"Roxas! It's time to wake up!"

Axel knocked loudly on the door, hoping Roxas wouldn't be frightened by the sound. He had warned the boy the previous night during his bedtime routine that he and Saïx would be knocking in the morning, but he still couldn't always tell whether or not Roxas understood him. After a few seconds with no answer, he knocked again, only receiving more silence in return.

"Think he's still asleep?"

"Hmm. Open the door. Let's make sure he hasn't fallen out of bed."

Axel opened the door to find Roxas still in bed, his sheets having been kicked to the floor. His eyes were closed, but he was not resting peacefully. His body was writhing and covered in sweat, and his chest was heaving with his labored, wheezing breaths.

"Whoa, Roxas, are you alright?" Axel rushed to the bed, closely followed by Saïx. He sat on the edge of the mattress, gently nudging Roxas' shoulder with concern on his face.

"What should we do?" he asked his companion with a worried tone. Saïx peered closely at Roxas' face, etched with pain and anxiety. "Wake him."

Axel shook Roxas a little more vigorously, trying desperately to rouse him to no avail. "Roxas… hey… wake up, buddy…"

Roxas' breaths accelerated rapidly, pulling his entire torso along with them. Axel tried everything short of hitting the kid, but nothing would lift Roxas out of his slumber.

"I'll get Vexen," Saïx whispered urgently, growing increasingly alarmed by the boy's condition. Before he could move, Roxas emitted a loud, hoarse gasp, startling both Saïx and Axel.

"Whoa!"

His eyes sprang open and he shot upright. At the sight of his comrades, he frantically scooted away, seemingly terrified of them. Axel caught him just before he went over the edge of the mattress, and Roxas struggled and flailed in his clutches. Axel tightened his grasp the harder Roxas fought to escape, determined to end this sudden fit of terror before he hurt himself.

"Roxas, calm down…" Axel tried to console him, having little success. "It's okay, it was just a dream…"

Roxas continued to panic and squirm, panting heavily and with tears streaming down his cheeks. Axel glanced over at Saïx, begging for direction, to which Saïx only shrugged. Axel sighed at him, returning his attention to the frightened child in his arms.

"Roxas, it's me, Axel!" he reminded him in a stern voice. "Got it memorized?"

At the sound of Axel's name, all of Roxas' fighting and writhing ceased. The child's eyes widened as he recognized his caretaker, and after a few tense moments of silence, the boy began to cry. He pulled his knees to his chest and dropped his head, his body trembling with his soft, raspy sobs. Axel and Saïx froze, shocked at the sight of such a young Nobody experiencing a seemingly genuine emotional reaction.

"Do something, Axel," Saïx instructed urgently. "Calm him down."

"How?"

"I don't know… Hold him? Talk to him? Anything!"

Having never felt more like a clueless parent in his life, Axel decided to just improvise. "Hey, come here, buddy…" Axel wrapped his arms around the quivering child and held him in a tight embrace, gently patting his head. "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you."

Roxas was hyperventilating, and his tears were soaking the leather of Axel's coat, but he didn't flinch at his touch, and that was a start.

"You gotta breathe slower, Roxas, or you're gonna get dizzy." Axel drew the boy's head close, leaning him against his chest. After a few moments, Roxas matched the rhythm of Axel's breathing, leveling to a more steady and reasonable pace. At last, his shivering body began to relax. "There we go, that's better."

Impressed with Axel's performance, Saïx cautiously approached the pair, kneeling beside the bed to peek at Roxas' face. His eyes were still wide with fear and staring intently at the floor. When Axel tried to pull away, Roxas clasped his coat tightly and refused to let him go.

"Roxas," Saïx spoke softly, wiping the tears from the child's cheeks. "You are in no danger. The images you saw were created by your own mind. They weren't real. See how you are now in your room and they are gone? You are safe."

Roxas took an apprehensive look around, scanning the environment as if to confirm Saïx's claims. It was a promising sign — he had clearly understood what Saïx said. Saïx extended a hand to pull him away while Axel tried to coax Roxas off of him, but the child only clung more tightly to Axel's coat, unwilling to be separated from him for an instant.

"Come now, Roxas, it's time to let go of him."

Roxas recoiled from Saïx and maintained a fierce grip on Axel's coat. Axel smiled, shaking his head. "It's okay, buddy. We can cuddle more later. If you come downstairs with us, I'll give you some orange juice."

Saïx scoffed at Axel's words, rising from the floor and crossing his arms. "Really, Axel? More sugar? You're going to kill him."

Axel took Roxas' hand and hopped off the bed. "You know, Roxas, I think Saïx needs a hug."

Saïx shot him a menacing glare, backing away. "Axel, don't you dare…"

Axel appealed to Saïx with a mischievous grin, slowly stepping toward him. "Come on, Saïx, if you want him to like you, you gotta show him your soft side."

"I'm warning you, Axel—!"

"...Axel."

All activity halted at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Axel and Saïx froze again, their breaths catching in their throats and staring dumbstruck at Roxas.

"What? What did you say?" Axel prompted Roxas to repeat himself, just to confirm that they'd heard correctly.

"Axel."

Axel's face lit up and he applauded with delight. "Yes! That's right, Roxas! I'm Axel! Do you remember his name?"

Axel gestured toward Saïx, who remained in place with his arms crossed and a sour look on his face. Roxas stared at him in silence for several seconds, not speaking another word. Axel cringed for Saïx's sake, but shrugged his shoulders and gave Roxas a congratulatory pat on the back. "Well, Axel's a start! Your first word! Great job, buddy! Now let's get ready and go downstairs, okay? It's morning. You remember what you're supposed to do when it's morning?"

Roxas slid off the bed and headed for his closet, where he pulled out his coat and other clothing articles. After making sure he had all the pieces he needed, he shut himself in the bathroom. Axel silently prayed he wouldn't be needing any help in there again.

Saïx had returned to pacing, stroking his chin, deep in thought. Axel stepped nearer to him, softening his voice as he spoke.

"Hey… I'm sorry, I was just playing…"

"Lea, what was that?"

Axel paused, unsure at first what Saïx was referring to. He turned his head, thinking, his eyes fixed on the sheet that had fallen onto the floor. "That looked like a nightmare to me."

"Yes, of course it was. But after that."

"Oh, you mean the crying? I mean, yeah, he's a baby. Babies cry…"

"Nobodies don't."

"Come on, Isa, you know that isn't true. I've cried a bunch since becoming a Nobody. And you have, too."

Saïx narrowed his eyes, moving to Roxas' bed and picking up the sheet from the floor. As he laid it over the mattress, tucking in the sides and tidying the blankets and pillows, he gave some thought to his friend's recollections. Axel was right. Laughing and crying were not out of their grasp as Nobodies, but they were merely performances, artificial in every way. Nobodies chose to laugh and cry, unlike humans who did so as a result of being overwhelmed by emotion. Roxas was so young — could he really have mastered the act of crying already?

Axel laid a hand on Saix's shoulder, "Look, Isa, Roxas is just a baby. He's having to absorb a whole lot in a short amount of time and it's stressful. Plus, this is the Keyblade Wielder's Nobody. Who knows what kind of hell that kid's been through? Those memories could be rushing into Roxas' head in droves. So is it really so far fetched to believe he had a genuine nightmare, so scary that it made him cry?"

After a long pause, Saïx heaved a sigh of defeat. "Perhaps not. I still want him examined. It's our job to keep him safe and in good health until he can care for himself. I want all our bases covered."

Axel chuckled, shaking his head. "Gosh, you really are a mom. We can take him to the lab after he eats something, okay? Don't worry."

"I won't be joining you for breakfast, I have to deliver the mission briefings. I'll catch up with you afterward."

"Isa, we talked about this…"

"Drop it, Lea. I'll eat later. You have my word."

Axel sighed. Saïx's hypocrisy could be infuriating at times, since he showed such concern for Roxas' health, and in fact the health of every other member in the Organization, yet seemed to have no issue risking his own. The man got plenty of exercise, but rarely slept and often found excuses not to eat, despite Axel's insistence that he take care of himself. However, Axel understood the psychological reasoning behind Saïx's behavior. After losing his heart, Saïx began to question the point of caring for a body that only amounted to an empty husk. There was no joy in eating or sleeping, so why bother? Axel could both agree and disagree. He employed a similar reasoning to justify his frequent over-indulgence. But he could admit that he still enjoyed things, where Saïx insisted that he enjoyed nothing.

"I've preparations to make. Feed him, then show him around the castle. With any luck, he might learn some more words."

"Wait, Isa…"

Saïx had turned to leave the room, but paused at Axel's interruption, facing him with a questioning look. Axel hesitated before finishing his thought.

"Don't take it personally. Roxas is one day old. He's still processing everything and it's just taking some time to figure you out. It doesn't mean anything." Axel smiled warmly at his old friend. "You're just mysterious like that."

Saïx only stared blankly as usual, "I haven't the capacity to care whether or not Roxas likes me. My duty is to ensure that he learns our ways and that you don't kill him."

Saïx headed for the door again, but stopped to add one last caveat. "However," Saïx whispered, his cold expression warming slightly. "I appreciate the sentiment. See you later, Lea."

Roxas' enormously round eyes darted in every direction as he was led through the halls of the castle. Tugging him gently by the wrist, Axel brought him into the kitchen where two of their largest comrades hovered over the stove. The smell of bacon grease wafted through the air and the sound of sizzling and crackling echoed off the room's bare walls.

"Aha! If it isn't young Roxas! Good morning to you!"

Roxas froze, appearing to struggle processing the sudden overload of sensory information. His head whipped around as he reacted to the sound of the booming voice that greeted him, the overwhelming smell of the food cooking, and the sudden rumble in his stomach. Axel patted the kid on the back to grab his attention and introduced him to the oversized men at the stove. "Roxas, this is Xaldin, and that's Lexaeus. Got it memorized?"

Roxas stared blankly at the two men. Xaldin raised an eyebrow and approached him, towering over the kid. Roxas flinched and slid behind Axel to hide. Axel sighed with his arms crossed, "Now, Roxas, that's not polite. Say hello."

The men waited for Roxas to respond, but he remained paralyzed in his hiding place, not saying a word. Xaldin knelt in front of him, inspecting the boy closely with narrowed eyes. "He still won't speak?"

"He can say my name. And that's about it."

"Hmph," Xaldin shrugged, then rose to his feet, heading back toward the stove. "Lexaeus rarely speaks either. It's no matter."

Lexaeus scoffed at him, "Words are malleable. Intentions can be misconstrued." He eyed Xaldin, perfectly deadpan. "And, people talk too much."

Xaldin smirked at his stoic friend, piling food from the skillet onto a plate and handing it to him. Lexaeus thanked him with only a silent nod before leaving the kitchen. Axel, being a terrible cook and too tired to put in any more than minimal effort, endeavored to obey Saïx for once and prepare something bland and simple for Roxas. Although there was no evidence to suggest that feeding Roxas ice cream had caused any of his odd behavior or his nightmare, he still couldn't shake the odd sense of guilt that tugged at his chest. He was fiddling with a packet of instant oatmeal when Xaldin made an observation in a disapproving tone.

"What is that slop you're feeding him? Oatmeal?" Xaldin clicked his tongue and shook his head. "He's such a skinny child, Axel. He needs more protein! How about I cook him a hearty breakfast instead?"

Axel set the bowl in front of Roxas along with a spoon. It was too early to explain Roxas' dietary needs to him. "Thanks, Xaldin, but we're not trying to bulk him up."

Xaldin shrugged again, "Suit yourself. I will leave some here on the stove. He should at least try it. Can't survive on processed mush forever."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll see you later, man."

Xaldin fixed a plate for himself and left the kitchen to catch up with Lexaeus. Axel turned to Roxas, who had been staring vacantly at his bowl for the duration of their conversation. Axel didn't blame the kid — he didn't like oatmeal either.

"Okay, Roxas, eat up or Saïx will make you drink one of his meal-replacement shakes." He leaned in, whispering. "Trust me, you don't want that."

Roxas looked at Axel as if seeking instructions, but Axel decided to wait and see if he'd figure it out. To his surprise, Roxas picked up the spoon and stuck it into the oatmeal, scooping out a reasonably-sized bite and putting it in his mouth.

"Wow, I'm impressed, Roxas!" Axel clapped excitedly. "I didn't even have to teach you how to do that!"

Roxas made no outward reaction to the food or Axel's enthusiastic praises. He ate in silence, appearing to neither like nor dislike his breakfast. Axel's only job for now was to make sure Roxas didn't choke, and he would have been shocked if Roxas managed to react poorly to something as harmless as oatmeal. But, after a few moments, he suspected that Roxas was likely as bored as he was, and decided to liven up this meal a bit, if only as an excuse to indulge in Xaldin's superb cooking himself. He hopped out of his seat and snuck over to the stove, filling a plate with the delicious-smelling contents of the skillet and bringing it back to the table. He nudged the plate to Roxas, eagerly anticipating the child's reaction to this new, mouth-watering breakfast in front of him.

"Xaldin's too good a cook for you to pass this up. I won't tell if you won't."

Roxas examined the plate curiously. Unlike the bowl of oatmeal, which was completely homogeneous in color and texture, the items on the plate were colorful and visually appealing. Just as Axel had predicted, the variety enticed Roxas, and the kid cautiously plucked out a strip of bacon and nibbled on the end of it. His facial expression remained neutral and empty, but he finished the bacon quickly and soon reached for more. He never returned to the bowl of oatmeal after having tried Xaldin's breakfast, sampling one of every item on the plate, never appearing to dislike any of it. Axel, absentmindedly munching on some of the leftovers, couldn't wait to tell Xaldin how well-received the meal was for their new comrade. He giggled at Roxas, who was carefully sipping from a glass of orange juice Axel had poured for him. "Well! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you enjoyed that. Make friends with Xaldin and he'll cook for you every day. That ought to put some meat on your bones!"

After awhile, Roxas had finished eating and was staring blankly into the distance. Axel paid him no mind as he picked at the remaining bits of food on the plate, but soon took notice of Roxas' face, glancing at Axel just long enough to flash a peculiar expression. It was quick, but Axel was sure he saw the corners of his mouth widen and his eyes gleam slightly.

"Hey… did you just smile?"

Roxas blinked, saying nothing, but the sudden flash of his new expression reappeared. It was almost certainly Roxas' first attempt at a smile. Axel couldn't help but smile back at him.

"That's cute. Do it again."

Roxas practiced smiling for a while before his eyes began to wander again. His mind seemed to wander along with them as he cast his gaze off into the void once more. Axel chuckled, puzzled by the behavior but finding it endearing all the same. "Heh… you look like you're lost in thought. What's on your mind, buddy?"

Roxas turned to face him directly. "Axel."

Axel beamed at him, thrilled that Roxas had taken a liking to his unwitting caretaker. The Organization had searched for their Number XIII for years before Roxas was born. As was their role, Axel and Saïx effectively raised each potential candidate, only for every one of them to fall short of the demands of the Organization. When they didn't make the cut, Xemnas had to do away with them. Axel had never grown attached to any of the newborns before, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a bit of a sting whenever one of them was turned into a Dusk. It was an unfortunate fate which befell Nobodies who simply weren't strong-willed enough to retain their human forms. Now, Axel couldn't help but feel a bit elated in Roxas' presence, almost drawn to him in a way. Was this 'getting attached?' He wasn't sure, but he anticipated — and hoped — that this Nobody would be the Number XIII Xemnas had been searching for. Axel was growing quite fond of Roxas, and if it meant that he would get to stay, he was determined to make this kid the strongest comrade Organization XIII had ever seen.

"That's right. I'm Axel. Got it memorized?"

Axel supposed that poor Roxas had no idea what was going on when all of his comrades huddled around him, curiously watching him like a caged animal in a zoo. The child clung tightly to Axel's sleeve, keeping a fair distance from the giggling men circling the pair. There was laughter and merriment at the boy's expense; light hearted jokes about Roxas' stature would likely become routine. Roxas stared idly into the surface of the coffee table, either not understanding the words or simply not caring.

Luxord, seated authoritatively on the edge of a lounge chair at his right, nodded to Axel, and all at once the witticism and innuendo ceased. A hush fell over the group as all eyes landed on Roxas. Axel patted the child's back, beckoning him.

"Okay, Roxas, let's show everyone your first word. Go on, tell them my name."

The men waited, unblinking, for Roxas to speak. Roxas said nothing, his expressionless face turned up to Axel, laced with confusion. Axel cleared his throat uncomfortably, appealing to the child a second time.

"Uh, Roxas, buddy… do you remember my name?"

The air was heavy with anticipation. There was a squeak of leather on leather as the men scooted forward in their seats. Roxas again was silent. Xigbar had seen enough.

"Well, nothing to see here, fellas!"

"Shh, quiet! He'll say it." Axel clasped his shoulder, his own brow furrowing with befuddlement at Roxas' hesitation. "Roxas, you remember who I am, right? What is my name?"

When Roxas remained mute, Axel became exasperated. He leaned in, drawing the child's focus, as if the two of them were the only men in the room.

"Got it memorized?" He whispered on a hunch that his words might trigger a reaction. To his delight, Roxas' eyes widened and he uttered one word in response.

"...Axel."

There was a collective outburst from the group and Roxas recoiled behind Axel with fright. Demyx jumped out of his seat, plunging his fists into the air and cheering while the others groaned with disappointment. Luxord, laughing quietly and shaking his head, gestured to the young musician prancing at his side.

"Demyx wins the pot!"

"Yes! Take that, suckers!"

"Aw man! Are we really sure one word is enough?" Xigbar whined, unamused by Demyx's allegedly premature celebrations.

Luxord chuckled, shrugging. "The pitch was unmistakable, Xigbar. Roxas is post-pubescent."

"But he's so scrawny!" Xigbar argued incredulously. "He could still be—"

"The judges have spoken!" Demyx interrupted, straightening his posture and raising a finger, as if preparing to make an acceptance speech. "And let this be a lesson for you: short men are still men! Now pay up, Xiggy!"

Axel couldn't help but laugh at their banter. Demyx had never expressed any sensitivity over his height, but it was both fascinating and endearing that he felt he had an obligation toward his fellow shorter comrade. In reality, Roxas was still physically only fourteen or fifteen at the most, and it would be years before they could truly consider him post-pubescent, but seeing Demyx gloat over his technical victory was amusing nonetheless.

Xigbar was digging in his pockets and grumbling when their friendly competition was interrupted by the sound of a very deep, haunting growl.

"Axel."

Demyx's jaw dropped, startled by the sudden change in register. "Whoa, kid's hormones don't waste any time…"

They turned to see Saïx standing behind them with his arms crossed disapprovingly. Every spine straightened and all breathing halted. "Axel, what nonsense is this?"

Axel averted his eyes, clearing his throat scratching his head with a sheepish look. "The, uh… the guys were betting on whether or not Roxas had hit puberty."

Saïx glared at him, "What a childish game." He shifted his piercing glower to the rest of the group, equally irritated by their immature behavior. "Don't you all have work to do?"

The men scattered, most of them disappearing into dark corridors as quickly as they could. Demyx, unfazed by Saïx's scolding, remained on the sofa, plucking confidently at his sitar. Roxas stood nearby, staring at him as he strummed the strings. Saïx turned back to Axel, his sour expression unmoving. "Did he tolerate his breakfast?"

"Seemed like it," Axel called over his shoulder to the child. "Roxas learned to use a spoon today, didn't you, Roxas?"

"Axel."

Axel grinned, turning back to Saïx. "He didn't even need my help. He didn't finish the oatmeal, though. He liked Xaldin's food better.""Xaldin?" Saïx's eyebrows raised. He sighed, rubbing his forehead with his fingers as he questioned Axel in an exasperated tone. "Axel, what did you give him this time?"

"Xaldin insisted Roxas try some of his breakfast," Axel counted on his fingers as he listed the items Roxas had sampled. "He ate some eggs and bacon and sausage…"

Saïx raised a hand to silence him, wincing slightly. "Ugh, stop. You're making me sick."

"What? Xaldin's the best cook in this castle!"

"That stuff used to be animals, you know. It's all just warm carcasses. Nauseating."

Axel rolled his eyes, giggling at Saïx's discomfort. "You will never ruin bacon for me, Isa."

Roxas was sitting on the sofa beside Demyx, watching him intently. The musician demonstrated several playing techniques before setting the instrument in Roxas' lap and encouraging him to try it himself. Axel was stunned as he watched Roxas timidly pluck the strings at Demyx's instruction. He had never let anyone else touch his sitar before.

"Well, would you look at that. Free babysitting," Axel nudged Saïx with his elbow and a mischievous grin. "Now's our chance."

"Hush, Lea."

Demyx was now performing a song for Roxas, strumming loudly and singing off-key. Roxas didn't take his eyes off of him, his expression lifting as he listened to the new sounds. Axel soon realized that Roxas had never heard music before, and Demyx's casual noodling was the boy's first exposure to the fine arts. He wasn't sure whether he should be thrilled for Roxas or feel sorry for him.

"Aw, he likes music. How cute."

Saïx scoffed, muttering under his breath. "If you want to call that music…"

Without missing a beat, Demyx paused the show to address Saïx's criticism. "Rude!"

Demyx resumed his song in tempo, and Saïx led Axel a few steps away to deliver some ominous news in a hushed whisper. "Xemnas sent me an urgent message. He has new information regarding the mission at Castle Oblivion, highly classified. He will be summoning us later this afternoon, along with the rest of the team."

"Any idea what it's about?"

"None. He can be quite secretive when he wants to be."

Axel stroked his chin, theorizing in his mind. There were a number of projects to be set in motion at their research facility in Castle Oblivion, but Axel was no scientist, and he wondered what would possess their leader to add him to the team. It all seemed like it would be fairly routine, boring grunt work, making it rather unusual for Xemnas to suddenly become so mysterious about it.

"What will we do with Roxas? If we're both in a meeting…"

Saïx nodded in Demyx's direction. "Like you said, free babysitting."

Demyx continued to play his sitar and sing loudly, nudging Roxas occasionally and urging him to join. Roxas only stared at him, never parting his lips. With a sigh, Saïx slowly made his way toward the sofa to retrieve the child. "We'd better get him examined before the meeting."

"Isa, look at him. He's perfectly healthy."

Saïx returned Axel's argument with only a frighteningly sinister glare, having long since lost his patience with the man. Axel recoiled, his hands raised in surrender. "Jeez, don't do that," Axel moved away from him and approached the duo on the sofa. "Okay, Roxas, it's time to go! You can play with Demyx later."

Demyx waved as Axel led Roxas out of the Grey Area by the hand. "Bye, Roxas!"

Roxas was surprisingly cooperative during his examination. Over the course of nearly two hours, Vexen left no stone unturned as he inspected every nook and cranny of the boy's body, taking care to be as thorough as possible. He shuffled through a collection of instruments, shining lights into Roxas' eyes and ears, peering down his throat, and even scanning his brain. Saïx had to hold him still once or twice when his anxious fidgeting hindered Vexen's efforts, but to his relief, Roxas did not panic as Saïx suspected he might. When the scientist was finished recording the last few measurements of Roxas' vitals, he threw up his hands in defeat.

"I can't find a thing wrong with him, Saïx."

Saïx heaved a sigh, seeming almost disappointed by the results. "I suspected as much."

"I insisted as much!" Axel shouted from across the room, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed.

Vexen flipped through his notes, shaking his head. "He's small, but he's due for a growth spurt. He'll fill out that coat in no time."

"And the nightmares? The emotional displays?"

Vexen shrugged. "Unusual, but not dangerous. Given his unique origins, I'd say this is to be expected for a newborn like him."

"Do you think he will be mission-ready by day seven, as is typical? Or is he delayed?"

"I really don't see any reason why he couldn't work by that point. If he hasn't changed at all in a couple of days, then I might be worried, but right now, he seems fine."

Axel sauntered to the examination table with a smug expression, leering at Saïx all the way. "I'm just going to add another tally to my 'I told you so' list."

Saïx shot him a menacing side-eye before returning his attention to Vexen, who continued to skim through the information on his clipboard.

"He's a growing boy, so feed him well. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and adequate rest. Keep him hydrated, bathe him daily, the usual. He really doesn't require any special care."

Satisfied, Saïx nodded his approval. "Very well," he turned to his companion. "Axel, you're taking him to Twilight Town tomorrow."

Axel smiled and clapped Roxas on the back in excitement. "Whoo! Roxas, we're gonna have so much fun there!"

"And Saïx," Vexen spoke cautiously but with a reassuring tone. "I understand Xemnas is watching your every move. But I see no cause for alarm. He's a normal, healthy adolescent boy. You can relax."

In a shocking display of relief and gratitude, Saïx's body visibly settled into place. The collapse was so noticeable that one could only pity the man for the tension he carried around with him every day. "Thank you, Vexen. Come, Roxas. We're going to visit Demyx."

Roxas slid down from the table and was being led to the door when Axel remembered something and turned back to the scientist. "Vexen, I almost forgot. Do you have any information on what this meeting is about?"

Vexen slumped, shaking his head. "I had hoped the two of you would know."

"We shall find out soon enough," Saïx interjected. "Axel, our time is scarce."

They left the lab and meandered down the hall toward the staircase, letting Roxas wander ahead for a moment. Saïx took the opportunity to halt their trek, taking his comrade by the arm.

"Axel," he hissed, his anger clouded by an anxiety that only Axel could see, having been so intimately acquainted with that face that he could read it like a book. Axel closed in on him, prompting Saïx to drop his guard and plead with the man. "This isn't a game. While you're having your fun, I'm trying to ensure that Roxas is prepared for his role in serving the Organization. His health and safety are crucial, and Xemnas will have our heads if anything happens to him."

"Isa," Axel gingerly laid his hands on his companion's shoulders. "It doesn't have to be so serious all the time."

"It doesn't have to all be a joke either, Lea."

"It's not a joke. I know how important our mission is. That doesn't mean we can't make it fun."

Saïx brushed Axel's hands off of him and took off to catch up to Roxas, who had been standing motionless in place, waiting for his two caretakers to follow him. Axel caught Saïx by the wrist before he'd made any headway.

"What's this really about, Isa?"

Saïx did not turn back to look at him. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Uh huh. You've been off since Roxas showed up. Come on, just talk to me."

"About what?"

"About your feelings."

Saïx rolled his eyes with another sigh, jerking his arm from Axel's grip and throwing his guard back up. "We'll be late to the meeting if we don't hurry. Let's go."

Setting aside this conflict for now, they resumed their journey back up the stairs and toward Demyx's quarters. Upon arrival, Axel knocked on the door and was quickly greeted by the young musician on the other side. Demyx's smile widened when he saw Roxas, and in a friendly gesture of welcome he threw an arm around his shoulders and guided the boy inside.

"Roxas! What's up, man?!"

Saïx wasted no time in reciting his instructions for Roxas' care. "Demyx, you will supervise Roxas until we return from the meeting."

"I'll take good care of him," Demyx assured them, playfully noogying the kid. "We're gonna have fun, aren't we Roxas?"

"No substance abuse, no junk food, no horseplay, no leaving the castle—"

Axel stepped in and clasped his fingers over Saïx's shoulder. "Cripes, Saix, we'll be gone for what, an hour? Give him a break."

Demyx nodded enthusiastically in agreement. "Yeah, man, Luxord's gonna come over and we're gonna play cards. That's all! No debauchery on my watch!"

Saïx narrowed his eyes skeptically, but after a beat he relented. "Very well. We will return shortly."

"Say goodbye, Roxas!" Demyx was attempting to get Roxas to wave, to no avail. Axel and Saïx left the room, and the very instant the door was closed, Axel intercepted Saïx and pinned him against the wall, eliciting a gasp of surprise from his unsuspecting comrade. Saïx put forth no resistance as Axel began to sensually grind into him, playfully nibbling at his neck. His breaths grew shallow and rapid and he slid his fingers around Axel's back to pull him closer. Axel, with no thought given to whether or not they'd be seen, lowered the zipper of Saïx's coat, just an inch or two. Only enough to get his attention and communicate his desires. He gripped the man's jaw and kissed him with lustful impatience, and Saïx eagerly leaned into it, his knees buckling in surrender. When he could stand it no longer, Axel broke the kiss to whisper into his ear.

"You wanna squeeze one in before we go?"

Saïx was quick to respond, breathless and flustered. "Yes. But," he pressed his palm to Axel's chest and pushed him back, holding him at arm's length. "We haven't the time. Xemnas is waiting."

Axel chuckled at the man's teasing. "They're not gonna start without us."

"Behave yourself," Saïx readjusted his slightly disheveled appearance and returned the zipper on his coat to its original position. "You're still on the clock."

He appeared to compose himself for several seconds before strolling down the hall toward the Round Room, closely followed by Axel. Saïx made a concerted effort not to look at Axel as they walked, but when they reached the tall white doors to the Room Where Nothing Gathers, Axel reached out and tightly grasped his fingers, preventing him from going inside. Saïx whipped around and shot him a very particular look. Axel knew that look — a carryover from their human days. He didn't have to say a word. His message was loud and clear, and Axel sent him off with an understanding grin, shuddering with anticipation as he entered the room for what would likely feel like the longest meeting of his life.