The Mistake
Trials
April 28th, Wednesday
"I do not get it," murmured Gerard as he settled into the prosecution desk. "Why must we have a trial if we know they are guilty?"
Frank and Mikey scooted closer to him from the public seating. "Well," Mikey began, "the United States Constitution states that every person has a right to a fair and speedy trial."
The black-haired boy scrunched up his face. "But's it's illogical," he protested.
Frank shrugged, patting his shoulder. "It doesn't have to be logical; just fair."
Before Gerard could reply, a briefcase slammed onto the table, making their heads snap up. Juliet stood there with their lawyer, a Mr.Charles Nixon (no relation to the US president). He was a reasonably decent prosecutor; with a smile as contagious as Johnny Knoxville's and a face reminiscent of Elijah Wood's, he was known for winning over the entire jury and making a convincing case against the defense.
"Good morning, Mr.Way," greeted the lawyer, gaining a small, nervous grin from 'Mr.Way'. "I hope you remember that we are most definitely going to win this case," he said confidently, nodding to himself.
Gerard nodded.
"Alright. Well, the trial should start soon, so relax."
Another nod from Gerard.
Juliet sat next to Gerard (he was still a minor, after all) and squeezed his shoulder. The small family fell into a tense silence.
"Please rise for the Honorable Judge Simon," called the comically scrawny bailiff. The entire courtroom stood as a chubby man in a black robe strode to his bench, plopping down and looking apathetically at the faces staring back at him eagerly.
"You may sit," the judge said, sounding just as cheery as he looked. The courtroom obeyed quietly. "I hereby call the Way case to order. Prosecutor, state your claim."
Mr.Nixon stood from his seat and approached the Judge's bench, standing before it and the jury. "Have any of you ever heard of the term 'feral child'? If not, let me inform you. A feral child is a child that has been cutoff from human contact. In many cases, the child cannot speak and is very instinctual. Gerard Way is a feral child, for he has been locked in a basement in contact solely with the maid. He is ignorant to the ways of the typical life of a seventeen year old and had not seen his parents for years before the arrest of Christina and Barry Way. They had neglected their son for fourteen long years, leaving the boy traumatized. Tell me how they can not be guilty."
Judge Simon nodded and turned his head. "Defense."
A woman who appeared to have been the love child of Molly Ringwald and Liam Neeson plus forty years; not an overly attractive woman. "Mr. and Mrs.Way did indeed neglect their son, but not as severely as Mr.Nixon was insinuating. Please understand that Mr. and Mrs.Way were unable to afford another child--" And so they stored their first-born in the basement? "-- at the time."
The Judged nodded again. "Prosecutor, call your witnesses to the stand."
"I would like to call Gerard Way to the stand."
The aforementioned teenager, having expected the call to duty, stood calmly from his seat and made his way to the witness stand and allowed himself to be put under oath. He settled into the seat adjacent to the judge with no verbal qualms.
"Now, Mr.Way," started Mr.Nixon, "where were you for the past fourteen years?"
"I was in a basement."
"Who's basement?"
"Their's."
"Who is 'they'?"
Juliet called him over and whispered something in his ear. They murmured and nodded to each other for a moment.
"Can you point to the accused now?"
"Yes. Those two, behind the defense desk." Gerard pointed to his parents easily, his hand lazily directed at them.
"Thank you, Mr.Way. You may leave the stand."
Gerard got up and shuffled back to his seat, his eyes suddenly taking on a tired haze. Frank let his hand slyly slide over the bar and rub circles around his back.
Mikey, Frank, and Juliet were all called over respectively, successfully (in Gerard's and the jurors' minds) proving the Way parents guilty. Mrs.Frye (Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Futurama), the defense attorney, was floundering wildly as she questioned her witnesses and presented her evidence, or lack thereof.
Judge Simon called for a brief recess, just enough time for the jury to deliberate. The small family collected coffee from the cafeteria and sat outside of the courtroom, silent and thoughtful.
"Do you think we won?" whispered Gerard, letting his head fall onto Mikey's shoulder.
"Most definitely," the three others answered in unison, bringing a smile to his lips.
Later that same day, Gerard walked into his basement bedroom with a new confidence for the future and a renewed faith in humanity. His case was over, he was free. His parents were incarcerated for a long time, although the exact time frame was still undecided.
As far as he knew, his future was bright and full of surprises.
"I do not get it," murmured Gerard as he settled into the prosecution desk. "Why must we have a trial if we know they are guilty?"
Frank and Mikey scooted closer to him from the public seating. "Well," Mikey began, "the United States Constitution states that every person has a right to a fair and speedy trial."
The black-haired boy scrunched up his face. "But's it's illogical," he protested.
Frank shrugged, patting his shoulder. "It doesn't have to be logical; just fair."
Before Gerard could reply, a briefcase slammed onto the table, making their heads snap up. Juliet stood there with their lawyer, a Mr.Charles Nixon (no relation to the US president). He was a reasonably decent prosecutor; with a smile as contagious as Johnny Knoxville's and a face reminiscent of Elijah Wood's, he was known for winning over the entire jury and making a convincing case against the defense.
"Good morning, Mr.Way," greeted the lawyer, gaining a small, nervous grin from 'Mr.Way'. "I hope you remember that we are most definitely going to win this case," he said confidently, nodding to himself.
Gerard nodded.
"Alright. Well, the trial should start soon, so relax."
Another nod from Gerard.
Juliet sat next to Gerard (he was still a minor, after all) and squeezed his shoulder. The small family fell into a tense silence.
"Please rise for the Honorable Judge Simon," called the comically scrawny bailiff. The entire courtroom stood as a chubby man in a black robe strode to his bench, plopping down and looking apathetically at the faces staring back at him eagerly.
"You may sit," the judge said, sounding just as cheery as he looked. The courtroom obeyed quietly. "I hereby call the Way case to order. Prosecutor, state your claim."
Mr.Nixon stood from his seat and approached the Judge's bench, standing before it and the jury. "Have any of you ever heard of the term 'feral child'? If not, let me inform you. A feral child is a child that has been cutoff from human contact. In many cases, the child cannot speak and is very instinctual. Gerard Way is a feral child, for he has been locked in a basement in contact solely with the maid. He is ignorant to the ways of the typical life of a seventeen year old and had not seen his parents for years before the arrest of Christina and Barry Way. They had neglected their son for fourteen long years, leaving the boy traumatized. Tell me how they can not be guilty."
Judge Simon nodded and turned his head. "Defense."
A woman who appeared to have been the love child of Molly Ringwald and Liam Neeson plus forty years; not an overly attractive woman. "Mr. and Mrs.Way did indeed neglect their son, but not as severely as Mr.Nixon was insinuating. Please understand that Mr. and Mrs.Way were unable to afford another child--" And so they stored their first-born in the basement? "-- at the time."
The Judged nodded again. "Prosecutor, call your witnesses to the stand."
"I would like to call Gerard Way to the stand."
The aforementioned teenager, having expected the call to duty, stood calmly from his seat and made his way to the witness stand and allowed himself to be put under oath. He settled into the seat adjacent to the judge with no verbal qualms.
"Now, Mr.Way," started Mr.Nixon, "where were you for the past fourteen years?"
"I was in a basement."
"Who's basement?"
"Their's."
"Who is 'they'?"
Juliet called him over and whispered something in his ear. They murmured and nodded to each other for a moment.
"Can you point to the accused now?"
"Yes. Those two, behind the defense desk." Gerard pointed to his parents easily, his hand lazily directed at them.
"Thank you, Mr.Way. You may leave the stand."
Gerard got up and shuffled back to his seat, his eyes suddenly taking on a tired haze. Frank let his hand slyly slide over the bar and rub circles around his back.
Mikey, Frank, and Juliet were all called over respectively, successfully (in Gerard's and the jurors' minds) proving the Way parents guilty. Mrs.Frye (Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Futurama), the defense attorney, was floundering wildly as she questioned her witnesses and presented her evidence, or lack thereof.
Judge Simon called for a brief recess, just enough time for the jury to deliberate. The small family collected coffee from the cafeteria and sat outside of the courtroom, silent and thoughtful.
"Do you think we won?" whispered Gerard, letting his head fall onto Mikey's shoulder.
"Most definitely," the three others answered in unison, bringing a smile to his lips.
Later that same day, Gerard walked into his basement bedroom with a new confidence for the future and a renewed faith in humanity. His case was over, he was free. His parents were incarcerated for a long time, although the exact time frame was still undecided.
As far as he knew, his future was bright and full of surprises.
Notes
The end is nearing.
Sorry about the wait and odd update time; this week has been somewhat shitty. I saw two relationships bloom and fall apart today, respectively. Not to mention the fact that I haven't seen REM sleep since I started this story.
By the way, if any of you need an editor, I'd be happy to do it. Just comment below or PM me. Either or is find with me.
Comment and subscribe and rate and shit.
-Stitches
Hi there. I'm not sure if you still look at this account at all, but I just reread this fic from start to finish, for the third time, and I just want to say how much I love it...if you're there. ;)
x
6/24/16