Title: Turnabout Scandal
Author: Fanfiction Writer Hatman
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Humor and style exercise.
Status: 1 of 2
Pairing: Phoenix/Edgeworth
Summary: It's a case that both Phoenix and Edgeworth never thought they'd have to face each other over... a case of libel! When sensationalist journalist Fio Tograph prints an article that details Phoenix and Edgeworth's relation, Edgeworth has to prosecute her... and Phoenix defends her! Is she as guilty as it seems, or are Phoenix and Edgeworth hiding something?

Thursday, date unknown, year unknown
Prosecutors' Office
2:23 PM

This had all started when Miles Edgeworth, man of great repute, King of Prosecutors, and generally boring person to be around, was sipping tea, reading what looked like a tabloid newspaper. Obviously, a lawyer of such stature would rather not be found reading this, but apparantly, there were rumors about the original Steel Samurai making a comeback, and that the article had all the latest news and info about the Steel Samurai. If there was a man that loved the Steel Samurai in all the city, it was Miles Edgeworth.

"That's right. I read about it in the City Sniffer. You should grab a copy, man!" had said nobody in particular. Edgeworth's astute senses had detected the man was snickering. A quick call to another Steel Samurai fan confirmed that there was indeed an article about it. He quickly ran out to purchase a copy of said tabloid newspaper, and sat down in his office chair, reading through it slowly. Not that he wanted to subject himself to the torture of reading it, of course, but tea required a peaceful, non-rushed activity.

'Such inane concerns... I don't think I've ever read anything this... unimportant.'

"GGGCK!"

That was the sound of Edgeworth choking on tea, then spitting it out.

'What the... that's impossible! How can this be!?'

Needless to say, Edgeworth was shocked. It would seem that something had caught his eye, and it wasn't the Steel Samurai article in the lower-left of the page that stated a return was possible but not likely. No... it was the crude Photoshopping of him and his rival... Phoenix Wright... in a loving embrace! He quickly tossed the magazine away. As it hit his bookshelf, a small speck of dust flew about.

"Thi...thi... this is... THIS IS UNFORGIVEABLE!"

Suddenly, a fracas of footsteps, approaching rapidly. Edgeworth's office door was broken down, and Detective Gumshoe ran towards the prosecutor, ready to stare down Death itself.

"What's going on Mr. Edgeworth!? Are you in trouble, pal!?"

"GUMSHOE!" he yelled.

"Uh, what?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? When you go into my office, you open the door, you don't run through it like a stampeding bull."

"I thought you were in danger, pal!"

The prosecutor slapped his forehead.

'Sigh... the life I lead.'

Edgeworth regained his composure, his prim and proper demeanor which had vanquished so many in court.

"Anyway, let me just read this out loud so you can be as outraged as I am."

He walked towards the general direction where the magazine flew, and began to read the first part.

"Miles Edgeworth, the Demon Prosecutor, just may have found his angel! And it's not who everyone thought... Ms. Lana Skye, the Chief Prosecutor, who everyone had pictued with him as a happy couple, is not the culprit in this case. If you want to know who the culprit is... look at the next page!"

Edgeworth, fuming at the mouth, opened the next page, and revealed the photo for all to see.

"WHOA! I did not want to see that!" exclaimed Gumshoe, who recoiled after seeing the two supposed lovers embrace.

"Still, I'll continue." he retorted.

"That's right! None other than the undefeated rookie defense lawyer, Phoenix Wright! The Sniffer has some questions for the couple, but none of them have been reached at this time. Is the bickering in court a part of their daily routine? Do they live together? How do they feel when they have to fight each other? Find out next issue!"

Gumshoe and Edgeworth fell silent, for two entierly different reasons. Edgeworth seemed to stop fuming at the mouth,

"That...that's slander, pal!"

Miles simply shook his head.

"You have the general idea, but it's libel, not slander."

"Same difference, pal."

The hustle and bustle of office living covered Edgeworth's slow walk to the phone. He quickly dialed the number he wanted.

"Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?"

"Get me the Prosecutors' Office."

Deadly silence penetrated Edgeworth's ears. A silence that mocked him.

"A...are you serious? Because you kinda are in the prosecutors' office, sir..."

"Very."

"Um... okay... hold on."

'She's snickering... I can tell.' he thought. Well, he did have a hint, what with Gumshoe laughing his heart out. Edgeworth slammed his desk, and sent him a morbid glare. Gumshoe simply choked on a bit of saliva and stopped laughing.

"Prosecutor's office, how may I help you?"

"This is Edgeworth, I'd like to file a court summons for a certain Fio Tograph... Why? ...Attempt at the Reputation of a State Officer. What was the exact offense?"

He sighed.

"Said I was in a relationship with a defense attorney, one that I may have thrown a case for and one that defended me. It'll be done by monday? Great. I'd also like to be prosecutor on this case. Yes, I know, people will probably think that I'm doing this for personal reasons... but honestly, when was the last time there wasn't rumors flying about me?"

He hung up. All he needed to do was wait, and he'd throw the little liar in jail for a while. That would teach her.

Monday, date unknown+4, year unknown
Wright & Co. Offices
10:01 AM

Phoenix Wright, ever the great defense lawyer, arrived late at his office. He figured there wouldn't be much of anything to do today, and being one minute late... wouldn't be that bad, would it?

"NICK! YOU'RE LATE!"

Maya seemed very angry about Phoenix being a minute late. Perhaps there was a reason, and perhaps the fact that the chair used for his clients was occupied was the key to this whole mystery.

"A client? What? When did that happen?"

A small woman with glasses was indeed already seated in the office. While she didn't seemed miffed at Phoenix's lateness, she didn't seem exactly thrilled to be there, either. Then again, when you need a defense attorney, there's no real reason to be thrilled. What looked to be a very sophisticated camera sat in her lap.

"Hello Mr Wright. My name is Fio Tograph, nice to meet you!"

"Same."

They shook hands, her hands looked frail, but the handshake threw Phoenix. She gripped like a demon!

"Erm, can you explain what you're in here for, Ms. Tograph..."

"Please call me Fio! I'm not that old, you'll find."

"Okay... Fio, how can I help you?"

She adjusted her glasses, and simply handed a magazine to Phoenix.

"Page 29."

He opened the magazine, went to the page, and...

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!?"

Maya quickly looked over Phoenix's shoulder. She also went with the same exclamative interrogation.

"N-n-n-n-nick! Is that you and...!?"

Fio Tograph smirked, she knew the reactions showing this would have.

"That's why I need defending. I... published this as news, and now the state is accusing me of ruining the reputation of an officer of the State, but I didn't ruin his reputation! I just said that he was going out with you!"

'Lady, if you don't know why he's suing you over this...' Phoenix thought. After all, anyone who'd cover this kind of news would likely have investigated on the matter, and they would know why exactly the news of Phoenix going out with Edgeworth would... well, not do any favors to the demon prosecutor's reputation.

"Um... do you have any proof that this actually DID happen?" he said. Since he was there and all, he knew what happened. However, if it was something she just pulled out of the blue, he couldn't defend her.

Fio wasn't one to be outwitted by a not-so crafty lawyer, so she pulled out her set of photos.

"This is the original set of photos that I took on that day. All of them are timestamped."

Maya looked shocked that her claim seemed true.

"B-but... do you have anything else!?"

"Yup. I have a reciept from the Lucky Café that matches those times. I think it was Edgeworth that left it behind."

Phoenix seemed a bit panicky. Sweatdrops were flying off like bullets off his brow.

"How did you know!?"

"He paid for you, and I've seen it with my own two eyes. I was there."

"GAH!" he said, his mouth gaping open. Maya was also as shocked.

"Nick! Is that why you never want to go out for a burger with me!?"

"No! No! Really, it's not! It's because I hate burgers!"

"Don't try to lie to me, everyone loves burgers! Even vegetarians! That's why they have the vegeburger!"

Phoenix sighed. After all, he did dislike burgers, not to the point of not going to eat them with Maya, but something always seemed to come up. Like Mia's death, for instance. Fio looked confused.

"Did... did I interrupt something?" she asked.

Phoenix turned towards her, wanting to reassure her that this was part of their daily routine. Well, it seemed like a nice enough case, and it'd be an occasion to make fun of Edgeworth. Plus, this wasn't a murder case, which was always a good thing. It'd be over in a snap, Edgeworth would lose, and then they'd all go out for beers. Except Maya, since she's a minor and all.

"I'll take the case."

"Yay! I'll be handing over all my proof!"

'Wow, I think this is the first case I take where I don't have to do any legwork! Hooray!' Phoenix thought. Then, he looked at the pictures. They were pictures of them chatting with each other, but no picture that showed any affection whatsoever except for that last one, where Phoenix and Edgeworth were hugging.

"Erm... Fio? I don't think I can use any of these. It's no concrete proof that Edgeworth and I... erm, how can I say this?"

"Have a relationship? You can say it, Mr. Wright, I'm not judgemental."

"It's not you I'm worried about, it's her." he said, pointing to Maya. She seemed furious.

"I-AM-GOING-OUT-FOR-A-BURGER-I-WILL-BE-BACK-SOON!" she said, slamming the door behind her.

"That's what I was talking about. Anyway, I can't use these."

"Why not?"

"Well, if you were really there, you know that I didn't do anything to Edgeworth that might suggest we have a relationship."

"Maybe, but I heard you guys and what you talked about casually was definitely not what two not-gay guys talk about casually!"

He shook his head.

"Then we'll have to rely on testimony, but I don't think we'll be able to rely on your testimony alone. Were you with someone when you were at the Lucky Café?"

Fio looked lost in thought. Especially since the whole case would rely on that. He could prove that both he and Edgeworth were at the Café, unless Edgeworth had an alibi.

"Nope! I was taking a break from writing an article when I headed there. It's a stone's throw away from the tabloid's headquarters so I always go there... Wait! What about the waitress!? She'd testify!"

"If I know Edgeworth, he's already gotten her not to talk. We won't get anything out of her." he said, musing. Fio looked at her watch.

"Um, Mr Wright... this may be a bad time to say it, but my court date's today... and it's in 10 minutes."

The absolute look of horror and shock on Phoenix's face was worth billions, so much that Fio took a photo.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"No! If we take my car, we can make it in time!" said the girl, while dragging Phoenix by his arm.

'Great! I'm heading into a trial with almost no evidence, and against a prosecutor that takes this case very personal... I don't see how I could be in a worse position." was his last thought before entering the car.