Chapter 7 ~ The Exposed Turnabout ~


"I'm back, Nick!"

"Oh, welcome back Maya," Phoenix nodded at the spirit medium and turned his attention back to some paperwork he was at least trying to complete.

I really wanted to take this case though.

Phoenix had always had a strong belief in justice, so when a needy case presented itself, he would always take it up without question. This case in particular had fascinated him..

"Still doing that paperwork? You didn't even take a lunch break though did you?" Maya said incredulously. "Wow Nick, you must be really into this case!"

Phoenix smiled wryly. "When I set eyes on a case that needs all the help it can get, I just can't help myself Maya!"

"In other words.. Hopeless cases?"

Ack. Yeah she's totally right!

Phoenix laughed. "Yeah, I probably shouldn't expect my client to pay me either!"

Maya rolled her eyes and sighed. "You're totally going to be a hobo by the time you're 30 Nick."

"By the looks of it - yes."

"So tell me more about this case.."

Phoenix thumbed through his papers, looking for the first page. He took it out and began with the facts he'd initially understood.

"My client is man with DID."

"Pardon?"

"DID - Dissociative identity disorder. He's got er, multiple personalities. He was alleged to have committed a murder in the early hours of yesterday morning. He was found mentally unstable, in the past, he was diagnosed with DID. Both his personalities even have different names.." Phoenix reached for another profile among his paperwork to read out the names. "Gregg Heywood, and Rowland Walker."

"So.. er, which one is your client?"

"Both. I personally believe that neither personalities committed the murder."

"And do you have evidence for this claim?" Maya asked, sceptical.

"So far I have zero leads," Phoenix admitted, putting a hand behind his neck and grinning, nervously.

Maya stared at Phoenix, incredulously, mouth wide open. "How can you take a stance like that with no evidence? Isn't it obvious that your client is mentally unstable, therefore more likely to commit the murder?"

Phoenix had to blink a few times to process what Maya was saying properly.

"Point taken Maya, but I'm determined to find the truth on this one. It just doesn't add up!" Phoenix glared at the paperwork, giving it a slap with the top of his hand. He grimaced. "Oh, and to make things worse, the Gregg personality actually admitted he committed the crime."

Maya rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in a huff. "Right. Nick, prepare to go into the courtroom unprepared - once again!"

Phoenix put a hand to his forehead in mock distress. "What a life."

Crossing over to join him behind his desk, Maya patted his shoulder lightly. "Good luck. I don't think I want to be on the defence bench with you this time Nick," she said, very gravely. "Good luck, soldier."

Traitor!

Thump thump thump

And this annoying feeling of disappointment and my heart can go to hell too!

"Only joking Nick, you know I'd never leave you in a bind! I have a feeling you'll be needing Mia this time round again y'know."

Rolling his eyes and groaning, Phoenix leant back in his office chair and turned his attention to his computer. He reached in his drawers and searched around for his secret stash of potato chips. Maya on the other hand, walked over to the bookcase filled to the brim with untouched law books, to grab her secret stash of Steel Samurai comic volumes. Phoenix switched the monitor of the computer on, only to find that the computer was already - on. A pure white Internet Explorer page was maximised and no tabs were open.

"Hey Maya, you left the computer on. You were on it yesterday, right?"

Maya blinked. She blinked again, as the color drained from her face rapidly. Her comics dropped to the floor. Phoenix eyed the comics littering the floor curiously.

"Uh I did? Oh crap." Maya laughed nervously and began to edge slowly towards Phoenix.

"It's no problem Maya, I wanted to use it anyway. I kinda wish you shut it off properly though, because you wasted lots of electricity," Phoenix sighed, rolling his eyes. "Be more careful next time." Turning to address her properly, Phoenix suddenly realised Maya was right in front of him, giving him another grave look.

This girl looks like she's about to throw herself off the Prosecutor Office building..!

"What an earth is wrong with you Maya?" Phoenix blurted out, in a voice louder than intended. "Surely you didn't do anything to break the computer or anything.."

Did I hit the nail on the head?

Maya gave him a nervous laugh. "Ahahah. Lemme go on the computer for a minute.."

Moving quickly, she attempted to seize the mouse from Phoenix. Phoenix managed to dodge her in time though, but was taken off guard by her attack.

"W-Wait Maya what are you-!"

After a brief scramble of arms, Phoenix pushed against his desk to smoothly skid across the floor in the opposite direction of the desk before Maya could reach out again and take the mouse. Maya, breathless, ceased her pursuit. She wasn't really in the mood for going on a full out brawl over a computer mouse. She straightened up, and glared Phoenix instead.

"Maya what on earth got into you? Is there something I shouldn't know?" Phoenix pressed, slightly annoyed. He wheeled his chair back to his computer desk, and placed the mouse tentatively on the desk again. Maya paid no attention to it anymore though, she was gazing at the computer, cheeks slightly puffed out.

Only one way to find out eh?

"Shall we see what Internet Explorer Web History can provide for answers?"

Before Maya could protest, Phoenix grabbed the monitor and keyboard and spun his office chair so that the back was facing Maya. He quickly clicked around to access the Web History and gaped at what he found. Maya, behind him, merely face palmed.

W-w-w-w-what is this …

"MAYA. What an earth have you done?" He turned back to glare at Maya, helplessly.

Maya, who was looking very grave until this moment, suddenly burst into a fit of laugher.

"Nick lighten up would you? It was a joke, don't take it so seriously!"

Holy shit.. A joke? Registering me to a dating site and pretending to be me?

"Just wait till you scroll dow-"

"Y-y-you put me as gay! Under my orientation? Holy crap Maya?" Phoenix was glued to the computer screen, trying to comprehend the Phoenix Wright that was displayed for all to see.

I'm looking for a partner of gay orientation - preferably in his mid 20's, with a nice accent, nice smile, gorgeous light colored hair and looking for a bit of fun! Plz contact me if you're interested. ;D

….

A moment of silence enveloped the room.

"No words Maya. You're totally dead for this. TOTALLY." Phoenix picked up his mug of tea just to slam it back down on the table in anger. It splashed the desk. "DEAD MAYA. DEAD!"

Maya stuck her tongue out. "I'll be honest, I thought you'd be more mad than that. Come on Nick, you can do better than that!"

This girl makes me wanna burst into tears and hide in a corner.

Phoenix scowled at her, turning back to the computer. "I think I've lost half my dignity here."

"Oh sorry Nick, I didn't think you were opposed to being classified as gay."

"I wouldn't if I was, but I'm not!" Phoenix protested, voice shaking slightly. "Damniiiiit Maya! If you really wanted your revenge for yesterday…. at the ..least you could've done it with my interests and reputation at heart!"

That kinda defeats the point of revenge but still!

Maya rolled her eyes and reached out to grab a potato chip from Phoenix's open packet. "Well its hardly done any damage. I mean I only put it up yesterday. Come on, no one will have been on your profile between then and now."

..That actually hurts to be honest.

"W-well delete it then? I'm waiting Maya!" Phoenix slammed his hand on his desk, successfully initiating a satisfying response from Maya - she flinched.

Ah the good ol' desk slamming technique. Remind me not to bother slamming a mug next time.

"Fiiiiiine. But only if you buy me more burgers for lunch tomorrow. Please? You totally owe me."

"WHATEVER! Just delete it!"

Smirking, Maya walked round the desk to help him. Phoenix placed the computer set on the table and sat back to make sure she deleted the profile swiftly - and sensibly.

"…For laughs, can we just check out who accessed your profile before we wipe it?"

Maya fluttered her eyelashes at Phoenix, presenting a set of puppy eyes in front of the defence attorney.

Oh boy…

"Tell me Maya. What would checking who accessed my profile possibly prove? It would show me potential gay partners I wouldn't be interested in - right?"

"Oh come on Nick, you can't seriously say you're not curious! You never know, you might just see your match!"

Sureeee. More like no way in hell.

"Oh whatever. I'll check for my benefit then."

More like your amusement!

Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Do as you like Maya. Just hurry up and delete that wretched profile as soon as you can!"

Maya nodded, rolling her eyes at Phoenix's attempts to hide how desperate he was, and clicked the "Visitor History" of Phoenix's account. Her eyes swept the page, and locked onto one name that stood out more than the rest. For one reason only. Both Maya and Phoenix knew the man very, very well.

"OH MY GOD NICK! Look at who's here!"

Phoenix, wearily turned towards the monitor, uninterested. "I told you Maya I don't give a damn about gay men-"

Phoenix gasped at the name his eyes found on the computer monitor.

I'm dreaming right? Tell me I'm dreaming. What in the world was Miles Edgeworth doing on a dating site?

Phoenix grabbed the monitor and brought it closer to his face, to see if the words would distort and transform into something else. He was really hoping that would happen as well.

I guess I'm not dreaming then..

He returned the monitor to the desk, and turned his head away, almost in self-denial. He bit his lip in frustration.

Ok. So Miles Edgeworth accessed my profile. And he saw I was displayed with gay orientation. And he probably, well, most likely got the wrong ideas about me. Perfect, that's all I need.

Phoenix's thoughts drifted towards the snippet of text he'd read from the profile Maya had created.

"..Maya. Read that snippet you typed out, out again?" Phoenix requested, hoarsely.

Maya complied, and after doing so, Phoenix groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"Maya, did you have any idea at all that that description matches a certain male named Edgeworth completely?"

Maya blinked several times. The color drained from her face - again. Her raised her hands to her mouth in surprise.

Looks like she didn't realise at all!

"Oh gosh! I wasn't thinking of that at all.. You see, I based that on the newest Copper Samurai actor-"

"Maya take responsibility for this! Edgeworth must've totally got the wrong idea here!" Phoenix protested, raising his voice over Maya's squeak.

And I don't give a damn about your obsession with Metallic Samurai actors! Gimme a break!

Maya shook her head, sighing. She stepped back slowly. "If anything, you would be the best to make the phone call to Mr Edgeworth. It was your profile after all. Good luck! I'm off to the burger bar again."

Before Phoenix could react, she swiped a few dollar notes lying defenceless on Phoenix's desk and ran out of the room, quickly. Phoenix had barely opened his mouth to yell OBJECTION!

This is a complete and utter mess. She didn't even bother to delete my profile either! Damnit.

Scowling furiously, Phoenix grabbed the mouse and roughly navigated to find the satisfying Terminate Account button. It took a while, but when he finally found it, clicking it felt like a huge weight was off his shoulders. Except it wasn't, because the Miles Edgeworth problem still lingered. A flash back of last night entered Phoenix's head, the shower scene, and the events of earlier in the day, the flustered Miles after being on the computer. It all clicked.

Now I wish to god that I didn't do what I did in the shower last night. He's totally going to get the wrong idea about me, if he hasn't already! And he'll totally think I'm lying about my feelings for Maya!

For some reason, Phoenix hated the idea of Miles thinking he was being mislead by him. He had already developed an unbreakable bond of trust between the man, despite their differences and their petty squabbles. Despite it all, Miles was still one of the most dependable friends he could ever wish for.

And I totally blew it last night with my silly antics to get revenge..

Phoenix reached hesitantly towards his phone to scoop it up. He brushed his fingertips against the numbered keys in deliberation. The clock on the wall indicated that the time was just after 3 in the afternoon.

Surely he can't be too busy now. Surely he can spare a few minutes of his precious time so he can talk to me.

Bracing himself, Phoenix leafed through his contacts book to find the name: Miles Edgeworth.

Beep Beep

Beep Beep

"Miles Edgeworth speaking."

A gruff voice answered on the other side of the line. Phoenix could tell how weary this man was from just the tenor of his voice.

Great now I'm even more nervous! What if I interrupted something?

"H-Hey there Edgeworth, it's Wright - Phoenix Wright."

"…"

Uh, awkward much?

"Hello Wright." Miles gave an exaggerated sigh. Phoenix felt his own skin crawl in irritation, and his eyebrows scrunch in frustration.

"Surely you could give me a better greeting than that? You're acting like I'm a bearer of bad news."

"Yes, you are "Wright" - you are the bad news."

OUCH. Very funny Edgeworth.

"Is there anything specific you wanted? Apart from help with your shower. We both know how much trouble you have with dealing with showers on your own. Especially when they're filled with white shower gel and thick bubbles.."

Oh my god, this man is so…

"That was a joke, Edgeworth. Don't take it so seriously." Phoenix said through gritted teeth. He could sense the demonic smirk plastered all over Miles' face, despite him being on the other side of the line.

"Well it was far from being anything of substantial humour to me Wright. Perhaps you should choose your target audience with more care next time." Miles replied, coolly.

"Edgeworth I-"

"Perhaps you should attempt to target someone who's actually interested in what you like to insinuate.."

"Edgeworth.."

"And in addition, be so kind as to leave me alon-"

"EDGEWORTH. I'M-NOT-GAY!"

After shouting this down the line with as much intensity as he could muster, Phoenix slammed the phone back on the receiver. Fuming, he slammed his desk in irritation for good measure.

Sometimes I don't even know what to think with this… annoying… guy! Half the time he looks out for me, the other half he hates on me!

After exhaling and inhaling repeatedly, trying to calm down his hammering pulse, Phoenix lowered himself onto his chair again. After a few minutes of intense breathing exercises, he put his head in his hands, and then began to regret his actions - immensely.

If anything, I probably made things worse. Well, fuck that.

Sighing, he turned back to the paperwork he was previously tackling. Hoping that at best, it would be a suitable distraction. Phoenix sifted through his paperwork miserably.

I can't concentrate at all though. This is killing me.

His eyes drifted down to the bottom of the text heavy page he was holding.

Something. Anything. Humour me.

Phoenix's thoughts froze when he read a single name that informed him who the Prosecutor for the case was. Moaning, Phoenix face palmed. His face turned beet red as he realised who he was facing in court tomorrow morning.

Edgeworth. Why are you everywhere lately?