Punishing

Punishing XIII

Early Monday morning, court was back in session.

Trixie sat semi-reclined in the cloth upholstered state-issue chair looking resentful and uncomfortable.

Taylor perched on the edge of his seat with a thoughtful fist to his chin as he blankly observed the judge’s bench that stood empty before him. Resignation was the theme of the month, and Mr. Winner was the order of the day.

Trowa sat a comfortable distance away from the female man hunter, though no distance was realistically safe. His thoughts stretched beyond the ever-present fear of unprovoked molestation. He rested on a plane above himself and looked down upon the pitiful man that he had become. In college, he had carelessly tossed away his most valuable possession, a symbol of dedication that might have won him better standing in Quatre’s extremely eligible eyes. As things stood at present, Quatre seemed to regard him as a crass playboy and ultimately incapable of living up to their childhood expectations of eternity.

As if on cue, Mr. Winner and Mr. Chang entered the courtroom together, stone-faced and merciless. The central aisle became a virtual runway to the two impeccably groomed and fine-featured young men. They spared not a glance in the direction of their financial adversaries as they both took their seats in what appeared to be the same motion. They were like marionettes connected at every major articulation by invisible strings.

The porcelain stillness of Quatre’s face folded, a satiny transition that usually would not be associated with such a sudden change in expression. Then again, nothing involving Quatre could be considered ‘usual.‘ His brows furrowed, the farthest corners of his mouth took a minute turn south, and he took a perceptible swallow of air.

Mr.Chang turned to him and they spoke a while in the confidential tones that privilege and years of friendship awarded them.

Trowa felt a stab of jealousy in his breast at their seeming intimacy and wondered what they were talking about. Quatre, for the first time in public, appeared to be genuinely distressed and Trowa wasn’t the one there to comfort him.

Before he could get too wrapped up in his own drama, red alerts struck up a blaring tone in his mind.

Something aggressive and feminine had landed on his thigh. He turned and to his horror, Taylor and Trixie had swapped seats while he hadn’t been paying attention.

Trixie raised a bawdy brow at him, and he was so repulsed that he wasn’t altogether clear on how to respond. Her hand sprung to life in his brain’s absence and was quickly on its way to a no-Trix zone.

His motor reflexes shoved his brain aside in a purely knee-jerk reaction that saved and somewhat embarrassed him. His right hand left its resting place on the table and swooped down at supersonic speeds to slap Trixie’s wandering claws away.

She squawked in her surprise and cradled her fallen minion, while Trowa quickly replaced his hand on the table and hunched over, bowing his head to avoid the many questioning glances to follow. He felt like a girl.

He didn’t hear or otherwise sense anything until his mind filtered out the words “all rise,” and he rose.

The Honorable Judge Fredrick M. Dreiser ascended to his highly honorable chair and took his seat.

Only after his very distinguished rear was situated did everyone else have the freedom to situate themselves, everyone excluding the litigants and their attorneys. Trixie almost dropped down into her chair, but a deft catch by Mr. Schapery prevented that.

“During these proceedings, we have all borne witness to some very fantastic tales. Some of which seem too much so to be true. I have deliberated over these stories and read through the evidence, and pursuant to the laws of this state and my own conscience, I find for Ms. Titiana Winner: the sum of her pre-marital assets and their since accumulated wealth, and ten percent of the post-marital assets, part of which is to be offset by the net worth of Altenergy Inc.”

Titiana staggered. It was less than Quatre had offered her in their first conference.

Taylor bowed his head. It was worse than he had expected, even with Trixie’s antics.

Trowa looked towards Quatre, who stood impassive but with a relieved air about him.

Judge Dreiser turned to address Mr. Winner, “You Sir, find yourself a good girl, you hear?”

Quatre nodded.

Dreiser inclined his chin, “Good. No more of this nonsense from you. You’re too smart.”

Quatre smiled a little bit to one side, careful to make it subdued.

That business finished, Judge Dreiser addressed the full courtroom, “That is my ruling.” He struck the gavel to the sound block in a curt motion which was quickly followed by the bailiff’s “all rise.”

Only after Judge Dreiser had exited the courtroom did everyone else begin to file out.

It was at this moment that Trowa realized that he may never see Quatre ever again. He was about to take off in Mr. Winner’s direction when he felt his jacket catch on something.

Trixie had his jacket in her clutches, and in his moment of confusion, found better purchase on his undershirt tugging it out of his pants as she did so. “Trowa!” she gasped.

He turned as far as he could and began to grapple with her iron fingers. “Let go! Let go! Let go!” he repeated in his frustration as he tried to disengage himself.

“Oh, Trowa! I know you didn’t mean it!” Trixie nearly shrieked in her anger laced lust.

“I meant it!” Trowa argued. He tugged hard on his shirt away from Trixie, giving up on her hands.

It tore and he stumbled back.

Wasting no time, he looked about wildly for Quatre Winner. A few people had stayed behind to talk amongst themselves but the room was bare of young blond CEO’s.

Trowa evacuated the room and searched the hallways, none of which yielded what he was searching for.

Eventually, he made his way back to where he’d left all of his belongings.

Apparently, Mr. Schapery had managed to drag Trixie away. She’d taken the scrap of Trowa’s shirt with her. It was nowhere to be seen.

She could keep it.

Trowa took a seat, deflated defeated and demolished and shrugged, “I blew it.”


TBC...

note(s):
1) Okay...it took me FOREVER to update. I had exams in May, I got a job in the beginning of June, I quit my job yesterday, and I\'m starting a new job tomorrow. I took advantage of this day off to write like a freak. It\'s not much, but it\'s what I\'ve been able to eke out for the moment. I need to figure out my schedule at my new job before I write more. My last job was crazy @_@ I\'d be working any time, any day, and they\'d call me on my days off to see if I could fill-in for someone, then call me back ten minutes later saying that they actually didn\'t need me. blech~~ terrible
If this chapter reads weird...I\'m really tired;>> and I apologize....
2) thanks for all of the R&R I treasure it!!! and please write more!
3) Sari! I\'m waiting for you to return! (she\'s in California)
THANKS FOR READING