Xaviers!

Chase exhaled slowly and knocked on the door to Miss Kinney's office.

"Yeah?" she shouts from inside.

He opened the door and peeked in. He promptly forgot to actually speak.

Apparently X-23 has decided what the room was missing was something that wouldn't break (immediately) when she punched it, so now there's a punching bag suspended from the ceiling in one corner that she's throwing jabs at. She seems perfectly content to let Chase just stand there while she goes through a series of punches. Eventually she stops and turns around when Chase doesn't speak up or leave again. "Oh, it's you. What do you want?"

He snapped out of it but still looked hesitant. "I... I wanted to ask you about the teams."

She nods. "You're walking around the general populace, so I take it Rede gave you the clear on your brain?"

He stepped in.

"Yeah, though he still wants to see me weekly for a while. To check on me and help me remember my old life."

"Yeah, that's pretty standard. So why the teams?"

"If I can turn some of what they taught me to saving lives rather than taking them, maybe I can look at myself in the mirror without seeing blood on my face."

Laura wasn't sure exactly why she didn't like the kid. Probably because he reminded her too much of her younger self. But that also meant she understood his reasoning. When violence is all you know then looking for constructive ways to channel that is pretty much your only option.

"Do you think you'll be able to fight without letting this shit seep back in your mind? We don't kill people." Oh yeah, look who's talking. Do as I say, not as I do, huh. "You've got instincts and reflexes that run the exact opposite of that. I know you do because I do as well. You can't erase who you are by getting rid of your leash. Do you think you can keep that under control?"

He thought for a moment, looking downward. "I honestly don't know."

"But how can I find out?"

"You fight. Just against me or the Danger Room for now in case you do fuck up."

He nodded, giving her a determined look. He understood that redeeming himself, even in his own eyes, was a long road, but not taking it wasn't an option. Wherever it led.

"I also want you to set up a program in the Danger Room. Have it look different than what you're used to but similar exercises. It'll help to disassociate your training from your programming."

"I can do that."

"Great. You've got two days, then I'll stop by to take a look and go a couple rounds with you."

He nodded.

"I also wanted to thank you for your part in freeing me."

"It's mostly Onyx and Rede you have to thank. But you're welcome."

He sighed. "I can't very well seek redemption without making amends with her, can I?"

"Considering you tried to kill her? I'll say."

"How do I even start putting that right?"

"You accept that you can't. Just do better from here on out."

"Maybe I can at least convince her I'm a person and not just a broken weapon," he said sadly.

"Then be a person. She'll catch on eventually."

"I guess that's... all I can do," he said.

"I'll... go get back to figuring out what person that is then."

"I know it's tough, kiddo. Best advice I can give ya is to just be who you want to be and not letting your past try to tell you that you can't."

He smiled ever so slightly, reassured just a little.

"I'll try to remember that."