There is lead in crystal, that's why it sparkles

Everybody has an opinion about normalcy, doc. William said, his mood still light and cheerful, a small smile of his face indicating that he was something he wasn't in a while: grateful. He tried to push that small voice inside his head that told him that he should thank Wong away, but it still remained present and manifested itself in the small way of his shoulder relaxing and his voice softening a bit. He was no longer talking to Wong as he would to a therapist, or even a teacher, but rather as he once talked to his friends.

Mostly because everybody has an opinion about everything. he snorted, rolling his eyes as he put his hands on the table in front of him and leaned onto them. That's okay though. You don't push our opinions on other people, and as long as you do that, you're allowed to think whatever the hell you want as far as I'm concerned. he said, looking Wong in the eyes, surprised at how easy all of this was suddenly, to talk, to share...To share. His eyes suddenly grew wide in fear.

Lying on his side, Spirit sighed a bit as he got up, though not overly loud. He had not been fooled by the suddenly rise in William's mood, and had in fact been expecting the break down for a few minutes now.

Easy there, little one. he mused, rubbing his nose lovingly against William's cheek, as he boy shook in horror of realisation that he had just shared his deepest, darkest fear with somebody, in a place where a dozen or more people could hear him. He had shown Wong a side of himself that nobody was supposed to know about, a side that could easily be hurt or turned against him if one of his past victims and future attackers were ever to find out about it.

Please. he suddenly whispered, his voice barely laud enough to hear. Don't tell anybody... It was irrational, he knew, for Wong was bound by the rules to not ever share anything William told him with the Administration. Still, the fear remained, and not even a Spirit's cold nose against his cheek could pull him out of it. Only when he felt the safe grip of Warrior's hand on his shoulders did his breathing start to return to normal again.

Moments like these always managed to surprise Spirit, despite the fact that it had been a long time since he had first seen it happen. He knew how William's mind worked, probably better than the boy himself for he was still at that age where remembering his own name was a complicated task, but he still watched with no little wonder as the boy quietly composed himself back together at the first sign of discomfort in somebody else. He was aware, of course, that that was something that the boy always did. When alone, or in the presence of somebody emotionally stronger than himself, he would break down, like he did just now, if something pushed him over the edge hard enough. However, at the first sign of weakness, or uncertainty, from another person, he would quietly put himself back together, as he did now, gathering himself piece by piece until he was whole again. And he would not break down again. Not until there was somebody else in his presence that might do the same. Not that it seemed like Wong would need William's help any time soon, however, something in the man's voice as he spoke at the end must have triggered the reaction in William, as the boy was looking calm again, pushing the chair that he was sitting on slowly towards the back as he stood up.

Yeah. he said, taking a step towards the counter. I'll go order this time. he offered, his eyes quickly scanning the front of the shop and the line in front of the register. The rest of his body, however, stayed perfectly still. It was plane to see that he had something else to say but didn't quite know how to go about it properly.

I... he began, and Spirit could see the firmness in his eyes. He was stable again, maybe more so than he was for some months now. Thank you. he said in the end. I know that this is your job and all...but still. Thank you. he smiled, almost invisibly, and his body finally moved forward towards the counter. And whatever you wish to explain to me...I swear I won't tell as well. he added, as he left the vicinity of their table and taking a place in the line.

For a moment, there was silence around the table until, suddenly, Warrior finally spoke. You broke through to him. was all he said as he looked at Wong, his silver eyes somehow not as cold as they were usually.

For a moment, neither creature said anything, partly because they wished to give Wong a moment to calm himself down again, and partly because neither was sure what he should say, for while there was obviously something different about William when he stud up, it could have been just temporary. It was, however, a break, which meant a crack in his shell, and a beginning.

You have thrown a stone down the mountain, doctor. Warrior then spoke, seemingly having found the right words. Now, we have to wait for the avalanche. and as he said that, Spirit found himself nodding, almost subconsciously, in agreement. He knew William too well to believe that the boy would agree to anything, even the things that were good to him, without at least a little bit more of a fight.

Indeed. he said after a few moments, voicing his agreement as well as expressing it. For while getting him to speak about all of this is a miracle in itself, doctor, it doesn't fix all of the emotional scares that it had left on him...or the physical, real word problems that it had caused him. The fights were just one side of William's problems, an outlet for all of his pent up anger. What worried Spirit more, or at least equally so, was boy's seeming inability to decide on or commit to anything that didn't involve physical contact or violence. He was still in danger of failing several of his courses, and didn't have a slightest clue as to what he wanted to do in college, let alone life. Expressing all of this worries to the therapist would, however, seemingly have to wait, as Wong was still having troubles collecting himself. Somehow, Spirit found himself wondering if the man would mind it too much if he went over there and tried to comfort him the same way he would do to William. Very likely. Probably. Perhaps.

Here, doc. William suddenly said, returning from his trip to the counter and putting the newly ordered cup in front of Wong as he sat down again. I ordered you the same...hope that's okay. he said as he bent down to put a new cup in front of Spirit as well. He had requested a bigger cup this time, so big that it almost looked like a soup plate, so the wolf could drink comfortably from it. The creature didn't seem all too interested in it at the moment though, which made him look at Wong again.

Hey, everything alright with ya? he asked, leaning a bit worriedly towards the man, striking Spirit with a sudden revelation that he was going to save for later time. For now, he just wondered if he should still reply to what Wong had said a few minutes ago.

You're a good man, doctor. Warrior, however, to his surprise, seemed more than willing to that for him. But nobody can save everybody. William looked at the silver haired creature confused, wondering what the hell the warrior was talking about.