A noisy entrance and a lot of charisma made the cop who entered next stand out to Taiga. Taiga knew him on sight, though narcotics wasn't strictly his line of work. Hooking and drugs went together, that's just how it is. Captain Hibiki brought them all to heel remarkably quickly, and the rookie pulled his hands off his hips, before finally completing the patdown. It brought out nothing more exciting than his wallet, his keys, a pen, a gold lighter, and a packet of luxury cigarettes. No weapons, no receipts.<br/><br/>It was his first quasi-arrest, which was diverting. He'd been in cuffs many times—that part, at least, was perfectly familiar. The anti-magic dart still poked out of his shoulder, a round splotch of blood spreading on his black suit from the nagging, painful wound.<br/><br/>As for Taiga's expression, it was shuttered into his best poker face. Smooth and empty and almost inhuman—there was no way to tell if he were pleased or upset, scared or nervous. He had perfect control of all his features.<br/><br/>There was nothing. The checks and patdown confirmed it. No probable cause. The cuffs were undone, and Taiga received his wallet, keys, cigarettes and lighter gracefully. He didn't bother to ask for the notebook. If they didn't give it freely, well, things disappeared from evidence lockers all the time.<br/><br/>"A pleasure, Lieutenant," Taiga told the higher-ranked cop. He brushed off their begrudging apologies and followed the stairs down to the parking garage. He saw the strange-eyed captain there. He reached behind his back and pulled out the magic-sealing dart, tossing it to the ground. It clinked onto the cement and rolled away. It was standard use in all arrests, even though ostensibly Hino and Taiga had no magic. It would be hours before Taiga could summon his ice, heal himself, or warge with animals again.<br/><br/>He was very aware of how vulnerable he was. He couldn't and wouldn't show it, though.<br/><br/>Taiga eyed the unlit cigarette Captain Hibiki was still tapping on his calloused palm. "Need a light, Captain?" Taiga asked. He thumbed his gold lighter, slid an exorbitantly expensive cigarette with gold leaf between his lips, and dipped his cigarette in the orange flame. He offered the flame to Captain Hibiki, held out coyly, with an amused smile. Twin strands of smoke peeled from the lit tip of his cigarette.<br/><br/>He was acting, as you would on a stage, but it was an Oscar-worthy performance. He never overplayed it. It was clear he was mocking him, but it would be hard for anyone to put their thumb on exactly why, or point to his voice as being bravado or mafioso tough. Nothing rang false, and yet it was all false, all of it. Taiga needed to get back to his home and his security detail immediately. He only lingered because he couldn't be seen to rush.