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Tommy was putting it all on the line. As he stood in front of the court he leaned over the stand and shouted. “Yeah I’m guilty!”
The room fell into silence, glancing at each other with the surprising turn of events.
“I did do all those crimes.” Tommy pointed at the opposing lawyer. “And you know what? I’m not ashamed of that!”
The judge’s lips pinched in disapproval.
“Cause, well… you know it’s hard for a kid to get by!” Tommy straightened and crossed his arms. “I’m only 16. The adoption system couldn’t take care of me so I sought out my own path!” Tommy pouted at the lawyer. “Guess what I found? Regular society can’t look after me either!” He threw his hands up. “What am I supposed to do? Crime was the obvious next step and I take full accountability for stealing just so I could eat!” He spat.
The jury bowed their heads and whispered to each other. Tommy looked over them.
“Stupid heros.” He muttered.
He glanced at the lawyer he hired off gumtree or someplace shady. The man was making a ‘cut the talk’ motion across his throat with the nervous shake of his head.
Tommy looked up at the judge who was staring at him.
“Why exactly do you dislike the heros?” She asked.
Tommy scowled. “It’s the whole reason we’re here isn’t it?” He crossed his arms and plonked into his seat. “As far as they knew I did nothing wrong. I was innocent…” He thought back to his casual walk down the street. He'd traveled that road a million times before. “They were rough.” He curled up. “Unnecessarily brutal as they detained me.” He brought his knees up onto his seat. “They interrogated me with no evidence. They threw me back on the streets without even returning all my stuff.” He turned a glare to her. “I’m not denying I’m a thief.” He growled. “I’m claiming the hero’s steal too.”
Her eyebrows raised in surprise.
“I’m man enough to admit my crimes.” He looked over the room. “I’ll tell the whole world I’m a criminal.”
The room shuffled in unease.
“Will the heros do the same?” Tommy challenged. He uncurled and stood up. “Will they take accountability and face punishment like I’m about to?” He scoffed. “Cause I’ll tell you what. The cowardly hiding they’re doing? It’s hurting people. I got hurt.” He pointed to himself. “Who’s the next person they’re going to attack? How many teenagers are going to be shoved in a van by their idols and threatened to keep quiet before we tell them to knock it off?”
Tommy could tell he struck a nerve. The expressions in the crowd’s faces told him he’d won.
“And plus I want my stuff back.” Tommy straightened and crossed his arms. "Those earpieces were expensive.”
The judge scoffed fondly.
“Alright Tommy…” She hit her gavel. “Meeting adjourned. New evidence has been brought to light, we’ll be investigating the hero’s after the break since Tommy’s status of guilty has been confirmed." She rose. “Everyone better prepare themselves.” She gave a meaningful look to the hero's. “You’ll have to beat Tommy’s speech.”
Tommy totally won that case!
Laughing as he was lead to his holding cell he spotted Warden.
“How you holding up big man?!”
Warden frowned at him, his face in full view for the trial which was odd considering Tommy didn’t even know his real name.
“Hey Tommy." He sighed.
“So how about those turn of events huh?” Tommy said conversationally as he was placed in a cell across from him.
“It was to be expected…” Warden said tiredly.
“Huh?” Tommy tilted his head.
“I’ve done many bad things in the name of being a hero…” Warden looked down at the floor. “I knew it was wrong… I knew I would eventually be caught.” He looked up at Tommy and smiled. “I’m glad someone finally called me out.” He sighed. “That wasn’t easy kid but you did good…”
Tommy puzzled at someone thanking him for putting them in jail. “Yeah well…” He crossed his arms as best he could with his cuffs on. “I wanted my stuff back.”
Warden scoffed fondly. “I’m sure they’ll return your items…” He looked down the hall. “I kept them all in a labeled box. They’ll know it’s yours.”
Tommy nodded stiffly. “Good.” He sat on the floor.
“And I’m sure they’ll find your forged license.” Warden teased carefully.
Tommy pouted. “Yeah… It’s not going to do much though, I’ve already admitted to all my crimes.”
Warden shuffled. “Can I ask why you did that?”
“Wanted my stuff back.” Tommy glared at him. “And… I wanted you to be held responsible.”
“At the risk of yourself?”
Tommy glared. “I knew all the things I did was wrong. And I knew I would be caught eventually.” He echoed Warden’s words. “I figured instead of going down alone I’d take you with me.” He smiled. “It wasn’t fair to ask you to take accountability if I wasn’t going to do it.” He leaned on the wall beside him. “Now we’re even.”
“Not exactly…” Warden said.
The door down the hall opened and a guard came to retrieve Tommy.
“What? Hey! Where are you taking me?” Tommy asked as he was lifted off his feet and guided out of his cell.
“Tommy you’re underage.” The guard said. “You’re not going to jail.”
“What?!” Tommy exclaimed.
“We’re deciding whether you go to juvie or we put you on a program of house arrest with a foster parent.”
Tommy stumbled as he followed the guard.
“But…” He shook his head. “I’m totally ok with doing my time!”
The guard shrugged. “The jury admired your accountability. We did a background check and they decided you deserved better.”
“Deserved better?” Tommy gagged. “That’s not how this is supposed to work.”
“Don’t worry.” The guard opened a door and lead him through it. “Warden and all the other heros involved will face their time. Think of this as you facing yours…” He patted Tommy on the shoulder. “Except the court believe you can be redeemed.”
Tommy frowned.
“Fools.” He muttered. “But whatever…”
At least Tommy got what he wanted. The heros were being questioned, whatever happened to him he didn’t care about as much.