I don't own anything except any original character and/or any original plot.

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Chapter Nineteen: Parallel by Trial

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We'd prepped for Peter's case for a month. Unlike other high-profile cases, we weren't dragging the process out to find evidence that wasn't there. Happy also used some of his connections to move the process a bit faster as well. We wanted the trial over with as soon as possible.

The first day of testimony was an introduction to the case from both sides, the second, and third belonged to the prosecution. Their main piece of evidence was the video along with the fact that Peter hid identity. On the fourth we brought Ned and MJ, but because they couldn't prove that the drone that attacked them wasn't sent by Peter, they were just character witnesses. The fifth day was Matt bringing in Shuri, who was the only one who could debunk the video and prove that it was illusion tech and an advanced AI that made it.

Pushing the ruffles out of my skirt for the fifth time, I calmed my nerves. It was the final day of testimony - the trial again being sped up to our advantage - and I was up. I'd spent the last week thinking of what to say and how to respond to questions. In the end, I wouldn't be sure of what to do until I was actually up there and in the spotlight.

"I'd like to call (Y/n) (L/n) to the stand."

"You got this," Mom whispered as I stood.

Making my way to the stand, I took a seat and met Matt's tinted glasses.

"Good morning, Miss. (L/n). Can you state your relationship to the defendant?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"Good. And is it true that you saw what happened the day in question?"

"Yes."

"And how is that?"

I took my eyes off of Matt and looked to the cameras at the back of the courtroom. Call it a parallel, full circle, ti didn't matter. Because Tony Stark was smiling down at me as I stated-

"I am Riptide."

The room exploded. Expecting such a reaction, I took the time to calm my racing heart. The thing I'd tried to hard to protect was out. Peter and I were both public heroes.

"Order. Order in the court!"

The room settled and Matt continued, 'Describe Mr. Beck in your own words."

"A liar, manipulative, deranged."

"Can you expand?"

"He made the world think he was a hero. In reality, he was a scorned Stark Industries employee angry with his ex-boss for using his weapon to improve people's mental health."

Congregation murmuring, Matt gave me a small smile.

"That's all, Your Honor. Cross-ex?"

The main prosecutor stood, approaching me on the stand. Despite the confident front they put on, I could tell they were nervous. Shifting, sweating. We were tearing their case apart, and they were so confident earlier.

"You said that he 'made' the world think he was a hero. How does him being an ex-Stark employee affect his status as a hero?"

"It process his story about being from another reality is false, for one," my eye twitched as my annoyance grew, "He used illusion technology and weaponized drones to both show and inflict the damage he wanted."

"And he was able to do this by himself? How could one man, a normal human man as you claim, manage everything that it would take to fool the world?"

The prosecutor sent the jury a confident smirk, but I was about to destroy him.

"He had a team. I don't know how many people were on it, but they each had a role in the plot. Those are the people you should be going after, because I'm certain they've broken more laws than we had."

"Including the Accords?"

That made me livid. The Accords were void to the world after the first fight for the Infinity Stones, and nobody even mentioned them after the second fight to bring everyone back.

"I never signed the Accords, so they don't apply. And I don't see how that is topical."

"... And how are you aware of this team?"

There it was, "When he attempted to kill me and Peter after we discovered he was a fake, a member of his team threw my body into a lake. Princess Shuri of Wakanda saved my life."

Another shocking statement that sent ripples through the crowd. The prosecutor rushed to his council and spoke with them rapidly. I waited patiently. I knew they were scrambling to poke holes in my story and save their case against Peter. No one could have suspected the upset I would bring.

"Describe the events leading up to the victim's death."

They wanted to trip me up, but that wasn't what I feared. It'd lead to me revealing my bloodbending, and while I'd come to terms with it, the public wouldn't be so kind. Heroes walked on a tightrope, and Wanda Maximoff was a prime example of what could happen if you can't balance on it.

"Peter and I confronted Beck for what he was doing. He tried to kill us for a second time. We destroyed the drones he attempted to use, and he used one final illusion to trick us into thinking he was dying. Peter and I sensed something was off, and Peter grabbed his hand to stop him from shooting us. And I... stopped his other hand."

"How did you stop his other hand?"

There it was, "I can control the water in a human's body. So I made him stop."

"Have you ever used your ability to hurt someone?"

"Ice pierces metal."

"And I... am... Iron Man."

"To end the beginning."

My ice hit its mark, aimed for a joint at the center of his back where his suit would be weak-

Matt jumped to my aid when I tensed up. I learned his senses were much sharper than tha average person, so he must have heard my heart rate rise.

"Objection on the ground of topicality."

"We're done anyway, Your Honor."

Allowed to step off the stand, I hurried over to my parents, collapsing into my seat. My parents both grabbed one of my hands, and MJ and Ned behind us- MJ with her parents and Ned with his mom - put a hand on my shoulders. Sending them small smiles, we all focused in on the judge.

"Would the prosecution like to give their closing statement?"

"Yes, Your Honor," the prosecutors spoke briefly before one stood to address the jury, "This trial was not to prove Mr. Beck's credibility as a hero, but to prove a murder. All the defense has done is prove that Mr. Parker was not out to harm civilians, and that Mr. Beck was faking a status as a hero."

I smirked. They didn't bring up my testimony because they were screwed if they did.

"We are here to prove that Mr. Parker is guilty of murder. He had a motive, means, and guilty opportunity. He has great power, as does his partner, and they hid behind masks because of a situation just like this. Now, Mr. Parker must be held accountable for his actions."

The prosecutor sat and Matt stood. He took his time walking to the jury, a mask of calm settled on his face. Even though I already had a lot of faith in our case, Matt's closing statement was our final stand.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is an age of heroes. For the past eleven years they've fought battles we never could. We've held them on pedestals and seen them as 'greater than'. But here, we have a high school student who is balancing the weight of the world on his shoulders. But he isn't a god, an assassin, or a mutant. He's human, just like us. He was given great power, and he understands that it comes with responsibility."

Peter sent me a glance, a twinkle in his eye when Matt said that.

"Mr. Beck attempted to kill numerous people multiple times to make the world see him as a hero. Over the course of the trial we've proven Mr. Beck was a fake, unstable, and that it was his own recklessness and desperation that killed him, not my client. So, allow Spider-Man to continue to keep our world safe. But most importantly, allow Peter Parker to live the long life he has ahead of him. Thank you."

Damn. Matt was really good at speeches. The jury seemed moved by it.

"Court is adjourned for the day, and will be called back when a verdict has been reached."

At that, everyone stood and made their way out of the courtroom. I was flanked by two Stark Industries bodyguards that prevent the press from trampling me. I'd give my statement when Peter gave his; after he was proven innocent.

My parents and I hurried to our car, getting away from the stress of the trial, the eyes of the public, and the unwarranted fear that our defense wasn't enough.

~*~

It was exactly twenty-four hours later when May called my parents to say they'd come to a verdict.

All of us rushed to put on some decent clothes and drove like madmen to the courthouse. It was a miracle that we didn't get stuck in any late evening traffic.

"May!" We were immediately let into the courtroom for obvious reasons and sat down next to May in the front row.

"The jury is coming in now," Matt turned around to inform us, "All of their heartbeats are steady, none of them are being blackmailed. Whatever their verdict is, it's what they think."

There was Matt's freaky hearing again, working in our favor. The rest of the congregation and the press filed in. The jury stood.

"Have you come to a final verdict?" The judge asked the jury.

"Yes, Your Honor," the head juror nodded, holding up their announcement piece, "We the jury on this day July twenty-first, twenty-twenty-three, hereby find Peter Parker..."

Breath hitching, everyone seemed to lean forward in their seats. This would decide our lives as we knew it, and that was terrifying.

"Innocent and acquitted of all charges."

I sobbed. So did May, my parents, Ned and J- there were a lot of tears in our general area. Peter grinned, turned, and jumped over the banister to hug me and May. He was moving on to Ned and MJ when the judge cleared his throat loudly.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Your Honor!" Peter leapt back into his seat.

"Right... the verdict has been announced and is in writing. Mr. Parker, many in the world will not be kind, but that does not mean you should stop being a hero. Case adjourned. Go ahead Mr. Parker."

At the judge's word, Peter jumped over the banister and pulled us into hugs again.

After our admittedly tearful celebration in the courtroom, Matt led us out to the steps of the courthouse so we could make our speeches in front of the press, and in front of the world.

"Peter, you go first," Matt pointed at the podium where every news outlet imaginable was waiting, "Read off this, Karen typed it up."

"Okay," Peter stepped up, "Hi everyone. I trusted Beck with my life, and in return he tried to take it and ruin it by framing me for his death. Some of you may be hesitant to believe that I'm innocent, but I will not stop protecting New York. I will continue to operate as Spider-Man. In time, I hope you can see that all that has ever been on my mind is the well-being of those that are innocent."

With Peter done, I stepped up to make my first speech as a public hero.

"I came out as Riptide one day ago. I did so to clear Peter's name, and to show the public that Spider-Man and Riptide are equals in everything they do. With that, I will also continue being a hero. Public heroes face hardships of their own, which is why we hid, but this world needs defenders, and we are that. Call us too young, murderers, or go after the ones we love... we will show you why we are able to continue the legacy of Tony Stark and the Avengers."

The crowd of press exploded, but were held back by a line of Stark Industries guards. Because of the crowds in the front, we were going to leave through the back. Before we got into the car, I turned back to Matt.

"Are you Daredevil?" I asked bluntly.

Lips upturning, Matt answered, "If you're ever off saving the world again, I'll protect New York for you."

Nodding once, I opened the SUV door, "Thank you Matt, truly. Stay in touch."

"Count on it."

I got in the car. Everyone was inside, talking joyously. Sliding in between Peter and Happy, I squeezed his hand.

"I love you," I told him tearily.

"I love you too, Blue."

"How about some dinner?" All of us jumped when Kurt appeared in the car, "We've been watching the trial closely, sorry for the lack of communication."

"You're busy, we get it."

"Good. So, would you like to come for dinner?"

"Let's do it!"

Faintly, I realized that most of the people in the car had never met the X-Men before.

My worlds were about to collide.