Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

57 ⚕︎Daunting ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 57
⚕︎Daunting ✍︎
Levi

daunt·ing

/ˈdôn(t)iNG,ˈdän(t)iNG/

adjective

seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating

Eren, Titan, Noel, McKenzie, and I sit at the plastic fold out table, discussing the case as we have many times prior. However, it feels more real than ever due to the foreboding date approaching in just two fleeting days.

"Eren," Noel says, her afro shaking as she waves her hand, McKenzie closing her eyes in pension.

I watch the seemingly heterochromic body, wondering how they'll do.

"What?" they answer.

"Are you nervous?" McKenzie inquires.

"Yes."

The lawyer nods and begins scribbling on a notepad and doesn't look up. "What parts are you uneasy about?"

"Telling my story. Seeing him. Being asked questions I'm unprepared for." They answer, eyes cast down towards the table, not lifting once as they speak.

"What do you think is a question you're unprepared to answer?" I ask.

"I don't know." They chuckle. "That's why I'll be unprepared."

I roll my eyes.

"There is the possibility of being unprepared, but at least you're aware of whom you're dealing with yourself." McKenzie explains.

"He's good with people and he's gotten away with much worse." They warn the group. "This won't be easy."

"Eren," I say, "it's harder to prove you're not something rather than proving someone is indeed something. The very fact that he is being accused already plants a seed that he is guilty."

They nod, picking at their nails. The sound is much too loud while the room is silent, everyone somber and in thought.

"Do you remember anything about your mother?" Noel questions.

"Yeah," Eren closes their eyes. "But I'm afraid she won't be of any help to us. She was kind. It wasn't her fault, what happened to me."

I think, tapping my left foot as my thoughts roll around in my head. "How—" Closing my mouth, I decide it might be a better question to ask when it's just us.

"How does this... I'm uneducated. I don't know anything about court or how this is supposed to go down or how long it'll last. Can you just kinda, explain that to me?" Eren asks.

"They usually take about four to five days to complete, but it has a lot to do with the number of witnesses, the complexity of the case, and how long it takes the jury to come to a conclusion," McKenzie explains.

"Okay." Eren nods then adds, "thank you."

"You're welcome." She smiles. "Remember, Levi will be up there with you, so don't fret."

They nod again, grabbing my hand under the table.

I squeeze back. "I think we can handle it."

"Any other questions?" Noel taps her fingers on the table.

Eren thinks for a minute before shaking their head. "No, I don't think so."

"If you're asked something that isn't relevant to the case, wait a bit, but try and look like you're thinking or about to answer, because McKenzie will have it covered," I explain.