//------------------------------// // Only chapter // Story: Aria: Arrested // by WittyNameTFM //------------------------------// "Disturbing the peace, assault and battery...young lady, these are very serious…" The female officer spoke to the handcuffed girl. The light pinkish skin of Aria Blaze was bruised in several places, and swelling had almost closed her left eye. She refused to speak...lest she dig her grave deeper. The door opened and the officer looked up. "I'm doing an interrog-Captain Armor, sir. Good morning." She saluted. "At ease, Gleam. I overheard about our new friend. Go to lunch. I'll take over." He said. "Y-Yes sir." She stood, giving the girl a disappointed look. As the door closed, he took the seat across from her. "Aria." He said with a patient smile. "How are you feeling?" "..." She glared at him with her good eye. "He's in custody too you know. Your side of the story may just get you out of these charges." Her glare faltered for a moment. "Aria. I know you're friends with my little sister and her group. Any friend of Twily is a friend of mine, so let me help you here. Just tell me what happened, and I'll do as much as I can to help. I promise." "You're Sparkle's brother?" She asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Hmph…" She looked down. "It wasn't my fault." "Hang on." He stood, "I have to ask. You're not gonna do anything stupid if I uncuff you for a moment will you?" "Do I look like I can take out a whole station?" "Twily says you're really strong and quick on your feet with plans." He chuckled. "Let me get you out of those." He uncuffed her and brought one arm to the cuff connected to the table. "Better?" "A little." She shrugged. "Now. What wasn't your fault?" *** Aria looked around the store. She wasn't out to impress today...her usual outfit cast aside for jeans and a hoodie. The hood pulled over her long hair. She picked up a few things here and there, grabbing some supplies for the apartment...before heading toward the electronics department. Not because the toy section was right beside it. She had some games to look into getting. She glanced down the girl's toy aisle as she walked past, slowing to a stop. She glanced around before heading down the aisle, stopping in front of a section of colorful animals, they weren't dissimilar to some of the species from Equestria. She picked up a blue and pink seahorse like creature and held it in an almost clenched fist before walking quickly to the next department.  "Stop right there!" A man shouted as she neared the end of the aisle. "I won't stand by and watch you shoplift!" "I'm not?" Aria said, quirking an eyebrow. "Not anymore! Security!" He shouted. Aria shrank a little. "The hell's your problem dude?! I'm just shopping here!" *** 'Security called… that matches up with the bystanders.' He noted as he listened. "And what happened next?" "I don't remember what set him off…" *** The girl spotted a ring on the man's finger, perfect ammo. "Not getting enough attention from your spouse? Gotta go around harassing girls in stores?" She asked, crossing her arms. *** Aria shrugged. "I may have said something to piss him off." *** "How dare you speak to me like that, you bitch?!" "Oooh, 'bitch'. Someone learned his first naughty word." She mocked. "You're not worth my time, scumbag, fuck off." Aria flipped him off. "You're worth less than the dirt the janitors have to sweep off of this floor and you should feel ashamed of even thinking you can speak to me, much less accuse me of any wrong doing." *** "We got some bystanders saying that you…and I quote 'fucking slaughtered him'." Shining said, reading off the sheet with a smirk. "I don't think it was that extreme…" Aria looked away. *** The man grabbed her wrist, tightly gripping it and glaring at her threateningly. "You don't know who you're dealing with." He said through gritted teeth. "Let go of me or I'll show you that you have no idea who I am." She glared back. *** "Wait, he put hands on you first?" He asked, looking up. Aria pulled the sleeve of her hoodie up and showing a spot that looked a little bruised. "Yup. He threw me into the shelf by this arm. That's where I was going." *** The man slung her back into the shelf and Aria quickly responded by throwing a hook with her free hand. He was taken aback before returning the swing. "Self defense! She swung first!" He shouted. The man caught her in her eye before she shoved him back into the shelf and punching him in the mouth. Aria caught him by his shirt and slung him into the support pillar nearby, the hollow 'thunk' of the back of his head hitting the metal, then floor led the onlookers to quiet down immediately. *** "And that was when Chuckles cuffed me for assault." She glanced over her shoulder. "Chuckles? Do you mean Gleam?" He chuckled. "She does seem pretty serious all the time…" "Yeah her." Aria rested her chin in her palm. "So, am I going away for this?" She asked. "Oh no, you're free to go." He said, closing the folder. "Your story checks out with the multiple onlookers. We just needed a statement from both parties." He explained, standing to uncuff her from the table. "So all of this was just a scare tactic?" "Nah. The asshole in the other room…" He cleared his throat. "The gentleman in the other room was threatening legal action, but he has no leg to stand on. You on the other hand. Would you like to press charges?" "Fuck yeah, I do." She rubbed her wrists. "Any idea why he started shit?" "According to his side? He 'had a bad day'." Shining made air quotes. "But you didn't hear that from me." He added as he led her out of the interrogation room. *** Aria entered the Dazzling's apartment, closing the door behind her quietly. Adagio looked up from a book she was reading and sighed in relief. "Where were you?" "Can I tell you later..? It's been a long night." "Breakfast is the latest I will all-Aria, what happened to your eye?" She asked, standing up to hurry over. "It's part of the reason I want some time. C'mon Dagi…" She said quietly, looking away to hide it. "You never call me that…" She frowned. "Please...if it's serious don't hold onto this for too long." Aria sighed, giving her a tired look. "Give me a minute..I'll be back." She walked down the hall and opened the door to the younger Siren's room. She tiptoed in, and reached into her bag, taking out the seahorse she'd been accosted over. She sat it on the desk next to Sonata's laptop and put a small card under it that read "Happy Birthday". She looked over to the snoring girl and gave her a small...genuine smile. "Night 'Nata." She said quietly before heading back out and down the hall to Adagio...whom she broke down to and explained the night she'd had.