Depression and Choccy Milk (OXO with Caustic)

(omg babe you're back)

Zedd had assumed that Nathaniel didn't mind that the food wasn't that warm. He watched him a moment before taking a few bites himself. The man didn't like how worked up the angel had gotten over two simple actions. One of those actions being something he would have done anyways. "Nathaniel? I'm gonna set you back in your chair, is that okay? I wanted to maybe see if I could call the doctor who can help you feel better. Or I can wait until you're done if you feel like you need me here longer."

Zedd frowned a moment before gently moving Nathaniel into the other chair. He carefully stood before taking his phone off the charger that was in the living room. He called the number for his doctor, not really sure of what else to do. Nathaniel would only be able to hear one side of the conversation.
"I need to make an appointment?"
"It's uh, not for me. I don't know if I'm supposed to make an appointment for some other doctor or whatever, but I need a recommendation for therapy."
"He's not even ten years old, and he's obviously very troubled from his home life."
There was a longer pause this time, Zedd casting glances at the angel who didn't seem to be eating much anymore.
"Listen, can I bring him in or not? I handled this badly, but it is what it is."
"Thank you."
As the phone call ended, the adult walked back over to where the boy was still sitting. He placed Nathaniel back on his lap, knowing that would probably help. "We got you help. It's gonna be okay."

Somehow Zedd wasn't surprised by this question. "No, buddy. They aren't gonna hurt you. It's the same one I go to. There are some for your age, but I figured you might get scared if we went somewhere where I didn't know the doctor," he explained. "You're an exception. We wanna get you help. And this is just to get a note so you can go talk to someone professional," he added, gently running his fingers though Nathaniel's hair. "Yeah, it's a bit dumb, but it is what it is. Whenever you're dressed and done eating we're gonna go, okay?'

Zedd had tried to speak before Nathaniel had left, but stopped himself as the angel had already rounded the corner. When the boy had re-entered the room, the man frowned. Stars, he looked so frail and fragile. Zedd abandoned both plates of food on the counter still only to crouch in front of Nathaniel, arms open. "Nathaniel… we both know when you call me "sir" that it means you think I'm upset with you. Or that you're upset with yourself," he pointed out. "I'm gonna be there the whole time, okay? Please don't cry anymore. Or talk to me about it?"

Zedd picked up the angel in his arms to almost cradle him in a way. "No, buddy. I'm not upset. I wanna see you happy too, okay? If you need to have private time, that's okay. That's okay, Nathaniel. Just remember not to keep it all in and ask for help. Or else you'll do what dad did and kinda fuck everything up," he joked with a dry chuckle. He began to smooth the other's wings again, trying to keep them from puffing up.

"Crying happens to everyone. You know that from last night. If I can cry, you can cry. I don't like seeing you sad, but that doesn't mean you can't be sad," he said, still trying to smooth the other's feathers. "You didn't like seeing me sad, remember? It's like that. I just care about you," he hummed, trying to explain. The man cast a glance at the plates still sitting on the counter and decided he didn't care about them anymore. He'd clean up later. "For this doctor appointment it's probably just going to be talking. And if they want to do a regular check up on you, they'll talk you through it and ask first. Still, that being said, there's no shots or anything painful like that."

"Mm hm," Zedd hummed in reply. He was still in the clothes from yesterday, but didn't care. It wasn't his pajamas, so that was enough. Before heading down the stairs, he slipped on a pair of shoes that were easy to put on while still holding Nathaniel. The man rest his chin lightly on the boy's head as he took him down the stairs. He frowned a moment, looking at the lower level store. This was the fourth day it would be closed. What else was he supposed to do? He really hoped this could all get sorted out soon so Nathaniel would feel better and he could get to work again soon. Not that work was the most fun, but it was necessary. Especially with how much he was going to be spending on top of what he had already done. Oh yeah, that bill was gonna look sooo nice…

Zedd exited the building and began walking down the street. He didn't really care if he looked disheveled or not anymore. "Not very far. We don't have to, though it is faster if I did. I won't though," he replied, continuing the careful motions over Nathaniel's back to attempt to keep him calm. Well, as calm as he could be.

Zedd walked inside only to begin speaking to the receptionist at the front desk. "Yes, I called not that long ago?" the man said, fidgeting a bit. He was nervous about the papers for Nathaniel. Which he clearly did not have. "Ah, yes. I'll let the doctor know you're here," the woman in front of him said, already turning towards the phone beside her. With a sigh, Zedd moved to take a seat in a nearby chair. He shifted the boy in his arms so he could hug Nathaniel properly. "Take deep breaths for me, okay?" he asked, hoping that might help.
"Mr. Saunders?" a deeper voice called. It was the doctor himself rather than a nurse escorting them back. It looks like they weren't going to have to wait much at all.

Zedd reached a hand up to run his fingers through the boy's hair as he followed his doctor.
"Do you know his weight?" the doctor asked, stopping by the scale that stood in the hallway. After some hesitation, the doctor sighed. "Alright then, Nathaniel, was it? Can you step onto the scale here?" the man asked, trying to sound as polite as possible, when internally the other was eager to question how Zedd got a hold of a child with no legal documents whatsoever. That was when Zedd knelt closer to the ground. "It's just standing there until a little number pops up, okay? It won't hurt you."

The doctor nearly gasped in surprise noting the weight. There had also been a ruler behind Nathaniel, and his height was quite short compared to the average child. That probably affected the results some, but no matter what calculations, the boy weighed less than a four year old should!
"Nathaniel, can I ask how old you are?" the man asked politely. Zedd had moved to offer his hand to the boy if he wished to take it. And knowing the angel, he probably did. The man also felt a bit embarrassed as he too had never asked how old Nathaniel was.

Oh stars, this wasn't good. The doctor took into account that the boy had wings and would be lighter than the average human or half-breed would be. Even so, the boy was too incredibly light for him to be eight. The man stood from his crouched position before gesturing for the two to follow him into one of the rooms in the hallway. Zedd carefully lifted the angel into his arms again as he followed the other. After the two entered, the door was shut behind them. "Mind explaining to me how you came into custody of this child without so much as a birth certificate?"
Zedd shifted in his seat, unsure of where to start. Well, there was one way…
"So… he's an angel and he was banished from Heaven and can't exactly go home. I helped him out after he was nearly run over by a car, and then he kind of just wanted to stay, and I couldn't exactly say no when his wings were all beaten up and then it's been a few days and he's kinda showing severe signs of depression after getting thrown out."
The doctor just stared at him a moment.
"I never took you as the type to tell stories, Zeddicus," the doctor deadpanned.
"I never said the truth wasn't going to sound crazy. Look, he needs help, and I want to give it to him," Zedd argued, holding Nathaniel closer. The doctor sighed, putting his head in his hands.

The other male looked back up at the two a moment before giving a small laugh. "I never thought in my entire life I'd hear something so crazy…" he started before standing up. "I don't see any other explanation, however. Heed my warning though. Get this boy some official records or something because there's a lot that can't be accepted from just a story," the doctor stated, before moving towards a laptop on a desk. He seemed to type at it for a moment before turning back to the two. "Alright, what are we dealing with here? I need to know the basic symptoms before I just hand out the OK."
Zedd seemed to relax immensely after the short interrogation was over. "Well-" the man was cut off.
"I would like Nathaniel to tell me. If he feels comfortable to do so."

The other man frowned as he took notes of all the symptoms. "They aren't," he agreed, feeling really bad for the young boy. Battling his own emotion and past before he was even ten. That shouldn't happen to anyone. The doctor then turned to Zedd. "If anything, it sounds like there's a lot of PTSD there as well. In simple terms, stress from the past that continues to make the person unhealthily sad. I'll write up a note of recommendation for therapy. If they deem it necessary, they might recommend he take low doses of an antidepressant. I should hope he wouldn't have to," he said as he finished on the laptop. "I've also created a file for Nathaniel. Until you are able to sort this out, I doubt a children's doctor is going to allow you inside without proper documentation," he added, now standing. Zedd could barely believe what he was hearing. Oh stars, he was so grateful for this man. "I can't thank you enough," the man said, standing with Nathaniel again. "Oh, I believe you can, by acting as a good guardian for this boy," the doctor said, now smiling softly. "You have something that's completely normal considering what happened. I am sorry you had to be so young and this happen, but I believe you'll recover well. It was good to meet you, Nathaniel," he hummed, holding out a hand to shake.