Maybe We'll fix Each Other

Chapter 52

Everything had built up to this moment.

The running, the fighting, the surviving.

And everything–everything–rested in the hands of three judges.

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from looking to the left. From the murmuring that had blossomed through the gallery paired with the incremental rise in temperature, Dabi knew Endeavor was now seated across from him. And remembering how their previous encounter ended, Dabi felt his face flush with shame. He couldn't look his father in the eyes now, not when it would throw him even further off of his game.

Not to mention he'd seen the president of the bitch Commission had already been seated when Aizawa had led them all to their spots.

As the room had filled near bursting, Dabi had done his best to focus on tracing the grain of the wooden table with his fingertip. He had to stop when Keigo pointed out the charring he was starting to leave behind. Dabi sent him a nervous smirk, but pulled his hand back. He crossed his arms and shoved his hands under his armpits to keep himself from fidgeting.

From what he could tell, Keigo was hardly faring better. He had pulled one of his wings around him and kept adjusting the feathers back and forth, never seeming satisfied with how they sat. But it gave Dabi something to watch, too, as his thoughts got away from him.

Dabi was surprised at the spike of hope that cropped up at the thought of seeing the familiar face of Judge Eniwa. There was a real possibility that she would actually listen to their side of the story. But the two judges that were to be at her sides were wild cards.

It was typical for high profile cases to have a panel of judges, demanding a majority agreement to determine the ruling. It was supposed to promote a just decision-making process. But Dabi couldn't help the doubt sitting in the back of his mind. Had the Commission or his father gotten to the other two judges?

He was jolted from his reverie by the barking announcement from the bailiff.

"All rise," the man called out. "The High Court of Shizuoka Prefecture, with the Honorable Judges Eniwa, Rikimaru, and Kaiba presiding, is now in session."

It felt like his heart was in his throat as he slowly stood from his seat. Dabi's eyes slid to the judge's chamber doors, watching intently as it slid open.

Judge Eniwa entered first, moving with confidence to the bench. Her eyes scanned the plaintiff's and defendant's tables with equal measure behind her reading glasses. She sat in the center of the bench, back straight and expression solemn. Just like before, she was a difficult read. Dabi clenched and unclenched his fists with nervousness.

Following immediately behind was a woman with the ears of a fox poking out from bright orange hair. Piercing golden eyes landed on Dabi the moment she entered the room, making him almost squirm under her scrutiny. It was a relief when her attention moved onto the next person. Dabi trailed her movements, watching as she sat behind the nameplate that read "Kaiba."

And lastly must be Judge Rikimaru. A broad shouldered man who looked weathered with years. His long gray hair was pinned back in a bun, and wrinkles lined a stern face. Unlike the other judges, Rikimaru did not cast his gaze out to the courtroom but rather focused on the file in his hands. He sat and spread the papers out in front of him before clasping his hands together and resting them on the bench.

Dabi's gaze snapped back to Judge Eniwa as she cleared her throat. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"Everyone may be seated," she stated simply. The sounds of everyone sitting down filled the air before stilling once more. "The High Court calls into session the trial of UA vs Pro Hero Endeavor and the Hero Public Safety Commission."