The early evening brought a muted calm to the station. The once frantic pace now slowed, though tension lingered beneath the surface. Fewer officers milled about, their steps more deliberate, but the weight of responsibility hung heavily in the air. Two days after the riots, the pressure from the police chief and government was palpable, an unspoken reminder that while the chaos had subsided, the scrutiny had not.

Margaret stepped inside the police station with effortless grace. Dressed in a black pencil skirt and white shirt with a tailored blazer, her appearance spoke of wealth and understated power, commanding yet elegant. The soft click of her polished heels on the tiled floor caught everyone's attention. She adjusted her designer handbag and glanced at her son.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Jay nodded. "You know it would only complicate things."

She was well aware that bringing anyone not directly involved in the legal process into sensitive areas like the consultation room wasn't allowed. But this was an unusual situation involving someone close. Perhaps that's why she admired Jay's choice to stick to his professional ethics even more.

Margaret approached the front desk, exuding the quiet authority that came with years of experience in high-profile cases. She greeted the officer on duty and introduced herself, following with the reason for her visit.

The desk officer quickly typed the information in the system, and his posture immediately straightened. He cleared his throat.

"Of course, Miss Anderson. The officer in charge is Detective Saengmai," he said, looking up from his computer before picking up the phone. "I'll let them know you've arrived."

Margaret waited patiently as the officer made the call, casually scanning the station. After a brief exchange, he hung up and gestured toward a nearby hallway.

"Detective Saengmai will meet you in the consultation room. I'll have an officer take you there."

Within moments, Margaret was being escorted through the station. Everything appeared orderly, but the evidence stored on her laptop and the case file told a different story. For the first time, she felt incredibly relieved for her influential backing; without it, navigating such a corrupt environment would have been quite a challenge.

The consultation room was sparse, with plain grey walls and a single fluorescent light over the metal table with two chairs. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the small space, ensuring the temperature was pleasant. Margaret barely set her bag on the table when a middle-aged in a checkered shirt and grey blazer rushed in and introduced himself.

"Miss Anderson," he began, his tone polite but brisk. "As you are aware, your clients are facing serious charges: inciting violence, disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. I'm afraid you have your work cut out for you."

Margaret raised an eyebrow, calm and collected. "I'd like to review the report filed upon their arrest. Could you also tell me what evidence these charges are based on? Body camera footage, witness statements... anything that supports the officers' claims?"

Detective Saengmai slid a file across the table. "At this stage, charges are supported by officers' statements as they both reported malfunction of body cameras."

"How convenient," Margaret hummed, opening the file. She scanned the pages briefly before speaking. "Fortunately, there is video evidence that contradicts this narrative."

His earlier friendliness faded, his expression now tense. "Miss Anderson, the case is still under investigation. Our officers acted within their duties given the circumstances."

Margaret closed the file calmly. "Detective, I'm sure you can appreciate the importance of a thorough investigation. But given the overwhelming evidence I have at hand – witness testimonies and video footage that challenge your officers' version of events – I'll be filing a motion to have these charges dismissed."

The Detective nodded, his jaw tightening. "That's your prerogative, Miss Anderson. But until that happens, the charges stand, and your clients remain in custody."

"I understand. However, I'll be filing for a bail hearing immediately. My clients should not have to endure detention when the evidence strongly supports their innocence. In the meantime, I'd also like to meet with them. I trust that won't be an issue?"

He seemed hesitant, perhaps realising how swiftly the legal process might turn in her favour, but couldn't refuse her request. "No issue at all. I'll arrange for them to be brought here shortly."

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Sean was escorted down the station's narrow hallway. His hands were cuffed, but he barely registered the pressure on his wrists, walking steadily between the officers. Suddenly, the cool air brushed past him as he was pushed into a consultation room and forced onto a metal chair. Instantly, a familiar British accent filled the small room, barely softening a harsh tone.

"There is no need for that, gentlemen," Margaret said, looking at them disdainfully. "Uncuff him immediately and summon Detective Saengmai. I'll be filing an official complaint regarding how my client got injured while in police custody."

The officer standing closer to Sean grumbled with annoyance but under his colleague's knowing look, moved to fulfil her request, and then they hurriedly left.

Sean instinctively rubbed his slightly bruised wrists, unsure how to react. Meeting his boyfriend's mother was awkward enough – doing so in prison felt surreal. Yet, despite the strange setting, there was an odd sense of reassurance in her presence. Her features were strikingly familiar: the same fair skin, the sharp, defined jawline, and that aristocratic nose mirroring Jay's so perfectly. Sean exhaled softly, wishing to see him more than ever.

"I'm Margaret Anderson, your legal counsel," she started, breaking the silence. "I'm pleased to meet you, Sean."

She looked at him with her eyebrows furrowed worriedly, her gaze lingering on the injury. The cut on his bottom lip, though not fresh, was still swollen and slightly discoloured, the skin around it tinged with a faint bruise. It seemed like he was hit with a blunt object.

"Do you have any other injuries or require medical assistance?"

Sean shook his head. "No, I will be fine."

Clearly, he didn't want to burden her, the discomfort practically radiating off him. But really, who wouldn't be uneasy in such a situation? Margaret wasn't sure what exactly his relationship with Jay was – frankly, it was none of her business – but she could imagine this must be an incredibly awkward moment for Sean.

"I must say your dossier is very impressive," Margaret said lightly, hoping he would relax.

He looked at her, slightly confused. "My dossier?"

Margaret smiled faintly and opened the file, turning it towards him. It contained everything from his study record and his family situation to his involvement with the group. "But we can discuss this later as we have much more pressing matters now."

Sean nodded, half convinced she would tell him to stay away from Jay or deliver some other clichéd ultimatum. The thought made him realise just how exhausted he was because Jay would never let anyone dictate who he should be with. Still, it would be nice if she didn't dislike him.

"It's a pretty straightforward case with concrete evidence disputing all charges," Margaret explained, directing his attention to the issue at hand. "Your friend captured the scene perfectly, including the whole context. We also made good progress towards finding witnesses."

"What are our charges?"

Margaret clicked her tongue with displeasure. "It's outrageous how they run this place. Holding you for over two days without even explaining why. Unbelievable."

She laid out the details swiftly, walking him through the case. Though seemingly casual, her questions were probing, subtly testing him without making it obvious. Sean answered instinctively, and with each response, Margaret's curiosity deepened. He had an intuitive understanding of human rights laws that went beyond the surface. Despite the setting and his exhaustion, there was something in the way he processed the situation... worth investing in.

As their discussion progressed, the initial tension disappeared, and Sean relaxed into the conversation, settling into the chair more comfortably. His thoughts drifted to those late nights spent studying with Jay. He had always been struck by how effortlessly Jay made sense of the most intricate details, breaking down legal complexities with a sharp clarity that Sean admired. It was strange how, even in this situation, that same clarity seemed to settle over him, making this meeting less daunting.

"We can't skip the formal process, but we can push the timeline," she said as their meeting neared the end. "I should be able to secure bail hearing for tomorrow, in the worst-case scenario, the following day. Then, within two weeks, charges should be dismissed."

Sean blinked in disbelief. Things like this usually dragged with no end, taking months at least. "How is it even possible?" he asked without thinking.

Margaret looked straight at him, her professional façade giving way to something more personal. "Because you have someone who cares about you enough to bend his own rules. I can't disappoint him, can I?"

His expression softened, and an unbidden smile tugged at his lips. Jay never talked about feelings or voiced affection openly. So when Sean confessed to him, he didn't expect to hear it back. But this felt like the closest thing to an 'I love you'. And if this wasn't Jay's way of saying it, Sean wasn't sure what else could be.

He cleared his throat, about to speak, when the door swung open. Two familiar officers entered, pushing Fort into the room and gesturing for Sean to step aside. Without a word, they swiftly handcuffed him, preparing to escort him back to the cell.

As soon as Margaret introduced herself, Fort's eyes widened in shock, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He wasn't used to dealing with people like her, especially knowing how much resentment his best friend harboured towards her. Still, he wouldn't disrespect someone who came to help him. Even if the whole thing left him conflicted, grateful, but conflicted.

It was something he had discussed with Sean a lot over the last two days. As a group, they always stood against the rich and powerful, who could influence the system. But now, they found themselves caught in an unsettling contradiction. Here they were, relying on Jay's mother – someone from that very world they opposed – and the privilege that came with her name to pull them out of this mess.

The irony wasn't lost on either of them. They questioned, where was the line between doing what's necessary and hypocrisy? Was this just survival, or had they compromised what they stood for? It felt like the system had won, twisting their principles until they could hardly recognise them. And yet, without Jay's help, what other options did they have?

"You seem conflicted," Margaret said, looking at him over the files.

Fort scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's just I never expected any of this to happen... that we would be so powerless on our own."

"There is nothing wrong with relying on someone's influence when you are trapped in an unjust situation," she explained calmly. "Sticking to your principles and the cause you are fighting for is admirable, but it shouldn't take precedence over your life. Besides, you are innocent and have the right to use all means to prove it."

"You sound a lot like Sean, Miss Anderson," Fort muttered with a mixture of amusement and resignation. "And phrase things in an impossible-to-argue way. Especially now that he has toned down a bit and become less reckless. Jay has a good influence on him."

Margaret couldn't help but think that Sean had an even better influence on Jay. Even if her son was as distant as always, his expression was softer on the edges. Most importantly, the work didn't seem to be the only thing his life revolved around. This was all she could hope for.

She nodded and smiled at him, then shifted the conversation towards his case.

The quiet courtroom was nearly empty, save for a few key officials. Cool air hummed softly from the vents, a welcome contrast to the heat outside. The polished wooden benches gleamed under the overhead lights, and the faint scent of freshly cleaned surfaces mingled with the sterile odour of legal documents.

Sean sat beside Fort at a long table, occasionally glancing around the room but mostly remaining focused on the judge's desk. While their recent detention had been unnerving, they both knew this was a formality. The officers stationed at the back seemed more uncomfortable than either of them, aware of how quickly the hearing had been arranged and its unusual circumstances.

At the front, Margaret addressed the judge with poise, her voice calm and measured. There was no rush, no unnecessary detail. Every point she raised was delivered with the confidence of someone who had already won the argument before even stepping into the room.

Soon, it was over. The judge, after a brief deliberation, granted bail. Sean exhaled softly, exchanging a relieved glance with Fort.

Margaret offered them a reassuring smile as she gathered her papers. "I'll handle the rest," she said quietly before turning to the court officials.

With her standing, things moved quickly. Within minutes, she was already coordinating with the clerk, ensuring all the required paperwork was filed correctly and fast-tracked for processing.

"You'll be out in a few hours," she said confidently as she returned to Sean and Fort. "There are still a few things to wrap up, but I'll speed things along. Just sit tight."

While the paperwork was completed, Sean and Fort were separated to wait in smaller, private consultation rooms while the final release procedures were processed.

Sean was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed. It has been a long and exhausting four days, forcing him to consider many things. It was another close call. And if Jay wasn't here to get them out of this? They would have slipped through the cracks, swallowed by the system. The thought settled heavily in his mind, making him realise they couldn't rely on luck forever. He needed a different way forward because they might not be so fortunate next time.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Margaret walked in, followed by an officer carrying a tray with Sean's belongings. The policeman set it on the table and went through the inventory, making sure everything was accounted for. Once he had completed his task, he left the room to retrieve Fort's things from evidence storage.

"There is something I would like to talk with you about," Margaret started, taking the seat across from him.

Sean looked up from his discharged phone, feeling an odd sense of anxiety creeping in.

"You have a rare understanding of human rights and the law, especially for a university student. And it's more than just talent," she continued, watching him carefully. "It's impressive how you process the bigger picture and think beyond the case in front of you," Margaret paused, folding her hands on the table. "That's why I want to make you an offer."

He shifted slightly in his seat, caught off guard. "An offer?"

Margaret nodded. "I know you still have a year left in university here, but once you've graduated, I'd like you to come to the UK. My firm is always looking for fresh, brilliant talent, and I believe you're someone worth investing in. We will fund a Legal Practice Course for you while you intern at my law firm, leading to a full contract if you successfully complete your studies."

Sean blinked, taken aback. "You're offering me a job? Just like that?"

She pulled out a neatly bound file and gently slid towards him. "Not just a job. An opportunity. You're clearly driven, and I believe you could do incredible things with the right resources and mentorship. You've seen what it's like to fight the system from the outside, but imagine what you could do with more influence, more reach."

Sean sat in stunned silence for a moment, the weight of the offer sinking in. It was surreal... things like this never happened to people like him. His current internship already felt like a miracle, but this? Impossible, unatanaible dream. Sean couldn't help but wonder how much this offer was tied to Jay.

"I don't expect you to answer now," Margaret added, sensing his hesitation. "It's a big decision, including relocation to the other side of the world. You have all the details about the contract and benefits here. Take your time to read it over and think it through."

He flipped through the contract, finding it clear and detailed. "Does Jay know about this?"

Margaret shook her head. "No, and I'll be frank... it has nothing to do with him," she said honestly. "This offer is based entirely on your academic record, achievements, and talent. It stands regardless of your relationship with my son."

Now Sean was rendered speechless. He would sooner expect her to ask him to disappear from Jay's life, but not this. His fingers paused on the edge of the folder, his mind spinning with the possibilities and implications. He appreciated the straightforwardness, the clear line between her offer and his relationship with Jay. And yet, it felt like he was doing something wrong.

"I don't know what to say...," he said finally, his voice quieter now. "It's a lot."

She smiled faintly. "Yes, it can be overwhelming. I suggest you take this last year at university to consider your options and decide with your best interest in mind."

He slowly nodded, still feeling a bit stunned by everything. This wasn't only an opportunity that would determine his future but also a chance to be with the person he loved. Still, Sean wished it could be this easy...