Sorry, this is late. The main document was deleted so we had to rewrite most of the book.

"Hello, Shuri. Could you help me with something?" Her tone when I explained what I needed was quite serious. She explained that it would a bit to set up but she could do it. Now I just have to tell Phoenix, and Dad.

Phoenix,

I have found a way to help you if you want. You have the freedom to leave if you ask. Meet me at Rockefeller Rink if you are willing to go along.

I take the note I had written and tape it on the glass so he can read it. I see him acknowledge the note and nod. Before leaving I tell Dad I'm going out to the store for a treat and ask My Wolf to come with. My Wolf offers to drive, so I sit back with Phoenix, who seems now, more than ever, on edge. He looks relieved to see Shuri, though. Shuri, in turn, looks pleased to see him. Phoenix still seems nervous around the ice, but I don't question it.

I follow cautiously as Shuri leads us further into the lab. I watch as my closest friend gets strapped down to a table and Shuri grabs all the equipment needed. Phoenix seems nervous, tapping his fingers on the table. I turn to My Wolf and notice that he seems unusually jittery like he knows that something will happen. I watch as the machines start taking his readings, he seems so unnerved as he starts to twitch more and more.

"Phoenix, you can relax. This shouldn't hurt you in any way," Shuri smiles, trying her best to calm him. His eyes slowly close as he takes a few small breaths to calm himself. Shuri is able to try and sort through the jumbled mess in his mind. I noticed that she would pull up a screen showing all the programming they put in his head. Everything was mushed together, his childhood was crowded and almost impossible to weave out of his training. Shuri almost looks frustrated, drumming her fingers on the table. It seemed that she tried to pull the wrong thing, causing Phoenix to snap. He struggles against the restraints until finally, he breaks free.

"You, you did this to me!" He turns to My Wolf shouting. I watched as the scene unfolded.

"Shit," Bucky muttered. "Come on Phoenix, you're going to need to stop this you can seriously hurt someone. Manya, get to a safe place until Tony knows what's going on." My Wolf looks guilty, holding his hands out pleadingly towards Phoenix. "Phoenix, I know you hate me for what I did to you. About your parents, your graduation. Believe me, I regret every single day what I had to do that to you, especially now that you've reminded me of every bad thing I've ever done in my life, every person I've ever hurt."

"You don't just get to apologize. Why couldn't you have left me alone? Why did you have to follow me?"

"Follow you? I'm here because I'm trying to help you! I know what you're going- through I went through the exact same thing. So you don't get to say why are you following me, why couldn't I have left you alone! I went to the exact same thing you did for decades, and how long do you think it took for me to get help?"

"If you wanted to help, you would've left me alone. Yeah, you went through decades, sure. But me? You took everything from me." Phoenix's expression is one I've never associated with him- pure hate. His fingers twitch, and I realize his body is trying to unsheathe the stingers.

"Yes, I may have taken everything from you, but I'm trying to give everything back to you. okay? I understand how you feel to not know who you are to be afraid of yourself. So why don't you understand where I'm coming from for once?"

"What are you going to give back? My future? My childhood? My mind? My family?" Phoenix ticks each item off on his fingers.

"You have a family, even if they aren't your real family. We are your family. Your future that was never taken from you, you just chose to ignore it. And your mind that's what we're doing right now. We're trying to help you, okay?" My Wolf looked hurt as he tried to explain what we are. We love him, even if he can't see it.

"My future was to kill, and you did that. You... You have no clue what it's like to watch your friends grow up while you can't." I could see the anger and pain building up in his eyes as My Wolf looked solemnly at the ground.

"Yes, I know, at least your friends don't fear you. My mission was to kill my one and only friend that was apparently still alive and I didn't even know you how much that hurt me? I'm trying to give you a future that isn't to kill people, okay? I am trying my hardest to help."

"Oh? Then does Manya know what you made me do, huh?" Phoenix practically spits the words at Bucky, and if possible, My Wolf looked more guilty.

"No... But I do know that she does not hate you for anything. She does not fear you for hurting her. If you want to tell her and scare her of one of her only friends tell her will that make you happy?"

"No. But she'll know the truth at least. You don't get to help me. Your 'help' in that... Place was never help."

"You know what? I'm at least trying to help now. If you hate everything about me then fine. Just keep your mind in the right place so you don't hurt those who you care about and care for you."

"Yeah? And what happened to the people you care about? If you're so good now, Mister Truthful, tell Manya what you made me do to my father."

"If I could have saved you and your father, I would have. I know I made major mistakes in my life but I can't change anything. You can still make a future of your own if, and only if you let us help you."

"I don't want your help. You made me hurt my family, and you hurt me."

"You know what, kid. That's enough for today." Bucky grabs a needle from Shuri, stabbing Phoenix in the neck and catching him as he falls. Shuri helps him strap Phoenix back down, backing away when she's done. "I'm sorry," Bucky mutters, looking down at Phoenix. "I hope one day you can believe me."