The next morning started before the sun came up.
Kate hated it.
"You're kidding."
Her voice was rough, half-asleep as she stood in the middle of the room, arms hanging at her sides.
Adrian didn't look amused.
"We start early."
Kate squinted at him. "It's still dark."
"That's the point."
From the corner, Lena didn't even bother hiding her smirk.
"She's already complaining," she said. "That's a good sign."
Kate shot her a look. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Absolutely."
Kate exhaled sharply and rolled her shoulders, trying to wake up her body.
"Fine. What are we doing?"
Adrian stepped forward.
"Everything."
That should've been a joke.
It wasn't.
An Hour Later
Kate hit the ground.
Hard.
Air rushed out of her lungs as her back slammed against the mat.
Pain flared through her ribs, sharp and immediate.
She clenched her jaw.
Didn't make a sound.
"Again."
Adrian's voice didn't waver.
Kate stayed on the ground for half a second longer.
Then—
She forced herself up.
"I slipped," she muttered.
"You hesitated," he corrected.
She glared at him. "You came at me faster."
"And you slowed down."
Kate wiped her hands against her pants, breath uneven now.
"Okay, well maybe I'm still waking up."
"Then wake up faster."
Lena leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Harsh," she said.
"Necessary," Adrian replied.
Kate straightened.
Set her stance again.
"Again."
This time—
She didn't wait.
She moved first.
Adrian's eyes sharpened slightly.
Good.
Kate lunged—
Fast—
Not perfect—
But faster than before—
He blocked.
Of course he did.
But she didn't stop.
She adjusted—
Shifted—
Pressed forward—
For a second—
She had control.
Then—
He flipped it.
Her balance slipped—
Her footing faltered—
And she hit the ground again.
Harder this time.
Kate sucked in a breath, pain shooting through her side.
"Again."
Her head snapped up. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Kate let out a sharp breath.
"You're not even giving me a second."
"Neither will they."
That shut her up.
She pushed herself up again.
Slower this time.
Her muscles burned.
Her chest tightened.
Her body was starting to feel it.
Good.
Because she needed to.
"Again," she said.
Two Hours Later
Kate's hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Her body ached.
Every movement slower now.
Heavier.
Adrian didn't look tired.
Of course he didn't.
"Your guard is dropping," he said.
Kate let out a breath. "I'm aware."
"Then fix it."
"I'm trying."
"That's not enough."
Something in her snapped.
"I know it's not enough!" she shot back.
Silence.
Adrian stilled.
Lena raised an eyebrow slightly, watching.
Kate's chest rose and fell rapidly.
"I know I'm not as fast as you," she continued. "I know I'm not as strong. I know I'm not—this."
She gestured at him.
At everything he was.
"But I'm trying," she said, her voice tighter now. "And you keep acting like that's not good enough."
A pause.
Then—
"It's not."
The words hit like a slap.
Kate froze.
Because he didn't say it cruelly.
He didn't say it to tear her down.
He said it like it was a fact.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
"You think I don't know that?" she said quietly.
Adrian stepped closer.
"You don't get to be 'almost' in this," he said.
Kate's jaw tightened.
"You're either fast enough…"
A step closer.
"…or you're not."
Another step.
"You either react…"
Closer.
"…or you don't."
Right in front of her now.
"And if you don't—"
His voice dropped.
"They take you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Kate swallowed.
Hard.
"Then stop holding back," she said.
A beat.
Then—
"I'm not."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes, you are."
Another pause.
Then—
"Prove it."
Lena straightened slightly.
Oh.
This was about to get interesting.
Adrian didn't move for a second.
Didn't react.
Then—
He did.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kate barely had time to register it before he grabbed her—
Harder this time—
More force—
More real—
She stumbled—
Caught off guard—
Panic flickered—
No.
She forced it down.
React.
Kate twisted—
Drove her elbow back—
Connected—
Not clean—
But enough—
Adrian adjusted instantly—
Catching her arm—
Turning her—
Pain shot through her shoulder—
But she didn't stop.
She dropped her weight—
Kicked—
Twisted—
Fought.
Really fought.
Not practice.
Not controlled.
Real.
For a second—
They were evenly matched.
Then—
He overpowered her.
Of course he did.
She hit the ground again—
But this time—
She didn't stay there.
She rolled—
Got up—
Moved—
Faster.
Adrian paused.
Just for a second.
That was new.
Kate's chest heaved.
"…That's what I mean."
A beat.
Then—
"Good."
Again.
They moved.
Harder.
Faster.
Kate's body screamed.
Her muscles burned.
Her lungs begged her to stop.
But she didn't.
Because now—
It wasn't about proving something to him.
It was about proving something to herself.
And she wasn't stopping.
Later
Kate collapsed onto the floor.
Breathing hard.
Completely spent.
"I think… I'm dying," she muttered.
Lena walked over, looking down at her.
"You're not dying."
A pause.
"Yet."
Kate groaned. "You're not helpful."
Adrian stood nearby.
Watching.
Still.
Kate pushed herself up slightly, wincing.
"…I didn't freeze."
A beat.
"No," he said.
"I didn't hesitate."
"No."
She met his gaze.
"…I fought."
Another pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Simple.
But real.
Kate let out a breath, falling back slightly.
"Then that's progress."
Adrian stepped closer.
"It is."
She looked up at him.
"…You're still not satisfied."
A pause.
Then—
"No."
Kate huffed softly. "Of course not."
But this time—
There was no frustration in it.
Because she understood now.
He wasn't pushing her to break her.
He was pushing her—
So no one else could.
And that—
That made all the difference.