[Fill based fic, with slight canon variations, starting after the ending of T&T, passing through AAI 1&2, Apollo Justice, Dual Destinies and beyond. This fic is also my personal desire about what I would like to see in a future AA6]
My deep thanks to Mindy, who is the brave person that helps me not only in beta-reading the fic or looking for grammar errors but also in suggesting many inflections and ways to speak in order to look more natural in the dialogues. Everyone should be thankful with her. Without her, this fic wouldn't be published.
Warnings just in case you didn't read before:
*This fic is a massive spoiler of any Ace Attorney game, even AAI 1 and 2. Keep it in mind.
*This fic is placed in Japan because I deeply detest the mess Capcom made with its nonsensical and useless localization. Unfortunately, the western names will be kept, because I've been told it could be hard to understand Odoroki as Apollo, and so on. But I had been very close to do so. Just keep in mind the real place, please. That's what matters the most.
*It's highly suggested to know about the following main chars that appear in AAI: Kay Faraday, Shi-Long Lang, Tateyuki Shigaraki. In minor detail: Hakari Mikagami, Shih-na, Tyrell Badd.
Trigger Warnings: suicide, death, slight allusion of torture, low level of violence [nobody who already knows Franziska could consider this fic violent, to tell the truth, hehe], drunkenness, slight explicit sex [if you are *only* looking for seven pages of detailed sex descriptions, then, this is not your fic; however, it has sex and mature content, just not full of descriptions about how A should be inserted in B XD], erotic scenes, German with google [get over it, people, I don't know how to speak like the fop, haha], Middle old English by a non-English speaker [disaster! Blame Simon].
He glanced at the watch after shutting off the car engine. One o'clock, thirty two minutes, fifty-six seconds.
He went out of the car and let out a huge sigh. A deep, long sigh, born neither from the marathon he had been experiencing during the whole case, nor from the frustration caused by his recent scepticism being tested by a stupid stone. It was not a relief at all, either. It was only a sigh, being released after ten years of self restrain.
He walked into the building and looked at the elevator for several seconds. Maybe another day he could test his own strength of character, like he had started doing in the past year.
Face what you fear.
He was a grown man after all. He felt ashamed for not being able to deal with the problem. However, in that moment, the tiredness stopped him to continue with the challenge. At least, not today. Or perhaps he did not want to test himself any more. Perhaps those tests were a way to prove how much weakness remained in his soul. The irritating, long-lasting, dark and unstoppable weakness.
Ngh.
He went upstairs several floors to reach his apartment: a whole floor only for him. He took out his magnetic card from his coat inner pocket and typed the password on the small keyboard besides the door.
Finally, he had come home: his shelter, cold and dark as usual. The sound of quick paws over the parquet floor softened his mood immediately. His black and tan Shiba Inu ran into him. Her white cravat-collar made the running even more dramatic, with the ruffles fluttering in the air. In the penumbra, he cracked a smile to his beloved pet.
"Have you been missing me, my Lady?". He knelt, and Pesu jumped to her master's neck with her spotless paws. She licked Edgeworth's cheek and bit softly the bridge of his nose, provoking a spontaneous and genuine laugh in the tired man.
In the middle of the sudden joy, Edgeworth surrounded the dog, hugging her in a gesture that restrained his frustration. His smile withered in an unperceived tremble as he buried his face in Pesu's fur. Immediately, the dog changed her mood, stopped her frantic wagging tail and remained quiet in the hug, licking his neck or part of his cheek from time to time. But the suffocated lump in his throat forced him to return to reality, and set Pesu free from his caring hug. The dog just sat down in front of him and looked in silence, while Edgeworth was rubbing his eyes for the second or third time.
"Do not worry. I can control it."
He stood up and lighted the lamps up, bringing a faint light in the whole living room. He left his jacket over the sofa and walked to the bathroom. What he needed was an invigorating shower.
Pesu jumped onto the sofa and waited until the sound of the water finished.
At that moment, she looked at her master coming from the door, she started to turn around in the same spot, wagging her tail. She knew about the sacred ritual. Every night, her master spent an hour watching the television, sharing the physical contact that both of them needed, while enjoying the story about a man made of steel.
Edgeworth smiled a bit at her.
"I should apologize, it was five hours ago. Unbelievable the inaccurate biological clock you have."
The dog put her ears down and made a low whimper.
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk ". Edgeworth shook his head slowly. "we should get some rest".
The dog followed him into the bedroom and waited by the door, observing the whole pre-bed ritual Edgeworth used to do: drying his hair, brushing it, using some cosmetic lotions on his hands and feet, rotating his head while his neck made hollow sounds, and using his precious perfume Joop! over his neck and upper torso. Just a few light sprays in order to avoid an undesirable and intense effect. The warm spicy, yet sweet, scent of the perfume softened his mood and made him feel a bit less tired. When he was done, he turned off the light in the room and went inside his cold bed. He only had to wait a minute to feel Pesu's weight close to his feet.
Tomorrow will be another day.
The morning had come faster than he expected. Four hours was all he had slept after such stressed case. At least now things would return to its own, old flow.
He stood up from the desk, and walked to the electric heater, put water into it and waited for it boil while looking through the window. People outside was walking peacefully, some of them sharing smiles, others running in a rush, many students were making exaggerated movements. Each of them with their personal stories, each of them had strong bonds with others. What could be the story behind that girl looking at her friend in such quiet and shy gesture?. What would be the main life goal of that man rushing along the streets?. And what about the old one, there, waiting in the store entrance? Could he have a family wondering for him?. A woman pointing at something in the distance, holding hands with a vigorous boy pushing her in the opposite direction. Could she be his mother?, his sister?, a babysitter?. At the end of the corner, a couple was giggling and staring each other. Could that story have had a beginning similar to the end of the last case he had faced?.
Let it go.
He sighed after a second, returning from the useless thoughts, and checked the water in order to prepare himself a coffee. He would have preferred a tea, but thanks to his actual need of awareness, he could not choose.
Edgeworth released another sigh when he sat in his chair. A pile of papers in front of him forced him to look at the particular bunch in the left corner of the desk. Those were from Iris' verdict. He sipped the coffee. It was bitter. Like the case itself.
Takes one to know one.
The phrase echoed in his mind.
He had read the transcript of the trial. The small conversation at the end had been... expected. She had fulfilled the promise and somehow, he was not sure about what he had promised her back. That moment in the Detention Centre, when her brown eyes peered his soul; part of this mind had stopped working, victim of an inexplicable fear he never allowed himself to show her.
He was not meant to feel that kind of things. That was an undeniable Truth. They were strange for him; entirely unnecessary, but he could understand why most people did not think that way. As those he had seen through the windows, they usually seemed content, and why not, happy.
So, probably, it was worthy to try it as a gesture of gratitude to that man.
He sipped the coffee, again. Still bitter.
That man had saved him. He owed him several things, and debts usually build links. A link he was not sure to keep. A link he was not sure to be aware.
He finished his coffee. More bitter than ever.
He had to make a visit.
Edgeworth sat in the chair, opened his briefcase on his lap, and took many papers that split all over the small table in front of the big glass window. Through it, he could see the warm smile drawn on Iris' face.
"I didn't know you would visit me..."
"I apologize for the inconvenient. I've been reading your final verdict, and I believe it could be possible to use some legal blank spaces to reduce your sentence... but naturally, I would need your agreement first."
"It's okay. I have to pay for my own sins, and my sister's."
"I understand, but... I may ask you to reconsider it. I could come later and we can speak..."
Surprised at first, Iris' eyes looked down, turning her sweet smile into a tired one. Something reached her thoughts, something had made sense in that instant. Or at least, that was what Edgeworth thought. Her hand grabbed the magatama which was hung around her neck, and the gesture tensed Edgeworth for a second.
"I see..." she said and stared the prosecutor.
His heart beat faster and a slight concern hardened his expression. To be honest, he was a little afraid. "...do you agree?"
"This means... Feenie... has something to do with this?"
"...who?" Edgeworth squinted for a second. "...oh. No. I am the one who decided to suggest this possibility to you".
"Why?"
"I-I've been thinking about the case... and I believe the verdict was a bit too hard, considering your personal situation... I want to make sure things are fair..." Iris looked at him for an instant, silent, still not recovered from the surprise. "However, Wright is not aware of this suggestion. I thought it would be more appropriate to ask you in the first place..." and also, don't generate false expectations upon him. He passed through a lot of stuff in these past years. Edgeworth ended his statement in his mind.
"I don't know. I need to think about it" she said.
"Very well. Until then..."
Edgeworth took again his briefcase and put the papers into it. He made a formal goodbye and when he had the intention to leave the chair, Iris stopped him. She called a guard, and gave him an object. The guard went outside the visual range of Edgeworth and a moment later, he gave him a bracelet made of black stone pearls. Surprised, Edgeworth looked at Iris, who smiled like the situation was too obvious, but she explained anyway.
"Please, Mr Edgeworth, could you give this to him?"
"Oh. Of course. I shall do so".
"Thank you. You are kind as always".
Edgeworth raised an eyebrow that made Iris widen her smile, leaving the visit room afterwards.
He put the accessory in the inner pocket of his jacket and left the place.
His life had had several crucial points. This was another one. Crossing a burning bridge had not been the wisest decision in his entire life, but it had brought him interesting things, he must admit.
Art, channelling situations, and murder. Well, maybe they were not so interesting. But he almost died. If that was not crucial, then he did not know what crucial meant.
Also Larry found the path to follow in his life, and that had been positive. He would be focused in the colours used in a painting, rather than those on some lady's eyes.
Maya had returned to Kurain Village with a stronger ability, based on her hard performance during the whole case. Her body had reached an endurance that probably would have never found otherwise.
And Godot... well.
Mia's boyfriend. Well, not anymore. He was an almost dead boyfriend. Would that make him an ex-boyfriend?. Anyway. The man turned insane due to a blind revenge.
Trite. What a mad man.
However, Mia had told him the man would finally find the peace he needed. He only could hope to never deal again with someone with such a weird taste for coffee. What could Mia have seen in that man that made him so interesting for her?.
Tired of being sit in front of his desk wondering all day, Phoenix stretched his legs and arms by walking around his office, and then threw his body onto the sofa. He scratched his head and rested his arms over his eyes.
He had been present when Godot and Franziska interacted in the Hazakura Temple. He never had seen that woman so quiet before. Maybe it was because of the strange aura surrounding the white-haired man. It was a mystery: what had Mia seen in him that made her love him?.
He sighed.
Feelings were unexpected by nature.
The thought changed into another one... and the image of the warm, smiling Dollie sharing his bed in a rainy Saturday morning, put a silly smile on his face.
Oh, he knew about unexpected feelings. That word just brought another image, which disappeared in a memory of his childhood.
Larry and Miles were by his side, after class, talking about something he was unable to remember, but those feeling still remained. A nostalgic, warm and so distant feeling.
In that instant, the humming of the coffee machine stopped, as well the fan in the ceiling. The little relief that the old fan could provide had stopped; and the heat would not take too much time to become suffocating.
Phoenix swore at the weather and walked towards the office's balcony. It seemed the electricity went out in the whole zone.
Wonderful.
He was not going to spend the rest of the day in the little hell his office was about to turn into.
Without grabbing his jacket, he left the place and headed to the near coffee shop.
There was a congestion in the zone; several cars were trapped in the street, a horn sounded from the distance. It was clear that some kind of accident had happened.
"Walk along. Do not stay in the middle. We need to take care here."
A strong and loud voice was explaining the situation as Phoenix crossed the street, hopping a bonnet of a car. The driver swore at him, and Phoenix just scratched his head while waving his hand in the air.
The horns were less intense in the distance. Thankfully, the next street seemed to have electricity, so the coffee shop should be opened and cool. Finally a bit of luck in this strange situation.
He entered the shop, feeling the fresh breeze surrounding him, and looked around, noticing the environment was more crowded than usual. He chose a table close to window and sat there, waiting for the cold green tea he had just ordered with a simple gesture at the owner.
Resting his chin on his hand, he looked at the mess outside through the big window. The store reduced part of the noisy chaos outside; something Phoenix thanked silently, despite it was impossible to be completely isolated from that hell of horns.
Having gotten used of the noise, his thoughts changed again into Pearl's image. The case had been a lot of stress for the little girl, and he could not help but worry for her. He promised himself to phone them back in the next week, when the most of the paperwork of the case were done. The little girl had lost not only her father time ago, but also her mother now.
What happened in Hazakura Temple, had been a nightmare for many.
A sigh struggled to escape from his chest.
Iris.
That had been a blow for his mind as well. The person he thought Dahlia was... for almost six months. Despite the uncomfortable image that still remained in his mind due to the case, he smiled, and took off his badge from the lapel. It was shiny, brightening as a symbol of hope. Thanks to it, he was able to defend Iris.
Well, for half the case..
He widened his smile. He still could not believe what Edgeworth had done. How is it that this inflexible man accepted such a ridiculous situation?. He chuckled, caressing the badge. Again, the memory of their childhood emerged in his mind.
Ah, there it was. Those emotions flowing through him.
Getting older was making him a bit nostalgic. Maybe that was the natural flow of the things. Maybe it was just a small misunderstanding.
Well, maybe not so small.
The waiter appeared on his side and left the tea on the table, forcing him to return from his thoughts. He blinked, and nodded at him.
When he took the first sip, a certain man with deep frown lines and a clearly angry face, entered the shop. There was no mistake at all; the cravat in his neck was an irrefutable proof. Briefcase on hand, Edgeworth stood there for a moment, looking for a good spot for him to sit. Without hesitation, Phoenix beckoned him with his hand, getting the whole prosecutor's attention, who walked towards him, impassive.
"What a surprise, Edgeworth". Said Phoenix, still playing with the badge in his fingers.
"This is an utter madness. I can't believe how those... those... savages can be all the time pressing the horns. I couldn't... The pain in my ears was... unbearable". His jaw was tensed.
"You were close to the mess?"
"I was in the middle of that noisy hell."
"Wait... you were in your car? What happened to it?"
"I left it. I had to. Just look at the street, Wright." he pointed at the windows which were displaying an endless row of cars "There is no hint that says this would be solved in the following... two hours. Nghrr, and here I am, with so many things that I must be taking care of at the office". The first thing Edgeworth did when he sat in front of Phoenix, was pressing the bridge of his nose, followed by a long, loud sigh.
"Ah, c'mon. Take it easy, Edgeworth. There isn't much you can do, anyway"
"I believe you are right. Unfortunately."
Quickly, the waiter approached their table and took Edgeworth's order: a fine English tea with some German words that Phoenix could not understand. Maybe they were some special herbs, or just a particular process.
The waiter's delay in bringing the order was short.
As long as the steamy tea was not in front of Edgeworth, his irritation did not die down. Little by little, his facial expression softened, as the smell of the infusion reached Edgeworth's nostrils.
"Are you okay?" Phoenix asked after sipping his cold tea. He had not stopped observing the slow process of relaxation on the prosecutor's face: the softening of his deep frown lines, the corner of the lips straightening, and his hands were now loosening, close to the teacup. That was when he realized there were dark circles under the prosecutor's eyes.
"Yes, Wright. I just appear to be lacking some sleep, that should be"
"Nightmares? Again?" Phoenix's face showed his concern.
"No, paperwork"
"Uh... worse."
Edgeworth chuckled.
Once again, the lost memory appeared in Phoenix's mind as his eyes jumped from the street to his tea and then to Edgeworth.
"You being here was unexpected, Wright"
"I know. But my office was going to turn into a hell, you know, the electricity went out... I guess it wouldn't be strange if all this mess turns out be related somehow."
Edgeworth looked at him, as he held the teacup close to his chin in order to subtly smell its exquisite scent one more time. Phoenix's explanation satisfied him and he took a sip. "How are you, Wright?"
Phoenix raised his eyebrows at the same time he was tasting the last part of his own tea. He glared at Edgeworth, looking for a hint to understand what was that question for, considering that the previous day they had finally put such complex trial to an end. However, he got no clue. The man lowered his eyes and focused on his teacup, as it had developed a sudden incredible quality worth being appreciated with much enthusiasm. For a brief moment, Phoenix mentally went through the messy trial they lived, until he found a possible reason for being questioned in such a strange tone. Narrowing his eyes, he observed his friend in detail and drew a pleasant smile on his face.
"I'm okay. Thanks. Many things make sense now."
"That reminds me..." Edgeworth said, still without eye contact. "This is a request I've been asked to perform." He opened his jacket and took out the bracelet from the inner pocket. The Prosecutor's face was stone-like impassive, as always when he was performing a duty, and put the object over the table, sliding it towards the spiky-haired man.
Phoenix clutched and examined it. There was something familiar about it, but he was unable to figure out what it was.
"It is a gift to you. From Iris" Edgeworth added quickly.
The words dampened Phoenix's eyes as his smile began to tinge with remnants of nostalgia. For him, that object had a powerful meaning. It was the present that must have been given to him the past, not the cursed necklace that corrupted everything. This gift from Iris – not from Dahlia- gave a fresh meaning to those moments with her. The pain and confusion he went through on his own trial, when his mentor was still alive, seemed to have been worthy just for that moment. That was the real memento he had to keep in his memories.
He sighed, still charmed by the bracelet.
"Did you go visit her?"
"I chose to be the prosecutor responsible for the case after Prosecutor Godot... 'declined'. I asked for it because you should be aware of the kind of irregularities surrounding it that I do not want to be known by other people."
"Oh?... Oh. Yeah, sure, you asked for it because of the irregularity..." The awkward tone he used made Edgeworth wonder, whether it had been a simple mockery or an actual oversight. "Thanks for that too".
"There is nothing to thank me for. I owe you, Wright". When Phoenix was about to add something else, the prosecutor stopped him with the serious face he used during trials, "As I was saying, being prosecutor responsible for this case, I'm currently dealing with the paperwork and I've realized the existence of many legal blank spaces that could be useful in order to decrease Iris' sentence. I asked for her approval to do so..."
"What did she say?"
"She is going to think about it". Once again, Edgeworth's gaze fell onto the table, jumping to the window and returning to the teacup until he finally gathered some strength. "Wright... I know this is none of my business, and I am probably invading your private and personal space related to..."
"Just say it, Edgeworth" the lawyer chuckled and put his chin on his free hand, while caressing the gift with the other one. Edgeworth put his attention into that hand, charmed by something he could not determine. Maybe it was the contrast between Phoenix's skin and the dark colour of the bracelet, maybe it was the slow and careful movement those fingers were doing all over the little stone pearls. Perhaps it was the symbol, the strong, pure and deep symbol that those hands had engraved on his subconsciousness.
"She should be free in less time than expected, if these blank spaces are used in a future appeal. I would like to give you a friendly counsel, and suggest that you should... rekindle your previous relationship. I believe she would not be interested in rejecting... you."
"Wow, Edgeworth, when did you turn into a matchmaker?"
All his neutral and professional image fell apart, and he glowered at him with a deep frown.
The comment had worked in the exact way Phoenix wanted. Phoenix needed to stop that evasive behaviour, so proper from Edgeworth outside the courtroom, and, thankfully, it had worked on the spot. Edgeworth's intense gaze was now fixed on him.
Phoenix chuckled again, despite the warm emptiness being felt in his guts. Making fun of Edgeworth was always special. It had something to do with playing with stuff that should not be understood. They would remain, for they never could be discerned. It was something so complex and veiled that, probably, it was a good idea to just let it go.
"Aww, c'mon, Edgeworth, it was a joke." he said, and lowered his eyes to the present on his hand. "I see what you mean, but... Now a lot of things make sense, and … Sure, I feel better for knowing the Truth in the end, even after so many years... but it's past."
"Looking at you, right now, it doesn't seem that way..."
Still with a smile on his face, Phoenix gave him a look. That man had his usual prosecutor mask on, staring back at him with that icy glare, a hand over the other side of the teacup, and a slightly lifted chin.
"Do you want me to take her back? Really?"
"What I want is irrelevant, Wright. I am only giving you a clear advice, considering all the information I have", his brow wrinkled a little more.
"Information? Such as...?"
"I am not going to repeat all the file contents that I've gathered for this trial. You know them very well, since you are a part of them yourself."
"Well, yes... I was part in the incident about Dahlia, but... that was a lot of time ago. People change"
The last phrase had its own weight. Edgeworth was unable to play the fool and shut him up. There was nothing more to be said.
"Very well. I only considered suitable an impartial suggestion as a par-... friend." he had to add. It was a useless explanation, but it seemed very crucial to him.
"And I thank you, Edgeworth, but really... that's in the past. Of course I care for Iris. She was special for me, and she still is..."
Phoenix's smile widened as he kept playing unconsciously with the bracelet.
There were no more words to be said. Edgeworth remained silent, and gave a glimpse to his empty teacup. His eyes glided from that spot to Phoenix's hand, still caressing the gift with his fingers.
There was nothing more than the noisy environment surrounding them both, and slowly they immersed themselves into their own, lonely thoughts.
It was autumn. Red, yellow and brown trees decorated the urban landscape with a bit of nostalgic sentiments, but they did not mind. They were happy.
Phoenix was holding Iris' hand, as they were walking in the park until they found a bench. From his bag, Phoenix took two hot coffee cans and gave one to Iris. They were giggling to each other like a couple of silly birds. But they did not mind.
The landscape inspired Iris, who recited what Phoenix thought it was poetry. The religious connotations of the piece did not surprise him. After all, he had found among Iris' interests several topics related to Shinto gods.
He leant over her and rested his head on Iris' shoulder. He even rubbed his nose on her neck, causing her some giggles due to the tickles. With her free hand, she caressed his jaw, and like a puppy, Phoenix reacted immediately, getting close to her face and kissing her cheek several times. Tiny and playful kisses, until finding her lips. Then, the contact stopped its foolish flow and turned into a deeper, intense feeling.
When they parted, both of them giggled again, flushed. They were probably not aware how foolish they looked. However, they did not mind.
"Feenie, it would be better if we drank the coffee now. It's gonna be cold"
They opened the cans and drank them peacefully, looking at the trees in the distance, feeling the smooth breeze over their flushed cheeks.
"I'd really like to paint this park, with both of us in it" said Phoenix, surrounding Iris shoulders and pulling her towards him, so they could keep warm.
"You should, it would be so beautiful."
"I don't have time... Next week I'll give many law exams, you know... and when I think I can draw something, I grab the pencil and then... the inspiration goes away."
"Why don't we use an incentive to keep it?"
"What do you mean, Dollie?"
For a second, Iris lost her breath. That name was always a storm of mixed feelings. A storm she wanted to stop now more than ever, but she could not help but perceive how tiny she was in the madness her sister had built. She had to live with the constant threat of a tragic end at any time. She could stop the future tragedy by taking away that necklace, but even the most elemental task was, in fact, so hard to perform. Every small chance she had found, every trick she had used, had been useless for this man.
This man. Her Feenie... she was so weak before him. If only... If only she were strong enough to steal that cursed necklace, to lie to him and grab it one night from his room. If only...
"Are you okay, Dollie-love?" Phoenix said.
She smiled again. One more chance. The last one.
"I was thinking... What if you give me back the necklace as an incentive to paint this wonderful park?. I'd really like to see all this beauty captured in a canvas by my Feenie's hand."
"Aww, no, Dollie, I need it with me... it makes me remember you when we aren't together."
"Oh, but I will give it back to you when you finish the painting...". Her heart beat faster. It was so hard to lie to him. So hurtful.
"I couldn't even start the painting without it", Phoenix put a hand over his chest, and felt the small bottle against his skin, under the clothes. "I'm working really hard with college. Law studies sometimes make me feel so frustrated, but then I touch the necklace, and something happens. Like a recharge. I can keep going a little more and finish my work. I really need it"
"Feenie..." mortified, Iris hugged him while Phoenix was still smiling like a fool unable to understand the real meaning behind Iris' words.
During the contact, a corner of paper struck his chest, making him aware of the envelope in his upper t-shirt pocket. He kissed Iris' cheek, and stood up from the bench.
"Give me a sec. I need to send this letter... I'll be here in a minute"
Phoenix smiled again and ran to the next mailbox, almost twenty meters far away from where they were seated.
Several months ago, he had written a letter without understanding entirely the motivation in doing so, as usual. The more he wrote, despite never being answered, the more he felt an urge to end his law studies. The general gossip and the official news were always in his mind, buzzing, blocking entirely his artistic motivation. The truth was, whenever the necklace was not enough to keep him pushing... the letters and him were.
He put the envelope into the mailbox with a bright smile and ran back to Dollie, feeling a little more enthusiastic, a little happier without understanding it at all. But he did not mind.
The following week would teach him that even the most tiny and foolish details should have mattered to him, after all.
The trial had ended. Only ten minutes this time, the previous one lasting twenty five. He had achieved a personal record. Perhaps Von Karma would be pleased.
He grabbed the papers and put them in his briefcase. Then he looked beyond the defense's bench: the rookie attorney was grabbing his head with his hands, while the defendant's brother was shouting at him.
Afraid of forgetting something, Edgeworth opened his briefcase again and looked inside for the plastic bag with the decisive piece of evidence: a knife stained with the victim's blood all over its edge. That weapon never had touched the victim, but it had killed that rookie attorney for sure.
He closed the briefcase, convinced that the evidence would be eliminated from the rest of the case as a "loss", due to the haphazardly bureaucracy of the police department. As Von Karma has always told him to do with that kind of... evidence.
When he got out of the courtroom, he found Manfred waiting for him at the corridor, with his back resting against the wall, pounding the ground with his cane, observing every walking person with his judgemental eyes. Edgeworth approached him.
"A pleasant end." Manfred said without looking at him.
"Thank you, Sir"
"You must have solved it in a shorter time than five minutes, but... at least, you have accomplished the goal. Keep doing the same and probably some day you will find a challenge worthy to be accepted". A twisted smirk was drawn on Manfred's face.
"I will, Sir."
"I will wait for you at home. We must discuss matters regarding some... sources."
"Allow me to pass by my office first and arrange some paperwork, and I will be there."
"Very well. Be quick."
"Yes, Sir. Have a good day until our reunion."
"Hmph. I'm sure I'll do."
Manfred walked past Edgeworth with his chin up, and barely greeted another fellow prosecutor worthy to be noted by him. When they reached the door, Edgeworth opened it and let his tutor get out first, who entered his limousine and gave the driver some indications. In a matter of seconds, the car had gone far away. By that time, Edgeworth was in his own car, observing in silence a bunch of flowers that a woman was holding as she crossed the street.
After arriving at his office, Edgeworth locked the door. He walked towards the tidy desk, where a pile of envelopes were placed in the middle, and put the briefcase over it. Once opened, he moved into a police box all the evidence related to the case, except for the knife.
When the box was sealed with police tape, he walked to the wall where a big painting of a park in autumn was hanged. He took it down and opened the secret safe box built in it, from where he took several pieces of evidence that the police had "missed" due to their foolishness, and put them all in his own briefcase.
He tidied up the painting and then grabbed the briefcase and the box. This dropped the pile of envelopes, partly over the desk and partly on the ground.
He wanted to leave the office that way, but the mess was hurting his eyes; it would be stuck in his mind for the rest of the day, and considering he had an appointment with his mentor, it would be better to avoid extra thoughts on his head.
He sighed with resignation and put the things he held in his hands on the sofa. He knelt and gathered all the envelopes, reading in a glimpse some words, in order to get a general idea about who were those annoying people that sent him the foolish mail.
Suddenly, among the name of several fellow prosecutors, he read it: Phoenix Wright.
An irritated and unstoppable deep sigh emerged from his chest. He was sick of this man.
A certain day, in a summer morning, a simple, pinkish envelope with a terrible handwriting appeared on his desk. It had many sheets of paper talking about wrong paths and good intentions.
Edgeworth had been so angry at that moment.
Since that day, from time to time, more mail from this cry-baby appeared on his desk. The letters were written with endless flows of sentences speaking about sentiments of friendship and kindness, and he could not help but perceive them as empty words. How could it be possible for a man to keep saying he was still his friend after all that time, just due to a dimmed remembrance of what they shared as kids?. The most remarkable part was that mail had never been answered. How could a person keep trying so hard when there was nothing as a response? How could he care about another person, when there was nothing more than a cold and lifeless absence?.
Phoenix Wright. The man without logic, always writing about saving him.
And what did he want to save him from?.
Whenever he found those letters on his desk, he always crumpled them with furious fists, crushing the paper to the point to almost rip it off; they always forced him to think about useless memories of his past, about those stupid two friends he once had, and the warm smile of his father's face at the end of the day. All unnecessary thoughts.
Those letters were too dangerous, they had to be left into a trashcan; but he could not help it. After the storm of memories mixed with hatred and melancholy, the curiosity to know what the crumpled paper said was irresistible. Over and over, those letters reached the end of the day being opened... and read.
Failed. Once again.
And there it was: the opened envelope, the smooth paper, the scribbled handwriting.
More foolish sentiments about friendship and concern, about thinking in him every time the stupid guy had doubts regarding his law studies, being helped by a foolish necklace as well.
What an utter nonsense. Why was he reading? Why was he continuing with that ridiculous act?.
Edgeworth could not fool himself. He knew it. Those stupid words had infuriated him, but what angered him the most was himself.
He crumpled and ruined the letter in the same way he had done before with the others.
As the fury passed, the regrets wrapped him in such way he could only unfold the paper, smooth it again, and put it back into the envelope.
Hating himself, he grabbed a particular box from the library. Inside it, there was another one, smaller, in a red wine colour. He put the envelope into it, along with the rest of the letters he had received since the first one.
Observing that box was... so confusing. But he could not help but feel guilty. Guilty for reading them, keeping them in the box, re-reading them every time he felt some strange whim he did not know how to name.
Useless, inefficient, problematic, unexpected and nonsensical whims.
That was what the box was for.
The box of the unbelievable foolishness.
Returning to reality, Edgeworth still was unable to take his eyes off that hand. After gathering some strength in his mind, he broke the charm by extending his arm over the table and looking at his wristwatch.
An hour had passed; and the street was still blocked.
Once more, he felt like losing his control: his sight jumped from his watch to the table and from there, to the window. Slowly, to the teacups, and finally, fell again under its charm: that hand. Mentally, he drew an imaginary path, starting there, passing through Phoenix's arm skin, and stopping at the white shirt he was wearing.
What could have happened to his usual blue jacket?.
Absent mind, Edgeworth could not stop his gaze. He followed his way along the arm, the shoulder and the neck, where he found an undone tie with the pretension of being red coloured, but it could barely be considered that way due to its pinkish reflection. He continued from the neck to the jaw, crossing his cheek... and there.
The eyes. Those brownish grey eyes. The former dampness had not abandoned Phoenix's eyes.
Probably, he was still thinking about Iris. How could not he do so?. It was clear the strong impact that woman had on his soul.
Phoenix kept looking at the bracelet, unaware of his friend's silent stare.
On the other hand, Edgeworth was barely conscious of his own sight, thinking, as usual, too much. Remembrances, letters, a gun and gin.
A glimpse of that man, whose eyes were now fixed in the foolish gift, had been always enough to awake useless emotions in him. Emotions that never gave him anything clear, perhaps because they had no shape, or maybe because he was not willing to perceive them in detail.
Edgeworth sighed so deeply it called Phoenix's attention, who looked at him, with a small and meek smile.
Nghhh.
Again, all those useless things broke free in his mind, revolting his guts and making him feel utterly disgusted with himself. As he had thought, just a simple glimpse was enough.
"I was thinking..." Phoenix said. "Maybe you are right."
"About what?" Edgeworth raised an eyebrow.
"People change... maybe Iris has changed too... maybe... the past is something nobody can change, but things like this are in the present. The context now isn't the same than before."
"Exactly." A slight bitterness twisted his voice, but Phoenix did not perceive it. "Then I trust you will visit her soon. That being the case, I would like to make you a request: ask her if she thought about my previous question, and notify me the answer, Wright."
"Sure..."
The conversation reached its dead point. Empty teacups on the table and the constant noise from outside seemed to be all that remained of the brief meeting. But they were not allowed to leave, to just run away from the awkwardness that slowly was installing in the environment.
Edgeworth sighed; he wanted to leave, as always. The other man was again mid-lost in his memories, and probably what he needed the most in that moment to drag him back into reality, was the ability of making small talk in order to break the ice. Hmph. He and small talk. Repellent things do not match.
That useless and, at the same time, complex social tool.
"What are you going to do, Edgeworth?" the prosecutor stared at him, unsure whether he had missed part of the conversation or just the meaning of the question.
"W-What?"
"Uh... are you okay?"
"Yes, of course, I was lost in my thoughts... My apologies. What did you ask me?"
"Uhm. What are you going to do when the paperwork of this case is over? Will you stay here? Will you go abroad?"
"Well, I've been requested for some abroad tasks worth to be pondered before giving a clear answer, but I'm highly tempted to accept."
"Oww." Phoenix put the bracelet in his upper shirt pocket, and crossed his arms over the table with a little friendly, tired smile on his face. Impassive, the prosecutor only observed him back, waiting for a clarification. "I was starting to get used to you again". One more time that useless sensation stabbed his chest.
Then, Phoenix chuckled. "But... Thank you, Edgeworth. I thank you a lot for what you've done. You and Franziska. This could have been such a mess".
"Indeed. But there is nothing you should be thanking me for. As I said earlier. I owe you". Casually, Edgeworth avoided Phoenix's eyes, pretending to look through the window, with his usual elegant gesture. As if nothing could have any importance at all.
"No, you don't". Phoenix smiled again in a meeker way. Words had never been enough. What could be enough?. "You know Edgeworth... before you leave, we should have another celebration. What do you think?"
"I believe you will be bankrupt sooner than you expect."
Widening his smile, Phoenix scratched his head while Edgeworth smiled back at him.