" What are you staring at?"
" Em..I "
Her eyebrows frowned harder, waiting for his reply.
" I wasn't staring", he lied hoping she'd forget or ignore it but when he saw her face he knew she wasn't dropping it.
" Emm No you were staring at something so don't lie ". She was not messing around, there was a sharpness to her voice.
" I was...,I was staring at your hair. It's ehh, it's nice ", now his plan was to admit he was staring at her but lie about where. Her mouth flexed, twitching with anger and he knew it didn't work.
" Am I four feet tall Theo?", she asked putting her hands on her waist.
" No ma'am you seem 5'7 at least ", He replied in a respectful tone.
' Wow, he was pretty close '.
" So no way you were staring at my hair. Cause it's up here ", she said running her hands through her hair in a fast motion.
" I mean if you actually were, I wouldn't care less but that's not what you were staring at was it?".
" No it w_
" Was it my waist hmm ". She said angrily with a hint of disbelief. There was nothing teasing about it.
" I didn't mean to. I'm sorry ", Theo said looking down finally admitting to it.
Cara scoffed, In it Theo could hear the suppressed urge to slap him. " What is wrong with you?". She said in disbelief. She knew he was staring but seeing him admit to it was ridiculous.
Her eyes squeezed in an angry expression sliding in the borders of disgust and shock.
" Do you think this is all a joke. You have a literal country who would want nothing more than to see you turned into a lab rat and pay for the lives you took ".
She wasn't holding back and Theo knew he deserved it. Her words cut through him and left a hole for the other attacks to come in.
" Listen I'm going to win you this case. Ok that much is clear but I can only win if you don't fuck up. The court are going to reem into you, make you believe you're a monster.
If you show the slightest most minute signs of being unstable they will fry you ".
Theo clenched his clothes harder. His beautiful fingers are turning white. Her words genuinely scared him.
" Is that what you want?". She said looking directly at him. Even when he sat his head was level with hers.
" Fucking answer the question Theo?"
" No ", he whispered.
" It's not what I want either. But the way you're acting, seems real likely ", she took in a deep breath and rubbed her forehead in exhaustion.
" I mean if you can't control your emotions now, how are you going to do that in the court room. Which is literally the most emotional place in the world ".
He knew she was right.
" You know what ", She said walking closer to him throwing the two metre warning out the window. She looked at him hard. He could smell her perfume and it was magnificent
" Look at me ", she whispered.
Theo didn't. He kept his gaze down refusing to raise his head.
" Theo, look at me ", she said in a resolute voice. It made him very uncomfortable but he obeyed her and looked up.
When he saw those green eyes he couldn't help but gulp. She was so beautiful up close.
He was clenching his gown hard trying to hide his shiver.
" Good. Now look we all only have one chance at this. One chance at pleading for you to be spared. I'll do my job and save you. You do yours and don't give anyone a reason to be scared of you. Do you understand?"
Theo was lost. He was staring at the sexiest lips in the world. She didn't even need lipstick.
He quickly gulped and said yes.
" Ok. If you ever so much as stare at me ill drop your case and no one can help you then. If you bite your lips I'll join the other side and ensure you never see the light of day ".
He nodded.
She stood up and to moved to the door holding on to the knob but her body still arched to Theo.
" The Ti-mir have shown a lot of interest in your case. I don't know why but the chances are they'll interfere ".
She looked down and gripped her briefcase hard.
" It should be in our favour if they do. But if it happens keep your mouth shot. Just let me handle them ".
She exhaled in fatigue. He saw the way her shoulders dropped. Theo knew she was tired and it was using his fault. He wasn't exactly the ideal client.
' Bloody hell this is hard ', Cara muttered to herself.
" Get some sleep Theo. You're human after all and I need you to be in your most sane state of mind. Till our next appointment ".
Then she walks out.
' Fucking idiot staring at me like he's never seen a woman before ', she thought.
When she left, the robots entered the room.
" Return to your containment ", said one as it poked him with it's big ass rifle.
" Right ". He said quickly.
Those things scared the shit out of him. Then again everything did. Cara's words would be ringing in his ear throughout the day. She was right. He needed to be calm and sane but with her it was so hard.
Maybe it's just this body. He's always had trouble controlling his lust before he became a monster.
Though no one knew about it. He was always so calm and mature excluding the excessive drinking part.
But now.
Now when he was around Cara, he felt the urge to make her his. He wanted to have sex with her. Genuinely fuck her.
It was super fucked up but it's what he wanted.
There are very few people on earth who are that attractive but it's no excuse.
It'll die down. ' Yeah it'll die down '.
TRIAL DAY.
The noise was deafening outside the court.The sheer energy of the crowd made the scene seem more like a spectacle than a trial. It's like every one already knew the result.
Death.
This wasn't a trial. This was a spectacle.
The building was a large greek revival hall. As if to emphasis Law itself. The stone pillars were old and each stretched high to the gable roof ceilings where the sign of the building stood.
' Court of DC '. Painted in an ominous red contrasting with the buildings regal cream colour.
The building has six floors and stretches to cover 7 whole acres. The DC court was one of the largest in the world and the third largest in the US but definitely the most powerful.
Reporters lined the upper balcony, cameras flashing, their voices forming over lapping webs of conversations waiting to turn them to questions and then accusations. The audience was a mix of civilians, heroes, and government officials, sat in comfy seats—few watching in fascination, most in disgust and hostility.
Other than the fact that this trial was regarding a fiend, something else made Theo's case very hard to win.
The peace between UK and US depended on Theo being sentenced to death for his worst crime
Rendering a Sentinel inactive. Not just any Sentinel, one of the most powerful and heroic.
Whirl woman. ' Though, it is too bad she isn't here to testify against him. He wouldn't have any chance.'
Eren ( Whirl woman's corespondent )
That's what he was thinking. He didn't know why he was here. The court pleaded he participate in the case but he declined.
' She wouldn't have wanted that '. He doubts if she wasn't sleeping, she'd even be here.
Whirl Woman was never the kind to play into what people expect. She did what she thought was right.
So why was he here. Watching.
He wanted to know what this was. He wanted to see the being that scared one of the most powerful heroes in Europe. This Fiend. He wanted to see it.
Then there it was. A large glowing red portal opened up. Cara Bell, one of the best lawyers in the world came out first.
She was dressed like an aesthetic model. A neat yet messy white shirt that was tucked in to large baggy gray office trousers.
Ontop of that a large blazer, the same colour.
For shoes?
Well she opted for simple slippers.
Like she thought the trial of the century would be a work in the park. Her hands on her waist staring at the paparazzi and reporter's like they weren't there, like they were just space.
The next to come through the portal was Captain Guile. His hair messy as always and wearing suits way to big for him.
In the face of a Captain the aggression and vigor put into the questions and pictures were toned down.
But when Baran came through all the female fans who were barricaded practically went feral.
The high pitched screams were deafening.
He flashed them a smile, ah yes this was what he lived for.
Then they felt it. An inhumane presence made the silence reveal itself. The sound of heavy chains rattling.
Theodore Vaughn Gunes.
The heavy chain ran from the Arcane negating device on his neck through his wrists and then to his ankles.
He could feel the fear and hate that people harboured towards him. It was so intense, it was isolating.
Cara sensed his fear and she tapped his shoulder. He bent down so her lips were in the same level with his ear.
" Stay calm. Trust me in the blink of an eye you're a free man ", then she moved forward catching up to Guile and Baran.
She always knew how to calm him down.
The courtroom itself was massive, almost like an arena. No, it was an arena.
At the center stood the Judges' Podium, raised high above everyone's sits. Five judges, draped in dark crimson robes, sat behind an obsidian desk, their expressions as stoic as a statue.
Only one woman among them and you had to take a big hard look to know she was a she.
Theo swallowed hard.
' These people definitely don't like him '.
Then they took their sit at first of 9 rows. Each sit made of beautiful soft wood and silky classical cushions.
It was rather comfortable.
Theo took in a deep breathe and looked to his back where Captain Guile and Baran sat.
Guile flashed him a thumbs up. He looked at Baran who flashed him a magical middle finger but with a smile.
He turned to Cara and saw her on her phone texting someone as they waited for the judges to begin the case.
They could take as long as they want for some reason.
" Who's that?", he asked our of mild curiousity.
" The other Lawyer ", she said calmly still staring at her phone.
" You know him?",
she flexed her mouth together to the contrary. " I just happened to get his number from a source ", She said in so vile a smirk, it was almost sadistic.
showed held her phone and raised it to Theo showing him the text.
" You're fucked buddy ".
Then she leaned back in her seat trying not to laugh.
Theo already was.
She shrugged her shoulders innocently.
" I mean hey, it's all part of the game ", she said no longer suppressing her laugh.
Theo looked to the Lawyer. He was an old man. Probably in his forties, his hair was heavily gelled black but didn't help much in hiding his white threads of hair.
The man looked so mad.
' Hope he didn't know one of the 5 victims ',
Suddenly the man put his hands in his tight suit and dragged out his phone worriedly.
" I think he's seeing it ", Theo said holding her hand and lowering her phone.
She turned to him and yes Theo was right. The man was looking around frantically in a worried expression but still trying to hide his panic.
" Oh shit!", she said quickly turning forward and tapping Theo three times on the shoulder to the same.
" Shhh Shhh, don't laugh..,Don't laugh ".
" You are the one laughing ".
Guile was already asleep with a lollipop in his mouth. Baran was signing shirts and foreheads outside.
No one dared to take his sit.
A gavel slammed against the podium, sending a sharp echo through the hall. The murmurs died slowly but definitely.
The prosecutor stood up. A petite man with a surprisingly deep loud voice.
"Case #9042. The People vs. Theo Vaughn Gunes.
If he destroyed half of London and this is a U.S. court case, then the charges would be even more severe—possibly including federal charges if the government gets involved. The formal announcement of charges would be something like:
"The defendant is charged with the following:
Five counts of manslaughter in the first degree.
One count of high treason against the UK in harming a Sentinel
One count of first-degree villainous assault.
One count of villainous mischief in the first degree.
One count of reckless endangerment in the first degree.
One count of mass destruction of property, resulting in risk to human life and fatalities
One count of an act of mass terrorism resulting in death and destruction ".
" Wheeew ", Baran whistled jokingly.
Theo tried to put his hands over his head. He was panicking but he felt Cara's hand on his forearm. She was staring forward with an Intrepid expression on her face.
" Don't you dare panic ".
The people in the court started becoming harder to control. They started to stare aggressively at Theo. Some of the women started feeling hypnosis.
The allure of a human Fiend was acting up.
People were sweating in shock at their own attraction.
The gacek slammed down three times.
" Order Order ". But it didn't do much to alleviate the pandemonium.
Then one of the Judges ordered the security to come over and whispered something to his ear.
He went in through a door and came out with a large metal mask.
" Where this ".
" Your owner, this is a violat_
" Over-ruled ".
Cara sat back down smiling and nodded to Theo to wear the mask. It was a large decayed mask. Seemedas if it was used to torture people.
Either it's what the one torturing people or the one being tortured, anyone of them could have worn it. Reluctantly Theo tried to putting it on.
The security tried to help but Cara gave her palm up signifying that she'd do it.
" Don't worry. It'll all be over soon. Just...,
She tightened the buckle.
" Just stay calm and control your breathing ". Each time her palms touched his hair it made him quaver in arousal.
Was he always this sensitive or does she have magic hands.
The lead judge, an older man with piercing silver eyes, leaned forward after a tired gasp
"Prosecution, present your case."
The other lawyer stood—his stupid hair, his stupid suit almost too perfect. He had the air of someone who had already won.
It annoyed Cara and scared Theo.
And from the moment he spoke, it was clear—he was prepared. Didn't seem the least flustered that he'd been receiving threat texts from an anonymous number in Cara.
" Ladies and gentlemen. We are not gathered here today to mourn the five lives that this man, nay this Fiend he taken from us ", he said pointing to Theo aggressively.
Cara leaned. " Feel nothing. You're innocent. Feel nothing ".
Theo tried to do as she said but he wasn't entirely innocent. He was only innocent in intention. Not in action. He did killy those five people.
" We are here to decide whether or not this thing should be made to walk among us. On our streets, passing by our children..., ".
" Mother fucker ", Cara mumbled
" The verdict of this case will let us know whether justice still holds in this world for this is a case regarding crimes against humanity ".
His words were razor-sharp, each one digging into Theo like a blade. The crowd murmured in agreement.
And then—Cara stood up slowly.
" This is not a punishment or a road to a punishment. My client has taken lives, that is the truth. What's also the truth is that it was circumstance backed by substantial medical reports ".
" You tell us that it was a circumstance. What's to stop it from happening again. What's to stop him from cracking and destroying all of us. What if there isn't a hero like Whirl woman ready to sacrifice herself to save all of us ".
" Indeed sir, circumstance is reoccurring which is why we have stats ".
" Science ", she said pronouncing each syllabus obviously.
" The Fiend/Human tests, the rigourous medical analysis. We had Captain Guile, one of the greatest users of Arcane perform that brutal test on him and he passed. If indeed he was a threat would the Captain not have neutralised him days ago ".
Guile had no idea what was going on. He was sleeping. The court couldn't tell him shit. That's the leeway you get when you're a captain.
The trial went on like this back and forth for a while.
And the entire courtroom felt it.
Cara was winning. She had facts and science on her side.
She had a counter for everything. Made peoples blood lust and vengeance disappear right before their own face.
After 48 minutes of back and forth. A loud trumpet rang out through the entire courtroom. Everyone turned but Cara merely sat back down and whispered to Theo.
" It's the Ti-mir. Just let me do the talking ".
She leaned back into her sit. She was still staring at Theo. He was doing really well. He was very stable and calm.
She leaned into him again, her small hands giving him a tap on his arm.
" You're doing great ".
" Ohh Cara ", he called her, breathless almost moaning her name.
" What?"
" Forget ut ".
A large talking panda dressed in a silver robe came through the door and blows the trumpet harder.
No one stopped him. Then many women came through the door throwing black petals all around the floor.
" What the fuck?"
Then the panda spoke.
" Prepare mere mortals to meet the Second prince of Ti-mir. Prince Azhraavi of Ti-mir. The immortal punisher ".
A young looking teenage boy with silky black hair came through the door and everyone shook but no American bowed.
The boy seemed 16 at most but in reality the second prince was in his twenties. His eyelashes were long, abnormally so and his hair had no curl in site. It was flat in its regal nature brushing he floor.
His face was in an optimistic smile as he looked around. Void black eyes that saw everything around him as one sees the stones under their feet.
His golden and diamond embellished robe was not worn right, clearly oversized revealing most of his shoulders. Large muscular shoulders. Despite his small stature, everyone could tell he was trained in some form of combat.
On his left hand was a large red sakazuki.
He raised it to his mouth easily and drank from it rather little eticate.
The only thing that could be heard was his gulping and the transparent liquid dripping through his sharp cheekbones to the floor.
Wait a minute, that's just water.
The Prince removed the sakazuki from his mouth and threw it to his back. The panda caught it hastily before it could land.
The whole thing unfolded in Theo's eyes like a novie. This man didn't seem real. The arrogance and strength coming from him seemed so outlandish and ridiculous you'd wonder how someone had to be raised to act like this.
Azhraavi looked around smacking his wet lips. His eyes were lined with a black blue paint and his ear heavily pierced.
" Prince you are disobeying national la_
" Shut up ", he said gently without looking at the Judge.
And shut up the judge did.
" This trial is over ", he said looking to the judges and those sitting down, with the most condescending glare in the world.
His voice reverberated all through the hall with an echo. It was the voice of a conqueror. A young one.
His accent was weird Theo thought. He couldn't get a good read of his Arcane.
Just how strong was he?
Baran was just tapping Guile to wake him up. His mentor was here.
Azhraavi pointed to the sky.
" The verdict..,"
He pointed back to himself. His voice sounded light like a girl and yet it was deeply unsettling commanding respect with it's reverberating loud echo.
" The verdict is what I say ".