Pointing the Blame (Detective a6d AU)

Heres to the Memories [End]

Vincent quickly paced through the streets, holding Zak's backpack in one hand while violently typing on his phone screen with the other. He'd texted everyone he and Zak knew, asking if they'd seen the boy anywhere, but they all replied with the same answer, 'no.'

The detective had searched everywhere, Zak's house, his favorite restaurant, his favorite cafe, Dream Land, and even Darryl's grave, but there was no trace of him. It's like he just vanished. Right now he was spamming Zak with text messages, he wanted to apologize face to face. After getting no response for the past hour, he put away his phone with a huff. Vincent stopped walking and leaned on the wall of a building he was next to, crossing his arms.

He had just left the P.D building a few hours prior, he told Chief Ryan everything. Clay's plan, Tommy's death, what George had done. After Ryan had heard his story and watched the tape, he immediately called the prison where Zak was being held and told them to release him from jail. Vincent had quickly run out of the building and drove to the prison, asking where Zak was, but the lady at the front desk had told him that she didn't know, for Zak had already left.

I get it, if I were him I wouldn't want to talk to me too. The Frenchman found himself flashbacking to different memories he had with the two, trying to think of places Zak could be. He remembered falling asleep on call with them, wandering aimlessly through the streets together, hanging out at their favorite park...

Vincent gasped and sprang forward from where he was leaning on the wall.

"The park!" he exclaimed, and started running full speed for the place that held so many memories.

Zak and Darryl strolled peacefully through the calm park, following the trail. They were walking through their favorite place in the park. Pink petals fell from the bushes and trees and sprinkled the ground. Zak walked along the path with his hands in his hoodie pockets, kicking at occasional stones on the ground. Darryl was walking alongside him, his green eyes lingering on every flower as he touched each of their soft petals. Zak turned his head and watched his friend with interest.

"You're acting like you've never seen a flower before," he joked as he turned back to the path ahead.

"You have to appreciate the beauty of these ones," Darryl answered, still admiring the puffy pink plants.

"These are camellias, they only bloom in the spring time, so it's always cool to see them when you can."

Zak looked at the flowers that were growing on the tall bushes surrounding the path. They're just everyday flowers, nothing special, he thought to himself. He turned back to Darryl who seemed in a trance by these flowers.

"They're literally just plants," Zak said, "plus, if you like them so much why don't you just pluck some so you'll have it all year round?"

Darryl stopped touching the flowers and spun around wide eyed.

"No no no! You should never pluck flowers you muffin!" he scolded, lightly elbowing his friend.

Zak tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because! The flower would just die after a while, that's such a waste," Darryl answered, shaking his head.

"It's better to just let them be," he said, turning back to the camellias.

"If you like a flower, you'll pluck it, if you love a flower, you'll water it,"

God, it feels like he's always speaking in quotes, Zak thought to himself. The younger boy watched for a minute, then shook his head and continued looking up at the bright blue sky.