Chapter Text
Phoenix Wright emerged from the state Supreme Court building, slowly pushing the door open, and shielding his face with his arm and the file folders in his hand. He stood just outside, and cautiously peeked around. Chief Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth also came out the door, and stood beside him to look across the quadrangle.
On the other side, Maya stood in a group with the others, and was the first to notice them. "Look," she said, and cupped her hands around her mouth to shout, "Niiiick!". Trucy began running toward him, and Pearl followed after.
Phoenix stood a little straighter in the shadow of the entry, and lowered the folders to find her. "Maya?" he called, beginning to smile, then saw Trucy and Pearl running toward him. He grinned, and walked out into the sunshine toward them both. The man in red followed behind him, smiling.
Trucy ran into Phoenix just before Pearl. Phoenix stumbled back with an 'oof', then gathered the girls in his arms.
"Daddy daddy daddy!" Trucy bounced up and down.
"Trucy--Pearl--oh my goodness--how--where are…?"
"Mr. Nick!" Pearl beamed up at him.
Phoenix gave up on asking questions, and laughed. "Hi, guys!"
Edgeworth caught up with him, just as Maya, Sebastian, and Kay met them also. They all greeted each other, and Maya extracted a hug from Edgeworth. But she hugged Phoenix the longest.
"Maya," he murmured, voice cracking with feeling. "I'm so happy you're here." They separated, and Maya gave him a cheery grin. "How did you get all this way?"
"We had some help from someone whose name rhymes with Edgeworth," she replied with a smirk. Kay cackled, and she and Maya high-fived.
Phoenix turned to look at Miles in disbelief for what felt like the hundredth time that week. Miles looked back as he had each time in response, his expression neutral but eyebrows raised in light benevolence.
This time, however, Phoenix was overwhelmed with gratitude. Miles could see this as his brown eyes filled with tears. Miles stepped forward, and patted him on the back.
"However, Miss Fey," said Miles briskly to change the topic, "I am not the one responsible for the absence of the press at this entrance." Beside him, Phoenix rubbed his eyes, clearing his tears and making the black circles beneath them disappear temporarily. Miles continued, "Would you happen to know anything about that?"
"Well, actually…" Maya looked to Kay, who looked at Sebastian.
"That…" Sebastian cleared his throat. "That was me. It was my idea."
"It was easy once he explained it!" said Kay. "We just told them that you and your client were going to exit from the street entrance once the hearing was over, so that you could avoid them. They were all easily convinced, because they know how we work with you. We walked them over, making up some story about how you were going to get a taxi and go straight back to the High Prosecutor's Office to swap your defense badge back to your prosecutor's as soon as possible."
"Then, once we'd spent some time over there waiting with them…" Sebastian continued.
"We sneaked away past them!" Kay finished.
Edgeworth sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose where his new glasses rested, but couldn't hide his smile. Beside him, Phoenix snorted, then laughed.
"What capable thinkers you have as apprentices, Miles."
"A little too capable, perhaps." He looked to Phoenix, and they smiled.
"Well…" Phoenix sobered, and Miles followed. "Capable enough to find Kristoph Gavin guilty. Now I'm sure the prosecution will be almost undefeatable."
"That vile man will be prosecuted until only the law itself draws a limit," Edgeworth said darkly. He met Phoenix's eyes, and that promise passed like lightning between them--an unfathomable power, manifest for a brief moment, to inevitably return again someday.
Phoenix broke eye contact from Edgeworth's glare to glance at the others. They'd each fallen silent, expressions of awe or slight fear on their faces.
"Mm...yes." Phoenix met his eyes again, and coughed slightly. "By your very capable prosecutors."
"Yes. Yes…" Edgeworth followed Phoenix's glance at the other members of the group. "Indeed…" He pushed his glasses up. "What an odd thing for a defense attorney to say, Wright. I expect you'll be testing their capabilities yourself in a short while." He looked to Phoenix, and then to Phoenix's jacket, prompting him wordlessly.
Shyly, almost as if he were unsure it would be there, Phoenix reached into his inner jacket pocket. Everyone in the group drew closer to watch.
Phoenix pulled out his defense attorney badge, and held it blazing golden in his palm in the afternoon sunlight.
Trucy gasped softly. "Wow, it's so pretty. So this means you can be a lawyer now?"
"It sure does," he answered, kneeling down so she could look at it better.
"Woow...Can I hold it?"
"Yeah," said Phoenix, and with a half-smile, half-grimace, added, "Just d-don't make it disappear."
"Okay," Trucy said, and took it. She looked at it from all angles, curious, making the bright sunflower design flash in the light. When she saw the back of the pin, she removed it and inspected it. "So, it goes on your clothes?"
"Yep. Kind of like how your diamond brooch holds your cape."
"Like this," said Sebastian and Kay at the same time, both pointing to Sebastian's prosecutor's badge. Kay laughed, and Sebastian giggled behind his hand.
"It goes on right there," said Pearl helpfully, touching the exact spot on his lapel with a gentle fingertip.
"Want me to put it on, daddy?" Trucy offered, smiling.
Phoenix's eyes filled with tears. "Yes, sweetie. I would love that."
Trucy hesitated. "Daddy? Is everything okay?"
"Yes." He nodded, and sniffed. "I'm really happy I can be a lawyer again. And I'm even happier you're here to love, forever."
She kissed the tip of his nose. "I love you too."
Pearl leaned confidentially in to Trucy. "He told me he cries when he's happy, it's okay," she whispered. Trucy nodded.
"Wright, this really brings back memories. It's good to see that some things never change."
Phoenix started a little, and looked up to find who had spoken. They had sounded like Mia. But the person he looked up to was Maya. She was holding out a blue and white handkerchief.
"Here. Dry your eyes, and Trucy can put your badge on. Okay?" She smiled.
Phoenix dried his face. "Maya," he said, a little embarrassed now, realizing everyone was watching. "Thank you."
"Of course. Now, go ahead, Trucy."
Solemnly, Trucy pushed the pin through Phoenix's jacket lapel, and fastened the back. Once it was all done, Phoenix grinned to her, and they hugged. When they let go, Trucy bowed with a flourish. Everyone clapped, and Phoenix stood.
Smoothly, and perhaps inspired by the sound of applause, Trucy got Sebastian's attention, and began performing magic. Phoenix and Miles watched them, and Phoenix chuckled as she pulled ribbons from Sebastian's pocket.
While Trucy extracted a length of ribbon so ridiculous it made even Sebastian laugh, Phoenix turned to Miles. Miles noticed him looking from the corner of his eye, and met his gaze. He gave a soft smile, and glanced down at the badge and back up. "Well. That badge looks just right on your jacket again."
Phoenix reached up to touch it--a habit he hadn't lost yet. "Miles," he said, voice low. "How could I ever thank--"
"Phoenix. Phoenix," he interrupted gently. Miles placed both hands--so soft, Phoenix thought--on both of Phoenix's shoulders. They rested there a moment, then he slid them down to his upper arms.
"Miles, look at all the joy you've brought into my life," Phoenix whispered, and tilted his head to the group of friends and family a few steps away. "What can I..."
Miles moved closer, and took both of Phoenix's hands. "You're worth it, Phoenix," he said, grey eyes shining. "You're worth it."
Even before Phoenix embraced him, Miles could see he was crying again. They held each other deeply, and he could feel Phoenix crying against his shoulder. Miles held him and let him cry.
And cry he did, until one of the kids approached and asked what was going to be for dinner. Phoenix extracted himself from the embrace, used Maya's handkerchief again, and fielded concerned hugs and restaurant suggestions.
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE
IN RE: REINSTATEMENT OF PHOENIX WRIGHT, BAR NO. 1012
ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
This is a petition for reinstatement pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 133(11) filed by attorney Miles Edgeworth, counsel for Petitioner. On April 19, 2019, this court temporarily suspended Petitioner from the practice of law and referred him to the disciplinary board based on his plea of not guilty to a charge of offering false evidence. Our order was premised in the fact that Petitioner's offense constituted a serious crime under SCR 131(6) and a grave threat to the public justice. Accordingly, Petitioner was temporarily suspended pursuant to SCR 131(7) and (8).
SCR 133(11) gives us discretion to reinstate an attorney whose underlying criminal case has been discharged. Petitioner contends that he should be reinstated to the practice of law because he was found not guilty and his criminal case discharged. He timely filed a petition for reinstatement per SCR 133(2), accompanied by a certified copy of a November 24, 2019 order from the State District Court discharging Case No. 12JF18756. In light of the fact that the charge underlying our order of temporary suspension has been discharged and Petitioner has been found not guilty of offering false evidence, we conclude there is no longer a basis for temporary suspension. We therefore grant the petition. Attorney Phoenix Wright, Bar No. 1012, is hereby reinstated to the practice of law, effective December 4, 2019 .
It is so ORDERED.