Prompt: "Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one."
Character(s): Phoenix Wright, mentions of Kristoph Gavin
Originally Written: 12.31.2008
Notes: Major spoilers for AJ. Also, I'm not going in chronological order – at least, I attempt to do so, but I end up overlooking something I had written before that. So yes, forgive any mixups.

Phoenix Wright still considered himself a person who stood for justice. He refused to let Kristoph take that trait away from him as he reaped the benefits of his barring. Oh yes, Phoenix did see beyond that 'friendly' smile, but nobody else did. Apollo didn't, at least. But he couldn't blame the young lawyer; Gavin was a very convincing actor. Only a keen eye would be able to catch the act and see the script that ran behind his glazed eyes.

But there was something else, too. Phoenix knew that Kristoph was not the only one to blame.

Even though he went about his life as usual, he could feel the relentless darkness trying to consume him—the twilight of cold-hearted revenge. Phoenix would freely admit to himself that he'd have his revenge on Kristoph at any turn, no matter what it would take. Few things had taken priority over that task. Only Trucy and finding the means to survive and give his daughter the things he never had were above it.

But he wasn't about to admit to himself that in the back of his mind, he knew that he'd become exactly like Kristoph if he continued on this path. Maybe not as crazy, of course, but altogether sharing the same principles. Under the clever guise of 'justice,' Phoenix would continue drawing up the perfect revenge. And the guilt he would feel would be a small price to pay.