Chapter Text
"We're leaving at ten right?" Suldreen asked his mom.
"Yes, the flight takes off at, twelve-fifteen. But you should've already known this, it's on your ticket, Sludreen," his mom sighed.
Suldreen nodded, he just wanted to double-check. He could hear his mother's internal voice thinking 'He is not prepared for this. I just know something bad is going to happen'.
See the thing about Suldreen was he a very peculiar boy. First, he was transgender, so not a boy to begin with, (even though he thinks he always was) but people would think that that fact would be like his eye color in comparison to his...different ability. He could read minds. Ever since he was in a car accident when he was six he didn't even need to try to make it happen. There was no turning it off, just thoughts pelting his head. It had its ups and downs. The constant migraines since he was twelve were a downer, but it made exams a piece of cake. Though with his photographic memory, exams were nothing to worry about, it was how he was going to Yale at only sixteen years old.
He doesn't remember much about the car accident, he was being picked up from school and a car completely crashed into the car he was in, he and his driver (a family friend) were lucky to survive. When he woke up in the hospital he was hit with mental voices, along with their regular voices. It was very traumatizing and confusing, but after ten years of hearing what your friends and family truly think of you, you get used to it. Plus dark rooms, putting his feet his hot baths, and Motrin helped. Suldreen just knew that he couldn't tell anyone, ever.
"We're going to miss you," William Foster hugged his son tightly.
"Text us when you land," his mom, Emma, hugged him next.
"I will, and I'll miss you too," he promised, "Come here, short stack."
"Soybean," his sister Amy rolled her eyes but Suldreen could tell that she'd miss him with the tightness of her hug.
Suldreen would miss his sister. He'd miss the stupid nicknames they had for each other. Though 'Soybean' was a remnant of his deadname, he allowed it, he called her 'short stack' because it was Amy's insecurity, being short, his deadname was his. They called each other their insecurities, it might be weird, but Suldreen loved it.
"Group six please start making your way to the boarding center," the overhead intercom said.
"That's me," he sighed, "I love you guys," he got one more hug, "Bye!"
"Bye!" his family said and with that he walked towards the gate.
Suldreen hated plane rides. With so many mental voices in such a small space, it was almost worse than concerts. But with the help of blasting My Chemical Romance and Green Day through his headphones, he landed down in Connecticut with no problems.
Suldreen: Landed in Connecticut without any problems!
Mother oh mine: Wonderful! Let us know what your campus is like! And your dorm!
Suldreen: Will do :)
He quickly got off the plane and called his Uber. The city looked nice, with tall buildings and lots of greenery. Suldreen was excited to see what it would look like with fall-colored leaves. And maybe if he made friends they could all take a weekend trip to New York, it was only around a four-hour drive.
"Thank you," he said when he was dropped off at registration.
The buildings were square with signs pointing towards the biggest building which he assumed was where he would sign in.
"Hello there, how can I help you?" the front desk person said, Darla, her name tag read.
"Yes, I'm here for registration, Suldreen Foster," he told her.
"Suldreen...Suldreen. Ah-ha! You're sixteen correct?"
"Yes."
"Yes, I heard about you, congratulation, young man. Coming here at a young age must be exciting," he nodded, it was. "You're signed in, just head into the gym for orientation."
Suldreen looked around his room. The place he'd been staying for the next four years. He originally wanted a double but his parents kept saying things about 'strangers' and 'crazys'. He could see where they were coming from, he was only sixteen, but it was college, and he probably would've been fine. But either way, he would have his own space.
"College, bring it on," he whispered, he'd always been dramatic, and started decorating and getting ready for his first day.
Suldreen breathed in the nice weather. San Francisco was always so hot, but in Connecticut, it was amazing, a bit humid but amazing. Although he was hoping that the humidity wouldn't mess up his hair, he'd always had problems with it becoming fuzzy since he cut it. He had a day until the start of the semester so he decided to explore the campus and city and hopefully make some friends. Suldreen walked to a nearby mall to see the shops, it was quaint. He first walked into the bookstore, he'd always loved fantasy and books.
"Hello, can I help you with anything?" the bookstore worker asked.
"No thank you, I'm just looking around," he smiled and started browsing.
Soon enough he found the fantasy section, it was tucked back into a corner, the perfect place for the section, in his opinion. He waved to the boy who was also looking, but he was caught by the boy's eyes, they were a striking teal, like he'd never seen before.
"Excuse me," the boy said, he had a nice accent, almost British, but...different. "Do you know anyone by the name Sophie? She looks exactly like you, but female."
Who is this guy? was his first thought. He clearly knew Suldreen's deadname and was looking for him, but he had never seen this person.
"Nope, why do you ask?" he decided was a safe answer.
"Oh..." he looked panicked for a moment, "She's my friend, and she went missing, and...you look like her so I was hoping that you might know her."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, I've never met anyone by that name," he lied.
The boy nodded and turned back towards the books.
"Don't you think it's a bit ridiculous, do you think they really looked like that?" the boy pointed towards a Jurassic Park game on a table near us, "Along with these Dragons and Elves, they look a bit unrealistic."
"I don't know, I've never seen any Dinosaurs, Dragons, or Elves," he shrugged, if the boy was going to look at fantasy, he shouldn't judge people's interpretations, every person sees the world and its myths, and legends differently.
He chuckled and shook his head, "It was nice meeting you, Sophie look-alike." With that, he walked away.
That was a weird interaction Suldreen thought but went back to looking at the books, trying to move past the conversation.
Suldreen was excited for his first day of college, he had an eleven-thirty class for science, and his main class was at one. He was very happy to be studying psychology, it was a very interesting subject to him. Seeing why people acted the way they did, and how to help them. One of the jobs that intrigued him was becoming a therapist, he could read their minds, so that would definitely be helpful. He almost skipped to his eleven-thirty, he was so excited.
"Hello," he smiled at the girl next to him when he sat down, she had purple hair. He was never allowed to dye his hair.
"Hi," she smiled back.
"I'm Suldreen," although he was worried about being too forward or excited, he decided that the best way to make friends was to put himself out there.
"Penny. What's your major?"
"Psychology, you?"
"Biochemistry."
"Cool, lot of homework I presume?"
"Tons, but it's worth it," Penny smiled.
"Welcome class!" the professor started.
Suldreen looked around the library, looking for a place to sit. He decided that he wanted to read while he ate a quick lunch. Soon enough, he found a set of rooms set away for independent study and meetings.
Before he could finish his tuna sandwich he heard a knock at the door.
"Yes?" he opened it to find a man standing in the doorway, he guessed that he wasn't a day over thirty, and had kind teal eyes. The same color as the boy he saw the day before.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but you are not allowed to eat in these rooms."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll leave," Suldreen began to pack up his lunch.
"I do know the perfect place if you want privacy during lunch," his eyes twinkled, "Follow me," without another word the man walked away.
Okay follow a strange man to a 'privet' place or go to the courtyard Suldreen though I'll eat outside, the fresh air will be good.
Once he had his things he set off towards the courtyard and settled under an evergreen tree.
"I'm sorry to bother you again, but do you know anyone by the name Sophie Foster, she is a family friend and she's gone missing, she looks exactly like you but a girl." the man came up to him again.
"Nope, I don't," he was getting tired of this guy, he was teetering on the edge of creepy.
"Shame, you look almost identical. I'm Alden," he introduced himself.
"Shame indeed, hope you find her," he turned a page.
'Alden' was not getting anywhere so he walked off. Good riddance, he was weird Suldreen thought but went back to his book.
Suldreen checked his appearance in the mirror once more. He wanted to look presentable. Suldreen and Penny from his science class were going to hang out at the mall, everyone at his college was so nice, unlike his high school bullies. He was wearing ripped, white-washed jeans and a Beatles tee from one of their concerts, it had been a gift from his dad.
"Hi!" he greeted Penny when they met outside the science building.
"Hello," she smiled, and so they set off.
"Can we stop by the pottery? I need to pick up a piece I made. It'll take like two seconds, I promise."
"Lead the way," he motioned for her to go first, "You do art?"
"I dabble." she shrugged.
Quickly they made their way to the Pottery.
"In my defense, they do classes, I'm not a very good artist," Penny said before they went in. "Hello, I made a sculpture on Saturday, I'm here to pick it up," she told the person behind the counter.
"Ah yes, Penny?"
"Yes."
"Follow me," the man stood.
"I'll stay here," Suldreen said, awkwardly.
"Two minutes," Penny promised.
"Hello," he turned to see the voice. It was the boy again.
"Listen, guy, I don't know anything about this Sophie, please leave me alone," Suldreen started to back away.
"Plea-" he was cut off by a group of little kids running out of the back, followed by a very tired-looking woman.
Suldreen winced, he would never get used to little kids' mental voices, it was like his brain being attacked by a swarm of angry bees. He did a double take at the boy, he was clutching his head, rubbing his temple trying to ease the headache, that Suldreen was also dealing with.
"You...you heard them," Suldreen whispered.
"What?" the boy snapped up quickly.
"Their..." he leaned in closer to whisper, "Mental voices. You heard them."
"How...do you know that? Did you hear them too?" the boy was clearly scrambling.
"Maybe, answer the question."
"Yes...I heard their mental voices, and so did you, clearly."
"I did," Suldreen stood his ground, even though his hands were shaking.
"You're a telepath," he whispered to himself, smiling, "It's ok, you're one of us. I'm Fitz."
What kind of a name was Fitz? he thought but then thought, What kind of a name was Suldreen?
"One you 'us'? What's us?"
"What's your name?" Fitz asked.
"No, you're crazy dude, I'm not telling you my name," he shook his head.
"Suldreen?" Penny came back from the back, Shit, thanks Penny now this weirdo knows my name, "Ready to go?"
"Of course," he didn't dare look at Fitz.
"Let's go then," she placed a small plate in her bag and held the door open so they could leave.
Fitz looked like he wanted to reach out to him, but thought better of it. I'm so fucked, that guy is fucking psycho. Suldreen thought, sadly, but followed Penny through the shops, trying to keep the thought from his mind.