Author's Note: Ok people, please be kind with this chapter since I have NO idea how a court works. The only knowledge I have was watching an episode of Law and Order like three years ago. 😅
A week after Morro's death, Kai, his boyfriends, Lloyd, and Skylor were summoned to court to discuss the accusations Wendy made about the Ninja organizing her son's attack, and even now it still didn't feel real. Since it was a private hearing, only those who were giving their testimonies were allowed in the court, so Nya had to stay at home. To say the younger Smith sibling was livid by this was an understatement. As they got ready for court, Kai almost cried when his bump prevented him from buttoning up his shirt.
He had no choice but to wear a thin, turtle-neck shirt with a black blazer and black pants.
Everyone else was wearing a suit and tie. Soon they were all sat in the gallery, waiting for the case to begin. There were a few people there that Kai didn't recognize, but he knew they were there to provide their own evidence. As they waited, the large doors opened and they all turned to see Wendy entering the court. She looked a little better than the last time Kai had seen her. She still had heavy bags under her eyes and she looked as pale as a ghost.
Her hair was clean and her clothes looked fresh and ironed.
"Of course she's here," Kai growled.
"Good job Nya didn't come after all," Cole said, shuddering at the thought of Nya causing a scene in court.
"To be fair, I'd rather be at home too," Jay whined as he fidgeted nervously.
"It's not a shock though, is it? She was the one who made the complaint." Zane replied.
"But even so, what's she hoping to gain from any of this?" Kai asked as he glanced back, only to freeze when he saw Misako with Wendy as they took a seat a few rows down from them. "I know her." He said before he suddenly stood up and marched over to the two women. When Misako saw him, her eyes widened and Wendy just looked tired to see him.
"Kai, we don't want any trouble."
"We?" He asked through gritted teeth, glaring back and forth between them.
"You're him?" Misako asked in shock.
"And who are you?"
"This is my friend, Misako Garmadon," Wendy replied before she could. This caught the other's attention and Lloyd approached them.
"Mom? What're you doing here?" He asked and Kai paled.
"You're Lloyd's mother?"
"And Morro's godmother," Wendy added.
"I don't believe this," Misako muttered and Wendy's eyes narrowed in confusion.
"I'm sorry but do you know him?"
"Right, yeah I get it, so you can stop pretending now." The brunette snapped.
"I'm not, I can promise you." She promised before turning to Wendy. "I had no idea, I swear."
"Yeah right, I mean what are the chances?" He laughed bitterly before his glare zeroed in on a still confused Wendy. "You engineered this whole thing, didn't you?"
"All rise!" The court attendant suddenly said and they all stood up as the judge entered the room. Skylor tried to lead Kai back to his seat, but he refused to move.
"All along you knew exactly what you were doing! You're both sick in the head!" He exclaimed and Wendy's confusion turned to frustration.
"No idea about what?" She asked her friend, but Misako refused to look up from the floor.
"I'll have quiet in the gallery please." The judge warned and Skylor finally managed to drag Kai back to his seat. Once he was sure there would be no more interruptions, the judge slammed his hammer down. "Court is now in session."...
They were in the courtroom for the next three hours. Everyone present had given their testimonies, despite the intense grilling from both the defense and the prosecution. Lloyd's statement discussed the facts of the case, hardly bringing up Kai at all. Cole, Jay, and Zane were all questioned about their romantic relationship with Kai. Cole had to defend his reasons for threatening Wendy with Morro's safety. He said that he only wanted to scare her and never had any intention of carrying out those threats.
Skylor testified that her father was the one who had the child porn and planted the blame on Morro to save his own skin.
Misako stated that Morro used to be a good person and very ambitious until he turned thirteen and got in with a bad crowd. While he had his demons, she claimed that he loved his mother. The prison guards who were on duty claimed that on the night Morro was attacked, three other inmates followed him into the showers. They had beaten him to a bloody mess with their own bare hands. According to the guards, the three inmates hadn't received a single phone call or visit in the two weeks leading up to the attack.
When it was Wendy's turn to give evidence on the stand, she made a point of staring directly at Kai.
She explained how whenever she would see her son all he would talk about was Kai and how stunning the brunette was. She claimed that Morro told her about Kai's job and how he wanted to rescue him from that life. Even in prison, all Morro did was talk about how special Kai was and how perfect their baby would be. When she was asked why she kept showing up at Kai's home when everyone, including the landlord, told her that she wasn't welcome.
Wendy defended her actions, saying that she was just trying to get to the truth and wanted to be there for her grandchild.
She then asked the court how could someone who did nothing but worse the very ground Kai walked on rape him? Kai shuddered as she said this and Cole almost broke the bench as he clenched the edge of the wood in his fist. Last but not least, it was Kai's turned to give his testimony. Thankfully, the prosecutor and the defense made it quick, considering his current condition. He had to retell the story of how Chen drugged him and allowed Morro to rape him and how Morro had handed him over to the Iron Baron.
When he was questioned about his romantic relationship with Cole, Jay, and Zane he claimed that Jay was just trying to be nice when he offered him, his sister, and Skylor a place to stay.
They had only been dating for a few weeks. After everyone had finished giving their statements, the judge dismissed everyone so he could come to a final decision. Kai spent the next hour in the men's restroom, trying his best to avoid everyone, mainly Wendy and Misako. When they were all called back into the courtroom, the atmosphere was so heavy Kai felt like he was going to suffocate. After waiting for a moment, the judge delivered his verdict.
He declared that there was not enough evidence that the Ninja had anything to do with Morro's death and all blame fell on Chen and the three inmates that did the deed.
When she heard this, Wendy erupted into screaming fits of rage. Misako and Lloyd had to force her to leave the courtroom as the others celebrated. As they all were dismissed and began heading down the steps to the car park, Wendy was charging at them. She had a look of anger and tears streaming down her face. Misako and Lloyd were chasing after her, but it was too late.
"SO YOU ALL THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET AWAY WITH MURDERING MY SON!" She screamed and Cole glared in frustration and anger.
"You were there Wendy! You heard all the evidence! You know we had nothing to do with Morro's death!" He shouted but it was like Wendy couldn't hear them.
"THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR LIES I'M NEVER GONNA SEE MY SON AGAIN! HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT THAT'S LIKE!?" She bellowed as her tears wetted the ground at her feet.
"The judge heard all the evidence and decided we're not guilty!" Jay argued, also growing more tired with this constant fighting.
"You are all guilty! If I had my way you'd all be locked up for good!"
"Wendy please, don't do this to yourself." Misako tried to say, but Kai glared at her.
"You're just as bad as her, worse even!" He shouted. "So what as the plan? You were gonna get in my head and get your own back for Wendy?"
"What is he talking about?" Wendy sniffed as she tried to wipe her eyes.
"Oh don't act innocent; I bet it was your idea!" He scoffed.
"I have no clue what you're saying!"
"She's been trying to be all friendly with me at the hospital! Giving me advice about babies and other things!" He cried and everyone turned to Misako in shock.
"What?" Lloyd gasped.
"You and him?" Wendy demanded, pain and betrayal clear in her voice.
"It wasn't like that!"
"He and his boyfriends are the pieces of scum that murdered Morro!"
"You better back off!" Cole snarled as he looked ready to attack the older woman, only to be stopped by Jay and Zane.
"Oh, what? You're threatening me now are you?" Wendy warned.
"No one's threatening anyone!" Zane exclaimed.
"Just go home." Skylor glared and the two groups went their separate ways. All except Kai and Misako.
"Honestly, I had no idea who you were." She told him, but Kai just scoffed.
"Of course you knew."
"How? You never even told me your name." She frowned, before sighing. "I'm really sorry."
"Hey! Don't you dare apologize to him!" Wendy shouted from a few feet away, but the pair ignored her.
"If I ever see your face again then you'll definitely be sorry," Kai growled before storming off. Misako said nothing else as she followed Wendy and her son into the maze of cars...