Court Date
I got the idea of this one shot from @nobodys_princess12. Please check out her book Field Trips Prove Everything. Now, on with the story.
3rd Person POV
Peter sat on the couch, watching TV as Aunt May cooked. He heard her grab something, then, as it slipped out of her hands, frantically try to catch said item. Sadly, she only succeeded in knocking whatever it was out of the window and onto an unsuspecting passerby's head.
"HEY! YOU CRAZY PEOPLE! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" A male voice screamed.
"Sorry, sir! It slipped out of my hands and I accidentally knocked it out of the window while trying to catch it!" Aunt May replied. By this time, Peter made it to the windowsill to discover that Aunt May had accidentally dropped the vegetable oil after getting the lid off the container. It had landed upside down on the fire escape, the neck of the bottle caught between the interlocking metal strips making up the floor of the fire escape, and emptied its contents onto a man dressed in an expensive suit.
"No good poor rats!" The man muttered, walking off. May looked at him and both shrugged, thinking nothing of it.
"I'll order pizza tonight."
-Time Skip-
It wasn't until the next day, at school, that Peter realized who the man was. During lunch, Flash had strutted up to Peter's table, chest puffed out like a puffer fish.
"Hey, Penis," Flash sneered, "guess what?"
"What, Flash?" Came the exasperated reply.
"When someone in an apartment dumped a gallon of vegetable oil on my dad, we couldn't just let it go. So, we went to the landlord of the apartment complex and guess who dumped the oil on my dad? Your Aunt May - that's who! We'll be seeing you in court." Smugly, Flash turned and walked off.
"Crap. Aunt May and I are screwed," Peter informed his friends.
-Meanwhile at Stark Tower-
"That ba- biscuit!" Tony exclaimed, correcting himself upon seeing Steve's warning glare. He was perturbed enough that Peter demanded that Tony didn't stop Flash's bullying. Now a legal suit? He texted Shuri about the lawsuit.
"Tony, why don't we just offer to have our lawyers represent them?" Pepper asked.
"Good idea, Pep. I'll text the kid."
-In Wakanda-
"Brother, we are going to America! I am going to beat this American up!" Shuri exclaimed, showing her brother an image of Flash. Tony had texted her about the bullying and recent lawsuit.
"No, Shuri. I have duties to attend to."
"He's hurting Peter." Tony had brought Peter to Wakanda once and T'Challa, along with Shuri, had instantly joined the PPPS, or Peter Parker Protection Squad.
"On second thought, those duties can wait. When do you want to go?"
-Back with Peter-
Peter zoned out of Ms. Warren's lecture, choosing to instead secretly listen to music on his phone. Luckily, Peter had said phone on his thigh and not on the desk when it quietly vibrated twice.
"Karen, read the texts in my earpiece," he whispered, barely loud enough for the AI to hear.
"Mr. Stark texted 'Pete, I know Flash's parents brought a lawsuit for no real reason. Your borrowing my team of lawyers whether you like it or not.' Shuri texted 'Peter, Brother and I will be attending the court session with you. Deal with it.'" Relief flooded through Peter's veins, earning him a curious look from Ned.
Subtly, Peter pointed down at his phone where the two texts were now displayed on the screen. Ned then smiled and whispered the news to MJ. MJ let an evil smirk appear on her face. Both knew Flash and his parents were in for a very unpleasant surprise.
-After school-
For Peter, school passed with only a few snide comments from Flash about how his parents would get every penny Peter and his aunt had.
When Peter got home, he found his aunt crying on the couch. He quickly dropped his backpack by the door and walked over to her, sitting beside her and bringing her into a hug.
"Don't worry about the court case, Aunt May. Mr. Stark's having his lawyers represent us and we have royalty attending on our side."
"How did you find out about that?"
"Flash. He was bragging about it all day. I don't know how Mr. Stark found out but I think Shuri found out through Mr. Stark." May passed Peter the court summons that had been delivered earlier that day in an answer to his unspoken question.
He used his Starkphone to send a scan of the entire thing to Mr. Stark, who thanked him.
-Day of Court Case-
Peter fumbled with the tie of the Armani suit Tony had rather forcefully made him get. Ben hadn't had the chance to teach Peter how to tie a tie before he died and May never did know how to tie one. Embarrassed, he asked Friday to have Mr. Stark come to his room. Upon Tony's request, Peter and Aunt May had come to the Tower to get ready for the court appearance.
"Yeah, kid?" He asked upon entering. Tony was wearing a suit similar to Peter's, both being a dark navy blue jacket and pants with a white dress shirt. The only difference was Tony was wearing a vest of the same color under the jacket.
"C-can you help me with this? I don't know how to tie it..." Peter indicated his tie before beginning to ramble, "Uncle Ben never got the chance to teach me, and Aunt May doesn't know how to tie one. You don't have-" Tony interrupted him.
"Of course, kid. Here, I'll teach you." Tony did just that, both unaware of the Avengers and May watching from the doorway, videoing the entire thing.
"Okay, Irondad, these two gotta get to the court house," Hawkeye commented, scaring both of the father-son duo.
"Friday, send that to all of us." Nine phones buzzed, even Tony and Peter's.
May, clad in an appropriate navy blue dress, grabbed Peter's hand and lead him towards the elevator, after thanking Tony for everything. (AN: for some reason judges prefer when defendants and prosecutors wear navy blue. Idk why.)
Thirty minutes later, Aunt May, Peter, Shuri, T'Challa, and Tony Stark's personal team of attorneys were ready to walk into the court room. The defendants - Aunt May and Peter - walked in, Shuri and T'Challa following slightly behind them with the attorneys succeeding behind the royalty. Flash and his parents' jaws dropped, not expecting Wakandan royalty or a team of attorneys to be with the Parkers.
Peter and Aunt May sat in the specified area for the defendants, their lawyers taking the seats behind them, and the Wakandans taking seats in the gallery to watch the court proceedings. Once everyone was seated the case begun.
"Please rise. The Court of New York County, Civil Division, is now in session, the Honorable Judge Baker presiding," the baliff, Mr. Lee, announced.
"Everyone but the jury may be seated. Mr. Lee, please swear in the jury."
"Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will truly listen to this case and render a true verdict and a fair sentence as to this defendant? .... You may be seated." Mr. Lee said, pausing while the jury solemnly replied "I do."
"Members of the jury, your duty today will be to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based only on facts and evidence provided in this case. The prosecution has the burden of proving the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. This burden remains on the prosecution through the trial. The prosecution must prove that a crime was committed and that the defendant is the person who committed the crime. However, if you are not satisfied of the defendant's guilt to that extent, then reasonable doubt exists and the defendant must be found not guilty. Mr. Lee, what is today's case?" Judge Baker said.
"Your Honor, today's case is the Thompsons versus the Parkers."
"Is the prosecution ready?" Said group stood.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Be seated. Is the defense ready?" Again, the said group stood.
"Yes, Your Honor." On the judge's command, the group sat once more. The prosecution and defense then delivered their opening statements, the prosecution claiming that the defendants dumped hot oil onto Mr. Thompson and wished to sue for the sum of $100,000 in damages. The defense was counter suing for the same sum because Flash was physically bullying Peter.
The judge then told prosecution to call their first witness. They called a doctor who was then sworn in by Mr. Lee and the prosecution went up to question them.
"Please tell the court the damages Mr. Thomosin suffered from the oil." The prosecuting attorney, Walter Toulsen, said. The doctor went on about severe fourth degree burns that Mr. Thompson "suffered." Toulsen asked what the doctor then specialized in, which the doctor replied with burn treatment. Next, the leader of the lawyer team, Matt Murdock, walked up to ask his questions.
"If Mr. Thompson suffered the injuries you claimed that he did, shouldn't he be in the hospital? Fourth degree burns do burn into the muscle tissue and, in some cases, the bone?"
"Yes on both accounts."
"Do you have photographic evidence of the burns?"
"No."
"Do you photograph the burns in order to measure the healing of the burns?"
"Yes."
"Then why do you not have photographs of the burns Mr. Thompson sustained?"
"Because he did not sustain any burns." The doctor then realized what he said as his eyes widened. He couldn't take it back though, he had sworn to tell the truth.
"Then why did you say that Mr. Thompson sustained burns?"
"He paid me to say so and threatened my family if I didn't agree to do so." Gasps echoed throughout the room, mainly from the gallery. (AN: look up gallery in a court room. It's where witnesses and other people sit in the court room.)
"If I may ask, what was the threat?"
"He said he would kill my family by hiring a hit man and he'd frame me for the crime. It was recorded by the hospital security cameras."
"I have no more questions, Your Honor." Mr. Thompson was now furious, a vein visible on his forehead. Matt merely smirked and went to sit down.
The prosecution didn't have any more witnesses, and were unable to prove May spilled the vegetable oil, hot or cold, onto Flash's father. It was time for the defense to prove the grounds for their countersuit.
"I call to the stand Mr. Peter Parker," Murdock said. Once Peter had been seated and sworn in, Murdock began his questioning.
"Is it true that Eugene Thompson bullies you?"
"Yes."
"Does this ever get physical?"
"Yes."
"When is the last time Eugene Thompson physically bullied you?"
"Three days ago." Actually, it had been yesterday but Peter's healing factor got rid of most of the bruises, but not the broken ribs yet. Three days ago Flash had broken his ribs, so it was reasonable. If they'd went with yesterday, questions regarding Peter's true identity may have been raised.
"Is this the video footage from that day?" Nelson, a lawyer on Stark's team, pressed a button showing the video on the four screens in the court room, one facing Parker, another the jury, the third the gallery, and the last a personal screen for the judge. The video showed Flash calling Peter a worthless orphan that was a nobody and deserved to die while kicking and punching him.
"Yes, it is."
"How often does this occur?"
"At least once a week, if not more."
"Are the beatings always this severe?" Murdock indicated the beating playing on the screen.
"Not always, it depends on when Flash catches me. This beating," Peter pointed towards the screen, "occured after school. When he catches me after school is when he delivers the most severe beatings." Matt asked a few follow up questions like how often Peter is caught after school and the severities of the other times, while videos from other beting played, though they were older than three days. Eventually Peter was dismissed.
"Your Honor, my client wishes to testify against these allegations," Toulsen said, indicating Flash. The judge indicated he could and Flash was sworn in.
"Is Mr. Parker telling the truth?"
"No."
"Why do you say this? There is videographic evidence?"
"Because Peter Parker is known to lie. He has recently been lying about having a Stark internship."
"Do you have proof that he is lying?"
"Yes."
"Please show it." Flash indicated a few of his friends sitting in the gallery.
"They've heard his lies." Each kid was called and they all said Peter was lying about the Stark internship.
"Does the defense have a witness against these allegations?"
"Yes, Your Honor. He will arrive in a few moments."
"Why isn't he already here?"
"We weren't expecting such a personal attack on Mr. Parker to occur, Your Honor. Our witness has arrived and is making his way to the courtrrom as we speak." As if on cue, the doors opened and in walked Tony Stark.
"You Honor, I call to the stand Tony Stark." Stark was sworn in and sat down.
"Dr. Stark, is it true that Peter Parker has an internship with your company?"
"Yes." At this, Flash, his friends, and his parents paled.
"How do you know this?"
"Mr. Parker is my personal intern and works with me in my lab."
"What do you say against the allegations Mr. Parker is lying?"
"This. Your Honor, may I use the screens?" The judge nodded.
"Friday show the picture of Mr. Parker gaining his internship and the videos of us working in my lab." The requested image appeared, showing Tony making a funny face while posing with Peter, who was holding his official Stark internship certificate.
After a few seconds, it cut to Tony and Peter working in the lab on various projects, though not the spider suit or the Iron Man suit, and the audio was muted.
"Dr. Stark, why is the audio on the video muted?"
"Mr. Parker and I work on classified projects that I cannot disclose. We are working on these projects in the video you see, and discussing them." Matthew informed the judge that he had no more questions and the prosecuting attorney had no questions, nor witnesses.
"I call Dr. Bruce Banner to the stand." Murdock said, wanting to show the severity of the beat down. After Mr. Lee swore him in, Matt approached.
"Dr. Banner, did you treat Mr. Park after the attack three days ago?"
"Yes."
"What were his injuries?"
"He suffered from two broken ribs on his left and one on his right, two cracked ribs, three bruised ribs, a bloody nose, as well as many bruises. He also suffered from a hit to the head, though no brain damage was sustained."
"Do you have proof of his injuries?"
"Yes. I photographed the bruising he suffered as well as the x rays of his ribs." Matt nodded to Foggy and he pulled up the x ray.
"Please explain this to us." With the judge's permission, Banner walked off the stand and pointed out the various broken and cracked ribs.
"These ribs are bruised," he indicated said ribs, "which is more evident in the photographs of his torso showing the bruising. Nelson switched to the pictures of the excessive bruising on Peter's torso.
"This is where the ribes are bruised, this is the broken ones, these are cracked..." Banner explained the most severe injuries. Murdock had finished and the Thompsons looked like they'd seen a ghost.
"Are there any more witnesses?"
"No, You Honor." Came from both parties.
"Please deliver your closing statements."
"Yes, You Honor."
"Court is adjorned until the jury has reached a verdict," the judge said after both the prosecution and defense had given the requested statements. Everyone rose and left the court room after the judge. Still, they hung around in case the decision was made today.
"Who do you think will win, Mr. Stark?"
"Us. We have the only case. Murdock, Shuri?
"The plaintiffs have no claims or evidence. I suspect the jury will even demand the arrest of Eugene and his father."
"We better win or I'm throwing Flash in our jails."
"He won't make it to our jails. The cleaning staff may have a hard time getting the stain out of the floor if I see Flash in Wakanda." T'Challa subtly hinted at killing Flash. The conversation changed to a more light-hearted one thanks to Peter.
Only an hour later, they saw the county clerk enter the judge's chambers. Five minutes after the courier left said room, police approched each party and informed them that they had to be in the court room in 15 minutes.
Upon reentry and Mr. Lee announcing the judge once more, everyone sat and waited for the jury's verdict.
"Have you reached a verdict?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"What say you?"
"We the jury, in the case of the Thompsons versus the Parkers, find the defendant not guilty. We find Mr. John Thompson guilty of bribery, threatening the death of a person, and blackmail. We find Mr. Eugene Thompson guilty of lying under oath and 10 cases of physical assault. We award the defendants the full amount of their countersuit, due in one week's time." Officers arrested Flash and his father, leaving Mrs. Thompson red in the face with anger.
"Thank you, jury, for your service today. Court is adjourned." Judge Baker hit the wooden square on his bench with the small mallet all judges have and exited the room. Mrs. Thompson stormed out, everyone else laughing at Mrs. Thompson's theatrics and making their own way out.
Aunt May, Peter, Shuri, T'Challa, Tony, Matt, and Foggy all went to the tower for a celebration despite Matt and Foggy's protests.
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