Harmony in Chaos (AdamXLute)

Chapter 31

AN / Woohoo I'm back! Europe was amazing, and I wish I lived there. On a sadder note, our story is coming to a close. The last chapter will be an epilogue as well. In total 37 chapters. Thank you all so much for following me on this journey.

Without further ado, enjoy!

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Sera had dropped Lute off while she went to deal with paperwork. Adam sat in the stuffy police station waiting. The leather chair he sat in was sticky, and the room smelled of burnt popcorn. He hated the police station. The last time he was here, he was on the other side. That was the worst night of his life. To get his mind off it, he looked at a silly tabloid on the coffee table.

"Adam," Sera's voice rang out. She opened up the door. "Can you come back here?"

Adam exhaled and got up. He was beyond exhausted, and the sun was rising. He needed coffee. Adam took the familiar steps to the back of the precinct. He saw Lute handcuffed to Sera's desk. She looked more inconvenienced than anything else.

"Lute, why did you steal a Nintendo Switch from a child?' Sera asked.

"Umm, well, I... I mean, it was Black Friday, cut me some slack." Lute relented. "Also, the child was a piece of shit. He egged me on Halloween."

Sera's jaw clenched. She clearly understood Lute.

"Look, Sera, it was my idea," Adam admitted. "Please let Lute off the hook."

"Luckily, the family dropped the charges after I convinced them." Sera was so annoyed at Adam and Lute. However, the child in question was known to cause issues. "I also talked to a judge, and we have decided to extend your therapy and community service."

"Fuck" Lute cursed and looked up at the ceiling. "I thought I was almost done with all that."

"Lute," Sera shook her head. "Please go home and get some rest. Peter will be contacting you soon."

"Fine," Lute groaned. Sera undid the handcuffs and released Lute. She watched them walk out and shook her head. They were an odd duo.
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"Wanna go to Waffle House?" Adam asked as they loaded into the car.

"Sure." Lute sounded defeated. "I didn't get my damn Switch." She huffed and looked out the window. The sunrise was beautiful, and she didn't realize how much she missed it until now.

"I'll buy you one, no big deal." Adam shrugged. "Just be glad you got off with basically nothing." Adam would rather not be visiting her in jail.

"It's the principle, Adam!" Lute exasperated. "Black Friday is meant to be chaos and violence. This was my one time to go back to it!"

"Go back to it?" Adam glanced over at her. She looked awful, her hair was messy, and her eyes looked tired. The black hoodie she was wearing made her look deathly pale.

"I miss the army," Lute admitted and turned towards the window. "They won't take me back, though." She mumbled. She knew her military career was dead. She would never be allowed back; she was too fucked up even for them.

"Why?" Adam sounded a little hurt. He thought he did a good job of being her friend and supporting her.

Lute sighed and rubbed her temple. "It's not you. I'm just... bored. My life is so predictable. Every day I wake up knowing what to expect, where I'll be. What I'm doing or even eating. I have nothing to worry about, and I miss it. I miss surviving. I miss just..." Lute was at a loss for words. "I just miss the chaos." She looked over at Adam. His jaw was clenched. "Adam, I don't hate this or anything." She gestured around. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just don't know how to fit into all this. You're so normal compared to me."