Pretty Little Poison

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I affiliated with Ace Attorney or Capcom. This story is just for fun.

Rated M for: Lemon, strong language, very dark/potentially triggering themes [specifically violence/murder] and minor character death.

A/N: CHARACTER DEATH WARNING.
… I have zero words for this chapter.

"He's innocent. Why would he try to kill me and then save my life?"

"I am surprised that you are asking that, Miss Skye. In how many murder cases have you witnessed a defendant try to stage their innocence?"

"I thought you were a defense attorney."

"I am also his brother, who possesses a strong awareness to his true nature."

Ema sank back into her chair and choked down her cries. Her wounds were much deeper than Kristoph had expected. He stood and gently pulled her from the chair to take her into a comforting hug. "It may not seem like it for the time being, but all will be well again. Do not allow this horrific incident to define you."

Ema eased her face against his shoulder and closed her eyes. "Tell me… Tell me about him. Klavier."

"Very well." Straightening his back, he turned to fix his gaze on his bookshelf, he pursed his lips. "Anything specific you desire to hear about?"

"What did you mean by his true nature?"

He turned to her with a cold stare and her curiosity melted away, as though she said something wrong. "My parents have since passed away." He finally said. "Our father shot our mother in a rage one evening when I was seventeen. Klavier was eight. When father realized what he did, he ended his life."

Ema blinked in shock and surprise. "That's terrible. I'm so sorry."

"Do not apologize. Since I was nearing the age of eighteen, the courts ruled that I was capable of raising Klavier. Though, I learned of his rebellion from the time he was fourteen. It was difficult controlling him at times. He's always had a brilliant mind, though he has not always made the best decisions.

"To be fair, neither have I. I am here, after all." He chuckled and Ema blinked. "Regardless of my fate, the death of my parents was the reason I chose my profession in law. I wanted to defend those like my father and also be a voice for the victim. Klavier, though, saw my success as an attorney and decided to follow suit, only he would face me from the other side of the courtroom. Rather than rehabilitate, he wished to punish."

While taking in his words, Ema's eyes studied the lavish room, which hardly appeared to be a prison cell at face value. Kristoph possessed so many books and he appeared to be well educated.

"What do you see in my dear brother, anyway?" he had asked her.

"I..." she paused. "He made me feel important. Loved." Without moving her face, her eyes scanned the elaborate collection of nail polishes on the small stand. In the corner of the cell, deliberately hidden, was a clear bottle in the shape of a teapot, identical to her own. She blinked. Impossible.

Kristoph's silence caught her attention and she turned to see his gaze just inches from her.

Her breathing stopped.

Up close, his eye color greatly differed from that of his younger brother. Though the same, pale shade of cerulean, his irises, instead, revealed small flicks of gray, only visible when the light would pass through his glasses. Kristoph's face was slightly longer and his chin was more square, yet his appearance was polished to a perfection like Klavier. Ema could not look away from his handsome face, though she reminded herself that this was not the man she loved.

"Love is a dangerous game to play, Miss Skye," he had murmured.

Ema closed her eyes and swallowed, with her face twisting with grief. "I appreciate your concern, Mr. Gavin, but ..." She returned to study his collection of literature and found herself stroking her finger down the spine of his copy of Pride and Prejudice. Realizing that she had made a mistake by coming here, fear started to eat away at her stomach.

"Jane Austen," he had mused. "One of my favorite authors. Do you have an interest in literature?"

She remained in control of her body and resisted reacting at the memory of Klavier's reference about William Shakespeare. "My heart belongs to Science, Mr. Gavin."

He chuckled warmly. "I figured as such. I will make some tea for us before we study the evidence."

From the moment she saw the teapot's replica among his collection, she knew that he was the real culprit behind her poisoning. Her instinct was sure of it, but how did he attack her from this prison? Why would he target her? They had never met prior to this day, nor was she aware of his existence until her conversation with Klavier on the hillside.

She should have known better than to trust a deranged killer.

After heating some water in the kettle, Kristoph poured the hot liquid into a pair of cups and retrieved two tea bags. She noticed that he had kept looking at her out of the corner of her eye, watching her movements, which confirmed the inevitable. He was trying to poison her again.

"If convicted, how much time do you feel he would receive?" She stalled him, scrambling for an idea.

"Attempted murder is a serious charge. My guess is twenty years."

With his back to her, she watched him put the two cups onto an ornate tray with silver plating and place it on his small table. Though she knew exactly what was in her cup, she thanked him as though nothing was amiss and took her seat once again. In return, he had smiled. He was so friendly. How could he remain so calm? "Oh, I'm sorry. I prefer my tea black. Would you like some sugar?"

"Yes, please."

He stood and turned his back to find the sugar. Noting that the middle of the tray was bent, the edges were slightly raised from the table. Without thinking, Ema gently gripped the tray and spun it around easily and silently to switch the cups. Her heart pounded, with utter terror pumping through her veins and her stomach turning with nausea. She could only pray that the contents of their drinks were the same, as it was too late to reverse this mistake.

Kristoph returned to the table and retrieved the folder. "Oh, my dear brother," he said to himself as he began to search through the papers, bringing the tainted drink to his lips. It had taken every shred of effort from Ema's body to remain still and emotionless. "He had sent you flowers, yes?"

"Correct," she shifted in her seat while gently stirring the sugar into her drink.

"It appears he may have been stalking you as well," he lowered his eyebrows. "Quite low, even for him."

She watched him take another drink nervously.

"The odds of an acquittal are … small…" Kristoph flinched. Ema's palms began to sweat. She should have just refused the tea. What if she would be the one behind bars for life? Could this even be deemed as a form of self defense? What would Klavier think of this? So many questions pooled in her mind, invading her thoughts. "Your tea is getting cold, Miss Skye."

Ema gulped. "Oh, I guess it is." He watched her hold the cup to her lips and mimic a sip, but she made an effort not to take in the first drop of the warm liquid. She kept her eyes on him, though his flawless complexion slowly started to pale. "Have his fingerprints been located on any of the evidence?"

"No… Not that … Not that I see," Kristoph's hard blink could be seen through his delicately rimmed glasses.

"Are you okay, Mr. Gavin?" Ema was afraid of his response.

"I am starting to feel a little... tired," Kristoph had taken another drink of his tea, and then started to pant as if he was out of breath. "Miss Skye..."

Ema blinked. Uh oh. Visibly shaking, she stood and started to back away from the table. Kristoph's frantic eyes began to search her suspiciously. "You…." He choked out. With his strength starting to diminish, he lunged towards her and gripped her throat with his strong hands. "You, bitch."

Her mouth opened widely, fighting to breathe as her chair fell over beneath her feet. Without warning, he had kissed her, with his tongue, still warm from the poisoned tea, grazing every inch of her mouth in hopes of adding some poison to her system. She squirmed and tried to push him away, but he slammed her body against the concrete wall repeatedly, depleting her oxygen. "If I die, you will accompany me. My sweetest revenge is Klavier's suffering."

Ema's arms and legs kicked and thrashed about in desperation to fight him off, to no avail. Her cheeks tingled and reddened from the lack of blood flow and oxygen. She gripped for anything her hands could reach to toss, in an attempt to catch the guard's attention. He had learned of her trick and pinned her arm with his free hand. Her vision, starting to blur, fixed on Kristoph's murderous stare. With renewed strength, she kicked him in any area that the range of her legs and knees allowed. Though his grip on her throat was like iron, he dropped to his knees, with Ema's body falling with him.

Kristoph climbed atop her and strengthened the hold around her throat. His eye twitched at the sight of life slowly leaving from her face. "Nothing personal, my dear." He quivered, appearing to resist the effects of the poison.

"Hey, hey! Inmate!" Two security guards rushed into Kristoph's cell and ripped his weakening body away from Ema, who coughed violently and choked on her first gasp of air. Kristoph, no longer able to stand with the apprehending officers, began to foam at the mouth and convulse. Another corrections guard rushed in and spoke into his radio transmitter, demanding for medical assistance before rushing to Ema's side to examine her. He had asked her if she was all right, but she frantically cried at the sight of Kristoph's convulsions. Had she not acted, had she not pieced things together, it would be her lying there.

With his beautiful eyes remaining open, he extended his arm to Ema, as if he was continuing to choke her. His convulses slowed into mere twitches until he stopped moving.