Training with Sunny was difficult, beyond difficult, even. Every day, she pushed her to the line, and then pushed her over it. She wouldn’t complain, whatever Sunny was trying to achieve with Malia, she was succeeded. Lia had never felt stronger in her entire life, she’d never looked better, never had such confidence in herself. Nearly each training session with Sunny left her sore and bruised, and even bleeding from one place or another —especially when knives were introduced to their mock fights— but it was all worth it in the end. She felt prepared, she was prepared.<br/><br/>Malia looked up with a smile as Carson sat down next to her sat an empty table, scooting over to give him some space. She understood that training the initiates was difficult on his part, he nearly always came back to the CIC annoyed, exhausted, or upset. Sometimes even all three. Malia always did her best to ease him when he was, anything from holding him in bed, to working out some tension. She’d do anything for him.<br/><br/>“She’s working my ass off, but it seems to be paying off. I’m glad that you think so as well.” Malia leaned in to kiss him, though she paused when she saw the look that was present across his features. She furrowed her eyebrows, her hand moving and resting in his back, her other hand booking its fingers under his chin. “Hey hey, what’s wrong?” She rubbed his back, her food forgotten. “You look upset.”