Chapter Text
"My name's Trucy Wright, and I'm a Child of Magic! I'm also really worried about two people I love, more than anything."
"One of them just came back home! I know it's only for a little while, but it's something! We've been really happy for him, but we've missed him so much. It's like we left behind a part of our selves when we left behind our Polly. Now that he's back, that void in our hearts has been filled, but-"
"There's so much going on between him and Daddy. None of its good, either. Daddy's been really sad about Apollo, and things between them have only gotten worse. I was hoping Polly coming back for Uncle Edgeworth's wedding would make things better, but from the looks of things, Daddy's heart has only gotten heavier. Big sis Athena's really worried about them, too. It may be just for a little while, but Apollo's back home! Now all we need is for the two of them to get together and be happy."
"Daddy realized he was in love with Polly a few weeks ago. We would talk about our old cases all of the time, remembering how Polly started as an itty bitty attorney at the Wright Anything Agency. But when Daddy brought up their final case in Khurain one afternoon, it hit. It hit like a hundred anvils. He got this look on his face I hadn't seen before, a really special, happy look that made me think of sunshine. I was really worried about Daddy finding his special someone, but right then and there, I realized his special someone was right under his nose! It was Apollo all along, proven by his bright and wonderful Daddy's smile was that day. Unfortunately-"
"Apollo's not as happy as I am about Daddy's feelings."
"So what do I think of Daddy falling in love with Apollo? I'd still be excited about it if Polly felt better about it. Sure, I love Polly like a brother, and I could never call him 'Mommy' because wow, that would feel really silly, but even if the two of us were blood related, I'd still be happy about it. The great, super and awesome Phoenix Wright brought me into his family, after I lost my first daddy and mommy. And Daddy's free to give his heart to anyone he wants to give it to! But Apollo must not feel the same way I do. Maybe he thinks the idea of loving Daddy would be too weird. Maybe-"
"I don't know. I just hope things get better really soon."
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She stood with her father on the balcony, overlooking the universe. Every corner of every street was kissed by sunshine as the hours drew on, happiness spilling into the unfolding hours. Unfortunately, none of that light had found its way to her father. Despite a missing piece of their home, their hearts and souls having returned home, Phoenix Wright couldn't find it in himself to smile.
They were overlooking the world from Apollo's hotel room. They were alone in their corner of the world, with Athena taking Apollo out for a quick lunch. Luckily, the attorney needed a lot more than a lemonade slushie after his journey, providing Athena with the opportunity she needed to not only play catch up, but to give her gal pal Trucy plenty of room for an investigation. If the world's greatest magician could pull at least one bit of evidence out of good ol' Phoenix Wright, then they'd have a chance. A chance to prove a certain someone wrong about a certain predicament.
She turned to her father with a smile, one just as bright as the light spilling through the unwraveling hours. "Uncle Edgeworth's a sweetheart, isn't he?" she asked, first prodding at an issue away from Apollo. "He's busy working on his wedding, but he's throwing a big party for Apollo!"
Phoenix smiled, trying to absorb the excitement pouring out of her. "I wouldn't go that far," the attorney chuckled, playfully prodding at his lifelong friend. "When it comes to Edgeworth, Trucy, 'sweetheart's the last word that comes to mind. However, it was rather nice of him to make such an offer. According to him, 'a great occasion deserves nothing less than the best meal', so off we go to one of his favorite bistros, I guess."
"We'll have to take him to Wocky's spot later," the magician beamed, fists pumped. "Uncle Gumshoe, too! I'm sure they'd love a big ol' bowl of Wocky's teriyaki! By the way, I didn't know Uncle Edgeworth was such a big 'Apollo Justice' fan. Kinda odd, considering he's a prosecutor. Chief Prosecutor to boot."
The smile on Phoenix's face broadened. "Edgeworth's always had a soft spot for him, but as of late, he's been all smiles whenever Apollo's name comes up. Ever since I told him all about our adventures in Khurain, Polly's been like a hero to him. He probably stands right next to the Steel Samurai."
The young woman's eyes were reflections of the sunshine. "I think it's wonderful, how Uncle Edgeworth's marrying Uncle Gumshoe. Detective Gumshoe always said that he'd never have a chance with a guy like Mr.Edgeworth. Being in love with Mr.Edgeworth always made him so sad. But now they're about to reach their happy ending. Don't you think it'll be the same for you and Polly, Daddy?"
The attorney's smile grew as heavy as the moon. "Let me ask you something, muffin. Do you want it to be the same?"
"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I want two people I love more than anything to be happy? And I believe everything's gonna be okay. Maybe Polly just needs to get used to the idea. Maybe he's just scared or shy or something. You know Apollo-he's weird. He's always been weird! Even now he's weird!"
Phoenix patted her on the head. "You haven't changed too much, either. Always the light at the end of the tunnel. You always did have a knack for making my darkest days brighter. However, I can't find it in me to share your optimism this time around."
"Why not? Just think of Apollo as a caterpillar in a cocoon."
"I did. He left that cocoon behind when we left him behind. Part of what made me fall in love with him. Guess I couldn't help but lose myself in a butterfly's first flight."
With a sigh, he turned away from his daughter and leaned more over the balcony's rail. With a heart just as heavy, Trucy watched and listened as her father opened himself like a book. "Amazing, how I manage to screw so much up. I thought I couldn't get any lower when Edgeworth disappeared, but of course, I was wrong. I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone after Miss Hawthorne, which makes this even funnier because whenever he looks at me now, I remember her. She used to look at me with eyes colder than the moon-just as he does now."
"I'm sorry, sweetie. Thank you for not thinking me weird or pathetic for falling in love with your little big brother-"
"Of course I don't," the young magician pouted, pulling away from her father's hand before he could gently pat her on the head again. "If you're in love, you're in love. I'm just glad you didn't fall in love with Wendy Oldbag or something. From what I've heard, she's not the best catch around."
"Thanks for making me sick to my stomach, cupcake," Phoenix groaned, putting a hand against his forehead. "I was going to tell you it probably would've been a better idea for me to fall for Miss Oldbag, but then I realized I was about to give myself a heart attack. Anyways, thank you, thank you, thank you for always being so supportive, but...this time...I think I've lost this time."
He settled a hand on Trucy's shoulder. "Why don't we start thinking about dinner? I'm sure Uncle Edgeworth's got an amazing party in mind."
They whirled around once the sound of an opening sliding glass door met their ears, followed by the appearance of a precious but unexpected figure. The figure's eyes and tone were made of the coldest, darkest ice.
"Not a party I'm in the mood to go. I won't be until I've had my say."
While Trucy's eyes were quiet, Phoenix acknowledged the figure with alarm. "How long have you been standing there, Apollo?"
Listening to the frost in Apollo's voice was like having a knife slowly cut away at one's skin. "Long enough," he snarled, approaching the older attorney. The magician beside Phoenix backed away, quickly taken into Athena's hands and pulled just a few seconds off the balcony. The young women weren't noticed in the midst of an unfolding storm, and they remained unnoticed as the storm continued. "You think you can write me off as some villian and get away with it?" the younger attorney sighed, the frost in his voice not at all weakening. "If you think so little of me, I'm confused as to why you claim to have such strong feelings for me."
Horror erupted on Phoenix's face. "Wait a minute! A villian? Apollo, I'm not-"
The smaller attorney's arctic laughter cut his objection short. "I remind you of Dahlia Hawthorne. I know I'm nothing to be proud of, but if I remind you of her, then what is it? Is it because I remind you of her?"
The fire in Phoenix's voice was just as strong as Apollo's ice. "No! That's not it at all! I'm not in love with you because you remind me of her or anyone else! I'm in love with you because you're you! I would never compare you to anyone like her!"
Apollo's eyes and tone grew deathly quiet. "Oh? What about my first mentor? Don't I remind you of him? I did in court. Don't tell me you've forgotten that trial."
"That-that wasn't your fault. It still isn't your fault. If I'm going to fault you for showing even the slightest resemblance to Kristoph Gavin, then I'd have to fault Edgeworth for becoming von Karma's pupil! Something I'm definitely not going to do! I'm definitely not going to write you off as a criminal mastermind just because you were Kristoph's pupil!"
He sighed, shoulders slumping over, horror and fear running hand in hand. "Don't you get it, Mr.Wright? I don't want this! If you hadn't told me that, everything could have stayed the same. But now-you want me to add you to the list-"
The veteran attorney's eyes widened. It was great to not have Apollo boil him alive any more, but what was his former pupil going on about? "List? What list?" he asked, urgent but soft, tender, worried. Apollo gave him a look that still held a bit of ice, but the frost was weakened by pain. Memories. Loss. "Clay's on it," he replied, and with that, a volley of ice arrows pierced the other attorney's heart. It wasn't that Apollo was being venomous-just being reminded of Mr.Terran, and thinking of how that loss impacted the small firebolt, hurt. Badly. But it didn't end there. With each name Apollo gave out, another volley of arrows was released.
"Dhurke's on it too. So are Klavier and Athena. They're on the list of people I've failed."
"What makes you think you've failed Mr.Terran? What makes you think you've failed any of them? That's ridiculous! And I think Mr.Terran would agree with me!"
The look Apollo gave him was devoid of poisonous frost, but it hurt even more than any degree of frost could. It was one of hurt, shock, grief.
"Mr.Wright, could we just pretend none of this ever happened? I know I said we couldn't go back to the way things were, but we can try. We have to. I have to."
"I would if you weren't hellbent on being astoundingly obnoxious," the veteran attorney sighed, shaking his head, pain erupting in his own eyes. "If you had just told me to drop it, if you had told me you'd never even think of falling in love with a pathetic loser like me, then I would've put a lid on everything. But this? Whatever's going on right now isn't making any sense. You want to back out of this by executing yourself and I won't let you. I wouldn't even excuse any of this as your friend. I know you're tired, I know you're very tired, but-"
It was at that moment Apollo became ten times smaller. Sad. Fragile. He backed away from the other, eyes very much like the eyes of a wounded animal. "I wouldn't know how, Mr.Wright," he admitted. "I wouldn't know how to love you. I can barely handle my own law firm. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I said what I did back there but this is...this is scaring me."
Phoenix's protective instincts were kicked into high gear, with Apollo no longer wanting to kill him and sounding very much like a frightened, abandoned little creature. "I don't want to scare you," he said instantly, soothing and tender. The urge to reach out and hold Apollo, despite being suppressed, was overwhelming. Nauseating. "It's all right. There's nothing to be afraid of. It's okay, really! Not like I know anything about being in love," he added with a bittersweet chuckle. "The last time I gave my heart to someone was in another lifetime-and, as we all know, she turned out to be a heartless criminal mastermind. Lucky me, huh?"
Realization went off in his eyes like lightning. "That's what you were doing," the older attorney declared, having his 'aha' moment. "You were trying to push me away by hiding yourself behind a curtain of fear. For a moment, I thought I had lost you!"
Apollo let out another sigh. A much smaller, softer sigh. "I could never hate you, Mr.Wright, no matter how ridiculous you are. No matter how ridiculous THIS is. Don't you think it's weird to have feelings for your pupil? For a younger guy?"
"Not at all. I take it you aren't deterred by me being Trucy's father, then?"
"Not really," the younger attorney groaned, and it was at that moment a meteor of magic went off in Phoenix's chest, bright and warm and overflowing with smiles. There it was-that familiar snark. That wonderful, unique snark. "I just don't get why it has to be me," Apollo continued, wearing that familiar indignant pout. "I mean, you'd be better off with Wendy Oldbag."
Phoenix let out a sigh of his own. "If just one more person mentions her, I'm going to chuck myself off this balcony. I don't know what's worse-you beating yourself down with a bat, or you saying Miss Oldbag would be a better choice!"
He settled his hands on the other attorney's shoulders, waves of relief washing through him, soaring through him, making everything all right. "I'm in love with you and only you, Apollo. I never thought I'd feel so strongly about anyone, but here you are, and I know this is meant to be. I know I was born to love you and only you. It's okay if you're scared. So am I. I've never been more scared of anything my whole life. But I'm also excited. Excited to finally prove that I can make someone I love happy. And I want that chance, Polly. I know you're going back to Khurain after the wedding, but I want that chance. I want the chance to love you and let you know you're safe and loved and needed and wanted. I want to make sure you never know another moment of sadness. Even from afar. Please let me have that chance, Apollo."
"...Mr.Wright, what are you doing?"
With two sets of very wide eyes peering at the unfolding scene, Phoenix went down on one knee while removing a small box from his chest pocket. "What I've been dying to do these last couple of weeks," the seasoned attorney replied, eyes and heart beaming. Two young women behind the balcony's sliding glass doors began to squeal, not at all aware of what their Phoenix was planning but certainly giddy about him having planned it.
"Ever since you've been away, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you and how much I want to spend the rest of my life looking after you. When you decided to stay in Khurain, I felt as though a part of my heart had literally been cut out of me. But it's all right now. You'll go back and I'll still be madly, hopelessly in love with you. I just hope you'll go back to Khurain as my fiancee."
A ring made of gold and small moons was revealed, nestled inside that small box. "Trucy's delighted about the way I feel, and told me she just wants us to be happy. Athena's on board too, so Apollo, please let me marry you. Let me marry you and make you the happiest man alive."
Noting the explosive disbelief on the younger attorney's face, Phoenix returned the jewelry box to his pocket and stood up while rubbing the back of his neck-a sure sign of nervousness. "Sorry. You don't have to give me an answer right away. You've only just been back a few hours, and here I am, throwing a marriage proposal at you. I'm sure you'd like to get ready for the Chief Prosecutor's dinner party, right?"
...
"Apollo?" Phoenix asked softly, lovingly, while Trucy and Athena continued squealing behind the sliding glass doors. "Are you all right? Maybe you should-"
The veteran attorney caught him before his legs caved all the way in on him, and held him with an intensity that couldn't even be broken by the gods of the underworld. Apollo found himself after a moment and wrapped his arms around the other, his former mentor, his friend, his childhood hero. "Mr.Wright?" he asked after what felt like an eternity in the older man's arms.
"Yes?"
"You put the ring away, didn't you?"
"I did. Why?"
Apollo's smile made it impossible to breathe.
"Can't wear it if it's in your pocket, now can I?"