The Precinct

The precinct's air hung thick with a different kind of tension than the usual bureaucratic hum. From the back rooms, the sharp tang of adrenaline mixed with the lingering scent of something acrid, chemical. Two officers wrestled a struggling man towards a holding cell, his face contorted with rage, his voice a hoarse scream. "You can't prove anything! It's mine, all mine!"

"Shut it, Jelon," a gruff voice barked. "You're lucky we didn't find more."

A small baggie, its contents a sickly rainbow tablet, lay on an evidence table, stark against the steel surface. Davies, his expression grim, watched the scene unfold, a flicker of something close to disgust in his eyes. Devils walk amongst the living just by taking those. He turned away, the lingering chemical smell clinging to the back of his throat.

Alex approached, a cup of lukewarm coffee in hand. "Quite the show, huh?" he said, nodding towards the holding cell, then handed a cup to Davies. "Jelon again. Small-time bust, but apparently, he's been pushing that 'zombie drug' crap around a few school campuses."

Davies took a sip of his black coffee, his gaze fixed on the paperwork before him. "Any connection to the altercation outside?" he asked, his voice flat.

Alex shrugged. "Unlikely. But with this 'zombie drug' hitting the mainstream, you never know. Kids are getting bolder, crazier, and more reckless. Could be related to any number of things circulating out there." He paused, his gaze shifting to the forms on Davies's desk. "Though yours looks more like a classic case of kids being kids."

"Perhaps," Davies replied, his tone noncommittal. "But I'm not ruling anything out." He gestured towards Mark and Kurt, their sullen expressions mirroring the tension in the room. "Those two seem to have a different story to tell."

Kai and Ethan sat on hard plastic chairs, waiting. Forms lay scattered on the table before them, and Davies, his expression focused, reviewed the paperwork. Mark and Kurt sat a little further away, looking sullen and defiant, their own processing taking longer due to their involvement as the instigators.

"Name, age, address," Davies recited, his voice flat, as he checked Ethan's form. Ethan, his shoulders slumped, mumbled the information, his gaze fixed on the table.

"And you're certain you were merely trying to get away?" Davies asked, his eyes flicking up to meet Ethan's.

"Yes, sir," Ethan replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"These two, your classmates? ," Davies gestured towards Mark and Kurt, "and they initiated the altercation?"

"Yes, sir, just Mark. I don't know the other fellow he's with" Ethan repeated, his voice still low.

Davies sighed, making a note on the form. "This isn't going to be a simple release. Given the damage to the vendor's cart and the nature of the fight, there will be consequences for all involved."

Just then, Sarah arrived and walked over to Kai and Ethan. "Got into trouble again, I see," she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and affection. "You're tarnishing your reputation for my crazy brother here. Doesn't seem worth it."

"Someone had to stop them," Kai replied, his gaze shifting to Ethan, who was still filling out paperwork at a nearby desk, his shoulders slumped. "He was outnumbered."

Sarah's gaze softened as she looked at Kai. "You always were the hero, weren't you?" She paused, a subtle blush creeping up her neck. "It's… it's one of the things I admire about you." She quickly turned away, her frustration returning. "Honestly, Ethan," she called out, "what am I going to do with you? You're lucky Kai was there."

Ethan mumbled a reply, not looking up from his form. Sarah turned back to Kai, her expression softening. "Thank you, Kai. For looking out for him. Again. I know it's too much to ask, but…"

"It's no problem, Sarah," Kai said, his voice gentle.

Sarah gave him a grateful smile. "You know, you're the only one he listens to. If you could just…" she trailed off, then sighed. "Never mind. It's too much to ask."

"I'll talk to him," Kai promised.

As Ethan continued to fill out his documents, Sarah turned to Kai, her expression a mixture of gratitude and something else, something that lingered in her eyes. "You know," she said quietly, "you're too good for him. For this whole mess. But… thank you." She gave him a small, genuine smile before turning her attention back to Ethan.

Davies, meanwhile, had finished reviewing Ethan's form. "Alright, Ethan," he said, handing him a copy of the paperwork. "You'll be released shortly. But this doesn't end here. There will be a follow-up. And you," he said, turning to Mark and Kurt, his voice hardening, "you two will be staying a while longer."

Ethan thanked Davies, his shoulders slumping. Sarah gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "We'll be waiting for you outside," she said.

As Ethan and Sarah left, Alex turned to Davies. "You know, you're always on top of things, Davies. Appreciate that."

Davies shrugged. "Just doing my job."

"More than that," Alex said. "You're a solid guy."

Davies paused, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks, Alex. Appreciate that. Though, I'm starting to think this sudden interest in 'fruitful flowering' might be more than just professional curiosity."

Alex chuckled, a slight flush rising on his cheeks. "What can I say? I admire a fine specimen when I see one."

"Right," Davies replied, his tone dry. "Just keep your admiration professional. And don't expect me to play Cupid. I'm not in the matchmaking business."

Alex raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just thought I'd try my luck."

Davies then turned his attention to Kai. "So, Kai," he said, his tone neutral, "you were involved in the physical altercation. Five against one, I understand?"

"Yes, sir," Kai replied, his expression calm.

"You seem to know how to handle yourself," Davies observed. "Luckily, you didn't end up the one beaten in five against one."

"I work part-time at my uncle's garage boxing gym," Kai explained. "I've had some training."

Davies nodded, making a note. "That explains it. Still, you understand that fighting, even in defense of another, can have consequences?"

"Yes, sir, understood." Kai said.

"Alright," Davies said, leaning back in his chair. "I appreciate your cooperation. Just so you know, even though you defended Ethan, you are still involved in a physical altercation. We might need your cooperation further in the future. Now, tell me, was there any indication of drug involvement? Or anything else that might have triggered this scuffle?"

Kai paused, then looked directly at Davies. "I think they're trying to push Ethan into doing something for them."

"Push him?" Davies raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know exactly," Kai admitted. "But it's been going on for a while. They keep harassing him, trying to get him to cooperate. He won't say what it is, and he won't open up to anyone."

Davies leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And you think this scuffle was related to that?"

"It feels that way," Kai said. "Ethan's not one to cause trouble. He's scared, and he's being pressured."

"Why not tell me this before?" Davies asked.

Kai met his gaze. "My words don't have any value unless I have the evidence to back it up," he said. "And I don't have that yet."

Davies paused, a flicker of surprise and something akin to respect crossing his features. "That's… a mature way of looking at things," he said. "Logical. And a good sense of how things work. I appreciate your insight, Kai. However, I can't take one side of the story as gospel. I've learned through experience that there are always multiple perspectives. I'll be speaking with Mark and Kurt, and I'll consider all the information presented. It's my duty to thoroughly investigate every angle."

"Understood, sir," Kai replied.

Davies's gaze shifted to Mark and Kurt. He observed them, their defiant postures and sullen expressions. "Those two seem to have a different story to tell. I'll be having a word with them. It seems to me, there is more than meets the eye."

Davies finished reviewing Kai's paperwork. "You're free to go, Kai."

Kai nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, sir."

He stood and walked towards the entrance. Through the window, he could see Ethan, Sarah, and his grandmother waiting. Sarah was pacing slightly, her frustration still evident. He stepped outside, the afternoon air feeling fresher after the stuffy precinct. His grandmother was waiting for him, her expression a mix of relief and concern.

Kai stepped outside, the afternoon air a brief reprieve. His grandmother waited, her worry a quiet, steady presence. He reassured her with a glance, then joined Ethan and Sarah. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken questions. Ethan remained rigid, his tension a palpable force. Sarah's eyes held a shadow of concern, her gaze flicking between Ethan and Kai. The grandmother's steady gaze swept over them, a silent promise of support.