"The Meaning of
Life"
Written By: SkyLark
Pairings: 1x2x1
Warnings: AU, Neko, male pregnancy, sap, angst
Rating: R
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
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"
The scene was not an unfamiliar one for Duo, stepping into the courtroom
of the Supreme Justices with a room filled with wide eyes staring
at him. Doing his best not to look at the large crowd, he simply followed
Danielle and Trent to their table at the front of the room.
All around, slack jaws slowly began to move as the spectators began
whispering to one another over what they were seeing. Back as
straight as he could manage, the undoubtedly pregnant neko continued
to walk past the audience.
Finally remembering to blink his wide eyes, Septum shook his head
in disbelief. Nothing could have prepared him for something like this.
The last thing he ever would have expected to be fighting against
was a pregnant defendant.
That initial shock quickly turned into a slowly boiling anger for
the prosecutor. His eyes narrowing, he could feel his face warming
for the fact that he was caught completely off-guard. With their
having a pregnant client to defend, Danielle and Trent now had a case.
Before the trio neared, Septum's mind was already racing to come up
with a way to argue against this new discovery.
From her place in the balcony overlooking the courtroom, Susan Weathers
sat stiff and pale along with all of the other journalists around
her. Catching a short breath, she opened her pad of paper without
looking down at it. Her right hand trembling, it brought the
tip of her pen to the paper as she began making notes.
Several journalists all but jumped from their seats to whisper in
a rush to their teams outside what was taking place. Within minutes,
the world would be informed of the monumental discovery that the first
neko to ever exist, a male for that matter, was now pregnant.
Nearing the bar [1] that blocked off the front of the room from the
public guests, Duo smiled warmly to his friends as they waved and
grinned back. Almost frantic, his violet eyes fell on Heero seated
beside his adoptive family and he felt himself calm a bit.
'Love you,' the artist mouthed with a small smile. Feeling his own
mouth curl up at the sentiment, Duo took a deep breath and focused
his gaze ahead to pass through the swinging door of the bar.
When Duo sat alongside his defense team, the low murmuring in the
room grew to a quiet roar as nearly every tongue in the room
was flapping. Even the bailiffs at either side of the room and the
female recorder stationed just beside the tall pillars with her typewriter were
staring openly at the neko.
Swallowing roughly, the braided teenager ran a finger inside his shirt
collar and striped tie to tug on them nervously. He stole a look
from the corner of his eye to spot a none-too-happy Septum watching
him with a glare.
Regardless of how the case went, Duo was at least pleased to
know that he had one up on the prosecutor. He certainly never saw
this coming.
At the movement inside of his abdomen, the neko chuckled quietly to
himself and rubbed a hand over his fidgeting babies. Purring quietly,
his long tail wrapped around his stomach protectively. The gesture
only had those watching talking amongst themselves even louder.
The door leading to the Justices' private chambers opened as
the same African American that served as bailiff during all of
Duo's hearings stepped into the courtroom. With his gaze instantly
falling on the pregnant neko, the tall man froze with a
gasp and the room fell silent.
Blinking his wide eyes, the bailiff remained still until the defendant
smirked and waved innocently at him. Loudly clearing his throat, the
man fought the burning of his cheeks at being so openly startled.
Straightening his back and folding his arms behind him, he gazed to
the attendees and stammered in a commanding voice, "A-all rise."
Wufei and Trowa fought back their laughter as they rose, but still
let out a few squeaks and muffles snickers in the attempt. Rolling
their eyes, Dorothy and Sally lightly elbowed their 'better halves'
in the ribs as a warning to contain themselves. Meanwhile, everyone
gathered were rising to their own feet as well.
A moment later, the door to the chambers opened as the bailiff regained
his cool demeanor and announced, "The honorable Supreme Justices
will now preside. Justice Harris will be overseeing this case."
One-by-one, the black-robed men and women that made up the judges
and jury entered. Already knowing the defendant's state, there was
little shock on any of their faces when they glanced to the cat-eared
youth. Still, they didn't look to be completely over the fact that
he was, indeed, with child.
Last to enter, Justice Harris closed the black chamber door behind
him and climbed to his podium in the center. Turning towards Duo,
he gave a small smile and nodded his head before facing the onlookers
to advise them, "You may be seated."
Slowly sitting himself into his leather chair, the white-haired man
waited for everyone else to take their own seats once more. "As
we all know," he began in a strong voice that echoed through
the room, "The defendant, Mister Maxwell, and his defense team
have filed an appeal against our ruling that a neko not be allowed
the right to wed a human."
Gesturing with a hand pointing towards Duo, he stated, "Mister
Maxwell is in the right to such an appeal by having the two conditions
needed for that right on his side. Our initial ruling was not unanimous
for one." With a smirk, he chuckled, "And as we can all
see, he clearly has something new to bring to his case that had been
previously unknown to us."
A quiet round of laughter filled the air, breaking the tension just
as Harris had intended by making that comment.
Even Duo was able to breathe easier thanks to the jest.
Smiling, his tail swayed slowly behind him.
Resuming his authority, the judge focused on the married lawyer team.
"As with any appeal. we will begin with the defense's opening
arguments to why you believe our first ruling in this matter should
be overturned. Once the prosecution has then had their chance to speak,
we will have the defense call their first witness."
Danielle and Trent shared a look before they rose to their feet. Clearing
her throat, the red-haired young woman informed, "Actually, your
honor, our client intends to exercise his right to defend himself
in this appeal."
Nearly every pair of eyes throughout the room widened anew as a few
startled gasps filled the air followed by whispers amongst the public
witnesses. In their podiums, the Justices shared surprised glances
over the new turn of events.
Behind the neko, Noin chewed on her lip worriedly as she squeezed
her equally anxious husband's hand. Heero looked every bit as concerned,
closing his eyes and silently willing his racing heart to ease up.
It took all that Septum had in him not to outwardly react. Watching
the defense table, he forced the smile that threatened to tug his
lips away. More than anything, he wanted the inexperienced boy to
defend himself. It was the only real guarantee he would have in winning
once again.
Justice Harris blinked in shock before turning to face Duo. "Mister
Maxwell," he addressed, "is it true that you wish to defend
yourself today?"
Rising to his feet, the neko nodded firmly, "Yes, your honor."
More muttering and gasps went through the room. Leaning back in his
seat, Septum swallowed the relieved laugh that had nearly
bubbled from him by covering his mouth.
Up in the balcony, Susan held her recorder close as she whispered,
"I-I don't believe this." The other reporters around her
continued to write feverishly as heads shook in disbelief.
His braided head turning towards the couple beside him, the teenager
stated, "I would also like to go on record as saying that my
decision is in no way a statement that I find the Yuy-Clarks incapable
of defending me adequately. Quite the opposite, I would not trust
anyone else to the task."
Both Danielle and Trent smiled warmly in appreciation at the unexpected
compliments on their behalves.
More than impressed at how the defendant was handling himself in such
a professional manner, Justice Harris smirked. Several members of
his team were openly taken aback. Rubbing his chin, the old man
nodded firmly back, "Bold move, Mister Maxwell. Very well. The
floor will be yours when you are ready. Mister and Misses Yuy-Clark,
you may step down."
Foreign as it was for the lawyers to leave their post, the couple
bowed their heads respectfully and gathered their briefcases. Duo
smiled as Danielle leaned in to kiss his cheek with a whispered, "You've
got this, sweetie. Make sure that voice of yours is heard."
With that encouragement, the neko felt his resolve settling. Giving
his 'mother-in-law' a quick peck on her cheek in response, he nodded
in reply to her sentiment.
Trent reached over to exchange a firm handshake with the youth as
he winked before turning to leave the defense bench. His wife followed
closely behind as they stepped through the swinging door of the bar.
Shifting over from the end of the bench he and Duo's family filled,
Heero grinned to his own parents as they sat beside him. Danielle
lowered her suitcase and lightly nudged her son's arm in reassurance
in seeing the concern in his cobalt eyes. She was answered with a
heavy lean against her.
Left alone with every eye on him, Duo rounded the table and keeping
his gaze traveling from one face to the next, he left the defense
table to walk before the podiums of the Justices. "Your honors,"
he began. "I am here because I believe that a right I am entitled
to has been denied wrongly."
Opening his arms, the neko continued, "You, yourselves, had deemed
the first time we met that whilst I am a neko, I really was no different
from the next person save for my physical differences. Like you,I'd
forgotten to think ahead that that also meant I would be allowed to
marry- not be civilly joined since you do acknowledge those unions
since they are a form of prejudice."
Duo turned on his heels when he reached the last pedestal and paced
back the other way while shrugging, "But, suddenly, when there
was word that I was engaged to a human, the public was up in arms
because that human happened to be another male."
Stunned that the boy was so openly bringing out the heart of the problem,
the Justices gaped and stiffened while the audience members' voices
rose up in discussions. At that, the neko paused in his steps.
Quickly snapping from his stupor, Justice Harris reached for his gavel
to slam it down three times." Over the noise in the room, he
shouted, "Order!" It took a brief moment for the clamor
to die down.
When all was quiet again, the silver-haired man told the defendant,
"You may proceed, Mister Maxwell."
"Thank you," the cat-eared teenager replied kindly with
a bow at the waist. Looking back to the other Justices that continued
to watch him closely, he said, "You are in a difficult position.
And I do not envy you. But I cannot and will not sit back without
fighting for something that, in the end, is right."
Back at the bench behind the defense table, Danielle let out a low
whistle. "Brilliantly stated," she whispered. At either
side of her, a captivated Heero and Trent nodded their heads in agreement.
Folding his hands behind his back, Duo faced the jury of judges fully and
frowned, "Now, I have several witnesses ready to take the stand
to explain my state better to all of you... to help you realize that
this decision will affect more than just myself. So, with that, I
thank you all for your time."
A pin drop would have echoed off the marble walls in the silence that
fell as the defendant returned to the defense bench. Many stunned
faces turned towards to one another as the onlookers reeled over how
well the neko opened up the appeal.
"Well, that certainly shocked some people here shitless,"
Wufei muttered to a snickering Trowa and Quatre. The women at their
rights mock glared at them, but could not hide the amused smirks on
their faces.
Harris looked very impressed, himself, as he appraised Duo. "Thank
you, Mister Maxwell," he focused over to the prosecution table
and announced, "Mister Septum, if you will give your opening
argument, then."
Still mentally reeling up until then, the raven-haired man shook his
head from his stupor while staring at his opponent. Adjusting his
black tie, he stood and approached the podiums.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Supreme Justices," he opened,
completely unaware of what was taking place behind him.
Gasping, Susan's emerald eyes widened as she nearly dropped the
recorder in her hand. Blushing, she smiled sheepishly when some
of the reporters turned to stare at her after her start. Quickly recovering,
she cleared her throat and gazed back to the front of the room with
a nagging feeling.
She had heard that voice before... somewhere. She was sure of
it.
But where or when she had heard the prosecutor's voice before was
beyond her. Weathers had never followed Septum's cases enough
to see him in television interviews, nor had they ever met before.
And yet... that distinct timbre was incredible familiar to her. It
was incredibly frustrating within an instant that she could not bring
herself to recall exactly why she felt that way.
A finger raising before the black-robed jury, Septum stated, "Whatever
the reasons behind your decision to decline the defendant the opportunity
to marry a human, there was still some reason. While this clear and
present shock over the fact that mister Maxwell is with child, let's
not forget those reasons behind the initial ruling that ruled the
majority of your votes."
Raising a hand out to Duo, Septum went on, "Do not allow the
emotions linked to the defendant's state to cloud what we are dealing
with here. Unique as the situation is, in the end, we are still dealing
with a creature who is in fact not like you or I wishing to marry
one of our own kind."
Finally feeling like he had found his footing, the prosecutor
smirked, "Heterosexual, homosexual or asexual has nothing
to do with this. We are talking about two different species. If anything,
the fact that our beloved neko is now pregnant only proves further
just how different he really is from us."
Duo nervously chewed on the inside of his cheek, frowning in knowing
that Septum was making a very good opening argument against him. Several
heads amongst the Justices, and in the audience nodded at what was
being said.
Trent and Danielle glanced to each other from the corner of their
eyes, looking less and less confident after Duo's opening. Heero swallowed
past the large lump that began to form in his throat.
Shrugging, Septum declared, "Now, since mister Maxwell threw
down the gauntlet over the gay marriage issue, then let's bring that
up. It goes without saying that we all know what kind of a political
statement would be sent should you grant a male creature the right
to wed another male creature. I was the one to have tact by not bringing
the sensitive issue to surface the last time we met like this."
A low round of grumbling amongst the audience brewed as quiet discussions
for and against the remarks were made.
Slightly wincing, Duo's tall ears drooped slightly in realizing that
because he had opened the door to the 'gay marriage' issue, Septum
had ever right to challenge that very topic.
And if the Justices did not change their initial verdict because of
that very subject, there would be no way of proving that they were
being prejudice as opposed to simply backing their initial ruling.
What had at first seemed to the neko like the way to go was suddenly
getting thrown back in his face. Still, he was not about to be disheartened
for the remainder of the appeal. There was still a long way to go
before the winner of the war could be declared.
Meanwhile, a sudden wave overcame Susan as the prosecutor went
on with his statement- she knew exactly where she had heard that voice
before.
Silently kicking herself for not picking up on it sooner, a trembling
hand reached for her cell phone as she moved to the back of the balcony
and out into the hallway away from all other eyes and
ears.
Keeping the volume down on her phone, she called up a number she knew
by heart. When the line was answered, she whispered urgently, "Elaine,
I need you to go through the recorded logs of calls made to my cell
phone early this summer. I'm looking for the tape of the tip that
was made about Duo Maxwell's engagement."
Anxiously pacing, she explained, "The call was made to the
office first, so the number given as a contact for me would have
also connected to our recorder without their knowing. You can use
the date when my article came out as reference to when the call came
in a few days before."
"I'll pull up the files and get back to you as soon as I have
the recording available," the secretary replied. "It may
take some time, though."
Susan sighed, "That's fine. Thank you." Closing her cell
phone, she hurried back into the room to return to her seat just in
time for the end of the opening arguments.
"In conclusion," Septum called with a raise of his hand
in a call for silence from the spectators before Harris had to reach
for his gavel. The rumbling died down as he informed the Justices,
"There are simply too many reasons for this appeal to not allow
a change in the verdict declining the possibility of a neko to marry
a human. I will be sure to make that point abundantly clear through
the whole of this case."
Bowing at the waist, Septum concluded with a polite, "Thank you."
That said, he turned and headed back to his table. Duo took a deep
breath as well as everyone else in the room.
One thing was certain to everyone there... with two very strong opponents,
this appeal was going to be quite the fight.
TBC
[1] *hugs ShenLong Deb* My beta was wonderful enough to come up with
these sites on a courtroom's layout showing the bar and such:
http://www.utd.uscourts.gov/documents/Outreach/Courtroom_Layout.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtroom
chapter 27
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