for meet cutes day 10 - i just commited a crime and i need to use you as a hostage. sorry!
for 366 words - wound
for writing club: liza's loves - thief!au; scamander's case - thief!au
i dont actually know what police precinct look like oops?
586 words by gdocs
Albus is starting to think that cereal is overrated. He definitely didn't think that when he put on pants at 11:30 at night to go to the supermarket to buy some. Now, though, as he ducks behind an aisle, he regrets it. To be honest, he doesn't exactly know what's going on. He just knows that someone ran into the store around two minutes ago and yelled, "Everyone down!" Albus has been cowering ever since.
He doesn't hear anything, so he peeks up over the shelf. The cashier is being robbed, but the robber doesn't look very good at it. There's nothing covering his face or his bright blond hair, and even his stance is nervous. Albus shifts closer, to listen in, and he accidently knocks into a bag of chips on the shelf. The chips fall, making a noise, and several things happen in quick succession. The robber spins around and stares at Albus, Albus cringes, the door to the store opens and two policemen storm in, and the robber runs over to where Albus is standing.
As the police approach them, the robber wraps an arm around Albus' neck. His hold isn't very strong, and he whispers, "Sorry, sorry," as Albus stands there, frozen with fear.
"Don't arrest me," the robber says, louder, to the police, "or I will…" The robber hesitates and suddenly Albus' fear is gone. He sort of wants to laugh. This bozo can't harm him, he's pretty sure.
"I'll wound him," the robber threatens, and Albus wonders how he's going to do that when his grip on Albus' neck is so loose that Albus could easily walk away.
"Put your hands up," one of the policemen orders, and the robber immediately gives in.
Albus buys his cereal, goes home, and promises to not go grocery shopping late at night ever again.
…
The next morning, though, Albus can't get the robber out of his head. Maybe it's the fact that his chokehold was awful. Maybe it's the fact that he literally gave in at the sign of any struggle.
With a groan, Albus gets into his car and drives to the local police precinct. He hates himself, but when he walks in, the robber is in the jail cell in the main lobby. As if his feet are acting of their own accord, he walks over to the front desk.
"I'd like to bail him out," he says, pointing a finger to the robber.
…
Thirty minutes later, Albus is officially having the awkwardest car ride of his life.
"I'm Scorpius, by the way," the robber — who is now sitting in his passenger seat — says.
"Albus," he replies, looking ahead at the road.
"I'm not saying that I don't appreciate it," Scorpius says slowly, his voice small, "but why did you bail me out?"
"Your hold was awful," Albus says, leaving it at that. Scorpius lets out a loud exhale.
"I'm sorry," he says, sounding sincere. "I'm just really broke. Like really broke."
Maybe Albus has too much of a big heart. Maybe he really shouldn't be doing this. But still, he has money. He has money from his parent's and he has a well paying job, and this guy is broke enough that he attempted to horribly rob a store.
"Do you want me to buy you some food?" he asks, glancing over at Scorpius for a moment. Scorpius looks shocked.
"I'd love that," he whispers. "But can we go to a different store than last night?"
