The officers listened to the entire recording with expressionless faces, the one that looked a little younger wincing slightly every time a loud slap was heard.
They turned towards the two omegas. "I think all three of you will have to come with us to the station. Would you like to call your lawyer before you leave to speed up the process?"
Darcy opened his mouth but Kand-Lei shook his head. "I am the lawyer."
The older officer shrugged at this and both of them made their way out to where their patrol cars were parked.
Kand-Lei shakily got to his feet to follow the officers, swaying with the emotional exhaustion from the ordeal and the sudden lack of adrenaline in his system. Darcy wrapped a supportive arm around his waist. "I could carry you, you know. No one would think you were weak if I did, not after you took that guy down several notches."
Kand-Lei was surprised into laughter, Darcy grinned along with him.
Kand-Lei looked up at the man who seemed as if he were about to casually offer the moon and stars if it were to keep the smile on Kand-Lei's face. "If it's you." He inhaled, leaning against Darcy's warm side. "I don't mind borrowing a little strength."
Darcy smiled, "Come here then." With a bit of manoeuvring he managed to get Kand-Lei into a fireman's lift. Kand-Lei rested his head on his arms, propped on Darcy's shoulder. Darcy kept a firm grip on his elbow to keep him from slipping as they walked towards the police car.
Several people gave them curious looks but no one was willing to speak out after the scene they had just witnessed.
The police officers made no comment, just directed them to one vehicle while someone coaxed the angry beta man into the other.
Sitting in the back seat of a cop car, first time for Kand-Lei, second for Darcy, they were suddenly feeling the full force of the exhaustion that had been slowly building up.
"We didn't even finish dinner."
"I'm glad I ate my soup, otherwise I'd probably be turning cannibalistic right now." Kand-Lei smirked and then bared his teeth.
Darcy chuckled, he brought Kand-Lei's hand to his lips, "Yeah, but I didn't, you'd better be careful."
Kand-Lei giggled when Darcy pulled him closer, hand lingering on his waist. Kand-Lei placed his hand on the other's knee, finally forgetting about the night for a moment as he leaned in.
The police officer in the passenger's seat cleared her throat. "Keep it in your pants please. We're almost there."
Kand-Lei made a loud 'tsk' noise, "No one was thinking about pants, I just wanted to kiss my mate."
He grumpily leaned against Darcy as much as the seatbelt would allow. Darcy encircled him with warm arms, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
They remained this way until the car pulled up at the police station.
...
The interior was a mild temperature, sleek and modern looking if you ignored the countless messily organised paper files everywhere. The lights glared, creating a false day within the building. Kand-Lei watched as people bustled around despite the late hour.
All three of them were escorted to the waiting area. The man kept shouting about pressing charges while Kand-Lei put on his lawyer face, the one he had practiced for law school interviews. He immediately began radiating cold, displeased energy which made the officers send someone over to deal with their case quickly.
They took their statements and the man kept shouting about pressing charges.
"I suggest you reconsider."
The man spluttered, glaring at Kand-Lei.
"What did you say?"
"I suggest you reconsider. On pressing charges that is. Things might not be as simple as you think."
"I didn't commit a crime, you committed the crime!!"
"Hate speech, public disturbance, disruption of business, and the assault was provoked by yourself. Also considering that no trace of said assault can be found on you now, merely fifteen minutes later, any charges against me will be lessened." Kand-Lei concluded with smooth efficiency.
It was true that the man's face was unblemished and not even red anymore.
"We could also add in charges of verbal assault."
The man faltered for the first time. "Bu-but you hit me!"
"I did, I wrote that very clearly in my statement. I also wrote about all the things you said and did." Kand-Lei smiled at him, the temperature around the beta seemed to drop several degrees, he felt a chill run down his spine as he was caught in that icy gaze. "I think I could convince a judge that I was merely provoked beyond reason by your words to initiate a response that left no lasting effect." His voice dropped lower till no one else could hear. "Do you really think they'll believe that an omega caused significant emotional or physical damage to a beta like you? Can your pride as a beta handle the humiliation of the trial?"
The man opened and closed his mouth, looking like a flustered fish.
Kand-Lei leaned back, returning to his calm, frigid tone. "I suggest you drop the charges sir. We don't want to blow this out of proportion and waste everyone's time."
The man seemed to recompose himself. "I'll drop the charges if you apologise."
"I have no problems with apologising so long as you also apologise."
The man simmered for a moment, weighing his ego against an apology. "I'll drop the charges."
...
Neither party apologised in the end, choosing stubborn pride over reconciliation.
Kand-Lei and Darcy slowly made their way out of the police station, shivering from the winter night air. Darcy threw several glances at his mate as they walked aimlessly down the street.
Darcy ignored the incessant buzzing of his phone. Already knowing that the caller ID would be one of his parents.
When it kept dinging from text messages he switched it to silent mode. Kand-Lei watched his movements with mild curiosity.
"Who's that?" He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against Darcy's, sending a little sensation through both of them.
"Parents."
"Do you need to answer it?"
Darcy sighed. "Probably, they won't stop calling unless I do."
He glanced at Kand-Lei again, the phone in his hands buzzed again with 'Mumma' coming up as the name.
He picked up and before he could say a word an annoyed voice came through the speaker.
"So you'll pick up for your Mumma but not me?"