Note: Hokay, so...being new to this 'fanfiction submitting thang', I forgot to mention something dreadfully, painfully important in my very first chapter. This fanfiction was written for a very good friend of mine named Gina. I'm going off to college soon, and will miss her dearly, since she is one of the best friends I have ever had. That, and I blame her for getting me addicted to Phoenix Wright. Love you, Gina. 3
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Edgeworth idly browsed the packed aisles of the local comic book store, looking as much out of place amongst the be-spectacled nerds as a wolf in the middle of a flock of sheep. Then again, he was still in his work clothes. He had finally decided – after much deliberation – that a care package filled with a myriad of Phoenix's well-liked items would be suitable enough. He acquired a bottle of sparkling grape juice from the grocery store, and was at present looking for something nostalgic that would re-awaken the little kid side of the defense attorney.
Meandering past a row stocked with Wonder Woman and Superman comics, he paused by the glass counter at the back of the store. A series of action figures decked the shelves behind the pimply clerk, who was leafing absently through an old edition of Spiderman. One figure in particular caught his eye – a Steel Samurai figurine, painted well enough to look like real skin and cloth. Leaning pointedly onto the counter, he raised an eyebrow at the cashier - the nametag read:
HI, MY NAME IS:
LEROY JENKINS
"How much for the Steel Samurai action figure, Leroy?" He inquired good-naturedly, giving his best 'I'm a social-person' smile. The teenage clerk looked up, mouth open. "It's – uh – it's kinda expensive."
"Most nice things are, but the price means nothing to me."
"Oh. Uh – lemme check with the boss. He keeps the prices of the rare collectable figures in the back. D'you mind holdin' on for a minute?"
"Not at all."
"'Kay. I'll be back, sir."
Sir. He hadn't really been referred to as a 'sir' before. It made him feel…old. No, he was only twenty-seven. Not that old at all. Not even over the hill. Sighing, he leaned heavily onto the glass case, peering down at its contents. An absurd amount of video game and comic book paraphernalia stared back up at him, including a plushy mushroom with wide, shiny eyes. He felt as though the fungus was accusing him of something, and quickly averted his gaze to the returning cashier.
"Uh, it's like ninety-nine bucks, sir," The youth stated, returning his vacant eyes to the older man in the magenta suit.
"Do you take credit?"
"Yeah."
"Good - here you are," Miles Edgeworth shoved a hand into his pocket, withdrawing his wallet and handing his MasterCard to the clerk. It slid through the machine, registered, and he signed for his purchase. Expression still vapid, the cashier returned the credit card and removed the figurine from the shelf, taping the ends of the box shut methodically and placing it in a plastic bag. Carefully, as though he were handling the Holy Grail, Leroy passed the bag to the man in the pink suit.
"Will you be needing anything else, sir?"
Miles Edgeworth took the bag with curt efficiency, shaking his head to the last inquiry. "No, thank y- Actually, I'd like to get that, too."
He pointed to the fluffy red-and-white mushroom with black button eyes. Shrugging indifferently, Leroy leaned down, unlocked the case, and set the mushroom on the counter. A few moments of adjusting the former receipt to accommodate the new purchase, and the plush fungus was Edgeworth's. Stuffing the doll into his plastic bag, he gave the cashier a sheepish smile and hurriedly left the comic book store.
Back in his apartment, he busied himself with arranging Phoenix's gift in a wicker basket. Cliché, yes, but putting a bottle of carbonated grape juice into a box with the potential of it being jostled was too hazardous. The Steel Samurai figurine had been placed in the basket as well, along with a bookstore gift card. He couldn't think of anything else to add. Pursing his lips thoughtfully, Edgeworth slumped onto his table and stared across it at the mushroom plushy he had bought an hour earlier. It looked at him blankly.
"What?!"
He demanded, frowning at it. Its cheery red-and-white colour scheme was really starting to irk him, as well as the critical vibe it emanated. It was judging him, he just knew it. Running a hand through his silver hair, his scowl deepened. It was making fun of his gift for Phoenix.
"Oh, so you've got a better idea, then?" Miles asked, jabbing his finger towards the mushroom. There was no response. Somewhat more aggravated, the prosecutor sat up in his chair, intent on staring down the 1-UP plush. It did nothing in retaliation.
"Well, you can just lump it, you stupid piece of fungi." He muttered angrily, a look of pure loathing plastered on his face. So ingrained was he in his mental debate with the mushroom that he nearly had a heart attack when his cell phone rang. Continuing to glare at the perky stuffed vegetable across the table, he answered the caller with a grunting tone.
"Hello?"
The other line was clear and brisk - a voice he recognized all too well.
"Hi. Miles, it's me, Phoenix."
The defense attorney was causing him far too much pain these days. Grumbling, he replied gruffly, "Hello, Wright."
"Are you okay, Miles? You don't sound very well." There was an obvious touch of concern in the other man's voice, and Edgeworth tried to ignore it.
"I'm fine," He spat. "It's this damn mushroom. I swear to God, Wright, it's staring at me like I killed its family or something. Accusing me of something I haven't even done."
"Mushroom? What are you talking about, Miles? Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, whatever. I'm fine. What do you want?" He said this with unintentional acidity, bitterness creeping into his speech.
"I…I was just…wondering what you like. I can call back later, Miles."
He realized almost too late the harsh quality that he had attained, and quickly attempted to remedy it. "No - really, please don't. I'm sorry, Wright. I'm just…stressed, that's all. A little stressed. I'm sorry."
Phoenix replied hesitantly, "Oh…okay."
"What was it you wanted to ask me?" Miles inquired conversationally, cupping the elbow of the arm supporting his cell-phone.
"What you asked me this morning. What do you like?"
Edgeworth scoured his mind for something that didn't begin with 'Phoenix' and end with 'Wright'. Not feeling particularly divulging enough to admit that he knew also every line to every Steel Samurai episode, Miles rubbed his temple with his forefinger. "Tea." He replied simply, feeling as though his answer was exceedingly anti-climactic. On the other line, Wright sounded as though a slight frown was crossing his face,
"That's it?"
"Yes, Wright. I like tea. Black tea in the morning, green tea in the evening. Lemon tea when I'm sick. Ginseng tea when I'm tired. Pear tea in the spring. Strawberry tea in summer. White tea in the fall. Peppermint tea in the winter. I like tea."
The response was less than enthusiastic. "…Anything else?"
"No."
"Oh," Wright sounded disappointed, and immediately Edgeworth regretted the matter-of-fact tone that he had taken in the conversation. There was nothing he could do to fix that, though, particularly since the two of them weren't speaking face-to-face.
"Any other questions, Wright?" Miles inquired, examining his flawless cuticles with slight disinterest.
"Uh…No. Thanks, Miles. 'Bye." The defense attorney hung up, leaving Miles Edgeworth alone once more with his new roommate. He slid his-cell phone back into his pocket, giving the mushroom an annoyed sneer. "Well, that could've gone better, couldn't it?"
The mushroom did not reply.
Phoenix stared at his phone for a moment before dropping it back on the counter. So Miles liked tea. Well, at least he had narrowed down his list of probable likes into one category. Right. So…it was winter. Peppermint tea, correct? It was a safe gift, though Phoenix imagined that Miles already had stockpiles of peppermint tea for the colder months. This gift required an excursion to Teavana.
The mall was packed, filled with last-minute shoppers like himself hurrying to buy presents for the people they had forgotten until now. The woman at the counter was less than helpful.
"Look, um, I need to get something new and interesting for a friend of mine. He likes tea, all different kinds. Are there any you'd recommend? Like, new ones? Nothing peppermint, he already has a lot of that. Nothing too expensive, either - my budget isn't that wide." The defense attorney looked pleadingly at the girl in the smock, who raised her eyebrow. "Look, buddy, I'm on my break," She retorted, smacking her gum noisily. Withholding the urge to object loudly in the middle of the store, Phoenix turned to the cashier. The young man smiled widely and asked him to wait a moment while he finished up with another customer. Knowing that there was nothing else he could do, Wright maundered aimlessly around the shop until the boy caught up with him.
Relieved to find someone willing to listen to his dilemma, Phoenix explained his problem. "Okay, so, I have a friend who likes tea a lot. He gets most of his teas from different countries, and has tried a whole bunch, so I don't know what to get him for Christmas. All he does is drink tea, and I'm not sure if there are any types he hasn't tried. Do you have anything new?" He begged, eyes wide and worried. The young man laughed, "You must be talking about Mr. Edgeworth, sir. He frequents the store every so often to try our newest flavours."
Wright was stunned, "You know Miles Edgeworth?" The youth shook his head, "Not well, sir, but he comes here a lot to buy his favourites and sample the new leaves."
"What's the newest thing that he hasn't tried?" Phoenix demanded, suddenly motivated.
The employee thought for a moment. "We got in a shipment of new leaves that I mixed into a popular flavour. Most people seem to enjoy it during the winter months, so it's selling really fast."
The defense attorney had brightened, seeing hope at the end of his tunnel. "What's it called?"
"Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl."
The irony was stifling. Phoenix felt the edges of his lips quirk in a smile. "I'll take a good few ounces of it, please."
The young man beamed, and they headed to the register to measure the proper amount. Once the purchase was bagged and handed over the counter, Phoenix leaned forward conspiratorially. "If Miles Edgeworth comes in here, don't let him try this tea or buy it. It has to be a complete secret, got it?" The Teavana employee nodded gravely, drawing his fingers across his mouth. "My lips are sealed, sir. You can count on me."
"Great, thanks!" Wright declared, straightening up and adjusting his grip on the bag of tea leaves. With a grateful smile and a short wave, the defense attorney ducked back into the throng of Christmas shoppers, eager to get home.
