Your Favourite Crime

10

Damien calls his step-mom "mom". if he ever talks about his bio-mom it will be obvious or says "biological mother"

Damien

"King Daddy."

"King Daddy."

"Hold on, Princess. Be patent, please."

"King Daddy."

"King Damien the third!"

"What, Princess? Where did the third come from?" I turn to my daughter

"That boy is stealing," Flavia tells

I look down at my daughter and follow her line of sight. I see a boy who's probably a bit older than Ethan, he's horribly stuffing food in his sleeve.

"Come, Princess," I pick Flavia up and quietly walk down the aisle.

"Hey," I say softly

The boy looks up at me a freezes. I'm still in uniform so he'd think I'm duty.

"You're not in trouble. See my cart there? Go put whatever you want in it and I'll pay for it,"

"Whatever?" The boy asks looking up at me with his green eyes.

"Whatever you want," I nod my head

"Thank you, Officer," He smiles softly

"Call me Damien. I'm off duty, no need for the formalities, bud," I say walking with him back to my cart, "What's your name?"

"Carter"

"What's the reason you're stealing, Carter?"

"I have younger siblings to take care of and I'm low on money right now. I've never done this before," he shrugs

"Are you always low on money?" I ask as we walk. I put Flavia down and she walks beside me.

"Money's tight at home. my parents are trying but things are expensive nowadays. I tried to get a job, but no one wants to hire me," he tells with a shrug

"How old are your siblings?" I ask as we turn into another aisle

"11, 9 and 3. I'm 17 and I'm trying to become an engineer. They make quite a bit of money," He shrugs

"You go to school everyday?" I ask. He picks up some apple sauce and granola bars

"Yeah. Or I try. Sometimes I have to stay home with my youngest sibling," he says

"You're a good brother, Carter. And I know you had to do what had to be done, that's why you're not in trouble," I tell him

"You're a cool officer," he says

"I'm a father. And I know my son would do it," Again and again for his little sister.

____________

"Carter! What happened?" A woman who looks to be around my age opens the door with wide eyes and pulls Carter into a hug

"Nothing, mom. Damien paid for the groceries," Carter tells

The woman looks up at me with wide eyes and I smile, giving her a small nod.

"No, you shouldn't have," The woman panics.

"Don't worry. It's nothing for me," I assure, "No need to feel like you owe me anything. I did want to talk to you and your husband, if he's around?"

"Yes, he is. Emma! Come help Carter with groceries. Paul!" The woman yells into the apartment.

"I'm coming," A man who's not too much short than me comes out. "Paul Dunn," The man shakes my hand