He knew after the first meeting that he wanted to have another, but was unsure as to how he should approach it, he was sorted after all and those who were sorted didn't get to have such things. It was foolish of him to even think about it, and mentally he smacked himself, it was a feeling he was used to, diving back into his training with as much vigor as he could muster, as if to use the ache from such hard days to distract himself from such desires.
But then he was the one who had been so nice to him. He'd been gentle, he'd explained, he didn't keep hitting and hitting and hitting. When he said a number he meant a number and never went over the number he meant. He'd allowed him to curl up with him after, wiping away the tears with soft touches, let him wrap himself in the blanket that smelled like he did and sleep in his bed until morning.
And just when he thought he'd built up enough courage to go up and ask to talk to him, he would push himself out of it, telling himself that such thoughts were for the weak and he'd jump right back in again.
So, perhaps against his better judgement, he did the next best thing he could think of as to not appear needy for anything, waiting for the day that the Powers were not there to guide them in their training, under the watch of an elder warrior, he turned and punched a young trainee in the face. It held enough force to send the younger one reeling backwards, pushing him up off his feet, cracking the jaw bone completely in two. He'd been taught to punch at a young age, it was better to fight off the oncoming attack then just sit there and allow it to happen, even if fighting back got him into even more trouble in the end, he still fight back as much as he could. Sometimes he could gain himself a few hours of hiding before meeting his inevitable punishment, and by then he'd built himself up to it, prepared himself for the lashing before it even happened.
One of the warriors supervising them snatched him up before he could throw another, not that he had planned more then one, shouting an order to another as one ran forward to check on the sobbing youngster laying sprawled in the dirt in front of him.
"What were you thinking!"
He's dragged away by his arm, any attack on a trainee is brought straight to the one in command, and thus they trudged along, the elder warrior dragging the youngling forward in a fast paced motion, and the young boy struggling to keep up behind him. Others turned to watch as they marched along, raising eyebrows and whispering to their partners as they passed, heading for a familiar wooden door in a familiar hall.
The Power jumped in surprise as his office door was thrown open, dropping the stack of papers he had been sorting through in his shock, "Yes Cammael?"
"Sir, there's been an incident on the training field," the Power raised an eyebrow in surprise, "What happened? We were only a way for a single day." The elder warrior pulled the youngling up to stand before him, and the young boy fiddled with his fingers, red blood dripping from his bruised knuckles, "This one decided to punch another in the face, broke his cheek bone solidly, split the skin, he's going to be out of commission for a while." He nodded, leaning forward to cross his arms over his desk, looking down to meet the eyes of the young angel not daring to meet his gaze, and sighed deeply "Did he now?" the Power nodded at the Warrior Elder "Thank you for bringing this to me, I will take it from here, you may return to your students." Cammael nodded, saluting, and turned to leave the young angel to his fate. Sashael looked down to his feet, his nerves nearly making him shake, but the voice that called out to him wasn't a hard one nor a mean one, "Come on now, don't be shy, I believe after giving that bottom of yours a few good smacks, we're passed the formalities now." He looked up to meet the others gaze, the eyes that looked back at him were kind, they didn't glare, and they were warm instead of cold and he reached out for him "Join me, young Sasha?"
He nodded quickly, scurrying forward, hands twitching towards the belt curled around his waist. But a large hand stopped him, and he looked up to see the elder shake his head, hooking a few fingers around his middle to lift him up and sit on the edge of his desk.
"I think we'll hold off on that."
He looked down to his feet, twiddling his fingers shyly, and the Power was patient though and leaned back in his chair.
"Shall we start with why you decided to punch our young friend?"
"I wanted….I just wanted…." He looked up and once he met those soft eyes he couldn't look away "I wanted…I wanted to see you again"
The Power raised an eyebrow, "You hardly had to harm someone to come and see me." He pat his legs fondly and leaned forward, arms sliding up on his either side. "You don't have to get into trouble to get my attention."
Sashael nodded, looking down again, feeling the shame heat up his cheeks. This always happened, he was too weak, why would someone like a Power want him around. He was nothing, the only good there was for him, was learning how to be strong because others only loved you when you were strong.
"Tell me about yourself." Fingers squeezed at his outer thighs and he jumped at the sensation, "What do you like to do in your free time from training?" the young boy shrugged nervously, and his thighs were squeezed again, bringing a shy smile to his face, "I, myself, like to spend it in the Garden with my friends. Or spend the day with my young charge."
"I…I like to draw…..and play in the Garden….and sometimes I hum and walk….."
"Do you now? Perhaps some time you will have so show me these masterpieces." He smiled when the young boy smiled again, it was a shy little thing, bright, but quiet, "Tell me, how old are you?"
Sasha looked up to meet his eyes again, feeling a sense of comfort at the fingers that sit curled around his legs, and by the kindness that shone in the eyes he looked into.
"I'm….I just turned 13,000 sir."
"Why do we allow you to chose your flock so so young?" that seemed to fluster the mighty Power and Sashael immediately looked back down again, "You are barely out of fledglinghood. Before the war…"
'Before the war' was the key in that statement, before the patch of hard-times, one wasn't given the ability to chose one's flock until they reached at least twenty millennium, but during such harsh times they had lived through they had done away with that rule and allowed ones barely out of their own fledglinghood to step forward, and given some of the shadows most of them who did lived through it was no surprise that so many stepped forward.
"Sir, I stepped forward because it was better, better then not."
"None of that now, as I said before, call me Nis. All my friends do."
Sasha smiled, "we're friends?"
"Of course." He squeezed his thighs one more time, and this time a small minute giggle slipped through his lips, and the mighty Power smiled at the sound "I am quite fond of you. We shall meet again, that I assure you, and you don't have to get yourself into trouble, if you want to see me all you must do is come." He was helped down from the desk, and the Power stood to walk him to the door, a hand settled upon his head, tilting it back, "I can see it in your eyes." He felt his face heat up again when he was made to look up at the Power, "What you desire. It is not in my power to grant such a thing." Nisroc knelt before him, straightening his tunic and securing the belt around his waist. "But rest assured I will see what I can do." Sasha gave him a rare smile, surging forward to hug him tightly, and the Power was warm and surprisingly soft. "But it is just a title. You are always welcome to seek me out if you want me." He pulled back and Nisroc smiled at him, a hand caressing his cheek "And this time without hurting another, please?"
"Okay, Nis."
…
"What would you think of me taking another charge?"
Paul sat up from where he lay on his guardians chest, turning to look at him with confusion, and Nisroc sat up to follow in his stead
"Why would you want to do that?"
The tone from the youngling surprised him, and he raised an eyebrow at it, leaning forward on his knees as the young one scooted forward to sit between his legs.
"To give them the same home that I gave to you."
"But I don't want you to." It was unusual for the boy to whine, but thus it came with age, and he was still so young, "Because then you'll have to spend all your time with them, and you'll never have time for me anymore and then you'll forget me and I'll be all alone and—"
A hand curled over his mouth, "Slow down, little warrior." There was humor humming deep in his tone and Paul huffed at it "You would have a brother, not a replacement, I'd still have just as much time for you as I do now."
"But you don't know that!"
He smiled, curing his fingers around his midsection, and fell backwards again and took the boy with him. Paul laughed despite himself, his little fingers curling into the Power's wrists, laughter simmering to giggles as he stared down into the happy eyes of his guardian.
"If that shoulder ever happen, which it won't, then you and Haniel can incite that game I know you've been planning behind my back."
He shrieked softly when those fingers dug in slightly, "I would never leave you on your own.", and squirmed when they did again, "For, who else would make you laugh as much as I do?"
Paul seemed to consider it, smiling brightly when his guardian leaned forward to press a peck to his nose playfully "You promise?"
"With all my heart." He's laid upon the chest again "Would you let me help another just like I helped you?"
…
"You wish to take another?"
Father had been amused when he'd come to him with the inquiry, and he figured amusement was better then anything else, and most certainly better out right denying him the inquiry.
"I do."
Nisroc stood before Him, his arms crossed over his chest loosely, watching his Father ponder the request with amusement. He played a big game, but He was just as much of a softy for the young ones as he was, the Power had no doubt as to what the outcome of his request would be.
"How old is the boy?"
"13 millennium."
He looked down to him in concern, "How did one so young be allowed to choose his flock?" he nodded in agreement to the inquiry of awe "He's barely a youngling. Basically, still a fledgling, he is."
"That's what I said." Nisroc stepped forward, "He's younger then my Paul."
"No more will they be allowed to chose themselves a flock so young." He nodded to His Archangels "I want them all to be found guardians. And no more of this foul treatment. I want them found suitable guardians."
He turned to look at the Power, and Nisroc stood at a attention under His gaze, "You wish to take little Sashael, then I grant it, fix what his previous guardian has so wrongfully broken." The Power smiled, bright and warm, nodding in time to the soft command, "I will, Father, thank you.
…
Cammael saluted when the Captain came to stand before his class, instructing the others to do so as well, teaching a sign of respect for the chain of command was instilled even at the lowest of levels. Nisroc dismissed him and sought one particular small one out, smiling when he spotted him, and waved a hand in his direction as he turned to look to the teacher.
"Do you mind if I borrow young Sashael for a few moments?"
He nodded and motioned the young angel forward, he shook as he stepped out from his place sparing with Thanos, walking among his silent classmates until he met at the Power's side. Nisroc thanked the teacher and guided the young angel towards the benches with a gentle hand curled around the base of his neck.
Sasha sat nervously on the bench, "I didn't punch anyone again!" he chuckled and knelt, "I know you didn't. You're alright. I had some news." The poor little thing looked terrified, preparing for the rejection he was sure to come next "You'll come back with me after today's lessons."
"Am I in trouble?"
"No, but my charges usually stay with me in my room."
It took a moment for it to comprehend for the young angel, and he watched it finally enlighten him in slow succession, smiling at the way his eyes slowly lit up.
"Really?" Sasha looked up to him in wonder, "You'd want me?" And the Power nodded "I was not lying when I said I was quite fond of you." He squeezed his thighs again and grinned playfully when he jumped under his touch, "And you best prepare yourself. We are most certainly going to explore that a it more in depth. "
The little one blushed crimson and jumped forward to hug him again. The Power hugged him back, ignoring the gazes burning against his back with amusement, and ushered him in the direction of his class in the next moment. Nisroc watched him go for a moment, falling in step with his commander, and from beside him the archangel snorted.
"Those two boys have me Captain wrapped around their fingers."
"And that little fledgling that loves to hang around with them has my commander wrapped around hers."