Take Me to Court: Day 1
A/N: Picture above is the courthouse.
Cont.
I looked at the bracelet in my hand, furrowing my eyebrows as I brought it to Dick.
"What's this?" I asked. He looked at my face, his eyes then trailed down to my hand. Dick's eyes widened, Tim pushed past him and took it out of my hand.
"Hey, Dicky. Didn't you help design this?" Tim teased. Dick nodded, slightly annoyed. Tim put his arm up and rolled down his sleeve. Dick then did the same and I found they were both wearing the same bracelet.
I looked around and noticed the everyone was wearing one too.
"After Blue Jay 'died', people wanted a way to feel close to her, to honour her, ya'know?" Tim began to explain.
"So Bruce and I designed these bracelets to symbolize her- it was the last thing we ever did together. The blue, black and white; your colours. The black is mud from the deepest point in the ocean."
Dick started to fiddle with the one on his own wrist, then continued to speak.
"It means that at your lowest- stay hopeful and optimistic, like you do. And even after you've won the battle, you stay humble- you don't seek praise, don't even ask for a thank you. That's what the white one is for- it has snow from Mount Everest." I looked down at the bracket in my hand and smiled.
"That's really sweet, thank you." I said, rubbing his shoulder. He looked down at his watch, then showed me it was 7:27.
"Yeah, we made billions of dollars on the industry." Dick said nonchalantly.
"Most of it went to charity, the rest went to upgrading our tech and to the Haley Circus."
Just then the judge walked in and everyone in the courtroom stood up. I looked up at the black haired man with dark green eyes, who wore a long black robe.
"You may be seated." The man said as he sat down in the padded chair, "I am Judge Faden, I will be in charge of Johnson-Wayne vs. The People of Gotham. I will be fair and just. I will not pick sides and I will not be bribed. Please welcome our jury."
All at once 12 people (six women and six men) came through a door on the far right side of the room. They then began to fill up the chairs starting from the furthest away. They were all dressed formally, with nice dresses and suits. Unlike what I had seen on TV, they all looked satisfied to be here. Even from what people tell me jury duty sucks.
"Wow, the jury looks happy." I murmured to Dick who sat next to me, Tim was back in the audience. He nodded and leaned toward me.
"Yeah, this case is a big deal. A lot of people wanna be part of it." Dick whispered in my ear. He then returned to sitting straight when one of the prosecutors stood up and approached the podium.
"Your honour, policemen, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Wayne, and The People of Gotham, I'm under the impression that the safety of your city is definitely the most important thing to you. And putting this insane criminal out on the street would be dangerous. And do we really want to make her spoiled-ness worse?" The gray haired man spoke crisp and clear. But I wasn't fooled by his debonair, my mouth fell open.
"She is so used to getting whatever she wants. But should that really extend all the way to getting released from Arkham? Just because she's organized a few fundraisers, helped a few animals, and is the daughter of the rich, Bruce Wayne; who, by the way, has a net worth of $9.2 billion? Not everyone in Gotham can buy there way out of things. And this dangerous criminal shouldn't be any different." The hurtful man closed his dark green folder and walked over to his seat.
The gray haired man, Mr. Reeves, on our side stood up and approached the podium. He cleared his throat then began to speak in a projective voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, do not let this suave man fool you- we do not wish to call for release, we plead for a better method of treatment, which can only be provided by Bruce Wayne, her father, himself. We have doctors that show her improvement, her devotion, to getting well again.
She has been having flashbacks, these are triggered when she encounters something familiar. And with each flashback she recovers. How is she supposed to encounter a familiar environment somewhere she's never been as opposed to her home? And plus.... It was 32 fundraisers, 57 dogs and 49 cats, not to mention... She managed to get 138 children adopted- all in a little over two years." He closed his bright red folder and sat down between Bruce and the other attorney. The jury quickly began to mumble things to each other, which the judge quickly silenced.
"Prosecution... Any witnesses?" Judge Faden asked, making notes on a piece of paper. A second man, with graying hair (mixed with black) and brown eyes, stood up and nodded.
"We call Oliver Potts to the stand." An old bald man, with a cane, stood up, walked over to the witness' stand and sat down. The prosecutor then began to walk around, making his questioning much more effective.
"Mr. Potts, do you own a shop?" The man in the gray suit asked. Potts nodded and leaned forward to speak into the mic.
"I do. I own 'Potts Family Jeweler'. I run the shop with my wife and my two children work there."
"When was the last time it was robbed?"
"A few weeks ago. The alarm went off, waking up my whole family, we live above the store, you see? The first thing we did was check the security cameras." I felt sweat begin to form on my hairline. I gulped, Dick must've felt my discomfort because he placed a warm hand on my leg, which I pushed off immediately.
"What did you see when you liked at the cameras?" The prosecutor asked. Mr. Potts raised a bony old finger and gave me a shaky point.
"I saw her, dressed in her Mad Hatter costume. She was robbing my store, lucky Nightwing came and got rid of her. Goodness knows how many people she has killed."
"Would the number 56 surprise you?"
"Objection!" I yelled, standing up quickly. My eyes beginning to sting with tears.
"Miss. Johnson-Wayne, you are not allowed to-" The judge began but I kept speaking.
"I've never killed anyone! I've never even shot anyone! I carry that gun to look like a bad*ss, to scare people when they don't give me what I want. I've shot near people, teasing them. But never has a bullet fired from my gun made contact with anyone."
"Very well, we will have a separate trial to run that case, but for now I would ask that the jury dismiss what they just heard." Judge Faden said monotonously. I sat down slowly, wiping away my tears furiously.
"I'm finished." The prosecutor said as he walked back to his desk, tucking his tie into his shirt.
"A cross examination?" Faden asked, looking over his glasses.
"Yes, your honour." Our second attorney, Mr. Davis, stood up and walked over to Mr. Potts.
"Did she make a special effort to attack you?" Davis asked.
"No."
"Did she hurt you at all?"
"No."
"I'm finished." Davis said as he too sat down.
~Time Skip to Closing Statements~
I sat in my seat nervously as the main prosecutor, in the black suit, stood up to make his closing statement. Dick had left moments ago because he "business to take care of". I was sure he was talking about the Young Justice League- which he said he was going to take me to visit.
The prosecutor gave me a sly look before speaking into the mic.
"This criminal should not be on the streets of Gotham. Schizophrenia can't be cured, only treated. She has nine mental illnesses and as Dr. Sinner stated no one at Arkham has ever came with that many problems; she may have more than that. I mean look at her," He gestured a hand to me.
All at once hundreds of eyes were on me, "She's been here an hour and she already took off her handcuffs. Arkham is for the criminally insane. Wayne Manor is for rich men without mental issues." My heart fell, I was starting to doubt whether I deserved to be put into different treatment.
"Arkham has been unable to cure anyone, why does Mr. Wayne think he'll be able to do any better? You know, your honour, from the exams done on her body, the examiners found scars that were made before five years ago, how can we be sure Bruce Wayne didn't cause them? And she had a terrible, hard childhood. Would remembering it really help? Or would it just add to the insanity? "
And with one last look in my direction he hit me with the final blow.
"Does she even deserve to be treated?" He held up his wrist to show the Blue Jay bracelet, "She is, after all, the reason we lost a national hero." As he finished speaking a little kid started crying.
"Get that kid quiet or get out." Faden demanded. The mother took her baby out into the hall.
"Now, Defense, closing statement." Mr. Reeves stood up, but I grabbed his charcoal sleeve.
"Can I?" I pleaded, looking up at him with puppy eyes.
"Dolls, I don't think that's a good idea." Bruce whispered from across the table.
"And you aren't allowed to."
"They said you would say that. Especially Her, she knew you would double-cross me." Bruce snatched my forearm and yanked my hand off off of Reeves.
"And that's exactly why you-" he began to growl.
"Defense!? Is there a problem?" The judge demanded. I stood up and shook my head.
"No your honour. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am legally allowed to make my own closing statement. Any consequences that occur afterward are on my own accord." I recited from a memory I didn't even know I had.
"You are correct." Faden said, nodding. I turned around to look at Bruce.
"Please." My eyes begged, and then I said, "I know how the courts work. I know how the human mind works. I know how to pull heartstrings."
Bruce sighed then told Reeves to sit down. He motioned to the podium and I walked over to it. I lowered the mic- all of the attorneys were easily six feet, but I was only 5'6 and a half. I cleared my throat as femininely as I could and spoke into the mic.
"I knew other people could be bad, and I decided, after my parents were killed, that I would be one of the good ones. I haven't helped as much as Blue Jay did, but I did help.
"I'm a human being, too. Are you seriously going to say I don't deserve to get my sanity back? I've always been an optimist, because of all the pain I went through- it gave me plenty of practice, so don't doubt for a second that getting all my memories back would screw me up. Don't you remember how I used to be?
"You know why Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Penguin, and Doctor [Hugo] Strange are still in Arkham? Why they haven't recovered? It's because they don't want to.
"My sister died a little bit ago, and when I found out something inside me clicked. I realized that I could do more good and do it better than I do bad. And yes... Blue Jay is dead, and sure, it's my fault. But she died protecting someone, she died so I could live," I raised my bracelet up, "And it would be in vain if you didn't try to let the life I live be worth it." With one final look at the jury, I wiped away a tear and returned to my seat.
"Now the jury is going to go and vote. Officer Rutt, could you please lead them to the back?" Faden asked, the officer nodded and led the jury out of the room. I took deep breaths to calm myself.
"You're getting out!"
"No she's not. Stop getting the poor girl's hopes up."
"She shouldn't get out. The spoiled brat doesn't deserve it."
"Of course she's getting out. That judge is corrupt."
"Would you please shut up!?" I demanded loudly in the silent courtroom. Eyes from every direction fell onto me again. I slouched in my chair, expecting Bruce to give me a sour look at any moment.
But he didn't. Instead he stood up and awkwardly began rubbing my shoulders from behind.
"Don't worry, Dolls, we'll get rid of them. And whoever did this to you will pay. I know you know who it was, you just don't remember or your Stolkholm Syndrome is getting the best of you. But you'll get through it, you just have to be stronger than the voices." He whispered comfortingly into my ear- like a real dad.
~Flashback~
As I began to leave my room I noticed a silhouette leaning against my door frame.
"I had a feeling you were already packed." Bruce's voice chuckled as he came towards me and took my luggage from me.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled while following him out my room and down the stairs.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I just never expected to be called 'Dad'. Especially since Dick has been here for four years and always called me 'Bruce'." He gave me a warm almost-smile, "So thank you, actually. I'm glad I have been a sufficient paternal figure." I nodded as we entered the Cave through the fireplace in the library.
~End~
"Thanks... Dad. I love you." I whispered without thinking. I stood up and threw my arms around his abdomen. He wrapped me tightly, I could tell he was ready to cry, but I knew he wouldn't.
"I love you, too, Dolly."
"The jury has reached a verdict." Judge Faden said suddenly. Bruce gave me one last squeeze before he sat down. I turned my attention towards the twelve people walking through the back door. I noticed that two of the women were crying. I held my breath as the officer passed an envelope over to Judge Faden, he opened it slowly and began to read.
"On the account of new placement for different treatment- the People of Gotham say... Granted; two contingencies. On account removal of medication for better treatment- the People of Gotham say... Denied. On account of free roam during treatment... Denied, unless accompanied." People started cheering, others looked mad, and some just sat in shock. I was one of the ones who sat in shock.
"What are the contingencies, your honour?" Dick said from behind me. I jumped at his voice.
"I thought you-"
"I did, but I couldn't miss this." He whispered, then told me to shush so he could listen to the conditions.
"She must attend specific classes at Gotham University, and preform at least five hours of community service a week." Faden explained as he stood up, "Court dismissed," he banged his gavel and chatter filled the room as people began to leave. I turned around and gave Dick a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I sang.
"For what?" He asked awkwardly, patting my back.
"Being here." I let go of him so I could go thank our attorneys and Bruce.
A/N: Sorry this is boring. But I made it long to get it over with. I hope u like what I do in the future, I will have a chance for u guys to vote on something cuz I have ideas but I don't which one to use.
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