A/N: Woohoo, this is my first multi-chaptered SuFin fic. I just absolutely love that pairing. xD Anyways, since I have a huge huge love toward legal dramas so almost this entire fic takes place in the court... Sorry if court terms may be unfamiliar to some people. I will put glossary as I use the legal terms to minimize confusion.

Enjoy~

Chapter I

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" - Winston Churchill

Cold... empty... barren... dead...

He did not belong to a place like this.

Berwald stared blankly at the heavy metal bars in front of him, ruthless and inescapable. His giant figure crammed in the modest tiny cell, as there was barely any room to even walk a few steps. Rats scurried, leaving behind disgusting little paw prints as they ran across the prison corridor. The dark atmosphere of the jailhouse was eerie and threatening, but that seemed to be the least important thing on the Swede's mind. The memory of yesterday still rang clearly in his head. One moment it was just a perfectly normal morning and the next thing he knew, he was physically confined in the state prison and completely deprived of his personal freedoms.

The Austrian officer who performed the arrest had a voice that was cold and unforgiving, as if Berwald had already been proved guilty, rather than waiting to be trialed.

"Mr. Oxenstierna, you are now under arrest on the account of third degree rape. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you…" He had forgotten what had been said to him after that as his mind only focused on the first sentence.

Third degree rape? That's ridiculous.

But despite his protests he was taken, placed under the custody of the state's police department. And it was during the middle of his lecture too. He could just imagine the look of aghast on his student's faces: their respected professor, with wrists under the frightening restrain of handcuffs.

Somebody had accused him under the account of one of the most heinous crimes by law. And he had no idea why.

Scratching his head awkwardly, Berwald attempted to remember what he ever did that resembled an act of rape. However, his anger and confusion only seem to increase as he came up blank. Surely he wasn't the friendliest looking man around but that doesn't necessarily meant he's a rapist. On the contrary, standing at 26 years old and one of the youngest professor at the University, the Swede was considered one of the most prized individuals on campus. Hardworking and intelligent, his lessons, though hard to understand due to his accent, always attracted mob of students.

Students like Tino…

Berwald became slightly flustered at the thought. Even though it was considered inappropriate for teachers to be in affliction with their pupils, it is not news to anyone at the school that the two harbour romantic interests for each other. The age difference was only a mere 5 years and many, even the principal, had turned a blind eye on the fuzzy relationship. It was not official that the two had been going out, but rumours often were more accurate than the truth.

Berwald sighed as he glanced at his watch. He had been held in here for more than six hours now. It had been made clear to him that this was not a prison, but rather a temporary location in which he shall be confined throughout the duration of his trial. To the Swede though, it made no difference as it still constricted his personal rights and freedoms. The Austrian police had already asked whether or not he wanted to appoint a lawyer but there wasn't anyone special on his mind as of the moment.

The correction facility in which he was presently at was rather small, consisted only a few prison cells. From what he had heard, it's just a minor prison house built to keep inmates serving minor charges. The German man from a cell next to his had told him that this wasn't actually as bad as some of the other jailhouses, except for the terrible food.

Gilbert Weillschmidt, that was the German's name.

He seemed to be asleep right now, which may explain the blissful quiet. But when Berwald had just arrived at the prison, handcuffed and all, Gilbert had been more than welcoming to him. From scrupulous explanations of the jailhouse's schedule to a comprehensive report on all of their special privileges, Berwald felt like he had already knew the place from top to bottom even though he had only been here for less than a day. It frightens the Swede actually, the detailed descriptions. It makes him feel like he was never going to get out.

He just might not.

The charges were still vague, as the officer who had described it to him had less than zero patience. All he recalled from that conversation was the fact that somebody had charged him with rape to the third degree and he had to be held here in the correctional facility until the end of his trial. From the tone of the police's voice though, Berwald could clearly see that he was already thought a criminal.

So much for innocent until proven guilty; more like guilty until proven innocent.

Gilbert had also asked him whether or not he had a lawyer in plan yet, and had strongly advised him to 'get one that actually believed you're innocent, unlike that damn bastard they hired for me'. The Swede bit his lips in frustration, unsure of what to do. There wasn't a single person that came to his mind at the moment and if he does not decide by tomorrow, an attorney shall be appointed to him.

A sudden shout interrupted the silence in the prison house, provoking several inmates that Berwald does not know the name of to look out their cells. A yell from a police officer and some more arguments later, a jail guard came to the Swede's cubicle and unlocked the entrance with a large metal key.

"Oxenstierna," he stated impatiently. "Somebody's here for you."

Perplexed, Berwald did not even move a muscle when the door of his cell opened. His mind wandered on the identity of his guest as he certainly wasn't expecting anybody, that's for sure. There was no way for it to be his parents, as they were all the way in Stockholm. Tino was a possibility, but he crossed that out when he realised that school had not yet ended at the university.

"Get a move on!" the irritated officer tapped his foot with annoyance. "I don't have all day you know."

Reluctantly, Berwald followed the guard. Gilbert was also awake now, and eyeing the Swede curiously as he passed by his cell.

The officer led him into a small secluded room at the end of the hall. "Get in," he said, and roughly pushed the tall Swede in. Before the man could even react, the door was already closed and tightly secured with the loud clack of a lock.

Perplexed, Berwald studied the room he was in. There were no furniture other than the two chairs and a little table in the middle of the place. Then, he let out a small gasp of shock. The place was not what had surprised him of course, as it barely had anything in it, it was the person who was sitting on one of the chairs that had really made Berwald realise how much his life sucked at the moment.

"Hey man, long time no see!" the person on the chair grinned despite the sombre atmosphere, his blond hair tossed dramatically to the side as he greeted the Swede.

Matthias Soren.

Without saying a word, the troubled Swede abruptly turned around and pulled at the entrance. To his disappointment though, the door was fastened with several impossible locks. Letting out a defeated sigh, Berwald slowly turned around to face his unwelcomed visitor.

"What's with the long face?" the Dane smiled as he walked toward the Swede in long strides to grope him in a bear hug. "I know you're charged with rape and all but that's no way to greet an old friend!"

"Go home."

Unfazed by the remark, Matthias simply laughed and motioned Berwald to sit down. "Dude chill, I'm here to get you out."

The Swede sat down reluctantly, still eyeing the Dane with suspicion. His mind suddenly filled with unpleasant memories. The two had gone to university together, and while they studied different majors, Matthias was somehow always near the Swede, annoying him with things Berwald could care less about. It was only until graduation did the two finally separate, with the Dane going off to law school and Berwald becoming a teacher.

With still a grin on his face, Matthias pulled out a business card from his shirt pocket and placed it on the desk. The Swede glanced at it and watched in vain as any hope of him getting out of jail with the Dane being his lawyer just went down the drain.

Kalmar Union Inc.

Matthias Soren
– A really awesome Defence Attorney

Phone: 123-456-7890

Fax: 123-456-7891

We will get you out of jail, regardless of what you did!

"Cool right?" the Dane smirked as he pointed to the large picture of his face at the corner of the card. "I even customized it myself."

Berwald shook his head violently. There was no way he will have this guy being his lawyer. One look at him and even the all-fair judge will without a doubt favour the prosecution. The man did not belong in the serious setting of a court room. But before the Swede was able to voice his concerns, Matthias began to speak.

"I came as soon as I heard the news. It never occurred to me that you were that kind of person you know," the Dane looked at Berwald with troubled eyes. "It's not my place to judge but really, did you really have to rape someone?"

"I d'dn't – "

"Ah, stop!" Matthias covered his ears as the Swede began to protest for himself. "I don't want to hear it. It doesn't matter what you did now 'cause we're gonna plead not guilty anyway."

"But I re'lly d'dn't –"

"I said it doesn't matter," the Dane placed a hand on Berwald's lips, shoving the rest of his sentence back into his mouth. "All we need to do is to put on a really good show for the jury so they'll believe that you're innocent. I don't want to know what you did because that'll just influence my decisions for your case."

Seeing as the Swede looked rather speechless, the Dane let out a big satisfied smile and took out a notepad from his pocket. "Now then, shall we get on to business? You understand why you're being charged right? And I'm supposed to tell you all your rights and crap but I'm not going to 'cause my professor for that class at law school was so bad, I still didn't get what he was bitching about. Don't worry though!" Matthias quickly added as he saw the Swede closed his eyes in defeat. "My debating skills are really awesome and we're going to win for sure. Now then, do you have any questions for me before I go off to prepare our case?"

Honestly, the Swede did not think that the Dane could answer any questions he did not already know. But there was something that troubled his mind and he really needed to figure it out.

"Matth'as?" he asked. "Who told the pol'ce I raped them?"

"You don't know?" the Dane blinked in surprise. "It was one of your students, Tino Vainamoinen."

A/N:Legal terms (Okay, i know most ppl know this and it's unnecessary, but you never know rite?) :

Prosecution: basically, the party accusing the defendant
Jury: a group of people selected by both parties in court to determine whether or not the accused is guilty

Reviews are love~