Iris/Phoenix

Reclaim

"Can we have a moment?" Phoenix asked the bailiff, who nodded, leaving him and Iris alone in the defendant lobby.

Phoenix pulled Iris into an awkward hug, uncertain of how to proceed. There had been something between them once, right? Or had it all been a delusion?

"Feenie..."

Encouraged by the old nickname, he planted a soft kiss on her lips.

And it felt... Wrong.

He retreated, giving her an apologetic smile. "Um, I think..."

To his relief, she responded with a similar smile and finished his thought.

"It wouldn't work."

Phoenix nodded.

Time had moved on, and neither of them were the same people anymore.

Contrivance

Phoenix stared at the woman on the other side of the bullet-proof glass.

How had he ever fallen for their charade? Had he been so easy to fool?

He realized he didn't know Iris at all.

And yet, he was back, visiting her in prison.

After all, she had been a victim in all of this as well. Maybe Dahlia had been too, it seemed victims could all too easily become criminals themselves. But he wasn't ready to forgive the red-haired twin any time soon.

He wasn't even sure if he could forgive Iris. And if there was anything to forgive, or if it was his place to forgive anyone that they had taken advantage of his idiocy.

But the one thing he knew was that he would rather not run from this situation.

He would keep in touch with her.

Unfair

"I don't know what to do."

Phoenix ended his rambling story of how he had lost his badge and somehow ended up adopting a child.

"Phoenix."

He lifted his gaze.

"Stop wallowing in self-pity."

"I'm-"

"You have someone who needs you now, don't you? A daughter."

"But I'm not sure I can..."

"Maybe you can't. It's an unfair situation you find yourself in. But she is your responsibility now. You could always give her to a temple." She smiled. "It's not the worst possible life."

"I..." Phoenix swallowed. "I don't know if I can do it all on my own."

Her smile changed slightly. "Take her with you sometimes, when you come and see me. If you think that's appropriate, to take a child to a place like this..."

Phoenix nodded. "I will."

Parole

Phoenix had made an effort to come and see Iris once a week during these years.

"So, what your plans are now?"

He had to press the issue. Iris would go on parole in just a few weeks, but she had not spoken of her plans at all.

Their discussions had been about books, movies that they had shown in prison, and what had been happening outside. About Trucy, of his new job, of how he had tried to keep his contacts within the legal world. Lately it felt like she had been even less eager to talk about herself.

"Well, I have been speaking with Sister Bikini."

Phoenix nodded. "So, you're moving back to Hazakura."

Iris avoided his eyes. "No. I asked for Sister Bikini's help for getting a small apartment in the city, and a job."

"Huh?"

"I know I can't do much, but I can clean and cook, and she got me a job in a cleaning firm."

"That's... I thought you liked being a nun? Can you even stop being one?"

"I talked it over with Sister Bikini. I... want to try having a normal life for a change."

She glanced at Phoenix, her expression hesitant.

"That's great. If that's what you want." He frowned. "But why didn't you ask me for help?"

"I... could take care of it by myself. Well, with Sister Bikini's help. And I wanted it to be a surprise."

She gave him a sunny smile. "But I definitely want you to come and see my new place once I'm out."

Hound

"No, Pudding, sit!"

The huge dog obeyed his mistress immediately, leaving Phoenix alone.

"Pudding?" Phoenix said from the ground where the dog had pushed him. "That's a pretty cute name for such a huge dog."

Iris offered her hand to him. "Don't you think he is kinda the color of pudding? I got him from Sister Bikini, who thought it would be good to have someone like that around."

She pulled him up, and somehow they ended up close to each other, almost in a hug.

She looked beautiful.

It wasn't the kind of cold, reserved beauty her sister had radiated and she had done her best to mimic.

And it wasn't even the kind, but sad beauty he had faced in Hazakura those years ago.

It was warm, human beauty. Alive, and happy to be alive.

Phoenix supposed his thoughts were clear as day on his face, since she stopped, giving her a surprised look.

Followed by a kiss.

Phoenix eagerly returned the kiss. It was new and different from what they had had before, but-

Their kiss was interrupted by a jealous dog jumping against him and pushing him over.

"Pudding!" Iris scolded him, all the while laughing.

Phoenix scrambled up, pushing away the overexcited but playful dog, and grinned.

It might have been different, but he was fine with that.

This time it was real.

A/N: As per usual,the first person to give three reasons why this pairing (Iris/Phoenix) is great, gets to make the next request.

EDIT: Next up: Shi long lang x Miles Edgeworth