Really Athena was supposed to be at the office, but it was just a bit to difficult to step in right now.
So instead she was sitting right outside of that office, on the stair case in the apartment building, wrapping her arms around her legs resting her head on her knees.
Apollo was gone… All gone, he had stormed out of them, and he might had thought that Athena didn't notice, but it was not for nothing she had a degree in psychiatry, ever since that bomb trial, he had refused to look her in the eye, or even in her direction if he could avoid it.
Had she done something? Did Apollo hate her or something?
But that was not all, there was even more.
Simon, he came across like a completely different person to her.
From what Athena remembered, Simon had always been so warm and kind to her, always listening, always joking somehow making her laugh.
Athena remembered what a good looking young man he had been back then, young women whom visited the space centre stopping in their tracks when he walked by, turning their necks to get an extra look.
Simon had been to thick to even notice.
That was all gone now, the years in prison had not been kind to his looks at all, his warmth gone and had became bitter coldness, the glint in his eyes extinct and replaced with a ghost like glowing when he looked over the court room with judging eyes.
When he smiled it was very calculated and obviously aimed at manipulating people around him with his suggestive psychology, it wasn't his real warmth.
And as Athena could feel emotions, she could very well feel that his smile did not actually match his inner emotions at all, not the least bit.
Lowering her head Athena closed her eyes swallowing, just as the door to the office opened and in the door stood a man in a blue suite.
"Athena?! Phoenix blinked surprised. "What are you doing out here?"
"Ah, Boss." Athena looked up at him trying to offer him a smile, but it was a failed attempt as tears tripled down her eyes.
"Athena are you okay?" Phoenix asked confused.
"Yes I'm.. urh.." Athena swallowed. "I'm alright, I just needed a bit of air." She told looking in front of herself, then got a surprise as suddenly she was joined on the stairs as Phoenix sat down right next to her.
He reached into his pocket and found a little package of Kleenex's reaching it to her with an understanding look on his face. "Here." He told her.
Athena swallowed as she accepted the package, pulling out a Kleenex then blew her nose before she dried her eyes.
"is it Apollo?" Phoenix asked.
"Well, I guess." Athena swallowed. "I hope he's alright, he looked really hurt."
Phoenix smiled lightly. "Sometimes people do get hurt, and sometimes they just need to sort out things for themselves to get better, Apollo decided he needed some room so lets give him some, I'm sure if he needs help he'll ask for it, he'll be alright you'll see." He told in a light smile. "So what else is on your mind?" he asked folding his hands.
Athena blinked looking questionable at Phoenix.
"It sounded like there's something else to." Phoenix commented.
Athena exhaled deeply. "Well." She swallowed. "There's.. I have a friend." She admitted. "He needs help but, he keeps refusing it, he keeps pushing everyone away." She told biting her lip. "I want to rescue him so bad, but I don't know if I can do it!" she told looking hopelessly at Phoenix. "Everybody thinks I'm stupid, but I know he's not a demon I just know it!"
"Ah." Phoenix nodded. "I see." He commented thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "Well, perhaps then what you should ask yourself is, do you truly believe in your friend?" he asked. "With everything that you got, do you believe in him?" he asked.
"OF COURSE I DO!" Athena exclaimed.
And Phoenix smirked. "That's it then isn't it?" he asked. "You already do believe in him, so now you just have to stand by him."
"But he wont let me anywhere near him!" Athena swallowed.
Phoenix smirked amused. "Just don't let him push you away, just be there for him when he needs it." He told. "Maybe he's not ready for your help right now but, if you stand ready when he actually does need it, then you fulfilled your goal didn't you?" he asked. "Sometimes just being there is all that we can do, but you don't need to underestimate that." He told. "That's a huge thing, simply standing by someone." He smiled warmly. "That's what being a defence attorney is all about, just standing by the person whom needs it, be a support in that persons hour of need." He told, then leaned back resting his head in his hands. "Oh an Athena." He commented looking down at her. "Smile." He asked.
Amused Athena looked at him, and then smiled amused.
"That's it right." Phoenix smiled back at her. "To support someone, you need to be the strong one. When the case is on you become the soldier defending the others so you need to be strong. A defence attorney can't cry before the battle is over."
"That sounds really hard." Athena told.
"It is." Phoenix admitted. "Being a lawyer is not an easy job, I know a couple whom needed to go to psychiatrists for their own sanities sake, even great people." He told. "The greatest that I know, and you know what?" he asked. "That's fine, as long as you can keep your head proud in the courtroom, we are all just human after all." He told. "We need to keep personal matters away from court where we focus on evidence, you can't let it cloud your mind in there. How-ever you do know that's what I am here for don't you?" he asked. "You can't talk to your client because that person will need you to stay strong, that person will always need your full support and confidence, you cannot let that person see your doubt. How-ever you can always talk to me." He told in a light smile. "Or Apollo if you rather talk to him about something, I hope though you will confide in me when needed, that is why I am here." He told.
"Thank you." Athena smiled at him.
"That's what I'm here for." Phoenix smiled laying a warm arm over Athenas shoulder giving her a light one armed hug. "And I'll be here to help you with your friend when you need that to, don't give up Athena, stick with him to the end, believe in him. Then everything will be fine."
And Athena grinned. "Sure thing boss." As she sat up wiping her eyes. "Oh god, BOSS!" she exclaimed standing up. "What are we sitting around here for?! We got work to do! Lots of it!"
Phoenix grinned as he stood up brushing himself of. "If you say so." He commented.
"COME ON!" Athena exclaimed grabbing his arm dragging him back into the office. "Clay Terrans murder will be solved, there got to be at least something!" she stated.
Phoenix promise, about turning everything on his head.
Yes it happened, though not by his hand at first at least.
What had been a simple straight forward murder case had turned into a full blown hostage situation. Aura Blackquill had been at her wits end, and made a desperate action.
And then ransom demand, a retrial for Simon Blackquill.
Phoenix was demanded to be the defence and as for the prosecutor, only the best in the country would do, as well as the single one person whom had been the most sympathetic towards Blackquill, standing up for him and giving him far more than anyone else had.
Miles Edgeworth was being demanded to stand in court, or the hostages could be hurt.
The truth though was as Miles had gotten the phone call… he was beyond relieved.
His time had run out, in only twenty four hours Simon Blackquill was supposed to die, and the moment the young man was gone, it would all be over for them.
The phantom figure gone back into shadows, the young man gone and the truth would never have been revealed.
Miles had been desperate, in his mad desperation even considered just taking Simon and hide him away somewhere.
Over this last year, he had gotten to know the young man, even grown fond of him and now he was supposed to sit back and watch while he died? For a crime that Miles was so damn sure he didn't commit.
He was only happy to meet up in person and take over personally; he didn't think that Aura Blackquill would actually kill anyone.
Like him she was desperate and she had taken a very difficult situation out of Miles's hand, truly, he now owed the woman, for giving him this opportunity.
If she had not done something this desperate, he might had had to, or watch a young innocent man he had come to be fond of die without a fight.
It was almost as if it was meant to be, a symbolic event as Miles stepped into the space centre, several cameras fallowing him and blitzes from photographers erupting his sight until he finally stepped inside, the entire country was watching him and the other people involved here. And there he saw the other man standing there.
In his blue suite, an attorneys badge shining and blazing from his chest and his voice was downright relieved as he yelled in a happy cheerful voice. "Edgeworth!"
Miles smiled grimly. "How do you do, Wright." He asked in a courtly nod.
Phoenix grinned as he reached out a hand and the two man firmly grabbed each others hands shaking firmly, with that alone sealing an unspoken deal.
Like always when they stood in court, even if the last time had been over seven years ago now, even if they had been through a lot since then working together in different ways or gone for some stretches of time without even seeing each other at all, their shared understanding was clear.
As prosecutor and defence attorney, they were in this together, to the bitter end, until the truth was revealed!
Now Phoenix weren't as worried anymore, with Miles Edgeworth on the case, only truth would be found by the end of the day.
"I will have to fight against you, you know." Miles told.
"I know." Phoenix smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Confused Athena looked from one man to the other. "Urhm Boss?" she asked.
Even Phoenix knew this wasn't the time for introductions and friendships, in their spare time him and Miles were indeed very close friends, but right now, in this moment, they were defence attorney and prosecutor, it was an unspoken deal as they only addressed each other with their last names.
"Ah, Athena Cykes I believe." Miles turned to her. "May I introduce myself, I am Miles Edgeworth, prosecutor." He told bowing formally for him. "I shall prosecute this case, and today we shall fine the truth." He told looking sternly at Phoenix, locking his eyes with him.
"Indeed, today." Phoenix nodded. "If Simon Blackquill truly is innocent, the cuffs will get off today, and nobody will die tomorrow!"
Athena gasped. "Oh my gosh!" then she laughed. "YES! LETS DO IT!" she yelled.
"Easy now." Miles frowned at the young girl. "Nothing will come out of just believing, we both got plenty of work to do. I know it's been eight years, but I shall be most disappointed if you don't at least present a challenge Wright." He told in a courtly nod, walking to his own corner sitting down on his knee starting his investigation.
"Prosecutor Edgeworth." Athena barely whispered. "I've read about him, do you know him boss?" she asked.
"Well." Phoenix hesitated. "Lets just say that." Amused his shook his head. "You know what, trying to explain just a little bit would take all day and we don't have time for that. Lets just say, that trying to help a friend sure can end up being more than worth it, not only would I trust him with my own life, I would trust him with the lives of anyone I know. Blackquills chances just rose a whole lot, come on, lets get started on our own." He encouraged pushing Athena with him.
There was another turn around in this case though, Phoenix was not supposed to defend Simon Blackquill at all, he was supposed to defend Athena! And she was the one Miles was supposed to prosecute.
As they were told Miles lifted his eyes meeting Phoenix's. "I'm sorry Wright." He told. "But I shall prosecute her."
Phoenix however smirked. "I know." He told as he smiled, in all honesty, he wasn't worried.
He believed in Athena, believed she hadn't done it. And as long as that was the one and only truth, things would be okay, certainly now when it was Miles he was facing because when the two of them were working together, the one and only truth would be exactly what they arrived at. That's how they both worked, and in truth there was no one else Phoenix would rather want to prosecute this particular case. "Thank you for doing this." He told in a nod.
"I will not go easy on you." Miles told, the meaning being clear. Any bullshit you throw at me I'll debunk, only the truth will be good enough for me.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Phoenix smiled, his meaning being clear. You bet I am counting on you to clear up any doubt so we know we have arrived at the correct conclusion!
And their common understanding couldn't be clearer as they stood there looking each other into the eyes, each sending the other a challenging smirk, sparks practically flying off the two man.
Standing in the corner was one Apollo Justice gaping slightly as he saw these two men having that exchange, it was.. quite unlike any defence attorney – prosecutor interaction he had ever seen, you could practically feel the energy in the air.
Yet the air around these two people, that was something else entirely.
Apollo had actually never seen Phoenix Wright taking the stand, he didn't exactly know what he had expected, but yet sitting among the audience in the side wing of the broken court room, seeing Wright and Edgeworth taking each their stand.
That was the moment Apollo suddenly realised how new he actually was to this business. He was a junior, he was still just an apprentice.
These two people standing down there though, they were something else, standing in their correct element, confident and ready for battle.
Edgeworths iron eyes scouting over the entire court room, as if he scanned the entire place for file storing, smirking.
Wright standing strong and proud, relaxed and yet firm as a boulder, ready to fight to the last.
And then it began!
Words flew back and ford between defence and prosecutor, the defence would come up with his hypothesis and theories, and the prosecution would cut them down to seize, pointing to any hole in the evidence only for the defence to fight back with equal relentlessness, pointing to the holes in the testimony.
Questioning each and every single aspect, never let the other break him down but continued this relentless battle.
It was actually, pretty unlike how Kristoph Gavin had worked, Gavins passion had never been this big, he had been more calculated than that, more removed from the case more like an observer really.
For those two down there right now tough, it seemed that nothing else but the courtroom and the case exsisted to them right now, they wanted to find the truth, neither would be happy before that was the exact thing they found.
It made Apollo think about Clay… his best friend, murdered.
Clay would have wanted to make sure the real culprit would be the one to be brought to justice, that down there, that was also what Apollo actually wanted to do as a defence attorney, it was just… right.
First then he realised, he had to get down there! This was about Clays murderer, he had to give any help he could in finding the one true culprit!
What Wright was doing was absolutely brilliant but, Apollo could not let his mentor get away with doing it all by himself! He had to help, he wanted to help! He wanted to be down there beside Phoenix Wright!
The moment the gavel fell declaring the first recess did Apollo stand up and ran as quick as he could down to the foyer. "Boss!" he exclaimed. "BOSS!" he yelled just managing to catch Mr. Wright whom surprised turned around.
"Apollo?" Phoenix blinked.
"You.. You need an assistant, at the bench! Right?" Apollo asked trying to catch air. "Please let me help!" he asked. "Athena, she needs help right?" he asked.
Phoenix blinked then he smiled warmly. "Of course." He told. "I would appreciate that, and I'm sure Athena will to."
"Tha-thank you." Apollo breathed. "I know my behaviour has not been, what I mean is." He swallowed.
Warmly Phoenix laid a hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes we all need to just figure out some stuff for ourselves." He told warmly. "Questioning and doubting is what a lawyer does, and by examining and learning is how we grow. Better questioning then dismissing, I'm glad you would come, and so is Athena I'm quite sure of that." He told.
"Thank you Boss." Apollo exhaled.
By the next gavel fall, the next miracle happened, Simon Blackquill was deemed innocent! The evidence spoke clearly.
There was no way! No way at all he could have murdered Mrs. Cykes, it was impossible.
Miles was smiling, almost grinning as he at long last let the key slide into Simons handcuffs and the heavy iron material fell to the ground.
Looking positively stunned Simon looked at his wrists, now feeling so much lighter as he rubbed them with his hands, flexing his fingers rolling around with his wrists almost as if he tried to get some feeling into them.
"And for gods sake, don't let them take you back to any kind of holding cell." Miles lectured. "That would be quite something if someone didn't get the memo and executed you by accident tomorrow." He commented dryly.
Simon smiled a little amused. "Quite." He nodded. "Edgeworth-dono.. I don't want to say."
Miles though held up a hand. "What ever you wish to say, it can wait." He told firmly. "This trial is not done yet, Ms' Cykes has taken your place for now it seems, and I fear I'm not the one whom can find the true murderer at all." He stated then pointed at the courtroom. "I believe you very well know where your place is right now!" he stated.
Simon blinked as he looked towards the courtroom, then smiled lightly. "Indeed." He commented. "That will though, be quite the act to follow." He commented.
Miles smirked. "Give it another five years." He suggested. "For now though, give it all you got! Use any trick you have, the case of the phantom is all yours!" he stated. "You've been battling for seven long years, now finish it!" he demanded as he snapped his finger in a way that would have made Manfred Von Karma proud, though his words not so much as he was basically asking a prosecutor to loose.
Simon though smirked. "Will do, Edgeworth-dono." He told, then lightly bowed for him before he turned towards the courtroom taking in a deep breath and stepped inside, free of handcuffs and any burdens ready for battle, just hoping he could make the man whom had done so much for him proud!
Apollo, Athena and Simon they were all equally shock, equally disturbed as the Phantom was unmasked.
Simon had already seen it coming, but even he couldn't help but shiver as the man kept pulling mask after mask off his face, perfectly copying whom-ever he was wearing the face of.
From the voice, to the mannerisms down to the slightest detail such as speech patterns and small movements.
The only two whom were unmoved but just looked at this phantom figure was Phoenix Wright from the defence attorneys bench and Miles Edgeworth standing among the audience.
Not even when the phantom took Wrights face did the defence attorney move, just lifted an eyebrow noting how it was indeed his face now.
Almost unconsciously Athena and Apollo moved closer to each other, almost as if they tried to hide behind Phoenix, he didn't even comment on it just let them as he looked sternly at their phantom figure.
Simon gritted his teethes as he hissed.
"There's no reason to worrie." Phoenix then commented as his eyes didn't even move from the Phantom. "Now the truth has been revealed, there's nothing more he can hide behind. This case is already over." He stated. "The true culprit and the true nature of the culprit has been revealed and it can't be put back. Can it?" he asked pointing at the man wearing his face. "Mr. Phantom!"
And the Phantom screamed as he suddenly realised, there was no hiding because now it was the truth he was facing, the one and only truth! And all that came with it! Devastating truth.
"I see now." Simon commented. "It's not true you don't have any emotions, there is one, constantly bothering, constantly controlling you. Fear!" he told. "You don't even know your real face or your real personality, do you even have one? All you can do is copying others, but it will always be a fake. You fear the truth! Just like any other criminal whom tried to hide away. You murdered the true Bobby Fullbright, Mrs. Scythe and Terrans Clay! As well as countless others to keep up your mask and your fake identities, lives that isn't even yours! Yet you can't even face it, you don't have that kind of courage, you're way to scared." He told shortly looking towards Miles, and Miles nodded shortly in approval as he briefly met the young prosecutors eyes. And Simon turned back to the phantom with new iron willed determination.
Phoenix had been right though, the trial was already over, it had been over since the moment that it had been revealed that Bobby Fullbright was in fact, very much dead, and had been dead for over a yeah. While the man taking his place, was a fake.
Phoenix lowered his head, the phantom not only took the faces of his victims but their personalities, and if that was the case, there was no doubt that Bobby Fullbright had been a very kind man, proud of his title.. the act had been good enough to even fool people that had been working with the detective for years.
He had overdone it though, the phantom, thinking back it was all a bit to manufactured, he had been a bit to nice, a bit to quick to react, a bit to eager to help.. There was no question about, he was… A fake.
As the gavel slammed down handing down the final verdict no time was wasted among the lawyers to run to each others aid.
"SIMON!" Athena yelled delighted jumping the young man giving him a crushing hug. "I'm so happyyyyy!" she cried with open mouth and tears streaming down her eyes like two small waterfalls. "Bwahahaha! I thought I was going to loose you! I knew you were innocent I knew it!" she sniffed holding his black coat burying her face into his shirt while it doubled for a tissue.
"Athena." Simon exhaled deeply. "You dumb little girl." He smirked poking her forehead with a finger, then sighed as he laid two arms around her embracing her. "To think you've been looking out for me all of this time. I don't know what to say."
"Oh it was nothing." Athena sniffed holding him. "Just returning the favour." She told standing back as she smiled up at him wiping her eyes.
Apollo grinned. "Wauw that was really something. Quite insane huh?" he asked.
Athena nodded. "You could say that again, we made it though, thanks to the boss. All three of us pulled through."
"Man I wish I could have seen it." Trucy pouted as she finally joined the party. "It must have been something! Daddy really knows how to pull a fast one when he really has to." She chuckled.
"Yeah." Apollo smiled glancing over his shoulder at where Phoenix were standing pretty relaxed with his hands in his pockets. "That's some boss to have, but man am I glad that's the one we got!" he grinned. "I got so much to learn from him, I just know!" he beamed.
"Yup!" Athena cheered.
"Quite the figure that Wright." Simon defeated his head.
Meanwhile Miles approached Phoenix smirking at him. "That's quite the bunch of kids you have there." He commented.
"They are extraordinary talented." Phoenix smiled. "And good people, I'm lucky to have them with me." He commented looking at Miles. "And ones again, Miles Edgeworth was absolutely right. Congratulations Miles, you did it, Blackquill is cleared, for any doubt." He grinned. "Though I don't think you're the one whom should lecture me on their apprentices." He commented dryly. "You realise he send a bird on me?!" he asked. "And my apprentice! Are you trying to kill us?!"
Miles shrugged. "He's a promising young man, it was a shame his former apprenticeship was cut short due to his imprisonment, but I believe that has all been rectified now."
"You do also collect weird people." Phoenix commented in a slight eyeroll. "I heard your former apprentice is also making quite the name for herself around the world."
"Indeed." Miles exhaled. "Kay Farraday has always been.. Quite her own person. However she's now an extremely skilled and honest prosecutor, the law world is only lucky to have her."
Phoenix grinned. "I can't wait till I get to face her in court myself, it should prove quite interesting to test the young lady." He commented. "So I guess this means we should all celebrate." He commented rubbing his hands.
Miles lifted an eye at him.
"Miles! This is your long fought for victory!" Phoenix exclaimed. "And beside, I think Mr. Blackquill seriously needs to try and eat something that is not prison food as quick as possible." He commented hinting at the very pall looking young man talking with Athena, Trucy and Apollo. They seemed to have a pretty good time with each other, and that was in spite of how much Blackquill had fancied scaring the hell out of Apollo whenever he could.
A hobby he, granted, did share with a few people. Njah Apollo was a big boy, he could handle it.
Amused Miles looked at the young man as he nodded. "Indeed, a good meal is perhaps the least we could offer him right now."
"You know what." Phoenix smirked. "Let him decide where we go, the guy has only gotten prison for seven years isn't that right?" he asked.
"So I assume you're paying?" Miles asked.
"Wha-What!?" Phoenix exclaimed.
"Well it sounded like you were inviting." Miles pointed out.
"HEY! Not like that!" Phoenix exclaimed.
"MR. BLACKQUILL!" Miles then called in a louder voice. "Phoenix here is inviting us all out to eat, he insists that you decide upon our destination."
"MILES!" Phoenix exclaimed.
"Wow that's very kind of your Wright-Dono." Simon told. "I have to admit, I've just been dreaming about a good steak with red wine for seven years." He exhaled. "Thank you." He nodded.
"That's not what I.. I OBJECT!" Phoenix shouted making Miles smirk, and the rest chuckle.
At last Miles shook his head. "It's on me." He then finally told in a blink revealing that Phoenix had been had. "And I think I know just the place for a good stake and good wine." He commented walking past them nodding his head. "Come along." He invited.
"God." Phoenix groaned. "Why isn't it illegal to be acting so cool?" he asked but followed the rest, especially as Trucy grabbed his arm dragging him with her.
"Sorry Daddy, but if there's one thing you have never been it's cool." Trucy chuckled. "I like you anyway." She then told kissing him on the cheek. "You were great today! The best!"
Phoenix smirked. "Well I had help, and lots of it. Couldn't have done it without every single last bit of help I got from the others." He told walking down with the group, following Miles to the assigned place for what promised to be an extremely pleasant night with high spirits and celebration.
