A/N: I do not own Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth, Detective Gumshoe, Ema Skye or Maya Fey; CAPCOM does.The plot, however, and Kaine and Umbrae are mine. :^)
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Events have come full circle as Miles realizes just what the connection between himself and Kaine Mayhew is. Kaine's reasons for kidnapping Phoenix are now crystal clear but the burning question of the hour is this: now that Miles has the knowledge that he has been searching for, has it come too late to save Phoenix?
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At last, chapter 7 is up! :^) Sorry its taken so long! Its nice to have one plot line wrapped up and the next will begin in chapter 8! :)
Be careful, Dr. Benson! You don't know who you're dealing with! The man does have courage, though, to stand up to those two. Dr. Benson is your average, elderly physician with a huge heart and concern for his patient. He's also a very good man and you know what they say about those who are good...
Poor Phoenix, alone in the dark with the monsters and no one to save him... things look really bleak right now.
We also know who is the seme in Kaine and Umbrae's relationship... and it isn't Umbrae! (I have a feeling that Kaine will end up regretting smacking Umbrae at some point since Umbrae isn't the type to forgive and forget, not by a long shot!)
As always, I hope that you enjoy this chapter and any comments or suggestions are welcome and appreciated! :)
Thank you, as always, to my readers who frequently read-and even re-read-my stories and those who have commented, read, reviewed, favourited/story alerted my stories and thanks also to those who have author alerted/favourite authored, as well! I appreciate it very much! I am glad that you are enjoying my stories and I hope that you will continue to enjoy them in the future! :)
Thank you to my beta, Midnight-hunter, for all your comments and insights! I really appreciate it! :) *Bonus thanks for suggesting the chapter title!*
Extra Special thanks to my beloved husband, DezoPenguin, for all your encouragement, love, advice, concern, support, nagging [when necessary] and for reigniting the fire within me to write! Love you, honey, and thanks!
Teen, male/male relationships, Suspense/Romance, Phoenix & Edgeworth
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My first memory on regaining consciousness was one in which angry voices were raised. Someone was shouting at someone else in a quite strident tone and the loudness of it was beginning to give me a headache.
Apparently the argument had begun some time before and was well seasoned by the time I finally was aware of the world around me. My whole body ached from the savage beating that had been inflicted on me by both Kaine and Umbrae and I tried to remain as still as I could since it hurt less that way although the smallest twitch sent another burst of pain throughout my body.
The voices became louder as the argument became increasingly heated and I wished that they would take the shouting elsewhere and let me nurse my wounds that they had so thoughtfully inflicted on me in peace.
"You stupid fool!" I heard a deep, booming voice yell and I knew that it was Kaine. "You bloody, bloody stupid fool! What were you thinking?!"
A smaller, more subdued voice tried to respond but was immediately cut off by Kaine's bombastic shouting. "I told you not to go too hard on him; it won't do to kill him, after all! In fact, it would mean the end of the game and the end of any chance for me to get justice for my brother!" I heard a sharp, smacking noise that sounded like something meeting flesh followed by a loud gasp of pain and surprise. "You stupid, stupid fool!"
I clenched my teeth as the latest in a series of painful bursts raced through me, tears springing to my eyes as I writhed in agony on the cold ground. My mouth felt swollen five times more than normal, a small ribbon of bloody saliva trickling from the split left hand corner and I coughed, bringing up another mouthful of blood.
Kaine wasn't finished with berating his colleague yet and his angry voice reverberated throughout my prison.
"How could you be so stupid?! How many times have I told you that he must be kept alive?! How many more times will I have to tell you before it finally sinks into that thick and muddled head of yours?!"
Kaine sounded very angry with Umbrae and this was quite a surprise for me since I thought the two to be so in tune with each other that arguments either didn't happen or they were very rare. As it turned out, I was wrong although the knowledge I gained here would serve me well in the future.
I turned my head quickly, ignoring the agonizing spasm that raced through me as I spat it out onto the ground, my entire body one large mass of twisting, writhing agony.
Oh, God... Make it stop... Please... MAKE. IT. STOP!
Despite my best efforts, a agonized moan escaped through my clenched lips, my head slowly rolling from side to side, my eyes tightly closed. Pain pierced me like a spear in my most vulnerable parts and, although I now knew that I wasn't dead, I sure wished I was.
As the argument reached a new, shrill crescendo, I found myself wondering just how much damage had been inflicted; by the way I felt, I had to think it was considerable. I couldn't even move without a wave of pain pulsing throughout my body and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep myself from screaming. I could taste blood where I had bitten my lip to keep the sound muffled since I didn't want to alert either Kaine or Umbrae to the fact that I was now conscious, fearing a fresh wave of beatings.
Behind my swollen, closed eyes, I could see a face and it seemed familiar, somehow. The piercing grey eyes that shone from it had a look of tender compassion and love and I reached out with a mental hand, trying to touch that lovely face, drowning in those grey eyes, my breath catching in wonder in my throat...
I had no idea that I had actually lifted my hand and that the clinking of the manacles around my wrist had somehow managed to make it through the din where the two men heard it. I wasn't even aware that the voices had stopped-I was too busy trying to touch that beautiful and achingly familiar face-until I saw the blurry outline of Kaine's face coming close to mine, an unholy look of glee on his craggy features.
I shuddered, flinching as another painful wave crashed through my head and I bit down hard on my lip to keep from crying out; I could feel a small bead of blood trickle from beneath my bottom lip and travel slowly down my chin. Once the spasm had passed, I opened bleary, unfocused eyes to see another shadow standing slightly behind and to the right of him and I surmised that Umbrae had also come to see what all the commotion was although, to my knowledge, there hadn't been any. I feebly tried to shield my eyes as the piercing light from the flashlight that Kaine held tightly in his hand sliced across my face in a wide arc.
"Well, well... so you're finally awake, Mr. Wright," he said with satisfaction and I could hear Umbrae's huge sigh of relief from somewhere behind him. "Believe me when I say that we are both glad of it!"
Had I the ability to speak I would have scoffed at this seeming piece of drivel but, for some odd reason, I believed him although I wasn't really sure why. There seemed to be a note of sincerity in his voice and the relieved look on Umbrae's face gave some credence, at least, to his words.
I thought that I'd heard another voice in the background that sounded lower and agitated but I didn't have much time to think about it before my eyelids fluttered shut a few moments later, slipping back into the encompassing darkness, that beautiful face once again coming into my mind...
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"Mr. Edgeworth?" I heard a soft voice say and I looked up to see Ema Skye standing there, her hands twisted into knots.
"Yes, Ms. Skye?" I replied, shaking off mental cobwebs and firmly re-encompassing myself in the present. I took off my glasses and rubbed my red-rimmed eyes tiredly, the file I had on my lap tipping precariously to the left. "What can I do for you?"
She hesitated for a moment, indecision plain on her face before she answered.
"We think that you should take a break. You're working much too hard... and it isn't good for either you or the investigation." She bit her lip, her fingers knotted together. "You need to rest or you'll burn yourself out and what good will you be to Mr. Wright then?"
My eyebrow rose. This was surprising to hear, particularly from her.
"Really?" My voice was as hard as flint as I stared back at her, my eyes narrowing. I could feel my temper beginning to rise but I fought hard to quell it and managed to tamp it down. "I would have thought that I would be a better judge of that than you."
She flinched noticeably but stood her ground.
"Regardless, Mr. Edgeworth, we think you need to take some time off in order to..."
"We?" I interrupted, annoyance plain in my voice and she flushed. "Who, exactly, are 'we'?" I already knew who she was referring to but, in my opinion, she was taking liberties that I felt she had no right to and it annoyed me immensely. I determined, then and there, to put a stop to it. I appreciated their concern but they needed me in on this investigation since I knew who it was that we were dealing with.
"Detective Gumshoe, Maya and I," she replied, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
"Is that so?" I looked at her, my eyes glinting dangerously with anger and she took an involuntary step backward, her eyes downcast. "I do appreciate yours and the others' concern, Ms. Skye, but I don't agree with that assessment and I should think that I am in a much better position than either of you three to make a judgment call on when I'm tired and when I need to rest."
My eyebrow rose with the last word. I hoped that the rebuke would sink in and I thought it had when I she flushed. Having made my feelings known on the subject, I decided to leave it at that.
"But, Mr. Edgeworth-" she began before I cut her off with a hard look but, undeterred, she took a deep breath and tried again. "You need to rest! If you collapse, who's to lead us then?"
I rolled my eyes upward to look at the ceiling, mentally counting to thirty five times, trying to cool my steadily rising temper. It wouldn't do to kill her, after all.
"But..."
I know that this is only prompted by their concern for me but this is going too far!
"No buts." I waved her away with a dismissive twist of my hand. "This conversation is over." I crooked an eyebrow at her, my lips pressed into a thin, angry line. "Unless you have something else you want to get off your chest?"
She shook her head mutely.
"Good." I went back to looking at the file that was spread out over my desk, my eyes burning from the effort but I refused to take a rest. Kaine had Phoenix and I had better damned well find out where before something else happened. I might not be so lucky next time...
As it turned out, my prescience was indeed to prove rather prophetic for there would be another death, one so horrific it gave me nightmares for months afterward.
There was no time for hesitation since the monsters were loose and on a rampage... and we had to do all we could in order to stop them.
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I slowly came back to the world again after what seemed like an eternity in the dark. A burst of fresh pain ripped through me, so intense that I barely noticed when someone tentatively touched my cheek with gentle fingertips.
I hissed in pain, my teeth clenching together so hard that it made me look like a grinning death's-head and jerked my head away to the left, sending yet another wave of agony throughout my body. Try as I might, I couldn't completely keep the muffled scream that came from between my gritted teeth, my fingers clenching so hard that my nails dug bloody moon-shaped welts into my palms while tears poured down my face.
"Easy... easy there, lad," a low pitched, soothing voice said tenderly in a thick Scottish burr. "Take it easy and just lie still for a little while. You've been badly hurt and you're going to need to lie quietly for the next few days. I'll do what I can to make you comfortable but you must remain quiet. Do you think you could do that for me?"
I nodded, once, crying out as another wave of pain flowed through me and this one was the worst yet. I couldn't help the convulsing, jerky movements of my body as it twitched and danced on the ground, my arms flailing in all directions. I felt a firm hand push gently, but firmly, on my shoulder to try and restrict my movements as much as possible but it proved to be a difficult venture when I was flopping around like a fish out of water.
"Easy, boy, easy!" I heard the Scottish voice command. "You need to lie still in order for me to help you! I can't help you if you're flopping about like that!"
I screamed in agony as I tried to do as the voice commanded me but I couldn't. I was in the grip of convulsions, my back arching back so far it looked like a bow pulled back and notched with an arrow.
"Damn it!" the man swore and I could hear some commotion in the background that sounded like someone opening a bag and rooting around inside to find something. "Don't just stand there like dolts; help me or we'll lose him!"
I heard twin gasps of surprise coming from somewhere in the dark and then the sound of scrambling feet rushing over to where the Scottish man and I were at. I marveled for a brief moment at his courage in speaking so forthrightly to Kaine and Umbrae which was then lost in a sea of pain.
The world around me dissolved and I was only aware of the burning agony that flowed through me like a tidal wave. I dimly felt hands on my arms and I struggled to break free of them but all my efforts were in vain for they held me fast in their iron grip.
Let... me...go... Please...!
"Easy now! Treat him gently for God's sake; he's not a damned side of beef! Damn it! Are you two mush for brains deaf?! I said TREAT HIM GENTLY!!!!"
I could hear twin grumblings that were instantly silenced by the Scottish voice but I could sense the impotent rage that was lurking beneath the surface of both my captors. I only hoped that the Scottish man wouldn't be in danger for defying them.
I could feel my sleeve being rolled up, something wet brushing lightly on my skin and then felt the prick of a needle going into my arm and I redoubled my efforts to get away that were, again, in vain. I felt something flowing into my arm and the needle was withdrawn with a sigh of satisfaction from the dark shape that loomed over me. I could barely make out a kindly, round face with a shock of white hair, hazel eyes and bushy eyebrows in the dim light provided by the flashlight that looked down at me, concern plainly written all over his countenance.
"Lad, are you all right?" I heard the voice ask and I shook my head slowly, since I couldn't find my voice. The something that had been injected into me was soothing and I was having a tough time staying conscious.
I could see the face leaning over mine through my half-open eyes, gentle fingers opening them slowly and peering into them. His face was a mix of concern and disgust, his mouth twisted into an angry sneer of distaste and then stood up, his voice ringing loudly in the darkness.
"What the hell did you two animals do to him?!" he demanded, his voice liberally laced with equal measures of scorn and disgust. "There's no way that he could have received injuries that severe from just a fall! What did you do?!"
I could hear someone-Kaine, I thought-mumbling something, with Umbrae chiming in with more stuttered words. I could hear the Scottish man's reply; it wasn't at all complimentary and was well seasoned with invective. I could all but see both of them cringing under it.
Don't... don't... do... that... They'll... kill... kill you.... if you... if you... do... I thought desperately, trying to turn over but my body felt like it weighed a ton and I was dizzy as well. I turned over but only very slowly, every nerve in my body singing with pain. My mouth opened and closed but no sound emerged. Please... don't... make them... angry... Please... don't leave me... here.... alone.... in the dark... with... with... THEM...
"How could you two do something so horrible to another human being?! My God, rabid dogs are much more merciful to their prey than you two monsters were to this poor lad!"
Stunned silence greeted this pronouncement and I cringed at the backlash I knew would come.
"How... dare you?!" Kaine hissed through what I assumed were clenched teeth and I could hear Umbrae echoing his outrage at the man's indictment of their characters. "How... dare you, you pompous... ass!"
I heard a disdainful sniff.
"Call me what you like," the man retorted, his shadow very close to Kaine's, his angry voice deceptively soft, "but if I find out you've been using this poor lad as a punching bag again, I'll go straight to the police. Do I make myself clear?!"
"Perfectly," I heard Kaine say stiffly after a long, strained silence. I cringed at the implication in his voice that the other man didn't seem to catch.
Please... don't leave me here in the dark... with... the monsters... Take... take me... with you... please... out of the dark...
"You'd better," the Scottish man warned and I could hear the outrage in his tone that neither Kaine nor Umbrae could have failed to catch, "or I'll not hesitate to report you both."
I could hear the indignation in Umbrae's voice as he sputtered something but I heard Kaine whisper an aside and he immediately fell ominously silent; I could feel the tension in the air crackling with unspoken threats and counter-threats and I hoped that the Scottish man hadn't bitten off more than he could chew.
I had a bad feeling, however, and it only grew stronger as time went on. Things would not work out well for the kind, Scottish man as I would find out to my horror and distress later on.
"I'll be back tomorrow to check on him. I'd better find him untouched... or else..." The unspoken threat hovered in the air.
I heard Kaine snort in derision but there was something in his underlying tone, some sort of hidden menace that instantly put me on my guard. The Scottish man seemed oblivious to any change in Kaine's voice that trumpeted a warning to tread very carefully around these two.
I couldn't figure out why he seemed so oblivious to the very real threat Kaine and Umbrae possessed; he either didn't know, didn't care or he wasn't afraid of them; perhaps it might have been a combination of all three and I wondered where he was getting this kind of courage from.
I knew better. I wanted to cry out to him, to tell him to be careful, to be wary of both Kaine and Umbrae since they were very dangerous men, but the words stuck in my throat and, as hard as I tried, I couldn't seem to get them out.
"On my word of honor, we won't touch him," Kaine replied calmly and I could all but see those narrowed eyes glinting dangerously along with Umbrae's emerald-greens whom I assumed was standing either right next to him or slightly behind him to his right. "We... promise, Dr. Benson."
No... don't listen to them, Dr. Benson! Don't listen to them...! They'll... they'll...
"I'll hold you boys to that. I'll be back tomorrow to check on him and the day after that if necessary." There was some clicking and scuffling noises in the background for a few minutes before silence returned in the dark, the light from the flashlight receding into the darkness along with Kaine, Umbrae and Dr. Benson.
Come... back... Please, come... back...!
As the light slowly dimmed the further away they got from me, I mewled in terror, reaching out my hand to empty air, dangling helplessly before it crashed to the ground, pain flowing through my wracked body like a tidal wave. I screamed in agony, my cries lost in the uncaring darkness that was my prison.
Don't leave... me...! Please!
My one hope for salvation... and he was gone with my captors. My prayers for deliverance had gone unheeded.
Don't leave... don't leave me... here... in... in the... dark...with... THEM... Please... don't leave me... with... the monsters...
I rolled over on the hard, uncaring ground, the black abyss opening up to receive me as I sank once more into merciful oblivion, those beautiful grey eyes there to greet me once more in the dark...
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I rubbed my eyes tiredly as I stared at the file for what seemed to be the millionth time that afternoon, a cup of darjeeling tea sitting placidly on a saucer next to me on my desk. I'd read, and re-read, it over for what seemed a thousand times and I was no nearer to an answer than I was when I'd started.
I sighed as I picked up the dainty pink china tea cup, taking a tentative sip and swallowing the fragrant tea with gusto after the first taste of it had exploded over my taste buds.
Well... that's one good thing that's happened today, I mused, taking a larger swallow. Its amazing how a good cup of tea can make someone's day a little brighter. I looked down at the files spread out over a good portion of my desk, grimacing a little as I did so. Too bad the file isn't one of them...
Ms. Fey, Ms. Skye and Detective Gumshoe had gone to the local burger joint for lunch while I elected to stay behind and work on the files, promising them that I would eat later. After the three of them had ambled out of my office, closing the door quietly behind them, I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest and closing my eyes.
Ms. Skye was right; I did need rest but I couldn't afford to, the picture on my cell phone screen once again pushing forward to the forefront of my mind. I didn't want a repeat of that because I doubted that Phoenix would be able to survive a second vicious beating and I wanted to make sure that I didn't put him unwittingly into harm's way as I had before. I wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.
There is a limit to what the human body can take, after all and I'd rather not put that to the test again if I can possibly avoid it!
I groaned as I slowly straightened up, uncrossing my arms and rubbing my eyes with weary fingers, staring at the papers spread out across the top of my desk.
Time to get back to work...
The words seemed to run together in one large, blurry lump of text. I sighed and rubbed my eyes again, blinking a few times to clear my vision and reluctantly picked up the page that was lying on top of the pile, forcing myself to start reading again.
After awhile, I felt like sweeping my arm across the pile of papers on my desk, my frustration level increasing. There really wasn't anything here that was of any help-with the sole exception of a newspaper clipping detailing a criminal's trial, sentencing and subsequent execution-to us presently and, had I not remembered that I was sitting in my office, I would have screamed.
I clenched my hands together into tight fists, pressing them against my temples. There was something in here I had overlooked that was very important and I couldn't find it. Something I had seen in this file many years earlier had triggered a memory from my first years as a prosecuting attorney and it was in this pile of papers somewhere, I knew it was.
It should be in here, damn it! Where the hell did it go?! I shuffled impatiently through the pile of papers again and, after half an hour of searching, I eventually discovered what I was looking for.
Finally!
I scanned the paper quickly for information and then looked at the picture that was clipped to its edge. Thinly pressed lips, hard and flinty agate eyes set in a square face stared stonily back at me from across the years and I sat for a long time in silence, wondering when I had seen that particular face before and where I had had occasion to meet this individual.
After some time, I suddenly sat up with a jolt, remembering where it was that I had met this man before... and on what occasion.
"Oh, my God," I murmured softly, understanding slowly beginning to spread through me, "at last, I've found the answer. After all this time, I've found the answer I was looking for!"
I looked at the name at the top of the file again: Mayhew, Neill. This was the connection that I had been searching for, the connection that made sense!
I was right... This is what connects Phoenix to Kaine, if only through me!
I slumped back in my chair, my hands shaking slightly. The connection between the photograph in the file and the reason why Kaine had kidnapped Phoenix in the first place were now crystal clear as were his venomous hissings about revenge, justice, and retribution; it also explained why Kaine had chosen the role of Nemesis, as well. I shivered at the implications as I mentally tied all of it together.
It all makes sense now... It was so simple! Why didn't I realize this sooner?! If only I'd...
I thrust that thought away with a vengeance. Self-recrimination wouldn't do me any good now and there was no time to waste on feeling sorry for myself for not making the connection earlier. We had to save Phoenix and time was running out.
I fished blindly in my pocket for my cell phone in order to call my associates and I thought of how a man's past actions can come back to haunt him and how true this was in my case. I'd not had contact with either man for many years and I wished that neither of them had popped back into my life, even if one was only in a photograph. It was the other, living man that I was concerned about.
As I quickly dialed Ms. Skye's cell phone number with shaking, nervous fingers, put the phone to my ear and waited impatiently for her to pick up, I only hoped that this revelation hadn't come too late to save him.
