"Go stand in that corner."

Akeela's eyes watered and she latched onto the Healer's emerald robes, her lower lip quivering, she hadn't met to hit the other fledgling he had just been so mean, saying so many mean things about her big brother.

"But Rapha, I didn't mean it!"

He pointed towards the corner of his office, giving the little fledgling a stern look, as he repeated himself, "Go stand in the corner."

"No! Please big brother! He was being mean!"

"Do not make me say it a third time."

He had of course heard what had been said, but he wouldn't tell her that, they were trying to break this nasty habit of attacking people who said or did mean things to her or those she cared about. It was a good quality for one to be as loyal as she was, but when that turned to violence, that was when one must put their foot down. Raphael knew of course that the little fledgling child was sorry for her wrongdoing, but what lesson would it be if she was not punished for it.

Little tears tracked down her cheeks as he bent to pry her little fingers from the bottom of his robes and pointed once more to the corner, "Go, you have three minutes.", though the time was short, it was enough to get the point across. The little fledgling had indeed been through a lot and had seen a lot from the war they were recovering from, and they did not resort to physical punishment when the duty was needed, the corner was suitable enough, she hated being sent to the corner.

She wrapped her little arms around herself and shook her head, stubbornness is what got her into trouble most of the time, and he turned her towards the corner, "The time does not start until you are standing there."

"But Raphaaa!"

Her whine was pitiful and it forced him to steel his resolve let he crumble to the tears that soaked her once bright voice.

"Little one."

Perhaps a small use of the pet name she had been gifted would lessen the stern blow she had been given, he was touched that she would stand up for him like she had, but to resort to punching someone in the face was something they would come to put a stop to eventually.

And until then she would go to the corner.

Their little fledging choked of a soft little sob and stepped forward to stand in her corner. He sat behind his desk, sifting through different files and manuscripts, switching between them and watching the shivering little back of their fledgling. It broke him up on the inside knowing that he had caused her such sorrow but he also knew there was no way she was going to learn such lessons as the ones they were trying to teach her.

The three minutes passed in no time, though it most probably seemed like an eternity to the little mouse, and he leaned back in his chair.

"Okay little one, you can come out."

Akeela jumped around, rubbing a little fist over her teary eyes, and ran from her corner towards him, jumping around his desk to climb up into his lap. The favorite part after such a long punishment was the after, when she got to be cuddled close and they would hold her until she was ready to be set back down. She sniffled and curled closer to the large Healer, rubbing at her eyes again, warm fingers softly pulled her little fist away and wiped away the tears.

"Hush little one, it's alright now, you're forgiven."

"I'm sorry big brother."

"I know little Akeela, I know, though it's not me your owe the apology to."

Her little face scrunched up, sorry that she had hit her brother but not sorry enough to apologize; he had still deserved it. Raphael hummed deep in his chest and tilted her head up with a knuckle under her chin.

"Akeela we've told you many many times that you should only get them back if they get you first. Do you like standing in the corner?"

She shook her head, her little almond shaped eyes watering again at the thought of being sent back, and he curled his arms around her to relay that she was not leaving him embrace any time soon, he needed it just as much as she did.

No one liked sending her to the corner.

"No Rapha."

"Then what are we going to do?"

Her little sniffle made his heart melt slightly, "Say sorry."

"And?"

"Not hit people even if they deserve it."

It was the best he was going to get and he knew it, Akeela was the most stubborn fledgling he'd ever seen, and he's seen quite a lot of fledglings in his time, and let her curl in close in the folds of his robes. Brushing a hand down the back of her head he hummed again. A calming melody that relieved the fledglings nerves of their tension.

"Go to sleep little one, you could use a bit of a nap."

"But only old angels take naps."

"I take naps."

"I know."

He shook his head in amusement as she curled against him, and despite her protests, her eyes were slowly drifting closed as she was exhausted at the whole corner debacle.