It was well after the end of the training day, during a conversation with Haniel in his office, that the intrusion happened. There was no knock to his office door in a respectful inquest of entrance, there was no call out from outside to seek permission to enter, nothing of the sort was had.

No. His office door was torn open, interrupting the conversation between the Captain and Haniel, and both Powers turned to see who had interrupted them so disrespectfully. It came as a surprise when Sasha appeared in the door way, clearly deeply angered by a matter unknown to them, and stalked into the office quickly.

"What was that!" The Captain raised an eyebrow as his grown charge stalked into his office, paying no mind to their guest, and watched as he crossed to stand before his desk, holding a finger out to point at him. "What was that!"

Nisroc watched him coolly, fingers folded just before him on his desk, and looked him in the eyes.

"Lower your finger, Sashael, get it out of my face."

The younger angel ignored him, either from his anger or just out of spite, and shot back on his own.

"What kind of call was that?" Sasha shook his head angrily. "I beat him fair and square! And that's the call you make!"

"I will only tell you this one more time." Nisroc's tone took on a sharp edge, and Haniel edged his way backwards, he knew that tone and he knew that Sasha knew it too. "Lower your finger from my face."

"It was an unfair call and you know it!" Sasha thrust his finger at him. "I beat him! So why was he named victor!"

Nisroc shot from his chair, standing to his full height quickly, towering over the younger angel. He understood when one was angry that they did ignorant things, but he never stood for being disrespected, especially by his own two charges.

His hand shot out and caught the smaller one pointing at him

"I don't have to explain myself to you." He stalked out from behind his desk. "I don't have to tell you why I make the decisions I do." He pulled the younger angel closer by the grip he had on his hand. "And I most certainly won't take this disrespect from you either, you are walking a fine like Sashael, you calm yourself down."

Sasha struggled to pull his hand free, growling in anger. "I don't care what you decide! You word means nothing!"

"For your information, I called him victor because you already knew the move that I had shown you, he had just learned it."

"That's not fair." He fumed. "You called him victor because he's your new pet project!"

Nisroc narrowed his eyes. "Mind yourself Sashael, the ice you walk on is beginning to crack under your feet."

"I jump through the damn ice!" Sasha was so caught by his rage, he didn't think about it, as he pulled his free fist back and plowed it into the Power's stomach. "You're a jackass!"

It knocked the wind out of the Captain, but he quickly recovered.

He turned sharply to Haniel. "Leave us."

Haniel spared the young angel a sympathetic look as he passed them.

Once the door clicked behind him and they were on their own in the office, Nisroc turned to his charge and trainee in a rage, never had any of them ever tried to strike him.

"How dare you strike me!" he took hold of the younger angels ear and forced him back a few steps. "How dare you question my judgement!" he walked him across his office and reached for the spare belt that hung from the hook on the wall. "How dare you use such language in front of me!"

The Power curled the belt up in one hand and reeled his arm back, forced the young one around with the grip on his ear, and delivered a harsh echoing smack.

…

He knew that things weren't so easily forgiven, especially with his standing with his decision, when he stepped out on the training field the next day with the intention of greeting his little niece and nephew, only for his trainee to direct them both to the Commander and glare at him as though he had personally harmed her.

Sasha fell out with Haniel instead of him that morning as well.

And it caused him to sigh.

…

"Sasha," the squadron all looked to the one that was called out. "May I have a word with you?"

The trainee sighed at the request, setting his book aside and sliding down from his bunk, Akeelah squeezed his arm from her own bunk, reading to her twins as they relaxed on the wide mattress. Now that they were old enough to, they often stayed at their mothers side, and he had immediately approved her request to have them join her.

He turned as the other approached, knowing that the younger angel would follow him without the need of being watched, Sasha knew to follow even in his sourest of moods. He knew that their was confusion when he led him passed his office, up the stone stairs at the end of the hall that led to the Pavilion above, the others waved to the young angel in greeting as they walked passed the lounge and to the hall that contained their bedrooms.

Holding the door to his own bedroom open, he gestured for his growing charge to step in, Sasha crossed his arms as he did. He looked about the room as he waited for his old guardian to close the door and address whatever he wanted to address, so that he may get this out of his way, and then return to his bunk for the night. He had no desire to be here, no desire to be with him, and had no desire to hear what he had to say.

"Jealousy does not look well on you."

He huffed. "I'm not jealous."

Nisroc hummed. "Oh, I'd disagree, you're rather jealous of Donavon."

"I am not! You were being unfair!"

"I know you won that match. I was watching it. I gave him the victory because we both know he would not have gained it on you. He had mastered the maneuver that you had mastered some time before. It was his victory in learning it."

"That's not fair! It was my victory!"

"A true victor would allow another to feel the same pride."

Sasha crossed his arms tightly. "I don't care about how he feels. It was mine."

"Oh, my little fledgling." The captain drew him into his arms despite his stubbornness. "Jealousy does you no favors."

"I don't like you."

"Oh, yes you do." They swayed lightly. "You love me."

Sasha pushed against his chest. "I hate you."

"But I love you, my jealous little fledgling, with all my heart." He rubbed at his back lightly. "Do you want me to show you how much I love you?" he maneuvered them back towards his bed. "Just let me get my hands on your thighs." Sasha yelped when his knees hit the edge of the mattress and he fell backwards over the Power's bed. Nisroc followed him, curling his fingers around his thighs, and dug in rather viciously. "I'll show you just how much I love you."