"But you agree it's strange?" Sam says and Ant sighs.
"We've already had this conversation Sam, I'm going to try everything I can to find out the truth."
Foolish has gone home with Ponk, and Puffy is finding food for the boys. The other officer (who Sam has decided to despise) has long gone and Purpled has to stay the night.
Punz and Dream have not left Purpled alone, even through the questioning. Sam wasn't allowed to listen to their witness statements and neither was Puffy, but that didn't stop the two from making their own conclusions. It also didn't stop Sam from hounding Ant.
"It's just odd isn't it?" Sam tries again.
"Sam, I'm going to try my best."
"Red said that the marks on Dreams wrists-"
"That's confidential Sam."
"Police grade cuffs?"
Ant stops in his tracks and Sam nearly runs into him.
"What Dream said is between myself, Red and Dream as well as Punz and Purpled. You'll have to ask Dream himself what happened but we've advised for him to not say too much. Memories tend to get a bit mixed up."
With that Ant leaves and Sam is stood alone in a long, empty corridor. He gives up and decides to head back to the room.
He bumps into Puffy on his way back and only now, in the harsh white lights, he can see how heavy the bags under her eyes are.
"How're you holding up?" He dares to ask and Puffy snorts in response.
"I feel like shit. Nothing makes sense, I just want the hurt to go away." The admittance isn't a lot given the circumstances and Sam nods his agreement.
Puffy has packets of sandwiches in her hands and Sam takes one to carry. He smiles when he sees that Puffy has avoided fillings that the boys don't like.
"What are we going to do?" Puffy sighs. "It seems like Ant can only do so much, but this is weird right? Something is going on with Eret, I know there is, but how do I prove it?"
Sam's phone buzzes in his pocket and he looks down at the contact.
"It's Ponk. They're probably home," he answers quickly. "Hello?"
"Sammy! I was just calling to ask what food Foolish likes, we're both starving."
"And you couldn't have rang Puffy to ask?" Sam muses.
"Is it a crime to miss your voice Sam? IS IT?"
"Is Foolish on the phone?" Puffy asks, perking up considerably when she hears Ponk's voice on the other end.
"Can Puffy talk to Foolish?" Sam asks, faking exasperation.
"Of course she can- Foosh, your Mum is on the phone." Sam hands the phone over to Puffy who grins when she hears shuffling on the other side.
"Hey baby shark..." Sam zones out for the conversation and they slow walk down the corridors.
Eret is all that is on his mind. They taint his mind like rot under floorboards, and Sam is scared he'll fall through any second. He feels sick from worry and his skin is tight on his own body.
He doesn't feel Puffy press the phone into his hand, nor does he feel her wipe his cheeks.
"You should've told them," Punz mumbles, "what you told me."
"If Puffy and Sam think the Police are involved then they'll call Ant, and I'm pretty sure he's the head of the department." Dream groans.
Purpled shifts from his position on the bed. His bones ache but it doesn't compare to the pain he feels in his head.
"Eret has money," he whispers, trying not to break the quiet of the room. Why must the ringing in his ears be so loud? "We need to prove that they are using it."
"We can't show our faces on that street again. Not even Techno or Tommy can show their faces."
Punz jolts from his seat.
"They're involved?!" He exclaims and Purpled grabs at his head. "How? Why didn't you tell Sam or Ant or, I don't know....ME?!"
"They don't need to get involved."
"Get invo- THEY CAN HELP!"
"For the love of Prime, shut up." Purpled snaps as he pulls white sheets over his face. The other two have the decency to calm down a little, but Punz is glaring daggers at Dream.
"Please, tell me dear crackhead brother of mine...how can Techno and Tommy make this situation better? Ant and Sam are our best bet but even then we're fucked. We'll get sent to juvie if anything." Punz calms down considerably, but still grits his teeth when he sees Dream brewing up an answer.
"Well, for starters, they can vouch for us. We have an alibi..."
"An alibi? For what?"
In an ideal world, Tommy and Techno, sons of a prominent figure of society, are able to defend the acts of vandalism, or even pretend Eret did it themselves...then they could all live on with Puffy and pretend none of this ever happened. Maybe they could persuade Puffy to move away and encourage Sam and Ponk to do the same. Maybe Eret gets arrested for some money related crime and they never have to think of their face again... In an ideal world.
But the threat of being taken looms. Slowly Purpled reveals his face again.
"What if we can get someone else to prove how corrupt Eret is?" He suggests.
"Who is there left? None of us can do anything, neither can Sam or Puffy and Techno and Tommy. Ant IS the police so there is no chance there. Ponk is an angel so getting them involved would be shitty...we don't have anyone Purpled."
He shrugs. "We don't have Techno or Tommy, but we do have Jack."
Dream lights up.
"And Jack has Fundy."
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Fanfic"Dream legs it down the alleyway, bag gripped tightly in his hand. His cheeks are already red and angry from the bitter cold wind and his feet numb inside his shoes. He can hear rasped shouts from behind him, and forces his legs to move faster." Or:...
