'Hold up, his trophy was the murder weapon? After all that... Which one was it?'

'His "Hall of Fame: Most Loved Actor in Hollywood Award." They found traces of his blood on the bottom of it.'

The redhead flipped herself on to her stomach, legs dangling off the side of the couch. 'Really? That's insane. Not to mention ironic.'

Apollo leaned back onto his work desk and sipped at his coffee. 'Trust me Athena, the courtroom went crazy once they found the real murder weapon - Mr Slater was pretty much declared "not guilty" on the spot.'

The woman rested her head on her fist. 'But what about that drug dealer? Was he the murderer?'

'Mr Chuckpeck confessed after he woke up. He was there to collect a debt, and was in the dressing room when Mr Slater let loose at Mr Fist.'

'That's odd... You'd think Jet would have seen him.'

Apollo took another sip. 'That's the thing, Mr Chuckpeck hid behind one of the dressers. I think Mr Slater was too worked up to notice.'

'Huh. Figures...' She flicked at her earring. 'But, why did he kill Brad Fist? Was that ever brought up?'

'Not officially, no, but... I had my own theory on why.'

Athena sat up. 'Well, come on then, tell us what it is.'

Apollo leaned back slightly. 'Well...'

'Hey, kid,' said Jet, inserting the table through the door handles for the last time. 'That was...pretty cool in there. I shouldn't have doubted you.'

'That's alright, Mr Slater. I was just doing my job.'

'No, I mean that. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, let me know.' He combed his hair with his fingers. 'Cause honestly, I don't think I can repay you enough.'

Apollo was about to turn down the offer, but an eager smile crept into the corner of his eye. He blew a few strands of hair from his forehead. She won't let it down if I say no.

'Polly...'

I guess she can add another famous star to her friends list. 'Sure, I'll give you a call in the future. Anyway, what do you plan to do with yourself now, Mr Slater?'

'Kid, you can call me Jet - "Mr Slater" is business only.' He crossed his arms. 'I dunno, I guess I'll accept Brad's inevitable post-death award. Not sure why - we're not even friends, colleagues, amigos, anymore.'

'...I wonder about that.'

Jet cocked an eyebrow.

'Mr Chuckpeck never said why he killed Mr Fist. But, I think it has something to do with your argument. Mr Chuckpeck heard all of it - he knew what it was about, but he also knew that Mr Fist would give him the money before he gave it to you.'

Jet blew some air out of his nostrils. 'Yeah, but that would mean Brad had my twenty-gee.'

'Exactly. I believe Mr Fist had your money that day, but when Mr Chuckpeck turned up his priorities changed - he had to keep his secret under wraps. But then you had your argument.' Apollo glanced up at Jet. '...and I think your words really got to him.'

The actor hung his head. 'K-kid...'

'Mr Fist may have died, but the fact that he did means that he didn't give Mr Chuckpeck the money. I would even go as far to say that he was going to come forward about his problem, so...'

Jet fell silent, his face heavy and eyes lowered.

Apollo grimaced, afraid that he had said too much. 'A-anyway, Mr Fist saw you as a friend, right until he died, Mr Sla- I mean, Jet. There isn't a doubt in my mind.'

The actor wandered over to the couch and sat down, head in his hands. He didn't say a word for some time. '...say, kid... Could you give us a moment...?' His voice hitched. '...I think I need to practice some lines...'

Apollo looked to Trucy, and they both headed towards the door. 'Have as much time as you need.'

'Aww, so there is a heart in there, after all.'

The attorney frowned. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'You're usually the one who is too direct with things - that sarcasm of yours is something else.' Athena leapt up from the couch and stretched her arms above her head. 'Right, anything else I missed?'

'Hmm, did I mention that they found the real driver of the limousine unconscious in a dumpster in his underwear?'

'You have now.'

'Well, that happened, I guess - he spotted Mr Chuckpeck when he was stuffing Mr Fist into the trunk. The next thing he knew he was upside down with a banana peel sticking out of his ear.'

'Story of your life, huh? Wrong place at the wrong time, winding up in the trash...'

Apollo exited his office. 'Very funny.'

'Aww, come on,' groaned Athena, throwing down her arms in an exaggerated manner. 'Don't be like that - you'll get grey hair.' She watched as the attorney lifted a lazy palm in response before making his way through the Wright Anything Agency and into the kitchen. She almost left him to get back to work, but a late thought hit her, causing her to pivot on one foot and quickly race back. 'Say... What was the prosecutor like?'

Apollo paused just as he was about to return the cup to it's cupboard.

Athena leaned against the wall, arms crossed. 'Our Boss told me that it was a new guy - got any tips on how to handle them?'

He closed the cupboard door. Then, he let out a stream of air and put his hands behind his head, turning around to face Athena. 'Where do I start...?'

She placed her hands on her hips. 'Well, are they good?'

'It's Edgeworth's protege.'

'...ah.'

'You can pretty much see the ruffles sprouting from her neck - her tactics are as scary as his.'

Athena nearly jumped. 'It's a woman?'

Wait a second... That surprised you more?

'That's so weird. I always thought that Edgeworth would take on someone like Simon.'

Apollo could only nod. 'I thought that too, but that's not the only strange thing about her...'

'...I heard you and Apollo got on well.'

Kay's eyes moved from stirring her drink to Ema sitting down in the booth. A smile crept onto her face. 'I also heard that you should keep your work and friends separate.'

Even though they were in a cafe, and in public, the detective still opted to wear her lab coat. She placed a full mug in front of her and leaned on the table with her elbows. 'Actually, I heard it from Mr Wright, who heard it from Mr Edgeworth.' Without a breath: 'what's it like working with him full-time?'

The prosecutor laughed. 'Come on, Ema. If you want to work with Mr Edgeworth then just take his cases.'

Ema scowled, downing her jet-fuel. 'You don't think I've tried? He's the only prosecutor worth working for, but he never does trials. And when he does, I'm always stuck with that glimmerous fop, or even Debeste.' She took another swig.

Kay pouted. 'Aww, ease up on Sebastian - he's come a long way in eight years.'

'And yet he just beats out the Payne brothers...' muttered the detective, drumming her fingers along the table. 'Anyway, answer my question.'

'About Mr Justice?' asked the raven-haired woman, sipping from her tea. 'He's really good, shut down my case - he even got Mr Edgeworth to say "Nghooooh!"' She grinned, the fresh memory tickling her humour.

Ema rummaged around in a bag of Snackoos. 'You really are Mr Edgeworth's student: drinking tea, calling Apollo "Mr Justice"... I think I've heard you say "ergo" twice already.'

'Hey, I'm still stealing the truth. I've just gotta wait 'till its stolen, first.'

'"...and it's up to us to steal it back"...? Is she a thief or something?'

'Your guess is as good as mine, Athena. I don't think I've seen a prosecutor so willing to help out the defence.'

She placed her hands on her hips, snide grin abound. 'Maybe she forgot what side she was on?'

'You scored in your own net, noob,' chimed in Widget.

Apollo resisted a smile. 'I don't think so - Edgeworth kept a pretty good handle on things.'

'Huh? He was there, too?'

'That reminds me, what did Mr Edgeworth say about your...' Ema swizzled a Snackoo in her coffee. '...um, mistake?'

Kay deflated slightly. 'He didn't say much...'

'But...?'

'...I have about six books on background checking and interrogational techniques sitting in my apartment.' Her head banged heavily on the table, raven hair splattering across the surface. 'He's also making me sit in on the next case he takes.'

'Huh, lucky.'

'Not when you're on his bad side, it isn't,' came the muffled reply.

'Yowch, I almost feel bad for her. I thought being a new defence attorney was hard.'

'Makes you glad that the only punishment Mr Wright knows is scrubbing the toilet. Speaking of which, where is he? I haven't had a chance to speak to him about the case.'

Athena fiddled with her earring again. 'He's out. Apparently, he had an appointment with a friend of his.'

'Damn. I kinda want to know about that errand he had to run - I wouldn't have been on this case otherwise.' He frowned. '...without any preparation...'

'What do you mean?' asked Athena.

Ema sniggered. 'That's so Apollo. He never has any proof, or evidence, but he still manages to find out the truth.'

'Kinda sounds like someone who's Mr Wright's protege, don'tcha think?'

'He's even worse.' The detective smiled fondly, thoughts travelling to a case long passed. '...but even more brilliant.'

'Still,' said Kay, finishing off her tea, 'I had to lend him a helping hand.' She flashed a toothy grin. 'Even though we're rivals.'

Ema slid a Snackoo between her lips. 'How do you figure?'

'Mr Edgeworth and Mr Wright have been rivals since forever, right? So, logically speaking, wouldn't that make their students rivals as well?'

'You're lying.'

'Prosecutors plus helpfulness equals SYNTAX ERROR.'

'I couldn't make this up,' said Apollo, holding up his arms. 'She threw her own case in jeopardy at least twice.'

'But... That doesn't make any sense.'

'I know, but in saying that... I don't know what would've happened to Mr Slater if she didn't ask for that recess.' He folded his arms, thinking. 'I owe her one.'

Athena felt a smile creep onto her face. 'Ooh, I hope I get to face her next time - this is exciting!' She clasped her hands together, overjoyed. 'Wouldn't it be great to have a prosecutor who doesn't make us feel like we're terrible people?'

Kay and Ema approached the counter, wallets at the ready.

'Hey,' said the detective, 'knowing Apollo, he's gonna feel guilty about you helping him.'

'Really?'

She nodded. 'Expect a letter or something.'

Kay smiled and flicked a strand of hair from her face. 'Aww, that's adorable - what a sweetheart.'

Ema sniffed. 'It's annoying if you ask me. I'd honestly rather something more gentlemanly, like a physical gift or a fancy dinner.'

The prosecutor's smile twisted into a smirk. 'Funny, that's something Mr Edgeworth would do.'

The detective slapped a note onto the counter, blushing. 'Sh-shut up.'

'I'm gonna give her a phone call, at least.'

Athena walked past him and opened up the fridge. 'Do you even have Miss Faraday's number?'

'No.'

'How will you get in touch, then?' She withdrew a bottle and snapped the cap off. 'It could be ages until you meet in court.'

'Don't worry, I may not have her number, but I know someone who does.' He strode from the kitchen and opened a door - a plate that read: "Phoenix Wright: Attorney at Law" was adorned on it.

Athena stuck her head around the corner, bottle dangling in between her teeth. 'Hey, the Boss won't be happy that you went in there without his permission,' she slurred through the plastic.

'Relax, I'll be in there for a minute.' He was met with dead silence, prompting him to sigh and lean backwards, glancing at Athena's frown. 'I'll watch a few more eps of Doctor Who with you, alright?'

The redhead removed the bottle from her mouth, grinning. 'Gee, thanks Apollo, you're the best.' She sauntered back into the kitchen, leaving the attorney to shake his head and resume his search.

'...all I'm saying, Wright, is that there are better ways of teaching your lawyers than "trial by fire." This could have been disastrous for your law office, considering the defendant's fame.'

The man in blue leaned back further into his chair. 'Hey, you have your teaching methods, and I have mine. I trust that Apollo would've been able to handle it.'

'And yet,' said Edgeworth, walking to his office window with a cup of tea in his hand, 'here we are, discussing his future.'

Phoenix leaned forward and grasped a crockery cup. 'Well, yes... I just need to know that he'll be alright without me there. Tell me, did Apollo grip his wrist at all during the trial?'

'On multiple occasions. Why?'

He grimaced. 'I was afraid of that.'

Edgeworth turned around. 'Is there something significant about the action? Is it,' his stony face irked into smug look, 'a special talent, like that seen with Miss Athena Cykes?'

Phoenix downed the tea in one gulp. 'I can never get anything past you, huh? You're right. Simply put, it's a lie detection system.'

The prosecutor raised his eyebrows. 'Convenient.'

'And helpful - it's gotten me out of sticky situations in the past. But, I think he might be getting too dependent on it.'

Edgeworth brought a fist to his mouth, mulling over a thought. '...he did return from the recess far too confident for how he left the courtroom before. In actuality, Kay and I almost thought he was going to plea justified self-defence.'

'I was hoping that wouldn't be the case,' muttered Phoenix. 'I fear that it might dull his courtroom instincts if he keeps using that power to make sure he has an innocent client.'

Edgeworth paused, placing the tea cup onto his work desk. 'You've been thinking about that case again, haven't you?'

'What? The only time I've ignored my instincts and I nearly lost everything?' He shot the prosecutor a playful look. 'Never. But, that's why I kinda want him to start trusting in other people's abilities, not just the people in our Anything office. It's only because I trusted you, that...'

'It's fine, Wright,' said Edgeworth. 'That was years ago, anyway. Still, what are you trying to say?'

Phoenix smiled. 'I want Apollo to trust in the prosecution. So, I thought it might be good for him and Kay to-'

'-meet up? Become friends? Wright, we're lawyers not...' He trailed off as his phone rang. Turning around, he reached into his pocket and pressed it up against his ear. 'Miles Edgeworth, speaking.'

Wright sighed and went back to the pot of tea in front of him. Just as he was about to start pouring, he heard Edgeworth snap his fingers to get his attention.

'Can I ask how you got this number?' A smile, then: 'I see. What do you need me for...? Her number, why would you...? Ah.' He had a glance between Wright and his business card folder, waiting a few seconds before a defeated smile appeared on his face. 'I'd be happy to, allow me to find it.' He flicked through the folder, resisting the urge to laugh. '...oh yes, here we are.' He read out the contents - Phoenix just stared, mostly confused but somewhat anxious. Edgeworth returned the card after he was finished. 'It was my pleasure. Goodbye.'

'So, who was it?'

The prosecutor couldn't stop chuckling as he tucked the phone back into his pocket. 'Wright, you wouldn't believe who just called.'

It begiiiins. Well, the fluff, anyway. Thank you for the follows and favourites - have to say, I wasn't expecting any.

So, I think that might be it for now. I wish I had more to say, but, eh.

As always, rate and review, enjoy, criticise, and have a good day!