Zexion strode through the door with a glass of water and a wet washcloth. Axel bristled like a cat in front of him, fire dancing around the rims of his chakrams.

Zexion raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, Zexy, it's only you." Axel averted his gaze for an instant, almost looking embarrassed, but recovered quickly. He dismissed his weapons and stood up straight.

"It's Zexion. Zexion. Not 'Zexy.' I've put up with it until now. I would advise you to quit while you're ahead."

Axel crossed his arms. "You never said it annoyed you."

Zexion sighed and closed the door. There was just no point arguing with this man. #(Best to move on.)# "Vexen refused to help. He said the fever would 'blow over.'"

"Well, I guess he was right." Avalon's voice surprised Zexion. Her head poked out from behind Axel now that she knew she was safe.

"You're awake? How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thanks to you two," the girl replied with a smile. Something about being thanked made Zexion uncomfortable, but the girl's warm smile made it tolerable.

Axel rubbed the back of his neck and walked toward a wall, mumbling, "I really didn't do anything…"

Zexion couldn't get over how much better the girl looked. She had some color in her cheeks now, and intelligence danced through her eyes now that the fevered haze had cleared. She actually looked somewhat striking now. "How's the fever?"

"Axel checked. He said he's pretty sure I'm back to normal."

"Axel checked?" Zexion sent a shocked look at the red-haired man, who intently examined a 3-D marble flower that jutted from the wall."

"Why is that weird?" Avalon tilted her head.

Axel wasn't generally that easy to get close to. As a rule, Axel almost never cared about anyone's well-being unless it suited him (not that any Organization member was different…) The only exception so far was Organization XIII's number XIII: Roxas. "No reason…"

Zexion noted Axel's rigid movements with surprise. Number eight was purposely ignoring him.

Avalon looked from Zexion to Axel, a frown tilting at her mouth. Zexion wondered for a moment if she could sense the tension between them. "Question," she said suddenly, raising one hand into the air and holding the blanket up with the other.

Well that was a change in demeanor. The girl seemed so bubbly in that moment that Axel and Zexion looked at her and blinked, then looked at one another.

"Alright," Axel conceded, apparently speaking for both of them. He crossed his arms. "It's about time for a Q and A. What do you want to know?"

"Ummm…" Avalon put her hand down as she considered. She must not have expected it to be that easy. Smart girl.

As a matter of fact, Zexion wasn't sure why he and Axel made it so easy. The Guardian would be easier to manage if they kept her in the dark, but his automatic response to her seemed to be more open than usual. This bothered him.

"Alright." Avalon looked to Axel. "First question: Vexen said something about me being the 'Guardian' and not knowing who I am… and my heart and existence being different and stuff like that."

#(Shit.)# Vexen was far too loose-lipped.

Axel involuntarily jumped. "The Guardian! Avalon, you're the Guardian?" He shot an accusing glare at Zexion. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

Zexion glared right back. "I'm not required to report to you."

Axel frowned. His gaze flicked to Avalon, who stared at him with a look of mingled concern and curiosity. Zexion didn't think he was supposed to notice Axel shake his head at the girl, obviously telling her not to delve into why her protectors were at odds.

Avalon nodded, just as slightly.

Something about the idea that these two had managed to bond enough to have a silent conversation made Zexion's blood boil.

"Alright," Axel said, sitting next to Avalon on the bed. "Explaining the Guardian thing… This… could take a while."

Avalon sat very rigid, and a dusting of pink colored her cheeks. "Before you start explaining," Zexion said, fighting to keep his voice calm. "Perhaps you could fetch her clothes. She looks a bit… uncomfortable."

Axel looked at the girl by his side.

Avalon blushed deeper. "I-it's not you… It's just-"

"You don't like being half-naked around two guys. Any decent girl would feel that way." Axel scratched the back of his head. "Don't know how I forgot that… Anyway, ummm… Remember what I started telling you while Zexy was gone?"

There was that nickname again. Zexion's hand twitched with the desire to slap the other man.

"About the clothes… Look, I'm sorry, alright?"

Avalon looked confused.

Zexion had to fight to keep from smiling. "You accidentally burned the clothes, didn't you?"

"Er." Axel winced and looked away from Avalon.

The girl groaned.

Now Zexion couldn't help but smile. Watching Axel fidget like a dog that got caught chewing a slipper was just plain amusing.

Axle stood. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "I'll find something…" He turned his gaze to Zexion, who quickly wiped the grin off his face. "Do you know where Marluxia keeps the extra uniforms?"

"Hmmm… It's been a while since I left the basement, except to go to my room… Try the room next to Marluxia's. That's where they were when we found Xion." Not that "found" was the right word, exactly, but Axel didn't need to know the details of Xion's birth.

"Xion?" Avalon asked.

"No one important," Axel said, waving his hand. "She doesn't really have a lot to say."

Thankfully, Axel didn't seem to reflect on that train of thought. There was a lot more to Xion than met the eye, and the higher-ranking members of the Organization didn't want the lower-ranking ones fouling things up. Keeping them oblivious was the best way to keep them out of the way.

"Can't we just steal someone else's uniform? Like Demyx?" Axel grinned to himself at the thought. "We could summon him, surround him, and beat him up!" He looked to Zexion. "C'mon, you're with me, right?"

Zexion stared at Axel blankly. "As appealing as that plan actually is, it would cause a few… problems."

"Like what?"

"Like Demyx wandering around Castle Oblivion in his rock star clothes whining to everyone that we beat him up and took his uniform."

Axel slumped. "You have a point there…" He glanced at Avalon, who was watching them while holding the covers over her chest, and sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright. I'll go look for the cloaks. I might need a distraction, though."

"Don't worry about that. Vexen wants to test something upstairs anyway. Just be there when he arrives."

Axel nodded, glanced at Avalon again, and then walked out and closed the door behind him.

What the hell was going on between those two?