Divano (Sean)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani walked the streets slowly and wearily. A duffle bag tossed over his shoulder looking very much like a hitchhikers belongings rather than the precious jewelry and silver it actually held. Some poor jeweler had made a mistake in ripping off his boss. That poor man was going to arrive at his shop today completely baffled and shocked. Wiped clean with no sign the alarm had been altered and nothing but shadows on the camera. The man thought he was safe but then he had never counted on Lani being so close. For most of police and locals Lani was still in Boston. He was laying low. He still made about a heist a month but they were small and quick. He just couldn’t do anything that required time consuming planning. He glanced over his shoulders as he ducked into an alley. He knocked twice at a backdoor. The man he had run into at the club with Adrianna appeared. The man took the bag and handed over an envelope.

Lani opened the paper and checked the bills inside. Satisfied, he folded it up and pocketed it. He turned quickly away and stalked down the alleyway. He and the man weren’t friend, not even close. The first time they had spoken the man had made it clear that if Lani didn’t meet his quota he was putting not only Caroline, but Adrianna in danger as well. He had never been filled with so much rage and so much despair at the same time. He swore that he would see that man dead before he so much as laid a finger on his sister. The man came back out of the door and called after him. He paused and turned. “What, you got your quota.” The man simple grinned at him and congratulated him on his news making accomplishment. “Don’t think yourself righteous, Hunter. You’re just like the rest of us.” The man’s words angered him but before he could speak out the man turned back inside.

Well he certainly wasn’t going to go after him for an explanation. His jaw set and his eyes grim he turned and stiffed his hands in his pockets. Things had gone from bad to worse, he needed to get out. Even if it killed him. He couldn’t deal mentally with school, his power, and the threat to Adrianna and his sister hanging over him. He paced down the street plopping down in front of the bus station, not bothering to buy a ticket, the next bus to Boston wasn’t for another six hours. He needed to get away from it all, but he couldn’t get far because of his boss. So he was going to go home for a few days. He needed the comfort of his mother and sister, hell he wanted to fight with his father. He hadn’t bothered asking, he just hoped Hammel wouldn’t notice his absence until later. He had never had much luck with that but here’s to hoping. They didn’t trust him. He vanished without explanation far too often. They were watching him all the time and Lani just really needed to get away. To taste freedom again.

He looked up toward Hammel and then out into the dense forest. What if he were to slip into the trees and vanish? He shook the thought away and set himself up to wait. His thoughts turned over the man’s statement in his head and the more it came to him the more he was starting to convince himself the man was right. Taitum’s words screamed in him, ‘We’re Gods’ ‘You’re like a five year old with a machine gun.’ Lani gritted his teeth in frustration, to add onto the confusion of the cryptic messages and being told he was dangerous Taitum hadn’t been heard from in ages. He had just vanished. On one hand he was glad to be free because Taitum’s eyes were like shackles and he hadn’t been able to get away very often, but on the other hand Lani severely needed someone to speak to him without cushioning their words. He was a mess and he was going to get himself killed, or worse someone else. Was it possible to be filled with guilt for something that hadn’t happened yet?

[Dr. Sean Neville]

As a telepath, Sean was long-familiar with the heavy burdens which came from keeping secrets. Long before he had become a licensed psychiatrist, the telepath had kept secrets: those belonging to other people, primarily; he had few secrets himself, although the ones he had, he would take to his grave. Secrets were secrets for a reason, after all.

Still, as a matter of empathy, as well as a matter of psychological health, the telepath would be distressed to know that someone as young as Lani was carrying such a heavy burden from the secrets he held. While he no longer believed in sin in the original sense of the world, it was nothing short of sinful that anyone so young should be bogged down by such responsibility and the heaviness of such matters.

Of course, the telepath also hadn’t expected to run into anyone, Lani or otherwise, as he walked through downtown. Pilot Ridge was small enough that he didn’t have to expect crowding or random encounters every time he left the house to tend to errands. And errands were what had brought him out tonight; while he and Josh had developed a fair rhythm living with one another these past months, occasionally, household tasks fell to the wayside.

Sean wasn’t apologetic about that; while they might get distracted regarding minutia, their professional lives didn’t suffer and they were happy. That was what mattered. Besides, slight backsliding into youthful bad habits wasn’t necessary problematic, particularly since they did attend to work matters properly, and they did have social socials apart from each other. That was improvement.

Errands were what had brought him out into the streets of downtown Pilot Ridge at this hour; he had his list in his pocket and his reusable bags in his hands because conservation was important. He’d made short work of his list, and he expected to return to the house victorious.

He hadn’t expected to be assaulted by thoughts laden with despair (often, so often, Sean found himself grateful that he wasn’t an empath; no matter how desperate the thoughts were that he overheard, at least he never experienced the emotions as his own. This was why his heart went out to Ann and most other empaths he had encounters in his life).

The tall psychiatrist had a choice; he could try to ignore another person in obvious pain and need, one who was close by because he could feel him, or he could go the few steps to at least check on this other person. Because he was Sean Neville, the deliberations were short and the decision was obvious.

Not too far up ahead, he came across the teenager whose thoughts he had overheard, looking physically only somewhat less distressed than he obviously was mentally. Sean also recognized the boy as coming from Hammel, although not someone who had ever been in his office; that would take a minute to place a name to this face, and it could wait.

Clearing his throat to alert the boy to his presence, he then remarked, “Wandering about at this hour?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani glanced up at the time tables. Why was it that the overnights always left so late? Chances were if he left on the bus he wouldn’t get to Boston until the morning. He might as well start walking and hitchhike. Or better yet steal a car. He shook his head, no matter how much he wanted to get home he wouldn’t want to do that. Not for any moral reason but more for the fact that cars were tricky. Most of them had GPS in them and you’d have people all over looking for the license plate, better to not go there. It was a rather spontaneous decision. Usually he called ahead but he just was so desperate for an escape he needed to go. It wouldn’t be the first time Lani showed up distressed on the doorstep at strange hours of the morning. Chances were it would be just like old times. His mother helping him inside with sympathy and a shoulder to lean on. His father would make sure Lani knew what a failure and disgrace to the Hunter name.

He frowned at the road leaning back and watching the shadows. Perhaps home wasn’t even the best place. If his father was there he certainly wouldn’t leave in a better mood. Going to his boss certainly wouldn’t put him in a better mood. Confusion barraged Lani’s mind and his power was squirming under his hold wanting nothing more than to send something rocketing into the sky just to see how high he could send it. Weariness and depression weighed him down on the bench. He considered going to Adrianna… no. He didn’t want her to see him like this. He needed to be strong around her. He didn’t want her to see him with his pathetic moral dilemma. One would have thought that by now Lani would have it all figured out. But truth be told he didn’t want to steal for the rest of his life but he didn’t see any options that didn’t involve death or prison.

He certainly didn’t want to experience either one of those. Death, well wasn’t this close enough to it? Prison, he nearly had a panic attack when he was restricted to the grounds on Hammel. There was no way he would make it in prison. At least not without breaking out and hurting himself or someone else. And even if he broke out his boss would be even more impressed and insist he use his power to steal. That was his biggest worry. If his boss found out that he was telekinetic well that was it and he could say farewell to his freedom and get used to living life on a leash. It would be really nice if Lani could make sense of his own emotions and thoughts. He leaned over resting his elbows on his knees and steepling his hand in front of his lips. A surge of stubbornness presented itself. He didn’t want to answer to anyone anymore. He was going to be his own man… eventually…

Lani is ashamed to say he jumped a little at the sound behind him. He whirled his teeth bared in a snarl and his tongue ready to lash out at whoever had disturbed him. He half expected it to be someone he knew from the underground who was coming to bask in Lani’s new constraints. However it wasn’t anyone like that. Just a middle aged man with a couple of bags in his hands. Lani swallowed his retort; this man didn’t deserve to be verbally assaulted. Just because he was having a rotten day didn’t mean everyone was. Though he wouldn’t say he didn’t resent the fact that spring had decided to appear today full with sunshine and birdsong. He would much prefer a cloudy rainy winter day to this, but mostly because it fitted his current mood. Lani didn’t recognize the man, the face was familiar but beyond that Lani had no more clue that this was someone from Hammel than he knew that this guy was a mind reader.

He shrugged and gave the man a smile. He bobbed his head. “I just needed a little air.” He glanced at his phone lighting it up to see the time. He let out a little huff. How had it gotten so late? How long had he been sitting on this bench? He squinted up at the man and then down at his bag. He wasn’t ashamed to say he was examining him to see if he had anything valuable, not that he pick pocketed much anymore but old habits die hard. “I’m waiting for the bus,” Lani added after a few moments. “Last minute errands?” Lani asked gesturing at the bags. He swallowed down his anger and confusion and tried to at least put his thoughts on hold. It had been a while since he had been so overloaded that he hadn’t been able to push it away but Lani forced out a smile that looked rather convincing but the light didn’t reach his eyes, which remained dark and thoughtful.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The telepath acknowledged the explanation with a nod and then he gestured at the bench with one hand carrying a bag. “Do you mind if I join you? I think I need to sit a minute.” His knees weren’t what they used to be, and he thought he could do with a few minutes of rest before going on his way. He also inwardly resolved to look into some form of aerobics this weekend, or some other form of exercise, to try to strengthen his physical stamina. Griff had been his walking/jogging partner, and with the Welshman gone and Josh now baking, his physique was less than stellar. Perhaps he could talk Greg into it, or even convince Josh to try it with him.

He then sat down at the end of the bench, inwardly enjoying the fact that he was now seated. His knees appreciated the rest. The telepath set down the bags of purchased items, leaving them near his feet where he would remember to take them when he left later.

While Sean did shield in public, and they were outside in a public area, it was a rare day that Sean kept his shields up entirely; as such, thoughts tended to slip through, letting him hear snippets from the minds of others, particularly if such people were in close proximity. It was simply part and parcel of telepathy. As such, he could sense the confused thoughts, although he didn’t feel the young man’s confusion the same way that an empath would. He’d also heard reference to Hammel, and thus the psychiatrist set part of his attention to the task of trying to piece that together without actively probing for more information.

Sean returned the young man’s smile and nodded his understanding. But considering the hour, and the fact that there was a bus coming, and the young man’s confusion and the stray thought of Hammel, it didn’t seem quite right. Not that the telepath believed that the young man was lying about waiting for a bus, since the truth of that was self-evident; rather, that this seemed a little off.

But since there had been an attempt at small talk by the young man, Sean considered it socially acceptable to engage him and to ask questions of his own. Replying to the question with another affirmative nod, he said, “I am. It was a bit of a long day, and so I had to shift the errands around. At least I’m essentially finished with them for the night.”

Any additional errands could wait until the weekend.

“Then it’s back home for me,” he said with another smile.

And since he had answered the young man’s question, the telepath thought it was fair for him to ask one of his own. It was rather unobtrusive, at least on the surface, although the young man could take it as he would. “And where are you headed tonight?”

It was late, after all, and there were only so many bus destinations in Pilot Ridge.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s eyebrows rose as he realized how impolite he was being. Here he was sitting and this man came up. He wasn’t terribly old but chances were he wasn’t as spry as he used to be. “Not at all! Please sit.” He said scooting over and gesturing at the bench. He was ashamed he had let himself get so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t even offer to let the man sit. Lani watched him sit with the weariness of someone who was beginning to feel the effects of age. Even then Lani was envious; he wasn’t sure where he would be at this man’s age. He certainly wouldn’t have a good job. Hell, he’d be lucky if he hadn’t already become a prison inmate by the time he reached his twenties. His smile faded at the thought and he looked back out at the street.

He couldn’t even hold his thoughts at bay anymore. Usually in this kind of situation he was able to push his dark thoughts aside until he was alone to dwell on them. It was probably the combination of helplessness and the weight of the world. So much had happened these past few weeks. Meeting Adrianna had brought about a whole new world of joys and terrors. It was almost like suffocating on the collar they had looped around his neck. He glanced over at the man as the conversation lulled momentarily. He was so familiar but Lani couldn’t quite place his face. It was like someone he had seen so often in passing but never really noticed. It was probably for the best that Lani didn’t know he was talking to a telepath, he would feel the need ot censor his thoughts.

The bags he placed at his feet were a cause for curiosity but Lani refrained from using his powers to investigate. He looked sideways at the man. What if he was someone hired by his new handler to follow him? That would explain why Lani recognized him, but not why he was coming right up to Lani and striking up a conversation. Suspicion rose in Lani and his eyes narrowed. He needed to be careful now. If word got back to his boss that he was a meta, much less that he was telekinetic he could kiss freedom goodbye. The only time it was safe anymore were on the grounds or when he was on the job. Frustration grounded at his power and he was sure he could send this bench sky high with the amount of strength of emotions barraging him.

When the man answered him Lani bit his tongue trying to find a telltale sign of falsehood and failed. Lani answered with a smile and an upturned brow expressing his sympathy. Apparently it had been a long day for everyone. “Well that’s good,” Lani commented. He was jealous; he didn’t want to go back to Hammel. He wanted to go home. To be around his family. But the more he thought of the coming bus he was less sure, he knew the looks of disappointment he would get and the fight would lose its charm after the first few verbal blows were struck.

“Hmmm,” Lani hummed figuring out whether to tell the truth or to lie. He really didn’t care as long as it was away. “Home,” he finally answered cryptically figuring that if he was working for his boss then he already knew where he lived anyways. He was restless; there was only so much he could do here. He really needed a big city like Boston to thrive. He tossed a smile at the man. “Though I’m afraid I probably have a longer journey than you.”

He looked up as a car passed by its headlights swiping over them momentarily. He looked up at the overhanging headlight as it flickered on in the dimming light. He looked down at his lap and suddenly realized it was probably suspicious that he didn’t have any bags with him. Oh well. He leaned back a little and crossed his ankles sticking them precariously close to the curb. “But, hey, waiting is half the fun, huh?” He ask with a little smile keeping the small conversation going.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

‘Not as spry as he used to be’ was an exceedingly kind way of putting it; it was also accurate. Now in his fifties, Sean had less stamina than he had as a man in his twenties or thirties, and he was acutely aware of the aches and pains in his back and in his knees. When Lani moved over to make more room (always a large man, the psychiatrist also had difficulty squeezing into small spaces), he seated himself, set down his bags, and then thanked the young man for giving him the space. He would prefer to sit and set aside the physical burdens for a while, particularly if they were going to have a conversation.

While Sean didn’t make it a habit to actively probe the thoughts of other people while in public (or ever, absent particular, necessary situations or permission granted in the confines of his official duties), the young man’s thoughts were bleeding a bit, and they were both unexpected and deeply concerning. He heard the name of another student at Hammel, one that Sean recognized by name, even though they didn’t have sessions; that was common enough, since the psychiatrist had access to all of the student records and he tried to keep himself informed. He also overheard references to violence and an overzealous boss, raising all manner of issues of illegality. A particularly troubling image of the young man being choked caused the psychiatrist to inwardly frown. Another that conveyed that the young man was being exploited but not for his powers, in fact that he was closely guarding the secret of having powers, also made the situation very complicated.

All the while he tried to keep up small talk, which was admirable in a way. It went hand-in-hand with trying to pretend that all was well, lest he betray his secret. It also went hand-in-hand with trying to ward off a suspicious person, since the telepath got the impression that the young man thought he might be involved with this horrifyingly cruel boss of his.

“And how far are you headed?” Sean asked, after the young man made reference to the fact that he had a longer journey than the telepath. Public transportation in Pilot Ridge only went so far, after all, before a connection had to be made with larger mass transit systems. Additionally, home could be anywhere, particularly considering the breadth of Hammel’s jurisdiction and the exchange program. “Where is home?”

The other relatively banal comment was met with a nod of agreement from the telepath. “The waiting can be nice, as long as nobody is in a rush. It gives the opportunity to meet new people, which is usually nice. At least the spontaneity can be nice.” He offered his companion a small smile at that.

Because the young man required reassurance and he did recognize Sean – albeit not to the extent of being able to match his face to a name and properly identify him – the psychiatrist weighed possible responses, trying to settle on the most appropriate one. Finally, he settled on, “I know how trite this sounds, but I don’t mean you any harm.” And because that could be interpreted as more cryptic than helpful, he then added, “I’m not associated with anyone, and I wasn’t sent here after you. But, I would like to talk to you; perhaps I can help.”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani simply nodded at the thanks, he had to admit he was more than a little ashamed he hadn’t offered in the first place. Perhaps it was because he was merely hoping that the man would go away. He wasn’t really sure what to think of this guy, at the moment Lani was more than ready to split at a moment’s notice. He crossed his arms, a subtle defense mechanism that he didn’t even realize he did anymore. Lani just wanted a trivial conversation. A distraction. Something to get these thoughts out of his mind. Perhaps that was why going home was a good solution to this problem. He could worry about his sister and worry about his parents so he could stop worrying about himself. He really was no different than anyone else. He was a thief and hell was his destination. No matter what his intentions were initially. Perhaps that was why he didn’t believe in a God or in an afterlife.

If Lani knew that this guy was a mind reader he would probably have run so fast that this guy wouldn’t have known what had happened until Lani’s dust had settled. If he knew this guy was from Hammel, dear God that would be even worse. Hammel would never find him again. He would not go to prison. He had far too much left to do. He wouldn’t have even thought to think that his thoughts might be overheard. He had never met a telepath and he was still having problems even thinking that someone randomly on the street was powered. Everyone at Hammel was and that was a given but outside that world everything was a mystery. Better kept that way more often than not. He had few allies outside his boss and they were keeping an eye on his family but even they didn’t know the nature of his living in Vermont. He looked back at the older man, he reminded him of Dalton a little, not harsh or judgmental but still curious.

“Far,” Lani answered the question with an impish smile. So perhaps he didn’t know where he lived… so maybe this was really just some random guy on the street just bored enough to have a conversation with an unbalanced teenager. He considered the man for a little while weighing out the pros and cons of answering. It didn’t take too long to come to an answer. He might as well just tell him, if he kept dodging questions the man would start thinking he was up to something. “Boston,” he said with a little smile. Boston was a rather large place it wasn’t as if he could find him again it if he tried. When Lani didn’t want to be found it was rather difficult to find him. Hammel was different; there were only so many places to hide at Hammel that some other students hadn’t already tried before so usually Lani went on pretending he wasn’t in his room when he was hiding out in there. And if they insisted on coming in he had a quick easy path to the roof from his window.

Lani offered a smile to the man when he talked about waiting. He let out a little laugh and nodded in agreement. “Not like the buses are going to change their schedule because I want to get home early.” He grinned back at the man. He still wasn’t completely sure about this man yet. The situation was all too strange. What were the chances that someone would come along and want to talk to him on a night when he just needed to be alone with his thoughts and get home to his family? There had to be something else there.

Lani looked sideways at the man his eyes narrowing a little when he started his speech. “Uh-huh…” he straightened his suspicion growing instead of fading. How did this guy know he was thinking that? Why did he think Lani needed to be reassured? Honestly mindreading didn’t even come into his thoughts. At least not until the next sentence came. Now he tucked his feet under the bench and got to his feet ready to make a run for it at a moment’s notice but at the moment he just backed away from the man getting some distance between them. He glared and his teeth bared. “What the hell are you talking about? You don’t know me.” Lani’s glare became vicious when the man said he would like to talk to him. Help him perhaps. Ha, that was a good laugh. He'd be lucky if Lani told him his name now. But still how did he know what he had been thinking? Lani was skittish now and the dark woods were starting to look very good right now. “Who are you?” He asked his voice more like a growl. Lani’s suspicious had risen and walls came up around his heart and his thoughts were now just trying to find an escape route. If this man had been someone working for his boss at least he would be an enemy he knew, but now he was the enemy Lani didn't know.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The boy’s reaction to telepaths was familiar enough to Sean, even if he hoped that one day the reaction to telepaths would be met without suspicion. Even if, in this particular situation, the telepathy was a cause for concern. Given that the boy wanted to hide his concerns, his past, his current activities, and his uncertain future from others. Still, Sean couldn’t change what he heard any more than the boy could change the fact that he had run into the psychiatrist on this bench.

“Far,” the psychiatrist repeated. “That’s unfortunate, considering how late it is tonight. A long trip will make for a long night.” And a long trip confirmed that the boy was not headed back to Hammel tonight. Hammel was not that far, because Pilot Ridge was not that large a town. Wherever the boy was headed was undoubtedly related to the thoughts that were troubling him, the person whom he thought was after him and who might have sent agents to stop him.

Unfortunately for paranoia and suspicious tendencies, Sean was precisely the type of person to strike up conversation with a stranger on a bench at night. The telepath was naturally conversational, and he was also equally concerned for other people. Unfortunately for those other people, the telepathy gave him greater awareness of the problems and thoughts held by other people than others did, and more than those people might like. He cared, truly.

The boy’s reaction was to be expected, and the psychiatrist had prepared himself for some form of lashing out or suspicion; it was only natural. After all, Sean had revealed that, at the very least, there was an imbalance of information between them. Possibly an imbalance of power, which was always disconcerting and more so given the circumstances in which they were conversing: otherwise alone on a bench while waiting for a bus at night. Granted, the telepath’s comment had been intended to reassure Lani rather than raise his hackles, but it had been a predictable response. As such, Sean turned his head, steadily meeting the boy’s eyes. His gaze held no scrutiny, and his expression was open to demonstrate that he meant no harm. “My name is Sean Neville; I’m also known as ‘Doctor Neville’ at Hammel.”

The telepath did trust in the relative intimacy of the school to deliver news and rumors. Surely, all Hammel students knew of him, even if they didn’t know him. Even if they didn’t know his powers or anything about his personal lives, they knew that the school shrink was named Doctor Neville. He also hoped that, unless he got his information from Mia, he could trust him, at least a bit. “I was serious when I said that I wasn’t sent here, and that I mean you no harm. But it’s apparent that you are suffering from some troubles, and if possible, I would like to help.” Sean offered the boy a gentle smile, intended to reassure him. “At the very least, I can bring you somewhere safe while we talk, so that we aren’t in public. Unless you have your heart set on catching this bus.”

Realizing that the offer sounded more ominous than Sean intended it to be, he then added, “What I want to talk to you about doesn’t involve Hammel, and I won’t bring you back there by force. I’m not a security guard, I’m not a recruiter, and I certainly don’t have any connections with law enforcement or other government employees.” A friendship with Charlie didn’t count, and Josh didn’t work for the government, even if he was a lawyer.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani twiddled his thumbs his power itching to touch something. Too bad Lani didn’t trust it off of its leash to let it explore. More than once a trainer had suggested letting it off and something always went wrong when he did. Even then he was holding it back. It was just too powerful. The constant headache started to throb a little and he reached into his pocket. He popped two pills, dry swallowing them and closed his eyes waiting for the soothing medication to take effect. He looked sideways at the man his mask coming up the more they spoke. Good thing, he didn’t like people seeing behind his mask. He smiled smoothly as the transition occurred and all evidence of his troubles vanished from his face as the conversation continued pleasantly.

He nodded in agreement. “Long nights are sometimes better than long days,” he replied a sly grin on his face. What was with this guy? Lani’s curiosity was stronger than his wariness at this point but that was short lived. As the conversation turned Lani’s walls came up and his mask switched to a wary and suspicious expression. As he slowly backed away from the man his instincts telling him to fly. But Lani felt the need to figure out who this man was so that he could avoid him in the future. He reached the curb and teetered on it for a moment unconcerned with the possibility of falling. His thoughts sharpened and his body rigid and detached from his mind. He trusted is body to keep him upright and the vague awareness of his body was overshadowed by his eyes boring through the dim light at this man across from him.

Well of one thing Lani was sure, he was not from his boss. His boss would never have sent someone so kind. If it had been his boss’s man he would have talked and let Lani squirm as horrible things raced through his mind. The pressure was coming in from all sides but Lani was bound and determined not to let anything slip. Someone like Lani couldn’t afford to not be paranoid. He had so much on the line. His blood ran cold when his mind jumped to this guy being a cop. The only thing he feared more than his boss. He didn’t want to go to prison. He wouldn’t. Stubborn determination would make sure that if they wanted him in prison they killed him.

His power coiled and prepared to strike reaching out and touching, feeling all of the matter around them. Lani’s eyes glared coldly into the man’s eyes. He couldn’t tell what he was hiding behind that open expression. That was a trick as old as the trade. Pretend to be an open book and let people see what they wanted to see then pull the wool over their eyes when they really come out. “You’re…” Lani’s eyes widened and he bit his tongue to keep from spouting all the descriptor he had. This was the Hammel shrink! Hadn’t Taitum threatened more than once to make him go? He knew enough to know he was a telepath. Lani swore colorfully under his breath and a hand when to his head as if he could prevent him from hearing his thoughts that way. How much did he know? Panic rose in Lani like a tide and he felt a little dizzy. Of all the bad luck! Why did stuff like this keep happening to him? Odion might have been on to something when he called Lani lucky, but unfortunately it didn’t seem to be good luck that was following him.

Lani dropped his eyes from the doctor’s and took a few deep breaths. “You’re the shink,” he finished his sentence his voice more level and focused than before. He had been going to say telepath but then if there were ears around how would he know that? Yeah word of mouth around Hammel worked wonders but Lani had never met anyone named Mia, he was just inclined to distrust everyone. But that particular information he had learned from files when curiosity overtook him when Taitum was breathing down his neck. And now that Taitum was gone there was no one to stop him from running off to do as thieves do. Here he had thought he was home free, but then things had gotten complicated. With Adrianna coming into the picture, his and Odion’s rocky friendship. Now he had a telepath sitting a few feet from him. God! Not even his own thoughts were safe! He just shook his head as Dr. Neville spoke more. Lani held up a hand as if to ward off his observation. He smiled getting himself back under the control of his masks and laughed a little. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just waiting for the bus, I don’t have any ‘troubles’.” He said putting his hands up to make air quotes around the word troubles.

Like to help? Yeah, help him right back to Hammel or jail probably. Besides Lani liked to think it wasn’t something he couldn’t handle. Lani’s defenses up he wondered with more than a little worry how much of his thoughts were getting through. His power flung out toward the bench to flip it and he reined it in terrified of what he might do. Lani raised a brow the gentle smile getting under his skin, telling him he should trust this guy, but this was all a trick. It had to be. So he smirked back. Crossing his arms he leaned in feinted relaxation against the lamppost. “Sure, so you can what? Tell me I have some sort of daddy issues or something?” He asked mocking his profession by picking this first thing that came to mind. Now he was playing the rude card, I was here first maybe I can get him to go away. “Besides,” Lani lied smoothly, “I’ve already bought my ticket.”

Lani’s eyes flickered around into the darkness around them. He hissed out a small noise as he blew out through his teeth. “You know…” Lani began to tell this Neville guy just where he could go but then he added the stuff about law enforcement and government and Lani’s tongue went limp. His eyes narrowed. He knew too much. Lani took another step back. But where would he go? This guy could find him at Hammel and the bus didn’t come for another few hours. He certainly wasn’t going to go back to his handler. He could always steal a car. Either way he really didn’t fancy spending the night in the woods. Besides, not connections didn’t mean the guy hadn’t already speed dialed the police. “I…I have somewhere to be.” He said coldly and pushed himself away from the pole. Not running, no he would not give this guy the satisfaction of watching him run.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Decades as a psychiatrist, decades more as a telepath, and yet the reaction to his identity was almost always the same. The telepath was used to it, and it never surprised him, but he could identify the telltale signs between body language, small facial expressions, and thoughts, long before the revelation was verbalized. Obviously, his reputation at the school preceded him, as he had expected.

Sean had never particularly cared for the slang phrase shrink, because of its pejorative origins and implications. He had neither the ability, nor the desire, to shrink another person’s head, and that certainly wasn’t the point of therapy. Still, given the situation, his distaste for the term was also the least important focus at the moment. “I am the school psychiatrist, yes.” He wouldn’t correct the boy’s phrasing, but he also wouldn’t repeat that word.

He heard the boy’s thought, properly identifying his powers as well. That was no surprise, since telepathy was rare enough to be noteworthy, and he didn’t hide his powers at Hammel. He chose not to project his thoughts, even with the boy’s paranoia, because he assumed that would be counterproductive. He could refrain from using that aspect of his powers during this conversation, or until he was able to convince the boy to come with him, such that they were no longer in public.

“I’m not a Freud apologist, so I wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied; he wasn’t irritated by the jab, because he was secure in his knowledge and the value of his profession. He certainly wouldn’t explain that the crux of Freud’s theories involved cross-parent attachment, so that as a boy, Lani most likely would have mother issues, if one applied that analysis, which Sean wouldn’t. Additionally, that wasn’t why he had proposed that Lani come with him in the first place. He maintained eye contact, and his voice remained steady, as he continued, addressing the other excuse. “The nice thing about bus tickets is that if you don’t use them, you can get a refund.” He’d traveled enough public transportation to be familiar with the policies, even if he preferred to drive.

The telepath didn’t reach out to grab Lani when he rose; he didn’t rise after him, either. He wouldn’t put any sort of physical pressure to prevent him from moving, because he didn’t find that productive, and he didn’t want the boy to feel any more trapped than he already did. Those boundaries wouldn’t prevent him from speaking. “I already explained that I don’t have any ties to law enforcement or to any other government agency.” In fact, he was rather displeased with the greater government involvement with Hammel that had been implemented last year, although his opinions were considered largely irrelevant by the Powers That Be. “I already explained that I mean you no harm.” And he hoped that his actions proved that; he didn’t chase after the boy, and he didn’t restrain him or try to prevent him from moving.

“At least take my card before you go?” He asked, reaching into his coat pocket to pull out his business card holder. “If I can’t convince you that I just want to talk, and if you really have somewhere to be between now and the bus ride you have arranged, at least this way you can get in contact with me should you change your mind.” He was speaking to Lani’s back, but that didn’t discourage him.

The telepath popped open the silver case and pulled out one of his business cards. “Of course, if you are willing to give me the time of day, we could go somewhere to talk that would be private and not dangerous. I give you my professional word.”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani was too busy getting over the shock that Hammel’s telepathic psychiatrist was stilling at a bench across from him to get himself to focus on keeping his thoughts polite about the man. He had never done anything to Lani personally so it was rather unfair. If there was a higher power, he must be laughing at Lani. Maybe the man didn’t need his power to do his job but Lani was freaking out and it was a wonder that the man was being so calm. Perhaps he was trained to do that. The suspicions flying through Lani’s mind were enough to stir his power into action. He clamped down on it feeling it coiling. He was not going to have a repeat of that meeting with that blackmailer.

That had been kind of humorous, Lani had received a note wishing to speak with him about the track. Of course Lani was one of the prime suspects, it was either him another telekinetic or one of the rock movers. He had missed the appointment; he didn’t feel like talking about what got him so pissed off that he destroyed a seemingly indestructible object. For all he knew he might have ended up talking to this guy, which lo and behold, he was doing anyways. He shook his head a little at Dr. Neville. How was it that he ended up as a psychiatrist at a high school? Why on earth did this guy want to deal with people like him for the rest of his life? That had to be a sign of insanity in and of itself. Could a psychiatrist be insane? Lani bit his tongue and shook his head catching it wandering.

“Whatever,” Lani replied, he wasn’t going to admit that he didn’t know who the hell Freud was. Lani didn’t know anything about Oedipus or Electra theories or cross-parents attachment. That was just what he had always seen in the movies. Obviously that didn’t even faze the man. Lani shifted a little realizing his weapon was going to probably have a hard time striking a mark with this man. He wasn’t sure how much he bought of this guy’s act. “How do I know you’re not lying?” Lani snapped in response unsettled that the man had answered his thoughts instead of his words. It was a wonder Lani hadn’t already run, he was debating the fight of flight in his mind and he wasn’t really sure which one was winning but his legs were braced for flight even though he looked completely relaxed against the pole.

He narrowed his eyes at the man his teeth baring a little. What was this guy after? Why did he want to help him? A complete stranger. It was true that if the man had meant harm he certainly would have tried something already. Besides though Dr. Neville wasn’t always spoken about with the best of light he had never heard of an instance of Dr. Neville losing his temper or even being angry in general. A state of complete calm they said. That temptation arose and Lani was just peeved enough to let it take over his judgment. Part of it was curiosity, could he perhaps goad this guy into anger? Would it work? Now Lani hesitated, against his better judgment. He knew where this was headed. If this guy could get him alone and get into his head he could pry the truth out of him and that terrified him more than anything else in the world. Right now two people outside his boss’s people knew about his job and that was two people too many. He did not want this to become common knowledge, besides if Dr. Neville really knew what was going on chances were he would try to stop Lani. Maybe not himself but Lani didn’t need more eyes on him.

He looked over his shoulder and turned a little. “I won’t change my mind,” he assured him. He was not going to take the card. No. But he and his power had a disagreement. His mental hands drifted plucking the card out of the man’s hand and floating it over like a leaf practically jabbing Lani in the eye before he reached out to grab it. While Lani’s mind was focused on that his power reached out like starving children finding a feast. The wallet slipped out so smoothly and silently it would be a wonder if Dr. Neville noticed at all. And in the darkness it was all too easy to guide the object through the shadows to where Lani had moved into the shadows and get into his pocket. Perfect. Why? Curiosity, but mostly just because he could. Besides he could always return it later and blame it on his unruly power. After all it had grabbed the card without his say so. He pushed the wallet out of his mind and worked on an escape. Lani raised a brow. Give him the time of day? His eyebrow rose. He had never heard that in any other context other than annoyance. His father said it all the time when he was yelling. He gave the psychiatrist a little salute with the card.

“Have a good night, Dr. Neville.” He turned and ducked down and alleyway. He took out the wallet as he walked examining his spoils. Dr. Neville was a good man, but eh, bad things happened to good people all the time. Don’t think yourself righteous, you’re just like the rest of us. Lani stopped in his tracks horrified by himself. Is this really who he had become? He glanced behind himself and quickened his pace. He was right. Lani wasn’t alright, trouble didn’t even begin to define what was wrong with him. He hugged himself and shook his head. Stealing for need was much different than what he had just done. This was why he usually stuck to robbing stores and stuff. He couldn’t think about this, he needed a drink. One thing was sure, he would be making that bus home, he had never been so confused or so lonely in all his life.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The question of his honesty was familiar to Sean, as Lani was hardly the first person to articulate the sentiment, and certainly not the first to think it. Many people had a tendency to be suspicious of others absent a personal connection. Even people who didn’t default to suspicion tended to do so when there was an imbalance of knowledge and power, as telepathy was. He had learned, long ago, not to take it personally. “You have to take my word for it,” he replied. He spread his hands in a gesture to show that that was all he had to say on the matter. “I realize that might not be easy, but it’s the same as with every other person in this world.”

However, his honesty and appeal to reason and commonality appeared to be for naught. The boy remained suspicious; his thoughts loud enough to be overheard without any concentration by the telepath. Even without the telepathy, everything in the boy’s body language and facial expression practically screamed suspicion. That wasn’t enough to discourage Sean; he always had been both patient and persistent. It was so difficult to upset him or offend him, even more difficult to anger him, and nothing that Lani had up his sleeve could do so.

He only wished that the boy would listen, for his own sake; Sean wanted to help him. However, since he had walked away, the psychiatrist didn’t have high hopes of the boy’s receptiveness to that help. “That’s your decision,” he said, since he wasn’t here to rob the boy of agency, even if he disagreed with his choice. “But it doesn’t change my offer.”

But powers could be surprising, as could one’s subconscious resolve towards a course of action. He felt a tug on the card and he released his grip; the card floated from his hand over to the boy, and Sean noted his telekinesis. Not only as a power but the degree of fine control that he had, enough to take the card without having it in his line of sight, which was impressive in its own right. Powers that could interact with the physical world always were to him. And while Sean was glad that the boy had chosen to take the card after all, he didn’t remark on it. There was no reason to be smug or to make him second-guess his choice.

At the goodnight wish, Sean inclined his head slightly, even though the boy had already begun to walk away. “I hope you don’t miss your bus,” he remarked to the retreating figure of Lani’s back. He watched as he left, moving out of his visual sight if not out of telepathic range.

The psychiatrist remained behind for a bit longer, just in case Lani did turn around, but he didn’t. Likewise, he didn’t see any of the people that Lani had feared come by this way, and he hoped that the boy would be safe on his journey tonight.

Eventually, the psychiatrist rose from the bench, picked up his shopping bags, and walked in the opposite direction, towards his car. It was when he reached for his car keys that he found his billfold was no longer in his pocket; fortunately, he didn’t carry too much cash on him at any given time, and he had only taken one credit card with him today, which he would have to cancel. He couldn’t let that fall into the wrong hands, not with his credit limit.

But he wouldn’t call the police about it. He was sure he would run into Lani at another time at Hammel, and he could privately remark on it then.