Two days had passed.

Edgeworth sat as a spectator, fascinated to watch his new paramour pacing back and forth across the courtroom as he delicately tied the mass of loose ends together, as usual. This time, however, the case had rather rapidly become infinitely more personal for the man, and the prosecutor was fixated on Phoenix, anxiously split between hearing what he had to say and watching him unravel just a bit more with each sentence he shuddered out. Edgeworth could tell that outwardly, the man was as professional as always, but on the inside, he was very quickly losing what tenuous grasp he had on his sanity. Couple that with the fact that the defendant was now apparently Phoenix's ex-girlfriend (which he still couldn't quite wrap his head around) and the prosecutor, Godot, was launching an oddly personal attack against the defense attorney, Edgeworth was amazed the man was keeping it together at all. He, himself, could hardly keep up with the mess, and his only job was to sit there and watch it all happen.

Beside him, Franziska sat, prim as ever, but Miles could see that her hand was gripped tighter than usual around the handle of her trusty whip. He was glad that she had stuck around as a spectator, although it had surprised him tremendously that she'd bothered to do so. While he was finally comfortable admitting that Phoenix Wright had some genuine skill in the courtroom, particularly now that he had some experience under his belt, he knew that his step-sister was still clutching onto her fervent denial of the fact. Given the way this case was going, he imagined that this would be the make-or-break example for her to finally accept him as a worthy adversary.

Not, he reminded himself, that it really mattered to him what she thought of Phoenix.

Large volleys of words were exchanged between the two attorneys, with tempers flaring on both sides. The judge sat, transfixed upon the scene, gavel hovering noncommittally over the wooden block on the bench. The defendant, now Dahlia Hawthorne, grinned mirthlessly as she watched the two attorneys battle for a moment. Edgeworth fought to keep his face neutral as he gazed at her, remembering now in uncomfortable clarity how she had watched Terry Fawles with the same expression. If Phoenix made it through this battle, he was in for one hell of a night.

The defense attorney finally rounded on Dahlia once more, intent on wrapping things up. His eyes sparked. More conversation about Mia. Then Maya. Dahlia glared at Phoenix with disgust. Phoenix smirked at her. Beside Phoenix, the little one, Pearl, was now…Mia? Edgeworth stared, trying desperately to wrap his head around it all. Before today, he would have passionately insisted that the mere concept of spirit channeling was asinine, but now… He fought the urge to rub childishly at his eyes. It was quite difficult to deny it given Mia's obvious presence. Mia had her own say regarding Dahlia's involvement, and finally, finally, Edgeworth could just catch what he supposed was the wretched girl's soul leaving its host body. He clawed at his pants, frozen to his seat in horror, as the spider web wisps of intangibly vile blackness curled upward and evaporated into thin air, leaving a breathless, pallid Maya Fey behind.

The silence in the courtroom was deafening. Edgeworth dared not release a sigh of relief, breath caught in his throat, as Maya suddenly slumped lifelessly against the podium. Predictably, Phoenix rushed to her aid, drawing a gasp from Iris, who was still poised in the defendant's seat, weeping silently to herself. His heart went out to her for a moment. During his very brief time as a defense attorney, Iris had finally confessed to him her connection to Phoenix Wright. As fascinated as he was regarding her involvement with his new lover, he couldn't help but feel a bit justified at the stab of jealousy he'd originally felt when he'd met her. He wondered if it would come up at the trial, since the rest of the man's life story had been discussed to near entirety at this point.

He wasn't sure if he would prefer that it stayed secret or not.

As the judge called a brief recess for Maya to recover, Miles heard Franziska sigh quietly beside him. When he turned to raise an eyebrow at her, he was surprised to find that she looked almost…sympathetic. "Something on your mind?"

"This isn't over yet." She swiped irritably at her perfectly manicured bangs and narrowed her eyes, fixated on the defense table. "He has a good chance at winning this, but…"

Edgeworth sighed. So she had figured it out as well. "The conclusion is going to be less than desirable, to be sure." All around them, a chorus of fervent whispering had almost immediately grown into a dull roar, each spectator having recovered just enough to excitedly offer their own speculation on how the case would turn out. If he listened closely, he could hear just as many supporters for Phoenix as he could for Godot, and the implication made him grimace. "Still, Wright is in fine form today." He couldn't resist the jab, and it had exactly the effect he'd been looking for.

Franziska's featured twisted into a scowl. Despite her face screaming disgust for the man, Edgeworth noted that she still had not relaxed her grip upon the leather against her palm. As predicted, she snarled under her breath, still refusing to allow the man any credit. "Phoenix Wright is a fool, and that girl was expertly accurate in pointing out his foolishly foolish optimistic outlook," she finally turned her eyes away from the floor to stare down Miles, though he was largely unaffected by the glare. He'd been receiving it for nearly half her lifetime; it held little power over him now. "It will be a pleasure to seem him crushed under the despair of—"

"Remain seated and come to order!" the tipstaff called over the din of the courtroom, having burst out of the Judge's chambers in a flustered rush. Franziska's glare shifted over to the young man, who, thankfully, missed the withering gaze. Edgeworth turned once more to the courtroom at large, where Phoenix was surprisingly leading a bedraggled Maya to the witness stand. Godot took his place at the prosecutor's bench, smirking into his cup of coffee.

So, this is where this ends. Are you ready, Wright?

As if he could hear the thought, Phoenix turned his head for a brief moment and locked eyes with Edgeworth. To the average onlooker, the man simply appeared as though he were prepared for battle, but Miles knew him better than that. It was easy for him to see the immense trepidation in those blue eyes and he nodded solemnly to him in encouragement. His heart leapt within his chest as, for just the briefest of moments, Phoenix smiled at him.

Maya's testimony was predictably droll, as the girl seemed to be held together with a hope and a prayer. As Phoenix picked it apart, however, Edgeworth could feel the mood in the courtroom shift from tense to desperate, as Maya began to fight Phoenix's questioning and instead…defend Godot. The prosecutor sighed to himself, wishing that he hadn't been correct in his assumptions. Sneaking a glance beside him, he noted that Franziska's scowl had again relaxed into a sort of tense anticipation, and he secretly suppressed a smile. She could fool most people, but Miles Edgeworth had watched her grow up, and knew full well what kind of heart thundered within that chest of hers. She was just as empathetic as Phoenix was, even if she'd literally die before she revealed it, particularly to her sworn nemesis.

Edgeworth turned his attention back to the floor, where it seemed that Godot had now begun to ignore Iris entirely in favor of accusing Phoenix of allowing Mia to die. Edgeworth winced. He wasn't particularly well-versed in the specifics of how the former attorney had come to meet her demise, but it was obvious even to him that it still affected Wright a great deal. He knew what it had felt like to blame himself for his father's death, and then to be publicly accused of it in a courtroom… His stomach clenched threateningly at the memory of it all, knowing full well what his paramour was facing internally. He replaced the nausea with rage, instead, on Phoenix's behalf.

Phoenix fought back admirably, though Miles noticed that the man's hands had begun to tremble as he struggled through his arguments. For once, he noticed that the attorney hadn't relied on bluffs for most of the trial, and Edgeworth wasn't sure if that made it better or worse, considering the subject matter. He watched in tense silence and shook his head in awe as Phoenix laid the pressure on, launching a full-scale attack on the Prosecutor now that he'd developed enough justification to accuse the man of murder. Maya began to cry. Pearl clutched desperately at the defense bench, helpless against the drama. Iris wrung her hands in her lap and appeared as though she would have been thrilled with the opportunity to flee.

A terrible silence fell over the courtroom once again as Phoenix held up a glossy photo of Mia and pointed an accusing finger at Godot, calling him out as Diego Armando, and Edgeworth could feel his body tense from his toes to his hairline.

Diego Armando. Whatever conversation was happening, Miles Edgeworth could not hear. Blood had rushed to his head at the sudden onslaught of memories and he felt suddenly ill, as if the wind had been completely knocked out of him. Compulsively, he stared at the prosecutor, comparing the wild shock of white hair and tan skin to a distant memory at the far recesses of his mind. Godot was Diego Armando, and Diego Armando was Mia Fey's assistant during Miles Edgeworth's very first trial where Terry Fawles died and Dahlia Hawthorne walked free to kill again. Each little wispy loose end of information suddenly sucked inward to a long, tidy string that quite neatly tied around the enormous calamity that had dragged on for the last several years.

His eyes darted immediately to Maya, who was leaned against the witness stand in a defeated slouch and was gazing at Phoenix with pleading, tearful eyes. As Edgeworth's heartbeat slowed to sub-apoplexy, he leaned in, straining to hear, still reeling from the impossible connection that had been revealed. Phoenix offered a quick counter, brandishing a clear bag that contained a dagger, and just like that, the courtroom was in an uproar anew. The prosecutor screwed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying desperately to break his tunnel vision, and it was as if someone had taken the volume knob and turned it all the way up. Beside him, Franziska elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

"Pay attention, Miles Edgeworth. Is this not what you came here to see?"

He felt himself drawn to Iris who, despite awaiting a tremendous verdict, had eyes only for Phoenix. As the Judge pounded his gavel and called out the not guilty with a tremendous voice, every person in the courtroom rushed to their feet in cheers and applause. Edgeworth looked on, ignoring the jaded prosecutor now being led away in handcuffs, unable to tear his gaze away from the look being shared between Phoenix and his client. His stomach soured a bit.

Still…

The movement of people out of the courtroom was as cattle in a rainstorm, chaotic and slow and yet frantic at the same time. Franziska excused herself, leaving Miles to tap impatiently against his bicep as people shoved and cussed and scrambled to catch a glimpse of the "savant attorney" and the "damsel in distress". Eventually, after several long minutes of being breathed on and poked and generally molested, Edgeworth breathed a sigh of relief and made for the defense chambers.

As he opened the door, the sight before him gave him pause. Phoenix and Iris stood alone, as the television cameras waiting to pounce were not permitted within chambers, and Edgeworth saw with no small amount of discomfort that Phoenix held both Iris's hands within his own as they conversed. He was obviously catching the tail end of the discussion, but it was enough to discover that Iris had chosen to confess her secrets after all. Phoenix looked unbothered—happy, even. Despite himself, Miles could feel his chest tighten at the sight. Just as he turned to leave them be, for better or worse, Phoenix noticed him standing by the door and grinned brilliantly.

If Edgeworth's chest had been tight before, it might as well have collapsed in on itself at that smile.

"Iris, would you mind giving Mr. Edgeworth and me a moment?"

The nun bowed her head for a moment and smiled at the both of them—a real smile, full of relief and sweetness. "Of course. I should probably take the opportunity to freshen up a bit before I need to go back to the detention center, anyway."

"Ladies room is outside to your left."

"Thanks, Feenie."

Edgeworth felt as though he were watching the scene from outside himself, even as Iris breezed past him with another grateful smile. After she had disappeared through the old oak door, Edgeworth moved further into the room and shut it behind him. Despite the fact that his original intention had been to come and congratulate Phoenix on his win, he found himself at a lack of words now. Fortunately, the defense attorney never really seemed to have that problem. As he finally turned away from the door, he found himself immediately swept into an abrupt kiss.

"Wri—"

Phoenix reached up to cup his jaw and pressed his mouth against the Prosecutor's even more insistently, cutting off what he was sure to be a protest. He couldn't resist. When he'd had his fill for the moment, he pulled back, but couldn't quite bring himself to let go of Edgeworth's jawline as he gazed into stormy grey eyes.

Miles blinked back at him, bewildered.

"I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me on this case, Miles," Phoenix's eyes were exhausted and adorned with deep bags underneath, showcasing just how much the whole experience had taken out of him, but the way he stared at his partner was full of light and warmth and everything that had drawn Edgeworth in all those years back when they were children.

Edgeworth finally extracted himself from the defense attorney's cradling grasp, touched by the gesture but more concerned about someone seeing them. He needlessly straightened his cravat for a moment and then cleared his throat, unused to such unrestrained gratitude. "I owed you. I have to admit, though, that your job is abhorrent. Please don't ever ask me to do that again."

Phoenix laughed for a moment, then swayed dangerously, catching onto Edgeworth's forearms to steady himself. The prosecutor frowned at him.

"You're coming home with me tonight."

Phoenix looked up at him in surprise. "Miles, I'm fine—"

"I wasn't asking, Phoenix." He cast a glance around the room, double checking that they were alone, and then pulled the other attorney close to him for a moment. "I'm parked in spot 14, on the basement level. Meet me there when you've finished with the press."

Phoenix appeared as though he was prepared to argue, but nodded after a few moments had passed in silence. Their lips met once more, gentle and comforting to both of them, when a deep female voice rang out into the room.

"So, this is why you've gone soft, Miles Edgeworth."

Both attorneys froze in horror, unwilling and nearly unable to turn and see the only person the voice could belong to. Franziska pushed away from the wall, gently tapping her whip into her palm, smirking at them like a predator. Edgeworth could feel his heart sink into the floor, and Phoenix turned a brilliant scarlet. Both men took a step away from each other, but Franziska was close enough now to reach out and plant one hand into Miles' lower back, using her bull whip to nudge Phoenix into him.

"Oh, please, don't stop on my account…" Despite the lightness in her tone, her grin was absolutely malicious. When the men could move no closer together, Franziska tapped Phoenix on the back with the curve in her whip. The touch was near-imperceptible through the fabric of his suit, but he flinched violently nevertheless. "…however, you may want to consider how long you keep your client waiting, Phoenix Wright."

Over Franziska's head, Phoenix could see Iris paused in the doorway, watching the scene in stunned silence. He could feel his heart sink even further at the sight of her; though he wasn't exactly ashamed of his relationship, he couldn't say that he was exactly ready to flaunt it, either, and especially not in front of her… Despite Franziska's embrace, the defense attorney took a firm step backward, trying not to notice how utterly humiliated Edgeworth apparently felt. Clearing his throat, he tried to come up with a way of politely excusing himself without hurting anyone's feelings.

After a few moments of heavy silence passed, Edgeworth still stood frozen, glaring holes into the floor. Franziska had transitioned over to patting her whip into her palm, looking positively smug, and Iris had removed herself to the hallway. Phoenix sighed. "I suppose I ought to go wrap things up. I'll leave you guys to it."

Miles finally tore his eyes up from the floor just in time to catch Phoenix's back disappearing out the door. As usual, he found himself preferring the building feeling of rage over any other available emotion. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Franziska moving into one of her usual showy curtsies and he ground his teeth together, taking half a precious second to collect himself. "That…was completely uncalled for." The sound of his voice surprised him, low and cool and hostile. Unfortunately, Franziska was as used to him as he was to her, and it had little effect.

She chuckled arrogantly at him. "I found it rather amusing, Miles Edgeworth. Have you dedicated yourself so completely to besmirching the von Karma name that you would bed the enemy?"

It took a tremendous amount of effort not to roll his eyes. "How many times shall I have to explain to you that the courtroom is not a competitive arena—"

"Oh, but it is." Her playful tone had frozen solid. He watched impassively as she folded her arms and turned her back to him. "Your successful career has been nothing but a farce. You have clearly decided to throw away all that Papa has taught you."

At that, he snorted. "All this because I'm with another man?"

She rounded on him. "I care little for your foolishly foolish romantic involvements, Miles Edgeworth. Your distractions are your own," she sneered, "but I must admit, I would see you with literally anyone else but him."

He shrugged, allowing a lighthearted chuckle to escape. "Then perhaps it is the best choice I have made thus far."

Outside, he could hear the distant roar of the crowd that had impatiently waited outside the courthouse. Phoenix must have gone out to greet the press with Iris. A small part of him cringed sympathetically; he'd spent much of his life under a microscope due to von Karma's fame, and, for him at least, it had never gotten any easier to face the loaded questions and tabloid interviews. If Wright had any sense, he'd end it quickly, get Iris back to the detention center, and be on his way. The prosecutor glanced down at his watch and counted off a few minutes, looking forward to reaching the privacy of his car in the garage.

Grateful for the excuse to leave, he bowed graciously to the woman who was still turned rudely away from him. "If that's all, Ms. von Karma, I'll be taking my leave now."

Franziska frowned over her shoulder at him. "Are you sure you aren't playing with fire?"

He paused, his hand lingering on the doorknob. "What…do you mean?"

Silvery hair slid like water across taut shoulders as Franziska turned toward him, a curiously serious look on her face. "Wright knows now that he dated Iris instead of that devil woman. If memory serves, he was quite taken with her at the time."

Edgeworth's thoughts faithfully produced an achingly accurate memory of the file still tucked into his briefcase: Devoted to his girlfriend, Dahlia Hawthorne [Key Witness]. He squared his jaw against the reminder. "And?"

Franziska rolled her eyes. "Clearly I still have to do your thinking for you." She turned to face him fully, whip dangling playfully from her fingertips as she swung it back and forth. "Suppose he still has feelings for her. Wouldn't you say that his dramatic victory in her favor would be the perfect opportunity for them to rekindle their former relationship?"

Even though the prosecutor had been expecting her words, he still flinched at hearing them out loud, unwilling to face the probability of it, himself. He thought back to the brief recess he'd shared with Iris when he'd been defending her, and the quiet, sad confession she'd given him regarding the feisty attorney. As usual, Franziska's suggestion was irritatingly accurate, but it didn't exactly answer the question of why she felt the need to bring it up at all. "What's your point, Franziska?"

An unladylike snort rang out from behind him, prompting him to glance over his shoulder at her. She smiled at him very briefly, like she used to when they were children. "Simply looking out for my foolish little brother, nothing more."

It was easier, then, to return the smile, and soon he was on his way. Part of him hoped that he would still at least beat the attorney to his vehicle; it would be a bit rude to have invited him—insisted on it, really—to go home with him and then to make him wait for it. Still, his thoughts were tumultuous as he walked briskly toward the exit. He hadn't wanted to consider the possibility that Phoenix and Iris would discuss their relationship with each other, and he wanted even less to acknowledge how young their own relationship was. Logically speaking, there was plenty of possibility for Phoenix to decide that this wasn't what he wanted after all, particularly when presented with such an alluring alternative.

His dress shoes tapping against the cement steps in the parking garage were the only noise that rang out as he descended, with most of the court staff having left already. As he reached the correct floor, he fished for his keys, eager to be on his way. He was only a little surprised to see Phoenix leaned against the trunk of his car, seemingly lost in thought. Unable to resist even in the midst of all of the drama that had occurred over the last three days, Edgeworth smirked to himself and clicked the lock button on his key fob, eliciting a comically loud BEEP from the vehicle.

As expected, the pensive defense attorney leapt away from the car in surprise, eyes darting around in brief terror before catching sight of the prosecutor.

"Ready to go?"

Phoenix laughed and shook his head. With one hand, he reached for the door; with the other, he flipped Edgeworth the bird. "Thought you'd never ask."