[center][color=CFD3C6][img]https://i.imgur.com/QxwohJt.png[/img][/color][/center]

Rurik sat in a dank, dimly lit room, cuffed to a metal table. Normally it would have been a simple matter of blasting his way free, but the cuffs or something in the room seemed to be dampening his powers. That and there was an entire station of police to blast through -- which did not tempt him.

This was what he got for getting involved he supposed. He'd had every opportunity to walk away. More than once for that matter. He could have left Bak. He could have let Clara have Katherine. He could have just run off with Yuuto to safety.

But no, now he was cuffed in a room with a sprained wrist and Christine probably hated him for nearly killing her sister or something.

Well, he supposed he'd have a few years in jail for “aiding and abetting attempted murder” to consider how yesterday had reinforced all his pessimistic world views.

[color=CFD3C6]“I swear the second I'm out I'm gonna kill Vittorio myself...”[/color] Rurik grumbled and laid his head on the cold surface of the table. And at that moment the door opened.

“Mr. Alexeev, please do keep your mouth shut going forward,” a greasy man in a suit spoke.

[color=CFD3C6]“Who-”[/color]

“Your savior,” the man spoke dryly. “Now shush.”

Following him was one of the arresting officers and a senior detective.

“Look, we have witnesses, so I'm not sure what you're doing here. Talk to your client all you want, he's still got rights, but-”

“But nothing. I simply wanted to gather everyone so we're all on the same page when this is resolved and we leave,” his “savior” spoke. “Tell me again what happened. In short, please.”

“Alto Ganze was stabbed and the kid helped his attacker escape. Aiding and abetting.”

“No no, you have it all wrong. Are this boys powers related to vision? Does he have the eyes of a hawk?”

“I don't-”

“No, I didn't think so. He simply saw his classmate in danger and took action to save him. After all, I believe your witnesses will attest that this... Vittorio was in much worse state in the end.”

“I see where this is goi-”

“Intent matters, detective. Taken further, he was assisting another classmate in this act. He was only a tertiary member in the end. No matter how you slice it, it's a stretch to say he wanted to help kill Mr. Ganze.” The man slicked his hair back as a few strands had come loose. “These are relatively serious charges, so this would go before a jury if taken to court. What do you your odds really are here?”

“With this punk and the reputation of his school? Pretty good actually.”

Rurik scowled, [color=CFD3C6]“Hey-”[/color] but was silenced as the man in the suit quickly smacked him in the face with a folder.

“Again, all wrong.” The man's face turned very serious. “It's my reputation you need to think about.”

The room went silent.

“Oh come on, the kid's going away, obviously-” the arresting office laughed nervously.

“Let him go...” The detective muttered under his breath.

“Sir?”

“Take your keys, undo the cuffs, and let him go!” the detective repeated, face contorted with frustration. He then glared at the man in the suit. “Twist this however you want, but if we get the other kid, there's no twisting that!”

“Yes, well,” the man sighed, not looking all that worried. “A bridge to be crossed another day... perhaps.”

Rurik rubbed his wrists and stood as the cuffs came off, [color=CFD3C6]“Well, I'd say it's been real, b-”[/color] and was silenced by another smack from the man's folder.

“We're leaving, go.” The man then grabbed Rurik by the back of the neck and roughly directed him out of the tiny room.

[color=CFD3C6]“Alright, alright!”[/color] Rurik managed to worm free after a few steps. [color=CFD3C6]“. . . you're not just Gil in disguise are you?”[/color]

His only response was a curious, raised eyebrow.

[color=CFD3C6]“I'll take that as a no. Good.”[/color]

Another, more impatient, sigh, “I'll be driving you back to the school. I assume you can handle things yourself from there?” Indeed, as they stepped outside there was a black car waiting.

[color=CFD3C6]“Sure... thanks.”[/color]

“Manners.” The man spoke as he ushered Rurik into the passenger seat, “astonishing...” and then slammed the door behind him.

And so, a short while later, he was unceremoniously deposited at the front gate of Mephisto's.

“Oh, and Mr. Alexeev... try not to get arrested again. I can only work my magic so many times.”

[color=CFD3C6]“Damn, there goes my weekend pla-”[/color] He was silenced when the folder was this time thrown out the car at his head before the man drove off. [color=CFD3C6]“. . . rude.”[/color]

And so, now alone but free, he wandered over to the nearest solid surface and sat down. He needed a minute to breathe and process the fact that he'd actually gotten out of that somehow.