Okay so this is my first time writing and posting fanfiction on the internet - please be kind! Although I'm always open to constructive criticism with any part of the chapter that you think requires improvement. I wish I could say how often I'd be posting but I've got no idea as I'm starting my A-Levels so things will probably get pretty hectic at school - but I'll make sure to post whenever I can!
Anyway, if you like how this is going please let me know in the form of a review so I know whether or not to continue.
If there was one thing that chief prosecutor Miles Edgeworth loved, it was routine. Carrying out every day using repetition and predictability was exactly what he strived to do. Being late or off-the-mark wasn't even an option. His daily routine was strict and he liked it – if only to avoid any errors on his part.
Miles carried out his morning routine like usual; he woke up at 5am, got dressed and ate a half-burnt breakfast before reading through a couple of case files with his beloved dog Pesu beside him. At 6:30am he'd begin his journey over to the LAPD and his own office in his expensive red sports car – arriving there at around 7am even though he wasn't required to be at work until 8 or he reached his office, the chief prosecutor had a feeling that something was missing: one step in his faultless morning routine had failed to happen. For the first time for as long as he could remember.
Where on earth is Detective Gumshoe?
Usually, the detective would wait in the car park for Miles' arrival so he could greet him – much like a loyal puppy would do. This had to have been the first time in a while that Gumshoe hadn't been at the precinct before his boss. Deciding that the detective must have been delayed by traffic, the prosecutor headed inside his office and read some more case files to pass the time until everyone else started to arrive at the LAPD.
About an hour or so later, there was a knock on his office door. Finally, Gumshoe's here.
"Come in, Detective." Miles called out, putting his papers down. But to the chief prosecutor's surprise, Detective Gumshoe didn't enter her office; instead a vaguely familiar female came into the office with a smile and two coffees. "Wrong. Sorry you're stuck with me for the day."
A woman with brunette hair that had been lazily tied back into a messy ponytail and a large smile was stood in the doorway. She was dressed in a long brown trench coat, with a skirt and crisp white blouse underneath. In fact, she could've been referred to as the female version of Gumshoe.
"What're you gawping at?" She asked Miles with a slight laugh; he instantly noted that her accent was English-sounding. "Have I spilt somethin' down my front?" The brunette anxiously glanced down at her blouse, examining it closely. Miles then realised his staring was making her uncomfortable.
"No, there's nothing there." He said before standing up from his desk. "May I ask what you're doing here? Moreover, who are you?"
The trenchcoat-wearing Englishwoman stopped inspecting her clothes and walked over to his desk; setting down the cups of coffee and holding out her hand to shake. "Officer Nina Forester. I'm Detective Gumshoe's subordinate."
Miles recalled the detective telling him something about having a subordinate; in fact, he'd probably mentioned the woman in front of him so many times that the chief prosecutor had gotten used to simply ignoring these ramblings. Reluctantly he shook Nina's hand, unsure of whether or not he should introduce himself as well.
"You don't know why I'm here, Mr Edgeworth?" Nina asked with an edge of offence to her voice.
"No. Frankly this is the first time I'm hearing your name, Forester." Miles didn't want to be rude but he didn't know how to speak to this woman truthfully without sounding as such. By the way she raised an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest, Miles knew that the officer had found his manner to be impolite.
"I'm sure Dick has mentioned me. You probably weren't listening to him as usual…sir."
The chief prosecutor was astounded. Had Detective Gumshoe really told his subordinate that he was often ignored and paid little attention to? (As well as little money.) This police officer certainly was blunt; he was at a loss for words. Miles didn't like someone trying to challenge him – it rarely happened – especially from a woman. Well, apart from Franziska.
"I'm working as your detective for today." Nina rolled her eyes, obviously she'd been growing impatient of waiting for the chief prosecutor to identify her reason for being in his office. "Detective Gumshoe requested that I cover for him. He sent you an email but you obviously never check your inbox." Again with the bluntness.
"And why isn't Detective Gumshoe here today?" It wasn't like him to ever be absent so the reason had to be acceptable.
"Missile had to be taken to the vet." She replied shortly, her green eyes focused on the unique blue and red chess set on the far right side of the office. "Do you play chess?"
"Yes I do play. I assume you do too?" Miles asked, although confused about the fact that the officer had attempted to have two different conversations with him at once.
"Do I look like someone that plays chess?" She smirked, obviously amused by her boss' question. "But yes, Missile is ill. Thank you for your concern." As well as blunt, this young woman appeared to be a fan of sarcasm. Miles was becoming unsure as to which comment he should reply to; deciding that the reasoning behind Detective Gumshoe's absence was a more pressing matter – he'd left the chief prosecutor stranded with such a difficult woman after all.
"I never said I wasn't concerned. I'm just wondering why he's taken a day off when his attendance record has been perfect until today." He wasn't a completely insensitive man but the fact that his detective wasn't present due to a sick dog bewildered him; especially someone as punctual as Gumshoe. Miles attempted to picture what he'd do if his dog Pesu had fallen ill but his thoughts were cut off by a pair of dark brown eyes glaring at him.
"Exactly. Dick very rarely takes a day off so why is this such an issue?" Nina's patience seemed to be wearing thin and her arms were still folded across her chest to demonstrate this annoyance. Miles took note of how she'd referred to Detective Gumshoe as 'Dick' several times; obviously the officer and he were close. It wasn't too surprising since the detective wasn't a difficult person to get along with. Unlike a certain someone he could think of.
"It really isn't an issue, Officer Forester. I'm just concerned that he sent an officer to do a detective's job. Do you really think that you can handle it?" Miles really didn't want to have to argue with this infuriating woman all day. She would end up driving him insane. He'd much rather have to tolerate Detective Chris Chambers – and he was well-known for his rude and reckless behaviour.
"Well, I'm hoping to become a detective in time. I don't think it'll be too different to what I'm used to doing." Even Nina's optimism seemed a little irritating now: she wasn't going to give in. Miles needed a way out, an excuse to not have to put up with Nina Forester all day long.
Despite himself, he had to send the brunette officer back to her own job. "I'm afraid that I'll have to decline your services today, Forester."
Nina laughed in astonishment, not believing what she was hearing. "You're serious? Then who's going to cover Detective Gumshoe's job?" Miles thought hard; he'd have liked to have said Detective Skye but she was on vacation.
Only one other detective's name came to mind. "Detective Chambers. When you return to the precinct could you call him for me?"
Nina's face dropped. "There's no bloody chance of that happening." She picked up the two cups of coffee that she'd brought for her boss and turned for the door. "You'd rather have an incompetent adulterer work for you than me? Fine. Have fun." And with that, the English officer stormed out of the room.
Almost momentarily after her departure, Phoenix Wright came into the chief prosecutor's office with a smirk on his face. "Have you been ruffling some feathers, Edgeworth?"
Miles took a seat at his desk; it was only 10:22am and he was already tired and suffering from a headache. "No, she was just being difficult and overly sensitive."
"Officer Forester seemed pretty upset to me…" Phoenix said with an edge of concern.
Wright knows who she is. Hm, that figures.
"She'll be fine. She just needs to get back to work."
Phoenix frowned a little, clearly empathetic for the police officer. "That's a little harsh isn't it? Forester's actually really nice." He paused, deciding to elaborate on his reason for knowing her. "She comes to Trucy's shows sometimes with Ema and Apollo and is always pleasant company."
"Wright, all I said to her was that she wasn't capable of playing detective for the day so I requested Detective Chambers." Miles explained calmly, attempting to convince his childhood friend that he'd said nothing of extreme offence whatsoever. Little did he know, he really had offended Nina.
Phoenix began to chuckle slightly, then his face retorted to a serious one. "You really are in her bad books then."
"Why's that?" The prosecutor asked, unsure of what to think. The entire situation was painful and making his headache worse.
"You obviously don't know. Oh I feel so bad for you; Forester's going to kill you if she sees you again." Phoenix couldn't help the smirk reappear on his face. To him the unfortunate circumstances were pure gold.
But Miles still had no idea as to what the defence attorney was saying. "Wright, care to elaborate?"
"Detective Chambers is Officer Forester's ex-husband." The defence attorney stated, still a little amused that the chief prosecutor was unaware of the fact. "They divorced because he had several affairs while they were married and now they despise one another."
"What?!" Miles couldn't believe it: Nina really was going to kill him. "I-I had no idea. How on earth do you know?"
"Detective Skye. Apparently it was big news at the precinct last year." He began to chuckle yet again. "I can't believe you didn't know. You should get better acquainted with your employees, Edgeworth; some of the things I've learnt about Athena and Apollo would get your cravat in a knot."
Miles wasn't sure whether he should be laughing at his friend's remark. However, he found no humour in the unlucky situation. "You may enjoy learning every little detail regarding your employees, but frankly it's no interest - or business – of mine."
"You really should apologise to her though." Instantly, the chief prosecutor hated the thought of doing so. Of course he didn't want to seem like an impolite person but he didn't want Nina to turn down his apology or become smug because of it.
"I hardly meant to upset her. I'm sure she'll forget all about this soon enough." He insisted in an attempt to get out of having to say that he was sorry.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow, "are you scared?"
"What exactly is there to be scared of?" Miles asked, bewildered that the attorney would even ask such a question. It wasn't like he was afraid of women.
"Perhaps you feel intimidated by Nina? Or all woman in general?" That amused expression was back on Phoenix's face; although he did pity the prosecutor.
"I certainly am not." Miles stated, his cheeks flushed a little – he was clearly feeling a little embarrassed. He didn't have a fear of women at all! He just had no understanding of them or how they 'operated'. Sure, like many men his age, he'd thought about having a long-term relationship and starting a family but, so far, no suitable woman had come into the picture. In fact, he'd never had a girlfriend; though he'd never tell anyone this.
"If you're not scared, go on and tell Forester that you're sorry." Phoenix really was pushing for an apology.
What possible interest could Wright have in this matter?
"I really am not—"
The attorney cut Miles off mid-sentence and pointed sternly towards the door. "Go on…"
Miles tried his hand at pleading for an excuse once more before he glumly gave up and grumbled something under his breath before heading for the door. Phoenix smiled to himself as the chief prosecutor left: he really didn't understand women.
If you're still here, thank you!
I promise there will be a lot of character development with my OC's Nina and her ex, Chris Chambers. I promise, you'll know more about them in the next few chapters.
Thanks for reading and please review!