They should have known of course, that with Nisroc being made aware, that things were only going to get worse with them. Sorath was worked to the bone, training every morning with the Captain himself would make anyone question the choices that had gotten them there, but this new recruit was not like the others, and the burning anger towards those two only burned brighter.

Paul and Akeelah made sure they avoided him, they were not too blind to not see the glares sent their way as they sat on the benches watching the Powers train, they saw the way he looked at them and they felt the heat of hatred that heated the air around him, they made sure they never found themselves alone with him, even if it meant they were subjected to more attention to certain areas that would go unnamed, they knew that they were safe from harms way.

But even then, things changed, and schedules changed and they found themselves along for the first time in a long time.

As punishment for the latest prank they'd played, after Haniel had let them go from his on revenge, was the polish the boots in the armory, it was no surprise that the first location of their first meeting turned into the same place that the second meeting would take place there too.

Paul passed Titus's left boot to his friend and dipped the rag into the bucket of soaping water, and scrubbed the muddy spot on the side, poking his tongue out in determination. Haniel had told him with great detail about what he would do to him if his boots weren't sparkling, and added in his little friend for the kicks of it and because he could.

The door opened behind them, "I swear we're almost done!"

"You."

That was not Nisroc, and that was not Haniel, that voice was none of the ones who liked them. They turned to look over their shoulders in surprise at the voice. Sorath stood there, glaring at them with a hatred that could burn, looking as though he had just returned from a hard day of training. He was covered in mud, and most certainly just as many bruises, and they both scurried to their feet and backed away. Akeelah tripped over the bucket and stumbled back, as their common enemy advanced on them with ease, and Paul caught her before she could hit the floor, pulling her back with him as he helped her steady herself back on her feet.

"You two ruined my life."

Sorath stalked forward, fists clenched tightly at his sides, not seeming to care in the slightest that he was stalking after two young angels. Even after all the hand on hand combat training with the Captain every morning, his attitude had not changed, and it seemed to only have gotten worse since Nisroc had taken direct attention to the matter.

"You two made them question me ability."

No matter how hard he tried to steady her, Akeelah fell into the soapy water on the floor, and Paul stopped to guard her from the front, holding up his two fists in the way he'd seen Abraxos do during training.

"I don't understand why they care for you two so much!" despite his training, Paul couldn't help but feel a bit out of his league, he was in training and Sorath had been made a Power "You're a pathetic bunch."

"We're kids, you creep!" He glared heatedly at the fledgling slowly rising from the ground "Just wait until Nisroc hears about this!"

"He's not going to."

Paul stepped forward as though he stood a chance in stopping the grown Power from approaching. Behind him, Akeelah crab crawled backward, and Paul took a step forward.

"We'll tell him and then he'll kick your butt."

He'd say 'ass' but last time he said that, him and Akeelah both, his beloved guardian had washed their mouths out with soap and threatened to do it again if he ever heard they had used such language again. Even though he wasn't here, they weren't willing to try it, soap tasted nasty.

"Yea!"

When got too close, taking one out of his friends book, Paul reeled his fist back and let it fly with as much force as he could, catching the approaching recruit square in the jaw. Sorath went stumbling back from the blow, holding a hand to the bruising cheekbone.

"You little-!"

Paul never saw it coming, therefore he didn't have time to duck under it, but he did feel the sting of the ring that dug into his cheek as he was sent sprawling backwards into his friend behind him. Akeelah shrieked when he crashed into her, and they both scooted backwards, ignoring the ache in his cheek as he did. His friend grabbed one of Puriel's boots and threw it at the approaching Power, and followed with one of Nisroc's.

"How dare you!"

"What is going on here?"

They peered around the recruit at the voice that rang through the armory, and just like on their first fated meeting, there stood their savor in the form of the Captain. Nisroc looked furious, his fists shaking at his side, though he restrained his anger with practiced ease . He stalked into the room, his armor covered in the dirt from training, and took hold of the recruits neck with a sharpness that gave way to his fearsome strength on the battlefield.

"I know you did not just strike my charge."

Sorath stuttered, hands reaching up to grip at the Captains, struggling to free himself as the Elder Power motioned for the young boy to join him. Paul looked uneasy on it, but trusted his guardian not to lead him wrong, and scurried back to his feet to meet at his side as ordered to, and Nisroc took his chin gently with his free hand, turning it to the side to examine the cut on his cheek, his own ring shining in the light as he pat his cheek lightly, "It'll heal. Nothing too deep." He held his hand out to the fledgling and she ran forward to grasp his fingers, "Go, you two, Haniel was looking for you." He looked back to the recruit struggling in his grasp "I believe we have to have more words."