Second Chances (Leiken)

[Leiken Chu]

It was the way it was meant. Formal, though there was so much more personal meaning behind it, but Lei was still quite afraid of that. He kept formality for that reasona lone. To hide from the familiar sensations. Though he shook his head, catching himself doing so, trying to correct himseof somewhat. "I believe you." he cooed softly.

Lei was struggling, far more than he was letting on, but he wanted to be strong. For his own sake and for the other male's as well. he knew that vincent was the kind of man to dislike seeing his students in pain, he'd proven that, so he was doing his best to try to hide that fact.

"Something else?" he questioned with a little surprise. It stunned him out of the state of daze that had fallen over him. Though the release of his arm made him nervous. He drew his hand back almost immediately. "others who are concerned? Your wife?" he questioned at first. "she's helped me alot---" though he trailed off from his cuccoon hug memories as the other man continued. "Not...involved?" he questioned with increasing nerve. "What do you mean?" he questioned wondering just where vincent was going with this.

He did not like the way this was heading.

"The psychiatrist? " he stated with a horrified expression. His features expressing his emotion a little to bluntly. "You think i'm crazy ?" he questioned though he should have expected such. "I don't want to talk to some prick that sits in his office twiddling his thumbs waiting for someone who's head he can crawl into." he stated as he hugged his own arms in a self-protecting gesture.

"What could he possibly do? " he stated with an irritated tone. "so kid, how are you feeling today? uh huh. uh huh. that's great kid here have some pills." he mocked the people he'd dealt with in the past. "I won't do it again, i already have a hard enough time dealing with myself, i don't need to feel like a zombie too." he huffed out.

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent bowed his head into one hand, rubbing idly at the scar under his bandanna. That was certainly not the response he was expecting. "No, Lei, that is not it," he tried, though the boy didn't seem to be listening.


So, he tried a different tactic. He waited until the student had finished his little rant, watching him carefully for that lull in angry speech, then asked, "May I explain?" He paused for a moment for the boy's reply, then continued regardless. "This is not about mental illness, Leiken. Nor is this because I wish to 'make you a zombie'. I would rather that you can think and feel to your own accord, without the use of prescriptions.


"Now that I have clarified that, I would like to say that Dr. Neville is not the person that you think he is. He will not use his telepathy to harm you, nor will he use it on you at all unless you ask him to. He is respectful with his abilities." That point had to be made clear. "The most important thing is because he listens. Actively. He is not like any other in his field I have met. I believe you could come to trust him."


He wasn't so sure this would work, but he had promised that he would try. And Vincent was a man of his word.

[Leiken Chu]

Lei's fingers curled slighlty, he wanted to strike the man for even continuing to suggest that he speak to that absurd man, but he did not. Instead he folded his arms over ne another, hugging them and his legs to his chest in a stubborn fashion, "You're going to anyway." he muttered as he was right when the other man continued to speak.

"tch.Telepaths can't help themselves. Dr. Neville is not the only telepath I know. Though he's the only one I know that is a jerk." he stated lightly. "Why should i talk to him? he isn't part of this. This is between you, your family, myself and maybe stargazer. Though mostly you and I. WHat is the point in that? "

Lei shook his head a bit, "I don't think I could ever trust him. " he stated firmly. "I don't need to talk about my feelings to some shrink. I'll be just fine.

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent shook his head. This route wasn't working either, Maybe there was something...


"Would it help you to know that I have spoken to him as a patient?" The words tumbled out, despite his inherent thought process. He wasn't sure exactly why he'd said that, but he continued anyway. "He is also a friend, and the person who stood between myself and a disciplinary committee. He trusted me to handle this situation and will defend my actions should something occur. If I may ask, does that sound like the man you believe you know?"


He honestly wished that Lei would see Sean. It would do the boy good to have someone to talk to aside from the man who'd broken his heart. Sean could give advice and make medical observations, even promote mental healing on paths Vincent couldn't think of simply because he was taught how. The man had experience, willpower, and a strong sense of compassion that presided over everything else. He was a man Vincent trusted implicitly.


"All I ask is for one session, by your own will," he added lightly. "If you do not wish it, I cannot force you to go. But I do ask that you try."

[Leiken Chu]

Lei made a small sound, looking to vincent with surprise, "What? Why?" he questioned though part of him was angry over the fact. It mean there was a chance that Sean knew everything down to the detail and he didn't like that idea one bit. He curled his fingers agains this own arms, digging his nails into his own skin, a nervous habit he'd not done in ages. "I guess not." he stated stubbornly.

Lei stared at his own feet, his shoes, the edges of which were permenantly stianed with blood from one event or another. He couldn't really recall. He rubbed at his scratched arms a bit as he spoke, "Fine. One time. " he stated firmly. "Only because you asked me to. So you must have a reason for it. " he muttered with an irritated tone.

"I hope you realize this won't help anything. It'll likely just make it worse because the one thing i hate most is people prying their noses where it doesn't belong. " he noted to the other man. There was still even much he wanted to say to that lucy girl himself.

[Vincent Meian]

"Because I needed advice, and someone to speak with on a very personal level," he explained. "There are things in my past that still haunt me, and certain side-effects of my abilities must be known. Sean has offered to lend me his support in such things." He had unintentionally made it very clear that only his own emotions were spoken of, not Lei's. If there was something that bothered both older men, it was hearsay. "He also knows the events of Monday from my perspective," he added. "The events alone. I did not give him specifics; that is something you will have to do if you wish."


"Thank you for that," the trained answered, bowing his head slightly. He waited for a moment as his student spat out his objection, then smiled slightly. The boy had so much to learn. "All I have ever asked is that you try; I do not ask that it succeed. Please see the appointment through." He would have to ask Sean if he would be allowed to sit in on the session if Lei requested it, though the soldier suspected that the answer would be 'no'. Still, it would be an out that Lei might need, due to his trust issues.

[Leiken Chu]

"Can you not do that with your wife?" he questioned as he hugged at his own arms. Though vincent spoke of such things Lei was not entirely convinced. He didn't trust Sean, he didn't really want to go to talk with him, but he'd given his word he would go--at least once. He made a small 'tch' of a sound, "I doubt you had to speak of it for him to know. Their minds are sponges for the thoughts and emotions of those around them." he stated with a mild irritation. Though he didn't really mind zander, the man was off his rocker, perhaps that's why it was hard to see fear in him.

"I will, because I gave my word to do so one time. " he stated with a heavy sigh. Lei would never agree to anyone sitting in on their sessions, it was something he was terrified of in fact, the more people there were the less he could concentrate. That made it alot more frightening in his own eyes. Especially if his ability got out of control. he knew vincent could handle it, but whether or not others could was another matter.

[Vincent Meian]

"Nakia knows everything I have to share," he replied simply, as if it would answer everything. Seeing that it didn't he added, "Every secret that I have, she knows and has advised me on in the past. Her opinions rarely change. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is needed to find a solution."


The older man quirked an eyebrow at Lei's assessment. While it was true that Sean read surface thoughts and those directed at him without trying, never had he experienced the effect that Lei described with the psychiatrist. His mental shields and discipline were very strong and well-maintained; he almost had to wonder if the man ever let them down. Additionally, not every telepath was an empath - Vincent had learned that from Sean the first day they had met. All of these things were things that he knew from meeting the man and speaking to him regularly, however, so he said nothing of it to Lei. The boy would find out soon enough.


"Thank you," the trainer repeated. "I trust that you will."


With the heavier subjects out of the way, he moved on to other things. "Will you be going anywhere during the break from school?" he asked, mildly curious. He reasoned that Lei would not be going back home, so he thought it would be good to ask in case he needed to find the boy at some point. "I will continue scheduling our sessions through the end of the month, but if you have something else planned, I will give you the time away."

[Leiken Chu]

"I see." he stated rubbing his own arms lightly. He pulled a bit on the collar of his jacket, seemingly out of discomfort, due to the topic of conversation. He was not fond of the idea of having his brain picked apart by some strange old man.

"I will. I promise." he stated with a heavy sigh. With that promise he might have well signed away his life from the tone of his defeat. Though to the question he would look a little sadly toward his own legs. Though he sucked it up, he didn't care about that, right?

"No. I'll be staying here likely with only the company of a friend's pet lizard. I don't really have a home to go to for the holidays. My family more or less abandoned me when they sent me off to school." he admitted. "I don't, you can plan as many as you have time for, i won't be going anywhere. " He shrugged a little. Obviously quite used to that.

[Vincent Meian]

The defeatist tone in Lei's voice made the trainer worry slightly; it was all the better that the boy was going to see Dr. Neville, however his attitude towards him was worrisome. Either way, it was out of his hands now - Lei would simply have to make his own judgments after the first session.


"I see. It is very kind of you to take care of a pet while the owner is away," Vincent said. He wasn't much for pets himself, but he liked animals as a whole well enough. "You will be staying in the dorms, then?"


It was a habit for the trainer to visit his students when they lived in the dorms and drop small presents for them at their doors for the holidays. If they were there, it was all the better since it meant that the gifts were unlikely to be stolen.


"Then I will do so. If you wish to miss one, however, I would not mind - the breaks are meant to allow students to relax and take time away from school, even if they do not visit family. Simply make sure to contact me prior to our meeting, and I will make other arrangements."

[Leiken Chu]

"Thanks. I didn't really volunteer for it at first, but she insisted it would make the Lizard happy to have company while she was out of town." he muttered slightly. "I told her it didn't like me." he shook his head a bit at the memory. He nodded slightly, "Yeah. It's no big though. It's not the first year i've spent the holidays alone. That's why i don't get in a big fuss over them like everyone else does." he added.

He smiled faintly, "I would rather be working toward my goal than wasting time sulking because I feel alone." he noted. "I will keep that in mind. Thanks. " he rubbed at his neck a bit with a sight.

"Thank you Vinny. For saving me from myself." he murmured finally. looking to the ceiling to avoid that embarrassed feeling. He still hadn't truly thanked him for that part of the series of events.

[Vincent Meian]

"Perhaps it will grow more accustomed to you after this trial," Vincent answered, his light tone portraying that he thought such a thing should be clear.


"Many holidays have been changed through the course of history," he added, his own scholarly research bubbling to the surface. "Christmas was a number of pagan festivals that were all combined under the Catholic Church in order to bring followers of those religion 'into the fold', as it were. Much of the excitement is due to tradition, though some relates to the holidays themselves." Personally, the trainer had no religious affiliation, though he believed quite strongly in other ideologies. He researched religion and philosophy so that he could better understand people, and though he was not an atheist, he did not practice much of anything.


That being said, holidays in Japan were more cultural festivals than anything. He'd celebrate them simply because they were a piece of home more than anything.


There was a moment's pause as he considered his student's gratitude, pondering what to say in return. When nothing immediate came to mind (as most responses would be somewhat lacking in this situation), the soldier replied instead, "Thank you as well, then, for protecting me from yourself. For not giving up despite the pain. I do not believe you know how much that means to me."


Shifting slightly to keep one of his legs comfortable, Vincent finally noticed that there was an interesting smell in the air; something floral and earthy. He looked to the bag that Lei had at his side, spotting the sticks within. "I see you have found an incense that suits you," he said, giving the boy a smile. "Does it help?"

[Leiken Chu]

"maybe, i hope so really, though i don't expect it. Most animals don't like. I don't really know why, but i assume it's because i smell like blood alot." he mentioned with a shake of his head.

Lei shrugged a little, "I wouldn't really know about all of that. " he stated really not grasping what the other man was rambling about, but the sound of his voice was something he could focus on to distract himself from thoughts that had been plaguing him.

Lei shook his head a bit, not believing that he deserved thanks for anything, but he did not object to Vincent's words. It would not solve anything to do so.

Though as the incents were pointed out he made an embarrassed sound. "o..oh.. I remembered, that you mentioned incense in the past. I thought maybe I could give them a try. I heard lavender is a scent that is supposed to relax you and melt away stress. I figured with everything piling on me lately I could use some of that melting away." He stated picking up the purple tinted incense.

[Vincent Meian]

Not knowing much about lizards in particular, the trainer shrugged. "Perhaps this will be different."


Vincent did remember mentioning the incense to the boy, and he still had some in his desk for when he thought Lei would come pick it up. Considering the circumstances, he'd forgotten about them almost entirely. "It all depends upon the person," he answered. "Nakia would likely be inclined to agree with you, as she gardens in the summer months. I tend to prefer wood scents. Generally, though, most who use it tend to agree on similar effects from fragrances."


He hesitated with his next choice of words, but spoke them carefully regardless. "Would you prefer to be alone as you meditate?"

[Leiken Chu]

"I believe she would agree as well. Though I wouldn't bother her by asking her opinion on it. She's already done enough for me as it is. " he stated playing the stick of incense as he remembered her wrapping him up in those blankets just so that she could comfort him. He wondered if that feeling he'd had of comfort in her arms was what he was supposed to feel when his own mother held him. Though he couldn't really recal ever having felt his mother hug him. He shook his head somewhat of the thoughts, "Do your children use incense too?" he questioned out of curiousity. Wondering if it was something vincent's entire family was into.

Though lei had become mildly lost in his thoughts those words reached him clearly, he took a few moments to think them over, to think over what he thought of the idea of vincent being there or when the idea of him not being there. He came to a conclusion, "I do not want to be alone anymore." he stated as he twisted that stick between his fingers. "I've felt alone enough lately. " he murmured absent-mindedly.