The Bodyguard (Spinoff To Spider-Man Wrongfully Accused)

Verdict

After Jake finished testifying against Quentin, there were no more witnesses to testify. Jennifer and Anne also didn't have any closing statements as they had rested their cases. Judge Semper then said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the reliable perspectives of these witnesses. Now you shall retire to the jury room to decide amongst yourselves an appropriate verdict for the defendant. Proceed." He banged his gavel, and the 12 jurors left the stand to go to a private area to decide. As the attendees waited, Jake quietly asked Peter and his friends, "are you guys nervous?"

"What about?" Peter asked in reply. "Are you scared about the idea that maybe Quentin could possibly be found not guilty?" Jake asked, "If he does, he'll come after all of you and me out of revenge." Matt shook his head and replied, "it's very unlikely Beck will be acquitted. I can understand why you would be scared Jake. But I think you have nothing to worry about. But even in the unlikely situation of Beck being acquitted, I'm not afraid. I've faced worse threats than Mysterio. I may be blind, but I'm not helpless." Yelena added with a hint of disgust, "I just hope Beck isn't given a light prison sentence that ends with him getting early parole based on white privilege disguised as so-called good behavior like that svin'ya-nasil'nik Brock Turner." MJ looked up with Yelena said, and after reading the English translation to the Russian insult, she said to Yelena, "oh I hear you, sister." Peter placed his hand on Jake's shoulder and said, "The evidence is clear and the writing's on the wall. Quentin and his accomplices will be held accountable for their crimes, including Riva, Schneider, and Kraven. And as I've learned the hard way, the court of public opinion is always going to be different, and a great minority of Quentin's sympathizers will do everything they can to antagonize all of us. But the ones who know the truth will always prevail." Matt nodded and agreed, "Well said Peter."

Five minutes later, the 12 jurors came back and into the jury board. One of the jurors was ironically Officer Jefferson Davis, the police guard that berated Peter when he got arrested. Oh how the tables have turned. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" Judge Semper asked the jury. Jefferson, a black man around 6'2, stood up and said, "we have reached a unanimous verdict, your honor. We the jury find Quentin Beck guilty of all criminal charges." The moment Jefferson said those seven words, there was division in the court. Peter, his aunt, and the rest of his friends all let out a collective sigh of relief, Jake was mutually relieved also. Quentin was outraged, and Peter could have sworn he saw his high school gym coach Mr Wilson cry out that this was unfair and that Peter had ruined Quentin's life and reputation. Anne sighed in defeat. She just hoped that defending Quentin wouldn't destroy her reputation as a defense lawyer.

"Order in the court! Order in the court!" Judge Semper shouted, banging his gavel to silence everyone. When the noise of the crowds died down, Judge Semper looked at Quentin and said, "Mr Beck, you've done a lot of horrible things during your tenure as Mysterio. You've abused the power of your technology and used it to cause damage to various pieces of property throughout Europe and South America, lied to various authorities pretending to be a hero, took innocent lives with your technology, and tried to destroy Peter's reputation, ruining his private life in the process. Because of your actions, every villain that Peter fought as Spider-Man knows who he is, and now he'll never know a moment's rest again! You've caused untold misery to many people because of your narcissism, manipulating fools with your deceit! You are a sad excuse for a man who makes me sick to my stomach with disgust just looking at you. I'm going to make sure you wished those drones killed you when they misfired at you. Death is too good for a coward like you. Therefore, I sentence you to life without parole! You will rot in prison for the rest of your life without any access to technology invented past 1950! May God have mercy on your soul Quentin Beck, for I have none. This court is adjourned." Semper banged his gavel, confirming Quentin's prison sentence.

Once the bailiffs restrained Quentin to take him back to his jail cell, Jake laid his head back and said with relief, "It's finally over..." Much later, Jake and Yelena were back at his house, the Russian blonde was packing her things. According to Valentina, now that Quentin was convicted, Yelena's services of protecting Jake were no longer needed. Jake volunteered to help her pack, mostly as an excuse to spend a little bit more time with Yelena. "Before you go, would you want to have a pizza with me one last time?" Jake asked, looking into Yelena's green eyes. "I would like that a lot Jake," said Yelena, "I won't lie, Fanny and I will miss you." She looked into Jake's brown eyes, blushing a little. "I'm going to miss you too Yelena," agreed Jake, "I know it was your job to protect me, but I enjoyed your company. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome," said Yelena. All her life, Yelena was never given a choice to live her life as she wanted, she was never allowed to find a man to love and she wasn't allowed to have children. But now she had the freedom to make her own choices and pursue her own relationships. She knew she was duty bound to leave Jake, but her heart told her to stay with him. She then asked, "Jake... Do you like me? As more than a friend?" Jake's eyes widened when asked this, and he asked in response, "when you say I like you, you mean romantically??" Yelena nodded quickly while getting red in the face and replied, "Yes, that kind of liking." Jake held Yelena's hand and said, "yes. I do like you as more than a friend. I've had a crush on you since we've met. I think you're brave, fierce, strong, brilliant, and beautiful. You've made me feel safe and secure, and I've felt happier when you're with me. I know it's your duty, but if you leave, I'll feel sad without you. You're my hero Yelena, and I love you."

Yelena's heart swelled with joy hearing Jake's loving words. She touched Jake's face and said with tears of happiness, "oh Jake... I love you too. You are sweet, gentle, sincere, kind, I love how you make me feel happy and can comfort me when I'm sad. In all my years as a Black Widow against my will, I've seen the cruelty of men like Dreykov and was told emotions like love and happiness were weaknesses. You are a reminder that there are good men out there, and it's okay to love. I know I can't bear children for you, but I want to make this work. Say the word, and I will stay with you, not as your bodyguard, but as your beloved." Jake held Yelena in a loving embrace and said, "stay with me Yelena. I want you." Yelena tearfully smiled and said, "togda ya tvoy, a ty moya, lyubimyy moy." She then kissed Jake on the lips, and Jake caressed Yelena's body, enjoying his first kiss. When they separated, Jake and Yelena looked at each other with love, together as a couple. "I love you, Jake Phillips Jr," said Yelena. Jake smiled and said, "I love you too, Yelena Belova."