"If I'm manipulating you, why did I tell you about the food?" It stings that she doesn't trust him but, after what she's been through, who could blame her? Taken from a loving family and placed into an environment she was totally unprepared for; she must have been so scared.

He catches the end of the staff and holds it in place, grimacing a little at the pain. Nothing he hasn't experienced before; he can tolerate it as long as she keeps talking to him.

"I told you what happened, someone sent a monster. I got there as quick as I could, I didn't exactly have your number. If I did, I would've called." He lets out a sigh, placing his hands on his hips. "You know, if I'm a manipulator, I'm kinda bad at it. Do you really think that?"

There's the topic of the decade.

"They lied to you; I wouldn't do that. Ever." His eyes follow the placement of the wires and each time they spark, trying to calculate a plan of action for taking care of them. Better to talk it over with the team first, four heads are better than one when it comes to something this dangerous. "He was devastated, saying he was supposed to protect you. If he knew where you were, he would've stormed the place."

He knows she's killed hundreds, no, so much more. An astronomical amount of people. Brainwashing is a huge part of that, it isn't who she is or who she was meant to be. So, without further ado, he offers her one of his token smiles, but it is apologetic and full of understanding. When he was alone, he found someone to hold onto as well.

"If he cared for you that much, I'd think he would want you to be happy above everything else. Don't you?"