I KNOW that a month isn't a realistic delay for a trial to take place.

However, I needed that out of the way rather quickly for the rest of the fic to take place. So let's just agree that money and the Agreste name is enough to make anything happen, even a rape trial happen in merely four weeks.

Alright folks?

A month.

Four little weeks.

It's all it took to the lawyer Adrien had hired to bring Marinette's case to court. Of course, being an Agreste definitely had its perks, and the young man had enlisted without any second thought the best attorney available specialized in sexual crimes. It didn't hurt that said attorney was defiantly ruthless and had sympathized with Marinette right from their first meeting. She had made this case her own personal crusade and wasn't going to let Nathanael walk from court unscathed if it was the last thing she was to do in her career.

The day of the trial came faster than either of them was prepared to, but Marinette assured him many times that it was more than fine. She was way beyond eager to put that story behind her and finally be able to start anew, with him. So they found themselves on a cold Monday morning sitting side by side in a full to the brim courtroom, Marinette's parents sitting at her left, and Alya and Nino silently taking place at his right. Both couples had been elated that the young woman had finally decided to press charges against her aggressor, and had thanked Adrien many times over the course of the last four weeks, perfectly aware that he was more than likely the one that had finally pushed her over the edge.

The attorney he had hired, Ms. Goldenberg, stood confidently and walked up to the judge, clearing her throat loudly, snapping his attention back to what was currently happening:
"Your Honor, in the case of Miss Dupain-Cheng against Mr. Kurtzberg, I intend to prove that my client had been sexually assaulted by the defendant on the evening of April 4th, 2012, and has been suffering from anxiety disorders ever since, reflecting negatively on her day to day life."
Adrien felt Marinette's slender fingers squeezing his lightly. They both knew what was coming, and they knew their friends and her parents wouldn't like it.
"Please proceed." asked the judge, tranquil authority oozing out of every single pore of his skin.
"The plaintiff has been badly traumatized after the events we are talking about, so I took the liberty of videotaping her testimony so she wouldn't be overwhelmed by the emotions in court and leave out important elements due to the stress. Do you accept this filmed testimony, your Honor?"
"Do the opposition have any objections?"
"I don't mind," breathed Nathanael softly, and that's only then that Adrien noticed the blatant absence of a lawyer by his side. Why in the world was he representing himself? Did he have a death wish?

Marinette's attorney pressed a button on the projector, and suddenly his girlfriend beautiful face was displayed on the big screen behind the judge, who had to twist in his chair to look at it. Adrien didn't listen to the testimony, it was more or less the same story she had told him on the night they first kissed, and he was more interested in supporting her through what he knew was a very difficult step for her. Up to that very second, he had been the only breathing being aware of her secrets, along with Ms. Goldenberg who had been a real sweetheart about the whole ordeal, never pressuring Marinette into giving details she wasn't too keen on sharing. Surprisingly enough, he found the blackette's face remaining stern through hearing her testimony, her bluebell irises looking intently at their intertwined fingers in her lap. Casting a curious glance to Nathanael, the blond model was startled to notice the redhead seemed positively horrified hearing what he had done to his former girlfriend. Just how intoxicated had he been that dreadful night to not even remember his actions?

As soon as the screen went black, the room started to buzz with shocked whispers. Alya and Marinette's mother were quietly crying, while Nino and her dad looked ready to pounce on Nathanael and rip his head off. Adrien chuckled to himself lightly, thinking about how he wouldn't mind giving them a hand for that.
"Order in my court," the judge demanded, effectively silencing the room. Ms. Goldenberg powered off the projector and turned to the assembly.
"I call Mr. Nino Lahiffe to the stand."
With shaky legs, Nino stood up and went to the small stall.
"Mr. Lahiffe, do swear to speak the truth and only the truth?"
"I swear," answered the young DJ without hesitation.
"Please state your name and your link to Miss Dupain-Cheng to the court,"
"I'm Nino Lahiffe. I'm also Marinette's best friend's husband and one of her closest friends."
"Alright, replied softly Ms. Goldenberg, can you tell us what happened on the evening of April 4th, 2012?"
Gulping, Nino cast a nervous glance at him, and Adrien simply smiled reassuringly. It wasn't that hard, after all. All he had to do was tell the truth.

And Nino went on, recalling the events of that dreadful night. He spoke about how Alya wanted to check on Marinette before going to bed, because she had an odd feeling she needed to, about how they found the blackette sobbing and trying to kick her redhead boyfriend off her, about how he had dragged his half-naked sorry ass down the hall, never minding their peers curious glances.
"I have no further questions," Ms. Goldenberg spoke softly when Nino had reached the end of his testimony. Smiling reassuringly at him, the attorney then spoke firmly:
"I call miss Alya Césaire to the stand."
Alya stood up, visibly shaken up, and made her way to the testimony booth. Marinette's lawyer asked her questions, almost identical to the ones she had asked from Nino, and Alya answered as well as she could. It was obvious even to an outsider that the brunette was upset, that she had trouble to compose herself.

"Please state your name and your link to Miss Dupain-Cheng to the court," asked again kindly Marinette's attorney. Her voice shaking with pent-up emotion, Alya softly uttered:
"I'm Alya Césaire. I've been Marinette Dupain-Cheng's best friend ever since we were fifteen years old."
"Alright. What happened on April 4th, 2012?"
Hazel eyes found Marinette's blue gaze, seeking reassurance. When his girlfriend managed to utter a shy smile, Alya seemed to find the courage she needed in it:
"Marinette had been complaining for a few weeks that her boyfriend was acting kind of pushy with her. I couldn't bring myself to go to sleep without assuring myself that she was okay first, so my long term boyfriend and I headed back to the room I shared with Marinette before going to bed."
Ms. Goldenberg piped up:
"Up to that night, did you trust Mr. Kurtzberg with miss Dupain-Cheng safety?"
Alya's soft smile faltered:
"Marinette always held really strong feelings toward another of our fellow classmates, Adrien Agreste. I know for a fact that it was badly bothering Nathanael. He spoke about it many times with me or my husband. He really did try his best to take Adrien's place in Marinette's heart, but he just couldn't live with the fact his girlfriend harbored feelings for another man than him.
"Does it justify Nathanael's actions on April 4th, 2012 to you?"
The brunette shook her head vehemently:
"Nothing could justify doing what he did to her. He took her virginity without even bothering to ask, he forced himself upon her and ruined any other following sexual encounter for her."

Ms. Goldenberg smiled softly:
"Thank you, miss Césaire. I have no further questions."
The lawyer pulled out a manila folder as Alya regained her seat, presenting it to the judge.
"This, your Honor, is Miss Dupain-Cheng medical file from the abortion clinic she went to. That type of clinic is sadly used to deal with cases like this one, therefore they tend to annotate the files thoroughly. The doctor who proceeded to the intervention on the plaintiff noted still healing internal wounds as well as the presence of fading bruises on her thighs. He also documented that his patient refused to speak about what happened to her and was very insistent on going through the procedure alone, even if it's heavily recommended to be accompanied."
The judge took a look at the medical file before passing it along to the jury.
"I have no further elements to bring to your attention, your Honor."

Straightening in his chair, the man cast a stern glance at the room, before looking directly at Nathanael:
"Very well. The court is ready to hear the defendant's testimony. Mr. Kurtzberg, I believe you are going to represent yourself?"
Nathanael nodded as he stood up, very visibly gulping, and Adrien could swear there were tears streaks on the redhead's cheeks.
"I can't testify, your Honor."
Frowning, the judge leaned in:
"Would you please clarify your statement to the court?"
Looking down, Nathanael spoke again in a broken tone:
"I can't testify because I don't remember anything of that night. I remember being angry with her and drinking way too much, but anything after that is a complete blank."
He gulped again, and this time Adrien was sure there were tears rolling from now closed eyes :
"I'm sorry Marinette. I'm really sorry."

The judge's tranquil voice broke the heavy silence that followed Nathanael's half confession:
"I think we can now let the jury deliberate."
The jury deliberated for less than fifteen minutes. They came back with stern faces, stating that the vote was unanimous. The judge spoke, the crowd instantly and effectively silenced:
"Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"
The jury spokesman stood and said:
"Yes, your Honor, we have."
The judge then asked,
"Members of the jury, on the case of miss Dupain-Cheng vs. Mr. Kurtzberg, what do you say?"
The Jury Spokesman cleared his throat before pronouncing,
"Your Honor, the members of this Jury find the defendant guilty of first-degree sexual assault."
Loud conversation burst out within the room. The judge had to bang his gavel several times before there was peace again.
"Order, order in my courtroom." He said in a stern voice.
"It is time." The judge said this statement with finality. "I will now pass sentence of the verdict. I agree with the jury on the verdict of guilt, and hereby sentence Nathanael Kurtzberg to five years in prison, without any possibility of parole before three years."

Adrien watched, stunned beyond words, as a resigned Nathanael held his wrists up for the security guard to handcuff him. There was no anger on his face, no fear. Just an infinite sadness and obvious shame at his unspeakable actions. The blond felt Marinette's slender fingers slip into his, squeezing his hand slightly. Looking at her quizzically, he found her smiling softly:
"Thank you."
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and brought her hand up to softly kiss her knuckles:
"Anything for you, my lady."

The courtroom was now slowly emptying itself, as Ms. Goldenberg walked up to them to congratulate them warmly on their victory before taking her leave. Tom Dupain suggested tentatively that they all should head to the bakery for a celebratory meal, and when his impromptu plan was met with shy smiles from everyone, they agreed wholeheartedly. They all could use some comfort after the day's events and revelations.

Twenty minutes later, Adrien was parking his car in front of his girlfriend's parents bakery, worried about his lady's sudden silence:
"Mari, are you okay?"
Her blue eyes met his, and she shrugged softly:
"I honestly don't know. All of this time, and he didn't even know. He destroyed my life and he doesn't even remember it."
The blond smiled at her reassuringly:
"It's over now. You can be proud of you Marinette, what you did was really brave."
The young woman averted her gaze from him, suddenly looking uneasy as they reached the bakery's door:
"I just hope your father won't mind the negative press too much."

Alya's somewhat amazed voice interrupted them as they stepped in the small and warm shop:
"Somehow I highly doubt about that being an issue at all."
"What? Why do you say that?" Adrien heard himself ask.
"Just look," the brunette replied as she put her phone into Marinette's hand, pressing the play button.

On the small screen was now displayed the unmistakable face of Gabriel Agreste, who had more than likely been hunted down by hungry media at the exit of Agreste offices. A very forward and insolent reporter shamelessly shoved her microphone in front of the older man's face:
"Mr. Agreste, what are your thoughts on your newest intern bringing her ex-boyfriend to court on rape assumptions?"
The designer stopped dead in his tracks hearing the rather prodding question he was asked:
"My son's girlfriend is an amazing designer and an overall incredible young woman. Bringing her aggressor to court was a very brave thing for her to do and she has my whole and complete support through this unfortunate ordeal."
A stunned silence welcomed Gabriel's words before another reporter tried shyly:
"I'm sorry sir, did you say your son's girlfriend?"
Sighing heavily, Adrien's father looked at the media amassed before him before speaking again:
"Miss Dupain-Cheng is indeed Adrien's girlfriend. They have been friends for a very long time but working together visibly brought them closer. However, I insist on the fact that I, as well as all Agreste's staff, stand behind her through those tough times. In fact, I'm really proud to announce that half of the profits on the upcoming teenage line she is currently working on will be donated to an organization working toward helping sexual abuse victims."

The remaining of Gabriel speech was lost on both of them.

In a few sentences, Adrien's father had managed to salvage Marinette's career in the fashion industry, out them as a couple to the whole world and take a rather clear position on sexual crimes.

The video was short, barely even lasting five minutes, but it was heavily emotionally charged for both of them. Adrien couldn't believe how supporting his father was acting to Marinette's past, very publicly approving of not only their relationship but also the lawsuit resulting from her painful past.

Smiling broadly at his girlfriend, the blond former model pulled her into a tight hug:
"It's over princess. It's really over." he whispered softly into her ear, willing all his love for her in those breathed words.

Fun fact: I actually googled Paris' sexual abuse specialized lawyers to get a name. So Nina Goldenberg is an actual lawyer in Paris.