More Than You Think You Are


Chapter 4:

Let's just try this again.


Edgeworth refused to park in front of the house and went around the corner and up the street. Phoenix made an exasperated noise but didn't even try to argue—his face hurt so much.

"I've changed my mind," Edgeworth said suddenly and clamped his hands on the steering wheel of the parked car.

"Let's go, Edgeworth," Phoenix said, "We came all the way here—you can at least say hi."

"I'll send an e-mail when I get back to my flat—"

"Fine… But you can't leave unless you answer one question."

Edgeworth was frowning at the windshield, but his stormy irises slid to the corner of his eyes to gaze sidelong at Phoenix.

"Okay? You'll answer me?"

"The more you hesitate the less willing I am to do so."

"Be honest, Edgeworth," Phoenix tried to look determined despite the cast on his nose and the dark bruises under his eyes, "Why don't you want to be related to me?"

Edgeworth let his hands slide from the steering wheel and he sighed before turning his head to look at Phoenix directly.

"That's not… I'm not upset that I'm your brother—in fact I wish I'd known much sooner."

Phoenix relaxed a little and smiled as much as his damaged face would let him.

"Me too," he said.

"I only just…" Edgeworth trailed off, something Phoenix hadn't expected. He waited, but Edgeworth gave no indication he was going to start speaking again.

"I mean, it's weird," Phoenix said, "Especially to find out like we did—and all of a sudden. But I think it's cool."

"I've always wanted a brother," Edgeworth said poking at buttons on the console and moving the vents. His voice was low and barely audible, "or you know… any family…"

Phoenix frowned at him. He sort of felt like hugging Edgeworth, or smacking him for getting all angsty again and feeling sorry for himself. He crossed his arms instead.

"I remember, when we were in school," he said and his own voice sounded loud following Edgeworth's admission, "and your dad used to come pick you up from school in that long black car—"

"The Lincoln," Edgeworth muttered, as if it was important.

"Yeah," Phoenix continued, "I used to think he was so cool."

"Dad was cool," Edgeworth said. Phoenix looked at him and smiled a little. Edgeworth hadn't used the possessive. Edgeworth was still poking at the vent near the driver window and had his head turned away.

"I used to wish he was my dad," Phoenix said.

Edgeworth shifted in his seat and was facing forward again so that Phoenix could see his profile. He was staring impassively at the steering wheel.

"He is your dad," Edgeworth said.

Phoenix didn't know where it came from, but a heavy sob escaped him and he could feel tears spill over his cheeks. His hand jerked to cover his face and he accidently banged himself on the nose.

"AHH! OWW!"


Edgeworth didn't know what to do. Wright was staring out of the window trying to pretend that he hadn't just burst into tears.

(Rule four oh three. Excluding relevant evidence for prejudice…)

They'd been running in his head all day. He hadn't felt this nervous about anything since he was a kid.

(…confusion… waste of time… or other reasons…)

It seemed like Wright was done talking.

(The court may exclude relevant evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed…)

Edgeworth could think of nothing else. He stared at his friend—his brother.

(…is substantially outweighed by a danger of one or more of the following…)

He started the car.

(…unfair prejudice…)

He let the car idle a moment.

(…confusing the issues, misleading the jury…)

He put his hand on the gearshift, but balked again when Wright shifted in his seat.

(…undue delay…)

He put his foot on the clutch and pushed down sharply.

(…wasting time…)

He put the car into gear.

(…confusing the issues…)

And eased her into the road. He eased off of the clutch and pressed the gas pedal.

(…misleading the jury…)

He pressed the clutch and shifted again.

(…undue delay… wasting time…)

Edgeworth drove around the block completely.

(...or needlessly presenting cumulative evidence.)

Wright was staring silently out of the window. He seemed contemplative.

(Rule four oh four…)

Wright must have longed for a father, the same way he'd longed for a mother.

(Character Evidence…)

Edgeworth parked in front of the house Wright had indicated earlier.

(Crimes or Other Acts…)

He stared. Wright didn't move.

(AY. Character Evidence…)

He parked the car.

(One… Prohibited Uses…)

It idled for a moment.

(Evidence of a person's character or character trait…)

Then it stalled out. Wright seemed to notice that.

(…is not admissible to prove that…)

Edgeworth pumped the clutch and shifted into neutral.

(…on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character or trait…)

They were stopping here anyway.

(Two… Exceptions for a Defendant…)

Edgeworth pulled the keys out of the ignition apprehensively.

(…or a Victim…)

He hesitated. Then tapped Wright in the arm.

(…or a Victim…)

Wright looked at him.

(…in a Criminal Case.)

"Let's just get this over with," Edgeworth said.


"Nick," Mom said, "You guys got in later than I—what happened to your face?"

Phoenix only turned so that she could see Edgeworth in the porch light. He stared at her solemnly. She put a hand over her mouth and scrunched up her eyes like she was going to cry.

"Can we do this inside?" Phoenix didn't know why it suddenly bothered him so much.

He shoved past his mother into the house and glared at them. She was reaching her arms out at Edgeworth and he was staring at her like she was a crazy person.

"Miles," Mom said, "I missed you so much."

Phoenix felt his ire rise. Why is he upset? At least he gets to hug his new parent. (He better hug her too…)


The sound of cutlery on ceramic was almost deafening in the small dining area. Phoenix didn't look up from his plate—he didn't feel like talking.

Edgeworth sat back in his chair and mixed everything around. He didn't seem to be eating anything. Great.

Mom was watching them. Her nose was red and so were her eyes. She had a crumpled bit of tissue in her hand. She watched them wistfully, with her head resting in her hand.

"You're not hungry, Miles," Oh what? Phoenix didn't like the sound of it—the familiarity.

"…but if the prosecution does not comply…" Edgeworth was murmuring very faintly under his breath. He looked at Mom and took a bite and went right on murmuring about witnesses or something.

Phoenix glared at him surreptitiously and wondered how he never noticed just how special Edgeworth was…


A/N: Thanks for reading! Review! Tell me how much you hated this mopey chapter so I can feel even better about the cute one planned next!

(If you don't Edgeworth will sue you…)

Of course Edgeworth has the Federal Rules of Evidence memorized.

UPDATED Jun 2015 – Again minor edits to clarify POVs and clean up some stuff.