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moosestories2025-06-27 06:35 am
nyc_merlin) wrote in moosestories2025-06-27 06:35 am
Entry tags:
Angel AU: Justice
11. Justice - a character is facing legal trouble; a character has broken the law and has to deal with the consequences; a character is seeking justice for someone else
—
This was not how Matt imagined he’d end up in court when he was a young man.
After his father was murdered Matt was determined to get justice. He imagined himself as a prosecutor putting his father’s murderer behind bars. Or maybe it was revenge. He imagined helping people like himself who were hurt by careless big companies. His young daydreams were probably heavily influenced by Perry Mason episodes and Dick Tracy comics from before he lost his sight.
As he got older those ideas of justice changed a little bit but at his core Matt believed he would one day stand in court and defend the innocent or prosecute the guilty. He hadn’t decided by the time he applied to law school. It didn’t happen because his own fear for his soul had him drop out of law school and go to seminary instead.
After seminary he didn’t really think about human courts all that much. He still had an interest in the law but he directed his attention to people and helping them find salvation. He is more concerned with higher courts and higher powers.
And yet, here he stands before a judge with his hands wrapped around his cane. Foggy’s at his side arguing passionately for bail.
“And how exactly is my client going to flee the jurisdiction?” Foggy says. His tone is subtle but Matt’s hearing is excellent. There’s an insult in that question. “He can’t drive. He doesn’t have a passport. While he has independence he is a blind priest. People are going to notice him if he tries to get away on public transportation, which is the only transportation my client takes to get around this city.”
“The underground has connections…” The prosecutor interjected.
“You have yet to prove that my client has any connection to the underground. The only reason we’re here is because he happened to be the priest in the church when the cops showed up to search it. An illegal search, by the way, as no one read the search warrant to my client when he directly asked them to.”
He and Foggy were only roommates for a year of law school but Matt had always liked listening to him argue the law. He was smart and passionate. Foggy gave his all to a case even if he didn’t like it. And he definitely didn’t like defending Matt from charges of harboring a fugitive angel and felony theft.
“Not to mention the excessive force used during the search.”
“Your client was interfering.”
“In what definition of the word?” Foggy interrupts with a quick snap. “He never once got in the way of the officers' search, simply followed them around and tried as best as he was able to observe their actions. To hold them accountable for their illegal actions.”
Matt did observe their actions. His demonic sight was hidden behind his glasses but he watched the officers search St. Amandus. Foggy doesn’t know he can do that though. He’s not going to say anything either. It infuriated him watching them treat the church like some sort of drug den.
If he hadn’t been aware of how carefully he had to manipulate that search Matt would’ve thrown a fucking punch. The cops had thrown vestments on the floor and dropped the communion cup. There was no respect for the sanctity of the church.
Fitting given when Matt looked into their souls they were all muddled and muted. Not a truly good person among those cops. They were probably paid off by one of the slaver companies in the city which is why they were so aggressive in their search.
It was unfortunate that at the time the church was harboring Kate. Luckily she had been able to get away with Clint but they had been spotted flying away together. That was pretty damming evidence.
Matt was the only priest in the church at the time so he had been arrested. And he hadn’t claimed innocence or ignorance. He had actually spoken out against the angelic slave trade while the cops had him.
Hopefully that would keep Phil and Mobius safe though Matt expects they’re being interrogated right now. Only one of them needs to fall on the sword though. Matt figures it might as well be him.
He can be the young radical priest. He can be the one who goes to prison for this. Phil and Mobius can continue their good work and keep St. Amandus as a safe haven for the neighborhood and maybe, if they’re lucky, for the underground.
“Counselors,” the judge says, interrupting Foggy and the prosecutor's arguments. “This is a bail hearing. Not an evidentiary hearing.”
But Matt knew the judge heard every word and was using them to weigh her decision. That’s why Foggy spoke out like he did. The words can’t be taken back. They can’t be unheard. It’s underhanded but those lawyer jokes exist for a reason.
“The defendant will be released on one thousand dollars bail. With no prior criminal record and the church to watch him, along with his disability, I doubt he’s going to run anywhere.”
Matt breathes a slight sigh of relief as Foggy celebrates with a quiet “yes” under his breath. Most people charged with harboring fugitive angels don’t get bail. They get the book thrown at them. It’s possible being a priest protects him slightly. He’s certain his blindness also protects him.
He smirks slightly. Isn’t he lucky?
There’s a bit of business to wrap up and paperwork to sign but Foggy stays close to his side the whole time and guides him through where to sign and where to walk. It’s only about an hour later before he walks out of the courthouse a somewhat free man.
A few reporters shout questions. Matt grips Foggy’s arm as they walk down the steps together. Foggy says a few things but they keep moving until they can get into a cab.
Matt folds his cane and slides in first. Foggy slides in after him. “You’re staying with me, buddy, and far away from that church, okay? This is big. You’re in deep shit. If I can’t get the search evidence thrown out, you’re kinda fucked.”
He rests his head against the window. “I know.”
It’s fine though. Matt understands that this, in a way, is justice. He will have a platform to preach about how wrong the angelic slave trade is. He will get to argue to defend the defenseless like he’s always wanted.
And if that doesn’t work, well, he’s got his demonic sight and a few other things Stick taught him. Maybe he can get justice on his own.
—
This was not how Matt imagined he’d end up in court when he was a young man.
After his father was murdered Matt was determined to get justice. He imagined himself as a prosecutor putting his father’s murderer behind bars. Or maybe it was revenge. He imagined helping people like himself who were hurt by careless big companies. His young daydreams were probably heavily influenced by Perry Mason episodes and Dick Tracy comics from before he lost his sight.
As he got older those ideas of justice changed a little bit but at his core Matt believed he would one day stand in court and defend the innocent or prosecute the guilty. He hadn’t decided by the time he applied to law school. It didn’t happen because his own fear for his soul had him drop out of law school and go to seminary instead.
After seminary he didn’t really think about human courts all that much. He still had an interest in the law but he directed his attention to people and helping them find salvation. He is more concerned with higher courts and higher powers.
And yet, here he stands before a judge with his hands wrapped around his cane. Foggy’s at his side arguing passionately for bail.
“And how exactly is my client going to flee the jurisdiction?” Foggy says. His tone is subtle but Matt’s hearing is excellent. There’s an insult in that question. “He can’t drive. He doesn’t have a passport. While he has independence he is a blind priest. People are going to notice him if he tries to get away on public transportation, which is the only transportation my client takes to get around this city.”
“The underground has connections…” The prosecutor interjected.
“You have yet to prove that my client has any connection to the underground. The only reason we’re here is because he happened to be the priest in the church when the cops showed up to search it. An illegal search, by the way, as no one read the search warrant to my client when he directly asked them to.”
He and Foggy were only roommates for a year of law school but Matt had always liked listening to him argue the law. He was smart and passionate. Foggy gave his all to a case even if he didn’t like it. And he definitely didn’t like defending Matt from charges of harboring a fugitive angel and felony theft.
“Not to mention the excessive force used during the search.”
“Your client was interfering.”
“In what definition of the word?” Foggy interrupts with a quick snap. “He never once got in the way of the officers' search, simply followed them around and tried as best as he was able to observe their actions. To hold them accountable for their illegal actions.”
Matt did observe their actions. His demonic sight was hidden behind his glasses but he watched the officers search St. Amandus. Foggy doesn’t know he can do that though. He’s not going to say anything either. It infuriated him watching them treat the church like some sort of drug den.
If he hadn’t been aware of how carefully he had to manipulate that search Matt would’ve thrown a fucking punch. The cops had thrown vestments on the floor and dropped the communion cup. There was no respect for the sanctity of the church.
Fitting given when Matt looked into their souls they were all muddled and muted. Not a truly good person among those cops. They were probably paid off by one of the slaver companies in the city which is why they were so aggressive in their search.
It was unfortunate that at the time the church was harboring Kate. Luckily she had been able to get away with Clint but they had been spotted flying away together. That was pretty damming evidence.
Matt was the only priest in the church at the time so he had been arrested. And he hadn’t claimed innocence or ignorance. He had actually spoken out against the angelic slave trade while the cops had him.
Hopefully that would keep Phil and Mobius safe though Matt expects they’re being interrogated right now. Only one of them needs to fall on the sword though. Matt figures it might as well be him.
He can be the young radical priest. He can be the one who goes to prison for this. Phil and Mobius can continue their good work and keep St. Amandus as a safe haven for the neighborhood and maybe, if they’re lucky, for the underground.
“Counselors,” the judge says, interrupting Foggy and the prosecutor's arguments. “This is a bail hearing. Not an evidentiary hearing.”
But Matt knew the judge heard every word and was using them to weigh her decision. That’s why Foggy spoke out like he did. The words can’t be taken back. They can’t be unheard. It’s underhanded but those lawyer jokes exist for a reason.
“The defendant will be released on one thousand dollars bail. With no prior criminal record and the church to watch him, along with his disability, I doubt he’s going to run anywhere.”
Matt breathes a slight sigh of relief as Foggy celebrates with a quiet “yes” under his breath. Most people charged with harboring fugitive angels don’t get bail. They get the book thrown at them. It’s possible being a priest protects him slightly. He’s certain his blindness also protects him.
He smirks slightly. Isn’t he lucky?
There’s a bit of business to wrap up and paperwork to sign but Foggy stays close to his side the whole time and guides him through where to sign and where to walk. It’s only about an hour later before he walks out of the courthouse a somewhat free man.
A few reporters shout questions. Matt grips Foggy’s arm as they walk down the steps together. Foggy says a few things but they keep moving until they can get into a cab.
Matt folds his cane and slides in first. Foggy slides in after him. “You’re staying with me, buddy, and far away from that church, okay? This is big. You’re in deep shit. If I can’t get the search evidence thrown out, you’re kinda fucked.”
He rests his head against the window. “I know.”
It’s fine though. Matt understands that this, in a way, is justice. He will have a platform to preach about how wrong the angelic slave trade is. He will get to argue to defend the defenseless like he’s always wanted.
And if that doesn’t work, well, he’s got his demonic sight and a few other things Stick taught him. Maybe he can get justice on his own.