Leico Valdangelo just another heartache

Leo

The head of the jury was a tall mixed woman with curly black hair and hazel eyes. She stood, waiting for Octavian's questions to begin.

"On the first charge of criminally negligent homicide how do you find the defendant?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

"On the second charge of criminally negligent homicide how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of rape 1 how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of sexual misconduct 1 how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of assault with a deadly weapon how do you find?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

"Have you appropriated the defendant's punishment?"

The woman looked back at her fellow jurors and they nodded.

"We have, your honor."

"How will he be punished?"

"We have appropriated two options, that we would like his only living victim; Nico Di Angelo, to choose from."

Nico's eyes went wide.

'What the fuck?' Leo thought. 'They're going to let Nico pick how Percy gets punished?'

"What are the options?" Octavian asked.

"Flogging, castration, and civil disgrace or flogging then death."

"Thank you for your service." Octavian dismissed the jury.

"Permission to approach?" Emily and the defense lawyer said at the exact same time.

Octavian looked up at them and rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you two want to drag this out..Permission granted."

They approached the bench and spoke to him in soft undertones.

Leo was dying to know what they were saying.

Nico whispered to him "What should I do?"

Leo thought of the most flat out way to put it. "You wanna fuck him up or make him dead?"

"I want to not feel like I'm going to pass out first and foremost."

Leo admired Nico's ability to tell how he really feels and add sass at the same time.

"Deep breaths. Everything is going to be alright." He reassured.

Nico closed his eyes and breathed slowly in and out. Leo knew he was counting to calm himself. And he probably wanted a cigarette. '10 to 1 chance' Leo realized internally.

"Court is adjourned." Octavian settled.

Emily approached Nico immediately.

"Whatever you think is best I'll stand behind, okay? He deserves whichever punishment you decide for him." She said supportive.

"Yeah okay." Nico sounded out of breath, but Leo was holding his wrist keeping track of his pulse which seemed to be lowering.

"Are you alright?" Emily asked.

Nico nodded. "Yeah I'm going to be fine. I just want to get this done and over with."

Emily's face fell "I just asked the judge to grant your decision tomorrow so you could think..shit I'm sorry I should've asked what you preferred."

"You didn't know that they were going to let Nico pick his punishment, right?" Leo affirmed.

"No, but I should've considered it a possibility." 

"Then you're fine, you made the best decision you could make at the time which was to ask for more time." Leo supported.

"I need to think anyway." Nico sighed.

Kate approached them. "Come on guys lets go celebrate the guilty verdict!"

Nico looked up at her and smiled. "Yeah, let's do that."