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“It has to be that, there’s no other way… It’s crazy, but maybe…” Athena mumbled to herself, her defense partner looking on in worry.
“Athena, what’s going on?” Apollo asked, his gaze going back to the witness stand, in which a certain Robin Newman paled in absolute horror, sweat dripping down his face. Newman was just proved to have touched a cloak associated with the trial’s defendant, guilty of murder. The only problem was, Newman was having an intensely strong reaction to the memory. Newman was incredibly angry, and Athena had no idea why. That is, not until just now.
“The testimony given just seconds ago reveals a secret – and a huge one at that. It might just give us the break we need, Apollo, but is it ethical ?” Professor Means’ voice echoed in her head. The ends justify the means. Athena promised herself she wasn’t going to listen to it, it was too dangerous, too dark. But for the sake of the case...
“What do I do?” Athena hung her head, the loudest discord now coming from her own heart. “Junie…”
“Is that something the matter with the defense?” The judge waited impatiently for an answer. Blackquill tsk’d from the prosecution stand, pleased that he still had the upper hand in the case. Athena felt the pressure pile higher, she couldn’t handle this any much longer.
Athena couldn’t do that , not like this, not in a room full of people, of friends, of family, of complete strangers. It wasn’t right, but if she didn’t say something, Junie would be found guilty and her whole life would be over, her dreams of becoming a judge crushed by Athena’s own hand. Could she really let that happen?
“If the defense has nothing else to say,” Robin let out a breath of relief, resting his head against the stand, “then the trial’s verdict–”
“ OBJECTION!”
Athena slammed her hands against the stand, leaning forward. Her voice may have been loud and jarring, but it still wavered subtly in anticipation of what she was about to do. At the witness stand, Robin sucked in another breath, his eyes wide. He was shaking his head, as if begging Athena to stop.
Instead, Athena squeezed her eyes shut. She had to do this. For Junie.
Athena mouthed an “I’m so sorry,” before clearing her throat and speaking up. “The defense suggests… that the witness is biologically female,” Athena croaked out, her clenched fists shaking.
The courtroom erupted in noise. People shouted, shouted angrily , and despite the judge’s best efforts, the gallery wouldn’t quiet down. Robin’s jaw dropped, his knuckles white against the stand. He looked like he was going to be sick, starting to sway. Suddenly, his legs gave out from under him. It only took three full seconds for him to hit the floor.
“Order! I said ORDER!” The judge slammed his gavel, temper rising, “Is Newman alright?”
The bailiff of the court rushed over behind the stand, crouching beside the unconscious boy. Athena looked on with shock, and by her side, Apollo looked just as confused. “Athena, what did you just say?” He whispered to her, but Athena couldn’t answer. There was something caught in her throat, perhaps the mix of emotions she concocted after forcing out a secret that was never hers to begin with. Athena was angry, angry with herself over the fact that she’d do such a thing just for a case. Sad, because she felt awful for what she’d done and the reaction she had caused. Scared, because she did not know where this was going to lead them. She should’ve kept quiet.
With some effort and calling of his name, Robin came to, groaning and holding his head. Unable to get up for a few moments, he stayed on the floor. And despite still looking sick to his stomach, the bailiff managed to get Robin to his feet and lean against the stand. He was offered a cold towel, and Robin gingerly placed it on his head. At least he was alright.
“I am quite glad you are okay, but Newman,” the judge said, “we seem to have a predicament on our hands. I can judge from your reaction, but you must tell the court. Are the allegations made to you by the defense true?”
Robin swallowed shakily, speaking quieter than usual, “Aw man… I-I guess…” Athena started to feel sick herself, regretting even coming to court today. She shouldn’t have said anything. “Yes, it’s... it’s true, sir.”
The gallery started mumbling again, discussing, until the judge slammed his gavel once more. “Then I suppose we are left with a rather large question. Why did you hide this fact from the court?”
Athena could hear the sheer fear in Robin’s voice as he spoke. And it didn’t take an Apollo to see the way he was fidgeting nervously, toying with the braces on his arms. With a sudden, desperate shout, Robin screamed, “I COULDN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, YOUR HONOR! I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD COME UP!”
The judge blinked in confusion, and Athena wished it would all stop, for both her sake and Robin’s. But still, the judge prodded, “And why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because…” Robin started, his voice wobbling from the effort to keep tears from spilling over his cheeks, “because I’M A MANLY TRANS MAN, SIR!”
Athena hid her face in her hands, utterly ashamed of herself for pushing Robin to reveal himself to the court. She should have left the case in Professor Means’ hands. This was too much, and for what cost? What good was going to come of this? She averted the blame off her childhood friend, only to push it onto this man, and force him to out himself in the process? Was this what “the ends justify the means” truly meant?
The judge looked on, just as puzzled as he was before, if not more. The cacophony of voices from the gallery didn’t offer any help either. “I’m still not sure how this changes the case, Athena.”
Athena looked up from her hands, and although she wanted to take it all back, she didn’t come this far, didn’t force this confession, this deep secret, just to back out now. “Your Honor, it changes everything.
“Robin Newman was extremely angry as soon as he put that cloak on. At the time, in a brief bout of denial, he believed it would help with his… with his situation. But it did just the opposite. It made him feel worse about himself, and instead of alleviating, aggravated his body dysphoria, or his image of himself. But now that we know this,” Athena paused for a second, her heart aching, “It means that we have yet another ‘female voice’ that was found on the cassette tape, disproving my client’s guilt.”