Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, its characters and settings, are property of Capcom, and are being used here without permission. This fic contains adult male/male content.

Part 2 takes place several months after part 1.

Steady Inhale

Part 2/4

Of all the reasons to return to an old, self-destructive habit, Gumshoe was beginning to think that wishful thinking was probably the stupidest. He didn't smoke at work, or even in his apartment very often. But in the five months since Miles Edgeworth's disappearance from the prosecutor's office—not to mention the city and the country—he'd caught himself lighting up between shifts, or when he joined the other detectives for an evening drink. Whenever he was in public and there was the chance of maybe someone just happening in…

Now there was more than just that impossible chance. Given the circumstances it might have been too cruel to call it a hope, but he couldn't help that his gaze was drawn to the gate with the sound of every passing car. Even just a glance would be enough to settle all the doubts in his mind. He'd smoked down almost half a pack already during the wait, and time was running out. If his old comrade was coming at all, he would not be coming late.

Gumshoe checked his watch again, and was about to head back inside when a green airport taxi pulled through the prison gate checkpoint. He straightened, but wasn't able to catch a glimpse of the occupant until the vehicle had parked and a man stepped out. The top of the visitor's head was enough to convince Gumshoe of his identity, and ignoring propriety he jogged quickly down to the car. "Mr. Edgeworth!"

Edgeworth paused, only half out of the cab by the time Gumshoe was beside him. He looked surprised and a little uncertain as he stepped back from the open door. After a moment, his expression arranged itself into one of calm professionalism. "Detective."

Gumshoe had been rehearsing this moment all morning in his head. He'd rejected several scenarios and in the end had decided that, if Miles Edgeworth did appear in the courtyard that afternoon, he would slug him. Or at least shove him. He would be angry and indignant for the months of fearful speculation he and the rest of their colleagues had been put through, all that frustration from five little words on a crumbled piece of paper...

That was what he had planned, but when Edgeworth stared back at him, looking puzzled and…alive, Gumshoe could only grin openly in relief. All at once, the weight of too many restless weeks lifted from his shoulders. "W-Welcome back, Mr. Edgeworth," he said lamely.

Edgeworth sighed, but he was smiling slightly as he closed the cab door. "How did you know I was coming?"

"I, uh, had a hunch, Sir," Gumshoe replied, scratching the back of his neck. His tone sobered once more when he remembered why they were both really here. "I didn't think you oughta come alone, y'know?"

Edgeworth lowered his eyes, but only momentarily. "That's…thoughtful of you, Detective." He paused. "Could I trouble you for a ride afterwards?"

"Y-Yes, of course," Gumshoe answered instantly. "I would'a picked you up, if you'd told me you were coming." He made a pouting face briefly. "No reason you should pay cab faire in your own hometown, right?"

"Thank you." Edgeworth thanked and paid the cab driver before starting, with Gumshoe beside him, into the state prison.

Gumshoe had spoken with the guards earlier about his intended visitor, and so the pair were forced to pause for only a fraction of the time it usually took for security to pat them down. Edgeworth must have noticed the courtesy but he didn't comment on it. In fact, he didn't speak at all until they were past the guards, walking the long hall toward a single green door.

"I heard Mr. Payne handled the trial." Edgeworth kept his gaze straight ahead as he walked, as if diverting it for a moment would somehow keep them from reaching their goal. "I hadn't expected that."

"Yeah, he sure did," Gumshoe said quickly. He'd thought that if Edgeworth arrived his nervousness would leave him, but that was proving to be the opposite. "Everyone was surprised—caught'm on all sorts of cases of evidence tampering, perjury, obstruction of justice, extortion, assault…" He shrugged, still a little shocked himself by the entire affair. "'s why they pushed the date up. Our Mr. Payne was running on decades of repressed injustice, it turns out."

Edgeworth nodded slightly. "I should apologize to him. I know…he was looking for me."

Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck; maybe it was better not to mention that half the city's law enforcement had been looking for him. To the untrained eye Edgeworth may have appeared calm, even at ease, but Gumshoe knew better. He was probably three wrong words away from turning tail.

"It's all right, Sir," Gumshoe said instead. "No one wanted to make you testify again…."

Edgeworth didn't have a chance to reply—they'd reached the end of the hall. Gumshoe chewed his lip as he opened the door to the execution chamber's viewing room.

There were only a few people seated inside: Prosecutor Winston Payne, two district judges, and a woman in a suit who might have been a reporter. Thankfully they'd been able to keep a tight lid on the execution date, for fear of too many rubbernecks hanging around the prison. Gumshoe wasn't even really sure how Edgeworth had known. They took their seats at the edge of the first row of chairs closest to the door to wait.

I know he deserves to be here. Gumshoe glanced at Edgeworth out of the corner of his eye. The former prosecutor was tense, and like before his eyes were focused directly ahead with an intensity he usually reserved for court. But…I wish he didn't have to. No one should have to go through this.

Edgeworth had cut it fairly close—as soon as they were settled the folding blinds that covered the length of the front wall were drawn open with a loud snap. If Gumshoe hadn't been sitting next to him he might not have noticed him flinch.

The room behind the glass picture window was broad and mostly empty, save for a long, slab-like table set close to the window. Manfred von Karma was already laid out upon it. He looked half the man he once was, clad in the thin, scrub-like prison jumper instead of his laced suits. His hair was well trimmed but it seemed thinner than the last time Gumshoe had seen him, as did his bare arms. There was, however, no mistaking the stern expression he bore as belonging to anyone other than the famed prosecutor. His dark eyes were thin with strict attention as they roamed the length of the one-way mirrow.

Gumshoe cringed. Even knowing Karma couldn't see them it was a little frightening, not unlike standing before him as a witness. He felt a chill as Karma's gaze moved past him. And when it finally stopped, it was accompanied by a furrowing of Karma's pale brow, and a slow scowl. As if he could see directly through the glass to the people beyond.

Gumshoe glanced again to his company. Edgeworth's face hadn't changed despite the sudden, blind scrutiny placed on them, but his hands were tight and almost trembling against his knees. It was a sign of distress Edgeworth almost never allowed himself. Though he expected he wouldn't accept the gesture Gumshoe reached out slowly, covering the man's white-knuckled had with his own.

Edgeworth flinched again, but when Karma's gaze swung away from them once more he stretched his fingers. He didn't take Gumshoe's hand but his own relaxed a little.

It seemed to take hours for the executioner to prepare. Two men in medical scrubs stepped forward from a line of guards at the back of the room, pushing a cart of bottles and syringes. Why they needed so many Gumshoe had no idea, and he couldn't help glancing between the different instruments with a bit of morbid curiosity. He'd been to a lot of crime scenes, but he'd never sat through a live execution like this. He almost could look away from the frightful scene.

The great von Karma, dead, just like that, Gumshoe thought vaguely, watching attentively as one of the men swabbed the inside of Karma's elbow with alcohol. He didn't notice Edgeworth shifting next to him. Hard to believe, but I guess it's the way things oughta be…. The tip of the syringe smoothly pierced Karma's pale inner arm.

Edgeworth moved so suddenly that by the time Gumshoe reacted he was already at the door. Everyone in the room glanced up at the slammed declaration of his retreat. "Sir—" Gumshoe pushed to his feet, shifting indecisively for only a moment before giving chase. His stomach tight with painful sympathy, he followed Edgeworth into the hall.

"Sir…?"

Edgeworth was heading swiftly back down the hall they'd entered from, and Gumshoe hesitated again. He had no idea what kind of words or consolation he could give, or if Edgeworth would accept them even if he did. But that didn't mean he could just let him walk off and disappear again; with a deep breath he follow the prosecutor at a distance. "Mr. Edgeworth…?"

In the end Edgeworth didn't make it very far. He was only half way down the corridor when his gait slowed to a halt, and suddenly he wavered, pressing his hand to the wall to keep steady. This time Gumshoe rushed quickly to his side. "Sir! Are you all right?"

Edgeworth shook his head, and when Gumshoe was close enough he could see the man covering his mouth with his free hand. "I'm going to be sick," he mumbled through his fingers.

"Oh! Geez, um…." Gumshoe turned about urgently and finally spotted a door marked "Restroom" at the end of the hall. "Hold on, Sir." He wrapped his arm around Edgeworth's shoulders, tugging him away from the wall and leading him toward the facility. "Almost there…"

Edgeworth closed his eyes, letting himself be supported down the corridor to the single-stall restroom. By the time they were inside he seemed to have fought the nausea back, and he only coughed weakly as he braced his hands against the porcelain sink bowl. Gumshoe stood back and tried to give him some space.

"Mr. Edgeworth…" Gumshoe gulped and forced himself to look away—it wasn't right of him to stare. He fell silent and waited while Edgeworth turned on the water and splashed some over his face. "Um…are you okay?"

Edgeworth didn't reply, though Gumshoe could hear him pulling off a piece of paper towel to dry his face and hands with. Finally the detective had to look back; he cringed at how pale Edgeworth looked. He started to speak again.

"I'm sorry," Edgeworth said abruptly, cutting him off before he could get a sound out. "You didn't have to come after me."

"No, it's all right. I mean…" Gumshoe took a careful step closer. "I wanted to make sure you were all right, pal."

"I…." Edgeworth's shoulders sagged, and though he was turned away, Gumshoe could see a weary smile on his face, reflected across a crack in the bathroom mirror. "I'm all right. Just a coward, I suppose."

"That's not true!" Gumshoe quickly objected. His hand came down on Edgeworth's shoulder, squeezing tightly as if it would help get his point across. "That's not true at all! You did come, didn't you? And…."

Edgeworth lowered his head, his hands braced again against the sink. "I couldn't watch. I came all this way for it, but I…" A slow tremor worked its way through him. "I couldn't do it."

Gumshoe's expression tightened sadly. "Mr. Edgeworth…" He kept his hand on Edgeworth's shoulder, not sure what else he could offer. "Why not…?"

"Because…." Edgeworth shook his head again, slowly. "I don't know," he confessed. "I'm supposed to hate him, aren't I? He took everything away from me. Everything my life could have been. But…"

Edgeworth paused, and when Gumshoe's hand tensed against his shoulder he turned slightly towards him. "But still," he continued slowly, "none of that changes…our history. For fifteen years he was a father to me." He shivered again. "Longer than my real father…."

Gumshoe winced helplessly—as awkward as he felt trying to comfort the younger man, the thought of doing nothing was worse. He took Edgeworth's other shoulder as well, and was surprised by how…small he suddenly seemed, standing there with his head down. "I…" He licked his lips and took a breath to steel his courage. "I'm sorry, Sir," he told him seriously. "I know I don't really understand what it must be like for ya, but…you're alive, and you're alright. That's what matters, isn't it?"

Edgeworth smiled thinly, reaching up to touch Gumshoe's elbows as if hoping to prod him off—Gumshoe noticed but pretended not to. "That's right. I must have given you all quite a scare with my resignation notice."

"You did!" Gumshoe couldn't help but declare. His hands tightened. "Why'd ya go and leave a stupid note like that, anyway! Y'had me worried sick all this time!"

He wanted to shake him. But despite their long acquaintance Edgeworth always managed to do the unexpected: he lifted his head at least, fixing Gumshoe with that same, pained smile he'd borne when they parted five months earlier. "Sorry about that."

Gumshoe felt his chest clench at those words, and before he could think better of it pulled Edgeworth close, nearly crushing him against his chest. "N-No, you don't have to apologize, Mr. Edgeworth," he said, wrapping his arms around Edgeworth's shoulders. "I know it was hard for you…but…but the Police Department hasn't given up on you! I knew you'd come back!"

Miles twisted within the detectives sudden embrace, and just when Gumshoe thought he was going to have to let him go, he abruptly relaxed. His hands lifted and curled in Gumshoe's long trench coat. "Detective…."

"I-I'm sorry," Gumshoe stuttered. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't bring himself to let go when Edgeworth's body felt so weak against his own. "I won't tell no one you came, if you want. If…you're not ready to come back to us. I'm just glad you're a'right…" He bit his lip briefly. "An' I'm sorry, 'bout your old man…"

Edgeworth tensed; pressed so tightly together Gumshoe could feel the way his muscles tightened around each other with each measured breath. He was even shaking, a little, beneath the thick wool suit he always wore. Maybe it was the offered condolences, or maybe he'd been trembling all along, but all at once the unsteady tremor passed through Egdeworth's body like an ebbing wave. His hands fisted against Gumshoe's back as he leaned into him with a tiny sound of pain.

Gumshoe squeezed his eyes shut. Feeling Edgeworth give in like that made his throat ache, and he couldn't have offered any other words of sympathy if he had any. He didn't feel Edgeworth cry—he was fighting it, he could tell—but they stood together that way for a long time, ignoring the improper surroundings and the event that was taking place no more than a hundred feet away.

By the time Miles disengaged in embarrassment, allowing Gumshoe to lead him to his car, von Karma was already dead.

They didn't speak until they were outside the prison, Gumshoe behind the wheel and Miles slumped in his passenger seat. Gumshoe's cheeks were a little flushed, while his companion looked almost sickly pale. It was the former that broke the silence first. "So, where am I taking you, Sir? Home?"

Edgeworth sighed. "No. I had all the utilities turned off—I'm staying at the Hyatt by the airport." He rubbed his eyes. "Thank you."

"So you're…." Gumshoe chewed his lip. "You're not staying, are you."

"…No. I'm sorry, Detective." Edgeworth turned his head toward the window, watching the cars speed by. "I can't yet."

"All right…." Gumshoe kept his eyes on the road and did his best to hide the disappointment that was creeping up his gut.

They arrived at the hotel twenty minutes later. Gumshoe shifted anxiously in his seat as he watched Edgeworth unbuckle and push himself up out of the seat. He had said just knowing the man was still alive was enough, but somehow he didn't feel any relief in having to watch him leave again. Without realizing it he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes. "Well…um…take care, Sir," he called after him. "If you ever need anything…"

Edgeworth paused, and after a moment bent down through the open door once more. His eyes drifted to the cigarettes, and he smiled thinly. "Is there one for me in there?"

Gumshoe blinked in surprise, but quickly nodded. "Take the pack," he offered. "What's left of it."

"No, it's all right." Edgeworth plucked a single stick out of the open pack, tucking it between his lips. "I only need one."

Gumshoe reached out, and Edgeworth held still as he lit the cigarette for him. They both pulled back at the same time, and though there was some lingering awkwardness between them, Edgeworth smiled. "Thank you. For…today."

Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck. "We'll be waiting for you," he offered hopefully. "When you're ready to come back, pal."

Edgeworth's eyes thinned, but he looked honestly happy to have received such a promise. "All right," he agreed. He straightened out of the car, his smile disappearing from Gumshoe's sight. Gumshoe could only watch the sway of his coat as he made his way up to the hotel doors.

Gumshoe sighed. "Good luck, Mr. Edgeworth." He lit another cigarette for himself before putting the car into gear again to take him home.