The Ace Attorney series belongs to Capcom. There are some OCs mentioned in the story and they belong to me. Based in an AU!
Cursed to Detect Lies
Summary: While working on a case, Miles reconnects with an old friend who believes he's cursed. By putting the curse to good use, Miles is able to crack the case and get the verdict it deserves.
Miles walked into his classroom and scanned the room to find that there was someone else in the room, a young boy with spiked hair pointing backwards, the hairstyle must have taken some product to keep it as still as it was. Deep blue eyes were staring down at the desk, the colour seemed to match the child's mood, a sad expression on his face. Miles observed the child for a few moments before he approached his own desk. Miles had seen this kid around but never really interacted with him, he didn't seem like he wanted company and Miles himself, always preferred having his nose in a book. The two sat in silence as the rest of the class filed in along with the teacher. The teacher reminded him of the child's name, Phoenix Wright. A few months later, he, Phoenix and another child called Larry Butz were grouped together for some group project. That was when he learnt why Phoenix preferred to keep to himself.
"Larry, did you get the work done?" Phoenix had asked Larry.
"Yeah, duh~ I got it done!" Larry spoke with pure confidence, beaming at them with pride but while Larry beamed, Miles heard the audible gasp that came from Phoenix. He glanced over towards his group partner and noticed how the colour had drained from his face and his eyes were locked onto Larry's chest. Miles knew then that something had happened, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Miles had observed Phoenix for a while, noticing how he refused to look at any other student when he asked a question, never asked the teacher a question and was determined to struggle when topics came up that he didn't understand. Miles had pinned whatever happened back then to one point, whatever happened had happened because Phoenix had asked a question. That day with the group project, Larry had not indeed, done what they set him and after some convincing finally came clean. Phoenix's reaction…he knew Larry was lying but didn't have any evidence…Now Miles believed he had something to go off.
"Phoenix, can I ask you a question?" Miles asked, having successfully cornered Phoenix in the library. As Miles suspected, Phoenix didn't even bother trying to make eye contact with him. He never did after what happened that day…afraid of what he saw that day might make a return. "Please answer me honestly, okay?" He spoke again and watched as Phoenix nodded. "When you asked Larry if he did the work and he said no, you reacted, did you not?"
"I didn't…" Phoenix started before he stopped himself from finishing the sentence. He became tense, wanting to tell but not wanting to at the same time. Miles knew he couldn't push…not yet. "Can we talk about something else?" Phoenix asked, staring down and the ground like it was more interesting than Miles was or anything else in the library. "Please?"
"If you answer my question." Miles could play stubborn, he could play it well. He just needed to wait for Phoenix to break under the pressure and confess to Miles. Thankfully it didn't take long before Phoenix started to talk.
"I…knew he was lying…I reacted." Miles gave him a confused look. "I…you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Told me what?"
"I'm…I have a…" Phoenix shuffled nervously on his feet. The boy radiated uneasy about this situation but they both knew that the sooner Phoenix told Miles, the sooner the situation could be resolved and both could carry on with their lives. "A…curse. As my parents would say."
"You're…cursed?" Miles asked in disbelief. Phoenix had to be joking, right? There was no way Phoenix was cursed.
"If I ask someone and they lie…everything around me goes dark. Chains emerge from the darkness and wrap around the person's heart and locks appear…It's happened for as long as I can remember. Locks on my parents, locks on our classmates, locks on the teachers…locks on possible friends…" Miles was at a loss on what to say. Phoenix rubbed his eyes, feeling the tears building up and escaping from his eyes. "I know people have secrets…it's part of life…but I can see them if I ask a question. If I look at them and they try and lie to me…the locks…and if I try and remove them wrong…it hurts…it hurts so much…"
A few months after that confrontation, Phoenix stopped coming to school.
Ace Attorney – Cursed to Detect Lies
15 Years later…
"You're well aware that you are capable of performing your interviews without me, correct?" Miles asked Dick as he walked towards the detective. The large man was looking defeated and irritated, whoever they had in the interview room behind him wasn't being cooperative by the sight of Dick. Usually the man was very good at getting the person being interviewed to open up and spill what he needed to make a guilty verdict. Dick looked towards Miles and just looked disappointed.
"I know sir, and I'm sorry but I can't get him to open up. He keeps asking for you though…I kept telling him that you were probably too busy to come and talk to him but he wouldn't give up," Dick admitted to Miles. Miles raised an eyebrow at this. Not many would request him specifically without a very good reason to. No one wanted to be in the same room as the 'Demon Prosecutor' if they could avoid it. Being requested specifically though…was odd. If it took him to question the witness then Miles knew he didn't have much choice in that matter.
"Alright, let me see him. I trust that this conversation will be recorded?"
"Of course!" There went up the hand, saluting him with that bright smile on his face. Something Miles would say suited Dick better than his kicked-puppy expression.
"Very well, allow me to interview the suspect then."
Dick nodded and allowed Miles into the interview room. This was turning out to be a rather unusual case. Miles didn't enjoy the interviews, it was just a reminder that sometimes he couldn't get the witnesses to say their name and occupation in the courtroom. Miles made his way into the interviewing room and paused at the doorway.
Sitting in the interviewing chair was someone he recognised instantly. The spiked hair that looked like the wind had forced every single strand of hair backwards was a clear indication on who he was. Skin was pale, paler than Miles had ever seen it before but what made him curious was the blindfold that was wrapped around his head to cover his eyes. The man wore a dark grey hoodie which looked baggy and oversized with a pair of grey trousers to match. His trainers were worn with use, having lost their clean white and instead brown from dirt. The man was calm, unmoving at the table and didn't even lift his head when the door opened. Hands were on the table with his left hang holding something small that Dick couldn't get the man to let go of, or something insignificant that the detective had overlooked it. Miles made his way towards the chair on the opposite side of the table and sat down gently, not wanting to startle the man. Once he had settled himself and mentally prepared himself, he finally spoke.
"Phoenix Wright."
A smile grew on Phoenix's face as he lifted his head up as if looking at Miles before speaking. "It's been so long since I've heard that name." His voice was void of emotions despite the smile on his face. Alarm bells started to ring in Miles' mind at that comment. While he and Phoenix weren't close at school, the boy had tried to distance himself from Miles after the confrontation, this behaviour wasn't what he expected from the man. Phoenix had always fidgeted with something. Some part of clothing, a fidget toy, part of his stationary…it was strange just seeing him so still. "I bet you've grown up well. From what I've been hearing, you're rather handsome."
"If it's alright with you Wright, I'd rather start this interview."
"Alright, hit record and ask your questions then, Edgeworth." Phoenix leant back in his chair. The smile vanishing along with the change in pose. Miles didn't let that bother him though as he reached towards the recording device and pressed record.
"This is Miles Edgeworth, Prosecutor, interviewing Mr. Phoenix Wright, a witness to the murder trial of Mr Sil Billy. The time is 13:04, date is 20/08/2016." Miles spoke clearly as he watched Phoenix in the chair in front of him. He noticed the movement his left hand made, fingers running over the object clutched tightly within his fingers. "I assume that blindfold doesn't fully block your vision?"
"No, but it blocks out most of my vision," Phoenix responded.
"What can you tell me about the murder of Mr Sil Billy?"
"Mr Sil Billy was a client of my Master, I didn't interact with him much but he and my Master went back far. From my perspective they were friends and whenever he interacted with me, he was friendly. He wasn't always an honest man, but most people aren't for one reason or another. Mr Billy had a family to look after and with what Master's company did, paid him enough to support his family. I did overhear them arguing about something though."
"Did you catch what they argued about?" Miles asked. That was interesting to hear. It wasn't uncommon for friends to argue once a while but if the argument had turned violent then they had a clue.
"Too many lies creates a very tangled web. The spider of truth finally caught the lying flies."
"Who is your…Master?" Miles felt uneasy saying that word. Just what had happened to Phoenix when he stopped coming to school?
"I'd rather not say. I don't have his permission." Miles noticed how his fingers stopped running his fingers over the object and had gone still. Was that fear? Was it something else that was just as worrying? He could spare a worry for Phoenix once the trial was over and justice had been served. Things weren't looking well for the defendant, who Miles assumed to be Phoenix's 'master'. For now though, he needed to press Phoenix further.
"How often do you seek your…Master's permission?"
"I…don't often ask for it. I learnt very early on that if I wasn't needed it was best to keep quiet. Master gives me food, water, shelter and the blindfold. That's enough for me…"
"You don't sound sure on that, Mr Wright." Was it his imagination or is Phoenix's spikes drooping slightly to match his mood? Miles wasn't sure if he should file that information away for later or ignore it.
"Well, how would you feel if you were treated like an animal instead of a person?" Phoenix responded as his fingers brushed against the object once more. Was he nervous again?
"Let's change the topic and talk about something else then."
"You're angry about something, aren't you?"
"I believe a break is required. I will be terminating the interview for the break and will be resuming at a later time," Miles spoke before anyone could object, he stopped the recording and simply glared at Phoenix.
Ace Attorney – Cursed to Detect Lies
Miles watched Phoenix from behind the one-way mirror. Yes, he was angry, but he wasn't sure if it was directed at Phoenix or his 'Master'. Dick was standing next to him, watching Phoenix too before turning his attention towards Miles. He didn't open his mouth just yet and judging by Miles' expression now wasn't the best time either. Phoenix was still in the room, stretching his legs as he walked around in the supervised room. The blindfold still on and the object still clamped tightly in Phoenix's hand. Someone had taken Phoenix and felt like they had stripped away his human rights and left him as just an object to detect lies. He glanced at Dick before glancing back at Phoenix.
"I met Wright when I was in fourth grade. He was quiet and kept to himself. Avoided looking at everyone and stared down at the ground. Do you know his 'Master'?"
"Sir, Mr Cedric Freeks. He's the defendant. When the police were called, he was arrested at the scene, but Mr Wright was also there. With the blindfold on we assumed he had no part to play, sir. I'll take responsibility for that sir," Dick admitted and Miles closed his eyes and nodded. They both knew now that Dick would be getting a pay cut from that.
"What is Wright holding?"
"Dunno sir, he wouldn't let anyone see it. Fear of us taking it away."
"No, there's something else…what would you fidget with if you didn't have anything for your hands?"
"I'd fiddle with the blindfold."
"Alright, I'm ready to return to the interview," Miles spoke as he started to move before Dick placed his hand on Miles' shoulder and stopped him. Miles glanced at Dick before looking back at Phoenix to find that he was standing in front of them, a small yet sad smile on his face. He couldn't see through the mirror like Miles and Dick could but without being able to see the eyes, it was somewhat unnerving. He didn't stay long and returned to his seat and waited for Miles to return. He didn't wait long before Miles returned, and the interview resumed.
Phoenix had been rather co-operative. Giving Miles all the information he needed and answers the questions he felt he could without displeasing his Master, now identified as Mr Freeks. Miles wanted to seek more personal information from Phoenix, such as how he came into Mr Freek's care. With the interview coming to a close Miles had officially run out of questions related to the case but one. He wasn't sure how to ask Phoenix that though.
"I know the question you're not keen on asking."
"I apologise Wright, but I have to ask it…Wright?" Miles tensed as Phoenix placed his hands over Miles' hands.
"Ask it…if I'm lying you'll be able to see."
See? What exactly would he see if Phoenix lied? He cleared his throat but kept his eyes on Phoenix. "Did you kill Mr Sil Billy?"
"No, I did not kill Mr Sil Billy."
Miles waited but nothing happened. He wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or nervous. What was Phoenix doing?
"Do you know who did?" Miles couldn't help but ask.
"No," Phoenix response came. Miles was about to break contact with Phoenix before everything went dark, and the sound of rushing chains filled his ears. The chains came from no where and wrapped around Phoenix before one red and gold lock blossomed from the chains, the sound of it locking was loud in Miles' ears. Miles sat there, frozen on the spot, unable to look away from what had happened right in front of him. Something impossible had just happened. "Sorry, but I can't tell nor put you through the pain." Phoenix removed his hands from Miles and everything returned to normal. He was back in the interviewing room with Phoenix sitting in front of him, a neutral expression on his face.
"What…was THAT?!" Miles demanded.
"The reason why Mr Freeks is my Master."
"Interview terminated at…" Miles didn't say the time before Phoenix pressed the stop button. "Wright, I have to record the time the interview ended!"
"Whoops~" Phoenix laughed.
Ace Attorney – Cursed to Detect Lies
After a further investigation had been performed, Miles had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to this murder than originally let on. He couldn't shake off what Phoenix had made him go through…the chains and the locks…that was what Phoenix saw when Larry had lied to him all those years ago. No, he couldn't let that distract him. Instead, he needed to focus on the case which was now pointing to Mrs Freeks but what was lacking was a motive. He needed to talk to Phoenix once more as he was sure that Phoenix held the key to what Miles needed. The man was in police custody at the moment, held in a holding cell while waiting to see what would happen to him. The man was innocent in all this and was only owned (Miles hated that) by Mr Freeks.
"…if I try and remove them wrong…it hurts…it hurts so much…"
Miles had pondered what that meant for a long time, meeting Phoenix once more had opened the box of the past that Miles kept shut and locked tightly. Now he felt himself fumbling to fit the key into the lock and open it. He now understood what Phoenix had meant by those words. If Phoenix tried to remove the locks himself and guessed wrong, then it hurt him as a punishment. If Phoenix back then had evidence that Larry was lying about having done the work, would he be punished? Or would the lock shake or break? Miles had proof that Mrs Freeks was the one who had killed Mr Billy…maybe that would break the lock and Phoenix would confess the truth. He needed to get back to the man now!
He practically leapt into his car and drove off away from the crime scene. He had a lead and he wasn't going to let it slip by him! He didn't care what the defence attorney did at the crime scene now. He barely kept within the speed limits as he drove to the station. The police mascot finally came into view as it was stationed outside the police station. Dick seemed to love it while other members either didn't care or hated it. The children though, they seemed to love it as well. Maybe it was to do with the colours or the movement…definitely not the music that it could play if the members in the station could be bothered to switch that element on. Parking his care, Miles stepped out and demanded another meeting with Phoenix. The poor secretary at the desk (now intimidated by him) frantically typed away on the keyboard and got Miles the interview room book. Now, to meet the man once more.
Miles waited impatiently in the interview room for the police to bring him Phoenix. He believed to have enough information to try and break the lock that Phoenix had…he did not want to feel the effects of him trying and failing. If he truly believed Phoenix, the pain from trying and failing was severe. Miles glanced at the door as Phoenix walked in, still in those baggy clothes. He looked like he had been cleaned up though, his hair was shinier, and he looked brighter. The blindfold was still worn though.
"Afternoon Edgeworth, are we not going to record the interview?" Phoenix asked. For a second it took Miles to remember that Phoenix can still indeed, see. The blindfold didn't block it completely.
"I don't think what we're about to discuss needs to be recorded. I doubt that you would like your talent to be out in public."
"Do you have evidence?" Phoenix tilted his head to the side as he took the seat. He saw the smirk grow on Miles' face. "You look like you do. So, my hand on yours or yours on mine?"
"Does contact need to be established?" Miles asked the man, curious as to how Phoenix even discovered this…or was it Mr Freeks who had?
"Sorry but contact is required."
"Of course," Miles offered his hand out to Phoenix, Phoenix reached for Miles' hand and it looked like a friendly handshake. "Do you know who killed Mr Billy?"
"No," Phoenix responded in just the same manner. Just like last time, the room went dark for Miles, the chains rattled and erupted from behind him and wrapped around Phoenix, tangling him up in cold metal before the lock blossomed. Miles still went pale, and he knew this from the frown that appeared on Phoenix's face. It morphed into a smile though as he opened his mouth to speak, "it never gets easier. No matter how many times I've seen it happen."
"You do know who killed Mr Billy but you're not telling me why. I can only assume you're keeping quiet to protect Mr Freeks. He does own you after all…But Mrs Freeks doesn't own you."
"Mrs Freeks? When did she come into the equation?"
"She's a possible murder suspect yet her motive remains a mystery. We're getting off topic." Was it his imagination, or did the lock shake slightly? Was he on the right path? This was hopefully going to be the first case involving Phoenix and his curse and the last case of this too.
"Mind if I ask you a question?" Phoenix asked.
"You may?" Miles looked puzzled, would Phoenix be able to see if he had any locks if he lied to the man?
"Don't worry, the blindfold won't allow me to see locks if you have any~"
WAS THIS MAN PSYCHIC TOO?!
"How can I be so sure?"
"Experimentation with this curse, we discovered that if most of my vision is blocked, the curse can't activate. No chains, no locks no nothing."
"Very well…what is your question?"
"You're a prosecutor, right?"
"Indeed." Miles sat back on his chair and crossed his legs and arm, a move which seemed to amuse Phoenix.
"Wouldn't it just be better to get Mr Freeks the guilty verdict? Why go so far to seek the truth?"
"I wish for justice to be served to the right people, not let the innocent suffer from something they didn't do. I don't believe Mr Freeks killed Mr Billy. I do know that Mr Billy had entered the office of Mr Freeks an hour before the time of death. Security camera took these photographs which showed Mrs Freeks entering the office too while Mr Billy was still inside." Miles reached for his satchel with his spare hand and withdrew some camera images and showed them to Phoenix. The man lifted the blindfold up slightly so he could get a better look at the images, taking them in before covering his eyes once more. "You know the motive, don't you?"
Phoenix shrugged, his hand clutched Miles' hand but it wasn't enough to break the lock. He didn't bother responding to Miles' last question. Miles passed another photo to him, this time it was a photo of Mr Sil Billy's body. The prosecutor remained silent as he watched for Phoenix's reaction. Phoenix, to his part had remained mostly still but he was aware his grip on Miles was getting stronger. The other man didn't say anything though, but the wince wasn't ignored.
In the greyscale image, Mr Billy's body was slumped over Mr Freeks desk, blood had stained the blazer that Mr Billy wore, a knife sticking out which Phoenix recognised instantly. Mr Freek's used that knife often in Phoenix's presence, often for intimidation if he found out someone was lying when Phoenix asked the question. He had never known the man to use it to harm others, Phoenix didn't believe the man had it in himself to harm his clients. He didn't know Mrs Freeks well enough to make any form of judgement on her. He looked up at Miles.
"Do you have any other evidence?" He asked.
"I'm glad you asked," Miles gave him a smug smile and reached into his satchel once more and brought out a pad of paper. "These are questions asked to the security guards and other personnel who worked in that building. All of them saw Mrs Freeks enter the building and they commented that she wasn't in the best of moods. I believe with this we have enough evidence," he shrugged and shook his head. He wasn't even in court, and he was already playing his court persona against Phoenix.
The sound of a lock unlocking before shattering could be heard. Miles watched as the lock shattered into tiny pieces, the chains rattled before they uncoiled around Phoenix and retracted into the darkness that surrounded the pair of them. The room came back into view.
"You're right, Mrs Freeks was the one who killed Mr Billy. Mr Freeks never talked about his home life with me or anything about his marriage, but it was clear to see that it was falling apart. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason he stayed so late in the office was just to escape from the train crash of his marriage. Mr Billy was his only 'happy time' if you get what I mean? Something to look forward to during the day. I'm often forgotten in the office but I saw the whole thing, how she plunged the knife into his back and slammed his face into the desk. You'll find the gloves hidden under the plant that she used to handle the knife with."
"You're going to have to testify that…I'll have Gumshoe introduce you to the defence attorney. I'm still against you working for Mr Freeks when all he does is treat you as an object…"
"I'll testify if the public leave the room when I take the stand."
"I shall see to it."
Ace Attorney – Cursed to Detect Lies
"I find that the defendant, Mr Freeks, Not Guilty of murder of Mr Sil Billy," The judge declared and with that the case was closed. Miles was okay with how the events turned out, he may not have gotten the guilty verdict of Mr Freeks but Mrs Freeks had been arrested for the murder and was guilty. He really had to thank Phoenix for that…speaking of the man where did he go? Miles left the courtroom and wandered the halls towards the defence lobby. That was probably where the man was as his Master was there too.
He was correct but Mr Freeks wasn't there. Instead of was just Phoenix and the defence attorney Miles didn't remember the name of.
"Oh, hey Edgeworth." Phoenix greeted Miles as he approached.
"Do you mind if I borrow Mr Wright?" Miles asked the nameless defence attorney, the man nodded and let Phoenix go. "So, where's Mr Freeks?" Phoenix just let his body sag at the mention of the name.
"He…well, he fired me and was planning on moving out the country. Start a new business, all that jazz."
"I'm sorry to hear that…where will you go now though?" Miles asked as he walked out the defence lobby with Phoenix following him. "I assumed you were living in the office…"
"I don't…have anywhere else to go…"
"Then I have an idea. If you're happy to put your so called, curse, to good use?"
Phoenix shrugged. "Working with you for a bit did make me realise something."
"Oh?" Miles raised an eyebrow and stopped walking. Phoenix took a few more steps before he stopped too, turning back to look at Miles.
"I've got this curse, if it means I can help others by using it then I should probably do that." He laughed after that and turned around to continue walking. Miles shook his head and followed Phoenix.
"I think you're going to fit right in with where I suggest you put that curse under good use. Come, I shall take you to Fey and Co. Law office building."
Thanks for reading, take care out there.