Dear Brother (TFP/RID & Reader)

Chapter 23

The agreed date for the prosecution comes sooner than (Y/N) initially thought.

After quite a lengthy and tiring discussion with the opposing party, the judge authorized her to be the prosecutor despite her personal history; in the condition that she is able to keep her temper and professionalism. Words spoken there were a mix of degradation and accusatory, one that (Y/N) did not like and almost lost her cool. She was very much determined to see this through, however, and it seemed that fate was on her side in that moment.

The young woman stood before the full-body length mirror, adjusting her blazer and the collars of her white shirt. She eyed herself from head-to-toe, thinking about how long ago has it been since she dressed up for this purpose. Coming to this country, all (Y/N) wanted was to find her brother, hoping that he was still alive somewhere, thriving under the same sky as she is. There had been hope residing in her heart for a time...but it dissipates almost immediately when the truth finds itself to her.

'I'm doing this for him, too.' (Y/N) thinks as she brushes her hair. 'If I can no longer see him in this world, then I hope he's watching me from God's side.'

After making sure she looks presentable enough, she grabs her bag and heads down the apartment lobby. (Y/N) stands waiting on the side of the road, anxiously hoping that a vacant taxi would pass by soon---curse the working hours, really, it makes everyone uses the public transport at the same time. The watch on her left wrist shows that she has been waiting for almost twenty minutes, until she spots a familiar car is slowing down then stopping in front of her.

"Hey there, damsel in distress," (Y/N)'s eyes widen when the driver winks at her; someone she hasn't seen in a while, "need a ride?"

(Y/N) is not expecting to be sitting next to Sideswipe who seems quite cheery and relaxed. Luckily, they managed to avoid heavy traffic hours, and the road is a bit lax than earlier. The radio has been playing some pop songs--it was a bit loud when she first enters, but Sideswipe was aware enough to notice to turn the volume down--which helps with the silence.

"Thank you for this, Sideswipe." She finally speaks up. "I wouldn't know what to do if I had to wait longer for a taxi."

The man on the driver seat grins. "It's nothing, it was just a 'right place, right time' kinda thing."

His reply makes her chuckle, shaking her head at his childish tone. "I thought you'd be at the station by now."

"Nah, I took a day off." Sideswipe said. "I overheard some of the guys talking about your...big thing today, so I thought I wanted to go and, uh, watch--"

(Y/N) looks surprised at his unexpected honesty. "But why...? How...?"

"Well, the neighbor next door complained about noises from your room the other day." Sideswipe sighs, seemingly wanted to look into her eyes but couldn't bring himself to. "They said they sounded like someone's crying sometimes at night."

"They sounded a bit terrified, maybe they think the apartment was haunted or something."

The young man laughed. "It was you, wasn't it?"

(Y/N) looks down to her lap, fiddling with her fingers. "How do you figure?"

"For starters, the security guy in the lobby mentioned once to me that he saw you going back super late a lot." He answered. "And you looked exhausted and dejected all the time. Then, I remembered the last time you went to see 'Bee, so I just connected two and two together."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

He makes a turn to enter the court office's parking area, letting out a scoff when he heard her apology. "Don't worry about it, it's not like you owe me or anything anyway."

It seems easy enough for him to find somewhere to park his car and turn off the engine.

"Though, I'm expecting you to be my lawyer if I ever got into big trouble."

(Y/N) chuckles while unbuckling her seatbelt. "Thank you for the ride, but we'll see about that."

---

The court room is rather empty, save for some people sitting on the benches and necessary people in their respective seats. From the corner of her eyes, (Y/N) notices some familiar figures sitting on one of the benches. They seem to be conversing among themselves, but one of them notices her staring; her mother, Elita, stands up and motions at her to come closer.

She walks over to them with a sad smile, feeling the walls is slowly crumbling within her. Seeing her mother, father, and their closest friend all together here to support her makes her heart flutter. If only Smokescreen can see how well she is doing right now.

"How are you feeling?" Elita asks, quickly hugging her daughter and offering her a smile.

"Nervous." (Y/N) chuckles lightly. "I wasn't expecting to return to a court house this soon."

The younger one turns to look at her father who displays that proud smile she had seen when she graduated from law school. He rests a hand on her shoulder, gripping it gently and firmly.

"We are here for you." Optimus speaks his truth. "You have nothing to worry about."

She nods. "Mhm, I know. Thank you, father."

Magnus simply gives her a nod in acknowledgment; his kind gesture of good luck to her. In return, (Y/N) curls up her lips into a smile and continues her walk to the prosecutor's side.

"She reminds me of you, Optimus." Magnus comments after the young woman left their spot.

The three of them sits back down. Elita chuckles at Magnus' sudden words.

"(Y/N) does, doesn't she?" She chimes in quietly then turns to her husband. "Aren't you proud?"

The older man with dark blue hair directs his gaze to the young lawyer; his adopted daughter, but daughter nonetheless. The fire and determination in her eyes back when she asked about Starscream reminds him of himself--when seeking justice and equality still occupied his youth mind.

"She is a great lawyer and woman of her own volition." Optimus settles on his reply. "Of course I am."

(Y/N) sits behind the prosecutor table, tidying up some papers while talking to some people who, supposedly, will help her with this case. On the other side, the defendant's lawyers seem to be doing the same, but her eyes focuses specifically on the defendant himself---Starscream, who sits there quietly with that sick smirk on his face upon noticing her. However, it soon fades into an anxious face, obviously fake, when the others on his table try to talk to him.

Soon after, the room falls silent as the judge walks in and settled in his seat. Everyone stands up as a sign of respect then returns to their own chairs.

"The court will first hear the prosecutor's opening statement."

---

a/n: idk much about how court proceedings are, so this one might be super inaccurate.