Quicksand

A/N: Got a random idea, so I'm back! ...Please don't yell at me about "Good Enough". I'll think of something, I promise! Anyway, this chapter is just a short prologue; they'll be longer than this, I assure you.

Disclaimer: Ace Attorney and all of its characters are property of CapCom, and though I would love nothing more than to own Edgeworth... I don't... LOL

Warning: Contains yaoi. Rated for violence, mildly-explicit non-concentual sexual content, language

Prologue

Looking up at you... All I've ever wanted to do... Is bring you back down... Down to the ground... Back where you belong... Is that so wrong...?

"The court finds the defendant Mr. Henry Wilkes Manson, guilty of all eight accounts of man slaughter. He will receive the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Court is adjourned."

Inwardly, the twenty-seven-year-old Los Angeles prosecutor frowned in irritation, even as he exited the courtroom as the victor. California was much too sympathetic to criminals... That man deserved nothing less than the death penalty for what he'd done. The people of California deserved to have him extinguished, not to have their tax money pay for his shelter, daily meals, and basic cable for the rest of his life! Oh well... His job was to find the truth, to stand in court and light every dark corner of a case until there is no shadow of a doubt left for the truth to hide within. He had done so once again today, so his job was done; the sentencing was not his line of work and out of his hands when it came down to the final say.

He was jolted from his thoughts by a bright flash and a sudden tumult of noise.

"Prosecutor Edgeworth! Congratulations on yet another victory!"

"Can you tell us your thoughts on the case, Mr. Edgeworth?"

"How do you feel about Mr. Manson's sentence?"

"Could I have a moment, Mr. Edgeworth?"

Ah, of course... This was such a high-profile case, after all. Why wouldn't the paparazzi be waiting right outside the courthouse, ready to ambush anyone involved in the case like a pack of starving wolves? Fortunately, Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth had been handling high-profile cases for years now, and he knew how to handle this.

"...I'm afraid I have no comment, but perhaps you might have better luck speaking to Mr. Manson's defense attorney. He worked closely with the convicted, after all..."

The slightest of smirks appeared on the prosecutor's lips as he watched the mass of reporters rush to chase down and corner the defense attorney that was now exiting the courthouse. When the distraction was successful, he turned and walked away calmly, his expensive briefcase barely swinging at his side. Before anyone could get another glimpse of him, he was getting into his bright red, luxury sports car and pulling away from the district courthouse.

When he was safely on the freeway and able to effortlessly drive with one hand, Miles produced his cellphone and held down one of the buttons on the device's number pad, waiting only a moment before putting it to his ear and waiting while it rang.

"Well, it's about time, Miles Edgeworth. I was beginning to think you weren't going to put that fool in prison until next week."

"Hello to you as well, Franziska," Miles greeted her with a small half-smile resting on his lips instead of that usual smirk.

A soft laugh reached him from the female prosecutor on the other end of the call. "...Hello, Miles... Congratulations; it's about time someone put that maniac behind bars... I'll admit, I wanted to be the one to do it."

"I know..." he replied, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "I'll tell you what: you may have the next one all to yourself."

"Hmph! I don't need your charity!" The smile could be heard in her voice. "...Are you coming home? You promised me dinner."

"I'm on my way as we speak," he replied, nodding even though it could not be seen while they spoke over the phone. "I should be there in ten minutes, provided traffic isn't too horrendous."

"All right. You better drive safely!"

"Heh... Always, my love... Auf Wiederheren."

"Auf Wiederheren..."

Miles drew the phone away from his ear and flipped it closed, placing it in the console between the front seats of the car. He sighed, still with that small smile resting comfortably on his handsome face. He was on top of the world... He had a wonderful, successful career, all the money he'd ever need, a nice house, a great car, a couple good friends, and the woman he had always felt so strongly for – without knowing it all this time – waiting eagerly for him at home, to spend another quiet night in simple, yet powerful, romance.

Yes... He had come a long way. Just a few years ago, this life had been a living Hell, but now he couldn't ask for anything more...

You love having so much to lose... So let me show you what it means to lose it all...