The House Master

Less than perfect

Adrian gulps as he slips his hands into his coat pockets, ensuring there's nothing illicit inside them. He and Vincent walk up the path into the police station, the autumn darkness intruding on their late afternoon activities.

"Soon it'll by dark by this time," Vincent looks far into the distance, even if it's just an expanse of midnight sky.

The taller boy turns and looks at him. "You don't have to keep making small talk,"

"I know, this is just awkward,"

The helpdesk looks more like a dentist's waiting room than a police station, although Vincent hasn't ever seen a the inside of a police station before. He was expecting iron bars and big glass cages, not a plant in the corner and cushioned seats.

Vincent speaks to a boring-sounding man at the desk and they try to coerce him away form Adrian and down a corridor, but he demands his 'emotional support witness' accompany him. The metal detector at the door feels a little more on-trend for the police station aesthetic.

They enter another room and it looks exactly like their school staff room where wineaholic English teachers meet for book clubs. Vincent sits before a screen and is taken through each picture in the evidence pouch. Some were taken by Adrian himself, hanging outside Vincent's window and taking undercover shots from between the gap in the curtains. Others were taken by Tanaka, are of poorer quality and show a timeline of abuse throughout Vincent's life.

"Can you tell me about this picture?" The kind-looking officer slides one towards Vincent. He looks about nine, his pale skin shines through even against a white-tiled background as deep puce bruises cover his throat and collarbone area. With a sudden jolt of shock, Adrian understands why they're asking about this picture.

From the angle it was taken at, Vincent would have been able to see who took that picture of him. They're trying to figure out who the anonymous source was, more specifically...

This is Cedric Phantomhive's defence. Adrian deduces. He must be claiming he turned those photos in himself as a way to confess.

There's too much evidence for Cedric Phantomhive to enter a plea of not-guilty, but if the courts think he turned himself in, his sentence will be lessened. Very clever. 

Adrian bites his lip anxiously, expecting Vincent to say at any moment that his father or their butler took that picture. Vincent only stares at it for a few minutes as if to discern all its clues.

"Apologies, I cant tell you much," The teenager sighs and looks at the officer. "I think I must have been unconscious when this was taken..."

Adrian grins and puts his hands back in his coat pockets, waiting until the mini-interview is over and Vincent asks some questions of his own.

"Will I have to testify?"

"Most likely," the officer admits with a small sigh, her eyes full of sympathy. "It won't be a long trial, but there are some issues with sentencing and plea bargains he could take,"

"How long is this going to go on for?" Vincent doesn't show it, but Adrian can tell how tired he is. He hasn't been sleeping, how could he when everything is still so uncertain?

"Honestly, it could be months,"

Vincent feels like throwing up, but instead he holds his dry retches until he's outside with Adrian. They walk down the riverbank arm-in-arm, slipping into the clearing opposite Phantomhive manor.