Decisive Evidence

Decisive Evidence

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Still don't own the characters, I called Capcom about it, but they didn't seem to like my offering of ten cents and a bottle cap as payment, sorry Court fans.

The walk back seemed longer than his walk out. Maybe he was too busy thinking, maybe he just hadn't accounted for how far out he'd walked in the first place, either way, as he headed back to the restaurant, he had more time to think. The battle in his mind had shifted from trying to prove he didn't love her, to trying to prove she didn't love him, another battle he was losing sorely.

"She just thinks of me as a brother!"

"She made sure you came to see her before she agreed to channel Mimi Ini, She has put complete trust in you several times, there's the card, there's the fight she had with Von Karma for the DL-6 evidence. The fact that when she's in trouble, you're all she thinks about. The little hint's she drops, the glances you know you've caught her casting just outside your field of vision, shall I go on?"

"Ulp…but…she…Um…(This is hopeless! He's winning…I mean I'm winning…I mean…what the hell is wrong with me? I've been in court too long.)"

Franziska had been almost totally forgotten by the time he reached the door, he put his hand on the handle and hesitated, thinking about all that she'd just told him. His defenses were getting weak, he knew it, and he knew he had nothing to free him from his guilt on the topic, not even the slightest turnabout.

Phoenix took a deep breath and opened the door, walking into the restaurant and past Mr. Armstrong, he went around to the dining area and saw that Edgeworth was the only one still there. His face had to have asked the question for him, as his friend and rival smirked, "They left, Maya said she was going to visit Godot, she mentioned that Pearl really wanted to talk to you and she'd be in your office."

Phoenix took this in and sat down across from him, then sighed, "Edgeworth…I…" Phoenix started to say, but Edgeworth cut him off.

"It's interesting Wright, though you exhibit some of the most passionate fits of trust in your clients, your heart is permanently sewed onto your sleeve and I've seen all forms of emotions run across your face many times…However…I've only one other time… seen you breakdown like you did today in court."

Phoenix looked at him, a little confused, and then he remembered, Edgeworth had been a spectator today.

Edgeworth continued, "You remember it too do you not? Last year? The Matt Engrade case…at the end of the first day." Edgeworth's face was stone serious, and he was waiting for an answer.

Phoenix averted his eyes, his shoulders slumped slightly "I remember…I thought…I'd lost her." Just the memory was painful.

Edgeworth smirked, "Yes, when you thought that Shelly De Killer had killed your assistant." Phoenix felt an involuntary pain in his heart as Edgeworth said this, is showed as he flinched from the words.

They sat in silence for a moment, both having a strong idea about the point being made here, Edgeworth continued, "Then today, again that young woman had the same effect on you as before…what would you have done if she had been dead Wright?"

The idea, the very thought of it felt like a knife to the heart, in Phoenix's mind, images flashed of Maya's cold corpse leaning against the Giant stone lamp in the garden, blood splattered on the soft white snow, the look of shock in her still open eyes, a knife buried in her chest. A sob escaped him, and he found that his voice wouldn't work, the idea paralyzed him.

Edgeworth nodded, "Phoenix." He paused after using his friend's first name, "There are those that dedicate themselves to their ideas…there are those that give their lives to their job. Then there are those that give their heart to another person…I know little of this, my passion is Law, it was, is, and most likely will be all I ever know.' He closed his eyes and smiled softly, pausing to contemplate it seemed.

Phoenix looked at Edgeworth in mild shock, he'd always known that the man held much back from him, but he was being quite open, he figured that meant that Edgeworth was more serious than he'd ever been.

Edgeworth finally opened his eyes, "You Wright, You love the Law, you believe in your clients, I'll grant you that…but you are also in need of someone to support you, to keep your faith in good people alive I'd venture. That someone is Maya Fey, without her. You would crumble."

Phoenix sighed, "Franziska told you about the card?" his eyes meeting Edgeworth cool glare.

Edgeworth shook his head, shrugging his shoulders, "You could say I've caught a glimpse of it, after all, I was with her when she found it…But Evidence is not needed in the real world as much as the court Wright, your behavior is clear enough reason to lead me to this conclusion."

Phoenix knew what he meant; there was no reason to press Edgeworth for more info. He knew that throughout the past few years, he'd built an extremely high mountain of evidence of how he felt, even more than Edgeworth knew.

The man in red grinned a cocky grin once more, shaking his finger just in front of his forehead, "I believe…we both have places to be Wright, I must get back to the office. The prosecution never rests even when they leave the country; I've got a lot to look into while I'm here." He spoke as he started to stand up, "You have a very important child to meet with before Maya gets back from her visit to the detention center."

Phoenix watched as he walked towards the door, stopping for a moment to say one more thing, "You put everything on the line all the time in that courtroom, you know what you need to do." With that, his long time friend had left, the small bell above the door jingling before falling silent.

Phoenix stared into the table for awhile, was it really that obvious how he felt that everyone else had seen it so long before he had? Had Maya seen it? Did she feel the same? There were too many questions and not nearly enough answers.

"Monsieur Wright! You see, how you say…confused? Would you like this Lavender oil? Oui oui! It will help you relax!" Mr. Armstrong said, as he suddenly appeared next to Phoenix with grace that simply should not be allowed to a man of his size.

"Ack! Um! N–no thanks Mr. Armstrong, I don't think that aromatherapy will fix my problem, er, excuse me!" He said as he swiftly walked towards the door, leaving the pink wonder behind.

Watching him go with droplets of tears in his eyes, Armstrong brought his hands up and clasped them to his heart, "Oui! Young love! Such Passion! Such Beauty!" He pulled a flower from his pocket and started to pluck the pedals off. "When will I find my Amoureux I ask you?" The man sighed, "Ce qui sera être, I must get ready for the Dinner crowd."

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A/N This chapter is a bit shorter, but I'm thinking probably one (MAYBE two if the next chapter writes itself.) more chapter after this and I'll end it, Hit me with a review or a few and maybe I'll even finish it this weekend.

Also, I know what a few of you might be thinking, Edgeworth was ooc, I don't really think I took him too far out really, we know the guy has feelings, we know that he keeps to himself most the time, but we also know that he says things if they need to be said, also that he's very perceptive, so I don't think it's impossible that he'd try and give Phoenix a confidence boost…by prosecuting of course.

A few others of you, might be saying, "But Edgeworth is gay for Phoenix" You're free to think that, I personally think the guy is married to his job (As I alluded to in this chapter) so for the purposes of this story, Edgeworth's preferences are going to be left in the dark.