(A/N Here is a treat since I haven't posted in a month. Also here are links to Spotify playlist for both Phoenix and Manya

Manya:

https://open.spotify.com/user/21uaq22oaebylwh6jzxmcudli/playlist/2eZW3B70jqdNlSnMn9w9wq?si=gWuNq_xVSuSSGaK_vSOiSw

Phoenix:

https://open.spotify.com/user/21uaq22oaebylwh6jzxmcudli/playlist/3S20kaDLFIJOjmIWSsS6iv?si=yleozSuOTXGUECvNT7v4vg

Thank you for reading and voting! Please leave comments on who you think Manya's parents are and who your favorite character is so far.)

"Bet!" Phoenix shouts, shattering a plate on the table. He's lived with us for almost five years and finally warmed up to us.

"Isn't that the sixth plate this week?" Dad shouts from the kitchen, and Phoenix and I escape into the living room, flopping onto the couch and laughing. His sixteenth birthday is in less than a month, and we're both hyped.

"Phoenix, training time." My Wolf says. My Wolf is generally chill, but something seems to make him nervous about training with Phoenix.

"Wolf, can I come to watch today?" I ask. My Wolf looks almost uneasy. "I'm thirteen. I need to learn sometime," I whine. Wolf gives a nod, and I follow them down to the training room. While walking down I found myself humming a song that I always loved growing up, We'll Meet Again. I know it seems dumb but I think that is one of the reasons I connect with Steve and My Wolf so much, the song being from their time. The training room is huge- the floor covered in mats and the wall with mirrors. My Wolf leads Phoenix over to the combat station, rifling through a box before throwing Phoenix a pair of leather cuffs.

"Why...?" Phoenix starts to question, but My Wolf throws a nod towards me, and Phoenix nods. He wraps them around his wrists as My Wolf turns to me.

"There are seats over there," My Wolf says. I smile politely but shake my head. I move off to the side and watch as they begin fighting. Punch after punch and dodge after dodge- every time a blow lands I flinch. My Wolf coaches Phoenix, but I can see aggression building up in Phoenix's eyes. A final blow from Phoenix sends My Wolf flying into one of the mirrors. The loud shatter is what allows me to register what happens. Phoenix had finally defeated My Wolf in combat, but at what cost?

"What have you done? I mean... look at him!" I point to My Wolf, struggling to stand up. He has a small cut on his arm, and Phoenix runs to grab a first-aid kit. I help My Wolf stand, and as he does, he glares at Phoenix.

"That will never, ever, happen again. And I will make sure of it." His voice is cold, harsh, and unlike anything, I've ever heard.

"S-sorry, S-sir," Phoenix stutters, and it's like some sort of bond snaps. I think I might've missed the entire exchange if I'd blinked.

"I think we should hold off training for a while." My Wolf mutters as Phoenix and I help My Wolf upstairs and set him on the couch by the window.

"Hey, JARVIS? Can you call Stephen, please?" As I talk, I glance over at Phoenix, who still looks scared. "What's wrong? What happened down there?"

"You called?" Stephen asks behind me.

"Umm... ya. Can you take a look at My Wolf? He did some, intense training with Phoenix. He's ok though." I explained the situation a little further than left Stephen to his job. I walked over to the window thinking about what had happened.

"He has small cuts and a few shards of mirror lodged in his arm and back, only minor stitches were required. Oh and Manya, Steve wants to talk to you. He's in the training room cleaning up." I gave Stephen a small nod and headed down the stairs. I continued to hum We'll Meet Again to clear my head and the toxic thoughts.

Steve heard me enter the room and turned with an obviously fake smile on his face. He pulled up two chairs and told me to sit down. He had a stern look on his face and knew something up. "What you saw earlier between Phoenix and Bucky wasn't normal. Bucky was made as a genetically enhanced human who was on a mission to kill me. He and I have been friends for many years as you already know. When he came back into our lives you were still very young. Told him who you are and he seemed a little on edge at first but he eventually warmed up. Be careful though, he still has a bit of his programming in his head. Things are getting dangerous, so I'm going to do something your Dad wouldn't like, I'm going to train you for a bit."

My mouth was hanging agape. Steve said he'd train me!? But why now, what was so bad about the training incident that caused him to do this? I nodded my head and stood, moving my chair back to the side. Steve motioned for me to join him in the center of the mat. Taking my stance, I barely had a moment to think before a fist flew towards my face.

"Whoa..." I said as I found myself on the other side of him. I hadn't realized the extent of my teleportation powers until now. While I still had the upper hand I kicked him in the lower back before running back around to get another hit in. Though it was blocked, I also managed to miss the lower kick he gave. Landing on my back I got up, "I can do this all day" I let out a little giggle followed by a smirk. He gave a simple punch to my gut sending me flying a few feet.

I let out a small whimper as I hit the ground. "Rule number one. Less talk, more fight. Now, Are you alright? I know not many feel too great after a hit like that". He offered a kind hand and I got up. "Nah. You gotta remember I have fighters blood, or at least that's what dad always says. I'll be fine, just help me up the stairs." I complain. There is one thing I always will wonder. What does dad mean by Fighters Blood?

We finally make it back upstairs when Steve leaves me to go check on My Wolf. I'm Left alone to my thoughts when I realize it's past dinner time and Phoenix isn't in his usual evening spot. As I'm lost in thought I think of what to tell dad if he asks where I was at dinner. I guess I'll just say I was helping Steve clean and we got lost in conversation. By the time I get to the 5th floor of our area, Phoenix comes back into my mind. Deciding last minute I make my way over to his room.

"Hey, Phoenix? Can we talk" I say while giving a small knock on his door? His door opens only slightly allowing me to see the left side of his face. "I don't want to talk about what happened. Tony already did that," he mumbled while proceeding to close the door.

"Come on Phoenix. I don't want to talk about that. Can we just talk about us, about our lives, our history together?" I asked knowing he could still hear me, "Please". I heard him sigh before the sound of things moving could be heard. A few moments later he opened the door and to my surprise, allowed me to walk in. I never felt the connection I did with him at that moment. I knew he trusted me but I didn't think it was enough to let me into his room, no one was allowed in.