Authors note: Hey! Well, chapter three is up. I'm not sure what day Phoenix's last trial was on - but whatever. I'm pretending that it was Friday :P Also, I'm also pretending that Trucy doesn't exist (Gasp, I know. I like Trucy and all, but I think having a small child living with Phoenix will greatly effect any dramatic-ness to come.) Well, as always, please read and review - I appreciate them loads. Thanks!
The Forged Turnabout
~Chapter Three~
C o n c e a l e d E v i d e n c e
Phoenix rummaged around in the wardrobe he shared with his partner, looking for something comfortable to wear.
It was seven o'clock on Saturday morning - the day after Phoenix had been…disbarred.
I…I still can't believe it.
Phoenix pulled a grey hooded sweatshirt out of the wardrobe, and examined it.
W-When did I buy this?
…Oh. Right. It was when I decided to be super healthy.
'An early morning run, every morning'.
Like that was ever gonna happen.
Phoenix sighed sadly, and pulled the unsightly grey thing over his head.
He also found some track-suit pants, and pulled those on as well.
At least…Miles is going to work today.
I need time to be by myself.
…Again.
Phoenix glanced over at the man on his left – the prosecutor was still asleep.
He usually got up quite late on the weekend.
As Phoenix paced quietly around the room – not wanting to disturb his lover - a thought occurred to him.
Oh Christ. I'll be in the newspaper.
He raced outside of their apartment, well, as fast as he could in his shocked, sick state.
Walking home in the rain has not helped my current situation.
He noticed that the paper had been delivered.
Thank God.
I didn't want to have to wait.
Phoenix fumbled with the newspaper, but managed to straighten it out.
Typical.
He was on the front cover.
The headline read 'The Forging Attorney Disbarred.'
There was also a picture of him in court – looking enthusiastic and passionate. It had obviously been taken before that fateful day.
As Phoenix read through the article, his heart sank.
Everyone who reads this is going to think I actually did it…
Maya, Larry, Gumshoe, Franziska…Miles.
I can't let him see this.
Phoenix was just about to rip the front cover up, when he realized that the article that Miles read almost religiously, was on the inside cover.
Panic struck.
Oh God. If I rip it up, he'll know something is up when he can't find his article.
…If I get rid of the entire newspaper, I can pretend that it hasn't been delivered…
…But then he might go and get one from somewhere else…
Before Phoenix had a chance to think it through properly, Miles called out.
"Phoenix?"
He sounded slightly panicky, but Phoenix didn't know why.
Phoenix wandered back into the bedroom, having stuffed the newspaper under the pink sofa – he would dispose of it later.
"Miles." Phoenix mumbled, sitting on his side of the bed.
Miles visibly sighed in relief.
"How are you feeling? Do you feel sick? Do you want me to make you something warm?…What are you wearing?" The silver haired man bombarded Phoenix with questions, the latter being slightly incredulous.
"Alright, no, no thanks, and a sweatshirt." Phoenix mumbled, in response to Miles' inquiries.
"…Right," Miles paused, before running a hand through his soft, silver hair. "You don't look very well."
"Oh." Phoenix wandered off into the bathroom.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was messy – albeit, still spiky, and his face was pale. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked… generally unhealthy.
Urk.
Miles walked into the bathroom behind him.
Phoenix neglected to notice how Miles' eyes flickered over to the bottle of sleeping pills, which lay discarded on the corner of the bathroom sink.
"Phoenix, love, is there anything you want to tell me?" Miles asked softly, coming up behind the no-longer defence attorney. He put his arms around Phoenix's waist, and nuzzled into his neck.
Phoenix's heart started beating faster.
God.
Oh God.
How could he know?
When did he find out?
Phoenix hesitated. He could tell the truth now. He could tell Miles what was really happening.
But what would Miles' reaction be? Phoenix didn't want to think about it.
"Um, n-no…" Phoenix muttered, starting to sweat a little.
"Oh," Miles looked slightly disappointed, and, yet again, Phoenix didn't understand why. "Alright. Well, why don't you go and lie down?"
Phoenix breathed a non-visible sigh of relief.
I thought that he had found out for a second…
I guess not.
Miles took Phoenix's hand, and gently led him back to their bed.
"Lie down, Phoenix. You look tired," Miles said, shaking his head slightly.
I am tired.
I didn't get much sleep last night.
Not really.
Phoenix thought that it was…sweet how Miles was looking out for him, even though he was going to be late for work.
…Sweet.
A word I would never have used to describe Miles Edgeworth before I started dating him…
As Phoenix lay down, Miles hurried around, getting ready for work.
Ten minutes later, the spiky haired man started drifting off to sleep.
Miles glanced over at Phoenix, planted a kiss on his cheek, and left the apartment.
Phoenix awoke, an hour and a half later, to a very annoying 'beeping' sound.
What is this irritating sound…?
Phoenix quickly deduced that the phone was ringing.
He stood up, staggered over to the bench, and fumbled around for the phone, which, unsurprisingly, was where it should be.
"H-hello?" Phoenix mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Nick! What the hell happened?" Maya's angry voice rang through the apartment.
Damn it.
I didn't suspect that someone would call this soon…
"Woah, Maya, tone it down a little, please. I'm sick." Phoenix said lamely.
"Alright, sorry, Nick. What happened? I've just got the newspaper from Kurain! It says… Well. I don't know what it is trying to tell me!" Maya said angrily.
Phoenix imagined that she was puffing out her cheeks.
"Um, I, er, got disbarred." Phoenix said.
"Why? It says that you forged evidence, but I thought…no. I know that you wouldn't do anything like that!" Maya said.
"Maya…"
Phoenix had decided that it would be easier if he didn't tell people the truth. If they asked if he had forged the evidence, he would just say 'I did what I needed to do, in order to gain a 'Not Guilty' verdict'. It was easier than telling people that he had been set up.
He didn't care what people he didn't know thought of him.
…But this was Maya. She was his closest friend, and his 'sidekick'. Phoenix had complete and utter faith in her – he would trust the kooky teenager with anything. Phoenix loved her – and he did care what she thought of him.
"…I… No. I didn't forge the evidence. Maya, I was set up… And they all think I did it…" Phoenix mumbled.
Maya was silent.
Oh God. Does she not believe me…?
If she didn't believe me – it would destroy me further, if that is possible.
"Who was it, Nick? I'll kick their butt. I'll make them feel sorry for messing with someone I love." Maya sounded so calm, and yet so… infuriated at the same time.
"I-I have my suspicions." Phoenix gave a shaky laugh.
"Who? Nick, tell me. I need to know. I need to know who ruined your career!" Maya yelled the last part of her sentence.
"…Kristoph Gavin." Phoenix said simply, picking at a bit of fluff on his pyjama bottoms.
Maya made a sound that resembled a dog growling. "Why?"
"I don't know, Maya. I really don't know anymore." Phoenix whimpered. A tear rolled down his cheek, and he broke off into soft sobs.
…I didn't want to break down in front of her…
…So I guess it's good that I'm on the phone.
Phoenix laughed weakly at his own joke.
"Nick, I'll come and see you, if you want. I mean, things are pretty busy, but I would drop anything for you." Maya said.
She'd do anything for me…
And I'd do anything for her.
"No, I'm fine, Maya… Keep working on making Kurain great." Phoenix gave another shaky laugh.
"Well, if you're sure… How did Edgeworth take the news?" Maya asked.
"I didn't tell him." Phoenix mumbled.
"Pardon? You're mumbling, Nick." Maya said.
"I said – 'I didn't tell him!" Phoenix yelled.
Maya was quiet.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. It's just…" Phoenix trailed off.
"I understand, Nick." Maya said softly. "…Why didn't you tell him…?"
"I'm scared that he won't believe me…That he will think that I forged the evidence…" Phoenix admitted.
"Nick, he won't. You're in love. He'll believe you – and everything will be better if you tell him." Maya advised.
"I don't know…" Phoenix mumbled.
"He'll find out anyways." Maya said.
"…I hid the newspaper." Phoenix confessed.
"Nick. Tell him the truth. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain." Maya advised.
And she was right.
But, in Phoenix's eyes, that didn't change anything.