Carson was still a bit dazed--and not just because he'd been kicked really fucking hard in the head. When she turned up he let her take the lead, wincing only slightly as she cleaned up his bloody lip and held some ice against his head. He lifted his hand to cover hers and leaned into the ice a bit, the coolness helping him sort his thoughts. A part of him couldn't believe Sunny had actually gone at him like that. The rest couldn't believe he'd necessitated it. But now, looking back, he realized he had. Nothing had been right, even with her back. Carson couldn't put his finger on exactly how or why, but he knew it was the case.<br/><br/>When she began to search his face he reached up to hold the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss, careful with his lip. He held it for a few long moments regardless, kissing his woman full and soft before he broke and slid his hand beneath her hair to touch her neck... which, he discovered belatedly, was both sweaty and covered by a sweaty braid. He kept his hand there anyway, touching her gently. "I don't know why I'm scared," he said quietly, "but I am. It's... I just don't know yet, Lia. I don't know." He shook his head a little and looked into her eyes. "Maybe it's... if I train you... if I teach you to fight and run and survive... and then you don't... I don't think I could live with the guilt. Of knowing that I did my absolute best and it wasn't enough."<br/><br/>His hand dropped and he grasped her waist, pulling her in so that she was simply sitting in his lap. "So just... forget me, for that. Stick with Sunny. She... knows what she's doing, oh, my god, okay, c'mon, get up, we're going to take a shower because you are just<i>drenched</i>in sweat, oh my god. How are we supposed to cuddle and be sweet when you're literally halfway to being a soup?" He put her back on her feet and gave her bottom a push as he stood to join her.