Too Little
Skye frowned at the folder that had been placed in front of her.
"What's this?" Asked Skye, folding her arms over her chest and looking up at her partner.
"The Jones, Redman, and Macintyre case." Said Robert, glancing down, "The defence is saying that the Victim was a tart and liked to 'put herself out there' D'Argencourt's words, not theirs."
"You have told Marcus that I can't work this case, right?" Asked Skye, leaning back, "Given that I'm working the Rossi case, and that the victim is my sister?"
"I did, but Malcolm's stuck with D'Argencourt case and Richard's down with flu." Said Robert, sighing as he did, "Maria and Jaz are dealing with a very messy divorce and Peyton's still on maternity."
"So, we're a bit short." Said Skye, leaning back and sighing, "I should've stayed in sports."
"Yeah, you'd probably be at the Olympics by now." Agreed Robert, as Marcus walked into the joint office, "Uh-oh, his lordship's angry."
"The Rossi and Dupain-Cheng cases are now connected." Said Marcus, dropping into a chair.
"How so?" Asked Skye, dreading the answer.
"Because Mr Ethan Jones stalked, abducted, raped and murdered Lila Rossi." Informed Marcus, "He'd been released on bail, which was ridiculously high."
"I get the feeling Judge Symons is not going to be happy with that." Stated Robert, as Malcolm ducked his head into the room.
"Good news, I've managed to secure two witnesses against D'Argencourt." Said Malcolm, grinning, "Even better, they were his prized pupils before they dropped him."
Everyone stared at him, "Why the fuck did you get the easy case?" Demanded Robert.
TL
Kagami shifted uncomfortably next to her mother, she could see Adrien a couple of rows down, sitting next to his father. Miss Dupain was quietly talking to her colleague, before looking over at D'Argencourt's lawyer. The man obviously didn't want to be defending D'Argencourt, but despite that, he'd been making the prosecutions job difficult.
Everyone quietened down as the Judge walked back in, "M. Snyde, I hope that the defence has finally gotten their story straight."
Kagami tried not to smirk, D'Argencourt had given multiple different stories during the trial, he even tried to say that Marinette had propositioned him in front of his class. When asked about it, Adrien said that Marinette 'didn't do that form of charity work'.
Kagami hadn't been called yet, but Adrien's account of all the incidents had contradicted everything D'Argencourt had said.
"I believe so, You Honour." Said Snyde, running his hand down his face.
"Then, perhaps, we can finally resolve this." Said the Judge, sitting down, "Otherwise we can all look forward to another day of this."
"I do not need to explain myself to you." Snarled D'Argencourt, making everyone freeze.
"M. D'Argencourt," Started the Judge, his voice cold, "let's make one thing perfectly clear, the whole purpose of this trial is to ascertain whether or not you are guilty of the charges brought against you. It is mine and the jury's job to reach a verdict and carry out a sentence. You do need to explain yourself to me, otherwise the following few months are not going to be pleasant for you."
D'Argencourt went red with rage, as Kagami realised that the trail would end today. And D'Argencourt was going to give evidence against himself.
"Just because a chink whore got what she deserved is no reason to withhold myself and my prized students from the tournament!" Bellowed D'Argencourt, getting gasps from the entire room, "A mongrel's place is on her knees! Serving her betters!"
The Judge glared down at D'Argencourt, while M. Snyde rested his face in his hands, "Then, with that, I believe that the Jury can take their leave to reach a verdict."
D'Argencourt smirked smugly and sat down, as the Jury shuffled out of the room. Five minutes later, they Jury returned.
"Has the Jury reached a verdict?" Asked the Judge, his voice still cold.
"We have, Your Honour." Said the forewoman.
"On the first count of the indictment, conspiracy to commit rape?"
"Guilty."
"On the second count of the indictment, the rape of a professional colleague?"
"Guilty."
"On the third count of the indictment, perverting the course of justice and the obstruction of an ongoing investigation?"
"Guilty."
With each "Guilty", D'Argencourt's face got redder, until the forewoman sat down, leaving the Judge to do the rest.
"M. D'Argencourt, I honestly do not know where to begin," Said the Judge, "at first glance, you appeared to be an upstanding citizen. Now, however, I can clearly see a shallow, evil, man who cannot, or will not, see the error of his ways. As such, I have no qualms with sentencing you to life in prison with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years."
With a slam of the gavel and D'Argencourt screaming obscenities, the session was called to an end.
TL
Alya gently stroked Marinette's hair, the girl had a panic attack after the news about Lila broke. Marinette had been terrified that Ethan was going to come for her next, despite the police picking him up at the scene. She had a another when one of the lawyers had come and told her she needed to testify against Ethan and his friends.
Alya was jerked from her focus by Adrien popping his head up through the hatch.
"D'Argencourt's gotten life." Said Adrien, in way of greeting.
"Hopefully Jones will, as well." Muttered Alya, as Marinette let out a quiet whimper.
"Yeah, I heard about Lila." Murmured Adrien, dropping down so he was next to Marinette.
"I mean, sure Lila was a liar and a bit of a bitch, but to have that done to her…" Alya trailed off, before carefully adjusting the headphone in Marinette's ear, "Nora said that calming sounds would help, it's something a friend of hers did after they were attacked."
"What was her name?" Asked Adrien, as Marinette slowly noticed her was there.
"His name was Jacob, Nora said she didn't know the details, but she knew calming sounds or music helped." Responded Alya, as Marinette went from leaning on her to leaning on Adrien, "Oh, thank god, I really need to pee."
Adrien quietly watched Alya leave the room. Marinette curled against him, her head resting itself on his collar bone.
"Hey, M'Lady." Whispered Adrien, as Marinette let out a small sound.
He'd hoped the reveal had happened under better circumstances, but she needed him, and, to him, that was worth more than a stupid rule.
Marinette was curled up under her bed with a pair of scissors gripped in her hands. Adrien watched as the counsellor tried to coax her out, refusing any of her friend's entry. It wasn't until the counsellor told Marinette not to slit her wrists that Adrien decided to barge in and push the counsellor away from the bed.
"Young man, I'm trying to work!" Snapped the counsellor, as Adrien lied down on his front and looked under the bed.
Marinette trembled a puddle of tears pooling on the floor under her head.
"Hey, Mari." Whispered Adrien, Marinette letting out a choked sob in response, "Why don't you give the scissors to me?"
Marinette let out a small whine and tearfully shook her head.
"M'Lady, please." Whispered Adrien, making Marinette freeze, "Let us help you, please."
Adrien slowly reached for the scissors and gently grasped the handle. Marinette tightened her grip for a moment, before loosening it and allowing Adrien to take the scissors from her. Adrien threw the scissors away from the bed and reached for Marinette. After a few more minutes of coaxing, Adrien gently pulled Marinette out from under the bed. Marinette breathed heavily, gripping tightly to Adrien, before she gagged and threw up onto his shirt.
Marinette breathed into Adrien's shoulder, the boy's arms wrapping protectively around her. Alya quietly returned, spotting Adrien's hand.
"Did you punch something?" Asked Alya, as Adrien looked down at his bruised hand.
"My cousin," Supplied Adrien, "He had some…choice views, on the situation and the subject of, well, you-know-what."
"So, you punched him?" Asked Alya, dropping down next to Adrien and Marinette.
"No," Replied Adrien, "I gave him verbal warning, he laughed it off, then I punched him."
Alya leaned against Adrien, his father seemed to be thawing but he still had a way to go. Marinette breathed in and shuddered, before she started choking on something. Alya handed Adrien a bucket and then patted Marinette's back.
"Has anyone asked her about a test?" Asked Alya, as Marinette heaved into the bucket.
Adrien shook his head, "We can't even talk about the situation, much less any possible consequences of it."
Marinette stopped heaving and breathed heavily, trying to calm herself down. She knew what they were talking about, even if they thought she didn't. She hoped if she ignored it, everything would go away and return to normal. But her nightmares hadn't gotten that message, every time she closed her eyes, she was back in that room. Adrien pulled Marinette into a sitting position and pressed a kiss to her temple.
TL
Gabriel glared at the TV screen. All his hard work with healing Marinette had just been thrown out the window with D'Argencourt's court case hitting the news. Cataldi certainly didn't help matters, constantly trying to shift blame from the perpetrators to Marinette. Gabriel was more than a little bit proud to say he'd managed to get the bald-headed man fired after a quick phone call.
Which brought Gabriel's attention to his present problem, he needed to finalise the designs before his interview. Nathalie coughed into her fist, making Gabriel look up and spot his secretary and bruised nephew.
Gabriel and Felix stared at each other, before Gabriel looked at Nathalie.
"I assume this is about that 'fight' Adrien got into?" Asked Gabriel, frowning.
"He and Adrien had a… disagreement on current events." Said Nathalie, as Gabriel groaned.
"I'll handle this, Nathalie." Sighed Gabriel, silently dismissing Nathalie.
As soon as Nathalie had left, Gabriel stood up and walked up to his nephew, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I'm stating the obvious." Retorted Felix, "Shadowmoth."
Gabriel glared down at Felix, "Did you seriously provoke Adrien, just to speak to me?"
"One senti-monster to another-" Felix was cut off by Gabriel grabbing his shirt.
"My son is not a senti-monster," Snarled Gabriel, "he is older than you, Felix. Why do you think you look so much like him? Your mother saw Adrien and wanted a child just like him. So, Emilie created you."
Felix swallowed, before Gabriel dropped him, "And if you're here for your Amok, it's been in your mothers hands this entire time. Now, leave."
Felix stared at Gabriel, before scrambling out of the office. Gabriel looked at his desk and the designs on it. Maybe he should choose something Emilie would like.
TL
Everyone jumped as the front door to the Dupain-Cheng home slammed shut. Sabine guided a sobbing Marinette up to her room, while Tom started making tea.
"How'd it go?" Asked Kagami, as Sabine returned.
"The defence tried to pin everything on Marinette, causing her to breakdown and have a panic attack, all the while those things were laughing at her." Snarled Tom, accidentally cracking a mug, "The Judge called a halt to the proceedings and spoke with both the prosecution and defence. We don't know what was said, but the defence certainly lost their smugness."
Everyone was quiet, before Alya and Kagami went up to Marinette.
The boys sat on the sofa quietly, each being handed a cup of tea, as they waited for the girls to come back down.
Sabine sighed, "We spoke to Marinette about getting a pregnancy test and that set her off further, but she agreed, so there's progress."
"What about tests for…you know…infections and stuff…" Adrien trailed off awkwardly.
Tom and Sabine stared at him in silence.
"We honestly didn't think about that." Said Tom, breaking the silence.
Adrien gave a small smile and nodded. Meanwhile, up in Marinette's room, the three girls were curled up together, with Marinette nestled in the middle. Marinette was breathing heavily into her pillows. Alya gently rubbed her back, while Kagami hummed to her.
Marinette's breathing calmed, before slowly sitting up and drew her knees up to her chest. Kagami and Alya shared a look, before sitting up as well.
Marinette took a few deep breaths, "Maman probably told you about the test."
Alya nodded, as Marinette took a shuddering breath, "Tikki told me, if I am p-p-preg-with child, the earrings would, er, um, well, they'd protect it."
Alya and Kagami stared at Marinette in disbelief, "There is a spell that would get rid of it, b-but it's somewhere i-in the temple, a-and i-i-if S-Su H-Han f-f-f-finds o-out-"
Marinette started gasping for air, before Alya pulled her against her chest.
"Breathe." Murmured Alya, "Breathe."
Marinette sucked deep breaths in and exhaled them, "One…one of them wanted to make a deal, Skye s-said that her boss was d-dealing with it."
Alya and Kagami shared another look, before Alya leaned forwards, "Do you think you'll cope if we call the boys up?"
Marinette gave a shaky nod, allowing Alya to call the boys up from the living room. Marinette was soon nestled in the middle of all her partners. Marinette breathed deeply. Nothing could hurt her. She was safe.
She was safe.