"Are you listening Boot!?" My voice shot out as I beckoned Officer Briggs again through the halls of the police station. She was looking at the people a little too long as she followed behind. I should have seriously asked Jess how her boot was.
"Look, I can't blame you for your condition. But you need to understand that you'll have sounds, smells and lights all over the place. Gun shots, bombs, riots, powers that can aggressively attack you in ways you never thought possible, we can't have you get distracted by anything, do you understand?"
Briggs [???]: My apologies. But at least these earpieces can help.
She takes out one and shows it. It's the same colour as her peach skin and easily fits into her ear.
"What does it do?" I silently ask to grab it as I moved my hand but she pulled back, swiftly placing it back in her ear canal
Briggs [???]: It detects sound from the outside and puts it in a frequency I can handle. I don't do very well with loud sounds.
Justin [Chill, happy]: "I don't think any of us do." That brought out a chuckle in me while Briggs just looked at him.
"Maybe you should get some for us too. If it's affordable."
Briggs [???]: "I actually... made it myself."
"Really? Did you get it approved?"
"Not yet. I had submitted it to captain Freiz. After what happened with captain Freiz, I think my request was put in the backlog."
"You didn't ask?"
Briggs [???]: "I did. But Captain Lockman was angry for some reason."
Justin and I rolled our eyes. There was only one reason other than work that could have pissed him off. I sighed.
"Did he try to flirt with you?"
Briggs [???] : He did? I wasn't aware. However, I asked him for his qualifications because he wasn't wearing his tie properly.
Justin [Nervous]: You did what?
Briggs [???] : Don't speak over me, Officer Bloomfield. If he wants to be a good cop, he should be properly dressed yeah?
She chuckled but her lips didn't reach her eyes.
Briggs [???] : Where are we going?
She was fiddling with her hands as we walked. Rubbing her fingers in between each crevice.
"I want to see your ability in action." I answered as we continued to walk.
Briggs[???] : So where are we going?
Justin looked at me silently saying 'just tell her'.
"We aren't friends, boot. I'll tell her what she needs to know and you need to know your place." I snarled at him. I pondered how easy it was for Justin to simply reach my speaking level that he does this.
"Boot Number Three. Officer Briggs" I looked at her and she walked past me before realizing I was speaking to her. "Ask all you want but in this place, everything and I mean everything, is on a need to know basis. So don't go annoying others with that."
Briggs [???] : Yes sir.
"Go inside and do your magic. Show me that you can be useful even with all of your faults." I said pointedly. She looked at me and I could see a tinge of a glare, all that she could muster anyways before I opened the door for her.
We walked went into the dark observation room. The woman abusing SOB was there from the morning, sitting on the other side of the one way glass with his lawyer. A man walked in short stature and tired, unassuming on all sides. I silenced Justin before motioning Briggs to take the lead.
Briggs [???] "Detective Long Bottom, Pleasure to meet you. We were sent to aid you here."
He didn't even look at her.
LongBottom [Dismissive]: Yeah... yeah, well make sure you don't mess this up for me. Last Boot almost puked because he couldn't handle blood.
Briggs [???] : I don't puke sir, although I do flail my hands from time to time.
LongBottom's face remained unchanged as he ignored the small talk and looked at me.
LongBottom [Dismissive] : Huh? Okay. Let's go in.
The door was open and she followed close behind. They grilled into him as the man would consistently mention the Butterfly Killer and how they ruined society.
"Boot, Remind me why we are questioning him?" I asked with a side glance. Justin looked and spoke softly for his big stature. Much softer than his days, his voice a shadow of his own voice
Justin[Focused]: Because the injured woman was found to suffer from... from Meningitis and Lobotomy.
"And what exactly are we looking for from this man-?"
Justin [Annoyed] :You can drop the act you know. We both have a job to do. Don't we?
My eyesbrows raised and I glared. What did this SOB say? "I don't care if you are a top hero. If you're my boot that I'm responsible for, You're my damn boot. Now drop and give me 20."
Justin [Annoyed] : This isn't the military.
"Don't tempt me Boot. Get down on the ground and give me 20. As of right now, I am your superior. It seems you also need a lesson in respect for the chain in command."
Justin[Pissed]: "I am not under you." He stepped closer as if he could intimidate me.
"But you may as well be. Everyone knows I'm not lenient to any boot, no matter how pompous or self entitled you are. So drop the attitude and give me 20."
Briggs [???] : Done.
Shit. I didn't even notice her.
"What's the outcome? Who gave the procedure?" I asked.
LongBottom [Focused] : "A man named Orlando Metis. One of those types who think sidekicks are slaves. I've found a location where he does his surgeries. We will get back to the three of you if we need more manpower."
LongBottom looked at Briggs and then at me.
LongBottom [Admiration]: She's a smart one. The man was actually not guilty or remorseful so Officer Briggs decided to make him a little bit more boastful. The man confessed to his involvement in domestic and gave the name.
Shit. If only i'd looked. I looked at Justin, who somehow finished his 20 in 10 seconds. Somehow the Bloomfields always have a way of putting the spotlight on themselves. Troublemakers.
Briggs [???]: Did I prove myself as required sir?
"You did good. But there will be many more tests to come. Poetsfield wasn't built in a day, remember?" I hope she didn't notice.
Briggs [???] : Yes sir.
"You're not tired already, Boot 3?" I teased.
Briggs [???]: No sir.
"Alright" I clasped my hands. "Come on Boots, the day isn't over yet."
We walked back out of the police station and took up spots to find any stragglers or criminals. I'd remember kids running off into the play ground to play. People would walk without a care while they would stare up at the Heroes. One of them would be Justin... or what others would call him aegis. There were legendary battles that rumbled in between the elements of the earth. It was a spectacle really. I'd watch and grow as the days passed. Having just emotional intelligence, I was destined to play the role of a hero's aid.
But clearly, the world had enough sidekicks, not enough teachers. Sidekicks must learn. It's not easy for them but it's not easy for the heroes they serve either. Not to mention the butterfly killer making the rounds. Bzzzt. Gopi... My lips upturned. It's been so long.
"Go get us three some coffee." I shooed them away as i walked to the breakroom.
I grabbed my phone. "Hey love. Did something happen?"
Gopi: "Do I need a reason to call my boyfriend?"
"We agreed that you'd call me in emergencies remember? I'm still on duty."
Gopi: Well, It is. I....wanted to hear your voice.
"Well, I have a few minutes before I have to go."
Gopi: This will take more than a few minutes, Keerti.
"Can it wait? We can do this when we get back to the apartment."
Gopi: Fine.
"Hey, we can still-"
She cut the phone. I rubbed my eyes with my fingers. Fucking hell. What the hell could have been so fucking important? I racked my brain for all kinds of possibilities. But none stuck.
I sat down on the couch and leaned back into my seat.
Briggs [???]: I need to ask a question.
She set my coffee down as she looked directly at me. "What?"
Briggs [???] : Do you guys.... even know the basics of police work?