"Legal" Rewrite

"Do you have a better idea?" Ares frowned at his daughter, disliking the idea that a 13-year-old girl might think she could do his job better than he could. Well, the fact that she thought she could wasn't what bothered him. It was the fact that she might be able to do it.

A smirk played about her mouth. "Yeah. Why don't you just send him to the school nurse? He skipped the school physical." The girl tilted her head back to squint up at her tall, broad, muscular father. A police officer. He had been a bounty hunter when she was younger, and she thought that was cooler. Fewer rules, probably.

"The school physical exam is optional. I can't make him submit to it if he doesn't want to." He sighed. This was an idea he'd already had. Sinking into his chair, he tried to squash the conflicting feelings of relief and disappointment.


"Why not?" Keiko scowled. Her father could make her do whatever he wanted, because he was bigger and stronger and legally responsible for her. The first two still applied to her friend, Luke.

"Because that's not legal." An edge of irritation in his tone now. Running a hand over  his face, Ares turned his face in the direction of the kitchen. The sound of dinner being prepared assured him that there was no rescue coming from that quarter.

"Why?"

The question by itself seemed to only irritate the man further, and his frown deepened. "Aren't you too old for that question?"

"No." Keiko smirked once more. She enjoyed finding ways to irritate her father, especially if those ways wouldn't get her in trouble. This one wouldn't. Couldn't. She was helping him.

Ares groaned. "Look. I can't just force him to let doctors poke him because I need evidence. He has to give evidence willingly." And that was never going to happen. He'd seen the kid, and knew he was already scared witless of his parents. He wouldn't give evidence as long as there was still a threat of punishment.

"I can make him give evidence willingly." Her tone was grim, her smile tight. It sounded like a threat, and Ares didn't like the sound of it.

"That's not how this works. You can't just make him do something and claim it was willing." That might be enough (possibly not, but still) to ruin the validity of the evidence, which would make it even worse than not having any at all.

"Why not?" Keiko lifted both eyebrows, doing her best to look innocent. It wasn't an expression that fit well on her face.

"Good Lord above, what monster have I spawned?" Ares threw his hands into the air as though pleading for strength or patience or whatever virtue would make this trial bearable. "If you ruin my investigation, so help me, I will ground you for the rest of your natural life."

Again, the innocent look that wasn't quite genuine enough to fool anybody. "Of course, Daddy. It's only fair."

"I hate you sometimes." Ares rolled his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. He needed to collect his lunch before he could leave for work.

"You love me." Keiko grinned, knowing it was true, and not just because he was her father. They were kindred spirits. Sometimes.

"Yeah, I do. But I'll never admit it in public. Now go brush your teeth. I'm not driving you to school if you miss the bus."