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"The Meaning of Life"Written By: SkyLark Pairings: 1x2x1 Warnings: AU, Neko, male pregnancy, sap, angst Rating: R Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm
and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them. Third fic in the Neko series
"The Meaning of Life"
Spread throughout the room, several armed policemen
made their presence known to hinder any possible animosity between
the mixed crowd. Their audience may have bee searched, but that did
not mean that there would not be people resorting to fists if they
wanted to cause trouble. In a scene all too familiar, everyone present rose to their feet as two doors at opposite sides of the room's front opened. One by one, the black-robed Supreme Justices strode up to their seats with the emblem representing the Colony where they came from. As the wide variety of young, old, race, religion, men and women reached their podium, they looked down on the neko. Just as the first time he looked up on all of them the first time, Duo swallowed roughly. His hair still white as snow and his frame still rigid with authority, Justice Harris took the center podium with the image of the Earth on it while his fellow justices stood at their places. Looking out to their audience, he placed a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose and nodded firmly, "Please be seated." Over the years, his tone had never lost its kindness. Moving as one, the crowd took their seats. Silence fell heavily in the courtroom such that a pin dropping in the hallway could have been heard. Justice Harris smiled to the braided neko before him, "Mister Maxwell, I wish that we could have this reunion under better circumstances." Most of the faces of his fellow Justices also grinned at the defendant. Taken aback by the extension of warmth, Duo blinked in surprise and smiled back. Danielle and Trent held back their snickers when spotting Septum looking a bit deflated at his table when they peered from the corners of their eyes. No doubt that exchange was beginning to make the man a bit uncertain to whether or not he would win this case as he had clearly expected to in the very beginning. Behind the railing, Heero smirked to himself while the others around him shared tiny grins with one another. Zechs squeezed his wife's hand and gave her a private wink when their eyes met. Already, before the trial had even begun, there
was a notch in support towards the defense. Despite the silent victory, Trent and Danielle kept their composure. Little victories were nice. But they still had the war to win. Clearing his throat, Justice Harris folded his arms on his podium and began, "This hearing has been arranged that we may hear both sides of the argument to whether or not the laws of marriage should include a neko wishing to marry a human. Based on the nature of this case, it will be brief and to the point. “Since the high courts are to be free of any prejudice regarding race, gender, religion and sexual orientation, we cannot look at the possibility of a civil union. Such unions were the creation of Congress and the Senate. Where we are concerned, marriage is the only option." His heart hammering in his chest at the thought of actually being able to marry, Duo bit his lip. Just behind him, Heero took a deep breath and fought his own nerves that were beginning to grow. His back leaning into his leather chair, the judge continued, "Because they have the burden of convincing their argument in the high court, and so are the only side with witnesses, we will be hearing the defense's case first," Harris announced. Turning towards the married couple at his right, he stated, "Please call your first witness.” Rising to his feet, Trent's voice echoed off the marble walls as he called, "The defense calls upon Vice Foreign Minister Darlian." All around, muttering began to rumble through the crowd as the doors in the back of the room opened to admit the tall politician. Back straight and head high, Darlian kept his eyes ahead on the witness bench beside the Justices' podiums while walking down the stretch. Opening the swinging door of the railing blocking the councils from the audience, he made his way to the stand and took a seat. The kind man looked to the braided neko. Discretely, he flashed his young friend a smirk and a wink. Septum leaned back in his seat and snickered quietly, "Not holding back any punches by calling one of their star witnesses first." Going by the book, Trent had the politician state his name for the records before going over the man's observations of Duo's character. Anytime it was his turn to answer, Darlian smiled
fondly as he recalled once more before the Justices how the neko had
saved his daughter by endangering himself and become a good friend
of his family. Several other stories were shared to how the braided
youth had been considered no different than anyone else. Pausing before the witness, he tilted his head and frowned,
"In fact, the only thing new that I have heard from you today
is your answer to that last question. While I understand that the
defense would like the Justices to remember their client's character,
there is a much bigger picture around the outcome of this hearing." A variety of shock, rage and smug accomplishment wove
on the faces of the audience over Septum's boldness, but everyone
resumed their silence. Several members of the high judges shared glances
with unreadable expressions. Unsettled over the turn of events, Danielle worked to keep her stress from showing as she rose from her seat. “The defense calls Doctor Treize Khushrenada,” she declared. All eyes turned to the back of the room as the doors opened to the new witness. Just like how things began with their first round of questioning, the red-haired woman made sure to focus on Duo’s character when she drilled the doctor. Treize went on to share how, in his personal experience, there was very little to no difference in the medical make up from a neko to a normal human. After nearly thirty minutes, Danielle nodded her head and smiled in relief over how things went. “Thank you for your time, Doctor,” she said warmly. Glancing up to the judges and jury, she concluded, “No further questions.” Harris gestured to the prosecutor and told him, “Your cross examination, Council.” Clearing his throat, Septum brushed down the front of his suit while standing. “No questions for this witness, Your Honor.” Every pair of eyes in the room widened along with Treize’s at the dark-haired man returned to his seat. No other look more surprised than the Justices' and the trio at the defense table. Blinking his own wide eyes, Duo whispered, “He’s not cross examining?” Suddenly, a chilling realization ran up the neko’s spine. If Septum continued to decline from questioning the witnesses, his last question around a same-sex marriage would be all that the Supreme Justices would have in their minds. And for the next three witnesses from the defense, that was exactly what the prosecutor did. When it came his turn to cross, he claimed that he had no questions so Sally, Howard and Professor G were sent back to their seats. Heero’s concern over the situation was showing on his face. Leaning forward in his seat, he covered his face to dry-wash it in frustration. Finally having had enough, Trent rose and beseeched to Justice Harris, “Your Honor, may we approach the bench?” Looking perturbed over the way the case was turning, the man nodded his head of white hair to both tables. Septum simply smiled as he stood and walked towards the middle podium. Justice Harris bent at the waist as he leaned forward. Raising a finger to the prosecutor before the defense could speak their argument, he warned quietly, “Very clever, Septum. You have the right to simply not ask questions, however you best start cross examining soon before this entire case is thrown out. You wanted this trial, you defend your argument.” Not the least bit phased, the dark-haired man’s lips curled up as he reassured, “Of course, Your Honor. I promise to be more prepared for the future witnesses.” Rolling their eyes, Danielle and Trent glanced to each other. There was no sense in fighting the issue. It was clear that the justices were seeing through their challenger’s smoke and mirrors of a prosecution. Slowly taking a deep breath, Harris waved his hand and dismissed them all. From that point on, the hearing went on normally. More witnesses were called up and Septum did go through with a cross examination before the defense rested. Since the prosecution had no witnesses to support its own case in this rare and unusual type of hearing, the closing arguments were made after over six hours. Again focusing on their client’s character, Danielle and Trent went into an emotional closing statement that had most of the Justices on their seats and some others with a shimmer in their eyes. Septum kept his closing statement brief. In the end, the defense had a far better case than the prosecution. Sadly, that still did not guarantee that the win was theirs. * * * * “So how does it really look?” Trowa asked his childhood friend as they sat in the waiting room along with the others. Heero rubbed his closed, tired eyes before meeting the emerald eyes watching him from across the table. “It’s hard to say. The Justices have been deliberating for over an hour, so that’s a good sign that they’re not just jumping to a decision right away. Concern filled the artist’s eyes as he turned his head to watch his drifting lover beside him. “How are you holding up?” he asked softly. Blinking his violet eyes into focus as he returned to the present, Duo faced his partner. A small smile spreading on his lips, he shrugged, “As okay as I can be just sitting and waiting here, I guess.” With a smirk, Heero reached over and rubbed the braided teenager’s back. He knew exactly how difficult the wait was, since it affected both of their lives. Leaning into the touch Duo purred softly. Danielle and Trent conversed together in whispers while standing in a corner when there was a knock on the door beside them. Nearly jumping at the sound, everyone turned to watch as the young woman reached for the doorknob. Stepping inside, the bailiff entered with a firm nod to the lot inside. “The Justices are calling for a recess in their deliberation until tomorrow,” he informed. “Everyone is dismissed and expected to return early in the morning when they resume.” Not too thrilled with that, Danielle still smiled and replied, “Very well. Thank you.” His head nodding once more, the tall man stepped away as she closed the door behind him. Sighing, she turned to the group and offered, “Anyone who would like to stay with us at our residence tonight is more than welcome.” Words of appreciation and acceptance went around the room as everyone prepared to head out. Disappointed over having to wait another day for a verdict as to his fate, Duo slowly rose from his chair when there was a piercing surge of pain in his abdomen. A shocked, strangled cry escaped the neko as he felt his knees buckle. Falling forward, he heard Heero cry his name just before everything went black.
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