Legal Bat 5 - (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, Lawyer!SI)

If you wish to Donate and Support: ptreon DOT com / socialistbukharin

Being a worker for the state can be both good and bad. The bad tended to easily overrule the good, especially in a matter like the one I was now facing.

I just had a day of warning that this case was coming up. I wasn't sure the reasoning for a lack of a proper forewarning, but I had a singular thought in mind - how the fuck was I meant to make this 'work'?

The case in my hand was equally 'needed' and 'extremely unecessary'. And the primary element behind this mess was Clayface.

Basil Karlo was, by all means, a redeemed villain. Not only was he redeemed, but also a powerless man.

Did the state care? No.

Being found by some cops and then identified as Karlo, the now depowered Clayface was expected to face trial for his most recent crimes. Having been tortured by the Victim Syndicate, Clayface had gone berserk on Gotham and had ultimately been killed off by a sniper hired by Colonel Jacob Kane.

The entire mess was one hell of a PR nightmare to endure and handle, but now the State wanted to clean up properly. Basil Karlo couldn't be let scot free, and I was assigned to make sure he wasn't given the chance to reintegrate within society just yet.

It was somewhat 'smart' since no one in this world ever lost their powers for long, but I felt nonetheless pressured to be careful with the case. Especially with a rather unwarranted visited by Harley and Ivy.

"So... why are you doing this?" The blonde had asked as she found me digging through paperwork in that two-days marathon.

Ivy had taken to seat, adopting a more diplomatic and less hysterical approach.

"I have a job, which is mandated by the state-"

"Can't you just... refuse it? Or pass it over?"

"I could. But then that means getting fired because I 'failed in my duties'," I argued back, leaning back on my chair with my arms by my chest. "Let's be honest. I know Karlo is not a monster at this point and that the whole cream crap had his mind messed up, but the damage can't be ignored. Powerless or not, PR calls for blood or we are getting a new hole ripped by the population."

Harley huffed, landing on the chair behind her. "Really? Nothing?"

"Surely you can do something to help," Ivy pressed on and... I sighed.

"Ladies, I want to start by saying that 1) I am doing something. Right now, I am not sharpening a sword, but I am trying to find a way to go around the 'orders' I got. Quoting the email I got 'I have to make sure Karlo wasn't given the chance to go back to work so soon' and I have something in mind," I argued flatly, fishing some papers. "I am not sending him to Arkham if that's also a worry. The man is possibly disturbed due to his lingering trauma, but nothing to warrant Arkham. I would say he has to attend Community Service for a few years, go to a state-funded therapist, and not give any interview."

"That's..." Harley frowned, looking at her girlfriend. "That sounds like something Basil would take."

I rolled my eyes at that. "Who said he didn't?"

"Why is this even a case then?" Ivy asked back, confused just as much as her lover.

"Well, Basil wants it to be a quick thing, but he got stuck with a lawyer that wants some glory to his name. One Mr. Barnes, and he is a piece of work."

"...He is trying to 'battle' with you or something?"

"Dudes do that from time to time. I just never saw someone do it when so many statal money are being wasted," I pretty much confirmed with a nod, then I looked at more files. "Thing is, I can't have the trial brought to a quick end. Not with this bastard going to wall things up for some scorched earth. It's unwinnable by his side, but he is going to be a brat over it."

"Oh," Harley hummed, looking away. "What if Basil was to be helpful? Like... if he answers things that can make 'his' case fall apart?"

I opened my mouth and... I closed my eyes. "If you can do that, then it would make things easier. Understand I can't say 'do it' or not because this is pretty much illegal. Don't... do anything too pushy. Just get him collaborative."

"It can be done."

Ivy's assurance did little to ease down my nerves. And I still worked up some questions that could fasten things up if this ploy was to go through. Once I was done, I waited for the right time to get to the trial and...

It was soon showtime.

The early statements were awkward as expected. I advanced a lenient line, while the defender's attorney was actually sprouting shit about 'Clayface not being Karlo, thus Karlo is not a bad guy' was nothing that could stand on nothing.

Karlo became Clayface after already having committed crimes. It wasn't even a matter of 'if'. The police had a years-long dossier on the matter, and this whole circumstance was just a huge headache for me.

After the statements, it was time to address the big issue: Karlo himself.

The man was usually confident, but something told me that his lawyer may have said or done something to make him more restrained.

Nonetheless, I had him take the stand and a spar ensued.

"Mr. Karlo, I wish to start from some basic questions that have already been answered and confirmed to be facts just so that we can get through some potential misunderstandings."

The man nodded and I got started.

"Mr. Karlo, your full name is Basil Vincent Karlo, yes?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Your parents are Vincent and Yvette Karlo, correct?"

"Yes."

"Your father, Vincent, was the one that introduced to the Renu compound."

"He taught me that it could be used to create effective faces for masks."

"The only circumstance in which you started to use it was after that car accident, correct?"

"...Yes."

"Are you familiar with why Renu was discontinued, Mr. Karlo?"

"I... I was told that there were some dangerous chemical elements in it which... I remember it was something that worked as a drug."

"To an extent, you are not far from the truth. The Renu compound held some chemical elements that indeed were addictive as drugs and made many mask-wielding actors invested in wearing those costumes due to the scent the cream produced. Many were also hospitalized due to the obsession tied to the cream and, following your transformation in clayface, new data showed a degree of biological alteration in a large enough amount injected to one skin and overall body."

I took a pause, flipping pages.

"Mr. Karlo, I will now ask you a few touchy questions. The reason I wish to warn you of this is also to express my utmost neutrality- no one is here to be shamed for some humiliating issues of the time you were an actor. So please, answer those with as much openness as possible."

Karlo offered a frail smile. "I-I will try."

"Mr. Karlo, you started to work quite young under the pseudonym Matthew 'Matt' Hagen. About 19 and already doing movies."

"Yes. I was considered a handsome fellow already back then."

I nodded. "Mr. Karlo, your career also improved thanks to some connection you had. Your Stunt Double was one Theodore 'Teddy' Lupus and he has been reported to have impacted your career significantly."

Karlo's eyes darkened. "Y-Yes. Teddy used to be my... best friend."

"Mr. Karlo, did you and Teddy share feelings with one another? At least, on your part."

Karlo looked tense for a moment, but ultimately conceded. "Yes."

The public was a bit buzzing with this news. There had been theories, but the confirmation was definitely going to be juicy for many journos already painting Karlo as a misunderstood character.

"Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Karlo. I wish to understand one thing on the matter, did others know about this relationship?"

"I... Yes. There were others aware of this."

"My apologies if this one may be too much and I will allow you to not answer this if you feel it beyond your current willingness to look back into the past: did anyone ever threaten you through this piece of information?"

Before Karlo could answer, his lawyer jumped up.

"O-Objection, your honor!"

At this point in time, the current Judge was Shaffer again. And the old man, although glad to have me around, looked mighty confused on what had just occurred.

Especially in regard to this generic objection and the current state of Mr. Barnes.

He was sweating profusely, twitching and appearing as if he had done something he was now worrying about. Not only that, but he had 'pleading eyes', which meant this guy didn't have a solid reason for the objection.

"Both of you, approach."

I nodded, puzzled on what was going on as I walked up to the judge and-

"Mr. Barnes, you better have a reason for this interruption."

"Your- Your honor, I have to- to say that the question is not pertinent to the case."

I glared at the guy. "That's ridiculous. It is part of the accepted line of questioning by the defense."

"I agree, Mr. Mercer. Mr. Barnes, explain yourself."

He didn't. He kept quiet, trying to delay the truth as much as possible. And I had a growing suspicion as I knew this may be... a faster case than I thought it to be.

Shaffer's patience was, to my relief, relatively brief.

"The objection is overruled."

I nodded and I returned to my desk, while Barnes took a while to make it back to his.

I held back a smile, but I knew what to ask now.

"Mr. Karlo, I will repeat the question- did anyone ever threaten you through this piece of information?"

"Yes."

I saw Karlo eyeing his own attorney with glee. He appeared more confident as he knew from that reaction Barnes couldn't press anything on him.

"Were you threatened over this information as of recent years?"

I saw Barnes twitching, panic rising. "Y-Your honor-"

"Overruled, Mr. Barnes. Go on, Mr. Karlo."

"Yes."

I grinned. "This week?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Karlo, were you perhaps threatened by your lawyer to keep this trial going?"

"Yes."

Barnes looked to be moments away from a seizure.

"Is it true that you are agreeing with the prosecution's line of demands?"

"Yes. Wholeheartedly."

"Mr. Karlo, could you please provide reason for this reaction just so this is made clear?"

He nodded. "I am no longer Clayface, but I understand I did heinous things, even recently. I can't just ignore the crimes of the past, so I wish to show Gotham and its people I will not longer torment them."

I turned my smile to Judge Shaffer. "Your honor, I request for a mistrial as the defendant is willing to accept the prosecution's demands."

Shaffer slowly nodded, eyeing Barnes as the man was utterly wrecked by his own idiocy.

"I accept your request, Mr. Mercer. The court thus deem this a mistrial and for Mr. Karlo to abide to the Prosecution's demands."

The gavel struck once and the trial was over for good.

Not a massive one for sure, and not one that saw me stopping to address the media. I needed some rest as I knew that I was still going to be grilled for going so soft on Clayface.

That being said-

"I brought All Stars Memories!"

Harper decided to visit with booze and a Precure DVD.

So, I could properly rest with a buddy and some beer.

AN

It's good to have a homie waiting at the flat after some legal bullshittery. That being said, the status quo is not bound to last for long. Not when the other criminals will be intrigued by this new 'player' and will try to do something about it.