Killer Wants to Go to College (Xavier)

Sean glanced briefly at his watch when the door opened, revealing the security guard with Xavier in tow. That hadn’t taken long at all. The psychiatrist offered the guard a brief word of thanks, before asking him to close the door behind him. The security guard did, which left Sean alone with Xavier in his office.

In the aftermath of the fight, the psychiatrist took no risks. Xavier was now extended the same amount of precaution with which he treated Jesse Adams, which meant that he was listening to the pyrokinetic’s thoughts and was unapologetic for that. “If you ran a second time, the Headmistress would call for a power suppressor,” he warned the boy. That was one area of punishment where, no matter what, Sean disagreed with the use, when purely punitive. Xavier didn’t realize it, but he could thank the psychiatrist for one not having been brought in for this meeting.

He pointed one large finger at the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down. We are going to have a serious discussion, which means that you will look at me when I speak to you, and that I will pay you the same courtesy.”

With that the psychiatrist also sat down, not waiting for Xavier to take the initiative.

Sean folded his hands before him on the surface of his desk. His back was rigid, and his gaze was focused firmly on the boy’s face, despite the fact that Xavier was not looking at him. “Raise your eyes,” he directed Xavier, his voice as serious as the grave. “You and I are here because of something you began, and that we will finish together.”

While the psychiatrist didn’t believe in punishment purely for the sake of revenge or punishment himself, he did believe in facing the natural consequences of one’s actions. This behavior could not continue, because it was inherently harmful to Xavier himself and to others around him. Moreover, he couldn’t be allowed to mingle outside of Hammel if he couldn’t control himself.

His expression didn’t change when Xavier asked the ill-mannered question, because the boy would not get a rise out of him. However, tone still serious, he replied, “This isn’t about what I want, because what I want is for nobody to lay hands on another in violence ever again. Since I don’t have that type of power, this is between you and I. You and I are about to become very well-acquainted, because you have to face the consequences of your actions out in the courtyard.”

“What consequences?” Sean repeated, gazing steadily at Xavier, locking eyes with him the moment that the boy lifted his head. “That ‘kid’ is named Clement, something you should not forget. You cracked multiple bones and broke one of his ribs, in addition to the massive burns. Beyond his injuries, his consequences will be the mental trauma from that assault. Your consequences will be three-fold.”

The psychiatrist unclasped his hand, raising his left and lifting his thumb for illustration, so that Xavier could follow along with him. “The first is that you will be enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. You will be escorted to and from all meetings and activities by a security guard, and your program coordinator will be in constant communication with me, so that I get your updates directly. You’ll attend that program until they deem that you’ve successfully completed it.” All three of the discussed punishments were non-negotiable, but this was the most important from a holistic standpoint.

Lifting his index finger, he continued. “The second is that you are hereby suspended from all school activities until graduation. No trips, no dances, no faires, nothing of that nature.” The psychiatrist didn’t often have to dole out punishment of that nature; the last time had been with the four students responsible for the federal crimes at his 2011 Talk. Such a remedy underscored how serious this assault had been.

Lifting his middle finger, Sean described the last component. “The third is that you have detention until September. I don’t believe in silent detention or in using it as a study hall during which you can do homework, so you can expect to be productive while under my watch.”

Sean’s expression remained set in stone, not rising to the emotional outburst. “You are, because this isn’t a negotiation. You’re sixteen years old, and you nearly killed someone over a beer that you’re too young to drink. This substance abuse treatment is as necessary as your next meal.” Given that denial was the first response when dealing with addiction, before also adding in Xavier’s distrust of authority and his attitude, the psychiatrist expected this reaction.

“I mean that I find detention where you sit at your desk and don’t speak to be a waste of everyone’s time.” It wasn’t productive. It didn’t engage the mind, it didn’t engage the body, and it was of no actual benefit to anyone. “As such, during your detention periods, you’ll have projects to do to benefit the school as a whole.”

The psychiatrist would keep his eye on Xavier to make sure that he fulfilled those obligations. Failure to comply with detention resulted in more detention, or, if the delinquency was longstanding, an upgrade to a greater punishment.

Were Sean another person, he might goad Xavier, with a “what does it matter?” Particularly since the pyrokinetic had shown no actual concern for Clement either during the beating or in the aftermath. However, the psychiatrist did not get sarcastic, particularly not over matters as severe as this. “Clement was taken for medical assistance and he’s resting.” It would be a long recovery for the boy, one that shouldn’t have been necessary in the first place. “Fortunately, we can provide him with care. If this happened elsewhere, his health would have suffered far worse.”

“Language.” The correction was reflexive. Sean didn’t consider it blasphemy, and thus the word wasn’t offensive to him on that level. However, Xavier was a student, and he shouldn’t speak that way to an elder, particularly not in light of what he had done. “Allow me to explain how this works. After we’re finished here, I have to file a report with the Headmistress. If you are non-compliant, the power suppressor will be called in. Security will still escort you, because you are deemed a flight risk. Either way, you end up attending this program. You only have control over whether you have access to your powers, and whether your detention will get extended to winter break.”

The pyrokinetic might not enjoy the reality of the situation; he might not want to face the reality of the situation. However, Sean, and the Hammel administration, held all of the cards here. Xavier would not be able to argue, negotiate, or fight his way out of this.

“Graduation might seem far off on the horizon, but I do want you to realize that I have the ability to push that date even further back, should I believe you can’t cooperate with society as a whole.” That was an ability of which the psychiatrist did not often avail himself, but he would if his hand was forced.

Sean realized that Xavier didn’t care about this situation, which underscored the entire problem with the boy. He exhibited no remorse about his egregious, violent actions, and he possessed a sense of entitlement that now allowed him to perceive himself as the victim. As a rational adult, and as a psychiatrist, Sean had no intention of treating him as though he was honestly cast in that role. While Sean promoted forgiveness as an ideology, forgiveness had to be earned through genuine contrition and through good works.

“You have two years to learn to curb your behavior before your scheduled graduation date. We will take up the issue of your progress if, and when, it becomes pertinent to your graduation. However, yes, if necessary, I can put a sticker on your file to keep you here indefinitely.” If nothing else, that should serve as motivation for him to learn to control his impulses. He could hate being here with every fiber of his being, the way that Harmony did, but he differed from the teleporter in that he was an active danger to himself and to others. That would not do.

“And I don’t want felony assault on the Hammel grounds, or, in fact, anywhere, against anyone, so I suppose we are at an impasse.” The psychiatrist’s voice remained even, just as his face maintained a similar calm. “As I said, a security guard will accompany you to and from your meetings. If you fail to appear for a single detention or for one of our meetings, then a security guard and power suppressor will become your personal escorts. That is the end of the matter.”