Chapter 2
The courtroom was fairly crowded, but in deference to the fact that the judge presiding over the place was a gruff, no-nonsense man with a reputation for not allowing shenanigans around him, it was more or less quiet. A cough here or there and a sniff – or a quietly murmured conversation between a lawyer and their client as needed – but no phones, texting, or the muted sound of someone listening to music on their headphones.
The judge looked down at the paper in front of him and then looked up.
“Docket number 24-121453A. New York versus Stephen Strange. Reckless driving…”
He watched as a man stood up and moved forward from the gallery to stand at the defendant’s table. The judge had served the city of New York for most of his adult life in one capacity or another and had eventually come to put the people who were brought in front of him in two main groups. One group consisted of people who were more or less petty criminals – and often repeat offenders. They were the druggies, the petty thieves; shoplifters, car thieves and the ones who wrote bad checks to make it to the next paycheck.
The other kind were the professional people who weren’t used to finding themselves in front of a judge. Either because they didn’t break the law on a regular basis, or they were wealthy enough to get away with the minor offenses that would catch up people who didn’t have the status to make a police officer look the other way. These people tended to come into his courtroom looking uncomfortable, or defensive – and sometimes arrogant enough to be annoyed that something like the legal system would be so willing to interfere with their busy day of doing whatever they would much rather be doing than standing in front of a judge.
Judge Carson Madir had no trouble deciding which was in front of him right now.
“Mr. Strange. You-“
“Doctor Strange,” the man interrupted, and the judge had a feeling it was an automatic thing – but it didn’t stop him from narrowing his eyes in annoyance.
The courtroom – already silent – became very still indeed.
“Doctor Strange,” the judge echoed, his voice showing no sign of the irritation that his expression did. “You were pulled over for weaving in and out of traffic in a reckless fashion – including driving by a stopped school bus that had the red flashers on.”
“It was a misunderstanding, your honor,” the doctor said. “I didn’t see the school bus or I would have stopped. Of course.”
The judge looked down at his paper.
“Because you were on the phone…”
“I wasn’t on the phone. That was-“
“A misunderstanding?”
Now the doctor’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he was an intelligent man and knew better than to let it show beyond the initial reaction.
“I know it looks like I was holding a phone on the video he presented to me, but it wasn’t. I didn’t even have a phone on me when he pulled me over.”
He’d made sure of it. But he didn’t tell the judge that, of course. And didn’t tell him how, either.
No sense in going over the phone thing, again. The judge had seen the video that had been recorded before the police officer had lit up the driver with his lights and there had definitely been a phone. The good doctor had probably chucked it out a window, or something. It wouldn’t have been the first time it’d happened. And wouldn’t be the last.
“I was late for an important appointment. I do apologize for the lack of good judgement and will willingly pay any fine you impose.”
It sounded reasonable, of course, but it made the judge scowl. The nerve of the man; trying to tell him what penalty to impose. The fact that reckless driving was normally no more than a fine – although jail time was always a possibility – the Honorable Carson Manir didn’t need his hooligans to tell him what sentence to carry out.
“I’m glad to hear that, Doctor Strange,” he said – and it was almost a purr. One that made the lawyers quail although none of them were representing Strange. “You’ll pay a fine of $500.”
“Of course.”
“There will also be 5 points added to your license.”
The doctor frowned at that, but it was only for a moment and then he nodded. He dind’t drive that much, anyway.
“Understood.”
The rest of the court – those who spent plenty of time in the courtroom in the course of their days – had a feeling more was to come. And the judge didn’t make them wait for it.
“The court is also imposing a penalty of 150 community service hours.”
Strange’s expression went blank. And then incredulous.
“What?”
“I have a feeling that a fine isn’t going to impress on you the seriousness of your infraction, Doctor,” Mahir said, smoothly. “Spending time helping out your community certainly should.”
“You can’t do that.”
It was out before he could stop himself, and a moment later he definitely wished that he had.
“Two hundred hours,” the judge said, clearly challenging him. “Would you care to go for three?” he added when Strange started to open his mouth to protest.
Visibly reining in his temper – and his mouth – the doctor shook his head.
“No.”
“Good choice.” The judge’s gavel hit the pad on the desk. “Stop at the clerk’s office on your way out. They can help you schedule your community service.”
He turned his attention away from the doctor and turned to the next folder in front of him, leaving Stephen Strange to turn and walk out of the room with his back stiff in anger and his hands clenched.
OOOOOOOOOOO
They pulled into the garage, which was already opening for them before they came around to the side of the house.
“How are you going to play this?” Pepper asked, curiously, as Tony turned off the car. “You know he’s going to ask about going.”
Tony sighed. He didn’t want his little guy going to summer camp. He hadn’t wanted him to play football, either, and look how that had turned out. The problem was, if Peter was just a normal kid, Tony wouldn’t really have a problem with him going. But he wasn’t. He was a walking target because he was Tony’s son, and it had already been proven that greed would make people do stupid things.
“I don’t know, Pep, what do you think?”
“He can’t go without protection.”
“He shouldn’t go at all.”
“Ned’s going.”
“Ugh.”
And – as always – that said it all. Ned was going, and Peter would want to go, too. He’d want to do what normal kids did and Tony (to a point) couldn’t blame him.
Pepper smiled.
“Talk with Nick,” she suggested. “Figure out a way to make it safe.”
“I could go with him.”
That would make it safe.
“He isn’t going to want to go to summer camp with you hovering protectively over his shoulder. Not to mention the other kids would be hanging out with you instead of the other children. You wouldn’t like that and neither would Peter.”
Tony scowled at that, but knew she was right.
“I’ll talk to Nick.”
“Good choice.”
They got out of the car and Tony caught Pepper’s hand as they headed for the door that led to the kitchen.
“JARVIS? Where’s Peter?”
“In his room,” came the reply. “He and Coulson are coming this way.”
Sure enough, when Tony opened the door for Pepper, they could both see Peter and Phil coming across the living room. Peter hung back, but Phil gave Pepper his tight smile.
“How was the meeting?”
She smiled, but glanced at Peter before replying, noticing that the boy’s face was flushed and his eyes were a little watery. He wasn’t smiling like she’d preferred, either.
“It was fine, thank you.”
“Pepper made a merger deal that will secure SHIELD access to some interesting armor.”
“Body armor?” Phil asked, interested, even though he was still distracted by Peter’s secret – whatever it was.
“And more.” Tony turned his attention to his son, catching hold of him and picking him up and hugging him. He hadn’t missed that Peter looked upset, either, and was quick to remind him just how happy he was to be with him, again, after having him be gone overnight at the sleepover. “Hey buddy. Did you have a good time at Ned’s?”
Peter’s arms came around him.
“Yeah.”
“We missed you.”
Peter’s hold tightened a little and Tony knew he was happy to hear it. One of the reasons he said it as often as possible.
“I missed you, too.”
Peter’s response was subdued, but Tony and Pepper were both pretty sure they knew why, so they weren’t concerned. Not like they would have been without the heads up from Eric. One of the reasons the big man had called them.
“Eric told us about camp…” Pepper said, resting her hand, lightly, on the boy’s back.
Peter pulled his face from Tony’s neck, looking at them, uncertainly.
“He did?”
“Yeah, buddy,” Tony said, walking over and settling Peter on the kitchen island. “Let’s talk about it, okay?”
“Okay…”
“Want me to leave?” Coulson asked.
Tony shook his head.
“You might as well stick around,” he told the SHIELD agent. “You’re probably going to be involved in this, somehow.”