"...you don't recognize them?"

He had not let on as to how much that had bothered him, as it bothered him all week. He was already so uncomfortable over the fact that he was the only one of the thirteen who had no memory of life before the Superior found him...and now, this.

She watched as he gently pried one of the pictures off the wall, and stared solemnly at it. The one he held was the same one he had pointed out to her before, with the boy and two companions on their adventures.

But all he saw was that boy, and the thing the boy held. It was long and slender, so unlike any typical blade. And at the end was a strange shape, as though the boy had a giant key...or even...

...a keyblade?

"...don't tell me," he murmured, fingers tentatively running over the lines.

She watched him, so unsure of what to say. He seemed to no longer notice her or his surroundings, and his expression seemed...lost.

"That boy...it can't be..." he whispered, "...is that...is that supposed to be...me?"

And then a large hand deposited itself upon his head, and there was a low hum from somewhere above, and then a voice he recognized quite well.

"Let's see...weird hair, scrawny like a stick, hangs out with weird critters from another planet..." then with a decisive grunt, a finger reached down and tapped him on the nose.
"Yup. That's you, little buddy."

He frowned and shoved the hand off his head promptly. "Like you're one to talk about weird hair."

The man - who indeed had outlandish red hair spiking every way possible - merely laughed at this. Then the man spotted her across the room, and whistled appreciatively. "So this is why you've been deserting your best friend and disappearing right after missions so often. Man, I should've known."

"It's not what you think!"

"And what do you think I'm thinking? Unless you really..."

He turned a bright red that rivaled his friend's hair color, and furiously made his exit. "That's it! I'm not taking this!"

As he disappeared around the corner, the man's grin slowly left his face, and then even a single trace of a smile was gone.

"...don't hurt him, okay?"

She looked up in question, but the man's back was to her, and she couldn't see his expression.

"Sometimes...I think it's probably for the better that he doesn't know. At least...it's why he's still here."

Then the man scratched at the back of his neck awkwardly, and took his own leave from the place. When he finally did turn around, he was grinning again, and waved.

"See you around, eh?"

And then he was gone.