”A few months now, I have been doing some investigating on my own, you know. Had to make sure we didn’t let a cold-blooded killer stay in the school with a bunch of kids.” Sam let the words sink in to the jury and the judge. His gaze shifted from Julia to the crypt keeper who started to smile at his words as if Sam was helping him. ”Obviously not the case though. Alex is more of a frightened bunny than anything else. It’s why I didn’t kick him out of the mansion. He is just an orphan kid who is scared of his own shadow.” Sam looked back to Alex and smirked slightly.

“So he isn’t a cold-bloodied killer as the prosecution wants us to believe?” asked Julia who had her back turn to Sam because she was tired of getting a wink. She was busy looking at the jury and Alex. ”Ha, no. Again, he’s just a scared little orphan who has a hard time controlling his abilities, and yes, they are ability. Not a weapon or a curse.” Sam looked to the jury first, ”Anyone in the city of New York can tell you some mutants have a hard time controlling their abilities but if they learn to control it they can be a great assets to the city.” Sam shifted his gaze to the judge, ”The X-Men and myself have proven that time and time again. How many times have we saved someone in the city, dosed a fire, and stopped a robbery? I believe if Alex can gain more control of his abilities he’d be an asset to the city as well.” Sam shifted and looked back towards Julia who had a sly grin on her face when she was looking at Sam.

“So you would say you’d vouch for him?” Sam smirked more and nodded his head, ”Yeah, as a teacher and a former student at the Sister school for gifted youngsters I see the potential in him. He has a kind heart but like anything backed into a corner he has claws. Might not know how to control them but he has claws.” Sam caught the grin of skeletor and the icemancer added quickly, ”Alex is no killer.” Sam lifted his shirt, inappropriate but he was proving a point.

Revealing a road map of scars and healed wounds Sam pointed to the most recent scare on his left side of his belly button, ”This was a stab wound from a guy who had threatened to kill his pregnant girlfriend if the cops didn’t let him get out of the city with her.” Sam stood and turned revealing a burn on his lower back, ”This is from the fire on fifth a month back, thirty people were trapped in there, and I got them all out. The fire was started by an arsonist who liked to “see the flames engulf the skyline” he put air quotes to the last bit then turned lowered his shirt and sat down. ”Me and all the boys and girls in blue deal with real monsters and cold-bloodied killers everyday.” Sam gestured to the police standing next to Alex, ”Alex isn’t a cold-bloodied killer. I’ll keep telling you that till I’m blue in the face.” Sam said as he folded his arms.

Julia smiled then turned to the prosecutors then gestured for them to precede, ”Oh, slipped my mind.” Sam pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over to the judge who took one look at it then to Sam.

"Alex is more of a frightened bunny than anything else."

Alex frowned in his seat, feeling a little put off by the words. It made him sound pathetic, and yes, he was, but did Sam really need to spell it out like that. Kind of hurt.

"He is just an orphan kid who is scared of his own shadow."

And now he sounded like god damn little orphan Annie. Yes he was an orphan, there's no denying that but still...

"Again, he’s just a scared little orphan who has a hard time controlling his abilities..."

Now Alex probably looked indignant at the idea that he had a hard time with control. Excuse you, I have excellent control! He bit his tongue from saying it out loud, it wouldn't help his case, and it would just be bad form all around. Sam was defending him and by making him look far weaker than he was, the jury might show mercy on him.

He was surprised then when Sam handed over a file to the judge, who was equally surprised to receive it. The prosecutor looked scandalized, "Your honor if the witness is handing over pertinent evidence for the case the prosecution has a right to review it first before it's used or have it thrown out as inadmissible."

The judge reviewed the files papers before slipping it closed. "It doesn't have anything to do with the trial at hand but it is something we'll discuss afterward with the defendant. The prosecution may proceed with the cross examination." the judge glanced between Sam and Alex before looking at the prosecutor.

The vulture of a man was miffed but knew he could do nothing to see what those papers said. He smoothed his suit and approached Sam. "Mr.Johnson, you claim that the defendant is nothing more than a scared mutant child who couldn't control himself, but even by mutant standards what Mr.Maurell did was extreme, was it not? Murder is not something people do naturally, injure perhaps, but the slaughter we saw in those videos was not accidental. He intended to kill the victim as brutally as he possibly could, from the inside out."

"So, with that in mind, do you really think knowing him for a few months would be enough to truly say he's safe to keep around other students? That his powers could be kept in check, that his violence wouldn't rear it's ugly head when your not looking?" The prosecutor grinned, "But then again, it's well known that you aren't exactly always on your best behavior yourself Mr.Johnson. In fact, it's very known that you intoxicate yourself regularly with alcohol. So, be honest, would you say that perhaps, in a drunken stupor you placed more trust in Alex then you should have?"

Sam knew this was going to happen even if he knew about what questions were going to be asked of him he still was prepared to answer the question the crypt creeper asked. Sam let the words form on the tip of his tongue and he let them sit for a second. ”I’ve never tried to impress anyone.” was his first response, Sam looked to the jury then to Julia and gave a little smirk. ”I am who I am flaws in all. Sure I might drink more than most but you would do if you seen as much as I have. The people who were just out of reach… They stay up here always.” Sam pointed to his head.

”So yes, I self medicate.” Some of his reasoning was true though it was more for the pain of having to let go of his ‘not-real family’. ”It’s hard dealing with the fact that you can’t save everyone when you have extra gifts.” Sam let the words sink in for a second as he played the crowd.

Sam looked down then remained silent before shifting his gaze, ”Being honest, your a dick.” Sam stared at him for a second then looked to the jury, ”What I do inside the school and outside, I keep people safe. I save lives and I do what ever I can to keep doing that. I know bad people. I’ve arrested bad people, drunk or not I know them.” Sam pointed to Alex, ”Alex is anything but bad, he is a child who was forced into a corner by some bullies, should they have been killed no, it was an accident like a kid finding a loaded gun and pulling a trigger.” it wasn’t the best analogy considering Alex’s gun had big bullets.

”He belongs at the mansion where he can learn how to control his abilities so he can help people, not be feared by them. I know Alex is a good kid, in fact I know that so well I’m willing to take personal responsibility for him.” Sam looked to the judge then to the defense who were all aware what was on that sheet and Sam’s ace in the hole. ”I was gonna wait till after but, I filled out the paperwork to adopt Alex. So he woiuldn’t just be an orphan or a ward of the school. He’ll be my responsibility.” Sam raised an eyebrow to the reaper then looked to Alex. Sam ignored the jury.

The courtroom was in stunned silence, Alex included. Adopted...him? No one had ever-. It had to be a joke, why would Sam want to do that? Alex couldn't wrap his mind around it, there was so much self doubt in him that the thought that anyone would want him as family was ridiculous. And there was fear too, fear that any one who got close to him would get hurt. Past experiences only proved that.

Yet the nod from the judge and the reassuring looks from his lawyers only proved that it was true. Sam wasn't lying or going to take his word back, this was real. This was too real...

The prosecution didn't look happy about it, they looked like a cross between angry and terrified. Sam was a well known and powerful x-men. Mutant or not, the man had influence if he really wanted to use it. The jury murmured amongst themselves, possibly thinking the same thing. Still, backing down wasn't this man's style, the prosecution would continue as planed, unforeseen circumstances or no. "Adoption Mr.Johnson? Mr.Maurell is sixteen, in two years time he'll be a recognized adult, though his past and the recent slaughter he enacted would say he's as much of an adult now as he will be then. In two years time it won't matter, it's too late to reign him in. Two late to trim the claws and put a safety on that gun, as you've been putting it."

"I may be a dick Mr.Johnson, but at the very least I'm honest and aware of the truth. At least I'm not a fool, you're blind to the danger and you're putting yourself and all those children you profess to care for in danger if you let him go free. Or has the alcohol stolen away so much of your mind that you can't see the wolf in your home when it's staring you in the face?" The question was less for Sam and more for the jury, make them question the man's judgement, make them question whether or not he could truly keep Alex from striking down some other innocent soul.

Sam waited till the prosecutor was down talking. Sam was tempted to reach for the flask in his pocket and could feel it weigh him down slightly. If he was anywhere else he would have finished the drink then beat the tar out of the prosecutor. Sadly for Sam and lucky for the prosecutor they were in the courthouse still.

”First off let me just say that you are lucky we are where we are right now. Otherwise you and I would be having a very different conversation. Second off, it’s never too late for someone, especially a kid who never had a chance to be a kid. We both know that that ever since he was young Alex had no home he was always going from one place to another. Fight or flight, you back anyone into a corner man or animal and they are gonna fight tooth and nail to get away. Alex is dangerous yes, but people said the same thing about me. They still say that.” Sam raised an eyebrow before he continued, ”I never ask for a thank you but how many people in this city alone have I saved? Fires, robberies, kidnappings, child trafficking.” those were just a handful of things he had stopped during his time in New York. Sure he could recite most of them but he didn’t his Ego was in check at the moment and he was focused on Alex.

”Two years or two days. I guarantee that Alex will be a constructive member to society by the time I’m done with him. In fact I promise it, how many kids got second chances? Right now you are telling me because he is a mutant he doesn’t deserve one? Everyone deserves a second chance. You try to lock him up and you take away that chance. I got a second chance when I first arrived at the mansion. No one except for the staff there saw me for nothing more than aggressive kid. Look how I turned out? How many other kids from the mansion go in and come out a productive member of society.” Sam hesitated then added, ”I might have turned to drinking instead of finding a more productive outlet but let me put your mind at ease. I’m more on the ball than anyone and if you can’t see that Alex needs the mansion instead of prison than you’re just an idiot and a dick. So I’m gonna redirect my promise to the jury.” Sam knew he was going to be asked to refrain so he did before he could be told not to.

”This kid needs help. Like I did, let me help him. He could save your life some day.” Sam said staring at the jury.

Alex listened, surprised by Sam's ferocity, and it wasn't that the man had given him any reason to question his want to the right thing. He had no reason to doubt his passion. It was just...he wasn't used to this kind of thing. An adult wanting to protect him, risking social standing like this. Because he could hear the people murmuring, hear their indecision. They weren't sure, but Sam's words had struck a cord with them.

The prosecution was not please, practically glaring at Sam, "No further questions your honor."

The Sam was allowed to leave the stand and the trial continued. More evidence was reviewed, witnesses and character witness from both sides were questioned, and then a short break was called, to allow both the jury to mull over the information and give Alex a chance to step away from the guards who repressed his powers.

Julia gave him a snack and said the next step was going to be the hardest. That he was going to have to show the court what his powers really were. His lawyers were already aware of what he could do, he had show them a few times. Julia was adamant that he show them his powers were of creation, not destruction. It was unprecedented at the time. As most trials concerning mutants didn't allow the jury to really see what they were judging.

But Alex's powers were easily controlled, corralled if he somehow missteps. So long as he wasn't under attack, he should be fine. The only problem was that he was feeling really nervous and taking deep breaths was doing really nothing to help. He was flooded with the anxieties of his constructs, an echo chamber of fear drowned his confidence in coming out of this free of cuffs and collar.

There was no going back however, there was no running now. When the recess was over, he was called to the stand as the final witness. The guard stood nearby, smothering his powers once more, at least for the time being.

"So Alex, we've heard a lot about you from other people, a lot of opinion of what happened that night, but we haven't actually heard anything from you."Julia started and Alex could only shrug shyly, glancing at the jury with a nervous look. "There really isn't much to say, I'm just trying my best to be normal but..." His voice faltered and his gaze fell to his cuffed hands in his lap.

Julia was quick to pick it up from there, "But life makes it hard. I've heard you were homeless before you ended up at Xavier's. Can you tell us how long was that?"

"About 3 years ma'am."

"3 years? That would have made you 12 or 13 at the time."she stated, the amazement in her voice was more emphasis for the jury than anything. Alex nodded to her statement before remembering he had to keep talking so it's on the record, "Yes, ma'am."

"Can you tell us why? Were you kicked out of your home or did you run away?"she continued to prod and Alex, even though they had practiced this, grimaced. "I ran. I didn't want my fosters to find out I was a mutant. I got my powers a few years earlier and I knew I wouldn't be able to hide it forever."he admitted.

"Running away was better than being sent away. And all that time, you've never hurt anyone like you did Mr.Brown?"Julia question and Alex forced himself not to think about the time before this, of the desert, and the man who wrapped his hand around his neck. "No ma'am, never like that. I-I mean this wasn't the first time I've been attacked, but this time, I was pinned and bleeding out...I didn't have any other option."he answered, keeping his story consistent.

"Do you know why Mr.Brown and his friends attacked you?"she continued.

"We had gotten in a tussle a little while back, they ganged up on me but I was able to make a break for it."he answered, pushing down the thoughts of Hades and his involvement.

"You weren't aware that they were part of a mutant hate group at that time or after? And furthermore, why didn't you call the police or go back to Xavier's and tell them?"she asked and Alex shook his head, "No ma'am. And I didn't do those things because...I never had reason to before. I've always took care of myself, so I just looked for a place to lay low till it blew over...That obviously didn't work out when I did decide to go back to Xavier's."

That seemed to ruffle a few of the jurors, the idea that a child didn't feel safe calling the police when they were in danger. The idea that someone so young took it upon themselves to handle something so dangerous on their own.

"And when they attacked you on the bus? You didn't run that time, why?"Julia continued. "They stabbed me while I was sleeping, I was going to bleed out a lot faster if I ran, and running would only give them a chance to finish me without people watching. So I tried scaring them off and...well, you know the rest."Alex sighed, clearly hating that he was forced to relive the incident.

Julia nodded thoughtfully, "So, at the end of the day, they harassed and attacked you not once but twice. Likely with the intent of killing you. If anything these men should be on trial, not you, but the fact remains we are here. We're here to prove that you aren't a danger to anyone, that your actions were legal in the eyes of the law as self-defense."

They went of the details of the attack, the time of night, where he had been and where he had been going, the weapon he had tried to use to ward them off. Then ultimately they got to the question of his powers. Alex did his best to describe how they worked, the time, the energy, and connection to his creations it required. In the end, Julia asked judge if they could give the jury a small, controlled demonstration. The prosecution was furious at the suggestion, stating that the mutant could kill them all, but thankfully the judge was not pron to such paranoia.

Alex was given an apple and allowed to step away from the guards that held his powers under. He wavered a moment, head swimming as it was suddenly full again. So he decided it might best to sit for this, closing his eyes to concentrate on what he wanted to create. There were a number of creations he could make with the apple; mice, chipmunks, a smaller than average kitten, birds. Ultimately he settled on a simple mourning dove.

The jury murmured again, admiration or fear or both he couldn't tell but once he felt the light, fluffy weight of the dove in his hands he opened his eyes. It was a strange sight, must have been, seeing a young mutant sitting before the jury, hands held up with the dove, almost like an offering. He looked up at them, silently pleading that this should be enough to show he wasn't dangerous.

A moment, the guards were standing by him again, forcing the connection shut, making him flinch, and the jury to startle when the dove disintegrated into dust.

Julia had no more questions and the prosecutions questions, went as expected, personal attacks and furious statements about the dangers of mutants. Alex deflected them pretty aptly with intelligence and the truth. Pointing out that human being have been figuring out new ways to kill each other since the dawn of tool creation, probably even before that. That mutation is random, hard to control, and took him 6 years to even get to this point on his own. That if he had been given a teacher, instead of being fed fear his whole life, he might have had more control.

At that point the prosecution was done and had no more questions. Final statements were issued, each calling for justice; justice for a kid in the minority who was brutally and unfairly attack or justice for the young man who was savagely slaughtered by a clearly unhinged mutant.

The jury went behind closed door to deliberate and all they could was sit there and wait. Alex took deep breathes, praying that he'd be set free, praying that he'd be alright. It was half an hour, half an hour of torturous waiting, he had been told it could be much worse but this must have been what hell was like.

The one juror stood to deliver the announcement, "On the charge of murder in the first degree, the jury finds the defendant, not guilty." Alex practically collapsed, relief washing over him in a tidal wave and the rest of the words became a blur. He was safe, free, he wouldn't be going to jail. He didn't realize he was crying until Julia was hugging and congratulating him. All of this was too much but he was so damn happy.

(OOC: And that's a wrap, unless you wanna add something to the end there CS.)