. I know nothing. That's why I need to leave." The professor smiled and nodded.

"You are very intelligent. I'm sure when the time is right you will be allowed to go. But right now we still have a few more textbooks to get trough, Anatomy, Chemistry, and Physics. And we aren't making any more progress."

"Even if I do, I doubt I will be able to go." Zexion furrowed his brows at that. "I saw Axel taking home a man yesterday who couldn't even talk. I think it is an excuse that I need to know everything… he knew nothing and he got to leave."

Roxas was giving the slate haired professor a look of distress. Zexion gave him a reassuring smile, "Yes but your circumstances are different from his."

"But why professor? I read in my history textbook that in this country you are supposed to be entitled to happiness and freedom. And in history all over the world people who are different have gained their rights and are able to do what they want. Don't I have rights too? Can't I- "

"Your circumstances are different Roxas." Roxas answered with sad watering eyes. He averted eye contact and bit his lip. "Roxas?" Zexion gave him a concerned expression and pulled his shoulder to turn him around. Roxas shrugged him off. Zexion was never one for social interaction and became confused when he heard Roxas lose the battle with his tears, his body shaking lightly. "It's…it's okay Roxas." Zexion said softly and, after a second of debating, awkwardly put his arms around him rubbing his back softly. It took the blonde a few moments to regain his composure and let out a shaky sigh.

"Thank you," he stated, giving the professor a weak smile and then grabbing his textbook and pulling it towards him. He spent the rest of his time in the class reading silently to himself. He wondered if Axel would join him for lunch.

҉

Hello my name is… What is your name? ... How have you been? ... I have been fine, thank you... Do you know where to find…? Yes I believe it is… The sky is blue… I do think there is a storm coming… All of the leaves have fallen… No, that isn't the correct answer, you must have meant… Hello, we have been waiting your arrival… No, I couldn't have possibly met you before… What is today?

҉

Axel had taken the day off that morning, calling Ansem and informing him that he needed to figure out how to take care to the donor for the time being. He was sat up in the living room on a blanket, back supported by the leather couch. Axel had turned on the television for him and was researching infant care online. At noon he left the donor under Riku's careful ears to go out and purchase adult diapers and fresh produce to mash. He felt awkward as the cashier rang up the items, giving him an odd expression. He quickly returned home to find the blonde man in the same position as when he left, staring up at the television. The channel had been changed by Sora to what seemed to be a violent pirate film. Axel about dropped his groceries. He came over and gave a frown at the television.

"Calm you're horses, Mama Axel," Riku said lightly before Axel got the chance to say anything. "Your precious baby will be just fine. It's just television." Axel blushed at that.

"Please don't call me Mama Axel." Axel groaned. Riku gave him a smug look.

"Then stop acting like it." The redhead rolled his eyes.

"Have you fed him?"

"Nope," Axel let out another groan and went over to the counter and removed the groceries from the bag. He continued to wash them and then take out a knife. Riku came over grabbing what was on the counter feeling it.

"Really you bout him fresh fruits? What are you going to make your own baby food?"

Axel flushed again, "I was just going to mash it for him, is that so bad?" Riku just laughed at him.

"No, there is nothing wrong with that." Axel frowned, he was annoyed.

"Fine I won't. I don't give a shit."

"Yes you do, and now that you're here I'm sure the poor bastard won't get a moments peace."

"What do you mean?" Axel had put the vegetables down and was looking tiredly at the silver haired male.

"You'll be way the hell too busy trying to teach him or making him eat and… whatever the hell else you do."Riku shrugged, "It's not your fault, you've been trained to do it. I'm sure Roxas never gets a moments rest either."

Axel scowled at him. "I fully intend to leave him exactly where he is for your information."

"Oh really."

"Yes and in addition to that Roxas does get time to himself his class ends at five and doesn't resume until eight the next day."

"And I'll take a wild guess that from the hours of five to… eh, around ten you are in his room with him." Axel was about to snap back a smart comment and then stopped himself. It was true. He instead furrowed his brows. "See, not a moment's peace. Don't smother this poor guy like you do to him." Riku taunted.

Axel's brow only creased more, "Fuck you Riku." Axel stormed off into his room and shut the door. He could hear the mumble of remarks coming from Sora and Riku in the kitchen. "Jesus," He went over and laid back on his bed letting out a sigh. Roxas enjoyed his company. He wasn't smoothing anyone. The redhead let out a growl the whole situation was stressing him out. Mainly due to the fact that he wasn't sure how much he could handle, the donor could very well stay like he was for the rest of his life. In addition the fact that being expelled from the project had finally dawned on him that morning, he had never been kicked out of something his whole life. The situation loomed over his head all day. Axel got up and went to his briefcase and looked inside as he sat down at his desk. There was nothing for him. There was no work to be done. He was not wanted or needed in any project that was going. Was his time being useful truly over? Axel let out a sigh as he placed his head against his briefcase. Everything he had ever worked towards was over with. What was he suppose to do? The overwhelming feeling of uselessness, of emptiness, and pointlessness dropped deep into his stomach and Axel felt as if he was sinking. He was a bottle under pressure that had just had the lid torn off. Salty sweet tears rolled over his cheeks, a few collecting in the corners of his thin lips. They mixed with saliva as he swallowed back his stress.

And what am I supposed to do here? Adapt? Adapt. Adapt. Adapt…