"Axel...is this, um...normal?"

Axel leaned over for a look at Roxas's latest mission assignment. In more than one spot, the number "IX" had been scratched out and "XIII" had been written over it. "No...that's not...that hardly ever happens. Either Xigbar owed Demyx something or he's suddenly on the disabled list." They were keeping their voices down so the Melodious Nocturne wouldn't hear them. "Those are the only reasons I can think of why they'd reassign a mission after the paperwork is filled out." He glanced to the side - it didn't look like Demyx had suffered some serious injury that would keep him from completing a mission. Demyx looked pretty much like he always did - maybe a little glummer, but that was getting to be way too normal. "I wouldn't say anything to him. Just go out, get it done, and come back."

Roxas nodded warily, folded the paper again, and stuffed it back in the envelope. Not for the first time, Axel looked over at Demyx and wondered what was going on in there. Did Xigbar know? Was that why Demyx's mission had been reassigned? Was something so messed up in his head he wasn't fit for duty anymore? Demyx suddenly looked up at him, and he got the feeling that he knew exactly what was going on and it cut him to the core. He sighed.

After Roxas left, Axel went up to Demyx's room to question him. The stereo was pounding, as usual, so Axel just opened the door and went in - no way Demyx would have heard him knock. The musician was sitting on his bed in the dark, staring blankly into an open bottle of rum, or at least that's what it smelled like. "For the love of Kingdom Hearts..." Demyx didn't seem to see or hear him; he just took a long drink from the bottle, choking a little on the potent stuff. Probably some of Luxord's favorite from Port Royal. Axel tapped his foot with a toe, none too gently. That got his attention, at least. "Demyx, what are you doing with that bottle?" Demyx didn't answer, just shook his head and drew back a little in alarm. Axel snatched the bottle out of his hand - it was still almost full, which was a good sign. "What the hell's the matter with you that you think a bottle of booze can fix?" Still no answer; Demyx just burst into tears. Well, after five minutes and no more than one or two drinks, it couldn't have been the alcohol making him cry.

Axel shook his head sadly. "You're pretty fucked up, aren't you." Demyx just nodded tearfully. "Why don't you ever tell anyone what the problem is?"

Demyx spoke his first words all day. "I...can't."

"You can't...why can't you?" Demyx just buried his face in his arms and cried harder. "Look, you've gotta talk sometime...it's killing you from the inside out. I don't like having to just stand by and watch it." Axel sat down next to him and put an arm around his shoulders - not the one that had the bottle. "I'm not gonna accuse you of anything. I know you were never on drugs. Just tell me what's going on. Tell anyone; it doesn't have to be me. But you've gotta tell someone."

Demyx sighed heavily. "...I think I'm gonna need a lot more to drink first."

Axel sighed and handed the bottle back. "Fine. But I'm gonna be keeping an eye on you to make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"...Fair enough." Demyx took the bottle and took a long drink. "Sure you don't mind spending your day chaperoning a drunk?"

"I owe you at least three."


AN: Number 78, Drink. This is what Demyx was dreaming about back in the Nexus.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, got it memorized?