Chapter Text
“Harlan Briggs,” Jason Jang called out, breaking the younger man’s concentration. Slowly, Harlan turned around, not liking the tone of voice Officer Jang had used with him.
Something was about to go terribly wrong.
“You’re under arrest for the murder of Officer Trent Miller,” shit shit shit. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
This was absurd! It wasn’t him that murdered the officer, that was obvious. Sure, the man tossed him around a bit, came to his home and then disappeared, but it was the wolf.
Not him.
Harlan didn’t argue. He slowly turned around, refusing to let panic seep into his veins. His father would get him out of this. His pack would help. Everything would be fine.
Cyrus .
How was he supposed to help Cyrus now?? How would he prove he’s innocent if he’s behind bars too?
Too .
He’d be with him.
Jang was aggressive with the cuffs, snapping Harlan out of his thoughts. “I found you.”
What?
Now the real panic settled in Harlan’s stomach, sending rapid shockwaves up to his heart, hammering through his entire body. Had Officer Jang suspected him all along?
What if this was it? What if this was the end of it all?
Luna did say there was no more pack. Maybe she was right.
----------------------------------------------------------
“We can’t get hold of your father,” Jang spoke as he walked into the interrogation room. He sounded frustrated, but Harlan noticed his ever so slight triumphant smirk on his features.
Bastard .
“We can’t get hold of Detective Ramsey either,” he continued, walking around to the other side of the table and dropping himself heavily into the chair.
Harlan stared him down, trying not to focus too much on the cuffs around his wrists. Just hours ago, he was staring at matching ones on Cyrus’ wrists. Typical of the universe to bite him in the ass too.
“So, what now?” Harlan tried to keep his voice level, tried to lower the anxiety that was bubbling up inside him. He couldn’t remember that stupid fucking technique Everett told them all about.
Everett must be wondering where he went now. Was he with Luna? Or Blake? Both?
“Well,” the officer sat forward, trying to put on an expression that would intimidate Harlan, but he’d faced worse things before. “We will be going through general protocol with you such as your alibi, where you were; which we know was your home. We found Trent Miller’s blood on a tree right by your house…and then we found him with twenty odd bodies. We also know he tossed you around a bit, gotten on your nerves. You’re known for a short temper too. It’s not looking good for you, Harlan.”
Harlan listened to him speak and the more he did, the more he realized that he in fact was placid in a tough position. It sure as hell looked like he was the murderer…but of twenty or so other bodies? No fucking way. It was obviously the wolf. Well, Baron now.
“I want a lawyer,” he spoke evenly, taking a deep breath and sitting back in the cold hard metal chair. He wouldn’t crumble. Not in front of him.
“Court appointed or your own?” Jang relented, not willing to taunt the boy more and go against the law. He didn’t look pleased about it, though.
It hit Harlan then, that he wasn’t sure what to say. He needed Garrett. He needed his dad.
“I-” he stuttered, looking back down at the table. He might be built and tall and he might look like an adult, but he was still in fucking high school. He was still a kid and he was fucking scared. What if they found him guilty anyway and this was the end of his entire life? What if he rotted away behind bars for something Baron did whilst everyone else moved on?
“I-” he tried again, refusing to look weak in front of Officer Jang. “Call my father again.”
“Finee,” the officer huffed and pulled out his phone. He dialed Garrett’s number and even put it on speaker to prove a point. It rang and rang and the longer it did, the more Harlan panicked. He needed to get to someone he knew. Somehow, he had to do that.
“Can I make a call again?” Harlan practically pleaded, sitting upright again.
“You used up your calls already,” Jang dropped his phone on the table, creating a loud bang that Harlan flinched at. It wasn’t the action, but more so the sound that jolted him. “You called more than we usually allow, Harlan. No one answered and well, now we wait.” He shrugged, looking at the younger man without a single fucking care in the world.
It was true. Harlan had called Everett, Blake, his father and Luna. None of them answered. He even thought about calling Cody for a moment until he remembered their conversation out in the hospital hallway. He had no one left to contact and he was fucked.
“Look,” Jang spoke again, dragging Harlan into reality. “What happens now is we wait until your father comes in and gets you a lawyer. We already know all the things we can legally ask without your father present, so there’s nothing else we can do. You did put yourself in this situation.”
Harlan ignored that last part, trying to level out his anger now mixing in with the anxiety.
He needed to get the fuck out of there. He needed to look someone in the eyes and hear them say they believe him. Anyone. Fucking anyone .
He needed someone to sit beside him so that he didn’t feel so alone.
If Cyrus weren’t in juvenile detention, he would’ve answered.
He’d already fucking be here, holding his hand and promising him that he’d figure out how to make this all go away. He’d say it like he had control over the universe.
He’d be here.
Then a thought struck Harlan.
What if he was there ?
There with Cyrus in juvenile detention.
“I understand,” Harlan lifted both his hands up to rub his eyes and stifle a fake yawn. “Sorry, I’m just…really fucking tired.” Lie. “I haven’t been sleeping much, you know. All this happening has been freaking me out a bit. Can you get me a coffee maybe?”
Jang stared at the man in front of him like he wanted to jump across the table and strangle him, but he restrained himself, forcing on a thin lipped smile. “Sure.”
Officer Jang stared at him for a long, agonizing moment before he yanked his arm away and stalked out of the room, leaving Harlan alone in the deathly silence.
“You know,” Harlan spoke out loud as soon as the door closed, knowing there were officers listening. “I don’t feel comfortable with Officer Jang. sitting alone here in a room with him. You should’ve seen the aggression he used with me in the hospital even though I went willingly. I want a female officer to sit with me, please. Or I won’t talk again. Not even a syllable.” It was embarrassing, how tough he wanted to sound, but his voice shook the whole way through.
He listened in on the heart rates, hearing two of them speed up a bit. Then he heard the whispers. They were sending a woman in. He followed her footsteps to the door and pushed it open. She was short, with dark hair and green eyes. She seemed tough, but kind when need be.
“I’m Officer Mckenna,” she gave a tiny smile, sliding into the seat where Jang was.
“Nice to meet you,” Harlan spoke to prove a point. “Can I be honest with you for a second?”
“Of course,” McKenna responded without hesitation. “Go ahead.”
“I’m exhausted, okay? I just want a bed and some rest.” Harlan let his eyes fill with tears, but he didn’t let them slip. Though his anxiety was tempting him to. “I’m anxious and I-I’m scared. I’m only fucking seventeen, okay? Can I just…just sleep somewhere tonight? N-not in a cell I’d have a breakdown. Just…Anywhere. Under heavy observation, of course. Please .”
McKenna watched Harlan for a moment, how his foot tapped, how his hands shook, how his lip trembled and how a single tear had escaped.
She knew she was being stereotypical, but someone that looks the way Harlan does, someone with his attitude, wouldn’t allow himself to feel so vulnerable so openly. His whole demeanor had shifted when Officer Jang left. This kid was scared and she understood.
It wasn’t all that much of a lie, really. Harlan was terrified of what was to come. Anyone being accused of murder would feel this way. The only difference was, Harlan wasn’t tired. He just needed to get somewhere safe. Somewhere away from this for long enough to calm down.
Cyrus was safe. So, juvie it is.
“I suppose,” she started, speaking warily. “I could speak to my chief and see if we can keep you in the juvenile detention center for the evening. Or at least until your father comes. Then we can bring you back here.”
“Yes,” Harlan spoke quickly, eyes widening a little. “Yes, I’ll take anything that works. Yes .”
“I’ll be right back,” she gave him another soft smile and moved out of the room just as Jang walked in with the coffee.
He stared at McKenna in confusion for a moment before dropping the paper cup down, letting a few droplets spill onto the table. Before he had time to ask questions, McKenna was back in the room with another male officer.
“We’ll take him from here, Jang. Orders.” She moved past him and the male officer unlocked Harlan's cuffs, making him stand and put his hands behind his back so he could put the cuffs on again.
“Where are you taking him?” Jang sounded outraged. This was his case. He caught Harlan.
“The center until Mr Briggs arrives,” McKenna shoved her hands into her pockets. “We have a recording of him saying he’d go willingly, so that’s where he’s going for now.”
“I’ll take him,” Jang tried to reach out as the male officer walked with Harlan in front, but McKenna stopped him.
“No, you won’t.” She looked at the other officer. “Get him in the car, I’ll be right there.”
Harlan walked through the station and all eyes were on him. Some of these people were personal friends with Garrett, and now his son was an alleged murderer.
His anxiety spiked again at the thought and lowered into the backseat of the cop car, heaving a little and dropping his head onto the seat in front of him.
It would be okay. He’d be with Cyrus soon, and then he could figure out a plan.
----------------------------------------------------------
The center was everything Harlan assumed it would be.
It was cold and bland, reminding him of a mixture of prison and a rundown boarding school.
He walked past the common area, where men sat and played cards or watched the news. Some were reading books and Cyrus was staring right at him in horror.
“Harlan Briggs,” one of the workers announced, forcing him to look away from Cyrus for a moment. “I heard the cops took your belongings already, but while you’re here, even if it's for a few hours, you cannot wear that. Follow me.”
The officer and McKenna let him go from there, removing the handcuffs and promising that they’d be back with Garret as soon as they got in contact with him.
Christ, he wanted to crumble in Cyrus’ arms and sob.
With one last glance back at Cyrus, who was now standing in the doorway, he walked with the man into a room where he was handed gray sweats and a gray shirt and socks with rubber gripping on them. Just a few more minutes until he could be with Cyrus.
“Here,” the man handed the items to him. “You may change in the bathroom and bring your clothes to me after. I’ll be right here. The bathroom is directly across from this.”
Harlan stared at the clothes for a long moment. “I’m not a murderer,” he whispered, wanting to clarify. “I swear I’m not-” his voice cracked a little as he looked up and the man stared at him in sympathy.
“I believe you, kid.” He sighed, raking his fingers through his gray hair. “But the law is the law.”
Harlan left the room at that and slipped into the dingy, too bright bathroom and dropped his clothes onto the lid of the toilet in the nearest open cubicle. He took a deep breath before stripping himself of his clothes. Just a few more moments and then he’d be with Cyrus. Just a few more moments and then he’d see a familiar face and he’d figure out what the fuck to do.
Where the hell was Garrett?
When he needed his father the most, he wasn’t there. Go figure.
The stall next to his creaked open just as he tugged on the gray sweatpants and socks. He paused for a moment, watching the feet stop directly at his cubicle. “Harlan it’s-” the man whispered and Harlan swung the door open, practically dragging Cyrus into the cubicle and pulling him into the tightest hug, making Cyrus grunt a little.
He locked the door with a free hand whilst Harlan started to grip at his shirt.
“What the fuck happened to you?” Cyrus breathed in the man's familiar scent and closed his eyes, holding him just as fiercely. “I saw you a few hours ago, what the fuck did you do?”
They pulled away a little and Harlan quickly wiped his eyes, feeling slightly better now that he was in the presence of someone that brought him comfort.
“Did you?” A skeptical look formed on Cyrus’ face.
“No,” Harlan sighed, reaching for the gray shirt and tugging it on. “I didn’t do something stupid so I could be here with you. How would that help in getting you out of here?” He snapped a little and Cyrus leaned against the door, looking a little taken aback.
“Sorry,” Harlan whispered, looking at the ground. “I’m being accused of murder, so there’s that.”
He started to fold his clothes then. He needed to get these back before someone came to check on him.
“Did you just fucking say murder?” Cyrus’ eyes widened, forgetting all about Harlan snapping at him.
“You remember that officer that went missing after he came to my house?” When Cyrus nodded, Harlan continued. “Well, they found his body and they think it was me.”
“Shouldn’t you be in a holding cell then? Where is Garrett? Or Luna? Or anyone?” Cyrus started to sound agitated, growing protective over Harlan. He was right, Cyrus would’ve picked up the phone if he could have.
“No one answered,” Harlan lay everything in one neat pile and looked at Cyrus for a moment, trying to sound casual about it even though it fucking hurt. “So, I lied. Said I was tired, cried a bit and they offered to bring me here.”
“On purpose, I assume?” Cyrus was fighting a smile, but his expression had softened a little.
“I was having an anxiety attack and I needed to be somewhere I felt…safe.” Harlan shrugged, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks. It was stupid, really. To be blushing an hour after you’ve been accused of murder. Bodies and brains really do work in strange ways.
“Does juvie make you feel safe or is it me?” Cyrus quirked an eyebrow and Harlan’s smile broke free.
“Definitely the juvie,” he spoke in a sarcastic tone, feeling more at ease. The anxiety was still there, but it was more like a dull ache now. More bearable.
“Makes sense,” the other man mused. “It’s cozy here.” His own smile broke out now too, feeling relieved that Harlan felt that way, but also more panicked than he had been since earlier.
After Harlan had kissed him and promised he was going to get him out, he felt like he could breathe for the first time since he was hauled off. Now that they were both in there, who would save them? Where the fuck was Garrett?
“Wait here,” Harlan whispered. “I need to take these and then I’ll be back.”
Cyrus side stepped in the tiny cubicle and let Harlan pass, their chests brushing as he did so.
“Hang on,” Cyrus grabbed his arm once Harlan was out and pulled him in for a quick kiss before letting go. “Okay now you can go.”
Harlan grinned like an idiot and moved out into the hallway. He handed his clothes over to the man, who told Harlan he could either sit in the common room with the others, or he could be led by someone to an empty bed. Harlan said he’d go to the common room and the man let him leave. He trusted the poor kid. It was obvious he was no killer.
What harm was there in letting him walk alone?
Back in the bathroom, Cyrus pulled Harlan into the disabled bathroom which was larger and was at the far end of the space. Once the door was locked and Cyrus had propped himself up on the sink countertop, Harlan fell right into Cyrus’ arms again and closed his eyes, standing between the man’s legs.
Cyrus fiddled with Harlan’s curls, placing his chin on top of his head. “You’ll be out of here before you know it.”
“That’s if Garrett answers,” Harlan whispered, wrapping his arms a little tighter around Cyrus. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten you out of here yet.”
“It’s okay,” Cyrus whispered, staring at the blank wall ahead of him. “We’ll both get out of here, but you will first. Garrett will answer and take you back to the station and you’ll have your alibi’s and the charges will be dropped.”
“And then I can focus on saving you,” Harlan was starting to feel more level headed about this now. The way Cyrus had listed things made it sound so easy. What if his alibi’s weren’t enough?
He addressed this question with Cyrus who let out a sigh and sat back a bit so he could grab onto Harlan’s face. “There will be street footage they can pull. They’ll see what really happened, Harlan.”
“They’ll see the wolf,” Harlan whispered, eyes widening and his panic returning. “And if they see the wolf, then this is all over. Everything comes out.”
“Huh?” Cyrus frowned. What was he on about?
“I-I mean the wolf,” Harlan stuttered. Shit. “The one we saw in the forest, remember? It was outside with the officer and I and it attacked him and I ran back into the house.” Harlan rambled on to cover himself up. It was the truth, but it wasn’t the full truth.
“Well then, there you go.” Cyrus concluded. “You’re an innocent man, Harlan. Only in the ways that matter, though.”
“Oh fuck you,” Harlan stifled a laugh, gently pushing at the man’s chest.
“What did I say earlier? Hm?” Cyrus let out a chuckle. “We keep talking about that but it’s yet to happen.”
Harlan’s laugh died down a bit, staring intensely at the man in front of him. “It could happen now,” Harlan spoke softer now, moving his hands to grip Cyrus’ hips.
Cyrus leaned forward, ghosting their noses against one another and then their lips. “If we’re going to sleep together,” he whispered back. “I want it to be in your bed, where we both feel safe. Not here…”
Harlan could understand that. Too much was happening right now and Garrett or anyone else could walk in and they’d be in more trouble than before. “You’re right,” he rested his forehead against Cyrus’ and closed his eyes. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“You were thinking, just with your dick.” Cyrus remarked, earning a small smile from Harlan. “It will happen. We will get out of here and everything will be okay. I promise you that.”
“I believe you,” Harlan moved and closed the gap between their lips, allowing them to explore one another’s mouths for a long moment.
It was safe like this. Just the two of them in their own little world even if it wouldn’t last forever.
But Cyrus was right, they’d both get out and everything would be okay.
Things would work out for them.