Hi again everyone, thanks again for your continued support and reading! Please feel free to comment with (almost) anything, I appreciate the feedback and it keeps me inspired. I want to reiterate that there are spoilers for everything until Spirit of Justice (I changed the description on the main story page), notably Apollo Justice Ace Attorney and Dual Destinies, just as a heads up. Despite my limitations as a writer, I'm really enjoying developing this story and I hope you continue to join me.

Chapter 6: Reconciliation

October 8th, 2020

"We have some developing news on the murder of Metis Cykes, a renowned psychologist and researcher at the Cosmos Space Center's Robotics Lab. She was discovered stabbed at her workplace yesterday afternoon and now the police have confirmed the arrest of her mentee, Prosecutor Simon Blackquill. We will be covering the LAPD press conference scheduled for this afternoon, so please tune into KNWS News Channel 20 for the latest updates on this case—"

Trucy grabbed the remote out of Phoenix's hand, his eyes glazed over at the television.

"Daddy! You know how you get when you watch court case stuff, you need to shut it off! We have to be well rested for Borscht Bowl tonight…we are doing the show, right?"

Borscht Bowl…we go there so often the name has been abbreviated. Soon enough we'll just call it BBC, for better or worse. Phoenix shook his head, "It's a school night, sweetie, I have to go on my own, but Ema will be over to stay with you, okay?"

"But, Daddy, we always make good money when I go and perform! And…for poker, who's going to help you out with reading people?" Trucy's eyes pleaded before throwing herself onto the couch next to Phoenix, who instinctually wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.

"But Truce, the place isn't packed like it is on Friday and Saturday nights…don't you prefer to perform for a full house? And I'm not so bad at poker on my own...isn't it supposed to be my talent?" In fact, I'm undefeated, though it's a lot easier to keep the title when you're there. Phoenix felt the vibration of his phone, an alarm for 7:15 AM going off.

Sighing, he pushed himself off the couch and offered his hand to his daughter. "Can I walk you to the bus? We don't want to be late." Her face protested, but she quickly resigned, taking her father's hand, her other hand grabbing the book bag by the door before exiting the apartment.

The yellow bus pulled up at the corner and Phoenix heard a few children call out, "Trucy! Show us the trick again!" He smiled genuinely: his daughter made friends and had gotten into a comfortable routine with school. I can't be messing up that badly. He embraced her quickly, "Be good and work hard today. And make sure to eat before you do any elaborate magic tricks during lunch, okay?"

Gently tilting her magician's hat, he kissed her forehead before gently urging her toward the bus. She beamed, "Okay, okay, Daddy, see you later!" before disappearing into the vehicle, her cape almost caught in the folding doors.

As Phoenix walked back toward the dual-purpose office/apartment, he remembered his argument with the landlady regarding the legality of such an arrangement, presenting zoning maps that confirmed the office's location in an ambiguous section of both commercial and residential designation. She relented and made a quip about how he couldn't have forged zoning documents, which surprisingly didn't sting as harshly as expected. Nevertheless, he was grateful, even though he forced himself to take the couch, while Trucy took his small bed from his old apartment, now in Mia's office. Attached was the converted full bathroom Mia made, legally he presumed, shortly before her passing, for without that…he shuddered at the idea of a shower-less existence. He unlocked the door, feeling Edgeworth's apartment key heavy with disuse on his keychain. Phoenix flinched at the vibration going off again. Stupid alarm… yeah, I know, Trucy's gonna be late! I'll just—

As Phoenix looked at his phone to turn off the alarm, he saw the indicator light flashing Miles Edgeworth.

Ugh…the former attorney had, by-and-large, avoided Edgeworth's calls, but the pang of What if he really needs me won out and Phoenix pressed the green call button to answer.

"Yes?" Phoenix's voice resounded, worn.

Silence. Then he heard a delayed exhalation, an almost sigh. "Never mind, you seem busy," the baritone voice responded tersely.

"Oh yeah, law practice is booming and poker playing has never been so lucrative. I clearly have no time to talk. Since when was I the one who was unreachable to all of my friends?" Phoenix bit back cynically.

Edgeworth's voice was absent for several moments, and as Phoenix's finger approached the red button to hang up, the prosecutor stated neutrally, "You simply don't answer my calls, Wright, so it is indeed you who remains unreachable. It begs the question, why don't you answer usually and why did you answer in this instance?"

Phoenix grumbled in resistance, "Maybe there isn't much for us to talk about. You're a prosecutor who works in Europe with Interpol. I don't have a law practice, I'm a poker player, I'm raising a child. You do the math."

He could almost hear Edgeworth's glaring and clenching his jaw. "Wright, I don't know what you're spouting off about."

"We don't live in the same world anymore, and I'd kindly not like to be reminded of that. After you left, you could start over…I couldn't." Phoenix hand trembled on his cell phone. Anger, resentment, something deeper…he didn't care to investigate.

"Wright…" His eyes are closed and he's pinching the bridge of his nose, I just know it. "I want to return, but the Prosecutor's Office…it's changed so much since..." Yeah, my hearing, I know. "And I cannot practice where the expectation is that I compromise the ethics I have worked towards just to win. Either that, or they use me as a face, a puppet, to disguise my colleagues' actions. Is that the price we're willing to pay now? And fighting disbarment…it's a time-intensive process…please tell me you haven't given up on it."

Phoenix spat, "Then why aren't you here helping me fight it and whatever else is going on in the Prosecutor's Office?!" God, you sound like such a brat, Phoenix.

"What do you expect me to do, Wright? Charge in with my King of Prosecutor's shield?" The prosecutor sighed. "These sorts of battles, they can only be won with the truth and evidence, and neither of those entities is working in our favor at the moment. But I'm always following the leads, Wright, just like you. Do you trust me?"

Phoenix paused, catching a glimpse of himself in the window. Although clean, he was unkempt and unshaven in sweatpants, a nondescript grey hoodie, and a blue beanie Trucy gifted to him from one of their adventures at the flea market. If only he saw me now, he wouldn't be complaining about those blue suits anymore…

"Who else is there to trust? Even this morning, this murder at the space center…"

Edgeworth emitted a shade of a laugh. "So, you are still scoping for clients, Wright…It's serendipitous that we both have Simon Blackquill on our minds." The baritone voice darkened, "I don't know what to make of his case. I thought if you had time..."

"Go down to the detention center? Like old times? You've got to be joking…"

Edgeworth persisted, "You still have that, err…Magatama, don't you? You could at least check if he's lying..."

"And why would I want to get involved?"

Edgeworth's voice became dangerously quiet. "Have you lost your empathy for those in the defendant's chair?... There's something strange about this case, I can't pinpoint what it is, but the motive is off, he gave little resistance when arrested, even though he had so much to lose. Apparently, he hasn't even requested counsel."

Phoenix laughed drily, "Oh wow, the Demon Prosecutor is relying on…hunches? Too bad, Edgeworth, if you were here you could have been the prosecutor in this case. Or played defense attorney. How do you know so much about it anyway?"

Edgeworth responded, unperturbed, "I made inquiries with colleagues. If he is convicted, there will certainly be backlash towards the Prosecutor's Office. Indeed…I had requested that the Chief Prosecutor let me take the case. However, they insisted it would be suspicious for me to suddenly come back to practice for such a controversial trial, so they refused my assistance."

The former attorney scoffed, "So you're willing to fly back for this Blackquill guy and yet—"

"Don't. If you're willing to help, it would be greatly appreciated. If not, I have to attend to other matters. I do wish you the best, Wright, and hope you continue to update me."

Click. And there he goes.

Phoenix grumbled, grabbing the Magatama from his desk drawer and headed out toward the bus stop.

Let's see what you're hiding, Simon Blackquill.

"So, little brother, what is it this time? Does his daughter have a school play? A cold? Or has he simply forgotten you?" Franziska smirked, her silver wispy hair falling to the side as she eyed Edgeworth. Albeit composed to the untrained eye, he showed his minuscule signs of distress in her estimation. He had barely hung up in an attempt to avoid her interrogation, but it seemed he was too late anyway.

"Throwing darts at a board in the dark, Franziska… no wonder you never beat Wright." He returned the smirk.

Crack!

Her whip struck his desk, fortunately missing his cup of tea and cell phone, but he flinched nonetheless. Regaining eye contact, Edgeworth half smiled, "There's no shame in losing to him, I mean I almost always did."

Franziska glowered severely. "Only that fool would lose his foolish badge with a foolhardy approach to defense such that the fool did not even foolishly examine that foolish evidence…and now look at us, an embarrassing afterthought to that foolishly foolish fool's legacy!"

"You're being irrational, Franziska. I hardly think one of Interpol's top collaborating prosecutors is an afterthought to anyone. And not only that, you connected me with cases here and extricated me from a precarious legal situation in the States. You have your own legacy now, even loftier than your father's." His eyes softened on her face, seeing a comrade in arms, a fellow survivor of Manfred Von Karma and his tyranny.

Franziska's glare lessened only to be punctuated by her biting tongue. "Miles Edgeworth, what foolish sentimentality has that foolish fool driven you to?"

Edgeworth chuckled, something he knew she would only tolerate when they were in private, remembering how they attempted to make articulate slights toward each other as part of their child's play.

"Miles Edgeworth, what is this preoccupation with that fool Phoenix Wright?"

The prosecutor's face fell and his eyes clouded over despite his attempts to maintain neutrality. Perhaps I have allowed myself to become too comfortable in Franziska's company.

"Ah, there it is, almost as good as a confession! Little brother…your foolishly foolish heart has been foolishly taken by a lesser foolishly foolish fool, a defense attorney no less! Have you not yet foolishly declared these foolish feelings for the fool?"

Edgeworth glared, responding, "How does Ms. Andrews feel about your extended absence? It seems you are on edge when you don't have the opportunity to exorcise your dominant, sadistic demons. Perhaps I should give her a courtesy call at Lordly Tailor to check in with you?"

Franziska fumed and issued her death glare. "Miles Edgeworth, I am ending this foolish conversation at once!" She stormed out of the office door, slamming it behind her.

Neither of us is prepared to have this conversation, it seems.

Edgeworth sighed, his fingers dallying on the phone's dial pad before committing to the number. He bit the inside of his cheek as the phone rang.

A sonorous yet light voice responded, "Ja? Hallo, it's Klavier."

"Klavier, it's Miles Edgeworth."

"Herr Edgeworth! It's been so long, to what do I—"

"What do you know about the Metis Cykes murder case?"

"Eh, probably as much as you do. I never anticipated Simon Blackquill would… anyway, I'm not the assigned prosecutor in that case, though I thought it would be an interesting one to try. They're very hush-hush about the details of the murder…highly sensitive, ja?"

"You need to get on the investigation team, Klavier. Chief Prosecutor won't even let me take the case, and I haven't been denied before."

Klavier protested, "But Herr Edgeworth, if he said no to you, who am I—"

"Stroke his ego, say something about your desire to learn from him on a landmark case as a neophyte, your devotion to the reputation of the Prosecutor's Office, anything. This case…something untoward is happening in our profession, Klavier. We're going to need this information no matter the trial outcome, and you're the connection I have. I need a witness." I certainly cannot entrust this solely to that detective, after all.

"What if he refuses? Or worse, starts to suspect my motives?"

Tapping the temple of his forehead for several moments, Edgeworth responded, "Klavier, you possess a certain…charm that I simply cannot wield myself. It is a gift as a prosecutor when working with difficult colleagues, the defense, witnesses. You must have confidence using it."

He heard the younger prosecutor smile. "I am flattered –"

"However, charm doesn't get anyone very far with me," Edgeworth interjected, "so go use it on the Chief Prosecutor and keep me updated."

"I-I understand."

"Viel Glück, Klavier."

"Danke schoen, Herr Edgeworth."

The elder prosecutor hung up, feeling conflicted about the use of his inconsistent mentorship of Gavin and his even more unstable friendship with Wright. People are not chess pieces to manipulate and move about on the board for a greater endgame, Edgeworth. Phoenix Wright is justified in his anger towards you. Pained, the prosecutor grabbed his left arm reflexively, digging his fingernails in. He felt enough of a distracting pinch to redirect his attention to documents a certain lupine investigator had delivered, but a lingering thought crept up just the same.

Please, Phoenix, don't shut me out just yet.

Phoenix arrived at the Detention Center, dawdling at the entrance awkwardly, finally dialing Gumshoe, hoping he was nearby.

"Hey, pal! Why haven't I heard from you in so long?"

Phoenix bristled, "We used to run into each other at crime scenes, remember? I'm not doing so much of that these days…"

"Pal, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…I was thinking this morning Maggey and I could have you over for dinner sometime so we can catch up…but…what's on your mind?"

Phoenix sighed, "Uh…you know our old friend? He wants me to check out a suspect, but this is supposed to be discreet, okay?"

"What are you getting at, pal? Is it Mr. – "

Phoenix nearly cursed, interjecting, "Shhh! Damnit, Gumshoe, I said discreet, hush hush! Are you near the detention center?"

"Easy, pal, I'm inside! Let me come out, are you here?"

Phoenix groaned, "Yeah, let's get this show on the road."

A few minutes passed and the detective emerged, grinning and slightly filled out, likely due to his girlfriend's cooking, but also quite haggard, definitely due to investigations. Phoenix failed to protest in time when Gumshoe engulfed him in a bearlike embrace.

"I barely recognized you, pal! Now that you're here, it's like old times!" Gumshoe exclaimed, laughing.

Phoenix awkwardly patted the taller man's back, "Yeah, it's a riot, but you better not give me away. You really didn't recognize me?"

Gumshoe frowned and scratched his neck, giving the former attorney a once-over before declaring, "I don't know…you're definitely scruffier and skinnier, pal, and those clothes…I'm just glad Mr. Edgeworth isn't here to see—"

Phoenix cut in sarcastically, "Yeah, thanks pal, but I don't have anyone taking care of me at home," gently patting Gumshoe's stomach, to which the latter flushed and grinned awkwardly.

"Yeah if I didn't have Maggey…oh man, I miss my old boss." A puppy dog look was cast over Gumshoe's face.

Phoenix cleared his throat and persisted, "Look, I need you to get me in to see Blackquill."

Puzzled, Gumshoe clarified, "And Mr. Edgeworth requested it? He's refusing to see any defense attorneys, pal, even disbarred ones. Plus, the investigators basically gave up and went back to the crime scene. Even the detectives he worked with all the time…he gave them nothing."

"Keep the Edgeworth thing to yourself, just tell Blackquill he has a friend visiting and smuggle me in."

Gumshoe smiled delightedly, clapping Phoenix on the shoulder a little too forcefully. "Pal, if it's for Mr. Edgeworth, let's do it."

As Phoenix followed Gumshoe inside the detention center, nostalgia cast over him, remembering that anxiety of the unknown before meeting a new client, wondering if he truly believed them or not…what the qualifying information would be to convince him of their innocence enough to take their case. He recalled how, for Edgeworth's innocence, he didn't have to think at all. Enough Edgeworth for one day, okay? Let's just see this guy.

As they reached the visitor's room, he saw Gumshoe hand a piece of gum to the guard on duty and encourage him to take a 20- to 30-minute break. That was easy.

"Gumshoe…the camera…I don't want—"

"Easy, pal, don't worry." The detective turned out the lights, and waiting outside the door, Phoenix heard him messing with something near the window. He heard footsteps approach again and Gumshoe flicked the light switch on.

"What did you—"

"The cameras don't record sound, we just needed something to mess with the image, I happened to confiscate—"

"Yeah, Gumshoe, got it." Phoenix noticed a small box attached to the camera. It causes interference. I feel like a criminal.

"Sit down on the visitor side, I'll go get him."

Ages passed before Gumshoe returned triumphant, a tall, pale, austere, and almost gothic, handcuffed figure with raven hair in tow, a sullen expression etched onto his visage as he lowered himself into the seat across the glass. His long coat and suit were impeccable, dignified, lending him a minimalist grace.

A low voice broke the silence, "So, Wright-dono is my lone friend in the world. How fortunate." Simon Blackquill narrowed his eyes, a slight smirk dancing across his lips.

Great, I've been trying to avoid thoughts of HIM, and now we have someone basically channeling the guy. Maybe he really did choose death and Blackquill's a spirit medium...except for this "-dono" business…it's like he's in an old samurai film. Oh no…samurais are right up HIS alley…

Phoenix cleared his throat, "Just Phoenix, or Wright, is fine. You?"

Blackquill mocked, "Just Simon, or Blackquill, is fine. Neither of us holds rank anymore anyway. I was under the impression that you no longer practice."

Phoenix's mouth settled into a hard line, "I was watching it on the news this morning. I need to know…did you kill Metis Cykes?"

The prosecutor's dark eyes maintained his cold gaze, "I'm not sure there is anything you can do with that information." Phoenix heard the familiar din of chains drawn, locks clamping shut. Five, huh? And without access to any evidence…

Phoenix shook his head. "How are you going to plead?"

Blackquill's eyes narrowed. "Guilty. I might as well."

Chains and locks again. You're a complicated guy. Six this time. I have to try, but it's like he doesn't care! Like it's a game…what game are you playing at, Blackquill? Edgeworth had a bad feeling about this case and he usually doesn't just…

Phoenix's voice lowered, "Look I don't know you, Simon, but something is happening here. If you're convicted…"

Blackquill's expression darkened and he almost-whispered, "Even if I agreed with you, neither of us is in a position for a turnabout, are we?"

A long silence passed between the men who had fallen from grace, their eyes lowered.

The raven-haired prosecutor finally uttered, "Did you forge the evidence?"

Phoenix's eyes returned to the prosecutor, but he didn't speak.

Blackquill smiled wryly, his raspy voice affirming, "Thought so."

The former attorney's face contorted as he inquired, "How do you know?"

"Psychology of the human mind is an enigma, but Metis taught me to read people nearly as well as h— you aren't such a sophisticated subject of study in that realm, Wright-dono."

Phoenix bristled from the perceived slight, but recovered quickly.

Blackquill tilted his head slightly and continued, "If you were innocent, how did you approach your hearing?"

"Well…I kept my cards close and I didn't want to prove their point about being desperate to win, so I didn't fight." Phoenix face fell, cutting off recollections before they could culminate.

"Of course." Long silence. The prosecutor nodded and stated, "I will take my leave, Wright-dono."

I normally would tell him to hold it, but…there's nothing I have to contradict the vague responses he's giving me. I don't know how to get under his skin or read him, not yet.

Phoenix cleared his throat. "Yes, well, thank you for meeting with me."

Blackquill smirked, "I apologize, I'm not sure you got much of anything out of it." Gumshoe opened the door and the prosecutor left his chair stoically and drifted out of the visitor's room, Gumshoe towing behind.

I would think again, Blackquill-dono.

Phoenix rushed to the entrance and walked a couple of blocks to the bus stop, fishing out his cell phone to report back. No answer. He redialed twice more and finally that exasperated voice.

"Yes? Do you know what time it is?"

It must be late there. Sorry.

Phoenix scoffed, "That's no way to greet your friend who did you a favor on short notice."

Edgeworth groaned, "Wright, update me."

"I don't know what to think. There's something big going on and that's all I could really get, but it seemed like he wanted me nowhere close to this thing."

The prosecutor persisted, "Yes, and any of those ridiculous contraptions?"

Psyche-locks you mean? How many times have we talked about this?

"Um, yeah, a lot…but I had no way of breaking them, no evidence, remember? And uh…I don't know what it means…he intends to plead guilty though…"

Edgeworth's voice lowered, "No…why would he…"

Phoenix shook his head. "I'm telling you, what you thought was going on is probably right…this is big and we have nothing to go off of."

The prosecutor replied, "We will eventually, I'm certain. Any…gut reactions?"

"About whether he's guilty or not? I thought it was about the evidence, the truth…and remember Matt Engarde? Plus, this guy is like a psychology expert…"

Edgeworth posited, "I know you well enough that you made some decision in your mind about it."

Phoenix bit his lip. "Well…I think he wants to be found guilty, but that's independent of whether he actually did it?"

"You're saying he wishes to be incarcerated? On purpose?"

Turn your thinking around, Phoenix.

"Or maybe…he has to be, for some reason?"

Silence.

Phoenix teased, "By the way, I think this guy's your type. Well-dressed, dry witted, kind of dark and brooding, and he acts like a neoclassical samurai. You would dig him." The former attorney felt a genuine pang of jealousy when he realized his logic was sound for something that was meant to be a joke.

Edgeworth lowered his voice, "I think you have a very one-dimensional understanding of me. Perhaps I've been gone too long and in your old age, you're starting to forget. I have some matters to attend to, but thank you for your assistance, Wright."

"Anytime, Edgeworth…ANYtiiime."

Phoenix hung up the phone, surprisingly bothered by how cynically he acted with what should have been at least a dear friend. I need to stop drinking so much, maybe…down the line at least.

9:30 PM on the dot. Let's hope we have some decent business tonight so I'm not stuck at the piano. For everyone's sake.

Phoenix shuffled into that shady establishment, yet again shivering at the drop of the air conditioning level. The management insisted it helped establish the setting of Old Moscow or St. Petersburg, but the former attorney recognized unnecessary posturing when he saw it. He couldn't complain, of course: they gave him a fair enough hourly wage with tips from the piano and poker playing customers. Though…many of the tips were handsome because certain elements were attempting to buy his silence. How did I ever make HIM meet me here? Oh yeah…wine and Gumshoe.

Phoenix gave a friendly nod to the wait staff as they greeted him and took a seat at the piano, those phantom long white fingers haunting him as he attempted to play a few simple jovial pieces. He still felt delirious thinking about how the prosecutor finally relaxed enough in front of him to perform something so beautifully, a moment no other person from his past could compete with. Surely, Phoenix had improved with Trucy's insistence that he practice, her coaxing turning into nagging over a matter of days, but he only had to play as well as he needed to before the first customer approached. If only I could watch him play piano and take the poker games myself, that might be enough—

A throat clear tore Phoenix away from his reverie.

"Mr. Wright, it's a pleasure to see you after so long."

Phoenix's eyes snapped upward, taking in the source of the interruption. Blue suit, platinum blond hair, that all-too-familiar badge glinting in the low light. What is he doing here?

Phoenix quipped, "Mr. Gavin, what a surprise. I don't see many reputable defense attorneys in these parts."

Kristoph laughed lightly, "Mr. Wright, that was good! Self-deprecating, but very good… and Kristoph, please."

The former attorney shook his head. "Kristoph, I'm sorry, it's my place of business so I can't—"

"Well, I was hoping we could share a bottle, play a few games. I'll warn you, I'm not so adept at poker, but I tip well."

"A top attorney…now who's being self-deprecating." Phoenix quickly surveyed the now-quiet establishment, then nodded to a nearby table.

As he took a seat and perused the wine list, Kristoph inquired, "Are you partial to any varietals or do you prefer blends?"

I prefer HIS. "You're asking the wrong guy. Pick it and I'll drink without complaints."

"Fair enough." The blond attorney smiled almost smugly, as the wait staff arrived, "We'll take a bottle of the Paso Robles Cabernet, please."

The bespectacled light blue eyes honed in on Phoenix's face.

"It's surreal, you know."

"What?"

"You, in this element, away from where you belong. It is unfortunate." Kristoph readjusted his glasses as his lips pursed.

I don't know, you seem to be doing quite well without me being there.

Phoenix shrugged off the cynical thought, responding, "It's the past. I have a different life, I adopted a child. I'm getting by as honestly as I can."

Kristoph raised his eyebrows. "Child? You don't mean—"

"Yes, my client's. I'm fortunate, she is really wonderful, special…"

The blond attorney shook his head vehemently. "No client could pay me enough to care for their child. But I suppose that's what makes you unique, Mr. Wright. Does that mean your client has maintained contact?"

Nosy.

"No. If he had, I imagine things would have worked out differently."

When is that wine getting here? I'm starting to feel awkward.

Kristoph smiled slightly, eyes sparkling. "Well, I wanted you to know that I find your story compelling, and if I can ever be of assistance, you should never hesitate to call." Retrieving a card from his blazer pocket, he deftly slid it across the table towards Phoenix's hand.

I'm hoping I won't need your services. My badge-less self has been staying out of trouble, mostly.

Phoenix bit the inside of his cheek before inquiring, "I assume you heard about that murder at the space center."

The blond attorney nodded slowly. "Ghastly, isn't it? And to defend Simon Blackquill...?" He shook his head ruefully.

"You wouldn't take him on?"

Kristoph chortled, "I would not be eager to... no, but I did attempt to visit today to offer representation. He seems keen on taking a chance on a public defender, but from what I've seen of him in court, he is full of surprises. He may even elect to represent himself. Foolhardy."

The pair shared a bottle of wine as Phoenix dealt the cards for poker. As they drank, he found his opponent's tells more and more evident, particularly when he pushed the bridge of his glasses and his hand tensed visibly. Needless to say, Phoenix consistently won and noticed that although his opponent maintained composure overall, Kristoph's affixed smile would subtly twitch with each loss.

I think I got under his skin a little.

The blond attorney suddenly stood, nodding to Phoenix, "You certainly are skilled, even if it is in a limited arena." His hand tensed again as he discreetly dropped a neat stack of cash, tied with an unmarked paper ribbon.

Phoenix counted it to be sure… a thousand dollars. He knew he was going to lose…but how?

He shook his head. "Why? You were only here a couple of hours, I can't take this."

Kristoph tilted his head with an astute look, his voice cutting through with a needle's precision, "I warned you that I play poorly yet tip well. Are you really in a position to refuse?"

The former attorney shrugged, responding with a laugh, "Just not accustomed to it on a weeknight, but thank you, Kristoph."

"Thank you, Mr. Wright. I hope we can get together again soon." Kristoph deftly smiled, taking his leave.

He was polite, good conversation, paid well…an ideal customer. So why do I feel icky? I mean we do need the money but…ALL of this is going to Trucy. I can't use it for myself.

Who else is there to trust? His conversations with Edgeworth from that day playing in the back of his head in stark contrast to those they shared after the hearing when he had stayed over. This time, I pushed you away, didn't want you to become part of my mess. Who was I to judge you for all those years with Von Karma? You were finally able to open up at least, and I…I let you down. You're the one who walked through fire, lost everything, rose again despite all odds. Your whole world shattered with your father's death, with Von Karma's betrayal…and all I thought about was how you left me, dead or alive. It was easy for me to live freely before, I never suffered the way you did, not even close until I lost my badge. And how did I treat you? I drove you away and then blamed you for staying there. My oldest friend, my most worthy rival, the person I—

Phoenix cut off the thought, realizing he had some repairs to make first.

October 9th, 2020

Brushing the silver hair out of his eyes, the prosecutor looked in the dresser mirror as he affixed his cravat for another day of rifling through pieces of evidence, interviewing witnesses, collaborating with the lupine investigator, and avoiding unproductive thoughts regarding his favorite former attorney.

Like clockwork, his cell phone rang the Steel Samurai theme, reserved for one person only.

"How peculiar. To what do I owe the pleasure of my third call with you within the last 24 hours?"

A weary voice, barely audible, replied "Miles…"

Edgeworth's eyes closed as he tried to stifle a sigh of relief. First name basis? After so long, that can only mean…

The voice resounded more clearly, but the ache was still present. "I was a coward for shutting you out. I don't know how I could ever fit into your life, but I want to. My pride got in the way…I wanted to be an equal, I wanted to be enough. I didn't want you to see what's happened to me. It was the court that brought us together. I thought I was nothing without it…our relationship would be forever fractured. But the more I think about everything you've done, everything you've gone through…you're extraordinary, Miles. You were willing to kill the prosecutor in you to start again. And I think, maybe I need your help to kill the attorney in me so I can start again."

Edgeworth gripped the dresser, his white knuckles pulsing, his jaw clenched.

"Miles…please forgive me…say something, anything."

The prosecutor exhaled a jagged breath before his faint voice uttered, "Phoenix…I'm here."

His voice wavering but full, like a dam about to burst, Phoenix inquired, "Do you forgive me?"

Silence. "Yes, but only if you forgive me as well."

"For what? You didn't do any—"

"Enough, I didn't do enough. I didn't anticipate just how difficult your transition would be, I've always had…privilege. I was confounded and too hesitant about how to proceed. And I should have put my foot down with Franziska…I left at the wrong time. You had every right to be upset, whether I could tolerate it or not."

Phoenix argued, "Miles you don't have to—"

The prosecutor reiterated, "I'll only forgive you if you forgive me."

"Always. Always, Miles."

Edgeworth smiled faintly. "Likewise. So, I may need to collaborate with you, sooner than expected."

Incredulous, Phoenix exclaimed, "Already?! I'm not sure..."

Edgeworth chuckled, "If I am not mistaken, you said you wanted my assistance to kill the attorney so you could start anew. I am offering you the opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity…?"

Edgeworth smirked, "Well, let me ask some preliminary questions. How do you feel about traveling by jet, Wright?"