Page 122 of Lovesick Titan

“If it hadn’t been for Mal, Ludgate would either still be at large or he’d be facing full murder charges right now. My father’sandmine. I wouldn’t have been able to face him without Mal’s help. Without all of the Titans the mayor pardoned.”

“Some think that alone should get this case thrown out.” The attorney pivoted to face the people seated in the courtroom. He spread his arms, “Vigilante justice,” then turned back to Danny. “My client did spend the past week in recovery because of what yourfriendshelped do to him.”

“And when this goes to trial, a jury can decide if the force used was excessive,” Danny said, “but Ludgate is more than a threat to this city or a thief, he’s a terrorist, just as much as his father was. The mayor agrees to let me do my job because sometimes only an Elemental can stop another Elemental, and we can’t always rely on those sanctioned by the government to help.

“That doesn’t set me above the law. I was wrong to kill Thanatos, but if this city believes in me, then I won’t let it down again. I’ll do what I have to, to bring these people to justice, where a judge can decide if someone like Ludgate goes to trial, and a jury can decide what happens to him from there. If I wanted to dish out vigilante justice,” he leaned forward and looked out at the people watching, some his friends, manystrangers, “I wouldn’t have let Ludgate live after what he did to me. But if I gave in to that again, I’d be just like him and his father.

“You don’t have to like me or agree with me or approve of what I do,” he fixed the attorney with his stare. “Drag my name through the mud as uncredible all you want, because of what I am, what I do, and my involvement with Malcolm Cho, but I witnessed Cassidy Ludgate commit—”

“You think you’re better than me?” Ludgate sprang to his feet, a deranged grin on his face. “Because you lived, you think you won?”

“Your honor, my client—” the attorney tried to talk over him.

“I don’t care about saving myself,” Ludgate scoffed, holding Danny in his sights, “just so long as you go down with me,Zeus. You gave him immunity for this,” he turned to the judge while his attorney rushed to the table to hush him, “but that won’t save him from every criminal in this city knowing that his real name isDanny Grant.”

There were a few gasps that arose before another hush fell over the courtroom, several people even pulling out their phones to Google who ‘Danny Grant’ might be, when a lone voice spoke up.

“You mean me?”

A rumble of murmurs erupted once more as a man who in every way that mattered wasDanny Grantstood up from where he’d been sitting between Stella and John at the back of the room. Ludgate whirled around to face him; Danny could only imagine what his expression looked like.

“I’m afraid I have nothing to say on Mr. Grant’s behalf,” Danny called to the room, “other than he clearly isn’t me.”

A tittering of laughter resounded through the aisles.

The man that was and was not Danny Grant remained standing, wearing Danny’s own trench coat and a button down shirt and sweater. He smiled—maybe a little too confidently if someone knew the real Danny—as the people in the courtroom took him in and Ludgate started muttering.

“No… No, that’s not right… You can’t be…”

“If it helps, your honor,” the DA said, “I’d be happy to call Detective Grant to the stand. He did express his willingness to testify as lead on the cases against the defendant. Maybe we should have him explain how Mr. Ludgate tried to blackmail him at the precinct, inciting a faulty IA investigation because of his findings on the initial cases he is a primesuspect in.” She smiled sickly sweet at Ludgate, whose attorney was trying to get him to sit down. “Seems you have quite a bit of motive to point the spotlight on Detective Grant by claiming he’s Zeus.”

“It’s a trick!” Ludgate pushed his attorney away from him, causing the bailiff to jerk forward. “It has to be a trick!He’sDanny Grant!” he pointed wildly at Danny on the stand.

The knock of the judge’s gavel brought the buzzing courtroom to sudden silence. “I’ve heard enough, Mr. Ludgate. Councilors. Zeus, I thank you for your testimony. You may return to your seat.”

Danny looked up at the judge and nodded. TheotherDanny sat down as well.

“While you are bordering on being in contempt of this court, Mr. Ludgate,” the judge’s voice resonated to fill the room, “you are clearly aware of what you have done, and I deem that you are indeed fit to stand trial. I also find that there is more than enough evidence to extend this hearing to a full trial immediately, where you can make every effort to disprove the numerous charges against you. Good luck,” he nodded to Ludgate sharply. “Thank you, councilors. You are dismissed. Bailiff, please take Mr. Ludgate into custody.”

“No! He’s lying! It’s a lie! He is Danny Grant!” Ludgate backed up against the partition, ready to fight, but the bailiff was on him in moments, a large, imposing man who was able to take hold of Ludgate without struggle. He cuffed him roughly, and only because Ludgate was still wounded and healing many of his burns and bruises did he sag into the guard’s clutches.

The courtroom erupted with noise as the judge stepped down to leave the room. Danny thanked the DA and shook her hand before moving toward Ludgate. The other Danny came down the aisle through the throng of people to join him, and the bailiff held Ludgate still a moment in the presence of Zeus.

“Cute trick,” Ludgate spat at Danny, “but I know the truth. One of you isn’t who you appear to be.” He flicked his mad glare onto the other Danny as he came up to stand next to his doppelganger in white and gold.

“I can assure you, we are,” Danny said, but he couldn’t help the bitter jolt of lightning that flickered up his arm.

Ludgate flinched and scowled at the static before turning to the other Danny knowingly. “So you’re the imposter.”

“Don’t know what you mean,” Other Danny said while the bailiff turned his head as if disinterested, “but looks like we beat you. You didn’t accomplish anything in the end. We’re safe and alive, and the city knows you as nothing but a failure. At least you got a prettier face out of the deal.” He winked.

Danny refrained from elbowing his twin. If he wasn’t careful, that smirk would give him away—and damn was it weird hearing that tone and seeing that expression on Danny’s own face.

“All right, Ludgate,” the bailiff said, “that’s all the chitchat you get.” He started to drag him out of the courtroom as it emptied further.

“You think prison can hold me?!” Ludgate struggled in vain, his smugness gone as he called out in desperation for some sense of the upper hand. “I know your secret, Zeus! I’ll always know!”

“See you at trial, Ludgate!” Captain Shan called after him, turning around to approach Danny and…Danny, while the rest of Team Zeus crowded around them as well. Though without any of the Titans, it felt like they were missing people.

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