Well, it's been some time since I've written for Ace Attorney hasn't it? The first thing I ever wrote was for this series, and I personally believe that out of all my cringe-inducing work (some things never change) the Ace Attorney stuff will make you...develop an alcohol addiction. But at the end of the day man, I know my earlier works suck but I have a soft spot for them. Just like how I can't HATE Ace Attorney in spite of the fact Spirit of Justice is a depressing experience and it killed the series for me.

To rub in how possibly broken I've become: here's a rare pairing that I feel doesn't get enough love. Call me mad all you want, but I see potential. You can't tell me both these characters don't deserve someone to care about them, something wholesome.

Also, it's been a very long time since I've played through Apollo Justice. So you'll have to forgive me if my knowledge of the final case is fuzzy, or wrong. But you know what? If it is wrong, we can still salvage it! You can totally call it alternate universe and get away with it~

DISCLAIMER TIME – "Capcom owns Ace Attorney, the money I wasted downloading Spirit Of Justice and the mental state that is depression. Way to blow, guys."

( An Ace Attorney fanfiction typed entirely by The Chosen Storyteller )

Meaning In Your Smile

Chapter 1

Vera was reintroduced to the prosecutor who helped expose the crimes of the terrible man who'd gone out of his way to ruin her life promptly after the trial, but only by accident. When the trial was over, she was still shaken by memories and hearing the truth directly from the mouth of that ma- Was he even a man? Or had he been under some kind of demonic possession? Because the things he'd done… She didn't want to believe there were more like him, no, she'd certainly seen the reverse with that defense attorney and his assistant. Apollo Justice and Trucy Wright.

While Vera was recovering in the hospital, she had visits from Apollo and Trucy every other day. One might think it was a little much, but the only person who ever comforted her when she was ill was her father. This concept of friendship was so new, but as she listened to stories of some of the stranger characters they worked with and playfully bicker at every new embellishment she wasn't scared or upset. It was only when visiting hours were over did Vera realize she hated to be alone.

It was difficult to be able to cry when doctors or nurses were coming in to check on her, sometimes their timing was bad and interpreted her tears for those of pain. Although the staff were as patient and nice to her as they could be, she found it hard to explain she was actually fine and had to resort to using her sketchpad for communication.

One day, Vera was woken from a dreamless sleep after exhausting herself crying. The nurse who had been kindly wiping the streaks off her cheeks and the puffy skin under her eyes with a cool moist cloth, informed her she had a new visitor… A handsome one, she added with a disturbing glint in her eyes. Somehow, Vera doubted she was referring to Apollo. Trucy's father, maybe, but even that was a stretch.

Vera braced herself for having to talk to a stranger, though it took several moments. When she thought she was ready, she scribbled a check mark on a fresh page and the nurse played along and went out to fetch the visitor.

The door opened to reveal Prosecutor Gavin, not… Not the other Gavin. It still scared her how similar they looked, how they could easily pass for twins despite the age difference. This one smiled a lot more convincingly, even if his eyes were hazy with sadness his lips wouldn't admit what he was really feeling.

No amount of bracing for this prepared Vera. She reached for the blanket and yanked it up to her chin, hating her childish thoughts of hiding from her fears but it was completely out of her control. All she could hope for was that she didn't shiver or whimper, no, she wasn't scared of him. Just the connection to someone else. But he might not have gotten that message, considering he remained in front of the door looking unsure of what to do with himself.

Finally, Prosecutor Gavin set his eyes on hers. He made a gesture to the chair by the window, a silent request if he could take it.

Vera knew he was a busy person and didn't want to waste time writing her thoughts, so she just nodded. He definitely understood that – he'd smiled and crossed the room to close some distance.

Prosecutor Gavin sat down, trying to look casual but his eyes just weren't as bright as they'd been. "I hope your recovery isn't too painful. I know I should have visited sooner, and Trucy kept inviting me to come along but I..." He looked from her to the dark television screen, watching her reflection instead. "Ah, I wanted to bring some flowers but I didn't know what kind you like. Or if you're allergic. Maybe you don't even like them- Ugh..."

Vera watched, slowly lowering the blanket back to her upper stomach as she did so. It was difficult to be scared when he looked like he was struggling himself, probably a rare occasion considering she'd heard he was in his element on stage having to address crowds. If words weren't coming to him, he must have been more affected by this situation than he showed others.

Her drawing hand was eager to grab the sketchbook and reply, but instead Vera sat up and looked right him. As much as she could without feeling awkward, at least. "I think white roses are pretty." When he looked surprised, Vera self-consciously tapped her nails in an attempt to not bite them. "But you'd look odd giving them to someone...wouldn't you?"

"If you asked most of the people I work with, they'd tell you I couldn't be any more odd." Prosecutor Gavin said, definitely more lively than before as his shoulders obviously relaxed. Had he really been tense before? "White roses, then. Herr Forehead says you might be let out of here soon, and when that happens you're going to find a bouquet of white roses mysteriously placed on your doorstep."

Vera's heart raced a little more when they locked eyes. She may have sent a negative message when she snapped her head away to the other side of the room, but she felt like she might be the one to start smiling for seemingly no reason and… She'd never seen her own smile but she imagined it was nothing compared to his. She spent so long frowning, her facial muscles were probably stretched out.

Desperate to not let the room be swallowed in awkwardness, Vera thought of another topic. "Do you like drawing?" She felt herself blush at the question, how she'd blurted it out. Well, not that her voice could go a higher pitch anyhow, but still.

"Drawing? Ah...unfortunately, I wasn't gifted that talent. I used to draw when I was a kid, but every time I showed it off I had to explain it. But of course, every classmate in school seemed to be able to make creations worthy of hanging in museums." Prosecutor Gavin almost sounded a bit embarrassed as well, but Vera had a difficult time believing it.

Vera did cave and grab her sketchbook, but not for its usual purpose. She was able to actually speak to him more than she originally thought possible, but still sensed sadness he wasn't letting the world know about. He hadn't stopped by to get to know her better. That wouldn't...make sense.

The sketchbook was placed at the foot of the bed, along with a pen. Prosecutor Gavin looked back and forth between her and that sketchbook, but he seemed to understand the connection.

"You don't have to follow the rules or be precise when drawing how you...feel." Vera explained, putting too much attention on those eyes. She couldn't help trying to hide behind her hair, pull some of it toward her face and hide where she was looking. For all the emotion, they were brilliant.

Prosecutor Gavin took the sketchbook and balanced it on one knee. He didn't protest about drawing, though the look on his face screamed I'm so unprepared for this – please save me. He muttered to himself, maybe even to Vera as well judging by the way he kept insisting his fingers were more at ease against guitar strings and if he made something unfit to be viewed by humanity it wasn't intentional.

Did he know he could have declined her request? Vera honestly didn't know, but she didn't point that out since even he had to stop and take a breath before proceeding with a new stroke of the pen. He really looked like he was trying his best, though the display of emotions leaving his eyes and appearing on his face were something else.

In those moments, it was easier to remember the difference between the brothers. Vera didn't think the man who'd destroyed lives for flimsy reasons would be able to wear anything on his face but a dishonest smile and insane rage. The man who did everything in his power, despite society's expectations for a prosecutor, to help people was capable of so much more but he was so determined to not fail at a simple task he probably didn't know it.

Vera watched his whole attempt at art, at first only interested in seeing how he could draw anything with the book poorly balanced on his kneecap alone. Then weird thoughts flashed through her mind, dwelling on how cute he looked focusing on this not so dramatic task. She wasn't sure if it was okay to think of a man that way; she'd seen Apollo bristle like an angry cat and scold Trucy when she less seriously called him cute after he'd done his spike-flattening quirk-thing.

There was no logical explanation for how the sunlight streaming through the window seemed to intentionally surround Prosecutor Gavin and give him something of an angelic glow… It made Vera wonder if she should request an appointment with an eye doctor after looking at the scene. She was staring at him, she knew it must have looked weird but she barely made the effort to glance elsewhere when he peeked at her.

After what felt like hours, Prosecutor Gavin made a final stroke on the page finishing with one of his rock star persona grins and putting too much flair in it. He was just showing off at that point...rightfully so. Vera couldn't stop her mind from going full speed into territory of finding him endearing. Just looking at him was more of an event than it needed to be.

Prosecutor Gavin rose from the chair and approached the bed. He could have stood at her bedside; she silently hoped he would come a little closer so she could study his eyes again and look past the silence for some kind of magic. There was so much going on with him, and she didn't know where to start. Instead, he maintained some distance and put the sketchbook in her awaiting hands.

Despite the time it took, there was such a small space taken up in the center. Vera didn't know much about the outside world, but she gathered some of those symbols were music notes. They were the only things represented as they should, because after that there was a weird...table? No, it only had one seat. Or at least that square was intended to be a chair, right? Some kind of place to rest. The table-like structure had multiple segments on its surface, some filled in and others not. And oh, the crookedness of the drawing. But that had more to do with the one knee balancing act, she believed.

When Vera looked up, she was surprised to see Prosecutor Gavin had moved to the window accidentally pulling in all the sunlight from California again, rubbing his neck and doing anything within reason to not give away his embarrassment – Never mind.

"My mind defaulted to music again." He explained, alternating between peeking at her and looking out the window. "I didn't start out with guitars on my musical awakening all those years ago; my parents let me take piano lessons, and they never stop reminding me that was the biggest regret of both their lives. Although they never complained about my guitar lessons… They must have resigned themselves to my interest at that point."

"This is a piano?" Was Vera's first thought fallen onto her tongue. She cringed, feeling stupid but… Yes, she had seen a piano in real life.

Prosecutor Gavin didn't look offended or any more embarrassed by her question. Actually, he laughed. Vera wasn't certain if he was laughing with himself or out of her saying something funny, but she did know that sound was musical in its own way. There had been times Trucy fawned over this man, and Vera felt like she was missing something when that happened. But that laugh? That laugh could cure sadness; all she saw was his sparkling blue eyes when he looked at her again, nothing more.

"Perhaps it's not too late to pick up a new hobby. My band is going to be just another memory now, but maybe I could spend my free time offering sketches of people in the park." Prosecutor Gavin was mostly rambling to himself at that point, sounding a little too interested in that lifestyle. Vera must have been visibly struggling to keep up, because he smiled apologetically eventually.

When Prosecutor Gavin idly walked away from the window closer to her bed, Vera held out the sketchpad again. She just hoped her expression was able to convey the encouragement she wanted, um, her voluntary smiles still had some hiccups.

To her delight, Prosecutor Gavin accepted the sketchbook. This time, he allowed her to see him work up close by dragging the ridiculously loud chair closer to her bed. Not close enough for their shoulders to touch or anything scandalous of the sort, but it was enough to be dizzying. Vera did her best to ignore her racing heart and tone down some of the stolen looks at him before he noticed.

For the remainder of the visit, Prosecutor Gavin did most of the talking. Maybe he was kind of overdoing it, but since Vera couldn't maintain a full conversation perhaps that was enough. They took turns drawing, but he provided a brief story behind his. Usually after self-consciously explaining what it was supposed to be in the first place.

His best drawing of a guitar, shocker, led into how he'd managed to form his band and the better days of that time period involving traveling and just hanging out with his friends feeling invincible. And drunk. He'd never enjoyed drinking in public, he rushed to explain after mindlessly drawing fancy wine glasses.

The simplified yet misshapen school building led into his first kiss, fistfight he ultimately lost and driving without a license and getting pulled over after narrowly avoiding hitting a police officer in the midst of walking across the fast food place's parking lot. Not on the same day, mind you.

Vera wanted to be able to explain her drawings the way he did, but her life couldn't compare to his. It sounded like he actually lived, while she was unaware there was anything interesting beyond the walls.

And when Vera grabbed his sleeve and asked if he would like to draw with her again in the studio once she was released form the hospital, Prosecutor Gavin smiled in spite of the surprise flickering in his eyes. She didn't know if he was aware he was sending that message, but regardless he said yes. And that was all Vera needed to believe him.

Vera leaned over – trying not to remind herself how red her face was being so close to just his shoulder – and participated in drawing too. She decided she would sketch a notable birthday present she received from her father one year. Something unrelated to art, but at least she had a story to tell him this time. But she was so accustomed to adding in so many details, she'd barely finished the face of the porcelain doll before a faint buzzing noise filled the room.

Prosecutor Gavin apologized and withdrew his phone to check the text he'd received, but he couldn't downplay the fact his life was still busy and even if he didn't have live shows to practice for he still had crime scenes to be at every now and then. Vera didn't say anything, but she understood. She just took her sketchbook and placed it back where it had been before, unfinished drawing and all.

Ultimately, Prosecutor Gavin made his graceful exit out of the room...which involved falling flat on his face as his legs fell asleep after sitting so long. Vera could have cracked her own spine, jerking her body forward to look over the bed.

Somehow, the face plant didn't diminish the almost Heavenly glow coming in from the window practically engulfing this man. He picked himself from the floor in record time, if his pride got chipped in the process he just continued walking out the door like nothing happened.

But he did poke his head back through a crack in the door, long enough to tell Vera he was glad to have been able to spend time with her. Vera's voice completely faded away in surprise, so she just nodded. She felt dumb, but Prosecutor Gavin flashed another smile before leaving for real that time.

When he was gone, Vera curled up on her side with her mouth going haywire attempting to express the burst of warmth in her chest. What was that? Happiness? She hoped so, because anything else would require medical assistance.

TBC

Hey guys, it's the author again. Just wanted to come out of hiding from under my desk, be all annoying and ask if I completely wrecked the characters here. You'll have to forgive me if I have my own head canons about the characters, though.

Hope you like the story so far, or at least tolerate it. Even if you don't, I'm glad my work actually made a person develop an opinion. As an author, that's all I can hope for. Trust me when I say that it's always good to feel something rather than nothing; feeling nothing is a serious problem.