If there was anything in the world that Eren Jaeger hated it was having to dress in a stuffy suit and tie. But Mikasa had insisted, saying that he had to look formal or something. Like hell he had to look formal, he was headed to his boyfriend's trial fro fucks sake.
Boyfriend.
That was the second time Eren had called Levi his boyfriend. Was that even what he was? Probably. Maybe. Eren didn't even know. But he guessed that that was what they were, right? That's what two people who loved each other were?
He was getting off topic. He couldn't worry about whether or not Levi was his boyfriend until he had Levi back. Which brought him back to the extreme discomfort that was having to wear a suit and tie on a day that was way too warm for this and in a courtroom too stuffy even when almost empty.
"Eren, sit still!" Mikasa practically hissed at him, her hand on his leg to stop the bouncing that Eren hadn't even noticed had started. He was nervous and it was obvious. Mikasa on the other hand was so still she almost seemed made of glass, too tense to do much more then clench her jaw and hope that this trial would start soon, and better than that, end soon.
They sat in the front row of a very small courtroom, only six benches for viewing in the room. Not that any visitors would be viewing this private matter. Only those involved. Hanji looked over their shoulder, giving Eren a slight smile of reassurance. They knew that this wouldn't last long. A simple trial, Eren would get to see Levi, everything would go back to normal. At least that's what Eren hoped.
"All rise." Those words were said and the few people in the courtroom stood. Eren glanced to the door to the left of the high table, a judge in dark robes and a red sash coming out and taking his place at the raised desk at the front of the room. Once the judge was seated everyone else around him sat so Eren did too.
"Today we will be looking at a forced containment inflicted on Eren Jaeger by the defendant Levi Ackerman." The judge read off the paper in front of him, he looked bored, as if he had deal with way too many cases that day.
"Is the defendant here?"
"Yes your honour." A lawyer in a crisp black suit responded quickly, turning his head to a small box made of glass with a small chair in it and a door behind the chair. Eren turned just in time to see the door open, Levi being led out in handcuffs by a police officer. Eren almost gasped at how pale Levi was even after a short time in holding. His face was sunken and his eyes were lined with larger, darker bags than usual. Eren froze when he felt those eyes trained on him, never leaving him, Levi looked like a starving man staring at a feast just out of reach.
Eren found himself not being able to pay attention to everything being said, the overabundance of legal speak flying right over his head. Instead he couldn't stop staring at his boyfriend just on the other side of the glass box. Eren hated seeing Levi looking so miserable, it drove him insane. He wanted to help the man. But he couldn't until they got this sorted out. So Eren forced himself to look away from Levi and pay attention to his surroundings. Just in time too.
"Would the witness Eren Jaeger please come to the stand?" The prosecutor trained his eyes on Eren, staring as Eren stood up, going to sit behind the podium. He did his best to not show how nervous he was, no one had told him what he was supposed to say or anything and it freaked him out a bit. What if he said the wrong thing? He could get Levi sent away forever. He almost expected a bible and such from all the tv shows he had watched, but instead the prosecutor just started questioning.
"Eren Jaeger, do you know where we are right now? Do you know who I am? Do you know why this trial is taking place and the charges?" The prosecutor asked, never once breaking eye contact with Eren.
"I'm in the courtroom downtown, you're the prosecutor." Eren paused. What was he supposed to say? He did know why the trial was happening but the whole thing didn't quite feel real yet. "This trial is happening because I was held captive." It sounded so much worse when he said it out loud but it was the truth. Right?
"Witness is deemed mentally fit to speak. You may continue questioning." The judge said, nodding as he heard the brunette's answers.
"Thank you your honor." The prosecutor said before turning back to Eren. "Now Eren, as the victim you are the most important witness, anything you say must be the truth." Eren nodded, feeling even more nervous now.
"Good. Would you say that you were held against your will by Mr. Ackerman?"
"Well.. That's.. yes. But only at-" Eren was cut off when the prosecutor raised his hand to silence him.
"So yes, you were held against your will." He glanced over his shoulder to make sure everything was being recorded. "Would you say that Mr. Ackerman had an unhealthy obsession with you? Perhaps a dangerous one?" Eren knew where they were going with this, they needed him to only say yes and he would not be allowed more. Eren wouldn't play that game.
"No. Levi loved me. Nothing dangerous about that."
"Love? To the point he kept you captive? That seems a bit extreme. Are you sure he did not lie to you?" The prosecutor asked again, not letting this die, not until Eren admitted that he was in danger.
"I know he wouldn't lie to me. He loves me. He would never hide something from me." Eren glanced over at Levi in the glass cell, hoping to see Levi gazing back but the man was staring at his lap almost guiltily. Had Eren said something wrong?
"So you know his suspected involvement with the missing of Farlan Church? Yet you still claim you were not in any danger?" The prosecutor seemed surprised but not more surprised than Eren. Who was Farlan Church? What had happened to him? Had Levi taken someone before Eren? Those questions ran through Eren's head and he found he couldn't look at Levi anymore, instead his head turning to stare at the prosecutor.
"Who? Who is Farlan Church?" The prosecutor nodded as he heard the question, so Eren didn't know after all. That made his job easier.
"Farlan Church was a man who went missing years ago, the main suspect in the case Mr. Ackerman but nothing could be proven concretely. We found the body of the man starving in the streets missing both legs. He died before any questioning to be made. What makes you say the same would not have happened to you?" Eren could feel bile rising in his throat. There was no way that Levi would have done that to anyone. No way. Right? They had to be lying. Eren's eyes searched the few people watching, Hanji had to know about this right? But they couldn't meet Eren's eyes. They were instead staring intently at Levi, a terrified look in their eyes.
"You said yourself that there is no concrete proof. How can you say that Levi did it? Look at him! He's wasting away and no one is helping him! He's only human and I love him!" Eren stood as his voice got louder with each statement, all rationality thrown out the window. "Levi! Tell them you didn't do it! You wouldn't ever hurt anyone!" Eren knew he was probably going to be kicked out for this, but not a single part of him could accept that Levi was slipping out of his grasp.
"Order in the court!" The judge commanded as he banged his gavel against the table. Once everyone stopped he continued. "The witness is clearly too distressed to continue." He stated.
"Yes your honour. Eren, please return to your seat." The prosecutor clearly hadn't expected for the brunette to blow up like this and he looked a bit shaken. Eren on the other hand was shaken for different reasons. Was Levi really dangerous enough for Eren to have been in danger of dying? He doubted it but when Levi refused to look him in the eye, Eren couldn't ignore it.
"Dr. Zoe. Is the defendant capable of speaking?" The judge asked when Eren had returned to his seat. Hanji stood, walking over to the glass cell they made eye contact with Levi before responding.
"After having analyzed the patient, he is mentally unable to recount an accurate series of events." They stated calmly. Eren stared at Hanji in confusion, was Levi more far gone than Eren had realized? Did Levi not remember their time together like he had?
"You claim him as insane?"
"Yes your honor. The defendant Levi Ackerman is certifiably insane." Hanji didn't even twitch as they said it. Partially because they were a good actor, but more than that, because Hanji did believe it.
"May I have the analyzations? A recess will be called for the next hour as I consider this new information." The judge informed. Hanji took the papers from their briefcase, handing the multiple medical forms to the Judge in order to confirm their findings.
A guard came out of the door behind Levi and led him away while everyone else stood and left the courtroom for the next hour. Eren left beside Mikasa, staring straight ahead with a blank face, his mind still processing all that had happened.