InsaneJournal

Who: Zel and Merritt
When: Friday morning
Where: Courthouse
What: Zel arraignment trail
Why: Zel accidentally murdered her father
Status: Complete
Ratings: PG13
Triggers: Drug Use



For the first time, in a long time, Zel was clean. Which wasn’t the best of feelings to be going through. Especially since she would remember everything that happened when she found her father. After locating the man, she learned he lived in her district. She remembered that overwhelming feeling taking over her, that dream still raw from the previous night. She remembered going to his apartment and revealing who she was. The way he laughed at her and mocked her. The way he belittled her. But it wasn’t until he put his hands on her, that caused her to snap.

She remembered fighting back. Getting hit in her face and stomach. Then she remembered grabbing that gun that was pointed in her direction and soon a loud bang and blood all over her face. Zel ran, ran as fast as she could but eventually she was caught. She could have sworn she had even seen Merritt there. Of course, he would be there. But then she was given that drug to clean her system. By force at that since it was the last thing Zel wanted.

Now she sat at that desk, blonde hair would be brushed back as she wore that blue and white dress the courts had provided her. She was clean and very aware of what was going on. She was aware of that camera crew watching her and pointing that camera in her direction, already knowing that this whole thing was going live. A deep sigh escaped her red lips as she kept her hands resting on her lap as she did her best to keep her face hidden.

--

His father had throw the case on his desk the night before, a different junior associate had visited his client in Jail on Thursday but the case was officially his. He’d spent all night going through the case as he has it and prepared himself to try to get his client out of jail while they worked up a defense. Based on the information the associate got out of his client, he was going to go for a self defense strategy. A tablet in hand and dressed quite crisply, Merritt walked into the courtroom and nodded to the associate who’d been in his seat as representation until he arrived. The man moved and Merr placed his tablet down and turned to address his…

He paced a few times in the hallway, having turned and immediately exited the courtroom. After taking a few breaths he took the small bottle of pills from his pocket and took one. Antipsychotics, because he was clearly having an episode. The junior associate peeked his head out of the courtroom door, “Mr. Yates…? The judge is about to enter.”

Merr took another deep breath and nodded. Returning to his seat he leaned over slightly to quietly speak with his client, not quite looking at her. “You’re going to plead not guilty, we’re fighting this on the grounds of self-defense.” He informed her. Before he could get a reply, they were being instructed to stand for the judge.

--

She was clean, right? Sober? Because right now she felt like she was tripping because she could have sworn her lawyer looked exactly like Merritt. Her imaginary friend. Maybe it was a comfort thing. But as quickly as he sat down, he was gone just as quick. Emerald eyes came to look around the courtroom before stopping to look at that camera that stared at her. Quickly, she came to look away as she used her hair to hide her features, despite it being too late.

And like that, he was back. When he told her to plead not guilty, she was about to say something. Was...Was he real? She wasn’t sure. Maybe it was a relapse? Still, she came to a stand once the judge arrived. Moments later they would all take a seat. Her hands resting under that table.

But as she kept her gaze away from...Well everyone, she felt her fingers move and touch at his side. Holy shit, he was real. So when the courts explained the type of trail, Zel came to turn her head and lean into his ear to whisper.”...Me...Merritt…?” The confusion and panic heard in her voice. He wasn’t supposed to be real. Because if he was, then it meant he was just as fucked up as she was.

--

He was about to reply when the judge addressed them about bail. “Your honor.” Merritt said, “My client has ties to the community, a full-time job at a local coffee shop and the DA is requesting a bail way above her means. We request that my client is released on her own recognizance.” Oh, he knew there was no way that would happen.

“Mr. Yates.” The judge addressed him. “If your client can afford you and your firm then she has some means. I am also aware that there are possible connections between your client and the group known as The Wire.” He gave the lawyers a look. “You don’t think I noticed which ‘local coffee shop’ she’s working at? So with that, I set bail and nine hundred thousand credits.” He gestured at the defense table with his gavel. “And if you do make bail, there are going to be some restrictions. You will be chipped with a tracker and except for work are expected to avoid any known Wire locations. Should it be required, you will be required to be accompanied by a member of your defense team or an officer of the court. You will also be required to have your chip scanned daily.”

Seeing as the violence involved in her case and the crackdown on all violent crimes since Valentine’s Day, Merr expected worse. At least this way his client was out of jail. He nodded, the DA begrudgingly accepted the judges terms and the room was dismissed to move onto the next thing.

Merritt turned to his client as one of the officers of the court walked over. “He’s going to take you to get changed out of the prison outfit and discharged. Kyle,” Merritt nodded to the junior associate. “Will see to the paperwork, you’ll just need to sign, then escort you to the car where I’ll meet you.”

“Merrit Yates, as I live and breath.” A voice behind him spoke up, he turned before Zel could reply.

“DA Carson.” He said moving off with opposing counsel to discuss things.

__

Zel listened, it was all she could do. Though she wasn’t too thrilled with having someone from her defense team following her around. It wasn’t ideal and put a dent in her life. But she didn’t say anything as she came to do as he instructed. First changing out those court clothes and into her clothes, followed by signing those papers. Then came the matter of that tracking chip being inserted in her arm before being escorted to the car where she waited for him.

Was she still trippin.. No, she touched him. Actually touched him. But it still left other questions. Like how the fuck did they grow up knowing each other without actually knowing each other? Her hand came through her hair, as it shifted from blonde to red for the moment.

She was sober, and that needed to change. As soon as she got home, that was going to change. But for now, she just waited, as she bites her lower lip.

--

Merritt sighed as he approached the towncar. “Thank you Kyle.” He handed the boy a data card. “Get this to Nelson’s Bonds, make sure we get to keep our girl out.” The firm had a holding company that was technically owned by The Wire but managed by a third party- it was a complicated exchange but basically they footed the bond for any members. They also had a similar set up with the CoD.

He unbuttoned his jacket as he climbed into the car. “To the office.” He told the driver as he sat back in his seat and regarded his client. “Are you hungry?” He asked. It was something Merr always asked his clients who had spent a night in jail. As he looked at her he shifted slightly in his seat, she still looked like Zee. Zel Braddock was her name. She was a real person, not his imaginary friend. His meds weren’t working. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bottle again, and took another pill. This was not good.

Merr reaches over to the small bar in the car and poured a small bit of the amber drink into a glass. He was too sober to be hallucinating.

--

She watched as he came into the car and asked if he was hungry. But she watched as he took that pill and tilted her head as he took a drink soon after. “No...I...I must be going crazy.” She replied shaking her head as she turned to him. “Look, Merr. I’m really glad you’re here and everything but... I kinda need you to fuck off right now. I.. I can’t deal with you here and the shit I’m dealing with right now all at once.” She replied as she ran her hand through that red shade of hair.

Maybe she was tripping? Did she fall asleep at some point right? That’s what this was, a dream. A really fucked up dream. But as she came to pinch her arm she realized she wasn’t dreaming. Which caused her to quickly move away from him in that car. “This.. This isn’t a dream..No.. No you’re not real. You’re an imaginary fucked up friend I made as a kid.”

--

His teeth gritted as she spoke, said aloud what he was thinking. Merritt put the glass to his lips and took a long sip. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. His mind was a chorus of denials. “Paul, forget the office.” He said. “Tell Kyle we’re going to the apartment.” He was clearly having an episode. His meds weren’t working and just client looked a lot like his hallucination, so he was hearing things coming from his client, but it wasn’t really her. Couldn’t be. It was all in his head.

Merritt turned to address her as if he’d not heard any of the strange things she said. “Because your address is in a building known for being supportive of The Wire, we’re going to put you up in a place for the time being. If there’s anything you need from you place we’ll send someone.” He informed her.

--

She shook her head. “Merr.. Stop it.” She said as she came to look at him for the moment. Shaking hands reaching out to take hold of his arm, but she moved to reach into his pocket as she took that bottle of pills and shoved him away from her as she looked at the prescription. A sigh escaped her lips. “You’re real…” She said looking at him for the moment as she came to take a seat next to him.

“I...Don’t want to be alone…” She said as she came to look at him. In case he didn’t believe her, she came to move closer to his ear. “I know what happened to you... When you were eight.” She said as she came to look at him once more. Taking his hand in hers. “I’m real. You’re real. This... This is the reality.”

--

“What are you?” He furrowed his brow as she took the bottle of pills from his pocket and pulled them back. Merritt gave her an annoyed look until those hushed words were said. He froze. He was trembling. Eyes closed, he shook his head. “No… he whispered. You can’t be real. You’re a fucked up coping mechanism I created when I was a kid.” He was now questioning that his client was ever in the car and whether or not he was having a full on psychotic break since she felt real. Maybe he had actually died on Wednesday and this was some fucked up afterlife.

--

She came to shake her head as she grabbed at his face to look at her. “No... No, I’m real, Merritt.. I’m as real and fucked up as you are.” She said as she swallowed slightly and watched him. “Wednesday night… You, you won a case against a child molester. And your dad sent you a message.” She said as she ran her thumb over his cheeks to keep him focused on her.

“You almost died of alcohol poison. But didn’t because of an electric shock… Right.” She said with urgency at the moment. She was sober. She was sober and he was here and she was touching him… So that meant one thing, that he was real and everything he went through was real.

“Merr...Look at me... Look at me.” She said as she shook her head. That natural blond color coming over her as emerald eyes watched him. “When we were seven.. “ She said looking at him. “We tried to kiss, remember that? What happened when we tried?”

--

His heart dropped as she spoke as a feeling of dread and uncertainty spread over him. “I passed right through you and almost broke my nose on the mantle.” Merr replied. “Zee?” His eyes seemed to focus on her, eyes heavy with possible tears. “But how?” It wasn’t possible. None of it was. And if it was true then… someone else knew about… everything. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

--

“That’s right you did, and I ran right into my bedroom door.” She informed him as she watched him focus on her finally. When he called her that nickname she came to nod her head. She was sober, is all she kept repeating as she felt tears come down her face. She hated crying.

“It’s me, Merr..” She said as she kept her hands on his face as she sat between his legs in that car to him focused on her. “.. I...I don’t know…” She said in all honesty. The other shouldn’t have even been real but here they both were. In the flesh. “I know..” She said as if she knew what he was thinking. Her hand coming away from his face as she ran her hand through his hair. That breathy laugh escaped her lips for the moment as she still held that unsure face.

But all she could do was lean into him and bring her arms around his neck as she held him tightly.

--

His arms slid around her waist as he embraced her, those tears falling without permission. She was real? Really real? And in trouble. Big trouble. He had a certain plan in mind with how he was going to run her case before he’d met her, now he was thinking of going a completely different way. “I’m going to get you off.” He said quietly against her shoulder.

A few moments later the car came to a stop. He pulled away from her, wiping his face as he cleared his throat. The door opened and he got out, holding a shaking hand to help her out of the car. In silence he lead her into the tall apartment complex, there was a doorman and the lobby was large and pretty posh. They stepped into elevator B and he informed her this is the only one she can take. As he pressed floor 32 he waved his arm over a sensor and the system chirped as it read his data chip and authorized the access. As the elevator started he glanced over at her. “Your chip should be programmed within the hour. You’ll be able to use the elevator to access floor 32 only.”

Merritt then turned around seemingly with his back to the elevator doors as the lift cane to a stop. The doors they entered didn’t open. Instead, the back wall of the lift opened right into a luxury apartment. The place was huge, a loft style apartment with the ‘bedroom’ in the loft upstairs. The rest of the house had an open flow. The windows didn’t open because of how high they were but the windows were open and shed a lot of light into the place. “You’ll be staying here for the duration of the court case.

--
When he wrapped his arms around her she buried her face into his neck. “I know.. I know..” She said when he assured her he was going to get her off. She knew he would. He was the best at what he did. As that car came to a stop she simply got out after taking his hand. Her grip on his was firm as she looked to the tall high rise building. She’d seen them from afar but up close was different. As she followed she looked to see which elevator he took and the floor.

When he told her, her chip would be programmed and she could only access the 32 floor she nodded her head. But when he opened the other side of the elevator she turned and looked at the apartment that came into view. Slow steps brought her inside. “Here...Really..?” She said as she looked at the massive apartment. Just the entrance was bigger than her little studio apartment. Emerald eyes looking at him. “...” She wasn’t even sure what to say, but she-she did come to stop as she looked down at her arm and soon back up to him. “...Can… I have people here…?” She asked. Not like she’d have a million people, but she thought of two. Three when she counted Merritt now. She swallowed for the moment. “...Merr...I...I can’t stay like this..” She said as she looked around once more. The whole thing was overwhelming her. And being sober didn’t help.

--

“With… approval.” He said, explaining, “The apartment is owned by the firm for clients, such as yourself, who are restricted in their movements. The partners want our clients to be comfortable when awaiting trial.” Merritt moved into the apartment. “So any guests will have to be approved, Victoria can handle that.” He said. “You’ll probably meet her later.” His assistant was excellent at her job and would stop by later that evening with food to stock up the fridge. Moving over to the island in the kitchen, he tapped on a little-embedded pad which pulled up a display. “Here are all the contacts you should need to the firm. Mine is in there as is Victorias and all the junior associates assigned to your case.” Yea, he was sticking with business at that moment because he was still processing everything. “Vic’s also programmed in all the local places that deliver. So if you’re hungry and don’t feel like cooking.”

Brushing his hand to smooth down his tie, he walked to the stairs. “Bedroom is upstairs, the bathroom is the door right there. There’s a VR rig upstairs with haptic gloves and all the lines are secured so you can get on the Net and won’t be able to be tracked.” The Wire had helped set them up with the top of the line security. “There’s a camera in the elevator, that feeds to the panel on the wall or the apartments VI so you can vet anyone before letting them in. If it’s someone from the firm the doors will open with their access but all others you’ll have to manually allow- like food delivery.” He turned to face her. “Any questions?”

--

He was in lawyer mood. So all Zel did was listen and nod her head. Already thinking how she was going to get Izzy over to deliver for her. It was going to be tricky. “I… I left a pink box back at my place… I need it,” she told him as she came to walk deeper into the loft. “And my AR glasses,” she added as she looked at him. The trail was broadcasted live. So she was sure Iz saw it….but her head shook. “Stay with me tonight… please,” she said as she bit her bottom lip.

Emerald eyes watched him closely for the moment. “Can the lawyer, Merr go away now… I kinda need my best friend right now,” she said wrapping her arms around herself. She needed a fix. Badly but she doubted Merr would help.

--

He needed a drink, but he was doubtful she’d be okay with that after Wednesday. “Make a list, and I’ll forward it to someone to get everything for you,” Merr informed, he’d have a female associate go so she didn’t have to worry about some strange man rummaging around her stuff.

Her question about him staying sent a slight bit of panic through him. There was a lot he needed to do, granted none of it that couldn’t completely wait until the next day. Seeing as it was Friday. There was one phone call he wanted to make, but technically that could wait as well. He regarded her for a long moment before finally nodding. “So long as I don’t get called in from the office… I can stay.” He swallowed, his mouth felt dry. He knew where the liquor cabinet was after all most of the clients kept there were very wealthy and his father liked to make sure they were comfortable as well.

--
When he agreed to stay the night she nodded her head. “I just need the pink box and the glasses... that's it,” she said lightly as she came to take a seat on the couch. Already she came to remove her shoes as she looked out the window to the afternoon light coming in now. Her hand came to brush through her hair. She was still blond since she wasn't really doing anything crazy right now.

“Just get it..” she said shaking her head. She noticed the longer he was around her, the more that connection felt stronger between them. It was how she knew he wanted a drink. Her? She wanted her vails because this was too much to deal sober-headed. She also thought about Jason for a moment and how she was going to tell him about this. Especially with who he was. A fun conversation she thought.

--

“I’ll make sure they throw some changes of clothes in there for you too… unfortunately, you may be here a while.” Merritt nodded. “I’ll be right back.” He headed to the elevator and made a few phone calls, transfer a few files and after about twenty minutes or so he returned.

“Okay, someone is on their way to pick up your things,” Merr said, stepping out of the elevator.

--
When he said she was going to be here awhile she made a face. “How long is a while…” asking as she brought emerald eyes to look up at him for the moment. He was real. That was still tripping her out. As well as the how the hell portion of things. “So can you relax now…. I won't bite.. least not hard anyways,” she said as she shrugged her shoulders for the moment.

A slight shake of her head was made as she came to a stand and moved towards that bar she seen to the left as she grabbed a bottle of water and took a sip of it. Her hand held out to him. “Come here..”

--

“It all depends on how quickly your trial moves along,” Merr answered honestly. “I mean, I’m assuming that you’d rather here… than in lock up?” He walked over and took her hand. “This is me relaxed.” Well, she knew that was a lie of course… if she really was who she said she was. Unfortunately, this was him relaxed when he was sober. He barely remembered how to be a ‘person’ anymore. He worked insane hours if just to keep busy. He rarely dated and when he did it never came with a second date. There was one person in college he’d gotten close to, but when he’d wanted to meet her family and he didn’t she got offended and that was the end of that.

--
When he took her hand she pulled him to the bar. “Drink,” she told him as she came to touch at the bar counter as she looked at the bottles. If that was her thing she'd have been drunk by now. But no, she had to wait for her fix to arrive. “It's okay, Merr. I'm not going to be mad” she assured him as she came to sit up on the bar counter at this point as she watched him.

Eyes came to look at her wrist and then to him.”You wouldn't.. happen to have anything Id like around here. Would you?”

--

“There might be some on the bedside table.” He said, as he gave in and poured himself a drink. The clean slate he’d taken on Wednesday had finished clearing his system the day before so he didn’t have the shakes, but he still felt shaky. Was it her? “The last guy to stay here had a thing for Score.” He also had a thing for hookers… that had been a fun client to walk in on, even his own mind couldn’t convey the level of sarcasm in that thought. Merritt took the full glass of dark amber liquid to the couch and took a drink before setting the glass on the coffee table. “The windows double as a screen by the way.” He said, tapping a small panel on the table and the windows blacked out and an interface was depicted. TV shows, movies, Net videos, new and old, anything was available. He was making small talk at a lack of what else to say and he wasn’t sure if he was quite ready to talk about the elephant in the room.

“I’m going to order some Asian.” He said, knowing that if he was staying he’d need to eat. ‘Asian’ sort of encompassing a whole slew of food types, formally separated out as Chinese and Japanese, Thai, India, etc. now most restaurants served an assortment of all. “Shrimp fried rice, some sushi, tandoori chicken…”

-
When he stated that in the bedside table there was score she nodded her head and quickly made her way over. Once the vial was taken and injected through that port it took Zel a minute or two to come back. Already she knew Score wasn't going to be enough but she'd wait for the rest to arrive.

When he showed her the screen she nodded her head. “This place has everything…” but with the mention of food, she felt her stomach grumble. “Make it two that sounds good,” she said as she took a seat next to him.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she came to look at him for the moment. Already she turned his head to look at her as she ran her thumb across his face and lower lip. It was a swift and easy motion as she came to bring her lips to press against his. She needed to be sure he was still real. That she hadn't fully lost her mind.

--

Once he finished placing the order, after adding a handful of other items- at the very least she’d have leftovers- he found himself looking at her again. The kiss was surprising and lingered a moment until he pulled back, head staying close to hers. “What are you doing?” He asked softly, his eyes opening to look at her. There was still a small chance he was just finally having the worst psychotic break, and that he’d just sent Digger after some guy for nothing.

--

The kiss lingered for a bit. Until he pulled away. Her hands still resting on his face as she stared at him. “...Making sure you’re real..” She said as she licked her own lips. Her frame coming to move on top of his, until she was straddling him. Her hands still resting on his face as emerald hues stared down at his. A deep exhale left her lips as she came to bring her hands off his face finally and down his neck until her hands rested on her thighs while resting on him.

Her frame leaned back as she took hold of that amber filled glass. Already sitting back up as she held the glass out to him. The Score had started to take effect on her, as she started to feel good all over, which was fine. It was usually what she used as a starter high. But oddly enough, Zel was never a drinker but had moments of feeling like she was drunk. But her focus was on Merr right now. And the fact that he was real.

--

He took the glass, it was strange, he’d felt the high she had a few times. At that moment it was a bit more intense. He took a sip of his drink, watching her. “I can’t seem to figure out… how…” He placed a hand on her arm, she was real. That meant the life he’d witnessed her having… wasn’t his imagination. Merr frowned at that thought. He’d seen things happen to her over all those years that were pretty horrible. “And now what?” It seemed like a good question. Now that they knew… what was next? Go back to normal? Figure out why and how to stop it? Just deal?

--
When he held her arm she came to look at him for the moment. “First.. We agree… We’re fucked up..” She said as she came to lean back on his lap as she rested her head on his knee as blond hair just swayed slightly as she started to feel really good. “I don’t know how… Don’t really give a shit either. Least I’m not crazy.”

--

Merritt pulled the bottle of pills from his pocket. “I guess I don’t need these anymore.” He said, taking another sip of his drink. He was definitely now a functioning drunk, having used alcohol to numb the world since he was in high school. But he also had built a tolerance that it did take a bit for him to get to the point of -drunk-. He tossed the pills onto the table.

A few moments later the elevator opened and a young woman entered. “Excuse me? Miss Braddock? I have your things…” She hesitantly walked off the elevator, not wanting to interrupt. Seeing Merrit on the couch she didn’t see Zel on the floor. “Mr. Yates. I’m sorry, I was told Mis Braddock would be here.”

--
When the pills were tossed on the table she snickered. Already coming to look up at him. “No, you don’t.” She said lightly. But when the elevator doors came open, and she heard her name spoken, Zel came to lift up off the floor. Emerald eyes looking at that pink box. “Finally!” Is all she said as she came to move away from between Merr’s legs and towards that woman as she took that box and glasses from her.

Already coming to look inside and double check everything was there. It was. Zel had literally ignored the woman, as she walked off towards the bedroom, that vial of Union. That smile came over her lips as she moved down the stairs and came towards that bar, that glass of water poured as came to take that powder and pour it into her water. Her frame already moving to the couch.

That water quickly downed in one gulp as she shifted to rest her head on Merr’s lap. Emerald eyes coming to look up at him By this point, Zel had completely forgotten about the woman that was inside the apartment, as she came to lick at her lips and let that drug take its effect over her. Which made her wonder, just how Merr was feeling right now.


--

The junior associate had a surprised look on her face to which Merr just sighed and shook his head. “Thank you.” He could see her confusion as she moved to the elevator. The buzzer rang as she reached it and informed him of the food delivery “Let him in.” Merrit rose front the couch and took the food, payment having already been secured through the order process. Once the other had left he returned to the couch, boxes, and containers of food having been set on the coffee table. He sat down as Zel drank the water.

For the time he was okay, the buzz he’d generated from the whiskey was doing its job and he still was feeling the high from her score. It was strange. It wasn’t as full on effect as if he’d taken it himself but it was definitely stronger than it had been in the past. He honestly wasn’t sure what she’d taken, but by the looks of her, she seemed like she’d be out of it for a while. He sighed, leaning back on the couch as he gently brushed his hand over her hair. “I’m gonna get you out of this mess Zee, I promise.”