[i][color=darkgray]He's so... soft. I need to toughen him up somehow. I doubt he'll deal with killing someone very well...[/color][/i]

The two ate in silence, Cipher's way of testing his patience. When she was done with her food, she got up and walked over to the sink, washing the bowl immediately. She had a cold expression on her face, blank and uncaring. She placed the now clean bowl on the drying rack and then walked into the living area, taking a seat on the couch. 

A few moments later, the TV screen blipped on to the news and Cipher sat for a moment, simply watching and thinking. She had to find ways to toughen him up, get him into the mindset he needed to be in. This wasn't a nice job and he seemed like an idealist. That would be beaten out of him soon enough. He hadn't even gone through initiation yet. That would be interesting. Part of her wanted to protect him but the other part of her knew that he needed to experience it himself or he might die out there in a real fight. Things weren't always so cut and dry in their world. 

[color=darkgray]"How is it?"[/color] She asked with a monotone voice, not looking at the boy. [color=darkgray]"Don't forget to clean up after yourself. I'm not your mother."[/color] She continued, sighing as she stared at the TV screen.