He sighed deeply, blinking awake in the warm sunlight shining through his window, looking down at the warm weight against his side, the warm weight curled around his middle. She was still sound asleep, so peaceful, cuddled up against his side. She hadn't wanted to be alone last night so he had brought her with him when he went to bed.

"Aba," he smiles adoringly down at her. "You have to wake up."

"Mmmhmmmm," she nuzzled closer. "No, Abe."

"You have training with your new squadron today."

The small young lady licks her lips sleepily. "I'm sick."

Abraxos chuckles softly, swiping a finger gently down the bridge of her nose. "You are not."

"Nis would let be sick."

"Nis isn't your commander anymore."

"They wouldn't question it if he told them I was."

Ever the early riser, even on off days, the Captain walked passed their door without sparing them a glance. "I'm not lying for you."

"Come on, little duckling." The Power pushes her shoulder lightly. "The sooner you get up and complete your training, the sooner you get to come back."

"But, Aaabbbbeeeee."

"Come on, baby girl, you have to get up."

Abraxas whined sleepily, sitting up sluggishly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her fists. "You're a jerk."

"The absolute worst."

"You are!"

He chuckles softly. "You want me to wait for you downstairs when you're done?"

"Yes, please."

"Listen here, Fallen, I give you an order and you follow it to the mark." She went cross eyed at the finger pointing in her face. "You keep your mouth shut, do as your told, no questions, no back talk." The others just stood there. "Why our Commander decided to give someone by the likes of you a place among us is beyond me, in my opinion, you traitors should have stayed in exile." Abraxas felt her face heat up, but she bit her tongue, she had promised Nis to be on her best behavior, and that meant not backtalking her new commander. "Thaddeus had the right idea when it came to your kind. Show you your place. Give you what you deserve. Beat the disobedience out of you."

"Thaddeus was a bastard."

She had heard what he had done to Gadreel and Abner.

Her head whipped around, cheek stinging from the blow, a bruise forming under the slice from the sharp ring he wore. Cautiously, she raised a hand, pressing it to her burning, aching cheek and she pulled her fingers back to see the red that coated the tips.

He glared at her with such an intense hatred. "You shut your mouth, Fallen, he's your better."

She stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise, shock even, at the sudden abusive gesture.

"Perhaps the Mindbreaker would have found a way to silence you."

"You're a cruel, egotistical, bastard of an angel."

He raised his hand again, preparing for another strike. "How dare you speak to me like that, you bitch!"

She braced herself for it, closing her eyes in preparation, wishing that someone would jump to her defense under him and his undignified rage.

Someone did.

"Temeluch."

She knew that voice, Abraxas had grown up listening to that voice, her eyes flew open at the sound of it ringing over the training field and she peered around her new commanders form for her savior, never had she been so happy to hear his voice in her lifetime.

Nisroc was an imposing figure when he wanted to be, nearly seven feet tall, well built despite the slight weight he'd put on over the years, still well within his prime. His eyes as dark as a rolling thundercloud, fists clenched tightly, as he stalked across the field at a good pace to meet at their side. Temeluch balked at the appearance of the Captain of the Powers, coming to stand at attention, glaring within a side glance at the recently placed Fallen at her failure to bow to her superior, even as the others under his command stood up straighter under the Power's attention. "Sir."

"Were you about to strike someone placed under your command?"

"No, sir."

The Captain came to a stop before them, looking the commander over with narrowed angered eyes, glaring at him for a long moment before turning his attention to the one to his right.

She averted her eyes from his heated imploring gaze, inhaling softly when his fingers curled around her chin, lifting her head up as he examined the bruise forming over her cheek, the sliced cut over the length of her cheek bone. "How long as this been happening, Abraxas?"

"Not long."

"Don't you ever lie to me."

Another inhale. "Since the start."

He grumbles under his breath, nodding once firmly, and releases her chin as he reaches for her hand.

Temeluch stares at them with wide eyes, from the Captain's enraged expression to their intertwined fingers and back up to his burning eyes, Nisroc pulls the young lady close to his side.

"Temeluch, have you met my baby sister?"

"…Your…..Your…"

The Captain turns away from him, to the commanders men behind them, they stood up a tad straighter under his attention. "How many of you has he given the same treatment?" A few hesitantly raised their hands and he nodded again, once, firmly.

"You abuse my baby sister." He turns back around slowly, threateningly, and Abraxas squeezes his fingers tightly. "You abuse those entrusted to you." He lifts his chin with authority. "Temeluch. I relieve you of your command. Your men will be reassigned. You are free to go."

"W—What?"

"I said you may go." The Power comes to loom over him. "You're dismissed." Temeluch inhales sharply as he leans back to stare up at the tall Power. "Don't you ever step foot on my training field again." Nisroc pulls Aba closer, a warm weight against his side, and frowns deeply. "And if I ever see you strike another soul I will tear you apart."

He shoulder checks the dismissed commander as he stalks passed him, his intention of heading to the market forgotten in the wake of recent events, tugging the young lady with him gently.

"You're not mad, are you, big brother?"

"Not at you, Aba." He spares her a glance, his eyes zoning in on the wound to her cheek. "Abe's gonna have an absolute cow."

"Tus?" He marks the page he's one by folding the corner down. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, you can, baby girl, come on in."

Abraxas smiles slightly, stepping around the edge of the doorway, entering the clutter free room. Titus sets his book aside and pats the spot next to him on his bed, smiling to herself, she climbs up on the bottom of his bed and crawls up to settle against his side. He curls his arm around her, pulled her close, and leans them back against the headboard.

"What are we talking about, baby sister?"

"Tus, I don't like being in my room."

He nods lightly. "Why not?"

"Because I'm all alone." She looks down to her hands. "That's why I'm in your guys rooms so much."

"Because you don't like being alone?"

Aba shakes her head. "It… It reminds me of…you know what."

"You're back now, baby girl," he rubs her arm lightly. "And, this time, we're not letting go so easily."

"But what if…What if it happens again?"

He pulls her close for a moment, squeezing her against his side for a minute, pressing a kiss to the side of her blonde head. "We'd come with you."

Aba looks up at him. "You would?"

"We're never letting you go again."

"Promise?" He nods seriously. "Cross my heart."

Uncurling his arm from over her shoulder, he leans over and stands from his bed. Turning, back to face her, he holds out his hand to her. Abraxas looks at it with confusion, and then up to meet his eyes, Titus smiles at her gently. "Come on, baby girl, we all need some together time."

"All of us?"

He nods. "Let's go get the others."

She smiles, crawling across his bed, curling her small fingers around his large ones, letting him guide her from the bed gently. She turns at the last minute, pulling his blanket up over her shoulders, he smiles at her as he leads her from the room.

They knock on the door across the hall from his. "Puri, come on, we're all meeting in the lounge." He thinks for a moment. "Bring some chocolate."

"I'll be right there."

The door next to his is slightly ajar, and they both peek in, their Captain looks up at them from his reclined position on his bed. "Can I help you?"

"Come on, we're all gonna get together in the lounge, bring your blanket."

He tilts his head slightly. "Why my blanket?"

Abraxas smiles from his side. "Because yours is the cuddliest."

Nisroc returns her smile, nodding in turn, pushing himself over to sit on the edge of his bed. "I'll meet you two there."

Across from their Captain's room was their resident pranksters, Titus opened the door silently, bringing the soft conversation Haniel and Hasmal had been having to a silenced halt. They both smile at them in greeting, Mal waves at Aba, pressed close to Tus's side with his blanket wrapped around her warmly. "Come on you two, we're all getting together in the lounge, and that includes you."

Hasmal gives her a particular knowing glance. "Another one of those moments?"

She nods shyly.

They both stand at the silent confirmation, rubbing her head as they walk passed them, continuing their conversation as they make their way down the hall for the lounge at the end.

The last room they stop at is across from hers, the one she spends most of her time in, the one that holds the brother she's closest to but she's too afraid to share too much with lest she become burdensome.

"You go on." Titus nudges her forward gently, nodding at the door. "We'll be waiting for you guys."

"But—"

"He worries about you, Aba, its okay to need him."

She nods, taking a deep breath, and steps away from his side as she presses her hands to the door. Titus leaves her there, turning down the hall towards the lounge. She pushes the door open slightly, peering into the room she spends most of her nights in, her gaze coming to rest on his back.

Abe's facing away from her, lacing up his new boots, Abraxos is paying her no mind.

Silently, she steps into the room, bending forward to crawl over the span of his bed. "Abe?" He sits up, turning to look over his shoulder, and smiles at the sight of her. "Hey, little duckling."

"Abe will you come down to the lounge with us?"

"Do you need me, baby girl?"

She nods shyly.

Nodding silently, he sets his boots aside, and turns for her with his arms held out. Abraxas crawls forward, into his lap, curling her legs around his waist as he leans them forward to rise to his feet. He curls his arms under her, keeping her held up, and turns them towards his door. "Let's get to the lounge."

The others are all there, waiting and talking softly between each other, waiting for them to join them there.

Haniel and Hasmal lean back against Nisroc, curled into his sides, his arms curled loosely around their waists, as he talks with Puriel to his left, munching on a piece of chocolate from the small bowl he brought with him, Titus is nibbling on a piece at his side, listening in but not adding his own to the conversation.

Abe clears his throat and they all look up at them as they enter. She blushes deeply, ducking into his shoulder, and the others chuckle at her shyness and it's rarity.

"What's the occasion?"

He kneels setting her down next to Hasmal, the angel of fire offers her the edge of Nisroc's blanket and she cuddles underneath it, leaning lightly against his side, as Abraxos lowers himself on her other side, next to Puriel, who offers him a piece of chocolate, and she leans back against his side as he curls his arm over her front.

Titus smiles at her, when their eyes meet, and winks lightly. "We needed some quality time together."

"Aba needed some love, you mean?" Haniel leans around their Captain to peer over at her with concern. "You okay, baby sister?"

"I'm okay."

Puriel passes her a piece of chocolate too.

Nisroc leans over to kiss her head lightly. "It's okay not to be okay." Abraxos pulls her closer. "We'll be strong enough for the both of us."