Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"That's it, buddy," the officer said, shoving Duncan roughly in front of him as they made their way down the hall. "Do you have any idea where you're going?"

Duncan swallowed loudly. "But I didn't do anything!"

The officer laughed aloud. "That's what they all say," he said with a cruel sneer, "but every single piece of trash like you goes to the same place — it's big boy prison for you!"

"You can't make me go in there," Duncan said, trying to shake the officer off of him. It wasn't working. "Let me go!"

They finally reached the cell, where a smaller female officer was waiting for them. She jumped to her feet when she saw them approaching. "Is this our guy?" she asked as she unlocked the door to the cell, allowing it to swing open with a low creak.

The male officer nodded and shoved Duncan into the cell and slammed the door shut behind him. "Yup — how long did it take you to get the lady?" He gestured to the woman sitting on the floor in a corner of the cell.

Duncan couldn't help but grin in sheepish amusement as his eyes met those of the woman in the cell. "Hey there, Zoey — fancy meeting you here, of all places."

Zoey smled back, and then winked quickly. "Well, hey yourself. I thought you'd manage to get away, this time."

"From these guys?" Duncan responded. "Not a chance. They're the best, you know."

The officers pretended not to take notice of the exchange going on in the cell. "Not too long," the female officer replied with a delicate sniff. "How long do you think they're going to get?"

"I'm not sure," came the reply. He turned toward the cell. "Hey, you — how long do you think you two are going to be stuck in there?"

Zoey gasped in horror. "The last time I was here, it was for 'no dessert before bed', and I was stuck here for a whole five minutes!" She shuddered. "It was horrible."

"Five minutes? That's nothing." Duncan crossed his arms across his chest. "One time I got a full half-hour for not getting another cotton candy for the princess at the fair."

The female officer nodded. "Yeah!" she said, placing her hands on her hips at glaring at the criminals in the cell with as much anger her tiny four-year-old frame could muster. "Princesses always need their cotton candy."

Zoey leaned toward Duncan. "While we're on the subject," she whispered, "remind me to never play cops and robbers with the kids after they've had sugar.

Duncan nodded. "Duly noted," he replied. "Definitely."