Pokemon World - The Lost Child

Day 45 - Discussion between guardians

*Picture Above: Doctor Shell

(Day 45 - late at night)

"We need to talk." Steven glances over at Lance who had barged in and stated such a thing, taking note of his eyes. 'He's angry.'

Steven recalls Lance's report on Lucryn's reckless behavior throughout the pokemon hunter mission, he also felt angry thinking of Lucryn's injuries, but Lance had already vented to him about it over a call. 'Wanting to talk to me in person, something's very wrong.'

"Someone..." Lance starts to speak, stopping, eyes darkening further. 'Oh, he's really, really angry.'

"Lucryn..." Lance stops again, frustratedly brushing his hair out of his face. Steven's eyes are glued to Lance. 'I don't think I've ever seen him this angry.'

"Calm down first." Steven says, closing the book he was reading, placing it down beside him. Straightening his posture, he folds his arms across his lap. "Now tell me, what about Lucryn?"

Lance frowns, walking over to Steven and sitting down on the chair across from him. The finely decorated library with sunshine streaming through the windows did little to alleviate the heavy mood within the room.

"Someone, not recently, it looks old, maybe a year ago..." Lance trails off again, frustratedly growling, wondering why he couldn't find the right words to say it. He had wanted to tell Steven as soon as he saw it, but he couldn't bring himself to call the man. Just telling him about the mission results was hard enough. His eyes lifted to meet Steven's. "Someone carved into his back a word."

It was as if time stopped, the aura within the room already dark grew somber and threatening. "What did you just say?" Steven asks, eyes narrowed, steely gray and promising a world of pain.

"Mistake. Someone carved the word 'mistake' across his back." Lance states, eyes dripping with unconcealable rage, Steven's eyes slightly less revealing, but even amidst his mask of coldness one could feel it. 'He's angry.'

Steven taps at his Z+ Band, a screen popping up a minute later showing Doctor Shell. "Steven, is something the matter?"

"Why didn't you inform us of the scar on Lucryn's back?" Steven coldly asks, eyes downright threatening.

Doctor Shell frowns in response, not looking very intimidated. "Patients' Privacy is a thing you know, and at the time I discussed things with you, you weren't officially his guardian."

"Yeah, well you could've at least told us he's mute." Lance cuts in, walking over so he can be seen on screen with Steven. "Do you know how confusing it's been for us, trying not to outright ask if he's mute, but also trying to give him various ways to communicate without demanding he communicate with us."

"Mute? That shouldn't be. There's nothing wrong with the child's throat." Doctor Shell says in surprise.

"What? He doesn't talk though." Steven says, trying to analyze the reasoning behind Lucryn's silence.

"At all?" Doctor Shell asks.

"Not that we've heard." Lance says, getting a nod in agreement from Steven. "We've tried not to bring attention to it and make him self-conscious, the Professor mentioned he has everyone at the lab doing the same."

Doctor Shell taps her chin in thought. "That's odd, but he did show unstable mental activity...perhaps it's selective mutism."

"He had a panic attack." Steven says, eyes narrowing as he reviews all of his interactions with Lucryn.

Doctor Shell frowns, "How long was it and how severe?"

"A few hours till he fully came out of it. During the time, he curled up into a ball and laid still, he let me hold him afterwards, which was odd, touch is something he's very averse to." Steven explains.

Doctor Shell's frown deepens. "I'm not a psychologist, but I know some people who are. I suggest he sees one of them. He is clearly unstable, and due to the situation he was in when he was found, he clearly has experienced trauma of some form. He may have PTSD or is at least showing extreme levels of fear to things around him."

"We're in agreement that he should see a psychologist. However, do you think he'd be okay with that?" Steven asks, tiredly ruffling his already wild hair. "He's on edge as it is, someone coming in and asking him all these questions could make things worse."

"He does seem to be opening up to us...sort of." Lance says, thinking on how Lucryn no longer backs away when they are near. He does still seem tense when they're close to him, but he's calmer, he doesn't seem as erratic as when they first met him.

"That's good, but I would suggest him seeing a psychologist even if it is upsetting to him. They'll be able to offer him additional support when it comes to mental health and his wellbeing. Based on what you've shared, the sooner he gets this support, the better. I'll send you contact info for a few psychologists I know." Doctor Shell says, getting a nod from the two.

Ending the call, Steven gazes at Lance. "Being a guardian is not fun."

"Agreed"