Geus couldn't move, couldn't talk. The room became restless with talks of both All Might and All For One. If they weren't careful to relax the situation, anything could happen. The man that kidnapped his cousin and set this situation really did want him from the start.

The head judge slammed his gavel and attempted to settle the courtroom down. It was clear in his eyes that he was shaken by the statement. Not even twenty four hours ago, that man took out the Number One hero.

Geus looked back at his aunt, she was in full panic and confusion like everyone else. A small relief to see she wasn't part of this. But another part died knowing she was placed in all this because of his quirk. If he'd had followed the guidelines of his family then everything would be normal right now.

"Order in the court! Mr. Loofeel what is the connection between you and the villain known as All For One?"

"When Geus arrived at my prison, I got in close contact with that man. He knew of my talents and wished for me to help." Iroh suddenly became disgruntled, his eyes swayed to the ground and his cocky posture flattened. "At first I thought he was related to Geus and only wished to help. He was the one that offered all these solutions to help, guided him and me on the right path. If it wasn't for him, I would've never had gave Geus to UA. As All For One told me that everything went to plan. I'd be promoted from my efforts and Geus would be a changed man. Originally, he was supposed to be captured at USJ. But he got out with every meeting I made for the League of Villains."

"Why did the League of Villains need you out of everyone else and every other possibility?"

"I was designed for this job. With two quirks that made me the perfect warden, I was an easy puppet. It didn't help that a psychologist determined Geus had bipolar disease."

Geus turned worried, his head crashed into the desk and pushed his hands to the back of his head. New thoughts barged into his head. He refused to believe this, as evil as this man was he'd never do this. He wanted to forget this and revert back to a normal case.

"One of my quirks allowed me to deeply mess with Geus's brain waves. I made his mind filled with regret and misery to force him into horrible situations. All the comments from his school should've driven him crazy, UA was supposed to make him hate heroes even more. To escape my prison and turn against us should've happened a while ago. But Geus overpowered it."

"Are you saying that the escape from your facility was your going?"

"Yes. With Geus out of the system, he was supposed to become a villain. He even showed me, hold on." Iroh pulled off his suit jacket and revealed his arm. The skin was melted down, his bones poked out and sunk all over the place. "Everyday for over a year he held back his ability to hurt others."

"And what was found on that security tapes you recovered." Iroh didn't answer. The pity he gave to Geus distracted him. He was on the verge of crying and forever seeing him for the hidden monster he was. A job to rehabilitate others became a sideshow. A small step to bring him to where he wanted to be. It was finally coming to full circle. "Geus, in fact, did kill both his parents. We weren't able to recover the audio and some sorts of the footage. But what was restored showed that they have woken Geus out of his stasis sleep and forced his quirk out. Whether it was to change their minds, kill their son, his quirk rushed out of his body and filled the room up with his gas. Effectively killing all footage after that and his family."

"We will need to look over all this evidence and determine the sentence before we can proceed. Will everyone please clear out of the room and bring Geus to his holding cell. Thank you."

To say he was simply shocked is a massive understatement. Placing any two points together did make sense. A solid year of convincing himself he didn't do it just became a false reality. He did do it, the time he couldn't control his quirk killed those he loved dearly. The fights didn't matter when it came to events like this. At the end of the day they were family that loved each other. And now he was the reason for their split.

The police officer on duty had to force Geus out of his seat and pull him along. Geus just refused to settle, refused to even look Iroh in the eye as they passed. The ground was a good enough sight for his eyes however the council of judges saw it, he did escape the prison, injured the guards, and even killed his parents. He and the general public will never see the behind scenes of this case. But what was televised just now held his fate to them.

The new mask he wore felt like an indication of everything he did wrong. Made from solid concrete and filters that allowed air through became his new prison. To Geus, it felt like a cow getting branded. Whoever saw that brand knew about that cow and didn't need to bat a second eye. He was dangerous, and he knew it."

"Not even All Might can save me." Geus pouted. He leaned back on the wall of his cell and closed his eyes. "I killed them." A single tear rolled down his cheek and dripped onto the concrete floor. "I caused, all of this."

The front door of this judicial jail opened up. "He's the only one. And make it quick." The guard aggressively whispered.

Geus opened his eyes and rolled his head to the side. Iroh walked at a fast pace over to his cell. Once he got there he grabbed hold of the bars and pressed his face into the gap. The fatness of his cheeks molded around the iron and made him look like a chubby bunny.

"Listen to me. Don't say anything that puts you at fault."

"Why'd you say all those things?" Geus whispered. "Why now tell the truth?"

"Look, I'll say I'm a bastard of a man and everything else in-between. I did not expect this to go down like this, this wasn't the plan. To hurt All Might as he did was disgusting to say the least."

He sounded genuine. There was no snarky voice to his words to assert dominance in them. He sounded genuinely worried about Geus. There was nothing behind them that held him back or placed him on top. As real as they were, it felt a little too late to Geus. The time to be honest was another time ago.

"So all of this was for what then? Why didn't you just give me up to them?"

"Because that was way too suspicious then. To trick you into doing it was the only cause, I could've changed everything with you."

"You could've called me dead and no one would question you."

"Trust me kid, when they see that tape and get full testimony statements from everyone you'll get out of here."

Geus turned forward. "Just get out of here."

Iroh released his face from the bars. He went to speak as his feet paced back. "I'm sorry, for everything."

It became hours when Iroh last saw him. Alone with his thoughts was all he had. A half hour long case revealed ao much to him. A quick in and out the case that was barely lit up for the media's attention. A few testimonies and a pile of hidden evidence. People only wanted to see the kid All Might trusts. If All Might was never involved then it would just be Iroh's and the school's word and the new evidence. Now this brought up a real need for review.

The seconds that past stressed him out more. Thought over thought, memory over memory. No one told him he had to rethink his whole life, just did it on his own. So far the answers he received were against his favor. Killing his parents, the bipolar mood swings, slowly but sure made more sense. Yet he didn't like those answers. Geus wished this trial took place without him and just announced the verdict to him after the whole event. It would've made so much more of a difference.

"You got another visitor!" The guard shouted.

Geus kept looking forward, whoever it was held no power to change the future. So to look at them was a waste of energy, he solidly convinced this was it. For all he knew UA's time with him ended, so whoever was there would be gone anyways. He shook his head from disappointment and turned to the gate. His eyes lit up at Itsuka, he stumbled around the cell floor till he got up to his feet.

"You came, I didn't see you out there."

"I just arrived." Itsuka forced out a smile. It was painfully obvious she felt uncomfortable here and wanted to leave. Any friend behind bars did that to a person. "The mask is different."

"Yeah, there wasn't exactly the time to craft a new one. So Cementoss quickly threw this one up." Geus placed his forehead on the bars. "Remember when you first met me? You told me not everyone believes I'm a criminal."

Her forehead tapped on his, in reaction both of them genuinely smiled. "I do."

"What about now? Not a single person in the world didn't miss that."

"You're still the frightened newcomer from the start of school. A hero in the works at UA's top class. Nobody in the world missed that. Tell me, Geus. What are you going to do once you're out of here?"

"I'm going to see what a real bed feels like."

Itsuka giggled. "That's the Geus I know." Her forehead moved away from his. She brushed her orange hair to the side of her face and widened her smile. "I'm going to see you at school, okay?"

"Okay."

Itsuka strolled past a guard that came to his cell. The man pulled a key from his belt and inserted it inside the gate. "Well kid. It's time, let's go."

Geus caught one last glimpse at Itsuka as she closed the door behind her. After three hours of consideration, it seemed like they were ready to cast their votes. They reentered the courtroom, this time it had only a select few people. Iroh, the principle of UA, and Aunt Maria, and the line of judges.

Geus was placed in front of the wall of judges. All emotionless and looked to be ready to leave. The center judge leaned forward to his mic. "Geus Sansei, after considering the testimonies of Iroh Looleaf and the new compiled evidence we have made out decision. With a vote of six to three, you have been found not guilty."

Geus dropped his head back. At this moment, after a year of false imprisonment, it was finally over. The tears that burst from eyes weren't ones of grief or sadness. They were pure joy, all that has happened led to this moment. He turned to his aunt, she was on her knees with tears dripping through the cracks of her hands.

'A new beginning, to both of us.' Geus thought. He wanted to hug her right now, with cuffed hands and a mouth of cement had no power to stop him.

"Look back here Mr. Geus. Now there are a few conditions you must abide by. With the agreement of UA, you will be monitored on UA's grounds but are free to roam the city. A mask will be worn at all times in the face of public until it is known you can fully control your quirk, and weekly psychological therapy will be conducted. Are there any questions or concerns to this?"

Geus rubbed the tears from his eyes. "What about Iroh?"

"He will lose his job and placed under probation because of his help with the discovery of the League of Villain's base. With a hundred hours of community service. Anything else."

He shook with head with power. "None at all."

"Then Officer Mayfu, you may uncuff him. And hero Cementoss, once a new mask is instated then that mask may be removed. I hereby end the case of Geus Sansei."

The instant that gavel hit the podium Geus rushed away with free arms. He jumped over the gated separator and grabbed hold of his aunt. He squeezed her with all his built up strength. At this moment, was the time literally nothing else mattered. Forget about the case, forget about the people, it was only him and Maria.

"You and your god damn heroes." She whispered in his shoulder. "All of this because of those stupid quirks."

"I know."

"We had the funeral before this. They didn't want to see you near him again."

"I know." He lied, it hurt more than this trial to hear that from her. He risked everything for that boy and learned about things he never wanted to hear. His chance to see that boy was never going to happen. He didn't want his last sight of Keena to be under that blanket, not there, not ever. Geus lifted up his aunt's chin, he tried to smile and give a face to carry her spirits. "The last time I saw him he wanted to tell me a secret. Let's just see it as a secret he took to the grave. I couldn't see him one more time and risk him spoiling that secret."

It appeared to cheer her up a little. Her tears rushed out more on the smiling face of hers. A connection with his family began here. A place he found happiness in the pool of sadness. "Come on." She straightened his jumpsuit and tried to wipe away the wet spots. "I got to take you shopping for the dorm room." She sniffled and wiped her eye. "Can't have you walking around like a prisoner."

Geus looked back at Iroh. Fear instantly set in, he was stuck and frozen in time. The smile he gave off wasn't like the one from before. It was the same as those other times, the yellow grin with huge breaths. The classic Iroh that stabbed fear into anyone that crossed him. He walked by the small white rat and to the gate.

He leaned over the gate and crushed the wood with his metal fingers. "You made me give up a lot kid. But I was warned about this. Now that you're free, nothing holds us back."

"Wha-wha-wha-wha-what do you mean?"

"I did push you into escaping. Who'd you call? Me. I told you exactly what to do. He wanted you over there before the strings crumbled and that was it."

"Bullshit this was planned."

"Not exactly, no. It came up after the failed second raid on you. This was the only foreseeable future. I'll see you another time Sansei. Better not forget me."

"Are you okay?" Maria snapped him out of it. Confused, he looked around and back at Iroh. His smile changed again, the dominance smile. Confirming that what he saw was real in his mind. A trick of the truth. "Geus, what's wrong?"

"Just taking in the sights. Trying to remember everything here." Geus tried to play it off. "Let's do that shopping. I only own one pair of clothes after all."

They both pushed open the doors to a flood of cameras and reporters. One after another questions were thrown at them. Without an escort, they had to shove them out of the way themselves. As embarrassing as it was, both of them found grace with it all. It confirmed what transpired in that room mattered to the rest of the world. A true light shined inside the wave of people. A free man named Geus Sansei. And a Sansei he was proud to call himself.