Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright in any way. Nor do i own The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists, which is where the title of this fic has been taken.
Review reply to James Birdsong: Thanks for the review :) I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic.
A/n: This is a vague idea i had many months ago and decided to put up. There will be seven 'chapters' and an epilogue.
5) Failure
"The person you are phoning cannot take your call. You can leave-"
She sighs and presses the 'cancel' button. Iris can't understand why Feenie won't answer his phone. He might be angry that she didn't make the meeting today; but she did leave him a message saying she wouldn't be there. Besides, he always answers his cell eventually, unless he's forgotten it or he's in class. Lectures ended hours ago. And she's been calling for over two hours.
She looks at the screen again. She needs to talk to him. She needs to arrange a time to see him tomorrow. Dahlia is getting impatient. She needs that necklace back.
(Iris needs to see him again. Just to be with him)
She calls him again. Still no answer. Her stomach clenches. What if he's in danger? What if-
No, she tries to remind herself. She isn't supposed to care. Dahlia wouldn't care – and surely, if she is masquerading as her sister, she should think in the same way. If she's to be of any use to her sister, she has to act like her. If she's to save her sister's soul...
Sister Bikini would never approve of this scheme. That much is for certain. Every time Iris looks at the nun, guilt lances through her. To prevent more sins from hurting her twin, she is going against everything the good Sister has taught her.
Eight months and she still can't get that necklace back. Dahlia would call her a failure. She would be right. But she will do it – she needs to apologise for betraying her at the bridge.
(She needs to let Dahlia know that there is someone who still loves her. Someone who will do anything for her. As family should)
She feels a pang at the thought of finally succeeding. Dahlia would ask her to 'break up' with Feenie – Phoenix – once she's succeeded. But that's no problem because Iris has no feelings towards him.
(Iris treasures every moment with Feenie. In her quieter moments, she believes she would die for him.)
(She is wracked with guilt when she wonders whether she would die for Dahlia. She would, but unlike with Phoenix, she has to think about it first)
Thinking about Dahlia, she is surprised to hear her twin's voice on her cell.
"What?" Dahlia is snapping.
"Sorry?"
"Why did you call me?"
Iris didn't realise she had. She must have done it subconsciously. Yet, even so, she's always happy to hear her voice. "I wanted to talk."
(But to Feenie)
"Why don't you talk to that nun?" Dahlia sounds slightly stressed but she does have a stressful lifestyle...
"A-about Fee ... Phoenix." She winces at her near slip-up. "I can't contact him."
"He's been arrested," Dahlia says bluntly.
"Arrested?" Iris repeats in a whisper. She should be trying to be casual here. Yet the thought of Phoenix being in danger ... what can she...
"You were taking too long."
Iris knows what she means. Dahlia was in danger. Of course she would have to act eventually. But this is Phoenix ... and if Iris had been given more time ... just one more day?
"You didn't tell me," she says instead. She's hurt that Dahlia wouldn't confide in her. That's the only reason she says this.
(If she had known, she could have saved him)
"I can't trust you. Not after the bridge." Dahlia pauses and then adds, "Sorry," in an unapologetic tone. Does Dahlia even know what she's apologising for? Iris isn't sure. But Dahlia is smart – she must know. Iris is the dumb one; maybe, one day, she can ask just what the apology was for.
(Part of her wonders, was it for anything more than just the sake of the word?)
"You can trust me. You know I'd do anything for you. I love you."
There's a beeping noise as Dahlia hangs up. Iris has a sudden urge to throw the cell phone at the wall but, as always, she doesn't have the courage or the temperament. Instead, she puts it down but scowls at it, to vent her frustration.
She wonders why Dahlia acted without telling her. Surely Dahlia knows that Iris would do anything for her?
(But not against him. She would stop Dahlia first)
Dully, she looks around the room. In the corner is the lunch she was preparing for the next day. The lunch which Phoenix will never eat. They won't be sitting together tomorrow. She won't ask for the necklace back. He won't laugh and tell her how cute she is when she says that. He will probably never see her again.
Sometimes, she wonders whether Dahlia can read minds. She knows that's stupid – the reason they know each other so well is because they're sisters – but she can't help it. Maybe Dahlia didn't tell her because she knows ... she knows-
(Iris loves Phoenix Wright)
- that Iris has fallen in love with Phoenix Wright. She may as well admit it now, she thinks to herself. What would be the point in pretending? Dahlia could see what Iris refused to admit to herself.
Iris loves Dahlia. That's why she offered to help her with this plan. But she loves Phoenix and that's why her own plan failed, she realises. Her gaze flickers to the never-to-be-eaten lunch and contemplates the harsh reality of the last six months: she attempted this plan to save two people. Because she loves them both, she has saved no one.
