Chapter Text
Another car flew by, not even her dad’s or the same kind or colour, but that didn’t stop Molly from looking after it to see if he was inside. As she expected, not him. Really not surprising. It’d been twenty minutes already, and he wasn’t returning her calls. Molly stared out into the empty street, watching both sides for a car that she knew wouldn’t come. She wasn’t even sure why she waited anymore; her dad never followed through on picking her up. It was just wistful thinking and all it did was leave her out in the cold. Literally, this time– it was freezing. Even with her bear hoodie, Molly still shivered where she stood outside of the school. Everyone else was already gone home, whether it was on their bikes, or the bus, or with their parents. She sighed. She kind of got herself in this mess, really. She should’ve known better and accepted the ride when Feenie offered it to her, but ironically she’d felt guilty about possibly leaving her dad waiting.
It was alright, she’d just walk. In the bitter, bitter cold. “Eugh…” she muttered, “This the last time I’m gonna wait.” She turned to face the direction of whatever it was she called home and started walking, dragging the soles of her boots on the ground with each step as she stared at the concrete. It was like a walk of shame, kind of. Like, everyone was watching her and they knew.
But no one was around to see, even. No one at all. Another car came up the road behind her, but she didn’t bother to look this time. There was no point. Or, there wasn’t a point, until it stopped right beside her. Molly paused her bitter trek to glance over her shoulder nervously. At least it was a cop car? Wait, why was it a cop car!? Was… Was she going to be arrested!? Oh no, they’d caught her . They knew she helped Giovanni, they knew she lied to the police officer who came to her house– Should she run? Molly eyed the street corner. She wasn’t much for running– she wasn’t convinced she could outrun a cop car, even if they weren’t expecting it. God, why did she stop walking? Why didn’t she just keep walking and pretend she hadn’t seen?
However, the window of the car rolled down impossibly slowly to reveal a fairly friendly face on the other side. “Oh!” Molly put on a bright smile as if she hadn’t just been contemplating running away, “Hi, Percy.” Seemed an odd coincidence the one cop she knew happened to see her walking home like this, but she wasn’t going to argue about it.
Percy smiled back, looking just like Molly remembered. Her eyebrows were definitely her most recognizable feature. “Good afternoon, Ms Blyndeff,” she greeted, in her usual authoritative monotone. She was dressed the same as before, though this time she was also wearing a matching jacket. Molly briefly wondered how warm the car was.
She sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. “Uhm, Molly’s still fine.” ‘Ms Blyndeff’ made it sound like Percy was talking to her mom.
Percy nodded affirmatively. “Of course, my sincerest apologies. Good afternoon, Molly.” She didn’t move an inch. Molly shifted her eyes to the corner again before stepping closer to the car so Percy didn’t have to crane her neck so much to see her.
She was being nice, and she didn't look like she wanted to arrest her. Unless being nice and polite and smiling so purely was all a ruse to get her comfortable enough to sell someone out?! Molly attempted to assert herself as Giovanni would’ve wanted, puffing out her chest slightly. She immediately deflated. “Not to be rude, off- uhm, Percy , but did you stop me because I was doing something illegal?”
Percy seemed somewhat surprised by this question (or as surprised as Molly imagined she could physically express). “Not at all. I simply noticed you were walking home alone and…” Percy paused, “Well, as an officer, it’s my duty to make sure you get home safe.”
Molly squinted and leaned closer into the open window. “It is?” She subconsciously placed her hand on the edge of the door.
Percy almost looked put-off, as though she had not been expecting the question. “Well, yes.” Her hand went to her chest, tightly clenched. “An officer’s responsibilities are to maintain public order and safety, to enforce the law, and to prevent, detect, and investigate criminal activities. You are the public, and as such, your safety is my responsibility.” She looked thoughtfully off to her side. “Though, even if you were not the public– for example, you were a criminal or a convict– I would still prioritize your safety according to my duties.”
Molly nodded carefully. Percy rambled a lot, she knew that already and she’d only met her once. Twice, now, she guessed. “Good to know.”
Percy suddenly looked sheepish. “Forgive me, I’ve been rude.”
“Huh?” Oh, she was getting out of the car. It took her a second to process what that meant, and she quickly shook her hands in a panic. “You don’t have to get out!” But Percy was long out of the car by then, already walking over to her. Molly instinctively stepped away from the car to give her more room to stand beside her.
Percy shook her head as she rounded the car and stood in front of her. “Nonsense, it’d be terribly impolite to leave you standing in the cold.” She offered Molly her hand. To shake?
Molly tentatively took her up on her offer, loosely shaking Percy's gloved hand. “And both of us standing in the cold is better?” Percy didn’t seem to hear her, entirely lost in thought as her hand went back to her side and she stared past Molly and at the school. Well, Molly guessed she was plenty warm in her jacket, anyway. She shivered slightly.
“Would you like me to drive you home?” Percy blurted out, as though she had said it before she’d finished thinking it. Or maybe she’d thought about it for way too long before saying it. Either way, Molly was not expecting to be offered a ride. She blinked. Percy blinked back.
It then occurred to Molly that she actually had to answer her, though it didn’t seem like Percy had noticed how long she’d taken anyway. “Oh! Uhm– No! No. I’m okay. I, uhm, I like walking.”
“Oh!” Percy seemed pleasantly surprised. “Well, that’s good to hear. Many people do not find the joy they should in physical activity.”
“Yeah, I know, right? People are crazy,” Molly said, trying not to think about all the gym classes she’d skipped out on with Trixie.
Percy rubbed the bottom of her chin. “Well, perhaps I should walk you then–”
Molly’s eyes widened. “No, no!” she stammered, “Really, it– I don’t need– I walk home all the time. It’s not a big deal.”
Percy nodded solemnly. “I see.” She glanced back at her car. “Well, then I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
Molly shook her head. “You don’t have to apologise! It’s nice talking to you.” She felt bad suddenly– if anyone had been rude, it’d been her, right? Percy was just trying to be nice and she kept shooting her down. She tried to give Percy a reassuring look.
Percy’s smile returned, though this time it seemed less pleasantly polite and more genuine. “It is lovely conversing with you as well.”
Molly nodded, suddenly put up against the awkwardness of making conversation. “Uhm.” She looked around for anything interesting. “Nice weather, huh?” It was terrible weather, what was she thinking?
Percy “Indeed, the weather is nice, though…” She inspected Molly’s hoodie. “It is best enjoyed in the correct attire. Do you not have a jacket?”
“Huh?” Molly scratched her cheek. “I mean, I have jackets at home.”
“None with you, however?” Percy asked, eying Molly’s schoolbag.
Molly grimaced, reminded of the cold. “Nope. Just this one.”
Percy nodded. “And you insist on walking?”
“Yes. Because I like to do that!”
Percy smiled. “Yes, very health-positive of you!” But her smile dropped as she furrowed her eyebrows. “However, I am not sure what kind of officer I would be if I allowed you to walk home in the cold without a coat…”
Molly squinted. “Uhm… a normal one?”
Percy turned away slightly, rubbing her chin again. “Well, I can’t give her this one, it doesn’t exactly belong to me...” she mused beneath her breath. Molly was fairly sure she wasn’t talking to her anymore.
She valiantly tried to stop her anyway. “You really don’t have to get me a jacket, it’s fine!”
Percy didn’t seem to hear her, still caught up in her own thoughts. Her eyes lit up. “But I do have one in the trunk of my car!” she beamed, finally looking back at the exasperate Molly, “Please, just a moment.”
Molly quietly watched Percy turn away from her and walk over to the back of her car, trying to calm the internal mental breakdown she was suffering. She didn’t want to be rude– Percy was just trying to help, after all– but she just wanted to go home. She was probably going to be late for her shift. Percy popped open the trunk, carefully looking through whatever was back there. For a brief moment, Molly considered just how rude and awkward and strange it’d be if she’d ran. Very, she promptly decided, and without real reason, too.
“Here we go.” Percy closed the trunk with a thunk Molly didn’t particularly enjoy and came back to her, a plain, navy jacket outstretched in offering. It seemed a little big, not just for Molly, but for Percy, too. Molly couldn’t find the confidence to say no and gingerly took the jacket from Percy’s gloved hands, staring at it with a forced smile. She got herself into these situations, didn’t she? Percy seemed pleased with herself, in any case. “Don’t worry about getting it back to me, consider it a thank you for your help with my investigation.” She did an over pronounced wink that Molly easily imagined her practicing in the mirror. It was kind of nice that she cared so much, right? Molly couldn’t say she knew that many adults who did. On the other hand, Molly wasn’t sure what she would do with the jacket after today.
She nervously pulled it closer to her chest anyway. “Hah, yeah…” Percy didn’t make any move to leave, so neither did Molly. Maybe she would go if she put it on? Molly tentatively slid her bag off of her shoulders and onto the ground before putting the coat on one arm at a time. I mean, it was definitely heavy enough to help against the cold. Percy nodded.
“Well, I won’t keep you. I’m sure your father is waiting for your return.” She flashed her an innocent smile. Molly rubbed the back of her neck.
“Yeah… maybe. Thanks again, for the jacket, you really didn’t have to–”
“Nonsense. It was my pleasure. Have a good day, Molly.” She turned and got back into her char, giving her a little wave as she started the engine and the window came back up.
“You too, Percy.” Molly waved back, clutching the bottom of Percy’s jacket. It smelled clean, or fresh, maybe? She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, but whatever it was, it was distinctly Percy. She watched her drive off, on her way to do whatever it was she did, Molly supposed. With a moment’s thought, she zipped the jacket up a little more and started her walk home, just a little warmer than she thought she’d be.